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

[employeeoftheyear]

[There is a long pause, before Elle can hear a muffled "Hi", like he's still in his bed.]

[whatyouwant]

Can I come in?

[employeeoftheyear]

[There's another pause before there's a muffled "Sure".]

[whatyouwant]

[Elle opens the door as softly as possible.]

Hey, I brought you some food.

[She sets the plate down on a dresser and looks up at the lump of blankets on top bunk.]

You should eat.

[employeeoftheyear]

Thanks.

[He removes one arm from the blanket bundle to just... drape it over the side of the bed.

This probably works.]

[whatyouwant]

[Elle gives a small smile and passes him up a cookie.]

Do you want to talk about it?

[employeeoftheyear]

Maybe...

[He pokes his head out from under the blankets. His eyes are bloodshot and, despite getting a decent night sleep, looks like he hasn't slept in weeks.]

'M just thinking about what happened today.

[whatyouwant]

It's a lot to think about.

[She moves to sit/lean against one of the trunks.]

And the more I think about it, the more it doesn't make sense.

[employeeoftheyear]

Me neither... I just... I don't know why someone would kill for a maybe. Do we even have any proof that our homes were more in danger than it already is? Didn't it care about us?

[whatyouwant]

I don't know. I think if we'd had more time with it, it could have learned to care, but it was a computer. It has to be taught things.

[employeeoftheyear]

I thought I did such a good job, though. Showing everyone that we didn't have to resort to murder, not when we have each other.

[He pauses.]

But now... but now I'm scared that I'm the only one who thinks that way.