text:

[charring]

[It's short, sweet. To the point. Charlie woke up to quite a surprise this morning and she hates it. So she packed up the animals and went to stay in one of the nearby apartments. She won't be telling anyone where she is, for a multitude of reasons.]

Yes, she's hiding. No she pretty much doesn't want to see anyone or bother with anyone. And in all likelihood won't bother replying back.]

Merlin's gone again. He went home.

[Yep. That's the extent of it. At least she hasn't been attacked this time? Feel free to try to find her. She's away from her mansion for the next week and won't be coming to work for a few days. She wants to be hard to reach.]

Comments

[text;]

[unflagging]

I'm sorry to hear that. I know you and I haven't talked too much, and he and I only talked a little but--

Well, anyway: I'm sorry.

[Yeah, he feels soooooo bad.]

[text; about three hours later]

[charring]

Thank you.

[text;]

[unflagging]

You're welcome.

I know I'm basically just a stranger on the Network, but drop a line if you need anything, all right?

[text;]

[charring]

I appreciate that. I'll keep it in mind.

Private

[coyote_walking]

Oh, Charlie, I'm so sorry.

Hey. There's plenty of room at the house here if you just want to hide out for a while. It's just me here and with 8 something bedrooms, people could go months without running into one another.

Offer's open if you ever want to get away.

Text

[rianofski]

My condolences. With any luck, it will be temporary.

Re: Private

[charring]

I'm good. Thank you, though.

Re: Text

[charring]

It was temporary last time. My luck's never even that good.

Re: Text

[rianofski]

The City has been known to do stranger things in the past. Has this only happened once before?

Re: Text

[charring]

Once. The day we were supposed to return on our honeymoon.

Re: Text

[rianofski]

That doesn't seem coincidental; unfortunately, I'm sure those controlling the City thought it an amusing idea.

Re: Text

[charring]

They're assholes.

Re: Text

[rianofski]

That's something we can all generally agree upon. Regardless, for your sake, I can hope they're the kind of assholes that end up bringing Merlin back to the City.

Re: Text

[charring]

But that would be a display of genuine kindness.

[Something she doesn't actually believe in from most people.]

Re: Text

[rianofski]

They may not see it that way. Perhaps they see bringing people back to the City as a punishment, no matter how many people may be waiting for them. Obviously, the 'Deities' possess no kindness, nor altruism.

Re: Text

[charring]

Or logic.

Re: Text

[rianofski]

Their apparent lack of logic is, in my opinion, their greatest flaw of all.

[Although at the moment, Charlie probably thinks more important things are their greatest flaws... like the disappearance of Merlin.]

Re: Text

[charring]

[That's pretty much it.]

Thank you for talking to me. It's helping, in a way.

text.

[longaevus]

I know that it's painful. [ She does. And she's carefully thinking here ] However home is where he should be. [ And as non-cheerful making as that sounds she has a small hope that it may be - their friend is home, where they should be, where everyone should be. It's sad but pleasing? ]

text.

[charring]

[It's a stranger. Showing concern...what? THank God Charlie's manners kick in, somewhat.]

I know. That was my husband, though.

text.

[longaevus]

[ She tries she tries ] That I am sorry for. Although if I understand right neither of you will know this, or of this place once you have left.

Re: text.

[charring]

True. It's just a terrible feeling. I want to make the best of what time I had, and I feel like it was cut short. But then, that can be said of outside of here, too.

text.

[longaevus]

That is sadly so. But remembering what has happened can make moments feel longer.

Re: Text

[rianofski]

Is it? That's not something I hear often.

[He really can't tell if she's being sarcastic or not, sadly.]

Re: Private

[coyote_walking]

Right.

Well, just know I'm here.