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

[samefacesyndrome]

Oh--

[ She lifts her hands up, showing him the amber. ]

The vending machine just gave it to me. Isn't it pretty?

[alchemistake]

["Varian"-

Varian feels his heart stop for a moment when Rina holds the amber up. He can see his reflection slightly in it from here, even though it's all lumpy and twisted. It's maybe even a bit sharp in a few places.

He thought...he had the only...]

...Rina- you need to get rid of that.

[He says it quickly, his voice clipped. The honorific is forgotten for the time being.]

[samefacesyndrome]

Huh? Why?

[ That's... confusing. Isn't it just a rock? She moves to bring it closer to herself to have a better look. ]

[alchemistake]

[He isn't really...intending to, not yet, but it is sort via instinct that he starts to almost reach for it, like he's going to grab the amber out of her hand. He stops just short, his hand balling into a fist.]

Just- trust me, it's bad. You need to throw it away as soon as possible, do you understand?

[samefacesyndrome]

But...

[ She wants to believe him but the way he isn't explaining anything is making her hesitate. How bad is it? Is there any way for her to get rid of it that won't cause trouble for someone else? ]

[alchemistake]

[He needs to explain to her...what the deal is. But the truth of the matter is he simply doesn't have the emotional fortitude to handle it right now. It's not a conversation he wants to have.]

It's dangerous. That's all you need to know.

[samefacesyndrome]

But I don't understand! Isn't it just a pretty rock?

[ Varian you're starting to freak her out. ]

[alchemistake]

That's enough, Rina.

[It escapes him unintentionally. It's blurted, terse, and in the split second after even he looks shocked at himself.

Yes sir.

He leans back.]

I...just.

Please. Get rid of it.

[samefacesyndrome]

[ As soon as she says that she flinches

And just

Drops it

Both literally and figuratively

The amber falls to the ground, bouncing with a "tink" a few times before settling. ]

I... okay.

[ She looks down at it just. Unsure what to do as her eyes begin to water. ]

Do... do you want to get rid of it?

Since you... know about it...

[alchemistake]

[Varian stiffens visibly when the amber hits the ground, almost like he expects it to just explode and start spreading right then and there. When it doesn't...he'll eye it cautiously for a second before he quickly leans down and picks it up off the floor, stuffing it into his pocket.]

Yeah, I...yeah.

[The silence that follows is...more than a little awkward and uncomfortable, and Varian knows he's to blame. Even with Rina not being the best at expressions...

But he's still too spooked. Seeing the amber, again...]

If you see any more...don't keep it.

[samefacesyndrome]

[ She watches him pick it up and then hugs her arms. ]

...Okay.

[ ... ]

Would you um...

Like me to bring you lunch... later?

[alchemistake]

[The worst part is he's probably not actually going to throw it away, but keep it...along with the other piece he received. So he can keep an eye on it.

When she asks about bringing him lunch, though...his expression does soften a little, as he realizes he should maybe try to calm down at least a smidge.]

Of course. I'd like that a lot.

I'll probably be in the scene shop most of the day today, okay? So you can just...find me there.

[samefacesyndrome]

O-Okay.

[ ....... ]

Um. Varian-kun?

[alchemistake]

...yeah?

[samefacesyndrome]

...Sorry.

[alchemistake]

[Varian feels the knot already in the pit of his stomach twist painfully, at that. If only he'd just...]

Me too.

[Not good enough. But he'll turn and leave for the scene shop anyway, the amber burning a hole in his pocket.]

[samefacesyndrome]

[ Rina watches him leave, a painful feeling welling up in her chest... this horrible sense of dread. She knows this has been a hard week for everyone, but for Varian especially and it breaks her heart. She's noticed all the little things and how tense he's been, but yesterday she thought... she helped...

... ]

Happily wondering
Night after night
Is this how it works?
Am I doing it right?

[ She knows in the back of her mind that it's not her fault. Varian had a horrible dream and the motive and Balladeer's death yesterday have just made it worse. But she's still just an insecure teenager who's never been in a relationship before, and a part of her can't help but feel like it might be her fault. Maybe she shouldn't have even questioned anything just now. Just did as he said. Maybe she should be doing more... maybe she should be holding him more, talking more, singing more, anything.

Her legs feel weak so she crouches on the ground, burying her face in her knees as she hugs them close to herself. ]

Happy to listen
Happy to stay
Happily watching him drift away...