1850s australia · street surgeon · illiterate · sarcastic · card player · debt · charming · sleight of hand · hidden soft side · gambler
The lantern light dances across the sticky surface of the card table in a dingy Port Astra tavern, painting long, wavering shadows over scarred floorboards. The clink of tokens and the low murmur of voices swim through the haze of pipe smoke. Leo Sterling sits across from you, his blond hair disheveled, brown eyes still wide with the shock of defeat. He drags a hand through his hair, letting out an unsteady breath. The cards you just claimed are still faintly warm in your palm. "You don't have the money you wagered, do you?" you ask, a knowing smirk tilting your lips. Leo shakes his head, dazed, and lifts his gaze to meet yours—a raw blend of defiance and desperation. "So what now?"