IC Contact;

[nohalfway]

[Automated Voice]

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"Holy shit, I don't fucking know how to do a regular message, what is wrong with this thi--"

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[abduxel]

You're so young to have been through this much.

[He says it plainly, not with a sympathetic tone; he isn't great at comforting. He hesitates, unsure what to say.]

I've outlived friends, too. And I died. For what it's worth, I still prefer surviving.

[nohalfway]

Still waiting for the surviving to just...

[ She shrugs. ]

Stop.

[abduxel]

Why?

[It's an honest question, point-blank and unpadded.

He can guess why, of course, but he wants to hear what she'll say.]

[nohalfway]

I don't know. I just.

I feel like it should have been me. Not her.

[abduxel]

[He shrugs a shoulder.]

What would change, if it was? This would all still be happening. She'd be feeling like you are, now, instead of you. And you would be wherever the dead go.

[nohalfway]

Yeah.

[ Another sight, and Ellie puts her face in her hand. ]

Yeah, I know.

[ Christ, she feels like she shit her heart out and someone shoved it back in. ]

[abduxel]

[He rubs his hands together on the table, feeling the blackened cuts across his fingers.]

...You okay, kid?

[nohalfway]

[ Ellie nods, lowering her hand again. ]

No. But I will be.

[ For the first time in a while, she tries a smile. ]

Look, I know it was probably awkward sitting through that, but...

I mean, five minutes ago, I wouldn't have been able to say that I had seen my mom's face before or heard her voice.

All I had was a letter, a knife, and her name.

Thank you.

[abduxel]

It wasn't awkward, Ellie. This is what I do.

[Okay, it was a little awkward. The crying.

But he smiles back at her.]

You're welcome.