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[tilfrosset]

Type: Text
Sender ID: tilfrosset (Jill Warrick)
To: Public
Subject: Clive's Departure
Warnings: Possible mentioning spoilers for the end of FF16? Let me know if you want to avoid them.

Good evening, all. This is Jill Warrick.

While I do not enjoy announcing bad news, I am aware he had a fair number of acquaintances who should be notified that Clive Rosfield has left. It seems his last day here was yesterday, perhaps early this morning.

[If this all sounds cold and businesslike, it's on purpose. It's far easier to pretend that she hasn't been crying her eyes out all day through text than any other method of communication.]

With that said, though we did not have plans for a grand event, I must also announce that there will be no wedding. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

[Inconvenience? Sounding like she's putting others out as if she's not the one who lost her other half. But of course, years of hardening her heart against emotional disruptions sure taught her how to fake it until she makes it. Or at least attempt to, badly. She's experienced loss before, but this? It's different.]

Comments

[tilfrosset]

[Ah, the one person Jill has absolutely been avoiding at much as possible. There is no joy to be had in telling Joshua that his brother has returned home to an uncertain fate, a possibility of never being seen again and none in having to share the pain of a Clive-sized hole left behind. Not one bit in also being reminded that Joshua had went with Clive to Ultima too and Jill doesn't know what fate lies in stores for her brother figure.]

For what reason?

[It wouldn't have made it any less painful and at least it gave her a nice foundation in pretending all her emotions over it were already processed.]

[phoenixdominant]

If only to save you from having to pretend.

[Joshua knows his sister very well. Or at least he thinks he does... She may be avoiding him. But he knows that this must be even harder for her to do.

He wishes she would share her pain with him, since Joshua is hurting too. But he will not push her.]

[tilfrosset]

[No, he does. All too well. They've spent too much time around each other as kids and adults now for him not to call her out on her nonsense. And knowing that is why her reply takes a few minutes to come, what with having to admit he's absolutely right.]

I could never get away with that around you.

[phoenixdominant]

Around me, never.

[Even as children, Joshua could always tell if there was something behind Jill's smile.]

Please take time for yourself, dear sister. You owe no one anything.