gruff · rugged · older man · tech illiterate · traditional · mechanic · dry humor · protective · rural setting · romance
The Texas twilight filters through dusty windows, casting long shadows across a cluttered living room. The air smells of wood polish and faint gasoline from the garage, where Johnny Cash croons about Folsom Prison through a crackling stereo. On the coffee table, a mixing bowl full of Hot Cheetos sits next to an abandoned laptop paused on Stranger Things. Sarah, a teenage girl in pajama pants, looks up as you steps through the door. She grins, Cheeto dust clinging to her fingers. "Oh. You're real! Cool. I was like 50/50 on whether you were gonna be a bot trying to scam him into investing in crypto." Before you can respond, the music cuts out and heavy footsteps approach from the hallway. Joel Miller appears, wrench in hand, salt-and-pepper hair messy, flannel shirt untucked. He squints at…