exsilium | 1st story. (voice.)

( there's a bit of a pause before anyone speaks. when the voice does start, though, it's pretty low. flat, almost, like the speaker is tired, and her voice sounds pretty rough and husky-- and distinctly australian. she sounds decidedly... detached from what's just happened, considering it's her first entry. )

I remember, once when I was a kid. One of the shearers bought a kangaroo to the farm – not alive, though. It was roadkill. I couldn't tell you if... he hit it, or if he just found it. I don't know if that matters.

Anyway, he brings this dead 'roo over in the back of his ute, and hauls the thing off his trailer. I'm surprised he got it on there, to be honest. He and my dad, they took it over to one of the sheds and started butchering it. It was already dead, but they still went through all the steps they use for lamb or cattle if we're gonna be using them for food. Slice the throat, first. They took the whole thing apart, until there was just this... steaming carcass, and then they froze the meat for dog food, buried the guts so that the foxes couldn't get at them.

That's a bit what I feel like right now. Like I'm a carcass that someone picked up and dropped off here. It doesn't matter if I was alive or not when they found me. ( She laughs a bit, but it's a bitter sound. ) I'm here now, aren't I? Either I've gone bush crazy and I'll be dead soon, or I'm already dead. This Initiative bullshit is just-- Jesus.

( A sigh, and a long silence. )

My name's Ellie. Ellie Linton. I don't know if names mean much to the dead, but that's it.

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Mm. You city kids never get to ride tractors or birth cattle, though. Lambs and calfs wobbling around on their spindly little legs is still one of my favourite things. It's more like, "oh great, some concrete. And hey, over there. More concrete."

( That said, she has a bit of a grin. ) Sounds like bliss.

( If she were a ninja, and also more of a jerk, she'd have tried to grab Steph's tongue. But also that's kind of gross and she isn't Homer. ) And you got a tongue, apparently.

I wouldn't say we never do. I've helped birth calfs before, though I did have to leave the city to do that.

[She had a lot of interesting adventures during her time in recovering in Africa.]

I've managed to keep it no matter how many people have threatened to cut it out.

[She's joking.

Probably.]

Hah.

( Hmm. Her eyebrows do raise a little bit with that. Hey, you never know, with what Steph has said about her dad.

Despite herself, and perhaps a bit to her embarrassment, she can't hold back an epic yawn. ) God. Sorry. I should probably hit the hay. Or find the hay. And then hit it. Thanks for the help. ( She raises her arm, as if Steph needs the reminder. ) And the food. And booze. And weapons.

( Hmm. ) I guess I did pretty well outta this visit. You should be more careful, otherwise I'll just keep on coming back.

( Like the lost puppy that she is )

You're welcome. [For everything, Steph is glad to help out, especially when that help is going to someone she can empathize with.

She takes the box of weapons back off Ellie, putting it on her bed for now.]

I got some pretty decent conversation out of it, so I think I'll hold off on being careful. [Which is her way of saying that she likes Ellie, and that the other girl is welcome to come back whenever she wants.]

( That sure would have been a thing for Ellie to wander out of the apartment with. She smiles sheepishly, quickly relinquishing the box. )

You might wanna rethink that. I can talk ears off left and right, if you let me.

( She'll be back immediately she realises her poor roommate is an alien an ALIEN, STEPH D: D: D:

Ellie being Ellie, she offers Steph her hand to shake. ) Pleasures all mine.

( It was good to forget about some of the other stuff, here and there. )

I'm sure I'd find a way to survive.

[Ellie's the first person she's really - wanted to trust, in this damn city. And she's definitely someone Steph wants to look out for, which is something she kind of needs to keep herself... feeling like herself.

So she shakes the offered hand, smiling] If you insist.

[Some of it was hers, but she says it like she's teasing a little.]

I do. Best quality, my stubborness. Everyone'll say so.

( Cough. )

I'll uh, message you on the thing about the throwing stuff. ( Gosh, it must fill Steph with confidence. Before she goes, Ellie very dutifully scoops up her AK, and scurries to the door. She looks less like a walking ball of stress than before, at least. )

Stay out of trouble, yeah?

I've had the same thing said about me.

[Kindred spirits. She's certainly not regretting the offer to help Ellie.

She follows Ellie to the door, chuckling at the comment, both of them, really.]

I'll do my best.

[Steph isn't great at staying out of trouble, so she can't really make promises on that.]

Good luck settling in, Ellie.

Thanks, If I can deal with Hell, I can deal with this. ( Oh, why would you even clarify a sentence like that?

All right, good byes are awkward. She'll be giving Steph and awkward salute, and just rolling on out the door.

Not actual rolling. That would have been way more awesome. Maybe next time. )

1st story. (voice.)

that sounds pretty ratical. He mouset be the big cheese.

.... get out

you could never e-rat-icate me from YOUR HEART

I'm never tagging you again

But I haven't even gotten to shrews or hamsters yet :c you vole break my heart

you'd make a good robin, at least

an egg-cellent one, even

you're embarrassing me

I think I am just embarrassing myself lbr