Є019 spam/text/voice/video; so far from where i started.

[forgetyourusedtobe]

[Elena returns to her cabin after lunch and notices the door leading to her bathroom is closed. Elena freezes, sensing something is different and entirely unseure of what. Swallowing hard, she steps forward and puts a tentative hand on the handle. Opening it, she finds the shared full bathroom she had with her brother. Her heart clenches in her chest at the sight of the smooth wall where another door should be, but she doesn't look away. Instead, she just stands there a while in silence. She needs a few minutes to let it sink in.]

[She can go.]

spam - abigail.
[She knows she should go to Arkin first, but Arkin has to wait. There's someone she needs to see first before him. Elena leaves her room in a hurry and heads to Abigail's, knocking on the door. She realizes, of course, after she knocks that she's woefully unprepared to have this conversation. She doesn't know the right way or the best way to say she's leaving. She knows Abigail will understand. Abigail always does. But she's also not sure how Abigail will handle it in the end. Or if they'll ever see each other again. But it's a conversation that has to happen. So Elena draws a deep breath and steels herself for what is to come.]

spam - arkin.
[After she's had time with Abigail, Elena leaves for Arkin's cabin. Her knock is a little smaller than she intended, but she's already feeling a little emotionally drained and exhausted. But she's still happy. She's happier than she's felt in a long while.]

text - dean.

what do you say to one last drink?

text - bond.

hey jimmy, i got some good news.

voice - harvey.

I did it.

video.

[Elena feels like she should have some kind of speech prepared. Some kind of splendid and memorable goodbye with gratitude to everyone who stuck by her through the worst of her life. She started with no humanity, hating herself and everything her life had become. But gradually, over time, Elena learned to love herself again. She learned to not be afraid of caring. There's a storm of emotions inside of her, good and bad, but she can navigate through them now. And the emotion she feels the most is hope.]

[She'd forgotten what that felt like.]

I really don't know what to say. I guess because I never really thought I'd get to this point.

[She smiles.]

But I guess I graduated.

Comments

spam

[versusnurture]

[Abigail knows as soon as she's opened the door that something's happened. Something big. She even has some idea of what it is. But because she can't predict the future, because all she knows is that Elena doesn't seem scared or angry but mostly overwhelmed, she doesn't say anything. She just wraps her arms around Elena's shoulders and pulls her close.]

Hi, [she says, like this is how they normally greet each other: with tight hugs and silent reassurances of love.]

spam

[forgetyourusedtobe]

[Elena is a little surprised by the hug, but surprise gives way to something better. Her smile comes easily and naturally as she wraps her arms around Abigail in return.]

Hey, [she says softly, staying just like that for a moment.]

[If there was one person who managed to get Elena here - aside from the obvious being her warden, of course - it was Abigail. Abigail believed in her in ways that Elena had forgotten how to do and didn't think she should. She was one of the few people that Elena has loved that told her to decide and figure things out for herself. She wishes she could give something like that back to Abigail, but she knows there's not much she actually could.]

[Elena takes a small step back and holds Abigail's face in her hands.]

[And then she figures to hell with it.]

[She kisses her.]

spam

[versusnurture]

[If Abigail could hear what Elena was thinking, she'd laugh. Like Elena hasn't taught by example this whole time - like Abigail hasn't been following in her footsteps from the very start. At first she was impressed by the other girl's ruthlessness, and now . . . well, there's something to be said for cruelty giving way to kindness. To surviving, but not at others' expense.]

[She looks up at Elena with that look she reserves just for her, with softness and longing and a complete contentment that looks almost alien on her face - and when Elena kisses her, she sighs as if this is all she's ever wanted and kisses back, peppering her lips and cheeks with light brushes.]

You don't have to tell me, [she murmurs, in between a kiss to Elena's eyebrow and the space just below her cheekbone.] I already know.

[patheticvillain]

So, Paris now?

[He's half joking. Mostly just really pleased. To see the back of her, yes, but also to see her happy. It's confusing.]

[forgetyourusedtobe]

I might hit up a Spanish beach first.

[patheticvillain]

Or all of them. I'd suggest all of them.

[ Private : Text ~~> Video ]

[surfaceshine]

Last? Know something I d-

[And then abruptly, video with a cautiously grinning but somewhat wide-eyed hunter. He looks pretty ridiculous.]

Darlin'?

[ Video ]

[forgetyourusedtobe]

[Elena grins.]

Know of any good places to see in the States?

The name's Pickle, by the way. Not darlin'.

[ Video ]

[surfaceshine]

[The sadness wins out for just a moment, powerful and deep; he'll miss her.

Then it's swept away with an abrupt widening of his grin, pleased and proud. And appropriately chastised.]

Pickle. Right, what was I thinking?

You kidding? I got a list longer'n you are tall. I mean, if you really want just the good stuff.

private

[deshabille]

Take the crossbow with you, would you?

[Which means congratulations.]

private

[forgetyourusedtobe]

It's a dangerous world out there.

private text

[lastrat]

that would be a welcome change

private text

[forgetyourusedtobe]

hey, don't get ahead of yourself. you might start getting empty nest syndrome.

[semifreakingnormal]

No way, really?

[He doesn't mean it meanly, doesn't even mean it remotely like it sounds: he's so genuine, though, it's impossible to believe he's anything but happy.]

That's awesome!

[forgetyourusedtobe]

[Elena smiles a little wider.]

Thanks, Scott. I know we didn't start off the right way, but...

Thanks.

[audio;private]

[halftheman]

[ His voice is measured; pride there for her, yes. But a little grief too, at the coming loss. She'll be the first to leave, but he knows he'll watch the all go, eventually, one by one. ]

I knew you would.

[audio;private]

[forgetyourusedtobe]

You're going to be okay. Both of you.

spam

[themissingpiece]

[His item stopped showing Elena which... worried him. He doesn't panic because it can only mean one of two things, she was sent home or she graduated. He hopes it's graduation. She's been close to it for a while now.]

[So, he waits a few minutes before considering looking for her. If she's graduated, he thinks, she'll come find him. And it turns out, she does.]

You did it.

spam

[forgetyourusedtobe]

[Elena smiles first and then laughs softly before nodding. She's proud of herself. For a long time, she had been lower than she had ever felt before. And now look at her.]

Yeah, I did it. Finally.

[She holds her arms out for a hug.]

[strangehistorian]

Congratulations!

[forgetyourusedtobe]

Thank you.

[fireincarnate]

[Jean's smile is wide and warm.] Congratulations.

Do you know where you want to go?

[forgetyourusedtobe]

I think I should go back to my world. I need to make amends for a few things, but then...

Then I think it's best if I just move on.

[mistconduct]

...Holy shit.

[forgetyourusedtobe]

Eloquent as always.