Syntax Error 27 -- Backdated to shortly after Alan leaves

[wizard_redfive]

[Dairine hadn't heard from Alan for quite some time. Not since New Years, in fact. At first Dairine chalked it up to him being busy with Code Blair or some pet project. But then one day, a pile of books appeared on her desk... ones that she recognized. They were from Alan's bookshelf. Without a second thought, she tore out of her room, racing down the steps. Being neighbors, it didn't take long for her to reach his door.

The nameplate was blank.

The journal picks up a loud crash as something shatters against a wall, accompanied by a yell full of rage and pain. It probably sounds bad, but she's not physically hurt. Dairine's simply venting her sorrow in the best way she knows: anger.

Once the noise settles down, there is a moment of silence. When Dairine finally speaks, her voice unusally flat.]

Alan’s gone.

Comments

[onlyanapple]

Friend of yours?

[valuedstrength]

I'm sorry, Dairine.

[wizard_redfive]

Yes.

[She doesn't feel like elaborating. It's simpler to leave it at that.]

[onlyanapple]

[There's a pause]

...You ok?

[wizard_redfive]

[She snaps back.]

What do you think?

[foughtfortheusers]

[Have a mournful rumbling noise from Rinzler. Alan was his user.] I know.

Found his possessions in room.

Filter

[well_assembled]

Do you need anything?

[She'd lost enough, know enough people who had, to not ask if she was ok. You are never ok when that happens. Nat won't try to offer the same comfort others do, she's better at providing things.]

[onlyanapple]

Obvious question, I know.

I don't know, do you want to go punch things until you feel better?

[wizard_redfive]

[Oh Steve, if there's one thing you should not tell Dairine when she's upset, it's that. Too many people said so after her mother's... after her mother... well, you get the idea.

Bitterly:]

Sorry doesn't help.

[wizard_redfive]

[Dairine's first instinct is direct her rage at the program. To scream and throw insults at him. He knew? He knew, and he didn't tell her? It's all his fault!

But that wouldn't change anything, so she resists the temptation.]

Me too.

[valuedstrength]

[He knows it doesn't mean anything. Steve has lost his fair share of people and is painfully aware it's only the start. Still it's better than saying nothing which is why people say it at all.]

I know.

Dictated

[kungfuwitch]

[She breathes]

No...

[wizard_redfive]

Then don't say it.

Dictated

[wizard_redfive]

Phoebe... [Dairine's voice sounds tired and wrecked, her initial anger finally wearing away.]

I wish I was wrong but...

[valuedstrength]

What do you want me to say, Dairine?

Dictated

[wizard_redfive]

[Yes, she does want to punch things (maybe even him), but the urge is no stronger than any other in her mind. She wants to cry. She wants to scream, to run off to the Dead Zone, to curl up in her room and stay there for days. Many possibilities churn in her head, none of them all that good. Because none of them will solve anything.

Very, very quietly:]

I don't know what I want.

[wizard_redfive]

Nothing! I just want...! [She cuts herself off and rubs her face with her hands.]

[foughtfortheusers]

Will miss user. [Even if he only met him at the castle... The user left an impression on him. And he left him something special.]

Will not forget.

[kungfuwitch]

He'll probably be happier back home with Sam...

[She's not even trying to hide the sadness in her voice at the thought of one of her oldest friends here (... in time, not in age) leaving. She was suddenly grateful she was going on the expedition. It would give her a chance to get away from things to clear her head of all of this.]

I wonder what's going to happen to Code Blair, now.

forever!

[onlyanapple]

[Normally, Crowley would rely on alcohol to solve this problem, but Dairs a little young for that. He's silent, trying to think of something to help her out. Take her mind off things.

...Not that he cares]

You could also eat ice cream until you're sick?

[hard_talker]

Wait, wh--

FUCK.

[valuedstrength]

Do you want to talk about this face to face?

dictated

[inafadingcrown]

[Softly:] A friend of yours?

[wizard_redfive]

Exactly.

[She's pissed and upset and glad that he feels the same. Even if he has a more vulgar of expressing it.]

[hard_talker]

How come we keep losing all the decent people?