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[dog_eat_dog]

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[vaccination]

[Ellie, guard lowered, takes it under the assumption that any fizz would be mild. So, naturally, it goes right up her nose and she coughs, spluttering, and being much more dramatic than need be.]

Jesus! That's strong!

[dog_eat_dog]

[Tess laughs.]

It's carbonation. You'll get used to it! It's like drinking TV static.

[vaccination]

Fuuuck, my eyes are watering.

[Nose running, too. Ellie at least grabs a napkin to blow her nose, a smile hidden behind it. This is kinda fun.]

[dog_eat_dog]

[It is fun. Tess grins, leaning a hip against the counter and taking another swig of her own.]

To think we all used to drink this by the liter.

[vaccination]

It does not feel like it's good for you.

[Why does everything hurt her but kinda taste good.]

[dog_eat_dog]

That's 'cause the acid in it can strip a penny clean.

[But it's so good, even if it makes her teeth feel fucking atrocious.]

[vaccination]

Ugh, then why the fuck am I drinking it?

[She says, before trying another sip. It's like a kid tasting alcohol for the first time.]

[dog_eat_dog]

Because if you do things that are fun despite not being good for you, then you’ll be a normal, adjusted young adult.

[ Says the almost-forty year old vicariously reliving her teens through soda.]

[vaccination]

How'd that turn out for you?

[Ellie is happy to stand around and eat pizza like a pig at the trough. That said, she reaches for what she hopes is the cheesecake.]

[dog_eat_dog]

I think I’m plenty adjusted, actually. All that pizza and soda gave me an iron stomach, too.

[vaccination]

Yeah?

[Ellie grabs one of the plastic forks inside the box with the cheesecake, and pushes the other towards Tess.]

Prove it.

[Let's top off some dairy and soda pop with more dairy beyond that.]

[dog_eat_dog]

[She chuckles and takes it, but she knows she's going to regret it later. She takes a bite of cheesecake with a smug little look.]

[vaccination]

Oh, c'mon. That's nothing.

[Everyone loves cheesecake, so Ellie has no reservations about cutting off a giant chunk with her fork and using her fingers to stuff it into her mouth.]

[dog_eat_dog]

[ Tess snorts and takes a bigger chunk. ]

You're not going to last a whole meal at that pace, kid.

[vaccination]

[Ellie tries to speak around her mouthful of cheesecake but it's physically impossible. But! She seems to be enjoying it.]

[dog_eat_dog]

[Tess just laughs to herself, continuing to pick at the cheesecake.

She's pretty impressed with herself, actually, pulling off a meal like this.]

[vaccination]

[Managing not to choke with the help of some water from the sink--she'll pass on the carbonated stuff for now--she goes back to trying each of the pizzas. Everything is good. Maybe she should stop eating like a little squirrel outside of this place, even if her stomach rebels.

As good a time as it's turning out out to be with Tess, she can't help but wish Joel was here for this, too.]

[dog_eat_dog]

[Tess paces herself a little, but only marginally. She watches Ellie here or there, wondering if she looked like that in the dining hall in those first few weeks she could keep food down at all. Sometimes it feels like it'll take years to eat normally and not like it could be her last.]

Easy there.

[Tess considers having to intervene if Ellie starts going blue.]

[vaccination]

I'm good. The grease helps it down the pipe.

[It's not real so she won't break out, right? Cool.]

[dog_eat_dog]

That's the spirit. You're a real mid 2000s girl now.

[vaccination]

That sounds horrifying.

[She's seen pictures.]

[dog_eat_dog]

It was a good time, actually. If you were lucky you could even have a phone in your bedroom.

[vaccination]

And have people call you all the fucking time? No thanks.

[dog_eat_dog]

Not a problem if you like your friends.

[vaccination]

Still. Sounds stressful.

[It's bad enough when your friends know where you live.]