Afterparty

[latinumsbetter]

[After the execution finishes and the culprit is once more dragged down into the Earth (he watches Snow be dragged down, with a pursed-lips look), and Typhon gives his goodbye, Quark doesn't wait in the silence this time. Instead, he says, arms folded:]

Well, since we're all doomed--[sarcasm, dry and acrid, edging a black humor]--then no better time to get a drink.

The bar’ll be open. Even if you don't eat or drink, stop in. [That's said with a side-glance at Leb. He then turns to look at Ferdinand, Aoi, Ranma, Cerejeira, and Vanity.] Ferdinand, you're gonna help me set up. Cerejeira, Aoi, you're behind the bar. Ranma you're in the kitchen. Vanity, if you've got more of that coffee, we could use it. Let's go.

[and he turns and walks out of the Arena. So...post trial, the Eatery’s been moved into bar configuration. There's a few more faces behind the bar again. Once again, there’s been several of the extra togas gathered and folded to be used as blankets. There are some dishes, light but filling for those that don't want to eat much, courtesy of Ranma.

Cerejeira, Aoi and Quark are behind the bar, the latter watching the other two like a hawk and teaching and helping when he needs to. They're all there to serve drinks, however. And Ferdinand? He's been relegated to the Dabo table. Maybe the first couple buttons of his shirt has been unbuttoned. He's paying off his tab!

The door is open.]

Comments

[threeapplestall]

[Mortis sits at the bar and mopes as visibly as she possibly can, resting her chin on the bartop.]

...I wonder if they can make non-alcoholic cocktails...

[latinumsbetter]

[Quark folds his arms on the bar]

We can make a mocktail. You like sweet or sour?

[eeeonetwothree]

[ Omega sits down awkwardly next to the girl. ]

SO, UM.

HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP?

[ Then, moments later, as if he forgot something: ]

…KIDDO.

[cannotunravel]

They do. Go on, have one. I'll play.

[Well done today, fellow detective]

[fillets]

[ Riful's stupid goddamn bird immediately starts walking across the bartop to Mortis, and her chin, with a dream of pecking in its dead little heart. She snatches it up before it can get too far, but now she's paying vaguely-interested attention to Mortis, so, like, is this really an upgrade? ]

My, you're in a mood. [ And she sets the bird on her own shoulder, like a little reverse Dauf situation. ] Is it just the obvious?

[sweetsynergy]

I mean if you wanna tell them you're legal drinking age on your Earth I'll back it up.

[dot dot dot]

...I won't rat you out until it's really funny.

[catsgothistongue]

They- We do, Ferdie made me a mocktail here. [Last afterparty, his brain unhelpfully adds.] Think I remember how he did it too.

[He slides over the countertop to get behind the bar.]

Here, I'll make you a glass in a jiff.

[He's supposed to be taking his break, but it's for morty and five minutes fly by fast anyway so--]

[tailoredfate]

[Aglaea doesn't head to the bar immediately. As promised, as soon as the trial is over and the dust is settled on Snow's... execution? Kidnapping? She takes Lebkuchen's hand and guides her back to the temple - stopping by the living quarters only long enough to grab some of the spare togas, her tailor's kit, and some soap and such - and down the flights of stairs to the bathhouse.

She of all people knows the bathhouse is for relaxing, letting the water soothe rather than clean. But for the sake of this traumatized girl she's taken under her wing, even she can bend the rules a little. She promised she'd get her clean, and Lebkuchen deserves a relaxing experience after today, not some cramped shower in one of their washrooms.]

Do you need help with your clothes, Leb?


[For a while after, even once Lebkuchen is clean and somewhat less frayed, the two remain in the bathhouse together where others might join them. Later still, once Aglaea's sure Leb will be okay on her own, she finally makes it to the bar, this time emptyhanded.]

... Hm. Seems I've run out of spares...

bar

[latinumsbetter]

Spares of what? [he his spotting her empty hands, however]

...no shroud this time?

[brokenhabit]

[ She's not in shock anymore but her raw anger has subsided into something a lot more... tired. Worn down. It's been a long day. It means she's easy to lead away though and very compliant with the whole bathing process, even though she's never been to a bathhouse before and feels some inevitable awkwardness about it. Her hair is out of her braids for once - a rare sight she wishes wasn't so rare.

At the mention of the clothes she lifts her head. ]

Oh... I suppose the blood will need to be cleaned out of them...

[ Not necessarily what Aglaea means girl ]

[eeeonetwothree]

[ Omega approaches Aglaea as she comes to the bar, a question on his mind. ]

LADY AGLAEA. I WAS HOPING I COULD ASK YOU SOMETHING.

[pariunt]

Aglaea...

How is Lebkuchen faring? How are you faring?

[It feels like the two of them share the most weariness at times, even though Astarion knows this is weighing on everyone.]

bar

[raisethemoon]

...how is Lebkuchen doing?

[ Stupid question, but how else is she to find out particulars? Also, what is she looking for spares of? She doesn't attend that closely to clothing matters. ]

[yourheroine]

[Things are grim, but they persist. Aoi is pretty sure that's the best option. So she throws herself into bartending.

If somebody happens to sit down, Aoi will greet them with a little smile.]

Boop boop! Welcome to Quark's Bar! How can I help you? [She breaks character quickly after.] Aoi's working on customer service.

[At some point Aoi takes a five minute break to eat something, and looks a little more pensive as she does.]

...if we reach the center...maybe we can save them too...?

BREAK

[latinumsbetter]

[Quark is coming over to set down a Bloody Lukara (but without the alcohol) next to her plate]

Reaching the center. Like Athena said?

[eeeonetwothree]

[ Omega is actually present at the after party this week after being a no show last time. He needs company this time. So much that rather than stand off apart from everyone standing guard he actually sits at the bar, watching quietly, just a silent hulk amidst the group.

How had he just become one of them? What was it the princess had called him? “Self-righteous?” It hadn’t stuck out to him before, but now he was thinking about it. He had been making speeches. Moralizing. Calling others cowards for reasons of wrong doing rather than pure strength and resolve.

Where had this come from? He had never had such inclinations before. He never cared about such things. And what’s more, he’d openly used words like “friend” and “comrade” when before he’d only admitted that Shadow and Rouge had earned something akin to trust.

What about this place had made him change?

And did he have any right to stand in judgement of others after the life he’d led? Was Snow White right to call him “self righteous”?

At some point, Omega would break the silence and ask anyone close to him: ]

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE GIVES A LIFE VALUE?

[cannotunravel]

Their relationships with other people.

[Misane doesn't hesitate when answering that]

[latinumsbetter]

[Quark is going to be at the bar. Despite having two more people behind the bar, he is running around just as much as always. Fritz is there, as is Critwo. The former is tucked under the bar, the latter is strapped to his back.

He does not stop, and he does not sit down. If he notices that someone is not showing up, he will go and find them. No avoiding socialization this time.]

[eeeonetwothree]

[ Omega observes Quark, and observes: ]

QUARK, YOU HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE RAISING YOUNG CHILDREN, HAVE YOU NOT? YOUR BEHAVIOR IS SIMILAR TO MY ALLY CREAM THE RABBIT’S PARENTAL UNIT.

[necromants]

[Zvei is only at the afterparty for a short time. He spends a bit of time holding up one of the walls and watching everyone; you're welcome to approach him if you'd like. He seems to be deep in thought, but for once he doesn't have his nose buried in a book of some kind. His expression is the usual smile, though, despite everything today has been.

After obtaining two glasses of wine, he ditches the afterparty entirely for the library. He has a feeling a certain someone will find him here, after all. It's quieter, and far enough out of the way that people are unlikely to wander in here. Of course, if you aren't who he's looking for, he's just sitting here with a second wine glass but like. That's fine, probably? Regardless, he'll hold up a hand in greeting.]

Not feeling up to spending time with the others tonight?

[And if you are the person in question... Well.]

I did say I'd return the favor, didn't I?

[taintedfayth]

[After their agreement, it's really no surprise that the person Zvei is hoping to see is the person who shows up where they'd first made that very agreement.

What may be something of a surprise, however, is the way his expression actually looks somewhat drawn for once, a marked change from his demeanor after the previous two trials. That's in no small part why he's here rather than at the afterparty proper-- there's no need to put up a front around someone who has already seen him without it and hasn't judged him for it.

And so he sits down across from Zwei, letting out a breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding in.]

And glad I am for it after today.

[Boy, he could use that glass of wine, that's for certain. (It may not be his first tonight, but details.)]

cw: panic, breathing issues

[murchada]

[as instructed, Cerejeira is indeed behind the bar. she's holding up... okay, after all of that. though at times you can spot her looking a little shaky, it passes quickly enough. she has a drink, takes a breath. refocuses.]

Hey.

...So, what'll it be?

[sparkling personality, at your service.

...the crash happens later. she goes to take a walk and get some air, ending up at the gardens. she's trying to focus on the greenery, the vegetables, some of the flowers popping up in places. it works for a little bit.

truthfully, she doesn't know when she ends up on her knees in the dirt, buckling over, shaking. at some point, that's just how she finds herself, breaths coming out too fast and not quite right. she almost thinks the chill all around her means Snow is still here, somehow. but the dark clouds, the frost forming over the plantlife? that's all her.]

[eeeonetwothree]

[ Omega sees the stormclouds and comes running, bristling to fight, thinking something is amiss…only to find Cerejeira on the ground, shaking, breathing ragged. He does a quick scan and is immediately alarmed. ]

CEREJEIRA. MY READINGS INDICATE YOU ARE IN A STATE OF PANIC. CAN I-

[ He thinks twice…and lowers the volume. ]

-Can I assist in any way?

[pariunt]

[It’s clear week after week of this is starting to get to Astarion. He sits at the bar brooding for a while, though he doesn’t actually seem interested in drinking. After the first week, he stopped making a big deal of how he gets his sustenance. So far, he hasn’t lost his food supply, so there’s been no reason to make a big deal of it. But he doesn’t stay in the bar long, changing locations to stargaze in the gardens. Anyone who approaches him here will get him to acknowledge them.]

I despise what Snow White did, but trying to outrun the whims of a master… I understand that.

A pity.

[Even later, he can be found in the library reading. It seems like he’s found a book from his own world, by how carefully he’s reading it.]

[eeeonetwothree]

[ Omega’s first instinct is to yell about how he opposed his master and will destroy his creator…but thinks better of it, deciding tonight is time to listen. ]

YOU HAD A MASTER? WERE YOU EVER ABLE TO ESCAPE?

[markofnobility]

[Ferdinand is here, and 100% looks a bit butt-mad when Quark demotes him to dabo boy status. But he is Ferdinand von Aegir!! And he will take it seriously. Anyone who comes to play away their sorrows in fact does see him without his jacket and gloves with a bit of cleavage peeking- hair in a half twist to expose some SAUCY NECK.

Oh, if he wasn't already going there for warring on the Church this for sure would be sending him to Ailell. Oh well, might as well after the per-marital hand-holding of the day before. And he even remembers to take bets!! He learned at least one lesson.

After the bar starts closing down for the night he heads out into the darkness of the outdoor area to walk and think, eventually using Derick to get onto top of the living quarters to lounge on the roof and stare up at the stars. He doesn't retire at all that night, flying down to tend to the horses at dawn.]

Go Dabo Boy Go

[yourheroine]

[At some point Aoi comes to bring Ferdinand some water, and being her, she of course notices how saucy he's dressed.]

Your fanservice outfit looks good!

[catsgothistongue]

[Ranma's at his station behind the grill and stove the nanosecond he's given the order to. Burying himself into whipping up meals that can stave off the sad vibes. He doesn't make a lot, something scant like omurice and champon. When set, he'll be going around like a dutiful garçon to serve people who look like they could use some food in their bellies.]

Eat up!

[Later on, when he's granted his five-minute break of sole chef/waiter, Ranma'll be seated on the counter. Bowl of champon in his lap, he looks deep in thought while absentmindedly pushing around the noodles and veggies in the broth with his utensil.]

Why'd she have t' give up like that...?

[A question he's asking to nobody but himself, for the most part. His mind can't wrap around someone giving in for what felt like a bogus motive for such a stupid reason...]

[eeeonetwothree]

[ Omega is there, suddenly, behind Ranma. ]

WHY DID WHO GIVE UP, RANMA SAOTOME?

[fillets]

[ Once again, Riful takes a while to show up to the afterparty! This time, however, she's a lot closer at hand than last week, because she immediately heads to the kitchen. Once she sees that it's just Ranma in there, she decides she doesn't care about stealth. She starts dropping blood bags (or pouring blood?? truly no idea how they store it here) into a random empty amphora that was lying around, carries that random amphora all the way back to her room, and stays in there for a good long while! You probably do not want to check in on her!

At the afterparty proper, she's... well, she's how she always is. Polite, smiling, amicable—entirely detached from any emotional response. The one new feature is a glass of a ~mysterious opaque red liquid~ at the bar in front of her, because this is apparently how she's chosen to softlaunch the people eating. The bird also shows up and may peck you as a conversational opener! ]

I never did ask if she wanted you back, did I...? Oh well.

[ And late at night, in the forest... well, you're probably asleep, and you're probably not interested in venturing into the woods at night. But if you're not, and you're quick enough to approach before you're noticed, you might hear the sound of something moving through the trees like wind, if wind were a material presence that was also big and fast. Don't worry about it. ]

[eeeonetwothree]

[ Omega just stands there as the bird pecks him. ]

INTERESTING. IT IS STILL ACTIVE EVEN THOUGH SNOW WHITE IS GONE.

[sweetsynergy]

What the uncanny fuck do you take me for, I always have coffee.

[And MAKE COFFEE SHE DOES. She's actually taking a more active role this time, sliding in behind the bar and playing barista for people. Options are pretty limited given that she's still working with what's available in the kitchen, but she's making as good a coffee as someone can expect with a slightly broken drip maker.]

[She can occasionally be heard muttering as she works, and- it's really not hard to tell what about.]

-show HER a pathetic squabbling bottom-

[But really, that could be about anyone.]

[Later on, once things have wound down, she's outside, at the cliffs. Reaching out and pressing a hand to the barrier trapping everyone, pushing at different points.]

Got to be SOME way through...

kitchen

[letsplayamod]

[Hi, Vanity.

You have a little furry companion in a pink dress watching you while making coffee. She sits on the stove instead of floating, watching curiously.]

[cannotunravel]

[Misane is at the afterparty, and truthfully...she seems a little frustrated. When she talks to someone, after the usual exchange checking how they're feeling, she says:]

If you feel as much despair as Snow White did, please tell someone. Don't let it take root into you like that.

[Really, people, talk with others, it's nice]

[stringup]

[ Velvet finds herself thinking that probably she would've benefited from hearing this years ago. Now? ...Well, it's still good. ]

I think it's a little late for that. [ She says this quite casually. ]

—Ah, not to say that I'm despairing right now, though.

[raisethemoon]

[ Luna, as bid, attends the afterparty. As usual, she stands and leans forward against the bar with her drink. This is starting to become rather horribly routine.

After she's stepped outside to raise the moon, she sits on the cliffs and looks up at it for a while. She's tracing idle shapes in the dirt, something like a large billowing cloud. With a hooftip, she starts to poke dots on the inside of it. ]

One wonders if I should have considered my greatest shame more closely...

[ No one has asked her about what she confessed on Tuesday. She isn't sure if it's because they genuinely somehow do not care, or if they were all just entirely off-put. But, thinking on what Snow said - how can Luna not be just as ashamed? Is she not also a princess? Is it not also her failure, that they are all still here? ]

[eeeonetwothree]

[ Oh hey, it’s Omega. ]

PRINCESS LUNA. YOUR GREATEST SHAME…YOU MEAN THE INCIDENT THAT LED TO YOU BEING TRAPPED IN THE MOON?