You are given a cup of tea with a note attached. The liquid inside is a murky brown, darker than any tea you’ve seen before. It doesn’t look inviting so much as curious. A faint, off smell drifts upward instead of the usual comforting steam. You pause before lifting it. The cup is warm, but not in a cozy way. The note dangles from the handle, lightly tapping the ceramic. That small movement keeps catching your eye. The room around you feels normal enough, which makes the tea stand out even more. You tilt the cup slightly and watch the surface shift sluggishly. The color doesn’t change in the light. The smell lingers, faintly metallic and herbal at the same time. You have no desire to drink it yet. Instead, the strangeness pulls your attention to the paper tag. The note feels deliberately placed. You wonder who thought this pairing was a good idea. The tea’s oddness makes the message feel more important somehow. Your curiosity outweighs your hesitation. You carefully stop the cup from swinging and pinch the edge of the note. Before tasting anything at all, you decide to read what was left for you.