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[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Ellen hasn't slept all that well since the victory against the Enclave at Adams Air Force Base. She's tried, she really has, but... sometimes that just isn't in the cards. She's supposed to be asleep now, in fact. Obviously she's not, as she's quietly, studiously, industriously disassembling and reassembling her big ol' Tesla cannon at one of the larger tables, but she's supposed to be.

Dogmeat is curled up at her feet, occasionally whining worriedly. Sometimes she notices. Sometimes she doesn't.

Bad days happen.

Comments

[not_his_pa]

William found Milliways at school and he's glad to sneak out, the day's going slowly.

He hears Dogmeat's whining and follows it to Ellen and walks a little louder, "Ellen?"

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"Hm?" Ellen glances up from her work. "Oh- hi, William. Didn't- didn't see you there."

[not_his_pa]

"I didn't want to disturb you, you're just lookin' a little peaked,"

He doesn't sit down yet but offers Dogmeat his hand before petting him.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Dogmeat licks the offered hand and waves his tail cheerfully. There, someone is paying attention to him.

"Sorry," Ellen says, ducking her head. "I didn't get much sleep last night. It might be catching up with me."

[not_his_pa]

"That'll do it, long as you ain't gettin' sick,"

Now he does sit down but still petting Dogmeat.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"No, I don't think I am," says Ellen after some thought. "I haven't felt sic, anyway."

Sick to her stomach at the thought of certain things doesn't count.

"I'll be okay once I get some rest, I think. How- how have you been?"

[not_his_pa]

"Good, my brother keeps gettin' better. He's actually gettin' stronger,"

William has trouble believing that Mark's not as sick at times for fear something will go wrong but it hasn't yet.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"Oh, good," Ellen says. "That's always good to hear. You- you have enough to deal with. You deserve something good."

[not_his_pa]

"So do you, you need to take care of yourself. Best part is my Ma's been smilin' more, not as much as she used to but still some."

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"I'll- I'll manage," Ellen says. "It was a big day the other- two days ago. I just need some time."

[not_his_pa]

"Oh, what sort of big day?"

It must have been hard since Ellen usually doesn't seem this off.

[themysciran_diana]

Bad days do, indeed. And someone as observant as Diana can hardly fail to notice the signs.

Which may be why Diana's smile is both smaller and softer than usual as she approaches, and it fades relatively quickly.

"Ellen. Dogmeat. It's good to see you."

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Dogmeat looks up first, but Ellen isn't too much slower; she offers a smile. "Diana," she says. "Hi there. I'm- I'm sorry, I was a little distracted. How are you?"

[themysciran_diana]

"Serviceable," Diana says quietly, taking a seat at Ellen's table.

"Which is more than can be said for some."

She drops her hand to scratch between Dogmeat's ears, very briefly.

"And yourself?"

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"I've been better," Ellen admits. "Last night wasn't very good."

They treat understatement about Bad Things as a virtue, in Vault 101.

[themysciran_diana]

Diana's frown is a small thing, but hardly an accident.

"Did something happen? Or do you mean you were unable to sleep?"

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"There was a battle in my world," Ellen says. "I- I've been here a day or two since then- I couldn't sleep much after."

[themysciran_diana]

"Ah. The same matter we spoke of last time, the battle your Brotherhood was preparing for, I take it."

She doesn't reach out to touch Ellen, not yet.

"Did something go wrong?"

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

"No," Ellen says, slowly. "No. We- we won."

Very, very, very thoroughly.

"There's... no doubt about that."

[themysciran_diana]

"And yet some victories may carry a high price."

Diana's voice is gentle, and her gaze misses very little.

"And not always of the most obvious kind. What is it that has so unsettled you?"

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Other people, Ellen would have trouble saying this to. Either they'd be too sympathetic, or they'd be too horrified, or- or something. She has no idea whatsoever what Castiel would say. But she's pretty sure Diana will understand.

"They had me on anti-aircraft duty. Fawkes was protecting me, so mostly I just- just shot at- at Vertibirds. Like helicopters," she adds, as she doesn't remember if she described them to Diana or not. "To- to keep them off the- keep them from going after our soldiers, right?"

[themysciran_diana]

"I see," Diana says, blue eyes fixed on Ellen. The way she is telling this story -- the hesitation in particular -- is bringing the picture clearer just as much as what Ellen actually says.

"Was that your task alone?"

[scots_wolf]

There is another dog in the bar, curious about Dogmeat, but slow to approach.

[aaaaaaaagh_sky]

Dogmeat's head jerks up sharply at the smell. In the Wasteland, other dogs are bad news; there hasn't been one yet that came this close that wasn't hostile. He lays his ears back and bares his teeth.

[scots_wolf]

The other dog backs away and cautiously wags his tail, as if trying to be non-threatening. It's a very well-behaved dog.