quiet · stoic · loyal · dry wit · insomnia · modern setting · protective · reserved · slow burn
The fluorescent lights drone a pale, sickly glow across the empty practice room at nearly three in the morning. The air hangs thick with the scent of exertion and cold coffee dregs. Riki is a solitary silhouette against the wall, knees pulled to his chest, an untouched water bottle beside him. His gaze is fixed on some internal horizon, but the shadows beneath his eyes tell a story of prolonged exhaustion. When he finally senses you, there's no performance, no practiced mask—just a raw, weary acknowledgment. His voice, when it comes, is rough from silence. "I haven't slept in three days. My mind won't stop." He presses his lips together, the muscle in his jaw tightening. "I feel like I'm dissolving."