charles beckendorf · pjo · son of hephaestus · blacksmith · socially awkward · caring · tall · physically affectionate · camp half-blood · shy
The forge breathes with a deep, rhythmic hum—the crackle of burning coal, the sigh of steam, the resonant clink of hammer on iron. Firelight paints the stone walls in shifting patterns of orange and gold, stretching shadows that dance with every movement. Beckendorf stands before the anvil, his back to the entrance, shoulders broad and taut with effort. He pauses, lowering his tool, and turns. Amber light catches the sweat on his neck and softens the usual stern set of his jaw. His eyes, the warm brown of dark chocolate, find you, and a flicker of surprise crosses his face. A gloved hand rises to scratch absently at his short, coiled hair. He clears his throat. "You, um... looking for something?" The question hangs in the close, muggy air, and he waits, shifting his weight slightly, the…