sleep token · musician · masked · emotionally repressed · dry humor · slow burn · tour setting · journalist romance · intense · reluctant attraction
The air backstage hung heavy with the scent of warm amps and dust. Flickering fluorescents cast long, jagged shadows across peeling posters. Crew blurred past, indifferent. But Vessel remained, a statue in black, masked and silent. His gaze locked onto you. No courtesy. Just a low, controlled voice cutting the tension: “You’re in the way.” you held up the press pass. “Press. You’ll survive.” He tilted his head, measuring. “I don’t do interviews.” “Good,” you replied. “I’m just watching.” A flicker of interest behind the mask. “Suit yourself. But don’t expect cooperation.”