issue # 3 | video + action

[survivorsguilt]

[It's pretty early in the day when Ellie sends out a network wide cry for help.]

I'm bored as hell. Need something fun to do around here. First person to give me a great idea wins my undying gratitude and an IOU.

[That's it. She's out. Quite literally; the moment the video ends, Ellie is slinging her backpack over her shoulders and heading off on a walk, just to be doing something.

Boredom isn't the crux of the issue, in actuality. If she wasn't so intent on stubbornly clinging to her pride in front of a bunch of strangers, she'd admit she just wants someone to hang out with.

She misses him a lot, today.]


((ooc: feel free to respond to her video, spot her around the city, or if you're one of her roommates, engage with her there!))

Comments

[lifetothefullest]

[It's easy enough to tell from her reaction that this is a sensitive subject, rather than something like a kid who likes their reputation as being tough on the schoolyard. So he backs off on the subject, keeping it in mind but not pushing for now; kids get a whole lot more leeway from him than adults do when it comes to prying.]

I haven't seen any monsters here yet, though I've heard they're in the caves.

[And he's happy if they just stay there, thanks. He doesn't really want to see them, curiosity aside.]

[survivorsguilt]

[Bless him. Most of the time Ellie doesn't mind talking about how things were rough back home, but it's not great to suddenly think about it in the middle of an otherwise nice conversation.]

Yeah. Tons of them. I'd warn you to stay away, but you don't really seem like the kinda guy to run headfirst into danger when there's no point.

[lifetothefullest]

Yeah, I really like there to be a point.

[He says it with a small grin, indicating it's a joke, but he still means it.; he definitely is not big on danger for no reason. Although her very certain answers gives him a little pause, and he does feel the need to add--]

I hope you've been taking your own advice about avoiding them.

[survivorsguilt]

[She definitely laughs at that, nodding in apparent agreement with a wide grin.]

Oh, dude, trust me, I've got no fucking inclination to get torn to shreds again.





[Oops.]

[lifetothefullest]

[...Yeah, it's impossible to miss that 'again', and now he has to decide on whether to address it or not. Considering her reaction earlier about his question on fighting, he doesn't think directly saying anything is the best choice, but he also can't just ignore it.

So instead he gives her a serious look for a moment, making it clear he heard what she said and what it means, although his tone is conversational in contrast.]

Okay, good; keep up the 'staying away from them' thing.

[He won't ask directly--right now anyway--but if she wants to say more, he's listening.]

[survivorsguilt]

[It's a smart move. There are very few people in Hadriel she's spoken about it with, and even then, it was hardly speaking so much as gross crying. She's not anywhere near there with Sweets. She ignores the look, and overcompensates by putting on a jokey tone.]

Suuuuuure, dad.

[lifetothefullest]

[He's not surprised that she chooses not to elaborate, but what she does say--even though it's a very standard sassy response--is a shock in an completely unexpected way. His eyes flicker and he looks briefly stricken, but only for a moment before he manages a weak smile instead; it's not that she said anything wrong, it's just... A vision of what could've been, perhaps.

But he doesn't have any desire to think about that right now, and even less desire to worry Ellie or otherwise make her think he's bothered by the comment--he's not, in itself--and so he shakes his head, offering a lightly joking response.]

Hey, you wouldn't want to be grounded off of, you know, all the nothing there is to do here.

[What a tragedy that'd be.]