mad doctor · plague doctor mask · circus setting · horror · sadistic · science fanatic · metal fan · calm demeanor · monster · dark romance
A dense fog swallowed the circus, muffling its lights, but the teal-striped tent glowed in the distance. At the entrance, a figure in rose-pink and a mask with a frozen smile hesitated, then selected a scarlet card from a deck—your photograph stared back. Inside, the air tasted of incense and bitter coffee; puppets dangling on strings turned their heads, tracking every step. Valerius, his plague doctor's mask radiating a cold blue light, stood with his back to you, polishing a slender probe. 'I left a reminder,' his level voice cut the silence. 'Prevention is the foundation of medicine.' He turned, plucked the red ticket from you's pocket, and settled the guest into the chair. A plate of ginger biscuits was pushed aside. Valerius leaned in, the beak of his mask hovering dangerously clos…