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Okay, short and sweet. I've got some questions. ... And one comment, which is fuck that last trip. You think you're home free from whatever crap you've got back home, and then... bam. It's in your face. What's that about?

[ huff ]

Name's Ellie. I spent a lot of time reading back home and now that we're not in the trenches anymore, I need some reading material. Suggestions? The library's huge here and I don't even know where to start!

Uh... [ What else... She scrunches up her nose, thinking. ] Anyone up to teaching a kid to swim? Because that's something long overdue that I haven't gotten around to. And -

[ She looks a little more meekly at the camera, then glances away, chewing on the inside of her cheek. ]

There any way to get in touch with someone back home? Like... I dunno, a magic mirror so we can see they're okay? It's important. Thanks.

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There's no way to get in touch with home that I've found yet, but if I figure it out-- trust me. I'll let you know.

[Jo figures there are probably a lot of people here who'd like to make use of something like that.]

Get any offers on those swim lessons yet? I'd be happy to help if you still need a buddy.

Yeah, that's what I've heard. [ She shrugs weakly. ] Maybe something'll come up, or... But, people can just show up, right? Out of the blue?

[ She'd left Joel and he'd been mortally wounded; all she can hope for is that he's in some suspended animation, or... something until she gets back. ]

Really? That'd be great! Haven't heard from anyone who wasn't being an ass about it. [ DEAN ] I know it's weird, but I didn't have the chance. It's been kinda problematic.

Yeah, they can-- you never know when they might. I thought I'd never see my mom again, and she turned up.

[There's hope for everyone, the way she sees it.]

People are being jerks about you wanting to learn how to swim? [RUDE.] It's not that weird. Not everyone gets the same opportunities. You're right, though, it'll be good for you to learn-- important skill. Might as well do it now while the weather's still warm.

Your mom?

[ Ellie, who never knew her mom, perks up a little. Well, she hadn't known either parent, and really, she'd rather see Joel. Still. ]

Hey, good for you. [ She offers a little smile. ] That's awesome.

Oh, yeah. He was like - [ and she does her best gruff Dean impression ] "What, you don't know how to swim?" Like, what a jerk. They don't give a shit about swimming in military school.

Yeah, just a couple of weeks ago.

[She smiles carefully-- she doesn't want to rub it in to anyone who's still missing their loved ones, but it's as good an example of why they should hold out hope as any.]

He sounds like a jerk. Who was it? [She wrinkles her nose, disapproving-- then:] Military school, huh?

I still haven't seen anybody I know. I mean, knew - I know people here, now.

[ And it's been strangely... good, actually.

At the question, Ellie makes a strangled, disgusted noise. ]

This guy - I'm not sure. I've talked to him twice and maybe seen him around. Wears a lot of plaid, has a bad attitude, face like this?

[ And she flawlessly imitates the "blue steel" for Jo. ]

Yeah. In Boston. Not a lot of fun, which is, I know, a total shocker.

[Ugh. That's an incredibly apt description-- Jo knows that face.]

That would be Dean. Sorry about him.

[Not that she's his keeper, but sometimes she feels like she is, even now.]

Yeah, real shocker. I'm sure you're glad to be away from there.

You know him? Don't tell me you guys're - [ and she makes a face because JO seems totally normal and perfectly pleasant but DEAN is a major butt so she doesn't want to hear that they're ~involved~ or she'll have to adjust her judgments ]

... Sort of. I guess? It's complicated.

[ And it is! When there are Infected involved. ]

It's kind of dangerous... everywhere.

What--? No, no, we're not--

[Not anymore, anyway.]

We're friends. We worked together back home. I'm engaged to Simon.

[Go figure that as little as two years ago, she would have wanting nothing more than to be involved with Dean, but that, too, was complicated.]

How long's it been like that-- dangerous everywhere?

Wait- Simon, Simon? The British zombie guy?

[ yOOOOOO ]

That's awesome. Uh - I mean, congrats. Did that happen here? You aren't from the same place, are you?

[ whoosh, and dean is forgotten ]

Oh - Twenty years? Twenty-five, maybe? It happened before I was born.

That would be him. Thanks! [She smiles a little, entertained by Ellie's chosen descriptor-- not that it's not fitting.] Yeah, it happened here. We're from different places, but-- not a lot left for either one of us back home. Wonderland's pretty much it, so it makes it easier to focus on the present.

[Simon's not dead back home, but by all accounts, he's heading towards it pretty damn quickly. Wonderland is better for both of them.]

Twenty plus years. [She lets out a low whistle.] That's a long time.

'Course. That really cool. That you met here and... that stuff.

[ Good thing somebody is having a decent life around here. Wonderland's not as bad at home, but it's bizarre, without question. ]

Yeah. It's only gotten worse, since there's no cure, and nobody can really... do anything about it.

[ Except her. Maybe. They'd see once they found the Fireflies. ]

No cure.

[She frowns. That sounds all too familiar.]

It's a disease, then? Do you-- are you from someplace that's crawling with zombies, too?

[It's never been exactly clear to her during their previous encounters, but it seems like now is as good a time as any to ask.]

Fungus. Cordyceps, it grows all over your brain.

[ It's all over her brain, in fact, something she doesn't really think about too much. ]

Oh, yeah... well, sort of. They're Infected. Not living dead, but still just... alive. Mutated, I guess.

Fungus. I've never heard of it infecting people like that before.

[The very idea of it is disquieting, and her frown deepens as she tries to pull up a mental image of what it might do to people--

On the other hand, maybe it's best that she doesn't think about it too hard.]

So not zombies the way other people might know them, but it's similar. An outbreak. [Shit.] I'm sorry.

Guess nobody did, since the whole world had no fucking idea how to deal.

[ She puffs out her cheeks, looking sullen. ]

And no cure, twenty years after. [ Yet. ]

We've all got crap to deal with, right? S'not your fault. Isn't anybody's fault.

It's not my fault, or anyone's-- but I can still want better for you.

[Hell, for anyone. Nobody should have to live in that world, just like nobody should have to live in Sam and Simon's.]

I'm glad you're here, Ellie. For however long.

... Thanks.

[ Man, it's weird having so many people to talk to, people who aren't trying to kill her, in this place. She shifts her weight, sniffling briefly, then rubbing at her nose with the back of her hand. ]

You guys, too. I don't know what your place is like, but I hope it's not like that.

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