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

[heathencall]

Well. That's what I'm here for. [Another squeeze as he meets her eyes. The mocking edge in his voice, the constant expression of skepticism, it's all gone. He isn't used to being genuine, but he's doing his best for her.]

Your own personal guardian angel. Fallen angel but... Details, right? [He smiles, small but warm.]

I'm proud of you. [He'll repeat it as much as he needs.]

[isawallflower]

[ No. No. She's too exhausted to cry, she's not gonna do it. She also doesn't want to shut her eyes, because...this could all vanish, if she does. ]

You're proud of me. [ She repeats it, because it's foreign, and she wants to wrap her mind around it. ] You're...proud of me. Even though... I get too intense...and work myself too hard and...make you worry about me. Even though I can't...get everything perfect... You're proud of me.

[heathencall]

[Each time it's repeated, it feels like another nail in the coffin. He's dragged an inch closer to damnation, to tying himself irrevocably to the mortals he's come to know here. Even up until now, he's had his doubts, held out "hope" that whatever had come over him could be done away with.

But it can't. And he knows it now. Whatever creature he's made himself out to be, it's gone.]

If I could skin whoever told you that you had to be perfect for someone to be proud of you, I would. [It's... a bit of an awkward shuffle, to lean over and try to hold Riley, but at least he's getting used to the gesture.]

I wish you would give yourself a break. But that does not change how I feel. It doesn't take away the pride.

[isawallflower]

[ She doesn't understand it. For years she's been trying, trying to do something perfect. Just one thing, so maybe her parents would give her at least a smile. A home-cooked meal she didn't have to make herself. A stupid family vacation instead of business trips. So maybe she could be worth something--so she could finally bury the stuttering, shy little girl who had to be saved from herself.

And yet. In this horrible place, in less than a month. Here's something she's never had before. She gasps in a shuddering breath and finally shuts her eyes, leaning into the touch. ]

I, um. You left the pasta, right? [ A soft, floaty voice. This is so much at once that Riley needs to deflect, just a little. So she can process it. ] I forgot to thank you for it.

[heathencall]

[Mephisto's smile verges the bashful. He glances to the side, fixating on a particularly interesting section of the floor. As if he could somehow channel that bizarre mix of feelings out of himself and into that singular speck.]

I did. [He chews on his cheek for a moment, hesitating.] And the bear, before that.

[isawallflower]

[ She's so warm from working herself to exhaustion, but this makes her warmer. ]

I knew. You weren't very subtle.

[heathencall]

Perhaps that's for the best. Imagine if Stephen had attempted to take credit for my efforts. Or the Phantom.

[He is working so hard to do right by everyone, he'll beat whoever steals his thunder.]

I hope it helped some.

[isawallflower]

[ She's leaning more against him than the wall now. ]

It did. After that...hurricane nightmare day, it was...really nice to see. [ A moment: ] I'll try not to destroy this one.

[heathencall]

[Mephisto adjusts his posture only a little, just enough to accommodate for Riley's weight.]

If you do, I will just have to find another. Break into the booth itself if I must.

[isawallflower]

Don't do that. [ She breathes out through her nose, slowly. ] They probably have...more trombones back there. A defense mechanism.

[heathencall]

[That shakes a shudder free.]

Don't. Mention that word. [A sigh.] You're right though. No bear capers for me, I suppose.

[isawallflower]

It's fine. I'll just...keep this one safe. It's important to me, after all.