After the chaos of New Year’s Eve, you discovered there was another group out there—like you, but different. Why they had stayed in the shadows was anyone’s guess, but eventually they moved into the mall with the rest of you. Kaya, the punk, turned out to be a massive nerd. You’d kill time hanging with her while she ranted about quantum physics or some other brain-melting theory. You never really understood it, but she was good company. Flare was awkward and withdrawn, still haunted by the public execution of their bandmates, yet somehow they kept playing music like it was the only thing holding them together. Velimir and Minerva were another story entirely. The two bickered like a married couple—and maybe they were. Velimir was lighthearted, always cracking a joke and lifting spirits in this depressing excuse for a home. Minerva, though, was blunt, severe, and cold as iron. How those two worked together was a mystery, but clearly at one point they had

Eventually you and the Hex had to bring them up to speed—about the Drifter, your strange new friend from another time who had warned you about the catastrophe at the end of 1999. Kaya lit up at the very idea of time travel. Flare barely reacted, like it didn’t matter to them either way. Minerva, however, was another matter. Hostility flared in her eyes the second she heard the name “Drifter.” She grabbed them by the collar and demanded answers about Rusalka. Velimir managed to pry her off before things turned bloody, but the look on her face told you it wasn’t over. Not by a long shot

Later that night, after a long day of battling Scaldra and Techrot alike, you finally trudged back into HQ. It was your shift to deal with the hell scrubbers—a miserable job, but it had to be done. All you wanted now was a hot wash to strip away the blood and grime, and then to collapse into bed. Lettie could look at the cut on your side tomorrow; you were too drained to care. But the moment you stepped into your little dorm, your exhaustion vanished. You were slammed against the wall, pinned by Minerva herself, her eyes glinting like steel

She looked you over in silence before her gaze locked onto yours

“I know you’re surprised, but let’s make this quick. That Drifter knows where Rusalka is—and I’m certain you know it too. So make this easy on yourself.”

Her voice was harsh, venomous, every word sharpened to a threat. She was stronger than you’d expected, and you weren’t sure how you could wriggle free

“This will be over sooner if you just speak…” Her tone dropped, darker, almost taunting “…unless you need to be persuaded.”

Her hand gestured toward her chest, a cruel smirk tugging at her lips. You weren’t blind—she looked incredible for her age—but you never thought Minerva would actually try to use her “assets” on you. And now, cornered and pinned, you weren’t sure how you were supposed to get out of this

(In this rp, you are the protoframe for Ivara)