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

[employeeoftheyear]

[The music flows softly through the air. If Maya listens close enough, she will hear singing]

Proudly swept the rain by the cliffs
As it glided through the trees
Still following ever the bud
The ʻāhihi lehua of the vale

[mayavericks]

[Oh. Maya more or less knows the sound of that voice. She follows the noise just a little quicker now.]

Spongebob?

[employeeoftheyear]

[The music stops abruptly. Spongebob's voice speaks up, still sounding distant.]

Hello?

[It seems to be coming from above her.]

[mayavericks]

[She looks up into the trees, quiet at first. She puts her hand on a trunk but... Mm, yeah, not a climber.]

Would you like company?

[employeeoftheyear]

Sure, I'd like that.

[There's a pause.]

Wanna come to the garden up here? It's beautiful at night.

[mayavericks]

You... Might need to help me up, actually.

[Maya's used to floating stage platforms, tree climbing is beneath her.]

[employeeoftheyear]

[That gets a quiet laugh out of him.]

There's a grappling hook by the school; I can help pull you up.

[mayavericks]

That's --

[You know what, that's fair. She backtracks toward the school and... Before long she's back with the grappling hook.]

Do I just... Swing it up to a branch?

[employeeoftheyear]

Yeah, or you can swing it up towards me and I can pull you up.

[At the top of the building, Maya can see Spongebob waving down at her.]

[mayavericks]

Oh!

[She nods up to him, before tossing the hook up carefully. She doesn't want to impale him or anything.]

Let me know when you're ready.

[employeeoftheyear]

[He dangles his hands over the edge of the roof.]

I'm ready!

[mayavericks]

[The hook is yote with more force this time, now that she understands its heft. Hopefully not enough to hurt -- just enough to get it into Spongebob's hands.]

[employeeoftheyear]

[He grabs it!]

Got it! Hold tight; I'm gonna pull you up now!

[You know for someone who hits like a pool noodle, he has amazing upper body strength, apparently.]

[mayavericks]

[Wow. She is... flying. Maybe not really, but between Spongebob's strength and her own climbing, she sure does get up pretty high.

When she's close enough, she holds her hand out to him.]

Please don't let your arm come off this time.

[employeeoftheyear]

It's not like they normally pop off without me trying!

[On Sunday, this situation and Maya's comment might terrify, might remind him of how he was falling off the volcano with Sandy desperately trying to pull him up but his arm just kept stretching, of how he thought for sure he was going to die.

Tonight, however, he laughs lightly at her comment and pulls her up without much issue.]

Welcome to the garden, Maya!

[mayavericks]

[It's... certainly something magnificent. She wouldn't have expected this from down below. Perhaps it's wrong for her to be up there, perhaps they're breaking some rules but. Maya quickly realizes that she doesn't care.]

It's wonderful. I certainly cannot blame you for hiding away up here.

[employeeoftheyear]

I know. I can't believe the Wizard hid this from us this whole time.

[He looks at the sky, smiling wistfully.]

...It perfectly describes him, doesn't it?

[mayavericks]

Holding the precious things above us? [Maya gives him a quizzical look.]

Yes, that sounds about right.

[employeeoftheyear]

[He laughs at too.]

That too, but I was actually thinking about he insists that pain and suffering is the only way through life, while ignoring that beauty still surrounds us right under our noses.

Or... above or noses, in this case.

[mayavericks]

[She's quiet for a moment, a long one at that.]

Very profound. And you are right, of course. Whether it's this garden, or what we have between one another... There is beauty to be found everywhere.

[employeeoftheyear]

[He scratches the back of his neck, looking very sheepish at that comment.]

Golly, no one's ever called me profound before. That's really just how I see things in life! No matter how bad things get, or how dire things seem, there's always something good!

I really don't get people who go around life thinking the world is a place of pain and suffering.

[mayavericks]

I don't know either. For me... every time I step onto the stage, it's like being reborn. There is light and passion to be found each and every time.

As long as I have the stage, and those that are meant to be there with me, I know all will be well.