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[ This is getting awfully real. She's right, though, and he knows it. He nods soberly. ]

Yeah.

[ Yeah.

It'll be worth it.

He pushes himself up off the counter, and nods at the journal still clutched in her hands. ]

Why don't you just keep that.

[ It looks like she could use it, after all. ]

[ She deflates a tiny bit, knowing she'd crossed the line as he clams up. Still, Ellie nods at his suggestion, still keeping hold of the journal. ]

Yeah. I will. I'll keep it safe.

[ For what? ... She isn't sure. But it's important, and... at the very least, it's a reminder. ]

Where'd you find this, anyway? [ Ellie asks, glancing his way. ]

[ He knows she will. He would have, too, of course, but...he knows Ellie'll guard it. And maybe it'll help her, having it to look at. Something to remind her there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

He huffs out a quiet laugh at her question, shaking his head at the absurdity of it. ]

It was in a...Christmas stocking. Just hangin' on the wall. [ He looks at her curiously. ] You find anything like that?

Oh yeah! I forgot about that! [ Well, almost. She'd gotten her own gift after all, but the fact that this was a yearly occurrence that she might have told him about escaped her. ] Pretty sure that happens at the end of every year, or something.

[ As far as she knows. Then, of course, comes the inevitable question. Ellie remembers withdrawing the photo, the one that looked like her and the young, dream (fake) Joel.

Family.

Adopted.

Daughter.

Dad. ]

Wasn't anything this cool. [ She settles, shrugging. ] No... secret Firefly documents, or anything.

[ That's good enough, right? ]

[ He studies her a moment, not quite sure that he believes her, but finally nods. After all, she's got plenty of friends here - she'd built a whole life here before he showed up. Whatever she'd found, it probably has nothing to do with him.

Or maybe it was a disappointment, whatever it was. Who knows? ]

Well, good thing you got this now, then. [ He gestures to the journal, then glances at the door. ] Anyhow, I don't mean to keep ya.

[ She probably has lots to do, without having to worry about entertaining him. ]

Oh - Right. [ Keep her? She's almost confused by it. Ellie shifts her weight, peering at him, wondering... but, then, this is a new chance for him. An opportunity to have a real life. He probably wants space, here, to start again, to... reconnect with Tess. ]

Sure. [ Ellie says quickly. ] So... I'll see you around. Y'know, whenever.

[ He'd come here, so that's something. He still thought to reach out and confer with her about this development. It's not like he'd told her they weren't going to spend any time together anymore...

... Still. She thinks of Tommy's and her stomach clenches painfully. ]

[ He picks up on her hesitation, unspoken though it is, and pauses halfway to the door, looking down at her with a small frown. ]

Y'alright, Ellie?

[ Maybe it hadn't been such a good idea to give her the journal, to make her think about all that again...but it had seemed to cheer her up a moment ago. Still, he doesn't leave quite yet. ]

Yeah! [ She's fast to respond, straightening up. ] Sorry, I was just... thinking. About all this stuff.

[ It's partly true. Ellie blinks, then offers a weak shrug. ]

I'm fine. Okay?

Alright.

[ Still, he's hesitant to leave, if it means leaving her to stew alone with her thoughts. He glances around as if for inspiration, eyes lighting on the row of arcade games along the wall. ]

Y'know, you never did show me the big deal with those things.

[ Not that he'd ever actually asked, or anything. Beside the point. ]

[ Ellie blinks, not immediately comprehending, just because... well, it's Joel. And he's asking about the arcade games. ]

About - Are you serious? [ It seems to cheer her again almost instantly and she gingerly sets down the journal before moving over to them. ] Yeah, well, I didn't think you wanted to see what the big deal is!

[ In fact, he may recognize some of the machines, which include games like Pac-Man and Galaga. ]

[ He didn't want to, particularly. But they're obviously important to Ellie. And...if it keeps her distracted and entertained, keeps her from dwelling on darker things, it's well worth it. ]

Not like I got anything better to do.

[ He follows her over, scanning the machines with his arms crossed over his chest. A few of them are vaguely familiar from his own childhood, though as he'd said, he'd never really gotten into them. Others are newer. ]

Go on, show me what it's all about.

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