Week Six

[stagemanagers]

[Last week, in It's Curtains, the weather changed, and with it your fortune in Dads. Discord took Salieri out - or perhaps Salieri took Discord out - and left the survivors with that much less impulse control. Nonetheless, a visit from a new friend might have provided a little bit of much-needed hope?

On Sunday morning, you'll find that the other side of the second floor has opened up - as well as the actual intended path to reach the roof garden. You can finally stop climbing up that rope every time you want to have a picnic or secret lover's rendezvous!

Outside, the weather seems to have calmed down. It's sunny again, with rather a lot of clouds. Though it's warm, the atmosphere seems very...still.]


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. ))

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SUNDAY

[stagemanagers]

MONDAY

[stagemanagers]

TUESDAY

[stagemanagers]

WEDNESDAY

[stagemanagers]

[It is Wednesday, my dudes, and you know what that means! Except this week there's no club. Instead there's a different kind of poster all over the school:]



Prom Night!
Theme: Dancing Queen
Thursday (7/8)
6 PM - ???
Formal Attire Required

[In the costume room there appear to be several racks of new formal wear befitting a prom set out on hangers, shoes and small accessories included. How fun but weird!]

THURSDAY

[stagemanagers]

[It's prom night! As a note, the dance itself is getting its own post for maximum prom-ness.]

[mayavericks]

[”I love the stage but… Just now I asked myself why I’m doing all of this.”

”I get it. I don’t get it, but I get it. Hikari-chan had lost it. What was most important to her.”

Maya wakes in Broadhurst with a start. She grasps blindly at herself, at her chest, feeling briefly as if she might be choking. Her hand travels up her throat, wrapping around the skin there so that she can feel the vibrations of her throat she sings.]

Rise anew, Star Divine
However many times you are hurt.

[It’s still there. Somewhere between the air of her words and the movement of the muscles within her neck, there’s still passion. There’s still glimmer. There’s still brilliance.

She falls back against the bed shortly after, staring up at the ceiling. The rest of it had been expected. From the moment she’d received her photo, she’d known what fate lay ahead of her. She’d hoped against it, of course, but… powerless as she was to control it all, it was to be expected.

Maya Tendo had lost. And the cost of that loss should have been everything. So why --

She grapples with that thought, even as she pulls herself from her bed. She can’t afford to sit idle right now, not when she’d made a promise to Nana. And so after changing into her clothes, Maya gets to work. She retrieves her own mascot head, and heads down to the vending machines. The bottle she gets is snuck very carefully into the groundhog head, and then carried back to her room, where the door is locked tight.

Eventually, though, she emerges into the hallway once more, this time lugging a mattress with a suspiciously yellow stain on it. She mutters to herself as she goes about unattended pets, and fixes a glower onto the ground. Sorry, Bruiser and Gary, but she really has to sell this one.

She deposits the mattress in the girls locker room. She has to clean the mess, after all. And since it’ll take some time to soak, she’ll go ahead and leave it in there, too. And just to be safe, she’ll bring her blankets in too, just to check for stains!]

INVESTIGATION

[employeeoftheyear]

[Spongebob barely reacts when he wakes up with that new memory again. He should be happy. Patrick saved him, they made up, he put the eruptor interrupter into the volcano after his friends told him he was good at management. He calmed down the panicked townsfolk and let them know that even if they died, they were together, and it's better to die together and happy than to be panicked and vengeful.

... But man.

How come he can't get that to work here?

He does, eventually, get up. He makes some coffee and set up a quick cereal station in the Kitchen, before immediately leaving for The Costume Room. He had intended on investigating the place earlier, like he promised the others, but he was distracted by setting stuff up up for Salieri and Discord's date.

What a waste of time that turned out to be, huh?

He can still help, he thinks to himself, maybe there's a secret in all these costumes that he overlooked? Maybe something that could help for once.]

Investigation

[stagemanagers]

[Behind one of the costume racks, down near the floor, Spongebob can find a carving much smaller than the ones you've typically been finding:]

PLEASE
I CAN'T BE ALONE LIKE THIS

[employeeoftheyear]

[He feels a jolt in him when he sees that. He heard about these before from his classmates, but's never actually seen them, especially one that hits really close to home.

He looks around for a sewing needle and he carves a message into the wall with it.]

I'm with you.

[stagemanagers]

[But nothing happens.

There's more carvings around the room, low to the ground, a continuing messy, clumsy string of pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease.]

[brokeforgood]

[Sunday comes-- and with it, Farrah wakes up in a place where she doesn't want to be. She's in Ambassador-- not safely tucked in between Discord and Salieri in the two beds pushed together in Broadhurst.

I'm here, Let's Cheer.

Well. And she thought some of the meetings here were clusterfucks.

Farrah goes exploring through the new places-- she pops her head into the Science Classroom first-- feels unbearably sad, and moves onto the Game Room next. She's almost cheered up by the concept of going in and playing a game-- but then she remembers Rina, and closes the door.

She ends up in the Art Room for a while, thinking she might draw or paint-- but while hunting down supplies, she keeps finding random tidbits that remind her of Discord. Pompoms, glitter, pipecleaners-- after a while, it becomes too much. After she's scoured the room, she gives up. It's too sad. She does, however, leave behind a giant mess.

For most of Sunday evening, Farrah's 'missing'-- but anyone who approaches the garden might find her curled up on one of the new benches. And she's singing-- quietly.]

Hey dad, dead dad
I need a little help here
I'm prob'ly talking to myself here
But dead dad, I gotta ask
Are you really still around?
'Cause I need you here beside me
Are you here, dead dad?
Dead dad

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah’s returned to the art room today. She’s got a wide variety of supplies set up in front of her, bowls scattered about, bottles of glue, food coloring and—- contact solution? That’s weird.

There are a few bowls with… awful mixtures in it. But the one she has before her is actually turning out pretty good. That’s right kids.

We’re makin slime.]

[mcfife]

[The gem cracks, shattering, a few small crystals sticking to one end of his hammer. It's not enough. Sigyn, his dear friend-

(her grave. She's dead. Many have died before, and he is just another)

-she does not deserve to be honored. He is free, finally free. Letting his body do as it pleases. He has killed, all is well.

And then he wakes up.

As before, he's clinging onto Elle in the Ambassador Dorm, who is sleeping peacefully beside him. She won't let him become corrupted, she said, but if she is too late? What if some of the infection remained.

He was so angry at Discord. Angry for killing Salieri, but was the that the right thing to do? What if that isn't Angus' true feelings? Yes, he can't remember a positive interaction with the Lord of Chaos, but if the Knife of Evil had been in play as Nana suggested...

He can't let Elle suffer for that. He can't risk putting everyone in danger, not again. He was too late last time.

"Why, it might be good if someone was watching out for them right now. If someone felt the need to be doing something productive, I mean."

That's what he's doing, Ghost of Discord, as he walks out into the hallway and into the choir room. No one goes there, he's certain of that. Just a few chairs to block passage, see if he's feeling any worse. He could ask someone to lock him up.

"Well, if you'd rather that everyone rescheduled their mental breakdowns to better fit your schedule..."

That's not helping. That's not helping - but what if that is the knife talking? Can he even trust himself, if he couldn't help the people around him?

"Just don't do it alone... 'Cause if you do...it'll all... All you'll do is screw eeeeverything up."

Angus' hand rests on the door handle to the choir room. Standing. Thinking.]

[defyingfrigidity]

[Elsa wakes up sunday morning in Rodgers Dorm, hollow but... happy? At the very least her chest isn't all twisted up as it had been after the trial. For a moment, she's wondering if she should be worried over the lack of an ache in her chest as she sits up in bed, but then the dreams come back to her in a rush-

"Show yourself, step into your power
grow yourself into something new
You are the one you've been waiting for
all of your life..."

And that's when the tears start. Hot and fast they stream down her cheeks. One hand reaches up to press against her mouth, trying to stifle any sobs so that she doesn't wake the others up, but a few sniffles make it through.


Later, when she collects herself and washes up, she heads to the Scene Shop. The place has been pretty well-raided since the start of all this, but she's still digging through the different boxes and displays of props. Prop tools, prop utensils, a dozen other odds and ends-]

Ah-! Here...

[Dusting herself off after digging through one of the containers, Elsa pulls out one of the remaining prop swords. It's one of the sturdier ones, and she looks unsure holding even just this, but it's quickly swept away by a flash of determination crossing her face.]

I have to... I have to try. For all of them.


[Later in the day, around lunchtime, Elsa will approach Cassandra after they finish up eating. She looks somewhat unsure, hands pressed together and twisting around each other, but there's a spark of something in her eyes that hasn't been there since the first trial.]

Hey, Cass? Can I... ask you something?


[And later still, after a long shower and dinner, Elsa is in the Game Room after some evening exploration. She's gotten used to the the absolutely alien, modern technology that some of the others considered so normal, but.... yeah okay these little boxes have her absolutely stumped.]

What do these do?

post-vending machines

[fourbutts]

[ Janis doesn't wake up with Maya, because... well, sleep hasn't been coming as easily to her these days as it usually does. Even getting to bed earlier, her body doesn't like to wake up with the sun, so...

She does wake up before Maya gets back from the vending machine, but... she doesn't leave the bed. It's not a bad dream, but... it's a lot to chew on. She feels a little stupid, in a lot of ways. But the sight of Maya wipes that away. ]

Oh shit, you got coins? Anything good?

[mayavericks]

[Maya sets down her mascot head, smiling faintly even as she does. It isn't that she's feeling any less affectionate -- just distracted in her efforts. She gets to work on pulling out her haul -- a bottle of lemonade for later, another one of Janis's jackets --

pages? She furrows her brows at them, but ultimately sets them aside without examining all that closely. It's probably just another one of those odd "Evan Hansen" letters, so... nothing to worry about.

She picks up a star button and holds it out to Janis. Clearly this is the thing that is most interesting!]

I keep getting these. We wore them on our jackets during the revues.

INVESTIGATION

[fourbutts]

[ She remembers the Spring Fling dance. She remembers Cady, apologizing. She remembers Regina, almost making up for a fraction of the hurt she's done.

She remembers that they're people. Everyone's a person. Even the shitty people. And people deserve dignity, because people are going through shit.

It takes her a moment to remember how many murders the Wizard is responsible for, and just how fucking hard he's going to have to go to earn that courtesy. From one life-ruiner to another, she supposes. At least she still has an enemy.

She also has a goal. If she can train up, if she can become a strong enough narrator, then maybe... maybe she can fix this. Maybe she can fix everything herself. Wouldn't that be some shit? So after a while she emerges from Broadhurst and heads to the garden, where she can be found sort of... wandering? ]

Okay, so... gagtags. What the fuck is a gagtag? Might as well start there? Maybe?

[ Eventually, though, she settles for what she knows, and starts investigating, first... well, might as well try to focus and vibe check this big tree here, right? She's got a few places she wants to check, but this is as decent a starting point as any.

Later on, though, she can be found in the art room of the new wing, scoping out all the supplies. ]

Oh, fuck yes. About damn time, you boomer asshole.

[ And she's going to start painting. And... not stop for a While. ]

[comeandfindme]

[ She practically tackles him, the instant she pushes past the doctors into his room. She starts to apologize, but he laughs and laughs.
"Per, you gonna say you're sorry for some snow?"
She stays by his side, until she has to step away.

"Hey, do you wanna come with us to go see Howl tonight?"


It all comes crashing down.

Peregrine once again wakes up in Rodgers Dorm gasping in pain. She wakes up with tears in her eyes. She wakes up, finally, finally—

Knowing what it all cost.

In the end.
"This is the way the world actually works. There's no justice or karma or good or bad, it's just meaningless pain."
Despite it all.
"I feel like I'm this curse—"
It was luck.
"—like anything I touch or love—"
It was unearned luck.
"—is cursed and it's just gonna keep happening—"
And despite the few beautiful bits of hope she's let herself grasp onto—
"—again and again and again—"

Peregrine stays in bed, curled in her cloak and blankets, and she tries very, very hard not to let anyone hear her as she sobs.

She wants, very badly, to put her all into investigating. It's not storming, and the power's not on, and now more than ever they need to ban together and do everything they can to find a way out, to survive. But it's like she's empty, emptier than she's been in a long time, so instead...

Peregrine wanders. She doesn't really know what to do with herself. This isn't— it's not like the other losses they've all shared here. Where she ends up, eventually, is at the edge of the woods. She stares out at them, looking more hollow than she has in her entire time here. ]

The lessons learned inside the woods
Will cost you something dear.
For when the paths at last unwind,
And you have found some peace of mind,
A part of you must stay behind,
Forever in the woods...

[ Why? Why...won't it stop? ]

[fourbutts]

Oh nice.

[ She takes it, momentarily distracted from whatever else is here. ]

That is a solid button, as buttons go.

woods

[brokeforgood]

[Something is moving in the woods.

It’d probably be spookier if it remained anonymous for long—- but shortly after the trees start moving, the fat shadow bolts down a tree, runs past Per, and… runs up on Farrah, who has been approaching slowly. Ruddiger sits by her feet, chittering at her, while Farrah groans, out of breath.]

Jeez, Ruddy, what trouble are you causing now? I cant keep up with—

Per?

Game Room

[sugarlumps]

Uh, they play games?

[Obviously.]

[Not many she recognizes, but still.]

[mayavericks]

Perhaps I will fashion it to a few of your jackets this week. Matching outfits for the three of us? [Her laugh is only a little strained. Maybe it's just the stress?

Either way, she's bending over to keep looking at those pages. The longer she looks, the more concerned she gets.]

Did Connor ever talk about Evan-san making cruel notes about people?

[fourbutts]

Sounds good to me, but we'll need something from Per, too.

[ That... gives her pause for a moment. ]

No? I don't... [ wait, she recognizes the font on those photocopies ] Oh shit, really?

[mayavericks]

Perhaps some of that... skin?

[Before she can shudder, Maya is... promptly distracted.]

Do you recognize them?

[fourbutts]

[ Janis gets out of bed, reluctantly removing the sheets and crossing over to the stack. ]

There would be a bunch of pages from Regina's stupid book in here, wouldn't there?