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

[tellthestory]

...yeah, okay. What's up?

[lol you didn't mean talk about himself, right, surely not]

[mayavericks]

[Her smile is as amused as it can get, considering the circumstances.]

About what is on your mind, Balladeer-san.

[tellthestory]

Oh - [He looks abashed.] - it's not really...important.

[It's not about Connor, that is. Not all of it. It seems inappropriate to be worrying about himself, though, on today of all days.]

[mayavericks]

You are important. Which makes your thoughts important.

So... Come on.

[tellthestory]

It's...this sounds selfish.

[He rests his head in one hand, leaning against the table, pie entirely forgotten.]

I went and read the script. For my show. Just now. It was...I mean, I don't have any reason to complain, I've always known.

[mayavericks]

The... Script?

[She tilts her head, just a little.]

Did you not like the ending?

[tellthestory]

I'd never seen it before. All this time, and I never really realized I'd never seen the ending.

[.....]

The whole reason I'm around at all is so they can get rid of me. I - I know I'm not a character, but I always thought that was something...wrong, or off-script. But they were right. If a part of the story's not working anymore, you cut it.

[mayavericks]

Your... costars are trying to kill you then?

[Is she getting it? She's not sure if she's getting it.]

[tellthestory]

Oh, yeah. I guess that was the whole point of me existing.

[mayavericks]

You exist just to die?

What sort of cruel play is this?

[tellthestory]

[shrug]

I'm the narrator. It's probably some kind of metaphor. Important to the whole message, or the themes or whatever. [But it's hard to do a reading like that when it's your actual life, so don't look to him on this one.] I mean, he did it in Into the Woods too, didn't he?

[You know Sondheim, right?]

I always knew I wasn't important, but I didn't think I was that unimportant. Not that...I mean, I'm sure that guy's fine. I've never met him.

[mayavericks]

Did he?

[Maya knows of Sondheim, but it's hit or miss as to whether or not she knows all of his plays. That also begs the question that she knows who "He" is in this case.]

It still doesn't seem right. It doesn't... make narrative sense!

[tellthestory]

[He smiles wanly.]

Maya, you haven't even seen it. I'm sure it did.

[mayavericks]

[Maya is quick to shake her head.]

I want to read it. I will read it.

[tellthestory]

[The Balladeer's lips twitch in something that's almost a smile. He almost feels happy about it - he would have been, before today. Now, it's...a little strange.]

Well, I left it in the library. It's just the book, no music. If you want to hear any of the songs, though...

[He just shrugs a little. He's here. He's not part of all of them, but he knows them all - save the ones after him.]

[mayavericks]

[She gets up, like she's contemplating storming to the library right now. She... thinks better of it, for the moment at least.]

Maybe it's... A good thing, that you met that woman. That she saved you. Especially if you've been able to prevent anything ill from happening in your game.

[tellthestory]

Yeah. Yeah!

[lol ask him about this again after his next memory regain]

She was the first person who ever helped me out. I...owe her even more than I realized, I guess.

[mayavericks]

[No it's fine, everything is fine.]

I am glad you have her. I am glad she took you in and gave you a better chance.

[tellthestory]

Yeah, me too.

[Clearly the Leading Player is an upstanding citizen who should super be trusted!]