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

[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.]

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[ Her eyes stay on the laid out food as she scoops some potatoes onto her plate. ]

It's fine. Everyone's got specialties. [ She lets out a small sigh, picking up a muffin. Sweat runs down her forehead, as she's only just came in from the gym. ] You make the muffins back home?

[Maya knows that look all too well. She's been the queen of overexerting herself thus far.]

Not me, a dear friend of mine. She is far better at taking care of people than I am. [She gives Peregrine another once over.] You should drink water as well. Do you want me to get some?

[ She shakes her head. ] I can get it. Just wanted to get some food in me first. ...Usually I take a water bottle with me, but. Well, I kinda had a lot on my mind.

That's understandable. I think many of us have found our minds elsewhere.

Still... I am glad you made it. I don't think it would do any of us any good to be alone this evening.

[ Alone, alone, alone... ]

That's why you did this whole thing? Make sure we're not...isolating ourselves?

That is correct. [She looks almost sheepish.]

In my dorm, there are seven other girls. We... compete against one another. We have rivalries. But at the end of the day, I am never alone as long as they are with me.

I wished to remind everyone of that.

This the same school where egos flair?

[She cracks a smile at that.]

The very same. We all want to stand atop the stage but... We don't want to watch others be hurt along the way.

Does that make sense?

...I think it used to. Like...it kinda does. It does.

[ She breathes out. ]

Do you trust me? The rest of us?

I do. This week, we were all tasked with an impossible choice. And we made the right decision in the end. It speaks volumes, to be offered the world and reject it.

[Her head tilts.]

Do you feel the same?

[ ... ]

I wasn't the only one out in the woods, you know. Not the only one learning. It... It wouldn't be enough, to do it myself. It was me...and four others. My cousin, two other guys from school, and...my best friend. Lexy.

We were gonna prove ourselves. To show the whole town, we needed to learn this stuff. They had a responsibility to make sure we knew. We worked, and worked...for a year and a half. Going out, finding out how to survive. She, and John Francis- my cousin, that's my cousin- they jumped at it. To help me.

[ She breathes out, setting down her plate full of food. ]

They- she lied. We had a pact, we— we were gonna show them. But she let everyone know. Let the town that was against us know. She got...she ruined it. When she said, she'd be there for me.

[ She looks at Maya. ]

I've known Lexy since we were seven years old. If I can't trust her... Who else can I?

[Maya had a pretty terrible feeling that she knew where this was going, the second Peregrine started talking. She doesn't expect it to this degree, nor can she entirely relate but...

She nods.]

I understand, Peregrine. It is a shame but... I cannot hold it against you.

[ It is a shame. Because, truthfully, she doesn't really want to— ]

...Thanks, though. For...back there. In the auditorium. When that asshole was...you know. Pushing.

You don't need to apologize, Peregrine. It's like we said --

If you need something,
I will find you,
I will find you,
I'll take care of you.

[ She breathes in, swallows. ]

If I've got nothing,
I can find you,
I can find you,
You'll help get me through.

I can find you,
I hope that can be true.

[As Peregrine sings, Maya closes her eyes. She lets the song lapse into silence, considering the weight of those words.]

I will do everything I can to prove myself worthy, Peregrine. That I can promise.

Yeah. ...Okay.

[ ... ]

It was my brother. The one who got lost. The one who died. My older brother, Jacob. It was... When they found him... He looked a lot like Mumble did.

Edited 2021-06-13 07:09 (UTC)

Given your reaction, and your commitment to this cause, it does not surprise me that it was someone close to you.

[Still, she reaches out her hand to -- Pat Peregrine's own? Pat her shoulder? She's actually not familiar with any of this.]

I deeply apologize for your loss. And that many saw fit to pour salt in the wound during the trial today.

[ She lets the physical comfort happen. Though, as Maya mentions the trial, her lip curls in anger. She snatches up her plate of food. ]

Assholes. Stupid assholes, all of 'em. I'd never... What the hell do they take me for? If that happened— even as an accident, I'd know...what not to do.

Many of us are scared. Helpless in our own right. We... looked for commonalities and jumped on whatever we could.

I am not saying it was right. Only that... it is simply what happened. it doesn't mean that it was fair, though.

Well, it better not happen again.

[ No one else better die. No one else better think that she'd...do something like that. ]

It won't. I will personally make sure of it.

[ She pauses for a second. ]

...Me too. Between the both of us...

With your survival skills, and my combat ability... I believe we have a fighting chance. We will keep one another alive.

We're gonna keep everyone else alive. No more accidents on my watch.

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