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. ))

Comments

[mayavericks]

Oh, certainly much better. I fell for your sharp wit, after all.

[She steals a quick kiss.]

Still. I hate to know that it happened at all.The more I hear about that woman, the angrier I get.

[mayavericks]

Ah, Cassandra, of course.

[Maya only looks a little offended. It's hard not being the alpha sword lesbian. Very hard.

But... Maya catches the color on the tips of Elsa's ears and narrows her eyes, just a little.]

You know, perhaps she might be all the more impressed if you came... prepared?

[defyingfrigidity]

[Cass remembers Elle's judging gaze. Elsa remembers how smug she seemed when subtly calling Elsa out. Sigh.]

With everything happening right now, it... seems like things are coming to a head, doesn't it?

[Not coming to an end, no. Elsa's not that optimistic. But there's something in the air now, after Nana's reveal, that Elsa can't ignore.]

If something big happens, I don't... I don't want to just hide behind you or Maya or the others. I want to be able to protect all of you, just as you've tried to protect me.

[Such a brave and valiant fighter, Cass is. But she's still a human, under all of that, and she can't shoulder everything.]

I want you to teach me how to fight. To at the very least defend myself, and others.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus only overheard some of the conversation Angus had with Nana, but he knows enough to have... some idea, of what it is he's so upset about. He looks over, from where he's wringing water out of his spare uniform jacket, frowning. It feels a little awkward, intruding on him while he's in the shower, but it kind of seems like he needs it. ]

Angus? Are you, um. [ 'Okay' is not the word he's looking for, here. It's kind of hard to be okay right now, even considering what they learned yesterday. ] How are you doing, today?

[defyingfrigidity]

[... Hm. She's not sure if that narrowing of the eyes is good or bad.]

Prepared? What else would I need?

[fourbutts]

[ Kissing! Valid, Janis loves kissing! ]

Well, I don't know if she's ever going to actually make it up to me, but I remembered her actually almost trying to turn things around last night, so that's... weird to think about.

[mayavericks]

Well, imagine if you came to Cassandra knowing the basics. How... intrigued she might be by your abilities?

[mayavericks]

Really?

[Maya blinks a few times at that.]

I... suppose it's good that she's come to her senses but. Promise you will be careful?

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[ "...Am I the bad guy?"

The early Sunday morning silence in Longacre is broken suddenly by a low groan. That quickly turns into someone trying to suppress a scream - not out of horror, but... frustration?]

I'm a fucking idiot!

[Once... That has settled, Cassandra heads outside for the morning, mainly towards the gayseball field where, coincidentally, her horse, Fidella is currently staying.]

Hey, girl. [She pats Fidella's snout. The horse, seemingly noticing her rider's forlornness, shuffles against her hand with a huff.]

No, I'm fine. I just... I have a lot to think about.

[She's talking to the horse, yes. And she does have much to think about; about home, about what she has done and needs to do. What she might have to pay for it... Really, there's only one thing to do at a time like this.

So it's around the morning, but before lunch, that the gayseball field tremors with the thunderous hooves of Fidella, being ridden around the loop by none other than Cassandra herself. The wind whips her hair back. Her worries are, for the moment, pushed aside. She looks happy.

Funny how, even after lunch, that happiness seems to persist. Muted but assuredly still there. Including a noticeable pep in her step as she journeys down the hallway. At least someone's in a good mood today!

Eventually, she emerges into the art room in the newly opened area, where she's spending a good chunk of time just sifting through the art supplies. Looking at the brushes and pencils, pulling out varying sheets of paper, comparing them. Hm. Whatever the case, they're not to her liking and she sets them back with a sigh.]

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus is usually up fairly early, but today Eurydice manages to get the jump on him, and he blinks awake, blearily. ]

He did? [ he asks, still half-asleep, before it sinks in just what Eurydice is saying. Look at him. He can't say no. Orpheus sits bolt upright, eyes wide with shock and hope. ] He did? Eurydice, that's - we really did it?

[fourbutts]

Oh for sure. I have to be, uh. She's in a neck brace now? [ NORMAL THINGS TO SAY ] In better news, though, Cady and I made up, so uh. That's one less girl to threaten.

[stagemanagers]

[You can't really do a handwriting check on carvings; they're all just sorta sharp and angular cuts, like anyone who isn't a woodworker or something would probably make. They do look like they could've been made with the same implement, though!]

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah can tell something’s off when she enters the room. She’s almost hyperaware of it, the memory of Riley’s most awkward sleepover ever fresh on her mind. It wasn’t necessarily a bad memory—- not in comparison to the others she’s had, but it does remind her what it’s like to feel constantly concerned about what everyone else in the room is thinking. Salieri had freed her from that worry, and with him gone, she’s learning to fear it again.

She can’t quite place her finger on what exactly is wrong, though, as she joins him on the side of the bed, and starts to undo one half of her braids.]

I’m sure. I want to stay here. Unless… [She hesitates, thinking about herself again. What a burden she must be, a cursed girl who was dooming everyone around her, a hopeless loser girl who no one understands no one—-

She reaches across the bed, then sets Milky White on her lap. She lets the soft toy fill her with courage. Tries to use that courage to hide the fear and sorrow in her voice. Fails.]

Do you—- want me to go?

[mayavericks]

I'm glad you and your friend are on better terms.

It... sounds like it was a pleasant dream overall.

[fourbutts]

Eh, it...

[ She smiles, a little sheepish. ]

... it felt weird, going to a dance without you and Per. I know it already happened, it's a memory, but...

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[It's either that, or Elle's bright smile in stark contrast to her telling Cass she needs to put on her big girl panties and make a choice. Hard to believe it was only a few days ago.]

...Really? You want me to teach you how to fight? [She's surprised, but pleasantly so.] Well... yeah, deal! I'd love to show you some moves - maybe even right now?

[That stern look in Elsa's eyes, radiating a proud, protective energy. She wants to be useful, and Cassandra deeply respects that.]

If that's alright, that is.

[mayavericks]

We can have our own dance, you know. Without... any of that. And with Peregrine and myself.

Still I am... glad it wasn't an unpleasant one.

[fourbutts]

You know... we probably could have a dance here, if we wanted. I would love to take you to a dance - you could see me in a suit, too.

[ Her mood softens. ]

How about yours?

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Awful is right. Cassandra's ventured back to the art room for... something. It isn't apparent exactly what, because the moment she's about to go through the drawers, she spots Farrah and her... brew.

The handmaid in her visibly cringes.]

What the heck is that?

[mayavericks]

I assume you mean more than a little dance upon the rooftop?

[Ah. Her expression wobbles, just a little.]

It... explained the age discrepancy, at least.

[fourbutts]

I mean we are at a school, aren't we? Also I really like dancing with you.

[ She puts a hand on Maya's back. ]

You wanna talk about it?

[comeandfindme]

[ Nothing moves in these woods. That's the first thing to tip Peregrine off. She starts to think, to wonder what it could be, but something in her covers it up. Something dark and sad and pessimistic.

If something's moving in the woods, fine. It'll move. She can't do anything about it, anyway.

Something's run by her. Someone's talking to her. It takes Peregrine longer than it really should to respond. ]

What? Oh— [ She turns. Her face is still red and streaked with tears. She hasn't cared to clean up or even get the knots from sleep out of her hair. ] Farrah. What were you saying?

[comeandfindme]

[ There's a hand on her shoulder and Peregrine wraps herself into her blankets more. ]

Go away.

[ It's not one of her fiery shouts or impassioned pleas. She sounds dull and broken. Just the other day, despite everything, she was so hopeful. And yet now, it doesn't feel like she can—should be hopeful, about anything. ]

[mayavericks]

The opportunity to do so again would certainly be deeply appreciated.

[Maya leans into Janis's embrace. She lays her head against her shoulder and sighs faintly.]

I lost.

[fourbutts]

[ Janis wraps her arms around Maya, frowning. ]

Ah... I'm sorry, babe.