"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

[disharmonizes]

Oh, so you will be singing, then?

[violentenvies]

[Salieri arches his eyebrows expectantly, and glances deliberately down at the cup and back up to Discord. That certainly seems to be the implication.]

[disharmonizes]

[...Fine, he'll take a sip of that wine, then.]

Fine, but it better be good. It's been a day of downs, I'd actually like to see an up for once.

[violentenvies]

An "up," hm? [he pauses to consider, swirling the wine in his glass, before he starts to hum a brighter melodic tune, before coming in with a bit of singing]

Pile au rendez-vous du bonheur
Tu seras bienvenue quelle que soit l'heure
Bois bien plus que tu ne dois
C'est bon pour tout ce que tu as

Lève le coude tiens bon la barre
Tout oublier c'est pas la mer à boire
Bois bien plus que tu ne dois
C'est bon pour tout ce que tu as

[by the end of it, he's swaying just slightly from side to side with the music, as if following a familiar movement he's gone through before with this song. Indeed, there's something a bit distant to his expression, gaze looking down at a spot on the table between them]

[disharmonizes]

[He'll just listen to that one a moment. Well, it certainly is far less grim than what happened in that trial. He's all for drama, sure, loves it, lives for it, but it had been a little... difficult to appreciate. A little dark, even for him.

This is much better.]

Hmmm... I suppose I can give it a solid... oh, three and a half stars?

[violentenvies]

[he does not know that rating system so....he just arches an eyebrow]

Thank you? [he looks a bit bemused]

1/2

[disharmonizes]

You're so welcome. It is nice to be appreciated for once--

2/2

[disharmonizes]

...

[oh. that's familiar.]

I mean, you know, once in a while.

[violentenvies]

[oh, he caught that. Salieri blinks once, and takes a sip of his wine, arching an eyebrow]

Are you saying that most people don't appreciate you? I never would have guessed.

[disharmonizes]

Yes, well, what can I say? I'm just an unsung hero.

[violentenvies]

You poor thing. And yet you just keep going, don't you? How do you do it? [there's a smirk on his face, but in this instance there's no malice to it, just some amusement.]

[disharmonizes]

Oh, I do it for the people, of course. That's just how kind I am.

[violentenvies]

Oh, truly. They should give you a medal. [drawled]

[disharmonizes]

I certainly think I deserve one!

[violentenvies]

Of course you do. [he takes an amused sip of his wine] Sadly, I cannot make you one myself, so I'm afraid you'll have to simply go without.

[disharmonizes]

Cannot, or will not?

[violentenvies]

Both?

I do not have the skills to make such a thing, monsieur.

[disharmonizes]

Not with that attitude.

[violentenvies]

No, no. I'm afraid my skill set lies elsewhere. You shall simply have to imagine your award.

[disharmonizes]

If I must.

I'm imagining an award ceremony as well, for the record. It's very moving.

[violentenvies]

Oh, is it? Then I'm certain several people in the audience are crying, of course, being as they are so very moved.

[disharmonizes]

You among them, of course.

[violentenvies]

Of course. [dryly] I simply can't hold it all in.

[disharmonizes]

It's very embarrassing. You're making people so uncomfortable, maestro.

[violentenvies]

[sldhfs that makes him huff out a sound that might've been a chuckle if he were feeling more up to it]

Terribly sorry. I do hope it's not ruining the ceremony.