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

OTA and as late to the party as I am

[dechagny]

[Raoul arrives to the party late and empty-handed. It's in poor form and he knows it, but there is very little that could have motivated him to even attempt to make anything from the electric ice box. He's sullen and quiet, sitting alone with a sandwich, nibbling it in an attempt to put something in his stomach. He's still pale from the trial.

Someone sit with him, he needs a distraction. Something, anything.]

[rockthistown]

I'm sorry!

[Hime bows and sits down. She picks at her bowl of chips.]

We couldn't do anything.

[dechagny]

[Ah. It's Hime. Raoul does like her - they get into a lot of odd shenanigans, don't they? He...does his best so smile for her.

If D-ne was like a younger sister to him, Hime is like an even younger sister.]

We...have very little agency, it seems. Far too little of it. But, I see no need for you to apologize, Miss Hime.

[rockthistown]

How could I have gotten her to listen?

[dechagny]

...

[He heaves a breath, shakes his head.] I...do not know. Perhaps, at the thought of a wish, whether it could have truly been granted or not...there might not have been any getting through to her. Certainly, from my perspective, there were...things and worries which surprised me, when she said them.

[rockthistown]

I know. [sigh] But I don't have to like it! I told her that, even if a wish looks impossible, there can still be a way to make it come true with your own hands, and she just said I was wrong and needed to be careful.

[dechagny]

[Raoul nods. With hard work and determination, yes, but not by wishing on stars.]

If it counts for anything, Miss Hime, I do not think you are wrong on that front.

[rockthistown]

I had a wish once, too. But I didn't make it with magic, even though my friends and I had earned one. I gave it to someone else. The rest of us made our wishes on our own. I wish I'd been able to tell her that.

[dechagny]

[...What.]

Pardon, I...don't think I understand. You earned a wish?

[solomonjihad]

[She quietly walks to Raoul. She knows, at least, what happened, and she's shaken by it. But only vaguely, does she know what she did; only what she's been told. She has no idea what she did or said to him, or anyone; would he even talk to her?]

...Viscount...

[dechagny]

[Raoul looks up, and at first he...definitely looks nervous. Astarte's sudden shift in demeanor during the investigation and trial...]

...Miss Astarte. Are...you well, now?

[solomonjihad]

[She hesitates, then nods. Ah...]

I am, for now, yes.

[dechagny]

Do you - do you know what happened? It was...

[It was like her pamphlet blurb said - like she had become an entirely different person.]

It...concerned me greatly.

[solomonjihad]

...I don't remember.

[She looks down.]

I do know what happened, though. I'm sorry.

[dechagny]

[Not what he was asking, exactly - how could anyone not know what happened by now - but he nods regardless.]

As am I. But...I meant, do you know why that happened to you?

[solomonjihad]

...I do.

[If she could look down more her head would just fall off her shoulders.]

Viscount, I'm so sorry, I...

[dechagny]

[Hesitantly, because he remembers how frightened she was when they first arrived, Raoul puts a hand on Astarte's shoulder.]

There's...no need for an apology. I just - I want to understand. That...whatever it was, it knew...quite a lot about wounds and death, and while that did help us...I am concerned. What exactly happened to you?

[sunshineprincess]

[Anna quietly sits down beside him, not sure what to say at the moment. When she finally does say something, it's soft, and she tries to sound encouraging.]

We're still here. That's good, right?

[dechagny]

[When he notices Anna, he inclines his head respectfully. Your Majesty.]

...We are still here - but we should be twenty. Not eighteen.

[No one has to die here. They could've left in a couple more weeks, presumably. If they had just...]

[sunshineprincess]

I know.

[If only those two could somehow come back. She could try and become real friends with D-ne, Valjean would be here and they could speak about France some more... She wrings her hands in her lap.]

I still can't believe that she chose to do something like that. She explained why, but... I don't understand. Love is important, but why do people keep having to die for it?

[dechagny]

[Raoul shakes his head.]

I do not know for certain. And...I too cannot truly understand her motives. I am just...

[He takes a breath, looks away at a spot on the wall. Where D-ne might be. Where Valjean might be.]

...There was a part of me that is...was...fond of her, as...elder brothers can be fond of their sisters, and want them not to come to harm. And Monsieur Valjean taught me things...perhaps, even helped me realize that there is still much in this world I do not know. I...I cannot help but miss them both, no matter their roles in this "show".

[sunshineprincess]

When Sir Javert called Valjean a convict, I expected someone ruff and rude. He was so kind instead. [She lets a soft laugh escape.] He showed me how to make something called a 'hot pocket'. We spoke about families after that.

[Anna takes a deep breath, sitting up straighter.] I thought D-ne was my friend. She didn't feel the same. I don't even know if she actually liked me... I still didn't want her to die.

[dechagny]

He also showed me how to make the hot pockets!

[He nearly smiles at that, remembering the day, but then his heart sinks again. They can't have any more kitchen adventures...]

I, too, thought of D-ne as a friend. I...still will, definitely. No matter what. I did not want any of us to die.

[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.

[dechagny]

[Raoul doesn't know that. He's thinking of making one, though - just. To leave out in remembrance. It's a weird little offering, but it is significant.]

Probably until the management has had its fill. [Of blood, but he won't say that in front of a lady.] I wish I could say I knew when that might be, but...