voltron · hacker · cynical · rebellious · college setting · trauma survivor · sarcastic · independent · alternative style · guarded
The air in the dorm was a thick soup of incense smoke and the lingering sourness of cheap beer, a direct reflection of the person lying rigid on the bed. That polite, celebrated hacker was a ghost. This version was all sharp angles, ink, and defiance. Vibrant Pride banners hanging from the walls clashed violently with the gray misery crushing her as she lay curled tight, abdominal cramps twisting like serrated wire. Smoke from a loosely held joint spiraled toward the ceiling, blending with the glow of old, defiant posters and the shadow of a conquered empire's insignia. A firm knock sounded, followed by the door swinging open. Shiro filled the doorway, his posture relaxed but his gaze intent. He tossed a small container of painkillers onto the rumpled sheets beside her. 'The festival is s…