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

[vaccination]

I swear. No laughing.

[beardedflannel]

[ A brief pause to add to the moment. ]

Mac n' cheese.

[vaccination]

[A pause on her end, because she has to make sure--]

You mean, that shit that comes with the powdered cheese?

[beardedflannel]

Cut up a few wieners, load it up with ketchup, mix it all together- you got yourself quite the feast.

[ Don't go knocking on it! ]

[vaccination]

[She wrinkles her nose, but doesn't laugh! Ellie expected something like... steak.]

I guess I can't really knock it... seeing as I have no idea what the hell that tastes like.

[beardedflannel]

Might be able to find somethin' like it if we dig around deep enough.

[ Joel gently knocks her arm with his elbow, going back to flipping the pancakes. ]

Gonna hand me that plate, or are we gonna be eatin' burnt pancakes tonight?

[vaccination]

[That gets a grin out of her. One plate, for one weird old man.]

Alright, alright. Hold your horses.

[beardedflannel]

[ Pancakes drop down onto the colored plate. They aren't lucky yet to get their hands on any syrup but one of these days he's going to go out and try to poke around the shops to see what they might have. At least she's got some butter she can melt on top.

He won't admit it, not yet at least, but mac n cheese holds a special place in his heart. For reasons.

Round two of pancakes coming up! ]

Barbeque. Steak. Chicken. [ He then adds, pouring out the batter onto the pan. ] Baked potatoes with a side of salad, a nice cold beer to top it off.

[vaccination]

[She readies another plate.]

If we end up going on missions where we can get that stuff, you're showing me all of it. Deal?

[beardedflannel]

Sure. Don't be countin' on that beer, though.

[vaccination]

Yeah? And why not?

[beardedflannel]

[ Bubbles form and the pancakes are flipped, pressed down into the pan. Ellie gets a sideways look. ]

Alcohol ain't for kids.

[vaccination]

[While that might have gotten an eyeroll and a retort on another day, she just smiles to herself.]

Have it your way.

[Pancakes make anyone agreeable.]

[beardedflannel]

[ Wait until he actually finds her syrup to try with them.

Well that was easy, no argument, no protesting, no I CAN HANDLE IT, JOEL. This is good, very good. ]

Don't you worry. I would.

[ If his shorty had anything to do with it, should anyone even suggest Ellie having some alcohol. ]

[vaccination]

[She makes it easy for him, sometimes.]

Did you like fast food?

[beardedflannel]

Yes and no.

A trip to McDonald's was all fine and dandy every once in a while, until it hit you that one of them Happy Meals and a large order of a Big Mac and fries to go for one night could cost just as much as a week's worth of dinner.

[vaccination]

You might as well be speaking a foreign language.

[beardedflannel]

Looks like I just did.

[vaccination]

You're sort of like an alien, talking about all these strange things. It's like you're from outer space.

[beardedflannel]

Last I checked, kiddo, I was from years before your time. Reckon it had to do with somethin' called the prehistoric years.

[vaccination]

Right. You're a fossil. You reckon if there are any museums that might want you?

[beardedflannel]

I'm surprised there ain't any around now that've asked me to be apart of their collection. Honest.

[vaccination]

Pfft, shut up. You're not being honest.

[She laughs, shaking her head. He's so lame.]

As much as I like talking about how old you are, can we eat now?

[beardedflannel]

Yeah yeah. Go on.

[ He nods off to the rickety table where they all usually share their meals. His plate is set down but he doesn't sit when she does. ]

[vaccination]

[Ellie's eager to sit and eat, grabbing her fork as she sits. She has a basic grasp of table manners, at least, and stops herself from cutting into her food when she sees Joel isn't seated.]

Hey. Sit, let's eat.