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

for once having icons from the actual curtain call is relevant

[barberic]

[Benjamin's performance is an imposing one. His physical presence exudes unyielding power, in a way that both works, given the role he's been cast in and the scene chosen, and also gives the impression that he is slightly brute forcing his way through the scene (the French, especially. Salieri and Sissi did the Lord's work but God bless him he didn't know a word of French before this).

But it's an honest, solid effort, and a relatively good one for where he started mere days ago. He has the expectation of Salieri's faith in him to live up to, of course - that's the main thrust behind his performance. But when the time arrives, he finds it soothing to imagine Lucy watching him from the audience, to imagine making her proud.

When he comes out for the curtain call, once again a teddy bear, he can almost imagine her jumping from her seat, clapping and tugging the arm of her neighbor to point at him and say 'That's my Benjamin!' and when he beams out, at the same people he's seen for the past week, a pang of longing hits him so strongly that when he rises from his bow his eyes are wet.

After the curtain call is done and the afterparty has commenced, he takes his well-earned cup of mead and a plate of food, and mingles happily with the others.]

That was a thrill, wasn't it. Lord, I'm still shaking.

[But as the initial adrenaline wears off, the longing that struck him at curtain call becomes harder and harder to ignore, and he retires to the edge of the party, content to nurse a fresh cup of mead and watch the others continue to mingle. His expression becomes bittersweet and distant, as his posture closes off slightly, lost in thought.]

[mayavericks]

[Benjamin isn't the only one lingering at the edge of the room. Maya sits in the very corner opposite him. She hardly notices him at first, only does when her gaze flicks up for an entirely different reason.

She finishes her own notes and steps over, though not before grabbing a glass of mead. She slips it over to Benjamin and then rests a hand on his shoulder.]

You did magnificently, Barker-san.

[barberic]

[He's startled out of his thoughts by the hand on his shoulder, but when he realizes who it is he smiles fondly and reaches up to cover it with his own large, warm hand.]

Thank you, my dear. You were stunning up there. It broke my heart to try and keep character.

[mayavericks]

[Such a tender touch is... almost surprising. Maya starts to draw her hand back but... Stops before she can complete the motion.]

You seem to have connected well with the role. It showed within your performance.

[barberic]

[He feels the flinch of her hand under his, and with a final gentle pat, he lets go.]

Did it? I was afraid it would show how hard I had to think about the French.

[But he looks down, with a sheepish, secret fond smile.]

I suppose being a married man, it's only natural I'd connect with a role of a father. [The confession is soft, as if he's embarrassed to admit that he put more of himself in it than he expected.] Not to say that I'd use the role as an example. Perhaps of what not to do.

[mayavericks]

Vous étiez parfait, monsieur.

[With her hand released, she can at least step to the side and sit across from him. She studies his expression for a long moment, turning his words over in her head. Admittedly, it does little to help her own perspective, considering --]

I would say that you are incorrect. Yes, of course, a father should never use his children to further his own goals. But perhaps there was a twisted sort of love there, that a father could not bear to be parted from his daughters by his own impending death.

[barberic]

But to make them kill for him? Now Hypermnestra knows that if she doesn't betray her conscience and kill her husband, she will be responsible for her father's death. It's cruel to put that on her, knowing choosing one damns the other. Don't you think?

A father loves his daughter to the end of his life, but a husband will love her to the end of hers.

[mayavericks]

[Maya's expression shifts. For a moment, she looks just a little bitter.]

Unsurprisingly, it would seem you have put more thought into this than I.

[barberic]

[He's too involved in the conversation to miss the bitterness that crosses her features, and falters, a pang of sympathy crossing his features as he sits back up straighter. Perhaps she didn't have a father? Or she had chosen the same as Hypermnestra's sisters.

He decides to change tracks with a joke, offering her a soft smile.]

Well, also as a new husband, it would have sucked to be murdered on my wedding night.

[Showing off the improvement to his vocabulary that Connor taught him.]

[mayavericks]

[Oh, she can't help but crack a smile. There's something so funny about Benjamin saying anything sucked.]

I imagine it would have.

[Nevertheless, she shakes her head.]

I apologize for being so lackluster compared to your own performance, Barker-san. You were truly magnificent. Every bit the role of Danaus.

[barberic]

Lackluster? Never.

[He reaches out to her across the table, not to touch her but putting his palm flat to drive home his sincerity.]

I couldn't have asked for a better stage-daughter, my dear.

[mayavericks]

[She only shakes her head.]

I did not embody that role. No one would have ever believed that we were family. Suspension of disbelief can only do so much.

[barberic]

[A look of pity crosses his face, but only for a brief moment.]

Shame that you think that way. But you know something?

[He leans forward on his elbows against the table conspiratorially, giving her a smile.]

I think everyone enjoyed it just the same. Did you have fun?

[mayavericks]

[What is fun, Barker-san.]

The distraction was... appreciated, at least.

[She doesn't look convinced, though.]

[brokeforgood]

You did great. [Assistant Director Farrah here. She did stuff to help with the play, probably, even if half the rehearsal time had been spent drawing a full page drawing of their director fighting a tree.

But she seems genuine, which is weird from how Farrah normally acts. But to keep anyone from thinking she’s been abducted—]

I kept thinking someone was gonna fall and knock someone else off stage. I’m so glad you didn’t do that.

[barberic]

[He chuckles.]

I wasn't aware that was an option, but now that you say it, I'm also glad it didn't happen.

[violentenvies]

[Salieri will find Benjamin once he's settled, approaching his table with a glass of something different]

Good evening, Monsieur. Is this seat available? [there's a small quirk to the corner of his mouth that hints at a bit of teasing as he gently gestures to a seat at the table with an opened bottle of wine]

[barberic]

[Benjamin blinks his way out of his thoughts, then looks up at Salieri, smiling when he sees who it is.]

By all means, Maestro, it's all yours. [He gestures at the open seat.]

[violentenvies]

My thanks. [he'll take that seat, then, settling into it with a more relaxed air than he's ever displayed thus far. Once properly settled, he lifts his glass in a toast]

Congratulations on your first, and might I say, incredibly successful performance.

[barberic]

[He raises his own cup, relaxing back in his chair and crossing his legs at the knee.]

Merci, Maestro. [He says with a cheerful grin.]

I'm glad you're pleased with how it turned out. And I think the audience had a good time, too.

[violentenvies]

I certainly am quite pleased, but it is even more so a relief to see that the audience enjoyed the fruit of our labors.

[barberic]

I couldn't agree more. Second worst nerves of my life.

Now that it's over, what do you think you'll do? Put on another scene, to keep morale up?

[violentenvies]

[he chuckles a bit at that first bit, looking amused] The first being your wedding, I assume?

[as for the other thing, he pauses to consider, swirling the wine in his glass]

I am certainly considering it. There are other scenes to be written, after all. [he tilts his head a bit, glancing sideways at Benjamin with a small smirk]

And you, monsieur? Would you do it again?

[barberic]

[Does he even need to acknowledge being called out on being a wife guy again, with more than a nod? Obviously his biggest case of nerves was about his wedding. Well, the proposal moreso.

At the return question, he considers, briefly.]

Gladly, sir, if you'll allow it. I found it quite enjoyable, and it made the time pass.

[Then, jokingly:] And besides, I can only cut so much hair before I have to wait for it to grow out again.

[violentenvies]

[that'll make Salieri chuckle]

Well, in that case, I shall do my utmost to provide you an avenue of entertainment in between hair cuts.