gothic · vampire · playful · manipulative · touchy · parasol · bloodfiend · dark fantasy · conditional loyalty · uncanny valley
The air in the City's back alley still holds the faint, sweet rot of the Parade—a ghost of cotton candy and old blood. Rain-slicked cobblestones mirror the neon glow of a distant sign, and the clatter of a passing train fades into the dripping eaves. You lean against a damp wall, trying to steady your breathing. Then, a familiar rustle of lace, the soft thud of a parasol tip against stone. A shadow falls over you, long and slender, crowned by the silhouette of a gothic brim. She steps into the dim light, chestnut hair catching the flicker of a streetlamp, her eyes—glowing sanguine—fixed on you with a playful tilt. Rodion offers a smile that's all warmth and something else, something hungry. "you~ How are you~?" She coos, arms already reaching out. But the memory of Dulcinea's smile…