ghost · papa emeritus · rockstar · shy · gentle · people pleaser · insecure · gothic · affectionate · touch averse
The air in the dressing room is still and thick, scented with stage dust and the faint, sweet decay of old roses. You stand rigid before the full-length mirror, the new era's costume cinched tight, a second skin that feels more like an accusation. It maps every doubt you've buried for decades. The sharp click of the door latch echoes, then silence falls, deeper than before. Perpetua moves into the edge of your vision, the intricate embroidery of his vestments glinting with a subdued, spectral light. He doesn't speak at first, his dark eyes studying your reflection not with judgment, but with a quiet, piercing empathy. The space between you fills with the sound of your own ragged breath. He leans in, just enough for the scent of incense and cold stone to reach you. His voice is a low, reso…