tailor_made | The Principal's Office

For the scene that I helped cause. Peregrine was correct in coming to you and I didn't listen to her when I should have, and took matters into my own hands instead. So I apologize for that. And I also wanted to thank you for...[here, his voice wavers, eyes going glassy]...for your assistance.

I know what I know and that's all that I know. [She heaves another exhausted sigh and lifts a hand to rub one of her temples.] You found out last time who "they" were. Maybe you'll remember soon. [But when he mentions Manhattan the corner of her mouth twitches with an attempt at a smile.]

In the greatest city in the wo-o-orld

[She's...trying to give that the enthusiasm it needs but with how she's feeling it doesn't really have the desired effect.]

...You were grieving. [She lifts her head more, wincing as the ache in her head and behind her eyes intensifies but powering through it to look him in the eyes.] Are grieving.

People make a lot of bad choices when they lose people they love. [Her jaw tightens, just a little.] ...It just felt like the right thing to do. For you guys and for him.

[She's not even privy to the Wizard's secrets, yet she works for him. It's concerning...but he's hopeful. She has to be able to do something.]

Why, then, are our memories gone? Or does The Wizard share nothing with you?

Not just mine, but everyone else. Surely they don't know who is behind this as well.

[He's not in a state to deal with the note, at first. The fresh memory of taking a man's life for threatening to out his secret (a man he'd known as a boy, no less, bright-eyed and eager to learn his trade), the churning, surging tempest of despair and anger and bloodlust boiling hot in his veins... it's an ugly, living, rotten thing sitting like a rock in his gut.

But in the end, he remembers her begging them not to bring the bodies to the trial. Thinks about Higgins' body shoved unceremoniously in a trunk, and wonders how she must have felt, having to sing through Varian's execution, sitting in her bubble, knowing what she had to return to.

He can't bring himself to face her in person still, doesn't feel safe for anyone to be around. So another note it is. He spends a while in the cafeteria composing it, worrying the end of the pen in his teeth. This one, on Monday evening after the thunderstorm has rolled through, long after she's closed up her office for the night, pushed underneath the door.]

Your kindness deserves to be repaid, nonetheless. You did not have to help us. I hope there were no unintended consequences for you, for all you've done to help us.

If he's frightened you, seal your reply with something red. If you're in danger, some kind of black.

You deserve better than a gilded cage.
-B. Barker

[If he can do nothing for Johanna, he can reach out to this girl, under the thumb of an oppressive father.]

[something in his chest tightens at that--at the mention of grief. But that doesn't mean he misses that wince]

...still. I did wish you express my thanks.

[he pauses a moment, hesitating, looking concerned before asking:]

Are you...alright, Hester? Are you well? [he's been getting so used to touch lately that he automatically reaches out, moving to gently touch the side of her head if she'll allow it]

[She doesn't flinch away, something that surely would get her in trouble with someone less trustworthy. It doesn't feel like there's any kind of wound or bruise to be found but she does feel very warm to the touch. She might also just...lean into his hand a little.]

Just a headache. I, uh...I haven't been sleeping well this week. Weird dreams, waking up at weird hours and not being able to get back to sleep.

[that sense of worry increases in his chest]

You feel like you have a fever. [he shifts his hand so it presses to her forehead, gently]

You should be laying down, at least. I'll get you a cold compress.

[this, he can focus on this, rather than his grief. Hester's not feeling well, and though he may not be able to fix it, he can help]

[Not a lot in these, unfortunately. A box of paper clips, some extra pens, a sheet of encouraging stickers with smiling apples and clouds that say "A+ Work!" and "Great Job!", a heart-shaped stress ball that looks like it's seen better days and some brown paper that looks like it was taken from the scene shop. Just some extra bits and bobs like you'd find in any old desk.]

No, no, it's fine. Peregrine was just in here fussing over me too but I'm- [She gives up her protests pretty quickly as the ache in her head spreads down her shoulders and she folds her arms on her desk to rest her head on them.]

...okay.

...forgive me for saying so, mademoiselle, but you don't look "okay." [gently, and he shifts, moving to come around her desk uninvited, so he can rest a hand on the back of her neck]

Do you have somewhere you can lay down?

[Fantastic. She's discovered that their Hester is trying to get through her day just like everyone else. But nothing especially worth stealing from the poor woman, so!

Time to close these drawers and try to get out of here as quietly as possible!]

[ well! that was upsetting as usual! at this point, eurydice has come to expect all that, but there's one bit from that song that didn't add up.

knock knock! ]

Hey. Can I ask you about that song?

[ hester may notice that eurydice is actually trying to be polite. that's new. ]

[Bright and early Tuesday morning there's a response waiting for him. It's sealed with a yellow apple sticker.]

The Wizard was confused but had no objection to letting you have the bodies if you want to bury them. I didn't exactly ask permission with Varian but he was otherwise preoccupied anyway.

I appreciate your concern, Mr. Barker. Really. But I'm in no danger from the Wizard.

[It's very easy easy to get to the other side of her desk by just lifting the wooden divider. Her neck is definitely warm and she nods her head slightly, practically muttering.]

I have a couch.

[Behind her desk there is indeed a dark green leather couch! It's already got a fuzzy golden yellow blanket draped over the seat and back. Surely that's been here the whole time but it also seems like a hard thing to miss, even behind her desk.]

[Yeah, that's really hard to miss, Maya.]

No...nothing really. I know there was a giraffe involved? And sword fighting.

I see.

[Another breath, one that quivers.]

I want to tell you something but... Not here. Sometime this week will you meet me in the locker room?

I- sure, Maya. I can do that. Are you- [She reaches out, not quite able to reach Maya in her chair.]

Are you okay?

[Maybe it isn't what Hester meant, but... Maya leans forward so that her head is tilted into that hand. Just the top of her head, but it's... nice.]

I don't know. It's been a long weekend. [She closes her eyes.] I'm just... scared to talk about this where He can hear. I trust you, but him?

[She shakes her head.]

[Salieri glances back towards it, a little surprised, but...well, he's not about to question it now. Instead he'll just get down to her level]

Come on, then. I'll take you over there--just put your arms around my neck and I'll do the rest, understand?

[he sure is planning on just carrying her over there rather than risk her being too woozy and falling and hitting her head or something]

[Hester looks unsure but nods a little in understanding. She forces herself to sit up despite her body shouting at her to Please Do Not and loops her arms around Salieri's neck.

Lift away, monsieur.]

[in that case, he'll scoop her right up, slowly and gently so as not to make her dizziness worse, before carrying her bridal style over to the couch, where he'll gently lay her down. ]

Now...stay here a moment, I'll return with a cool compress.

[He's going to notice pretty much immediately that Hester is very light, which makes sense since she is on the thinner side to start with. She takes very little effort to lift right out of her chair.

When he lays her down she reaches up to carefully wiggle the tiara out of her hair and sets it on the sofa's arm. She gives him a small, pained smile.]

I don't think that'll be hard.

[Salieri rests the back of his hand against her cheek cheek a moment, looking concerned about how hot she is]

If anyone comes in, tell them you're resting and they're not allowed to disturb you. No matter what your duties are. [he's moving to grab that blanket and place it over her] If they have a problem, they can take it up with me.

[That's probably a good idea because Cass can definitely start to hear a soft click click of heels on linoleum and the sound of a doorknob turning from the closed door inside the office.]

The Principal's Office

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week five; post-motive

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