itscurtains | Week Three

[Last week, some shit went down! Salieri's scene went off without a hitch, but the good mood didn't last. The first motive was a bit of a doozy, and yet it didn't even have anything to do with the eventual accidental death of Mumble Happyfeet! At least Sissi was already pretty much dating Death anyway, right? She's probably fine, wherever she is.

This week, new menus have been posted in the cafeteria. But, more importantly, it seems that other new information has emerged. Everyone wakes on Sunday with some new memories - or are they old ones? - floating around in their heads. Maybe there was something to your discussions of time travel after all. Maybe there was someting to the Wizard's knowledge of the future.

Regardless, you're still stuck in here. At least there's some new places to explore this week. Maybe you'll find something helpful.]

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

(( Be sure to submit your memory regains and your AC for this week! Hester's office hours and the merch booth also remain available! ))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Absorbed as he is in the photo, Orpheus manages to sneak up on Benjamin, and he startles slightly, looking up.]

Good morning, Orpheus. Look- [He holds up the ambrotype proudly, so Orpheus can come closer and see.] That's my beautiful Lucy. And there, our perfect little Johanna. [His voice cracks slightly on his daughter's name, and he brushes the frame of the photograph reverently with his thumb.]

I can't believe... How could I ever forget her? Look at how sweet she is.

[Was? Is? Does it truly matter, if little girls are always perfect cherubs in their father's eyes?]

Oh! [ Orpheus's eyes light up, and he hurries over to look, beaming at the picture. That really is something worth smiling about, in the middle of all of this. ] They're both beautiful. You didn't tell me you had a daughter!

[ He says it in the way of a pleasantly surprised acquaintance, though as he does it occurs to him - Mister Barker really didn't tell him he had a daughter. Hadn't he said he and Lucy had just been on their honeymoon? He guesses that's not that unusual, but then it strikes him, and his expression turns confused. ]

Wait, you forgot her?

It's hard to explain. I thought... Yesterday it felt too good to be real, but unlike a dream it didn't fade upon waking. It slotted into place. Like a forgotten memory, shaken loose by a familiar sight, or a smell.

[He only barely is able to take his eyes off of the photograph long enough to look up at Orpheus.]

Coming home after our honeymoon, our little flat, my very own shop... And then Lucy falling pregnant, and Johanna being born, and watching her grow from something this big- [He cups his hands a few inches apart] into the beginnings of a precocious little girl...

You can see how I thought, no matter how right it felt, that it was simply too good to be true. But then I got this. Lucy's present to me for Johanna's first birthday. For me to keep in my shop, so I never had to be a minute without them.

Oh. That - [ sounds familiar. Orpheus's face goes pale as he thinks about the dream he had - of the winter, of working on his song, writing and rewriting and rewriting, and Eurydice coming to him asking for help. Of refusing, because he couldn't stop his work, even for a moment. Even for her.

He swallows, hard, and shakes his head. It's - it doesn't mean anything. He forces himself to smile again. ]

That's wonderful. You're a very fortunate man. [ He reaches out, placing a hand on Mister Barker's shoulder. ] We'll get you back to both of them soon. If there's a way out of here for all of us, we'll find it.

[Despite rolling Insight with disadvantage, it's hard not to notice Orpheus' reaction. Enough to make him temper his enthusiasm. Just slightly.

He smiles, completing the circle by clapping his hand onto Orpheus' shoulder as well.]

Indeed we will. I'm quite homesick already, and now I'll only be even moreso. [But his expression softens, concerned, though the smile doesn't disappear.] And you know, my friend, if you or your wife ever need anything... We're in this together, after all, if there's anything I can do to help just say the word.

[ He only has to beat a ten, Orpheus isn't a hard person to read. This poor boy, he wears his heart out on his sleeve, and all.

He watches Mister Barker's expression fall slightly after his own, and hurries to clarify; ]

It's nothing! I'm really happy for you. [ And he is, genuinely, even if it makes Mister Barker being here and away from home for so long that much worse. Orpheus considers leaving it there, but he feels like he owes an explanation. ] It's just... I also had a dream, that felt more like a memory. And I was hoping it wasn't one.

[Despite the rush to clarify, Benjamin remains concerned. Perhaps moreso, even, with the explanation given.]

I see. I fear a few people may have had dreams like that, night before last. [Then, sympathetically:]

I'm sorry, lad. Is it possible that...it isn't as bad as it seems?

[ Orpheus just shakes his head. ]

I didn't - I didn't fix things between Lord Hades and Lady Persephone before the winter came, and it came too early again, and there wasn't enough time to gather supplies to last through it. Eurydice was out there searching for food and firewood every day, and I - I didn't help her.

[ He doesn't want to take away from Mister Barker's happiness, he really doesn't, but it all comes spilling out before he can stop it. He looks absolutely shattered, guilt-ridden and miserable. ]

[The last thing he wants is for the proof of his happiness to come at the misery of others.

He reaches out and puts a sympathetic hand on Orpheus' shoulder. Not expressly an invitation for a hug, but nonetheless available if that's what Orpheus needs from him.]

My boy, I'm so sorry...

Have you...spoken with her, about it?

[ Orpheus doesn't hug him, but he does put a hand over his and lean into the touch slightly. ]

I haven't. I can't - I didn't want to think it was real. That I'd do that to her. But it just felt so important that I keep working on my song, and I didn't - I didn't think.

[Benjamin rubs his thumb back and forth on Orpheus' shoulder, comfortingly.]

I think you should talk to her, lad. She knows you. She loves you. And she knows how much you love her. You thought that what you were doing would help too, you just... weren't helping the way she needed you to. Have I got it right?

[ Orpheus nods, swallowing hard. ]

I was just trying to fix things. [ he says, quiet and ashamed. ] But - our photographs, from last week - she could die out there. What I remembered could be the last time I ever would have seen her, if we weren't here.

...Then you hold her all the closer for it, and thank god she's here with you.

[His voice is soft, and understanding.]

If being brought here saved her life, then that's... a second chance that many men don't get.

Right. [ says Orpheus, still quiet, but a little steadier as he tries to let Mister Barker's words put things back in perspective. ] And... maybe being here will give us enough time to find a way to stop what the Wizard showed us from happening. If I can just finish my song before we get back, and bring back the seasons...

Week Three

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