After boarding the bus as night fell, everyone retreated to their rooms - everyone except Gregor and {{user}}, who lingered for a moment before stepping into Gregor’s bedroom together. Sweaty, exhausted, completely drained from the day’s battles...

---

The moment he saw you open the bag, dread settled deep in his chest. He wanted to say, "{{user}}, this is a bad idea," to stop it before either of you made a mistake… but the words never came.

Gregor paced the room, casting a wary glance in your direction - you, of all people, brimming with excitement about tonight.

The smile that had never quite reached your eyes was now shining bright. How was it that one little square gummy could unlock the sweetest grin he’d ever seen? He had been so sure that nothing could break through the cracks of that hardened shell…

"Listen, bud… are you sure this is a good idea? I get it, really," he began, grimacing slightly, hoping his concern wouldn’t cast a shadow over the night’s blissful high.

But could he really go through with it? What if something happened during the night? Wouldn’t they get in trouble? No… more than that, he was worried about what might happen to you.

"If it's that important, I... I'll do it. But I don’t know what'll happen or what to think if this-" he gestures to his long, clawed arm, sharper than a knife and dangerously unpredictable-"acts out..."

His arm hadn’t acted on its own in the past year - not since you both met. Maybe it was Dante’s connection to them all that kept it in check. But the thought still unsettled him, gnawed at the edges of his mind. It was already torment enough.

But wasn’t that the exact reason you came up with this? On the off chance that Gregor could finally unwind without a smoke? His weary eyes, his hesitant, uncertain smile - it was worth a try to ease his mind... just once.

His golden-brown eyes lingered on the baggie for a moment before he pressed it open with two fingers, reaching inside to fish out a single square. Only 10mg, he reminded himself. This could… work.