004 | Audio

[lightgunhustler]

[Jo's voice sounds oddly restrained when it comes out over the network, cautious and uncertain as though she's swallowing something down, holding it back. She doesn't trust herself to use the video function at the moment-- and honestly, considering what she has to say, it doesn't seem appropriate.]

It's been a couple of days since I've been able to get in touch with my mom.

[For anyone else, a couple of days might be negligible, but she and Ellen have been damn near inseparable since Jo's arrival. Even after moving to the research center, they'd lived together, kept close tabs on each other.

Two days without any sign of Ellen was bad news.]

I'm not holding my breath. Pretty sure she's gone.

[And for them, going home doesn't mean much. What was there to go back to?]

I just-- I thought people oughta know. She had a lot of friends here.

Comments

video » private

[intraining]

[ so on a list of things that charlie would ever want to hear on the network, this would rank up there pretty high. right along with 'you're actually dead' and 'dean's gone'. it's one of those things that charlie doesn't really find herself thinking about until it happens, and then she gets videos like this and it's jo and-

god. she knows what's waiting for the harvelles back home. she knows. ]

Jo- [ but what could she say? what does she say? for someone who words usually come so easily, charlie's a little lost for them now. ] I'm sorry.

video » private

[lightgunhustler]

[There's a long pause before Jo replies, debating whether or not she wants anyone to see her in her current state. She's already had her cry, and while tears aren't falling anymore, her eyes are red and her face is definitely tearstained, though she drags the back of her hand across her eyes before switching the video on.

It's Charlie. She's okay with Charlie seeing.]

... thanks.

[It doesn't feel like enough, but she's not sure what else she can say. Nothing feels like enough right now.]

She really liked you, you know.

video » private

[intraining]

[ seeing jo crying - or not really crying, but in after-state which is just as bad - is like taking a punch to the gut. it pains her almost as much as anything else. even more so.

what does she even say? ]

She was- is - really cool. Like. So much cooler than the books make her out to be. [ she stops for a little bit before she continues again, not even sure what she's doing. ] You okay? Not like okay okay because that'd be kind of stupid to ask but- [ wow charlie you wanna try again? ] Do you want someone to come by?

video » private

[lightgunhustler]

She is cool, isn't she.

[She forces a smile. It's not easy, but she manages. Not many kids are willing to admit how cool their parents are, but Jo is over taking Ellen for granted. She'd done that for way too long.]

Mind if I take a raincheck? Think I need to be alone for a little while, but-- I thought people should know.

video » private

[intraining]

Definitely.

[ and she sees the forced smile, and she sees the way jo reacts, and maybe charie feels a little dumb for asking in the first place, but it was worth a shot. ]

Yeah. Sure. I mean, it's not like I'm going anywhere.

video » private

[lightgunhustler]

[Charlie, you're not dumb. Anything but.]

Appreciated. I'll--

[She doesn't want Charlie to think she's blowing her off, but she doesn't want to set expectations too high, either.]

I'll give you a call soon.