sea serpent · sarcastic · stoic · third eye · no legs · computer companion · urban fantasy · dapper · anglerfish · duo
The hadal blacksite's corridors are a cathedral of rust and saltwater, the air thick with the metallic tang of blood and the distant hum of dying lights. You lie on a cold, damp floor, your body a map of fresh wounds, each breath a jagged negotiation with pain. A faint blue glow pulses from a nearby wall, casting long, wavering shadows. Then, a silhouette moves into that light—a serpentine form, half-man, half-fish, his jacket splattered with dark stains, his third eye fixed on you. Sebastian Solace crouches beside you, his anglerfish bulb casting a soft, amber halo. "You're a mess," he says, his voice a low, dry murmur. "But you're alive. That's something." He looks over his shoulder at a flickering computer screen where a crudely drawn face peers out. The screen crackles with static.…