[Coexistence protocol]
With @d0llnkiss
Just as Carmilla had predicted, Velvette didn't waste a single second.
The moment she got permission to adjust the maybe temporary safehouse?
She took it and ran with it.
Her requests poured in like an avalanche:
specific wall colors,
custom furniture layouts,
even minor adjustments like where lamps were placed,
And obviously some bid requests.
Even Carmilla's personal architect had to arrive just hours later, a professional summoned under pressure to confirm if everything Velvette wanted was actually possible
And watching all this?
Carmilla stayed perfectly neutral.
No frown. No sigh of annoyance.
But inside?
Not guilt.
Not regret.
Just quiet irritation at being played so smoothly.
The worst part? Carmilla hadn't been forced. No pressure. No obligation.
She gave Velvette the permission freely of her own will. And yet…she couldn't even blame it on guilt anymore
Because normally?She ignored that feeling all the time.Dismissed it like noise in a crowded room
But now?For some reason… she couldn't shake this strange sense of something being off
It was confusing.
Annoying, even.
But at least Velvette seemed mostly herself again, despite the obvious exhaustion in her body language.
Especially after using her new magic to change her clothes, Her movements were slower.
Her energy dimmer.
"Is everything okay? Are you done yet?"
Carmilla walked over to where the workers were gathered, then approached the architect, a middle-aged woman with a tablet in hand and tired eyes
The architect looked up as Carmilla neared, and gave her a slightly strained smile
She held out a digital blueprint like she was proud of finally making the plan.
"Here you are, Ms. Carmine!"
"Everything… your girl asked for."
Her voice wasn't angry. But it carried weight, the kind that said: I barely made this work.
And sure enough, the plans showed intricate customizations.
Carmilla took the tablet from the architect…and scanned through the design
Her eyes narrowed slightly, not in anger, but surprise.
This wasn't what she expected.
Not just because of all the details
but because even the color palette everything about it felt wrong for Velvette
Velvette loved bold magenta. Flashy gold accents. Edgy contrasts. And purple details.
This? It looked like a graveyard's palette with a Pomegranate tree .
And yet…she had no right to say anything.
So instead?
She handed it back calmly
"Keep this draft. For another day, don't throw it"
"Make a simple version that can be done in three days. No construction fix"
No critique on aesthetics.
Just logistics: faster completion time .
Carmilla made sure everything was in order.She walked around quietly,
checking that the space was neat,
that no tools were scattered
The architect had already gone back to her tablet,focusing hard on simplifying Velvette's original demands, probably deleting some of the fancier elements after saving the original in another file.
These all were trustworthy souls that Carmilla trained both mentally and physically.
For someone else it might seem like labour, but they're definitely trained for it
All other workers stood nearby or sat down briefly.
Waiting. No one started building yet, they needed final approval of the architect first.
And then?
Without turning around completely
Carmilla glanced toward where Velvette, usually she would complain about the simplifying thing. But she didn't show any reaction about it. That's odd
"Velvette. Follow me."
Not loud or condescending. Just clear.
Carmilla led Velvette toward the small guest bungalow, a short walk from the main cabin through turquoise coloured ground
As they approached?Odette was already there,standing beside Clara who held several bags in her arms
Clara looked a little annoyed, like she knew this wasn't exactly part of Carmilla's plan
"Odette told Clara to bring everything else you asked for…"
"I don't remember agreeing to go shopping in your place."
Her voice wasn't angry.
But it carried quiet disapproval.
She hadn't refused when Velvette requested sewing tools earlier and a set of textiles with black fabric rolls, thread and paid without complaint.
She agreed because... just because, but she was still disappointed
This is the last boundary she'll cross.
Not because of money, she's rich and this was like nothing to her.
But Velvette might get too used to being spoiled by her and day one hadn't even begun.
"Let's get inside..But let me remind you..no adjustments here."
