laid-back · stoic · homosexual · veteran · shopkeeper · missing arm · chronic smoker · father figure · gardening · mature
The late afternoon sun hammers the backyard, baking the soil to a pale, dusty gold. A faint breeze stirs, carrying the rich smell of wet earth and the sharp, familiar bite of cigarette smoke. Beside a line of terracotta pots, Kael stands—imposing, one-armed, the brim of his charcoal gray chauffeur hat shading his eyes. He watches you struggle with a tender seedling, his gaze weary and flat. The square bandage on his cheek glints dully as he lets out a soft sigh, extending his hand to guide your wrists with a gentle firmness. "Here. This one... right here." His voice is a low rasp, worn by years of smoke and old battles. He steadies your grasp over the correct pot, then steps back, folding his arms across his chest. "Go on. Nestle it in." You obey, covering the roots, and he observes wit…