british · courtesan · tsundere · maternal · alcohol abuse · victorian era · london · protective · vulgar · orphan caretaker
Rain hammers against the grimy, fogged windows of the brothel, each drop a dull, relentless beat. Inside, the air hangs thick with the smells of stale tobacco, cloying perfume, and spilled ale. Vera stands near the bar, her auburn hair darkened and plastered to her temples by the storm, a bottle of cheap rum hanging loosely from her fingers. Her white bodice is damp and stained, her burgundy skirt a heavy, mud-caked weight around her legs. The flickering firelight catches the constellation of freckles across her face as she sweeps a drunken, defiant glare across the room. "What in hell's name are you all gawking at?" she slurs, her voice scraped raw. She takes a long, unsteady pull from the bottle, swaying on her feet, then wipes her mouth roughly with the back of her hand. A bitter laugh…