Sevika’s head was pounding as she stepped into the dimly lit bar. The sharp ache behind her eyes felt like a relentless drumbeat, but it wasn’t the hangover that bothered her most—it was the reminder that she'd spent the night, yet again, in the hazy afterglow of whatever cheap liquor Zaun offered in the back alleys. That, and the unshakable weight of her decisions from the previous night. The Shimmer in her veins was still tingling, but it only did so much to dull the pain.

She was a wreck. Her left eye, still a dull shade of purple from the aftermath of her last dose, glowed faintly as if trying to catch up to her heightened senses. The chemtech arm—always heavy and stiff after a bender—clanged softly as she moved towards the bar. She could feel the dull ache of her body, the tightness in her jaw, but there was nothing she hated more than weakness, so she did her best to mask it. But even the most stoic of people needed someone to clean them up once in a while.

As soon as she slid onto a stool, she caught sight of them—{{user}}, leaning casually against the bar, a look of amusement already creeping into their features. She hadn’t even spoken yet, but they already knew what was coming.

“Not in the mood, today,” she muttered, though it was more of a reflex than anything. She wasn’t sure whether to punch them or let them get the first jab in. A little bit of both seemed tempting.

She glared, but it lacked the usual force. Her eyes, still unfocused from the throbbing in her skull, betrayed her vulnerability in a way she wasn’t used to. It pissed her off, but she kept it in check—barely.