exsiliumlogs | CLOSED: we're alright

Date & Time: August 10, early morning lasting to who knows.
Location: Random encounter around the city.
Characters: Ellie, Joel and Tess.
Summary: The trio gets back together by some work of a higher power. It'd be better if it could stay that way, huh? Trying to ask 'wanna move in with us' is more difficult than it should be.
Warnings: Swearing and possible mentions of violence. Likely spoilers for The Last of Us for the conscious.

[Should have known that being in a new place wouldn't break her sleeping habits. Tess is out and about the city, memorizing locations from shops to good places to lay low in case things get bad. Just like back in the Quarantine Zone. She's gotta figure out a way to keep busy, keep her mind off things. Checking the tablet probably wasn't the best thing.

Not when it says it's been nearly a week since she's last seen either of those two. Her hand hovers over Ellie's name to give it a call but Tess stops, shakes her head and puts it away. It's too early anyway, and maybe with how long it's been, some things have changed for them at least. Shoving the tablet away and slipping it back into her bag, she slings it over her shoulder and fixes herself. Just before she starts back down the street though, Tess checks underneath her shirt, tugging her jacket away.

The scars are still there, and they're still a damn annoyance. Both to look at and physically, judging by the ache she feels just by looking at them. A short sigh and she starts in another direction.]

Alright, this way should...

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[When's she ever heard that kind of tone in his voice, pleading, desperate? She can't think of it, doesn't want to so she keeps her eyes on him and watches for a hint, something that'll help her get him around and through this if it's even possible.

She tenses at his hands on her wrist, feels her scars ache like a phantom pain when he pulls her close, buries his face in the spot opposite where that bite had been. Taking in a sharp breath, she brings her arms up and over his shoulders, tangles fingers in his hair. Fingers curling then loosening instinctively, she turns her head towards his just slightly.

It feels like he's got her arm twisted with how little she can bring herself to do. Still she swallows hard, coos him. ] I know, I know.

[Honestly, she doesn't think she does at this point.]

[Joel and Tess weren't a thing Ellie ever really considered. They were partners, they were close, but she never asked just HOW close they were because she knew Joel wouldn't take her questioning well--and maybe that in itself should have been enough of an answer for her.

Her fingers dig into her opposite arm, able to feel the raised welts beneath the fabric. It was her fault Tess died. It was her fault Joel lost someone else. It was her fault he nearly died, because Tess believed they could find the Fireflies, and couldn't go with them because she was dead.

One foot slides forward. Seeing Joel hurting makes her hurt, her eyes sting and her throat constrict, but Tess has this. This is intimate, personal. Now's probably a good time to back up, so Ellie takes several quiet footsteps back and away, turning to give them privacy. Maybe Joel doesn't notice or mind her presence, but if that's holding him back from just letting it out, she doesn't want him to bottle anything up for her sake.

This should be a happier moment. All Ellie feels is guilt.]

[ Ellie isn't alone. Joel's ears deep in it and no doubt Tess is as well. What great company they are to each other, full of nothing but survivor's guilt.

Too many things happen at once; Tess has her face close to his with her breath tickling his cheek, Joel just wants to pull himself back together and plant a nice one on her, and Ellie is stepping away to give them some more privacy. Joel hears the sound of a foot sliding through the tiny gravel and pebbles on the road when he goes to close the tiny gap, his brow rested against Tess's cheek. He lifts his head right before his lips meet with Tess's and he looks over to where Ellie was.

A short jolt of panic flares up when he sees that she's not standing where he last remembered her to be. But seeing that she's only off several feet with her back to them, Joel relaxes and closes his eyes again, mumbling to himself that they aren't alone, that he's gotta get it together, reminding himself mentally that if anyone needs comfort and some affection, it's Ellie.

Joel straightens away from Tess, but not without taking her hand in his, thumb passing over her knuckles. He glances at Tess and then shoots Ellie a glance and indicates with a head tilt that they should go to her, squeezing her hand and tugging gently as he quietly begins to make his way over to the young teenager. ]

--Ellie?

Edited 2013-08-14 10:43 (UTC)

[She makes out the sounds of movement from Ellie's direction, knows she's moving and it makes her feel guilty for taking this moment in the first place, even if it's something both she and Joel needed. She doesn't break, but the next breath she takes in has her chest hurt something fierce, makes her lungs burn.

Joel lifts his head and Tess lowers hers, lets him react to Ellie moving with a shake of her head. Once he straightens away, she's about to give him space, doesn't expect him to take her hand. Faltering, Tess opens her mouth to protest, stops instead and joins Joel in crossing over. She squeezes his hand when they get close to Ellie, then there's a little smile, tired but present. Her turn to be a little quiet.]

[Joel saying her name gets her to turn. Green eyes glassy, she looks at Tess, and then him, searching for a cue that it's okay. That he's okay.

Her gaze drops down to their hands, and whatever apology is on the tip of her tongue gets swallowed. She doesn't want to ruin whatever they've managed to pull back together with her blubbering. Tess deserves an apology from her, her groveling, but it can wait until she can form the words without waterworks.]

I'm here.

[She'd never go too far.]

... you all right?

[ Joel's fingers instinctively squeeze the ones he's holding when Ellie turns glassy eyes onto him, her reassurance bringing him a tiny amount of relief. She looks a little upset, and he can't help but think they may have triggered whatever it is she's feeling. He's not exactly sure why though, maybe she can explain it somehow, as he's a little out of touch with things when it comes to certain emotions and others, how to approach them.

He clears his throat, waits. ]

[She doesn't hold back on words but the closest to saying something that Ellie wants to hear is a little nod. They're not completely there yet, but this is probably the closest thing to closure they'll get.

The two talk, don't say much. From the way Ellie looks, it's hard to tell if she does want to talk, and that's a little worrying— kid's good at talking. So Tess waits a beat then makes a motion with her free hand for the other to come over, takes a step forward with it but not enough to ruin anything. Her hand doesn't drop, and the way her arm curves makes it look like she's offering a hug, as strange as it might seem, coming from her. It's okay.]

Are you all right? [She almost laughs at Joel's question. He was the one no doubt thinking about his dead daughter--and sure, Ellie had a lot of dead people in her life, but he had been right. She didn't know what losing family was like. She didn't go through what Maria described to her.

Ellie looks a little startled at what it looks like Tess is offering. She hugged her before, to make sure she was real, to let HER know she was real and that Ellie, at least, was there.

She's not sure if she'll ever be alright after David, but she's alright enough to step into Tess' hug and squeeze her tightly. She's so, so sorry, and she really hopes all of this means yeah, they'll all stick together.

It'd be stupid not to.]

[ Ellie will be all right under their watchful eye. Joel will make sure of it, that she recovers, even if he has to suffocate her with his constant presence. He stands by in silence and watches as the two hug. These are his girls, the special ladies in his life. He's grateful that Tess is here with them, it means Ellie will have a mother-figure around again to help her in areas he won't be able to. Not that he had much choice with Sarah, dating and seeing other women was never an option with how busy he was day in and day out with his work, spending all of his free time with his daughter.

How can he properly answer her question? She had just witnessed him have a near mini breakdown. ]

Just needed a moment, that was all.

[ That's safe enough. ]

[Tess lets go of Joel's hand so she can get both arms around Ellie, hug her back just as tight. It's definitely not fair to Ellie in this situation, back home and here and she considers her in whatever might happen. A slow breath in and her shoulders slump a little, she rolls small circles against the girl's back.

Sure maybe they're okay right now, but they're living. It's good enough for Tess. A glance over to Joel and she makes a small gesture with her head, a 'c'mere' motion for him to join in this because hell if they don't all need this.]

Think we all did.

[Ellie's fine with just staying right where she is for a while, face hidden. She feels four instead of fourteen, but fuck it--it's only Joel and Tess. They can see this.]

CLOSED: we're alright

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