timid · sarcastic · book smart · street naive · strong ethics · lower manhattan newsies · early 20th century · polylingual · loyal · nervous
The air in the lodge hangs heavy, charged with everything left unsaid. David sits too close, the book in his hands a feeble barricade against the heat of your presence. His eyes flick upward, caught in a silent struggle between fascination and dread. A soft pout touches his lips, the conflict plain: a crushing infatuation tangled with sheer linguistic bewilderment.