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Who: Elena Fisher

Where: Lup's place
When: Shortly after Hadriel Yandere Simulator 2k18 concludes
Warnings: Unpleasant talk of event-induced abusive relationship dynamics, probably

[After a couple of weeks on the road, Elena wants nothing more than a long, hot shower when she gets back to the city—or the closest thing she can get. As dusty as she feels, though, she also feels refreshed. Things between her and Nate—and Sam—might not be really right, but they're better. That's all she can ask for right now.

But grimy or not, she heads for Lup's place instead. It's been too long since she's seen her friend, and part of her has to admit she wants to update her on her relationship progress. Like girl talk.

It strikes her that it's a little quieter out than she remembers it being. Not that it's ever been loud since they all arrived here, but the city seems a little subdued. Maybe people are still off charging up Hope's orbs. She doesn't give it a second thought as she makes her way to Lup's and knocks.]

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[Lup honestly needs that girl talk more than she'd ever like to admit.

It takes a few moments before there's the sound of pounding footsteps and Lup's throwing open the front door, ears perked up high in anticipation, her eyes wide and mouth parted. It's like she was expecting someone else completely at the door, just waiting for them to return home. But once her gaze falls on Elena, a touch of warm curls at her mouth, even as her long ears droop just slightly.

No Barry in sight, but at least it was another one of Lup's People.]

Hey, sis. [She throws the door open wider, already stepping back to let Elena follow her inside, eyes trailing a little over her filthy self.] Just get back into town? Sure looks like you had a blast.

[Elena has a second or two to be startled—not at the quick greeting, but at the fact that she's really, really not who her friend had expected. Maybe it wouldn't be obvious to everyone, but Elena's observant, and she knows Lup. Something's not right.]

Something like that. We avoided getting blasted by any monsters out there, so that's something. I wanted to say hi before I spend the rest of the day scrubbing sand out of my everywhere.

[She looks around as she steps inside, not spotting anything but the absence of Lup's roommates, which isn't particularly unusual. They're not exactly homebodies.]

How were things here?

[Of course the biggest change in Lup's appearance that went accidentally unmentioned before, is her newly shorn hair, cut short by her ears, a blonde halo of messy style around her head.

Even in her mood, the corner of the elf's mouth twitches upwards into a soft smile at the mention of Elena and Nate managing to avoid too much trouble.] Sounds fake, [she teases, but of course she's grateful her dearest friends are alright.] I'm glad, though. This shitty city is a hell of a lot better with you around. Things are going good between you two, yeah? Better?

[Reconciliation takes time. Lup has a feeling that's something she's going to get some good experience with soon.] C'mon in, you want somethin' to drink? A snack?

[Elena had absolutely noticed the heretofore unmentioned new hairdo and just assumed it was Lup looking for a new look. She loves it.]

A lot better, yeah. I don't want to jinx things...but I think we'll be okay.

[It does feel like she's risking something by saying it out loud. She's not sure they were ever so close to the end, even when he'd actually walked out on her. But living on tenterhooks, always expecting things to go bad, is no way to live or to live.]

I'll have a drink if you drink with me.

[This is why they are friends.

Even with her own situation being how it is, the smile that Lup shoots Elena's way is all genuine, even if it doesn't quite reach her eyes. Lup likes Nate, wants him to make it work with Elena, to prove that he's truly worthy of her. She loves their dynamic and loves how her best friend talks about her husband, about how happy he makes her. She wants them to work, so it's a small relief to hear that things are headed in a better direction.]

Sure thing, babe. Follow me. Boys are still out playing and I think Ango's down for a nap or somethin', just us fine ladies here. Lay down all the mad deets on your trip.

Isn't he a little old for a nap?

[Elena doesn't have a complete handle on how old Angus is. He looks nine or ten, but something about him gives off the aura of a little old man. Either way, she nods and moves with Lup, trying to recall the important details of their trip.]

It was a little strange traveling in close quarters with Sam—I think he was a little scared of me after everything that happened. But we got to talk, and I think it helped both of us.

And then Nate and I got to go off on our own. It was almost like old times, minus the gunfire. It was...good. Really good, getting to work as a team again. Like getting back to our roots.

So not that exciting, I guess, but it was worth the trip. I hope things weren't too dull here.

[At least Elena has a better grasp on Angus' age than anyone who lives with him does. Lup just kinda shrugs the question off, not too sure herself. She thinks he's closer to five or so, but to be perfectly honest, he's probably just reading his nerd books in his room, not napping like a baby.]

Def sounds worth it. With all the shit that's gone on since Sam popped in, I'm glad you two got a little time to work through all that crap. Sibling relationships are weird. [She says, speaking from experience.] But it probably means the world to Nate that you're trying.

[They're gonna be just fine. Lup trusts in them.

The upstairs is just as empty as the downstairs, but there's a nice couch for the girls to plop on, Lup making a quick stop in the kitchen to dig through the cupboards for whatever liquor they have left. Her supply is running a little low, but there's been a lot of drinking lately. Sue her.]

Dull isn't the word I'd use. Don't think the liches in charge would ever let it get boring.

[It probably does, but the truth is she's not doing Nate any great favor. She wants to know Sam, this man who had a huge impact on her husband's life. Besides, she made a vow, and that makes Sam her family, too.]

Boring is relative. If you think about it, nothing about interdimensional kidnapping should ever be boring, but I've had a few days here that qualified.

[And they don't even have Netflix to pass time on the days she really feels like being a lazy sloth. Elena plops down on the couch, drink in hand.]

So what'd I miss this time around?

Especially since the big ol' setting change. I've def ended up laying out in the sun and napping for most of it. Gotta love that shit just gets so boring and chill before suddenly exploding all over again.

[Lup follows Elena, a little more careful in her movements than normal. Since the event, the elf hasn't been as free and fluid as usual. She's been holding herself stiffer, every bend of her arm and shift of her body purposeful. It's how Taako moves, in control of his every movement. She just needs to feel like she has a hold on something in her life now.

It's a true test of their relationship, of Lup's great trust in Elena, that Lup even gives her this much. Normally, she wouldn't tell anyone outside of Taako. But Elena's earned this privilege. Lup trusts her.]

Rage played with us while you guys were out. [And more carefully, her voice level, surprisingly even.] Bar and I got the brunt of it. We fought. Pretty bad. He moved out.

[It's not a bad thing that things can become routine even in a situation like this. If everything were all-stress all the time, well...they'd be a lot worse off.

But such thoughts are entirely cast aside as Elena straights up in her seat, eyes going wide. That's absolutely not what she expected to hear. It's not even in the same hemisphere as what she expected.]

He did what? What happened? Oh, Lup...

[She half reaches for her friend's hand, wanting to offer comfort but not if it's unwanted. Elena knows from experience how brittle one can feel after a big fight.]

[Lup doesn't pull away from Elena, but doesn't close the distance there either. It's still too soon. She doesn't quite know how to feel besides hurt yet.]

Rage made everyone in the city go nuts. Just-- [Even thinking about it now makes her feel sick. Leaning into her anger has never been difficult for Lup, but this had been such a manipulation of her feelings. Her eyes close. She can't bear to look at Elena.] It was just all we could feel was anger. We just fought and fought and then when that wasn't enough...

[The elf refrains from touching her hair, but her hands clench in her lap. She can still feel Barry's hands winding around her hair, dragging her.] Shit got aggressive. Physical. He... I know he'd... He'd never mean to hurt me, but...

[Elena lets her hand rest beside her. It's there if Lup needs it. And so is she.]

But he still did. Even if it was Rage changing him.

[Taking control of him. Is that what it was? Elena doesn't know, she wasn't there, and she doesn't know Barry well—she only knows that he must be a quality person, to be deserving of Lup's love. But a large part of her still wants to get her friend away from him and keep her away.]

Has he ever done anything to indicate he could act like that before? Ever?

[It's not a question she wants to ask. But the kind of support she offers differs greatly depending on whether Rage put something in Barry...or revealed what was always there.]

[Lup doesn't take her hand, but there's comfort to be felt in it's closeness.]

No! [The elf's eyes fly up to meet Elena's, and even with how distressed she is over the whole thing, there's no denying how convinced Lup sounds of her own answer. She still trusts in Barry, trusts in their love. She can't let that change. She refuses to give the liches in charge that much power over her.] Not Barry. This isn't anything like him. He's a total weenie. He cries when we hold hands, he'd never hurt me on purpose.

I'm the rough one that's shoving him around. He always just takes it.

Okay—it's all right, I believe you.

[And she does. It lines up with what she knows of Barry, a kind man who obviously loves Lup more than anything, but it's not just that—after all, she's also known men who hide their true natures very, very well.

But Lup knows his true nature, and Elena doesn't think her friend is inclined to be in denial or blinded by love. So that wasn't really Barry...but knowing that doesn't just make things better.]

Have you talked to him? How does he feel about all this?

[Some of the panic in Lup's expression drops when Elena says she believes her - of course she does, but she just needed to hear it anyway - and finally her hand slips between across the distance to close over her friend's. What Barry did, what she did, none of it makes sense, but the last thing she wants is for anyone to have the wrong impression of the man.

He's soft and gentle and endlessly kind. So much better a person than she could ever hope to be.]

I've--I've tried but he doesn't want to talk. He - [Lup has to suck in a deep breath and just calm herself, her thoughts are just moving faster than her mouth at this point.] I know he's taking all of this on himself and just, just tryin' to keep away. To punish himself. I dunno what to do. Usually when shit happens, I give him a day or two to wallow and then we're good, but this was big, y'know?

What if he doesn't come back?

[Elena lowers her eyes for a moment, the question hitting her harder than she'd expected. The situations are vastly different, but she'd been there once--left behind, with no clue when or if things might get better, or if they even could. The experience doesn't necessarily help her to find an answer for Lup, though.]

I've asked myself that before.

[What if he doesn't come back? It had echoed in her mind many times after Nate had walked out on her years ago. The obvious answer was: Get on with your life.. But that doesn't make it the right one, then or now.]

You can make him listen to you, once--go to him, say your piece so he's got no doubt what you think and feel. But you can't make him hear you if he decides not to. He has to be the one to decide you two can put this right together.

[Elena knows better than anyone. And on top of that, Elena is someone that Lup trusts completely on this matter, one of the few who could ever get the full story out of her.

And really, that's exactly what makes her start to cry. Lup's never been much of a crier, she's a passionate woman, but her emotions usually tend to flare up more fiery than emotional, but being here with Elena, sharing this moment of uncertainty with her. It's enough.]

I know. It's.... [The elf sucks in a sharp breath, flopping back into the couch. It's the most helpless she's felt in ages.] It's all on him. Guess that's what scares me.

[Barry's so self-sacrificing. If he thinks she's better off without him, he'll push her away, no matter what Lup thinks.

Lup reaches up to brush the stray tears slipping down her cheek away, scrubbing at her face.] Sorry. I'm happy you're back an' shit, just all of this. It bites.

It does. But you have nothing to be sorry about.

[There's every possibility that Lup already knows that. But knowing it and believing it are two different things.

She flops back with Lup, impulsively throwing her arms around her friends and hugging her tight. She can't fix this, but maybe she can make some small part of it better.]

And you're not alone. I'm here for you, and Nate, and Taako...we've all got your back.

[Elena reaches for her and there's no hesitation on Lup's part this time, the elf sinking into her friends hug, just allowing herself to be held, to be close to someone. To just be loved. It says so much more than the elf could ever say aloud.]

Thanks... I know. I know. I'm... I'm lucky to have Koko and you and everyone else. [But Elena, more than anyone, would know that didn't ease the pain of separation like this. Elena gets it more than even Lup's brother would. This is why she needed her best friend.]

Can you stick around for awhile? You can use our shower or whatever, I just... I wouldn't mind the company.

[Elena's just as lucky to have met a friend like Lup here. There's been more than one night when she felt just as lost as Lup does now, and she has every intention of paying her friend's tender care back.]

You bet I'm staying. [She'll stay here with Lup and in this hug as long as she needs.] Don't even think otherwise.

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