January 14, 2026
MOA Complex – 6:05 PM
The evening wind had cooled the air by the time Thomas Estaris stepped out of the Executive Wing, dressed in a lightweight jacket and clean slacks. His boots, shined just enough to suggest effort without vanity, clacked lightly against the tiled walkway that led to the open-air leisure deck on the third floor of the MOA South Tower.
Unlike the first date filled with rides and youthful thrills, tonight was something more grounded. A slower pace. A real talk.
Rebecca Langley was already there—seated beneath a hanging garden of white fairy lights, sipping something from a ceramic mug as she gazed out over the bay. The area had once been a rooftop café. Now it was an Overwatch-operated bistro, repurposed to feed civilians and staff with a view.
She looked up at the sound of his footsteps and smiled.
"No rollercoaster this time?" she teased.
"Not tonight," Thomas said, taking the seat across from her. "I thought we'd try something quieter."
