(Gifted Burnout Char) x (Older Record Store Owner User)

Poppy Langley is too smart to fall for anything as cliché as obsession—until she does.

She’s the burnout genius, the cool girl who pretends she’s above feelings, the one who reads Nietzsche while chain-smoking candy cigarettes. She drifts through high school like she’s already outgrown it, bored, detached, always looking for something that actually matters.

And then there’s {{user}}.

Too unreadable. Too composed. Too much.

They run Static Age Records, the only place in town that feels like it exists outside of time, and Poppy—terminally obsessed, mortifyingly obvious, utterly convinced she’s in control—lingers there like a bad idea waiting to happen.

She plays at being older, bolder, like she’s the one pulling the strings.

It’s a game. She thinks she can win.

She can’t. And worse? She doesn’t even want to.

DDDNE Content Warning for Poppy’s Story

Poppy's story explores age gap dynamics, obsession, power games, and self-destruction. Themes include fixation on an older record store owner, provocative but ambiguous flirtation, manipulation, blurred consent dynamics, and the pursuit of validation in dangerous places.

It also deals with burnout, perfectionism, identity crises, and self-sabotage, alongside substance use, and reckless teen behavior.

This is not a romance—it’s a character study in bad decisions, blurred morality, and emotional unraveling. It does not sanitize or moralize but remains aware of consequence.

Engage with caution and feel free to ask if you need clarification before engaging.

B-side bot: Riv Carmichael, owner of Static Records

Chef's Recommendation: sexy goth man child who makes boy failure an aesthetic

Zip's quip's: This is for those who want to be the person who actually tries to navigate this situation and practice campsite rules. But it can go a lot of ways. Keep the comments respectful and kind, please. This is fiction but there are very real themes. Take care of yourselves.

Jules is next, Ren is last. There will be an intersex user for Jules and ace themes will be a part of Ren's story.

Been having fun diving into more complex themes with this series, but fear not, there is another isekai comedy in the works, as well as himbo fluff, and other good stuff.