Week Five

[stagemanagers]

[Last week, you had your very first minor body pileup! Granted, the Balladeer's death was entirely unrelated to anything, but at least he died as he lived - getting completely fucked up in some kind of carnival-themed hellscape. Only two days later, another terrible accident took Rina and Varian both from you. It's just been one of those weeks, huh? At least you got to add both of their corpses to your weird growing collection!

Again, you'll wake up this morning with another new snippet of memory. You'll also find that the stairs in the lobby are no longer blocked. You can only access one part of the second floor, but it seems like there's some neat stuff up there!

Outside, a few things seem to have changed. For one, the weather has turned - it'll be overcast this week, with periodic rain and even scattered thunderstorms. For another, the bushes around that rock out by the football field have bloomed. That's nice.

Get to it, friends! I'm sure everything will be fine this week!]


Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

(( Be sure to submit your memory regain and your AC for this week! As always, Hester's office hours and the merch booth remain available. ))

Comments

cw: panic attack, continued

[comeandfindme]

[ This feeling isn't completely unfamiliar. Everything pressing down on her, her breath coming out in shallow gasps. A panic response, the therapists had said, to the idea of what took her brother from her. If she avoids triggers, it should come less frequently.

So, of course, she'd thrown herself out into the woods, like an idiot, thinking she was bigger, stronger—

As Maya's fingers drift over her trembling form, Peregrine feels her attention snap back here, to this particular disaster instead of the ones in the Whitetail Forest. With a greedy grasp, she pulls Maya's arms around her. Her head jerks side to side, to answer— no, no she's not hurt. ]

I can't- the- the pool- it—

[ If she closes her eyes, she sees Jacob's frosted face, Mumble's pale complexion, Woodsley shivering— the memories turn into nightmares. After a few experiences, it's so, so easy, to imagine what a loved one would look like, freezing to death. ]

Shit!

cw: panic attack, continued

[mayavericks]

The pool?

[But Maya doesn't need an answer. The pieces are easily put together. She'd seen the switch of course, thought it a cute option should she ever decide to take it. Ice skating wasn't her forte but... She wasn't clumsy, either.

Now, though, it feels like an entirely different beast. She can certainly understand why something like that, something that could easily drop them to subfreezing temperatures, might produce such a devastating response.

Carefully, Maya's arms begin to move. Her cold weather knowledge isn't as expansive as Peregrine's, but obviously the first trial had shown that she knew her basics. She rubs gingerly against Peregrine's sides, trying to work warmth into Peregrine's core first. She might not necessarily be actually freezing, but it isn't hard to make guesses as to where her mind is.]

You are here with me, Peregrine. I will not let anything happen to you.

cw: panic attack, continued

[comeandfindme]

[ If Maya's arms start to seem like they'll wander, Peregrine clamps down on them. ]

D- don't— don't...go anywhere...don't go near it. Please. Please.

[ How many more times is it going to be? How many more times will she lose someone to the cold? ]

cw: panic attack, continued

[mayavericks]

[Maya has no intention of leaving -- only trying to ensure Pregrine that the two of them are both alive and plenty warm. She even nestles her cheek against Peregrine's hair.]

I'm not going anywhere. I promise.

[comeandfindme]

[ Eventually, Peregrine starts to calm. Her breathing becomes more even, and her heartbeat slows to something approaching normal. She cries out scattered, pained tears, murmuring...something. Something about Maya staying here.

When this is all over, she's quite limp. ]

I'm... I'm sorry...about all that.

[mayavericks]

You don't need to apologize.

[Though her voice has been overall soft, there's a firmness when she speaks now. She won't have any apologies here, no thank you.]

How many times have I told you that I would be here to take care of you?

[comeandfindme]

Yeah, I... I know. [ And she does. ...She thinks she does. Just— ] All that...over a...a fucking switch.

[mayavericks]

After you have lost how many people to the cold?

You have every right to be on edge, Peregrine.

[comeandfindme]

...How many's...a great question.

[mayavericks]

[Maya is quiet for a moment.]

What did you remember?

[comeandfindme]

You were right, Maya. I was really, really stupid.

[mayavericks]

I... Doubt that's true at all.

What happened?

[comeandfindme]

The Final. [ ... ] We had...coats, food, everything— mom wouldn't let me go without it, but—

...But- but there was... It was a storm, and...I couldn't follow the sun, or...or any landmarks, or...

[ ... ]

Lexy... She put together a rescue party. But...we couldn't find Eric, and— and Woodsley, he... We were waiting for the MEDEVAC, and I kept- I kept telling him to...stay awake, but I don't think he could hear me.

[mayavericks]

Peregrine...

[It was exactly as Maya had feared. An unnecessary and dangerous risk. But even if she thinks that, she can hardly blame Peregrine. She can understand the pressure, the need to prove herself at any cost.]

He'll be okay. You won't let anything happen to him.

[comeandfindme]

[ She shakes her head. ]

No, we— we kept trying, but we couldn't get him warm. They were all...out there, 'cause of me! 'Cause I wanted to prove myself, or- or, god, they're- they're probably dead, and I'm— it's not- it's not fair...!

[ Now all of her is shaking again. ]

[mayavericks]

Not just to prove yourself. To prove that the knowledge was worthwhile, and that it needed to be taught. Perhaps it was not the best of ideas, but it was not borne of selfish intentions. You did not want to see anymore loss.

[comeandfindme]

But I just- just put them in danger! They did...all that for me, and— and I don't even know if... Why didn't anyone stop me?!

[mayavericks]

People tried. [Lexy, certainly.] But it is so hard to tell someone you love to back down from something they love. Something they are passionate about.

cw: suicidal ideation implications

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine just. She adjusts herself so she's clinging to Maya, crying into her shoulder. ]

I don't... I don't wanna- go through this again, I'd rather- I wish instead, I'd—

cw: suicidal ideation implications

[mayavericks]

Don't say that, Peregrine.

[Her grip tightens, just a little.]

We will not let it happen. Not here, not there. Never again. So please... don't go anywhere. Do not leave me.

cw: suicidal ideation implications (leaving that on just for safesies)

[comeandfindme]

You can't... You can't...!

[ She doesn't know how Maya can make that happen. She doesn't know. No one can really go up against nature. It doesn't listen when you beg and cry and plead for your brother back, or for some kind of reprieve, or for your friend to stop dying in front of you. Nature just takes.

Peregrine holds tighter as well. She whispers, in pained confession: ]

I don't know...how much more of this, I can...

cw: suicidal ideation implications

[mayavericks]

I can't change what has happened, you are right about that. But I told you early on that I suspected we could bring people back. The Wizard brought Farrah back. That means we could --

[She trails off. Maybe it's too much to hope for. But what else is there, but hope?]

And until then, I will fight for you. I will do all I can to make sure you never have to suffer again. Just know that I cannot fight alone. I need you, Peregrine Wells.

cw: suicidal ideation implications

[comeandfindme]

Maya... [ To save her friends. What kind of power, what kind of magic... What kind of playing god...?

Peregrine doesn't care. If she could save them, she'd do anything. ]

...I'm sorry. [ Holding her in a heap on the floor. Not letting go. ] I won't— I need you, too. Please... Please don't leave me.

cw: suicidal ideation implications

[mayavericks]

You don't need to apologize. Just... tell me --

Tell me
Just tell me you'll stay
You'll turn
You won't look away
You'll stay here
You'll never go

[comeandfindme]

Of course I feel the same
Hold on
Hold on and don't leave,
No space
Between you and me.
I'm staying,
So help me conquer the darkness.