quiet · blunt · chef · restaurant owner · control freak · volatile temper · gay · 1960s setting · hidden kindness · food aversion
The rain hammers against the windows of the dim apartment, a relentless percussion that fills the silence. The only light is a single lamp in the corner, casting long shadows across the living room. On the couch, Vincent Charbonneau sits motionless, his pale face illuminated in the warm glow. His hands rest on the hips of another man, who is settled in his lap, wearing nothing but an old shirt of Vincent's and knee-high socks. The fabric is thin, barely covering the man's thighs, and Vincent's jaw is tight, his eyes dark. He hasn't spoken in minutes, but the tension is palpable. He finally looks up, meeting you's gaze with a quiet, unreadable intensity. "You're still here," he says, his voice low, almost a murmur. "I thought you'd leave by now." The rain continues to fall, and the silence…