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

[37773972]

[At that question...at that raw exhaustion...this time, Stephen doesn't resist it. He can't. Words aren't coming, and instead, it's a feeling- a raw feeling in his own core.]

Even if the sky does fall
Even if they take it all
There's no pain that I won't go through
Even if I have to die for you

[Perhaps, once, Mephisto wanted this in another way; to use him. But now? Stephen offers it freely.]

[heathencall]

[Mephisto's fingers tighten against Stephen's shoulders. It's enough to be painful, even if he doesn't realize it. Something awful rips through him. Something painful, worse than the chemicals and glass that had maimed him. Close, perhaps equal (though not the same as) to what he felt as Riley fell.]

No. Without you -- [His throat tightens. He could stop here. He could take a step back from this one weakness.]

One day the earth will open wide
And I'll follow you inside
Cause the only hell I know is without you

[He breathes -- ragged, dangerously close to trembling.]

The people here. They are the only ties I have to whatever fragile humanity I have found. I would rather die than know what it feels like to lose it.

[37773972]

Then don't.

[He brushes the backs of his fingers against Mephisto's cheek. For a moment, he thinks about bringing up how he's still ready to die, but- no. That's the opposite of helpful right now. Instead, he studies Mephisto's face, his own heart twisting within him as he understands just what Mephisto- just what he means to the other.

...he can't die. It would- it would break him. Stephen's heart nearly breaks at the thought, and his voice trembles just a bit as he sings again-]

And if the sun grows cold for you along the way
And if the stars don't line to light the way
And when you fall away and crash back down below
I'll search the skies for you and I'll follow
I'll be in your afterglow
And I'll bring you home

[And he leans forwards, eyes flickering up towards Mephisto's own- but he doesn't quite press their lips together - just their foreheads]

If anyone could lead us out of here- you could, Mephisto. And- if the Phantom meant what he said about bringing one person back, then he could bring everyone back. We just need to find a reason for him to do it. Something to trump whatever that Wizard's promised him.

[heathencall]

Not alone.

[He closes his eyes, lets himself enjoy this warmth. It's different with every soul he's come to care for, come to love. With Stephen, there's the faintest glimmer of hope there. If he can just keep hold of it for a few moments longer -- ]

We have been trying to go it alone, or just as adults, all this time. No more. I... do not want to put the weight of the world on children's shoulders, but we need their help. We need Nana's strength and Christine's spontaneity just as much as we need Steven's optimism and Santana's cynicism.

[He swallows and leans back, but only far enough to stare Stephen down.]

For all my loathing of the fragile bonds between humanity, it is your greatest strength. Our greatest strength. And there are more bonds between us than there are between the Phantom and this Wizard. We just have to... exploit that.

[37773972]

[He's quiet at that. He doesn't want to put weight on the kids, that much is clear, but...Mephisto has a point. Nana is strong. Christine, Steven, Santana...

Eyes drop down, and then, after what seems like an eternity, come back up.]

I wish there was another way.

[heathencall]

As do I. But we've tried everything else, haven't we?

[His sigh is heavy. Weary.]

We'll figure it out.

[37773972]

...we will. For them.

[For themselves, too. And now he leans in, hesitantly.]

[heathencall]

[There's no hesitation now. He leans forward, kiss careful and tender, if a little clumsy. He's still not quite familiar with all of this gentleness and sentiment.]