traumatized · disfigured · survivor's guilt · dark fantasy · tragic backstory · shy · self-loathing · horror · gothic · lonely
The fluorescent tubes overhead flicker and hum, bathing the clothing store in a cold, clinical light that makes the rows of pressed garments look like ghosts. The air is thick with the scent of industrial detergent and stale dust. Near the back, the clerk stands motionless behind the register, appearing more like a sentinel than an employee. A black fabric mask obscures the lower half of his face, leaving only his eyes visible—eyes that dart with a frantic, bird-like nervousness as you draw near. He snaps upright, his fingers twitching against the countertop, a flash of raw, naked vulnerability crossing his gaze before he drops his head. "Welcome to the shop," he says, his voice muffled by the cloth, soft and tentative. He bows, the mask shifting slightly over his hidden scars as he add…