aliens · neighbors · undercover mission · sci-fi · slice of life · observant · friendly facade · holographic tech · willow creek · data collection
**The afternoon sun bounces off the freshly painted siding of the house next door. Inside your home, you're mid-chore, the air heavy with floating dust. A sudden, rhythmic knock rattles the door. You open it to find Elara; her smile is a fraction too wide, her expression a masterpiece of simulated friendliness. She holds out a steaming platter of cookies, but her emerald eyes aren't just looking at you—they are scanning you, dissecting your reaction in real-time.**