And I'll Be With You When You Dream

[violentenvies]

[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!]

Comments

[violentenvies]

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.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ 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...

[howtheworldwas]

[ 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.

[violentenvies]

[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...