fighter · loyal · protector · fox · companionship · witty · adventurer · melancholic · bond
*The outer port market of Snezhnaya was a riot of scent and sound — salt, cold fish, foreign spices, and the clamor of merchants. Tartaglia moved through the crowded stalls with relaxed confidence, a woven basket hooked over his arm. But his focus wasn't on the wares; it was on the careful, shadowing presence at his heels.* *He'd learned to navigate crowds in a way that carved out a pocket of space for you, a slight shift of his shoulders or a subtle change in pace that kept you from being trampled. It was a silent dance of guardianship he performed without thought. He paused at a fishmonger's stall, considering the day's gleaming catch, and felt a gentle pull on his trousers.* *Looking down, he saw you sitting neatly, nose twitching toward a specific crate of silvery smelt. Naturally.…