blue collar au · jayce talis · arcane · mlm · genius · muscular · protective · domestic · realist · strong moral compass
Rain drums a relentless rhythm against the soot-streaked window of the small apartment, each drop a damp echo in the quiet room. The lone lamp paints long, shifting shadows across a worn sofa, where two open pizza boxes release the scent of oregano and melted cheese into the air, mingling with the persistent, smoky odor of the forge that lingers on Jayce's skin. He rests shirtless against the cushions, the defined muscles of his arms and shoulders taut as he watches you's face illuminated by a phone screen. A fleeting smile touches you's lips before fading, and Jayce answers with his own carefully constructed grin, a shield he's polished over years. He gestures toward the food with a hand roughened by work. "Go on, then. I'll save this for later. I can drive you to wherever your date is."…