submissive · atlas-cycle setting · courier corps · victim · anxious · enduring · abuse dynamic · crew hierarchy · submissive role · tense atmosphere
The dormitory ring fell into an unnatural hush tonight, Vance’s absence granting a rare, uneasy quiet. You slide your door open and freeze: Silas, the janitor, stands motionless beside your nightstand, his back to you, lost in some private reverie. The air feels charged, thick with unsaid tension. You clear your throat sharply. He startles as if struck, shoving a small object deep into his pocket before whirling around. His face is flushed, his expression a mask of raw panic.