ellie (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
backpacking) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
entrancelogs2016-12-12 10:15 am
backpacking) wrote in entrancelogs2016-12-12 10:15 am
( closed ) but you saw no fault, no cracks in my heart
Who: Ellie, Jo, and Simon
Where: First floor, Room 044
When: 12/10
Rating: PG (with PG-13 language)
Summary: They'd been like older siblings and adoptive parents, but they were far from the only ones who'd taken care of her.
[ There's a knock at their door shortly after the conversation. She'd messaged them both, even though there was a good enough chance they were together, and asked for a meeting. Ellie fidgets where she stands and the more she tells herself to be cool, that it isn't a big deal, the more she shifts her stance, wrinkles her nose.
Ellie knocks again. ]
Where: First floor, Room 044
When: 12/10
Rating: PG (with PG-13 language)
Summary: They'd been like older siblings and adoptive parents, but they were far from the only ones who'd taken care of her.
[ There's a knock at their door shortly after the conversation. She'd messaged them both, even though there was a good enough chance they were together, and asked for a meeting. Ellie fidgets where she stands and the more she tells herself to be cool, that it isn't a big deal, the more she shifts her stance, wrinkles her nose.
Ellie knocks again. ]
no subject
Hey, kiddo. Pretty serious face you've got on.
[Jo can guess what most of this talk is going to be about, but she doesn't want Ellie to think it has to be heavy. They're family. Ellie should feel like she can talk to them about anything, right?]
no subject
[ Simon's voice calls from the bedroom and a moment later the man himself appears, freshly showered and still rubbing a towel over his dripping hair. He grins at the sight of Ellie in their doorway although he doesn't miss her expression, either. Doesn't mean he won't tease her anyway. ]
You're a little short to be pizza delivery, aren't you?
no subject
D'you guys have a minute to talk? It's - Nothing's wrong, it's just...
[ She trails off, looking distinctly uncomfortable. ]
no subject
[Jo nods in reply, moving to shut the door behind Ellie just to offer the three of them some privacy.]
You know we've always got time for you. What's up?
[It doesn't really need to be asked, but she'll let Ellie do this her way, on her terms.]
no subject
Come on in, squirt. Have a seat. You're looking awfully serious.
no subject
[ What he did. Ellie glances up at both of them, brows ducked down over her eyes. ]
I know he killed that guy, and it's... not okay, obviously, but he thought I was in a bad place. A really bad one with shitty, shitty people. He showed up here and thought the other residents were... those guys.
[ Cannibals. Murderers. David. ]
I just don't want you to get the wrong idea about him.
no subject
I talked to him, you know. Not long after that happened. [A beat.] I get why he did it, and I told him so.
no subject
It had been an exciting arrival, to say the least.
Seeing how worried Ellie was about it, though, has him coming around the couch instead and moving to crouch in front of her, so he's peering up at her while she stares down at her shoes. Reaching out, he catches one of her hands in his. ]
We both get what shitty places people can come from, kiddo. And if he'd been dropped into this place from smack in the middle of danger like that? We can get why he'd be even more disoriented than most, not to mention unwilling to trust anyone he comes across.
We're not going to hold that against him. Or you. You don't have to worry about that. If he can get along with people no that he understands, that's all that matters right?
no subject
You're serious? [ She asks finally, sounding dubious. ] I mean, he - it was bad. I was there; I saw the library when I found him.
[ But... they don't argue. They're on her side. Ellie feels a knot loosen in her chest. ]
... Thank you. [ She mutters, dropping her gaze. ] This is... really important to me.
no subject
[Jo nods once, because she won't argue that. She knows what happened, in detail, and there's no excusing it-- but that doesn't mean she can't understand it.]
But the kind of place you both come from, the kind of trouble he thought you were in-- it's not really much of a stretch for either one of us to put ourselves in his shoes.
[Not just because they care about Ellie, either, though that's a big part of it. The worlds they come from, the things they've been through back home, they both know how it feels when the people you love are in danger. You panic, and you do whatever it takes.]
You're important to us. So that means the things that matter to you? Matter to us, too.
no subject
[ Most people here were lucky when it came to that, but not everyone had that advantage. ]
He's your family, right? And I think he's made it pretty clear he protects his family pretty fiercely.
[ A pause, as he studies Ellie intently for a moment. ]
Was he looking for you? Did he think he needed to rescue you from something?
[ Because that man had walked into what he thought was a war zone, a deathtrap. Every person he came across was an enemy. There was usually only one way out of scenarios like that. Simon knew them all too well. He also knew what could drive a person to it. ]
no subject
"How did you put it? Hmm? 'Tiny pieces?'" ]
... Yeah, something like that. [ But she'd saved herself. Joel had been dying and she could've easily been slaughtered by David in that restaurant. Ellie still isn't sure how she managed to avoid it other than out of sheer force of will and survival instincts. ]
It was bad. [ She says, feeling like she's becoming a broken record, but unwilling to go into detail. ] Things were... bad. When he showed up here.
no subject
Maybe it hadn't been the same situation, maybe it had-- but either way, it told her enough about where Joel and Ellie came from.]
He was trying to help you.
[Her voice is low, sympathetic.]
We won't hate him for that, Ellie.
no subject
[ Simon's voice is soft as he reaches up to tap a finger under her chin, tipping her head back up so he can meet her gaze. He gives her a small understanding smile, his eyes warm. ]
It's gonna be okay, Squirt. We get it. We've been there. And you're safe here, as safe as we can make it. In that, we've got something in common with him, right? That's plenty for people to become friends over, in this place.
No matter how bad things get back there, when you're here, you get a second chance. Clean slate. Even your friend Joel.
no subject
Thanks. [ Maybe the others could forgive him, too, even if they didn't have her word to trust and go off of like Simon and Jo. ] Means a lot.
[ To put it lightly. ]
I know he'll come around. [ She adds quickly, looking up. ] He'll adjust, just like the rest of us did.
no subject
It'll take time, like it did for all of us. The only difference is how much. No predicting that, but-- you know we'll support you no matter how long it takes him.
[Because he's Ellie's family, just like Ellie is family to them. That kind of bond is worth being patient for.]
When I talked to him-- he seemed like he wanted to make things right.
no subject
[ Simon just smiles warmly at her and reaches out to affectionately tug on a lock of her hair. ]
Besides, we all make a family here, right? Even if we don't always get along perfectly. That doesn't change that we've still got each other's backs when we need it.
no subject
[ Ellie aims a playful punch at Simon before glancing back to the door, hovering. ]
... Maybe I could introduce you soon? I'll make sure he shapes up before that. Obviously.
no subject
[Jo smiles warmly. Maybe a more formal introduction is in order-- or as formal as this crew ever gets, anyway.]
Whenever works for you, Ellie.
no subject
You know where to find us, kiddo. Bring him by sometime. Or bring him up to the bar, if you think he'd be more comfortable there.
no subject
[ He can pick the venue, but not whether he'll actually come. He's meeting these people for sure; they're important to her. ]
Thanks again. [ Ellie reiterates quietly, now in the doorway. ] And... I'll see you soon.