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]

[There is red—- but it’s wine that’s splashed out of the bottle onto Farrah.

She whirls, looks at Maya, and…

She has no retorts ready for her. Her barbed tongue is silent. And then she yells again, her wail full of agony and pain. ]

[mayavericks]

[Oh. It's just... wine. Maya breathes out a heavy sigh of relief.

Still it's... probably wrong for her to walk away, right. Farrah might not like her, but...]

Do you -- need company?

[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.]

[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?

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.

[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.

[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]

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.

[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.

[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.

[brokeforgood]

It’d be better. [There’s a step conviction to her voice— then she begins to sing.]

I'm just a dead girl, don't live in your world
I just roll my eyes every time I hear that
Ooh-ooh-ooh, here we go again
Ooh-ooh-ooh, Lost another friend


They all had something to return to. To live for.

I’m just a dead girl.

[mayavericks]

Enough.

[Maya reaches out, taking Farrah by the wrist. She presses down with her index and pointer finger just enough to feel the steady beating of her pulse beneath her skin.]

You have a heartbeat. You dream and you fear just as any other living person would. You are alive. And I want to keep you that way.

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah struggles against Maya, as she takes her wrist. And… because she’s Farrah, she won’t just let it go that easy.]

I’m here now—- and I don’t know how. But it makes a whole lot more sense for a loser cheerleader who is already dead to die, than for a brand new idol and a fucking kid genius to die!

[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?

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah actually… pauses at that question. She begins to piece herself together. Then a wry smile passes over her face as she puts her hands back in her lap]

Maya. Come on.

You know I’d say it to them. And they’d hate it.

[mayavericks]

[You know what. She has a point.]

Perhaps you would. And perhaps they would.

Regardless... I believe you are selling yourself and your value too short.

[brokeforgood]

That's kind of... my whole deal.

If you know you're a fuckup, it doesn't hurt when other people tell you that.

[mayavericks]

If you are waiting for me to call you that, then I hope you have a great deal of patience.

[Mostly because she doesn't swear but. You know.]

You keep us strong, Farrah-san. I mean that.

[brokeforgood]

I have the literal opposite of that. But I know how it goes with… girls who are perfect. Girls who need to have everything good.

Girls like me need to get out of their way.

[mayavericks]

If you are in my way, it means I know exactly where I can find you at all times. If you are in my way, I know you are okay.

... Not that I actually feel you are in my way. Whatever you think I am, whatever you have against me, I don't share the sentiment.

[brokeforgood]

Maya [Farrah turns to Maya and just. Crumbles out of the shower and into her arms.

That’s it. That’s exactly what she needed to hear. Sorry, Maya, she’s completely drenched.]

[mayavericks]

[Oh, well... That's... Unexpected.

Maya catches Farrah, won't dare let her fall like the other people in her life have. If she must, she'll keep catching Farrah as long as she can. And since she's here, she'll stroke her fingers through her hair, too.]

It's okay, Farrah. It's okay.

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah's just about all cried out, but that doesn't stop her from hugging Maya fiercely.]

It's not.

I'm sorry I called you a bitch, even if you were being one, a little. You were right-- and we both hated it.

[mayavericks]

[She's going to hug back just as hard. She's not necessarily the type but... Farrah needs it.]

I didn't want to be right. I would have -- loved nothing more than to be wrong. I did not want to lose him. I did not want for you to lose him.

[She sniffs, just a little wet.]

I... Won't pretend I don't deserve being called that, though.

[brokeforgood]

I know. I deserve it too. I just-- I didn't want to lose him either. I couldn't. Not after-- [After Rina. She holds Maya tightly, refusing to let go.]

I loved them.