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

[atu709]

[ snow takes all of this in, quiet. she has seen the aftermath of so many stories, on the princesses' warpath through the Neverafter. seen girls turn to sea foam, or explode, or burn away. this is just another story of suffering. she is so familiar with suffering. ]

... Lebkuchen, this may sound strange, but are you capable of physical contact in this form?

[brokenhabit]

…Not much, I think. I’m no better than a ghost like this.

But I should be able to change back, if you need me to.

[atu709]

If you'd like. I would... very much like to embrace you, if that is all right.

[brokenhabit]

[ ...Oh.

She's quiet for a moment, considering it... and then after a moment her golden form starts to shimmer and flicker, before her physical form reappears.

She doesn't say anything right away but she nods, giving her consent. ]

[atu709]

If it is too cold, tell me and I will stop.

[ it is in fact v cold, she is Chilly, but.

congrats on being the first non-princess to canonically get a snow white hug, leb. bc goddamn. ]

[brokenhabit]

[ It is cold. Colder than she would have expected. And yet somehow she feels warmed anyway.

It may be cold but it means everything.

She chokes back a sob in her throat and reaches to hug back. Tightly. Desperately. ]

[atu709]

[ snow has a strange relationship to the concept of hugging. most people find hugging her unpleasant, but it's the only kind of real human contact she feels she's ever likely to receive again. if someone is happy enough to hug her, the cold will hardly bother them, you know?

but this is different, freely given. she does not know, in truth, if lebkuchen is a story or a girl. she suspects the line is not as clear as many girls may think. there will be suffering again. there will be another tragedy. that is the way of the world for the sorts of girls whose stories are written.

there is so little hope or happiness left in snow, in truth. like the warmth of her cheeks and the beating of her heart, she has gone without a long time now. but she is willing to give what she has to sustain this in lebkuchen, at least. ]

I am terribly, terribly sorry, Lebkuchen. It is not an ending you deserved.