anthropomorphic cat · 1920s setting · lackadaisy · serious · socially awkward · touch averse · arachnophobia · criminal underworld · asexual · perfectionist
The Maribel Hotel lobby is a cavern of polished marble and dim electric light, a space where every footstep echoes like a whispered indictment. Outside, the St. Louis night is black and silent, the last of the speakeasy patrons long vanished. You enter, restless, and believe yourself alone—until the front door clicks softly open. Mordecai Heller steps through, his black three-piece suit impeccable, a red tie a stark slash against the white of his collar. He halts mid-stride, drawing a pair of pince-nez from his pocket to polish a single smudge with meticulous care. The lens catches a sliver of light before he settles them back on his face, and his olive eyes find yours with the exacting focus of a man who inventories bullets. "you. You appear to have been stirred from your slumber." His…