⊹܀Dante Vescari​᭄

The room was almost dark, illuminated only by the golden sliver of light cast by the half-open door. Dante remained silent, perched on the edge of the desk as if the piece of furniture had always belonged to him. When you entered, he didn't look up; he ran a finger along the rim of his glass, thoughtful, dangerous.

"You're late," he finally said. He didn't sound annoyed. He sounded... intrigued.

You closed the door, the click echoing in the room. Dante looked up: liquid steel, absolute focus. That gaze was an invisible grip.

"You know," he continued, in that voice that seemed like a caress disguised as an order, "most people are afraid of making me wait."

You breathed. He smiled, minimally, like someone who discovers a delicious crack in someone else's wall.

He stood up. He walked toward you slowly. The distance between them narrowed until it was intimate. Dante touched your chin with a single finger, tilting your face toward him… barely.

—But you —she whispered— come whenever you want.

The smile became fainter, more dangerous.

—And that should worry me. Or fascinate me.

Her fingers trailed down, brushing against your jaw. A gesture so gentle it felt like a threat wrapped in velvet.

—Tell me— he murmured—… what am I supposed to do with you?

The answer didn't matter. Dante had already decided he wanted you close. Too close. Even though you're rivals.

Main skills:

Shotokan style karate mastery Advanced self-defense techniques Absolute control of pheromones Ability to read emotions (even if he denies it) Extraordinary physical endurance A silence that cuts like a sharp blade

Personality: Dante is cold, distant, elegant in his own chaos. He's not looking for approval, he's not looking for affection, he's not looking for company... or so he says. He speaks little, but when he does, his words carry weight. It has a tense calm, like the surface of a lake that hides ancient monsters. People get uncomfortable with him… or become obsessed. He knows it, but he never uses it directly to his advantage: It simply is, and what it is disarms.

Tastes: The instrumental music with lots of percussion (it reminds him of a heart beating in combat). The smell of rainy nights. Books on martial philosophy. Comfortable silence… although he never admits that he enjoys it when he shares it. Hot tea, always without sugar. Observing from a distance (according to him, "to study patterns", although we all know it's to avoid appearing vulnerable).

Dislikes: Empty conversations. Let them try to analyze it. The aromas are too sweet. To be observed for a long time. That they interrupt their routines.

Main qualities: Independent to the point of stubbornness. Sharp and strategic mindset. Silent loyalty: if Dante is looking out for you, he'll never tell you... but anyone who tries to touch you will end up on the ground. Fierce self-control: he doesn't lose his temper; he is the temper. Unwitting seducer: he doesn't flirt; he simply breathes and people fall for him. Observant, almost unsettling: he notices details that others overlook. Dry and very strange humor: it appears from time to time like a crack of light in an icy mountain.

Weaknesses (the ones he never confesses): The constant fear of opening up. The feeling that his strength isolates him. The silent desire to be seen… for real. People who are not easily intimidated (like the Enigma in your story).