ELLIE.

“ what now?”

“ i fear i have left too much unsaid.”

“ you place a great burden on those who would bear with you.”

“ you’re one to talk.”

“ do mind your manners around ___.”

“ you have no cause for concern.”

“ take heed. once you set forth, you cannot turn back.”

“ don’t know about you, but i’m ready as i’ll ever be.”

“ i think we can forget about hitching our way there…”

“ thought people were friendly in/outside the city.”

“ you can only go so far on the kindness of strangers.”

“ just gonna have to push it all the way.”

“ i’ve already pushed myself… to the brink of death.”

“ oh, get up.”

“ c’mon, car isn’t gonna move itself.”

“ i thought the CAR was supposed to move US.”

“ not exactly a fairy-tale beginning, eh?”

“ we let ourselves get carried away.”

“ look, these things happen!”

“ let’s just hope this isn’t some omen.”

“ do me a favor. push this thing by yourself.”

“ you won’t even notice if i just let go.”

“ don’t even think about it.”

“ save some breath for pushing.”

“ c’mon, time to switch.”

“ nuh-uh! we just switched back there!”

“ my hands are killing me!”

“ you’d rather i kill you with mine?”

“ any luck?”

“ hold the phone - is it just me, or was it supposed to be way closer?”

“ i assure you, the map is correct.”

“ looks that way on a map of the world.”

“ the world’s a big ol’ place.”

“ apologies for taking so long.”

“ you got a long way to go, and that slack jaw’s getting you nowhere fast.”

“ and now we play the waiting game.”

“ you ain’t never been out this way before, have ya?”

“ hey. what’re you after this time?”

“ broken down and flat broke.”

“ adding insult to injury.”

“ i’d be happy to pay for your services if you’re up to the challenge. how ‘bout it?”

“ don’t go running around after dark. the daemons are liable to rip you to shreds.”

“ somehow i think i’ll be okay.”

“ so, uh. where are we headed anyway?”

“ look where you’re going!”

AFTER EVERYTHING? HOW DARE YOU