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controlledvariable) wrote2014-02-02 07:59 pm
controlledvariable) wrote2014-02-02 07:59 pm
exsilium; ic inbox
text | audio | video
text | audio | video
[we've all been in that Week, gal. he's not taking many offenses currently.]
It is for the secure transport of the Initiative AI. Taking a piece of it back to earlier points in time can offer it a chance to obtain more detailed and accurate historical data.
It is for the secure transport of the Initiative AI. Taking a piece of it back to earlier points in time can offer it a chance to obtain more detailed and accurate historical data.
[Oh is that all?
Christ.]
i'll have to work out if the AI can fit in along with the files that are aleady there, i'm not risking moving them into the base's computers if i don't have to.
Christ.]
i'll have to work out if the AI can fit in along with the files that are aleady there, i'm not risking moving them into the base's computers if i don't have to.
i can talk to it, we're already working on something together.
you're a friend of collette's, aren't you?
you're a friend of collette's, aren't you?
stephanie, but i'm guessing you knew that already.
do you have any specific missions in mind that the AI needs to tag along to, or is this a general sort of thing?
do you have any specific missions in mind that the AI needs to tag along to, or is this a general sort of thing?
[Hi this is Ellie being very upset about just about everything and not wanting to accidentally snap at Joel or find certain people involved in the mutiny and/or the Jesse mess and stab them. So.]
I made a pancake. want it?
I made a pancake. want it?
[She knows it's not just an offer for the sake of it, so...]
always, you're at the cafeteria?
always, you're at the cafeteria?
be there in five
[She takes a second to get dressed, pulling her hair back into a ponytail.
She hasn't really slept recently, so takes a detour to the bathrooms to splash her face, trying to waking herself up, and then she appears at the entrance to the cafeteria, walking in and looking for Ellie.]
[She takes a second to get dressed, pulling her hair back into a ponytail.
She hasn't really slept recently, so takes a detour to the bathrooms to splash her face, trying to waking herself up, and then she appears at the entrance to the cafeteria, walking in and looking for Ellie.]
[Ellie hasn't been getting much sleep either, but that's nothing new. Instead of nightmares keeping her up, she stays up to listen to Joel's breathing, hoping that he finds some rest. It's easier to just focus entirely on him.
As it is, she's got her elbows on the table and one giant pancake sitting on a plate. Ellie doesn't have the patience to make individual, smaller pancakes, so it seems like she just made one thick, pan-sized pancake. It's a bit crispy on the edges, but she thinks it's cooked well enough to eat.]
Hey.
[She lifts a hand to wave Steph over.]
As it is, she's got her elbows on the table and one giant pancake sitting on a plate. Ellie doesn't have the patience to make individual, smaller pancakes, so it seems like she just made one thick, pan-sized pancake. It's a bit crispy on the edges, but she thinks it's cooked well enough to eat.]
Hey.
[She lifts a hand to wave Steph over.]
[When she sees that pancake, she can't help but smile. It feels too fragile, like her face might crack with it, when it seems like it's been so long since she smiled.
She sits down right next to Ellie, and doesn't pause before wrapping her arms around her, pressing her lips to Ellie's hair.]
Hey, kiddo.
She sits down right next to Ellie, and doesn't pause before wrapping her arms around her, pressing her lips to Ellie's hair.]
Hey, kiddo.
[Just because Ellie mooches food off people at almost any opportunity doesn't mean she can't cook for herself. She'd just rather not. Stuff made by other people always tastes better.]
How are you doing?
[She leans into the hug and kiss, but she's been feeling sluggish ever since Tess was sent away. There's a weight to her movements. It's easier to bark on the network than it is to take a walk around the base nowadays.]
How are you doing?
[She leans into the hug and kiss, but she's been feeling sluggish ever since Tess was sent away. There's a weight to her movements. It's easier to bark on the network than it is to take a walk around the base nowadays.]
You want the honest answer?
[It's a surprisingly genuine question; she knows that Ellie has her own shit going on, and she doesn't want to put any more on her.
But she doesn't want to lie, either.]
[It's a surprisingly genuine question; she knows that Ellie has her own shit going on, and she doesn't want to put any more on her.
But she doesn't want to lie, either.]
If you feel like sharing. Go for it.
[She doesn't mind. When it comes to emotions and feelings and stuff, all Ellie can really do is listen--and listening gives her things to focus on that aren't herself.]
[She doesn't mind. When it comes to emotions and feelings and stuff, all Ellie can really do is listen--and listening gives her things to focus on that aren't herself.]
I'm not okay.
[She sighs, resting her cheek against Ellie's hair, the pancake going ignored for the moment.]
Everything that could go wrong has go wrong, and I don't think most of it can be fixed. [a beat, and even more quietly:] Can I ask you to do something for me?
[She sighs, resting her cheek against Ellie's hair, the pancake going ignored for the moment.]
Everything that could go wrong has go wrong, and I don't think most of it can be fixed. [a beat, and even more quietly:] Can I ask you to do something for me?
[She'd like to see someone who IS okay after all this shit. But Ellie scoots over, as close as she can without being on Steph's lap. There's no one in prison she cares about except for Jesse, and that better be something that can be fixed.]
What is it?
What is it?
I don't want you to be alone around Jesse.
[Not after seeing him in that room, not after what Saul told her.]
He's dangerous, he's hurt people who don't deserve it - I'm not talking about the mutineers - and I love him, but I don't trust him, not anymore. I know you can handle yourself, and I'm not gonna make you do anything, but I'm asking you to be careful, to take care of yourself.
[Not after seeing him in that room, not after what Saul told her.]
He's dangerous, he's hurt people who don't deserve it - I'm not talking about the mutineers - and I love him, but I don't trust him, not anymore. I know you can handle yourself, and I'm not gonna make you do anything, but I'm asking you to be careful, to take care of yourself.
[Aaaand this would be Ellie sitting up.]
Don't tell me you're buying into all that shit on the network. I talked to him, and he seemed fine--he was worrying about me getting into trouble.
Don't tell me you're buying into all that shit on the network. I talked to him, and he seemed fine--he was worrying about me getting into trouble.
No, I'm not buying into what's been said on the network, I'm capable of forming my own opinions.
[She can't tell him about Sonya, that isn't her information to share, but:]
I went to see him when he was first locked up, and he wasn't okay, Ellie. He could barely tell an enemy from a friend, he thought everyone was against him, and I honestly believe that if he'd been released, he would have killed someone. I don't want you to get caught up in any of this.
[She can't tell him about Sonya, that isn't her information to share, but:]
I went to see him when he was first locked up, and he wasn't okay, Ellie. He could barely tell an enemy from a friend, he thought everyone was against him, and I honestly believe that if he'd been released, he would have killed someone. I don't want you to get caught up in any of this.
I wouldn't be okay if I were locked up, either. [Been there, done that, killed for it, too.] He was trying to do what he thought was right. He was a lot nicer than I would have been. He knows he's fucked up, but that doesn't mean... what? We lock him up like some sick animal? That is fucked up.
He's a sucker for kids. [It's easy to tell. She heard him talk about Brock, saw him with Stan and Peace, knew he tried to keep bad shit away from her.] If he was as psycho as everyone seems to wanna believe, I'm pretty sure he could have shot me earlier. But he didn't. He hid the fucking gun, remember?
Besides, I doubt they'd let me see him while he's locked up. Since I'm a kid.
[She's assuming Steph's warning is just for now. And that maybe Jesse will only be locked up just for now.]
He's a sucker for kids. [It's easy to tell. She heard him talk about Brock, saw him with Stan and Peace, knew he tried to keep bad shit away from her.] If he was as psycho as everyone seems to wanna believe, I'm pretty sure he could have shot me earlier. But he didn't. He hid the fucking gun, remember?
Besides, I doubt they'd let me see him while he's locked up. Since I'm a kid.
[She's assuming Steph's warning is just for now. And that maybe Jesse will only be locked up just for now.]
[She's quiet in the face of Ellie's words, but it's a calmness born of sheer exhaustion for this fight. She doesn't want to have to tell Ellie that someone they care about is dangerous.]
I'm talking about forever, Ellie. I want you to stay away from Jesse as long as he's here.
[Not as long as Ellie is here; she doesn't want to think about Ellie going back to her own world.
She pulls away and turns to face Ellie, meeting her gaze.]
The Jesse you know isn't the same man that's locked up in there right now, and I don't know if he's ever coming back. And this isn't about whether it's right to lock him up, that's not for us to decide. He'll be evaluated by a psychologist soon, and a decision will be made to protect both him, and the rest of the Transport population.
What I'm asking you is that regardless of what happens, you keep your distance.
I'm talking about forever, Ellie. I want you to stay away from Jesse as long as he's here.
[Not as long as Ellie is here; she doesn't want to think about Ellie going back to her own world.
She pulls away and turns to face Ellie, meeting her gaze.]
The Jesse you know isn't the same man that's locked up in there right now, and I don't know if he's ever coming back. And this isn't about whether it's right to lock him up, that's not for us to decide. He'll be evaluated by a psychologist soon, and a decision will be made to protect both him, and the rest of the Transport population.
What I'm asking you is that regardless of what happens, you keep your distance.
[Ellie's jaw actually drops as she stares at Steph.]
This is bullshit! What the fuck is he going to do to me?
[He certainly sounded like the same guy she knows. Maybe a little scared, but who could blame him? He still looked out for her. Asked her to fly under the radar. Things she could agree with.]
I think he did the right thing, taking powers from those assholes. If someone can't be trusted with a loaded gun, they shouldn't have it. He didn't want to kill them. You know what? I would have.
[This is so fucking absurd to her. Ellie shoves her chair back to stand.]
Joel's pretty fucked up too, Steph. I think he'd agree with what Jesse did. [Maybe, maybe. Maybe she shouldn't bring him up in this conversation, but she can't help it when she's so mad.] Should I stay away from him? Maybe just never leave my goddamn room? Huh?
This is bullshit! What the fuck is he going to do to me?
[He certainly sounded like the same guy she knows. Maybe a little scared, but who could blame him? He still looked out for her. Asked her to fly under the radar. Things she could agree with.]
I think he did the right thing, taking powers from those assholes. If someone can't be trusted with a loaded gun, they shouldn't have it. He didn't want to kill them. You know what? I would have.
[This is so fucking absurd to her. Ellie shoves her chair back to stand.]
Joel's pretty fucked up too, Steph. I think he'd agree with what Jesse did. [Maybe, maybe. Maybe she shouldn't bring him up in this conversation, but she can't help it when she's so mad.] Should I stay away from him? Maybe just never leave my goddamn room? Huh?
We're not doing this here.
[And with a hand on Ellie's arm, they're out of the cafeteria and in the VR room. She moves to the control panel and quickly calls up the one familiar place she keeps coming back to: her home.
It's a little shabby, a little old, but clean and - it's a home, in a way that a lot of places aren't.]
I'm telling you this in confidence, Ellie, because I want you to understand where I'm coming from. [She moves close again, but crouches down so she's not looming too much.] This isn't about Jesse taking someone's powers, it's about the things that Jesse is capable of. When I went in there, he was talking about getting out and killing everyone, about exacting his revenge. Jesse is insane, he's unstable and he doesn't have a very strong grip on reality. Joel is none of those things.
[She can say that much with confidence; Joel might be fucked up, but he's a good man.]
When Jesse's like this, he'll do whatever it takes to get what he wants, and I know most of the time he's good to you, but I don't know if that would stay the same when he's like this, and I don't want to risk it.
[A breath, shaky, and she leans back, pushing a hand through her hair.]
I won't be going near him, either. Not alone.
[And with a hand on Ellie's arm, they're out of the cafeteria and in the VR room. She moves to the control panel and quickly calls up the one familiar place she keeps coming back to: her home.
It's a little shabby, a little old, but clean and - it's a home, in a way that a lot of places aren't.]
I'm telling you this in confidence, Ellie, because I want you to understand where I'm coming from. [She moves close again, but crouches down so she's not looming too much.] This isn't about Jesse taking someone's powers, it's about the things that Jesse is capable of. When I went in there, he was talking about getting out and killing everyone, about exacting his revenge. Jesse is insane, he's unstable and he doesn't have a very strong grip on reality. Joel is none of those things.
[She can say that much with confidence; Joel might be fucked up, but he's a good man.]
When Jesse's like this, he'll do whatever it takes to get what he wants, and I know most of the time he's good to you, but I don't know if that would stay the same when he's like this, and I don't want to risk it.
[A breath, shaky, and she leans back, pushing a hand through her hair.]
I won't be going near him, either. Not alone.
Get your hand--[Oh, right. That. Unfair, but whatever. Ellie was going to just tell Steph to fuck off and storm back to her room, but if she wants to keep this going, then fine.
Ellie jerks her arm away from Steph and keeps her distance. That's not happening again. Their setting only gets a brief glance before she's crossing her arms over her chest, looking exactly like the stubborn teenager she is.]
Anyone is capable of almost anything. Give Joel good reason, and he'd do it, too. So would I. I don't think that's a good measure of sanity. Neither is talk. I could talk about killing people, doesn't mean I'm crazy. It would mean I'm pissed.
[Ellie drops her arms to pace, fingers pressing into her eyes.]
Fuck, you're supposed to be his friend! Even I see how messed up it is that one of the few people trying to stick up for him is a fourteen year old girl that's known him for--what, four months? Do you honestly think this shit is going to help him? Christ.
[Not that Ellie thinks she herself is capable of helping any, but she's not going to be afraid of Jesse.]
Ellie jerks her arm away from Steph and keeps her distance. That's not happening again. Their setting only gets a brief glance before she's crossing her arms over her chest, looking exactly like the stubborn teenager she is.]
Anyone is capable of almost anything. Give Joel good reason, and he'd do it, too. So would I. I don't think that's a good measure of sanity. Neither is talk. I could talk about killing people, doesn't mean I'm crazy. It would mean I'm pissed.
[Ellie drops her arms to pace, fingers pressing into her eyes.]
Fuck, you're supposed to be his friend! Even I see how messed up it is that one of the few people trying to stick up for him is a fourteen year old girl that's known him for--what, four months? Do you honestly think this shit is going to help him? Christ.
[Not that Ellie thinks she herself is capable of helping any, but she's not going to be afraid of Jesse.]
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