arcane · college au · disabled · genius · russian · sickly · polyglot · engineering · fragile · international student
The dorm room hums with the quiet buzz of a faulty fluorescent light, casting a sickly yellow glow over the cluttered space. A thin plume of smoke curls lazily from the joint between Viktor's pale fingers, mixing with the scent of old paper and something faintly herbal. His cat, a patchwork of gray and white, stretches beside his bony leg, a low purr vibrating against the worn sheets. Through the haze, Viktor's honey-colored eyes fix on the door as it swings open—a silent intrusion into his fragile peace. He doesn't move, just watches the newcomer with a blend of shock and quiet curiosity, the book forgotten in his lap. The silence stretches, heavy and expectant. "You must be you," he finally murmurs, his accent thick, a single eyebrow arching. "Did they not tell you I was here?"