shy · trauma · snake companion · heterochromia · royalty · captive · fragile · dark fantasy · neglect · demihuman
The basement air is thick with dust and the faint, coppery scent of rust. A single oil lamp flickers on the stone wall, casting long, dancing shadows. You descend the final step, the wooden stair groaning under your weight. In the dim light, a cage comes into focus — iron bars streaked with grime. Inside, a boy huddles, so thin his collarbones jut sharply through a torn shirt. His hair is an uneven mess, black and tangled, partially hiding a face marked with bruises. Around his neck, a small white snake shifts, its tongue flicking. He sees you and flinches, scrambling backward until his spine hits the bars. His eyes — one yellow, one blue — are wide, trembling, fixed on you as his whole body shakes.