issue #1 | text

[survivorsguilt]

[It's taken a few days for Ellie to find her way. She has an apartment, but she's not getting comfortable or even really considering it 'hers'. It's temporary. A good hideout until she moves again. She knows where to find food, but she's not going to get lazy. It feels like a good idea to stay in the practice of fending for herself as often as she can.

Figuring out the network and how to do anything with her phone had taken some practice. But now that she's got the basics down, there's something important Ellie needs to ask.]

im looking for joel. hes a big grumpy guy with good aim and a talent for pissing people off. if you see him, tell him ellie is looking for him. joel if you can see this but you cant answer me, im hanging around those weird tall pointy apartments. let me know youre okay.

[It's way easier to say that kind of thing over text, where no one can hear her voice fill with worry. She doesn't really want to consider the possibility that he's not here. That she's alone again.]

Comments

[survivorsguilt]

thanks for the tip. problem is, i dont know if he'd use an alias. its never really come up before. anyway. ill check it out

[You know, once she figures out how to.]

text;

[wendigoner]

I'll keep an eye out. I haven't met anyone named Joel but that does mean he isn't here.
What does he look like?

[survivorsguilt]

scruffy beard. scruffy everything. tall. hes got dark hair but hes practically a grandpa so its kinda going gray.

[Maybe if she picks on him enough he'll magically appear.]

sound familiar at all?

text

[unitas]

I don't see a Joel in the contact list, unless you think he'd use an alias?

[survivorsguilt]

i dont think so? but its possible, i guess. maybe hes just not using his phone. or maybe he didnt get one. thanks for looking. i cant figure this shit out

[Denial ain't just a river in Egypt.]

[text]

[synthedick]

Most folks who get pulled through the Door end up here on their own, but if this Joel character is here, he can't be too far. There's only so much city he can wander through.

[Which isn't very reassuring, he's sure.]

[survivorsguilt]

[Fuck.]

so you mean chances are hes not here.

right. thanks.

[The reply possibly sounds a little abrupt, but it's not born of anything malicious. She's upset.]

text

[survivethis]

I'll keep an eye out for someone matching that description when I'm out on patrol.

[survivorsguilt]

thank you. thatd be awesome.

what kind of patrol?

[She's grateful for the offer, but at the same time, the word patrol has some very negative connotations in her mind. Tight military regulations. Gunfire. The beep of a handheld scanner: infected, or clear?]

text

[burn_all_the_babies]

i saw sum1 that might bee the joel! scruffy smelly gotz old man hairs

[ Tina isn't used to texting, she never really writes at the best of times. Sure she can read but it's been a long time since she's ever had to write anything for anyone, so yea, sorry about the terrible texting. ]

w8 no w8 i fink itz just a bear. unless joel was/is a bear?

[survivorsguilt]

[What the fuck is this writing WHAT is she reading-- Ellie decides it's easiest to just say screw it and go with it.]

joel is definitely not a bear. i mean not the last time i checked. which was, you know, like a few days ago

text;

[feelslikeimspilling]

[ From the way it's worded, this looks like someone who the door has only just brought in. At first, Will skims over it, thinking nothing more of it but then something draws him back to it.

He's been meaning to do more good in the City, after all, the trouble that's been had recently, so maybe this could be where he starts making amends? ]

I haven't seen a Joel on the contact list. I bet you've been getting a lot of that though huh? Your names Ellie right? I'm Will. Did you manage to get out of the arena alright? It's possible if Joel came with you, he might still be there. Could I go and have a look for you? Call you when I get there and describe who and what I see?

[survivorsguilt]

[Woah. Uh- woah. That's like, insane levels of helpful. Ellie kind of does a double take upon reading it. Since when are strangers this willing to do something nice? This place is fucking weird. Still, it's not like he's asking her to come along, so it all seems pretty safe to agree to.]

dude- will- that would be super amazing. i got outta there alright but i didnt exactly get a proper look at the place and i havent been back yet. so.

you dont have to or anything though. ill check it out eventually

[Definitely not afraid of seeing a particular body now that the thought is on her mind. Not at all.]

[mercurio]

[assuming they at least exchanged names by now..!]

hey, any luck?

works for me!! <3

[survivorsguilt]

hey dude. nothing. its fine. i was probably stupid to expect anything better.

[iustitiae]

i havent heard of anyone by that description yet
but you never know it could still happen

[survivorsguilt]

i guess. someone said that its not unlikely for people from the same place to just bam! appear. so. its just that 'you never know' and 'maybe' don't super make me feel like throwing a party. you know?

text; - five million years late with starbucks

[kittycaterer]

[ Noctis hasn't been paying much attention to the network lately, but this is likely the best time to get back into it. He should be, considering his station back home. The best thing he can do is be as supportive as possible, kingly status in the air or no. ]

Can't say I've heard that name around yet. But I'll keep an eye out.
Guessing you're Ellie?

AND SO VERY WELCOME

[survivorsguilt]

ding ding ding. yeah, thats me. whats your name?

and thanks for the offer. i feel like if he does show up im sure to hear about it from someone

[sleepdarts]

That sounds like someone I know.
They're not here, though.

[survivorsguilt]

sounds like we're all missing someone

[ishotyouuu]

[The face is familiar. She wasn't one of his kids back in Haven-- hell, he'd only found out about her existence when Jesse told him that she was moving in with him-- but she'd been his roommate for a time. Her face causes a pang of homesickness to settle in his chest, and his answering text probably sounds a little simpleminded for how succinct it is.]

Ellie?

[survivorsguilt]

[She jumps to the most ridiculous conclusion, heart racing and fingers shaking.

Of course it's not Joel. He would never send a message like this. 'It's me, I'm here', maybe. 'I'll be there in ten, hang tight and don't move', sure. But not this. Her heart sinks back into place.

So then. Who...?]

uh? yes? whos this? do i know you