The Principal's Office

[tailor_made]

The door to the principal’s office is open at all hours, although you will only find Hester at the receptionist’s desk from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. This is primarily where you can have private conversations with her. Though there’s an actual office in the back, it is always closed and locked.

Comments

[barberic]

[Yeah he knows fuckall about what she's doing.]

That's right. Johanna Barker.

[He takes the ambrotype of Lucy and Johanna out of his breast pocket and holds it out to show Hester.]

Here she is with her mother.

[mcfife]

Oh, good. [Finally. He can relax. But-]

What do you mean, "long gone?"

[tailor_made]

I didn't make it but I'm helping. And no matter what our reasons are, I don't think they're wrong to hate me. [She shrugs her shoulder slightly but smiles a vague little smile.]

I've...been told I can be very annoying, monsieur. That and I was moved around so much when I was younger I never really made many friends.

[violentenvies]

...I'm sorry for to hear that, Mademoiselle Hester. I know it is perhaps of little comfort, but...I cannot fathom what anyone could find annoying about you. [there is, perhaps, a touch of anger in his voice] And even if they did, to treat you terribly is simply intolerable.

I'm sorry that whomever these people are have treated you unkindly.

[tailor_made]

[The desk is surprisingly uncluttered, any loose papers are neatly put away in manila folders and everything in it's place. On one side there's a cute little bright yellow ceramic teapot with a matching set of tea cups and a plate of sugar cookies. On the opposite side, closer to the wall there's a vase of fresh flowers in a clear green glass vase. The desk also has numerous drawers of varying sizes.

And in the middle, right in front of her swivel chair, is Hester's little pink laptop.]

[tailor_made]

What I said. It lost it's magic and then the blade was disposed of some time later.

cw: animal bits WE MAY HAVE MADE SOME MISTAKES

[tailor_made]

[It sure is from Les Mis, Per!]

Ew. [Hester wrinkles her nose at the word "flesh".] I mean, I guess I can cart them outside and get rid of them, I know there's plenty of room to do it.

cw: animal bits PUT IN DEER SKINS I SAID ITLL BE FUN I SAID

[comeandfindme]

You know, if you actually let me outside, I could— [ This is futile. She cuts herself off with a harsh sigh. ] Whatever. They’re in the… [ … ] The freezer. It was the only place they wouldn’t rot.

[ There’s the unspoken sentiment, I’m not going back in there. ]

[mcfife]

Yes, but I last saw it less than two weeks ago when it was being used in a ritual. Did it lose its magic then?

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Huh! Okay, one point to Hester, she knows how to keep a tidy workspace.

The folders catch Cassandra's eye as a potential point of investigation, as do the drawers for obvious reasons.

But then there's the laptop. She's seen the inside of the computer lab, even... touched a computer once. Maybe twice. They confuse her. She shouldn't mess around with this.

...She's going to just... push one of the keys on it. Does that do anything?]

[howtheworldwas]

[ Oh no that was much too relatable!! Eurydice finally drops her gaze. Score one for Hester. ]

Yeah. I get that. [ a beat. ] You trust the Wizard, then?

Sunday, post Trial 2

[violentenvies]

[HELLO HESTER, Knock knock, Dad is here to invite you to the sleepover]

[tailor_made]

It's open, monsieur! [come on in, dad, she has no idea its party time]

[violentenvies]

[OH GREAT he'll push the door open, then.]

Mademoiselle Hester, good evening. [there's a pleasant warmth to his face as he comes in]

I wanted to enquire as to whether you're busy this evening?

[mayavericks]

Hester-san.

[Maya is practically throwing the door open.]

Did you know that this had happened before?

[tellthestory]

...if you mean my show, I don't think they really wanted me there anyway.

[Although he does feel faintly guilty about abandoning it sometimes. But...well, it is what it is.]

[tailor_made]

[Hester turns in her chair to flash him a wide smile. On her computer screen behind her he might be able to catch sight of whoever this guy is on her screen with some kind of text box. Probably nothing, don't worry about it.]

Hmmm not more busy than I usually am in the evenings. [Which is Not Very.] Why, are you planning another performance?

[tailor_made]

What she did to your show is the least of our worries ironically. At least the Assassins are contained.

[Oh, B, she'd think more in bracket text but it's way too early for those kids of spoilers that you might be able to see.]

[tellthestory]

Yeah, best thing for 'em.

[They can agree on that much!]

WEEK 4, SUNDAY

[comeandfindme]

[ Peregrine enters the principal's office quieter than usual. A little blank. A snow-white deer hide hangs over her shoulder. ]

I need something.

[ She doesn't yell. Doesn't demand. Just says. ]

[tailor_made]

[Hester just...looks like a deer caught in headlights.]

I- what? What do you mean?

[tailor_made]

[Hester glances from Peregrine to the snowy deer hide in her shoulder and purses her lips in immediate understanding of what's about to be asked of her.]

What do you need, Peregrine?

[mayavericks]

Nana. Claudine. My classmates -- My friends! They were in a game just like this one. Angus was there.

[She slams her hands down on the desk.]

Did you know?

[comeandfindme]

[ She handles it with care. Peregrine places the leather on the receptionist desk, blood red stain up. ]

Elle did all she could. But, it's...still got Connor's blood in it. [ ... ] Please, I... I need it out.

[ Not once has Peregrine come to request any clothes be cleaned. She's just worn new ones, probably working her way through the costume room. However, now... ]

[tailor_made]

[She gingerly touches the unstained parts of the leather, smoothing her fingertips over it with utmost care. She and Peregrine may have butted heads from day one but she'd have to be especially dense not to see how much this means to her. How much Connor meant to her.

She feels her chest tighten and, just for a second, it hurts to breathe.]

Give me a day. [Her voice is soft and lacking the practiced, patient tone she usually has.] I'll get it cleaned up and back to you by tomorrow.