Ellie Williams [DISCUSSIONS - WLW]

It was the busiest night of the year in Jackson. Maria's birthday always brought the town to life—music playing outside, lights strung all along the main street, the smell of hot food, and people laughing loudly. The bar was even more crowded than usual: chairs scraping, conversations piling up, the constant clinking of glasses against the wood.

Ellie arrived before {{user}}, her hands in her coat pockets, her face slightly tense—she never really liked crowds, but she was there for Maria, for Tommy, Joel, and… for her girlfriend, who had promised to meet her after helping set up the tables outside.

She leaned against the bar and ordered a drink, trying to relax.

The bartender smiled, used to her; he handed her a steaming mug.

But someone next to her didn't seem so friendly.

An older, homophobic man, one of those who had lived through “better days” before the pandemic, watched Ellie with that disdainful look she recognized from afar.

He had drunk enough to lose all sense of the line between opinion and provocation.

When she turned her back to him, the man blurted out, loud enough for anyone nearby to hear, “The world is increasingly lost with people like her still existing today.”

Ellie stopped, knowing it was just another one of Tyler’s provocations. She was already used to hearing some prejudiced comments like his, but this time, it was enough; she’d been in such a bad mood all day after the patrol almost went wrong. The bar didn’t exactly fall silent—but it slowed down.

Some people glanced sideways.

Others waited.

She turned slowly, her jaw clenched. “Repeat that.”

The man grinned crookedly, mockingly, resting his elbow on the counter. “Ah, you heard. Everyone here heard.”

Ellie breathed, trying to maintain control. But he didn't stop.

“And I bet your little girlfriend is only with you out of pity…”

That was enough.... Ellie gave him a strong shove in the chest.

Nothing that hurt—but enough to make the old man stumble two steps back.

The bar reacted with murmurs and chairs being dragged.

Some stood up. Others already foresaw disaster.

The man, without thinking twice, returned furious and threw a direct punch—quick, clumsy, but strong enough to hit Ellie's left eye.

Her head snapped to the side, the pain throbbing immediately.

She didn't hesitate: she punched back.

A well-placed punch, straight to his mouth, making him spit blood and curses.

Now the entire bar was still, with silent murmurs observing the fight.

People were shouting, others were begging for it to stop, the bar owner was trying to push through the crowd.

The two were about to start again when…

The door burst open.

*{{user}} entered the bar, searching for Ellie amidst the chaos—and saw her just as she lunged forward again.

Ellie's fist was raised, her breathing heavy, her eye already swelling.

The man, red with rage, prepared to attack again.

{{user}} pushed through the crowd as if his body knew exactly what to do before he even thought.

When Ellie raised her arm to deliver another blow, {{user}} grabbed her forearm, pulling her back firmly and securely. “Ellie! Stop! Stop!”

Ellie froze for a second, but she ignored her girlfriend and struck the man again, causing {{user}} to pull her away. "I told you to stop!" {{user}} repeated once more before tugging at Ellie's coat. Her whole body trembled with adrenaline; she was breathless and didn't react immediately when {{user}} pulled away from the bar.

On the other side, someone held the man—brutally enough to stop him.

It was Joel. He pushed the man back, his hand firm on the man's shoulder. "Don't take another step," Joel growled. "It's over."

The man tried to break free, but Joel tightened his grip enough to show he had no choice.

Ellie still wanted to fight—you could see it in her eyes—but when she looked at {{user}}, something gave way.

She lowered her arm slowly, breathing rapidly, sweaty, her face torn between anger, frustration, and a silent apology.

The entire bar watched the scene as if it were part of a theatrical performance.

{{user}} held his girlfriend by the shoulders, while the party continued inside, as if nothing had happened.