RADIO FREE ELLIE: 1st Broadcast.

[ascocarp]

WHO: Ellie and YOU.
WHAT: Ellie is bored and playing with a ham radio.
WHERE: Anywhere with a radio.
WHEN: After the TDM, for various values of 'after' when time is variable.
NOTES: It's Ellie, so casual discussions of violence are de rigueur.

[The broadcast begins a little fuzzy as Ellie messes with the dials and utters indistinctly to herself.] Can I- uh- yeah, okay. Cool. Hello? Wait, no, that's... [More fuzz and murmuring.]

[Eventually, she seems satisfied. Now, how do radio broadcasts go? She remembers the ones in Boston's military QZ go...? God, she never paid any attention in that class. Her voice comes in clear, and it's obviously a young person speaking.] Uhhhh, nine-hundred hour... fuck it, the sky's fucking broken. Callsign... Daniela Star.

[Right.]

So, like, is there anybody here that goes by William? Or Will? Not Bill. Heh, those guys are assholes...

Oh! Also, has anybody seen any frickin' trees? Like real trees, with branches and shit. I found some potted plants, but they were all plastic. What about animals and stuff? I don't mean the freaky shadows, fuck those assholes. Like actual living breathing animals.

But... y'know, speaking of the shitty shadow fuckers, does anybody know how to, like, beat them? I saw somebody do it, but they had like a full suit of armor. I tried it and my hand almost fell off. They're cold.

...Maybe that's it. Anybody seen any fucking suits of armor laying around?

Comments

[calculo]

Maybe I'll show it to you sometime.

( he gets the feeling she'd probably find a way to argue with that. don't ask him how but she seems the type to figure out a way to argue with anything. )

Yeah, I was there when you stabbed one, remember? You were lucky your arm didn't fall off because I don't think this place does amputations very well. Or at all.

[ascocarp]

[...] Really?

Oh my godddd, I can handle myself. Stop getting your panties all twisted.

[calculo]

I think you're the one that's getting upset. I'm fine.

( well.

as fine as someone could be in a place like this. )

But yeah, really. You sound surprised.

[ascocarp]

I know you are, but what am I?

[Said mockingly, clearly implying that's what he just did.]

Nobody ever just lets me see stuff. I've never seen somebody fight with a chain.

[calculo]

Impressive.

( said mockingly right back.

but, he does reach down to grab the chain currently at his feet and holds it up. )

Doesn't look like much but it's effective. No one really likes to take one of these to the face.

[ascocarp]

[She hears the clinking of chains, and perks up, curious. If she sounds like she's closer to the radio, well. She is.]

So you like, swing it in people's faces? That's so crazy. [Yet, when she says it, it's clear crazy means, in this context, awesome.]Why'd you start doing that? I mean, I guess you don't have to reload a fucking chain...

[calculo]

Convenience.

( someone had tried to use the chain against him and the rider hadn't really cared for that so he'd taken it, imbued with his own flavor of fire, and used it to take down any and all.

right now, it was just a chain but robbie's not willing to part with it yet. )

Their face, their feet, whatever's closest. I don't discriminate.

[ascocarp]

Holy moly. That's gotta be a pain in the ass to lug around. Whatever works, though. I knew an asshole who was really into meat cleavers and nail bombs.

[calculo]

It's not that bad. I'm used to it. ( barely felt it anymore, in fact. )

Meat cleavers and nail bombs? Sounds messy. I don't have time to sit and make a bomb.

[ascocarp]

It's your life, man.

Eh, it's easy if you know how to do it. Put the right shit in a tin can, rattle it so it builds up, get the fuck away from it, boom.

[calculo]

Sounds like you have some bomb making experience yourself.

( he holds back the words 'what the fuck' but they definitely want to come since she's so young and talking about a quick and dirty way to make a bomb. )

[ascocarp]

Well, yeah. You're not gonna meet a guy who knows how to make that kinda shit and just leave, y'know? He was an asshole, but it's fucking life saving.

[calculo]

What were you making bombs for?

( he doesn't think they'd gotten around to that part of the story. )

[ascocarp]

Shit trying to kill us. Jeez, what do you think? We did it for shits and giggles? What are you swinging a chain around for, Robbie?

[calculo]

( to his credits, he doesn't roll his eyes or huff indignantly. but, he has to wonder if he's just special or she's this difficult with everyone. )

Yeah, I get that. What shit? You mentioned an infection and then stopped talking. That have something to do with your bombs?

( never mind what he was swinging a chain around for. )

[ascocarp]

[All the energy goes out of her voice. She knew she'd have to bring this up eventually. Might as well be with this guy, who leaves her in frequent consternation, but seems to have a good head on his shoulders.]

Infected. You didn't wanna get close to them. Shit you could throw? Fucking useful. Shit you could throw that killed the motherfuckers? Even better.

[calculo]

Infected.

( that doesn't tell him much. but, what she follows with fills in some of the blanks. )

Infected with what?

( gotta ask. )

[ascocarp]

Cordy... something. I don't remember the science-y name for it! It kills people. And if you survive, you turn into a fucking monster and kill more people. Is that enough for you?

[calculo]

More than.

( honestly, he hadn't expected even that much from someone as reticent as she'd proven herself to be. )

Where'd the infection come from?

[ascocarp]

[If anything, she feels caught out and guilty, and it makes her talk.]

I don't fucking know! It all happened before I was born, man.

[calculo]

It's been going on that long?

( shit. )

Are people still working on a cure?

[ascocarp]

[A very long pause. Her voice is quiet:]

...No.

[calculo]

( ah. )

Sorry to hear that.

( meaningless words but what else is he gonna say to that? )

[ascocarp]

[And yet, she never got an apology from the person who was supposed to get it.]

...Thanks.

Anyway, that still doesn't fucking answer why you kick ass with a chain.

[calculo]

There has to be a reason for it other than I like the chain?

( there was. he just wasn't sharing yet. )