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

[brokeforgood]

Are you gonna gloat about how right you were? [The retort comes fast, but she lacks the fierceness she held in the courtroom. Here, Farrah looks every bit like she feels—— like a lost little girl. She stifles a sob, and rubs at her eyes like that’s going to do her any good— she’s standing in a running shower with all her clothes on, after all.]

[brokeforgood]

[Well. Congratulations, Orpheus. That is… probably the first time she’s smiled today. She’s pleased that someone else gets what she’s doing.]

Yeah. I’m going to try and learn them, too. … Varian should have learned them with me.

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah’s planning on ignoring her when she enters the room. But when she realizes what Per’s carrying—- who she’s carrying, she scrambles up.]

Peregrine! You brought Ruddy home! [There’s clear relief on her face.]

[mayavericks]

[Maya certainly doesn't expect Janis to start singing. Even when she does, she doesn't anticipate the sheer scope of the song. They've exchanged snippets with one another, of course, and then again with Peregrine as well. But that's all so very different than being sung to.

And it's so... pointed. The Stars. Starlight.

She keeps swearing to herself that she won't cry. Yet Janis and Peregrine, these disagreeable women in their own rights, keep finding a way to make it happen. Her eyes burn, and this time she can't close her eyes fast enough to keep a few tears from slipping out.]

You know -- [Her voice is tight.] -- The same could be said of you.

I do not need to climb a tower. My star -- My stars are right here. My eternal wish.

[Is it selfish? Maybe. She could use the wish to change everything. And yet... here she is.]

[mayavericks]

Farrah-san...

[She finds a place to sit down, mostly on the floor, with her back to Farrah. She leans her head against a locker, a wall, anything nearby.]

Why do you think I wanted to be right?

[mayavericks]

[The taste hits her pretty hard. Sweet or not, it's still wine, still fermented something or other and that's... kind of unpleasant. She makes a face, before smoothing her expression out.]

Thank you, Orpheus-san. For both the warning and -- the kindness.

[mayavericks]

It almost felt easier, when it was the SQUIP. It didn't make Connor's death any better, but at least there was some... vindication.

[She swallows.]

At least we knew that we did the right thing. Today, though? And with Sissi? None of that is right.

cw: suicidal ideation

[brokeforgood]

People like you always have to be right! [Farrah wishes she hadn’t said that, as soon as she does. She’s extremely angry and hurt by Maya right now, and she wants to blame her for Varian. But deep down, Farrah knows she’s wrong.

Maya’s always been kind to her. And here she stands, comparing her to Riley, all because Maya had helped lead them to a terrible truth. A truth Farrah was ready to try and deny, even at the cost of her own lie. Why?

Was it because she loved Varian that much, or was it because she hated herself that much?

Was she angry that Maya was right, or was she just angry that she was wrong?

Farrah sits down on the floor of the shower, and takes another chug of watered down shower wine. Then she begins to sob again.]

I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

[fourbutts]

[ It's not the end of the whole song, but she's not singing the original. She's making it her own.

Janis laughs a little, with all the energy singing a whole number has put into her, crossing back over to sit down by Maya once more. ]

I love you, Maya Tendo.

[mayavericks]

Varian was my friend, Farrah. I would have given anything to have been wrong about him.

[Whether or not Farrah hears that, though, she's unsure. There's a sudden sound of sobbing, and Maya turns just in time to catch that apology. It's... unexpected, and whether Farrah sees it or not, it's obvious on Maya's face.]

Why are you -- [She shakes her head. The why isn't important. What is important is the scared little girl in front of her. They weren't that different in age, a year apart as far as Maya could recall, two years if the Yearbooks were right. Neither of them should be there, but certainly Farrah shouldn't have this on top of everything else.

She inches closer, until she's at the edge of the shower. She reaches out to touch Farrah's knee.]

I should be the one apologizing.

[mayavericks]

[She leans forward, pressing their foreheads together. Her hand rests over Janis's cheek, thumb tracing over the skin.]

I love you, Janis Sarkisian. And I am... sorry I took you for granted, today.

[fourbutts]

[ Janis presses her forehead back. ]

Kiss me and we'll call it even?

[brokeforgood]

It doesn’t matter. [Farrah sucks in a heavy breath of air, and—- she finally reaches up, and turns the water off. She doesn’t make any attempts to move, though.]

It doesn’t matter anymore. He’s dead. She’s dead. And Connor, and —- it should have been me. I should have just—- [She tries to quiet her sobs, and catch her breath. She tries to stop shaking. Neither works. ]

[mayavericks]

I think I can agree to your terms.

[She tilts her head enough to steal a kiss, as promised.]

[brokeforgood]

[Oh. It’s Cassandra—- it’s Varian’s friend. Farrah almost feels compelled to pull herself together for this young woman, but she couldn’t, not even if she tried.]

What?

[fourbutts]

[ Janis smiles into the kiss, then pulls back to hold their foreheads against each other again. ]

Boom. Even.

[mayavericks]

Nothing would have made this easier. Certainly not your death.

[Maya shrugs off her uniform's coat, and drapes it carefully over Farrah. She doesn't know if Farrah is shaking from the cold or something else but... Maybe it will help?]

Salieri-sensei would be devastated. As would Discord. And Varian and Rina -- they cared deeply for you as well. Nothing would be right without you by their side. And I -- I would miss you as well. You keep me grounded. Keep me from going too far.

[mayavericks]

[Ugh. Hopefully the stars aren't too bright. It'll show how bad she's blushing over all of this. Stupid, sexy Sarkisian.]

Will you stay out here with me tonight, my Starlight?

[feudalladyshandmaid]

When you have the passion and the drive,
You expect your moment centre stage to arrive.
I show up with heart ablazing,
Ready to achieve... amazing things...
...But I'm left waiting in the wings.

[She tapers off, the machine continuing to play it's little tune unheeded by her or Elsa. Honestly, she's already somewhere off in her mind. But not too deep, not enough that she can't be pulled out by someone's voice. Someone like Elsa, who had been supporting her - sometimes literally - for a good while. Was she... scared? Scared that Cassandra would try something? Would she be more worried if she knew Cass had considered it?

She shifts to look back at Elsa over her shoulder, meeting her with hazel eyes, soft and distant. Owl coos in greeting - or perhaps warning.]

Hey. [It's small, and equally distant.] You okay?

[fourbutts]

I think the expression is "Take me, I'm yours."

[ She is just grinning like an idiot. This is embarrassing. ]

[brokeforgood]

[It’s more of the mood, but that doesn’t mean it’s not appreciated when Maya drapes her coat over Farrah’s shoulders. She sniffles and tries to keep her teeth from chattering.]

Dad’s——- Salieri’s already devastated. And Discord. And… even if they had to feel like this, at least they’d be alive. And safe.

[That last part, though…]

I’m a thorn in your side.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

--Do your humble duty with a smile on your face...

[She pauses, looking up to notice Maya for perhaps the first time tonight. Blinks. Ah.]

No. It's... you can stay out here too. I'm not going to stop you from...

[She has no idea what Maya's doing out here.]

[mayavericks]

Oh? [She lifts her brows, just a little.] I would say "Don't mind if I do" but...

[Vague motions at the other two lesbians on the field.]

[mayavericks]

And hurt. Hurt because you were not here. Hurt because you chose to abandon them, believing that somehow, you were less valuable than any of them.

That isn't true. There is value in each of our lives. We are not strong alone -- only together.

[Finally, she shakes her head.]

If you think you are a thorn in my side, you should meet some of my friends back home.

[defyingfrigidity]

[Elsa spares a glance towards Owl, a shadow which she hopes could pass for a smile of reassurance crossing her face, before she sits down in the neatly-trimmed grass next to Cass. There's enough distance between them that she hopes Cass isn't too uncomfortable, but she's close enough that Cass can reach out to Elsa. If she wants.]

I was just about to ask you the same thing. [She... definitely heard what Cass had been singing.] Did the shower help at all?