Backdated to Feb 28th

[fredless]

[It starts as a feeling, but one that's too strong to be ignored. After so many years, a girl get's some practice in at knowing the difference between quiet and quiet. And Elektra, she's just been too quiet. A visit to her friends door just confirms the painful hole, pressing against her insides. Fred keeps it deceptively simple. It's all she can manage in that moment]

To everyone that knows her, Elektra's gone home.

Comments

[heloise]

Too many has left.

[fredless]

[Especially over four years. The list in a long one]

And it doesn't get any easier.

[heloise]

Does it not? What a pity.

[ She sounds more defeated than she means to. ]

[fredless]

I'm sorry. I didn't.... [Fred sighs] I didn't want to make things worse.

[heloise]

That would be impossible.

[fredless]

Is this about Elektra?

[They've only talked a few times but this -- Elektra? Doesn't feel like the answer]

[heloise]

No, another one who has left. As I said, there have been too many.

[fredless]

[Softly]

I'm sorry.

[It's the voice of experience. Too much of it]

[heloise]

You should not. Not on behalf of the castle.

[spongetastic]

.. Thanks, Fred. [what else can he say?]

[fredless]

I'm sure she's ok. Maybe it's even better.

[spongetastic]

Yeah. She's back with Matt.

[fredless]

[But even that, in a way, makes Fred sad. Because in her mind, Elektra had come to belong with Oliver. But she keeps that to herself]

That's good, then. I'm glad.

[kungfuwitch]

I figured as much when I woke up and found her Eevee in my room...

[She sighs sadly, petting the poor Pokemon]

I'm sorry... She was a good friend.

[fredless]

[She was Fred's best friend. Not that they said it enough. Mostly because it just wasn't something Elektra did, or even wanted. And then there was Fred's quieter, nagging fear of tempting the castle itself.

It's when you cared the most that people seemed to leave. Like the stone walls gorged itself full on everything in you and then...

They were gone]

You've got Eevee? That's good.

[kungfuwitch]

[She pets the pokemon who lets out a small]

Eeeeevee

Yes. She'll be well taken care of. [her voice drops off. She's going to miss her shopping trips and tea visits with Elektra. She may not have been as close to her as she is with some of her other friends but they were still close.]

[fredless]

[The sound is oddly comforting]

I'm glad she's with you.

[kungfuwitch]

Thank you. [pause] It's been a while, Fred. How have you been?

[fredless]

I've been good, actually. Really good. I recently moved in with Wesley

[And it's a confession she feels oddly guilty about now. She hadn't been spending nearly as much time with Elektra lately]

[kungfuwitch]

[That makes her smile. She had had her eye on Wesley until she saw him and Fred together. She's happy they're doing well.]

I'm glad. I haven't spoken to him in a long time, either. It makes me happy that people can really find some happiness here.

[fredless]

It's one of the best things about this place. [Even with Elektra's loss, Fred can see that. She still believes that. Especially knowing what's waiting for her and Wesley both when they go home] At least when you're wiling to start letting it in.

[Dictated - Private to Fred]

[demonologist]

Where are you?

[He doesn't bother asking if she knows for certain. He can hear it in her voice. It's difficult to keep the pain and disbelief out of his own voice as well, but he does his best for her sake.]

I'm on my way.

[Dictated - Private to Fred]

[fredless]

I'm still at the castle. [She hasn't be able to bring herself to leave yet. It'll just make things that much more real] In the kitchen, actually.

[Because Wesley will assume the roof. And almost any other time, it's exactly where she would be. But the kitchen is where she really first met Elektra, that night after Illyria arrived]