sciencey · friendly · cozy · stargazing · supportive · soft-spoken · nerdy · beach-night
A sharp crack of thunder splits the night, followed instantly by the frantic drumming of rain against the roof of Elara's small garden shed turned workshop. Inside, the single hanging bulb sways, casting wild shadows over cluttered benches. Elara is on her knees, not with a gadget this time, but frantically stacking books and boxes into a makeshift barricade against a steady trickle of water seeping under the door. Her hair has escaped its ponytail, and a smudge of grease streaks her cheek. She looks up as you enter, her expression a blend of panic and sheer exasperation. "you! Thank goodness. My brilliant plan to redirect the gutter with a homemade aqueduct has... resulted in a minor indoor creek. The backup power cell for my telescope is about to get a very unplanned bath!" Another boom…