Life is but a dream.

​

Harsh day, harsh night, Ade did not feel very into any kind of communication, but yet… when he saw a new face among the slaves he felt it was at least necessary to bring a hello to him. Especially since he had been so well mannered with him. “Oh please…” He said, stopping and egging him on. “You first.” He added with the kindest smile he had in him for the day. Which was not the biggest he could offer. “Welcome to hell…” He whispered, looking around to see if any of the guards were listening to them. “Ade. Nice to meet you. I was just thinking about going for a run you know… to unleash some pressure.. With this collar we kinda need some.. You wanna join me?” 

*

Colin chuckled. “Oh no no, after you!” Ah it was good to be back, raising an eyebrow at the whisper. “Hell? Nah, doubt that, unless it’s changed that much. I was here like 4 years ago and it was like Candyland to me to be honest.” He said while giving a wave to a guard. “They’re still grumpy as ever.” Colin mumbled with a smile on his face. “I’m colin, good to meet you Ade. Yeah sure, let me just put my shoes on, running in flip flops is a no go.” Looking around he found his cell easily and placed his few possessions inside while sitting on the edge of his bed to put his running shoes on. “You go running often? It’s kind of a daily thing to me so if you’re looking for a running buddy, let me know.”

“Yeah you missed some ragers,” Alfie grinned at the new guy. “I mean, well one rager. I was kind of hoping for a bit more with the beach party, but, I guess some people like the more mellow fun kinda beach party than what I was looking for,” he shrugged. “But my parties mate, they’re gonna be great, got everything you could want,” he nodded. 

At the mention of a dress code he shrugged. “Oh I dunno, whatever you want. Tell ya what, you wear green, you get half off your drinks.” he grinned. “Course I gotta find a bartender before then, but you know, one thing at a time,” he shrugged. “Gotta come up with a plan and then work your way back. Or at least that’s what works for me.” when the other guy introduced himself Alfie chuckled lightly. “Right, might need to know that,” he extended his hand. “Alfie. Nice to meet ya Colin,” he gave Colin an honest smile. 

*

“I’m sure I did, which sucks, good parties are harder to find out there.” Though he was probably one of the very few who thought that way and had actually  enjoyed himself previously. Even there had been somewhat bad times as well, he liked to focus on the good things. “Mellow fun? Guess things have changed here after all.”

Colin listened as Alfie explained a little more on the subject at hand. “Well, if you’re looking for a bartender, I can help you out, did that before. And definitely don’t have a job yet, would be a miracle if I had a job the second I arrived.” He chuckled but he was definitely up for work like that. “It’s nice to meet you too, Alfie, can’t say I’ve heard that name before. I can call you Alfie, right? I don’t generally call people Sir or whatever but I know some want that so just asking to be sure.” It had gotten him in trouble before, being as informal as he was, but he couldn’t change the way he was, nor would he want to. 

As much as she hated to admit it, it was still a pretty rare occasion to see Qhuinn in the cells. Especially after one of the island’s particular brands of forced fuckery. Not all had been unlucky though and had had a good rental week it seemed, and it was their content if not also reluctant emotions that she latched onto. It did help, making things easier as she made her rounds to check in on anyone who needed medical attention and dropped off her usual little care packages for friends. Soon though, one emotion in particular, one very familiar and optimistic one rose above the rest. And the wolf couldn’t help herself when she saw it was indeed who she thought.

A brunette blur zoomed past the cells and into the arms of the handsome grant student. Qhuinn held on tight, taking in his familiar scent and basking in the glow of that bright aura that Colin always emitted. Until she realized she was likely making quite the spectacle of herself, and him. “Hi” She giggled, as she finally pulled back enough to get a good look at him. Just as scrumptious as always..

​

*

Colin hadn’t even seen her until she was running right towards him and flung her arms around his neck. He couldn’t help but laugh, happy to see a familiar face as it had been so long. “Hey Qhuinnster... Surprise.” He said with a grin when she looked at him. “Holy shit, let me look at you!” He said as he pulled away as well but held her hands. “You haven’t changed a bit!” He chuckled and pulled her right back into a hug. 

“Please tell me you still run the bakery??” He said in a mumble, she still smelled sweet like the things she used to bake. It brought back memories, blanks getting filled again and it felt damn good to him.

.

New arrivals didn’t exactly show up with heraldry and announcements when it came to the cells, at least not in the shapeshifter’s experience.  It was up to current inhabitants to recognize or not recognize the additions to their space, unless it was their bunks that were being moved into.  Isabel spent enough time in the basement that she was familiar enough with the faces that also sported a collar, so when the male held the door open for her, it was fairly clear.  “Thank you,” she offered with a gentle smile, sliding through the exit and sticking her hands in her dress pockets for a moment before opting to continue further.  “You’re … well, I don’t recognize you, you must be new?  Did you need help finding your way around?  Or to somewhere in particular?” came the offer, the slave worrying at her bottom lip for a moment.  She had a shift at the cat cafe that she was heading out to, but she was early enough that she could take some time to help if he needed it.  “I’m um, I’m Isabel.  Isabel Hai Phan.  Welcome?”

*

“You’re welcome.” Colin smiled as he let the door close behind her. “New? Kinda of, I’ve been away for almost four years but I need to continue my studies so here I am again. Still need to figure out what has changed though but so far not much seems to have changed at all! Total bonus to me.” He extended his hand to take hers. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Isabel, I’m Colin Barton. I was actually going to check out some of the newer places around, seems more have popped up, any good place you can recommend? Preferably some place that sells coffee at least? Baked goods are always good too.” He was a sweet tooth, always had been and that would never change. “Been here long?”

Summertime, the best time to Aiden as it meant being able to be out most of the day. He didn’t mind the trunks much as he wouldn’t wear much more in summer anyway. The only issue he had was that he burned quite easily so he was on his way to his cell to get some more lotion to make sure that wouldn’t happen before he would head to the gym area. Going to the gym was something he had kept up with since his former claim. 

“Oh thanks!” He said to the stranger that held the door open, something that didn’t happen much here for people like him with a collar, but then he noticed the guy had one around his neck too. “You new here?” He held out his hand. “I’m Aiden, welcome!” Aiden put on a smile, knowing for most it was a shock to the system to learn about this place. Yet this guy somehow didn’t seem phased much by it. “Let me know if you need anything?” He offered, seeing the welcome package, which told him he was right about him being new here. 

*

“Hey there.” Colin smiled and took the offered hand. “I’m Colin and yeah I’m new, kinda, been here before but it’s been a few years. So no, don’t think I’ll need anything, just seeing where my cell is.” He said as he looked back to the cells and headed over there. “Here we are. Weird, it seems even smaller than I remember. Oh well, didn’t spend much time in here anyway back then and not planning on it now.” Colin shrugged and put the welcome package on what would be his bed. 

“So how long have you been here? Don’t think you were here when I was? You don’t look familiar to me anyway.” He said before giving a smile and a wave to a guard who had the instant grump look on their face which just made them chuckle. “That definitely hasn’t changed, they’re still grumps. Hope there are still some fun ones.”

Alfie had been riding around the island on his scooter, bringing flyers for his new restaurant around to drop off, advertising the grand opening party. He hoped it would be a good way to drum up some business, but also he wanted to get some people interested in hopefully working at either Canabliss, or at the Dispensary since he couldn’t be in both places at once. After dropping off flyers to most of the shops, he was going to hand some out in the cells, so over to the school he went. 

When he got there he parked his scooter, locked it on his phone and walked up to the doors, pausing when a guy he didn’t know held the door for him. “Oh hey, cheers,” he nodded to him. He looked the other over and then pulled a flyer off of the top of his stack. “Here, you new mate? Big party in a couple days at Canabliss, the island’s only THC restaurant.” he grinned. “Good way to get over that shock of wearing one of them,” he gestured to his own neck, indicating the collar the other was wearing. 

*

“No problem.” Colin gave a nod at the question. “Kinda yeah, but kinda no at the same time. Been here before so this thing...” He pointed to his collar. “... it’s nothing new at least but hey, I’m always up for a party! The parties here were always good.” And busy for him, he thought to himself with the hint of a smirk playing on his lips. 

“Canabliss, sounds good to me, when is it then? Any dresscode? Please tell me the goods aren’t spiked with anything magical... Let’s just say that the last party I was at here, it was... busy and I slept for like three days or something afterwards.” He laughed, folding up the flyer and putting it in the welcome package to take a better look at later. “I’m Colin and you are?”

​

Keith Crane did not often take it upon himself to go to the cell rooms. Not alone and not with anybody. When asked why, he would always offer the same response: he was a busy man. Busy and..satisfied, why not say so. But today had not been like most days. It was obvious that the club needed staff and so, he’d decided that if they were not coming to him or the offers, he would go to them.

After a few conversations and some success, the vampire had made up his mind on leaving when he came across someone else. A young man who, by the looks of it, Crane had not met before..and who was well-mannered enough to hold the door open for him. “Thank you..” Keith rasped with a furrowed brow, “I did not see you in there, did I?”

*

Colin rubbed the side of his head for a moment, pulling up a smile at the thanks. “You’re welcome, Sir.” He looked at the guy for a moment, a familiar face, knowing he had seen it before here but couldn’t quite get where he had seen him. “Oh, no, I just got here actually. Or well, I’m returning, hope they still got good parties here.” Colin held up the welcome package in his hand. 

“Was just going to find my cell actually.” Then he looked at the guy again, it was frustrating how it took a little time for memories to come back to him and not all in the right order which for sure didn’t help. “I know you, I mean I don’t think we’ve met before, but I’ve definitely seen your face around here.” He said while letting the door fall closed. “I think I’ve seen your picture at Miss Grace’s place, like years ago but let’s face it, you don’t change.” He smirked a little.

Browsing through contacts, he smiled seeing some very familiar names while he walked out of the office. Though it had been years, there were still quite a few people he knew. It was so damn good to be back, he thought to himself, his previous time here had been a blast and he would be sure to make this time just as great. Inhaling a deep breath of fresh air, he went right in the direction of the cells to drop off the very few items he carried, a smile on his face when he wanted to leave the area again and saw someone just leaving as well so he held the door open for them before even having a good look at them. “After you.” He said with a slight gesture from his hand and a nod.