reconnaissance | ic contact.

( You. She heard that, Stephanie. It makes her unhappy, more because she knows all the things her friend doesn't about herself. )

You don't know all the things I've done. ( Bravado and mouthing off at people is reserved for new people, those who haven't sneaked so very effectively past her barriers, right now. ) You'd think different. ( Hot blood and cold blood were so different, but the end results were the same, weren't they?)

If he tries to offer me lollies, I'll say no. Got it.

Stop. [There's anger and desperation and fear all poured into that word. Concern for Ellie, frustration at her being so blase about this, and there's no word for how twisted up inside she feels when Ellie talks about herself like that.]

Stop, Ellie. [Unseen, she's running her hands through her hair, tugging at it in frustration.] I grew up surrounded by criminals. Thieves, rapists, murderers, some of the worst society has to offer, and none of them could even think about doing the sorts of things the Russians do. So just stop.

Edited 2013-03-09 10:43 (UTC)

( For a long time, there's silence. She doesn't hang up, and maybe Steph can hear her uneven breathing. )

I'm sorry. ( She doesn't like making Steph talk about it, or remember it. She's not too concerned for herself, but she does worry about Steph. )

I didn't mean to make you think about all that. Are you okay?

[She waits, because she owes it to Ellie to wait, after saying what she did. And Ellie's response just draws a sigh.]

It's not about me, either. [It doesn't matter what she might be made to think about, Ellie is what's important here.] I just don't want you to make an enemy of someone like that. If he decides you're worth fucking with, I'll have to kill him.

[It seems unlikely, Ellie's just a dyevochka, and Nikolai had been - gentle with Steph, but she won't count out possibilies like that.]

You didn't answer my question.

( Ellie and Steph have slightly different priorities, it would seem. )

He just thinks I'm a dumb kid. You don't have to worry, all right? I'll be careful. Hey, I'll even be polite.

( The things she does for Steph. )

I'm fine. [There's an unspoken does it matter? because she honestly doesn't think it does.

But the reassurance that Ellie will be sensible is enough to placate her for now.]

You don't have to start calling him 'sir' or anything. [She knows she's giving kind of contradictory instructions, but this isn't a situation she's used to dealing with, and she feels like she's on uneven ground.] Just don't forget that he's dangerous.

Good. That's what's important.

( Ellie apparently missed the part where this conversation started because Steph was worried about her doing something stupid and provoking a dangerous mafia member. )

I won't, I promise. ( A little pause. ) You gotta be careful, too. Don't go picking fights with him-- with anyone because you feel like you have to or you should. Look after yourself.

[The laugh this time is a little more genuine.]

I like him.

[She's aware how that sounds, after all the warnings she's just given, after what she's told Ellie of what the mafiya is like, so it's why she adds, more quietly:] We talked about my daughter.

[Only for a moment, but that's more than she talks about it with most people, he was kind about it.]

( That takes her by surprise. She wasn't too concerned for herself, figured Steph could watch herself. Hadn't realised Fi was talking to him, which would have made her see red. But this was different; this was vulnerable.

Her stomach tightens; it's not all nerves, not just worry and concern. )

Why?

( There's an odd note to it. )

[She doesn't know what to do with the way Ellie sounds, except answer the question.]

He kept calling me dyevochka. I told him little girls don't have little girls.

[Sometimes she guards her secrets closely, sometimes she uses them like weapons.]

Are you sure I'm the one who needs to be more careful with what I say? People use all sorts as weapons, Steph.

( Pained, really. Just as worried. )

He can't hurt her.

[And like her primary concern being for Ellie, all that matters to Steph in this situation is that no one can hurt her daughter, the one that isn't really hers.]

He can hurt you. Even if she isn't here, even if he doesn't touch you, people can use all sorts against you.

( Jesus, she feels horrified. )

Come on, Steph.

[It's funny, in a way, that the last person who really used words and metaphorical wounds to try to hurt her was someone she considers a friend. Enemies use knives, fists, bullets. Her friends use past.]

I'm a little tougher than that.

[But her tone is lighter than it has been for most of this conversation, her way of telling Ellie that it'll be okay, that she won't let him use it to hurt her.]

Yeah, I know. I still don't want it to happen, though.

( A little quieter than usual. )

It won't. [There's confidence in her tone, more than a simple reassurance for the sake of one. She won't put it past Nikolai to use it against her, if it came to it, but from the way he talked to her, she doesn't think it's likely.]

Okay. Good.

( She sighs a little. Much as she trusts Steph, she still worries. She constantly worries. The problem with people getting past your barriers was that then they needed to protect them, too. )

You're a worry, Steph.

( It's fond, but Jesus. She worries so much. )

I could say the same about you.

[But she hears the fondness, and she appreciates it for reasons she probably wouldn't be able to put into words.]

Be careful, El.

[With Nikolai, and with everything else, too.]

Nah, I'm all right. I come with a built in forcefield, don't you even worry.

( You see? Totally indestructible. )

Always am.

( hah )

I think you'd be a hell of a lot cockier if that was true.

[But she's happy with the fact the conversation feels easier now, relieved that Ellie is angry at her for the concern, and glad they she'll apparently listen to Steph's advice.]

Me? Cocky?

You've got the wrong girl. Me, I'm really modest. Level headed, even tempered, all that good stuff.

( There's a wry humour evident in her tone, and a more-than-healthy dose of self mockery, self awareness. Talking to Ezio has been good for her, but now her head has too much food for thought. )

Yeah, yeah. [She doesn't buy that for a second, apparently, but there's a hint of fondest in it.

And for all that she's content with how this conversation went, there's still some remaining tension about the whole thing, and she thinks she needs time to think it over.]

Look, I'll talk to you later, okay? These things are annoying.

[Any more conversations they migh have about this, she'd rather do in person.]

'Course.

( Her mouth twists a bit, unhappy, but it's something she feels stupid for, rubbing her hand over her mouth like she were rubbing away dirt. Even if Steph can't see. )

Yeah. Whenever.

( She wants to sound more casual, more relaxed than she actually manages. )

Look after yourself.

[There's something off in Ellie's tone, but she isn't sure how to address it, not when there's still lingering tension from the situation with Fi. Later, they'll sort all this out, but with her warning delivered, she decides not to question Ellie's tone.]

You too, El.

[And then she hangs up, but she's going to keep track of Ellie as best she can.]

Yup.

( She hesitates, just holds onto the device after Steph has hung up, before following suit.
Suddenly being alone in the Outlands isn't that much of a relief. (It was false therapy,anyway.) )

ic contact.

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio; wow internet if you could hold it together for five minutes

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio

→ audio/ellie just has a lot of feelings ok