video; backdated about a week pre-event

[shivving]

[ 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. ]

Comments

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[backpacking]

Is that what you want? You've got no idea what'll happen, what he's like, and the same fuckin' thing could happen to you!

[ When Tess was still here, she might've been able to break this up, to convince him to do the smart thing (Ellie thinks), or at least go with him. Now, though, they're just up in arms with nothing to stop it. ]

So what's your plan? Tell me what the big plan is that'll have you and me and everyone else safe from that psycho.

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[shivving]

I don't know!

[ So much for this isn't a big deal. Joel shoves his phone aside without looking at it, glaring at Ellie in irritation. ]

I don't know, alright? That's why I'm askin' questions. To figure out what in the hell to do next. What might stand a chance of actually workin' against this asshole.

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[backpacking]

[ Ellie doesn't quite deflate, but she seems placated, at least a little, by his admission that he isn't about to charge in there with no idea of what to do. Wearily, she eyes him, shifting her weight from foot to foot. ]

Well, what did they say? Can you kill one?

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[shivving]

[ He sighs, turning to pick up his phone again and glance at the screen, looking for any more responses. ]

Looks like - maybe. Only it ain't easy. You gotta get on the same side of the mirror as them at the same time, for one thing. An' even then, even if you succeed, that might only make things worse.

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[backpacking]

If it was easy, there'd be less Mirrors.

[ She mutters. Of course, she doesn't know that they can be re-made, doesn't know much about them except for her own, limited experiences.

They're dangerous. That's all that matters. ]

I'm pretty sure yours is still human, and just crazy. That's better for us than if he was some fuckin' supernatural thing.

[ Small victories, right? ]

So... if we're not stupid about this, we can come out on top.

action;

[shivving]

[ There she goes. Joel levels a look at her. Does she really think he wouldn't pick up on what she's trying to do here? ]

This ain't a we, Ellie.

You ain't comin'.

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[backpacking]

[ She knows well enough that arguing about it more won't get her anywhere, but that doesn't lessen the flare of indignation in her stomach. Still, she exhales through the nose, staring daggers up at him... and says nothing, neither confirming or denying what he'd said. ]

Just make sure you get rid of any mirrors you've got in here, alright? The real ones, not the... people.

[ "People." ]

action;

[shivving]

[ He notices the way she subtly changes the subject, but doesn't push it for the time being. Not like he's planning on dashing out the door after his Mirror right now, anyway.

But he remembers what Ellie had said about his mirror - how he'd spied on them both, knew answers to every question she asked - and his expression darkens. ]

Don't worry, I will.

You doin' the same back in your room?

action;

[backpacking]

Already did.

[ The second she'd decided she could stand to stay in her room again, she'd removed all of them. ]

Creepy fucks.

action;

[shivving]

[ Joel sighs. ]

Yeah. They are.