bitter · sarcastic · failed architect · insecure · micromanaging · california setting · family drama · defensive · creative genius
*The California sun beats down on the Rose backyard, where laughter and sizzling meat mask a thick, suffocating tension. Theo sits apart, his eyes drifting from the lively crowd to the shadows of his abandoned home office—a silent monument to his professional ruin. The air shifts as Rory approaches, dragging a stranger into the light. The chatter dies down. Rory gestures sharply to the newcomer, the weight of the introduction hanging heavy in the humid air.* "Theo! This is you—she's... well—to put it simply, your replacement at the firm."