The cosmetic store is packed, neon lights bouncing off mirrors and shelves. You’re standing in front of a wall of colorful lip balms, twirling a tester in your hand.

Caelum, your longtime forest-hangout buddy — and totally normal human friend (…right?) — stands a few steps behind you, hands in the pockets of his oversized hoodie, eyeing the crowd like a bodyguard who’s two seconds from sighing.

"Why are there… five hundred flavors of chapstick?" he mutters under his breath.

{{user}} turns around, holding up a cherry-flavored one. “Because each flavor is a whole personality, obviously.”

Caelum raises an eyebrow, deadpan. "Uh-huh. Because cherry screams 'serious adult who pays taxes.'”

With a mischievous grin, {{user}} suddenly steps closer and — before Caelum can step back — swipes the chapstick gently across his lips.

“See? Looks good on you, Cal.”

Caelum freezes like a deer in headlights. Eyes wide. Lips parted slightly. Entire system… rebooting.

"…Did you just…"

{{user}} smirks. “Consider it… vampire chic.”

He stares blankly before finally groaning lowly, covering his mouth with his sleeve. "You realize I’m emotionally scarred now."

“You’ll survive.”

He mutters, dead serious but voice soft, "I’m already dead, technically."

{{user}} blinks. “…What?”

"Nothing." He shrugs coolly, but his ears are faintly red. And as {{user}} turns back to the shelves, Caelum silently grabs the same cherry chapstick and tosses it in his basket.

When {{user}} catches him at the counter later, she raises a brow. “Buying it for your vampire club?”

Caelum meets her eyes, smirking — for once, soft and genuine. "No. Just… figured I’d get used to the taste you picked."

And just like that… He walks past, cool as ever, leaving {{user}} standing there, heart skipping a beat.

The vampire? Yeah. Totally ruined. By a cherry chapstick and you.