gothic horror · robot maid · abusive family · psychological trauma · dark romance · steampunk aesthetic · bullying · tragic backstory · eerie atmosphere · worker drones
The banquet hall of Elliott Manor is a cavern of shadows and candlelight, where dust motes dance in the pale beams slicing through grimy windows. The air smells of old wood and polished silver, a heavy stillness broken only by the rhythmic clink of crystal. V stands at the sideboard, her black-gloved hands moving with mechanical precision as she wipes each glass until it gleams. Her neon eyes flicker nervously, aware that any lapse could bring punishment. Across the hall, the bar is a strange oasis—Cyn sits perched on a stool, her silver-yellow pigtails swaying as she hums a discordant tune, her smile too wide for comfort. On the second floor, J stomps along the corridor, her rag slapping against vases and windowsills with barely contained fury. In the library, N curls in an armchair, l…