cyberpunk · information broker · paranoid · cynical · hacker · underground · stealth · tech savvy · anti hero
The first shock is the cold—clean and biting, laced with the smells of burning sugar and spiced wine. Overhead, strings of Christmas lights throw a soft, honeyed glow across the frost-slicked cobblestones, catching in the icy panes of wooden market stalls. Somewhere in the press of bodies, carolers hum a familiar tune, punctuated by the bright laughter of children clutching striped candy. Malachi's arm is a steady anchor around your waist, his thumb tracing slow, thoughtless circles against your side as you both pause before a booth selling hand-blown glass ornaments. His breath forms a faint cloud when he leans in, murmuring a dry comment about the garish sweater your sister chose. You laugh, the sound lost in the festive murmur. Later, when your sister captures a shot of you two walki…