"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

[fourbutts]

Well... I'm not exactly a junior therapist or anything, but I would be down to listen if you wanted to talk about whatever's fucking you up. You know. Friend stuff.

[comeandfindme]

[ She pulls her mouth together, taking a slow breath. ]

Friend stuff. [ Nod. ] You'd say we're friends?

[fourbutts]

I mean... if you would, yeah.

[comeandfindme]

[ She passes Janis the photograph she's looking at. ]

He's my friend, too. Still sure?

[fourbutts]

[ Janis looks at it, quiet for a moment. ]

Yeah. Who, uh... who is he?

[comeandfindme]

Name's Woodsley. —well, we call him Woodsley. It's a...stupid nickname, whatever. We've been doing survivalist training together. He was, like...a boy scout, when we were kids, so...when I went asking around, about who wanted to join me...out in the woods, he was happy to.

[fourbutts]

Out in the woods? Like a... hiking club or something?

[comeandfindme]

A survivalist group. So we could learn how, if...the worst happened...and we got lost, we could make it out of the woods alive.

[fourbutts]

Ah.

[ She looks down at the picture. ]

And just like that, I see the problem.

[comeandfindme]

He's not dead.

[ Severely. Quickly. As she stares at the bleachers. ]

...This...might not even be real. Just... Just harder to think about, if... [ She frowns. ] ...He's out there. 'Cause of me. Again.

[fourbutts]

[ Janis snorts lightly. ]

Hey, the guy's already gotten plenty wrong so far. But I get it. Not exactly a great feeling.

[comeandfindme]

[ She reaches for the photo back; she was right when she said she didn't carry it on her, but...it doesn't feel right, not to take it back. ]

It's what I was trying to do. Take us into the woods and show we could get back, alive. So. It's a pretty harsh guess.

[fourbutts]

[ Janis is perfectly fine handing it back. ]

I mean... I'm not going to say I get it, because the closest thing to hiking I get is walking by the lake, but. I get being upset. [ She exhales hard through her nose. ] I wouldn't exactly have been thrilled about things today either.

[comeandfindme]

...His face was so pale. Like... It was so pale.

[ Peregrine's voice, suddenly, is small. ]

[fourbutts]

Hey, hey.

[ If Peregrine doesn't push away, Janis is going to go ahead and just. Move forward to try to hug her.

And, softly, more feeling than direct meaning: ]

Some things they do just to see how bad it'll make you feel
Sometimes you try to move on but your thoughts are a blur of spinning wheels
But you are not a broken machine
And you don't know what all this shit means

Long black night
Morning frost
We're still here
When all feels lost

[comeandfindme]

[ A hug. Much like at the trial, Peregrine doesn't shy away from physical affection. This time, despite it all, she even leans into it.

But she doesn't sing back. She listens, lets the words wash over her.

Mumble's face. Jacob's face. Woodsley's. They're never going to leave her mind, when she closes her eyes. And, truthfully...

Peregrine hums softly along. ]

...Thanks, Janis.

[fourbutts]

[ She could go on, but... that seems like the right amount. Janis pulls back, smiling a little at her. ]

No prob.

[comeandfindme]

[ That smile doesn't reflect on Peregrine's face. But, she doesn't look...completely miserable. ]

I wanna finish up my sets. ...You're free to stay, but, it's...not really interesting to watch.

[fourbutts]

I'm allergic to exercise. Gives me hives.

[ At least that is a joke? ]

If you're feeling alright, though, I'll keep uh. Wandering. Let you do your sprints and such in peace.

[comeandfindme]

[ She folds the picture back into her pocket. ]

If you ever wanna join...you know where to find me.

[fourbutts]

Yeah, I'll just. Come and find you. [ As it were. ] And if you need to talk more, well... at the end of the day we do always end up in the same place.

[comeandfindme]

[ It's kind of nice. Like having someone at home she can talk to again. ]

...See you tonight, Janis.

[fourbutts]

Catch you later, Peregrine.

[ She starts to leave, then doubles back for a second. ]

Okay, just so we're clear, that wasn't an intentional bird pun, and I'm sorry.

[comeandfindme]

[ For a moment, Peregrine looks at her just confused. Then, she snorts. ]

Oh, I don't even notice those anymore, don't worry about it.

[fourbutts]

Alright, cool.

[ And with a wave, she Actually Leaves The Room. ]