Interviews, I guess. You're good at listening, and folks like talking t'you. You know the right questions.

[ a pause, at which point it maybe settles in that he's just volunteered her for a job — ]

You don't gotta do it. If we do it, it doesn't gotta me now. Just,

[ he trails off. didn't know ellie, not really; only a conversation, and a moment at the pyre. just like that, he's not gonna know her better. no one is. maybe whatever scrap of fade pressed itself to her shape is still out there, transformed. maybe one day it comes back new.

maybe. ]

Thought you'd be good at it.

[ would want someone to remember that. ]