ellectrical | (no subject)

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It's been more than an hour since the sunset, but Elle hasn't moved since she climbed onto one of the rocks near the lakeshore in the midafternoon.

Really. She has not moved. Other than blink, Elle hasn't moved her eyes, her hands, hasn't resettled on the rock's rough surface or follow the line of the tide. Curled up against the stone, she'd simply laid down, facing the water, too still to be even waiting for something.

Someone with a typical set of senses might not even notice her.

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"Some of them aren't hiding."

Unlike Elle, most people don't feel so comfortable simply ignoring government requirements.

"And a lot of them - won't know how to."

X does not quite bite her lip, but it is close.

"Then it will take them longer? To start looking for you."

"I hope so."

With a small shift, "But I can't hide everything."

"Sometimes," X offers, a little hesitantly, "people forget to look."

It's not that Elle disagrees, exactly.

But with her free hand, Elle reaches up behind her head, pulling back her now short blonde hair. The neckline of her sleeveless shirt is low enough to reveal the base of the back of her neck, where there are two small, but readily visible, parallel scars.

X almost reaches out to touch them, but the movement is quickly aborted. Her free hand barely even leaves the surface of the rock.

Then, carefully --

"People have used tattoos. To hide scars. But that would be memorable, too."

"Yeah," Elle agrees, the thought having occurred to her as well.

"I don't think they know yet, but - the Company did it to almost everyone."

The exact same scars on so many people couldn't remain a secret for too long.

X tilts her head very slightly.

"They did not think people would notice?"

Beat.

"Or they did not care."

"Used to be there wasn't anything anyone could do."

The Company didn't keep most of the people they encountered, and most people wouldn't try to read into waking up with a couple small scars.

In retrospect, it wasn't the best assumption to rely on, but as she wasn't in charge, Elle doesn't think much of it.

X falls quiet for a few seconds.

Then she shifts position a little, just enough to bring her closer to Elle.

More silence.

Then --

"You know what you will do? Or you are here to decide."

"I think I'll have some time."

Beat. She blinks at X. "I could let my hair grow."

Apparently wearing higher cut tops is less of an option.

"Good," X says, if a little less firmly than usual.

"It will be effective. Your hair."

Beat.

"Collared are useful, too. Or hoodies. If you are not going through security at the airport."

"Or in a hot place."

The desert had always seemed nice. Maybe there were some with fewer cameras.

"Yes," X agrees.

"Very cold places will also allow for coats. And the population density is generally smaller. Outside of cities."

Beat.

"And there are other countries, too."

"Wasn't planning to stay in just one," she agrees, quietly.

"I might need more papers, though."

"It is likely."

They have both, after all, been here before.

"You will get some here?"

Beat.

"Or find someone that can enter you into the system."

"Here."

She glances down at her watch, but says, "I don't know yet - if I can trust anyone out there."

"It is sensible."

Some of the tension in X's shoulders loosens, if only fractionally.

"To do as much here as possible. You have chosen some of the countries?"

Or the cover identities?

She nods.

"Sweden's been pretty good about it."

Even if it'll be cold.

"And some places are easier to get into, even now."

"I have not been to Sweden."

Maybe visiting would not be terrible.

"But soft borders are always useful."

"I have."

There was a Company installation outside Stockholm. Or rather, there had been.

Rather honest, "I'm glad I got all that money before this."

"You will have enough resources."

It's only a little bit of a question.

"And Milliways is not traceable. If you need additional supplies."

Still honest -

"I just hope it lets me in more often."

X hesitates, caught halfway between startled and -- something else.

"There are people here who can come when they want. Maybe they can teach you how. Or tell you something."

She does not shrug.

"Or give you something. Like the Security badges."

"If you know anyone."

Elle does shrug. She doesn't know any way of doing it that doesn't involve the Security badge or performing magic, but she's not opposed to it.