(voice) un: brick.master (backdated to the 20th)

[backpacking]

This place has a whole lotta creepy shit, but you know what it doesn't have? Jokes.

[ Hello and Good Day: over the network comes the light, amused voice of a 15-year-old girl. ]

Figured it'd do us all some good to lighten the mood. Keeps the blood pressure down! Unless you're allergic to fun, or something, in which case, uh... I dunno. Tune me out?

Okay, first one. Let's get warmed up. If you're an American in the bathroom, and you're American when you come out, what are you when you're in there?

[ DRAMATIC PAUSE ]

European. [ ~ta-da~ ] Next one, and I'll let you chime in this time. Did you hear about the Italian chef who died?

Comments

[backpacking]

Uh, no. [ pls ] It was a game. The goal is to throw the most bricks through windows of old cars. If you smash more than the other person, you're the brick master.

[ And they have to answer one question honestly, though not everyone played by those rules. ]

[shivving]

I gotcha.

[ Dumb game, but how many other opportunites for entertainment would she have had? Besides - he hates thinking like this, hates that he does think it, but...well, that skill had certainly come in handy later on. How many Infected had she stunned with bricks so Joel could get the jump on them? ]

And you won, huh.

[backpacking]

Yep. Which is why I'm the brick master. [ There's a pause, and then: ] If we ever find a bunch of bricks and a car, and the sound's not gonna get us killed, then I totally challenge you to a game.

[shivving]

[ Joel snorts, faintly amused. ]

You're on.

[ Once upon a time, the idea of agreeing to a brick-throwing contest with a kid, of destroying a car just for kicks, would have been horrifying and absurd. Now... ]

Then we'll see who's the real brick master.

[backpacking]

[ Now, "horrifying" has meaning far beyond silly destruction of property... ]

Uh, spoilers: it's still gonna be me. But it's cute you think you have a chance.

[ Not only is she the brick master, she's also the "brick master shit talk master." ]

[shivving]

Cute.

[ His tone is flat and unimpressed. Did she seriously just say that? ]

You're awfully confident.

[backpacking]

[ sigh ]

Just trying to lighten the mood. I dunno... Aren't you...worried about this whole thing?

[ God knows she wants to joke and talk trash about throwing bricks to try and forget about their situation, but...it doesn't last forever. Before long, the questions and worries come creeping back in. ]

Is there any chance this is all one weird dream or something?

[shivving]

[ Of course he's worried. He's scared to death, less for himself than about what might happen to Ellie here, in this strange place he can't explain.

But like hell he's going to admit that to her. ]

Yeah, it could be a dream.

[ In his experience, he never thinks he might be in a dream while he's dreaming, no matter how weird things get. But...well, maybe. ]

Y'tried pinching yourself?

[backpacking]

[ There's a soft chuckle. ]

Yeah, uh - let me get on that. [ ... ] Nope. Nothing.

[ If only it were that easy, right? ]

Anyway... I guess we just have to kinda roll with it until we figure something else out, right? Maybe we can take another look around the perimeter.

[shivving]

Maybe.

[ He's already walked every inch of the perimeter, more than once, when he could convince himself that Ellie was secure and it was safe to leave her long enough to do so. So far he's turned up absolutely nothing. ]

Dunno how much good it would do.

[backpacking]

Well, it'd do some good if we found something. Besides, what else're we doing here?

[ Sure, they'd probably be safer doing nothing, but that isn't either of their style. Not when they're not in a safe place like Jackson, and there are a lot of questions hanging over their heads. Questions with possibly very dangerous answers. ]

C'mon, Joel. Do you want to leave it up to all these other people to get us out of here?

[shivving]

[ She's got a point. At least this gives them something to do besides sitting around going stir-crazy. Besides, what if they do find something? ]

Alright, alright.

[ He holds up his hands in surrender. ]

Y'wanna go now? Or still too busy torturin' innocent people with your jokes?

[backpacking]

Who says I can't do both? [ The devices are portable, Joel!! ] Let's go.

[ She'll end the call, then, to prepare however she's able for the trip, and to then head out to meet up with him. ]