week 2

[stagemanagers]

WEEK 2
[From the day you arrived on the planet, and blinking, stepped into the sun. There's more to see than can ever be seen, and more to do than can ever be done. Yet, still, the whole thing seems...monotonous. Surely there must be some excitement, some showmanship, some sort of plot twist that could keep this show moving onward?

Welcome to week 2, gents.]


[Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday]

Comments

[bestof]

[Eliza is up bright and early Sunday morning, right at 7 am when the kitchen doors are unlocked. Instead of diverting in there to make her usual morning tea she bypasses it entirely to head straight for the dining hall. She pulls up a chair at the table and sits, clapping her hands together and lowering her head. It might look strange but praying helps soothe her nerves and brings her a little sense of peace. If anyone wants to join her Come To Jesus meeting, they're welcome to it.

Later in the afternoon Eliza has settled into the ballroom at the grand piano. She plinks out a short little introduction.]

Un deux trois quatre
Cinq six sept huit neuf.

[She quickly switches it up to something more lively, humming along as she plays with a soft, relaxed smile. She feels good today, better than she has in the past week.]

i can't decide because they're both so good, going with the dining hall

[breakingbread]

[Surprisingly, it looks as if someone else is awake this early as well. Eliza will probably notice that Valjean has acquired a cross from somewhere or other to hang on the wall, and he seems to be praying himself. He isn't so engaged that he doesn't notice when someone else enters the room, though, and he smiles when he looks up to see her.]

Good morning, Madame Hamilton.

[bestof]

Monsieur Valjean, good morning to you too. [She's naturally pleased to see him but when she spies the cross it lifts her spirits even more.] Did the Balladeer gift that to you?

[breakingbread]

He did! He was quite kind about the request, too. Said it wouldn't be any trouble...

[He looks thoughtful.]

Such an odd man, to be involved in something like this.

[bestof]

[She nods in agreement.]

He is a strange sort. He's been nothing short of an accommodating and cordial host despite our circumstances. If he didn't seem so calm about what this management wants us to do I'd think he was being forced to do it.

[breakingbread]

Do you think he truly understands it?

I don't mean to call him simple, but...he seems to have such a strange perspective on a lot of things. I believe he really does think a month or more in this show of theirs is no inconvenience. You have to wonder where a man like that comes from.

[bestof]

He's a very peculiar man. I've heard him speak about the last "show" he worked in but I haven't been able to figure out a thing about him. Still, I haven't gotten the sense he means us any real harm, if that makes sense.

dining hall

[rockthistown]

...Church? [Hime hovers at the door and tilts her head.]

[bestof]

Hm? [Eliza lifts her head, her hands still folded, and gives Hime a smile.] It is Sunday, isn't it? I thought even though we're trapped here I should still spend a little time praying before breakfast.

[rockthistown]

I guess so. I don't know if it can help in here, or at least it hasn't yet, but it's still worth trying.

[bestof]

Even if my prayers don't reach Him, it makes me feel...more like myself, I suppose. I don't think I've thought to pray since we woke up here.

[rockthistown]

He probably knows. Different worlds don't keep that kind of thing away, at least the ones I've been to.

[bestof]

You've traveled to different worlds, Miss Hime?

ballroom

[trettende]

[ The ballroom is as good as anywhere when you've got nowhere else to go. Hans steps in, listening quietly until he feels he can step in. ]

That's a lovely tune. [ Almost nostalgic, even. ] Does it have any words?

[bestof]

No, I'm afraid not. [She continues playing, looking up at Hans with a warm smile.] It just sort of came to mind and Lord knows we could use a little joy in this place. [Again, she changes up the song.]

Do you play, Prince Hans?

[trettende]

I certainly agree. [ He smiles back. ] We can't let our captors get us down.

[ A h, yes. A familiar tune...... ]

I do, actually. My brothers and I were all tutored in a few instruments.

[ Don't get him started on his brothers... It's not a fun trip down memory lane. ]

[bestof]

My parents made sure my sisters and I were all well-versed musically as well. Angelica and I took to it better than dear Peggy. [Eliza could also go on about her siblings for hours but for very different reasons. She scoots over on the bench, making room for him if he wants to have a seat.]

Would you like to join me?

[trettende]

[ Hans chuckles. He has a feeling he and Peggy would have a lot in common. ] I'm the youngest among my brothers, I know what that's like.

That'd be lovely.

[ Hans steps around and sits down beside her, setting his gloved hands over the keys. ]

What shall we play?

[bestof]

Two sisters and I'm right in the middle. [Her fond smile fades slightly. She's been gone nearly an entire week now. Her sisters, her husband, they must be so worried...

She quickly pushes away those thoughts though. Moping will no good here. She straightens her posture.]

Did you have a preference?

ballroom

[robitussin]

[She stands for a while and listens to the melody, speaking up after a while.]

Have you been playing for a while?

[bestof]

Since I was a girl. My parents had my sisters and I extensively tutored in the arts when we were children. [She glances up from the keys.] Do you play as well, Miss Goodman?

[robitussin]

Must've been nice.

[She nods, but hesitates for a moment.]

Just Natalie works. But, yeah, I do.

[bestof]

Natalie then. You can call me Eliza, if you'd like. [Back to her original tune. Un, deux, trois, one, two, three.] A few of us have this in common then. Would you like to join me?

[robitussin]

[She glances at the piano, then back at Eliza, uncertain.]

You sure that's okay? I mean, I wouldn't have wanted anyone to interrupt me.

[bestof]

I don't mind. I'm only here for a bit of fun. Besides, I'm never one to shy away from pleasant company. [She even scooches down to one side of the wooden piano bench to make room.]