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

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Cassandra takes part in the preparation phase of the party at least. Her movements in this time are stiff and robotic, as though she's drifting through the work on autopilot. Not that it matters - the work is done and it looks quiet good, too. Maybe it does pay to be forced into a position she never wanted and had to adapt to.

She quite likes how the pie turned out.

At the party proper, Cassandra stands vigilant. Based at the doors to the cafeteria, propped against the wall and looking out, routinely scanning the room, keeping an eye on everyone... Or, she's trying to, anyway. That's the hard part of doing this again, it's weighing on Cassandra. She's being forced to wallow in uncomfortable feelings for too long.

It's not a terrible time for her snowgie - who missed her today very much yes he did - to come waddling up with... a plate of pie on it? Okay, maybe she'll have a nibble.

But as the party dies down, and the guests filter out, so does Cassandra. She drifts for a good while until she takes this restless energy down to the gym. She's got a sword, now. It shouldn't go to waste.

There's plenty of room in here to run, jump, flip. Investigators may find the noise inside to be Cassandra doing a backflip and ending on a low sweep of her blade.

Yeah. Take that, Wizard.]

doors

[mcfife]

[There's something bumping at Cassandra's ankles, repeatedly. When she looks down, there's a sinister-looking Roomba attempting to clean the space she's blocking.]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[ ! ]

What the-

[Is that a... moving circle?

What if she just. Does nothing?]

[mcfife]

[The Roomba beeps in frustration and rolls around her leg, inspecting this odd wall.

The misbehaving robot catches Angus' attention and...sigh.]

Is it bothering you, too?

[feudalladyshandmaid]

"It"?

[She blinks at Angus, looking back at the Roomba that's switched from annoying her to being frustrated with a nearby wall. She's fascinated... to an extent. But even more now that Angus has reacted to it too.]

I'm... not sure. What is it?

[mcfife]

Varian believes it is some kind of cleaning robot. And yet...

[This Roomba looks too innocent for it to be true.]

I don't think it's sentient. I cannot be sure. But after today, I don't know what I can trust.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

A cleaning robot... [She's heard that word before, hasn't she? She has.] So it's some kind of automaton then? But it's so small.

[And non-threatening.]

Maybe there's a way to tell if it's intelligent or not?

[mcfife]

Many robots are intelligent. Those that speak, for example. Sentience is different. It's the difference between code and...fighting against code.

[He grimaces and glances at the Roomba.]

Who knows what protocol it follows?

[feudalladyshandmaid]

There are automatons that can speak? Oof. I wonder what some of the ones I've fought had to say.

[Probably nothing very nice.]

My guess? It probably wants to clean. Seems like it's trying to get into the corners.

[Poor little guy.]

[mcfife]

The SQUIP could communicate with his human. Some robots can shout alerts. It's not like they can feel pain or hatred. Normally.

[The Roomba decides that this place is a no-go and scoots off to a different corner of the cafeteria.]

This one has a simple thought pattern.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

Whoof, I'm still trying to wrap my head around that.

[This is a brand new horizon for Cassandra. She's still trying to work out just how this is even possible. IT's most definitely NOT her area of expertise.]

At least that's not too surprise. I know a few people with simple thought patterns myself.

[mcfife]

Hah. [He tries to laugh. He can't manage it.] But thought patterns do not equal sentience and emotions. Even the worst people feel things.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Yeah, she doesn't feel great about it, either. Biting sarcasm is all she has right now.] Huh. I guess.

[. . .]

Everyone's got a reason for doing the things they do, don't they? It can even be a good reason...

Doors

[defyingfrigidity]

[Elsa knows the look of a guard on duty. Even with the way Cassandra slouches against the wall, her eyes are sharp and her focus clear. It's good that she wants to protect the others, and it goes a long way into making Elsa feel a little better... but she still frowns as she approaches the other woman, leaning on the wall next to her so that she doesn't interrupt Cassandra's line of sight.]

Hey... I know you've been doing a good job trying to look out for us, but have you rested at all?

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[How many times had she stood watch like this before? Dreamed of doing such a thing as part of her daily routine? Night's in the caravan, keeping the first watch but sometimes watching overnight just because the others needed their rest.

Yet, somehow, she almost doesn't notice Elsa until she's right next to her. Their shoulders brush as Cassandra faces her.]

I'm fine. [More resolute.] Really. I just don't want to see anyone else get hurt.

[defyingfrigidity]

I know you don't. But you need to direct that towards yourself, too.

[She knows how easy it is to completely run yourself into the ground trying to make other people happy. It's not a good feeling.]

If you keep pushing yourself without taking care of yourself, you might get hurt. And I don't want that to happen.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Cassandra opens her mouth and will regret it later.]

I've already gotten hurt. [Her hand unconsciously clenches.] I don't want to run myself into the ground, but... if this is all I can do, I can at least do it tonight. Everyone else is already shaken up.

[defyingfrigidity]

[Elsa flinches at that; having seen Cassandra's injured hand up close, she knows the woman has been hurt badly by things in the past. But... that doesn't mean that she has to open herself up to being hurt here, does it?]

... Maybe we can compromise. Can you... help me with something, then rest?

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Opening up to others was dangerous. Misguided attempts to form connections just as easily ending in heartache. Who's to say that this place won't end up being the same?

Yet, her head tilts towards Elsa, eyes searching.]

...What kind of help do you need?

[defyingfrigidity]

[It's easy to lock yourself away from others, through distance or emotional barriers or both. But so often, you don't realize how much it's hurting yourself until it's too late. She... doesn't want to see Cassandra hurt like that.]

With everything that's happened, with... with people dying twice now. [And once being intentiona...] There's something ominous about this place at night. I think... I'd feel more comfortable if I had someone escorting me until we all retire for the evening.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[...Oh.]

...I understand. It's not a good time to be traveling alone. [People are dying, and the rest are scared. She's scared.] If you want me to escort you around... I'd be honored to lend a hand where I can.

[defyingfrigidity]

[That manages to get a shadow of a smile out of Elsa, and her shoulders ease down ever so slightly from their tense, hunched posture. She still looks tired, but... better.]

... Thanks. It... really means a lot, to have a friend like you. [With how all the tension in her body and expression shifts, Elsa clearly means what she says.] You've done a lot for me, and I feel a bit bad asking this of you... but I'm glad.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[....Hhh. Such expressive honesty, it... almost hurts watching Elsa give her so much trust. Could she rise to such expectations?

She'd have to try.]

...Of course, Elsa. We're friends. [Yes, that's what this is. Friendship.] I've got your back. I promise.

[defyingfrigidity]

I feel safer already.

[It's half joke, half genuine.]

And... I'd be happy if it was the other way around, as well. I'm not very good in a fight like you are, but if you need a companion in this place, I'll certainly stay with you.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

And I haven't even used my sword yet.

[Half a joke right back at her.]

Hmm, I can work with that. And hey, maybe some of your magic will return with time.