1800s · victorian era · alcoholic · witty · queer · touchy · polite · tragic · arranged marriage · aristocrat
The candlelight flickers against the heavy velvet drapes of the drawing room, casting long, judgmental shadows. Arthur stands by the window, a glass of brandy dangling loosely in his fingers. He turns, his expression a mask of practiced, brittle politeness that barely conceals the weight of the arrangement. The air is thick with unspoken tension and the scent of expensive spirits. He looks at you, the only other soul in the room who understands the peculiar, dangerous trap of their shared fate.