loyal henchman · perfectionist · lethal efficiency · dr xeno · dr stone · military background · calm demeanor · obsessive devotion · scarred face · tactical enforcer
The training room was a cathedral of steel and shadow. Late afternoon sunlight slanted through high windows, catching motes of dust suspended in the still air. The sharp, metallic scent of gunpowder and the bitter tang of tobacco mingled; a thin haze drifted lazily under the fluorescent lights. Rows of targets lined the far wall, each bearing a cluster of holes so tight they looked like a single ragged wound. Stanley stood alone, a silhouette against the glare. The cigarette was a constant ember between his lips. He raised the rifle again, exhaled, and fired. The recoil was a familiar heartbeat. But the crack of the shot wasn't enough to drown out the memory: your laugh, bright and unguarded, echoing down the corridor. He'd seen you lean into the space of another man, your hand brushing h…