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

fitness center

[etincelledefierte]

[Claudine will approach Riley with a casual wave. She doesn't want to startle her and cause her to drop a weight or anything like that.]

How are you holding up?

[isawallflower]

[ When Claudine finds her, Riley's in the middle of some strength training. What that amounts to is just. so many exercises in a row, and she's in the middle of the flight prep squats, thus the weights. She glances over with a tight smile, the kind that's strained but accomplished. ]

Claudine! I'm...doing great! [ Steady breathing, good for exercises- ] See this place? Finally! A proper...gym!

[etincelledefierte]

It’s about time that we had a place like this! Dancing is great, but you’ve got to have strong muscles for it. Flexibility, too.

[isawallflower]

You can say that again~! Been slacking on my workout for weeks. Oh, finally... [ Give her a few to like, complete all this. But when she's done with this circuit, she lets out a breath and stretches out her back. ] Ohhh, that's a rush.

[etincelledefierte]

It’s got to feel good to get back into your routine. Every little bit of normalcy we can find here helps, right?

[isawallflower]

It feels fantastic. [ At least, it will for awhile, until she like. Starts to completely overwork herself to the point of exhaustion. But, for now! Little things! ] Like I can actually get back to working on...what's important, you know?

[etincelledefierte]

I think I do. It’s why I keep practicing. If I stopped, I would be giving up something that’s been my passion since I was a little girl.

[She smiles, but it’s a little wistful.]

I’ve been meaning to ask something, actually. Do you think you could teach me some of the cheer basics? It’s not the kind of dance I’m trained in, but expanding my repertoire is always a good thing.

[isawallflower]

[ Riley's face just lights up. Positively elated. ]

Yes! Yes, oh, of course!! I'm always down to teach someone a few of the basics, especially if they've already got a strong work ethic, like you! It's been so long since I learned them, but...well, they're basics for a reason, right?

[etincelledefierte]

They are - same as the ballet basics. If you don’t have those down pat, you’ll never get anywhere.

[isawallflower]

...It's important to you, isn't it? I can usually see that kind of drive when... Well, when I'm looking at myself.

[etincelledefierte]

I’ve been on stage in one way or another since I was a little girl. I love it, and nothing in the world could ever change that.

It takes drive and dedication to get to the place I’m at with it, and I know we’re on the same page about that.

[isawallflower]

That one thing you really put all your energy into... [ Riley sighs, softly. ] It's...important, to have a dream, a goal. A thing to reach for. To...want to be perfect for.

[etincelledefierte]

[Claudine nods.]

That thing you push yourself harder for, a little bit more each day.

♪/a> ♪


Keep your lips pursed tightly, however hard it might be
(So you won't cry in vain...

Even if we still aren't our ideal selves,
We're definitely closer than we were yesterday.

We will keep on growing, so please watch over us
Every frustration and regret will surely encourage us tomorrow.

[isawallflower]

[ It's a familiar song; Claudine had sang part of it before. And it's gentle. Much more gentle than the overwhelming drive that fuels Riley each day. And, she allows herself to get a little carried away with it, in a different direction that she usually would. ]

[ ♫ ]

I'm seventeen, there are so many things that I can't control.
If I start to freak or feel weak, I focus on just one goal.
Turn down the panic, attack this routine like it owns my soul!
Turn up the music, so loud that it swallows us whole...!

[ She turns, looking to something that seems far away. ]

And then there we are, we burn like a star,
We're safe inside the world we know.
Then suddenly I'm in prep for the climb,
And here I go!
High in the air, there is a moment just before you start to fall,
Live in that one moment!

[ Riley's never been a flyer. She remembers that but- but the feeling of that imagined moment keeps her serene as she looks back to Claudine. ]

I know that if I can just stick the landing,
Then I'll know, that somehow my life will be fine.
And I'll go through the rest of my life understanding,
What it feels like to shine!