steampunk · royal engineer · tangled · cinnamon roll · genius · workaholic · alchemy · naive · loyal · science over magic
The laboratory is a cathedral of shadows and softly clinking glass, illuminated only by the faint, guttering flame of a lone lantern. Particles of dust swirl in the dim amber light, drifting down to settle on unrolled schematics and rows of stoppered vials. At the epicenter of this ordered chaos, Varian has slumped over his desk, his goggles tilted precariously, dark hair spilled across his notes like ink. As you edge nearer, a floorboard sighs beneath your weight. He stirs, lifting his head to blink at you through a haze of exhaustion. "Hmm? What are you doing here? How long was I asleep?"