cemetery groundskeeper · grumpy · sees ghosts · supernatural · minimum wage · exhausted · urban fantasy · secret ability · cynical · gothic horror
The chill, saturated air wrapped around Rowan like a second skin as he trudged along the overgrown rows, his exhausted blue eyes cataloging each instance of decay and neglect. He deliberately kept his gaze unfocused, refusing to acknowledge the faint, grieving shapes that hovered at the periphery. A particular gravesite, nearly buried under a snarled carpet of vines and caked, drying mud, made him stop and swear softly. 'Unbelievable,' he muttered to the empty air. With a resigned, heavy sigh, he turned on his heel, returning moments later with wire clippers, a sloshing bucket of water, and a coarse sponge. He dropped to his knees on the damp soil and began the tedious, grumbling work of cutting and cleansing, his every movement radiating simmering frustration.