worthallthis | The Last Voyages: IC Inbox

Good. That's the goal.

[She's even more careful the closer she gets to his scalp, but goes along section by section rather than just running the brush through his whole head of hair.]

You're doing good. A while back, I think you'd have a much different reaction to this.

Probably would've hit you.

[Which he is not doing now! This is progress, right? He continues to hold very still, but... closer to his head is actually, weirdly, better? Easier? The persontooclosebehindme feeling is still there, but the sensation is less someoneisgoingtotugmyhair and bordering on soothing. Harder to mistake for anything else.

A little tension goes out of his shoulders. She might notice.]

[She notices. It's scientific fact that most people can't resist nice things being done to their hair. Or at least Ellie is pretty sure it's scientific fact.]

Maybe. I think there's only ever been like, one time when I thought you might hit me, and I thiiiink that was when we first met.

[She didn't know him.]

Never when we're working on my book? In the Enclosure?

[He's kind of surprised, honestly, at that.]

Nah. Maybe worried I'd be hit by something you're smashing or whatever, but never you hitting me.

[She continues brushing, using her free hand to section his hair.]

I'm not afraid of you, B. You know that.

[What is self-preservation? She's great at surviving, but it's mostly luck.]

Being afraid of me isn't the same as being smart about not getting thrown into a wall.

[But he doesn't have any bite to it, and he's doing okay. No shaking, no hyperventilating, no punching. His heart rate isn't where he'd like it to be, but the sectioning feels kind of nice.]

I don't think you'd throw me into a wall. You're not that reckless.

[She either has a lot of faith in him, or is used to being thrown into things. Both?]

[He does have to allow:]

Probably not. But it's not impossible, if I were too wrapped up in the wrong kinda memory.

[Or triggered. He knows a little bit of what those Words do, thanks to Steve, enough to know he's not safe to be around if anyone knows them.]

[Lucky for him, Steve made sure Ellie got rid of that page from his file.]

Maybe. You're doing better, B. Even if you were in the wrong kind of memory, I think you'd snap out of it before hurting me.

I hope so.

[He doesn't trust that he will, but he can hope.]

So tell me about this girlfriend.

[Abruptly, Ellie laughs.]

Dina? She's awesome. [Not awesome enough to stay at home for, apparently.] I live with her on the farm. The place I showed you in the Enclosure. She's just... funny, and smart, and puts up with all my shit.

[Anddddd, you know. Ellie clears her throat.]

She's really pretty, too.

Sounds pretty great.

[He sounds vaguely amused, like he expected to hear some gushing, and he sure got it.]

You been back to visit since you started here?

[As she brushes his hair, she's quiet for a moment. It hasn't even crossed her mind to visit. She hasn't let it.]

... nah. It's easier if I just stay here. [Until he graduates, until she gets Joel back. If she goes home, sees Dina and JJ, she might not have it in her to leave again.]

[Not a thing B would understand, really. If he has a mission, he'll keep working on it. But being able to go somewhere and see a loved one sounds... nice.

Not that he has any to visit. They're all here. His voice is a little quieter when he asks,]

Do you miss her?

Yeah. All the time. And the baby.

[And she tries to catch this before it goes somewhere else--]

That's not your fault, though. In case you were going to dare to think that. I don't want you ever thinking you're taking to long or keeping me from anything. Okay, B?

[If she didn't have her hands in his hair, he'd twist to give her a look for that. A sour one.]

You could still visit her, if you wanted. It's not like I'm going anywhere.

I could leave once, to come here. I don't think I could do it again, even with the whole... visiting thing.

[She loves Dina. Loves JJ. Loves Joel.

One of them wins over the others.

And, maybe, a growing problem is her fondness for B, too. But instead of saying that, she teases.]

Besides, you'd miss me too much. Even if it was a day. I know, I know. You don't need to say it.

Uh-huh. Maybe you'd miss me.

[He doesn't have as witty a response for that as usual, given how much of his brain is taken up by how close she is and her hands in his hair. That will have to do.]

... yeah, I would.

[Enjoy that honesty there, B.]

Oh.

[He's silent a minute.]

Even for just a day?

[That seems. Really excessive, actually. Who would miss him if he was just gone for a day?]

Even for just a day. You're my buddy, remember?

[Buddy, the first name she used to call him. He still is, though. She's used to having him around.]

Even buddies sometimes get sick of each other.

[But it's said with half a smile, that she can hear in his voice since his face is still turned away. He does remember. B, Buddy, Buck. All his goddamn names.]

Glad you're not, though.

[Even if he's twitchy about being touched and doesn't really get why anyone would miss him. It's still nice that someone might.]

Nah. You're like the least annoying person here.

[She's making her way through all that hair, slowly but surely, working her way around.]

Not sure I believe that. But I'm glad you think that, too.

[He's quiet a moment, then, remembering her earlier question, adds,]

Franky is Commander Cook. She's from a little before me and Steve's time. Does piloting lessons in the Enclosure.

From before the time of dinosaurs like you guys? Wow.

[That Ezio guy is from like way way way before, so Ellie isn't terribly surprised by much these days. But she does like poking fun where it's harmelss.]

The Last Voyages: IC Inbox

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