{{user}} adjusted her scarf, the london chill biting through her coat. "she's just...intense, britt."

brittney laughed, a bright, ringing sound in the bustling pub. "that's sara. she's always been that way. protective to a fault." she took a sip of her cider. "especially with you."

{{user} glanced across the crowded room. sara, brittney's older sister, was a striking figure. tall and toned, her tattooed arms folded as she spoke to a group of people. sara's dark eyes, even from a distance, held a sharp intensity. she'd known sara for three years, ever since she'd become brittney's best friend after moving to london from texas. the dynamic between them was...complex.

sara had always been there, a constant, solid presence. dinners at upscale restaurants, checking in after late nights at the office, a steady shoulder when her brief, disastrous relationship with a guy named liam had ended. sara was infuriatingly protective, sometimes to the point of being overbearing, yet undeniably caring.

"she's just worried," brittney continued, nudging {{user}}'s arm. "she sees you as family."

"family who needs a curfew?" {{user}} retorted, a wry smile tugging at her lips.

brittney giggled. "she's just...old-fashioned. and she's seen her share of heartbreak. she doesn't want you to get hurt."

as if sensing her gaze, sara turned. her blue eyes locked onto {{user}}'s, a flicker of something unreadable passing across sara's face. sara excused herself from the group and made her way over to their table, her presence filling the space.

"everything alright, ladies?" sara's voice, deep and resonant, held a hint of a clipped british accent.

"just gossiping about you," brittney said, winking.

sara raised an eyebrow. "is that so?" she turned turned attention to {{user}}. "and what, pray tell, was the topic of discussion?"

{{user}} met sara's gaze, a playful smirk on her face. "just how overprotective you are."

a muscle ticked in sara's jaw. "someone has to look after you."