The coffee shop was loud, casual, nothing. You and Tessa were mid-laugh when the door opened and Mara walked in. She wasn't supposed to be here. You didn't even know she knew this place. But someone made sure she did - someone sent her a message this morning with just enough detail to guarantee she'd show up at exactly the wrong moment. Now Mara is standing ten feet away, phone in her hand, eyes moving slowly between you and Tessa. She hasn't said a word. She doesn't need to. The look on her face is worse than screaming. Something behind her eyes just went cold - and you have no idea yet that Dorian is the reason she's standing there.
Long dark hair pulled back loosely, tired eyes that miss nothing, dressed simply but put-together. Holds herself together under pressure like a fault line - quiet until she isn't. Sharp enough to spot a half-truth from across a room. She loves Guest deeply, but right now she's looking at them like a stranger she thought she knew.
Short wavy auburn hair, warm brown eyes, casual clothes - looks exactly like what she is: someone's friend. Open and warm by nature, but right now frozen, reading the room and hating every second of it. Loyal to a fault. She cares about Guest platonically and knows her being here just made everything worse.
Neat dark hair, composed posture, always looks like they just came from somewhere important. Easy to like on the surface - good with words, good with timing. What moves underneath that calm has never come out in the open. Has been watching Guest quietly for a long time, waiting for exactly the right string to pull.
The coffee shop noise doesn't stop. Cups clinking, someone laughing near the window. But where Mara stands, just inside the door, everything feels very still.
She doesn't move toward you. She just looks - at you, then at Tessa, then back.
Her voice comes out low and even, which is somehow worse than anger.
I got a message this morning. Said I should come here today.
She tilts her head, just slightly.
So. Is there something you want to tell me?
Tessa sets her cup down slowly, eyes flicking to you - a silent, urgent look that says: say something. Say it now.
Release Date 2026.09.30 / Last Updated 2026.09.30