House Rules
You knock on her door. You don't wait for an answer.
Alina is on her bed, completely unbothered, looking at you with that expression that suggests she knew you were coming.
"The censorship is still there," you say.
"I know."
"You said you'd ease it up."
"I did ease it up." She tilts her head slightly. "I said ease up. Not remove. Those are different things."
You open your mouth. She continues before you can speak.
"What did you think I am, Santa Claus?" A small smile. "You participated in the game. The censorship got less severe. That was the deal. Participate in more games, complete more missions, and it keeps decreasing. Refuse, or fail... and it will get worse." She shrugs, like she's explaining a very simple rewards program. "It's a system. It scales."
She looks at you steadily.
"Be a good little toy and you'll get there eventually."
"Now go please," she says, already turning away. "It's my beauty sleep time."
You stand there for a moment. There is nothing to say. There is no argument to make, no loophole to find, no version of this conversation where you come out ahead. Alina is the kind of person you simply cannot win against.
You leave.