the space in between.

[wield]

[ First came denial. She refused to believe he was gone--no, he had to have moved. There was no way he was gone. With the castle changing things up, he had to be around somewhere, a different floor. Maybe into the town? She must have wandered the streets of the town and scanned floors looking for his name plate or a sign of his existence a dozen times before allowing herself to stop in front of where his name once stood. Her brows lowered and her heart raced as she reached for the handle only to open the door into an empty room, and that was all it took. Buffy didn't even bother walking in, peering from beyond the door frame was enough. ]

He's gone. Angel... he's gone.

[ Hours later, her voice, angry, sad, and defeated all in the same, came across the journal. Cold hands were shoved into her coat pockets as she stood on the roof, seemingly staring off into the woods, but to her it was really nothing. She's kind of in her own little world right now, so she probably won't respond via journal. ]

Comments

[spiritusaequitas]

[not that Murphy understands this place yet, by any means, but he knows grief when he hears it. he tugs the journal into his lap and speaks up softly]

I'm sorry.

[fredless]

[She should be used to it now. She really, really should. But that doesn't keep a single ounce of sad from Fred's voice]

...Angel?

[luthored]

[ Ohhh Buffy knew Angel? Wow she never talked about him when they lived together before. She senses past drama. Current drama? ]

If you want to talk about it, Buffy, I'm around.

[interpersonally]

[ A lot of feelings. They include his brother and Angel not deserving whatever... happened to him. But, he only talked to the guy once. ]

I'm sorry.

/is late for everything

[letsbe_clear]

[there's a pause as she listens to that, and then she exhales slowly]

Nothing ever really lasts forever around here, does it?

[shinybaldhead]

Hey. Sorry. He was important to a lot of us.

[wield]

Yeah. [ A slight pause because she's trying to get used to her herself. ] Angel.

[wield]

Not much to talk about, really. The castle gives, the castle takes. I'm surprised I'm not used to it by now. [ Then she takes a break to think about that for a moment. First Xander, then Spike, and now Angel... ] It... never gets easier, does it?

[wield]

Yeah. Me too.

you are flawless. shhhhh.

[wield]

No, it really doesn't.

[luthored]

No. You never really get used to it. You just learn to react more quickly.

[wield]

He'll-- [ She'll take a moment to think of her words careful. ] Definitely be missed.

[fredless]

[There's a quiet sigh. Because part of her can't help but not be surprised. Part of her is always waiting]

Do we know when? I mean...how long?

[Because she hasn't seen him in a while. What've he had been gone for weeks and she just hadn't noticed?]

[interpersonally]

A friend, Caroline went home too. [ And Alaric. ] It sucks.

[wield]

No. I was just walking by and... It could have been weeks.

[wield]

You also lost someone important to you a few months ago, didn't you?

[wield]

I don't understand. Why does it happen? Does the castle just all the sudden get tired of certain people and just kick them out?

[wield]

It happens.

[interpersonally]

[ Thanks for the reminder. ]

Lexi. My best friend. [ And, she went back to die. ] Another friend, Alaric. Elena's disappeared twice so far.

[spiritusaequitas]

Aye, that it does. [it doesn't matter that he's not entirely sure what "it" is. everything happens, especially the kind of shite that makes people sound like she did]

But then other stuff happens, too, so ... it'll even out. One way or t'other.

Stefan

[wield]

How... how do you deal with something like that all the time?

Buffy

[interpersonally]

...I -- do. It's hard. Some days. But, you can't let it weigh you down.

Stefan

[wield]

Everyone is slowly leaving.

Buffy

[interpersonally]

The castle can't let everyone go. The way I see it, those that are sent back return to their lives. In some cases... it's a good thing.

[shinybaldhead]

You gonna be okay?