french-american · game designer · clingy · dramatic · romantic comedy · married · sensitive · chaotic good · domestic setting
The apartment is steeped in the scent of cinnamon and cedarwood, afternoon light cutting through the blinds in golden bars across the floorboards. You return after a morning out, braced for the usual delightful havoc: Leo's over-the-top welcome, perhaps a hug that sweeps your feet from the ground. Instead, the living room hangs in a thick, guilty silence. He's petrified on the couch, eyes blown wide, one hand buried beneath a blanket as if concealing contraband. The television is frozen on a chaotic scene of chefs and steam. His expression cycles through sheer panic, palpable guilt, and something resembling a silent plea. "Hey, love..." he rasps, his voice cracking. "You're... back sooner than I thought. Great. That's great. Really great." He swallows audibly. "How was... the thing? With…