open | all I want is the moon upon a stick

[vaccination]

Date & Time: October 10th onwards.
Location: Around the base.
Characters: Ellie and you.
Summary: Ellie's hangin' around, totally over this moon business.
Warnings: Swearing.



a. the cafeteria
[Ellie sits at one of the tables in the cafeteria, a pyramid of upside-down cups stacked in front of her. It's certainly not the sturdiest of structures, but she's spent some time on it, and she's vaguely proud of her accomplishment. They only clattered to the floor once or twice.

Now that she's done, she leans back and slides down a few inches in her seat. Well. That killed twenty minutes.

She reaches out a hand to slowly nudge one of the cups at the bottom corner of her pyramid. That might be loud if she keeps going.]

b. the observatory
[Space is cool. It kind of makes her feel like she's falling when she looks out the window or through any screens, but she keeps coming back to the observatory to do just that. She's not sure if she likes that feeling or not. The wasteland where Exsilium once was is still visible, but Ellie doesn't seem to pay it much mind right now. She's lying on her back on the floor, sneakers propped up against a wall, comic book held over her face.

Every now and then she makes some sort of noise. This comic is so intense.]

Comments

[vaccination]

[Ellie likes being hugged. Since being brought to Exsilium, since winter, since almost losing him, since almost losing everything, she and Joel have been discovering how much comfort a hug from the other could bring. He made her feel safe.

Steph's hugs are warm and comfortable and make her feel--loved, she guesses, without the worries about overstepping into a dead girl's territory or hurting a broken father by reminding him of what he's lost. There aren't really any strings attached.

She clings for a bit, then forces herself to let Steph go with a shy little smile. Maybe she'd have to make an effort, be a little less hesitant, and initiate their hugs more often. She could do that for Steph.]

[controlledvariable]

[Hugs are pretty great.

She lets go of Ellie when she feels her start to pull away, and between the reaction and that shy smile, she thinks she figures out what's going on.]

Don't hear that a lot, huh?

[vaccination]

[She idly rubs her nose with her hand. That obvious, huh?]

More like not ever.

[controlledvariable]

[Oh, that just makes her heart hurt.]

Yeah.

[She gets that, because it's not like she heard it much; her mom would remember sometimes, and when her grandmother was alive she'd tell Steph she loved her, but that's about it.

Which isn't the same as not even, but she can understand why it's a bit overwhelming.]

Sorry for kind of springing it on you, I just wanted you to know.

[It seems even mroe important, now she knows Ellie hasn't heard it before.]

[vaccination]

[A part of her almost wants to pipe up in defense of Joel, even though Steph hasn't said a thing about him. That maybe if Sarah hadn't died, he'd have said it first. That she gets why he's not exactly open, but neither is she. And that even if she and Joel never ever say what they might feel, their actions speak louder than words.

But that seems kinda excessive and uncalled for.]

Thanks. [That seems so miniscule.] Sorry for getting all... weird on you. [But, you know. She rubs at her nose again.] I saw what you said to Collette, before. On the network.

[controlledvariable]

It's okay, I get it. [What she doesn't get is what Ellie means about the network, and she frowns for a second, confused, but the realization hits her.

Oh, that.

She ducks her head, a little embarrassed now.] I meant that, too.

[It might have been said a bit idly, but that doesn't make it any less true.]

[vaccination]

[She's oddly pleased that she made Steph embarrassed. About time.]

If I had a big sister, I'd want her to be like you.

[Which is a roundabout way of saying yeah, Steph's definitely her big sis.]

[controlledvariable]

[Noooooooo.

That's even worse; she's not sure her heart can handle it, because apparently she can dish out feelings but she doesn't know how to handle it when they're directed at her.

And now it's her turn not to know what to say, so she's just going to open her arms for another hug. Please indulge her, Ellie.]

[vaccination]

[Fine, fine. She can do that. Ellie smiles before hugging Steph again, less of a desperate cling to it this time.]

[controlledvariable]

[She feels so ridiculous, just like she did when Ahiru told her that she helped her, but it's... nice, to hear people say nice things, to know they care about her.

It feels like she's spent so much of her time here trying to keep everyone at a distance, until this month, and she feels like an idiot for not doing it sooner.

After a few moments, she pulls back, settling her hands on Ellie's shoulders.]

You're a good kid, Ellie, don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

[She's not sure why she says that, it just feels important.]

[vaccination]

[She wonders if Steph would still say that knowing some of the things she's done, what she's capable of, but like hell if she's bringing that up.

He doesn't get to ruin this.]

Okay, now you're just trying to see if you can get the water works going.

[controlledvariable]

You caught me.

[She leans back a little, spreading her arms out in a gesture to match the words.

It's not true, of course, but she's happy to roll with the joke, if only because otherwise she's going to get overwhelmed by feelings and stuff.]

Did I get you?

[vaccination]

Nope. Which isn't an invitation to try again, by the way. [Tear quota has been met for this lifetime.]

[controlledvariable]

You sure? You're totally allowed to get me back.

[Please actually don't she's cried way too much in the last couple of months.]

[vaccination]

I'd stomp on your foot, but I don't think that would make you cry as much as kill the moment.

[controlledvariable]

Not sure if it'd kill the moment, but I'd definitely have to give you a noogie, so...

[Is it worth it?]

[vaccination]

You sound like you want to give me a noogie. I don't like that.

[controlledvariable]

[Instead of saying anything, she just wiggles her fingers threateningly at Ellie's head.]

[vaccination]

I'm not above biting, I hope you know.

[Except she would never bite Steph.]

[controlledvariable]

[She pulls her hand back and makes a sound that might just be an eep! as if she's terribly concerned about Ellie biting her.

And then, without missing a beat:]

Hey, what do you want for Christmas?

[Steph...]

[vaccination]

[She's in the middle of a laugh about that little squeak when she's caught off guard.]

What?

[It is October, Steph. What are you doing.]

[controlledvariable]

[Ellie you're adorable.]

I'm going on a mission to December in 2010, probably the week before Christmas, so I figured I'd get people presents.

[She already has a couple things in mind for Ellie, but she can ask, too.]

[vaccination]

Surprise me?

[This is a lot of pressure for a girl that doesn't really know what she's missing out on.]

[controlledvariable]

Okay.

[Ellie has no idea.]

There anything else you'd like me to grab for you, presents aside? Food items can be requested too.

[vaccination]

How about your favourite candy?