hadriel | issue #1

[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.]

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I'll be in white and orange, impossible not to spot. [ She can't help her choice in bright colors, she just likes them, ok.

It does not take Sharon long to reach Ellie, pace brisk. She spots the young teen within moments and gives a call out: ]

Ellie, right? [ Just to be certain. Sharon has a knife in a sheath on her hip and a backpack slung over one shoulder. She makes no move to grab it and, instead, offers a small wave. ] I'm Sharon, Sharon da Silva.

[ She slows her pace as she gets closer. ]

Yeah, that's me.

[She's wary, moving to her feet as soon as the other begins to approach.]

Hey. So, uh- I don't really know where to start asking for help, because I don't even know what I don't know.

All right, then we'll just start with the basics. [ The basics. The basics feel like it needs to be a field manual. ] Housing, shop items, all the basic shit in this place is free for you take. The city is pretty much your safe zone and wandering into the caves will lead you to a network of shit and monsters—no way out.

The phones... [ And here she pulls out her own phone. The screen is chipped, as if it'd been thrown. She motions Ellie over so she can see everything properly. She points out Mello's new-comer's guide, shows off the contact list, and then even sends her links to games like ms. pac-man. ] You don't have to really worry about them running out of juice or anything, even survives playing ms. pac-man for four hours straight.

["Free to take" is kind of what she's used to, but it's nice to know no one will be on her ass about it. The games... have her slowly grinning very widely.

Guess who's wanted to play video games for a long time and never fucking been able to? You've improved a life today, Sharon. The uptick in her mood is pretty obvious in both Ellie's expression and they way she's less concerned with the space between them.]

Seriously? Okay, this is actually kind of fucking amazing.

[Oh, right. She awkwardly laces her fingers together and tugs them apart again.]

Hey, uh. Thanks. This was super helpful.

[ The change in the girl's mood when she gets to the games makes Sharon grin softly, a laugh in her voice. ]

Wish I had cooler games to show you but all we got is pong and Ms. Pac-man and our game coder left a couple months ago. [ The gratitude gets another smile from Sharon, a little awkward on her own end. She's not great with people. Or... anything, honestly. It feels good to help someone out, though. Make someone smile—give them a reason to in this fuck place. ]

You're welcome. If you ever need more hints and tips, you just give me a call, all right?

No, they're definitely cool. Super cool.

[I mean... She would prefer something a little closer to Angel Knives, the chance to grind some pixelated enemies into dust- but beggars can't be choosers. God, a game coder. She... wishes Riley was here to see this. Ellie keeps smiling too, but it seems a little heavier.]

I will. It was Sharon, right?

[ She dips her head, a quiet hum in her throat. ] Yeah, that's me. But, uh, just a heads up: I'm listed as Heather Mason on the contact list. [ She waves a hand before questions can come up. ]

Don't want certain people to be able to find me from home, that's all.

[She nods, glad Sharon answered the question before she could even ask it.]

Gotcha. Hey uh... let me know if I can pay you back for helping me out, yeah?

[ Everyone always seems to want to 'pay her back' for whatever tiny thing she's done to help and it's still weird to her. She gives a shrug of her shoulders, smile on her lips ]

Look, you ever find hair bleach, give me a call ASAP, all right? [ She touches her hair, pale blonde brushing her shoulders, but there's probably half an inch of dark root showing. ]

I think I can manage that.

[She nods, smiling back at Sharon.]

You're kinda pulling off the half and half look, though.

[ Oh, that is hella sweet. Sharon is taken aback a moment and then her smile widens, a laugh on the edge of her lips. ]

Thanks. I'm glad to hear I don't look like complete ass yet. [ It's only a matter of time in this place. Too much dark root, too much stress, not enough food, not enough sleep, too much alcohol; it does its damage but she's lucky to have returned home for a time not long ago, giving her a bit of a physical refresh. ]

Nah, definitely not. I'll keep an eye out all the same, though.

[Ellie grins and scuffs her shoes against the ground; shifts her backpack. Well. Guess this is...]

See ya round, then?

[ Sharon offers a grin and then a wave, already moving away. ]

Settle in, and if you ever need any more help, give me a yell. [ She can only hope the younger girl can settle in without new horrors popping up before she can. ]

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