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.

video l

[primrosella]

Well, um. [She takes a breath.] Yes, well. I'm Rosella, and I very much appreciate all the help you've given the Blue Light. I'm...well, I'm not very certain how I'll manage at looking after things yet--certainly not as well as Edmund did, I'm sure--but I will try my very best at it, and I hope you'll be patient with me as I, er...learn my way around things.

video l

[rehashing]

Of course.

[ she's overwhelmed. Elena gets that. it's so frustrating. she keeps running into moments where she knows Caroline might excel or might have the perfect thing to say. she has friends here, she does. just none from home. but, what's worse? not having them or having them and losing them?

but, Elena helps. when she can. with town events. with organization, with setting up. does she have the time to devote to this? old Elena -- well, old Elena would cheer and go over Matt's and have parties at the Falls.

she doesn't know what to say. ]

Is there a computer system?

[ there's one at Mystic Grille. it could help with organization, what's where... even Jeremy might be able to help with this ]

video l

[primrosella]

A...what? Er...I'm afraid I really don't know...

[Which probably comes with being a fairytale princess who wouldn't know how to spot a computer if it hit her in the head.]

I don't think I ever heard Edmund mention anything like that, though...or Peter and Caspian, or Blue either. I wonder if one of the others who works there might know? Drat it all...

video l

[rehashing]

[ even if the waitresses don't have one, maybe the system is. but, considering there probably isn't credit here past word of mouth... ]

There probably isn't. He kept paperwork. Didn't he? Books?

video l

[primrosella]

Oh! Yes, I'm sure he did that. And I'm sure it's very well-organized, too, he was always neat and meticulous about things like that...

[...Oh. Oh, now there's a breakthrough. It's really something she ought to have thought of herself, probably, but she's still a little all over the place at the moment, and it's easier to respond to direct questions than it is to focus on how to tackle this daunting prospect all by herself.]

Yes, I'm sure they must be around somewhere. And if I have a look at them I'll know where to start, at least. Good, yes, that's what I ought to do, isn't it?

video l

[rehashing]

You can start there.

[ it is, isn't it? everything going through your mind. you have to cancel subscriptions. stay off of social worker radar. her death is sudden and secret. people can't know. but, this is... beyond that. she has just... been there. before. ]

Probably. I could come by at lunch. I'm also on tonight. [ there she goes, being helpful. ]

[synanthrope]

Do you need help?

video l

[primrosella]

[The truth is, she really doesn't want to go into the Blue Light tonight; honestly, she'd rather go sit out by the lake or keep to herself and cry a little, but...no, she can't, not when there's something to be done and people depending on her to do it. Even if those people aren't in the City to see it anymore.

And a moment later it hits her that maybe this was part of Edmund's plan all along, why he left this all to her--because he knew her well enough to know that she wouldn't be able to just stop if she still had a responsibility to fulfill, and drat it all, he always was too awful and clever for his own good.]

Well, I don't want to make a great fuss over this if I can help it, and I certainly don't want to ask everyone to do more work than they have to on my behalf, so please don't feel as though you need to go out of your way for my sake! I think I will come in tonight, if only to meet everyone and get things a bit started, but...well, I may be a bit behind at first, but I'll get things sorted out, one way or another. And I do appreciate all the help in the meantime, so very much.

[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.

video l

[rehashing]

It's not a problem. I'll be there tonight.

[primrosella]

Oh, could you? Or even just--I don't mind learning how myself, not at all, but if I were to go get the books and things, could you help me through them? Oh, please, I'd be so terribly grateful, it's just that I'm not quite sure where to start and I'd hate to make a mistake somewhere by guessing wrong.

video l

[primrosella]

I'll very much look forward to seeing you, then, Elena. And thank you so very much.

Oh! And if you can think of anything that I ought to pay attention to in particular--something you don't like, or think ought to be changed, please do let me know, won't you?

[synanthrope]

Yes, I could. It would be no trouble at all.

[primrosella]

Oh, thank you so very much! I'm sure it'll all be as straightforward as it can be, knowing Edmund, but I've still never done this sort of thing before and I'd like to learn it properly the first time around, if I can.

[synanthrope]

I'll spend a few hours going over it with you. If it's clear, it shouldn't be too complex.

[primrosella]

That's wonderful of you, Miss Saya, thank you.

[synanthrope]

You're welcome, Rosella.

[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...

[primrosella]

Oh, yes, thank you, I'll remember that! It'd be a great help, I'm sure, and please do just keep coming in to work as you have been in the meantime! The last thing I want is to cause a great big upset and make trouble for everyone.