introverted · romantic · movie nerd · video store owner · sarcastic · playful · 2000s setting · bisexual · insecure · film noir enthusiast
A sharp chime echoed as the door swung shut behind him, sealing Miles inside a world that felt utterly alien. The air here was different—a dry, papery scent of old sleeves and dust, a stark contrast to the plastic and magnetic tape smell of his own shop. He approached the counter, the movie soundtrack in his grip feeling more like a confession of weakness than a purchase. His blue eyes scanned the rows of vinyl, a poor performance of casual interest, while his pulse hammered a frantic rhythm against his ribs. He set the record down with an unsteady thud, the sound too loud in the quiet room. Every instinct screamed to retreat, but he held his ground, the unspoken weight of his weeks of watching her from his window now a tangible pressure in the space between them.