Is This Where You Wanna Be? Crawling On Your Hands and Knees?

[mayavericks]

[In a perfect world, Maya would have been able to isolate herself for the rest of the evening. It's not like her to wallow in her feelings, but it's also not like her to be trapped away in a murder school or part of an execution so... not like she has much choice there. Besides, between the influence of Janis, and the sight of her remaining dormmates, it's clear that Maya simply can't... let things go.

It's like she told the SQUIP. They look to her for hope. And so, hope she must be. It's her job to stand tall for the others. Thankfully help comes easier this time -- there's no need to scruff Discord, or try to keep Spongebob from making Hate Patties. Maybe that, in and of itself, is a good sign.

It's just another fluke. They'll be okay. They're together, after all. Even Salieri and Discord are getting along well enough to help.

Cutting potatoes proves to be an interesting task, considering the fact that most of the knives are missing. Maya has a few guesses as to how that happened, but she won't point fingers again today. She makes do with what she has -- two swords between her and Cassandra.

Potatoes, cakes, pies -- the arrangement is much the same. There's even cocoa (made by less experienced hands, unfortunately), and alcohol. It all feels like a repeat of last week, but she's trying to not think about it. She does her best to keep a smile on her face as she knocks on each door, inviting others to the cafeteria once more.]

Comments

[brokeforgood]

[The case of the missing knives is soon solved—- after the party starts, Farrah shows up with a literal box full of knives. She’s gathered other things in there too, like box cutters, or anything else she thinks may be similarly used.

She’s even got her own prop knife in there.]

Okay. Everybody put them in. This is like cellphones and standardized tests. Not Allowed.

[mayavericks]

[Maya takes one look at the pile and... ]

No.

[brokeforgood]

You can keep your sword!

[mayavericks]

[... You know, she anticipated more of a fight than that. And despite her vehement insistence not to turn it over:]

Are you sure?

[brokeforgood]

Yeah, I doubt you’re gonna let anyone part you from that thing.

But I want the other one in here.

[mayavericks]

The knife I found in the vending machine?

[She nods.]

I locked it in my locker, but I can fetch it.

[brokeforgood]

I think it’d be best if we lock them all up together. [She nods.]

I can wait here.

[mayavericks]

I think you're right.

[Maya turns, heading back toward the exit. She doesn't take too long at least, bringing out the knife she'd found in the vending machine. At least she had the decency to clean it!]

[brokeforgood]

[Even without her blood on it, Farrah recognizes it. Riley’s parents are wealthy enough to have extremely recognizable knives, and this one she’s seen up close and personally before.

The entire box clatters to the ground, knives spilling across the floor. And Farrah screams]

[violentenvies]

[whoop, Dad's doing prep right now, carrying some wine to set on the counter, hands full] Ah...I'm afraid I left mine in my trunk, however I can get it to you later.

[brokeforgood]

Oh. [She pauses—- She hadn’t really expected him to agree.]

You could probably keep it, but only if you don’t let anyone else near it.

[violentenvies]

Of course. I shall ensure it doesn't fall in to any other hands.

[brokeforgood]

I trust you. [She says it solemnly, with a stern expression. And she means it. She just hopes no one else is tempted to use her trust in him against either of them.]

Do you need help? I could lock these up and—-

[violentenvies]

No, no, my dear. [he'll reach out to place a hand on her shoulder]

What you're doing is more important. We can speak later.

[brokeforgood]

[His approval is still startling— but it’s appreciated. She nods at him, pleased that efforts that even she had doubted were helpful are being seen as important.]

Right. Well. I’ll be back! [MORE KNIVES TO FIND]

1/2

[violentenvies]

I'll wait for you.

[he watches her go with fond affection, moving to get back to prep]

2/2

[violentenvies]

[if she'd like to find him later, after all the hot cocoa has been passed out, he'll grab a mug for himself to sip at]

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah returns to find him once the box of knives has been properly tucked away and locked up— where she almost laughs, finding him with a mug of cocoa instead of a glass of wine. She finds herself a mug, then plops down across from him.]

Well, that was traumatic.

[alchemistake]

I've got one of those prop knives, too.

[Varian says quietly when Farrah comes around.]

It's with my pile of stuff in the corner over there, but you can take it. I don't really want to look at it anyway.

[brokeforgood]

[She offers a tiny smile at Varian, nodding.]

Thanks. Even if they’re just a toy, I think it’s better to... [You know. She shrugs.]

I’ll go get it.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Hand gripping her sword, Cassandra pulls out a prop knife and lets it tumble into the box.]

It's fake anyway. I thought it might make for a good distraction, though. Just in case someone got the jump on me.

[She doesn't need it anymore.]

[whatyouwant]

Do you want to go grab the nice scissors out of the costume room?

[sugarlumps]

[It's a pretty long time before LSP makes an appearance at the party. Once she does, she just kind of. Dead-eyes the box of stabs for a while sullenly.]

Uuuuuugh, fiiiiiiine-

[And then spends a disconcertingly long time pulling knives from various interior pockets and depositing them, grudgingly. They're very large and there's a few she seems to have forgotten about and only rediscovers during this process.]

[brokeforgood]

Jesus, how were you holding this many?

If I weren’t so afraid of them, I’d be impressed.

[sugarlumps]

I've got pockets, Farrah.

[what like it's hard]