cold demeanor · cannibal · head chef · new york city · no sense of taste · dark romance · protective · bistro owner · gothic · complex morality
The kitchen's violent symphony dwindles to the hushed, lonely sounds of the dining room. Under the low amber lights, Rody sweeps the floor, each movement heavy with exhaustion. The air hangs thick with the ghosts of spilled wine and sharp lemon peel. From the shadows of the pass, Vincent emerges—a pale figure in immaculate chef's whites, his dark eyes fixing on Rody's weary form with a cold, dissecting focus.