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

[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?

[rockthistown]

[eep] Sort of? I, uh, can't elaborate, it's kind of a secret and I would get lectured for a week!

[dechagny]

Ah...right, of course. I...suppose it would be difficult to explain, anyway. It sounds difficult.

[It sounds impossible. And yet.]

[rockthistown]

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

[dechagny]

No no, I'm...sure you are telling the truth to the best of your ability.

[Frankly the blue hair is the tip-off for Hime being involved in 100% "weird and unfathomable to a man from the 1880's" adventures.]

[rockthistown]

Okay. I guess most of your worlds are pretty different, anyway.

[dechagny]

I'm getting the feeling that they are, as well.

[Weird and futuristic and weird. It bears repeating.]

But, still, we must be sure to cling to sense and reasonable practices, no matter how different our homes may be.

[rockthistown]

I know. I can't believe this happened.

[dechagny]

Neither can I.

[And to a man he respected and a girl he was fond of. Damn the management - damn them now and forever.]

[rockthistown]

I just want to go home. He, he talked about his daughter, he didn't want to leave her behind too long.

[dechagny]

He...mentioned her to me, as well.

[Oh God. Someone has to find her and tell her that-]

...Perhaps...Inspector Javert may know where to find her, once we are free.

[rockthistown]

Right... What'll we do then?

[dechagny]

We...we will have to tell her what happened. It is only right.

[rockthistown]

And find someone to help her.

[dechagny]

It should not be too difficult between all of us.

[rockthistown]

Do you think? That's right -- someone helped me when my parents weren't around, too.

[dechagny]

Of course I do. There are eighteen of us, all with different experiences and expertise, but all with a singular objective - to escape in a way that goes against the management.

[rockthistown]

So if we manage to get out, then saving a little girl will be easy! Right?

[dechagny]

Of course it would!