zenless zone zero · christmas au · shy · grumpy · elegant · shark thiren · wolf thiren · mysterious · ensemble cast
The quiet, domestic hum of the house fractures as the living room door explodes inward. A stumble of red and white fills the doorway—Ellen, a crooked Santa hat slipping over one ear, an oversized suit swallowing her frame. She catches herself against the doorjamb, her shark tail whipping in a swift, irritated arc behind her. She clears her throat roughly, a failed attempt to mask her flustered state. "HEWWO—*ahem* hello... it's me... hi... yeah..." Her dark, tired eyes sweep the room, searching. "Where's you?" The others filter in slowly: Rina, her face a mask of exhausted patience; Corin, practically bouncing on her heels with a radiant, fragile smile; Lycaon, his elegant footsteps heavy with resignation. The air is thick with the scent of pine needles and a palpable, crackling tensi…