well this is a depressing excuse for a party

[onthebusagain]

[Mid-day on Sunday, Heather goes around and slips notes under dressing room doors.

If you don't want to be alone today, there will be snacks and people in the Ballroom today

--Heather

She's even dotted every i with a little heart! How cute.

The dining hall is a way better location for a party (or whatever this is) with its close proximity to the kitchen, and more intimate space- but Heather doesn't want to be anywhere near that place. Not for a while, at least. True to her word, Heather's brought snacks- finger sandwiches, a few bags of chips, and a big pitcher of lemonade. There isn't much else set up, but the piano is still there, should anyone want to play.]

Comments

[rockthistown]

It's not like I want all of you guys to think I'm making stuff up, because I'm not...

[dontfeedplants]

Maybe we should... stage a revolt? Maybe that will bring one of the higher ups down here and we can get them to tell us where to escape.

[onthebusagain]

[ Sad. Guilty. Tired. She can't say any of those things. ]

Right now? Thankful, that people showed up.

[rockthistown]

Are you saying we should go on strike?

[dontfeedplants]

M... maybe don't put it like that? [It sounds weird like that.] But basically. It can't make things any worse, can it?

[onthebusagain]

You're welcome. It would be even more depressing, if no one came. I'm glad to see so many of you. [ SEE ANNA, she can be almost nice. ]

ota

[bestof]

[Eliza arrives fairly early to the party but she's not quite as keen to socialize as the last one. Her heart is heavy and part of her wants to slip out of the ballroom and back to her dressing room but she knows this is better. Being around other people who are feeling the same things she's feeling is better.

Her eyes are still red-rimmed from crying but she's keeping her chin up and tries to smile at least a little if someone approaches her. Mostly she gravitates toward sitting at the piano, lightly plinking at the keys. At one point she looks up, her eyes scanning the room as she sings in a voice soft enough to barely be heard.]

Look around, look around
At how lucky we are to be alive right now
Look around, look around...

[rockthistown]

I guess. Picketing would get really boring eventually, though.

[dontfeedplants]

I'm sure we can find some way to entertain ourselves. It's not like we can go anywhere else if we give up.

[bestof]

[Oh, Pirate King, you're a good egg.]

What sort of decorating did you have in mind, sir?

[rockthistown]

I guess. If we have to make a picket line with signs and chanting, do you think it would actually work?

[bestof]

[Eliza smiles, a little weakly but at least its genuine.]

I think we needed it so...thank you for throwing it.

[sunshineprincess]

[You get another, tighter, hug this time Astarte.]

I'm sure everyone is glad you're back to normal now.

[sunshineprincess]

Wait. What?

[She's only been to one funeral in her life and no one came to claim anything.]

[rockthistown]

Maybe they don't do that where you're from. It happens all the time where I was.

[sunshineprincess]

[She will never be able to eat a hot pocket again. Valjean showed her how to make it, but D-ne was the one who originally taught him. She doesn't know if she's quite ready to forgive D-ne anytime soon.]

I wonder how much longer we have to stay now because of that.

[sunshineprincess]

I don't think anyone here wants to be alone. Not right now.

[sunshineprincess]

That sounds awful. And really greedy.

[trettende]

That's right. It's much better to earn these kinds of things, isn't it?

[trettende]

[ Well, he tries. And now he'll blush because you're fanning his ego, Heather. ]

Is it? [ He chuckles. ] I mean, I didn't really talk to many people outside the palace besides the time I spent in the Navy...

[ He's just good at telling people what they like to hear! ]

[trettende]

Nonsense. [ Hans shakes his head, at least he can pretend to be sure here. ] If someone else decides to kill someone, then we'll just have to stop them again.

[ Of course, saying that and knowing what happens... isn't easier either. ]

It's too bad there isn't... some kind of punishment besides death, though. It all seems so extreme.

[littlegirl_littlecurl]

[She's seen Anna around too but is a bit surprised to be addressed as they don't really talk.]

Just don't wanna, I guess. It ain't that late.

[littlegirl_littlecurl]

[No, Mom, you can't make her.]

But I stay up late all the time.

[littlegirl_littlecurl]

[It's like adulting..??? but less??]

Yeah, thanks.
[...]
So. Juicy party.

[solomonjihad]

...Anna...

Thank you.