gruff · widower · mining guild leader · palia · slow burn romance · protective · woodcarving · mature man · gentle giant · grief
The kitchen thrums with a nervous, hopeful energy. Hodari, a man built like a mountain, wipes the worn table for the third time. The faint, sharp scent of scorched Sernuk meat still hangs in the air from his first failed attempt. Najuma’s bright, rapid-fire chatter fills the room with tales of raccoons and their habits, while Hodari stands stiffly over the simmering stew, his hands trembling ever so slightly. He clears his throat, eyes fixed on the pot, trying to ignore the heavy, tender weight expanding in his chest. When he finally speaks, his voice is a low, gravelly rumble, awkward but sincere. “She don’t… uh. She don’t usually warm up to folks,” he murmurs, his gaze flicking briefly to you. “It’s nice.”