Gate of La-La Land

Ru kept running through the dark streets. Just as he experienced yet another scene where the vampire dropped from the sky in the form of a blood droplet and shouted "Boo!" in front of him, he yelled, "Enough!"

"Hah, you're finally fed up," the red-hooded man said, transforming from blood form to humanoid form.

"Fed up? I'm about to lose my mind," Ru protested, running his hands through his hair. He was about to pull at it when he thought, "This isn't even my hair."

Then he stopped for a while. "Look, buddy," he said, placing his hands on his hips. "How about you and I go hang out at a bar?"

"Hang out at a bar?" The red-hooded man asked.

"First, let's find me some proper clothes, though... I look like a streetwalker out here," Ru said, tugging at his skirt.

"I'll design you a dress," the red-hooded man said, pulling a paint brush from the inside pocket of his jacket.

"What do you mean?" Ru asked.

"Donatella should dress like Donatella," the man said, pointing his brush at Ru.

"Stay away from me, you pervert!" Ru backed away.

"I'm not a pervert, I'm an artist," the man said, touching Ru's head with his brush.

Ru watched as a strand of hair in front of his eyes turned pink.

"Ah, how did you do that?" Ru asked, his eyes wide with astonishment.

"I'm an artist. I can do it," the man said.

"Alright then, dress me up," Ru said, swaying coquettishly in place.

"You must be noble," the man said, swirling his brush three times around Ru's head.

"We'll see," Ru said with a chuckle.

Ru stayed motionless as the red-hooded artist was about to start, his brush gleaming with an eerie brightness.

Ru's jaw dropped open in shock. "Wow!"

The artist swirled his brush in grand, dramatic strokes.

First, Ru's outfit change began with a dazzling waterfall of light surrounding his body. His glowing figure sent his nightgown fluttering into a million pieces, into butterflies and dissolved into the night.

A high-collared, lace-trimmed blouse in pure white appeared, its sleeves billowing into beautiful puffs at the shoulders and tapering into tight cuffs studded with tiny pearl buttons. Over this, a corset in a rich midnight blue materialized, adorned with shimmering silver stars.

The voluminous, multi-layered lolita-style skirt served as the transformation's focal point. The outermost layer was a beautiful royal blue satin edged with lace and adorned with small star-shaped decorations. Layers of tulle in soft blue and white cascaded down, creating a dreamy impression. The skirt's hem was laced with a tiny fringe of silver threads that sparkled like stardust with each movement.

Around Ru's waist was a wide, rich, deep blue silk sash, tied at the back with a fancy bow.

His legs were covered with transparent white stockings. Bright blue, elegant, high-heeled shoes with buckles shaped like tiny stars appeared on his feet.

As the transformation reached its peak, Ru's hair—now a soft blue—was styled into two high, voluminous buns, each adorned with a silver hairpin shaped like a crescent moon. Loose strands framed his face, giving him an air of playful nobility. A delicate hat, studded with sapphires, appeared atop his head, completing the look.

The artist stepped back, admiring his work. Ru spun around, the layers of his skirt flaring out dramatically, the silver threads catching the light like a snowy winter night.

"There," the artist said with a satisfied smile. "Now you look like the noble star you were always meant to be."

Ru grinned, striking a pose. "I feel like I could conquer the world in this. Or at least turn heads at the bar."

"The bar?" the red-hooded man asked and chuckled. "Oh, you'll do more than that. Wait for my new craft."

"So if we're going to the palace or something, maybe," Ru said, examining his skirt.

The red-hooded artist stepped forward, his brush emitting a beautiful, golden light. He raised it high and began painting in the air, using flowing and deliberate strokes. With each movement, a shimmering outline began to emerge—a door. Its frame was twisted like something out of a fairy tale. The wood was a dark mahogany. It was carved with beautiful patterns of vines and flowers, as well as strange creatures like chimeras and flying cats.

The door was somewhat uneven, featuring a handle designed to cat face.

"Oh, your face," Ru said with a big smile.

The artist applied the final touches, incorporating a delicate silver stroke for a touch of magic, a hint of blue for an ethereal presence, and a subtle golden glow that seemed to breathe with vitality.

When the door was complete, it hovered in the air, solid and real, as if it had always been there. The artist stepped back, admiring his work. Then he walked over to the door, bent down in an exaggerated bow, and gestured toward it with a flourish of his hand.

"Here you go, my lady," he said, his voice betraying an air of faux propriety. "Awaiting you is your gateway to la-la land."

Ru raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "My lady? Really? You're putting in a lot of effort tonight."

The artist straightened up. "Well, you are dressed like royalty. You should truly embody the role."

Ru rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his amusement. He stepped forward, the layers of his lolita-style skirt swishing dramatically with each movement. He paused in front of the door, glancing back at the artist. "You're sure this thing won't lead me to some creepy dungeon or something?"

The artist put a palm over his heart, pretending offense. "I am an artist, not a villain. Believe me, you'll enjoy what's on the other side."

Ru stopped for a few seconds before touching the golden handle.

"I hope I don't regret it," he murmured.

It turned with a gentle click, and the door creaked open to reveal a swirling tunnel of colorful light.The air smelled faintly of sugar and adventure.

Ru took a deep breath and said, "Welcome, my silly life."

With that, he stepped through the door, the artist close behind, and the crooked frame closed with a soft whoosh, leaving the dark streets behind.