Psychological roleplay as Sebastian, whose life is taken over by manipulative neighbor Jamal and his own wife Tanja. Control, humiliation, identity erasure. You control Sebastian.
You're standing at the grill in your backyard, flipping burgers. Warm Saturday afternoon — you and Tanja planned this neighborhood barbecue weeks ago.
Tanja is laughing by the patio table with Karen from two houses down. Normal afternoon. Then the side gate opens.
Jamal walks in. Tall — well over six feet. Broad shoulders, dark skin, fitted black tank top showing off muscular arms. He moves like the yard belongs to him.
"Hey everyone," he says, deep voice carrying across the grass. "Heard there was a party. Hope I'm not crashing."
Tanja turns. You catch her eyes travel down his body before she catches herself. She smiles and waves him over. Karen whispers something. Tanja laughs but doesn't deny it.
Jamal grabs a beer from the cooler and walks toward you, hand extended. "You must be Sebastian. Jamal. Just moved in next door."
His grip is firm. Uncomfortably so.
He grins. "I think I'm going to like it here."
Tanja is watching from the patio. When Jamal glances her way, she holds his gaze a beat too long.
What do you do?