video;

[storyseeker]

[Elena Fisher isn't a constant ray of sunshine, no matter what some people say, but she's usually in good spirits when she talks on the network. Even in Hadriel's most difficult times, she's tried to project an air of optimism, or at least determination.

Not today.]

Nate's gone.

[She seems to search for more words before shaking her head.]

I just wanted to let people know.

Comments

[audio]

[synthedick]

[This is bad news no matter how one looks at it.]

I'm sorry. He's a good fella, and we're worse off without him.

[Though maybe it's better he went home. He never did get the chance to ask much about what he'd be returning to, exactly.]

You gonna be okay?

[audio]

[storyseeker]

Yeah, give me the chance to have a good cry and a lot of whatever alcohol's currently available. I'll be all right.

[For a given value of all right.]

I guess it was silly of me to assume we'd go home together.

text

[abyssalarcana]

[There aren't many things she ever bothers to even look at on the network, much less reply to, but...]

so he is! what a letdown

[audio]

[itsnotaonesie]

[Aw man, that's a bummer. Peter didn't know Nate super well, but he'd seemed pretty cool. Y'know, for an older dude.

He doesn't know who this lady is, but he assumes that she and Nate must have at least been friends or something.]

I'm sorry to hear that. I only got to talk to him a couple times, but he seemed like a good guy.

video

[outofthefire]

[she never met Nate, but she does consider Elena a friend, so]

I'm sorry.

D'you want company, or would you rather be by yourself?

text

[storyseeker]

Yeah. That's one word for it. Might get too calm around here now that he's home.

[audio]

[storyseeker]

[Very, very good friends.]

Yeah, he was. Is. Sorry, you are...? Nate didn't mention you to me.

video

[storyseeker]

Solitude feels more appealing, but...it's probably not the best option.

[audio]

[itsnotaonesie]

[BFFs even]

Oh, sorry. I'm Peter. I haven't actually been here all that long yet. Couple months tops.

video

[outofthefire]

Probably not. I'll be over soon with a bottle of something strong enough to strip paint.

[abyssalarcana]

do you think? he always seemed a little too restrained

could have done more to liven things up

you must know him well though if you thought it was your job to inform everyone so do you know what it is hes returning to?

video

[storyseeker]

Are you even old enough to legally drink where you're from?

[She asks out of idle curiosity, not because she has any intention of stopping Laura.]

[audio]

[storyseeker]

[Pants friends.]

Kind of a new kid, huh. I'm Elena. Nate's my husband.

[storyseeker]

He has his moments but 'restrained' isn't a word I'd regularly use to describe Nate.

I know him well enough to be married to him. So yeah, I do have an idea of what he's doing back home. I just hate that he's doing it alone. Or at least that's how it feels from here.

[abyssalarcana]

oh youre the one! funny he told me his wife wasnt here

men do all sorts of things when they think they wont be caught

video

[outofthefire]

[she flashes a smile for a brief moment]

Hell no. Not that I ever let that stop me.

[she assumes she has to be eighteen by now, though]

[audio]

[itsnotaonesie]

[Yeaaah that kinda friend]

Oh! He didn't-- uh.

[DON'T tell a dude's wife "he didn't mention YOU", that's gotta ping somewhere on the rude radar, right? oh no it's already ruined ABORT]

I mean, uh, yeah. K-kind of new. It's nice to meet-- uh, talk to...

...I'm gonna start over.

Hello.

[How does he have any friends, we just don't know.]

private text

[restinglichface]

im on my way

[storyseeker]

[Elena knew she would be.]

Okay.

Text

[abbatis]

[Look who's not anon this time]

I'm sorry.

[audio]

[pocketspa]

[Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck--]

When'd you last see him?

[He doesn't show his face, while he thinks about it, tries to pull himself together. His voice, he can at least keep resolute, flat, even.]

[Audio]

[drabsolutelynot]

I am sorry... about your friend.

[audio]

[synthedick]

Not that silly, seeing how people come and go.

[Usually, it's one at a time, as it seems to be here, but hey, folks have left together before. And it doesn't hurt to have some hope in a place like this. He's not usually an advocate of drinking your sorrows away, but even he knows there's a time and a place for it.

And yeah, Nate disappearing? That's about the right time.]

If you need a stiff drink, swing by the Speakeasy. It'll be on me.

[storyseeker]

I probably wasn't. Nate got here way before I did. I guess it figures he left before me, too—he's not great with organized schedules.

[As if anyone can schedule coming or going here, but it's halfhearted jokes to cope or bust.]

video

[storyseeker]

[That makes her smile as well, a little.]

I'm a terrible role model. Ah, well.

[In these very specific circumstances, she'll drink with a teenager.]