"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

[alchemistake]

[Honestly, what Farrah saw as reputation ruining, Varian saw as human. Completely human and understandable. Though, it seems they share the same sentiment of not wanting to be perceived that way, if the way Varian disappeared to cry his heart out was any indication. He only resurfaced once he felt appropriately hollow and had cried all the tears he could muster, leaving himself feeling heavy and light all at the same time.

Varian doesn't drink (yet), so he hasn't experienced the blissful misplaced confidence that good booze could give you. If he had, he'd probably be doing it more. As it stands, he blinks when Farrah suddenly appears in his line of vision, and what she says throws him off so badly he doesn't remember to answer at first.]

A...trash panda?

[He blinks owlishly, his sadness actually momentarily forgotten until he realizes she's talking about Ruddiger. Ruddiger who, meanwhile, is watching Farrah curiously from past his ear.]

Oh, uh- he's...a raccoon, actually. I guess you hadn't seen him yet, um...this is Ruddiger. He's my pet from back home. Sorry, I know it's...probably weird to have him in here, but he's not leaving my side, I promise.

[brokeforgood]

Yeah, a trash panda. That's their nickname, because they've got the--- [She pauses, sitting up straight so she doesn't need to lean on her arm for support, and uses both hands to make little goggles around her eyes---] --- like a panda, y'know? [She doesn't wait for him to confirm if he knows or not, just goes on.] And they fuckin love trash. [She scrunches up her face at Ruddiger, then grins at him, kind of like people do to tease a baby and make it laugh.]

It's super weird, but I'm here for it. He's cute.

[alchemistake]

[Whether Varian knows pandas or not is a mystery to me, but if he knows penguins he prooobably knows Pandas? He's just only ever seen them in books, maybe. Either way, he can't help but smile slightly at Farrah's reaction to Ruddiger, who is instantly receptive to the attention.

If she wants to pet him, he like, totally wouldn't mind. He's a glutton for attention, this one.]

I'm glad you think so. I'm super weird too, so I figured we'd make good pals.

[Said as he brushes a hand over Ruddiger's tail.]

Kindof...gave him a scare earlier, but it's alright now.

[brokeforgood]

Yeah, you are. [FARRAH? THAT WAS RUDE? She doesn't even realize what she said may be offensive though, because she's back to grinning at them both. Unfortunately, she's had enough talk about rabies that she doesn't try and pet Ruddiger yet, but she is all for making stupid faces at him.]

Two weird-peas in a weird-pod. You've gotta take care of yourself, for him.

[alchemistake]

[Varian huffs something akin to a laugh under his breath, his shoulders sagging just slightly. It's nice seeing Farrah grin, especially after earlier. He can't argue with her either because he knows he's weird as hell. He embraces it, at this point.]

I will, I promise. ...but only if you promise you'll take care of yourself, too.

[He's gonna be watching you, Farrah.]

[brokeforgood]

That one... might be a little hard. [He saw her photo. Everyone did. ... And what the hell, if she's gonna die, she may as well get rabies. She scoots closer, to give Ruddiger some good scritches.]

[alchemistake]

It's okay. That's why we're here to help.

[We could mean anyone, really. Himself, Salieri, Maya...there are a lot of people out there much stronger than Varian, a lot more capable of being pillars of strength when times get tough.

The scritches are much appreciated, and Farrah will be immediately rewarded for her efforts as Ruddiger turns his head this way and that to get the best angle, much like a cat might.]

If there's anything I can ever do, or like...if you ever want to talk, I'm always around. I'm not really the best at that sort of thing, but...I can be a good distraction, if nothing else.

[brokeforgood]

[It's a sweet notion, and one that Farrah doesn't not quite know how to cope with. She's always been the outsider-- the loser, the one no one gets. So she became the one with a party-- the girl who wasn't aware of anything, except for fun. So, she just keeps petting Ruddiger, occupying herself with that.]

Yeah? You think? Well-- same. I'm older, after all. [...According to him. For now.] You can rely on me.

[alchemistake]

Of course I do. And I'm glad to hear that. I mean, somebody's gonna have to keep an eye on me if we ever find a chemistry lab in this place.

[He's MOSTLY joking to try to lighten the mood, but also...that is a legitimate concern, so.]

[brokeforgood]

Why would you ever want more school in this place? I want a mini-bar. With lots of tequila. And vodka.

[alchemistake]

What is school for you is fun for me. Just the chemistry part, though.

[He can do without the rest of it, even if he's a pretty well-learned individual.]

And I mean...I'd be surprised if this place doesn't have enough to furnish something like that. We keep getting Absinthe from the vending machine, and wine too.