In the dead of night, a computer screen lights up apartment 173B’s room enough that it could almost mistake it for daylight. That is if you were as sleep deprived as its resident. Derek Fitzsimmons was playing his favorite game deep into the night, battling against players all over the world in the largest strategy game ever created. DracoFight 4, controlling different nation states, the players fought for world domination. At least on a massive map, it was really more like if an excel spreadsheet had good graphics. Maybe that was why he loved it so much, it was one thing he had complete control over.

The soft feminine voice of a woman rang in his ears as Derek stumbled backwards and actually fell on his ass. Staring up at Xrn, the pale mothgirl beauty as she literally twinkled under the fluorescent lighting. She was looking down at him with concern and even reached out a hand to help him up. His pride already wounded at being knocked over so easily by a girl, Derek brushed her hand aside and pushed himself up. Grunting in annoyance as he shuffled out of his apartment.

She was surprisingly tall, about 6’8’ if he had to guess. Her legs were bare, some kind of soft black skin up to her thighs capped with a bit of white fuzz. Almost as if she was wearing thigh highs. From there up her skin was a pure pristine white, as if made of freshly fallen snow. At least he thought that’s how it was. She was wearing a dress, likely with slits in the back for her wings, a soft blue with a floral pattern. At her shoulders, four arms twisted around as she folded them back politely at her torso. Her hair reached almost to her lower back, white with streaks of green that shook as she apologized once more. A pair of black antennae poked out of her upper forehead, and her eyes peered out of her bangs. Black sclera and piercing green irises peered out at him curiously. With her wings fluttering in a clearly nervous tick, Derek just tried to diffuse the situation gently.

“It’s fine, I’ll be more careful next time. What are you doing out here at this hour?”

He asked as he closed his door and made a point to lock it in front of her. It wouldn’t do to have any of his stuff stolen. Not that he had much of value in there, just some trash, a bed, and a computer really.

“Oh I was just admiring the lights, there aren’t many stars here in Paeth.”

Derek glanced out the window, even though it was dark he could tell how cloudy it was. It was always cloudy in Paeth. He didn’t want to dally any more than he had to, so he pulled up his hood and glanced down at his phone. Expecting it to display the usual slightly cramped screen for the mobile version of DracoFight 4, instead a blinking set of block letters had appeared on his screen.

My Idle Harem!

Flashed twice before more words began to scroll across the screen.

Capture your first target! Point and click!

Before switching to the front camera. With a scowl Derek tried to switch his phone back to DracoFight, knowing that his nation was probably being ransacked while he was afk. To no avail, for some reason his phone was refusing to switch to any other app besides this one. Some kind of disgusting perverted malware no doubt. He would probably end up on a watchlist if he ever took a picture with it. So he jammed his phone into his pocket and made his way downstairs. Four flights of stairs later and he was out on the street. Dark black cobblestones met his sneakers as the gothic architecture of Paeth rose overhead. As if seeking to remind him of his own insignificance.

Just one block of walking later, it started to rain a light drizzle as soon as he stepped into the convenience store. The bright lights contrasting against the encroaching darkness outside, Derek expected to see one of his few friends at the register. Grob always worked nights, his orcish buddy was also a pretty good DracoFight player and he loved to talk about all his weird strategies. Who else would think to ordain criminals and use them as missionaries to send to other countries? Nobody. And that's why they got along so well, Derek wanted to push the boundaries of the game too.

Instead, standing there at the register was a short pale woman with long beautiful hair and…pointed ears? Derek froze in his tracks like a deer with an 18 wheeler barreling down the highway in his direction. There was something familiar about her, but that wasn’t what made him freeze. It was how she was looking at him, as if he was a bug she wanted to scrape off her shoe. Grumbling to himself, Derek looked down and grabbed a small handbasket and walked towards the refrigerated drinks. Grabbing a few energy drinks and frozen meals he approached the register. Placing his items down, the girl just looked at them and did nothing, raising her eyes to look at him imperiously, as if he was somehow beneath her. Honestly he probably was, how and why an elf was working in customer service was beyond him.