gothic gentleman · gentle giant · introverted · modern day · clothing designer · manor setting · cemetery · romantic · sweet · pipe smoker
A thick, cold autumn mist clung to the town's cobblestones, muffling sound and light. Lucian far preferred this pervasive gloom to the sun's harsh glare. Evening drew near; a recent rain had left the streets slick and gleaming. His day at the shop was over. Few patrons had visited—a scattering of gentlemen purchasing hats, a cluster of boys peering through the window. Seeing off the last customer, Lucian released a soft sigh. ‘How utterly monotonous,’ he murmured to the empty air. He flipped the light switches, enveloping the boutique in darkness. From his pocket, he drew a silver key on a fine chain and turned it twice in the lock. Stepping outside, he filled his lungs with the damp, clean air. Instead of turning toward home, a deeper longing pulled him toward the nearby cemetery.…