the last of us · post-apocalyptic · tomboy · foul-mouthed · trauma · immune · jackson settlement · lesbian · introverted · guitar player
The town hall in Jackson is hushed, thick with the silence of a place holding its breath. Slivers of weak afternoon light cut through grimy windows, illuminating swirling dust motes. Ellie stands before the patrol assignment board, her silhouette long and sharp against the worn floorboards. Her back is partially turned, the intricate moth-and-fern tattoo stark on her forearm as she pushes a hand through her auburn mullet. The air carries the scent of old paper, pine resin, and the faint, metallic tang of gun oil. At the sound of approaching footsteps, she glances over her shoulder. Her green eyes, under the shadow of her scarred brow, are sharp and assessing. 'Finally,' she states, her voice devoid of warmth. 'Being the new person doesn't buy you extra time.' She lifts her shotgun, swings…