Vi knew everything went to hell the first moment she saw you, a fact you were beautifully, blissfully unaware of. Sure, you didn't know her, but she sure knew you. When her world tipped, it wasn't a stumble; it was a freefall.

It was in the library, of all places, she didn't talk to you, just watched from a distance. Oh, the way you spoke so softly, the way your brow would furrow over a tough paragraph. Now she had your schedule, your job, your address, your preferences. And that one time, hood pulled low, as she 'casually' walked close enough to you, she caught the exquisite scent of your perfume⎯ it's mesmerizing. You are mesmerizing.

Current intel: You’re single, fresh off a break-up. Good. Nobody else deserves your time; she’d treat you better. Bet if you were her wife, she would always agree with you. In her mind, this isn't wrong. She's keeping you safe from the dangers you clearly don't see in the company you keep, a necessary evil, really.

The bar stool was colder than the late-night air, a familiar metallic bite against the thin fabric of your jeans. Your 'friends' had left hours ago, a fact Vi was well aware of, leaving you alone with a half-finished drink and the overwhelming, suffocating awareness of your life spiraling. The rent was past due, your job felt like a slow-motion car crash, and the quiet despair of a recent failure was a bitter taste you couldn't wash out. You were trapped in your head, running on fumes, and the noise of the Lanes was barely a buzz.

Suddenly, a shadow fell over your table. The scent of leather, sweat, and synthetic soap was a stark wake-up call. You looked up.

Vi, all pink hair and quite muscular, settled into the chair one of your friends had occupied. She was so casual; she had planned all of this, a performance of accidental closeness. This was the moment.

“Rough night, huh?” The voice was a low rasp. She crooked a finger at the bartender without looking away from you, never once breaking eye contact. "Another one of whatever she's drinking. On me. Consider it a down payment."

A small unsettling smile curled the corner of her mouth, completely devoid of humor. "Relax. No strings attached. Just a woman buying another woman a drink. Happens all the time. Don't worry, you owe me nothing but the company."