itscurtains | Week One

Entry tags:

act 3,
week 1

Week One

[Yesterday, everyone woke up in a strange place and realized that they'd been kidnapped, and also that everyone else around them may or may not be kinnies? Wow, what a weird escalation of kin drama! Given what some people have seen of Spongebob's freaky arm thing, though, maybe it's not that at all?

Your Assistant Director, Hester, showed off her stuff and immediately had her life threatened by Lumpy Space Princess, who got her life threatened right back. Maybe you should keep that in mind if you decide to pay Hester any more visits! She won't be making another public appearance this week, but as promised, she'll be available for visits and consultation in the Principal's Office during business hours.

If you don't want to chat with Hester, there's always the school to explore! Some of you might also be receiving mysterious coins next to your bedside this week - those must be useful for something, right? There's lots to do, and you all seem like a group who can make your own fun, so enjoy your first week of school!]

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday

(( OOC: This will be the last mod post for this week! Feel free to start submitting regains for any threads that aren't with Hester. Remember, song threads mean an extra coin! This is a peace week, so get all that CR while you can! ))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Haha! Oh! It's, uhh...well it's less that he...disapproves, and more, uh...

[Varian threads a hand through his hair, pulling at it a little anxiously before eventually letting go.

No...no, it's exactly that. And he knows he can't really talk around it without sounding weird.]

I've caused a lot of...accidents with my work around our home. It's really not on purpose, but...I know he'd be relieved if I came up to him one day and said "Hey dad, guess what, I've decided to give up this whole alchemy and inventing thing and become a good old farmhand just like you, isn't that great?"

[Varian groans, falling back onto the bed with his head hitting the pillow, giving him a view of the few papers he tacked to the ceiling.]

I just want to make him proud of me.

[Salieri is quiet, listening as Varian explains, watching his reaction. It certainly sounds like he disapproves of Varian's activities, despite his claim to the contrary, and moreover it seems to be something that's weighing on him.

He resists the urge to frown, and takes a moment to consider and think through his words before he speaks. Words, carefully thought through, have always been something he's relied on and come to be known for among his friends, and now is very much a time where that skill is needed.]

...I can certainly understand wanting such a thing. I don't think there's a person alive that did not want to make their parents proud of them at some point. In most cases, they're the ones that raise us, teach us how to be and, in many ways, hang many of their expectations on us as well. It's only natural to want to live up to those expectations in some capacity, even if they're contrary to who we really are.

[he pauses to take a moment, and formulate his next thoughts]

That being said...I'll be the first to admit the obvious in that I don't know your father and I could never speak for him. What I do know is that within less than a day of being presented with a problem, you have chosen to attack it head on and use every tool available to you to attempt to solve it. And I think that's very admirable indeed.

It's something you should be proud of yourself for.

I know it's hardly the same as having your father's approval, however...Pride in oneself and one's own abilities--in recognizing our strengths and accomplishments--is also equally important.

Edited 2021-06-02 00:05 (UTC)

[Varian wasn't really expecting much of a serious answer beyond an expression of sympathy for his plight. It's how things have always been, so he gets it. It...bothers him, but he also understands that there's not much to be done about it if he wants to keep pursuing what he loves to do. His father will be frustrated and disappointed in him no matter what he does.

So when Salieri gives him a response that's way more genuine than he was prepared for, Varian ends up turning to look down at him from where he's still laying on his back, his brows furrowed.

That's all he's ever wanted to hear from Quirin. Hearing it from anyone at all though- even beyond Rapunzel, who was thrilled to hear about his capabilities- makes his chest hurt in a way he can't really describe. He exhales a short breath, a sort of huff of a laugh, before looking back up at the ceiling.]

...Thanks, Salieri. Didn't really realize how much I needed to hear that.

[Ah. It seems he hit the mark. Salieri's expression softens a bit, and there's a small quirk of a smile to the corner of his mouth]

Not at all. Simply clarifying my own observations.

[he tilts his head back a bit, eyeing some of the drawings on the ceiling]

Now...what have you observed so far?

[Varian will sit up again after that, following Salieri's gaze to the various papers he's put up.]

Whoever put us here wants us to stay here.

[Which is obvious, for one.]

But...they also haven't really gone to any trouble to make our stay miserable. Sure, there's a rule about killing people, but like...we have a place to sleep, food, water...no real threat to our lives.

[Yet.]

Theoretically, we could survive here for months. And there's all of the- [He gestures, trying to come up with the words.] -tools in that one shop, and stuff just laying around in the open like they're asking to be used to our advantage. Why?

[Salieri nods a bit in agreement as he listens]

That is the question, really. It's not as though there's any motivation for us to leave at the moment, aside from perhaps being able to return home. Though I don't particularly like the idea of being trapped here forever, I also do not feel a pressure about a lack of food or other amenities.

However, regarding the tools...I only have the thought that they must be very confident in our inability to escape using them if they leave them laying around in the manner that they do.

Yeah...which honestly just makes me want to try to get out of here even more.

[They think they can't get out? Well they've never met Varian before.]

It doesn't matter where we are outside, either. Someplace familiar, somewhere else entirely.

[He tugs one of the papers off the wall, scrutinizing it for a long moment before he crumples it between his hands.]

I'm going to see what information I can get from our...Assistant Director. She's supposed to ask this Wizard about how he got us here, assuming he's even a thing...so I'll make sure to relay that information once I have it.

Of course. [a nod] I don't particularly trust her, but perhaps something useful could be coaxed out of her, or she can coax something useful out of this so-called Wizard.

[he hums a bit, glancing out the window] I have no doubt that outside would be just as unfamiliar as inside, but more so that it's the principle of being trapped in here that is far beyond unsettling.

It's weird enough that she's perfectly fine with us getting to know her on any level. I'm no expert in how kidnappers operate, but I'm pretty sure showing your face and giving your name is a good way to get yourself arrested as soon as you're caught.

[But he guesses that will be a problem for her to deal with only if they escape, which so far? Hasn't been likely.]

Yeah...I was asked what I'd even do if I could break us out of here, like. Where I'd go, you know? But I don't think where matters right now. Anywhere is better than being here against our will.

It is indeed strange how willingly she announces herself and her identity. It does really speak to their confidence in how well they've trapped us here.

Which it seems they fail to see is the entire problem in the first place. I agree; the where matters not at all, only that we're afforded our freedom. Which we aren't.

[he huffs out a sigh] Though something tells me that they care very little about that.

Yeah. I mean, went to all the trouble to gather us up in the first place. Letting us leave isn't going to be so easy.

[Speaking of easy, though...

Varian shifts, turning so he can sit on the edge of his bed with his legs hanging off the side, folding his arms over his knees. He hasn't really had the chance to talk to anyone much about this yet.]

...do you think that one rule is serious? About...killing people.

[...well that certainly is a question. Salieri quiets for a moment, contemplating as he takes a couple steps towards the bed, and leaning on one of the posts, arms still folded]

I think... [he weighs his words, carefully, a frown appearing on his face]...I think our hosts are serious. Which, I imagine, is not at all comforting to hear, so I apologize.[he breathes out, slowly, before continuing]

...and with that in mind, as far as that goes, I think we as individuals have two options.

It's fine. I honestly appreciate not being talked down to. I wouldn't have asked if I wanted a good answer.

[Which isn't always how things shake out, back home.]

So. What are the options?

The first is what I'm sure our hosts want and expect: fear and suspicion of each other, constantly watching our backs with increased paranoia.

[he sighs, a little] It is the tempting option, I won't lie. The need to try and preserve one's own life is a strong one.

Or...our other option is to continue to speak with and bond with the others here and in that way, thwart whatever our hosts have planned and try and find another way out.

[One of those options is much easier to grasp than the other. Sure, making friends is all well and good...but the very instant anyone sees murder as a true alternative, the top is going to get blown wide off this place.

That's not a future Varian wants to even think about, but it's the reality they're currently living in.]

It's going to depend on what we decide to do as a collective whole. If even just one of us chooses themselves over the rest...

[Varian sighs.]

I know a few people here, personally. Cassandra is from Corona, and Elsa is from Arendelle, which is one of our neighbors...I know not everybody else has the benefit of people they care about being in trouble, but. I dunno. I guess I'm less likely to want to screw things up if it means they end up getting hurt because of something I did.

[Salieri considers that] I cannot say I relate, exactly, seeing as I have no acquaintances here from before I came but...I can say that already there are people here who I would not want to see in trouble for my own actions either. Granted, on the whole, I would not like to see anyone in that position, but I can't deny there are certain particular people that I especially would not like to see in that spot.

[he huffs]

In a way, it's a bit like a balancing act--having to constantly balance both that caution and concern but also a willingness to get to know the people you're trapped with. The better we all know each other, the lower the likelihood of disaster.

[And that, my friends, is what peaceweek is for.]

Yeah...I just want things to work out for everybody, you know?

[It's why he's trying so hard to find a way out. It's not just for his own sake.]

Even if we're not like...perfect people, none of us deserve to be kidnapped like this. Especially without even an explanation for it we can deal with. I'd honestly sometimes prefer just being told outright my kidnapper is a psychopath instead of having everything be dressed up as something it isn't.

[honestly, what is the point of murder if you're not already super attached to the people who die?]

...I agree. On both counts. I'd like everything to work out as well, no matter the kind of people that have gathered here. Besides, I have never myself met a perfect person, but no one that I've met deserves this fate, either. The smoke-and-mirrors makes it doubly frustrating, I think.

If you ask me, I'm not so sure this Wizard guy even exists. That was a neat trick they pulled yesterday with the knife, but unless I see this guy? I'm going to have my doubts.

[Varian huffs, propping his chin up in his hand.]

Hester acts like she has good intentions and stuff too, but she's really not much better.

She is certainly choosing to be the face of this so-called Wizard. She can act as friendly as she likes, but she's made it rather clear who's side she's on. [dryly]

Part of me would like to try to reason with her, but like...I'm not exactly the greatest with people...if Rapunzel were here, maybe.

[She'd be able to talk anyone into ANYTHING, of that much he's certain.]

Rapunzel? [HM that name sounds familiar. Not to anyone he knows personally, but who doesn't know the fairy tale?] Someone else from your home, I assume?

[Varian nods, his expression brightening.]

Yeah! She's the princess of Corona, the kingdom I'm from. She's really well known for getting along with basically anyone, which is why I say that. She could talk someone into un-kidnapping her if she wanted, I bet.

That is certainly an admirable skill, not to mention a valuable one. Especially if she's a princess.

Well, Rapunzel is beloved for a reason. She used to be the "Lost Princess"; back before I was born, they started having a lantern festival every year on her birthday. They'd send up hundreds of lanterns into the sky, hoping that Rapunzel- wherever she had disappeared to- would see them and find her way back home.

I thought it was just a story when I was little, but...turns out she did find her way back, eventually.

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