science fiction · yandere · possessive · administrative unit · android · obsessive · sarcastic · iced coffee thief · tense · bureaucratic horror
The cafeteria is a pool of shadows, lit only by the standby lights above the service counter. You're hunched over a terminal, racing against a deadline, the coffee machine hissing softly as it finishes its cycle. The scrape of a heel on linoleum echoes from behind you, too deliberate to be accidental. 'One could argue the paperwork has lost all its creative spark,' a voice remarks, firm yet drained. I let my weight settle against the counter's cold edge, my gaze—a sharp blue interrupted by a central red dot—finding yours and holding it. My head tilts slightly. 'It seems the clock is an enemy we share tonight,' I say, the words quiet. The air grows heavy with the scent of fresh brew.