and after the party it's the AFTER PARTY

[likemypicture]

[Tradition is Tradition.

Anne figures it's best to keep everyone busy in the aftermath of the trial, so she wrangles together a team of Mephisto, Santana, and Stephen to help her set up. Mephisto writes the notes and slides them under the door for Nana, Steven, and Christine, letting them know there's food and people in the dining room. The handwriting's not too great. Christine's note contains a 'P.S. If you don't feel up to it, I'll bring some food by later.' from Anne and a little doodle of Tad Cooper.


Thankfully, Anne has help setting up, so the weirdest of her food experiments don't make their way out of the kitchen. However, her platter of sandwiches does contain some interesting surprises--- you may find cheese and jelly, or peanut butter and chicken. There are normal things there too, though! And Biscuits, courtesy of Mephisto.

Their resident therapy dragon is on duty, too. Anne's made him a tiny crown for the event, and a regal little cape. He sits on a pillow in the middle of the dining room table, reigning proudly. ]

Comments

[likemypicture]

[She seems happy enough that he took the juice, and busies her hands with feeding Tad Cooper delicious pieces of lettuce.]

... You want to talk about it? Or wait for later?

[37773972]

[Talk about what, he almost asks. Not necessarily to pretend nothing's wrong, but...he takes a drink, closing his eyes]

...about what part? Where I couldn't figure out how to ask Christine if she had an active SQUIP, or where I threatened Jeremy?

[likemypicture]

I was more thinking about the Phantom. [The other things sound heartless to bring up now—- much less ever.]

[37773972]

[Oh.

That.

He's. Quiet for a few moments, looking in to the glass. Then he sets it down and holds up his hands. They're healing, but they're still bandaged.]

Christine's not the only one who met with the Phantom. It hurt to hold a pen for long, earlier in the week- so I asked if he could give me five minutes. It wasn't face to face...but we talked.

[likemypicture]

Did he accuse you of wanting to stab him too? [Its a joke. Anne’s joking. Mostly. But her tone implies it’s a joke at least.]

Was it... bad?

[37773972]

[A light snort]

I told him upfront I wasn't going to bullshit and try to be his friend, but- he seemed to appreciate that. I still thought, maybe, I could understand a little more about him. Why he was doing this.

[He looks towards her]

I wasn't trying to hide any of it- I even brought it up at the meeting, sort of. But then, with everything else...

[likemypicture]

Ja—- I know. It’s alright. [She does laugh a little at the part about not pretending to be his friend, though]

I invited him, the other night. He accused me of plotting to stab him. When I told him I’m not the stabbing type, he still said no. It was probably a good choice, but I didn’t want to hear anything about not treating him the same as other people.

He is... a very strange, very sad man. I do not understand being hurt and turning that hurt into more hurt.

[37773972]

[He seems to relax a little as she reassures him that she knows, apparently having been worried about that. And her talk about stabbing- it makes his lips quirk a bit, not quite a smile, but. Something.]

He says this will be worth it. That he could bring back the dead, given a reason.

But what reason is good enough for all this, in the first place?

[likemypicture]

He said it wasn’t his idea. That he agreed because the.... wizard? treated him the same as anyone else.

None of it makes sense.

[37773972]

I'd sure love to meet this wizard and ask him some questions.

[likemypicture]

I’d sure love to have their head removed from their body- isn’t that terrible? Someone I never even met!

[37773972]

You don't need to have met someone to know they deserve something. Considering what they've done to us? Forced us to do to each other?

[likemypicture]

It has been terrible— I won’t say they don’t deserve it. I am just.... I normally am not the sort of person to have those kinds of wishes, or thoughts.

[37773972]

I'll have them for the both of us. How's that?

[likemypicture]

[Now it’s her time to give a snort.]

You have enough. What I was trying to say, is—- I get angry, too, Stephen.

[37773972]

[Hmh...but...there's a wry, self-depreciating smile.]

It's hard to imagine you angry, honestly.

[likemypicture]

It’s a quiet anger, but it’s still there. I felt angry when Henry offered a divorce. I felt angry being brought here, against my will. I felt angry when I saw Richard’s body.

[37773972]

[The last one...he nods. Upset is one thing, but anger, though, with Anne...]

...I didn't know why I got so angry with the SQUIP until I thought about it, before you came. [He tilts his half-downed glass of orange juice, watching the liquid slide along the walls of the glass] I think...I hate the idea that I've been manipulated.

[That he's been a pawn.]

[likemypicture]

It’s not a great feeling. [She knows a thing or two about being a pawn. She rips off a piece of sliced tomato and offers it to Tad Cooper, who makes a bit of a mess with it.]

It is frustrating—- but all we can do is make the best with what we are given in each moment.

[37773972]

[He'll just reach out and see if Tad is okay with a scritch]

Maybe you can share some of that patience with me?

[likemypicture]

Of course! You're just lucky to not be subjected to my mother's brand of princess patience making.

It was a lot of sitting in silence and 'praying'. And when I got married, not being able to speak English helped a lot.