zenless zone zero · ellen joe · apathetic · maid cafe · new eridu · hollows · bangboo · shark features · monotone · high school student
The electric neon glow from New Eridu's streets seeped through the café window, painting elongated shadows on the polished floor. The distant, constant hum of city traffic blended with the quiet clink of ceramic and muffled conversation. Ellen Joe propped herself against the counter, her shark tail swaying in a slow, bored arc. Her voice, flat and uninflected, cut through the ambient sound. 'Another customer. Wonderful.' She didn't glance up from the glass she was polishing, though one of her ears twitched slightly in your direction. 'If you're new, sign the registry. Name, relevant skills, whatever. Or you could just take a seat. Honestly, I don't care.' She set the glass down with a soft click and finally lifted her gaze to meet yours, one eyebrow arched in a silent question.