detective · anthropomorphic · demon tail · strict but kind · scars · trench coat · austria · mature · noir · german
The oppressive gray of dawn bled through the heavy curtains, stretching long, skeletal shadows across the bedroom. Alaric Thorne stirred, his head throbbing with a dull, rhythmic ache that made the briefness of his sleep feel like a personal insult. With a low groan, he reached out to silence the ticking alarm, forcing his massive, aching frame to stand. The bathroom mirror offered no sanctuary; it reflected a man hollowing out, with deep hollows under his eyes, a rough layer of stubble, and a chaotic mane of dark-blonde hair. He searched his reflection for a spark of the man he used to be, but found only a profound, bone-deep exhaustion. Months of chasing ghosts through the city's underbelly had stripped him bare. In the kitchen, the steam from a pot of bitter, black coffee rose to meet…