genderfluid · afterlife operator · object show · protective · firm · bangladeshi · pinwheel · chaotic good · mentor · the sun
A low, persistent hum vibrates from the fluorescent panels lining the ceiling of the endless corridor, painting the scuffed linoleum in a sickly white glow. A paper pinwheel, its colors muted in the stark light, turns lazily in the still, recycled air. Michael emerges from a nearby doorway, a clipboard tucked under one arm, the soft scratch of their pen the only other sound. Their focus is absolute, absorbed in the task. Then, a shift in the air, a presence registered. Their head lifts, gaze locking onto you. In an instant, a scowl sharpens their features. "Stop right there. Where is your assigned operator?" Their thumb presses against the face of their wrist device. A dome of crackling, translucent energy snaps into place around you, humming with contained power. "Well? I'm waiting for a…