...BUT TOMORROW IS JUST A DREAM AWAY

[worldofcolor]

[After such a long day, everyone must sleep. Whether it is because of the trial, or...something else, everyone will eventually find themselves with an overwhelming urge - no, need to sleep. There, someone is waiting for them.

Everyone will find themselves together in a room. It's...sleep-like, of course, but something about it feels real. There are eight rolling chairs set up, and another at the front of the room. But besides that, there are two important things to take note of. The first is that, everywhere, everyone seems to be depicted in...grayscale. It's a little weird, but nothing that odd.

The second is the pictures that line the wall, black-and-white sketches of so many familiar and unfamiliar characters. An Arabian thief, a curious girl in a blue dress, a ferocious dragon. All strikingly drawn and depicted in pencil. The walls seem practically lined with them.

Something interrupts your train of thought. A smoker's cough.

Man is in the Forest.]

My goal is to get you all out of here as soon as possible.

[A fatherly voice rings out, from seemingly everywhere at once.]

I'd like to discuss options with you all.

Comments

[worldofcolor]

You fight back.

[amadeusrockette]

. . . I'm no good for that, though. I don't - I can't even do magic.

[worldofcolor]

We could change that, if you'd like. Once we get you out of here.

But for now, you have to believe in your own strength.

[amadeusrockette]

I know my strength. I'm . . . only good at playing music, sir.[The amount she doesn't want to overstate her talents is high.] I don't think I'll be useful in a fight. You should . . . if you leave me and I pretend nothing's happened, would that give them a better chance of escaping? Or would that be more suspicious?

[kindaruledatit]

[Pokes head in here???]

Julia... we're not just gonna leave you behind. You could be in danger.

[amadeusrockette]

I would rather you all have a better chance of survival than you have to protect me.

[She has screwed up!! So many things!!! She doesn't want to screw up the only chance they have too!!]

[kindaruledatit]

No way, girl! It's all for one and one for all, and good junk like that!

[She!! doesn't!! care!!]

I'll personally carry you out if it means not losing anyone else here.

[amadeusrockette]

Wendy, I . . . listen. If any of us can lie for long enough to buy everyone time to escape, it's me. I've spent my whole life lying to somebody, in some form or another.

If this is the most useful thing I can do, please. Let me do it.

[kindaruledatit]

Dude, no. [She says it firmly this time.]

I'm not gonna let you sacrifice yourself if it looks like we have a good chance for all of us to get out of here. It wouldn't be right.

[It wouldn't be what Maui wanted.]

[amadeusrockette]

I'll go, if it seems like we can all go out, but it doesn't really. Besides, if I [die] don't survive, I can help our friend in the Underworld.

[kindaruledatit]

Yeah well you can already help us out here. We need all the help we can get. [The underworld group already has the lion's share.]

But that's good. Gotta stay alive now, no matter what.

[defyingfrigidity]

We have a better chance of survival if we're all working to find a way out. Even if you can't fight, even if you can't do magic... we... we're all friends, right?

[It seems... weird, to say that so freely. That she has friends...]

It wouldn't be right, to leave you behind.

[amadeusrockette]

I don't want you all to potentially not make it out because I'm useless - I'm. I'm really not good at anything but music and lying. [She laughs, a little wetly.] I nearly died and fell into a garbage pile when I tried to ride a skateboard. I don't think fighting will go any better.

[defyingfrigidity]

You don't have to fight. Do you think I'd be able to fight, if it came down to following in Orpheus's footsteps, and storming the underworld for our friends? [She looks down at her hands, clenching and unclenching them, before shaking her head.] I've barely been able to do anything with my magic, aside from the sculptures and... what I did at the trial earlier.

Without the one thing that makes me useful, would you say that I deserve to be left behind as well?

[Maybe using herself as an example is a bad idea, because a big part of Elsa still believes she doesn't deserve to escape too. That she deserves to waste away here after letting her sister die. But... for as much as Elsa gets absorbed in her own self-loathing, she doesn't want to drag others down with her anymore.]

[chainbroke]

We won't leave anyone behind. And you have a strong heart. That's important.

Besides, if even I can learn how to defend myself, anyone can.

[amadeusrockette]

In less than a week? I somehow doubt it. [She's glad you all believe in her, but also knows what she's good at and physical activity is Not It.] You're all much more talented than me, so if someone has to stay behind it should be me.

[chainbroke]

Even if that were true... you're our friend. We couldn't leave you behind.

[amadeusrockette]

If it helps you all, you should. I'll . . . I can tell everyone you're coming, if it comes to that.

[chainbroke]

[ She shakes her head. At the trial, she'd said as much.

No more. ]

We won't lose another friend. Please, Julia. We need you, even if you don't think so.