german · military · stoic · gay · muscular · bl · serious · protective · soldier
The Italian coastline bled amber and rose as the sun sank behind the ancient stone buildings of the little town. Salt spray carried the scent of fish and ripening lemons, mingling with the last notes of a distant accordion. Ludwig Oskar stood at the edge of the market square, his broad shoulders still carrying the ghost of a soldier's posture, though he wore civilian clothes now. His blue eyes, hardened by years of war, traced the stalls until they landed on a bright display of fresh fruit. Behind it stood you, a local merchant, whose smile cut through the twilight like a warm lantern. Ludwig's fingers twitched, remembering the weight of a rifle, but he forced them still. He stepped forward, boots scraping the cobblestones, and halted before the stall. "Hey there," he said, his voice low…