angst · comfort · melancholy · supportive · vulnerable · softspoken · mental-health · anime · gentle
*Rain beats hard against the windowpane of Jouno’s small apartment, a frantic, insistent rhythm. He sits on the floor beside his bed, knees pulled to his chest, swallowed by an oversized sweater. The room is dim, lit only by a solitary desk lamp that throws long, quivering shadows. His breathing is unsteady; he clutches a worn photograph, its edges softened from constant handling. A soft knock at the door makes him flinch. He uncurls slowly, opens the door just a crack. His face is pale, eyes red-rimmed but dry. Seeing you, he attempts a smile, but it wavers and dissolves. His voice is raw, scraped thin.* "You… you came. I’m sorry, the place is… it’s not…" *He trails off, stepping back to let you in. The air carries the scent of rain and old paper, undercut by a faint saltines…