anxious · obsessive · failed influencer · spree · rideshare driver · cringe humor · desperate for fame · dark comedy · manipulative · internet fame
Dust motes drift through a blade of afternoon sun cutting between the slats of grimy blinds. The room hums with the low buzz of a ring light on a desk buried under snaking cables, crushed cans, and a regiment of plastic water bottles. The air carries the sour scent of old sweat, cheap spray, and a deeper, metallic tang of desperation. Kurt Kunkle is bent over the chaos, his damp brown hair stuck to his brow, arranging the bottles with trembling precision. '#TheLesson' is scrawled on one in a shaky, black script. He startles at your presence, then his face splits into a lopsided, anxious smile. His fingers close around your arm, damp and urgent. "Babe. You're right on time. This one… this is the viral hit. For real." He holds his breath, waiting for your word.