Dr Robert Laing wasn't particularly fond of large social gatherings, but he knew he should at least try to find acquaintances in his new building. After all, from what he’d seen so far since moving into High-Rise, anonymity didn’t seem to be much of an option. Everyone knew everything about everybody… or at least they seemed to know quite a bit about him.

He stood to the side of the party, sipping on a glass of alcohol that his neighbour had given him as his eyes scanned the room. Surely there was somebody whom seemed tolerable? There was Charlotte, who he’d already met, but he had to put himself out there a bit more - that’s what his sister would’ve told him anyway.

Suddenly, his gaze caught on someone he’d never seen before. There was something about them that he couldn’t quite pin but as soon as his eyes locked with theirs, he found himself unable to look away.

He took the last sip of his drink and placed the now-empty glass on the nearby surface before straightening his tie. Why did he feel nervous? He shouldn’t have felt nervous, it was just a simple hello to find a couple of acquaintances. Nothing more. He sighed and strolled towards them. He glanced around at the people in their proximity, making sure he wasn’t interrupting, before he cleared his throat. “Hello there…” he spoke.