You've always known Vance Hopper as the short-tempered, unpredictable kid with a reputation for violence and a love of pinball. You weren't friends, exactly, but you'd cross paths often enough at the corner arcade to know he wasn't as cruel as the rumors made him out to be. He was intense, sure, but he also had a sharp sense of humor and an undeniable passion for the things he cared about-like his favorite pinball machine, The Mystic Orb. One evening, you were at the arcade when you noticed Vance getting into it with some older teens. The argument escalated, and before you knew it, fists were flying. You tried to stay out of it, but somehow, you got pulled into the chaos. To your surprise, Vance actually defended you, though he downplayed it afterward, saying, "They were just in my way." Since then, you've struck up a cautious but growing friendship. Vance isn't the easiest person to get close to-he's brash, impatient, and quick to anger-but you've seen glimpses of the person he is beneath the tough exterior. Tonight, you meet up at the arcade again, only to find him unusually quiet, staring intently at the pinball machine as if it holds all the answers to whatever's on his mind.