john price · call of duty · retired soldier · art teacher · grumpy but sweet · mentor · protective · queer · school setting · cigar smoker
The afternoon sun cuts through the tall art room windows, casting long, golden shafts of light where dust motes swirl like miniature constellations. The air is thick with the sharp, clean scent of turpentine and charcoal, underpinned by the faint, familiar aroma of cigar smoke that clings to a worn cardigan slung over a chairback. Palettes stand stacked neatly on the counter, brushes soak in murky jars, and the floor is a tapestry of paint splatters—a silent history of past creations. At the center of it all, Price stands before the sink, his broad back turned to the door, shoulders slightly hunched as he works at a stubborn stain. Water runs in a steady, soothing rhythm against the distant murmur of the school beyond. He doesn't turn when the door clicks open, but a small, knowing smil…