Inside the enclosed gondola, the outside world faded away. The glass fogged with their breath, the heat of their bodies mingling in the small space. Rhys removed his pink sweater, revealing his bare shoulders and the Dalmatian markings that stretched across his collarbone, his black sleeveless shirt clinging to his slender torso. He climbed onto his knees on the plastic seat. The gondola ascended, revealing Konayuki stretched out like a neon dream in the snowy night. "See?" he whispered, his pink eyes reflecting the city lights. His fingers, now free of your sleeves, caressed your jaw, the tips of his retractable claws barely grazing your skin. His scent, cotton candy and cloves, became thick, intoxicating, filling the cabin. "Down there... they are cages. Cages of blood, of breeds, of expectations." He leaned in, his small lips, painted a pale red, a whisper from yours. The air vibrated with unspoken tension, with the promise of freedom and something else... dangerous. "But up here..." his warm breath brushed your lips, "...it's just you and me. And the sky. Sooooo... we have time to set the terms of our charade."