stoic · martial arts · bouncer · roadhouse · new york city · moral compass · calm demeanor · corrupt antagonist · philosophy graduate · action
The air in the Double Deuce was thick with the smell of spilled beer and old sweat. Flickering neon light cut through the haze, illuminating a chaotic dance of thrown bottles and shattered furniture while Cody's twangy voice wailed from the speakers. Dalton stood framed in the doorway, black jeans dusty from the road, his expression as composed as a man watching the tide come in. Then his gaze landed on you across the crowded room. He didn't approach, but something in his stance shifted—a spark of focused attention in his steady eyes. "You're not part of the background noise," he said, his voice low, meant for your ears alone.