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

[alchemistake]

[Good...having something to do helps, as much as getting this out where everyone can be able to see it does.

Varian pushes himself up to his feet so he can help, picking up what little things can fit safely into his pockets. There's a penguin statue he built with Connor's help as well which will have to be carried.]

Yeah. He...um. He found me in here, when I was trying to come up with a blueprint for a memorial of some kind....for Mumble and Sissi.

[He was....on the floor, crying, it was a time.]

That's when he told me about Ofrendas. We decided to build it together, after that.

[comeandfindme]

[ She looks over the whole statue... She'll grab that. They can take the actual altar itself after. ]

Ofrendas? ...That's...a Mexican thing. [ Connor was, far as she knows, whiter than she is, how does he—

Oh, wait. ] ...Oh. He probably... He probably knew about it from his friend. His real friend, not...whoever the fuck tried to pretend to know him.

[alchemistake]

His friend...

[Varian hadn't delved too deep into that conversation during the trial since it wasn't his place, but he'd heard Peregrine mention them. They must have been someone very important to Connor, in that case.]

Yeah...it sounded like it was really important, so I knew I wanted to make it right. And I still want it to be right...

[He picks up a few more things until the table is cleared off.]

...I don't really know if I believed in anything before...like an afterlife, I mean. But what he said about how Ofrenda's act as guides for spirits...I dunno. It sounded a lot more hopeful than just nothing at all.

[comeandfindme]

I never believed. [ She says that quietly, as she holds the penguin statue close to herself. ] I just... I don't know, it always sounded so... so not real? Like, why didn't we know for sure or not, or...

[ Peregrine shakes her head. ]

I don't know. I think it was easier to believe that when people died...that was it. That there was nothing, but...

I keep thinking, if he believed it, maybe... Maybe he's still here somehow.

[ It sounds stupid. At least it does to her. But. Still. ]

[alchemistake]

[Varian isn't so sure if believing things just end makes it easier, but he supposes that depends on the individual. What you find comforting, and all that.

He thinks now he likes to believe they're out there, somewhere. Somewhere peaceful and free of the torment they had to endure while they were still alive.]

I think he is.

[He says quietly, nodding with his head for Peregrine to follow him out so they can bring the trinkets into the lobby first. They'll bring the table after and get everything set up once all of the pieces are in place.]

His spirit was too strong not to be.

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine has to swallow down a lump that's slow forming in her throat so she can respond, as if she's confessing a secret: ]

He said he'd haunt me. [ And then, clarifying: ] Not...in a creepy way, just like... He said he'd watch over me if he...became a ghost. In his letter.

[alchemistake]

[Connor...Varian tilts his head a little as they walk.]

That sounds like something he would have said...

[...]

Do you believe it?

[comeandfindme]

[ She hates how she can feel the sad almost shy smile that curls onto her face. ]

I believe...if it's possible, he would do it. ...He said he wouldn't— [ ... ] We promised...we wouldn't leave each other alone.

[ And then she did, anyway. If she tried talking with him more that night, if she stayed with him, what if, what if. ]

[alchemistake]

[Yeah...not a very good promise to try to make in a place like this.]

Then...I'd take him at his word. Who knows...maybe it is possible.

[Varian looks out into the lobby once they've reached it, his arms still full of this or that.]

It's better to hope for that than the alternative.

[comeandfindme]

[ It was a horrible promise! But in the moment, she really thought she could keep it. ]

I just wish there was a way to... You know, to tell for sure. Like...those carvings everywhere. Are they...them? Or something else? And how can we can ever make sure they see them?

[ She's so tired and so frustrated. ]

[alchemistake]

[...]

There...there has to be some kind of way we can reach out to them. I don't know how, but...I don't think trying would hurt, if we ever decided to.

[comeandfindme]

We've got to. [ She sets the penguin statue and the various other trinkets down in the lobby. ] I'll read...every ghost story out there, if it can help reach them.

[alchemistake]

[Ghost stories...there must be a bunch in the library, now that she says that.]

I'll help you, Peregrine. Anything I need to do, you just let me know.

[comeandfindme]

...I know. I will.

[ For a moment, she's a little...overcome? They aren't really carrying anything right now, so she takes advantage of that, and hugs him, tight and quick. ]

I know you will. Thanks, Varian.

[alchemistake]

[Oh. He wasn't expecting the hug, and it actually takes his breath away for a moment. Fortunate that they weren't carrying anything, because he would have dropped it.

It's one of the last amicable hugs they'll ever share, not that either of them knows it now. Still...after a moment of being surprised, he'll return the gesture, resting his head against Peregrine's shoulder for a minute.]

O-oh, it's...it's nothing. Don't worry about it.

[comeandfindme]

[ There's something tragic to this that neither of them know. In the moment, it's Peregrine deciding to reach out to a friend, one she realizes only now how much she cares about. ]

It's not to me.

[alchemistake]

[...]

Well I...I'm glad. I'm uh...not all that used to managing to do good things for people, so...

[comeandfindme]

[ She frowns. ]

Stop that. You've done plenty of good things. ...Especially here. You're a good friend, Varian.

[alchemistake]

...you really think so?

[comeandfindme]

I know so.