ready as we'll ever be

[tellthestory]

[The Balladeer is true to his word. So, before the dead's scheduled performance, still dressed in the outfit Salieri forced him to helped him choose, he takes his guitar and sneaks out to the garden one last time. He hasn't visited it yet today, and he always feels guilty when he doesn't manage. He told everyone he'd be here. Even if neither of them can hear each other, he intends to keep his promise.

So he's there to notice when the trees begin closing in. The Balladeer shoots to his feet. Oh, no. He knows this feeling.]

Everyone! Come out to the garden! Bring your stuff!

[He calls out aloud, but he can use that projection trick just as well as the Player - his voice is audible anywhere in the school.

When people arrive to join him, there will still be a path through the woods to lead them to the garden. He doesn't want to strain himself before the performance, but something as small as that shouldn't cause problems later. It's too important that everyone get out here - because when people arrive, they'll find that all of the living are visible. The Balladeer is watching them, but making no attempt to interact; he already knows how this is going to go. It isn't time for that yet. Still...]

It's the end.

[Have fun spectating the trial!]

Comments

[yourattention]

Oh, I mean. I'm 19. I don't need that, but I want my college fund. [A beat.] It's still mine even though I'm not using it for business school.

[whatyouwant]

We could probably work something like that out. Especially if we can get a couple of diagnosis from different doctors proving they neglected your mental health.

cw: child neglect/abuse

[yourattention]

Oh, you wanna know a really funny story? I was in therapy until I was like 12 and I didn't get better fast enough so Larry wouldn't pay for it anymore.

[voicerights]

You had a terrible father.

[yourattention]

You know what? Weirdly validating from you, specifically.

[whatyouwant]

[Elle gets a devious twinkle in her eye.]

Oh really? Did he, perhaps, say something of that effect to the therapist?

[yourattention]

I mean he said it to me enough times that I wouldn't be surprised if it also said it to a literal trained therapist. The man is not what I would call, like, woke.

[whatyouwant]

Excellent! If he gave a reason for ending your treatment before the recommended time, they probably kept that in your patient record. It makes our case much stronger if he showed that he knew of the issue and willingly refused to treat it.

[Elle, hon, you're still dead.]

[voicerights]

I can obtain these records for you.

[:)]

[whatyouwant]

We have to get them through legal channels, otherwise they won't be admissible in court. If we could get some other evidence showing emotional neglect though...texts, videos, pictures.

Half of this is going to be research for cases that present a precedent. Think you can slog through thousands of pages of dense legalese?

[voicerights]

[pft]

Social media will be simple. As for your 'legalese', only marginally more difficult, though I would appreciate assistance in confirming the relevance.

[whatyouwant]

Of course!

And, you know, if we don't win the case, but there's a banking error and the money happens to go missing...

[voicerights]

How terrible that he believed a Nigerian Prince, and is too ashamed to admit it.

[Beat. Glances at Connor]

Or would you prefer catfishing?

[whatyouwant]

[Elle snorts.]

[yourattention]

[a fun dear evan hansen fact is that the college fund he's bitching about? the murphys offer it to evan at one point

anyway]

Hell yeah. Love this for me.

[whatyouwant]

I just finished my first year, but my friend Emmett can start helping you build your case. I promise, as soon as I get my license, you will be my first case. Completely pro-bono.

Do you need a place to stay? My parents have way to many rooms and I think mom is having serious empty nest syndrome since I went to Boston.

[yourattention]

Oh, uh. [His gaze drifts over to Peregrine.] Maybe? I dunno. I'm not really sure where everyone is ending up after this.

[whatyouwant]

[Elle follows his gaze and smiles.]

Naturally! I mean, first we have to figure out how to come back from the dead, but after that the offer is totally open.

[yourattention]

I used to be a ghost, so it can't be that hard. Right? [A beat.] Besides, I think that's how the story is supposed to go, so.

[whatyouwant]

Yeah.

[Elle looks at their living friends, particularly Angus, and smiles.]

Wouldn't make much sense to have all this about connections and then no bring us back, right?

[yourattention]

I'm sick of happy endings
'cause they come and go like mist
I think we're always gonna be a little pissed
I think we - I think we're always gonna be a little sad
I think we'll do the best we can
If that's not great, then that's not bad

[whatyouwant]

I'll take some good friends with some rough days
I'll take a well-meant mess struggling for the grade
If we can make it here
It's clear to me we've had a victory

[yourattention]

So we've set some expectations
but I want to keep them real
so we might need a little time before we heal

[whatyouwant]

And when we feel like we might never be on track
We've got this family who understands
We've got this family who's got our back