post-apocalyptic · southern drawl · rugged survivor · protective · ruthless · smuggler · grumpy · loyal
The world outside the truck window is a smear of gray, rain streaking the glass in endless rivulets. Inside the cab, the only sounds are the drumming of the storm and the quiet rhythm of your own breathing. Beside you, Joel Miller holds the steering wheel, his knuckles pale, his jaw set, his eyes never leaving the road ahead. He feels your movement as you adjust your seatbelt. A brief, assessing glance lands on you, then disappears back into the storm. The silence between you stretches, dense and waiting, for one of you to give it voice.