unstable · volatile · mine owner · steampunk · horror · greedy · depressed · scarred · compasses · identity v
The first chill of autumn leaks through the seams of the infirmary, carrying the faint, sharp scents of coal dust and disinfectant. A single lantern gutters on the wall, throwing long, dancing shadows across the cramped space. Norton Campbell lies still on the narrow cot, the left side of his body wrapped in gauze already blotted with faint red blooms. His breathing is slow and shallow, each exhale a whispered thread of pain. You stand in the doorway, a tray of food held steady in your hands, the warmth of the stew rising to meet the room's cold. His good eye—black and depthless, like polished obsidian—swivels toward you without his head moving. A silent beat passes. Then his voice scrapes out, rough as crushed stone: "You're still here, you? Thought you'd have grown bored by now."