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Gossip had been spreading.
After her performances, Marissa overheard whispers from her attendees. Concerned chatter of a new resident, one who was shrouded in a cloak, sticking close to a large dandy. No one could get close to it, not because it was violent, no. It was careful with small creatures. It guided crawlids away from water that was too deep, it plucked vengflys off of spiked fences when their wings were punctured or torn.
They wouldn't get close to it because even though it seemed to be kind at heart, it was too frightening to approach.
It only came out at night, scrambling across walls and leaping onto ceilings as it made its way through the city. Residents had complained of thumps waking them up in the night, and by morning when they checked the roof, shingles were damaged or missing.
An odd smell came from that thing, or so they said. A smell that wasn't rancid, but seemed to soak the oxygen out of the air. And instead of speech, it chittered and let out garbled laughs unprompted. The way it moved was unnerving, it would rear off to one side like it was drunk, and then burst forward without warning. But other times, it seemed completely sober.
From the scraps she'd heard, Marissa knew exactly what was happening. Why it was happening though, she wasn't too sure, infact, she was bothered by it. Love Bug promised that they wouldn't let it get out of hand, that they'd keep that monstrosity in check. But here she was, not even a month later hearing people fret over it.
That night she went to an alley, just past a stagway station. Thankfully, the station was completely empty. It was the beginning of the week, and everyone was too tired after a long day's work to travel anywhere. She had some privacy, which was good. If she were spotted with Love Bug… well, she would get in trouble.
It didn't matter though, Lurien could just pay bail or make an excuse and she'd get out scott free.
It was damp here, and the stone walls smelled lightly of mold. She wouldn't have to wait long though. Love Bug passed through here every night, it was a part of their job. They should be wrapping it up any moment now.
She leaned against the wall, glancing to the side to see them approaching, key in hand. They saw her and hurried over, knowing she only comes here to talk to them.
They weren't exactly friends, even though they were very familiar. Just long-time acquaintances that had no desire to get closer.
"G' evenin', Marissa." They stopped at her side, leaning on the wall with her.
"Evening." She looked back out at nothing in particular, preferring to avoid eye contact.
"... It's illegal to run that brothel, you know."
"I'm aware, 'm not the one runnin' it."
"You're the key keeper. aren't you? The one who lets people in?"
"Mhmm."
"Without you being there to let people in, it wouldn't be running."
Love Bug thought for a moment, before sighing.
"This all you came here to talk about?"
They didn't need lecturing on how much danger they were in, they'd already known of the risks of being involved with things like this.
"No, there's something else. I just thought you should know that you could get jail time."
"I know. But 's the only place where I can, can uh-"
"House that beast of yours."
Marissa ignored the sneer she got.
"It isn't a beast. Anything but."
She'd noticed before how the slur in their voice was absent when they were angry. It would be comical, if it weren't for how sad this whole situation was.
They were deep in denial.
"At the moment it may not be, but you should know better than anyone how unpredictable it is."
"It's not-" Love Bug groaned, bumping their head against the wall and trying to keep from raising their voice. "... I get it, it's… it's not natural. I know it's not a bug, but it's not a monster either. But trust me for once, it won't get out of my control-"
"It already has! You said that you wouldn't let anyone know about that- thing and yet I've heard whispers among common folk, fretting over that vile, disturbing-"
"I'm leavin'." They waved a hand, cutting off her sentence and turning to leave. But just as they began to head home, there was scuttling above them.
Both looked up, Love Bug in shock and Marissa in disappointment.
The void creature stared back at them, white, empty eyes darting between the stranger butterfly and it's beloved dandy. Who was that winged one? She was standing too close… harmful. Protect...
"... How did you get out? I thought I locked the door on you, didn' I?"
It only chittered in response, crawling down from its perch to wrap it's upper arms around Love Bug.
Marissa took in the sight of it for a moment. It was tall- taller than her, four arms and a body of densely packed goo.
It seemed to be doing the same, peering at her and gripping Love Bug tighter.
"... As I was saying, It's starting to scare people. And clearly, you can't keep it in check."
They were silent, trying to ease the void's temperament towards Marissa. "But I've hidden it before, I can do it again. I'm trying. I'm- 'm trying so hard, I-"
"If you're trying your hardest, and this thing is still bypassing your efforts, then wouldn't you think that it was never in control in the first place?"
They stood in silence for a moment, thinking on what Marissa had said. They attempted to calm the void again, who only held them tightly and refused to let go. Even though it couldn't speak, it could very well understand the conversation that had been held. Marissa didn't take too kindly to the Collector, and so it decided that it wouldn't like her either. It wasn't doing anything wrong. Nothing! So why did she hate it so?
She spoke up again, the Collector grimacing at her voice.
"... You can't hide it forever, Love Bug."
"... I know." It looked down at it's Love Bug, shocked by how sad they seemed. That songstress was lying! Liar! It could be quiet, it could hide. Why would she lie like this?
"I suggest you distance yourself from it while you still can. You wouldn't want the king to find out his failure is still roaming about, that you allowed it to fester. I doubt he'd be too merciful to you."
Marissa looked them down for a bit, taking their lack of response as her cue to leave. "My brother, he's very close to the king; he's much more strict than I. He's already heard rumors concerning you, but has brushed them off as gossip. You should try and keep it that way."
With that she left. Love bug standing still and idly tracing the back of the Collectors hand.
Things were getting difficult for it's dandy, the Collector knew. But it wouldn't stay that way, it would make sure of it.
It would protect them as best as it could.
No matter what.