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

[defyingfrigidity]

[It may not be obvious that he's freaking out, but Elsa knows the little tells. She knows the way you force your shoulders to be square, so that you don't fold in on yourself. She knows the ways people will hold themselves so that they're not holding themselves. She knows all the signs of someone who wants so desperately to fall apart but not wanting anyone to see.

And she knows how, though she would try so hard to push people away, all she wanted was someone to be there for her. So with only slight hesitation, she reaches up to hug Varian.]

Of course I believe you. It would be hypocritical if I didn't.

[Their situations may not be identical, but they're similar enough that she understands his inner conflict. She'd struggled a lot, in the months after her coronation. She'd wanted to believe those people had a point, and they were justified in calling her a monster. But Anna had helped her get her head on straight, and had helped her realize that what they said wasn't true. That Elsa, someone who believed that she should be perfect at all times, was allowed to make mistakes. That you didn't have to damn yourself, even if these mistakes got out of control.]

I can't just... let that change my mind about you, Varian. In moments like this, when you feel like you're lost and that you might be the monster people think you are... that's when you most need people at your side. The people who see you for who you truly are, and who will help support you no matter what.

[alchemistake]

[He's being hugged. She's hugging him. The Queen of Arendelle is comforting him, a boy who may very well be a criminal, locked up over a crime he can't remember committing. She's treating him so kindly, yet...he's not sure he expected her not to? Elsa has already proven herself to be incredibly inviting and understanding, but...

Part of him still feared the worst. Even moreso given the fact he's been keeping this from her, like it's a terrible secret he can't ever tell.

He's always been so reverent with royalty, Rapunzel in particular, but he can't stop himself from reflexively reaching out to hug her in return, hiding his face against her shoulder. He can feel all sorts of emotions welling up in his chest, fit to burst...

He's not going to cry. He can't. But he's realizing when he attempts to speak, if a single word leaves his mouth, he's probably going to, isn't he?

Varian grips her a little tighter, breath hitching.]

T...thank you...