"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

[whatyouwant]

[Elle silently makes her way back to the Longacre dorms. For a while she just sits on her bed, staring at Elizabeth's space, or what use to be her space. Is this all a nightmare? It didn't feel like it until right now. Until now she could roll with everything thrown at her. Guys form other worlds? Sure. People who knew magic? Yeah!

People from the past?

She continues to stare at the empty bed.

Voices sing in her head, and she can almost see her friends from Delta Nu around her, singing.

In my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

One of them hugs her. Come on, honey. People need you.

She stands.

During the party Elle does her best to keep a smile up. Even though she isn't host, she flits around checking on everyone, getting them anything they need. Helping others is easy, a good distraction.

She stays at the party until everyone else is gone. It's pretty clear to see that she's tired, but she stays to help clean up, maybe being a bit too thorough with the process.]

Party End

[mcfife]

[Angus doesn't want to be among the first to leave. He promised he would take down The Wizard, and hiding in sadness won't help keep the spirits of the others from collapsing. Besides, the lizards must be the last to return.

He finally drops off the terrarium and returns to the kitchen to check if he missed anything, though Elle is not that something he expected.]

Do you require help? [He doesn't know much about housekeeping, but he's not leaving her alone.]

Re: Party End

[whatyouwant]

Hm? [It would seem Elle hadn't noticed Angus until he spoke. It takes her a second to process what he asked.]

No, no, I got it. ['It' appears to be wiping down the tables even though they all look pretty clean already.] You should go rest. Today was...really shitty.

[mcfife]

[Unless Angus has a poor sense of what is considered to be clean, Elle has already completed her task.]

I don't want you to be alone this late, not after what happened. [What's he worried about? Elle accidentally killing someone? Someone accidentally killing her? Or just...not being in this cursed room.]

[whatyouwant]

[Elle smiles.]

I wouldn't mind the company.

[She sits down, finally abandoning the rag.]

That was...a nightmare.

[mcfife]

Agreed.

[He doesn't know where to start with the reasons.]

It was all unnecessary. None of this should have happened.

[whatyouwant]

Especially Elisabeth. She...[Elle stops, seemingly trying to compose herself.]...she was trying to help. She didn't want to hurt anyone.

[mcfife]

It's a tragedy what happened. Mumble was near death and she failed to save him. She is no doctor. Why should we punish her? She had been torn up already about what had happened, as we killed her.

[He leans against the counter, staring out of the tiny window at the end of the room.]

I should have done something. I had enough of sacrificing others for the good of all.

[whatyouwant]

We Did kill her. That stupid Wizard did. He killed Mumble too!

[Elle seems oddly angry now.]

If it weren't for this dumb 'play' of his she might have come to find help! Maybe someone would have actually known what do to and neither of them would have died!

[mcfife]

I know. You're right.

[We all should be angry. What can anyone feel but rage at the situation. Angus plants a hand on her shoulder.]

But this means that we must do better next time. That fire inside of you is strong, and it's what we need, Elle. A sun is not a single fire, but many combining their strength, and that is what we must become.

[whatyouwant]

[Elle smiles, and it's almost back to her normal bright glow. She also fights down a blush]

Thank you. We just need to stick together, right?

[mcfife]

More planning together. Less time alone. That's how we'll make it.

[He's glad that she's happy. Someone so inspiring as her deserves it.]

[whatyouwant]

Right. Just gotta stay positive.

[She looks back at the table she had previously been wiping down.]

It's clean enough, right?

[mcfife]

It's pristine. I've only seen this shine in space stations. [So. Please take a break?] It's getting late. I'd rest easy knowing that all of us were in our dorms tonight.

So...

[whatyouwant]

Right.[Elle leaves the rag behind and goes to stand next to Angus.]

Bed sounds like a great idea right now.

[mcfife]

[He holds out an arm, prepared to escort the lady as a gentleman.]

[whatyouwant]

[Elle smiles and loops her arm in his. It's been a while since someone has treated her like this. Warner did when they went somewhere fancy, but she can't remember the last time it happened for something as simple as taking her to her room.

Actually she can't remember the last time he walked her all the way to her room rather than just dropping her off in front of Delta Nu.]

Why thank you, dear sir.

[mcfife]

[Angus gives her a short bow - as much of one as he can with one arm being held - and leads her back to the dorm rooms. The night is quiet; one could call it peaceful if they hadn't lost two of her friends. Now, it is simply melancholy. They can rest and resume their escape tomorrow.

He stops in front of her dorm entrance between letting go of her hand.] I will see you tomorrow, Miss Elle.

[whatyouwant]

[The silence on their walk back is nice. Between living at Delta Nu, then being brought here, Elle doesn't get a lot of quiet moments.

When Angus lets go of her hand, she turns and gives a small curtsy.]

Thanks for walking me back. I'll see you in the morning. [With a smile and a small wave, she enters the Longacre dorm and gently closes the door behind her.]