week 4

[stagemanagers]

[Another week, and two more dead. King Richard and Red are both gone, and once again, it was through nothing more than an accident in the heat of the moment. Maybe if you all stay calm and collected, nothing bad will happen again?

Well, maybe not.

When you wake on Sunday, you'll find that you've recovered another one of those memories - or had another dream, if you still wanna be in denial about it. The grounds remain as they are, but this time, the door blocking the stairwell has been unsealed. You can now venture up to the second floor! This is the second time that's happened; it's almost as if you get more space every time someone dies. Or maybe the whole place just seems quieter.]

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday


(( Welcome to Week 4! Please remember to submit your AC and your memory regains, as well as your coins! You can also still contact the Phantom. ))

Comments

Cemetery

[heathencall]

[Mephisto is already at Red's grave when he hears someone approaching. He turns his head just enough to get a read, then looks back to the headstone. There are various flowers -- all from the merchandise booth -- scattered over her grave, some of which have had the petals angrily torn off.

Judging Mephisto's fidgeting hand, it's easy to tell who has done it.]

Would you like for me to give you time alone with them?

[madgiganticfeelings]

Oh! Hi, Mephisto.

[It's not hard to notice when Christine is somber, when she isn't using the nickname she's trying to make stick. Still, she shakes her head.]

It's okay. It looks like we could both use the company.

[She comes to sit cross-legged next to Mephisto, leaning forward to tape Red's dressing room star to the headstone.]

How... how are you doing?

[heathencall]

[As soon as the star is settled, he reaches out to run his finger over the words he'd left for her. His chest aches as he studies them, an ache that is becoming infuriatingly familiar to him. An ache that only grows when he looks to Christine and puts the pieces of her somber mood together.]

We've all been better, haven't we?

[madgiganticfeelings]

Yeah... we definitely have. It's... hard, when you're grieving.

[Grief isn't something Christine has had to deal with much in her life, but four deaths in two weeks is quite the crash course in it.]

Even harder when life just expects you to keep going.

[heathencall]

[Shifting around, moving to put his arm around Christine's shoulders, it feels a little more natural now. Riley had given him a crash course in comfort the night prior, so as long as Christine isn't plummeting off walls, he can stomach this.]

You are allowed to take a moment. Even in this place.

[madgiganticfeelings]

[She breathes out a sigh and does, slowly, lean over against Mephisto. It's a little more natural on her end too, now that she knows Mephisto seems to be okay with this.]

She... I wanted to protect her. So, so much. And I couldn't.

[heathencall]

You did everything you could for her. [If it hadn't been for the violent execution, he might have even said she died at peace. But how could a child be at ease when being chased through the woods by a sword wielding king.

... He tries to not think too hard about that.]

And now you have to keep moving. For her. She would be cross if we gave up because of her.

[madgiganticfeelings]

I... guess you're right. I don't want to give up. It's just that there's a lot happening, and... it seems like I'm bound to fail at every turn. Every day there's another roadblock, you know?

[And of course she wants to keep going for Red, but she's just a teenage girl. She doesn't know how to defeat robots and ghostly Phantoms.]

[heathencall]

I don't think she would blame you for taking a break.

[He sits in silence for a moment.]

Do you think making cookies is productive? Because Red was very good at that. It was a mundane thing that she still took the time to do.

I... Believe what I am trying to say is that every day does not have to be a step forward. You can stand still for a moment, if you need to.

[madgiganticfeelings]

...you have a point. You're pretty good at being logical about this kind of thing. I don't get how you're so good at being so nice to me.

[She gives him a little smile, though.]

Is... do you think it's okay if I stand still with you for a day?

[heathencall]

Between you and me? [He lowers his voice, just a little. Soft and conspiratorial.] I have no idea what I am doing, either, or how it has all happened.

[It's small, but the smile is returned. A moment longer, and he shifts so that he can wrap his arm around her.]

Of course you may.

[madgiganticfeelings]

I think my theory is that you're just a good person, underneath it all.

[She chuckles softly, maybe a little wetly, as she leans in to wrap both arms around him.]

Don't worry. I'll keep it a secret. Can't let anyone know you've gone soft.

[heathencall]

[At that sound, which he can't be sure is tears but fears the worst all the same, he turns to face her fully. Both arms secure her as gingerly as possible.]

I appreciate your discretion, Christine. [He speaks with... something close to a laugh.]

[madgiganticfeelings]

[She sits there with him for a few moments, squeezing him as hard as she can. When she pulls away, her eyes are rimmed a bit with red, but she's smiling.]

So what should we do on our day off?

[heathencall]

[He considers it for a moment.]

We could spend the day in the library. Go over your play, perhaps?

[madgiganticfeelings]

...you want to read it? I still know my lines, I could read my parts for you!

[Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, she can perform!]

[heathencall]

[He gets the strangest feeling that he's dragging himself past the point of no return.

He smiles anyway.]

Well. Best to not keep me waiting in suspense.

[madgiganticfeelings]

[And despite Mephisto's best efforts, he is dragged into the library for a dramatic retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream About Zombies, which is probably not exactly high theatre, but hey, Christine does her best with what she's given.]