video

[shivving]

public

[ When Joel's face appears on the screen, he's not screaming. He's not stalking the room in rage or setting the library on fire.

He is calm. Eerily so. He glares unblinking into the camera, brow furrowed, silent just long enough to become unsettling.

He has the look of a man who hasn't slept in the last twenty-four hours. ]

I know it's probably the mansion what took Ellie. That more'n likely, none of you had anything to do with it.

If I find out otherwise, I will kill whoever's responsible.

[ end feed. ]


private to tess

Tess.

Comments

private »

[blackmarkets]

[ Well, fuck.

Last thing she wanted was Joel going on a killing spree around the mansion because Ellie was gone. She'd been on the fourth floor when the original video had gone out, already on the move when she responds. She knows that tone, knows how delicately she's gonna need to handle this if everyone was gonna make it through in one piece. ]

Where are you?

private »

[shivving]

First floor. My rooms.

[ It still feels strange to have a place he can call his own. Not whatever apartment he's currently squatting in. Not the empty houses and abandoned cars he and Ellie had taken shelter in along the road. His rooms.

He's not ready for a killing spree yet, though, and he gives up his location to Tess easily, content - for the moment - to wait until she arrives. To seek out her leadership one more time. ]

private » action

[blackmarkets]

I'm on my way.

[ She takes the steps two at a time as she goes, already running through a few scenarios of what she'll find when she gets there based on how well she knows him... Or how well she used to know him. Six months can do a lot to a person and while she's had some time over the past few months to start to play catch up, there was still some shit that she hadn't pressed on. Granted, maybe it was time to change that.

She knocks before letting herself in, more as a warning to him than anything else. ]

How long? [ Has she been gone would be the polite way to finish her sentence, but it's not like she's talking to an idiot or a stranger. ]

[shivving]

[ It's a relief to see Tess. Someone familiar, someone he trusts implicitly - one of very few who hold that questionable honor. She cuts right through the bullshit and gets straight to the point, and he's glad of that, too. ]

Two days.

[ He glances up at her, and for a brief moment there's something visible in his expression besides fierce anger or unstoppable determination. Exhaustion. Vulnerability. Fear. ]

Tried callin' her phone, the line's dead. No sign of her anywhere. It's like she vanished without a trace.

[ Or like someone had tried to make it look as if she had. ]

[blackmarkets]

Okay. [ Two days was a lot and it's almost telling of where they're at versus where they'd been at home. They didn't need daily check-ins without looming threats awaiting them around every corner. She didn't blink if she didn't hear from him at this point, but it's also a bit of a kick that Ellie's been gone 2 days and Joel's been stewing on this and she didn't even know. Too busy putting the resource rooms back together after the mess of the last event.

There'd be time to talk about that later, though. She wasn't about to add more weight to his shoulders based on what she was already seeing on his face. It's clear he cares a shit ton more about this kid than her, so it's time to focus on that and get him through whatever the fuck just happened to Ellie. ]

Alright, let's not jump to the worst conclusions yet, Texas. From what I've seen if her shit's still here she'll probably be coming back. This place might've just sent her home for a stint because they're sadistic. [ Not something she'd ever have to deal with, but call it an old habit to be well informed. ] What have other people been sayin'?

[shivving]

The same damn thing.

[ He drags a hand over his face, feeling tired. ]

That if her stuff is here, then she'll be back too. That there's nothin' to do but wait and see.

[ He's silent for a moment, staring at the floor. He doesn't want to wait. Doesn't know if he can handle just sitting here for a week, maybe two, without having any way of knowing what's happening to Ellie. Or if she's coming back at all.

When he does speak, it's barely audible, and still directed at the floor. A quiet plea for help. ]

Goddammit, Tess.

[blackmarkets]

[ She nods, listening - letting him get out whatever he needs to right now until she's sure he's ready to hear her out. And then he throws a curveball she wasn't expecting. Yeah, she'd watched his interactions with Ellie, but it hadn't really hit until now. It was one thing to watch the reaction on the network, the anger not surprising, but another entirely to witness the vulnerability that accompanied the new emotions. ]

Jesus, you really care about this kid.

[ It's not accusatory, her voice holding no malice at the sentiment. Not right now - no need to add fuel to this particular fire right now. Not if she was gonna play this smart. Arms crossing, she shifts on her feet before stepping in a little closer - trying to use their height difference to catch his gaze. ]

Listen, this ain't the first time we've had to hurry up and wait. If they're saying she'll be back, trashing the place won't make it happen faster.

[shivving]

[ It's an understatement, but not one he wants to get into right now. Joel glances at her wordlessly, halfway between sheepish and stoic - a tricky look to pull off, but he's had practice.

He sighs, crossing his arms over his chest and shaking his head. He's not trashing the place yet, but she's right - he's damn close. ]

So we just sit here. Just - sit around and wait and do nothing.

[ Come on, Tess, he knows you better than that. ]