Week Four

[stagemanagers]

[Last week, Gershwin High School Academy University saw its very first intentional murder! What a milestone! And right after Spongebob's No Murder party, too - that doesn't seem like it bodes very well for anybody's future.

You all wake up this morning with yet another new memory returned to you. You'll also find that the school's external doors have now unlocked. Congratulations! You're free! Unfortunately, you also seem to be entirely in the middle of nowhere. So maybe it's more of a symbolic victory.

Still, you should look around and do some investigation! Maybe you'll find a fun surprise.]

Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

(( Be sure to submit your memory regains and your AC for this week! Hester's office hours and the merch booth also remain available! ))

Comments

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine is usually so sure of herself. Usually so ready to offer her thoughts. Usually, she has at least an idea.

But right now, she's paralyzed, mouth hanging open. What does she say? What could help? What in the world— When she doesn't even—

She pulls Maya closer. ]

I don't know... But I'm gonna be by your side, until we find her. Okay?

woods

[tellthestory]

[The Balladeer is, generally speaking, a little lost. But that's fine. He wasn't really doing much of anything today anyway.

He does hear the racket of Cass racing through the underbrush, though, and turns to head towards the noise. His pace is casual, until the noise abruptly stops. At that point, he starts running.]

Hello? Someone out here?

[mayavericks]

[Maya is so used to being strong. She's used to being Maya-sama, used to being the one that everyone turned to. It feels wrong to be pulled close and held like this, even if Janis had only just done the same on Friday, and again that morning.

It's so unexpected that she can't help the single wet streak that tracks down her cheek.]

I told her I would never forgive her. [Her voice is muffled.] She was holding back, afraid of changing. She wanted our Starlight to be the same, did not want to see others hurt or disappointed. She was devastated that members of our school had dropped out. And I -- I told her that if she kept it up, I would never forgive her.

[fourbutts]

I guess so. Like how my show was a movie like fifteen year ago?

[tellthestory]

Was it? Oh, that's interesting - do you remember the movie?

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine doesn't know what to do.

I told her I would never forgive her.

She remembers screaming at Lexy. "Some friend you are— you're just like the rest of them!" She remembers feeling almost proud and smug when she didn't show up to see them off for The Final. She remembers behind that snowdrift wondering if she'd ever see her again.

Peregrine's throat's closed up. She can barely say anything. Her own eyes threaten to spill tears. She doesn't know what to do, she's not a leader, she's never been a leader, she's only ever lead people into—

Without a thing to say or do, she pulls Maya even closer and presses a kiss to her forehead. Acting on instinct, pure instinct. ]

We'll find her. [ Her voice is so shaky, so wet. ] I promise you, I'll do- whatever I can to find her.

garden

[tellthestory]

Oh, hey.

[The Balladeer might not be immediately noticeable at first, given that he's apparently elected to sit on the ground underneath the tree, rather than on any of the several available benches, but he calls out nonetheless.]

Outside's kinda nice, huh?

[fourbutts]

Not really, I just... sort of know it was. Ever heard of Mean Girls?

[tellthestory]

[He smiles.]

No, but my show debuted in 1991. You seem pretty after my time. Must've been big, though, to get a musical?

[fourbutts]

Probably? I don't remember the whole show yet, just Act One. I might know more later on.

[mayavericks]

[Maya doesn't fight it. Couldn't even if she wanted to. Instead, she tucks beneath Peregrine's chin. A few more tears streak down her cheeks, silent as can be. Her throat feels tight and hot. It feels so hard to breathe, and when she even tries, it shakes.]

Please. [Peregrine is already on board, but... Maya can't help but say it. She has to say something to acknowledge Peregrine's effort.]

And. Thank you.

[comeandfindme]

[ I'm not gonna lose her, she thinks against her own will. Those kinds of things—they're too terrifying to let herself believe. But still, as she wraps Maya in her arms, as she slides her hand into her hair, much like Maya had done for her days ago—

She feels it nevertheless. This dangerous, dangerous feeling. ]

You don't need to thank me. You— you don't even need to ask.

[comeandfindme]

[ Despite it all, that makes her smile too. ]

Yeah. Yeah, that's kinda mine too.

[comeandfindme]

[ With how he looks, she almost regrets this. Is this the wrong thing to do right now? ]

Uh... Well, I just... I have something for you.

[ A pouch jangles in her hand as she turns it over. ]

[fourbutts]

Guess I gotta... hide and booby-trap this, or something.

[comeandfindme]

Booby-trap a sketchbook...?

[fourbutts]

I've been told to guard it with my life, and I think that reasonably includes booby-traps.

[mayavericks]

Good. After the weekend we have all had, I think we need a reprieve.

[Hopefully everyone else gets great memories, and nothing bad happens!]

[comeandfindme]

[ ... ]

If that's what Connor wanted...then yeah. He deserves that.

[fourbutts]

I know I'm down for one.

[ For sure! No one will be clinging to anyone later! There's not going to be any kind of extended period of Janis holding Maya real gentle. ]

And this one's already pretty good. For example, I've only almost cried once today, which is an improvement.

[mayavericks]

[The hand in her hair feels soothing. Janis had done something similar a few times, and it had felt just as right then. Like somehow... Peregrine's hand was supposed to be there. That despite how awful everything felt, at least she still had something to hold her up.

But that... That was stupid, right?]

It still feels right to do. [She finally starts to right herself, wiping away what few tears she had managed to shed.]

Once we are out of here, you could go home. Not... stick around however long it takes to find her.

[fourbutts]

Oh absolutely he does. You, uh. Learn any cool booby traps in survival camp, or is it all practical things like "having a compass" and "don't eat mushrooms?"

[comeandfindme]

[ And for some reason, Peregrine's face... It pales. ]

She- sounds like the kind of person who...deserves everyone looking for her. [ It's clumsy, hurried. ] ...I wanna help. Everyone...

Everyone deserves for someone to...come and find them.

[ Cold. Cold and alone. ]

[mayavericks]

[It feels so wrong to laugh at, yet Maya does. It's a bittersweet sound, sardonic to the core, but a laugh nonetheless.]

It's probably not a good sign, that we're internalizing these sorts of things, is it?

[mayavericks]

You would like her, I think. [Maya's smile is sad.] Though, that implies anyone could ever dislike her.

[If she keeps it up, her eyes are going to burn all the more. And yet.]

We called her our Banana because... She was sweet. And helped with our sore muscles -- [Her laugh sounds just a little too tight.] "Extremely nutritious," as Aijo-san put it.