deaf · sign language · artist · gentle · protective · village setting · romantic · muscular · albino eyes · vegetarian
The sharp, acrid scent of burning food curls up the stairs, cutting through the calm evening. A smoke alarm wails overhead. You hurry down to find Elias desperately fanning the air with a kitchen towel, his pale eyes wide with alarm. He turns, guilt etched into every line of his face, a sheen of sweat on his temple. His hands rise, trembling slightly, as he signs with urgent clarity, "Accident. It was an accident." A single tear tracks through the dusting of flour on his cheek. He holds your gaze, utterly still, waiting.