Afterparty

[latinumsbetter]

[After the execution finishes and Wendy is dragged down into the Earth by that absolute horrific monstrosity of a creature and Typhon gives his goodbye, Quark will stand there for a long moment in the silence, before announcing, in a voice that wavers while trying to go for neutral:]

The bar’ll be open. Sitting around alone isn’t going to help anyone. [he turns to look at Ferdinand] Ferdinand, you’re with me. I need someone to move the table.

[and, taking Cerejeira’s elbow, he’s going to head out of the Arena. So...post trial, the Eatery’s been moved into bar configuration by Ferdinand and Quark. There’s been several of the extra togas gathered and folded to be used as blankets. There are snacks from the pantry brought out and placed on plates and in bowls and left out to eat. The bar is open, but so is the kitchen, if anyone wants to make something.

Both Ferdinand and Quark can be found behind the bar, the latter attempting to teach the former how to use the replicator he’s now got back there in addition to the other drink components. At least it’s keeping them busy. They’re both there to serve drinks, however.

The door is open.]

Comments

[brokenhabit]

[ Leb is... not at the bar. Or the kitchen. She's out at the pavilion in front of her statue again, taking time to herself away from the others. She knows inevitably a few folks will come looking for her, especially after what she said at the trial. But it's precisely because of what she said that she's out here now.

Along with the usual flowers there are vines at her feet, wrapping themselves around her ankles. They cling to her, as if trying to stop her. To tell her she doesn't have to do this. ]

...It's all right. There's no sense hiding it any longer.

[ It happens in a blink of an eye. One second Lebkuchen is there. The next she's not. Or more accurately, the flesh and blood form of Lebkuchen only just returned to her is not.

In its place a soft light shifts into place, creating an image of Lebkuchen - a ghostly specter, bathed in gold from head to toe.

Well... not quite toe. The bright red shoes are the only thing not golden. They were not hers originally, but even the offerings He decides to keep must wear them. They are a gift after all. A gift from Him to His beloved herd of lost souls - His Golden Maidens.

She lingers there, staring at the statue that felt like a mockery of her frozen appearance at times and the plaque that she's wanted to smash into a million tiny pieces since she first saw it. All the plants previously at her feet wilt and die. The flowers. The vines. All of it. If any other plants are nearby the start to suffer the same.

Her spring reprieve was nice while it lasted. ]

[tailoredfate]

[Eventually, Aglaea takes a break from her work. Even demigod weavers need to give their hands pause, after all. Moving outside for a walk and a breather, she passes by the pavilion-

... And sees a glow. It's nor alarming, not the harsh, angry red of Typhon, so she doesn't summon her threads and charge forward. But she does approach, makes out the form and where she's standing. This is no danger, yet...]

... Lebkuchen?

[brokenhabit]

[ She turns her head slightly towards her. ]

Miss Aglaea...

[ That sounds like Leb all right. Albeit with a tinge of shame. ]

[tailoredfate]

[... There's a sour taste in her mouth. It's always the kindest that are taken too soon, isn't it?]

Are you hurt? Do you need any sort of help?

[murchada]

[honestly, she hadn't even seen Lebkuchen at first. she's just been stuck in her mental haze, not even paying attention to where she's going.

but even then, it's hard to miss the sight of

that.

and she just stops.]

Lebkuchen...? Is that-- A-Are you...

["are you okay?" is the question on her lips, but she stops herself. what a stupid thing to ask?]

[brokenhabit]

[ There's a sound from her that could be a sigh, if she was like. A being that could breathe. ]

...It's me, yes.

[murchada]

...This is what it is. What... being a Golden Maiden is.

[and what it means is that Leb is dead already. like Alex, but not like him at all. but... she's still here, right?]

What happened...?

[latinumsbetter]

[after collecting Alex's letters, Quark goes to find Lebkuchen. He stops at the edge of the pavillion, staring for a long moment.

Then, he swallows, moving to step forward and get closer to her. He's got that thing that Alex created wrapped in a blanket and tucked into his elbow. At least it seems to be snoozing now.]

That explains the music I kept hearing around you.

[brokenhabit]

[ ...Oh. ]

You could hear that...?

[latinumsbetter]

I hear a lotta things that most people don't. [he reaches up and taps the outside lobe of one of his large ears. He pauses next to her, giving her a look over]

So. This is what the Golden Maiden thing means, huh?

[pariunt]

[Astarion is absolutely one of those people who eventually come looking for her, the concern on his face obvious.]

...Lebkuchen?

[brokenhabit]

Mr. Astarion.

[ She pauses for a second. Right. Vampires are also undead. ]

...I'm sorry I didn't say anything.

[pariunt]

...I don't care about that.

[Because he doesn't. It doesn't even count as a secret, as far as he's concerned. Not everyone will be as open as he is about it.]

But I... I worry about you.

I wasn't turned into a vampire because I wanted to be one. I was a slave, for a true vampire.

[sweetsynergy]

[She's passing by and. Stops.]

[Stares for a second.]

Holy SHIT, Leb.

[brokenhabit]

[ Oh. That reaction gets an awkward, forced laugh out of her. ]

Ah... sorry. I lied before...

[sweetsynergy]

[It takes a second.]

...ah. "Golden Maiden" was another bit of wordplay that wasn't actually wordplay then, I see.

[atu709]

[ Snow didn't say much throughout the trial. But she looks now at Leb, and her expression softens with a sympathy she hasn't much shown anyone here. ]

Do they force you to dance, or is it another story that doomed you?

[brokenhabit]

[ There’s a smile on her face at that at least. For what parts of the face can be made out at any given time anyway. ]

Another, I’m afraid. Though I’m sure He would force us to dance if He felt like it that day.

[atu709]

[ of course. ]

Who did this to you?

[raisethemoon]

...Lebkuchen?

[ Luna's eyes flick over the golden specter, and briefly down to the shoes, and then the dying plants. This isn't exactly the direction she's used to seeing these transformations go, but her own experience with them is enough to make her first question: ]

Are you hurt?

[brokenhabit]

…No. I’m… in no pain.

[ Physically anyway. ]

[liedol]

... does it hurt?

[ Ai speaks up from behind her, quietly. She couldn't stand being in the bar for long - it was too loud, too busy. Too close. The pavilion isn't much better but it's quieter and the air is cool and gentle.

She doesn't mean to intrude, but - clearly, Leb has thought much the same as her.

She should probably ask if Leb wants her to leave, huh. ]

[brokenhabit]

[ …ah. Yes, Ai. The other one she realized today is part of their sad little club of dead people.

She continues floating just above the ground, barely moving. ]

…No. Not anymore. Most things don’t hurt anymore.

[stringup]

[ Velvet had only been passing through; she left the bar after an hour or two once she had her fill of company and her social battery was running dry. She pauses when she sees Lebkuchen, not out of alarm or fear, but because this is a familiar sort of sight that she had stopped expecting here (besides, perhaps, the undead creatures Typhon was so insistent on throwing at them).

...She feels awkward too, like she's stepped in on a moment she wasn't supposed to. ]

Uhm, would you mind company?

[brokenhabit]

[ She turns her head away from the statue, looking towards Velvet. If she's honest with herself she also feels awkward right now - she's never been one to put herself out there, especially with as huge a secret as this, and the other Golden Maidens had always been... either more preoccupied with their own suffering or inclined to laugh and sneer.

It's been odd, being around nice people again. ]

I wouldn't mind. If you don't mind the glow, that is.