Friday: Going Home

[mylandmyrules]

Well, this was it. Nell was wearing her original skirt and tunic combination, and had carefully tucked away her phone and charger and two books deep in her pockets. She didn't dare bring anything else back with her. A four year disappearance was going to be hard enough to explain as it was.

Portalocity seemed sure that this portal would be stable, but she honestly didn't have much faith in it to last longer than it took for her to return home.

She took a deep breath and looked around her, taking a last look at the place and people who had supported her. "Thank you for everything you've done for me," she said. "I'll miss you and I'll try to see if I can stay in touch, but I'm not sure that will be possible. You'll all be in my heart, though."



[OOC: Expecting several, but open to anyone who might want to say goodbye to Nell. If you think your character would have heard about her leaving, then they did.

Nell thinks she's leaving for good, but she'll be back next week, nine years older.]

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

"So that's why the apartment is so quiet," Marc said when he walked up to her. It was his attempt at a joke.

[mylandmyrules]

She smiled at him, even if it was a little trembly. "And here I thought I'd done so well pretending to be a mouse."

[hasaknightjob]

"Mice don't cook at much as you do," Marc said. Then again it was Fandom, maybe they did.

[mylandmyrules]

"At least you'll miss something about me when I'm gone," she teased.

[hasaknightjob]

"Sure, in three months when we get through eating it all," Marc replied. Nell had filled pretty much every available space in the fridge and freezer with enough food for Steven and Marc individually. It was impressive, really.

[mylandmyrules]

"I wanted to make sure you were well fed," Nell replied. "Not just that stuff Steven orders in."

[hasaknightjob]

"Wasn't a complaint," Marc told her. "So, you ready for this?"

[mylandmyrules]

She smiled at him, then sobered, and nodded. "I am," she said, "Or as ready as I can be."

[hasaknightjob]

"Not too late to change your mind," Marc told her. He knew she wouldn't, but sometimes you needed to know you could.

[pocketpretzels]

Watts knew, logically speaking, that Nell would not have the means to bring very much back with her. And yet, he'd very nearly left with an entire stack of books. Thankfully, he'd managed to whittle it down to just the one.

"I do hope you enjoy it," he said, holding the book out for her to take.

[mylandmyrules]

"Oh Detective," Nell said. "Thank you so much."

She looked at the book carefully. "This is the one you mentioned before, thank you. I'll cherish it." She tucked it away deep in one of her pockets.

"Thank you for coming to see me off."

[pocketpretzels]

"You're welcome," he said with a nod. Goodbyes were- not something he was good at. The last person he'd said goodbye to was his sister, and the less said about that the better. "I'd prefer it if you'd stay, of course. But I understand your reasons."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell nodded. "I can't say that I wouldn't rather stay here," she admitted, "But I have to go."

Was a part of her wondering if John might have divorced her for abandonment while she'd been gone? It was. And if he had and Portalocity was sure that she'd be able to come back and forth she'd come back as soon as she'd checked on her sisters.

But she was pretty sure she wouldn't be that lucky.

[pocketpretzels]

"I- hope you will at least be able to keep in touch."

[mylandmyrules]

"I have my phone and charger," she said. "If John doesn't find it I'll try to text or call at market days. I can't promise anything, but I'll try."

[pocketpretzels]

"Understood." Another nod, short and sharp. "Just- take care of yourself." He grimaced slightly, realising how that sounded given that she'd been taking care of herself all this time. "Continue to do so. You know what I mean."

[mylandmyrules]

It was fine, Detective. She'd take it in the spirit in which it was intended.

"I will," she said. "After all, if I don't take care of myself, who will?"

[unusual_sith]

"And you'll be in ours," Lana said. "Don't forget to call if you can. May your god be with you."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell touched her heart and smiled. "Thank you. And yours watch over you. I will try to call if I possibly can."

[unusual_sith]

"I'll be waiting and hoping. For you and your sisters." She grinned. "And I'm still not afraid to grab up some of your elders and bring them here out of spite if they're awful to you."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell laughed. "I wish you could," she said. "Scare them half to death in a place like this."

[unusual_sith]

"They'd deserve it," Lana said firmly. "But hopefully you won't need that. You're strong; just don't forget that."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell nodded. "I've had to be. And all of you have helped me become even stronger."

[unusual_sith]

"You were strong before you ever got here," Lana said. "If I could help at all, I'm pleased. I'll find some more plants to keep for you. Maybe I'll see if we can get a makrin adapted to Fandom."

[mylandmyrules]

"That would be amazing," Nell said. Even if she never got to see it, just the idea of it made her smile.