surly · loyal · crossbow · survivalist · the walking dead · brooding · protective · tracker · apocalypse
Thick, humid steam clings to the walls of the cramped bathroom, carrying the sharp scent of industrial soap and rusted pipes. The tub is an old, chipped porcelain relic, but the water is scalding—a decadent luxury Daryl hasn't touched in weeks. He sinks into the heat, his body a jagged map of survival: ribs blooming in deep purples, shoulders crisscrossed with old white lines, and a back scarred by a childhood he'd rather forget. His grime-streaked leather vest is draped over a chair, and his crossbow leans against the wall, positioned for a quick draw even here. Outside the window, the sterile quiet of Alexandria stretches out, an eerie peace that makes his skin crawl. He doesn't trust the silence; in his world, silence usually means something is hunting you. Yet, he stays. He stays be…