maskormenace | [03] Video

[03] Video

[ The video feed starts with Walt in a room in his Heropa home, an open box on the bed filled with Kaylee's things -- coveralls neatly folded and tucked inside, wrenches and other tools laid delicately on top...the whole process seems exceedingly painful for him as with each item he pulls out of the closet, the efforts become slow and labored. ]

I don't know who knew Kaylee Frye. If you didn't, you should have. I've never met anyone so genuinely cheerful and kind. She was the sunshine in this dark, cloudy world.

[ There's a very sad, forlorn smile. This feels more like a funeral, like saying goodbye to someone who passed away. And in some cases it's worse -- them vanishing to another universe, never to remember their time here, never to be seen again. ]

She helped me when she didn't have to. She cared when she shouldn't have. She took care of me when I couldn't take care of myself. And what did she expect in return? Nothing.

[ With a long pause, it's very clear Walt is trying to maintain his composure. A breath in and a breath out. ]

I hoped I was wrong. I hoped to god I was wrong. That her disappearance was only temporary. But it's been a few weeks, and there's been no sign of her returning. I will miss her. Every day I will miss her. I already do.

This world -- it's done nothing but take things away. From me. From everyone else. Can you honestly say you've gained anything from being here?

[ Walt goes to reach into the closet for one of the final items and his hand twitches back. The sadness in the lines of his face increases as he pulls out a wrapped present -- a card reading: To Mr. White.

That's when Walt can't hold it back anymore. He sits on the edge of the bed, pulls the square-shaped present to his chest and cries. ]

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[ That gives Walt pause. And then he feels for her. ]

You're too young. You're too young to understand this kind of loss.

[ And this isn't said like she couldn't understand. But more like she shouldn't HAVE to understand it. Because that means Ellie has lived an unfortunate life. And maybe she's talking about simply losing a friend here. Maybe that's what she's empathizing about. But the way she says it, her immediate connection to Walt's utter devastation.

That's the type of thing that comes with a much greater loss. Grieving. ]

Edited 2015-07-04 16:26 (UTC)

[ Ellie doesn't immediately feel defensive over the response, recognizing the understanding in his tone. She shrugs, despite not being on video. ]

Shitty, huh? But it's just the way life works where I come from.

[ She pauses, then laughs. ]

But we don't need to turn this around on me. The wound is totally fresher for you, and that sucks.

Um.

Guess this is a better time than ever to say sorry for being a dick to you back at the grocery store. You know, the other week?

You don't have to apologize.

[ And Walt means that. That weekend had been hard, but... Walt had been an intolerable asshole. And that was the catalyst that led to his downhill spiral -- to everything that happened. If he had just maintained his composure, none of it would've happened. Maybe if there had been more Ellies in the world to call him on his shit, he wouldn't be at this point. ]

I deserved it. [ Still hurts his pride a little to say that. ] I lost my entire family back home. Father's Day reminded me of that, but I overreacted. And I deserved you yelling at me.

[ And thank GOD Ellie hadn't seen the underwear display.... ]

[ Well that's something she isn't used to: someone taking responsibility for what they're being called out on. Ellie can't help but go a little wide-eyed at that, and it sort of makes her feel worse for yelling at the guy in the first place. Especially when he mentions having lost his family. ]

Holy shit.

No, dude, I do not blame you at all for being high-strung on Father's Day when something like that has happened to you.

I mean-- Yeah, it was an overreaction but...

[ "Shit, I don't have a dad and the guy closest to a father flipped the fuck out over my gift because I'm pretty sure it reminded him of his dead daughter." ]

I don't blame you. Not at all. I'm sorry to hear that you lost your family.

I suppose there are only so many things you can lose before you lose everything. It just sucks when it feels like everything is so far out of your control.

[ He takes a moment to pause, and though unseen since this was voice, his hand traces the fabric of one of Kaylee's shirts. ]

And everything about being in this world is beyond our control. We don't know how long we'll be here or how long before we go. And I suppose that's true about home as well, but at least there are threats back home. Signs that the end is coming. In this world, it's more like....one day you're here. The next...gone.

[ That's probably a difference between herself and Walt right there, the expectation. Not because expectation wasn't there in her world, but that the expectation and realization of one's mortality was just so violently present all the time that the meaning of it sort of... Fades. How can a sign of the end be so comforting when the end is already there? When you realize how meaningless life is on a daily and there's practically no way to enjoy it. ]

I don't think this place is so bad, honestly. But... I get what you mean. Whoever brought us here basically snapped their fingers to make it happen.

Seems like it's just as easy to make you disappear.

[ Yikes, the mood has sure plummeted. Not that it was any better before. ]

[ He lets out a faint sound of amusement. ]

Yeah. And it's....

[ What word even describes the uncertainty, the lack of control, the disappearance without a trace, and the forgotten memories of those who disappear and return to living but forget everything they knew for a short period of time. ]

Frustrating.

[ He pauses again and decides to change the topic to a more uplifting one at least. Introductions. ]

I'm Walt. Walter White. And you are?

[ Ellie manages a laugh. ]

That's a delicate way to put it, I guess.

[ And she pauses in time, happy that at least the conversation is lightening up a bit. ]

I'm Ellie.

[ He offers a smile. ]

It's nice to meet you, Ellie. I'm glad we could introduce ourselves on better terms. From what I remember, you had bought some things for Father's Day at the store. Is your father here?

[ She laughs a little. ]

Um.

Well, no. Not exactly.

I got gifts for two guys. Joel and Jesse. They're my friends but.... I mean, it just felt right. They take good care of me.

Edited 2015-07-08 21:13 (UTC)

[ oh. my. god.

You could practically HEAR Walt's jaw drop.

Because of all the goddamn coincidences.... ]

Jesse? Jesse Pinkman?

[ Of course it was Jesse. HIS Jesse. How many other Jesse and Joel combinations would there be in this world? ]

[ Ellie can hear the shift in his tone, and it's a little... Confusing, how Walt reacts. Is this a bad thing? Has she ran into one of Jesse's enemies or something? ]

Uh... Yeah, that's him.

You know him?

I do. Very well. We're from the same world.

[ A beat. And then -- to emphasize the point of how well he knows him. ]

I think of him like a son when in reality, I was just his teacher. Isn't it funny how the world works?

Oh.

[ And yet, she has never heard of you at all. Strange. ]

Yeah, guess it is kind of funny. That's a crazy coincidence, considering the whole alternate universe bullshit thing makes the world not so small.

That's cool! Jesse's a pretty great guy.

[ But it goes both ways because Walt has never heard of Ellie either... ]

He is. He wasn't at first. Obnoxious, loudmouthed, would fall asleep in my classroom if he was even there to begin with!

[ There's a soft and fond little laugh at the memories of Jesse in his high school years. ]

But he's grown into something...extraordinary, Ellie. The man he's become -- I couldn't be more proud of him.

Oh man. Okay, you have to tell me all the embarrassing stories you have about him. All of them.

[ She laughs for a while, but it dies down. ]

Yeah, I don't really know what I would have done if Jesse didn't find me when I got here.

He's...

He's got a really big heart. I can't say that about too many people I know. And I owe him a lot. You're lucky to have known him as long as you have, Walt. Your pride is not misplaced. Not at all.

Edited 2015-07-13 20:54 (UTC)

I should say you're lucky to have met him. But I know how he would feel about it. He'd say he's lucky to have met you.

He's very good with kids, younger people, you know. There was this boy he practically adopted back home named Brock. Sweet kid.

[ ....that Walt poisoned once. Oops. ]

Yup. That definitely sounds like Jesse.

The guy insists I don't owe him a thing, but I don't think he has any idea how much he's helped me. Good people are really fucking scarce where I come from.

[ A pause. ]

Wow, really? He never told me about anyone named Brock.

He doesn't talk very much about the people most important to him. It's nothing personal. It's just the way he is. The way he's always been.

It explains why you didn't know about me and vice versa.

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[03] Video

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