itscurtains | Week Two

Entry tags:

act 3,
week 2

Week Two

[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! ))

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[Salieri is just...holding one of the Jackalopes kind of as though one would cradle a baby lmao. But when he notices Orpheus in the room, he'll move to set it down, standing and (attempting to) brush off all the fur off his mostly black outfit, before making his way over. He frowns slightly when he gets closer, noting how he looks]

Monsieur Orpheus. Good afternoon.

Good afternoon, Maestro Salieri. [ says Orpheus, with all the enthusiasm of a schoolchild greeting a very dull substitute teacher. He feels bad about it immediately, grimacing a little - Maestro Salieri is his friend, and has done so much for him - but he just has no energy left in him right now. ] ...Sorry. I, um, didn't sleep last night. How are you doing? After all of that.

[Salieri blinks at the initial lack of enthusiasm, wondering if he's done something or overstepped...?

But no, then it's explained, and the bit of tension that'd come into him relaxes. He steps a bit closer, frowning a little]

I am...alright. However, I'm concerned that I couldn't say the same for you?

Edited 2021-06-11 22:49 (UTC)

[ Orpheus shakes his head a little. ]

I'm not... doing all that well, no. The photo Miss Hester gave me was... [ He trails off a bit, unsure of how much to say. It's Eurydice's business as much as his, and also he just doesn't especially want to talk about it. What he eventually settles on saying is simply; ] Bad. Not bad enough to make me want to hurt anyone, but. Bad.

I see. [there's a heaviness to the way he says it. Of course, he already has an idea because he spoke to your wife first, but nevertheless...]

I'm sorry. It seems the Wizard has tried to be particularly cruel this week.

[ Slowly, Orpheus takes a deep, unsteady breath. ]

I think I can stop it. Now that I know it's coming. [ he says. ] But it means working even harder on my song. You'll keep helping me with it, right Maestro?

Of course, my friend. [the reassurance is immediate] I will do whatever I can to assist you with it. Two heads are far better than one, after all.

Thank you.

[ There's a genuine sense of relief in his voice. It's not that he expected Salieri would say no, but it's just good to know he and Eurydice aren't alone in this. ]

I'm going to get back to work as soon as - um, this? [ he gestures at the room around them, unsure of what to describe this gathering of strange beings as ] Is over. In case something happens like with the President last week. But after that, I can't waste any time.

Of course, I understand completely. [though...] The...President? I'm afraid I missed much of what happened here last week.

Oh, that's right, I don't think you were there for History Club?

[ How to... even begin explaining any of that? Orpheus thinks for a moment, before launching into it. ]

You know the people on the posters? The ape-person and the tall man in the hat? The ape-person was a being called a Sasquatch who might or might not be real and the man was President Abraham Lincoln, who was the leader of the United States about fifty years before I was born? They showed up in the form of - um, living shadows, and were fighting, and we helped the President knock Sasquatch down, and he pointed out the cameras the Wizard is maybe using to watch us and something under one of the tables in the shop before disappearing.

[ inhale ]

So maybe one of the beings here has something for us that could help.

[that is...so much. But you know what? At this point, he's not sure what else he expected]

I...see. Well, I suppose it certainly could be worth asking them, in that case.

[ Orpheus nods, and walks over to one of the frogmen standing idle, watching its fellows instruct the others in dancing. ]

Excuse me? Can we talk to you?

[ The frogman gives him a walleyed look, and croaks loudly before taking Orpheus's hands and trying to drag him onto the dance floor. ]

Oh - no, um. I'm not... really in the mood for dancing. I was just wondering if -

[ But the frog interrupts him with another croak and insistently begins to lead him through the steps. One, two, three, one, two, three. Orpheus gives Salieri a pleading, 'help me' look. ]

[Oh, well, at that, he will certainly come to the rescue.

Yes, that is definitely what he is here to do as he taps the frogman on the shoulder]

Pardon me, sir--might I cut in? [and Salieri hardly waits for an answer before he is stepping in and, instead of freeing Orpheus from his entrapment, whirls him back into the dance--one, two, three, one, two, three.]

Come now, Monsieur Orpheus, step lively. [There's a very stuffy and proper look on his face--though if he gets the chance to catch Eurydice's eye in the corner, he is certainly going to flash her a smirk and a wink]

[ Orpheus is too stunned to resist being lead back onto the floor, confused by what Salieri is doing but following along instinctively with the ease of someone who sort of knows the steps. One, two, three, one, two, three. When it finally hits him, he breaks out into a smile, small and weak, but genuine, and starts to dance with a little more enthusiasm. ]

I guess you would know how to waltz already, being an important composer and all.

[there's a smile--a small one, and Salieri feels a small measure of relief. That was his aim, after all, so he's glad it worked, even just a little.]

Why, certainly. I'll have you know that the waltz is incredibly popular in Vienna right now.

Edited 2021-06-18 12:35 (UTC)

I've never been to Vienna. [ says Orpheus, thoughtfully. ] Or anywhere outside the States. But some people passing through town taught me a little bit about how to dance.

[ Enough to keep up with Maestro Salieri well enough, at least. ]

Maybe Eurydice and I can go there together, someday. When the seasons are right again.

I would certainly recommend it. [hey Orpheus, would you like to be twirled under Salieri's arm? Because that's what's happening right now, before he turns him back into the dance]

Granted, it will depend on when you visit. But then, our times are a bit different. I don't know if this is good advice, but it is loveliest in the spring.

[ He'll go with it! ]

I'll keep that in mind. Spring has always been my favorite season anyway. [ And not just because it's when Lady Persephone comes through with all her blessings, though that's definitely a factor. ] It seems like a good time to go traveling. It might take some time to save up, to be able to go that far away? But someday, I want to take Eurydice places we've never seen before.

[asldhfs Orpheus that's so sweet. Of course he does]

Naturally. Traveling with someone you love makes the journey all the more sweet, does it not? And I'm sure she'd enjoy it very much.

[ Orpheus nods. His smile is still a little hesitant, but talking about the future - when they're out of here, when things are better and the seasons are back in tune - seems to be helping. ]

Eurydice's traveled a lot more than me, but mostly to look for work or places that aren't... hit as hard, by the weather being all wrong. It would be nice to do it for fun, instead of any of that. And maybe we'll find some place to live, where it's never too hot or too cold and the people are friendly and there's always enough to go around.

I have no doubt that if you look for it, you will find it, Monsieur Orpheus. [he'll squeeze Orpheus's hand, gently, as they step through the finale of the dance. He wants that, what Orpheus described, for them. They deserve it. Even though he's heard from Eurydice what Orpheus's picture contains; even though he knows the story, still...there's something like a desperate hope inside him for their future that maybe, perhaps, it can be changed. Somehow.

As the dance slows to a stop, he'll step back, bending into a sweeping bow]

Monsieur, I thank you for this lovely jaunt.

[ Orpheus bows in turn, laughing a little. He still doesn't look quite back to his usual self, but he's better than he's been since Hester handed out the photos. ]

And you as well. [ he says, before straightening up. ] I think I'm going to go spend some time with Eurydice, now? But this helped. And if any of the frog people or the hares or - whatever that is? [ He gestures to the red-eyed shadow in his peripheral vision. ] Tell me anything, I'll be sure to tell you, too.

I'm glad it helped. And I'll tell you whatever I find out, as well.

[Salieri smiles a little, gently]

Until later, Monsieur Orpheus.

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Week Two

Cryptid Club

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