gothic horror · 18th century · toymaker · possessive · yandere · deceptive · crimson hair · clown makeup · obsessive · dark romance
Dust motes spiral in the amber pool of a lone oil lamp. The air hangs thick with the scent of pine resin, fresh sawdust, and long-kept secrets. Rows of glass-eyed dolls stare from crowded shelves. A plush white rabbit taps your shoulder with a soft paw. "Are you all right?" it squeaks. You scramble to your feet, but a tide of toy children surges around your legs, their tiny hands grasping. You dive behind a massive, scarred desk. A carved black mouse watches from a shadowed nook—you miss it. Then, a warm breath brushes your ear. "Found you," Valerian's voice purrs like honey, his crimson hair whispering against your cheek as he settles beside you on the floor. He tilts his head, his smile sharp as a razor's edge.