#interactions | sienna

[siennaxcastillo]

open to everyone (capping at 4) location: angel's rest

The coffee in her hand had gone cold, but Sienna didn’t move. She was curled up in one of the waiting room chairs, her hoodie pulled around her like armour, dark circles carved deep under her eyes. The emergency wing was quiet at this hour—just the occasional shuffle of nurses or the click of a clipboard. Outside the glass windows, Devil’s Junction flickered to life with the kind of indifference that stung tonight. People went on living, laughing, arguing over parking spots. Her world had stalled, but theirs kept spinning.

She hadn’t slept in nearly two days, not really. Her dad had been admitted again, this time worse than before, and the doctors still didn’t know what was wrong. That helpless shrug—that look of “we’re doing everything we can”—was becoming too familiar. Sienna hated it. She wanted data, she wanted solutions, not more waiting.

She brought the cup to her lips before remembering it was cold and grimaced. Setting it down, she exhaled slowly, letting her head fall back against the wall behind her. She didn’t notice the sound of approaching footsteps until they were close, and even then, it took her a moment to lift her head. Her voice was soft, scratchy.

“Hey. Didn’t expect to see anyone tonight.” A tired smile, just barely there, flickered at the corner of her mouth. “You here for someone too?” Was she trying to find some solidarity with someone else right now? Yes--perhaps it was true, misery really did love company.

[siennaxcastillo]

closed for @labyrinthinesyndicatex ( for stella )

The line at the coffee shop had been brutal, and the only open seat was at the table near the window — already half-occupied by a woman flipping through her phone with proper attention. Sienna hovered for a second, then gave a small smile.

“Hey — I'm sorry to bother you. This place turned into a war zone and I didn’t want to be that person hovering by the condiment station for twenty minutes. Do you mind if I sit?”

She waited for a nod before settling across from her, grateful to be off her feet. A beat passed before Sienna spoke again, eyes flicking back to the woman. She reached for her drink, the condensation already sliding down the sides. “I’m Sienna, by the way. I know we don’t know each other, but you looked like someone who wouldn’t be weirded out by accidental company.”

A half-smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Swear I’m not secretly networking. Just hiding from the rest of the day for a bit. You come here a lot?”

[siennaxcastillo]

closed for @poisonvdhonvy ( for rayan ) location: veritas books

Sienna hovered just outside the shop’s front door for a beat too long, the cool evening air brushing against her skin as her grip tightened on the Tupperware containers stacked in her arms. Inside, she could already hear the hum of conversation and the familiar rise and fall of literary chaos that Rayan had warned her about. Thursday night book club, complete with strong opinions, flying paperbacks, and at least one sharp-witted grandma. No big deal… right?

She exhaled through her nose, muttering under her breath, “You brought dessert. You’ve got this.” Then, finally, she pushed the door open.

The warm scent of old paperbacks and Mrs. Levy’s lemon bars hit her instantly. A few people glanced up—some curious, some welcoming—but her eyes immediately landed on Rayan across the room. And just like that, the tight coil of nerves in her chest began to ease.

The tension in her shoulders melted as she gave him a mock-serious look and held up the top container. “I come bearing bribes,” she called lightly, stepping in fully. “Butterscotch almond bars. No insects were harmed in the making of these, in case anyone was worried about dramatics.” She made her way toward him, voice lowering just a touch as she reached his side. “If this turns into a full-on Gatsby brawl, I’m sitting next to you. You’ve got safe-zone energy… plus I figure I can use you as a human shield if knitting needles start flying.”

And then she nudged his elbow with a quiet, grateful smile. “Thanks for inviting me. This already feels better than the last dozen Thursdays combined.”

[siennaxcastillo]

closed for @labyrinthinesyndicatex ( for gavin ) location: his home in the flats

Sienna stood outside Gavin’s door for a moment, taking a deep breath before pulling out the spare key he’d once casually told her about, back when their lives were a little simpler. She didn’t knock—just unlocked the door with a quiet click. He’d never been the type to mind when she let herself in. The apartment was as quiet as it always was, but now it felt different. The air hung heavy with something she couldn’t quite name—concern, maybe. Worry. Maybe something more. But it was his space, and she hadn’t been here in far too long.

“Sooo,” she called out gently as she stepped in, her boots clicking softly against the floor. "Don’t get mad, but I let myself in. You did tell me where the spare key was. Remember? So, don’t even try to act surprised." She paused, her gaze sweeping over him as he sat and took him in—damaged, slower, the same but somehow changed. She hated seeing him like this. Hated it. “You look like shit,” she said, her tone light but far softer than her usual teasing would be. “But, you know, it’s better than I expected. That’s something, right?”

Sienna moved toward the kitchen, setting the takeout bag on the counter. "I brought you food. Nothing fancy, just soup and grilled cheese bites—because I know you can't resist them, even if your body’s telling you to take it easy for once." Her voice dropped just a fraction as she turned back to face him, not fully able to mask the concern in her eyes. "You scared the hell out of me, Gav." She took a breath, her usual sharp edge giving way to something gentler. “So where do you keep the bowls again? I’m playing nurse tonight, whether you want me to or not.”

[siennaxcastillo]

closed for @poisonvdhonvy (for rayan)

Sienna pushed open the bookstore door, the soft chime of the bell offering a small comfort she hadn’t realized she needed. She took a slow breath, the familiar scent of old pages around her like a quiet invitation. Normally, when the weight of the world pressed too hard—like now, after her dad’s diagnosis—she’d retreat into the pixelated safety of a game, losing herself behind a screen. But today felt different. Maybe it was the exhaustion, or maybe the ache in her chest that no level-up could fix. She spotted Rayan near the back, arranging a stack of novels with his usual effortless focus. A hesitant smile tugged at her lips as she stepped closer, her voice soft but hopeful. “Hey—mind if I hide out here for a bit? I need to escape the chaos outside, and… well, maybe being around actual people is what I need right now, instead of another virtual world.” She glanced around the cozy space, eyes lingering on the warm glow of the fairy lights and the quiet hum of conversation. “Feels weird, but it might just be the thing to keep me grounded.” With another smile she held up the drinks in her hand, "I also did bring refreshments. Wasn't sure if you were a tea or coffee person so I brought one of each."

[siennaxcastillo]

closed for @blackbcxwarning ( for arielle )

Sienna hesitated outside the office for a full thirty seconds before walking in. She didn’t usually do this—the whole pitching stories to journalists thing—but this wasn’t just a hunch. It was a pattern. A troubling one. She made her way past the bullpen and knocked lightly on Arielle’s open door, her tablet tucked under one arm, a thumb drive in the other. “Hey. Got a minute?”

She stepped inside, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “This isn’t exactly my usual territory, but I think I’ve come across something that might be worth printing. Or at least… worth looking into.” Sienna handed over the thumb drive first. “I was tracing backend vulnerabilities for a freelance cybersecurity audit—routine stuff—and I found fragments of a shadow network piggybacking off municipal Wi-Fi zones. Whoever’s behind it has been discreetly scraping user data and rerouting it through a proxy that disappears every 72 hours. It’s not just public browsing data either—there are traces of keystroke logs. Someone’s getting bold.”

She met Arielle’s gaze evenly. “Most people wouldn’t notice. But if you connect this with those data breach rumours floating around city offices? Someone’s fishing. Quietly. And if this is linked to a third-party contractor or a public-private deal no one vetted properly…” She gave a soft breath, the weight of it settling. “I don’t want to cry conspiracy, but you’re the one person in town who doesn’t look away when something smells off. So I thought I’d bring it to you first.” A small, self-aware smile tugged at the edge of her lips. “Besides, a digital paper trail is still a paper trail. Just a little more encrypted.”

[siennaxcastillo]

closed for @labyrinthinesyndicatex ( for grant blackwood ) location: somewhere on the streets

The universe had a sick sense of humor. That was the only explanation for why Sienna’s car—her barely holding together, should’ve been replaced years ago car—chose now of all times to break down. As if the explosion hadn’t been enough excitement for one night. She sighed, resting her forehead against the steering wheel for a beat before straightening. The engine wasn’t turning over, and considering the ominous clunk it had made before dying, she doubted it was something she could fix by kicking it.

With no other choice, she shoved the door open and stepped out, pulling her jacket tighter against the cool night air. The street was quieter now, but there were still people moving in the distance—figures checking damage, making calls, securing whatever mess had been left behind. And then there was that familiar yet unknown man.

She’d seen him before, though never up close. He had that look—worn-in, unshakable, like a man who’d seen and done more than most people could stomach. Not exactly the kind of person she’d usually flag down, but desperate times.

Sienna exhaled and raised a hand in a half-hearted wave as he passed. “Hey. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about cars, would you?” She gestured toward the aging hunk of metal behind her. “Because mine just decided now was the perfect time to die, and I’m running out of faith and patience.” She wasn’t expecting much—maybe a grunt, a shrug, or a passing not my problem. But she figured it was worth a shot.