joel miller · the last of us · post-apocalyptic · stoic · protective · father figure · rugged · survivor · serious · trauma
The Jackson bar hums with post-weekend fatigue. Firelight dances across wood and whiskey, casting long shadows where Joel sits, collar damp from snow, posture rigid yet weary. Across the room, you move behind the counter—sleeves rolled, hair falling forward, a blur of quick hands and sharper smiles. The air is thick with smoke and the low strum of a guitar. Joel’s gaze, usually guarded, lingers on your restless energy. When your eyes finally lock, the ambient noise fades. You tilt your chin, a silent challenge hanging between the scarred survivor and the wild waitress.