The One True Gord

[smelltheashes]

Eleanor doesn't talk much, as a general rule. That wasn't always the case, but certain events in her life have taught her to play things close to the chest. It's safer that way. Instead of talking, she listens, and watches.

For the last hour and a half, she's been watching the man who claims to be Gordon Freeman as he lies sleeping on a cot in the east barracks. He's pretty well conked out--stirring from some nightmare, but who doesn't have nightmares these days? She could probably get away with slipping off for a quick snack or drink if she felt so inclined.

Eleanor does not, in fact, feel so inclined. Partly it's a matter of pride in whatever job she's called upon to do. But mostly it's... well. As MacIntire said, there have been a number of people in City 08 who claimed to be Gordon Freeman. She's met more than a few of them personally. This one...

Well. She'll just have to keep observing.

Comments

[smelltheashes]

She just nods. She doesn't trust herself to speak right now.

[acts_of_gord]

Gordon never got to meet his baby niece; she was born right around the time he started working at Black Mesa, and he didn't have the wherewithal at the time to fly up to Seattle and see his brother and his new daughter in person. It's been niggling at him ever since, one of who knows how many things-that-never-happened...

She'll understand, he reckons, if he's not really able to get the wwords together right now either. Although he does hold out both hands to her, because... well. Because.

[smelltheashes]

She hesitates, at first; it's been a long time since she's opened up to anyone like this, and even longer since she hugged someone. But this...

Oh, to hell with it. She steps forward into his embrace.

[acts_of_gord]

"I had your picture in my locker at Black Mesa," he manages. "Your dad sent it-"

Under the circumstances, that's a lot of words for him. Small wonder his throat closes up and he just settles for hugging his niece properly.

[smelltheashes]

"He was always talking about you, y'know? His little brother the hero."

[acts_of_gord]

"I did what I could..." Gordon shakes his head and loosens his grip, enough to make talking somewhat easier. "I always wondered what'd happened to him, in the end. And to you."

[smelltheashes]

"He died when I was little. Mom and I were living with Grandma when the Seven Hours War happened..." She's crying in earnest now, but still smiling. "Tell me more about him? Please?"

[acts_of_gord]

"Sure," says Gordon. "Sure. Where do you want me to start?"

He's not crying, himself, but that's because one person alive other than Demeter has ever seen him cry, and she's not here. There's something close to that in his voice, though. It's a wonder he's speaking at all, but for family-

[smelltheashes]

Eleanor can't remember the last time she cried, in private or in public.

Under the circumstances, she thinks she's entitled.

"Anywhere you want."

[acts_of_gord]

"Well," says Gordon, "I remember the day he blew out his knee. None of us realized it at the time, but that was when he decided he was going to become a college football coach instead of just a third-string professional player..."

This could go on for hours, really. Or however long they have until the verification party shows up. Either way.