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]

[Maya stands up a little straighter at the sound of Benjamin's voice. She turns, glancing at the man. There's a brief moment of suspicion, before the tension in her shoulders eases.]

It's good to see you, Barker-san. [She gives a small nod.] I am surprised you haven't witnessed it. I... spend most of my time here.

How can I help you?

[barberic]

I brought you some water.

[He approaches, holding out the water bottle, cap extended toward her.]

And...I wanted to check in on you. Since you're always concerned about checking in on everyone else.

[mayavericks]

[Maya takes the bottle. She glances at the cap, only because of what happened today. She trusts Benjamin, he's given her no reason not to. And she knows they won't get anywhere with a constant level of distrust, either.

She uncaps the bottle and takes a long drink.]

You are too kind. But you do not need to worry about me. I'm just fine.

[barberic]

[He's all too aware of the water bottle discourse from the trial, hence why he was careful to bring her something that not only was sealed, but could be sealed in the first place.

After the trial proved that there are people willing to act with malice here, it seemed prudent to demonstrate that he would never.]

I'm afraid I'll worry no matter what, Miss Tendo. [He says with a soft smile.] It's what friends do.

[mayavericks]

It is... Good to know that I can can count you as a friend, Barker-san.

[She draws in a deep breath.]

How are you feeling... after earlier?

[barberic]

I've been better. [She's too clever by half for him to think about lying to her. It's one of the things he admires so much about her.]

But it's not important. Not when there are others doing worse than I.

[Hence, you know. He's here. Checking on you.]

[mayavericks]

I think... we are all feeling that way.

[She glances up at him, and then back down at her bladework.]

I am plenty fine, if that was what you were trying to insinuate.

[barberic]

I don't doubt it. [He does, a little.]

You did very well, during that whole affair. [I'm proud of you.]

[mayavericks]

At the trial?

[She shrugs.]

Perhaps if I fail in my career as a performer, I will have Woods-san teach me a thing or two about law.

[barberic]

[There's something sad about the shrug, about the way that everything is framed in the black and white terms of success and failure.

He wants to hug her, to tell her that it's alright to just live, to be content. He worries about her. Perhaps more than she would allow.]

I have no doubt that you'll succeed in anything you set your mind to.

Did you learn that- [He nods toward her sword.] -for the stage, or just for fun?

[mayavericks]

We can only hope.

[Though anymore, she has her doubts.]

We were taught combat for the sake of stageplay. We try to be as realistic as possible, of course. We've had entire classes dedicated to looking realistic as we die or are injured from a sword strike.

[Well. That gets a good laugh out of her.]