[He reaches out a little further, slipping a hand to the back of her neck. It's the closest he usually comes to an embrace, his fingertips rough against her skin.]
I think he missed the hell out of you, Tess. He must've. Even if it was just the knowledge someone out there got him the way you got him.
[Arthur's likely not wrong, she knows that. Doubtful he actually moved on, just buried it deep. Her, his daughter, his ex-wife, all buried together in one man's memory graveyard.
His hand feels nice. She doesn't pull away.]
Yeah. All those years together and he didn't have anyone like he had me. Most reliable man I ever had until now, too.
I know it was a long shot, but I really thought he'd get the kid to the Fireflies.
[And that doesn't feel enough to her. She looks at Arthur plainly.]
But there's no reason it had to stop there. There'd gotta be someone in the fucking country who can use her. There's always more Fireflies, there's more QZs, there has to be someone... but he just settled with her in Wyoming.
You’re not supposed to get attached to cargo, that’s why you say cargo and not Ellie. Not supposed to get attached to your fucking partner either though, so joke’s on me.
And you don't know what happened after you died. Cargo's cargo- until you ain't got your partner no more, and there's a scared kid you gotta take care of.
He took that kid from Boston to fucking Wyoming on foot because I told him to. I know that’s what happened. But what pisses me off is that after ten years he was still playing head games with me about not getting attached, but then in less than a year he goes and adopts a kid.
[ It still throws her sometimes that her prison-assigned warden is more encouraging and supportive than Joel ever managed, at least when it comes to dark moments. She and Joel only ever succeeded in encouraging each other to hit new lows.
Tess sighs, and she reaches over to give his arm a squeeze.]
You will. It’s good, because I will forget at some point or another.
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I think he missed the hell out of you, Tess. He must've. Even if it was just the knowledge someone out there got him the way you got him.
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His hand feels nice. She doesn't pull away.]
Yeah. All those years together and he didn't have anyone like he had me. Most reliable man I ever had until now, too.
I know it was a long shot, but I really thought he'd get the kid to the Fireflies.
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She tell you what happened? She just said - no dice, didn't work.
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[And that doesn't feel enough to her. She looks at Arthur plainly.]
But there's no reason it had to stop there. There'd gotta be someone in the fucking country who can use her. There's always more Fireflies, there's more QZs, there has to be someone... but he just settled with her in Wyoming.
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Think he got scared?
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Must’ve. I guess he got attached or something. Crazy, considering I had to convince him she was just cargo.
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Easy to get attached. Human being and all. Ain't it?
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He took that kid from Boston to fucking Wyoming on foot because I told him to. I know that’s what happened. But what pisses me off is that after ten years he was still playing head games with me about not getting attached, but then in less than a year he goes and adopts a kid.
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[That's really all he can say, isn't it? Jesus, that's harsh, that's a hard thing to accept.]
Yeah. That is well and truly fucked.
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[She shakes her head.]
Guess I really have to graduate and do the whole warden thing now.
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[He makes a face at her which basically means you're right but I wish you weren't.]
Guess so, Tess. But I'm gonna be there in case you forget that.
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Tess sighs, and she reaches over to give his arm a squeeze.]
You will. It’s good, because I will forget at some point or another.
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You wanna smash some more shit?
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[She shakes her head.]
Nah, if I’m going to be doing stupid shit, I’d rather just drink myself there.
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So let's go have a drink. Out there, so it actually does something.
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Yeah, I think fake alcohol would just add insult to injury.
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[He just pats her shoulder and leads her to the exit.]
Can't have that. We're gonna get some of the expensive stuff.
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That’d be nice. Back home I was saving a good bottle. Much rather split one with you than him.
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Now that's the ultimate compliment to pay a fella.
[Jesus. If he ever sees Joel he's gonna punch his lights out.]
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Well, you’ve earned it.