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

[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.

[mayavericks]

[Maya's embrace tightens all the more. She buries her face in Peregrine's hair, while her fingers struggle to clutch at the fabric of her clothes.]

No more loss. It ends this week.

[comeandfindme]

[ What Maya catches is Peregrine's warm, warm cloak. Peregrine clings right back. She won't let go. ]

Whatever happens. We stick together.

[mayavericks]

Exactly.

[Maya's still clinging though. Maybe partially because Peregrine smells good? Listen, she'll take what she can get]

[comeandfindme]

[ Well, it's not like Peregrine's going to fight her. She leans into Maya's shoulder, taking slow breaths. ]

...I keep...crying on you.

[mayavericks]

I knew what I was getting myself into.

[Her grip loosens, just a little. Just enough to stroke through Peregrine's hair as a matter of reassurance.]