seventh ➛ voice

[backpacking]

I'll make this quick. It's Ellie. I've got the guy who was... in the library. He's someone I know, somebody from my world, and he's not a threat to anybody anymore.

[ Probably not reassuring, considering how much actually happened before she was made aware of Joel's arrival, but... better late than never, right? ]

He acted like that 'cause he was looking for me. He thought I was in danger. If you're gonna be pissed at someone, or feel like you need to get revenge on someone, then blame me.

[ Not that she'll lay down her life (or, one of her lives) for somebody pitching a fight, though... ]

I'm watching out for him now. Nobody gets to see him and nobody is allowed to come after him. If you try and do anything to him, you have to go through me, and it'd be pretty shitty to kill a kid over this.

[ They're in a world now where people don't actually kill kids, so she figures it's safe to play that card. With that, and with a decisive sniff, she closes the feed. ]

Comments

[voiceinthedark]

Yeah, it is right now. Maxine was here for a while but... you know how things go.

[backpacking]

Yeah. [ She absolutely does. ] ... At least you've got someone, right? You're not alone here.

[voiceinthedark]

Well, there's Simon here and we're cool now. Things were rocky for a while, but I think we made up. And there's plenty of people I met here. They're important too.

[backpacking]

Exactly. [ Just like Ellie, who had come here with no one. ] We've gotta keep those people safe.

[voiceinthedark]

We do. Sometimes they're not great at doing what's necessary or taking care of themselves.

[backpacking]

Definitely not.

[ Sometimes, though, it isn't their fault. ]

... Thanks again, Sam. And, uh - I'll keep you updated?

[voiceinthedark]

[Not their fault, but still frustrating when they don't accept that something needs to be done.]

Sure. Let me know if you need anything, if I can help.