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

[mayavericks]

We don't know that the futures we saw will come to pass. I will tell you what I told Varian-san. This is a weapon for us to use, even if it was meant to be used against us. We can change our fates if we know what to expect.

[comeandfindme]

It's not just back home.

[ Her eyes stay on the bleachers, on the floor beneath them. ]

It... It's like I'm...a curse. Like- like everyone I...love or touch is cursed, and it's just gonna keep happening, again and again and again.

[mayavericks]

Well. I know that isn't true, Peregrine-san.

[Maybe it's a bad time, but... She slips her fingers upward, so that they brush lightly against her cheek.]

You and I have touched many times. But I am still here. I will still be here.

[comeandfindme]

[ That, of all things, gets Peregrine to look at her. Her eyes are wide with tears, like no matter how much she cries, it's never going to be enough. It's never going to stop. ]

You don't know that. You don't know... What if it takes you next?

[mayavericks]

It is like I told you. There is no place for me but at the top, remember.

[She lets out a small breath.]

My parents taught me that from a very young age. It would be ridiculous to think that something that has been true for 16 years could be wrong now.

[comeandfindme]

[ Still, she doesn't look quite convinced. ]

But... [ She swallows. ]

I never thought that it could happen
To someone like Jacob.
He was smart, he was careful,
And he never got that scared.

[ Some of her tears fall. ]

The fact that it could happen
To someone like Jacob,
Means none of us can ever be too prepared...

1/2

[mayavericks]

[For a long moment, Maya is quiet. Deadly so. And then -- ]

2/2

[mayavericks]

[She smiles.]

Jacob didn't have a sword. Neither did Connor.

[comeandfindme]

[ Despite everything, she almost smiles back. Almost. ]

You can't...fight your way outta here with a sword, Maya.

[mayavericks]

Says who? I have only just gotten Odette back. I haven't even thought to try it on some of these windows.

[comeandfindme]

They're strong enough to withstand the trunks. [ The way her lips twitch, it's reflexive. ] First day here, me and Connor...

[ She trails off. ]

[mayavericks]

[Maya's expression sobers. It's also about then that she realizes she's still holding Peregrine's face. She opts to stroke her fingers through Per's hair instead.]

You will always have the memories of one another, Peregrine. And... perhaps we can find a way to bring him back. You have heard Farrah's story, right? Yet despite her death, she is here, alive.

If the Wizard can accomplish that then... maybe there is hope.

[comeandfindme]

[ It's clear from the slack-jawed expression that this isn't something that's crossed her mind before. ]

You... You think we could...save him? Bring him back to life?

[ The rest, too, of course— except maybe the SQUIP, because god that's too raw right now— but in the moment Peregrine is...single-minded. ]

[mayavericks]

There must be a way. And even if the Wizard doesn't know it --

[Maya's expression wavers, just for a moment. She has to swallow before she speaks again.]

If the Wizard doesn't know it, then... I can go back to Seisho. I can win the Revues and ask to be sent to the Wizard's stage. I can stop this before any of it begins.

[comeandfindme]

What? You— what does that even mean, you can do that, just- just go to his...to where he is?

[ Wait. Wait, there's something she's not fully processing here. ]

[mayavericks]

That's the deal. If a Giraffe can speak and transport me from the comfort of my room to his lair, then... Surely he can send me back

[comeandfindme]

Back...

[ It clicks. It clicks then. ]

...But— ...then...none of us would've even met.

[mayavericks]

I know.

I would not have met Janis. Or you, or... anyone here.

But I am willing to give that up, to bring everyone back.

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine takes a not-so-subtle glance at the folded cloak on the bleachers. ]

I... [ She should want to do anything to save them. Right? But... ] I wanna find another way.

[mayavericks]

Of course.

[Maya nods firmly.]

I fully believe that the Wizard is capable of bringing us back on his own. We just have to figure out how he does it.

[comeandfindme]

[ Once again, Peregrine takes a moment to think about all this. She just lets it sit with her. ]

Okay. ...Okay, that's a good new goal.

[mayavericks]

We can take it one step at a time. One day at a time, even.

Right now, we need to focus on survival. Not just... safety, but in terms of ensuring that we remain as united as ever.

[comeandfindme]

[ There's a moment— ]

I'm, uh... I'm sorry too. About...you know. [ ... ] Those...auditions? They're important to you. I shouldn't've said that.

[mayavericks]

Honestly... If someone had told me they were staking everything on the words of a Giraffe, I would think it odd too.

We just... don't come from the same background, is all. We cannot understand one another's struggle. That is what empathy is for.

[She shakes her head.]

I forgive you, Peregrine Wells.

[comeandfindme]

[ Empathy. That's what she'd told the SQUIP. When just this week, she'd shown such a lack of it.

Almost overwhelmed, Peregrine leans into Maya's touch. After crying so much, well— what's just a little more? ]

I'm sorry. Thank you— I'm sorry—

[ She doesn't know what she would do if she lost Maya too. ]