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?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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]

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.

[comeandfindme]

[ That and not her name? Peregrine smiles, similarly somber, but she listens. ]

She sounds like the kind of girl to take care of everyone else. …Tell me about them? Your classmates. Nana too, if- if you want to.

[mayavericks]

That's exactly who she is. Truthfully... [Maya almost... looks uncomfortable. It's a hell of a thing, considering how she's so close to tears.]

If she tried, Nana could challenge even me. I fully believe that. Her voice is beautiful, her form perfect, and she even has a talent for designing the stage. But she has not, and I worry that she will not. She does not want to hurt anyone by standing on their shoulders.

It's no wonder she and Claudine were able to get out of whatever place they were trapped in safely. I have no doubt that Nana was able to keep everything under control.

[comeandfindme]

Sounds like you really care about her. About both of them. Sounds like...they're people you admire.

[ ... ]

I don't know what I'd do if I found out someone important to me was in one of these...these things.

[ Her mom? Howl? John Francis, Woodsley, Eric? ...Lexy? ]

[mayavericks]

I suppose I do.

[She almost looks... uneasy, saying that.]

Back home, I believed that they weren't necessary, that our bonds were not necessary to succeed. But I'm starting to wonder if that is not the case. If I was not the fool.

[comeandfindme]

…Me too.

[ She’s moved back just a bit, to give Maya some breathing room. ]

I mean— I’ve made…similar mistakes.

[mayavericks]

I suppose that means that neither of us are alone, then. Right?

[comeandfindme]

[ ...She squeezes Maya's hand. ]

I s'ppose so.