"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]

It matters to him, that we all have to suffer through that.

[ It's easier to be angry than it is to be sad. So, Peregrine lets herself be angry. ]

Well. That's the first and last time he's getting what he wants.

[tellthestory]

I hope so. It - it was an accident, so we all just have to be careful.

[Honestly sort of a total freak accident anyway. There's no reason to think anyone might...you know.

;) ]

[comeandfindme]

[ ha... haha.....

Peregrine still stays looking serious, despite it all. ]

Extra careful. We can't let our guard down. Not even once.

[tellthestory]

We'll...have to stick together.

[Because this is still a group thing. He doesn't think anyone here would intentionally turn on them.]

[comeandfindme]

...So I'll have to trust all of you.

[ She's almost afraid of that. ]

[tellthestory]

...yeah.

[It makes sense to him, but...he remembers what they talked about before. How Peregrine has trouble with that. But they do all need to stick together. They don't have anyone else; they need each other.

Somewhat hesitant, he still begins to sing:]

Nobody can help us,
now we're on our own.
Only us beside you.
Still, you're not alone...

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine doesn't expect this, something for her. ]

No one is alone, truly?
No one is alone.

[ She doesn't sound certain. She looks away, chews her lip. ...Thinks of tonight, of Maya, of Janis, of Connor. People who all...came and found her, when she needed it.

It makes her heart squeeze, ever so slightly. ]

Sometimes people leave you,
Halfway through the wood.
Others may deceive you.
You decide who's good.

[tellthestory]

[The Balladeer nods, faintly. How could any of them be alone - especially now, when they've all gone through something like this together?]

You decide alone.
But no one is alone.

[comeandfindme]

...I wish—

[ Wishing won't help anything. But...still. Still. ]

[tellthestory]

...I know.

[He does - both that it doesn't help anything, and that you can't really help it. He never wished for much more than what he had, back when he was in his show. Ever since he realized there was more, though...]

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine stays silent. She doesn't continue the song, but... ]

...Can you- ...what were you playing? Before? I'd... I wanna hear it again.

[tellthestory]

Oh. [....] It was my piece from the show this week.

[The one he'd played together with Sissi. He doesn't say so aloud. Peregrine was there too, after all.]

Sure, I can play it again. [It'll always be half a song, without anyone on the zither. But the Balladeer adjusts the guitar again, and starts the song over from the top. Playing is good for putting him in the zone; he doesn't have as much room to focus on how terrible today was, if he's just thinking about the music.]

[comeandfindme]

[ The show... The show that Peregrine only barely paid attention to, rolling her eyes because it was stupid to do something like that, to spend their time on that.

Now she wishes she had paid closer attention. Two of the people in it will never be able to perform again. Never be able to do anything again.

She tries to imagine she's back there. That they're all okay. That she can watch, this time. She just sits on the bleachers with him, and she tries to pretend. ]