Week Two

[stagemanagers]

[Last week, no murder happened! Instead, a lot of students started work on Salieri's school play, which sounds pretty cool even though it's gonna be short, several people destroyed Bigfoot and got a few mysterious clues, and Orpheus started a fire in the kitchen! All in all, not a bad first week!

Though some people might have gone to talk to Hester, she hasn't made any more public announcements. There's some new papers posted up around the cafeteria, but it looks like it's just your upcoming lunch schedule. Seems like nothing's driving you towards Rule Five except, perhaps, all of the kidnapping and how criminally boring some of you are finding the school. Maybe the Balladeer is right, and you really can just wait this out? Only time will tell!]


Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

(( No new locations this week, since y'all haven't paid in blood! Hester's office hours are still open, as are regains! Make sure to complete your first activity check by Tuesday! ))

Comments

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus spends the whole of the production with stars in his eyes, delighted by the performances and the costumes and the spectacle of it all. It may be a modest production by some standards, but to Orpheus it's like nothing he's ever seen before. When it's over and the performers start to file off the stage, he hurries to congratulate the people involved, grinning like an excited child. ]

That was incredible! You were all fantastic!

[ Afterwards, he mills about the party nursing a glass of mead, looking as friendly and approachable as ever. ]

So what did you think? [ he'll ask anyone who stops by, still all but bouncing in place with enthusiasm. If anyone decides to try to be a wallflower he may head their way too (unless they're very obviously signaling that they want to be left alone) and ask them the same. ]

[mayavericks]

[Sorry, Orpheus -- your attempts at being encouraging are only going to be met with a deadpan stare.]

There was no chemistry between myself and Barker-san. No true patron of the arts would have ever believed that I was his daughter, nor that I was grief-stricken about his decisions. It was an embarrassment on my part.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Ohhhhh. Orpheus's expression drops like a stone, going from elated to deeply concerned in a heartbeat. ]

I thought you did really well?

[ In a way this feels sort of familiar, the post-performance assuredness that you did something wrong even if no one in the audience saw it. But he barely knows how to deal with that himself, much less talk someone else out of it. He frowns, thinking. ]

I don't think any of us would call it an embarrassment, but. Maestro Salieri said he wants to keep going, putting on scenes as he finishes them. So if you want to, you'll have a chance to do better next time?

[mayavericks]

[Maya smiles thinly. She isn't surprised that Orpheus, or anyone else in their "class" might have thought it was a worthwhile performance. They had no way of knowing better.]

I fully intend to continue to improve. It is what I have always done, and it is what I will continue to do. I will not let Salieri-sensei down again.

[themuseabandonsyou]

Sometimes that's all you can do. [ Orpheus says, serious and sympathetic. ] Have you talked to him about it yet? I may not have seen anything wrong with your performance, but it's his show. He probably has some feedback that could help.

[mayavericks]

I plan on it as soon as possible

[Still, Salieri looks pleased enough with everything else happening. She doesn't want to bring down his mood by bringing up her own failings.]

But I know that I am better than the way I performed today.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus nods. ]

It's really hard, knowing that you should be able to do something and not being able to do it just right. I've been feeling kind of similar about something I've been working on for a really long time? So I hope you can work out what you need to do to be better, even if I thought you did great.

[mayavericks]

[Well... At least someone understands. In any case, she's eager for a subject change so... don't mind her latching on to that little detail there.]

What have you been working on?

[themuseabandonsyou]

I've been trying to write a song. It's for Lord Hades and Lady Persephone, so it has to be absolutely perfect, but nothing I try seems to come out right.

[ He shakes his head, frowning, and leans against the table. ]

It's like I can feel the shape of what it should be, but no matter what I do, it doesn't quite line up. I've talked to Maestro Salieri about it a little, and that helped, but it's still not there yet.

[mayavericks]

When you are ready, you should show me what you have. I imagine I could provide some feedback.

[Please let her feel useful after this abysmal day.]

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus nods. ]

I'd be happy to. It's a big part of why I wanted your advice on singing. I don't think I'm bad at it? But I've never had any real training.

[mayavericks]

It makes sense now. [She stands up just a little straighter.]

Very well. I would be pleased to teach you. I apologize for neglected the duty previously.

[themuseabandonsyou]

Oh, don't worry about it. It's been kind of busy, here.

[ Between the rehearsals and everyone trying to make sense of what's going on. Orpheus does notice that Maya seems to have lightened up a bit now that they're off the subject of her performance, though, and carries on with a little more enthusiasm. ]

I think I'll only get one chance to play it for them, so I'll need all the help and practice I can get. It's really important that I get it right.

[violentenvies]

[When Orpheus comes up to the Mead barrel, Salieri's expression immediately brightens. He's no Spongebob of course, but it is a lighter expression than he normally has.]

Ah, Monsieur Orpheus! What did you think of your first taste of live opera?

[themuseabandonsyou]

It was incredible! [ he says, looking about as excited as he's been since he got here, save for maybe when Eurydice found him, and that was more relief than anything else. ]

I've never seen or heard anything like it! I mean, I've heard recordings before? But it doesn't compare to seeing it on stage. You really put all of that together in less than a week?

[violentenvies]

[Oh, well, with that sort of reaction, what else is he supposed to do aside from smile? He's so very glad Orpheus liked it, that he can't quite control it]

Really? I'm very pleased to hear it.

[he chuckles a bit] We did, indeed. Really, I have the hard work and dedication of everyone involved to thank. We couldn't have done it without everyone working together.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus nods, enthusiastically. ]

I still have to congratulate everyone else - but again, thank you so much for organizing all of this. It's really incredible what people can accomplish when they all work as one.

[violentenvies]

Of course. It was my pleasure, truly, to be able to share such a thing with everyone here. I'm also glad that so many were willing to help, as well as attend.

[themuseabandonsyou]

Yes! And I'm really looking forward to helping next time, if or when you decide to do more scenes. As much fun as it was just to be in the audience. I don't know if I can do as good a job as Maya and Mister Barker, but I'll do my best!

[violentenvies]

I would certainly be more than happy to have you onstage for the next scene. I'm sure it would be a performance to remember.

[He is Orpheus, after all]

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ He nods, beaming, though after a second his expression goes a little more thoughtful. ]

Maya seemed pretty worried about chemistry, and I don't know much about acting. If I'm going to be playing Lyncee, I'll have to work really hard to keep up with her. I wouldn't want to let anyone down.

[violentenvies]

[hm??]

Mademoiselle Maya is a trained actress, but I do not think she expects of you what she would expect of another trained actor. I'm certain what happens, as long as you do what you're able, that will be more than enough.

Nevertheless, I will be there to coach you either way.

[themuseabandonsyou]

Thanks! [ he says, brightening back up a bit. Not fully, though. ] I think she mostly seemed kind of upset about her own performance. I'm a little worried about her? I didn't see anything wrong with it, but I guess I'm not really familiar with this kind of thing.

[violentenvies]

She's upset about it? [that'll garner a mild frown of concern] I could make note of one or two things to improve, but nothing that is wrong, per say. In fact, I thought it was a brilliant performance.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus nods. ] You might want to talk to her about it. She'll listen to your opinion and feedback.

[ More than she did his own, at least. He's not terribly hurt by it, though, knowing he's not necessarily as cultured as some of the others here and also being familiar with the feeling of having made mistakes in your craft that no one else can see. But Maestro Salieri surely has something he can say to make her feel a little better about it, at least. ]

I really did think it was amazing, though. Everyone here is so skilled and talented. I'm glad for the opportunity to have met you all and seen you work, even if the situation isn't, um. The best, overall.