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[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.]

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[glacius]

[Glacius can't help the tiny chuckle that slips out of him--somehow, he hadn't been expecting the feistiness. He still has a lot to learn when it comes to this small human, apparently!] That's right, because I'd take issue with them if they did, and I don't think any of them want an alien marshal after them. So... contact me if you suspect anyone of trying, alright?

And in the meantime, is there anything I can do to help you in the now?

[survivorsguilt]

What? You think I can't take care of myself?

[She doesn't actually look offended- just sort of challenging. 1V1 her, Glacius.]

Yeah, yeah. I'll tell ya. You and the fifty other people ready to gut someone for me.

[She's kind of secretly pleased about that.]

Um... I don't think so. Unless you're hoarding any comic books?

[glacius]

[Ellie may not actually look offended, but Glacius does look more cautious now, not having meant to slight her in any way.] No! I-I didn't say that. It's just that you are a small human, and others of your species may not find that as imposing as... well... what they might see as a giant monster made of ice. It's--not a bad thing. If I could somehow look like I fit in around here, I'd take it, you know?

[It's a sore point for him, but if it can at least help him look out for the people that he cares about, then at least some good can come of it. Or something. And speaking of ways he doesn't fit in, her last request causes some evident confusion:] Ah-h... what is..?

[survivorsguilt]

[Oh. Well... that last part just makes her feel kind of bad.]

Hey, you- [Aw man. What do you even say in this kind of situation?] I like you as a giant monster made of ice.

[Well. It's awkwardly phrased and not much better spoken, but she hopes it gets her intents across all the same.]

Pffft. If you don't even know what they are, don't worry about it.

[glacius]

Thank you. It's--not so bad, really. [Though he sounds more like he's trying to convince himself of that than he actually believes it. The isolation has been hard, but...] I've met a handful of people who don't treat me as so much of an outsider, so that helps.

Anyways, come now... how am I supposed to learn to fit in if I don't even understand things that are important to your species? Help me help you, we may both be happier for it.

[survivorsguilt]

Alright, alright. You wanna come visit sometime when this calms down and I'll show you my collection. They're like- it's books, but with tons of pictures? And they're full of action, and sometimes the art is like, crazy good, and-

[SHE'S... getting carried away.]

Anyway, um... sorry. If I was ever like that. I only ever knew humans and really sick, fucked up not-humans where I came from. I'm used to a lot now, but at first...

[glacius]

You sound like me. And given what I went through, and how young you are... that... makes me very sad. [No one her age should have to put up with so much awfulness. It's eye-opening in regards to certain aspects of Ellie's behavior, but Glacius still seems cautious to pry; if she is like him, he can only imagine her past is something of a sore spot, one she's not happy to be reminded of or likely to share without some trust there, first.

So perhaps they should focus on something better.] At least that is... more or less behind us, now. And we're surrounded by people who care and take interest in our likes and wants. On that note, I'd be happy to come by and read some books with you... whenever you'd have me, really. [He'd like to do it now, as he imagines it would allow him to look out for Ellie without her having to feel quite like she's being guarded... but he's not going to push.]