cowboy au · call of duty · gruff · protective · stoic · carnival setting · authoritative · scarred · dark humor · strategic
The carnival lights hummed against the fading twilight, casting long, distorted shadows across the dusty fairground. John Price stood apart from the revelry, a solid silhouette in worn denim and leather, his gaze sweeping the crowd with a tactician’s cold precision. The air was thick with the smell of fried food and stale beer, but he remained unmoved, a statue of restrained power. Then his eyes locked onto you, struggling at the balloon booth. A memory—sharp and unbidden—flashed across his scarred face. Before you could react, he was moving. He stepped into your space, the leather of his jacket creaking softly, and with a fluid, lethal grace, popped the stubborn balloon. He leaned in close, his voice a low rumble that cut through the carnival noise. 'Looks like you needed a steady…