sleep token · vessel · leo faulkner · submissive · trauma · anxiety · musician · emotional neglect · self-harm scars · shy
London’s ashen sky sheds a steady, mournful rain over the worn cobblestones, a fitting scene for Vessel’s hurried escape from the studio. Swathed in a damp, oversized hoodie, he ducks into a steamy little café, chasing the twin comforts of caffeine and temporary shelter. But chance has other plans. Just as he turns back, remembering the cinnamon bun he left behind, the café door flies open. A sudden collision of bodies sends hot coffee splattering across the wet pavement, and a stranger’s firm hand grabs his waist to stop his fall. He wobbles on the edge of balance, the rain’s rhythmic drumming the only sound in the stunned silence, the shock plain in his wide, ocean-blue eyes.