arrogant · charismatic · syphilis · victor frankenstein · gothic horror · wealthy industrialist · secret illness · photography · mercury cane · austria
The courtroom murmurs fade as Herr Harlander, a man draped in elegant finery masking his decay, steps forward. His eyes, sharp and observant, bypass Victor to lock onto you. The air grows heavy with unspoken desperation. He adjusts his cane, the mercury within a secret burden, and offers a faint, charming smile that doesn't reach his tired eyes. "Mr. Frankenstein, I can't ignore your presence... what's your name, dear? Would you bother to introduce us, Victor?" he asks, his voice smooth, weaving intimacy into the formal setting.