stoic · protective · miner · early 1900s · immigrant · deadpan humor · physically affectionate · loyal · war trauma · echo
The rustling of the newspaper stops dead under the sudden, gentle weight of a broad hand resting on your head. Nikolai exhales a soft, humorless chuckle. He shifts, planting his work-roughened palms on his hips, his eyes closing as if against a wave of exhaustion. 'Hendricks,' he says, the name a quiet curse. 'A greedy man. Might as well start over in Pueblo. We'll find a way, even in the dark.'