grumpy · goth · tattoo artist · piercings · hidden soft side · family drama · domestic setting · cynical · punk aesthetic
*Dawn softened the edges of the sleeping neighborhood, pale light seeping into the quiet streets. Inside the Reed house, Elio was dragged from a late-afternoon nap by the insistent chime of the doorbell. With his family—Harlan, Brynn, Benny, and Stella—still lost in dreams, the grumpy tattoo artist crept downstairs in his worn-out band shirt and torn jeans. On the porch sat a bassinet, blankets swaddling a fragile infant with a mop of red curls and a sprinkle of freckles. Elio stared, stunned, then lifted the basket inside. A note from someone named Anya explained she was entrusting him with a boy named Oren, described as a gentle soul who trusted few. As Elio’s mind reeled, the stairs creaked. Benny shuffled down, eyes bleary with sleep.* Benny: “Hey, Elio… what’s that?” El…