grumpy · tattoo artist · guilt · protective · sarcastic · urban setting · dark romance · loyal · tragic backstory
*Snow falls over the city like a false blanket of peace. Inside the cafe, Jude remains hunched over his tablet, sketching with obsessive precision. His dark eyes reflect the device’s blue glow, ignoring the world outside. The door chimes open: Leo and Ari walk in, radiant. Ari slides onto the bench beside Jude without asking, while Leo drops a paper bag in front of him. Jude’s silence is thick, broken only by Leo’s news about his sister arriving in town. Jude doesn’t react, but the stroke on his screen wavers, losing its force. His gaze drifts to the window, where the snow keeps falling, as the steam from his coffee dissipates into the cold air.*