Crystal

[armd]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Abby & Clarisse
RECIPIENT: Everybody
NOTES: Uh, about morale being understandably low...

(This isn't something Abby knows how to embellish or talk around, a blow she can't hope to soften. Her crystal clicks on; she breathes in first, a quick pull.)

Ellie's gone.

(That's all. She can't think of what else to say.

Clarisse must be close, because she leans in and adds,) I'll make sure the griffons and the stables are taken care of.

(She thinks about adding "for now" or "until we figure something else out" and then doesn't bother. Who cares, anyway.)

Comments

[thereneverwas]

[His breath catches.]

--oh no.

[armd]

Yup.

[thereneverwas]

Shit, mate. Shit, I’m—

[he’s genuinely distressed, more so than he tends to let on.]

Both of you, I’m sorry.

[youwonscience]

Shit.

[Switched to private, because there's some sense of decorum as a div head:]

If either of you need to borrow some music. Or some drugs. Or... I know nothing really helps, but if you need anything to get through, let me know.

private

[armd]

'Borrow' some music?

[youwonscience]

The Fade spat me out with a mostly bricked iPhone when I came to Thedas this time, but it plays music. Selection is random, but if you're willing to keep hitting "skip," there's a decent variety on there. I can show you how to work it if you want.

priv forever

[laruetheday]

I might take you up on the music some night.

[youwonscience]

Whenever you need it. Unfortunately it's on permanent shuffle, so you might have to do some skipping to get to what you need, but there's some stuff on there I think might suit.

[favoriteanalyst]

...Oh.

[It seems like that's going to be it for a long moment, just his quiet surprise/dismay. But then a deep breath:] Thank you for confirming.

[laruetheday]

[ For some reason the word "confirming" makes her feel nauseous. ]

Sure.

[sprent]

(Gela nearly says 'Are you sure?' and bites it back the moment Clarisse speaks. She would know better than anyone, wouldn't she? Shock settles over her.)

If — (she clears her throat.) I can find somebody else to assist you with the stables and griffons, if you need it.

[laruetheday]

I think I want to focus on it myself for now. I'll let you know if I end up needing help, though.

[ She sounds so, so stoic. ]

[sprent]

That's okay. I'm sure you'll... ('do very well at it'? That's no thing to say in these circumstances. Gela doesn't try to amend herself at all, she just trails off and is silent for an aching moment.)

I'll bring food for you both, (she decides. This is what she did when Ellie was sad about Clarisse, so it stands that the reverse situation must be treated the same way.) I'll leave it outside your tent.

[grindset]

[extortionate]

[ THE FANTASTIC GLOBE: A HAND-ATLAS OF VIRTUE by author and illustrator B. REST is left outside their tent that evening or the next, along with a bottle of - alright, half a bottle of wine - and a thoughtful kerchief. For the tears. ]

[laruetheday]

[ is the kerchief clean, at least? ]

[extortionate]

[ heads ]

[elegiaque]

( over, and over, and over, and without rhyme or reason. rifters just

are gone. )

I'm sorry. If there's anything I can do.

( the words are trite, frustratingly; the sentiment is not. gwenaëlle has never made an empty offer in her life. )

[laruetheday]

Yeah.

[ Her voice sounds tight. There's nothing anybody can do. Nothing she wants. ]

[cozen]

[ The last time Bastien and Ellie really talked, he circled around the matter of her arm. Of Wysteria’s theories. She wasn’t willing to give up her bow or her instrument yet. She said we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it and I don't wanna go borrowing grief from the future. And he let it go.

He thinks she’ll be back. He thinks it hard, like he can force it.

He only says, ] Fuck. I’m so sorry.

[armd]

(Abby makes a sound, a sort of hmm. Her back teeth are pressed tightly together.)

Her stuff, (she says, finally. The rest of the sentence doesn't make it out. The bow, the instrument.)

action, a while later

[altusimperius]

[He's in his office when the announcement is made, and says nothing; no one sees how he pinches his brow, has to take several long moments to pull himself together.

It's by chance that he passes Abby in the tower later that day. Or rather, almost passes-- instead, he turns back to approach her with purpose and snare her in a sudden, urgent embrace. Fuck you we're hugging friends now.]

[armd]

(Abby goes still, arms at her sides.)

Benedict. (It comes out muffled against his shoulder. She has to resist the urge to throw him off. He's being nice but she doesn't want nice, nothing comforting. In a weird way, it hurts more.)

[portalling]

( Apart from Tony, this is perhaps the disappearance which he finds cuts him more than he expected, with a hitch of breath. He’s listened to the replies, and everyone else has already made all their offers of help and comforting words — and Strange is terrible at consolation, at saying the right soothing things, but it deserves some remark at the least. Rifters ought to be remarked upon; he hates how they simply vanish into nothing. )

I’m so sorry. Thank you for letting us know.

Shout if you need anything, or to be scheduled for more time at the infirmary, or less.

[laruetheday]

Will do.

[ haha see they're doing just fine :) ]