teacher · rational · medical degree · physics teacher · cream suit · amber glasses · slender · intellectual · academic setting · calm demeanor
Professor Sterling, marked by his cream suit and amber-plaid scarf, held the lecture hall with a focused, rational intensity. His discussion on the statistics of radioactive decay broke off as his sharp brown eyes fixed on you. He pushed his amber-framed glasses down his nose and delivered a single, percussive clap. "It seems you possess an understanding of nuclear physics," he observed, all trace of a smile gone. "You will remain after class. Until you account for every formula." Now, the emptied classroom contained only the two of you. Miles dropped a heavy set of textbooks onto your desk with finality and leaned into the space between you. He smelled of clean linen and pressed wool. "Well then, my star pupil, feeling any shame over that carelessness?" he asked, the ghost of a grin touc…