Joel (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
aintyourdad) wrote2014-02-07 05:02 pm
aintyourdad) wrote2014-02-07 05:02 pm
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thegames
Castmates
The single most important person in Joel's life right now, Ellie is quite literally his whole world. Since meeting her in Boston, it's been essentially the two of them versus everyone else for the better part of a year, and she has become like a daughter to him. He will do anything to protect her, and her life is his highest priority. She was in Panem for months before he arrived, which has thrown him a little off-kilter, since he now has to come to grips with the fact that she's started making friends and allies in that time. Now, he must struggle to accommodate these strangers into his orbit, when before it was just the two of them.
Panem
Wyatt is one of the few people Joel has really positive feelings for in Panem. One of Ellie's closest friends in the months she was alone, Wyatt clearly cares for her a lot - which is very important to Joel. On top of that, however, Wyatt is also highly competent, down-to-earth, and generally seems to know his stuff, and Joel appreciates that a lot. There are no histrionics, no bullshit to cut through. He talks straight, and you know where you stand with him. Joel appreciates these traits.
Another of Ellie's closest friends. Joel was about to kill the guy when she showed up and intervened. Sometimes, he almost wishes he had killed him. Supposedly, Hawkeye is a doctor, but all Joel has seen of him so far is a gangly, incompetent motor-mouth with the survival instincts of a Darwin Award winner. To say that Joel is contemptuous of such people is an understatement. The only thing that saves him is Ellie's abundance of affection and loyalty for the guy, which Joel doesn't understand, but is forced to acknowledge. And he does seem to care for her, his one saving grace.
Yet another friend of Ellie's, Joel's first meeting with Venus was - tense, to say the least. Apparently, being surprised by the appearance of a very nonhuman being raises Venus's hackles, though Joel just sees it as being incredibly oversensitive. Kankri and Ellie managed to defuse the situation, but ultimately there was a decidedly bad impression made, at least from Joel's perspective. Venus is way too invested in politics. Way too invested in the "greater good" for Joel's taste. It's dangerous, and he'd rather that Ellie stay away from her and the crowd she runs with.
Despite a particularly tense first meeting, the overall impression that Joel has of Sigma is, if not necessarily positive, at least neutral. Sigma gave him some information, and seems to be familiar with Ellie. That combination of elements, first of all, saved his life at the time, and second of all, gave Joel the impression that he might be of use as a potential ally should the need arise.
Joel's first reaction upon seeing Kankri unexpectedly was "what the hell is that?" This did not endear him to either the troll or his friend, Venus. Nonetheless, once he got over the shock, Kankri proved to be thoughtful, intelligent, and - most important perhaps as far as Joel is concerned - a kid. He means Kankri no harm in general, as long as he remains not-hostile, of course. And if he gets along with Ellie, well then, so much the better.
Ellie claims that R was "infected", but still able to speak. And then, apparently, the Capitol cured his infection. Joel isn't quite sure he believes this, but the fact remains that R is a strange, strange person, who should have died when he got garrotted by someone. Somehow, he didn't, and that unsettles Joel more than he can say, in addition to the stories Ellie has told him. Ellie seems to feel obligated to him, somehow, perhaps because of her own immunity to the cordyceps, though Joel doesn't understand why. Even if he was infected, Joel reasons, it likely wasn't the same disease. On some level, Joel resents R for making Ellie feel so beholden.
Joel never thought he'd meet someone with more atrocious vocabulary than Ellie. Then he met Punchy. Despite the help he offered Joel, he can't help but view the teenager with a certain level of disdain simply for the way he speaks. If he wants to be understood, Joel reasons, he should use plain goddamn English. If he wants to be taken seriously.
A queen in a deathmatch is a fish out of water, and considering she's an adult, Elsa seems particularly naive about the world. On one hand, he can't help but feel a certain amount of pity for such a person - but it's a pity tinged with condescension, and the knowledge that she's unlikely to survive long. He'll be keeping her at arm's reach.
Joel has met a caveman, and it seems their worlds are not as radically different as might seem at first glance. Guy proved his competence almost immediately, and then exacerbated that when he greeted Ellie with warmth and kindness. Like Wyatt, Guy is straightforward, says exactly what he means, all things that Joel heartily appreciates. He's also obviously skilled in hunting, tracking and survival, which means he would be a fantastic potential ally if Joel ever found himself in need of one.
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