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]

[Octokitten is definitely purring. It has a new friend and the friend is Riley.]

Thank God for small victories, right? [He makes a face even as he says it, but at least it's mostly amused.]

[isawallflower]

[ Her attention leaves octokitten for a moment, to look around the chapel, and then at Mephisto. ]

You...don't really have to be in here, you know? If it's that weird.

[heathencall]

Perhaps not. But... [He stares into the room, then up at the stained glass.]

It seems foolish, to be so wary of it. It is only a room. Not even a room dedicated to Him

[isawallflower]

Guess even the Phantom's nondenominational. [ It's a very weak joke, but a joke nevertheless! ] ...I don't even know why a place like this would have a chapel. Or...half these things up here, honestly.

[heathencall]

He has to pray for forgiveness somewhere, doesn't he?

[He scoffs at the idea.]

Wish I could tell him that God isn't listening.

[isawallflower]

...One of the girls on my team's really religious. Like...really. I've had the conversation that she can't keep trying to get the rest of the squad to convert, over and over.

[ Riley rolls her eyes and there's some goodnatured shaking of her head, but. Also some annoyance. ]

I've...never really gotten it. What's it even give you? It's not like...praying will get you anything.

[heathencall]

Some like to believe that a high power is some... benevolent thing. That by praying, they'll find some sort of strength. Some kindness.

He isn't listening. I doubt he ever has.

[isawallflower]

[ With a little frown, Riley shrugs. ]

I'd rather have someone I could see and talk to, sooo no thank you.

[heathencall]

[He flashes a smile, quick but genuine.]

I suppose that's why I'm here, yes? Your fallen guardian angel.

[isawallflower]

[ ...Riley finds herself very preoccupied with the octokitten, trying to push the warmth she feels down. But-

Well, it's almost impossible, with him. A smile finds its way to her face. ]

Yeah. Yeah, you're definitely preferable to any...unseen whatever.

[heathencall]

Well. That's the first time I've been told that. Usually those I know are begging for God by the time they've spent a few weeks with me.

[Funny, how things change.]

I'm sure He's rolling over on his cloud just hearing about it.

[isawallflower]

Yeah, well... Screw God! [ ...Riley shuts her eyes as if expecting to be smote, or something, and then slowly opens one. Ha. Okay! Still alive! ] That guy hasn't done anything for me, so... I don't care about him.

[heathencall]

That's my girl.

[He won't ruffle her hair but. He will pat her shoulder.]

I'll make a blasphemer out of you, yet.

[isawallflower]

[ My girl.

She loves it. She loves it, she loves it, she loves it--it's like...she's a little kid again, or- a little kid she never really got to be, but for the first and only time, she feels good about feeling like that shy little girl who splashed in puddles and hid behind others. Something about it all makes it-

...it makes Riley wonder if it's okay for that little girl to still exist.

To give herself something to do, she sweeps a few strands of hair from her forehead, even though most of it's up secure in her ponytail. The grin she gives, though a little embarrassed, is brilliant, and real. ]

I think if Annleigh ever heard me say that, she'd faint. A lot like you pretended to, actually.

[heathencall]

[That smile does something to him. That smile has done something to him for weeks now, turning the manipulator into the manipulated, only so much more innocent than that. There's no urge to fight against this softer feeling that she brings out in him, she's long since quelled that fire.

To hell with this place, and the Phantom lording over them. Even if he has to fight tooth and nail, clip his own wings, give everything he has, he'll make sure he can keep seeing that smile.

He will not be robbed of this one good thing.]

She sounds awful.

[isawallflower]

[ For the first time in weeks (...longer, actually, if she really accepts-), a pure peal of laughter bursts out of her. She can't help but cover her mouth to quiet the giggles. Blaspheming in a chapel's one thing, but making fun of Annleigh O'Daniels? Now the other girl's going to come bursting through a wall, with a Bible in hand, or something. ]

She's annoying! [ Oh no! Riley frowns for a moment. ] Well. I mean, I'm captain, I shouldn't say that.

[heathencall]

Do you think I'm going to go gossiping to your friends?

[He puts a finger to his lip, muffling his own laughter. Obscuring the stupid smile he's wearing.]

Of course, I can't guarantee I'll be able to hold my own tongue if I meet her.

[isawallflower]

Don't. [ She holds up her hands, but, like, she's grinning sheepishly again. ] Please, she's like... Okay, so she's annoying. But...she's also really good. And, sometimes she's just...a really happy, positive person to have around? Even if she gets annoying about religion and is always texting her boyfriend.

[ --Oof. Okay. Okay, she frowns again for a moment. Don't really have to worry about that anymore. Anyway. No, it's fine. ]

I...wanna try and be a better captain, for all of them. Like...to make us a real team.

[heathencall]

Sure, sure. [He holds his hands up. Gesture of innocence. He'll be good.

... Probably.]

I think you'll do just fine. You've managed to keep us in line. Mostly.

[Jeremy Heere is an outlier and should not be counted.]

[isawallflower]

[ That genuine smile slips a bit and she chuckles. ]

Well. I've been...trying my best~! You know. Doing what I can.

[ ...She's gonna pet the octokitten again. ]

[heathencall]

Would you like your daily dose of "I'm proud of you?" now, or later?

[She's already smoothed her hair once but. Maybe he can do it again? It's fine.]

i thought i sent this a literal hour ago

[isawallflower]

[ WOW. Wow! That's a shot directly to the heart! For a moment, she seems like a normal kid, whining softly. ]

You don't have to say it like that... [ But. She wouldn't say no. ]

time is fake when you grieve

[heathencall]

[This feels normal. Weird, because they're sitting in the doorway of a chapel, with monster-cat between them.

But normal.]

I'm proud of you, Riley. That will never change.

[isawallflower]

[ She's cross-legged on the floor, neck sinking into her collarbone. It's almost stupid how normal this feels. How much Riley wishes it would never end. ]

And you're not just saying that? You mean it, every time?

[ Just...petting Octokitty, letting one of its tentacles wrap around her finger. ]

[heathencall]

Do I look like a liar to you?

[He says it with a half-smile. A funny joke, the idea of a demon lying.]

Of course I mean it, Riley.