And Then There None (open)

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Remus stayed behind. He always stayed behind. He needed to stay behind. He could feel the sun beating down on the skin not covered by his black suit and praetorial cape. He was two things at once today. Mourning husband, and Praetor trying to be strong for the camp. Honestly, he just wanted to curl up in the shadows and die. A wind spirit had confirmed the news to him yesterday. There was no question. Felicity Stone was dead.

He picked up a stone and pitched it as hard as he could at the small stone monument dedicated to what he’d just two days ago considered his future. His wife and the baby that was coming in December. The baby would never draw a breath. He hoped he or she got Elysium. Some previously dead couple would take good care of them, right? That had to be how it worked. Felicity… he didn’t know what to think. She’d done it to herself. He picked up another stone. He threw it so hard the stone splintered as it smacked the monument. “WHY DID YOU LEAVE!?!?” he shouted at the top of his lungs. Foolish girl. Rash, stupid, arrogant, selfish girl. Part of him knew he didn’t mean it. But too much of him was blindsided by grief. Jason, now this. Maybe he and Clare should start a club. People Left Behind. That was morbid. But he was morbid right now. Nothing like the death of your hopes and dreams staring at you printed in stone to make you simply happy, happy, happy!

No, he was better than this. He was Praetor Remus Dominus Stone. He straightened and dusted off his suit. Then he realized too late that someone had handed him something in the mess of the funeral. He’d been so upset, he’d crumpled up the paper and stuffed it in his pocket. Too many people looking at him with the one thing he hated most: pity. But he was alone now, right? Figuratively and literally. He pulled the wad out of his pocket and unfurled it.

Call me.
-Clare

He looked at it a long moment, then folded it neatly and tucked it away again. He would, of course, but he didn’t want her to see him like this. He wasn’t ready at all.

TAG: @ OPEN
WORDS: 384
NOTES: So I cried a bucket while writing this.

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it keeps happening o v e r  and o v e r "Cinny, find Felicity Stone." Felicity Stone: Location unknown "Cinny, find her, please." Felicity Stone: Location unknown "DAMN IT, CINNY. FIND HER!" Felicity Stone: Location unknown Find... Metal Bird v5 had even come back to him. Not good. Not good at all... "Mom-" Ed had shut it off before it could finish the word. He couldn't bear to hear it the entire word. That was when he knew. Deep down. Even though her body wasn't found whole, he knew this wasn't one of their disappearing acts. This one was for real. His morbid sense of optimism said she'd pop back up in a month or two. That's what they always did. It was their game of ping pong. They'd shout at each other a little, maybe throw a light punch, hug, laugh it off, and things would swing back to normal. Then he'd look over at the box that contained Metal Bird and give the command of "find her" to Cinny, who would always respond in the negative. That's when his gut said he was never going to see her again. He skipped the formal funeral. Couldn't do it then. Couldn't do it now... Couldn't... He was so weak. So, he did what he had done the last time he thought she had died and gave her a private one. All he had the willpower to do was sit under her tree and stare up at the branch she used to sit on. "Damn it, Felicity. Get yourself up here so I can crack Casper jokes or some... some-something..." Just like last time, she didn't answer. So, for the third time, he lit a match and watched the Metal Bird burn. He stood there, his gaze flickering between the ashes and the branch, the world blurring in front of him and the wind turning into high pitch buzzing. He waited for the tears to come... which, of course, they did. ---- He finally forced himself to back to New Rome. Everyone would have gone home by now, right? He could visit her actual marker in solitude. He owed her that. It was probably the least he could do. He should've seen the warning signs... should've talked to her, tried to talk her down, gone with her... something. A grave for her and her unborn child. The fact that she had also been pregnant brought a whole new level of horror to him. They had lost not only one, but two people. She had asked him to be godfather... Remus had probably thrown a fit when Felicity suggested it. He passed by Terminus without a quip, his head down, and his face still slightly red. Struck by a sudden idea, he ducked into a parlour. Was it irreverant to bring food to a grave site? Were he and Felicity ever that reverant about anything? It was a very them move... She had bought him food (a very particular type) upon her return from the dead. They had sat outside of this shop and eaten it right under the awning... ---- Edmund approached the grave yard, pizza box in hand. He wasn't entirely sure what to do (or what he would do) once he got there. Sit down, eat, and talk to her as if she was there and imagine her responses? Cry more (which he didn't really think was possible at the moment)? Or just eat there in silence and think? He was spared further thought when he saw that not everyone had left... Remus was there. Duh! Of course he'd still be there. He is... was, her husband for gods sake! What is wrong with me? Not really wanting to turn and run away now that he had come so far (and he had bought food), Ed lightened his steps and approached, leaving a few feet of distance between himself and Remus. Maybe the Praetor just wouldn't notice him if Ed gave him room. COMMENTARIUM: *cries* T_T VERBA: 643