itscurtains | week 5

Entry tags:

act 2,
week 5

week 5

[That was...an absolute shitshow. More beloved friends are dead in a mess of a trial that's left Angus half the man he was, Riley in a free fall and the Phantom...somehow still standing despite taking two stabs to the torso.

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 door blocking the stairwell on the second floor has been unsealed. You can now venture up to the third floor! You have so much space now, it's just a shame it's all come at the cost of eight lives.

But despite the tragedy you have made progress! The trip into the Phantom's lair yielded some hints to the past of the Opera House, your house manager's apparently grim hobby and the possibility of an ally outside the Opera House. Who knows what this week will bring?]

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

(( Welcome to Week 5! Please remember to submit your AC and your memory regains, as well as your coins! You can also still contact the Phantom. ))

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[Mephisto also doesn't sleep. He should, perhaps, if only to distract from the still present ache in his wing. Maybe it will help him heal. Maybe it will help him forget. But like Christine, it's too difficult to fathom sitting idle. He has to be sure those that remain are safe.

... That. Includes Christine.

He hasn't been following her, not really. But he does keep an eye on her throughout the day. And when the hour grows late and Christine moves outside, he follows. He waits for her to finish speaking, and then moves to stand beside her.]

Mind some company, Princess Christine? Aside from your spirits, that is.

[She was pretty sure running into Mephisto wasn't really going to be a concern this evening. Certainly, they had their tensions to deal with last night. After that, she would expect him to want to avoid her, at least so she didn't dive headfirst into forgiving him before he seemed to want her to.

So when he approaches her after her preparations, she gasps, nearly trips over her own feet, but slowly relaxes and sinks onto the ground, hand at her chest.

...She shakes her head at the question. She doesn't mind company. She's also not sure why she decided to go back to not talking when Mephisto already heard her, but she's stubborn like that.]

[Mephisto cringes as she startles at his approach. He'd been trying to do better about that after the last time he'd snuck up on her but... no dice, it would seem. He holds his hands up in a silent apology, before settling down beside her.]

When was the last time you ate, Lady Impaler?

[She's not very good at noticing things anyways, and she's a little trapped in her own head right now. Or in. Someone's head...

She keeps hearing a voice that's not her own. She hopes it's just Mephisto's.

She shrugs for a moment, trying to continue to play it cool, but she has a feeling that answer isn't going to fly with him.]

...Last night. I felt sick all day today.

Did something happen?

[He leans toward her, hand lifting to -- well, he isn't sure what. He lowers it once more, balling his fingers in his pant leg for the time being. After everything, he still feels... guilty. And he isn't sure how to shake the feeling.]

I... sort of. It's more... I thought something happened? And it didn't.

[She doesn't notice him reaching towards her, seems to be still off in her own little world. No matter how hard she tries not to be.

She ducks her head down, as if hoping her voice will be too muffled for Mephisto to hear.]

Jeremy... said we aren't friends. Told me to stop acting like we are.

[Whatever voice tempered Mephisto's will seems to go away the second Christine comes out with it. He rests his hand on her back and then, when he decides that's still not enough, pulls her against his side. He tries not to think about how small she feels against him, and how similar it feels to the last time he held Riley.

It's not about her. It's about Christine. And he's already put people before her.]

Jeremy has awful taste. I saw what movie he was watching last night, an absolute travesty it was. [He leans into her hair.] If he does not want to be friends with you, that's his loss.

[She curls in a little closer, but all the while, she's trying to will herself to pull away. She shouldn't be relying so much on him, on anyone, when she's the one trying and failing to do anything for the rest of them. All she can seem to do is care about them... and it seems some of them don't even want that.

She's not sure if Mephisto wants it, either.]

Well, he had a crush on me, so you're right about one thing.

[It's a joke! Probably! Christine giggles a bit, but shrinks in tighter on herself.]

It... just doesn't make sense to me. If he did so much to get near me, you'd... you'd think he wouldn't push me away.

[He'll take that small curl as encouragement enough. Even if he does briefly grip her shoulder and give her a half shake.]

I won't have you sell yourself short where I can hear you, Christine.

[It is... interesting, that Jeremy would claim to have feeling for her, yet spurn her all the same. He makes a note to have a conversation with him at a later date. For now -- ]

He could be afraid. We all watched someone we cared deeply for die. Two someones, never mind everyone else before that. We're all coping in our one way. Maybe this is his way?

What are you going to do if I do it anyways?

[She's tired of trying to believe in herself, after this long failing to matter at all. Especially now that a relationship she took for granted wasn't one at all. She feels ashamed of herself, guilty for being so pushy, embarrassed she hadn't noticed something wrong sooner. She feels a lot of things, and... at this point, she's decided it's better for her to just turn those feelings off.

Better than tearing herself to pieces over something as pathetic as wanting a friend. So at Mephisto's reasoning, she just shrugs her shoulders.]

Maybe it is. It's just... not a nice way of coping. I just... wanted to make sure he ate something, and he just... he lashed out at me.

[She should be more understanding of his feelings, but all she can think is:] It's not fair.

Take away your impaling privileges, perhaps?

[He's trying his best to keep the mood light. If he can keep her smiling, or at least bring some semblance of her smile back, he can pretend things might continue to be okay. He's already lost enough.

Riley didn't open up to him, despite their bond. He's afraid of watching the same thing happen with Christine.]

It isn't fair. But I don't think you should give up on him. I think... we all need someone.

What power do you have to take away a warrior princess' privileges?

[Whatever Mephisto is doing, it actually seems to be working. Just a little. Christine gives another shrug, but her lips twitch like she's trying not to grin.]

Especially to take them away over a stupid guy. Who I haven't given up on for weeks, and who... keeps wanting me to so badly.

[Her soft sigh turns into a wince, as she puts a hand to her forehead.]

He's probably right. Everything I learn about him, it should probably make me be angry at him.

Are you really asking a demon about his power? Truly?

[He twitches just for a second, thinking about extending his wings but -- ow, nope, never mind.

That's a good reminder, though.]

I used to boast to all who would listen that vanity was my favorite sin. My appearance means everything to me.

I should resent Stephen for putting me in a position where I had to sacrifice it -- [He motions to his wing.] But I don't. I still... care very deeply for him, despite knowing I should not.

We cannot help what we feel, even if we might wish otherwise.

It's not like you aren't still beautiful. Your wings will, they'll heal, right?

[She triest to hide her smile behind her hand. She knows she's so bad with teasing them, and that she should know better than to keep egging them on, but it just makes her happy. At least someone here can make a genuine connection with someone. She's grateful for their success, even where she's failed.]

Besides, I'm sure you're not the only one who cares. I guess... I guess I just wish I had the sense to care about someone who'd make the feeling mutual.

In time, perhaps. [A lot of time. But... he doesn't seem too bothered by it. He wishes he had it to fly with still, but beyond that...

The sacrifice had been worth it.]

He does care. We have... established that. [But enough about him...] Perhaps you don't have the romantic connection that you were hoping for. You are young, and that will come with time. But don't take it to mean that none of your feelings are returned.

It's different, but you care for me, and I care for you.

[Christine definitely understands the feeling of sacrifice for the one you love. She's tried to do the same, but... she was lucky enough that she didn't have to go that far.

She rests her chin on her knees with a soft sigh.]

I don't even care about romance. I'm still figuring out who I am, I know that. So if things don't work out that way, it's okay. It's just... you know how important it is to me to have a friend. I really thought Jeremy was the first one I had.

...If I've screwed that up, then it doesn't really bode well for how this is going to go between us.

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week 5

Cemetery

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