"A Swing and Miss Doesn't Mean it's Game Over"

[mayavericks]

[Well… All of that sure happened. And while Maya is visibly shaken Sissi's literal dance with death, she’d meant what she’d said to the others -- she would protect them. At that moment, it meant voting and making the “right” decision. Now, though? It means ensuring that no one feels alone, and that everyone has a good meal in them.

She’s not Nana Daiba, however, she certainly can’t do this alone. But she does have the resourcefulness and authoritative disposition to to recruit allies. Discord is sure to be… mostly unbothered by everything that’s happened, and Spongebob will likely be eager to help. She approaches both men: one is asked nicely; The other is grabbed by the collar and dragged from whatever hole he’s locked himself in. Sorry Discord.

For Maya's part, several potato dishes are prepared (can you tell someone has a bias). And while she doesn’t have the resources to make baumkuchen, Maya does manage to produce a cake, as well as… muffins? They’re not… quite how she remembers Nana making them, but she can at least recall how hearty the food had felt, and how it had restored her energy on long days.

It’s a pleasant memory, even if it does make her a touch melancholy.

Nevertheless, the food is laid out in the kitchen, as are a number of pies that Maya has uncovered. She even tucks a few bottles of wine in a corner for the adults that might like it. This is in addition to the mead apparently brought by Salieri. Look she’s not a fan of having alcohol but… she can’t tell the adults no.

But hey, courtesy of Benjamin, there is even some cocoa. It doesn’t start off spiked but… you know. Thanks to Spongebob there are, well… Angry Patties? It’s fine. Even Discord managed to contribute some pies and tea, as well as being bossed around to do the grunt work in the kitchen. There’s also that inexplicable pizza? Huh, that’s weird.

Eventually the group goes around extending invitations to the dorms, knocking on doors and explaining what’s been set up. No one will be forced to go, just… strongly encouraged. Maya herself will even duck into the principal’s office and, if she’s there, invite Hester.

She seemed just as upset as the rest of them.]

Comments

[mayavericks]

[Since Maya is the de facto hostess of this party she… can’t exactly escape from it. She stays off to the side, observing from a distance. She does her best to exude calm but… judging by the white-knuckled grip on her sword, that’s probably not all there is to the story.

Every now and again, she does duck into the kitchen to get a glass of water. She sips it as she watches the door, wary of any unauthorized visitors. Hester may have gotten an invitation, but she certainly won’t stand for the Wizard showing up. Not that she thinks he can, all things considered.
Nevertheless, she lingers at the edges of the party, on edge but not entirely unapproachable, at least?

As things wind down for the evening, she’ll offer to collect plates and mugs, and then busy herself with doing the dishes. She’ll be there either until she’s done with the dishes, or when the doors are forced to close for the evening. Only then does she step out and excuse herself to the dance studio.

It feels wrong to be here, considering what they found just this morning. But it also feels wrong not to keep practicing. It isn’t enough to say she will defend her class, she has to have the ability to do so. Besides… who really needs sleep?]

Dance Studio

[violentenvies]

[The party was very needed. This day has been nothing but horrible. But when Maya doesn't end up at the dorm, he goes looking for her.

He pauses once again in the doorway and pauses, knocking politely on the frame to get her attention.]

[mayavericks]

[Focused as she is, and considering the day she's had, Maya actually startles at the knocking. She twists around, eyes a little wide.]

Maestro. I assumed you would be asleep.

[violentenvies]

I assumed you would be also. [she'll get an arched eyebrow for it, but really, he's not being too serious about it]

May I come in?

[mayavericks]

You may.

[She motions him inward. For once, she doesn't continue her fight but... Sits down on the ground. She's pretty flushed in the face anyway so... the break is probably a good thing?]

[violentenvies]

[He'll step inside then, though he blinks when she just sits down on the ground.

After a moment of contemplation...he moves to join her. He doesn't usually sit on the ground so it's a bit awkward but he manages, moving to cross his legs.]

If you'd be willing...I'd like to talk about these. [he reaches into his coat, pulling out both of their pictures]

[mayavericks]

[Maya's eyes narrow at the photo. She's quiet, before finally nodding.]

Though... We have talked at length about mine. I think it is time we hear about yours, Salieri-sensei.

doing the dishes

[voicerights]

[Hey Maya. Did you expect to be joined sooner than later by someone? Because you are. Albeit studying you for half a moment before moving to stand beside her, taking the opposite job of what she's doing - whether washing or drying.

What? It's a task that needs to be done. It's Helping^TM!]

[mayavericks]

[Maya picks up on his presence pretty quick. She twists around, grabbing the nearest glass in preparation to smash it over the head of whoever --

Oh. It's this... thing.

Thankfully, it moves before she can say anything too cross. And since it's helping, she won't immediately pick at it. She'll simply hand over a towel and let it get to work.]

[voicerights]

[Just taking that towel and working in silence, thank you, at least for a few sets of dishes. After a moment;]

You never suspected her.

[mayavericks]

[She doesn't need to ask who it's talking about.]

Of course not. Flawed or not, I was going under the assumption that this was all very deliberate at the time. And I did not believe she would ever do something like that. Not after the way she responded.

[voicerights]

[Fifty percent ain't too bad for a human. Nonetheless-]

Do you believe everyone thought the same way?

[mayavericks]

Truthfully, I do not think anyone was ready to suspect anyone else until it was undeniable.

[She closes her eyes.]

Binding promises were made
On our souls
Grand delusions led astray

[She shakes her head]

We believed we could trust one another.

Dishes

[whatyouwant]

[Elle brings in a platter stacked with dishes and posts up next to Maya at the sink.]

I can rinse if you wash?

[She's notably more low-energy than she has been since waking up here, at least in front of everyone else. She's still smiling, but it's smaller, and doesn't quite reach her eyes.]

[mayavericks]

I would appreciate that. [She's already reaching for a few of the dishes atop the pile that Elle has brought in.]

Thank you for your help.

[whatyouwant]

No, thank you for putting this together.

[When the load is light enough she sets the rest down on the counter next to the sink and takes up her position on the other side of Maya, ready to rinse.]

It was a good idea. Let me know if you want to put on any more get-togethers, I'll help out. [Not like she's good for much else around here.]

[mayavericks]

It just... seemed like the right thing to do.

[She looks down at the suds in the water, focusing on cleaning for the time being. Her expression looks... unreadable. You know, same as always.]

Even if we competed with one another, my class was always there for each other. We shared a dorm, we tended to each other's injuries. It just... felt like it would be good to have that. [She shakes her head.] Beyond that, I am not much of a party planner. I think I will defer to you from here on out.

[whatyouwant]

Hey, you got food, drinks, and people. That's all you really need for a party.

[Elle takes dishes as they are placed in her sink and makes sure they are rinsed of any and all suds before stacking them in the draining wrack. It isn't something she's super familiar with, but the task is easy enough to get without practice.]

What do you mean you'd 'tend each other's injuries'? Were you in some kind of martial arts training?

[mayavericks]

I suppose you're right.

[Maya scrubs down a handful of silverware, then hands them over to Elle's sink. She picks up another plate, shrugging.]

Stage girls. Acting, dancing, and singing. Muscle strain is frequent.

dance studio

[tellthestory]

[The Balladeer is up late, too. For him, it was the guitar. For Maya, clearly it's dance. He almost doesn't want to bother her, but...]

Hey. Kinda late for practice, isn't it?

[He's literally holding his guitar at this exact moment, he is not one to talk]

[mayavericks]

Is it?

[She turns around, looking the Balladeer up and down. Her gaze rests on his guitar, just a little skeptical.]

Seems strange that you might say so.

[tellthestory]

Oh - well, I was just...playing.

[Not practicing for a performance? Though, he's not sure whether or not she is either, so. Rip.]

Less tiring than dancing, I'm sure.

[mayavericks]

Not if we were both putting our hearts into it.

[Hard to say if she's been doing that.]

You did not expect any of this to happen, did you?

[tellthestory]

No.

[On some level, he doesn't even understand why she's asking; how on earth could he have known that would happen? But, then again...he knows.]

...no. I never thought it would actually happen. I mean, no one...wanted that to happen. Sissi didn't do anything wrong.

[He's used to extremely intentional murders. Either people are awful and kill others, or they're not and things are fine. That's how it always was before. But if things are so different, and everything can go so horribly wrong so fast...]

I...I don't know what I'm going to do.

[mayavericks]

This is the game you were supposed to be playing, is it not? Were you not given any advice on how to proceed?