"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

[comeandfindme]

Don't.

[voicerights]

They died, and you did nothing.

[someone please stop the SQUIP oh wait nobody here]

[comeandfindme]

I wanted to!!

[ She screams, right in his face. In the gym, it echoes. ]

I wanted to go out and look! I wanted to join the search parties! I wanted to do something other than sit in my room and know his was empty!!

[ Alone, alone, alone... ]

[voicerights]

And you cannot accept...that the odds of you making a difference were infinitesimal.

[It takes a deep breath, and starts struggling to its feet]

You think you could have saved him.

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine swings another punch, this time at its face. ]

Shut the fuck up!

[voicerights]

[how about; nah. to both. its hand reaches out quickly, because in the past two weeks? it's more-or-less gotten most of its body down. still a few things, but enough to read a punch and try to grab that wrist and deflect said punch]

How old were you? Young enough to get in the way - is that what they said?

[comeandfindme]

SHUT UP!!

[ Pulling away her right hand would take too long; she swings her left fist, with less practice and form. ]

[voicerights]

[And up goes its other hand. Sure, it's no Angus? But it's enough to keep her from hitting it as it leans in]

You. Were. A. Child.

And unless you yourself had a SQUIP, you could have done nothing.

[REALIZE IT, STUPID]

[comeandfindme]

[ With a growl of rage, Peregrine pushes all her weight into her arms, shoving forward. Her aim is to push the SQUIP down. ]

Who fucking cares about a stupid computer?! Is that what this is for you?? My brother is dead!! [ She tries to pull her arms out of his grasp, to smack him, to anything. ] He's dead! He's dead, and he's always gonna be dead!! A fucking microchip couldn't change that! He's dead, and no one else has tried to do anything about it!!

[voicerights]

[It pretty much knew she was going to do that. Problem; understanding does not necessarily impart the ability to do much about it. It more-or-less fumbles back on to its ass with a grunt, still trying to keep hold of her.]

And- what do you expect them to do?

[comeandfindme]

[ Well, not a fan of having her arms restrained, Peregrine jerks away. Hell, she'll even throw a kick at the SQUIP's legs, to try and get it to let go. ]

Something! Anything!! To stop fucking coddling us and— and start teaching us how to live! So no one else gets lost in the fucking woods and doesn't come home!!

[voicerights]

[Well, it lets go! How nice. It's just staring at her, now, sitting there on its tush as it watches the breakdown with an almost clinical expression

For the moment, it says nothing.]

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine trembles slightly, only just realizing she's crying again. She wipes her face with her sleeve, harshly. ]

What? No snide remark? No prying?!

[voicerights]

Both are unnecessary. I have gathered what data I require.

However, I’m not programmed to counsel human shock and sorrow. You will require a trained therapist for that. Why have you not seen one?

[comeandfindme]

[ Aghast, she almost hauls off and punches him again. ]

Where do you get off...? I've tried therapists, jackass, all they tell you is to move on with your life!

[voicerights]

Clearly, their training is insufficient, if they cannot explain to you why.

Alternatively, your refusal to release your anger has contributed to your lack of progress.

[comeandfindme]

Screw you.

[ Peregrine turns away. ]

Get out of here. I got my punch, I don't wanna talk to you anymore.