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

[catliketread]

It shouldn't be something that happens to anyone... But complaining about it won't do any good.

[Which is a damn shame, because imagine how few problems there'd be if we could just complain them away!!]

[allicareabout]

Who's complaining? It is what it is.

[And clearly, his opinion on that hasn't changed, even after the whole thing that happened with D-ne and Valjean and the execution. Sky is blue, grass is green, this situation is kind of meh and Billy doesn't give a shit.]

Everyone here knows the stakes. You don't want to take consequences, don't try to plug anyone. That's it.

[catliketread]

I hadn't thought anyone would... It seemed like such a silly motivation to kill. I hadn't taken it seriously at all.

[Some people had. One of them killed because of it. The Pirate King deflates a little at that.]

And I doubt this is the end of it, either. Everyone knows what the stakes are and if there's another motive...

[Well. We might be investigating another body soon.]

[allicareabout]

[...God, you're sensitive, aren't you. Just...let him go back to fucking around with the clothes for a second.]

It's not like I've got anything that I can be bribed with, if it's any consolation to you. I've got everything I could possibly want back home, and it's not like I want too much to begin with.

[I mean, he likes money, but doesn't everyone? Capitalism!]

No wife, no kids, nothing that can be held over my head. So at the very least if a body shows up, you can be pretty sure I didn't do it.

[catliketread]

I didn't think you would crack under that kind of pressure.

[...says the guy who tried very damn hard to believe D-ne didn't do it but that's not the point.]

I cannot see myself murdering anyone here for any reason. I couldn't live with that.

[Both killing someone he actually knows and having the deaths of everyone else hanging over his head. He shudders a bit at the thought.]

[allicareabout]

Not even for your crew?

[That's probably harsh, but there's a reason for asking, really. It's not anything personal, at least.]

[catliketread]

[There's the tiniest moment of hesitation before the Pirate King speaks.]

Not even then. I adore my crew - they are my family, or the closest I've had to one in a very long time - but there are things a man simply cannot do.

[...And then he lowers his voice to a stage whisper, which is apparently the most quiet he can manage:] Don't go giving the Balladeer's bosses any ideas!

[allicareabout]

[...Buddy.

He'll drop his voice at that at least, even if he thinks it's kind of pointless.]

It's probably not anything they haven't already thought of.

[...Anyway, moving right along.]

Just wanting to know if there's something I should be looking out for. Nothing personal.

[catliketread]

[l i s t e n next billydeer will be saying that you gave them an idea!!!]

No, no, I understand. I've taken no offense at it!

[allicareabout]

[And if he does, he'll deal with it later! Simple-as.]

Good man, good man. But you know what, this is getting a bit heavy and you wanted this little shindig to be anything but - tell me something about this 'family' of yours, I'm curious.

[He's really not, but that's beside the point.]

[catliketread]

Right, right, of course! Who wouldn't be interested in a band of pirates, bonded together not through ties of blood, but through adventures on the high seas!

[...how did he manage to get a crew full of orphans anyway, it's a mystery]

The newest member of our band, Frederic, just reached the end of his apprenticeship! He's now a full-fledged pirate! Well, he will be once I return, at least. I've no doubt that everyone will be very lost without my guidance, but they shall persevere!

[allicareabout]

[...There is all of one thing you can really say to that.]

Pirates have apprenticeships.