"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

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus looks up at that, tears starting to fall down his face. Hesitantly, he reaches out and puts a hand on Salieri's shoulder in a gesture of solidarity and comfort. ]

It's... going to be hard. Going on without them. [ he says, hiccuping tearfully midsentence. ] I know we have to. But I just - wish we could take it all back, somehow.

[violentenvies]

[as soon as Orpheus's hand lands on his shoulder, Salieri's own reaches up to clasp it there, holding on as if it were an anchor. His breath catches in a small sob in his chest, and he can feel the tears escaping, no longer able to blink fast enough to keep up with them.

He nods, shaky] I do--I wish it could've been stopped, somehow--that we could go back and change it, so none of this happened...[there's another hitching sob from him, shoulders trembling under Orpheus's hand]

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus is quiet for another moment at that, letting both of them have a chance to just... cry it out, for a bit. ]

But nothing can undo what's been done. All we can do is - make sure it never happens again. It's in our hands.

[violentenvies]

[Salieri will take that moment to try and pull himself together, using his free hand to fish out a handkerchief, which he first offers to Orpheus]

...you're right, of course. [his voice still wavers, but it's at least a bit steadier] We'll have to just be very cautious from here on out, make sure everyone stays safe.

[themuseabandonsyou]

No more accidents. We'll take care of each other. [ Orpheus takes the handkerchief and dries his eyes on the corner of it, before offering Salieri a weak and watery smile. ] We can outlast this. Together.

[violentenvies]

We can. [Salieri nods his head at that, looking at Orpheus determinedly, despite the black streaks down his face from his makeup] We'll find a way, if we all work together. We can outlast this terrible game.

[themuseabandonsyou]

There's still time. To figure all of this out. It'll be hard, but we can do it. Nothing is worth paying the price the Wizard wants from us.

[violentenvies]

I agree. Nothing is worth this kind of pain inflicted on others.

[he blows out a breath]

Perhaps, if we can also keep ourselves busy, that will help...

[themuseabandonsyou]

Maybe. We do seem to have a lot of time here, at least? To work on things.

[ He looks away again, staring off into the distance as he remembers - ]

I should... get back to finishing my song. Winter is still coming, and if I don't finish it in time...