Chapter 59
The next morning Vil, Rook and Epel showed up before the rest of the NRC tribe to heal Odette's wounds from the night before. "I can't believe he did this. I can't believe you waited this long to heal it." Vil muttered as Rook healed her.
"He wasn't himself and it was the last thing I need yesterday. I know we're all exhausted still, but it'll be fine, it won't scar." Odette sighed.
The rest of SDC tribe showed up and took her around the culture fair. The subject of the SDC and Grim weren't mentioned for the rest of the day, but Vil did give Odette a head's up he would be doing one more meeting at the end of the week.
Friday after school everyone meet up at the Ramshackle dorm. "I thought the NRC tribe had been disbanded. The culture fair is over after all." Jamil said as they all gathered in the lounge.
"Non, Vil chose to simply put it on indefinite hiatus." Rook informed them.
"Yeah I didn't except to get an NRC tribe message calling us out to Ramshackle after class. Is something wrong? Going on Vil?" Kalim asked.
"Thank you all for coming. Grim couldn't make it of course but there's nothing to be done about that at the moment." Vil said glancing over at Odette who was sitting on the couch between Ace and Deuce. She looked better than the last time he had seen her but she still looked tired.
Ace and Deuce glanced at her as well but she kept her face unreadable.
"There are some important matters I wanted to discuss with you all. First, I'll touch on what happened the day of SDC. Allow me to apologize for betrayaling your trust." Vil began but was cut off by everyone's reaction.
"Huh?" They all exclaimed but Odette and Rook.
"I realized we would lose and my solution was to curse my rival. It was the ugliest possible thing I could've done. I'm truly sorry." Vil apologized.
"Goodness. I'm not used to Vil apologizing like that." Epel muttered.
"Well at least your curse didn't succeeded right?" Jamil stated.
"Yeah, you didn't harm a single hair on Neige's head." Kalim pointed out.
"That's only because you, Rook and the rest of the group stopped me. Yet, I still hurt you when I overblotted. That incident could've ended my life and any of yours." Vil countered. "You exhausted your magical reserves fighting me, then had to immediately perform. No matter how determined you were I highly doubt you were able to give 100 %."
"That's not true! I thought it was our best performance ever." Epel said.
"I agree with Epel. Vil we crushed it out there." Deuce added.
"….Well crushed it is kinda subjective." Ace countered.
"Are you really going to debate this?" Deuce asked.
"Okay yes we fought for our lives and won then lucked out big time when Malleus fixed the stage for us. Then we busted our tails and got through the whole performance start to finish. It was incredible and I agree we did the best we'd ever done that said." Ace explained.
"You mean just because we were happy with it doesn't mean the audience was." Jamil clarified.
"Oh, I see." Epel muttered.
"Ace and Jamil have the right of it. I've been reviewing our show recording with a more critical eye, and it's apparent we weren't performing at even half our usual level. Positioning was sloppy kicks weren't reaching their full height even your fingers were all over the place. Which makes sense given the battle you'd fought. It was the best you could have done yes, but you weren't at your best. It was critical for you to be at your best when you perform and I failed to make that happen. Our loss at the SDC in entirely on me. Some leader I turned out to be." Vil explained.
'I think I've heard those words before. But where? Who said it?' Odette thought as she lost her focus for a second.
"Vil, I understand your point but as we saw during our SDC rehearsal Neige's group was already popular, our performance wasn't going to change that. If we'd been at our best that doesn't mean we would've performed perfectly and even if we had we still could've lost. You can't always beat someone that popular with hard work or a solid performance." Jamil pointed out, the voice of reason as usual.
'Vil said so himself, and we kinda did hand him the trophy between our exhaustion and Jamil's signature spell making Neige perform. That probably earned him some extra brownie points with the audience.' Odette thought with a sigh.
"Jamil's right. You don't have to worry Vil. It's not your fault." Kalim added.
"I suppose. Through bear in mind Neige's group has struggled and worked hard as well." Vil informed them. "I dismissed their performance in the heat of the moment when I first saw it but endearing yourself to the masses and impressing them with skill are equally valid approaches. We simply emphasized different things. None of you have an inkling how much work Neige's group put in do you?"
"What do you mean by that?" Epel asked.
"The first time I co-starred in a movie with Neige he would always leave and say he had chores to do, while I stuck around for rehearsal it made me SO angry I judged him for coasting on his natural talent, but later I learned something those kids Neige performed with at SDC he's lived with them for years. They've all been supporting each other without any help since long before he and I met." Vil explained.
"Whoa, you mean like since his child actor days?" Deuce asked.
"Yes, I don't know the particulars beyond that, mind you. He would do his chores attend rehearsal then go home and do more chores. He practice in what spare time he could find. And yet he'd always greet me with a cheerful sing-songy 'good morning'. I can't imagine how hard he'd had it. After all my life's been quite different." Vil said.
"Golly!" Epel exclaimed.
"Neige has never divulged his personal history to the press, but I'm guessing you knew the truth Rook?" Vil asked turning to him.
"Oui, much of Roi Des Neiges charm comes from his endearing smile, but it's also the smile of someone who's overcome untold hardships. That's why so many people are drawn to it. I also hear he donates most of his pay to charity." Rook answered.
"You certainly have the inside scoop. I'm fairly certain the fact hasn't that fact hasn't been made public either." Vil said.
"It's well known among his most dedicated fans." Rook shrugged.
"I see, well, I have it on good authority that he donated his SDC prize money too. To aid underprivileged children with their futures." Vil informed them.
"I had no idea they'd been through all that together." Kalim sniffled.
"There you see? If you had known of Neige's background before SDC would you have fought to win? Could you have voted for yourselves in good conscience? Would you have been able to judge Neige's group on merit alone without sympathy getting in the way?" Vil sighed.
"I won't speak for the others but Kalim definitely couldn't have done that." Jamil said.
"Hey, that's nor true,.. I mean oof this is hard." Kalim groaned.
"I still woulds voted for myself in a heartbeat. SDC isn't a competition for the saddest backstory. It's about who performs best on stage." Ace volunteered.
"And there you've struck the heart of the matter." Vil stated.
"I have?" Ace asked.
"You, me, Neige, Everyone on that stage has their own story. Which is why results are what matter in show business." Vil explained."NRC tribe's performance lost to RSA's that's all there is to it. And my actions had a direct, negative impact on us. It was a blunder of epic proportions. So I'd like to offer you all a token of apology."
"You've already apology enough." Odette said.
"Do you recall what was written on the SDC recruitment poster?" Vil asked looking around the small room.
"Lemme think,… something about your shot at the big time." Ace recalled.
"It also mentioned a 50,000 mark prize to be split among the winners." Deuce added.
"Precisely, that was to entice people to audition. Since I was responsible for our team losing out on the prize money. I'll be paying out the 50,000 marks myself." Vil informed them.
"What?!" Everyone but Rook exclaimed.
"Ain't nobody asked fer yer money." Epel spoke up.
"It's a performance fee, plus compensation for the month of nonstop rehearsals. It's not an unreasonable sum when you look at it that way." Vil stated.
"But, …" Deuce protested but Vil cut him off.
"You can't buy my feeling with money. That's what I said to my manager yet here I am unable to think of any better recompense. The irony isn't lost on me, I assure you. But I simply won't be able to move on otherwise so please accept it. For any benefit if not your own."
"Okay sure. I'll take it." Kalim grinned.
"Kalim?" Jamil questioned raising an eyebrow.
"Just to be clear, I still don't think this is your fault Vil, but if that's what will help you move on. Then I'll take the money and now that I've accepted it I'm going to donate my share to Ramshackle dorm." Kalim announced.
"What!?" Everyone but Kalim exclaimed.
"Kalim are you seriously?" Odette asked standing up.
"You and your snap decisions let me guess the story of Neige gave you the idea?" Jamil asked.
"Pft no! Well, maybe a little but also I was truly shocked when we stayed here. It's SUPER run-down." Kalim stated.
"You should've seen it when I first got here." Odette chuckled.
"The hot water ran out when I showered. The roof leaked when it rained it's always drafty. I'd never lived like that before. They sure don't call it Ramshackle for nothing." Kalim chuckled.
"Yeah, I won't deny any of that." Jamil sighed.
"Odette and the ghosts living here were such gracious hosts during our training camp. I honestly had a blast. So I want to give Ramshackle a little face lift as a token of my gratitude. The money's ours right? Which means we can use it how we want." Kalim said.
"Roi Dore your noble heart makes you worthier than ever of your golden appellation." Rook smiled at him.
"Kalim's gesture would feel hollow if I didn't follow his example. I accept my share of pay and will donate it to Ramshackle as well. I was never in it for the money anyway." Jamil said.
"Thank you Jamil." Odette said smiling at him.
"I made a deal with you Vil but at the end of the day I couldn't out charm Neige. It wouldn't feel right to take your money when I couldn't hold up my end of the bargain, but I understand what you've been through and I know how hard this is for you. So I'll take the money and put it all towards fixing up Ramshackle dorm. Wouldn't it be great to give it the old spit shine and surprise Grim when he gets back?" Epel said smiling at Odette.
"Thank you guy, so much. Are you all sure about this?" Odette sniffled as she began to tear up. "Maaan, talk about peer pressure." Ace groaned earning him a glare from everyone.
"Ugh, the money would go a long way for my family but still." Deuce muttered.
"Oh, I'm taking the money if Vil's offering who am I to say no? He put us through the wringer and I've been eyeing some new clothes and shoes lately." Ace stated.
"Me too,… it just doesn't sit right." Deuce mumbled.
"If you need the money than please keep it. This is already so much." Odette said as she wiped her eyes with the palm of her hands.
"Come on Deuce, enough with the goody two shoes act. Let's be real about this. We auditioned because we wanted the money why hold back now that you're getting paid?" Ace asked. "And we have her blessing to keep the money."
"Well I mean." Deuce sighed.
"Deuce no one should donate money because they feel pressured to. I'm aware this money won't entirely make up for my behavior, but when I sent out that call for applicants I promised a share of the winnings. Hence I'm simply acting in good faith. You all saved my life. Now hold your head high and claim what you deserve." Vil said.
"All alright Thank you sir." Deuce finally caved.
"Were you listening at all? You don't have to thank me for something you deserve." Vil sighed.
"I shall donate my share to Ramshackle as previously agreed upon. The beautiful time we shared together, sweating and striving towards a common goal is all the reward I need. Who could ask for anything more?" Rook asked.
"Woohoo! We can make so many repairs with this much money. Fixing the leaks is a given but it'd be nice to replace the fade wallpaper and curtains too. I mean this whole place just lacks piazzazz. Oh, I know we should reupholster the couches." Kalim began to list off.
"Slow down our priority should be repairing the plumbing, gas, and any other essential utilities. We'll start by listing out the necessary repairs and seeing what the budget can cover." Jamil sighed reining in Kalim.
"Ah, I can just picture the renovated splendor now." Rook smiled.
"Well, I'm not gonna donate my share, but when Grim gets back I'll treat you both to a nice lunch." Ace stated as he stood a placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Good idea. I'll throw in some lattes and desserts." Deuce said doing the same.
"I can't wait thanks guys." Odette smiled back at them.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it.