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

[comeandfindme]

[ The sound of the nickname draws her attention, but it's delayed. Slow and sad and distant. ]

When'd you get here?

[ Not an answer to her question. ]

[mayavericks]

I expected as much. From the first motive we received I assumed it would be a possibility. I had simply hoped that, given our foresight, that fate could be changed.

[She shakes her head.]

It was months ago. We proceeded into the auditions for the 100th Seisho Festival. And... we learned what the cost of victory would have been.

[mayavericks]

Only a few moments ago. I had a question for you, but...

[Maya reaches out a hand, trying to twine their fingers together.]

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine doesn't pull away, but...her hand hangs limp. ]

What question?

[mayavericks]

Janis and I have received enough of her jackets and my buttons to make something special for us all to wear. I was hoping you might have a suggestion as to what we could wear of yours.

[comeandfindme]

What?

[ When Peregrine looks up at her, Maya'll be able to see her face streaked with tears, hours old by now. ]

I don't...

[fourbutts]

The... cost of victory? What do you mean?

[mayavericks]

Peregrine?

[Forget whatever she was asking. Maya shifts closer, taking both hands into hers now.]

What's going on?

woods

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[A great vibration passes through the earth, moving towards Peregrine with each heavy footfall. Shuffling. Closer.]

Peregrine?

[A whinny. Does Cassandra whinny? No, of course not. But it is definitely her voice accompanying that noise, the cause of which becomes clear: it's Cassandra, riding atop the back of Fidella the horse. Both looking down at the woman with some level of concern - as much as a horse can muster, of course.]

What are you doing out there?

[mayavericks]

I told you we could stand on any stage if we won, right? It turns out, it was a promise that had been made before. In London, I believe. One of my classmates participated and lost. When she came to us, Aijo-san recognized that she had changed. From moment one, even I could tell that her heart wasn't in it.

It was Karen who pieced together what had been lost. Her passion for the stage. Her brilliance. That was the fuel for the eternal stage she fought for. And by all means, it should have been the cost of our own fight as well.

[She glances at Janis, expression grim.]

Perhaps I should not be so appalled with your Regina George.

[fourbutts]

[ Janis listens intently, lips drawing more thin as Maya explains. She thinks about whatever anime nonsense her poor girlfriend got pulled into, just to try to show off on a stage. And she thinks about the fucking giraffe that, supposedly, is behind it. Her tone is even when she responds, only partially joking. ]

... You know, between Peregrine and me, we could really do a number in big game hunting. Just, you know, in case you wanted one less giraffe in the world.

1/2

[mayavericks]

[That nets a laugh from Maya.]

It is a tempting offer, I will admit.

[mayavericks]

[And then her expression sobers.]

I would not know where to find it, though. The giraffe, the stage, and Kagura-san all disappeared without a trace.

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah’s got her new naughty son in her arms, who is doing his damndest to try and escape her grip. … Then she pulls out a bunch of baby carrots from her pocket and hands them to the raccoon, who is then content to let Farrah hug on him.]

Mostly just scolding Ruddy. Whatcha doing out here, Per?

[brokeforgood]

Oh, Hey Cassandra. [Farrah’s got her bare hands in this stuff, and when she raises a hand to wave at her, it’s all stuck to her hand, gooey and gross and pink.]

I’m making slime. You want some?

[brokeforgood]

Spongebob. [She says it with a certain level of seriousness—- adding a few drops of food coloring to make this slime hot pink.]

You can add glitter to anything.

[brokeforgood]

You’re crying. [Farrah frowns, stepping back from the doorway.]

That’s not nothing.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Oh. Oh no. Oh god. The stains. It's everywhere. And it's never coming out.]

Ummmmmm, no. I'll pass. But, uh, why the slime?

[brokeforgood]

[Just wait until she touches fabric with her gross slimey hands. Then it’ll really be everywhere.]

Because it’s fun? [She stretches it out. So gross, and messy.]

And… I needed something to do.

[brokeforgood]

[Farrah sits up, slowly, as Maya approaches. Her eyes are red and puffy, and she’s been crying, but she doesn’t dare use one of the handkerchiefs that Salieri had given her. They’re too precious now.

Maya’s here to comfort her. She knows this. Still, with her entire body trembling—- she can’t help but feel frustrated with her all over again, after the meeting with Nana.

At least… she knows she can’t yell about it out here. So she’s just slumping forward again, against her knees.]

Yeah? I… don’t know. If he couldn’t—-

costume room

[howtheworldwas]

[ As Spongebob is searching the room, he'll feel someone drape a large, bedazzled coat over his shoulders. ]

Hey.

[ Eurydice's voice is soft, gentle. ]

[whatyouwant]

[Elle looks back into the room. There's no way Farrah wants to be in here right now, so she steps out into the hallway and gently closes the door behind her.]

You've been through so much yesterday, I...I don't want to weigh you down more.

[whatyouwant]

[Elle sniffs and quickly tries to wipe away the tears, as if that will hide hoe red her eyes are or how much of a mess her hair is.]

Oh, hey, Maya. Did you, um, I can go, if you want me to.

woods

[howtheworldwas]

[ Peregrine may hear the sound of footsteps approaching...and then stopping, and turning around.

A few minutes later, Eurydice is back, holding a thermos of hot tea. She stops next to Peregrine and offers it to the other girl. ]

Here.

[whatyouwant]

I don't think I can go to another school.

[She pulls back slightly, but doesn't look up at him.]

I told you about what I remembered last week? That super amazing internship I got with that hard-ass professor? Turns out I'm just another dumb blonde Professor Callahan wanted around for my pretty face. [She sniffs and furiously wipes her eyes.]