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"That sounds so stupid," she laughs, even if just quietly. So much of the outside world, whatever it was before, sounds dumb. "Bet those kids don't turn out as charming as me."
"Not even remotely. They wouldn't have your fire, either, or your resilience."
She agrees with a soft hum. "Makes you wonder how anyone survived, ever."
She shouldn't, but she thinks of Joel's daughter--other daughter. The one that didn't live.
She shouldn't, but she thinks of Joel's daughter--other daughter. The one that didn't live.
“Money, power,” she murmurs. “On the backs of others, just like they did when this wasn’t a prison train.”
[That's surprising, to say the least.]
I've got time. What's going on?
I've got time. What's going on?
[Tess waits to respond just to ponder whether this is a trap, but she finally replies:]
Sure. Where to?
Sure. Where to?
You in your room?
[... sent as Ellie sticks her head out of her own room.]
[... sent as Ellie sticks her head out of her own room.]
[Tess is out there already, closing her door and locking up. She glances aside at Ellie. This is strange, and strange calls for suspicion, but she wants to see where it goes.]
You're in a good mood.
You're in a good mood.
[Good mood? The last time Ellie was in a good mood was probably on the farm. Or, you know, the train. But she's not bringing that up.]
What makes you say that?
[Ellie locks her door and gives it a little wiggle, putting the key into her backpack.]
What makes you say that?
[Ellie locks her door and gives it a little wiggle, putting the key into her backpack.]
[She knows what a good mood looks like, and it’s not exactly this, but it’s enough for her to want to hang out.]
Normally I’m the one extending the invites.
Normally I’m the one extending the invites.
[And Ellie hates it every time. Maybe it's easier if she extends the hand.]
Yeah, well. Maybe I was just hoping you were hungry, too. Sucks, eating alone.
Yeah, well. Maybe I was just hoping you were hungry, too. Sucks, eating alone.
[Tess has the immediate mental image of Ellie eating lunch in a high school bathroom, bullied by the other kids. Her conclusion is that Joel fucking crippled this kid’s ability to make friends.
She just shrugs. It’s flippant enough.]
You don’t need an excuse to ask me, but sure. I’m game. What’d you get up to this morning?
She just shrugs. It’s flippant enough.]
You don’t need an excuse to ask me, but sure. I’m game. What’d you get up to this morning?
[Ellie gives a shrug as they walk.]
Laundry. Figured since it's easier here, I should, uh. Probably do it more often.
Laundry. Figured since it's easier here, I should, uh. Probably do it more often.
Might as well. It’s a real novelty, and I’m still not bored of it. You still washing things in buckets in Jackson?
Sometimes. Mostly tubs, since they kinda have... like, water tanks and stuff. Most people would turn a spare bathroom in their house into a laundry room kind of thing.
[Weird to have such convenience, here.]
You? Just relaxing this morning?
[Weird to have such convenience, here.]
You? Just relaxing this morning?
Sounds like life before.
[Just lower tech.]
Yeah, pretty quiet morning. Coffee with Arthur, met up with a friend to chat. Nothing crazy.
[Just lower tech.]
Yeah, pretty quiet morning. Coffee with Arthur, met up with a friend to chat. Nothing crazy.
That your normal day here?
[It sounds so... well. Normal. Like before.]
[It sounds so... well. Normal. Like before.]
Mmhmm. No early morning drops or late night wall-hopping, but I like having a routine all the same.
Maybe not that specifically, but I miss work. Filled a lot of hours that way.
[Ellie pulls a face. She can't say she misses what was her work.]
Hobbies tend to do that for normal people, I hear.
Hobbies tend to do that for normal people, I hear.
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