Author's Notes:
Original note from AO3: First of all, I apologize for how feckin' long this took to come out. Art and I have been trying to balance rewriting the Plattsburg arc on top of everything else we're working on, and it eventually got to the point where we just didn't have time to work on the rewrite anymore. Because of that, we decided it was best to just scrap the rest of that arc and move on to the stuff that's already been completed ahead of it (though trust me, you won't be missing much. The Plattsburg arc had some interesting stuff but was mostly filler anyway).
There will be references to what happened with Dwight and Paradise in these two chapters, but otherwise we're moving on with the story. Again, super sorry about how long this took, but updates should be more frequent now that we're getting into probably one of the most solid arcs we've done :)
Also, this chapter was like 22,000 words, so I split it into two chapters xD
10:47 AM - July 27, 2025 - Mountain pass near Jackson, Wyoming
Dot [Ellie]
Sore. That about summed up how Ellie felt at that moment. Her feet, her entire body - and somehow, her entire mind - it all felt sore. She felt uncomfortably warm in her pink and white jacket, too, which only made things worse. Had it not been raining all morning, she would've stashed the thing in her backpack long ago. Nevertheless, she trudged along the muddy path, alongside the others.
Joel and Lee were ahead of the pack, the tension that'd been in the air since Plattsburg still managing to seep into the ambiance surrounding the group. She tried to question Joel about what happened, but he offered nothing, just a story she hardly believed in. She couldn't help but feel like they were lying to them, about Tom, but didn't push the subject. If the tension between the two was as bad as it felt, then pushing it into the light was the last thing she wanted to do.
It was better this way, she had to repeatedly tell herself.
Clementine walked nearby, lost in thought, as she usually seemed to be. She wore her leather jacket, and her hands were stuffed into her jean pockets. It was hard for Ellie to wrap her head around the fact that she's known Clementine now for about as long as she'd known Riley. Verging on four months. Time had flown by, but at the same time, felt as if it was dragging. Like a movie played in slow motion, then suddenly sped up, and slowed down again. Didn't help that they had to walk all the way to Jackson, which only lied over the next mountain, and would hopefully come into view as they reached the top of the mountain pass. In a way, she felt as if she knew Clementine better than she knew her old best friend, and in other ways… like she barely knew her at all. There was a lot that Clementine seemed to hold close to her chest, only some she'd managed to get out of her after a conversation or two.
When that failed, there was always the pun book, which usually helped.
Ellie fiddled with the Walkman she'd gotten from Riley. For so long, the thing had been busted, but after insisting on his help, Joel had managed to get the thing working again. She just hadn't had the courage to listen to it again, yet. With their journey nearly complete, and the Fireflies surely around the corner, maybe now was the best time.
She held the device close to her chest, protecting it from the light drizzle of rain, while slipping the headphones into the Walkman's jack, inserting one in her ear. It was playing a song that she wasn't all that familiar with, near the end of the CD Riley had made for her. The soft, acoustic tune was surprisingly calming, and she found herself looking towards Clementine again. She diverted towards the girl, holding out an earphone for her. "Wanna listen?"
Art [Clementine]
Clementine tenderly adjusted the tip of her hat, hoping it'd shield her from the soft drops of rain. Her eyelids drooped in severe prostration. Lost in thought… she was, to be sure - had been for the longest time - concerning all kinds of things.
For instance, the fact that Joel and Lee wouldn't talk, hardly ever did , since Tom left. At the time, the girl suspected something was amiss, anyone in their right mind would… but Lee stood firm, promised her it was nothing… and Clementine believed him. She felt almost indebted to, even if things didn't feel quite right.
The thought of him genuinely lying to her seemed almost… alien, after so long.
The pathway to Jackson might've been muddy and nubilous, largely uncomfortable, but the cold water running down Clem's shoulders didn't bother her at all, and neither did the sharp wind drifting through the mountain pass. The jacket wasn't so bad, she figured, at least in that regard… though leather hadn't ever really been her thing.
From the corner of her eye, Clem caught a glimpse of Ellie tinkering with her formerly busted walkman, a soft smile gradually replacing the frown Clementine sported for the vast majority of that hike. Truthfully, the thought of listening to music again had Clementine unconditionally excited, despite the girl being apt not to express it. As one would expect, chances to listen to an actual song were often hard to come by, especially for someone her age. Her mom used to sing to her from time to time, and there was the record player back in the Ski Lodge, but that was really about it. It surprised her, at least a bit, when Ellie held out one of the earphones, asking if she wanted to listen too.
"Can I?" Clementine politely asked, before picking up the earphone from Ellie's hand and gently placing it in her own ear, utterly at ease whilst listening to the soft melody unfold.
Things so suddenly felt… cozy, almost as though in that instant the rain had ceased to be, and the mud under the sole of her boots had turned into a dense meadow. Clem didn't feel tired or wistful… nothing, but relaxed , for once… and Ellie being there, bumping into her shoulder every few steps along the way, was no small part of what made her feel that way. As the bridge of the song came to a close, and its final chorus began to play, Clem removed the earphone with a genuine smile, moving the strand of hair poking out of her hat away from her eye. "That was… great, seriously. Thanks."
Ledge [Lee Everett]
The minute hand ticked away ever so slightly, just falling short of eleven past the hour. Lee rolled down his sleeve back over his old watch, the damned thing had been reliable and had yet to give out on him at least, checking it every now and again reminded him of the old days in the office. It gave him a sense of structure, or at least gave him something to do on long, drawn out walks like this. His boots made an odd squelching sound as they grinded against the mud with each step, the rain earlier had at least felt like it had gotten rid of the humidity in the air temporarily.
These past three months… they hadn't been easy to say the least, of course they had run out of food after the second month. The past four weeks, they had practically been scrounging. Pushed on by the reassurance and hope that this Tommy guy would allow them into Jackson. A former Firefly gone rogue, but more importantly… he was Joel's younger brother, which hopefully would give them an incentive to let them enter.
He would think back to that night where he'd confronted and fought Joel every now and again, fearing it had done irreversible damage between them, and even if it hadn't… things had been awkward to say the least. They talked only when they had to, topics that only regarded their survival and the next location… and that was about it. Things clearly seemed strained between them. It had been even more awkward trying to explain his face to Clementine the next morning, although she was a smart girl… Something told him that both of those girls suspected something, nevertheless Clementine hadn't pressed the topic, which Lee was thankful for.
He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep lying about it.
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie smiled as Clementine accepted the other earphone, and the two walked alongside the others to the sound of a man singing softly over an acoustic chord. She held the Walkman between them, allowing for Clementine to have some slack for the headphones, although the two of them still had to walk closely together, sometimes bumping shoulders. The two teenagers simply lost themselves in the music, putting one foot in front of the other. The path they were following was slowly ascending in a sharper and sharper incline, leading to Ellie's breathing to quicken ever so slightly. It wasn't that she was out of shape, but after spending so long on the road… she was ready to fall onto the nearest bed she could find, even if it was in absolutely horrible condition. Hell, she wouldn't mind just… laying back on the bed, and listening to the Walkman with Clementine. After everything they've been through to get here, doing something so inane would be a godsend.
As the song ended, and Clementine gave her back the other earphone, she found herself slightly disappointed, wishing that the moment would've lasted longer. Nevertheless, she smiled back at the girl, before turning the device off and stashing it inside her backpack.
"Any time you want to listen, just ask," she told the girl, her tone shifting to something happier than it'd been in a long time. "Who knows," she continued. "Maybe someday, we'll find more albums." Man, I wish I'd taken some of those albums from that music store in Bill's town. Didn't think I'd actually get this thing fixed. "What's the chances the Fireflies have a music collection?" She inwardly laughed at her comment, silently hoping it to be true, even though she knew it was unlikely.
Music had always intrigued her. It was something that was mostly lost to the old world, like digging up old artifacts from an ancient civilization. Most survivors who were talented musicians were already dead, or turned into something worse . Maybe someday, after the Fireflies got the cure from her, that all could change. They just had to get there first.
Art [Clementine]
Clementine let out a quiet scoff, mocking the implication that they'd ever be so lucky. "About the same chances they'll have another dart board," the girl answered half-jokingly, eyes glued to the murky ground. Well, it wasn't… impossible , right? Hoping for darts and music… warm beds and a hot shower. Maybe a healthy dose of optimism couldn't hurt every once in a while, as long as it helped them beat that painfully taxing climb.
It was then, when reaching the near end of that mountain pass, that Clementine's eyes were as wide as they could stretch. Underneath them stood a worn out, shabby-looking gate, hiding behind it a massive hydroelectric plant… and with it, a gorgeous dam, crystal clear water enveloping it and spreading out for what felt like miles. It was… had to be Tommy's place. "I - I see it!" Clementine pointed out hysterically, the girl's heart practically bursting out of her chest in wild excitement. Weeks of driving, months of walking… an excessively lengthy period of her life spent sleeping on the floor, just for that moment… their first step towards finding the Fireflies. Clem glanced at Lee, unable to hold back the wide grin on her face while she waited for his, and the others' reactions.
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie's eyes focused on the gate that had appeared in front of them, partly out of excitement, and partly out of caution. She wasn't sure what to think. Joel mentioned that Tommy was set up in Jackson, which was still a fair distance away on foot, and this place stood between them. She stopped next to Joel, trying to get a glimpse over the walls to see what lied on the other side. The sound of rushing water filled the air, and Ellie found herself glancing towards Joel next to her. "Whoa… what's this place?"
Kentucky [Joel]
Joel held onto the straps of his backpack with both hands, tugging ever so slightly on them. A new backpack, some new jeans, and a new shirt accompanied him now, red flannel accentuated by a black shirt underneath. It had been a while with this group, and Joel had lost track of time. A few months, maybe? It didn't feel like that long. He felt like he had only been near them for such a short time… but he supposed he was starting to warm up to the girl. Ellie. She was a likeable kid, he supposed. Her jokes, her curiosity, her music… it all had a vague aura of nostalgia, didn't it?
Maybe.
Then there was Clementine. He felt a little closer to her as well, if only by virtue of spending however long the group had with each other. But he liked her… she and Ellie got along enough.
He heard Ellie speak, and he looked towards her, then back down to the facility. He pointed a finger out towards it, sniffling. "That there is a hydroelectric power plant. It, uh… uses the river's movement and turns it into electricity."
Dot [Ellie]
More questions burned within Ellie as Joel explained what the place was, but she decided to not ask them. With Clem and Lee around, she was starting to feel embarrassed that she didn't know what it was. She was probably the only one.
Kentucky [Joel]
Ellie's face still seemed all too eager for knowledge on the power plant, as far as Joel could tell, but still she slowed herself down and refrained from continuing. He resented it for a minor moment; he longed for another normal conversation that wasn't about what food they were going to get or when they were going to be at Tommy's.
Ledge [Lee Everett]
The sprawling vista stretched out for what seemed like miles, from the mountain top they could finally catch a glimpse of what they were striving to find for all of this time. From this distance it was hard to make anything out aside from the large structures.
"Holy..." his eyes lit up, accompanied with a pleased and surprised tone, glancing towards Clementine and returning her smile with one of his own before spotting out what seemed to be the gate of the dam. "Guess we should head there." He pointed out the old looking gate, it was too far to see if there was anyone manned there, but if it was like any other community, surely there would be someone watching.
Art [Clementine]
Upon arriving, the very first thing to catch the girl's attention were the signs indicating it was - or used to be - a FE.D.R.A. Military Zone. Those guys, Clem didn't know much about. Not a ton more than what she'd often hear the adults argue over a few years ago. It didn't look very welcoming, and the barbed wire didn't help. She trusted Joel, of course, but… it didn't make her feel any less uneasy about heading inside. "What now…?" Clem asked, folding her arms. Too late to be scared.
Dot [Andrea]
It didn't take long for Andrea to find out about a group of survivors stumbling into the area. At least four of them, according to her scouts. As they approached the dam, she gave the order to lay low, keep quiet, and hope they pass by. That didn't seem to be the case, as they had come all the way to their front door. The damned power plant was giving them trouble again, and that forced her and Tommy to return to oversee the repairs, only for this to happen.
By the time one of the survivors outside tried opening the door, everyone on site were already in position, weapons at the ready. Andrea was the first one to show herself over the top of the large wall surrounding the dam, her rifle aimed directly at the group below, and Tommy followed suit on the other side of the gate.
"Drop your weapons, all of you!" She shouted, scanning her weapon's barrel towards each survivor. Two appeared to be young, which put her off a little, but she kept her weapon raised. There was no telling what kind of group this was, so she just had to maintain protocol, and hope for the best.
Ledge [Lee Everett]
Lee placed his hands on his hips as they had finally trudged down the mountain and reached the front gate, expecting to be greeted by someone. It looked well…. abandoned…? There were old FEDRA signs plonked up on the gate, probably tried to take advantage of the power plant in the early days but failed. The absence, along with how dead this place looked, had Lee scratching his head. Perhaps his brother wasn't here after all.
"I guess we shou-" Before he could even finish, a voice yelled at them from above, causing Lee to go into a slight panic as he took a step back and immediately withdrew his shotgun. He pointed it upwards towards where the voice was coming from, beginning to spout out orders like they were the government… or bandits.
Nevertheless Lee didn't budge, holding his ground as he held his weapon upwards… beginning to realize this situation was getting worse when he saw one… two… three… four… five… six… seven... more people at least pop up next to her. They were well armed, assault rifles all bearing down on the four of them below. It didn't take a genius to figure out that his shotgun wouldn't be doing much against them. But before surrendering and putting Clementine and everyone else in a potential situation they couldn't get out of… he needed Joel's word that it was safe to do so, otherwise he wasn't going to be dropping goddamn anything on a whim anytime soon.
"Hey now, just take it easy alright…? We're not here to start anything." He spoke cautiously whilst still aiming the gun upwards, hoping to god he was dealing with people Joel knew instead of bandits.
Dot [Andrea]
Andrea narrowed her eyes towards the man with the shotgun, clutching her rifle tighter. He didn't seem to be a bad guy, at least… not the kind she normally ran into. Even the Governor had a level of crazy to him, and she'd only seen him once before he tore down the gates of the prison with a fucking tank. This guy, he didn't have that spark in his eye, but a determination to protect the others in his group, something she'd seen a lot in Rick's eyes.
That still didn't make her lower her weapon.
"Well, you're at our gates, so play by our rules, alright?" She continued, her tone less harsh, but remained slightly steely. She needed them to know that she meant business. "We're not going to shoot you, unless you make us. So, what's your business here?"
Kentucky [Joel]
They had approached the gates with little caution, something that Joel thought of as a... perhaps, a mistake. Of course it was a mistake. They should have been prepared for what was to come next, of course they should have been ready. Had they learned nothing from Pittsburgh? Yet still they moved too hastily, all too sloppy... and it bit them right back.
Joel's hands rose with his rifle in hand, the sight lining up over some man with a similar weapon in his hand. Shit. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. This wasn't how they were supposed to go at all. But who couldn't guess that a surprise group of bandits would descend upon them before they could reach Tommy's place? A bit of a crazy thought; but one they should have been prepared for.
Joel looked up at the woman, who seemed to be leading the crew. "We're looking for my brother." He said, rifle still drawn.
Screamin' Eagles [Tommy]
Well, it was gonna happen eventually.
Tommy was going through all of the junk that had accumulated in his desk when a sentry from the gate appeared, talking of a group that had tried to enter through the gate. Just when he'd finally convinced himself to organize his personal disaster, shit had to hit the fan. He took his time emerging from the complex, admiring the peaceful summer weather that made the winters so worth it; Andrea would have it under control anyways. He only had to be there for introductions with the group, anyways - she was on gate duty today, not him.
From across the courtyard, he was surprised to see a crowd of guards at the gate, and Andrea pointing her rifle down at someone. Please don't make us shoot you, strangers… Things already weren't looking great, but the guard had said they approached them , so it had to be dealt with. For both protection and a bit of comfort, he clutched his old revolver as he climbed up onto the wall. One of them - southern and old, by the sound of it - was stating his purpose: Find his brother. So helpful.
Gun still in his hand, he stepped up beside Andrea to answer the man. "How would we be able to-"
His eyes fell on the speaker, rifle drawn, eyes staring up in grim determination. It couldn't be, yet it still was. Joel. Tommy couldn't form words, his tongue caught by both sudden relief and fear. When the moment had stretched on long enough, he turned to his men.
"Stand down! Guns down, all of you. I know him." He placed one reassuring hand on Andrea's shoulder before starting back down the wall.
Wasting no time, he cut through the rabble and threw open the gate for Joel and his… Friends? Crew? He didn't know yet. All he could do was rush forward and throw his arms around his only family. "I thought you were dead…"
Dot [Ellie]
The situation had gone from bad to worse. Despite how lifeless this place had seemed, just as they made it to the gates of the dam, it turned out that it wasn't so dead after all. She expected to find Tommy's group in Jackson, still a fair walk away, not… here, and at first, she found herself raising her gun to meet the woman's, only letting it fall as Lee spoke with the woman, dropping it.
Once one of the men inside told them to stand down and came out to meet Joel, she knew it had to be Tommy. The man approached Joel and pulled him into a hug, a small smile crossing Ellie's face.
They found him. They actually found him. Holy shit! They were one step closer to finding the Fireflies, but that hardly mattered at that moment. For now, Joel was reunited with his brother, and the possibility of getting some food was too enticing to pass up. She flashed a victorious smile in Clementine's direction, just… relieved to see that their journey had finally come to a close, for now. And, as Joel and Tommy hugged, the rest of the men inside the gates stood down, and the woman joined them outside.
She kept quiet, letting Joel do the talking on this one. After all, it was his brother.
Kentucky [Joel]
It was unexpected, what happened next, at least. Joel's jaw began to quiver, his hair standing on end. His mouth opened, surprise lighting up his face with joy. He lowered his rifle fast, and his lips curved into an agape smile. Joel returned the embrace to his brother, after speaking one word.
"Tommy."
He closed his eyes, content. It had been a long while; even though Joel had thought his brother hated him. He remembered the last words between the two, heated and fiery even in his memory. "I never wanna see your goddamn face again."
"How you doin' baby brother?" Joel asked, still hugging Tommy.
Screamin' Eagles [Tommy]
Tommy pulled back so he could look his brother in the eye, just to be sure he was real. Joel is really here. He really found me all the way out here. There was a nagging question in the back of his mind, demanding to know why his brother had come all this way to find him, but he couldn't just go asking away. Last time he'd seen Joel, he'd meant what he'd said, but… time makes scars fade, or something like that. "From the looks of it, I've gotten better with age, while you've just gotten scruffy." He looked absentmindedly to the people standing behind Joel, he waved them through the gate. "Y'all must be tired, and there's nowhere to rest out here. Come in."
Walking beside Joel as they all reentered the compound, he could hardly contain his excitement. "So what brings you and your people all the way up here?" Part of Tommy hoped that Joel would stay at Jackson with him, but he knew that wasn't the reason they were here. He just hoped for… a change, of some kind. Some new light that hadn't been in his brother before. He wouldn't tolerate the brutish nature Joel had back then, and he would tolerate it even less if Joel hadn't gotten better now.
Art [Clementine]
Everything had worked out pretty great , or so it looked. Joel got to see his brother again, and they were being welcomed inside the hulking walls of the power plant with open arms. It was odd, then, that unlike the others, Clementine seemed so… downbeat. In fact, the girl looked almost nervous, feeling unfit to return Ellie's smile… hesitating to do so little as step forward, and not following through with it until taking a long, deep breath. What had her feeling that way wasn't something Clem was very open about, even to Lee, who had probably already guessed by then what had her so on edge.
Clementine hoped they'd find her parents there, in Jackson.
It wasn't a recent thought either, not even close. Ever since Joel first mentioned they were headed to a community his brother, a former Firefly, lived in, the girl's head gleamed with possibilities. It was a long-shot, obviously… Clementine had ditched that kind of rosy expectation years ago, but… there was always a chance, no matter how small, that they'd actually be there, whenever her and Lee found themselves someplace new. That she'd finally see them again after so long. Please, be here… Please. The very first thing Clem intended to do, as soon as they were all well settled, was ask around for any Eds and Dianas. For now, however, the girl would keep to herself, and find a way to endure waiting until Joel was done sorting things out with that Tommy guy.
Ledge [Lee Everett]
All residing tensions had subsided in a flash as soon as Tommy had walked out and reunited with Joel. Lee lowered his gun, a soft smile on his face as he slung the shotgun back over his shoulder. He could feel that there was still residual trust there between the brothers, seemings as Tommy had allowed all of them to enter the power plant along with Joel. Lee felt lucky to even be here with Clementine as he strolled through the front gates in pure awe. This had to be the first genuine community he had come across since his days in the FEDRA zones. Seeing this many people at once wasn't alien to him, but still slightly uncomfortable after all this time.
As Tommy led them inside, Lee stayed silent as the two of them caught up, drifting to the back of the small crowd and sticking by Clementine's side. The first thing he noticed was several workers in hardhats strolling around the place. It was almost like what you would see at construction sites in the old days. He also spotted more people tending to a few horses that were saddled up in the corner. It was impressive… much more so when he compared it to the likes of what they had accomplished at the Travelier Motel. This place was on a whole other level to that, and this didn't even seem like their main base of operations; it was only the tip of the iceberg they were seeing here.
He glanced over to Clem, who was walking beside him and looked more out of place and uncomfortable than even he did. At first, he hadn't caught on and was about to open his mouth to ask her what she thought of the place, but her overall demeanour said it all to him. She wasn't going to stop, not anytime soon, maybe if he had told her when they had first met she'd be happier about being here, maybe she already would have accepted it. Was he sparing her from the pain…? Or just making it more excruciating? He didn't know, but he did know that he wasn't sure if he would be able to bear her reaction to the truth after this long. And so he kept silent, averting his gaze to his shoes as they walked along.
Dot [Andrea]
The tension in the air died the instant Tommy had told them to stand down, meeting with one of the men outside the walls. It was his brother, Joel. The one she'd heard so much about. By the time her feet were on the ground, they were already making their way inside. There was four of them. Two kids, Joel and another adult. She had questions about these people, who they were to Joel, but she chose not to ask them right now. Right now, introductions were needed.
She remembered everything Tommy had told her about Joel, right down to the smallest details. At the time, she mentally compared him to the other psychopaths she's met, the horrors that Tommy shared with her being far too great for someone that was just trying to survive. A loose cannon, but worse than that, no moral compass to guide him. She didn't really see that here, and the group he was traveling with was evidence of that. Maybe he'd changed. So did the Governor, once, or claimed to. She'd still keep an eye on him. Trust was earned, not given on a silver platter.
She approached the group in quick steps, holding her rifle with one hand. She'd give them a chance, at least. As she approached, she sent Tommy a wry smile. "You gonna introduce me to your brother, Tommy?"
Screamin' Eagles [Tommy]
Getting reaquantanced with his brother had been a shock, but the cheerful sound of the other one's voice brought Tommy back to everything else. "Joel, this is Andrea." He waved to the approaching woman. "We co-lead this place together and she's arguably my only friend. All of this-" He gestured to the movement of people doing their jobs on and inside the walls around them. "-is our own work."
"As for you," He turned to Andrea. "This is Joel, the… only family I have, although I didn't know that." Andrea knew all about Joel - down to the grittiest detail of what they'd done. She wouldn't pretend that him being here was necessarily safe, and Tommy wouldn't either. Whatever happened, they had to be ready for it.
He had counted four people. If they'd been traveling for as long as he thought, they'd want to rest. They'd have to find some comfortable beds for all the newcomers, if they planned on staying long. "You came all this way to find me," he said to Joel, "How long do you think you'll stay?" For a long time, if I had my way.
Kentucky [Joel]
They followed into the plant, elbows swinging at his sides with his rifle. Alongside Tommy, he walked, eager to continue the discussion. Upon the age comment, Joel smiled. "Careful - it's gonna happen to you too." The plant was modest enough; though Joel felt a sense of happiness with it. He was proud for Tommy. His baby brother had done some pretty good work, as it became obvious he was trying to get the plant up and running.
He focused himself on answering Tommy's questions. "It's a long story. I'll tell you later." They continued on, until Tommy introduced him to the woman who had been at the gates. Joel nodded to her. "Ma'am. Thanks for not blowing my head off." He looked back to Tommy suddenly, ears perking up at his question. How long did he plan to stay? "We'll see how long. Me and my group probably just need some rest for now."
Shadowman [Narrator]
" Andrea. " The small handheld radio buckled to the side of her belt suddenly whirled to life. A young man's voice could be heard coming through the device. " We're in the control room, almost done with getting those turbines back online. " He spoke cheerfully as he delivered the good news, this time they were sure they were going to have it working soon. " One of you wanna come check it out? "
Dot [Andrea]
Yeah, that would've been awkward, considering I run this place with your brother. She simply smiled in Joel's direction before continuing in a light tone. "It must've been a long journey." Her eyes fell to one of the girls with reddish hair. "You hungry?"
The girl's eyes seemed to light up, before replying, "Oh, man. I'm starving."
The radio crackled to life before Andrea could answer, leading to the woman to roll her eyes and unclip it from her belt. She glanced towards Tommy, a knowing look crossing her face. "I'd rather eat with the others… Besides, it's your turn, right?" She let the sly smile settle on her face, hoping that Tommy would be the gentleman and handle it. Besides, she wanted to get to know the survivors in Joel's charge, and how they'd all met.
Screamin' Eagles [Tommy]
The new group filed into the compound, Tommy's men locking the gate behind them, and most of the guards resumed staring aimlessly past the wall. Of course, introductions were short-lived because the grind never ends, but it was certainly good news to hear that the turbines worked - now living where it freezes over half the year didn't seem so bad. He'd do just about anything to escape standing in one place and doing nothing, so he just shrugged when the radio called one of them (him) to the control room. "I ate a good breakfast anyways. You're friendlier, so you should give them the tour." The new crowd certainly seemed excited about the proposition for food.
"Besides," he patted Joel's shoulder. "It'll be nice to talk without an audience." Tommy had a feeling that there were a few things that they should discuss, now that he was back. The gun in his waistband felt like it had gained a pound - Joel had given it to him to use before the argument, and he'd never given it back. There were conflictions regarding his older brother, and he hoped that they'd be able to work through them. Losing his brother again might hurt even more. Or, he would be indifferent, and Tommy really hoped it wouldn't come to that. Maybe the new turbines would help him get them to stay. Excited at the prospect, he turned to Joel, "Are you ready to see something awesome?"
Kentucky [Joel]
Joel followed Tommy with little haste, taking his sweet time as they lumbered along. It was strange, seeing his brother again. Bittersweet, even, knowing he'd have to leave before long. He didn't necessarily want to... but that was the only way. He couldn't stay around all of these memories. He could head back for Boston, maybe, after this. But this dam... it wasn't for him. But he could stick around for a little bit, at least.
Joel smiled. "Awesome, huh? We'll see about that." He was certainly excited to be seeing his brother again... but what could he really do for him here other than mope around?
Dot [Andrea]
"I don't think I actually caught all of your names." As Joel and Tommy disappeared into the plant, Andrea spoke up in a cheery voice, something that felt almost alien to her now, but felt good, in a way. It had been a long time since they've had newcomers, she almost forgot how it felt.
"Ellie," the girl with the reddish hair added, sending Andrea a brief wave of her hand.
"I thought your name was 'starving'?" She shot back through a half-smirk, which the girl replied to with a 'har har' and a roll of the eyes. Ah, teenagers. I remember those days. "Well, we can do introductions as we walk. Food awaits." She flashed them another smile before guiding them into the complex. She wasn't used to having so many newcomers at once, but maybe that meant things were looking up. Their community was already twenty families strong, and adding these folks to it would only mean they'd be safer. That's if they stay, anyway. She brushed the thought aside. It wasn't worth focusing on, not right now. Joel had been seeking out his brother, so obviously they were going to stay, at least for a little while.
Ledge [Lee Everett]
After Tommy and Joel had walked off together, all that remained was himself, Clementine, and Ellie as the woman led them throughout the compound.
Lee upped the pace as he walked, until he was by the woman's side as she proposed introductions. "Name's Lee," he spoke with a smile, introducing himself like this was a rare occasion. It still felt so odd. Glancing to his side, he waited for Clementine to introduce herself, but she was quiet for obvious reasons… Lee ended up speaking before the silence drifted on for too long before it got awkward. "And this here's Clementine."
"Think I caught your name was Andrea, right?" He directed his attention back to the woman, he wasn't quite sure if she was the one fully in charge, or Tommy. Although her word seemed to be valued by the people here.
Lee tilted his head upwards, observing the people going about their daily routine and the several buildings. Must feel nice not having to worry about walkers or clickers… Trying to push away this 'fish out of water' feeling in his gut, he decided to see if he could get some information about the place without seeming too pushy.
"I gotta say, this really is an impressive set up you guys have over here."
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie followed shortly behind Lee, Clementine, and Andrea as they were led into the concrete building. She had a feeling Clem was probably out of her depth in a situation like this, just as she felt. After spending so long on the road, with only the company of three other survivors, seeing such a huge community again was something that left her feeling small. Nevertheless, she kept quiet as Lee and Andrea conversed.
"It took a while," Andrea stated, shrugging her shoulders as her gaze fell onto Lee beside her. "After the last place I stayed at fell apart, I was on my own. Ended up running into Tommy, and we made our way here. It's isolated, and the dam provides more than enough power to keep us going, when they're actually working. They break down every couple of months. We've got a few engineers in our group, but no one that's trained for these machines. We're doing the best we can with what we've got."
It's still impressive. Ellie thought, finding herself admiring the place as they made their way into the cafeteria. Several men in worker uniforms were conversing in the far corner of the room, stopping only to wave towards Andrea, who waved back.
"It's a work-in-progress, but it's getting there," the woman continued, grabbing a tray of food from a man in the kitchen, before handing each of them their own tray. Finally, she returned her gaze to Lee. "What about you? Where did you all come from? I know Joel was living in Boston, but I'm assuming most of you met on the road?"
Ledge [Lee Everett]
They were actually doing it, making a go of it. Doing it better than Paradise; hell, he could even argue they were doing it better than the Government was at the moment. People here seemed to be genuinely happy as opposed to living in fear of getting executed, which is what you'd find in your typical FEDRA zone. Lee had avoided communities for this specific reason, opting to stick to small groups and eventually just himself and Clementine. Although it wasn't the healthiest way to live socially… it was the safest. However, seeing how these people were thriving, maybe he was wrong, maybe this place could be it . Without haste, he accepted the tray from Andrea as he continued to talk, although looking forward to the meal that was to come… this sure as hell beat poorly-cooked deer.
"We all met back in Pittsburgh, place was a goddamn nightmare." His tone lowered as he recalled the absolute hellhole that place had turned out to be, littered with bandits and fungus-infected monstrosities. "We were trying to make our way through the city, that's where we met Joel and Ellie." Lee explained, opting to leave out the more embarrassing parts of the story whilst also keeping everything on a 'need to know' due to Ellie's condition. "Long story short, we helped each other get out of there, and Joel told us about this place… so here we are."
Art [Clementine]
"It… wasn't as easy as it sounds." Clementine added, laughing inwardly at her own comment, despite her apparent gloominess. To tell the truth, those past three months had been some of the craziest in her entire life… not always in a bad way, though. It felt like a drastic change of pace after spending so long on her own with Lee, just barely making by on most days. At least the latter hadn't changed, although that wasn't much of a cause for celebration.
The girl stared blankly at her tray of food for a short while after making her remark, almost as if trying to process what stood right in front of her. Before long, Clem was already mercilessly digging into the meal Andrea handed her way, the girl's palate nearly distraught by the taste of something that hadn't come from a can, for once. The thought lingered, of what Lee must've thought of the place 'til then. He'd always been opposed to large communities, especially after Carver… Clementine felt unconvinced that Lee would want to spend more than a day or two in that place, even with Joel's brother in charge… but it was a fun hypothetical, actually staying at the dam, made even more enticing after so long on the road. Still, she knew the risks, and would stick with Lee no matter what his judgement might be… that's how it always had been, for better or worse.
Wiping the corner of her mouth with the sleeve of her jacket, Clem faced Andrea again, a less uninviting look in her eyes now that her stomach was full, though her tone remained rather mellow. "Thanks for the food." There was a tinge of turmoil in her voice, as she wasn't very sure of how to respond to that sea of hospitality. Wasn't often people just handed out food so nonchalantly. It was kind of… really impressive.
"You must've been here for a while, right?" Clementine asked Andrea with a hint of curiosity, seeing as the woman looked to be some sort of top dog around there. That aside, the more they knew about the place they were staying at, the better.
Dot [Andrea]
The meal wasn't exactly the most stellar thing ever. It was mostly vegetables from their farms in Jackson, but at least it was something . The others didn't seem to mind, though, but she attributed that to the fact they've been on the road for God knows how long.
Andrea's gaze fell upon Clementine as she spoke, answering her question after she swallowed a bite of green beans. "We first set up shop here around three years ago. Back then, it was just Tommy and me. Others came as time passed, looking to get away from the Fireflies, and found themselves here. The added manpower made it easier to get this place back up and running, and put up walls around our main base. We drove the infected out, and established Jackson as a safe zone." She shrugged as she helped herself to a helping of beans on her plate. "The place has its perks, at least. The last place I stayed at was just a neighborhood with a wall around it, powered by solar panels. It was great while it lasted, but it's nothing compared to Jackson. You'll get to see what I mean when we head back there. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised."
Art [Clementine]
...Get away from the Fireflies? That single statement brought about a nervous look from the girl, one that she sought to promptly shake off before Andrea was able to notice it. Why would… people want to get away from them…? Clementine remained silent, largely out of politeness, but not without some extent of reservation. That'd probably be an awful time to bring up the fact that Joel and them were actively looking for the Fireflies, right…?
Nevertheless, the woman's story was more than enough to confirm Clem's very warranted suspicion. Andrea wasn't just anybody... No, far from it. The idea that her and Joel's brother managed to do as much as they did in only three years was almost overwhelming. Even so, Clementine hadn't asked that purely out of curiosity, though she wished that she had.
There was a hint of self-consciousness springing from the fact that Lee and Ellie were listening… but knowing for sure that Andrea was the person to query, Clem just felt unfit to wait any longer.
"Have you ever seen a… couple, turn up here, at some point?" Clementine hesitantly asked, rubbing the palm of her hand absentmindedly, trying to soften the abrupt change of subject. "They're married, used to be a doctor and an engineer. They'd both be about forty-two by now, I think." She didn't really want Andrea to catch on to the fact that she was talking about her parents, not at all looking for more people to feel sorry for her… but given the situation, there was no helping it.
"Also, they'd… probably be looking for a kid."
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie's eyes instantly found Clementine as she began to ask questions to Andrea, gulping down the green beans she'd been chewing on. She knew where she was going with this. Hell, she'd feel like a shitty fucking friend if she didn't. Clementine was still looking for her parents. She had always been looking for her parents, ever since the very beginning. A twinge of emotion filled the pit of her stomach, something she couldn't quite understand, and that feeling only deepened based on the look Andrea had adopted.
The woman frowned, picking at the beans on her plate for a moment, as if mulling over the question Clementine had given her. After a couple seconds, she finally spoke, shrugging her shoulders slightly. "I haven't seen anyone like that, no. We've got no real doctors on site, just trained medics. No one looking for a kid. Sorry." Her eyes flickered, as if realization dawned on her, and she set down her fork. "Are they your parents? If… you don't mind me asking?"
Of course they're her parents. She couldn't help the thought from crossing her mind. Nothing about Clementine's question hinted at it being anything other than that, and hearing what Andrea had to say back… she couldn't help the fact that she reached out to grab a hold of Clementine's left shoulder, squeezing slightly. It was just a gesture to show her that she was there, backing her up, just like she always will. It wasn't easy hearing your parents weren't in a place you were hoping for them to be, and she was hoping she could alleviate that feeling as much as she could, although she knew it wouldn't be by much.
Ledge [Lee Everett]
The fork twiddled around in Lee's fingers, more so playing with his food than actually eating it. Even though his head was down and looking at the plate, he was listening carefully to the conversation going on next to him as Clem enquired about her parents, only to, of course, be told the answer he was expecting to hear. What followed was a question from Andrea that was a little too intrusive for his taste. He could see Clem was clearly upset as she shifted awkwardly at the thought of having to answer something like that, he decided to spare her the trauma as he lifted his head up to face Andrea after a brief, awkward moment of silence due to Clem not speaking. He knew it was time to butt in.
"So you mentioned people came here looking to get away from the Fireflies. How come?" He asked curiously as he swiftly changed the subject, making it clear it probably wasn't a good idea to push on the prior subject of her parents. "Just seems a little odd to hear since we've heard nothing but decent things about them."
Art [Clementine]
A quiet sigh of defeat was all that left Clementine's trembling lips, though amidst those feelings of heartache, surprise was hardly one of them. She'd tell herself that she should've seen it coming… that expecting to find them all the time - everywhere they went - was shortsighted, and just plain stupid. And yet Clem would still push on relentlessly with the notion that they were still out there, even against her own better judgement. Was it denial? Clementine wasn't an idiot… chances were that they were gone forever, even if she chose not to believe it. Maybe it was that awareness, subconscious or not, that made it so crushing to hear time and time again that they weren't there.
The touch of a friend, one of the few Clem actually had, helped more so than she could've imagined. Mom and Dad might've not been there, but Ellie was... and so was Lee. Things were only gonna get tougher from then on, but with them around every step of the way… Clem didn't feel so afraid anymore.
Dot [Andrea]
Andrea's attention was diverted to Lee, who quickly changed the topic from the girl's parents. It was reaching, she knew that, but she honestly felt bad for the girl. How long ago did she lose her parents? Felt like ages ago. Yet… watching Amy get gunned down by the Fireflies felt as if it only happened yesterday, a wound that had yet to heal, and probably never will. She couldn't help the fact her mouth twisted into a frown at Lee's question.
'Just seems a little odd to hear since we've heard nothing but decent things about them.'
"Then you've been listening to the wrong people." She didn't mean to sound abrupt or angry, but that's how it came out. The Fireflies had always been a sore topic for her, but she'd learned to live with it. Everyone knew that the terrorist group wasn't good , and over half the population that joined Jackson had fled from them for that very reason. "I've seen first-hand what they're capable of. The violence, the acts of terrorism. Trust me, they act like they care about what the people want, but their actions tell another story. Half the quarantine zones fell apart because of the Fireflies, including my own." She looked between each person sitting at the table, suddenly going quiet. Thinking about those days again, about what the Fireflies did to her sister, they left her breath hitching in her throat. "The people here gave up that life, chose to leave in search of a new one. Sure, there may be some good people with the Fireflies, but every group has their good people and their bad ones. Same could be said about FEDRA."
She grew silent again, realizing then that she'd probably made things awkward. If these people had a belief in the Fireflies, she was ruining it, but they had to hear the truth. Everyone had to.
"They've killed more people than they've saved. That's what I'm trying to say."
Ledge [Lee Everett]
How fast she snapped back and her tone was enough to almost make Lee wince in regret for even bringing it up, yet he withheld. It wasn't like he hadn't seen the Fireflies in action either. In fact, he still recalled the day when the FEDRA forces were leading him to be executed by firing squad. The only reason he was standing here now was because the Fireflies had the bright idea to attack the zone right as it was about to happen. The flurry of bullets, the explosions… he remembered it in vivid detail, their act of violence was the reason why he escaped from the government's clutches… right before he had found Clem.
Andrea seemed bitter in the way she spoke about them, and something told Lee it was more personal than an actual representation of what the Fireflies actually were. Sure, they were probably less refined than the government and had their fair share of questionable people … but they were actually trying to find a cure, trying to change this world from what it had become, which was more than he could say for any other group so far. Ellie… she was important, Joel's role in getting her to their main base even more so. Without groups like the Fireflies around, what hope would they have?
Maybe it was the inner lecturer in him that cried out for him to make a rebuttal but similarly to how Joel badmouthed the Fireflies on that rooftop when they had first met, Lee just simply didn't share the same views… in fact, he was starting to get slightly irritated. The FEDRA zone may have been safer, but at what cost…? Kids being trained to become soldiers to command, the food supply being sanctioned off and stored away for the high rollers on the pyramid scheme while the rest squandered, starved and suffered for scraps and ration cards…? It was corrupt and twisted. Lee just couldn't let go of some of the memories he had there, what he had seen those so-called soldiers do to civilians in the streets… do to Clementine's parents.
"I'll take your word for it, then." He nodded slightly as he tried to not come off as defensive or monotone, before averting his gaze to his plate, stuffing a spoonful of food in his mouth before he was tempted to make another comment.
After a brief interlude in their conversation, he decided to bring up another topic. One that had been on his mind, after what they dealt with in Plattsburg. "So… do you guys have to worry about the Saviors out here?"
Dot [Andrea]
The question Lee asked caught Andrea off guard. The group she hadn't heard about in so long, and so dreadfully hoped got wiped out by FEDRA a long time ago: the Saviors. Her fingers tightened around her fork, but she quickly relaxed her muscles.
What happened wasn't their fault, it was the Saviors', so taking out her frustration on the newcomers wasn't exactly... something she wanted to do. Instead, she quickly finished what was left on her plate, trying to gather her thoughts as best she could before she spoke.
So, finally, when she did, the words sounded flat, emotionless. "No. Haven't seen a Savior since before we found this place. Thank God."
All the memories of the past several years came flooding back to her in droves. Negan killing Glenn, Dwight killing Abraham, Spencer getting gutted, Rick being put through torture after torture, grief after grief, before they finally managed to gather their forces and declare war. Then, the defeat. Alexandria on fire, grenades pelting the ground like apples falling from a really large tree. Before they could do anything about it, half of their group had been killed, and the rest fled for the forest, hoping to regroup and counter-attack. It never came, and Andrea never found another survivor of that battle since, not even the legendary Rick Grimes, save one . She and Carl were the only two survivors she knew about, and all the hatred she felt boiling inside of her was directed towards the snake in charge: Negan. A snake that resisted death time and time again, and probably hasn't been taken out even today. The Saviors' continued existence was a testament to that.
"I've had run-ins with them before. In the past," she continued, not really wanting to continue talking about them. A silence fell over the group as they continued to eat, no one feeling the urge to bring up another topic. For once, Andrea welcomed the silence.
Screamin' Eagles [Tommy]
It was relieving to have Andrea take the rest of the crowd away to eat - Some conversations should be had privately. Tommy didn't know these other people, he was only giving them the benefit of the doubt because of Joel. Joel. It almost felt like he was in a dream, or some surreal fantasy. Maybe he was running a hundred and five degree fever right now and he'd been asleep for thirty-six hours, it was so left-field that Joel would just… appear. After all these years. He never even remembered mentioning that he'd planned to be stationed north, and it was one in a billion that they'd find each other so far away from Boston. A goddamn miracle. He couldn't decide whether to be happy or on edge.
Let's just hope this dream doesn't become a nightmare.
Tommy scanned the now-empty courtyard, before beckoning Joel to follow. "We've been working to get this dam up and runnin' for awhile. It had been out-of-commission since the first couple days, but there was potential with the right minds put to work." As they entered the compound, he ran his fingers along the cement wall. "When was the last time you saw somewhere with electricity that didn't belong to the feds?"
Kentucky [Joel]
The walk was nice enough. Reconciling with his brother... a nice turn of events, even if it was something he never thought would happen again. Joel practically fell through the hydroelectric dam, nearly breaking into a nervous sweat. This was one of the stranger feelings he had ever felt. Joy washed over him, yet something made his fingers shake. He was guilty, wasn't he? Guilty of so much that he had drug his brother through. And now he wanted to drag him through so much more, and Ellie too. He sighed, rolling his tongue around in his mouth.
"Haven't seen nothin' like that since... it's been a while." He said, walking into the interior right after Tommy. "You've done real good with this place, Tommy." He pursed his lips and licked them, anxious to continue.
Screamin' Eagles [Tommy]
An unfamiliar swell of pride rose up in his chest, to hear such words from his brother after so long. His Pa didn't say 'good job' to him once, the older brother was left in charge of that business. When the sickness broke out, hearing Joel say anything of the sort had vanished, unless it regarded guns and things - people - to shoot. A good sign. It was exactly the thing he was hoping to see, in his brother.
They were almost to the turbine room, and Tommy's mind went to more pressing matters. The turbines were almost operational… but what did that mean? They had every person with a background in mechanics trying to figure out how to get them running, but that only amounted to two brothers who fixed cars, a plumber, and someone who just happened to be good with computers. Not a full staff of technicians, by any means.
"It hasn't been easy, getting all of this together." He and Andrea had come a long way from parking a truck in the entryway to keep infected out and shooting rabbits to eat… "Andrea keeps my head on straight, and it's hard to find good people." Nearly half of the people in the community were people Tommy was at least familiar with before returning - In the early days, he'd been very wary of strangers, and he'd only become a little more easygoing. A thoughtful look ghosted across his face and asked Joel, "how'd you end up with that pack of misfits you've got?"
Kentucky [Joel]
They continued their trek, and Joel sniffled in the air. They had come a long way since their days in Boston, thieving and murdering just to get by. Though that wasn't quite something Tommy had done as much of, had he? Joel had always been the older brother, the leader, the one who was taking charge. Tommy followed Joel... until he didn't. He was better for it, wasn't he? Tommy had grown well past his old self, and Joel decided that was best for him. He was the one leading now, the "big brother" for all of these people. Maybe even more than that. He was a leader now, and Joel couldn't help but... resent it, somewhat. Self-loathing had been a dangerous emotion for him for a decade and a half now, and it wasn't over just yet. He resented that Tommy was better without him... yes, he did.
He knew he couldn't stay for long, even if Tommy asked him to. It hurt too much. Hurt others a bit more sometimes, and Joel would just fall in the same pit that he had so long ago.
"...it's hard to find good people." Tommy continued, to which Joel grimaced and nodded.
"Yeah. It certainly is." At the next question, which Tommy obviously took some time to think over, Joel shrugged. "Found the red-headed girl - that's Ellie - in Boston. Got hired to take her to some people across the city, but the military killed them all. Ended up deciding to take her to wherever this place is by myself. Met the guy about my age and the other girl in Pittsburgh. They're good enough folk."
Screamin' Eagles/Dot [Tommy]
Tommy could see it now, how his brother had ended up with this group of people. He was smuggling one of the girls, job didn't go as planned, so he's seeing the whole thing through. Somehow, they ended up with two more in Pittsburgh, and at that point, Joel couldn't say no to helping others along the way because he wasn't alone on the road. There was only one, little detail that didn't make much sense.
Why would he be smuggling a child? Who would hire him to do it? What did Tommy have to do with it?
He remembered a feeling he got quite some time ago, before the few weeks they were dealing with the worst walker problem ever. Something big was coming, that's what his gut told him. He'd assumed it was the walkers, quite reasonably - But Joel appearing could top that in a handful of good ways or several handfuls of bad ways.
As much as he wanted to stop and start asking questions, the door to the turbine room was right around the corner, in the deepest parts of the great concrete fortress. Two heavy metal doors were propped open, revealing a room with five men scuttling around a workspace so disorganized it was a wonder they got anything done. Eight ocean-blue, odd-shaped canisters sat in a neat row, with the two nearest to the door open and revealing the turbines inside. At this part of the building, he could feel the water rushing through the concrete and into the stream outside the wall.
A heavyset man stood up from one of the turbines when Tommy and Joel entered. "We're pretty sure we found and replaced every rusty screw and broken part. The wires and stuff that take it to everything are fine, it just turns out- ."
"Is it gonna work?" Tommy found himself asking, just hoping to cut to the chase.
"I think we got it this time," the man continued. Tommy chuckled. "What? You don't believe me?"
"I didn't say that."
"I bet you a million bucks it works."
Tommy shook his head, sending Joel a slight shake of his head in response. "Sure. Make it two."
The man wiped a hand across his sweaty forehead and beckoned them closer. "It should be ready to go, we've just got to put the cover back on and start it manually since we don't have power to push a button."
"Sounds good, Mike. We'll wait." Tommy was excited; this was the big break. It finally looked like the engine was going to work. He took a step back to stand next to Joel. "Gotta give 'em a minute so they can do their thing."
Tommy led Joel out onto the platform overlooking the generators, leaning against the railing as the men down below directed another man trying to use the crane to lower the shield.
"To the left! Watch it! Okay… that's good. Lower it. Slowly!"
The shield dropped at a steady rate, and the men surrounding it began to position it into place.
"Alright… that's good!" Another one of the men shouted out, followed by another voice from across the room.
"Tommy's here… we good to go?"
"Give me one second…" There was a definitive, metallic click as the shield fell into place. "Okay, good to go."
"Ready?!"
Tommy was the one to answer, waving his hand in the air to signal the activation. "Go ahead! Hit it!"
The room, for a moment, felt similar to standing in the middle of an earthquake. The turbines whirred to life, almost deafening, and Tommy couldn't help the smile that stretched across his face as the lights flickered on one by one.
"God damn. We did it, boys!" A crewman shouted.
"Nice work, boys," Tommy called out to them, flashing Joel a smile before heading down the platform. "Somebody get on the horn and give Andrea the good news." He turned back towards Joel, stopping momentarily at the edge of the stairwell leading to the turbine floor. "You see that?"
Dot [Joel]
The whole spectacle was one to admire. Just seeing it left Joel in a sense of awe. What Tommy was accomplishing here was more than impressive, it was almost unbelievable. Still, he kept most of these opinions to himself, replying to Tommy's joyous question with an even tone. "That's pretty impressive." A small chuckle escaped his lips. "Looks like you're out two million bucks."
Dot [Tommy]
Tommy returned the chuckle, sighing as he descended the steps two at a time, heading for the office at the back of the room. There were a few things he needed to talk to his brother about, and something important that he'd been holding onto, in the rare chance that his brother would ever show up again. Looks like today was going to be that day.
"Alright Joel, let's have a talk about what you're doin' all the way out here, hm?"