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

[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.

[etincelledefierte]

[It’s more of a Claudine thing.

But then it’s Claudine’s turn to blush, her cheeks turning a bright pink for a moment.]

S-she did? I…

[give her a minute]

[comeandfindme]

Mmmhm! What was it she called you again…? Something about being her rival, but it was more than that…

[etincelledefierte]

She’s the Claire to my Flora. And our Starlight is getting our happy ending.

[comeandfindme]

Your play…? She hasn’t told me a lot about it. I’m, uh…not really a theater person, but, maybe at the Denny’s you guys could give me the 411…?

[etincelledefierte]

Absolutely. We will give you the full story, including how we only had half of it at one point. A friend found the other half and rewrote it.

[mayavericks]

Our friend did what?

[They're not the only ones that need a catch-up, Maya genuinely looks confused.]

[comeandfindme]

…Maybe you guys should talk first!

[etincelledefierte]

…Karen found the other half, in an old book. It’s a long story, but it gets a true happy ending. You’re going to love it, Maya. I promise.

[mayavericks]

Has everyone been having adventures without me?

[etincelledefierte]

You would not believe the adventure I had to -

[Claudine is just going to hold onto Maya a little bit tighter, as if she’s afraid she’ll disappear on her. Maya can feel her shake a little.]

— to find you again, back at home. You aren’t allowed to disappear on me. Not now and not ever. Okay?

[mayavericks]

[Maya can only guess at what Claudine is referring to, but she gets the strangest feeling that it isn't just about her disappearance to this school, or perhaps even at all. But even if she doesn't understand the why, she can tell that Claudine is troubled, and doesn't complain in the slightest when that grip tightens.

Wouldn't dream of it, even.]

I have some good news, then. I have been informed that I am grounded until I finish university.

[etincelledefierte]

Good. Because I have no intention of letting you out of my sight until then. At least that long. Ideally, longer. Deal?

[it’s not actually a question.]

[mayavericks]

Peregrine Wells!

[she is so red.]

[comeandfindme]

I’m only telling her the truth!

[ she did it. she won. ]