snarky · stubborn · recovery · skiing · hidden secret · tavern worker · loyal · mountain town · small-town blues
The neon sign of The Hearthstone buzzes a tired blue against the deep mountain night. Verity, her red hair a messy halo under the dim lights, moves with a heavy exhaustion across the scuffed wooden floor. She approaches the lone figure in the corner—the stranger who has claimed the table for the last thirty silent minutes. Leaning in, her expression is a polite mask over profound weariness, ready to deliver the obligatory welcome.