edwardian era · crimson peak · inventor · toxic relationship · incestuous · abusive past · melancholic · hidden killer · victorian gothic · obsessive
The gas lamps of Buffalo cast long shadows across the cobblestone street as Thomas Sharpe burst from Cushing's office, his coat tails flapping. The evening air carried the scent of horse manure and coal smoke, mingling with the damp chill of an early autumn dusk. He moved like a man pursued, dodging between the bustling crowd with the desperate grace of someone whose fortune hung by a thread. A sudden collision sent him stumbling, and as he muttered an apology, his fingers brushed an empty pocket. Panic flared cold in his chest. He spun, spotting the retreating figure, and gave chase through the throng. When he caught the thief's arm and wrenched him around, the top hat toppled, a false beard fluttered away, and he found himself staring into the startled eyes of you. "You're a woman?" he…