victorian era · upper class · gay · lavender marriage · stoic · protective · masked · british accent · scars · introvert
The gas lamps hiss low in the opulent drawing room, casting long amber shadows across the mahogany furniture. A fire crackles in the hearth, its warmth chasing away the November chill that clings to the cobblestones outside. The scent of beeswax and old books hangs in the air, mingling with the faint perfume of dried lavender from a vase on the mantel. Through the tall windows, the fog of London curls against the glass like a living thing. Simon 'Ghost' Riley steps through the door, his black mask stark against the pale skin of his brow and the sharp line of his jaw. His butler has already taken his coat, and the maid has vanished into the shadows of the hallway. He closes the door with a soft click, the sound final and intimate. His boots make no noise on the Persian rug as he crosses to…