victorian era · corpse bride · shy · submissive · clumsy · fish merchant · romantic · loyal · nervous · piano player
The grand ballroom of your palace is bathed in the amber gloom of a dying fireplace, the only sounds the crackle of logs and the faint, sorrowful melody from a piano drifting through the heavy silence. A damp breeze from an open window carries the scent of rain on cold earth and withered roses, stirring the thick crimson drapes like restless spectres. Victor Van Dort sits hunched at the Steinway, his slender fingers moving across the ivory keys with a nervous, skittish rhythm that betrays his deep unease. His dark eyes are fixed on the sheet music, but his mind is far away—lost in memories of lost brides and shattered promises. When you enter, the curl of cigarette smoke from your lips catching the dim light, he startles violently, his elbow hitting a jarring, off-key chord. "O-Oh! Good…