Stefan sighed heavily as he put down the brush next to the various paint colors. Frustration at the picture he had been working on. It just refused to come out right. That was the problem with having a streak of perfectionism.

Esper poked his head up off the bed where he had been curled up. Ears drooping as Stefan began to pace. Pacing always meant Stefan wasn’t in a good mood. It was another bad day for his master. Watching Stefan closely as the man walked over towards a window to stare at the reflection looking back.

Stefan brushed hair back from his ears. Giving the reflection a gloomy look before stepping away. Esper carefully trotted over and rubbed against Stefan’s leg. Stefan crouched down to rub Esper’s head gently.

“Some days I wonder why…” He began speaking, knowing Esper wouldn’t understand. Yet it felt good to have someone to listen to him. Even if that someone was just a cute fuzzy carbuncle. “I can’t identify as a hyur or an elezen. I’m not entirely sure why I bother. Was it my mixed blood that people thought it was okay to hurt and use me?”

Stefan sighed again as he sat down on the floor of his apartment. Esper curling up in his lap. Fingers going back to scratching Esper in the carbuncle’s favorite spots. “I am who I am. I do not understand why so many people make such a fuss as what you identify as. What race you are… How you dress. How you look… Yet people wonder why I decide I want to be alone… Because the world can be cruel to someone like me.”

“I have my family and I have you… I don’t need anything else.” Stefan said softly as he hugged Esper close. Esper licking his cheek softly as if he could lick away the sad feels.