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[dog_eat_dog]

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[stand_unshaken]

[He just got back from Ellies cabin, and he went straight to Tess'. It isn't far, and he knocks on her door.]

my life is not complete without our 20893423 inbox threads

[dog_eat_dog]

[Tess doesn't answer at first, and when she does open the door, she looks plenty worked up. Smells like cigarette smoke, too. Bossily:]

What?

truly!

[stand_unshaken]

[He digs his tobacco out of his pouch and hands it over. Get to smoking - he's got you.]

Don't 'what' me, woman. You need out a minute? Enclosure, gym?

[dog_eat_dog]

[ She raises an eyebrow at the woman remark, but she doesn't comment. Just takes the tobacco, contemplates blowing him off, but then decides: no, actually. ]

Yeah. Let me in the Enclosure.

[stand_unshaken]

Alright. C'mon.

[He turns around, hands deep in his pockets, trusting she'll follow him if she wants to go there. He'll leave her alone in there if she wants to, but he'll at least lead her there.]

Already talked to her. No need to discuss it any further right now, alright?

[dog_eat_dog]

[She's glad to have his back to her when he says that; better to avoid letting him see how her anger flickers, how her face falls somewhere wounded. She itches to ask what the fuck Ellie told him, but it might just flow out of her like an avalanche if she does it while angry.

She just follows him.]

And if I never want to talk about it?

[stand_unshaken]

You know that aint gonna happen. But I won't make you. [She knows how this goes. She'll talk.]

[dog_eat_dog]

I can be real stubborn.

[ She hates that he's right. ]

And she doesn't know anything about me, so whatever she told you, you can just forget it.

[stand_unshaken]

So can I. And don't make assumptions about me, Tess, you think I'd take her word over yours?

[dog_eat_dog]

I would hope not.

[But she knows how it could sound, too.

God, she's so fucking annoyed, and walking behind him bothers her, and being handled bothers her, and everything fucking bothers her. She picks up the pace, stepping around him to storm ahead of him instead.]

[stand_unshaken]

[He lets her. Not because he understands her, completely, but because she's angry and she knows what she needs to work through that. He's happy enough to just walk behind her the short distance they have left.]

Alright. You want me to come along, or is this all you need?

[dog_eat_dog]

[She gives the most agitated shrug possible, hand on the Enclosure door.]

Stay, go, I don't care. I'm going to Boston to trash his apartment and you hate cities, so.

[stand_unshaken]

As long as you don't go starting to sing its praises, I'm in.

[Yeah, not hearing a 'no' was enough invitation for him. He opens the door with his warden item, then nods at her. Go on. Show him the ropes.]

[dog_eat_dog]

Suit yourself.

[ Tess heads on in, going right to the console to plug in what she needs. Boston in 2033, of course, specifically the little street that goes into Joel's apartment complex. The building itself is old, early 1900s brick with ramshackle modernizations, including a tall security gate blocking it off. Opposite them are shopfronts, all closed off with metal sliding doors save for the ration distribution line, which is busy as usual and surrounded by heavily armed guards, and a long way down the street, past a military checkpoint and the great concrete border wall, there's the city skyline, with some of the huge skyscrapers leant over against each other. Tess pays none of that any attention, continuing to enter things: a sledgehammer, a jerrycan, a lighter, a set of keys.

She pockets the smaller items and stoops to pick up the jerrycan, and she reaches out to pass the sledgehammer to Arthur.]

Be a dear and carry this.

[stand_unshaken]

[The sight of the city makes him shiver, barely repressed. He won't say a word, because this isn't about his own discomfort, and besides- this is useful, likely. Knowing where she's from.

Fuck.]

Yes, ma'am.

[He picks up the sledgehammer and slings it over his shoulder. He isn't stupid, he can get an idea abotu what she's going to do.]

[dog_eat_dog]

[She flashes him a rueful little smile and unlocks the gate and heads in. There's a short alleyway into the complex, the walls plastered with signs for curfew, 6PM-6AM, warnings for authorization of lethal force, and wanted posters for various people. Tess heads right for the door of the nearest building and lets them into that too. The front lobby is tiny and cramped, and the security desk is unoccupied. Tess heads up the stairs; they creak with age, and the paint on the walls peels off in long ribbons.]

I used to live here too, but the apartment faces East so the sun would just beam in when you're trying to sleep in. Fucking merciless.

[stand_unshaken]

Oh, yeah. Know all about that, after a rough night. [Nothing like the sun shining on your face first thing when you're nursing a hangover.]

All buildings look like this?

[dog_eat_dog]

Yup. The building was built closer to your time than mine, and it was probably in pretty rough shape even when I was a kid.

[ Joel's apartment is at the end of the hall on the second floor, and Tess unlocks it and let them in. The apartment is dim, the windows spattered with spray paint to cut the light, and it does little to obscure the water stained ceilings and beat-up furniture. The plaster of one wall is falling away entirely. The kitchen is barren, and the back wall is lined with boxes and storage bins.

She sets the jerrycan onto the table.]

I hated this place anyway.

[stand_unshaken]

Well, it's a shithole, so no wonder.

[He swings the sledgehammer away from his shoulder, and holds it out for her.]

Assume that's where you wanna start.

[dog_eat_dog]

Mmhmm.

[She takes it from him, and she walks across the room with it. Anger roils in her belly, strong enough that she almost feels nauseous, but she’s here and she decided to do this, so she’s gonna do it. She’s locked in.

She knows exactly what she came here for.

She slips into the bedroom and opens the closet, and she grabs the old guitar by the neck and lifts it out. She brings it back and drops it on the floor in the main room. It lands with a hollow thunk. It’s already seen better days and it has no strings left. Tess spaces her hands out on the sledgehammer and lines up a swing and brings it down right on the body like an executioner; it collapses with a loud crack.

It’s not even half as satisfying as she hoped. It just leaves her feeling more agitated than before.]

[stand_unshaken]

[Arthur has put himself against the kitchen counter. His arms are crossed, and his legs are crossed at the ankle as he leans and observes.

No comment. He can see that didn't satisfy her; there's no need for him to talk about it.]

[dog_eat_dog]

[Tess just stands there a minute, her grip on the sledgehammer iron-tight and her jaw set and her heart hammering. She just feels mad about it, robbed of her time and robbed of being able to take it out on who deserves it most and robbed of even being able to feel satisfied over it.

She just kicks the wreckage of the guitar across the room. Mutters: ]

Fuck.

[stand_unshaken]

[He waits another minute, but when she mutters that curse he nods.]

That his?

[dog_eat_dog]

Yeah.

[She heaves a frustrated sigh.]

Was. And none of this is fucking real, anyway.

[stand_unshaken]

Think that's why it don't feel too good?