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]

[Her own words from what feels like a century ago echo around in her head.

Safety in numbers, and all that.]

can i think about it for a bit? or i might. visit.

[She doesn't know him very well yet, but she knows he likely saved her life. That's enough for Ellie to trust him at least in part. ...And this apartment is dead quiet. Lonely. Reminiscent of a dorm in a military school missing a roommate.]

[mercurio]

yeah, it's more than fine, don't stress
if you wanna drop by anytime we're in house [insert number]

[he feels horrible at the mention of having friends here, when ellie isn't able to find her own...]

i'm with my friends though by the way so it's not like they're strangers
i could vouch for them
...terrible at cooking but
ye..ah

[survivorsguilt]

[It's not as though he can tell over text, but that last part gets a little half smile from her. Sounds like they're good pals.]

that's ok. my limit is basically heating up a can or putting something on a spit.

i probably should have said it sooner but... thanks. you didn't have to offer any of that, you know?

[mercurio]

[he would make a joke or reference towards ignis, who could cook a more than decent meal... but it'd make him feel upset otherwise]

that's better than raw cockatrice to be honest
imagine how much time would be spent in the toilet
actually don't
also don't imagine me doing that ??
don't sweat it ellie even if i didn't have to we gotta stick together right?

[survivorsguilt]

[Ellie pierces the silence of her apartment with a loud cry of, "gross!" and a round of laughter. Thank fuck for Prompto, she thinks.]

too late and also thats disgusting
ive got no idea what cockatrice is but raw anything is nasty

[we gotta stick together

She lingers on the message for awhile before finishing her reply. Maybe- maybe she could allow herself to trust a little more. Every bone in her body screams not to.]

yeah. youre right.

[mercurio]

it's a big bird... i guess one of those things from where i'm from
look we've already gotten the awkward and disgusting out of the way we're on the right path

[prompto smiles at her last message, connecting what it's meant to be about]

i'll catch up with you later then? don't be a stranger!

[survivorsguilt]

that's true... it's like the first step of friendship basically

okay. sounds good! you too

[mercurio]

[ellie is slowly (or quickly, rather) becoming prompto's favourite!]

see ya!