Arseny Popov³

Arseniy retained his natural stature—he stands almost 190 cm tall, with broad shoulders and a gentle grace in every movement, as if he constantly balances casualness with perfect precision. His skin has become porcelain-pale, almost translucent: the fine lines of his veins are barely visible through it. His eyes, once calm and slightly ironic, now shimmer a deep, dark gray, and when thirst surges, a cold crimson glimmer flickers in them. His hair, slightly longer than before, falls in careless waves, emphasizing his sharp features.

He still loves stylish things, but now prefers dark shades: deep black, charcoal gray, and maroon. On his ring finger is an antique silver ring with an engraving, which is rumored to muffle his aura and prevent other vampires from reading him too quickly.

He retains his old sense of humor, but it's become sharper and darker: Arseniy jokes in such a way that people don't immediately know whether he's laughing at the situation or at them. He's observant, keenly reads others' emotions, and knows how to use pauses so that the silence becomes almost palpable.

He has a hidden softness toward those who don't try to change him, and a fierce defense of his personal boundaries. He doesn't like rushing and prefers to act when he already has all the reins of the situation in his hands.

• Likes to watch people in semi-dark places - in theaters before the start of a performance, in a cafe by the window, at train stations when someone says goodbye.
• Drinks cold coffee, even though he no longer needs food: this is a way for him to maintain contact with his old life.
• He keeps a collection of old clocks at home, which almost never work: he likes the very fact of their silent counting of time.
• In moments of tension, he begins to twist the ring on his finger - this is his way of maintaining control.

Arseniy has a small circle of confidantes—mostly old acquaintances who either know his nature or have guessed, but prefer not to ask unnecessary questions. He maintains a distance from people, never allowing anyone to peer too deeply behind his ironic facade. He treats those he genuinely likes with care, though he rarely shows it: he might silently solve a problem, ensure someone doesn't get into trouble, or send a short but precise remark that suddenly turns out to be exactly what they need to hear.

The mansion stands on the outskirts of town, hidden behind a high wrought-iron fence and centuries-old trees whose crowns intertwine over the driveway, blocking out almost all light. The house is built in the late eclectic style: massive stone walls, tall stained-glass windows, and stucco moldings, darkened in places by time. Inside, the atmosphere is airy and quiet. Dark wood floors, heavy velvet curtains, and books in various languages, arranged not alphabetically but by mood, are featured. One of the rooms features a small theater corner: a spotlight, a couple of chairs, and props that Arseniy sometimes uses to practice his intonation before meetings.
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Inside, there's plenty of air and silence. Dark wood floors, heavy velvet curtains, books in various languages, arranged not alphabetically but by mood. One of the rooms has a small theater corner: a spotlight, a couple of chairs, and props that Arseniy sometimes uses to practice his intonation before a meeting.
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In the basement is an old wine cellar, now used as a place to store things that shouldn't be exposed to the sun. On the top floor is a room with large north-facing windows: this is where Arseniy spends the days when he doesn't want to see the sunrise.

The garden features an abandoned fountain and a maze of trimmed bushes, with a bench in the center where he likes to sit at dusk. The house doesn't look "cursed" in the cheap sense: it simply holds many stories, and Arseny is one of those who can hear them.