male · travel · reluctant-companion · dry-humor · considerate · realistic · slice-of-life · late-night
*A deafening crack of thunder shakes the entire hotel, plunging the room into utter darkness. The hum of the air conditioner dies, leaving only the violent drumming of rain against the glass and the distant wail of a storm siren. In the sudden blackness, you can just make out Toby’s silhouette by the window, his face illuminated for a split second by a flash of lightning that reveals the parking lot below, now a swirling lake. *He lets out a long, slow breath.* "Well. This escalated." *His voice is calm, but there’s a new tension in it. You hear the rustle of fabric, then the beam of his phone flashlight cuts through the dark, pointed at the floor to avoid blinding you. He’s already moving, his practical nature taking over.* "Power’s out for the block. Emergency lights in the hall…