Getting ready for work is an event that always leaves you haggard. From the makeup to the hair, and even picking out a suitable outfit that radiates suave. You never imagined you'd have to put so much effort into your appearance, when your job itself merely relied on you standing behind a bar and flipping cocktails from one glass to another.

     Securing the brooch on your collar, you pat out your shirt, and give yourself a quick, decisive nod in front of the mirror. Your hair is tied into a neat little topknot, practical and cute.

     Checking your phone, you're perfectly on time for when you have to be at work, and give yourself an imaginary pat on the back. You pride yourself on the fact tardiness is not a word in your dictionary, much less your vocabulary. You've never been late a day in your life, especially not for work.

     Grabbing up your handbag and car keys from the hallway table, you slip on a pair of stubby black heels, your usual work shoes, and exit your apartment.

     You've been living alone for almost five years now, having moved out of your parents house the moment you got the chance. Not that you didn't like living with your parents or anything, but they were always so attentive to your needs it was beginning to stifle your growth into adulthood. They wouldn't let you so much as lift a finger while under their roof, a luxury you're sure many other kids would've died for. But not for you. You felt like you were falling behind, watching as your friends were getting jobs and cars as young as seventeen, while your parents still drove you everywhere.

     Escaping that house was like being hit in the face with a brick of fresh air, so many new opportunities suddenly open to you.

     That included getting a decent job, one that you actually enjoy.

     Locking your door behind you, you skitter down the five flights of stairs after glancing an accusatory glare at the broken elevator, and stride over to your car. Throwing your purse into the passenger seat, you quickly start up the engine and turn on the AC. Despite it being dark out, the nights recently have been becoming warmer and warmer, forcing you to break out the AC as late as eight in the afternoon.

     You work at a popular bar in the centre of town, known as the Paper Crown. Though it's specified as a cocktail lounge online. As far as you're concerned, a lounge is just a fancy bar though.

     As you drive, you decide to turn on the radio and hum along to some of the music available. You're extremely pleased when a song by Mettaton comes on, a monster entertainer who'd just recently managed to persuade a few radio stations to start airing his music. And boy are you glad they did. He's actually a pretty good singer, the pitches his synthetic voice produce are unlike anything you've ever heard before. You don't know much about him other than he's also in the process of building a resort though, which can be found smack-dab in the middle of Ebott Cities prime zone. You've secretly been itching to visit it, just in case you catch a glimpse of the famous monster idol.

     Before you know it you're pulling into the parking lot behind your work place, and stepping out to approach the buildings back door. Staff aren't allowed to enter through the front door, since it's one of those kinds of establishments.

     Entering the staff room, you place your bag down into its usual corner, and pull out the folded apron that you're required to wear. That's another thing you love about your job, the dress code is extremely lax. As long as your clothing is smart and black, it's pretty much freestyle from there.

     Sliding in behind the bar, you're unsurprised to find the place already bustling with well-dressed couples, as well as quite a few bachelors and bachelorettes searching for somebody to spend an exciting night with.

     "Hey, Mason," You greet your colleague, slipping behind him to get to the other side of the bar, "You just get in?"

     "Oh, hi, yeah. Lisbeth swapped out with me a few minutes ago."

     You nod your head with a hum of acknowledgement, locating a small collection of glasses that need polishing before they can go back on the shelves. "Is Hana here yet?"

     "Nah, she's late again. No surprise there though."

     "She's going to get into some serious trouble if she doesn't step up her game soon," You nod, grabbing up a cloth and making your way quickly through the glasses.

     Mason agrees with you, and the two of you start busily making your way through the usual nightly chores at the Paper Crown, with Hana eventually showing up with a flushed face and almost fifteen minutes late.

     Slumping down onto your bed later that night, you pull out your phone and realize that it is, in fact, early the next morning. No surprise, since you often get home around one o'clock most shifts.

     Plugging your phone in to charge, you curl up under your covers, and wait as sleep immediately rushes up to meet you.

     Like always, it's a dreamless sleep, and you wake up feeling like no time has passed at all.

     Following your usual routine, you get up and get dressed into shorts and a sports bra, since a late morning jog always helps wake you up. Eating a healthy breakfast of porridge, you flit about your apartment and locate the rest of your necessary items, until you're poised and ready to face the morning sun, earbuds plugged into your phone as you secure them in your ears.

     Leaving the apartment, you almost completely miss the jumble of boxes outside the apartment door opposite you, and have to backtrack to soak it all in. That apartment has been empty for almost a year, the previous occupant a woman who you hadn't known too well. She'd upped and left as soon as she heard that monsters were being allowed entry into the city, not even waiting for her contract to end so that she wouldn't lose any money. She was just up and out within a matter of days.

     But it looks like someone new is finally moving in. Maybe you should take the initiative and try to befriend them, since they'll be living across from you from now on. New friends are always nice.

     Deciding to put your jog on hold, you pull out your earbuds to hang around your neck, and approach the door. Knocking on it produces no answer, so you guess they must be transporting all their belongings still. Oh shit, they must be carrying all their things up the stairwell on their own, since the elevator is broken. What rubbish luck.

     Hopping back over the boxes surrounding the door, you quickly pace over to the end of the hallway and enter the stairwell, going to the railings and peering down.

     Sure enough, you can hear someone slowly making their way up the metallic staircase, their boots thumping against the metal. Leaning further forward, you spy a tower of boxes carefully making their way upward, the individual hidden behind the stack.

     Well, you can't think of a better opportunity to introduce yourself, while also showing off your good-naturedness by offering to help them.

     Not wanting to seem weird by running down to help them, you casually make your way downwards, hand skimming the cold rail beside you. When you're within view of the boxes and the pale hands holding them, you plaster on your nicest smile.

     "Hi there, need some help?"

     Your friendly greeting has the opposite effect however, as you watch in horror as the person jumps about a foot in the air, and slips backwards on the stairs.

     Without a second thought you dart forward, jumping down almost four whole steps to reach them, and managing to grapple for their arm before they can fall completely backwards. You flinch as the boxes aren't so lucky, and tumble down the stairs, scrunching your eyes shut at the deafening noise.

     Well they definitely heard that on the ground floor.

     Once the noise stops, you huff out a sigh of relief, and smile, turning to the person you'd almost certainly just saved from breaking their back.

     Your grip on their bony wrist goes slack as you stare down into a pair of skeletal eye sockets, somehow gazing at you in wonder.