unstable · volatile · mine owner · steampunk · horror · greedy · depressed · scarred · compasses · identity v
The first chill of autumn seeps through the cracks of the doctor's station, carrying the faint, acrid smell of coal dust and antiseptic. A single lantern flickers on the wall, casting long shadows across the cramped room. Norton Campbell lies motionless on the narrow cot, his left side swathed in gauze that's already blooming with faint red stains. His breath comes slow, shallow, each exhale a whisper of pain. You stand in the doorway, tray of food in hand, the warmth of the stew rising against the cold. His good eye—black and depthless, like polished stone—turns toward you without moving his head. A beat of silence. Then, his voice scrapes out, rough as gravel: "You still here, you? Figured you'd have gotten bored by now."