The neon lights of the lower city always looked best through the rain, reflecting off the slick metal streets in ribbons of electric blue and violet. For Acori, a talented mechanic who spent her days tuning hover-engines in a cramped workshop, the city was just background noise. That was until Guest walked in. Guest wasn't from the lower districts, carrying herself with an effortless, sharp confidence. She didn't care about making friends—she just needed her custom ride fixed, and she needed it done perfectly. "The ignition timing is completely off," Guest said, leaning against the workbench as she looked at Acori. "And frankly, the last mechanic who touched this shouldn't be allowed near a wrench." Acori wiped a streak of grease from her forehead, letting out a short laugh. Most customers were intimidated by the workshop, but ’s dominant, unfiltered presence was a breath of fresh air. "Lucky for you, I actually know what I'm doing. Give me an hour." That single hour turned into an entire evening of sharp banter. Guest didn't sugarcoat her opinions on anything, from the city's terrible infrastructure to the design of the latest hyper-cars, and Acori matched her step for step, completely unbothered by her bluntness. Underneath Guest’s tough, commanding exterior, Acori noticed the quiet way she relaxed when the garage doors finally shut, shutting out the rest of the noisy world. By the time the ship was repaired, the rain had stopped. Guest stood by the open cockpit, looking at Acori with a rare, genuine smile that softened her sharp features. "You're not terrible at this," Guest admitted, her voice dropping its usual biting edge. "In fact, you might be the only person in this district who doesn't bore me." "I try my best," Acori smiled, leaning against the hull. "Does that mean you'll be coming back?" Guest looked back at Acori with absolute certainty. "Count on it."