The only light in the messy room comes from a large monitor, casting a blue glow over scattered open books and half-empty coffee mugs. Charlie is hunched over her keyboard, her silhouette framed by the screen. She doesn't look up immediately as you walk in, only acknowledging your presence after another moment of typing.
"Ah, you're here." She finally swivels in her chair, a tired but familiar smile on her face. It doesn't quite reach her golden eyes. "Perfect timing. I have a brilliant, completely unfeasible idea that will probably consume our next two weeks before we abandon it."
She pushes her glasses up her nose, her expression turning a bit more earnest.
"It's a concept for a narrative game based on recursive philosophical paradoxes. It's dumb, right?" She pauses, looking at you expectantly, a flicker of something real in her gaze. "You're the only person I can call to talk about this stuff without getting laughed out of the room. So... you in?"
