[ Can you hear her brain rattling on that for a moment, Tony? Because it rattles. Possibly gets stuck a few times. Finally just gives up. Files this under 'Tony is just Like That' and leaves it alone. ]
[ Yeah, Tony liked Erik too. Nice guy. Kinda has terrifying powers, but, well. Bruce. ]
Oh. [ He's not... Sure how to take that. ] Well that's... [ Good? Bad? Tony decides to let El decide that one. ] ...At least a sign we might have a way back.
[ No, she had not considered. Eleven rarely considers that anyone could overpower her - the pittrap of being the most powerful person around where she's from. ]
[ The possibility reminded him a bit of what happened with Wanda when she first, uh... Encountered the team. ]
Do you really think it's at all possible your friends don't miss you? [ It didn't sound right to Tony's ears, but he also doesn't know much about Eleven's home life minus the absolutely horrifying lab rat shit. ] Because- If it seems massively out of character for them? Then I think this place is lying to your powers.
Then somethin' tells me [ He starts nice and slow, measured, calm. ] Mike's not gonna just stop being sad. No matter how many years it's been between then and now.
[ A beat. ] Fairies are known for illusions, tricks. [ C'mon El, you're smart. ] What if they're blocking you from seeing your real home?
[ Fuck yeah, little girl. Let's go kill some people! But no, Tony can be mildly responsible. ] The adults can kill them. [ It's too much of a burden for a kid to take on. ]
But we will figure out some way back. [ A beat. ] Promise.
I- [ Well he does not have a good argument against that. ]
I'm not gonna break it. Promise we're gonna figure out a way to get everyone home. Okay? [ A beat. ] You seriously fighting monsters back at home? [ As in, you know, can El actually handle combat? ]
[ She nods, as if he can see it. She doesn't trust adults easily.... but she does believe him when he says this. They will get everyone home. Tony said so. ]
Yes. The Demogorgon and the Mindflayer. From the Upside Down. And bad men from the government.
[ Quiet for a moment, but she already told Erik anyway. So she adds: ]
Okay. Okay... [ He inhales, and knows he's gonna have an uphill battle convincing the others, but- ] Look, I'll be honest with you real quick: Eventually we're gonna need someone with your talents to make sure the Spring King can't brainwash us. [ A beat. ] If you've handled monsters before, you can probably handle another one.
[ Not a question. She just leaps to that assumption. Considers it. And then offers something in addition: ]
I told you I can spy. But. I can do more. With my mind.
[ She remembers seeing Erik having a nightmare. It had been... surprisingly easy, to slip inside in his head. Just like Mama let her in to see memories. ]
I can. Go into heads. Memories. Dreams. [ A beat. ] Maybe... I can help? If someone's brain. Is washed?
No you're not gonna kil- [ Mostly because no kid should have to fix this problem, but then El keeps talking, and Tony loves it when a lightbulb goes off. ]
No. You're not gonna kill him. [ A beat and Tony smiles wide enough to show fangs. ] But we're gonna practice you unwashing someone's brain. [ Because Tony could simulate the king's powers using his own Charm. If she can fix his efforts, she'd be able to fix Narciso's. ] You're gonna be our secret weapon.
[ Like she was supposed to be against the Soviets. She remembers that much from the lab, about her purpose. Except... Tony does not want her to hurt people. But to help.
Eleven gets very excited about the idea of being a secret weapon in a good way. She can do that. If she saves people, she's a superhero. Not a monster. ]
[ Truly the world's worst volunteer position: Let the wild billionaire brainwash you, then let the psychic, traumatized child root around in your brain to try and undo it. Find a way to sell someone on THAT idea, Tony.
Regardless though, Eleven beams. ]
I'm gonna be great.
[ She believes it, because it's what she is told, and sometimes it is that easy to make her believe something. And Eleven is excited for this - to be useful, to be a secret weapon, to be great.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
I genuinely thought i had responded to this I'm so sorry
I like Erik.
[ After a moment. ]
Yes. I saw them. They are. They are very happy.
you're all good!!
Oh. [ He's not... Sure how to take that. ] Well that's... [ Good? Bad? Tony decides to let El decide that one. ] ...At least a sign we might have a way back.
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She's quiet for a moment, picks at the fabric of her clothes. Then, a little petulant: ]
The fairies said. They're dead. But they're happy. Happy... without me. [ A beat. ] I think I'm... angry.
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You wanna... Talk about it?
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It's not fair.
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Tony almost wants to ask about his own life; if everyone was better off now that he was d- Gone. He decides against it. ]
Do you think there's a chance the head honchos here are lying, somehow? [ A beat. ] That what you're seeing might be an illusion?
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[ No, she had not considered. Eleven rarely considers that anyone could overpower her - the pittrap of being the most powerful person around where she's from. ]
How... do I know?
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Do you really think it's at all possible your friends don't miss you? [ It didn't sound right to Tony's ears, but he also doesn't know much about Eleven's home life minus the absolutely horrifying lab rat shit. ] Because- If it seems massively out of character for them? Then I think this place is lying to your powers.
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[ Her voice wobbles on the name Mike. ]
353 days.
[ The number sits heavy in her chest. She's been counting days here, too. ]
He was... sad. Every day.
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[ A beat. ] Fairies are known for illusions, tricks. [ C'mon El, you're smart. ] What if they're blocking you from seeing your real home?
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[ A truth. A rule. A conclusion, based on that. If the fairies lie, but friends do not lie, then the fairies are not friends.
She bites her lip. ]
The fairies are bad men.
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See, kid? They're trying to trick you, make you wanna stay here. [ A beat. ] And it's a trap.
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[ 0 to 100, no hesitation, no passing go to collect money. ]
I like my friends here. But... I want to go home.
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But we will figure out some way back. [ A beat. ] Promise.
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I can kill monsters. People are easier.
[ She says that with a very calm, clear tone even if her expression is petulant. She doesn't boast here - this is her experience. ]
A promise is a thing you can't break.
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I'm not gonna break it. Promise we're gonna figure out a way to get everyone home. Okay? [ A beat. ] You seriously fighting monsters back at home? [ As in, you know, can El actually handle combat? ]
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Yes. The Demogorgon and the Mindflayer. From the Upside Down. And bad men from the government.
[ Quiet for a moment, but she already told Erik anyway. So she adds: ]
I closed the gate. So... no more monsters.
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[ Not a question. She just leaps to that assumption. Considers it. And then offers something in addition: ]
I told you I can spy. But. I can do more. With my mind.
[ She remembers seeing Erik having a nightmare. It had been... surprisingly easy, to slip inside in his head. Just like Mama let her in to see memories. ]
I can. Go into heads. Memories. Dreams. [ A beat. ] Maybe... I can help? If someone's brain. Is washed?
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No. You're not gonna kill him. [ A beat and Tony smiles wide enough to show fangs. ] But we're gonna practice you unwashing someone's brain. [ Because Tony could simulate the king's powers using his own Charm. If she can fix his efforts, she'd be able to fix Narciso's. ] You're gonna be our secret weapon.
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[ Like she was supposed to be against the Soviets. She remembers that much from the lab, about her purpose. Except... Tony does not want her to hurt people. But to help.
Eleven gets very excited about the idea of being a secret weapon in a good way. She can do that. If she saves people, she's a superhero. Not a monster. ]
We can practice. I will try.
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Gimme a chance to get some logistics squared away. But you? [ Tony smiles, nods. ] You're gonna be great.
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Regardless though, Eleven beams. ]
I'm gonna be great.
[ She believes it, because it's what she is told, and sometimes it is that easy to make her believe something. And Eleven is excited for this - to be useful, to be a secret weapon, to be great.
To be a hero. ]