Elliot Alderson (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
viewsource) wrote2020-08-02 06:05 pm
viewsource) wrote2020-08-02 06:05 pm
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Elliot knew that the other had taken the hook now. He watched him for a long moment. Darlene was the only other person that knew that he'd planned this and even she thought it was a crazy idea -- even for Elliot. But what they were doing was dangerous and what he really wanted was protection for the people he cared about.
But he had a feeling he couldn't sell it to Peter like that. At least not right away.
"Not everything that needs to be done can be done from behind the computer." That much was true.
"You've got some useful credentials but as Spiderman, you have another thing we don't have. You can talk to an asset or target in person. They'll respect you one way or another."
But he had a feeling he couldn't sell it to Peter like that. At least not right away.
"Not everything that needs to be done can be done from behind the computer." That much was true.
"You've got some useful credentials but as Spiderman, you have another thing we don't have. You can talk to an asset or target in person. They'll respect you one way or another."
[Elliot frowned at the question and then shrugged.
What hadn't he done that this point?]
Wrong place, wrong time.
[Semi-true]
What hadn't he done that this point?]
Wrong place, wrong time.
[Semi-true]
Usually the case.
Should probably put some ice on that before it gets really nasty.
[She's talking about the bruise on his face.]
Should probably put some ice on that before it gets really nasty.
[She's talking about the bruise on his face.]
It'll be fine.. [Elliot muttered, glancing at her.]
it's been a long time, hasn't it?
[Time was kind of a hard thing for him sometimes.]
it's been a long time, hasn't it?
[Time was kind of a hard thing for him sometimes.]
At least four years.
Surprisingly you look the same.
[There's a diner up ahead and she hasn't eaten all day.]
You hungry?
Surprisingly you look the same.
[There's a diner up ahead and she hasn't eaten all day.]
You hungry?
Oh. Yeah. You look different.
[It wasn't necessarily a bad thing. He glanced at the diner and then nodded.]
Sure... I can treat you... for saving me or..whatever.
[It wasn't necessarily a bad thing. He glanced at the diner and then nodded.]
Sure... I can treat you... for saving me or..whatever.
I wouldn't say no to free food.
[Or AC. It's pretty balmy out tonight.
Stepping inside, Daisy took a spot at her usual table.
Yeah, so, she's come here before. She practically lived here when she wasn't in her van. Or, you know, saving people.]
You been here before?
[Or AC. It's pretty balmy out tonight.
Stepping inside, Daisy took a spot at her usual table.
Yeah, so, she's come here before. She practically lived here when she wasn't in her van. Or, you know, saving people.]
You been here before?
[Elliot nodded, following her into the diner. His hands had by this time slid into the pockets of his hoodie as he sat across from her. He was trying to look not as crazy as he knew he'd been looking the last couple of months.]
No. I don't get out much. You come here a lot?
No. I don't get out much. You come here a lot?
A lot more than I care to admit.
[The waitress came over, asking what they wanted to drink. Daisy immediately ordered a cup of coffee, but also a glass of water. Knowing it would come with ice.]
[The waitress came over, asking what they wanted to drink. Daisy immediately ordered a cup of coffee, but also a glass of water. Knowing it would come with ice.]
[Elliot ordered a water quietly, though he really wasn't hungry or thirsty. He could go for a smoke but settled for drumming his fingers against his thigh.]
Why?
Why?
Because the food is cheap and I'm a terrible cook.
[Because she doesn't have a stove in her van that she lives in, and she's on the run.
Their drinks came quickly, and then the waitress asked if they were ready to order. Daisy got her regular, burger and fries. The healthy option, obviously. What? There's lettuce and tomato on the side that she rarely ever puts on.
Once Elliot orders what he wants, or doesn't and the waitress leaves, Daisy goes fishing in her glass of water for the ice. Putting it in one of the heavy duty napkins that are on the table and wraps it in there before handing it to Elliot.]
Here.
[Because she doesn't have a stove in her van that she lives in, and she's on the run.
Their drinks came quickly, and then the waitress asked if they were ready to order. Daisy got her regular, burger and fries. The healthy option, obviously. What? There's lettuce and tomato on the side that she rarely ever puts on.
Once Elliot orders what he wants, or doesn't and the waitress leaves, Daisy goes fishing in her glass of water for the ice. Putting it in one of the heavy duty napkins that are on the table and wraps it in there before handing it to Elliot.]
Here.
Oh. Makes sense.
[He wasn't that great at cooking either but then again he didn't really eat that much either. He ordered some toast -- not much the big eater and he's not particularly hungry after getting jumped.]
Thanks. [He said quietly taking the wrapped ice and smiling a little.]
Are you working on anything...?
[He made a bit of a face when the ice pressed to the sore spot on his jaw.]
[He wasn't that great at cooking either but then again he didn't really eat that much either. He ordered some toast -- not much the big eater and he's not particularly hungry after getting jumped.]
Thanks. [He said quietly taking the wrapped ice and smiling a little.]
Are you working on anything...?
[He made a bit of a face when the ice pressed to the sore spot on his jaw.]
[Daisy winced sympathetically for him, that had to hurt.]
Oh. Not really no.
[That's not really a lie, but it wasn't anything that needed other people involved.]
What about you?
Oh. Not really no.
[That's not really a lie, but it wasn't anything that needed other people involved.]
What about you?
[Elliot kept the ice to the skin despite the discomfort. It was a bit unusual to think of the girl he remembered not working on anything but he didn't think twice about it.]
Yeah. Something pretty big.
Yeah. Something pretty big.
[Taking out three sugar packets, Daisy ripped off the tops and poured them into her coffee.]
Really? What is it?
Really? What is it?
You don't need to come along for this, y'know.
[Goodwill day had come, because John really just needed more clothes. There was no more getting around it. Thanks to their laundry lessons, John didn't have to make this trip in Elliot's oversized sweatpants and t-shirt, instead dressed in the single change of clothes he kept in his backpack.
And of course he couldn't live with only these two nearly disintegrated outfits forever. But even though Elliot fed him, gave him a place to live, this whole getting new (to him) clothes thing was domestic and weird. Parents did that with their kids for back to school. John didn't even know if he should call Elliot a roommate or what, so how did you decide what was normal to do with people when you couldn't even categorize them?]
[Goodwill day had come, because John really just needed more clothes. There was no more getting around it. Thanks to their laundry lessons, John didn't have to make this trip in Elliot's oversized sweatpants and t-shirt, instead dressed in the single change of clothes he kept in his backpack.
And of course he couldn't live with only these two nearly disintegrated outfits forever. But even though Elliot fed him, gave him a place to live, this whole getting new (to him) clothes thing was domestic and weird. Parents did that with their kids for back to school. John didn't even know if he should call Elliot a roommate or what, so how did you decide what was normal to do with people when you couldn't even categorize them?]
[Elliot wasn't sure why he was insisting on going with him. Maybe a part of him didn't trust him enough to just give him the money. But that wasn't true. He wanted to go. It seemed sort of like a normal thing to do. Maybe it wasn't.] I'm already out.
[His customary black hood was pulled up over his head, smoking as they walked along the street to the Goodwill that was closest. It probably wouldn't have the classiest selection but it'd work.]
[His customary black hood was pulled up over his head, smoking as they walked along the street to the Goodwill that was closest. It probably wouldn't have the classiest selection but it'd work.]
[John glanced sidelong at him, letting out a little snort of a laugh he couldn't quite stifle in time.]
You look so shady with your hood up like that. [He couldn't be sure if Elliot would even notice (or care much), because he reacted to almost everything so mildly, but most of the sting had gone out of John's words when he said things like that. Regardless of whether John liked someone or not, he was constantly ragging on them about one thing or another; the only real difference came in the tone, whether he sounded like he was tearing them down or teasing.]
You look so shady with your hood up like that. [He couldn't be sure if Elliot would even notice (or care much), because he reacted to almost everything so mildly, but most of the sting had gone out of John's words when he said things like that. Regardless of whether John liked someone or not, he was constantly ragging on them about one thing or another; the only real difference came in the tone, whether he sounded like he was tearing them down or teasing.]
[Elliot didn't take offense to it. John would hardly be the first or the last to express as much.] I'm okay with that.
[Less people talked to you, less outside stimuli and sound. It wasn't just the look that he was going for. It had practical purposes too that helped him get through normal everyday things.]
[Less people talked to you, less outside stimuli and sound. It wasn't just the look that he was going for. It had practical purposes too that helped him get through normal everyday things.]
[That's when he hesitated and tried to decide if he should tell her or not. It's not like she was a stranger but he was pretty sure it'd been a long time. Was she still trustworthy -- then again was anyone?
Instead of trying to wave off the question or answering it, he stared at her, watching her prepare her coffee. Maybe he could read the answer to his dilemma that way.]
Instead of trying to wave off the question or answering it, he stared at her, watching her prepare her coffee. Maybe he could read the answer to his dilemma that way.]
You're okay with everything. You should give zen lessons or something. [That was a pretty terrible read of Elliot, but somewhat understandable with all the different ways he had of subsuming his severe anxiety, which gave him that placid appearance with only the telltale power line hum of taut nerves all around him.
John didn't really mean that he was calm, anyway: more that nothing external seemed to get under his skin, which was different.]
Doesn't anyone ever follow you around stores or anything, like the staff? Ask if they can help you a billion times? I always get that. Yeah, I'm usually stealing, but still.
John didn't really mean that he was calm, anyway: more that nothing external seemed to get under his skin, which was different.]
Doesn't anyone ever follow you around stores or anything, like the staff? Ask if they can help you a billion times? I always get that. Yeah, I'm usually stealing, but still.
[Elliot looked at John like he was the crazy one for once. (Me? Give zen lessons?) He gave a quick shake of his head he was the least zen person he knew, aside from maybe Darlene.]
I don't pay attention... [That wasn't true. He paid a lot of attention and those particular shopping trips didn't always end really well for him. But he didn't want to think about that right now.
Not when he was about to enter a store with John.]
I don't pay attention... [That wasn't true. He paid a lot of attention and those particular shopping trips didn't always end really well for him. But he didn't want to think about that right now.
Not when he was about to enter a store with John.]
Okay, fine, not zen. Just - not giving a fuck lessons.
[He pulled open the door to the Goodwill, reaching back to prop it open for long enough that it wouldn't slam in Elliot's face, and walked in with a nostalgic sigh. Ah, the department store of his childhood, and the reason for most of the schoolyard beatings that weren't about his attitude.
He was barely five steps in the door when someone walked up and asked if he needed help with anything. Glancing over his shoulder, he flashed Elliot a deadpan "look into the camera like I'm on the Office" expression before looking back at the volunteer.]
Nah, I'm good. I'm getting a new wardrobe, and he's paying for it. Think what you want about that, but you'll get your money. [With that, he kept walking, letting out an aggrieved sigh.] Even at the Goodwill.
[He pulled open the door to the Goodwill, reaching back to prop it open for long enough that it wouldn't slam in Elliot's face, and walked in with a nostalgic sigh. Ah, the department store of his childhood, and the reason for most of the schoolyard beatings that weren't about his attitude.
He was barely five steps in the door when someone walked up and asked if he needed help with anything. Glancing over his shoulder, he flashed Elliot a deadpan "look into the camera like I'm on the Office" expression before looking back at the volunteer.]
Nah, I'm good. I'm getting a new wardrobe, and he's paying for it. Think what you want about that, but you'll get your money. [With that, he kept walking, letting out an aggrieved sigh.] Even at the Goodwill.
Whatever. [Elliot muttered and tossed his cigarette in the little pillar outside for such things before following him into the store. He didn't pay any mind to the volunteer and he knew he looked shifty. He couldn't help it. He hated shopping and generally most anything that was in public.
He did roll his eyes when he heard John's exchange with the volunteer and he shrugged afterward, but he couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corner of his lip when the other looked at him. Instead of following him he was more leisurely, reluctantly pulling down his hood and rubbing his fingers over his hair as he looked toward the electronics corner. John didn't really need him to help him pick out clothes. He wasn't a girl.]
He did roll his eyes when he heard John's exchange with the volunteer and he shrugged afterward, but he couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corner of his lip when the other looked at him. Instead of following him he was more leisurely, reluctantly pulling down his hood and rubbing his fingers over his hair as he looked toward the electronics corner. John didn't really need him to help him pick out clothes. He wasn't a girl.]
[Even as small as it was, that crooked smile felt like a victory. John was bolstered by it as he walked up and down the racks and pulled things out and two things began to dawn on him: he had no idea what size he was in anything, but he was definitely even smaller than he'd realized. Every pair of pants he held up to his waist overlapped his shoes, something you didn't exactly notice when clothing just meant cover from the elements. Was this something about malnutrition in his formative years? His dad had been six feet two inches tall; yeah, his mom had been tiny, but surely that kind of thing ran down male genetic lines.
Like mutation.
Once he had a few pieces slung over one arm, he went to find Elliot in electronics before going to try anything on. He had a question to ask, because Elliot was only a bit taller than him.]
How tall are you?
Like mutation.
Once he had a few pieces slung over one arm, he went to find Elliot in electronics before going to try anything on. He had a question to ask, because Elliot was only a bit taller than him.]
How tall are you?
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