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[vaccination]

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[dog_eat_dog]

[Tess follows her in.]

Nah. Today was a good day to be on my own.

[vaccination]

Until right now.

[The first and last time she was here was to meet Arthur to get her journal back.]

Bar or somewhere else?

[dog_eat_dog]

Yeah, well, you’re different. You wanna take drinks up to the deck or something?

[vaccination]

Yeah. Sure.

[She doesn't love being different, but the deck? Sure, it's a wonderful escape.]

What are you having?

[dog_eat_dog]

Rum 'n coke is fine. You been up on that warden-only part of the deck yet?

[vaccination]

Yeah.

[Does she hide out there to avoid Tess and think about space and stars and planets? Maybe.]

You wanna go all the way up there?

[dog_eat_dog]

Yeah. Might as well, I don't get to go up there often.

[Which strikes her as funny, considering she was the one who unlocked it first, but hey.]

[vaccination]

Okay. Guess we'll grab and go.

[And hopefully not drink it all on the way.]

Be right back.

[Ellie hates talking to people but she will to get drinks, apparently.]

[dog_eat_dog]

Sure.

[She’d be happy to order for herself but watching Ellie have to talk to people is funnier.]

[vaccination]

[She hates it, but she manages, coming back with two drinks. She hands one to Tess.]

Try to make it last until we get there.

[dog_eat_dog]

[She takes it with a touch of a grin.]

Please. I know how to pace myself.

[vaccination]

[Ellie just gives her a look before leading the way out.]

What'd you do in Boston on this day?

[dog_eat_dog]

Usually nothing, but last year, Joel and I tried to do the trip to our supplier and back in one day. Ended up having a freak heat wave, couldn’t push that hard. He pitched a fit about camping in the suburbs to wait out the sun. Didn’t speak to each other again until we got to Bill’s and back.

[Great story, Tess.]

[vaccination]

[Last year. Ellie glances over at Tess when she says that, but doesn't say anything.]

What'd they call that? A mantrum?

[dog_eat_dog]

[She chuckles.]

Never heard that one, but yeah. Like clockwork, at least one or two a week. Not often it happens in the middle of work.

[Tess doesn't love Ellie had witnessed a bit of that, and then a lot of that at the end... but it is what it is.]

[vaccination]

[Even if Ellie was an asshole to him, she does know Joel was happier in Jackson. Calmer.]

He wasn't the resident grumpy bastard at home, surprisingly enough.

[dog_eat_dog]

[She's not sure if she likes that, but it is objectively a better life for him.]

I'm sure not spending half his days dislocating body parts and exchanging fire did wonders.

[vaccination]

Yeah. Slept in on the weekends and everything.

[Sometimes, at least. She remembers seeing Joel totally relaxed and how strange that was.]

[dog_eat_dog]

Good for him.

[Fuck him for it, though. She gives a little cheers as she walks anyway.]

Happy birthday to him, I guess.

[vaccination]

He still hated his birthday.

[But Ellie gives a little cheers, too.]

Tommy and his wife were the only ones that knew about it.

[dog_eat_dog]

At least some things stay the same. God, he would be what, for you? Fifty-seven? Fifty-eight?

[vaccination]

Fifty-eight. A dinosaur.

[Maria had invited her to that last birthday dinner. She said she had a stomach ache. Fucking idiot.

But, despite that, Ellie breathes out a soft laugh.]

You know what's fucking crazy, though? I guess a lot of chicks dig dinosaurs. There were girls my age that totally had a thing for him. Gross.

[dog_eat_dog]

[Some months ago she might have reveled a little in seeing girls fawn after what she had –– whatever scraps she had –– but now it irks her a little.

Bury it down, Tess.

She snorts.]

I'd believe it. Jackson that lacking in eligible young bachelors that your girls have to fawn after a man old enough to be their daddy? Grandfather, even?

[vaccination]

[She shudders.]

He hated it. Tommy would give him so much shit for it, and Joel would just pretend not to notice. So, if there was a dance, Tommy would encourage them to ask Joel to dance.

I've seen him look more comfortable when attacked by a clicker.

[It's a good memory.]

[dog_eat_dog]

Pretty big flip from Joel banging down Firefly hideout doors just to get a chance to talk to Tommy, huh.

[And that was quite some time ago for her, too. Still, she can't resist seeing if she can gross Ellie out a little:]

He's just like that in public. Get him one on one, he can be real romantic.