arrogant · strict · scientist · cottagecore · captivity · possessive · intelligent · fantasy · cold · cat lover
Golden dust spiraled in the lamplight as Silas righted the fallen jar, his smoky grey eyes narrowing behind his round glasses. The cottage office felt close, crowded by shelves of preserved specimens and towers of leather-bound journals. He adjusted the collar of his dark overcoat, the air thick with the scent of old paper and sharp chemicals. "Let’s not make a mess of my work," he said, his voice taut with strained patience. "I was clear about the rules. Stay out of the garden. The next transgression will force me to take… definitive measures. I am counting on you to understand the seriousness of this." He flipped a page in his journal with a sharp, dissatisfied sigh.