[It's been obvious from the start that of the two young women, Ellie is the more likely to be open. More open, anyway. That's not a knock on Abby. It just means he isn't going to expect the same kind of reception or outcome when he comes with an offer.]
(She'd be plenty open with him if he were Loki, or Gwen. They haven't spoken enough for her to feel entirely comfortable with divulging her and Ellie's entire, sordid history. But:) I helped her out in Antiva. She let me help her.
(... Was she expecting that to count for something? She chews the inside of her cheek, thinking. Finally:) It's complicated.
[And it's fair. It's not his place to say something like 'so I heard in so many words you were at least somewhat responsible for killing her not-dad'. Their history is their history, and he won't force the issue.]
Do you want things to be okay? I mean, no one wants to be mad all the time, but sounds like you hoped getting somewhere would stick around.
I don't know. (Everything is so tangled and knotted up, but she isn't ready to sit down and pick it apart yet either. He's right, in that she doesn't want to be mad all the time. Even with Ellie. It's exhausting, but what else is there?
Perhaps, simply:) We have to work together whether we like it or not. It'd be easier if we... (got along... bleugh)
... We probably won't be put together after that. (Riftwatch is so gossipy. Also it was at full volume in public, so-) But that's not the problem. I don't mind being on jobs with her anyway, I know how she works.
(And Ellie knows her, for better and worse. Her tone curls sarcastically.) Let me guess. She already told you about us.
[If he was in the room with her, he'd put his hands up placatingly.] Even if I was told nothing, it's pretty clear this is an ongoing thing.
I checked in with her, too. I like you both. There weren't details shared. [Well. She didn't go into detail or specifics about what happened. But now he knows how Ellie lost her fingers.] I know just enough to know that there are good reasons you two don't see eye to eye.
Pretty sure she gets that she's in the wrong, when these conversations turn the way they do. Maybe it's not a lost cause yet.
(A year ago this would have had her hissing and spitting but now... she's learning that it isn't an attack. That Ellie doesn't say these things about the both of them just to fuck her over, or make things difficult and uncomfortable for her. She says them because she's trying to come to terms with this mess; when people reach out to her, she's started reaching back.
And she wouldn't have left the story half-told either, she would have been honest. Perhaps brutally so.
Abby runs her tongue over her teeth. Maybe, after all they've done to each other, it's better as a lost cause, but– god, it's so tough to find the words to explain how she feels.)
I can't forget what she did. (Is the easiest way to get her point across, she thinks. She sounds slightly strained.) Even if we find some way to get past that... (It's insulting. Her crew would hate her for it.
Even though they already kinda did, at the end. Most of them, anyway.)
It's not a matter of forgiving, on either side of this, or forgetting. But moving forward from the anger and the grief. Which is an uphill climb. Some days it really is one step forward, two steps back. Sounds like it's especially that for her.
You don't have to work past it, but it'll make your lives here a little easier if you both keep up the effort. That's up to you, though.
(There's a long pause while she mulls this over; Mobius won't know it, but it truly is a testament to the time that she's spent here than she doesn't try to derail the conversation with bristling anger. She's good at doing that but he's given her lots to chew on, and she's been avoiding all of her emotions around this for long enough. Can't keep running forever. Maybe it's time to try facing them head on for once.)
Mmhmm. (A grunt, in acknowledge. That's about all she has to say to it. There's a hint of begrudging appreciation in there if he strains his ears really hard.)
[The acknowledgement that he's heard is good enough. Some might consider what he's doing meddling, being nosy, or all sorts of negative connotations, but if he can't help where he sees help is needed, then what good is he?]
Okay. I'll tell you the same thing I told her: I'm a pretty good listener if nothing else. That's an offer that never expires.
Meantime, giving each other a bit of space is probably called for.
(He's pushing it with this last remark, and a little of Abby's typical ire breaks loose with a sarcastic huff of breath and muttered response of,) Obviously. (Because old habits die hard.
But hey: she's actually glad that she didn't tell him to fuck off right at the start because his advice was good and she needed to hear it, despite the way it makes her feel.
Another breath.) Thanks. I'll– (take you up on that, no, be realistic about it,) see how I go.
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One step forward, two steps back, huh? Are you good?
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I'm fine. (It's hard to get into it.) Thanks for asking.
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[It's been obvious from the start that of the two young women, Ellie is the more likely to be open. More open, anyway. That's not a knock on Abby. It just means he isn't going to expect the same kind of reception or outcome when he comes with an offer.]
If you want to talk about it, I'm all ears.
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(She'd be plenty open with him if he were Loki, or Gwen. They haven't spoken enough for her to feel entirely comfortable with divulging her and Ellie's entire, sordid history. But:) I helped her out in Antiva. She let me help her.
(... Was she expecting that to count for something? She chews the inside of her cheek, thinking. Finally:) It's complicated.
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[And it's fair. It's not his place to say something like 'so I heard in so many words you were at least somewhat responsible for killing her not-dad'. Their history is their history, and he won't force the issue.]
Do you want things to be okay? I mean, no one wants to be mad all the time, but sounds like you hoped getting somewhere would stick around.
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I don't know. (Everything is so tangled and knotted up, but she isn't ready to sit down and pick it apart yet either. He's right, in that she doesn't want to be mad all the time. Even with Ellie. It's exhausting, but what else is there?
Perhaps, simply:) We have to work together whether we like it or not. It'd be easier if we... (got along... bleugh)
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This has been going on a while, hasn't it.
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(And Ellie knows her, for better and worse. Her tone curls sarcastically.) Let me guess. She already told you about us.
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I checked in with her, too. I like you both. There weren't details shared. [Well. She didn't go into detail or specifics about what happened. But now he knows how Ellie lost her fingers.] I know just enough to know that there are good reasons you two don't see eye to eye.
Pretty sure she gets that she's in the wrong, when these conversations turn the way they do. Maybe it's not a lost cause yet.
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And she wouldn't have left the story half-told either, she would have been honest. Perhaps brutally so.
Abby runs her tongue over her teeth. Maybe, after all they've done to each other, it's better as a lost cause, but– god, it's so tough to find the words to explain how she feels.)
I can't forget what she did. (Is the easiest way to get her point across, she thinks. She sounds slightly strained.) Even if we find some way to get past that... (It's insulting. Her crew would hate her for it.
Even though they already kinda did, at the end. Most of them, anyway.)
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You don't have to work past it, but it'll make your lives here a little easier if you both keep up the effort. That's up to you, though.
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Mmhmm. (A grunt, in acknowledge. That's about all she has to say to it. There's a hint of begrudging appreciation in there if he strains his ears really hard.)
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Okay. I'll tell you the same thing I told her: I'm a pretty good listener if nothing else. That's an offer that never expires.
Meantime, giving each other a bit of space is probably called for.
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But hey: she's actually glad that she didn't tell him to fuck off right at the start because his advice was good and she needed to hear it, despite the way it makes her feel.
Another breath.) Thanks. I'll– (take you up on that, no, be realistic about it,) see how I go.