01 ☣ voice

[vaccination]

Bullshit is showing up here with everything on me but my comic books. All those Savage Starlight issues, gone. Just like that. Fuck you too, Initiative.

[A pause. Ellie's never really addressed a group of people. Technology is crazy. Okay, there was a point to this whole thing.]

... anyway, guess I just wanted to say thanks to the people that helped me out when I got here. I found who I was looking for, so. Didn't wanna leave anyone with a cliffhanger.

Comments

[pixieboots]

[ It has to be her, if only because she's the only one down there who looks like she's waiting for someone. He shifts the bag on his shoulder and hesitates for a another few seconds; there's exiles nearby and they'll pick him out right away. But on the other hand, he'd made a promise.

A quick hop across the two windows and he steals a perch within earshot, just above a low-hanging storefront. ]

Psst! Hey.

[vaccination]

[Elle turns, then looks up.]

What the hell are you doing up there?

[Were you trying to not draw attention to yourself, Robin? Because Ellie is loud.]

[pixieboots]

Jeez... [ He jerks and for a second he's in danger of losing his balance before he catches the other side and drops (hopefully) out of sight behind the half-wall. Of course people are staring.

But then, she's still new. Probably he should've warned her.

He circles the block, taking a quick shortcut across the roof of the housing complex before he picks an alley and springs off the fire escape behind the shadows and down to the ground. ]

Not so loud! [ He's across the street from where he was before, but hopefully a loud whisper will clue her in. She'll have to get it now, won't she? ]

You're not supposed to notice me right away.

[vaccination]

[Jesus Christ. Ellie throws her hands up in the air--how the hell did he do that? This is a lot of secrecy for some comic books.

She heads over to him.]

What the hell was that all about?

[pixieboots]

Haven't you seen the Exiles? [ He's still hovering in the narrow pool of shadow, casting a quick glance over his shoulder just in case. ]

They hammer guys like me. And they'll go after you too if they see us hanging out.

[vaccination]

Maybe if you didn't dress like that, you wouldn't get jumped.

[pixieboots]

Aw, come on. You wouldn't ask the Michelin Man to take off his tire suit. [ He shakes his head, but he's grinning just a little while he unslings the bag he'd brought along. Down to business. ]

I figured we wouldn't want anyone to see what we were up to anyway.

[vaccination]

The who? [Ellie stares, then shakes her head.]

Whatever. Anyway, it's not like we're doing a drug trade or anything. It's just comics.

[pixieboots]

No one else knows that. It's better to play it safe. [ He tugs out the small bundle, wrapped in a loose plastic bag. They're beaten up and well-read, but every one he's brought along is still readable. ]

Anyway, here's what I have. Only two are from the same book, and they're spaced pretty far apart.

[ It's a little bit of an apology. ]

[vaccination]

It's alright. Mine were missing whole arcs, so I'm used to filling in the gaps with my imagination.

[She takes the bundle carefully, and with a small smile.]

I'll take good care of them. I promise.

[pixieboots]

You're the first person I've met here who'd even care.

[ He says it as if it's a crazy impressive trait. ]

When you're done you've gotta tell me what you think of the first one, especially. But you can keep them as long as you want.

[vaccination]

People here must be pretty dull.

But alright. And thanks. Doubt it'll take me too long to get through them.