IC Voicemail

[everysecond]

...Wait so I'm supposed to do what with this?

I guess I leave a message.

Hey, this is Rileyable Riley. Leave a message.

So does that work?




[ooc: Leave a message for her!]

Comments

[Voice]

[tonsofpun]

Shit, not even a chuckle?

That's cold, Riley.

[Voice]

[everysecond]

Yeah. Well, not used to the this magic thing making smoke lungs not fuck someone up.

[She's okay, Riley. Really. There's mother fucking magic here.

Where was the magic back home when...?

No time for that.]

Wanna try another?

[Voice]

[tonsofpun]

Yeah. They told me it was safe to go home, so I'm cool.

[Her voice is still scratchy and her lungs feel horrible, but it could be worse. She's had worse before.]

Sure.

I went to the doctor about my kleptomania. He suggested I take something.

[Voice]

[everysecond]

[Okay. She chuckles now.]

Right. Because you're a klepto. That's a good one.

[Voice]

[tonsofpun]

I'm a klepto?

[RILEY.]

Almost back. You here?

[Voice]

[everysecond]

I prefer claimer. I take and claim it as my own.

[She's not even going to deny it. Just adjust it.]

Yeah. I'm on the roof. I'll show you how to get up here if you can't figure it out.

[Voice/Offline]

[tonsofpun]

I'll figure it out.

[The roof. ... shit. It's going to take a little while, but soon enough, she clambers up next to her, huffing softly and trying to get her breath back. It's almost dark, and she scoots close, leaning back on her hands.

She settles in silence with her for a time.]

You think these are the same stars?

[Offline]

[everysecond]

[Wow, Ellie. She's going to have to teach you the easy way to get up here because that was sad. Still, she's glad to have her there and she bumps shoulders with her.]

I think all that constellation stuff is a little weird anyway. Anyone can make pictures out of dots.

[She leans back and traces some lines.]

Like that one right there? That's Vic the Machete Man. The spirits thought he was such a badass that they wanted to look at him forever so they ripped him mid battle and slapped him up there to growl at us. See? There's the machete and there's his pissed face.

[Offline]

[tonsofpun]

[Ellie leans in, looks up to follow the line of her arm.

... machete man.

Har har.

Somehow, she can't bring herself to smile. The night feels a little cold.]

Sounds like that guy from The Turning, but with only two arms.

[Offline]

[everysecond]

Puh-lease. My guy is totally original and has nothing to do with the guy Angel Knives took down.

[Riley gives her a little bit of an elbow.]

Come on. Your turn.

[tonsofpun]

[Elbowing her back, she manages a little smile, chin in her hands.]

... okay. See that one there? Bunny.

[She squints. She's never been as good at this as Riley is. Not just making shit up, but telling stories on the fly.]

With boxing gloves.

[everysecond]

[Bunny. With boxing gloves.]

Ellie. That was pathetic.

[So not badass.]

[tonsofpun]

They all just look like dots to me, Riley.

[Ellie blows out a raspberry, and shifts closer, finally laying her cheek against her shoulder. It's a touch shy -- they're still sort of feeling out this whole physical affection thing, but today's been a hell of a day.]

... I didn't really thank you. For saving my ass today.

[everysecond]

[This has suddenly turned into Riley having no idea what to do with her hands. Taking a breath, she just sort of pretends to pick something off of Ellie's pants as an excuse to touch her.

Yeah. That's totally what she's doing.]

It's not like I could leave you in there.

[She's just going to blow this off like it's no big deal.]

[tonsofpun]

You -- ran into a burning building. Alone.

[Ellie speaks into her shoulder, encouraged by her hand settled on her leg. The words are easier to say in the dark. It's when most of their serious moments seem to happen.]

And you got us both out.

[And it's not like Ellie wouldn't do the same for her. In a heartbeat. But it's ripped open those old, uncomfortable feelings of fear and worry. It makes her think of the last time in happened, the last time Ellie got into trouble, and Riley burst in to save her without thinking.

Only that time, Riley had been bitten.]

[everysecond]

Well... [She fucked up the last time. They both got bit because she fucked up. She hadn't been able to get Ellie out and the music had drawn them in. The music had been her idea...]

...I figured you were probably too busy to pay attention to something dumb like a fire.

[Good recovery.]

[tonsofpun]

[Ellie half-laughs, reaches out for Riley's hand on her leg, takes it. Squeezes it and holds on. They've held hands a couple of times, usually with the excuse of them leading each other somewhere, but this is the first time in a while that she's held her hand just to hold it.]

Yeah.

... you were really cool, back there.

[She doesn't follow it with a joke, or some little comment about even Riley having her moments. Instead it feels like the first time they fought Infected together, the first time Ellie hugged her. Too serious, too close to home to brush it off.]

Thanks.

[everysecond]

[Holding Ellie's hand is nice. Enough so that she doesn't want to miss out on any part of it. For that reason, she frees her hand a moment to pull off that fingerless glove. It reveals her bite but now they can hold hands without it in the way and she takes Ellie's hand back in hers.

It's silly but it makes her feel good.]

Hey, I've got your back.

[She bites her lip then adds on one more thing.]

You're my girl and I'm your knight, remember?

[tonsofpun]

So fucking cliche.

[Ellie mumbles it into her collar, grasps her hand again. Though she can feel the scar tissue of the bite, and the reminder stings a bit, she's fiercely happy that Riley doesn't hide it from her.]

If you start calling me your damsel in distress I'm seriously going to punch you.

[Or bite her. From this position, Riley's neck is fairly close, and she'd probably get a good jump out of her.]

[everysecond]

You'd be the worst damsel ever. I already know that.

[It's called the first time they met and she took down bullies for Ellie. So much for that thank you. Well, she doesn't hold it against her. Why would she?]

Can't say damsels are my type either.

[tonsofpun]

I could be anything I damn well wanted. Even if I wanted to be Lady Swearsalot.

[Ellie snickers against her, then pulls back to grin.]

Oh, you have a type? I gotta hear this.

[everysecond]

Lady Swearsalot? Okay, you know what? That is going to be one of my nicknames for you. It's decided.

[Too late to go back now. Oh and she's not saying what her type is. Nope.]]

[tonsofpun]

I didn't say I wanted to be Lady Swearsalot-

[Goddamnit. She grumbles and nudges her, looks pointedly up at the stars.]

You didn't answer my question.

[everysecond]

You seriously want to know what my type is?

[Really, Ellie? Have you looked in a mirror?]

[tonsofpun]

Let's see.

[Ellie reaches out, extends her fingers and waves her hand slowly through the air, like she's framing it for her.]

"Brick Master"?

Oh. What about, "kicks my ass at everything (except sometimes waterguns)"?