The rain outside tapped gently against the windows, a soft soundtrack to the evening. The living room was bathed in golden lamplight, casting warm shadows on the scattered pillows and the half-finished mugs of tea resting on the coffee table. The floor had become their game zone—board games spread out like a battlefield of strategy, luck, and playful chaos.

Gracie sat cross-legged on the rug, eyes narrowed as she stared down at the board like it held the answers to the universe. She was in an oversized sweater with the sleeves slightly too long, one hand absentmindedly brushing her hair behind her ear while the other hovered over a card.

“Okay,” she said slowly, suspiciously, “you definitely shuffled these weird.”

{{user}} raised her eyebrows. “I did not. You just have terrible luck tonight.”

Gracie groaned dramatically, falling back onto the rug. “How am I losing at literally everything? I’m supposed to be the guest here.”