itscurtains | 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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[When B says 'turbo-dead' Billy squints suspiciously, tilting his head.]

B, the way you say that makes it sound like-

[His eyes go wide. He is, after all, a smart cookie.]

No. That's why the doors stopped working? That's why I couldn't find you? Because you died?

Then-- Then the video was...

[He trails off, quiet and horrified.]

There was another one?

[The Balladeer's attempt at cheer drains away. He doesn't want to upset his friends, but that's...inevitable.]

Oh, the doors. I didn't think about those.

[It had been a little low on his priority list, given everything, but in retrospect it makes sense that his creations would stop functioning with him gone. Hopefully that wasn't too big an issue for anyone.

The Balladeer sighs and glances past Billy towards the rest of the group. He's not sure how he feels about the possibility of them overhearing; they don't all know exactly how he ended up here. That he'd come on his own terms, and failed them before he ever even met them. But...well, Billy deserves the story.]

I could tell it was about to happen. Not the whole time, I didn't have much warning. It was just...a sudden feeling I got, like a new one was just about to start. I don't know why that happened this time, and not the last...

[He doesn't need to tell Billy that he feels bad for not having known about the second game at all until after it had already happened. Billy knows.]

I went to try and stop it, and I...didn't. I'm sorry I didn't tell anyone before I left. It just...happened fast.

[Billy runs his hands through his hair in disbelief, the hologram stepping back and pacing in an anxious circle at this news. When he turns away, he doesn't seem to be able to see anyone else there.

When he faces B again, he sighs.]

I guess- I guess you have to go where the story needs you, huh.

[His cast has been living their happy endings for five years, now. A narrator can't stay fixed to the same story forever, after it's over.

He didn't think it'd hurt so much, the thought that B's moved on.]

So you're- But it's over now, right? You're okay? And- and everyone else made it out, too?

Edited 2021-07-20 14:16 (UTC)

Mmm, I guess...

[That really is the reason, he supposes. He just wasn't meant to be involved in the last one. But this story's about to be over, too; a story ending has never really meant that he just leaves it.

Which might be what he'd say if he knew what Billy was thinking. But even if he could at such a distance, he's always considered it a matter of courtesy not to read his cast's bracket text.]

Yeah! Yeah, everyone's fine now. It's...fine. [he's not fine] Can you not... [oh no he can't see them] Alright, so, fair warning. The Player's here, she's probably coming to Denny's in a minute, and so is...a Elsa? Are you guys missing your Elsa? I don't think she's regained any memories of all of us, but it's been a little chaotic here.

[Billy barely has a second to process her name when his sister-in-law's smacks him in the face. At least the Player was in the video as well, so he got a little bit of warning on that.]

Elsa? Wh- No, I think Anna just sent her a letter like, uh, yesterday? She was definitely at Ely's birthday.

You guys are headed to Denny's? Okay. Okay, yeah, that's awesome. I'll, uh. I'll tell everybody, and me and Anna will pack up the girls and meet you there-

Oh sh- the girls. I mean, it's safe, right? Like, even with her? She seemed, uh. Different. In the video - like, are you guys cool now?

[He sounds. A little judgmental of this, but more in a cautious way.]

[The Balladeer sucks in a breath.]

Iiiiiii don't...know. She's been on the dead side with me for the past month, and it's just been really weird. [They've been coexisting alright, but he's not sure he can say that they're cool. They haven't really talked about all of it.] But she's got a friend now. An actual friend, it seems like, someone from the last game. I don't think she's gonna do anything right now.

[He's got some feelings about all of that, too; B has not really seemed his usual chipper self for most of this conversation. He swallows, and though he was looking forward to seeing everyone at the Denny's, offers:]

You, uh, you don't have to come if you're not comfortable, I can...meet you at the castle later.

[Billy flinches a little when B says 'dead side.' Even though he figured it out, hearing him say it was another thing.

Still, even though he's a little bit relieved that B didn't just like, forgive the woman who JFK'd him like nothing happened, it's weird to think of the Leading Player as having friends.

But one thing that Billy's gotten a lot better at, over his own game, and over the last five years... is reading others. His twitching stops, a look of concern on his face.]

What? No, of course we're gonna come see you. And we'll bring both your goddaughters and you can introduce them to all your new friends - [because B makes friends wherever he goes.]

And if she tries to like, I don't know, put a Sleeping Beauty curse on them or something, then... she'll have to get through Mama Bear Anna, I guess. But that's not- we'll deal with that if it happens.

Alright? [He puts on a smile.] It's alright now, B. It's over. We'll see you at Denny's.

[The Balladeer's face crumples a little, both in relief and in something else.]

...it's not really over. There's, um. [.....] I'll tell you about it later.

[This time it's nothing to do with all the people around; he just wants to talk to Billy in person. B is grateful for this call, but he'd feel weird getting that deep into what he knows will be emotional topics with a hologram.

...let's just talk about something nice.]

Oh - god, I gotta introduce them to the other kids here! They're cousins now, or something, these teenagers are just adopting everyone left and right - [wait. WAIT.] - oh my god, you need to meet Varian. He's a scientist, I think he's from some country near Arendelle! You'll love each other!

[Also another mad scientist, but B sort of missed that trial and the whole reveal of his villain arc.]

Oh, from like- [Billy snaps his fingers a couple times trying to remember.] Uhh... Modelo... No! Corona?

[Look he's the prince consort and royal engineer, not an ambassador.

He quirks a half smile at B.]

Look, I- I gotta go, it'll take me a minute to get the girls ready to go and let everybody know where to meet.

I'll see you soon and you can tell me all about it then. Oh, and I'll make sure Anna knows not to be mad.

Ha. Okay, yeah, thanks.

[He did know Anna was gonna be mad. And also that, uh, death was a pretty killer excuse? His lips quirk in a smile.]

See you soon.

don't stop believing

when you use that icon i do a double-take

god, right?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject