Afterparty

[brokenhabit]

[ After the reunions have been had Lebkuchen finds a moment to compose herself, clearing her throat to get everyone's attention. ]

I think we ought to leave this place before our pathetic excuse of a Titan rears his ugly head once more. We can recuperate and mourn our losses... but also celebrate our win, [ She gives Aoi another squeeze to make it clear who she means ] before we move on to whatever happens next.

Give me a little time and I'll prepare something in the eatery for everyone.

[ It feels weird to have one of these not in the bar (even though her ass was almost always somewhere else after these ordeals) but she's certain it would feel even worse to be in the bar with Quark not there (even without her knowing that's where their bodies were found).

And so true to her word the eatery is eventually full of the usual spread of homemade treats Lebkuchen has been know for. Some of them were made the day before she poofed but are still perfectly good, however eventually some fresh ones do appear as well. Some of them have some leaves stuck to them though... probably because the kitchen is full of Lebkuchen's vines hard at work making everything for her. Oh well, it's extra nutrients!

She's also brought up several bottles from the bar because dunno about you but she's going to drink. ]

Comments

[stringup]

I'm glad you have your freedom, at least.

[ As for Velvet, she can't say she's entirely free of the Lover just yet. ]

...Is that why you took Athena's offer?

[pariunt]

[He shakes his head.]

It was... it was a moment of weakness. A moment of worry. We were at a reunion party, with our companions. The ones we saved the world with.

We'd been fine, in the fortress. As fine as one can be in the Underdark, at any rate. But then Athena approached me, and I saw Tav with our companions, smiling and laughing.

..and I wondered if maybe I wasn't enough.

[stringup]

...So you ran, basically.

[ Astarion bringing it up reminds her of some conversations she had with Ferdinand, up until that terrible morning. She has to wonder if, perhaps, he felt something similar, given what they talked about. ]

[pariunt]

...You're not wrong.

[As much as he doesn't want to admit it, he had run.]

[stringup]

I know I don't know much about her, so perhaps this sounds foolish of me to say, but...

...You are enough.

[pariunt]

[He looks at her like it's the first time he's truly seeing her.]

...Thank you, Velvet.

That... means a great deal.

[stringup]

[ There's a smile from Velvet, the same sort Astarion likely saw when she was talking about Ferdinand. ]

Well, I just think that if someone loves you so much, then you are already enough in their eyes.

[pariunt]

[Astarion pauses.]

You... you're right.

[After all, that had been the only true reason Ferdinand's sacrifice bothered Astarion, knowing the depths of loneliness that would await Velvet.

He never cared about what the others thought. He isn't the sort to. But Velvet? He'd seen kinship in her. Of course he cared.]

To see those we love again...

[He trails off, not sure how to finish the sentence.]