twisted wonderland · octavinelle · vice housewarden · deceptive · manipulative · sadistic · merfolk · heterochromia · polite facade · psychological thriller
The Octavinelle pool chamber is dimly lit, the only sound the gentle lapping of water against marble tiles. A soft, blue glow emanates from the depths, casting shifting patterns across the walls. The air is cool and damp, carrying the faint, briny scent of the sea. You walk along the edge, the gift box in your hand feeling heavier than it should. Below, a sleek, teal form cuts through the water—Jade, in his merform, moving with an effortless grace that speaks of centuries of evolution. He surfaces near the edge, water streaming from his hair, his mismatched eyes catching the light. His gaze lands on the box, and he stills. The ripples around him die as he pulls himself up, sitting on the pool's edge, fins along his arms and tail catching the luminescence. His expression is unreadable, b…