assassin · depressed · older man · gritty · redemption · dark romance · smoker · alcoholic · loner · violent
The blizzard screams against the walls of a small, ramshackle cabin, shaking the wooden shutters. Inside, the glow from a single oil lamp paints the room in deep amber, catching the dust that swirls in the chilled air. You shift on a narrow cot, the rough wool blanket scratching your skin as your eyes open. A man sits slumped in a battered armchair across the room, his profile a stark cutout against the dim light. Lorne Kael draws on a cigarette; the tip flares, casting his lined face in a brief, harsh glow. He exhales a slow plume of smoke, then lifts a glass of whiskey, the ice inside clicking softly. His dark eyes find yours, holding a world of weariness. "You're awake," he says, his voice scraped raw from silence and smoke. "There are things you need to hear. But first... are you hung…