itscurtains | don't stop believing

Entry tags:

act 3,
finale

don't stop believing

[Streetlights, reveals] | [Vision Statements] | [Mass Resolution: CONNECT] | [A little touch of the sun (Revival)] | [They do this bullshit like 8 times a week (Rescue)]

[It's a pleasant afternoon in the garden. Maybe not emotionally, but physically - isn't it nice when you get to have class outside?

As your voices rise, singing defiance in unison out for the Wizard, there's no immediate response; at least, nothing that clearly is a response. But there's something. Amidst the sound of your song, it may be hard to hear at first; Janis will likely be the first to notice, but eventually everyone is able to hear. It sounds as though other voices are rising along with yours.

There's something on the air - no music, or at least no instrumentals, just a disembodied sort of lyrical chant. You don't recognize any of the voices. They aren't singing the same song as you all are. Maybe they can't; they sound long long ago, and far far away now. Still - despite everything - the trees around you move lightly in a sudden soft breeze. It feels as though you have invoked something, old and entirely beyond your knowledge.

But first. Haven't you forgotten something?

It's Wednesday.

Welcome to this week's school club!]

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I absolutely understand that impulse. You get used to him, though.

[It took her a minute to come off the bus, because she was too busy being terrified that the bus was going to crash, but she’s here now.]

Please tell me you’re okay?

[Maya's going to... pause in yelling toward Sigyn for a moment. She knows that voice. But she's heard a lot of voices over the past few weeks, some of which have been less than pleasant and most of which have not been real.

But that's -- ]

Claudine.

[It's pretty obvious when Maya turns around to look at Claudine that she's not okay by dictionary standards. There's a bruise on her forehead. Both her leg and stomach wounds have probably opened up a little, leaving red stains against her calf and below her ribs.

But to hell with all of that. She's marching up to Claudine with the same haughty air that she might have reserved for school. She tips her chin up, just a little.]

You've kept me waiting, Saijo-san.

What the - please don’t move, Maya, I have things in my bag, hang on. We can talk after I get you patched up a little.

[Please do not die on her, she wants to say, as she starts taking the medical supplies out of her bag. It’s implied, at any rate. There’s a lot she wants to actually say, none of it more important than making sure Maya doesn’t bleed out on her. Claudine knows that feeling all too well and she absolutely refuses to let it happen. So she just kneels down and starts to work, without another word - almost.]

You troublesome woman, getting caught up with one of these. As if it wasn’t enough that two of us already got pulled into a mess.

Claudine --

[As much as she appreciates the doting, the concern, she feels a little guilty. It's bad enough she'd worried Claudine for even being part of this game, but to be so beaten up --]

Breathe. I'm not going to die on you after all of this. Wells-san, Peregrine kept me in one piece. She's been... wonderful. [Boy this is going to be a conversation.] There are a lot of people I am going to need to introduce you to.

[But first --]

Look at me.

Non. Maintenant, je dois tu aides. Then I can focus.

[Claudine’s French comes to her more easily in the moment, saying “No. Right now I need to help you.” She doesn’t listen, not until she’s finished at least tending to that injury to Maya’s stomach. Then she does take the time to look up, catching Maya’s eyes.]

Okay. Now I can focus.

[All of this feels... familiar, in the kind of way she could never seem to capture throughout her time at Gershwin. She could follow the same motions, fall into step beside other people, but no one was ever quiet like Claudine. Certainly, the women she'd met were special in their own right, but.

Well. Very few people could boss her around or put her in her place quite like this. And certainly, no one could ever be Claudine Saijo.]

Stubborn girl. [She reaches down, taking Claudine's face into her hands and coaxing her upward.] Je t’aime, Claudine-chan. I have missed you.

... Même si je m'attendais à plus de larmes.

[Though I expected more tears.]

[That’s what happens when you get panicked, or at least it’s what happens now when Claudine panics. The one thing the Opera House made her really good at was suppressing her feelings long enough to get things done that can’t be avoided. At least it’s not for long this time.]

You knew that —

[But then Maya’s hands are on her face, and she can’t help the tears that well up in her eyes. Claudine doesn’t resist being pulled up, but when she hears those words they echo in her ears and drown out any words she might have had. She starts to say something, but the words don’t come to her.

Instead, she doesn’t even wait for a response that’s in words to come out. She’s just going to say it all with a kiss that’s been too long overdue.

I love you, too. I missed you. I’m glad you’re safe. I love you, I think I always have.]

[And of course, she knows. It's just like being on stage together, as Flora and Claire, or even as they were in the revues. She does not need to hear Claudine, she simply breathes and knows what her next steps are. There's resonance, two unstoppable, dazzling beings that have now come into sync.

I love you, too. I always have. I always will.

She doesn't want to part from their kiss. Not now, not ever. It's only been a handful of weeks, barely longer than vacation had been from school. But it's still not enough. She's been out of step for so long, a single half of a destined whole.

But... she should. There's a lot to explain, though at least most of the complicated parts are covered. She still will have to talk about what she did, and she's not looking forward to that particular scolding. But for now, she'll cover the easier parts.]

I should... Introduce you to my girlfriend... s.

[The center of the stage is made for only one person, but you are not alone anymore.

Claudine is just as reluctant to pull back, but she does, wiping at her eyes a little. At the word ‘girlfriends’, she just laughs a tiny bit. It’s just that much like Maya.]

…exactly how many girls have you made fall in love with you this time? Also, we’re long since past the point of honorifics, ma Maya.

[If this had been back at school, if they both hadn’t gone through a rapid-fire exercise in what relationships forged in fire were like, Claudine would be a lot more upset. Thankfully, she’s seen firsthand just how love multiplies. So instead of being upset, she’s amused. Later, there will be time enough for the harder conversations.]

Edited 2021-07-19 23:21 (UTC)

[And that's what ultimately does it. Maya's cheeks blaze a bright pink, and for the first time, she finds herself glancing away from Claudine. It's only for a moment, only long enough for the fear of the woman not being there if she looked back to sink in. She tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear -- still wet from her plunge into the pond, before clearing her throat.]

Three. Four with you. [It's a brief, almost pitiful attempt at saving face, which is exactly why she winks at Claudine.

Hobbling just a little so that they can stand side by side (and so Maya can wrap an arm around her waist), she points to the women.]

Janis Sarkisian, our extremely talented narrator whose abilities saved my life. Peregrine Wells, a survivalist who was able to patch me up after said attempt at saving my life. And Hester Weidman -- the assistant director of this place, and hopefully soon to be newest member of Class A, if I have my way.

[She did want to go to school to act, after all.

She waits a moment, before glancing motioning to Claudine with a free arm. Her expression is almost sly.]

And of course, this is Claudine Saijo. My biggest fan and greatest of rivals, please do not let her tell you otherwise.

[ Janis grins. ]

Aw, it was just a quick scene change. But uh... [ She shifts modes to genuine. ] Welcome to the party, nice to meet you, Claudine. Heard a lot about you.

[ she'll ask for embarrassing stories about maya later ]

There’s no such thing as a quick scene change that doesn’t have work put into it behind the scenes. Thank you, from the very bottom of my heart.

[she’s just going to motion for Janis to come closer, and when she does, Claudine’s going to kiss her hand for that.]

It’s a pleasure to meet you.

[with a big smile.]

[ oh god there's two of her ]

[ oh no there's two of her...

Janis, instantly blushing as she does every time another girl is outwardly affectionate towards her in an unexpected way: ]

I, uh— nice to meet you, too.

[ somewhere the girlfriend counter makes a hopeful click towards four ]

[yep. There are two of them.]

I think I already get why Maya likes you so much.

[the counter’s hopeful click just got louder]

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