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[nostalgiabomb]

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[nohalfway]

[ Ellie lets out the first genuine laugh in this whole conversation. How could she possibly hate this guy? Not even a chance. And it sort of comes to her that she'll never figure out just how dangerous this place is if she hides away like some coward. The sickness is still there, the shaking is still there... But what Peter says has her feeling the most confidence she's felt in a long time. ]

Okay, okay.

[ She pauses as she takes a look around the corner, taking note that Joel isn't currently home at the moment. ]

Ah, man... Alright, you got me. I'll leave the house.

Joel will probably flip his lid, but it's probably best that I just... Leave a note.

Is uh.

Is this thing going on now?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He's relieved that she agrees, but makes a mental note that he'll have to be on his guard and keep an eye on her. ]

Any way you can give him a call? I don't want him freaking out.

Oh, here's the address, in case he wants to know where you are.

[ And ping, a text message with the address -- a house in De Chima. ]

I think it's tomorrow night, so you can talk it over, if you need to.

[nohalfway]

[ Ellie gets the text and makes note of it, but she grimaces at the suggestion of "talking things over" with Joel. ]

Uhhhhh... Yeah, maybe.

But I definitely plan on keeping my phone on me. Sort of glad these things make it easier to contact people. But that can be a good thing and a bad thing, haha.

[ She pauses. ]

I guess I'll have to meet up with you somewhere, huh?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He runs through options in his head. The Porter would be the most obvious option, but he's not sure how far Ellie would be comfortable with going on her own. And he could understand not wanting to give away where she lives, either, especially considering Peter's still a stranger. ]

What city are you in? If you're in the government housing, I can meet you near there? Like, near the first house. Oh-Oh-One.

[nohalfway]

I'm, um...

[ Yeah, Peter is exactly right with her not being so keen on sharing where she lives. And it's not so much the lack of trust in him at this point so much as it is her not sure how Joel would feel about it. Given what his last profession was here and who they're both connected with? It's best to remain secretive. ]

House 001, government housing. Got it.

Yeah, I can get there alright. I think there's a map on this thing?

I'm in Heropa.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He blinks. ]

Hey, actually, I'm in Heropa, too. You wanna just meet outside my place? I'm in block 005.

[nohalfway]

[ Hey, she's starting to sound a little excited here. ]

Sure.

Yeah, I'm down for meeting up with you. And you'd better have those plasma blasters, or else we're not friends. And also no bracelets.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He makes something that can only be described as a squawking noise, as if in outrage. ]

Dude, wow, you're throwin' around some heavy threats, here. All you had to do was say please, you know.

[nohalfway]

[ Ellie takes your squawking and raises you a loud, obnoxious snort. ]

Does it even sound like I'm the type to say please or deliver anything but threats?

Come on, man, I thought we were having a connection here. Don't let me fly over your head now!

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Pfffft, is the next noise he makes. ]

Fine. I promise I'll have my blasters, if you promise to have those comics ready for me.

[nohalfway]

[ The sound of her backpack zipping can be heard. ]

Already have them organized and packed for you. I got you totally covered in that department.

[nostalgiabomb]

Then I've got you covered on the way awesome space tech department.

Meet you here, Scout. Gimme a call if something comes up, alright?

[ By which he means, "if you change your mind." ]

[nohalfway]

[ She hums, nodding her head. ]

I'll keep you posted. But I'm sticking with this. Can't hole myself up in my room forever, right?

Plus, I think this'll be a lot of fun. I'm pretty stoked, actually.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He huffs out a breath, near silent -- he's glad that she seems excited, honestly. ]

Well, you better get ready, kid. I told Glitch -- that's the guy whose house we're going to -- to get Alien,, and that shit is scary as hell. And I am so not holding your hand if you get freaked out.

[ which is a lie. He's totally going to let her cling to his arm the whole time, if she needs to. ]

[nohalfway]

Pffff.

I just told you about the fucking infected I had to deal with back home. You honestly think I'm gonna be scared of a movie about aliens?

[nostalgiabomb]

Yes.

[ He says it flatly, as one might recite the alphabet, or inform you that Columbus sailed the ocean fourteen-hundred-ninety-two. ]

But it's cool. I won't think any less of ya.

[nohalfway]

[ Now sounding smug as shit. ]

Wanna make a bet on that?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He hums thoughtfully. ]

Depends on the wager, kid. I've already got $10 riding on another bet.

[nohalfway]

Alright then.

A shot at one of your plasma blasters and a whole pizza on you that I don't even flinch.

[nostalgiabomb]

And if you do flinch--

[ He pauses, considering the consequences. ]

--I'm gonna make you suffer through the worst movie I can think of.

[ peter there is no downside to that. That is a treat. ]

[nohalfway]

[ Snort. ]

Highly doubt any kind of movie on a working television could make me suffer, buddy. But we'll see.

Besides, you're gonna lose this bet anyway.

By the way? I like the works on my pizza. Meat Lovers all the way.

[nostalgiabomb]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You talk a big game, Scout, but Alien is gonna send you scramblin' behind the couch, just you wait.

[nohalfway]

Oh man, you have no idea the kinda shit I've seen in real life, Pete.

I bet I'll probably even make a little chuckle a few times.

[ Lies. She'll probably flinch. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He sounds so unconvinced: ] Uh-huh. You say that, but you're totally gonna jump outta your skin, and I'll have the last laugh.

[nohalfway]

You're too fucking cocky for your own good, Star Lord.