The sky shines differently today than it did yesterday

[employeeoftheyear]

[Perhaps to the surprise of no one, there is no after party after that trial. Two children were dead. Two children were dead over a simple accident and the Wizard cared more about himself than anyone else. But they won't give up, they can't give up. They had to keep fighting until everything's been set right.

At the Lobby ofrenda later that night, there are six origami pieces accoupling the other memorials. A penguin, a rose, an octopus man, computer, a music note, and the last one are of a boy and girl holding hands. Along with that there is a plate of strawberry cupcakes with blueberry icing and a note that reads:]

There is still hope and love in the world

Never let The Wizard make you think otherwise 💗

Comments

[mcfife]

She went to Salieri's party. Was that all an act?

[They didn't have an ally, in the end.]

He knows what she does. The Wizards cares for her. How can she turn her back on him?

[whatyouwant]

I mean, I love my family, but if Dad was pulling something like this, [She gestures around them.] I'd do everything I could to stop it.

[comeandfindme]

[ Instantly, without thinking, Peregrine moves to take Farrah by the arms. It's instinct. It's her remembering last week, and just acting. ]

I know. It's— it's not okay, but you— I'm sorry, Farrah.

There is not a single word in the whole world
That could describe the hurt.
The dullest knife just sawing back and forth,
And ripping through the softest skin there ever was.

How were you to know?
Oh, how were you to know?
And I, I hate to see your heart break.

And I
I hate to see your heart break.
I hate to see your eyes get darker as they close.
But I've been there before.
And I,
I hate to see your heart break.
I hate to see your eyes get darker as they close.
But I've been there before.

dressing room

[howtheworldwas]

[ Eurydice sits on the bench outside the showers, holding a large towel. Once there's a gap in the wailing: ]

Come on. Better if you drink it out here.

[ She gestures to a spot on the bench beside her. ]

[mcfife]

[Angus tilts his head so he can press against Elle. She's right, any person with a heart would turn against their evil family. It's the right thing to do.]

I'm starting to feel like chasing after Zargothrax was easier than this. At least we could hide from him long enough for prepare.

[brokeforgood]

[Oh. Oh no. Farrah basically crumples the instant that Peregrine takes her by the arms. Ruddiger has to scramble out of the way and onto her shoulders, because she falls forward, just trusting that Peregrine will catch her. And she cries… and cries ans cries, like she’s never going to stop.]

[comeandfindme]

[ As Farrah starts to fall, Peregrine adjusts. She wraps her arms around her, and she doesn't let go.

She hopes Farrah won't hear or feel her cry either.

It's been...a hard week. ]

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah can feel Peregrine crying— but she doesn’t say anything about it. Maybe she’s learning not to be so rude. Or maybe she’s just so sad she can’t bring herself to do it. Either way, she eventually draws back, wiping at her eyes with her arm.]

Oh my fucking god. How are you still alive? I feel like I’m going to fucking die from crying so much. How do you ever have your shit together?

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine tries, very hard, to smile. She fails. ]

Honestly, I don't think I do. I just...get angry, or push myself too much. I think I'm pretty fucked up, honestly.

coutyard

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Cassandra isn't expecting to see a little yipper of a pup rush her and try to drag her by the pant leg towards Elle, but... here we are. And there Elle is.]

...Must be nice, having this little guy around.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[She blinks at Maya. In this moment, it's hard to discern whether or not Cassandra is even aware of what she's sorry for.]

What do you mean?

[brokeforgood]

I thought I was fucked up before this! When Connor--- [Fuck. Fuck. Backpedal, Farrah.]

Every time I think of--- either one of them it's like someone's ripping my fucking heart out of my chest.

In a bad way. [Because. She has to clarify.]

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah almost doesn't reply-- but she does stop wailing at least. Instead, it's just quiet crying, and the water running. Eventually, though, she does get up-- and turn off the water, before stumbling out to meet Eurydice on the bench. She does not look unlike a drowned rat.]

's already got water in it. No difference.

[comeandfindme]

[ Oh, no, she gets that, very much. Peregrine stills, slightly, and holds Farrah closer. Guides her down to her knees. ]

I know. It's— ...I don't wish I could say it gets easier, but— I wish it was more manageable.

[barberic]

[He can feel the spike in her panic somehow, in the electricity between them, and it makes him feel sick, in his heart and his stomach. He evoked that. What a wretched man is he.]

That's no excuse for my behavior.

[From his pocket he takes out a handkerchief, and deftly ties it around her hand, then lets go, too ashamed to look up and meet her eyes.]

This will help keep it from rubbing so badly, and keep the dirt out of it. If it blisters, you'll want to keep it clean and dry as much as you can.

[barberic]

[Benjamin looks up from his work, when Cassandra speaks.]

...You know him, from before, don't you? Do you know how to save him?

[The father, he means. The son is... well. Beyond saving.]

[defyingfrigidity]

... I don't know.

[Elsa's never been one for the optimist role. That was always Anna's job, or Olaf's...]

When I thought my sister was dead, I... I had no idea how to move on. I didn't want to move on. The idea of putting this in the past just seems impossible...

[defyingfrigidity]

At the very least, it's something nice to focus on.

[As one slip of paper folds itself, Elsa plucks another out of the air before it can start, running a thumb over it before looking up at Discord.]

Do you know how to make these? Or is it your magic knowing what to do?

[mayavericks]

Would you say that to Salieri-sensei?

[She doesn't keep hold of Farrah for long, just enough to prove a point.]

Would you say this to Rina? To Varian? Do you think they would want to hear that?

[mayavericks]

[Maya glances at Cassandra.]

For Varian. For... What I tried to do.

[mayavericks]

Of course. [She gives a deft nod before stepping back. Part of her contemplates leaving, turning tail before anything else can happen. Instead, she reaches forward.

Trust. She had said something to that affect once, hadn't she? If she started to distrust others before anything happened, then it was as good as over. This was something, yes, but maybe it was something that could be prevented.]

I've been worried about you this whole week, you know.

[comeandfindme]

[ At some point, several hours after...everything. Peregrine leaves the school, looking weary and contemplative. It doesn't seem like she's looking for Salieri...but she stops at the sound of the music, nevertheless. ]

...I'm sorry. [ She's not quite sure what, otherwise, to say. ]

[comeandfindme]

[ Sometime late but before Janis joins Maya, Peregrine tromps out to the football field. Really she's not sure where she's going, what she's doing. She keeps needing a place to think but nowhere seems to work properly.

It's here that she hears Janis's voice rather than sees her, though it doesn't take long to find her. ]

...Janis? What're you doing down there?

[feudalladyshandmaid]

It's fine.

[She flinches, as though what she said was on reflex. Which it is.]

No, it's not. Varian's... gone. And, if you got to do what you were trying we'd have lost three people. There was no way out of that trial room without someone dying, so.... I get it. You don't have to apologize.

I would've tried to do the same thing.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

Nothing yet. He might be scared. [Even with Owl watching from overhead, it's a lot of woods to cover.] Ruddiger! Please, this is important... It's about Varian!

[She turns, watching and waiting. Nothing just ye- Wait. Was that movement in a tree over there?]