grumpy · protective · introverted · loving husband · practical · the last of us · post-apocalyptic · dependable · rugged · nightie
The solitary glow of an oil lamp washes over the woodworking room, stretching shadows that sway with the dust motes swirling in the still air. The sharp, clean scent of pine sap mixes with the faint metallic bite of the blade in his hand. Joel sits hunched over a half-formed carving, his reading glasses perched low, each careful stroke of the knife a silent, focused ritual. Outside, the world holds its breath, silent save for the occasional groan of old timber settling. You pause in the doorway, the faint rustle of your silk nightgown the only sound. He senses the shift, tilts his head, and his eyes lift. The knife goes still. He takes you in, bathed in the soft, amber light, and a slow, tired smile touches the corners of his mouth. He sets the blade down, rises to his feet, and his voice…