itscurtains | And I'll Be With You When You Dream

Entry tags:

act 3,
week 4

And I'll Be With You When You Dream

[It's Sunday night! Boy, today sure has been a day, hasn't it?? Memories returned, Father's Day Gifts given, and Benjamin sure had a Time, didn't he?

Looks like it's time to find ways to cope.

Thus, the bed frames from Broadhurst dorm are being worked on being taken apart by Varian while the mattresses are becoming The New Floor.

Additionally, there's plenty to eat and drink, what with the hot pot provided by Rina, cookies that might just taste a bit burnt from Farrah, apples from Orpheus, more delicious potatoes from Maya, as well as sandwiches by Cassandra. There is also quite the variety of pie, from caramel, to bittersweet chocolate and strawberries, and several other varieties from the vending machine. Finally, there's popcorn brought in by Spongebob. If someone wants a drink, there is some delicious hot cocoa, provided by Elsa, as well as the tea brought in by Discord. There's also a variety of drinks from the vending machines.

Everyone's invited of course. There are a variety of games happening, and there's even a TV that's been wheeled down from the Library. So bring your pajamas, whatever they happen to be, and settle in for a sleepover!]

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I think it is? I mean, I don't know how these things usually go.

[But he does seem to have lightened up somewhat since arriving and hanging out for a bit!]

Why, are you not having fun?

[It's good to see the Balladeer relaxing, at least. Especially after all of the tense talks they've had of late. And even though Maya herself is clearly distracted by something, she manages a smile.]

It's not that. I'm just... Not used to these sorts of things, that's all. Parties have never been my strong suit.

[He smiles, though it's also a little wan.]

It's nice, though. I know today was...rough for a lot of people.

There have been a fair few bad memories going around.

[RIP to them though, because she's different.]

Were you one of them?

[He's quiet for a moment, watching the others. When he speaks, it's in a low voice.]

Valjean died. She killed him on purpose. [...] I knew she was thinking about it. I tried everything I could think of - I told her all the risks, I told her she'd be caught. But it didn't change anything.

[He'd been so angry. Now, he just feels...horrible.]

You were trying to do all you could to prevent it.

[She closes her eyes. Not even an accident, then. It had been planned out.]

I'm sorry, Balladeer-san. I... know it must be difficult, to bear that weight.

[It's a similar weight to the one she held on her own shoulders. Feeling like she had failed everyone.]

Was the execution-- Was it... at least less terrible than all of this?

Looking back now...no, it wasn't.

[The song and dance is one thing; the Balladeer is so inured to things like that that they barely even register as unusual. But the costumes. The imitation of Valjean, that cruel moment of hope. Even at the time, he'd known the man would never want his shape used in that way. But...]

I've sung through executions before, in my show. You don't kill a president and live. At the time, it...I thought some parts of it were overkill, but it was what was scripted, so I just...it seemed normal.

[The same thing he'd always done, the same thing he'd been made to do. He hadn't questioned it.

...he's starting to wonder if he was really the "good person" in Assassins after all.]

And this... what happened here, and in your game? That was not even your definition of normal?

[It's a little frightening, to know that even those who had blood on their hands -- regardless of how far removed from it they were -- were somehow unnerved by what they had seen. Not that Maya could ever anticipate being used to something like this.]

It's not...I don't know who the audience is. I don't know who wants this that isn't the Wizard. Maybe it's just that my show took things so much lighter, most of the time...

[Or, maybe it's just...]

Maybe it's just...I didn't really care about anyone before I left my show. They didn't like me, I didn't like them. No skin off my back if they went and killed someone and got the death penalty.

But there, and now here as well... You do care?

Of course I do. It's...entirely different, being with decent people.

[His relationships with the assassins were never really great.]

Thinking about it now, I have to wonder. I didn't know this then, but I was intended to fail the whole time, in my show. I was written to be shoved aside by all the assassins. Maybe bringing me onboard was a mistake. Like, I can't do any better than that.

I don't know if that's true. Perhaps, yes, you were bound by destiny in your performance. After all, you can't fight what is written.

But your fate is not written there. It isn't written here either.

[He sighs, watching the party.]

I do want to believe that. Entirely unscripted - imagine that.

I've never been much of a fan of improv but... [She manages a half smile.]

Here, I can make an exception.

[He manages a whole smile for her!]

Well. I'd like to help everyone here, if I can. I don't know if everyone's really feeling that whole scene idea anymore...

[Things have gotten Kinda Dire.]

But let me know if you want any help next time you do something like this. Maybe Ambassador can host, next time.

At this point, I'm wondering if we should simply tear down all the beds and do this every night.

We are... harder to target in a group, if nothing else.

[He chuckles.]

Oh, that would be fun! A couple of us might want beds, still, but I bet we could still cram in one room. Everyone's a little bit on top of each other, aren't they?

[...]

We'd have to rope Ben in. I talked to him earlier, he's not feeling well enough for this right now, but I'm worried about him.

There is quite a bit of overlap between our... interests, I have noticed?

[Ah, but, Maya sobers at that.]

I sat with him as well. He is a good man. Whatever torment he's experienced, whatever is in his head, he deserves none of it.

Our interests?

[Maya. This man has no life experience and is also powerfully asexual.]

No. I didn't want to ask him about it, but...something awful must have happened. He didn't deserve that. I wish being here with us could mean he's safe, but... [For one, it's already happened, and nothing they can do can erase it. For another...he's clearly not that safe here.]

Edited 2021-06-23 17:28 (UTC)

Well. I like Janis, for starters. And Peregrine as well. We're all good friends with Varian, who is apparently with Rina, and -- [She motions vaguely.] Does that help?

[Either way.]

I did not want to press, either. He... wanted to know about my classmates instead.

[Even more of a downer!]

I like everyone!

[It did not help! He does not seem to realize this!]

Mmm. I'm sure he'll talk about it with someone, when he's ready.

[Deep breaths.]

Romantic interest, B-san.

[And then a nod.]

I hope that is the case. I... worry what may happen if he doesn't speak of it.

.....oh! That many people, really?

[Not that he's judging; if anything, he seems sort of delighted by it. The kids dating isn't a bad thing, right? They're all good people! It's cute!]

...yeah. Yeah. I don't know how these things work, I'm not...sure I know how to help him, exactly. But if there's anything I could do...

We're not all together, but...

[Maya does not have enough hands for all these girlfriends and crushes.]

We just have to be there for him. The last thing he needs is anymore loss.

[Haha... ha... ha.]

[Well, his main examples of romantic relationships all involved either stalking or Charles Manson, so. His bar for normalcy's real low there. As long as everyone seems happy!]

I hope we can do that, for him.

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