[Written]

[goldenfirefly]

[Stella's message is lacking the usual loopy cursive handwriting that she'd usually write with so much flourish. Instead, it seems rigid, and the letters are shaky at the end.]

He's gone.

[That's all. She shuts her journal after that, and she won't respond unless someone came to her house wishing to talk.]

Comments

[action]

[corrinesbell]

[knock knock bang]

[action]

[goldenfirefly]

[That bang makes Stella jump a little, and while she'd like to ignore it... What if it was someone with malicious intent? She takes in a deep breath and pushes her hair back before she stands and walks down the hall, though she doesn't go to the door.]

... Who is it? [Despite her effort to keep the quiver out of her voice, it still managed to sneak out.]

[action]

[corrinesbell]

[the voice on the other side of the door is definitely softer than that bang]

Who do you think?

[action]

[goldenfirefly]

[Good, it's someone she knows. ... And Stella turns away from the door after being reassured.]

This... This isn't a good time for talk, Sheena.

[written]

[chikaidestroyer]

[...]

My condolences, Stella.

[action]

[filial_guardian]

[Taking place much later at night, after other people have cleared out...

Walter had passed by several times during the day, after seeing Stella's note over the journals. Not wanting to mingle with those ... well-wishers and the couples' friends, he waits until much later in the night before stepping up to the door.

He stares at the door for a long moment, almost as if he's analyzing it, before knocking. Softly.]

[action]

[goldenfirefly]

[Even though she'd usually be dreaming by now, Stella couldn't sleep. Not in her room, not in Rika's empty room, not by Sophie's side. She found herself on the couch, lying on her side and taking up two cushions, where Senel should be.

At that knock, she lets out a sigh to herself, then pushes herself up. She's stopped trying to turn away people by now. Instead, she opens the door a moment later. Her eyes are still puffy from grieving, and her hair isn't in its usual style and just looks unkept. It's definitely not how a Ferines should look.]

... Walter.

[action]

[filial_guardian]

[Walter had expected a bad reaction for coming at such a late time -- or no reaction at all, if Stella had in fact managed to sleep. So he is actually slightly surprised to hear shuffling on the other side of the door, and then the creak of the hinges as the door opens.]

...Stella.

[He goes quiet. He's had a lot of time to think about what he had read, and he's come to the conclusion that Stella has probably heard everything and anything people wanted to say to her.]

Did I wake you?

[action]

[goldenfirefly]

[Stella holds her elbows in her hands as she steps back, allowing Walter inside if he wants to come in. It's... awfully empty in the house, what with half of the decorations gone.]

Not at all.

[Voice] woman why didn't you im me i h8 u

[herobydefault]

...I'm here if you need me. [Though she might not want to see him, all things considered.]

[Voice] because i am lazy 8( ilu

[goldenfirefly]

[It's extremely late at night when Stella finally opens her journal, having no one else around and having grown restless inside the empty house. Cloud... Cloud is one of her best friends. He always understood how close she felt to Senel, and he probably knows how this feels now. But... he'd be asleep by now, wouldn't he? Still, she takes the chance. Other people came to see her, and that urge to hide away is gone now.]

... Please.

[Action]

[herobydefault]

[And within minutes he'll be at her house. He doesn't knock; the kids are probably asleep. Instead he quietly opens the door and pokes his head inside, calling softly.] Stella...?

[Action]

[goldenfirefly]

[All that time, she was thinking that he wouldn't show. Her request was quiet, and it was late, and it was rude of her to even try. But then there's the sound of the door opening. She's on the couch again, leaning over with her head in her hands, and though she lifts it up to look at the door, she doesn't want to get up.]

I'm here.

[Voice]

[wise_maiden]

[She's not close enough to be one of the visitors, but she's known them both for more than a while. This is certainly a shock.]

... I'm sorry.