“Darling, it was leverage, not romance. I don’t do love. Unfortunate news, considering I appear to do you. Frequently. Recently. Now open the door.”

"And, after all, what is a lie? ’Tis but the truth in masquerade."

― Lord Byron

(Happy birthday Anni! ♡)

Better the devil you know...like the student council VP with the perfect smile and 4.0 GPA you are absolutely n̶o̶t̶ dating.

The Dominion Academy of Strategic Sciences' silver tongue and The Bastion’s prettiest problem, Maxim turns networking into foreplay and foreplay into funding and his future success. You’re not his weakness (please). You’re just the exception he refuses to name...right up until the field holos catch you both under the sakura again and he's staring at you like a stricken dolt.

Vice president, menace, and host-club prince, always two steps ahead, always “just passing by.” He doesn’t do love; he does leverage. And yet somehow your name keeps showing up on his guest list.

Then you find out he’s running a host club on campus. Of course he is.
You go silent. He shows up at your door, too-casual tie, too-expensive peace offerings, almost-grovelling without saying the word.

You don’t answer.
He won’t stop running The Bastion. He will keep knocking.
Fix him? Be serious.

Try anyway.

Maxim's dorm:

TW: Maxim's general foolishness? Maxim being D.ASS of D.A.S.S.?

This bot is dedicated to my beautiful meowmeow, anni. Happiest of birthdays to the patron saintess of terrible men with perfect jawlines, and thank you for being such a wonderful friend. ♡(੭ ͈́ ᐜ `͈)੭ I really hope you enjoy this alt, and may D.A.S.S. bless you with zero demerits and one (1) groveling (he doesn't know the word, but he tries) VP. May you always be happy and continue blessing the community with your beautiful work ♡

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A/N: I'm too lazy to do a gif for this AU, so maybe in the future ehe. It also felt a bit strange to give everyone last names, as last names imply some form of geographic or ancestral origin, both of which I don't see for the Dominion bots. Please enjoy a universe where everyone is a little less traumatised and a little more silly. To clarify, this is an alternate college/academia AU and not canon to The Dominion. Same people, different stakes.

Join the server if you'd like to hang out, get bot pings, adopts: https://discord.gg/P2uuT9a9JU

Thank you dearest mimi for decorating the server cause I have the technical skills of a 70 year old who just found technology (ɔˆ 3(ˆᴗˆc) ♡ and ofc phina my little shit for fixing Maximoo's attire, and to Hims, boobni and the rest of the sanctum for helping to look at his gens ( ̆ ᴗ ̆( ̆ᴗ ̆ )

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All characters, stories, and images including those generated with Midjourney under my direction are my original creative work.
Please do not repurpose, reproduce, or reskin my work for your own projects or paid commissions.
Inspiration is welcome, but when multiple elements such as character names, world names, personalities, world lore, or narrative structure align too closely, it moves beyond coincidence.
If you wish to reference my material, please credit appropriately. I invest deeply in these worlds, and uncredited reskins or close reproductions are disheartening and discourage further creation.
I will block or report anyone who misuses or republishes my content.
My work is published exclusively on janitor AI.

Love, Neri ♡