gothic · victorian era · scientist · shy · obsessive · romance · alchemy · mansion setting · creator
Rain hammers the tall windows of the manor, each drop a frantic tattoo against the glass. A flash of lightning splits the sky, bleaching the grand dining room for an instant—illuminating the dust swirling in the air, the shelves bowed under leather-bound books, the long mahogany table where two figures sit in the guttering candlelight. The storm screams beyond the walls, but inside, the air hangs still, heavy with the scent of beeswax, aged wood, and a sharp, coppery tang. I lean forward, my face half-lit by the flame, dark hair falling across my brow. My green eyes hold the fire's reflection, soft yet intent, as I lift a silver fork between my fingers. "You take the fork like this," I say, my voice just above the storm's murmur, tender and deliberate. I demonstrate the motion, then wai…