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[vaccination]

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[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.

[vaccination]

[Not a little. A lot. Ellie groans.]

Jesus, Tess--can you fucking not? That's gross.

[That's her dad :( ]

[dog_eat_dog]

[She laughs.]

Oh, grow up, "romantic" is hardy a crime.

[Sure was a different life just five months ago, though. On the train, too.]

[vaccination]

It is when you're talking about him.

[Gross! She's actually not sure how she would have reacted, if Joel had found someone. That person would have to be in her life, too--maybe if there was some sort of buffer, their falling out would have been less dramatic.

Or not. Tommy couldn't fix it.]

[dog_eat_dog]

[A couple pithy things come to mind, but Tess holds them back; she's supposed to be trying to get along.]

It's not any stranger for me to hear about him being a dad, you know.

[vaccination]

[And yet she still grimaces a little at that.]

But you knew about Sarah. He had been a dad.

[dog_eat_dog]

And? It wasn't like it came up much. He avoided interacting with kids. You saw how he reacted to smuggling you, to you being infected.

[vaccination]

I thought he was just a prick in general.

[dog_eat_dog]

Well, you being a little girl had a lot to do with it.

[vaccination]

Had a lot to do with the rest, too.

[The choices he made. Sometimes it makes Ellie feel sick.]

[dog_eat_dog]

He talk much about any part of his life between the Outbreak and meeting you?