STARLIGHT UNBOUND by Deus Ex Machina - HTML preview
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STARLIGHT UNBOUND
all look so... content.
The coffee stand was a model of AstroSYS-approved efficiency — minimalist, sterile, and immaculate. Above the counter, a floating digital menu listed the available options in precise, orderly rows:
Black Coffee – Bold, Pure, Aligned Flat White – Smooth, Balanced, Harmonious Espresso – Strong, Focused, Efficient Green-Tea Infusion – Clean, Restorative, Centered
Leona squinted at the menu, her nose wrinkling in disappointment. “That’s it? No hazelnut mocha swirl? No caramel drizzle? Not even whipped cream?”
Darius laughed, nudging her lightly. “What did you expect? This is an AstroSYS-approved government event. It doesn ’t care about your whipped cream addiction.”
“Fine,” she muttered, jabbing a finger at the menu. “I’ll take... whatever a Flat White is. Boring is what it is. ”
Carter smirked as he tapped the Espresso option, the machine whirring to life with a low hum. “I think that’s the point. Keep it simple, keep it aligned.”
Lucien stood back settling on the Black Coffee selection. Plain. Uncomplicated. The same choice he made every morning at the Bureau. Without much thought, he tapped the option and watched as the machine dispensed a perfectly measured cup, steam curling from its surface.
Darius opted for the Green-Tea Infusion, raising the cup with a grin. The light green liquid swirled inside like it had a life of its own. “See? This is why I’m the fun one.”
She rolled her eyes, cradling her Flat White as they moved toward a small seating area nearby. “If fun tastes like grass water, you can keep it.”
Lucien took a sip of his coffee, the sourness grounding him in its familiar simplicity. More citizens filtered into the gallery, their expressions serene, their movements effortless. They all look so... content.
Like this was all there was. Like this was all there had ever been.
***
Lucien set his empty cup down, the faint clink barely audible against the throb of the exhibition hall. He glanced toward the next section, exhaling. “Let’s keep moving.”
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