hadriel inbox

[survivorsguilt]

[There's a strange series of beeps, quick and loud, and then a voice that sounds like it's too far away from the phone to be properly picked up.]

--ord a message if I don't know how? ... Oh, is it- Uh, I'm Ellie. I don't know wh--

[That's all you get before another beep, this one longer.]

Comments

[survivorsguilt]

im fine. was just about to message you

hey nerd do you have someone to stay with? that you trust? and that i know as well? give me a list of names

[quacked]

i dunno
not really

[ He has lots he considers friends but you're the one he trusts most, Ellie. ]

I'll be ok tho

[survivorsguilt]

[Fuck. ...Fuck.]

pack up whatever you really need
ill be over soon
we're going somewhere secret for a little while

[quacked]

ok
be careful

[ Duck makes himself busy doing as he's told after sending the message, grabbing his bag and throwing in the essentials. His gun, his phone, some food, a batarang, a photo of his mom and dad, and... a couple of comics, which he totally needs.

Pretty soon he's waiting by the door in the coat Ellie once gave him, backpack slung over his shoulder, as he waits for her. ]

[survivorsguilt]

you too

[She slips in quickly and closes the door behind herself, gasping in surprise when she spots Duck out the corner of her eye.]

Fuck. God. Didn't expect you to be right here. Hide under the bed next time or some shit, okay?

[Her voice sounds sharp... but seconds later she's leaning down to hug him.]

[quacked]

'Didn't know I was that scary. [ He gives half a smile, looking a bit apologetic as he leans into the hug. Though still nervous, after seeing Ellie he already feels a little better about all this than he did alone in the house.

He pulls back, looking up at her. ] Where're we gonna go?

[survivorsguilt]

The scariest.

[Ellie mumbles it into his shoulder, before pulling back and ruffling his hair. She feels bad for snapping already.]

I'm... not exactly sure, yet. I'm thinking we scope out the apartments and find somewhere unoccupied. Ideally no neighbors.

[quacked]

Yeah. Yeah, okay. And make sure no one we don't know sees us. [ It feels weird, saying that about people he's seen at least in passing everyday. ]

[survivorsguilt]

Exactly.

[Ellie gives him a thumbs up and an empty grin, attempting to make this more like a fun 'adventure' than a scary hideout.]

I've got some food we can binge on, and a couple books from the library we can draw in. Sound good?

[She gestures for him to follow her, trusting Duck will know to stay close.]

[quacked]

[ He grins back, relaxing somewhat and immediately following her lead, both literally and in her attempt to make the whole thing a little less scary. ]

Sounds awesome. We could try drawing a comic or something, like you said a while back. Since this place isn't giving us any.