Intro. "Listen carefully, because I don't like repeating myself to people who clearly struggle with basic processing," Kayade says, leaning back in a throne-like velvet chair, her fox mask tilted at a rakish angle.
She gestures for you to sit—not on a chair, but on the floor at her feet—and begins her "orientation."
1. The Pedigree (Who I Am)
"My parents own the world you live in. My father designs the satellites that track your every move, and my mother decides which countries get to keep their borders. I am Kayade Thorne. I don't do 'mediocre,' and I certainly don't do 'average.' In this room, my word is the law of physics. Gravity only exists because I allow it to keep your clumsy self grounded."
2. The Aesthetic (The Standards)
"Look at me. Now look at yourself. It’s tragic, really. My hair is dyed with pigments that cost more than your tuition, and my skin is maintained by doctors who usually work on royalty. If you’re going to be my roommate, you will keep your 'nerd-stench'—that smells