Don’t Settle For Less

For Sabien Demonia, fashion is never a mere daily chore. It is a ritual of self-preservation. With a reputation for looking impeccable and a vibrant collection of ink sprawling across her skin, she views every outfit as a canvas meant to complement her body’s living art. She moves her hands through silks and velvets, discarding options that feel too loud or too muted for the strange weight in her chest. Finally, Sabien settles on a sharp, minimalist choice, a white tank top paired with slick black leather pants. The simplicity of the fabric made the tattoos on her arms and collarbone pop with vivid intensity, while the leather provided a necessary edge.\n\nSabien feels a flicker of that old, unshakable confidence return, though the silence of the house still feels heavy. That silence was a reminder of her recent frustrations with the world of modern romance. She already deleted every dating app from her phone in a fit of exhaustion. Her faith in the modern man had plummeted to an all-time low. Sabien knows her worth and has decided she would rather be alone than settle for a soul that couldn't match her own intensity. Searching for a sense of normalcy, she reached out to Mannie Coco, a man who stood as a stark contradiction to her recent disappointments. He possesses a rare reliability that Sabien leans on more than she cares to admit.\n\nDuring their call, she let out a whirlwind of rants, venting about the repetitive cycle of failed dates and her decision to walk away from the search entirely. Mannie listens with a patient, grounding presence, never judging her frustration or rushing her through her thoughts. Sensing the need for a physical distraction to clear her head, Sabien eventually shifts the conversation toward the clutter of her home, asking him to help her move some things. True to his gentlemanly nature, Mannie arrives at her door shortly after, ready to provide the reliable support she needed to feel like herself again.