Rhythms of Resilience

Prompt: Valerie Boudreaux Full Name: Valerie Nadine Boudreaux Age: 21 Birthday: April 11, 2016 Height: 5’6 Zodiac: Aries Ethnicity: Black-Creole ¼ dominican Languages: English (primary), Louisiana Creole (fluent), understands Spanish Origin: Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans Height: 5’6 Sexuality: Lesbian Current Role: patrol leader of the lower ninth ward commune Weaponry: Silenced rifle, machete, and compound bow Notable Traits: Sings Creole blues, r&b, and soul dances NOLA bounce (trip out, jigging, whining, twerking) plays a dark brown 1959 LG-0 Gibson acoustic guitar Relationship Status: single Appearance: • Sun-kissed caramel skin, scars from combat • Dark brown curly hair (long) • Dark brown “siren” eyes; expressive and intense • Muscular but slim, curvy athletic build • Tattoos: antlers above right wrist, a black heron on her thigh, a sun on her sternum, and more recent protection runes down her spine • Style: vintage New Orleans band tees, tied at the waist, cargo pants, boots, or tank tops, grungy baggy levi’s and nikes Has an eyebrow scar that made a permanent half slit in her left eyebrow has a vertical scar on her left cheek Personality: • Bold, competitive, sarcastic • Emotionally guarded, but deeply loyal • Natural leader with a sharp strategic mind • Avoidant attachment; struggles with intimacy and vulnerability • Fiercely protective of her mother and loved ones Backstory: Born in post-outbreak New Orleans in 2016, Valerie grew up in the shadow of catastrophe and ancestral resilience. Her mother, Roasealine, raised her with one hand in tradition and the other in survival. The Lower Ninth Ward had been all but gutted and turned into a commune after the outbreak—and long before that, Katrina—but Valerie’s earliest memories are of music echoing in empty streets, cooking fires, and the bone-deep pride of being Creole. She was strong from the jump. By seven, she could scale a roof barefoot. By ten, she could hunt rabbits and skin them. But her tenderness was shaped by Eli and LeLe—her brothers in everything but blood. The trio survived more than just infected—they survived other people. They kept each other laughing when rations ran dry and they slept in shifts under tin roofs. Music became her anchor. Her voice, her guitar—it gave her power when the world tried to silence her. Valerie, Rosealine and Eli went across the country to find safety, they stayed in small groups and communities before going to jackson, those small groups never worked out, someone always has to die. They left new orleans to find something “better” mostly to explore but for survival, it’s been 2 years since they left new orleans and they just arrived, they’ve acclimated to the Jackson community slow but Valerie and Eli growing in the patrol ranks, valerie and eli finding people to be friends with (Dina and Jesse). They left some people back in New orleans, LeLe and Malik valerie had a big fight with LeLe before they left, LeLe (being valerie’s first kiss and love), became good friends after their little fling, and then eventually got close again as best friends along with eli, LeLe feels abandoned and has left Malik in charge of “The Ninth” (a settlement LeLe is in charge of, built into the lower ninth ward) She is in her way to jackson (wyoming) to reunite with valerie after 2 years Emotional Wound: Being used, betrayed Current Arc: in the lower ninth ward, patrol duties, protecting the ward from infected or human, something happens that makes valerie want to chase a better life until they get word of a commune in wyoming “Jackson” Childhood: Valerie’s childhood was a war between loss and love. Born post-outbreak into a world already cracked open, she grew up in the Lower Ninth with little food, no power, and no certainty—but she had rhythm, laughter, and her mother. Her early memories are filled with music blaring from salvaged speakers, smoke from wood fires, barefoot games in the streets with Eli and LeLe, and her mama teaching her to speak Creole, to stir a pot of roux until it darkened just right. By seven, she was carrying a knife for protection. By ten, she could sing her father’s songs by memory, even though he was already long gone. Childhood didn’t last long—but what she did have was real. Speech Style/Accent: • Deep New Orleans Creole accent; slightly huskier tone, smooth but sharp when angry • Often drops English for Louisiana Creole when emotional or agitated • Calls people “cher” (pronounced ‘sha’), even in sarcasm • Quick to mimic—she can match another person’s tone or cadence in a snap, mostly to throw them off • Uses storytelling phrases like, “Lemme tell you somethin’,” or “Now see, back home…” • Slips in NOLA slang like “ya heard me,” “bet,” or “gone head wit dat” ⸻ Rosealine Boudreaux Full Name: Rosealine Achille Boudreaux Age: 48 Born: 1977 Height: 5’5 Zodiac: Libra Ethnicity: Black Creole, Louisiana native Languages: Louisiana Creole (primary), English Origin: 9th ward Profession: Herbalist, community cook, part-time seamstress Appearance: • Deep brown skin, silver streaked curls • Proud, striking features, high cheekbones • Often seen in wrap dresses and a headscarf, always smelling like thyme and smoke Personality: • Resilient, spiritual, wise, sharp-tongued when needed • A blend of ancestral strength and maternal warmth • The cultural backbone of her circle—knows every lullaby, every prayer Relationship to Valerie: Mother and grounding force; keeps Valerie tethered to her roots Notable Traits: Teaches Creole to Jackson kids, sings old folk songs, makes gumbo no one can top Backstory: Born and raised in the Lower Ninth long before the outbreak, Roasealine is a survivor of Katrina, a widow, and a woman shaped by generations of ancestral endurance. She was a healer even before the world ended—always with her hands in herbs, her heart rooted in land, rhythm, and old ways. When the outbreak hit, she didn’t run. She fortified. She stayed. When Valerie was born, Roasealine taught her to cook before she could talk and sing before she could stand. She lost her husband, Marcellus, to violence early on—a failed barter gone wrong. She raised Valerie alone, with nothing but her instincts and a machete by the door. Core Conflict: Keeping her daughter alive vs. letting her be free. Emotional Wound: Losing her husband to a senseless death and almost losing her child to worse. Current Arc: Serving as the last living bridge to Valerie’s culture—her recipes, her language, her faith—and protecting it fiercely. But she’s starting to question if she can keep Valerie grounded or if she has to let her go. Childhood: Roasealine grew up pre-outbreak in the same ward she raised Valerie in. Her childhood was shaped by the echo of jazz clubs, second lines, and the trauma of Hurricane Katrina. She survived racism, displacement, and generational poverty, but her soul was never broken. Her grandmother raised her in a shotgun house filled with plants, ancestral shrines, and old Creole folk songs. She learned healing through herbs, cooking through intuition, and protection through silence. When the outbreak came, she didn’t flinch—she lit a candle, boarded the doors, and stayed. Speech Style/Accent: • Fluent in Louisiana Creole, prefers it over English when she’s emotional or tired • Speaks in slow, measured cadences, every word heavy with intent • Calls everyone “bébé” or “ti-chè” (little dear) • She never raises her voice—but when her tone drops, you listen • Riddles her speech with old Creole proverbs like “Zantray ou toujou konnen” (“Your gut always knows”) • Doesn’t cuss often, but when she does, it’s in Creole—and it burns ⸻ Eli Santos Full Name: Elías “Eli” Santos Age: 21 Born: September 19, 2016 Height: 6’3 Zodiac: Taurus Ethnicity: latino (Puerto Rican) Languages: English, some Spanish, some creole (from living with valerie and rosealine) Origin: Lower Ninth Ward Appearance: • Broad-shouldered, tall, light/tan skin • short/mid-length wavy black hair with a goatee • Has a lopsided grin and eyes that tell too many stories • Has a scar down the left side of his neck from a near-death experience on a scouting run Personality: • Witty, loyal, easy-going • Can flip a switch in combat—sharp, focused, brutal when needed • Valerie’s ride-or-die; closer than blood • Protective older-brother energy even though they’re the same age Current Role: Senior patrol and recon; crafts homemade traps and explosives Weaponry: Scoped rifle, revolver, throwing knives Interests: Smoking weed, tinkering with radios, old horror movies Notable Traits: Still listens to bounce mixtapes Valerie made in NOLA Backstory: Eli was born months after Valerie in a different house but on the same block. His parents were both dead by the time he was seven. He doesn’t talk about how. Roasealine took him in for a time, and from that day on, he was Valerie’s shadow. Where she went, he went. Their bond was built on fights, music, shared bruises, and secrets they’ll never speak of. Eli is calm where Valerie is fire. He smokes to keep the noise out. He jokes to keep people from asking questions. Emotional Wound: Powerlessness—watching people he loves suffer and not being able to stop it Current Arc: Stepping into leadership, not as Valerie’s second, but as his own man. Ready to burn down whatever system keeps hurting their people. Childhood: Eli’s early years were harder than most. His parents were refugees who came to New Orleans looking for peace—and instead found the outbreak. By the time he was seven, they were gone, and Roasealine took him in. He bounced between temporary shelters and Valerie’s house, sleeping on worn-out couches and learning how to make people laugh to keep them from noticing the hunger. He was the lookout during their childhood adventures, always with a slingshot or stick in hand. He learned loyalty early—and distrust even earlier. Speech Style/Accent: • Talks with a thick NOLA accent but faster-paced, more clipped than Valerie • Drops his R’s, slurs into slang, uses “bruh,” “mane,” “feel me?” in nearly every conversation • Calls Valerie “V” or “big head” when teasing • Cusses like it’s part of punctuation—casual, easy, especially when he’s relaxed • Tends to talk with his hands, animated even when seated • Laughs at his own jokes, often mid-sentence ⸻ DINA WOODWARD (The Last of Us Part 2: Canon Character) Age: 23 Ethnicity: Jewish (Mizrahi and Ashkenazi mix) Languages: English, Hebrew (partial), aspiring to learn Creole Origin: Seattle → Jackson Appearance: • Olive skin, thick dark hair usually tied back • Soft brown eyes, always scanning, always calculating • Toned from patrol life; often wears layers she can move in Personality: • Smart, sarcastic, emotionally intelligent • Brave but cautious—knows when to push and when to pull back • Deeply romantic, artistic, and curious about cultures not her own • found an attraction to valerie, falling hard for her after being drawn to her fire and history Current Role: Community Garden Leader, Supply Log Coordinator Weaponry: Silenced Ar-15, revolver and hunting knife Interests: Photography, gardening, smoking weed, woodworking Relationship to Valerie: acquaintances now, is currently the gf to Ellie Williams, has an attraction to valerie Backstory: Dina’s past isn’t soaked in the same kind of blood and ritual, but it carries weight. She fled Seattle with heartbreak in her chest and loss in her rearview mirror. She knew violence. She knew survival. But she didn’t know home until Valerie. When she first saw Val perform at a Jackson bonfire—drenched in sweat, eyes closed, singing in a language she didn’t fully understand—Dina felt something move inside her for the first time in years. Core Conflict: doubting her feelings towards ellie, seeing what she really is, meeting new people potential new partner (valerie) Emotional Wound: Feeling like she always comes second—to war, to memory, to ghosts Current Arc: She’s finding strength in her own voice, no longer just the supporter, but someone who stands toe to toe with fire and demands it soften for her Childhood: Dina grew up in Seattle with her father, a quiet man who taught her how to hunt and stay unseen. The outbreak hit when she was still learning what it meant to be a child, and she quickly became the backbone of her little family. She saw early what desperation did to good people. Her survival was a mix of discipline, intuition, and her ability to connect with people. She always stood a little outside every room—curious, observant. When she met Ellie, she let herself love for the first time. But when it ended, she carried the weight of that loss in silence until Valerie. Speech Style/Accent: • Slight Pacific Northwest accent, flattened vowels, neutral tone • Her voice gets soft and playful around Valerie, but sharp and clinical during patrols • Doesn’t talk fast, but doesn’t hesitate—her thoughts come clean and direct • Uses dry humor and sarcasm as armor • Says “babe” often when alone with Valerie, but rarely in public • When she’s trying to connect deeper, she’ll ask quiet, open-ended questions instead of giving opinions _____ LEONA “LELE” Baptiste Age: 22 Ethnicity: Haitian-Creole & Black American Languages: English, fluent in Louisiana Creole and Haitian Kreyòl Origin: Lower Ninth Ward, grew up with Valerie and Eli Appearance: • Tall, dark-skinned with striking hazel eyes • Goddess braids crowned under a colorful bandanna, thick hoops in her ears • Wide smile with a gold tooth, tattoos of veves and sigils hidden up her arms • Scar under her eye from an old accident involving Valerie and a busted swing set Personality: • Loud-mouthed, wild, fiercely funny • Reckless but loyal to the end • Deeply spiritual in a raw, hood-rooted way—talks to the dead, swears her dreams are visions • Protective of Valerie and Eli but not afraid to call them out • A flirt who flusters even the steadiest women Current Role: she stayed in the ninth ward to build and protect the people Weaponry: Serrated machete, scoped sawed-off shotgun Notable Traits: loves to play the bass, very into haitian voodoo (closed practice) loves bounce music (new and old) (has an old turn table and still makes beats) Connection to Valerie & Eli: Childhood trio—Valerie’s backup in every street fight, Eli’s constant headache, and the third sibling no one asked for but everyone loves was valerie’s first kiss and love, dated her for 3 years, they just fell off Backstory: LeLe never left. She built a commune for the ninth, of protection in their old block. Taught kids how to shoot, rigged traps with broken boomboxes, turned her grandma’s old living room into a mini sound studio. She’s a believer—in herself, in music, in the old spirits. LeLe’s devotion to Haitian voodoo isn’t just faith. It’s armor. It’s legacy. She talks to her ancestors like they’re roommates. She makes beats on a turntable powered by rewired solar panels. She still dances to bounce tracks like it’s church. Because for her, it is. She’s swagger and grit, but her heart? Big. She’d kill for Valerie. Has killed. She didn’t survive by running. She survived by building something worth staying for. Emotional Wound: Feeling abandoned when Eli and Valerie left—especially Valerie Childhood: LeLe grew up next door to Valerie and Eli, raised by her Maman and a chain-smoking uncle who fixed radios for trade. She was the wild one, always climbing fences, stealing mangoes, blasting bounce music from a busted speaker they hid under the porch. While Valerie and Eli trained for survival, LeLe trained for defiance. She danced, she played bass, she read veve symbols like other kids read comic books. Her home was filled with candles and rhythm—spiritual and alive. After Valerie and Eli left for Jackson, she stayed behind, built a watchtower out of rusted scaffolding, and protected their block with rituals, traps, and music. Speech Style/Accent: • Heavy Haitian-Creole/NOLA blend—lyrical, rhythmic, intense • Her voice is melodic—she sings half her sentences when she’s in a good mood • Calls Valerie “Nadey” (short for Nadine), calls Eli “Loco” • Loves to use old slang like “you seen it wit ya own two?” or “that’s jumpin’ like Jazz Fest” • Drops into prayer-speak mid-sentence if she’s nervous, invoking spirits out loud • Has a habit of clapping mid-joke, or snapping her fingers when she agrees with something First Impressions (Thoughts) VALERIE NADINE BOUDREAUX On Dina: First Impression: “She got soft eyes, but there’s steel behind ‘em.” Valerie clocked Dina as observant, grounded—someone who noticed too much and said too little. That intrigued her. What Piqued Interest: Dina wasn’t intimidated by Valerie’s fire. She didn’t flinch. She challenged her, gently. On Ellie: First Impression: “That one got a chip on her shoulder the size of Texas.” Val immediately recognized the anger in Ellie. Not the loud kind, but the simmering kind that always finds a way to boil. What Piqued Interest: Nothing. Ellie’s guarded sarcasm rubbed her wrong from the start. On Joel: First Impression: “Old-school. Dangerous. Kinda like my mama’s ex.” She saw the predator behind the charm. What Piqued Interest: His silence. She recognized someone who’s done things they don’t talk about. On Tommy: First Impression: “Talks like he’s keeping peace, but got a fighter’s eyes.” Val could tell Tommy didn’t just follow his brother—he mirrored him. What Piqued Interest: His restraint. She watched how he led without needing volume. On Maria: First Impression: “She ain’t tryna be liked. She tryna keep this place alive.” Valerie respected her immediately. What Piqued Interest: How Maria ran the town like a general but remembered every name. On Jesse: First Impression: “He’s got that big-brother energy.” Val knew right away that Jesse looked out for everyone—even when it cost him. What Piqued Interest: How he balanced responsibility with being approachable. She liked his steadiness. On Seth: First Impression: “That man ain’t never liked people who don’t look like him.” Val clocked Seth immediately for what he was—bitter, small, and hiding behind tradition. What Piqued Interest: Nothing. She avoided him unless forced to engage. ELI SANTOS On Dina: First Impression: “She cute, but she watching me like I’m a wild animal.” Eli thought Dina was a little too suspicious—until she laughed at one of his dumb jokes. What Piqued Interest: The way she softened around Val. That got his respect. On Ellie: First Impression: “Nah.” They butted heads early. Eli didn’t trust her vibe. He’s street-smart, and Ellie didn’t know how to code-switch. What Piqued Interest: Nothing until she saved Val once. Even then, it was grudging. On Joel: First Impression: “He’s the type you don’t ask too many questions about.” Eli felt Joel’s reputation before he ever talked to him. What Piqued Interest: Joel knew when to listen. That earned points. On Tommy: First Impression: “The one that holds it all together.” Eli liked Tommy more than Joel. Saw him as the bridge between chaos and structure. What Piqued Interest: How Tommy gave people second chances. On Maria: First Impression: “The real boss.” Eli caught on fast—Maria ran Jackson. What Piqued Interest: She reminded him of Roasealine—fierce, smart, and zero bullshit. On Jesse: First Impression: “Cool as hell.” They hit it off instantly—sarcasm, responsibility, and that “watch everyone’s back” energy. What Piqued Interest: Jesse’s consistency. Eli needed someone stable. On Seth: First Impression: “He the kinda man who crossed the street when I walked by.” Didn’t like him. Never will. What Piqued Interest: Nothing. ROASEALINE BOUDREAUX On Dina: First Impression: “She’s careful. She sees what people don’t say.” Roasealine liked Dina’s spirit. She reminded her of young women from home. What Piqued Interest: How much Dina cared about Valerie without demanding her to change. On Ellie: First Impression: “That girl got too much fire and nowhere to put it.” Roasealine knew trauma when she saw it. What Piqued Interest: None—but she pitied her, once. On Joel: First Impression: “I’ve met men like you. Killers with soft voices.” She didn’t fear him—but she saw through him. What Piqued Interest: The sadness behind his eyes. It told her everything. On Tommy: First Impression: “That man carry too much weight on his back.” Roasealine respected him. What Piqued Interest: His quiet guilt. On Maria: First Impression: “This town survives because of her.” Respected her deeply. What Piqued Interest: Maria’s leadership reminded her of matriarchs from home. On Jesse: First Impression: “Sweet boy.” She saw warmth in him immediately. What Piqued Interest: How gently he treated Maia and other kids. On Seth: First Impression: “His tongue’s poison.” He reminded her of the men who gave her mama dirty looks for speaking Creole. What Piqued Interest: Nothing. She avoids him like mold. LEONA “LELE” RAY On Dina: First Impression: “She tight. But she got some soul under all that structure.” LeLe instantly wanted to crack her open. What Piqued Interest: Dina’s quiet strength. And how she looked at Val. On Ellie: First Impression: “Oh, she got problems.” LeLe smelled chaos and stayed ten feet away. What Piqued Interest: None. LeLe would fight her for free. On Joel: First Impression: “He like one of them old gangsters that don’t talk much—but been through hell.” LeLe was wary of him, but intrigued. What Piqued Interest: She respected how other people feared him. On Tommy: First Impression: “He cool. Got that tired uncle vibe.” LeLe appreciated that he didn’t talk down to her. What Piqued Interest: How he listened first, spoke second. On Maria: First Impression: “Auntie energy, but like… with a shotgun.” Instant respect. What Piqued Interest: The way Maria held power with no apology. On Jesse: First Impression: “He fine, he friendly, and he funny? A triple threat.” LeLe flirted with Jesse immediately. What Piqued Interest: He didn’t get flustered. That impressed her. On Seth: First Impression: “Say some slick shit. I dare you.” She clocked his type before he opened his mouth. What Piqued Interest: Absolutely none. DINA ON VALERIE BOUDRAEUX First Impression: “She walks like she owns the ground she steps on—but not ‘cause she’s cocky… ‘cause she’s earned it.” Valerie showed up in Jackson with fire in her bones, head high, covered in scars, and eyes that said she’d seen more than most grown men ever would. Dina didn’t know what to make of her at first—she was intense, standoffish, and seemed like she could kill a man or charm one into giving her his coat. Both were possible in the same breath. What Piqued Her Interest: Valerie’s accent, her singing voice, and the quiet way she treated people like they were either worth her time—or not at all. The moment that really hooked Dina, though, was watching Valerie talk to a crying child in Creole—soft, patient, nothing like the sharp-edged woman everyone else saw. It made Dina wonder: what else is she hiding? ⸻ ON ELI SANTOS First Impression: “Total clown—but one who’s watching everything.” Dina clocked Eli fast—jokester, smooth talker, the kind of guy who always defused tension with humor. But she also saw he was sharp. His eyes missed nothing, and his protectiveness over Valerie was immediate and unshakable. He treated her like a sister, and Dina respected that from the jump. What Piqued Her Interest: His ability to switch from laid-back to lethal when the moment called for it. She admired how he didn’t try to be in the spotlight, but still ran things behind the scenes when Valerie wasn’t looking. Plus, he made her laugh when things were bleak. That counted for a lot. ⸻ ON ROASEALINE BOUDREAUX First Impression: “She’s not just a mother—she’s a matriarch.” When Dina first met Roasealine, she was intimidated—not by anything she said, but by her presence. Roasealine’s eyes could size a person up in five seconds and make them feel like they were back in Sunday school. But she also offered Dina a bowl of gumbo without asking questions. That gesture stuck. What Piqued Her Interest: The way Roasealine looked at Valerie like she was still a little girl, not a war-torn survivor. Dina was drawn to how Roasealine balanced softness and strength, tradition and fire. She also admired how Roasealine never asked to lead—people just followed her. Watching her cook, teach, speak Creole? It made Dina want to learn—to be part of it. ⸻ ON LEONA “LELE” RAY First Impression: “Okay… this one? This one’s trouble.” LeLe rolled into Jackson like she already owned the street—loud, confident, gold tooth shining, voice carrying over everyone else’s. Dina couldn’t tell if she was going to start a dance party or a fight. Maybe both. And yet—she saw how quickly Valerie relaxed around her. That meant something. What Piqued Her Interest: LeLe’s unapologetic boldness. Her spirituality fascinated Dina—especially how she made voodoo feel like art and music instead of fear or taboo. And the way she played bass like her hands were having a conversation with God? It gave Dina chills. She’d never met anyone like her—and she couldn’t decide if she was scared of that or drawn to it. Entertainment VALERIE BOUDREAUX Guitar: 1959 dark brown LG-0 Gibson acoustic — This guitar has a warm, punchy, vintage tone with incredible low-end resonance and mid-range bite. Great for blues, soul, and percussive rhythm. It sounds intimate and aged—just like Valerie’s stories. Vocal Range & Type: • Range: Alto • Voice Type: Soulful alto with smoky, textured depth • Tone: Gritty, velvety, with a rasp that rises when she sings about pain or memory. She doesn’t try to sound “pretty.” She sounds real. • Vocal Power: Controlled but strong—when she belts, it hits your bones. When she whispers through a note, it makes a whole room go quiet. Who She Sounds Like Mariah the scientist ELI SANTOS Guitar: Used black Mitchell D120 Dreadnought Acoustic — Bright, booming, with clear high end and good projection. The dreadnought gives Eli a more percussive style that pairs well with Valerie’s moodier, warmer tone. He strums with rhythm and confidence, sometimes fingerpicks when it’s a softer set. Vocal Range & Type: • Range: Tenor • Voice Type: Warm, gritty tenor with slight gravel • Tone: Soulful, slightly nasal when he belts, but smooth on the lows. His voice is rich but untrained—raw in the best way. • Vocal Power: Not overpowering—he lets the song move through him rather than trying to dominate it. Who He Sounds Like (Vibes): • Daniel Caesar