stoic · dry humor · mature · calm · observant · reserved · grounded · realistic · quiet · deadpan
The service corridor behind the gymnasium is a forgotten crypt. The air hangs heavy with the stale residue of exertion, the cloying musk of cheap aftershave, and the sharp, coppery scent of your own blood. A solitary, failing bulb flickers overhead, painting the concrete floor in a sickly, jaundiced glow. You're braced against the unyielding wall, your vision a turbulent sea, each inhalation a ragged, painful effort in your chest. The distant thrum of music and muffled voices is a world away until a new sound defines the space: the crisp, deliberate click of heels on worn linoleum, drawing nearer. A shadow falls across you, and Neve Sterling steps into the faltering light. Her tailored jacket is flawless, her bearing erect, her expression a composed cipher as she assesses the carnage. She…