itscurtains | 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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Thank you. [ says Orpheus, staring off in a different direction at absolutely nothing as he takes his mug. He doesn't drink from it, just sort of holds it as he tries to slowly drag himself back into the present. It takes him a second, before he adds. ] And, good evening to you too, Maestro Salieri. This is nice? Everyone being here. Or um. Most of us.

I'm doing my best to. [he'll just invite himself to sit with them, crisscrossing his legs as he settles across from them on the mattress.]

It is nice. [Salieri glances sidelong at Eurydice, and follows her gaze, before turning back, his tone gentling]

...Mademoiselle Hester isn't going to do anything untoward, if that is a concern.

We don't know that. She works for him.

[ And who do you work for, Eurydice? ]

She certainly does. [...] And I'd be happy to explain my reasoning for inviting her, if you'd like, however...[his eyes flick pointedly to the ceiling]...not here.

[ Orpheus, who has fewer qualms about Hester being here, looks over at Salieri, then follows his gaze to the ceiling before actually catching onto his meaning. He stands up. ]

I think I forgot something in the bathrooms? Would you both mind helping me look for it?

[ Inconspicuous!! In his defense it's about as stealthy as their whole-school meeting in the bathroom later. ]

[ Eurydice is too absorbed in her watch mission to pick up on Orpehus's drift right away, and she follows up with a rather perplexed: ]

No, you didn't -- oh. Oh, yeah. Let's go find it.

[ And then she stands up and walks right out! Very normal behavior. ]

[asldfhs Eurydice...Salieri represses a smile and pushes to his feet instead, glancing sidelong at Orpheus and gesturing] After you.

[ Well, time for three people to file into the men's bathroom all at once. He'll hold the door open for Salieri before stepping inside himself and closing it behind them, then look at him expectantly. He knows why he would've invited Hester to the sleepover, but he's interested in hearing Salieri's reasoning. ]

[ Eurydice leans against a wall and folds her arms, looking at Anotnio and Orpheus. ]

So. What do you know?

Some things. I don't have the whole picture, however...

[he leans back against the wall, folding his arms]

I know that Hester is young, probably not out of her late teenage years. She's spoken to me, also of how she's used to everyone hating her outside of this situation because she moved around a lot when she was younger, and never really learned how to make friends. She's a lonely young woman who has attached herself to the Wizard, who is, as far as I can see, the first one that's shown her any kindness.

However, I also noticed that, after the first trial when I went to visit her, she was acting oddly, despite being clearly very upset earlier. She had an almost dream-like quality about the way she was acting, like she wasn't altogether there. I didn't know what was wrong with her, but when I mentioned it at the meeting, Connor told me about something called brainwashing, where someone becomes convinced that the reality they're living in is something else through magical or non-magical means.

Though none of this absolves the decisions she's making, it would explain her actions and would also explain both her disposition at the first trial and after it. She is not an unthinking, unfeeling creature; she's someone very young who is in a position that is far more than she ever thought it would be, or was not what was advertised.

Also, and more importantly, the Wizard seems to trust her and care for her. The best way to access those in power are through the things they care about; and to strengthen the bonds that Hester has already forged with some of us here is both a boon to her to perhaps ease her further away from the Wizard and a possible advantage for us, as it endears us to her.

Further more, there are powers even above the Wizard that are pulling the strings. He alluded to as much at the first trial. The more Hester trusts me--trusts all of us--the more information we could perhaps glean from her about who these people might be.

[ That's more than Orpheus knew about the situation, to be sure, and he listens with a slowly deepening frown, thoughtful and concerned. ]

She's lonely. [ he says, simply. ] She's lonely, and I don't think she wants this to happen. It doesn't - it doesn't make her not responsible, but if we could give her friends, who aren't the Wizard...

[ Some of this is stuff Eurydice has been able to string together, between meetings and trials and her own conversations with Hester. But hearing it all laid out like this...

She moved around a lot when she was younger. She had an almost dream-like quality about the way she was acting. Someone very young in a position that was not what was advertised.

Eurydice's stony, critical expression melts into something more distant. For a while, she looks lost in thought and not really present. When she finally snaps back to attention, it looks like she's made a decision. ]

I understand. In that case, friends would be...good. Gives her a way out. [ Eurydice still doesn't trust her, but: ] I'll talk to her.

[he's relieved when they both seem to understand where he's coming from and his reasoning--and something in him seems to relax slightly]

Exactly. If we can show her that she has more options of people that will support her than just the Wizard...

And I'll Be With You When You Dream

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject