[ oh. that isn't really what she was expecting, but she gets it. something not quite right, just a little off; she doesn't know if that surreal element made it better or worse for him all things considered. ]

Then... what's the point?

[ Ellie's still riding the high of mingling among literal dinosaurs - so cool - but it isn't like she hasn't been thinking about the bigger picture. the why, the reason. the scrywatch is heavy at her wrist, and she has sent more than a glance toward Joel's because of what it supposedly stands for. ]

A mall, a carnival... dinosaurs. Am I missing something? 'Cause it feels like a bunch of random... bullshit.

[ especially if what he's saying is right and none of those 'recreations' are faithful to the original. what is it all for? bettering yourself, if that was the real objective... some kind of personal redemption... how the hell does any of this help? does he have any better an idea? maybe. she hopes so. ]