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

[comeandfindme]

I... I don't feel like anything. Sorry, Farrah.

[brokeforgood]

You sure? I’ve got a full flask of tequila. It might make things a little... less feely?

[comeandfindme]

[ Her head snaps over to look at Farrah. For a moment, Peregrine looks almost afraid. ]

N...no. No, I... I really...really...would rather be completely feely.

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah holds her hands up in the air, showing that they’re empty.]

Okay, that’s fine—- Just offering.

[comeandfindme]

[ And she lets out a relieved sigh. ]

Good. Okay—yeah, good. [ ... ] I just— ...I don't...wanna drown anything out. You know?

[brokeforgood]

No. I don’t... maybe a little, now? No—- I always want to drown it out.

It’s just a single vice
To get me through the day.

[comeandfindme]

But if you run from grief, is that really the way?

[brokeforgood]

It didn’t work out well, no.

[comeandfindme]

[ There's a moment of...quiet, then— ]

...When my brother, uh... When he got...lost. In the woods, he... He was upset. And he'd had way too much to drink. That's what everyone blamed it on. He was drunk, of course he couldn't find his way home. But...

[ She shakes her head. ]

I don't believe that. If he knew more... If the town was better prepared for dangers that lay right on our doorstep... But still, I don't... I don't think I'm ever gonna be able to touch it. 'Cause it just reminds me...that he was out there alone.

[brokeforgood]

Oh my god Peregrine. [Farrah jolts up from her slouched position, and moves to go sit on the bleachers next to her.]

That’s fucked. I’m sorry. I won’t offer again.

[comeandfindme]

[ Almost instinctively, she starts to answer: ] It's fi-...

...Thanks. It's okay. You couldn'ta known. You were...doing something nice.

[brokeforgood]

I was. This is premium stolen-from-parents level stuff. It’s a big deal. [She offers half a smile.]

That still sucks. That’s why you’re all survivor mode, huh? I figured you were just training for the tv show or something.

[comeandfindme]

Jeez— no, it's not...something like that. It's serious for me. It's always serious for me. I gotta...

[ What, show the woods who's boss? God, everything... It's starting to feel so stupid now. She nibbles at her bottom lip. ]