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

[violentenvies]

[that'll garner a bit of a frown from Salieri, and he folds his arms, moving to lean on the wall next to her.]

...they are, indeed. Despite the best efforts of many of us.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[She brings her arms around her, shrinking into herself, bit by bit. Her cup held tight in her hands.]

It could have been different. Somehow... We couldn't...

[She could have...]

All our best efforts don't amount to much when someone can still die. All because one person thought they had to take action and kill someone. And if, that worked, then they're just going to keep pushing us farther and farther...

[Her breathing has picked up, rising in her chest. This is the makings of a panic attack, spurned on by exhaustion and frustration.]

[violentenvies]

[oh...oh dear. Salieri frowns slightly, moving closer to gently put a hand on her arm]

Mademoiselle Cassandra...please take a breath.

[he'll address the other stuff in a moment but he's seen enough people faint in Court; he knows the signs]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[She tenses beneath his hand. If but for just a moment. And, that's all, before she's listening, as though she was just snapped out of a trance.]

I'm fine. I just...

[She has to breathe. Because it's not just this, is it? All the exhaustion has done is pile onto an already existing issue, leaving a woman who is starting to forget how to breathe. Was this it? Was she going to become one of those women of the court who fainted at the slightest provocation?

Probably not. After all, she just had to breathe. The fog clears steadily, focus returns. She will force herself to be calm.]

Sorry about that. I'm fine.

[violentenvies]

It's quite alright. Take your time. [he gently squeezes her elbow, reassuring]

Perhaps we should sit...?

[he says, like he isn't already moving to ease her over to one of the seats nearby]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

No... I'm supposed to...

[The gentle squeezing is reassuring. Calming even. She almost doesn't notice that she's being lead away until she is. And a seat presents itself for her to sit on.

...Dammit. Okay. She'll take a break, for now.]

Just for a little bit.

[violentenvies]

Just for a bit. [he agrees, calmly, sitting down next to her, giving her some time to gather herself here.]