Enclave

Let me tell you about a friend of mine. Her name was Elise, which happens to be a long standing favorite name of mine, but I knew her as Jayyde. She had an endearing personality. Her laugh was infectious. It was honest and earnest. You couldn’t help but feel welcome and return the laughter. I may have trouble remembering its sound, but never how warm it felt to hear it.

I’ll never forget the first time I got to hear her voice. I had returned to dabble in one of my favorite games, City of Heroes. I had been welcomed with open arms back to my old SG. They have always been very accepting over the years of my off and on returns. They had come to start using vent to more easily talk about what was going on and to just have fun. We were doing a respec trial for hero side and were fighting Sky Raiders I believe. They had convinced me for the first time to go on vent and it was a riot. It was like a family of friends, full of laughter. I couldn’t imagine a more welcoming experience. It was really the first moment that my friends of Adversity really became a family.

She was an amazing gamer. An addicted collector of badges and shiny things. She’d never hesitate to help you out in game. Oh sure, you could pull her arm by tempting her with shiny badges. But you knew she’d help you if she could. The badges just made it more fun. You’d be hard pressed to find another who could pick up a class as well as her. She could tank, blast, defend, scrap, control, and perhaps best of all, order robots to blast us to bits like a legend. There really was not a class she could not play to its fullest.

I remember when she would recant the latest episodes of Avatar the Last Airbender on vent. She held it in such high regard that I eventually had no choice but to check it out. It became out of my favorite shows to date. The humor and characters fit her personality so well. It will always remind me of her.

She was a selfless hero. Was not afraid to tell you when you were being stupid, but would never belittle you for it. She was witty and intelligent. It made her sense of humor so quick and sharp. She’d pick up and roll with my silly humor and would welcome it and make it her own.

Elise Rene Vallade, born Born October 27, 1979, suddenly, of natural causes passed away on September 27, 2011. It was the same day as my birthday. I’ll never forget her for as long as I live. I’ll always regret that I missed the opportunities to meet her in person at the chances I had. But I will always cherish the good times we had. Bananarama to you Jayyde. Rest in peace. It won’t be the same without you, but we know you are up there making sure to clear out the baddies for us and finding all the glowies until we reach your level. We all love and miss you.