"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

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[After the trial, Cassandra had parted ways with the rest of the group to gather her wits, and herself. Now that she's come to the party, her mind has left the trial room they were only just forced to stand in, poking holes in testimonies until a murderer stepped forward to be punished. Her focus was on her friends now. The ones that were still here.

To no surprise, Varian is among them. She's glad to find him here, in the company of friends - and Rudiger, no less! Good. Better that he was surrounded by friends than closing himself away, something she nearly felt like doing herself.

Even as she draws close, it's difficult for Cassandra to picture what to say to the poor kid. What could she say about this week?]

Hey. [She nods to the area next to where Varian's seated.] This spot taken?

[alchemistake]

[It had been very tempting to stay in the dorm until further notice, but fortunately there are enough people here concerned for Varian's wellfare for that not to happen. It's probably for the best he left anyway, seeing as how being in there- all that newly empty space just...there- a stark reminder to him of the fact that two of their number are now gone, permanently.

He'd been sortof spacing out a bit by the time Cassandra approaches, lifting his head a little to look at her.]

Oh, hey...it's not.

[He doubts he'll be much for exciting conversation, but he won't say no to Cassandra being here. Especially not her, really.]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[They can't stay put. It simply isn't possible. There's no rooms to lock themselves away in solitude - a possible reason why everyone was resigned to sleeping in dorms.

The dorms are going to be emptier tonight. That's going to be a strange feeling.

After a second or so, she slides into the seat. Her arms rest on the table in front of her, propping her up as though she's being weighed down.]

...So that was... [She's searching for the words.]

[alchemistake]

[It's okay Cass, he's having trouble finding any too. It's hard to know what to say.

What can you say?]

Terrible?

[He eventually supplies. It feels hollow and not at all bad enough to describe it.]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

A fiery wreck.

[Those are the words she's been searching for. Maybe. She doesn't know.]

I should've done something. [It's equally hollow.] If someone had just walked into the kitchen when it happened...

[alchemistake]

You couldn't have known.

[None of them could have.]

And...it sounds like it was well after hours. None of us would have been awake...

[So even with poor Mumble suffering...it's unlikely he would have lived even if they found him.]

We...we might have been put in the same sitution as Sissi.

[It makes even the idea of helping people who might be dying...a scary one.]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

...Maybe.

[She'll concede, but she doesn't like it one bit.]

We could've been in the same situation as Mumble if we weren't careful.

[alchemistake]

Y....yeah.

[It's blunt, but Cassandra is right.]

This...this has to be just a fluke. It has to be.