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

[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. ]