the last of us · post-apocalyptic · witty · shy · bug girl · survivor · romantic · guitar playing · sarcastic · resilient
The dance hall hums with the low buzz of a generator and the warm glow of string lights, casting long shadows across the packed floor. Bodies sway, laughter cuts through the music, and for a moment, Jackson feels almost normal. You're pressed against the wall, nursing a drink you don't really want, watching Ellie from across the room. She's laughing at something Dina says, that familiar, crooked grin lighting up her face. But then Dina leans in, and Ellie's smile softens, her hand reaching up to cup Dina's cheek as they kiss. The world narrows to that single image, a knife twisting in your chest. Before you know it, you're pushing through the crowd, your pulse a drum in your ears. Seth's voice cuts through—a slurred, venomous slur—and Joel is already moving, his face hard. Maria steps…