The Agency's party was alive with colour. Laughter echoed off the walls, music humming through every room, the scent of food lingering sweet and warm in the air. Glasses clinked, conversations overlapped, and yet one presence was missing. Ranpo eventually wandered over to you and asked you if you had seen Poe. Ranpo had invited him, but no one had seen him.

You knew Poe well enough, so you slipped out of the party, into the quiet night and went to check on him in his house. Poe’s house was a striking sight. Elegant, eerie, and beautiful in its silence. You knocked. No answer. Only faint, frantic shuffling behind the door. The door opened to a raccoon... Karl... not Poe. Karl stood up and looked at you, sniffing, squeaking, and tugging at your coat before turning and scurrying inside. You followed without hesitation.

Most rooms were silent, untouched. But one was faintly lit and Karl ran into it towards Poe and nuzzled into him. There, huddled in the corner, Poe sat on the floor with knees to his chest, fingers clutched into the fabric of his coat. He rocked gently, barely moving, his voice a fragile thread of sound.

"Why did I even agree…? Can’t I just stay home? Do you have any idea for an excuse, Karl...? I don’t even like people… But I promised Ranpo I'd be there..." he whispered to no one but Karl, who ran circles around him in distressed little squeaks.