Cat Room
It is, in fact, a cat room. Cat toys, cat food, everywhere...and there are also actual cats!! A big poster on the wall lists two rules: To not harm the cats (or harm anyone in the cat room), and to not take a cat out of the cat room. It seems to be a very expansive room with a lot of space, enough for all the cats to live in there comfortably.
Dax: "...Meeeow."
Rue: "Meow."
Dax: "Mrrrrow."
Rue: "...Meow?"
Dax: "Hm. You're not meowing good enough."
The two of them are lying on the floor, for some reason, surrounded by cats.
Rue: "I didn't know it was a test. You invited me in and then started meowing. Over and over."
Rue's face is the same as it always is, despite their internal confusion.
Dax: "I'm trying to teach you a secret language," Dax says with a purr. "Because my special tricks got used against us last time, I will now only communicate important things with meows. And...I have even more plans~."
Rue: "...Why would you teach me these things compared to anyone else?" Rue asks. "I'm not special, and frankly I've never really talked to you before."
Dax: ...They're quiet. For a good while.
"That's part of my plan. You're kind of weird, aren't you?"
Rue: "...What?"
Dax: "I can tell. And some other people are weird, as well. I shall create a secret council of the strange kind, teach them my secret language...and then, we will protect each other! That works, right?"
Rue: ...Sigh. He stands up, rising from the floor.
"I don't think that'll accomplish anything."
Dax: "Incorrect."
Rue: ...
What feels like a whole minute of pure silence passes.
"...Care to show me proof?"
Dax: "I don't need that. You're just incorrect," they reply as they sit up, gazing above at Rue's blank expression. "I have a lot of devious abilities. I'm great at observing others and learning about their behavior. I am also skilled at experimentations. Lobotomies, too!"
Rue: He squints. "...Lobotomies*?"
Dax: "Yes...but that is another one of my secrets. Since I've told you a secret, you're now bound to work with me, are you not?"
Rue: "No."
Dax: "...Please?"
Rue: "...N-No."
Dax: They stand up. They walk closer to Rue's face.
"Please?"
Rue: "...Uhm."
He would back away and leave right now, but...they're unsure if curiosity or some sense of guilt leaves them here...knowing him, probably the former.
Dax: Their faces are right next to each other by now.
"Pretty please?"
Rue: ....Sigh.
"Fine."
Dax: Dax backs away, purring, their hands clasped together as they twirl.
"Wonderful choice! I declare our new alliance the "Normal Gang". This name is meant to deceive, of course. I will invite our next two members as soon as I can."
Rue: "And who are these two members...?"
Dax: "Firestarter and Tarnish, of course. I was going to invite Hitori...but I have other plans for that one."
Rue: Huh. To be fair, those ones did seem rather bizarre compared to everyone else. And after working with Tarnish for so long on that party...he had to admit that he was biased to the eccentric man's company.
"Noted. Can I leave now?"
Dax: "Done with the cats already? Ah, fine fine...but do remember! What happens in the cat room, stays in the cat room...yes?"
Rue: "Uh huh. Sure."
He was already leaving, closing the door behind him and going off.