don't stop believing

[stagemanagers]

[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!]

Comments

[mayavericks]

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.

[etincelledefierte]

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.

[mayavericks]

[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.]

[etincelledefierte]

[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.]

[mayavericks]

[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.

[etincelledefierte]

[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.]

[mayavericks]

[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.

[fourbutts]

[ 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 ]

[etincelledefierte]

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.]

[comeandfindme]

[ oh god there's two of her ]

[fourbutts]

[ 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 ]

[etincelledefierte]

[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]

[fourbutts]

[ she just cant stop getting flustered around girls rip janis this is what you get for giving up on dating for like five years it makes you vulnerable to THE FRENCH AND FRENCH ASSOCIATES ]

I swear I'm usually cooler than this.

[comeandfindme]

Don't lie to her.

[etincelledefierte]

I swear I am not normally -

[She shakes her head. NO LYING, CLAUDINE.]

- some days are better than others. This is one of them, even if I did get a year shaved off my life thanks to BJ’s godawful driving. Buses are not supposed to be roller coasters!

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine hears her name and, instead of processing all this in order, frowns and immediately starts fretting. ]

Maya, excuse me, how long have you been without your crutches? Is that blood? Oh my god, let me just—

[ ...She's already getting the emergency supplies from her backpack to properly fix Maya's stitches. ]

[etincelledefierte]

Please, Peregrine, don’t panic too much. I patched up her stomach again, at least. I have extra supplies if you need them, too.

[A pause, then —]

…I spent a lot of late nights at Denny’s studying the basics of first aid over the past year, since everything happened at the Opera House, just in case. I wanted to be more helpful if anything like this ever happened again.

I also owe you a deep debt of gratitude. Thank you for saving Maya.

[comeandfindme]

[ It's only as she's pulling out sutures and gauze that she looks up and fully takes in just who's talking to her. That face, from one of Maya's photos— ]

You. You're Claudine. [ yes per, maya just said that- ] You're Maya's Claudine. Uh. Wow, um. [ She reaches out for a handshake, with the gauze still...there... ] You don't have to-

[ She's all tongue-tied... What have these teens done to her? ]

I mean. ...I couldn't have lived with myself if I hadn't.

[etincelledefierte]

Oui. I take it Maya’s been telling everyone embarrassing stories about me?

[it’s a joke. But what’s not a joke is Claudine taking Peregrine’s hand and kissing it, gauze be damned.]

Still. I can’t thank you enough.

[comeandfindme]

[ A hand kiss?! On a first meeting?! Is this a French thing or—

Peregrine blushes lightly, trying to cover it up with a laugh. ] o-oh, Maya’s been more the—fawning type, actually. She hasn’t had a bad thing to say about you.

[tailor_made]

[Hester gives Claudine her brightest smile when Maya introduces her. She's heard about Claudine, of course- only through old files from Will's first game and the few things he told her but it's a whole other story seeing her in person.

She starts to curtsey but stops short when Maya mentions "Class A". She could go to school? A real school, not one made up for a slew of fake memories. She could be a real actress and go to school with her girlfriends-!]

C'est merveille- C'est un plaisir de vous rencontrer, Claudine.

[It's wond- It's very nice to meet you, Claudine.]

[etincelledefierte]

C’est un vrai plaisir. Enchanté, Hester. Welcome to Class A. I can’t wait for you to meet the other girls. I’m sure you know Nana, and I know you love Maya, too, but I know the others will love you. I’m so excited for you to see Starlight for the first time.

[She’s returning that bright smile. it’s a true pleasure, and I’m enchanted to meet you.

And of course, Hester will get a kiss to her hand.]

[tailor_made]

[Hester's cheeks flush immediately. How many times does this make that she's been kissed today- four? Five? It's saying something that she's lost count.

She giggles, a little nervous and a little embarrassed.]

I'm, um, I'm really excited for Starlight. I've heard it's dazzling.

[etincelledefierte]

[Claudine just smiles. Hester is absolutely adorable.]

It is. I love it, so much.

[fourbutts]

[ FUCKING CHEERS, but quietly, and in the background, and in a second comment so as not to interrupt the thread ]