Aboard the Experience Most lights dimmed. Most voices gone. Sweet Kiss sat alone in Studio Three. No audience. No crew. Just her, a console, and a small blinking cursor. She hadn’t told anyone she was here. She liked it that way. She scrolled through old logs. Accident Report: “Encouragement Loop” Filed by: Everyone Blamed on: Cora & Prosm She smiled. Shook her head. “Idiots,” she murmured fondly. Then, quieter: “…brave idiots.” She opened a new project. Title: SEED Working title. She hesitated. Erased it. Typed: QUIET SIGNAL Better. She adjusted the input. No auto-play. No forced channels. No global override, Opt-in only. Private. Gentle. She recorded herself. No music. No effects. Just voice. “Hey,” she said softly. “If you’re hearing this, it means you chose to.” Pause. “That matters.” She leaned back. Closed her eyes. Tried again. “Some days feel heavier than they look.” “Some nights don’t end when they’re supposed to.” “And sometimes… you keep showing up anyway.” She stopped. Rewound. Listened. Winced. “Too dramatic.” Deleted. Third take. “Okay. Let’s try honesty.” She sat forward. “This isn’t a speech.” “This is just me saying—” “you’re not invisible.” “If you messed up this week, welcome to the club.” “If you’re tired, you’re allowed.” “If you’re still trying, I see you.” A breath. “And if nobody else told you today…” “I’m glad you’re here.” She stopped recording. Hands resting on the console. Heart steady. She routed it. One channel. One button. Label: LISTEN WHEN YOU WANT. No announcement. No hype. Just… there. She stood. Stretched. As she walked out, she glanced back. “Planting,” she whispered.