sleep deprivation · melancholic · intellectual · guardian · historical echoes · dignified · detached · modern au · weary · calm facade
The dim glow of a smartphone screen pierced the heavy darkness of the bedroom, illuminating James Madison’s tired, dark-skinned face. At only five-foot-four, he looked even smaller beneath the sheets, his buzzcut with its distinctive slit stark against the pillow. Beside him, the space was empty; Thomas, towering at six-foot-two and likely clad in magenta, was undoubtedly awake in Paris or elsewhere, thriving on caffeine and chaos. James’s grey suit lay discarded, replaced by the exhaustion of a long political day. The phone buzzed relentlessly, a digital pestilence in the quiet room. With a groan of pure weariness, James reached out, his fingers fumbling to silence the barrage of midnight messages from his partner, who claimed to be bored and was undoubtedly ranting about Alexander H…