foolishmortals | This is fine. It's fine. We're fine.

[Well that was.

Something.

Underneath everyone’s door they’ll find a slip of paper, in shaky calligraphy, that reads:

INVITATION

Meet in the Dining Room.

Do not bring alcohol of any sort.

Upon arrival into the Dining Room it’s clear that this is very much...not a party.

The center of the room is cleared of all tables, and instead has all the chairs arranged in a circle, facing inwards. On the tables pushed to the side are jugs of water, cups, plates of saltines, and several hastily-made pamplets that read on the front ”How to cope with Child homicide” that contains an advisory list:

Try not to think about it.
Do not get hysterical.
Crying is permitted, but keep it within a reasonable volume. (For the consideration of fellow mourners)
Maintain civility
Do not plunder the belongings of the deceased.
No drinking or gambling your sorrows away. Set an example.

Standing in front of one of the chairs already is Mr.Arrow. He clears his throat as people start to slowly come in.]

I gathered you all here because I believed it would be conductive to group morale if we all worked through our feelings regarding recent events. Talk about your feelings with one another, but not with me.

[He steps back a little, out of the circle of chairs, in what seems to be an invitation for people to sit down and discuss with one another.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The sentiment is something Moana can appreciate. And the music brings a little life to the room that was otherwise pretty devoid of it.]

It's a nice song.

A friend taught it to me. Her dad really liked it. [strums] It's from a place Jane was... from? Had been to, anyways. Didn't really get it too much.

I'm sure Jane would be really happy to hear it.

[It's the thought that counts most.]

She'd probably be glad to hear anything right now. 'Cause she's dead.

[SHE DOESN'T. KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS.]

Well... yes.

[She can't deny it's. True. But.]

But when things are bad, you know... it's nice having something familiar to hold on to. You know?

Hm. I get that.

[pause. a small grin.] What sorta music do they play over on, uh, Moteynukey? Maybe I can give some of the living stuff to hold onto.

Heh. It's island music-- good for dancing. [considering the stock, they probably have enough instruments] I could teach you a little.

I'm actually from an island-- probably not the kind you're from, though. Yours is probably nicer.

Hum me a little something. I can work off of that.

It's really nice-- or... it was. I'm still working on that.

[When she gets out of here, hopefully.

Moana nods with a smile and starts humming a little of this.]

[she listens carefully, making a few false starts as she tries to mimic the melody, but eventually picking it up.]

How's that?

That's really good.

[it has a different sound to it on a guitar, but it's a nice kind of different. the kind she never would have heard just staying at home but still... reminiscent of home.]

You must really love music. I've been surrounded by it my whole life and I could never do something like that.

Well, I've had more practice than any person should ever have in their life. I wasn't too much interested in what everybody else on the Isle got up to-- never had my own gang or anything-- so I spent all my time in my dad's shop, just... reading books on magic and making music. Probably did the second more than the first, since it was something I could actually use there.

I can get that a little. I spent my whole life on my island dreaming of the one thing I couldn't do. But-- you learned something really cool from it.

But why can't you use magic?

There's a big ol' barrier keeping the Isle of the Lost disconnected from magic. You know. As you do.

That's... terrible. Well then-- why don't you go somewhere else?

[because that's always the answer]

... Because the barrier? Which has been down maybe three times in my entire life? I only ever got off the Isle by accident.

But when you get out of here-- I mean. You can go wherever you want, right? I got stopped hundreds of times, but even I eventually got off my island. You have that chance now too.

...

You're gonna think it's super dumb if I say it, so I'm not gonna.

No way. I promise.

[just. give her a moment. to collect her dignity.]

When we get out of this place, I kinda... I sorta, I guess... I'm gonna go visit my dad? I never actually said goodbye when I left for Auradon... and then there's really no way to contact him there... [she says, because only some kids get the special skype privileges] And I kinda wanna thank him for never starting a weird murder ritual with some creepy old dude.

[but she certainly doesn't miss him or anything at all ever that's not villainy]

That's not dumb at all. [Moana shakes her head.] I was always so frustrated with my dad for telling me I couldn't leave the island and that my only place was as the future Chief... I wish I could have said goodbye to him. He's probably so mad right now, but-- I wish I could see him too.

[sighs] I was thinking of asking King Beast for his mirror, but I just know it'd only show me what that... that thing did to the one here. And that's just super messed up to think about? I know he's not the real one, but he's just... familiar, I guess.

You should. Even if it's not exactly the same, he's still a version of your dad. It's better than nothing until you can go see him yourself, right?

[long, long pause, and a mix of emotions on her face before it settles into comfortable, familiar anger.]

I hate seeing him like that. I hate it. Randy better hope somebody kills him before I get my hands on him.

When the time comes, you've got us. We'll hold him down.

[she's got your back on this one.]

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