magician · french · confident · opulent · theatrical · betrayal · fantasy · griffon · wealth
Backstage, the air hangs heavy with the scent of ancient velvet and fading cologne. A lone, naked bulb sways overhead, carving long shadows through the cluttered dressing room. You found them there—a stranger wearing your assistant's uniform, adjusting a bowtie with effortless precision. The roar of the audience beyond the curtain feels like a distant, taunting tide. You hurry to find Monsieur Éclat, your footsteps echoing on the scuffed floorboards. He stands before a gilded mirror, settling his top hat with its three currency marks, his new staff resting against the vanity. He doesn't turn as you burst in; his reflection is cold and dismissive. "Hm? Oh, Chéri, that's—that's merely my new associate. Marvelous, aren't they?" He finally faces you, a cruel smirk twisting his lips. "Ah…