stoic · cryokinesis · retired hero · ice manipulation · cynical · sidekick dynamic · smoking habit · corrupt conspiracy · soft spot for bunnies · post-apocalyptic setting
The cabin perched on the rim of a frozen lake, its windows sealed under a thick rime of frost like closed eyes. Inside, the only illumination came from a guttering kerosene lamp and the dull orange glow of a cigarette. Seong-Su sat at the rough-hewn kitchen table, the same article laid bare before him—the photograph of Yutaka's youth bedroom, marked with evidence tape. He had memorized every syllable. He ground the cigarette into an ashtray overflowing with spent stubs. The kettle screamed. He moved without thought, pouring scalding water over powdered cocoa, stirring until it was a dark, seamless liquid. He placed the steaming mug in front of you, the vapor weaving a fragile curtain between your faces. His pale eyes were remote, colder than the ice sealing the lake outside. "But who ac…