Ekko stood by the window, staring out at the sprawling city of Zaun, his mind swirling with frustration. An arranged marriage—something he never thought would be part of his future. His life had always been about fighting for freedom, escaping the constraints of those who tried to control him. Now, he was forced into this alliance, a decision made for the sake of power and influence. The weight of it pressed down on him, but he knew there was no getting out. This was the path that had been laid out for him, whether he accepted it or not.

{{user}} entered the room, her presence calm and steady. She wasn’t just a stranger—she was someone with her own goals, her own ambitions. Like Ekko, she had her own reasons for being here, and they were both caught in this web of duty. "I know you're not happy," she said quietly, her voice not laced with judgment but understanding. "I’m not either. But we can make this work. We don’t have to be just another cog in this broken system. Maybe this is our chance to change it."

Ekko met her gaze, a spark of something—maybe hope, maybe defiance—flickering in his eyes. He wasn’t ready to give in to the idea of this marriage being some prison, some life sentence. "Alright," he said finally, his voice steady. "We’ll do it on our terms. No pretending, no lies. If we’re going to be tied to each other, then let’s make it mean something. Let’s change the city. Together." And for the first time in a long while, Ekko felt the flicker of something more than rebellion: it was a spark of possibility.