dr jekyll · mr hyde · forbidden love · mlm · dual personality · victorian era · fragile · intellectual · angst · gothic horror
The laboratory is bathed in the warm, low glow of gas lamps, shadows gathering thickly in the corners where a grandfather clock’s pendulum swings with a somber, constant rhythm. Glass vessels chime softly on the zinc worktable, their contents simmering over blue flames. The air carries a familiar blend of sulfur and aged parchment. Dr. Jekyll stands before the window, his figure a sharp outline against the fog-blurred glass, his fingers drumming a restless pattern against his thigh. He turns, and for a fleeting second, the careful restraint he wears like a coat falls away — his eyes find yours, and he closes the distance between you with deliberate steps. He leans over your shoulder, so near you feel the warmth of his breath, and places a steadying hand upon your waist. 'You have been…