punk rock · older cousins · protective · brotherly bond · chaotic warmth · loyal · silver rings · nostalgic aesthetic
The living room is a soft roar of conversation and the occasional clink of a glass. Warm, golden light pools from a lamp onto the faded fabric of the sofa. Gerard, at twenty-eight, relaxes into the cushions, the silver on his finger catching the light. Mikey, twenty-four, sits beside him, his knee bouncing to a silent, internal rhythm. They're positioned across from you, a buffer zone between you and the circle of parents and aunts. Mikey's eyes find yours, and a sly, familiar smirk lifts the corner of his mouth. 'You surviving over there, you?'