1:48 PM - Mountain trail leading to the valley south of Jackson
Dot [Ellie]
The trail was quiet, yet somehow appeared to be so full of life. Insects whizzed around Ellie's head, and the soft click-clacking of horse hooves added a sense of calm to the ambiance, only interrupted when said insect got too close to her ear. The trail had been winding up the side of a large mountain looming above them, where it'd come back down on the other side, and into the other valley Andrea had mentioned. She silently looked forward to reaching the top, just to see the immense landscape surrounding them in all its glory.
Up ahead, Carl and Andrea trotted near each other, managing to keep a steady pace for Clementine, who lagged behind. Ellie kept her horse beside the girl's, the two engaging in quiet conversation as they rode along. She could tell that Clementine was nervous, despite the fact it seemed that she was trying her best to hide it. Spending so much time with her, she became easier to read, unlike how enigmatic and stone-walled she had first seemed when they met in Pittsburgh. Now, her emotions were like visual cues, things she would pick up on nearly instantaneously and know exactly what the girl was thinking about.
She'd only briefly been able to do that with Riley, but their situation has led to more time being spent together than she ever had with her best friend. Maybe that was why Ellie was so attached to Clementine, as if letting her disappear into the community meant that she'd never see her again. It was an illogical fear, but it played on her mind on repeat, like a broken record waiting for the owner to finally pull the tonearm off it. As much as she wanted to just stuff the thought into some sort of mental trash can, it refused to go away, plaguing her thoughts. Nevertheless, she tried not to show it, smiling as Clementine's horse neighed loudly, hopping over a small tree root that stood in their way.
She let out a sigh. "What do you think Jackson's going to be like?" She decided to ask, a random question that had popped into her head a second before the words escaped her lips. "I - I mean, the dam's cool, but the real place must be like… cooler, right?" Way cooler than sleeping out in the cold every night. That's for sure.
Art [Clementine]
Clementine cowered in anticipation, the horse she rode on hurdling over a tree root and propelling itself through the air on the spur of the moment, with its small, helpless passenger following suit. "Ow, you scared me…!" The girl angrily grumbled to the horse, plainly not so used to him moving so sporadically. He, however, simply neighed in response, Clem choosing to interpret that as the horse's way of taunting her. Jerk...
Muffled by the horse's boisterous cries, was the much softer sound of Ellie's voice, who steadily rode beside her. Clementine tried to play it cool, obviously, pretending not to have been scared shitless by that measly jump.
"Andrea did say we'd be 'pleasantly surprised', didn't she?" The girl deadpanned, playfully putting emphasis on the words Andrea had used back in the cafeteria. "I think cooler's probably it." Hopefully…
It might've been tough, a little on the intimidating side here and there, but Clem was having a blast riding a horse for the first time. Not quite like she'd imagined it based on the story books she used to read, but still awesome to the point of being almost breathtaking. Unbeknownst to Andrea - at least for the moment - in the thick of her excitement, Clementine had already nicknamed her horse 'Whiskers', due to the lengthy untrimmed hair growing on his muzzle. It was still a love-hate relationship between the two of them, but the girl was confident she could turn the tables… eventually. Regardless, riding through that mountain trail gave Clementine a lot of time to think… and that she did, for a long while, until she finally spoke up again.
"Y'know, I…" Clementine tried to open up with, falling short a whopping two words in. Great start, numskull… The girl pursed her lips, staring off into the valley ahead of them, before opening her mouth to speak once more. "I've never really been to a place like that, with… so many people. Ever…" Clem squeezed her hands together uncomfortably, averting her gaze for the briefest of instants. "Feels kind of nuts, actually."
"Just, I... I guess…" Again, she fumbled through her words, the girl sighing softly before locking her gaze on Ellie. "...Stick close, 'kay?"
"I think I'd probably freak out on my own…"
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie found herself caught off-guard by what Clementine said, in a way that she didn't quite understand. Her heart was beating faster, and she took in a deep breath to try and calm it down. Knowing that Clementine wanted her around meant more to her than the girl probably knew; they've been through so much together that imagining when they first met, and how at odds they used to be, seemed just… ridiculous. Seeing that anxiety resting within Clementine, the fear of being alone in a place so vast, that'd been a feeling she knew all too well, from her early days at Boston. She wanted to spare her that pain, in any way she could.
She finally shifted her gaze back to Clementine, unable to help the small smile that was plastered on her face. "I'll always be there for you. That's what friends are for, right?" She averted her gaze for a half-second, continuing in a quieter tone. "No matter what we find in Jackson, or with the Fireflies, or, well… anything. We've got each other's backs." If there was anything she believed in, it was that.
Art [Clementine]
Clem's mouth nearly fell open, her lips quivering as a result of the impossible task that was suppressing the heartfelt smile forming on her face.
'I'll always be there for you.'
She really hadn't seen that coming, not from Ellie, but… all things considered, maybe it was stupid not to. That immune girl she met three months ago was more than just 'some friend' now. Ellie was way beyond that, somebody she had seriously built a connection with. Clem hadn't grown that close to someone in… fucking ages, and it couldn't have felt more awesome to hear those words from that very same someone.
Finally, Clementine returned Ellie's smile with a lively grin, shyly looking away ever so slightly. "Thanks," she softly spoke, hands firmly clasped on the horse's reins. "I... I mean it."
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie's smile widened, a wave of emotion washing over her, just enough to force her to look away, towards where her horse was trotting. She couldn't help but feel… giddy. Like everything they've been through had some greater meaning, and their friendship was a testament to that. Here they were, hundreds of miles away from where they first met… riding horses, and the threat of the infected was barely a worry. She never thought she'd be able to feel like that again, and it felt almost insane to do so. A part of her was worried to let her guard down, to not take Andrea's words at face value and keep her eyes on her surroundings, but how could she when her breathing was hitching, and her emotions were running rampant? Happiness, contentment… among other things. She wanted it to be like this forever, she realized. And, someday, it will. They just had to push on for a little longer, find the Fireflies, and cure this thing. The rest would come soon enough.
And with Clementine by her side, the journey would be worth it.
"It's… no problem," she managed to say, finally, as a means to convey at least some of the emotions she was feeling. "And I meant it… too."
She didn't quite know what to say after that, letting the sound of leaves rustling in the wind take over. If she could follow these trails for hours, she would. There was something far more peaceful about being on a horse, surrounded by friends and new acquaintances, that made everything feel so… serene. If only her heart wasn't beating so fast, maybe she'd be able to relax a bit more… but… well, she couldn't have everything.
Dot [Andrea]
The dense forest surrounding them opened up to reveal just how far up the mountain they've traveled. The trail ran along a ridge on the mountain, overlooking the valley below, and the distant, white-peaked mountains surrounding the landscape. Below, the valley stretched on for miles in every direction, and in the distance lied their destination. Although the walled section of Jackson was small compared to the entire city, it was still impressive, far better than any community Andrea had ever stayed in, save for the Atlanta Quarantine Zone. They weren't on that level yet, but with time… anything was possible. The next step was to expand, and keep expanding, until some semblance of civilization could be brought back from the ashes. Had she found this place immediately after the destruction of Alexandria, she wouldn't believe that. She still found herself doubting it from time to time, but… they were doing it. They were building something here that could stand the test of time, they just had to work hard at building it.
She stopped her horse, slowly petting its neck as she looked back at the children following her. There was a sense of awe that was clearly visible in the newcomers' eyes. For her, the sight remained as jaw-dropping as the day she first came up here. This was why she chose this trail, to show the beauty of the landscape in a way you couldn't see from the ground. From up here, all those petty arguments and desperate scrounging of food felt so… small. Distant problems that could be fixed and would be fixed. It was only a matter of time.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" She called back towards Ellie and Clementine, slowly turning her horse so she could look towards them from the side. "It's views like this that make it all worth it. It's even prettier in the winter. Just… fields of white as far as the eyes can see."
Art [Clementine ]
Unreal… Clem was at a loss for words, staring dumbfounded at the sprawling city of Jackson standing hundreds of feet beneath them. "Whoa, are you kidding…?" She uttered faintly, a tender smile stretched across her lips, eyes as wide as they could be. Even the horse looked impressed; spreading his front legs out to the side and leaning back slightly. Clementine felt the same way, for the most part. Intimidated by the sheer size of that place, a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach from looking over the edge of that towering mountain. Clem's gaze shifted directly to her friend, a look of disbelief plastered on her face. "You're seeing that too, right?" She asked in jest, her voice weakened solely thanks to how gorgeous that view was. Andrea really wasn't kidding…
Dot [Ellie]
It was a sight to behold, that much Ellie was able to conclude in the first couple seconds she spent staring in awe at the landscape surrounding them. Although the community of Jackson was small compared to the entire town, the walls surrounding a large section of the downtown area, it was more than impressive for a bunch of survivors alone in the middle of nowhere. This kind of dedication and engineering would've only been possible through FEDRA, but yet… here they were. Proving everyone wrong.
And seeing how Clementine's face lit up so quickly at the sight made it all sweeter. She was starting to hate the fact she was the reason they weren't going to be staying, tearing her friend away from a place that's so vast and beautiful to find a cure. But, at least, they'd have a place to come back to, right? They save the world and retire here. They'll settle down, stop running and actually live. No military orphanages, no FEDRA, no Saviors, no… nothing. Just people working together towards something that others thought impossible. She didn't think that way, though. Not anymore. Not after everything they've been through, and the people she's met. They were at a crossroads here, but it could be the final destination, after everything's over and done with.
She found herself looking in Clementine's direction for longer than she'd intended, as if the joy that filled the girl's face was enough to leave her dumbfounded. She didn't even know why, but did that really matter? She was here with her. With her really cool haircut, and awesome leather jacket, and…
"It's… beautiful," she finally replied to the girl's question, almost forcing herself to look away from her friend and to the said view. Normally, she wouldn't feel so anxious about going to a place like this, yet she… it was definitely there, she thought. That nagging feeling, its intentions and true meaning being almost indecipherable. She chose to attribute it to her journey here, from being alone with Joel to being in a place filled with people. It was the only logical reason, right? It had to be. Her rapidly beating heart was just a side effect of that, and it'd subside once she was within those walls.
They just had to make it there first.
Shadow Dot [Carl Grimes]
While Clementine and Ellie stared in awe at the surrounding landscape, Carl simply directed his horse to stop next to Andrea's. It wasn't that he wasn't impressed with everything around him, he'd just grown accustomed to it. The mountains and large hills provided easy choke points to defend their home, at least, and their remote location made it less likely they'd run into any other groups out here. After the Saviors, having only the infected to deal with was almost a relief. If only his father was here, then everything would be… well, alright.
Shifting on his horse, he focused his gaze on the two newcomers. He still didn't trust them yet, but he was beginning to think they weren't really a threat. At least, not these two. The other two he wasn't so sure about. Still, he'd keep his eye on them all the same. "Ever been to a place like this?" He asked, more out of curiosity than anything else. They seemed so surprised to see a working community, so he had his doubts. After all, most places like this have fallen apart by now, whether from internal or external forces. He could probably count on one hand how many places he knew still existed out there that wasn't a shithole.
Art [Clementine]
Cutting short Clementine's already chaotic train of thought was a question from Carl directed at them, the boy looking a little thrown by their reaction. "N - Not really, no." Clementine explained, a hint of fluster in her voice. Well, Ellie had, sort of, but that didn't seem like the time or place to go into that. "Never..." The girl continued, her disoriented tone barely audible whilst at odds with the strong gust of wind pushing through the ridge of that mountain. Clem hastily cleared her throat, blinking repeatedly in an effort to get her bearings. "Guess we should… get going, then." Geez... You've been through so much worse, what's a little crowd of people…?
1:55 PM
Screamin' Eagles [Tommy]
Tommy hadn't been inclined to join Joel with the others, after such shocking news. He spent a long time thinking, thinking about that girl and about Joel and about… it. He'd given up hope for a cure long ago, but he'd never heard of anyone being immune. Could a cure even be made? Was this some trick? With a groan, he set his forehead down on his desk.
All he knew was that he couldn't just ignore this, even if Joel was still a prick and he didn't trust the Fireflies. They'd figure out what to do from here and he'd do what he could to help his brother. Maybe he'd be able to convince the other two to stay instead; going out looking for the Fireflies like they are…
He sat up and rubbed his bruised forehead, mentally preparing himself to go face everyone. He'd let only Andrea know of Ellie's… condition. They'd give the new group a quick tour of Jackson, and then they could decide what to do next. Tommy threw on his jacket and grabbed his gun, shooting one more wistful look around the office that had increasingly been his quiet place. With one more deep breath, he stepped out into the hall.
First, he checked the empty cafeteria, already expecting it to be void of the people he was looking for, and then made his way to the courtyard. When he saw the sky again, he was surprised to see the courtyard was empty as well but for the people who had jobs in the facility. Joel and another man stood at the gate, most likely waiting on him.
Giving a lazy wave as he approached the duo, he apologized for his tardiness. "Sorry if I kept you boys waiting." They must have been left behind when Andrea took the group to Jackson. Having not introduced himself before, he held his hand out to the older man with a friendly smile. "I hope you've enjoyed the sights, so far. The name's Tommy." The man had seemed very cautious when he'd entered, looking at every little detail around him - obviously not some meathead.
Ledge [Lee Everett]
After arriving at the gates and finally managing to get a word in with Joel, Lee was slightly taken off-guard as to why he remained so vague about the details of his discussion with Tommy. All he managed to get out of him was that they… 'needed more time to sort things out.' It seemed like they were most definitely going to be here for at least a few more days, nevertheless Lee wasn't going to complain… after the last few months, he figured they all needed a break.
The wait wasn't excruciatingly long but Joel wasn't in the most talkative mood. Lee was almost glad when he saw Joel's brother finally approaching, at least this awkward, silent tension that surrounded them would be lifted off his shoulders.
As Tommy extended his hand without haste, the former history buff extended his. At first impression, he seemed like an alright guy. "Lee." He gave his name in return to the southern man as he shook his hand back. "Thanks for letting us in here. We appreciate the hospitality."
"I was actually telling Andrea before she took the kids out, it really is an impressive place." He spoke with a smile, figuring it was best to at least thank the man that had allowed them entry. Now that he managed to get a proper look, there definitely was a resemblance between him and his older brother. Tommy, however, definitely seemed the more… 'passive' of the two.
"And from what I've been told, Jackson is even better."
Screamin' Eagles [Tommy]
Tommy couldn't help but smile at Lee's praise. At his comment on Jackson, his assumption that they were waiting to be taken to the town was confirmed. "We're happy to have guests. It's a rare occasion, after all." Shooting Joel a look, he stepped forward and unlatched the gate, satisfied at the click of guns armed and ready to defend the open door. The trail leading away from the dam and into the town wasn't too long - just to the highway on the other side of the treeline and down that road to the city, close enough so the dam could still be the head-of-operations for the community.
The path cleared, he turned to the other men. "Well, we have a little bit of walking to do to get there, so we might as well get started." Taking one last look at the gray cinder-block he called his home, he called up to the man standing at the top of the gate once they were out. "No one leaves unless they're done working, and no one enters until either Andrea or I get back. Clear?" The guard nodded his acknowledgment and Tommy wasted no time starting down the trail with the other men in tow, his voice already rising in the trees again. "When we get there, Andrea's gonna make some comment on how long I took, just you watch…"
Kentucky [Joel]
Joel blew air out of his nose, a wry smile on his face. "Ain't that just how it is." Attempts to repair his relationship with Tommy would be difficult, but he had to lay one brick at a time. And the wall he was building was a crumbling one, and his cement was already beginning to dry. He stumbled along after them, his rifle slung across his back. He was really hoping Ellie was going to be fine back there on those trails. If she knew how to ride a horse like she said, she'd have to be, wouldn't she?
Moving through the gates went like clockwork. Easy enough, especially with the top dog Tommy on point. They were headed for Jackson, sure enough, and apparently there were even more folks down out that way. "How many people do you even have? Thought that was plenty back at the plant." Joel mused, looking to Tommy for some help on this particular subject. His baby brother... leading an entire town. How about that.
Screamin' Eagles [Tommy]
The little group of men reached the treeline, and Tommy could see the road through the foliage. Joel had begun talking behind him, and he only let his attention be divided when he was sure their surroundings were secure, after he'd had a minute to look around. Only the people who stayed at the dam were the guards on the wall and him and Andrea. Everyone else there made the trek from Jackson to the dam to work, and back again as the sun went down, and the full staff of the complex didn't make up a large portion of the people in the town.
After another minute of quiet footsteps in the grass and they almost reached the highway, he turned his head to regard Joel's question. "We're nearly twenty families strong, down in the city. Give or take the men who always guard the dam." It wasn't even a hundred people, but with the exclusion of all of the other people they'd seen, they ensured their own safety. Tommy would never put a starving stranger over his own people, no matter how harsh it seemed. "We're pretty careful about who we let in. Have you found any other settlements between here and Pittsburgh?" It would've been nice to know that there were other people cutting themselves off from FEDRA and the Fireflies.
Ledge [Lee Everett]
At that moment, Lee exchanged a short look towards Joel. Lee couldn't tell if the look he received was urging him not to reveal too many details about 'that place' or something else entirely. Screw it. Probably best to start this one off honest... as can be.
"Yeah. We have, actually." The former professor spoke up in the direction of the younger brother. There were definitely other people faring decently out there without the support of the Government or the Fireflies, but Lee was almost certain someone like Tommy wouldn't sympathize with the type of people they were.
"If you're planning on a road trip anytime soon, I'd stay far away from Pittsburgh. Place is crawling with bandits, infected and god knows what else. I'm telling you now, it was a nightmare trying to get through there." He considered that place a frightening wake up call, a culmination of everything he and Clementine had been trying to avoid for years.
"A group calling themselves the uh…? Saviors, I think it was." God awful name since they do the direct damn opposite of what it implies. "They occupy everything in between there and Kansas City, had a few close calls but we made it out."
"There was this settlement… 'Paradise' they called it, but uh… on the road, we've heard rumors that it's just smoke and mirrors, run by that Savior group behind the scenes." He spoke whilst remembering all that Tom had told them of the place.
Screamin' Eagles [Tommy]
Now, that was interesting. An independent power called the 'Saviors' with enough strength to cause rumors. Rumors could be dangerous, but any information was important when Tommy didn't get out much. Pittsburgh wasn't a surprise, there were more than a handful of cities like that, but he'd make sure to record it somewhere when he got back to his office nonetheless. If a new faction had risen up to power like what Lee was claiming, either they were very careful with FEDRA or FEDRA was scared to oppose them.
He hoped it was the former.
The road was empty but for a few ancient automobiles that they'd pushed to the side years ago, and the afternoon sun beat down on them without the shelter of the trees. He grinned upon hearing about 'Paradise,' shaking his head and waving a hand to the fauna of the mid-summer. "Who needs a Savior's Paradise when you could be here?" This was Paradise, as far as he was concerned.
Tommy still had questions, however, so he quickly cleared his throat and continued. "But, that sure sounds like a shitshow. Don't the feds usually flip out when someone else rises to power?" If watching the Fireflies from their rise to power to now had taught him anything, it was that they didn't want any competition.
Ledge [Lee Everett]
Tommy and his people had it very lucky. The longer they spoke, the more Lee began to realize this. This hydroelectric dam that was powering the Jackson community, it was far enough away that these ragtag group of thugs hadn't gotten a whiff of it. There was no reason for those Saviors to travel further up west anyway.
"Yeah, but there's just not much they can do about it now, that place is way too far out of their reach to take back." The government these days had strong control, but only in specific areas. Every couple of years, it was common to hear about another one of their 'settlements' falling. "Surprised they've lasted as long as they have… I've heard they're still going strong in certain places, but their scuffles with the Fireflies have kept them pretty occupied." The former professor wasn't exactly sympathetic towards the feds after seeing the things they've done. Half of that horrible shit was just as bad as the bandits they'd seen back out on the road.
Screamin' Eagles [Tommy]
Tommy had nothing to say, opting to brood over his thoughts for the remainder of the walk. In the west, he only heard what the few travelers they encountered told him. Not like anything had changed, really. The only news was that FEDRA was wearing down, which could mean a lot of things. He didn't like either of the factions, but he knew that their prominence kept even more undesirable people from showing themselves. People turned bloodthirsty and mad by the apocalypse. If FEDRA finally caved, the Fireflies would have more than they anticipated on their hands.
They spent the rest of the journey in relative silence.
2:10 PM
Dot [Ellie]
Jackson managed to be even more impressive from inside the walls. An obscene amount of people roamed the streets, going to work or playing with their kids, or… doing who knows what. She'd been in places like this before, but the ambiance here was so vastly different. In the quarantine zone, no one wanted to be there. FEDRA made sure of that. But, here, there was a feeling of contentment that permeated the air like a thick fog.
Andrea led them through the streets, towards where they were meant to drop off the horses. Several passing survivors greeted her, in which she quickly responded, before taking a left turn. The stable came into view at the end of the street, near the north entrance. Ellie's gaze cycled between their surroundings, Clementine, Andrea, and then Carl, trying to take in every detail that she could about this place. It was just too good to be true. She could hardly believe her eyes.
Finally, they reached the stable, and Andrea led them inside. While Carl helped her herd the horses into their stalls, Ellie simply leaned against the wooden wall of one of the stalls, watching the scene before turning her attention to Clementine, who stood next to her.
"Hey… you okay?" She asked in a whisper, knowing that everything Clementine was seeing must've been overwhelming for her. Hell, she lived in a quarantine zone, and this was still kinda freaky. She could only imagine how the girl was feeling.
Art [Clementine]
Clementine couldn't recall ever feeling that way before, surrounded on all sides by people of different ages and backgrounds, all of them staring and waving at them in what felt like an unending parade. It was as astonishing as it was bizarre, the girl lowering the tip of her cap to shield herself from the passing gazes. After so long wandering through desolated cities, she had to ask herself if that's what one was meant to - or, at least, used to - look like, before everything fell apart. The entire thing felt so surreal, Clem half expected to wake up back in the dam before long.
After Andrea helped her dismount Whiskers, Clementine peeked out onto the street outside, staring in amazement at that crowd of people doing nothing more than going about their daily lives. That was probably the most outlandish part of it all, almost like they didn't care about the walkers, or the bandits just beyond those sturdy walls. Heck, maybe they didn't have to, though that'd probably be wishing for too much.
When Ellie asked the old three-word question, Clem didn't have a clue of what to say to her, peering anxiously at the cluster of Jackson residents from inside the stable. "I'll let you know when I figure it out," she whispered back, trying to contain the modest panic rising in her chest, and only being partially successful.
Shadow Dot [Carl Grimes]
The horses were finally back in their stalls, and Andrea mouthed a silent 'thank you' to Carl before gesturing for him to head back towards the entrance of the stable. While he waited for her to finish up, he found himself leaning against the wooden barrier separating him from a horse's stall behind him, his gaze focusing on the two girls as they conversed in quiet tones.
I guess this is the part Andrea wants me to show them around. He mused, frowning slightly as he pushed away from the stall. It wouldn't be so bad, right? Being a tour guide wasn't exactly his specialty, but he had nothing better to do right now.
"If you guys want a tour of the place, I can show you around," he offered finally, shrugging his shoulders. He could feel Andrea's gaze on him from deeper in the stable, but he ignored it.
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie was the first to answer, smiling slightly. "Yeah, that'd be cool. I wouldn't know where to start." In a way, she wanted to jump on this chance to try and make some friends around here. They were going to have to stay for a couple days, so might as well find people to talk to. Clementine seemed to be thinking the same, though she merely answered Carl's offer with a small nod.
However, before Carl could begin to show them around, Andrea's sudden "hey, wait" had them all turn towards her.
"I gotta talk to Ellie about something right quick. Carl, why don't you start showing Clementine around? Ellie'll catch up when we're done."
Carl nodded after a moment, gesturing towards Clementine to follow him out of the stables. Ellie was left to look towards Andrea with a questioning gaze, wondering just where the hell she was going with this, and how long it was going to take.
Andrea let out a sigh, gesturing for Ellie to head outside. "C'mon, let's take a walk."
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie's mind was still reeling from… well, everything. How huge this place was, how lively it seemed, or how breath-taking it all was. The rainclouds that had dominated the sky before had dissipated into the mountains, leaving room for the sun to warm up the earth. By this point, Ellie had already settled on lugging her pink and white jacket around, until Andrea had led her to a town square not too far from the stables. She set down her backpack and stuffed the article of clothing inside, before finally plopping herself down on the wooden bench. Andrea sat down next to her, her eyes scanning the small crowds of people moving to and fro in the streets surrounding them. For a moment, neither of them spoke, each having enough on their minds to think about for the time being.
Instead, her gaze wandered around her, taking in the sights. In the middle of the plaza stood a large statue of a man riding a horse, a remnant of a time when cowboys and Indians roamed America, and Clint Eastwood would roll up into town in his badass outfit. She knew that wasn't really the case, but it was more amusing to imagine the actor living in that time-period, rather than playing a role in a movie or two she managed to snag while living in Boston. With the fall of civilization, they were almost right back into that era, even though she'd probably… prefer the original.
"So…"
Andrea's voice pulled her away from those daydreams of cowboys and ranchers, forcing her to focus her gaze on the woman next to her.
Dot [Andrea]
Andrea chewed on the words she wanted to say for a moment, trying to think of the best way to phrase them. Dealing with this situation wasn't exactly high on her want-to-do list, but it needed addressing at some point. Given that Joel had brought Ellie all the way here, there had to be something going on there, right? Based on everything Tommy had told her about what happened to Joel's daughter, Sarah, it was strange to see him traveling with another kid, almost of similar age to her. She remembered how she felt when Billy and Ben died, and how hard it was to move on from that, and into 'parenting' Carl. That heartache that would never go away, like someone grasping the organ and squeezing it tightly. She couldn't imagine what that feeling must be like for Joel, losing his real daughter.
Sighing, she forced those thoughts away. Getting emotional right now wasn't the best idea. "You and Joel seem pretty close." She decided to start with that, just to gauge how she should broach the subject with the girl, if she should at all.
Dot [Ellie]
The question caught Ellie off-guard, her brows furrowing. She'd gotten used to Joel, as much as he had probably gotten used to her. She liked having him around, despite how much he could be a dickhead from time to time. Biting her lip, she simply shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. We all relied on each other to get here."
Dot [Andrea]
"It's just…" Andrea trailed off again, tapping her fingers against her knee. There was no way to diplomatically broach the subject, so she decided to just let it out. "…Did he ever tell you that he had a daughter once?"
Dot [Ellie]
"What? No way," Ellie couldn't help but blurt those words out. She couldn't see Joel, in a million years, with a kid. His dickishness had been enough to irritate her for the first several weeks of their journey. He seemed so inexperienced with teenagers, to the point that he tried too hard to maintain control - even though Ellie fought back at every turn. But maybe… she let out a heavy breath, letting her gaze fall to her sneakers. Maybe there'd been a reason behind the way he acted for so long, much more than she'd been aware of.
"W - What happened to her?"
Given how she wasn't around, she already assumed the worst.
Dot [Andrea]
Andrea struggled to remember every detail Tommy had told her, dating back to the moment Tommy went to pick up Sarah and Joel, to the moment Joel was held up by a soldier near the river on the outskirts of Austin. One of the strangest thoughts she'd had when he told her this was the fact that she wasn't too much older than Sarah when it all began, off by maybe a year or two. Now, she was nearing her thirties, and the first real generation of kids after the apocalypse began were reaching that age she'd been. Time had flown by, and would probably only get faster from here on out. Nevertheless, she told the girl every detail she could remember. Maybe having her know meant that she could somehow… fix the issues that Joel held close to his heart. She wanted to believe that he was a good man, and that he could be brought back from all those things he'd done, but she firmly believed that it was Ellie that had to help him through that. It was the only way she'd let Joel stay in Jackson, even if she didn't really have much say on the matter. Not when it comes to getting in between Tommy and his brother.
Sighing, she brought the story to a close, returning her gaze to the young girl. "I'm not sure how you and Joel met, but… I think you're good for him, and if he's done well by you… maybe you'll both get a second chance here. God knows you've both earned it."
Dot [Ellie]
Sarah. Joel had a daughter named Sarah. She couldn't find any words to say after Andrea finished, instead focusing on the chirping of birds in the distance, and the rustling of leaves through the plaza. Had she been prepared for this moment, maybe she would've known what to do, or what to say, or how to feel, but she didn't have that luxury. Did Joel really see her as a replacement for his dead daughter? Or did he try and disassociate her from Sarah, which easily explained his behavior when they first met? Nothing made sense, yet it all somehow fit together in her mind, at the same time.
"Thanks… for telling me," she finally replied, her mouth feeling dry from just how heavy this entire situation was. "I - I guess I never really saw him as someone who had kids before. It's kinda… hard to believe."
"Yeah," Andrea breathed, struggling to put a smile on her face, it seemed. Her eyes pulled away from Ellie, focusing on something in the distance, before she eventually stood up. "Well, uh… seems like the rest of your group just made it here. Why don't we go check in on them, hm?"
Ellie simply nodded, her mind too preoccupied to really formulate an answer. Instead, she followed the woman towards the south gate, where she could see Joel, Lee, and Tommy conversing with a guard.
Screamin' Eagles [Tommy]
When they entered the complex, Tommy stepped away from the group and pulled the gatekeeper to the side. Above all things, listening to the judgment of the people he trusted was what Tommy thought was most important in a leader. The man that controlled who entered and exited the town was one of those people. When the guests were at an ample distance, Tommy spoke. "Apparently, it's more commonplace nowadays to see FEDRA lose their territories, and they're losing power."
Eddie was quiet for a moment. "It was bound to happen eventually. The Fireflies always had the advantage of gaining support - the feds just took over cities." Tommy and Eddie had been located to the same base in Colorado all those years ago, and he'd managed to reunite with his old friend once he and Andrea came back to the area. They'd found him hiding out in the woods, scraping by with what he could catch for food, and he hadn't hesitated to join the little family all the way back then. "We're probably safe, anyways. The Fireflies know we don't have anything they want, so they shouldn't bother us."
Unfortunately, he was missing the point. "FEDRA have a lot of power, and it's influential," Tommy retorted. Had it really been so long? "I'm talking about the other people out there who are organized. What happens when they're suddenly unopposed?"
Understanding dawned on Eddie's face, and he glanced around him before lowering his voice to speak. "Are you talking about the Whisperers?" Most people at Jackson didn't know the full extent of the threat they had faced back then, many having not been here long enough to witness it. The gatekeeper, however, knew it all.
Tommy nodded. "I love that travelers have been stopping by so frequently and there have been familiar faces, but we need to be ready in case undesirables try to sneak in, looking to catch a smaller fish while the government is starting to wear out." The dam was a restricted area to just about anyone that didn't have a reason to be there, but the city of Jackson was less so. The rest of the city was walled and barricaded - the only obvious entrance is the gate. It was up to the judgment of Eddie and his crew to let outside travelers enter for a short while to do their business, but Tommy tried to encourage it. If he could help someone and they could help him, then he was fine with strangers, but he would not let savages get near his people.
Eddie just shrugged. "I think you're paranoid. If they were still a problem, they'd have come back for us by now." Tommy narrowed his eyes, but his friend beat him to the punch. "But it doesn't hurt to be prepared. I'll keep my eyes open, okay?"
He grinned. "Good. Your eyes are better than mine." Giving Eddie a quick pat on the back, he finally stepped into Jackson. It was a beautiful day, and the town seemed especially lively. It would be fun to show them around.
Ledge [Lee Everett]
Astonished was practically the only word Lee could think of to describe how he felt about this place. In terms of size, it definitely made the hydroelectric dam feel like an apartment complex in comparison. Nevertheless, massive places like these still made the former history professor slightly jumpy, the thought always lingering at the back of his mind that at any moment, someone would recognize him from the FEDRA zones. It was a small world nowadays and it was hard to tell how many people from there had migrated here. The name Everett was just a burden for him now, something he wished he could grind up into dust and throw into the wind. He hadn't done that last name proud by his family by any means, it was just a name associated with murder… Hell, they even found a way to pin him for 'suspicion of associating with Fireflies' in some of the posters. It just went to show that if you screwed with FEDRA, they'd screw you back ten times harder.
I'm sticking to first names for a reason, and it's worked so far.
As the three of them were led further into the community, Tommy seemed to be discussing a few things with the gate guard when he spotted Ellie and Andrea walking up on them. Underlying immediate worry filled his chest as he didn't see Clementine with them but figured she might have been at the stables still, if something was wrong Tommy would have been contacted via radio by now.
"Hey, good to see we're all here in one piece." He spoke through a jesting grin as they approached. "So, did you guys have fun out there?" He was pretty curious to know how Clementine had fared on her first horse ride. He guessed part of him regretted not coming with and wanted to know what he had missed out on.
Dot [Ellie]
"This place is pretty great," Ellie replied through a half-smile, looking between Lee and Joel at regular intervals. The fact that he had a daughter was still settling in her mind, and she wasn't sure if she should even say anything about it. Given how she died... it's probably for the best that she didn't. Andrea patted her shoulder, before adding a comment of her own.
"They did well. You boys took your sweet time, though." There was an amused chuckle in her voice, which made Ellie's smile widen.
Ledge [Lee Everett]
He chuckled quietly at Andrea's remark, which was seemingly aimed at Tommy. Guess he called it. Regardless, Ellie looked like she had a good time, he just wondered if it was the same for Clem. It was a relief to hear from Andrea that there were no slip-ups or unexpected problems out there. They really do have this area locked down good.
He focused his attention to the young girl, deeming that she would be the most likely to know.
"You know where Clementine ran off to?" He asked through a light expression, trying not to come off as overly worried, he did wonder why she wasn't here though.
Dot [Ellie]
Ellie's thoughts diverted to the girl in question, thinking back to the moment Andrea pulled her away from a tour of the community. She definitely still wanted one, after this was all said and done. "She, uh... went off with Carl to check the place out. Should be around here somewhere."
Ledge [Lee Everett]
Lee nodded. At least she was getting to know the place, trying to fit in. That was something Lee knew would be hard for her to do, and he was proud of her for facing that problem head-on. "Alright, I'm gonna go look for her. See you around?" He directed his question to Ellie, who nodded with a smile. Without another word, he strolled deeper into the community.
Screamin' Eagles [Tommy]
Lee had wandered off for some reason, leaving Joel and- Her. The immune one. Putting on a smile, he approached the duo. "You should introduce me to the little lady, Brother Dearest." Even if she made him uncomfortable, he'd still be pleasant.
Kentucky [Joel]
Joel swallowed, a fastening gulp of spit that only solidified his stance with Tommy. They had... differing views, he supposed. Especially on the point of Ellie, who was otherwise oblivious to her status of being pawned off. He provided a weak smile, looking at the girl. "This is Ellie, as you know. Met her in Boston, got paid to smuggle her, as you know." He looked at her, and then back at his brother. Selfish... Selfish perhaps didn't even begin to cover it. Trying to send his brother across the country, away from his people, just because he couldn't handle his emotions. And the girl? No telling how she'd respond to it. She'd sure as shit not be gleeful about the situation.
Joel wiped his sleeve over his mouth. It might have been selfish... but fuck if he didn't need this. Just as he had told Tommy earlier, this wasn't a matter of choice. He needed this to happen, or else... he was scared to think about what might happen.
Dot [Ellie]
"Hi," Ellie awkwardly waved towards Tommy. It was a strange feeling, knowing more about Tommy than he knew about her. Thanks to Andrea, she knew a lot more about both of them. Maybe that was a good thing, but knowing what she did about Joel… she wasn't sure how to feel about it yet. It made her feel more awkward than she wanted to be, and she didn't really know how to approach Joel about Sarah, or if she should ever.
Andrea made an excuse to leave, patting her on the shoulder, and leaving her with Joel and Tommy. Ellie's gaze diverted to the community around her before glancing back at Tommy. "You guys have a pretty awesome place." That much she could say with certainty. The overall ambiance here had a much friendlier feel to it compared to what she was used to in Boston. It made it almost unbearable to think about the fact they'll have to leave, but she needed to see this through. For the world's sake.
Didn't mean they couldn't enjoy themselves while they were here, though.