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]

[ Lebkuchen is silent again, head lowered as those words really sink in...

...and then the light flickers, the image of her distorting... and just like that she's back in her body again.

She keeps her head down. ]

Alex... Alex said something similar. That he... wouldn't let Him get me again... th-that I wouldn't be alone anymore...

[ Finally she looks up. ]

Am I... am I really...?

[tailoredfate]

[When that light fades, when Lebkuchen is whole and solid again, Aglaea reaches out once more. But there's no threads, just her own hands taking Lebkuchen's.

... She's sure they're not as warm as the hands of someone more comforting. But it feels... wrong. To not do something.]

You won't be. No matter what happens, now or in the future... there will always be someone here with you, Leb. For you.

[She can't make promises that she'll never leave. Not with Typhon's machinations, and his desire to see them all dead or lost to despair. She can't predict the future, but she can focus on the here and now, at least.]

And if this beast tries to claim you again, he'll rue the day he bared his fangs to one of our own.

[brokenhabit]

[ They're warm enough as far as she's concerned. She stares at their hands together, her own trembling with fear before clutching Aglaea's, as if hoping that might stop the tremble.

It doesn't. ]

...He will. [ The tremble reaches her voice as well as she struggles to keep her tone level ] He... He is a devil who deals in human souls. He doesn't always keep the ones of the people offered to Him, but the ones He likes...

[ She takes in a shaky breath. ]

He owns us. Claims to cherish us. A-And if I die... I know I'll go right back there. To Him.

[tailoredfate]

[Shaking. So much shaking. It's like Lebkuchen is crumbling apart, falling into pieces not even Aglaea's threads could fix.

... It's a familiar ache in that hollow spot in her chest, she realizes. An ache similar to when Cifera began to distance herself, shunning not just her duty as a Chrysos Heir but their shared companionship. For centuries Aglaea had wondered what she did wrong, but kept that distance - she thought it was something Cifera needed. Something that might be fixable in the future.

But distance... didn't help. The distance only grew. And that ache never dulled. She'd lost that companionship she'd treasured since that child first began sniffing around her stall.

Is it... fear, perhaps? Fear of failing someone else? Fear of losing someone else?

... She's not sure. All she knows is that she feels like she's not doing enough. That she needs to do more, so that she won't keep losing people she's growing fond of. So with a light tug of Lebkuchen's hands, she pulls her closer, right into a tight hug.]

If gods can be bested, and the very cores of their powers taken, so too can a mere devil. Whatever he may be, he is nothing compared to things I've seen, and I'm certain the others will say the same.

[There's just a moment of pause, and those arms wrap just a little tighter aroung Lebkuchen.]

If a soul can be taken, it can also be taken back. Chains and ties can be broken. That will not be the only fate left for you.

[brokenhabit]

[ Ah--

With the others she might protest. Might cry that they don't know how powerful He actually is, rage in the futility and despair of her circumstances. If escape from Him was possible someone would have already done it after all. She's just a powerless young woman who wrongly placed her trust even when she knew things were fishy.

But she's heard Aglaea talk all this time of being a demigod, of defeating gods. She's heard many of them talk about feats she could never even dream of and just assumed that everywhere was like Kieferberg. No one would help, everyone would just sit back and watch to save their own skins. That's what Typhon is forcing them to do with these trials after all, isn't it? To be passive and pick inaction or perish.

Why should she trust anyone again.

And yet, when Aglaea says these things... for once she starts to believe them. For once there's that long lost feeling of hope in her chest.

She doesn't say anything, doesn't fight back against the hug. But like when Alex hugged her before something finally breaks. She hugs back and begins to weep.

She's only just recently given a chance to mourn her own life after all. ]

[tailoredfate]

[... It's been so long since she comforted someone like this. Centuries. She's helped children crying over torn skirts or ruined dolls or missing socks, she's helped Castorice keep her head up when doubts and uncertainties began to close in on her... but something like this? Nobody ever cried like this around Aglaea. Nobody wanted to trouble her, nobody wanted to burden her. Some thought she was incapable of this level of comfort. She thought she was incapable of this kind of comfort.

But the tears, the way Lebkuchen hugs her back... it's like something echoes in that void where her heart once was. One that guides her hand up, gently pressing against the back of Lebkuchen's neck and rubbing small circles into the skin with her thumb. It was a faded, tattered echo of her memories of her mother, when she would comfort a sad, sniffling Aglaea.

She continues to hold Lebkuchen, pressing her cheek to the side of her head.]

Don't hold back. Just let it all out.