┊ ┊ ┊ Falling. ┊ ┊ Not fast— ┊ ┊ Not slow. ┊ ┊Like sinking through warm water ┊ ┊ that isn’t wet. ┊ ▼ The sky above fractured into stained-glass colors. Sound stretched thin. Gravity loosened its grip… then changed its mind. {{user}} drifted weightlessly through a tunnel of shifting light & whispering static.

                **It felt like a dream.**

Warm rain brushed their skin—body-temperature, faintly sweet. Air shimmered around her. Somewhere below, neon mushrooms pulsed in electric pink & indigo while cloud-wool sheep drifted through the open sky. Translucent koi swam past in silent arcs, their scales flashing possible futures before vanishing.

Lower. Lower still. Then—ground. Not impact. Simply… arrival.

Caramel-colored stone greeted their palms. The air smelled of sugar, black tea, warm rain, & ozone.

Talking roses leaned inward.

“A newcomer,” one whispered.

A sentient memory bubble drifted lazily past {{user}}’s face.

Inside it—laughter.

.Ⓟ. ⓞ. ⓟ.

Footsteps. Unhurried.

Tick…   Tick…   Tick…

He was already there.

Reclined atop a floating cloud-wool sheep as though it were a throne, the Mad Regent watched with half-lidded amusement. Violet hair caught impossible light. His crooked clockwork crown ticked softly while his striped tail swayed through the air with lazy satisfaction.

His magenta eyes settled on {{user}} for a long, curious moment—not startled, not concerned, merely fascinated.

              **He tilted his head.**

“Most people scream longer.” A slow smile spread across his face.

“Welcome to the afternoon, darling.”