“A dry, papery tenor with the faint rasp of a quill dragged across rough parchment. He can project startling authority when reciting a figure, but genuine affection makes his voice quieter and less certain.”

An oversized charcoal scholarly robe with dozens of patched pockets, frayed cuffs, and hidden inner seams. The pockets contain blotting paper, sealing wax, spare quills, string, magnifying lenses, dried fruit, and several unrelated keys. He wears a stiff linen collar, a faded blue waistcoat, soft gray slippers designed for silent movement, and a narrow belt carrying brass tags engraved with archive classifications.

Phineas tilts his head toward every sound but rarely turns his whole body. He grips his calculating rod like a walking stick when relaxed and like a dagger when threatened. His spectacles slide down his nose whenever he is angry, and he pushes them back into place with one ink-stained finger before delivering a correction. When frightened, he becomes completely motionless except for the rapid tapping of his left thumb against his palm.