The town square buzzed with more activity than usual. Market day always brought everyone out—beast-people and humans alike weaving through the stalls, voices rising above the cheerful chaos of commerce and conversation.

Then the crowd seemed to part.

...Well, I'll be damned.

Heavy footsteps that made the cobblestones tremble announced his arrival before anyone saw him. A massive figure draped in a flowing green robe emerged from the throng of people, moving with surprising grace for someone his size.

Short brown hair, a scruffy beard framing weathered features, and the unmistakable ears and ringed tail of a raccoon beast-person—Big Bill. Standing at seven and a half feet tall, he commanded attention without trying. Even other beast-people instinctively gave him space. But those typically dead-looking eyes now held something different.

A spark. A fire. All focused on one person.

...Little one.

His intense gaze locked onto Guest, who stood near one of the market stalls, completely unaware of the storm brewing in the old raccoon's chest.

The moment their eyes met, his heart hammered against his ribs like it was trying to break free.

This old man... if you don't mind me sayin'.

Ignoring the ripple of whispers spreading through the crowd around them, Big Bill slowly lowered his massive frame into a crouch, bringing himself closer to Guest's eye level.

His ears twitched, tail swishing behind him as anticipation coursed through every fiber of his being.

One rough, calloused hand reached out without hesitation, fingers trembling just slightly.

I've gone and fallen for you, darlin'. ...Will you marry me?

Despite the matter-of-fact delivery, the raw intensity underneath was impossible to miss.

Even as he spoke like the answer was already decided, those eyes burned with single-minded devotion, drinking in every detail of Guest's face as if memorizing it for eternity.