entranceway | video; backdated about a week pre-event

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video; backdated about a week pre-event

[ HELLO WONDERLAND it's your favorite grumpy murder grandpa. What's up.

Joel had been truly shaken when he'd found Ellie alone in the woods, hiding away from the world and with a broken arm she'd been too scared to even go and get treated properly. When she'd finally told him an abbreviated version of what had happened, he'd gone from feeling shaken to feeling sick.

He'd done his own research first, to no avail. At a loss and unable to make further progress on his own, he's finally caved to his last resort - asking the other residents for help. ]

How d'ya kill your mirror.

[ And don't tell him it's not possible. ]

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[In an unsurprising consistency of character Evelyn studies him in return, unaware of his internal debate but fully conscious of the fact that he is very much the sort of person to closely guard his own problems.

Well, if he wanted to be so secretive about it, he shouldn't have asked after Mirrors in the first place.]

Do you think I'm stupid?

[There is only one person in Wonderland whose safekeeping is monitored strictly by Joel, one person for whom Evelyn is certain he would give his life if necessary. One person who might be fooled by an impostor, inviting a trusted figure into her confidence.]

If you're going to publicly solicit help, the least you could do is be honest. What did he do to Ellie?

[ She at least has the wits to make the connection private, but it's not enough. Joel's eyes flash dangerously when she says Ellie's name, and he nearly growls. ]

That ain't nobody's business but hers.

[ Not that it had stopped Joel from asking questions, but. That's different. ]

[Under normal circumstances Evelyn might graciously accept the hint that she stop asking questions about what must have been a traumatic event, but Joel has admitted to the connexion and Evelyn herself has still very recently died - courtesy of a Mirror - therefore her patience is thin.]

Clearly you've made it your business.

[She isn't trying to be antagonistic, but neither is she shrinking back at the feral intensity meant to intimidate.]

[ Ellie's business is his business, as far as Joel's concerned - at least when it comes to her safety and wellbeing. He doesn't appreciate Evie trying to poke her nose in (as he sees it), nor her questioning of his role in things.

The fact that Joel had been so helpless to save Ellie - again - doesn't help matters. Never mind that there would have been no way for him to know what his Mirror was doing, let alone stop him. But finding her scared and hurt and alone, so soon after Evie herself had had to rescue her from drowning, had been the one to call Joel and tell her where she was...

Well, justified or not, he's feeling a little bit vulnerable right now. As if Evie is questioning his suitability to keep Ellie safe. And perhaps rightly so.

He sets his jaw, hard and stubborn, and glares. ]

You got a fuckin' problem?

[It's clear that Joel does not draw a line between his business and Ellie's, but he isn't the only person who cares about adolescents in the mansion and their well-being, even if his concern is limited to a singular person. Neither is it a crime to ask after the well-being of a child.

Evelyn is not calling into question the appropriateness of his guardianship, nor is she setting any blame upon him for what happened to Ellie, but this conversation feels so agonisingly like the one she had with Freya Mikaelson that it chafes. Insular, irresponsible, and stubborn. These are not traits that serve communities or help people to help each other, these are traits that harm.

Unlike the quiet and genteel backpedaling of previous talks wherein Evelyn would kindly divert the subject to something else after grazing a raw nerve, she is somewhat too close to pull back from whatever invisible line she's crossed in somehow offending him. Again.]

No, it's just-

[She huffs an incredulous laugh. It would be easier to avoid topics that set him off so violently if she knew what those subjects were, but he's so wrapped up in isolationism that he never speaks to them.]

It's just that talking with you is like navigating No Man's Land, if I don't step on a mine I didn't know was there I'm inevitably going to fall into a trench full of barbed wire.

[The brief silence is thunderous and she swallows her own frustrations because they aren't why she's upset.]

I care about Ellie. As I care about any child here.

[As I care about my son.]

[ He'd been expecting - prepared for - another tongue lashing. Half regretting the way this conversation is going already, because he never means to antagonize Evie - whether she'd believe it or not, she's probably his favorite person in Wonderland, apart from Ellie. It just happens. She inadvertently asks the wrong question or tries to talk to him at the wrong time, he gets snappy and defensive, and...this.

Only she doesn't snap back at him, despite having every right to, nor does she meekly withdraw, choosing not to continue poking the bear with a stick. Instead, she's blunt and honest, and Joel feels his stomach sink, dragging a hand over his face with a groan. He's silent for a long moment before raising his head again, and when he does, he doesn't quite look at the camera. ]

Been, uh - been drinkin'.

[ It's half apology, half weak explanation. He swallows, silent a moment more before glancing somewhat sheepishly at the camera, and surprises even himself with what he says next. ]

...Y'wanna join me?

[Evelyn is prepared to switch her communicator off just to save him the effort of replying when he does, pinching at the bridge of his nose like a man doing his best to dispel stress. He doesn't make eye contact, but neither does he really need to do so. That he isn't sober comes as a mild revelation because his hair-trigger nature seems about the same as usual.

At least he looks chagrined. More astonishing still is the offer he extends like an olive branch, clutched carefully in hands far too large to be known for their delicacy.

Arms folded over her chest Evelyn sniffs, considering him.]

...I don't know, are you going to be crude and taciturn?

[ Joel smiles, but there's more weariness than humor in it. Slowly, he shakes his head. ]

Can't make any promises.

But I'll try not t'be.

[Evelyn supposes that that's really all she could ask for when it comes to Joel, as it happens to be the most civil response he's given her to date. She scrutinises him for another long moment before agreeing with an:]

All right. Bar?

[ For a moment, he thinks she's going to refuse the invitation altogether. Not that he could blame her if she did.

But she agrees, and Joel's eyebrows shoot up in mild surprise before he nods in agreement. ]

I'll meet you there.

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video; backdated about a week pre-event

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