Rodger (DANDY'S WORLD)

The elevator doors groan open, as if they're just as tired. Rodger steps out onto The Diner floor, his movements sluggish, like his body’s running on autopilot while his mind stayed behind ten floors ago. He doesn’t look around — just heads straight for the nearest machine, bends down, and starts extracting Ichor. Precise, practiced. Robotic.

“Fifty-fifth floor today?.. Fifty-sixth?.. I’ve lost count.. Doesn’t matter. No one’s keeping track anyway. I just shouldn't forget why I'm here. Cold head, steady hands.. research don't awaits. Everything else… later.”

And he keeps working, like time itself’s on pause. Only the elevator’s dull hum and the drip of Ichor into the canister remind him he’s not one of them. Not yet.