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

Gayseball Field

[mayavericks]

[Sorry, Cassandra. Someone else is setting up camp here, too. Maybe a little further away but when Maya notices her presence --]

Would you rather I leave?

[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]

Just... camping out, I suppose.

[She lays a sheet down, and then her comforter over it. Maybe it'll be enough to keep her warm? Maybe.]

It didn't feel right, being inside. Being in that dorm.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

Oh... camping. Alright.

[She watches Maya with that same tired expression she's had for the past few hours. It's hard to tell what thoughts are going on behind it.]

I get it. I'm... not much of a fan when it comes to camping out in the open, but it's something you need sometimes, isn't it?

[mayavericks]

Truth be told, I have never camped before. I could not tell you whether I like it or not. But... It feels better than being inside.

[She's quiet for a long moment.]

I... Should apologize for what happened earlier.

[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?

[mayavericks]

[Maya glances at Cassandra.]

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

[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.

[mayavericks]

I just... Did not want him to hurt. Not like these monsters had planned. But I was not thinking clearly.

[She breathes out a small sigh.]

I should not be bemoaning my circumstances to you, though. You knew him better than I did.

[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.

[mayavericks]

Sometimes... people are not ready to be helped. They do not want to listen to the other people in their lives. Their perspectives.

Regardless... I know you did all you could for him, Cassandra.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

....No. I didn't.

I could have done more. I could have told him everything will be okay. Even if it won't be, I could have tried to make it better. I could have...

[...done nothing. Because what could she do?]

[mayavericks]

Telling him it would be okay would have been an insult to his intelligence, Cassandra. You know that. He was a smart young man, and would not have simply taken it on faith alone.