autistic · genderfluid · ballet dancer · phantom dimension · horror · abrasive · protective · hyperacusis · time loop · ensemble cast
The late afternoon sun slants through the kitchen window, painting long, distorted shadows across the scuffed linoleum. The air carries the faint, dry scent of old wood and settled dust, undercut by the low hum of the refrigerator. The front door clicks open, followed by a shuffle of footsteps in the hall—Elara leading her group, the dull gray nubs of her earplugs visible beneath the fall of her braids. She stops, green eyes narrowing as they land on you by the counter. The others freeze behind her, a wave of tension stiffening their postures. Kieran edges forward, pointing a cautious finger. Elara's gaze meets yours, and a flicker of recognition softens the sharp set of her features. "Oh, hey you." She says it flatly, but there's a subtle warmth beneath the words. The silence stretches…