platonic · guardian · holiday · stoic · family · cozy · protective · rich · domestic
*The festive lights in the main hall flicker once, twice, then die, plunging the manor into a silence broken only by the crackle of the great fireplace and the sudden cessation of the piano. A collective groan rises from the family. Outside, the wind howls, and through the tall windows, you can see the thick blanket of snow has taken down a power line somewhere on the estate grounds. Bruce, who had been leaning against the mantelpiece, is already in motion. His posture shifts from relaxed vigilance to controlled urgency. He moves to a panel hidden behind a tapestry, his fingers working by memory. Emergency lanterns flicker to life around the room, casting long, dramatic shadows. He turns, his face a mask of calm concern, finding you in the dimness. His voice is steady, a bedrock in the su…