Quest 303

[primrosella]

[Voice Post]

[The audio here starts out with somewhat of a long pause, as though the speaker switched on the recorder a little too soon, before she was really quite ready to start speaking. There isn't much background noise to fill in the gap, either; no footsteps, no sounds of nature crowding in. By and large, it's just...dead air. But then, carefully, a voice does speak: ]

I was...I'd planned to start this off with, um...with an apology, for the way I was behaving this past weekend, with the curse, and I really am very sorry for that, but it seems a bit...

[She trails off. Another long pause.]

It's just...I found out today that I'm to have the Blue Light now, and I thought that must be a mistake, because it belongs to--

[A pause again.]

But I'm glad, though! I'm glad, really, because--because they were all here for a while but he was always late, or a little behind, and then they all had to go and he was behind again and I--well, it was horrible, really, and he was so sad, and I worried so much for so long. So it's better that the time came for him to catch up again, isn't it? It's better, and...

[Another pause, and this time when her voice resumes, it's small, and more to herself than to the microphone.]

...and oh, it's--May the first, it's Lucy's birthday. I wonder if that means she got her wish? I'm sure that's what it would've been.

[The narration breaks here with some sniffling and shuddered breathing, accompanied by the rustle of fabric as she wipes her eyes on her sleeve.]

I've had to...say quite a few of these, you know, being here for so long and seeing so many people come and go and each time I get a little more practice at it, but it still never seems to come any easier, and...it's just, Edmund's...

[But she stops, because her voice cracks just a little, and it's small and almost pleading when it's finally heard again.]

Edmund, I don't know anything about managing a place like that, you awful--

[Silence. After a minute, she speaks one last time, and this time her composure is back.]

It's just, Edmund's gone home, and he's left me to look after his things, so if anyone could please--that is, I think I know most of you at the Blue Light already, just from visiting for so long, but it'd still be good for us to speak, I think, so if you could please get in touch with me I'd very much appreciate it. And if...anyone knows anything about where to start, in looking after a place like that, I'd very much appreciate the advice, too.

[And then the audio ends, while her voice is still strong, before it has the chance to crack again.]


[OOC: Bawww, Edmund. Another best friend gone from the City, and accordingly, Rosella is sad.

Blue Light People, I'll probably be posting a roundup to the tl;dr comm soon, and I'll link it here so I can get a headcount of you OOCly for my own reference! But feel free to reply here ICly, or we can just handwave that you did; either works for me. ETA: Roundup post is here!]

Comments

voice l

[rehashing]

[ Oh, hey, the Bluelight. That's Elena's second job. Oh, so her -- really young boss has gone home. And now this girl is her boss. She recognizes that resolve. She isn't going to break on camera. She sticks to voice for Rosella's sake. ]

I work at the Bluelight. [ when she's scheduled. on those nights. and crap. it will probably help Rosella to see her face so she switches to video. ] I'm Elena. [ and she's sorry about Edmund, Rosella ]

video l

[primrosella]

[She's holding it together pretty well by this point, though there's really no covering up the faint redness around her eyes and nose; that'll only disappear with time. Still, she's strong, and knows how to bear up well when the situation calls for it.

She peers at the camera for a minute, thinking back.]

Oh, yes, I think I've seen you there a few times--you're one of the waitresses? I remember Ginny, but I think you're newer than she is. And I really ought to have said hello before now, I'm sorry, but it's very nice to meet you, Elena.

video l

[rehashing]

[ it disappears with time and makeup. and resolve. ]

I am. [ a lot newer. a month or so. ] It's okay. [ She doesn't even know your name. ] It's nice to meet you, too.

[synanthrope]

Do you need help?

[primrosella]

Oh! Do you...er, know anything about how to manage a jazz club, Miss Saya?

[Because the only other kind of "help" she can imagine involves Saya waiting tables and she's trying to picture that--nope.]

[synanthrope]

No. But I know how to manage finances.

[wouldnotkindly]

[Well, this is. Awkward.]

Uh... I tend bar at the Blue Light. Sometimes. [He rubs the back of his neck.] Do you need help with anything, miss?

[primrosella]

Oh, do you? I'm sorry, I'm afraid I haven't been keeping very good track of everyone that works there, but--well, I suppose I'll be much better about it from now on, won't I?

Yes, hello, my name is Rosella, and I'm so very glad to meet you. Thank you for all the help you've given the Blue Light so far! I, um...well, I suppose I'll be managing things now, and I'll try my very best to, er, do as well as Edmund did. Once I manage to work out what that all was in the first place.

[wouldnotkindly]

It's nice to meet you too, Rosella.

[He nods to her, not seeming bothered in the least by not being recognized.]

I don't really know much about managing things, but, uh— I've been tending bar for a while now, and I'm pretty good with physical labor, so if there's anything else you need...

text;

[aperfectthird]

I'm sorry for your losses, Miss Rosella.

text;

[primrosella]

It's better this way, isn't it? Even if I'll miss him, it's better that he's with his family. He ought to be. So it's all right. It's all right, really.

text;

[aperfectthird]

That's a very noble way of thinking of it.

[Even if it's very little actual consolation to those left behind.]

I'm sure he's happy back home.

[misterblackbird]

So he's gone back to England, then.

[primrosella]

There or to Narnia, I'm afraid. I just...wherever he goes, I hope he's with his family. It's Lucy's birthday, and he ought to be--

...It's...it is better this way, isn't it?

[misterblackbird]

Well, yes, one or the other, of course. I think he'd be more content in Narnia, of the two.

It is, perhaps better. Though that hardly means it's easier.

Are you all right?

[blonderazorshiv]

You all right?

[primrosella]

Oh, Mr. Blonde! Yes, it's just...well, it's just that a dear friend of mine has gone back to be with his family now, and I'm...oh, that club I mentioned once, the Blue Light? Well, I'm to manage it now, it seems, but I don't know the first thing about anything like that, and I'm just a bit...

[Sad. And flustered. And beside herself.]

...I'm just a bit...wrapped up in sorting things out, that's all.

[blonderazorshiv]

I'm sorry that you had to lose him, then.

[ He actually sounds like he means it. ]

I was never munch of a manager, but I know a little bit. [ He picked up stuff from the Cabots, even if a lot of it was "don't be like Eddie". ] I could work security on top of working at the garage too, if you need it.

audio;

[anunluckypenny]

Rosella? Do you need any help? [paaause] In an emotionally supportive way, I mean. I don't think I could help at all with the Blue Light.

Would anything cheer you up, even a little?

audio;

[primrosella]

Oh, Penny, it's...no, I'm all right, I'm just a bit...

[Except that believe it or not, no, she's actually thinking about that a minute--because with Edmund gone, there really aren't a whole lot of people left to see through her when she tries to cover up her feelings, and Penny is one of the few people that she knows she can count on to be strong in those rare times when she can't herself.]

...I'm going to miss him very much, and I'm...it's just, I'm worried I won't...do a very good job at managing everything he's left for me, that's all.

audio;

[anunluckypenny]

I'm so sorry. People leaving... I haven't been through that a lot [although Steve Rogers disappeared and hasn't had the good graces to reappear] but it can't ever be easy.

You'll do a good job, I promise. You've got a lot of friends here who want to help, and really? You're probably the most capable, resourceful, and clever person I know. It'll work out.

[hexuality]

Edmund's...

[Oh, damn you, City. Ginny pauses, takes a breath, presses on evenly.]

I still work there, Rosella. I'll help you get sorted as best I can.

[primrosella]

I'm afraid so. Hello, Ginny, and thank you for the help, I really do appreciate it so very much. I...that is, I'm afraid I won't be as good at managing things as Edmund was, right off, but I really will try my very best, and I hope I won't trouble things too badly in the meantime.

[Voice] Backtagging go! Hope you don't mind sajkhdsg I timed that hiatus nicely!

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[It hit Merlin pretty hard too. First real close friend here, pretty much? Living with someone does that.

And he knows Ed and Rosella were close.]

Are you holding up alright?

[Voice] no prob, it's exam season over here so i'm slow as molasses anyway

[primrosella]

Oh, Merlin--

[Right, of course, the house and Arthur and the boys all keeping each other company and now--yup, a whole new area of things to worry about.]

I'm...I'm just a bit, well, overwhelmed, I suppose, trying to think of everything at once and...

[And essentially, she's wavering.]