#- the kids being generally untalented/unprepared as they are

[a-wins-a-win]

mouse's attempted B;APO timeline

aka i was writing an irrelevant detail in a silly little fic and it occurred to me that oh wait i could actually think about this!!

credit where credit's due - i am using this timeline right here (from @hearmyvoicee) as a base, but i have some particular thoughts/interpretations of my own + felt like using 2001 dates! (bc why not, ya know? keep it basically of the time it opened) so this whole thing is mostly for my own reference, but if it makes sense to any of y'all as well? great <;3 [keeping it under the cut for my own sanity + yours]

.✨.

Sunday, January 7 [the feast of the Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th, or the closest Sunday to that date - in the case of 2001, that's the 7th]

Epiphany

Monday - Friday, January 8 - 12 [ i swear on my life someone mentioned to me once that it's generally accepted that You & I spans several days?? i cannot find who or where but someone tell me i'm not going insane ]

You & I

Friday, January 12 [the friday is entirely arbitrary, just seems the type of day you'd hold auditions - give it a week to stir interest, cast on friday, start up your rehearsals from the next monday onwards] [i have never been in theater though, so don't hold me to that]

Role Of A Lifetime

Auditions

Plain Jane Fatass

Thursday, February 22 [to me the phrase "we'll meet in Tanya's room on Friday night" implies that it's not yet Friday + in theory the song takes place during study hall, so an actual weekday? so to that end it could be any day monday-thursday, the specifics not mattering in particular, but i arbitrarily went with thursday so that Ivy’s birthday lines up right]

Wonderland

Friday, February 23

A Quiet Night At Home

Rolling

Best Kept Secret

Wednesday, February 28 [borrowing from the previous timeline for this one - the Lent + Ash Wednesday significance makes sense] [to that end, Ash Wednesday 2001 was in fact February 28th]

Confession

Portrait Of A Girl

Thursday, March 1 [in Wonderland they reference the fact that "Ivy's birthday's in a week", ergo wonderland date + 1 week]

Birthday, Bitch!

One Kiss

Are You There?

911! Emergency!

Friday, March 2 [peter mentions 911! Emergency as being "last night"]

Reputation Stain'd

Ever After

Saturday, March 10 [generally, the Spring Break week is from March 11 to March 17, so in my head it makes sense for them to be leaving for their spring break the day beforehand - ergo, March 10th]

Spring

One

✨ spring break / intermission ✨

Sunday, March 17 [the sunday makes sense in my head to mirror Epiphany]

Wedding Bells

Monday, March 19

In The Hallway

Monday, March 26 [ as claire says - "gone a week, i miss you already". so if classes started again on the 19th + 1 week is the 26th ]

Touch My Soul

See Me

Warning

[sidenote, easter 2001 was sunday april 15. to that end, to account for the Easter Monday holiday, likely they had the 16th off also]

Friday, May 18 [okay listen!! i know it crowds A LOT of act 2 together but!! the way sister chantelle says here "if you decide you want to get together one more time" implies to me that they aren't going to be having more Official rehearsal time before the play actually gets performed] [it all has to occur between monday may 14 & sunday may 20 for jason's "graduate next sunday" line to be technically correct] [rory's decided that they'll "meet back here. seven o'clock" - which i was always under the impression is the supposed to be rehearsal that sets up Promise] [Nadia's "call me tonight, or tomorrow, or whenever" to me implies that she won't see him tomorrow? so probably they don't have any classes or rehearsal the next day]["i know it's late" in Cross is such a little detail, but to me it just ties it all up]

Pilgrim's Hands

God Don't Make No Trash

All Grown Up

Promise

Once Upon A Time

Cross

Saturday, May 19 [saturday night seems a reasonable time to put on the show, right? like in order to make it accessible to family + friends outside of the school?]

Two Households

Bare

Queen Mab

A Glooming Peace

Tuesday, May 22 [a {catholic} person is buried between 2 and 7 days after their death, typically around 3. i always got the vibes that Absolution was supposed to take place on/around jason's funeral, ergo the play + 3 days]

Absolution

Sunday, May 27 [going with the assumption that they graduate on the last sunday in may, in 2001 that date was the 27th]

No Voice

.✨.

wanna make it super clear that i a) am australian and b) am not catholic and c) have never been to boarding school or in theater so a lot of dates were found via google search, and/or arbitrarily assigned weekdays

also also at the end of the day i'm not sure the specifics of the timeline super duper matter, it was mostly just for fun - but like. feel free to share ur thoughts!

#bare a pop opera #bapo timeline #mouse talks bapo #look i know its kind of insane pacing to have pilgrim's hands through to cross all happen in the space of like. 6/7 hours. BUT #i mean you COULD stretch it out to have pligrim's hands through promise happen on the thursday / OUAT + cross on the friday / #the actual play on the saturday - but if there was a friday between promise + the play then why wouldn't they have another rehearsal? - #- the kids being generally untalented/unprepared as they are

[shiniestcrow]

Actually, you know what? I’ll post it here, that way at least it’s somewhere

The prompt was

You're a novice demon who managed to convice a mother to give up her first born in exchange for eternal youth. You did so, because it seems like the kind of thing all the other demons are doing, but now you are not sure what you are supposed to do with an infant and it's way too late to ask. 

Warning for vague description of torture

I made a mistake, that much is clear by now. The human keeps staring at me, reaching with its pudgy little fingers for my claws. I gave up pulling away after the what, twentieth time? Anyway. Human infants are disgusting with their weirdly big heads, their too-short limbs and useless claws. This one can't even lift its own head! Or maybe that's normal for them? I don't really care. At least it has stopped screaming for now. After it had rejected all the meat I offered, I finally got it to drink some milk.

The child makes a face I can't understand. As I lean closer, it suddenly makes a grab for one of my horns. I pull back just in time, but this seems to distress it. With a sigh, I lean forward and let it put its disgusting hand on me. It giggles. Which is one of the more pleasant sounds it can apparently make. Hell, what do I do now?

Surprisingly, I manage to keep the child alive for more than a few hours. I did consider just leaving it to die from time to time, but that would feel like a waste of my payment. It grows painfully slowly. But I have time. I take on a few more contracts. I grant an untalented young wizard more power than he could have ever dreamed of. I save a young woman's children from a deadly illness. Though I have changed my payment to favours instead of firstborns. No more children for me.

I study humans to learn how to take care of mine. I soon learn that they have names for each and every one of them. Demons don't have names. There is no need, after all, we rarely interact with each other. I decide to use the first name I hear: Alex. It can decide on another one itself when it's older. I don't really care. I also learn that human children should interact with other humans. That one is even more complicated. I finally manage to change my appearance to something resembling a human. They seem to think me disfigured when I show myself. It suits me quite well since they don't ask where I come from or where I acquired the child. The only one that knows who I truly am is the young woman who's children I saved. I call in my favour, so she lets my human play with her children.

The child, Alex, seems to develop quite well. The other children it plays with have grown attached, and the young woman talks with pride about all of them. She has told me her name is Miriam. I don't know why she felt the need to do so. She has also taken to invite me into her home when I come to retrieve my child. I have told her that I would not be indebted to her for this, but she seems not to care. I eventually accept.

Alex grows taller over time. It learns to walk and talk and eat on its own. It starts to call me Maman on the suggestion of the other children. I tell it that I have no need for a name, but it insists. I accept my fate once again.

Alex starts asking questions. I answer what I know. Surprisingly, there is very little that upsets it.

"Maman, why do you look and sound different when we are alone?" "This is my true form, child. Humans are scared of me like this." "Why? You're not scary." "I do not know their reasons."

"Maman, am I a boy or a girl?" "I don't know, decide on your own." "What are you?" "A demon. We have no such thing as boys or girls." "Then I'm a demon as well." "Alright."

"Maman, will I look like you once I grow up?" "I doubt it." "Why?" "We are not related by blood. You will look more like Miriam than you'd ever look like me." "Oh..." "Are you upset by this, child?" "No, but I would have liked to look like you."

"Maman, if we are not related, where do I come from?" "You're mother asked for eternal youth and I got you in exchange." "Oh. Then I'm glad to be with you." "Why? Would you not rather live with the one that gave birth to you?" "No, I don't even know her. And she thought looking young was more important than me. You're much better." "How so?" "You never gave me away."

When Alex reaches their twelfth summer, Miriam asks to speak to me alone. Unwillingly, I grow concerned. "Is something wrong?" She shrugs. "I wouldn't say it's wrong, but I think Alex should probably get some magical training." "What makes you think they have any magical talent?" She looks at me like she can't believe I missed it. "Alex has a different hair colour every day. Yesterday all of my kids where suddenly blonde." "Is this not normal for humans?" She sighs, but there is a smile on her face. "It's not. Have you ever seen me with a different hair colour?" I look at her head. I never really paid attention to her hair. Or her appearance in general. Humans aren't particularly interesting to look at. (Alex is the exception, though not because of their appearance.)

"I will see what I can do." Miriam nods with a smile. "That's all I ask."

I talk to Alex that same day. "Miriam thinks you should receive training for your magical talent." Their eyes practically light up at this. "Really? Will you teach me?" "You can not learn what I can do. Humans possess a different kind of magic from my own. But I can find you a teacher." Alex frowns, thinking. "Will I have to leave?" "You will likely live with your teacher while you learn." There is a long pause. "Can I come back once I finished?" "Of course. I do not wish to get rid of you permanently." "Okay. Then I want to go."

I contact the wizard I helped to power so many years ago. He works for a king nowadays and agrees to take on Alex as his apprentice as my favour. He even seems relieved that I do not ask for more. I do make it clear that Alex is to be treated well, however.

Alex says farewell to Miriam and her children. It's a tearful goodbye on all fronts, but soon we are on our way. I would bring Alex to the wizard Tibalt and then return to my own home. Perhaps go back to work. I have been slacking somewhat since Alex got handed to me.

The travel is uneventful, but Alex looks at everything and everyone we encounter with big, fascinated eyes. It is nice to see them excited.

When we finally reach the castle where they'll spend the next few years, Alex suddenly stops. "Is something wrong?" I ask. Concern does not come naturally to a demon, but somehow Alex has changed me in more ways than one. "No, I just," they bite their lower lip, a clear sign of distress. Suddenly, thin human arms sling around my neck. "I'll miss you," Alex says, not letting go of me. After a moment, I lift my own arms, returning the hug. "I will miss you as well. But we will see each other again." We stand like that, holding on to each other for a long while. Finally, Alex let's go of me, wiping their face with a sleeve. When they have regained their composure, they smile and nod at me. We go the rest of the way and, after one final hug, we part ways at the castle doors.

The following years are lonely. I had never expected to feel this way; Demons are naturally solitary beings. Alex writes me letters and I answer (with Miriam's help). It helps to stay in contact this way. They talk about the people in the castle, what spells and potions they are learning. I tell them news about Miriam and her children.

Once a year, Alex comes by to visit. The first three times I go to the castle myself, afterwards, they make their way alone. It is almost the end of Alex's sixth and final year of their apprenticeship when someone shows up at my home that I had never expected to see again.

The woman is wrapped in dark, expensive clothes, only showing her young face, which is enhanced by skillfully applied makeup. I'm sure she is quite beautiful by human standards. She smiles when I open my door. "I'm here to reclaim what is mine," she says, her voice melodious like a singing bird.

I tower over her and yet she seems not intimated in the slightest. "There is nothing here that could belong to you," I answer, my voice like rocks grinding against one another. Her smile falters. "Foul creature, do you think you can trick me? I asked for eternal youth to preserve my beauty, and yet I scar like any other." I stare at her. "You never asked to be invincible. Eternal youth is what you wanted, and it is what you got. You have not aged a day since I last saw you." She spits, rage twisting her face into something ugly. "You will return my child to me, or you will regret it." "There is no child of yours here. And even if it was, I would not give it away to you. I have kept my word, and you will keep yours."

She yells, and suddenly I am hit by magic of a strength I have never encountered. I am knocked off my feet and slammed into a wall within the blink of an eye. The woman now stands over me, a sickening grin on her lips. "Did you think I would come unprepared?" I don't hear what else she says as my mind slips into darkness.

When I wake, I am bound to a wall with thick chains, my arms above my head. I try to move, but a burning pain shoots through me. I hear cackling laughter and look up. The woman stands before me, arms crossed and clearly amused by my predicament. I try to speak but find that I can not.

"I will find my child," the woman says, "and until I do, you will keep me company." I struggle against my bonds, but I can only ignore the pain for so long. I slump against the wall, exhausted. "Do be a good pet and don't cause such a ruckus." Her voice is as sweet as her words are cruel, "You won't be getting away any time soon."

She is right. Days pass, and I grow weaker. The woman, whose name I still do not know, only feeds me enough to keep me from falling into permanent unconsciousness. She knows I won't die from starvation, but this only seems to make her crueller. She tries painful spells on me, makes me drink potions that cause convulsions. The chains cause blinding pain every time I struggle against them. I soon give up trying to escape her games. There is no use.

My mind keeps wandering to Alex, and even to Miriam and her children. I wonder if Alex has finished their apprenticeship by now. If they have returned to an empty home. If they think I have abandoned them. I was supposed to meet Miriam the day the woman appeared. Perhaps she too thinks I have finally returned to my demonic ways, fleeing without a word. I would not blame any of them.

The day I feared arrives. The woman stands before me once more, a triumphant smile on her face. "I have found my child. We will reunite, and you will rot here for all eternity. I'd say goodbye, but I don't think it will be particularly good for you." I barely lift my head to look at her. My horns have grown brittle over time, one of them even broke off a while ago. They still feel too heavy for me.

"Nothing to say?" She kicks my side, but the pain barely registers. My only thought is the hope that she won't hurt Alex. After all, why would she hurt her own child, if even a demon didn't? She clicks her tongue and turns to leave. "No one will find you. I placed wards around this place that even the strongest wizards would have problems with." She leaves. I stay shackled to the wall, too weak to give even a token of protest.

Days pass, maybe weeks. I can't keep count. I grow impossibly weaker. My second horn breaks off. It falls into my lap, laying there as if to taunt me. Perhaps I deserve it.

I welcome it when I finally fall unconscious. It is a relief.

To my surprise, I wake again. There is warmth on my face. Hands. Warm hands, stroking softly over my cheek. "Maman," a voice says, so far away. "Maman, I'm here." I can't answer, can't even open my eyes. Consciousness escapes me.

I wake once more. This time the chains are gone. I am lying down instead of sitting against the cold stone wall. Someone is holding onto my arm. My body feels heavy. I groan.

"Maman?" I open my eyes. Alex is leaning over me, tears streaking down their face. I try to lift my hand. They shouldn't be upset.

Alex suddenly throws themself on top of me, arms slinging around my neck. "I was so worried," their voice is muffled against my chest. I manage to put my own arms around their back, holding them close. "How?" I croak. Alex sniffs and pulls back. "I'll tell you once you have recovered a bit more. Miriam will want to know that you're awake as well."

True to their words, Alex helps me regain at least parts of my strength. And once I'm able to sit and eat on my own, they tell me what happened.

"When I finished my apprenticeship, I honestly was a bit confused that you didn't come to pick me up. But then I thought 'well, the last years I also went home on my own' so I said goodbye to everyone and went alone. But when I arrived, you weren't there. I went to Miriam, thinking that maybe you were with her. She told me that you had disappeared weeks ago and that no one had seen you since. She was really worried and so was I afterwards.

When I went back home to search for clues, this woman showed up. She said she's my mother and that I could come back to her now." Alex's eyes flare with a rage I haven't seen before. "She said that she had taken care of you and that I would never have to see you again."

Alex stays quiet for a moment, breathing in deeply through their nose. I carefully take their hand in mine. They smile a little.

"I asked her what she meant and when she said that she had locked you up I... I was so angry. I started yelling at her to tell me where you were, but she refused. She still tried to convince me to live with her of all people. She only got angry when I told her that she had given me up already and that I would never go with her now.

She attacked me with her magic, but I was stronger than her. I was so angry. I didn't think about what I was doing. She had hurt you, and so I wanted to hurt her." Alex grows quieter. "I did."

"I sent one of her spells back at her, and it hit her right in the chest. Miriam helped me bury her." I gently squeeze their hand. "You defended yourself." Alex nods with a sniff.

"Afterwards we still had to find you. We eventually did, but then I found the wards. I had to ask Tibalt for help. We finally broke through, and you were inside. I don't think I'll ever forget how you looked." A shiver runs through their body. "I am sorry," I say, but they shake their head.

"This wasn't your fault. I'm just glad I got you back. And you'll be okay, right?" "Yes, it is difficult to kill a demon."

Alex nods and pulls back their shoulders. Their eyes are filled with almost demonic determination. "I don't regret that that woman is dead. And I'll make sure nothing like this happens ever again.

No one hurts my Maman."

#it's unedited #and I haven't written in first person in years #so this was pretty much a self-indulgent little experiment #it was fun to just write #my writing #crow writes