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

[samefacesyndrome]

[ Rina sees the way she wipes her eyes, tries to act like she's fine... and it hurts. Because she knows she's not fine. ]

It... It's okay.

[ ... ]

Um... I just wanted to let you know I won't be back in our dorm tonight...

[comeandfindme]

You won't? Why, is something wrong?

[ If something's wrong she has to— she has to do something about it. All she's done is cry, she has to do something about it— ]

[samefacesyndrome]

[ She shakes her head. ]

No, nothing's wrong. Varian-kun and I just... did a lot of talking. Like... a lot a lot. And I thought I'd spend the night in Broadhurst...

It'll just be one night... I think.[ and then it was two but well ] But I didn't want to just disappear and worry you...

[comeandfindme]

Oh.

[ The rising adrenaline in her settles—but at the same time, something aches inside her. She's noticed Rina and Varian getting closer, and honestly, right now... They all need someone to lean on, to ask for help. To support each other.

But, still, she wishes—

Peregrine blinks her shining eyes once and manages a sad smile. ]

That sounds...good. Seriously— if it'd make you feel better. But, uh...thanks for telling me.

[ Because she definitely would've worried! ]

[samefacesyndrome]

[ She hesitates a moment seeing that sad smile. She feels a little guilty leaving Peregrine alone to go be where she selfishly feels most comfortable tonight, especially since Peregrine needs support most right now. But Varian's already waiting and she still thinks she would sleep easiest with him.

So instead she walks forward, closing the gap between them and kneeling in front of her on the bleachers. ]

Hey, Peregrine-san... I have something else to tell you too.

[comeandfindme]

[ Something else? Rina’s sudden approach is surprising; didn’t she just say she was gonna go stay in Broadhurst? What else…? ]

Yeah? What’s that?

1/2

[samefacesyndrome]

Um... well I just... wanted you to know that I'm really grateful for you. And that um... if you need me for anything at all, I'm here for you too. Like you are for me.

[ She reaches out and puts her hand on whichever of Peregrine's is closest. There's something she's wanted to say ever since that first day when Peregrine sang to her. A reply she's always wanted to give, but didn't have the strength to.

But now she does, doesn't she? She was finally able to honestly express her feelings earlier with Varian, she can keep it up can't she? ]

[samefacesyndrome]

If something happens,
Come and find me,
Come and find me,
I’ll help get you through.

There is no need,
To remind me,
You come and find me,
I’ll figure out what to do.

Come and find me,
I’m looking out for you too.

[comeandfindme]

[ To hear this from Rina. Rina who's so unsure, so shy. So quiet. Beneath the younger girl's hand, Peregrine's trembles lightly, and she leans her head forward to her knees, where she lets loose the tears she'd started holding back when Rina entered.

Her hand holds Rina's, though. It holds it tight, in lieu of a verbal thank you. ]