networkinthenight | audio / @hello / open

Hello, um, everyone. This is Aziraphale. I know I haven't met all of you, but I have gotten to know a good number of you as of late, and I've come to like you all a great deal, so it doesn't sit quite right with me not to apologize for recent events.

The sinking of the ferry was inexcusable. Our-- my failure, was a direct result of poor planning and lack of transparency, but I do need all of you to know that the intention had been to find our only way out of Beacon as other methods had been exhausted, and it was always in the plan to make subsequent trips for everyone remaining who wished a return home.

But I know that no amount of good intention will bring it back, nor heal your injuries, nor surface the supplies it was carrying. For all this, I am deeply and terribly sorry; this was, in no way, how I should have repaid all your kindnesses. I understand your anger, and you can direct it at me, if you would like, if you have need of a place to focus your ire.

However, I am afraid, actually, that I must ask a favor. I have, though not for lack of trying, not been able to retrieve much of the sunken raw material - if anyone should lend abilities, magical or otherwise, to help in the rebuilding of the ferry or the docks, you will have my deepest gratitude, for whatever that is worth.

I will try to assist with this as much as I possibly can, and otherwise will be available to assist those who require healing, though my ability to do so has been stunted.

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[Mr. Fell, she decides, gives good hugs. She doesn't have much experience with them, and hugs initiated by her are reserved for people she truly likes and cares about. He's made that list, by virtue of being kind, and trying to get her home, and being sad and in need of someone to protect him.

This, Eleven has decided about him.]

I will help you - rebuild. I can lift things. Heavy things.

[She nods, leaving no room for discussion in the matter, or so she thinks at least.]

And if someone is mean to you, I will protect you.

Oh, dear girl, that's perfectly alright. I can take care of myself.

But I would like your help in rebuilding!

[ He doesn't know she has powers so assumes she can only hold about as much as a human fourteen-year-old girl of her stature.

But he does like that she wants to help, she's such a pure soul. He thinks they would've been friends had they met on Earth, if only he still left the house to do such things as make friends. ]

[She gives him a Look. It's a very teenage sort of look, the one that implies a 'yeah, right' even if it's not spoken out loud. Ah, children. They're a gift - and surprisingly judgmental and fierce. Eleven nods though, and has no intentions of listening to him. Leave friends to fend for themselves - yeah, right.]

Good. I like helping. When do we... start? Who else is helping?

So far it's... you and me, and possibly Stone, and I believe Daylight.

[ Oh. That is quite the skeleton crew. ]

And I'll drag Crowley and Soldier by the ears to help, if I must.

[ What a collection of names it is - Eleven, Stone, Daylight.

Eleven brightens up. ]

Stone. He's strong. Big, too.

[ Sheepishly, she has to admit: ]

Scared me a little... at first. Who are... Daylight, and Crowley and...

[ Her face turns a little doubtful then. Not a fan of the military, this one. ]

... a soldier?

Yes, Soldier. He won't tell me his real name. I don't think he meant to be a soldier, even.

[ If that helps her feel better. ]

Daylight is... well he's very large, about ten feet tall. And Crowley is my best friend.

[ He smiles. ]

I've known him a long time. We came here together.

I don't... like soldiers.

[ But she doesn't say it with heat. She's met Nyx. She's even met Soldier, though they're both unaware of the connection right now. Eleven knows a person being a soldier does not make a bad person.

Still... she can't quite shake the dislike. Soldiers.... and doctors. Especially doctors. ]

How long have you... known your friend - Crowley?

[ He's about to answer that when--

--Well, how is he supposed to say, six thousand years?

An unfathomably long time? ]

Oh... [ His lips makes a pfft noise. ]

Really long time. Longer than you've been alive.

[ Eleven gives Aziraphale a look.

No, not quite.

More like: A Look.

It has the sort of implied exasperation that only teenagers can muster. ]

That's not... hard. I'm only 14. You're... [ She fishes for a word, momentarily. ] ... old.

...Well.

I've been friends with him longer than your father has been alive, no doubt.

[ And surely she thinks he's old. ]

[ The comment makes Eleven frown, but in thought not in unhappiness. She's trying to puzzle something out, clearly.

She doesn't know her father. She knows Mama, who gave birth to her. She knows Papa, who hurt Mama and raised Eleven and other numbers. She knows Hop, who... who is Dad, even though she's yet to call him that, and now never will.

Carefully, she settles on: ]

I don't know father. Papa wasn't... [ She stops herself. ] I live with Hop now. He's kind of old.

Oh -- I'm sorry.

[ He just assumed that Hop was her father. And then, wait-- Hop? He knows Hop.

But he hasn't seen Hop in awhile, and he definitely doesn't want to alert Eleven to that. ]

And are you-- are you doing well here, in Beacon?

I think so. I live with Nancy and Steve, here. They're... from home.

[ her face and tone are conflicted. It's good to have someone familiar here. At the same time... At the same time, them being here isn't good, and Eleven is very aware of that. ]

Oh, good.

It's-- always better, I think. To have people you know.

[ Even if it means they're all dead. ]

Were they... friends of yours? That you were protecting?

[ Eleven looks a little thoughtful at that, then nods. ]

Steve protects. Tries to. Nancy is... Mike's sister.

[ And that just makes her look sad again. ]

Mike is. Was. My boyfriend.

Oh.

[ He frowns sharply and places an assuring hand on Eleven's shoulder. ]

Then we will have to get you back expeditiously, as I'm sure he misses you dearly.

[ She's so young, it kills him a little. ]

[ Her jaw works for a moment, clenching and relaxing. She talked to Peter about Mike, but the emotion still sits in her throat, makes it harder to swallow. ]

He... didn't want me to. Go after the Mind Flayer. I heard him tell Max... he can't lose me. Because of love. But I went anyway. And the Mind Flayer... ended me.

[ She tucks a strange of her behind her ear, vision blurring a little. ]

I dumped his ass. Max said I could take him back. But... I'm here.

[ She looks up then, so much sadder than a child her age should have to be. ]

What's... expectliciously?

[ Not even close. Not even a little.

But oh boy, does she try. ]

It means... as soon as possible.

And-- if you dumped him, it won't mean he doesn't miss you.

[ What a complicated situation for such a young girl. And what on Earth is a Mind Flayer?

If she does start to cry, he'll be here to wipe away her tears with his thumb. ]

[ Eleven nods and puts her hands on her hips, trying to work through the emotions and get them calmed down again.

After a moment she huffs out a small laugh. ]

Peter... said that, too. About Mike.

[ And she smiles at Aziraphale. It's a bit wobbly and watery, but it's a smile. Small victories and all that. Eleven is rather proud for not breaking down again like she did on Peter. ]

[ Oh, it's alright. He would let her cry it out. ]

Well, that's very smart.

You're a very special girl, and doubtless it's why you've caught his attention.

Let's just worry about getting you back, yes? And you can worry about what you're going to do when you get back later.

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