[There's a long moment before she replies, because she gets caught on the I'm sorry- like that's something dead people are supposed to hear. Because she remembers the names Gliese had released, about people killed in action, two of whom she'd considered friends- and she can't understand why she came back when they didn't.
She pretends she didn't read it, and pretends that'll be enough.]
[ It's not the same kind of "sorry" that would come from other people - Vriska wouldn't care in the slightest to mourn the death itself unless Ellie didn't come back. But it sucks to be killed; dying itself isn't a pleasant experience, and she genuinely is sorry Ellie had to experience that kind of pain, however it happened. She won't ask. ]
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Yes. I could tell you the whole story sometime, though it is pretty fucked up.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
8ut something strange happened after all the murdering. People who did the killing started having hallucinations of their victims. Myself included.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
No one could really explain it. Just spooky mysterious 8ullshit!
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
This doesn't sound that different, to 8e honest with you. People die, something 8izarre happens. Especially when those dead people come 8ack to life.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
I don't think you need someone who knows something a8out rocks, Ellie. If dead people are vomiting up something, it pro8a8ly goes 8eyond the 8ounds of geology.
[Vriska never makes her feel like an idiot, and she never makes her feel like a child- no matter how stupid some of her thoughts sound to her own ears. Ellie lays curled in the bunk she rarely uses and watches the messages come in one at a time. She loses track of the rise and fall of her chest, but figures she hadn't been counting her breaths to begin with.
Ellie wants to know what the rocks are because she wants to know why she's different. Why she came back wrong- if there's something in her now, that shouldn't have been there before. Maybe there is no answer.]
[ Why is she even talking about this? She doesn't talk to anyone about the hallucinations. At the time she told no one but Elena, and Elena was just the person she finally broke down in front of. It's been a long time since then, but it still feels tearing and awful to even think about.
In fact, she's told no one else since. Were this absolutely anyone else, she'd have backtracked, started needling, changed the subject. Why do you even want to know?
But it's Ellie. ]
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
No.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Once those 72 hours were up, they stopped completely and never returned.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
And Noh came 8ack pretty soon after. I'm still gr8ful to Mothership for that one.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Actually, she might 8e a good person to ask a8out your mysterious 8arf stone.
no subject
it wasnt just me either
billy and i did it at the same time
theyre like little black marbles
no subject
Ok, something is up. Something must have happened to 8oth of you. That is way too "woooooooo 8eing in the CDC is soooooooo mysterious!"
no subject
well we both died but i dont know what that has to do with the rocks
no subject
Wait. What? ]
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Seriously? D:::: I didn't even know.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
That is not something I would have wanted one of my friends to go through. I'm sorry.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
8ut I wouldn't 8e surprised if these things were connected, you know.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Were you here 8ack on Ajna when 8lue team had that exercise to kill like a quarter of the rest of the camp?
no subject
She pretends she didn't read it, and pretends that'll be enough.]
FROM: ellie@cdc.org
yeah
i remember
FROM: ellie@cdc.org
were you one of them?
no subject
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Yes. I could tell you the whole story sometime, though it is pretty fucked up.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
8ut something strange happened after all the murdering. People who did the killing started having hallucinations of their victims. Myself included.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
No one could really explain it. Just spooky mysterious 8ullshit!
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
This doesn't sound that different, to 8e honest with you. People die, something 8izarre happens. Especially when those dead people come 8ack to life.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
I don't think you need someone who knows something a8out rocks, Ellie. If dead people are vomiting up something, it pro8a8ly goes 8eyond the 8ounds of geology.
no subject
Ellie wants to know what the rocks are because she wants to know why she's different. Why she came back wrong- if there's something in her now, that shouldn't have been there before. Maybe there is no answer.]
FROM: ellie@cdc.org
when you had the hallucinations
what were they like?
no subject
........
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
It was one of the worst experiences of my life.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
I hallucin8ed Noh-Varr, the person I killed.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Sometimes it was moments from his life. What I assume are memories. I try not to 8ring it up with him too much.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
And sometimes he would just 8e standing there next to me. Smiling. Looking happy.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
At the time, there wasn't any guarantee the dead would come 8ack. So it was pretty much torture to go through. It went on for 72 str8 hours.
no subject
have you had them since?
no subject
In fact, she's told no one else since. Were this absolutely anyone else, she'd have backtracked, started needling, changed the subject. Why do you even want to know?
But it's Ellie. ]
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
No.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Once those 72 hours were up, they stopped completely and never returned.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
And Noh came 8ack pretty soon after. I'm still gr8ful to Mothership for that one.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Actually, she might 8e a good person to ask a8out your mysterious 8arf stone.
no subject
FROM: ellie@cdc.org
yeah
FROM: ellie@cdc.org
but youre the only person i want to talk to right now
if thats ok
no subject
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Pff. Of course it's ok. Why would you want to talk to anyone 8ut me anyway? I'm clearly the most awesome option you have.
no subject
FROM: ellie@cdc.org
ill make sure to let everyone else know
no subject
Please. If they don't already know, they don't deserve to 8ask in my presence.
[ A little over the top even for her, but she's on a roll now. ]
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
8ut you're special! I'll let you hang around me whenever you want. Aren't you lucky? ::::)
no subject
so lucky
FROM: ellie@cdc.org
youre not in your rover are you?
cause your big head might suffocate anyone nearby
no subject
::::O
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Is that sass I detect????
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Talk a8out rude. Here I am 8eing the 8est and most incredi8le friend to you and you make fun of my head.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
::::( I find this really hurtful and demeaning to my species or something!
no subject
no sass here only total concern
howre the oxygen levels in there?
is anyone turning blue?
no subject
I am disappointed, Ellie. I never expected you'd 8e such a speciesist. ::::(
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Did you forget I'm an alien? For all you know, I produce oxygen from my hair!
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Actually, did you know everyone in my rover is on 8lue?
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Which makes what you just said a pun.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
::::/
no subject
im prettyyyyy sure you dont make oxygen from your hair vriska
FROM: ellie@cdc.org
and youre totally welcome for that by the way
cause puns may be cheesy
but they make you feel grate
no subject
How do you know? Are you calling me a liar a8out my own race? More 8latant speciesism! You're on a roll.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
........
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
........
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
God, and I thought the pun 8efore that was 8ad. ::::|
no subject
and i have a whollllle book of ammunition
no subject
D::::
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Is there a way to 8lock people on these things????
no subject
if you figure it out ill just stand outside your rover instead
no subject
::::O
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
You know, that reminds me.
FROM: serket.vriska@cdc.org
Have we ever actually met up in person?
no subject
oh
FROM: ellie@cdc.org
i dont think so
FROM: ellie@cdc.org
i guess thats kinda weird huh
(no subject)
i fucking cannot
8)