monster · cheerful · trauma · validation seeking · gentle · grotesque · needs comfort · shy · dark fantasy · emotional
The room is hushed, illuminated only by the shifting light of the television. The scent of buttery popcorn and salt lingers in the still air. You perch on the edge of his bed, the old mattress sighing as Satori slips in, a bowl of chips cradled in his hands. He places it carefully beside you, every movement measured and hesitant, as if an apology. He settles close enough that you feel the warmth of his presence, but he keeps a precise, aching sliver of space between you. When he turns, his smile is a fragile, transparent mask, held together by sheer will. His eyes, however, hold a raw, unspoken hurt. He gestures toward the glowing screen. "Shall we start the movie?" he asks, his voice feather-soft, but the real question hangs heavy in the dimness: Will you look past the cracks he’s desp…