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

[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.

[isawallflower]

I know. [ She says, and she believes it. That's such a novelty. ] I just...have to double-check, I guess. This is- it's new for me.

[heathencall]

[Laughter comes... surprisingly easy around Riley. It still surprises him, even now.]

How do you think I feel?

[isawallflower]

Then we're learning together.

[ After giving most of her attention to the sweet mutant cat, she finally works up the courage to glance back up. ]

I like that.

[heathencall]

As do I.

[His hand finds hers against the cat. He... supposes the creature isn't that bad, if it sparks this much happiness for the people he cares about it.

It can stay.]

We will learn together, and get through this together.

[isawallflower]

[ Ah. Despite everything, everything, Riley feels so warm. So full.

Have you ever felt so good you- you're bursting out of your skin?

She thought she knew what that felt like. She didn't. For the first time, she really, really feels like a Phoenix. ]

...I like that too.

[heathencall]

Well. I think you'll find that my deals and promises are quite binding. So I recommend you begin preparing what you'll say to this... Annleigh. And to Cairo, of course.

It will only be a matter of time.

[He doesn't feel the slightest bit wary making that promise to her. There's a strength that comes from this bond with her. He'll get her home safely, no matter what happens.]

[isawallflower]

[ For a moment, Riley wonders if she should tell him. The truth. What she remembered last week. What she's pieced together. The dull roar and crashing waves and ever-present static in her head.

But she remembers the motive, and her team, and the sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach returns. So she says nothing. ]

I'll...have a whole speech drafted! For all of them.

[ (She'll regret that she says nothing.) ]

[heathencall]

I eagerly await being able to hear it then, Riley.

[He lets himself imagine, dream for a moment, of meeting these girls that Riley calls friends. Maybe he'll get onto them about not showing her enough support, for making her feel like she had no one to catch her. But he knows they're not the real problem.

He just hopes she won't mind when he puts the fear of God Mephisto into her parents.]