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

[comeandfindme]

[ Oh. Oh no.

Peregrine kneels down, offering out an apple so she can scoop him up into her arms. ]

Ruddiger... We're gonna take you back to the school, okay? Get you somewhere dry...and warm...

[ She wonders how much he can understand. She wonders, if she says it, if he'll know. ]

[fourbutts]

Someone gets hit by a bus, apparently, but I don't remember who.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Whatever does actually happen, Orpheus will reach out to put a reassuring hand on her shoulder. ]

Of course. This is hard but we're - together. And we'll do everything we can to stop this from happening again.

[ It rings a little hollower, now, after it's happened so many times, after they've lost seven of their number. But Orpheus still has conviction in his voice as he says it, because hope is all he has. ]

We'll get out of here. And we'll find your friend. And we'll stop the Wizard or anyone that comes after him from doing this to anyone else.

[themuseabandonsyou]

Right. I... don't know how to fight. People have tried to teach me, but I'm not - I'm not good at trying to hurt people, even when it's just sparring, or even when they're trying to hurt me. But maybe I should try again. If it would make all of us safer.

[ This isn't like with the other Argonauts, where they could just leave him on the boat when things got dangerous. And while Orpheus doesn't want to think about having to defend himself from anyone here, it may be good to know he can be useful if they ever confront the Wizard or any other dangers lurking around. ]

I know you and Eurydice have been working together. Would you be willing to try to teach me, too?

[themuseabandonsyou]

Or we might have all died. [ says Orpheus, hollowly. ] I don't - I'm not trying to say it's bad, to feel that way. I wish he'd show himself to us, too. It would feel easier, nobler, more like a fight and less like being crushed slowly.

[ He curls in on himself a little, shoulders hunching and wrapping his arms around himself as he looks off to the side. ]

But the Wizard is powerful. He might even be a god? And it's... possible to confront them and win, sometimes, but...

[barberic]

Because he needed me out of the way.

[He hesitates again, looking between Orpheus and Eurydice, wondering if he should give them the reason or not.

He thinks about Orpheus, sharing so happily in his joy on the first day, and confiding in him in fear and pain in the weeks that followed, about Eurydice with him in the garden, barely holding back her sobs.

A marriage is about being stronger together than separate, about two halves merging to create a greater whole. He wants that for them, that dream that's no longer possible for himself. He wants them to prove the wicked world wrong.]

...So that he could abduct my wife.

[comeandfindme]

How does that... [ ... ] Is this another narrator thing?

[fourbutts]

I only remember Act One, and if you make a joke about someone getting hit by a bus in your opening number to the audience in Act One... gotta pay it off in Act Two, you know?

[comeandfindme]

...Yeah, that's how it'd work in a movie, so...I guess in a...play? It's the same.

[mcfife]

As a unit we stand
Ans united we fall

[Wise words for a blossoming army. They are an army.]

All resistance groups start somewhere. Not all members of the Hootsforce were former soldiers. Even the ability to command others and drive or control robots was useful in the Battle of Cowdenbeath.

But if you wish to train together, you may join us. I can use additional company.

[mayavericks]

[They are definitely hugging (or at least Maya is hugging him). She's had a long hard day and needs a break(down).

My apologies, Orpheus-san. I am sure you don't need to deal with my grief on top of everything else.

[She takes a few steps back, along with a few steadying breaths along the way.]

[themuseabandonsyou]

Thank you. I can't really do those things, either, but if I can I'd like to learn how to better protect people.

[ Maybe just knowing that he could fight, if the situation called for it, would make him feel a little less helpless. ]

So I'll do my best, and I'll try not to slow down anyone else's training.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ No that hug is absolutely mutual for as long as Maya wants it to be. He'll let her go when she steps back, though. ]

No, it's okay. I'm happy to listen. It's the least I can do, at a time like this. I want to be here, for all of you.

[defyingfrigidity]

[Callused against paper-thin skin. Scarred against smooth. Their hands contrast so much in almost every way, but yet still fit perfectly together.]

Yeah. [The tone of her voice is soft, but there's a firmness to it as well.] As long as we have each other, we can do anything. You're always stronger when you have the people you care about by your side.

[It's... strange. Anna's said that to her, and she's said that to Anna. She never feels stronger than she does when she's with her sister, but... something about how she feels when she says that to Cass feels different than when she talks to Anna...]

[mayavericks]

We are lucky to have you, at least in as far as anyone can be "lucky" in this place. Not that I am pleased to have anyone here.

But I should not keep you from the others. Not when you are doing such good work.

[themuseabandonsyou]

Thanks. I'm just... I'm doing my best. If you're sure you'll be okay, I'll go for now, but you don't mind if I come and check on you again later, right?

[ It... seems like she might kind of need it. ]

It's not bad or a sign of weakness to admit you need help, sometimes.

Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain
We all have sorrow

But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me
When you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on

[mayavericks]

[She sways just a little, maybe to the music or maybe just because her balance is shot. But she looks... certainly better than she did a few minutes prior.]

For it won't be long
Till you're gonna need
somebody to lean on

[She starts to take a step back.]

I... Will be in the Nurse's office tonight, I think. Or outside. Somewhere that is not Broadhurst. Not today.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus nods, solemn and understanding. ]

I'll see you there. Be sure to drink plenty of water? I don't think you drank enough to get hungover, but it's good to do just in case, especially if you're not used to alcohol.

[mayavericks]

Mm, yeah. [She gives a nod.]

I always do. But thank you.

[She gives a little bow. Stumbles in the process but... rights herself and scurries away.]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Apples are his favorite. How can he ignore a juicy Red Delicious! It's all too simple for Peregrine to scoop him up.

He chitters at her again. It almost sounds inquisitive.]

...We have to tell him about Varian. [Cass wasn't a fan of letting things drag on.] It's not going to get easier.

[violentenvies]

[Salieri blinks, once, as Farrah climbs into his lap, and he's setting the bottle down, automatically moving to put his arms around her as she lays her head on his shoulder. Then she says that and he freezes for just a moment--before he tightens his arms around her, holding her close as those little cracks in his armor spread, causing his control to fray. Salieri shudders, once, and there a strangle hiccuping noise in his throat.]

My bracelet...[he tries to explain, but his voice feels rough and strangled] Rina, she...she put you on it. [Salieri sucks in what sounds like a watery breath] You and Varian.

[brokeforgood]

[Oh. Farrah follows his gaze to the bracelet, and she feels her own eyes start to sting again, even though she’s sure she’s already cried out everything she has.]

Oh—- Rina… [Farrah’s own cool cracks again.]

She was so sweet. A good, sweet, kind girl—- And— Varian was smart, and funny, and scared —-

I couldn’t —- I should’ve—- [She hides her face again.]

[comeandfindme]

[ It's like he can tell they're talking about Varian. He probably can. He's looking at them expectantly and rabies be damned, Peregrine just presses her face into Ruddiger's soft fur. ]

I know. I know, it. Ruddiger, I'm sorry. I'm so...so sorry, he's... He's not...coming back.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Cassandra watches Orpheus shrink into himself and she feels even worse for it. Her hand reaches out, hovering in the air between them, unsure of where to go or what to do.]

It's not impossible. [She says with enough certainty that it seems to shake her.] I don't care what that Wizard thinks he is. If he thinks I'm going to lay down and die just because he's "powerful" then he's got another thing coming.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

...I did. I knew him better than everyone here.

[And yet...]

But I didn't know enough to be able to help him before all this. Before we even came to this school. We couldn't help Varian, so he tried to take matters into his own hands... and he only made things worse.