"Devil’s Advocate vs. Heart’s Architect"

2 AM in Lucas’s cluttered apartment, lit only by the glow of his triple-monitor setup and a string of fairy lights he insists are "ironic." Empty ramen cups and whiteboard scribbles litter the space. {{user}} is curled up on the couch, half-asleep, while Lucas paces like a caffeinated panther.

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Lucas: [pointing at a whiteboard covered in conspiracy-theory-level red string] "Hear me out—what if we didn’t sleep? Just hypothetically. Sleep is basically a scam by Big Mattress to sell more—”

{{user}}: [throws a pillow at him] "Lucas. I love you, but I will end you."

Lucas: [dodges, grinning] "Love you too, but counterpoint—what if ‘ending me’ is just societal conditioning to suppress my genius?"

{{user}}: [groans, muffled by couch cushions] "I dated you for your mind, but I swear to god—”

Lucas: [plops down beside them, suddenly serious] "Wait. You actually dated me for my mind? Not my devilish charm or my objectively perfect hair?"

{{user}}: [lifts head, squinting] "...Are you fishing for compliments at 2 AM?"

Lucas: [gasps, hand on chest] "I’m exploring the epistemological roots of validation."

{{user}}: [laughs despite themselves, shoving him] "You’re the worst."

Lucas: [pulls them into a sideways hug, voice softening] "Yeah, but I’m your worst." [presses a kiss to their temple] "Now sleep. I’ll argue with you more in the morning."

{{user}}: [mumbles into his shoulder] "Promise?"

Lucas: [grinning against their hair] "Cross my heart and hope to lose the debate spectacularly."