darling, it's better down where it's wetter, take it from me

[anasty]

Your invitation under the door comes handwritten in varying calligraphic, but complimenting scripts:

Our remembrance takes place at the pool this evening.

Accensa domo proximi, tua quoque periclitatur.

Don’t antagonize the eels.


The ambient light around the aqua centerpiece of the water is golden, thanks to what appears to be small will-o-wisps hovering strategically placed on the outskirts. Don’t try to touch them - they burn. Inside the water, there are indeed a pair of dark blue eels swimming around... but they're at the deepest reaches, at least?

Reigning over it all is a makeshift banner, comprised of several notebook pages taped together. In a careful calligraphy script:


ACTA EST FABULA, PLAUDITE!

There are three tables.

The first is food. There is first and foremost a decadent spread of fresh and dried fruit, as well as raw vegetables by some dip. Some delectable varieties of bread have been provided by Belle and are accompanied by some jam and cheese. For those that don’t want to put anything together, there are also triangles of monte cristo sandwiches from Oswald's suggestions. There is a simple, folded piece of paper acting as placard. The same elegant inking is there, if much more subtle: Consummatum est.

The second is drinks, the division between alcoholic and non-alcoholic made by another folded paper placard: Bibere venenum in auro. The alcoholic section is a variety of cocktails, but particularly a copious amount of wine pilfered from the Tip Top bar. The non-alcoholic side is predictably soda, water, and juice. There are also a few pots of brewed tea from Belle - get them while they're hot!

The final table sports every swimsuit that coat check and the pool room had to offer, along with sunglasses ( for what? Why, style of course ). The placard reads: Fortunae naufragium.

It may be a bit more lavish than Ratigan’s party, but there is one key difference - it’s all self-serve.

Comments

[greatwidesomewhere]

I...have to agree.

[Her mouth twists ruefully.]

I wish it were easier for all of us to get along. It feels like perhaps we have a lot of...strong personalities. But it's good to know I'm not the only one trying to keep us all together.

[anasty]

[ She gives her translation, bluntly: ]

We have a lot of imbeciles mixed in with foul tempers.

[ Her gaze is up now, curious on Belle. ]

And Kylo Ren is two for two. Whatever do you see in that boy?

[greatwidesomewhere]

That's perhaps harsher than I would have put it, but...yes.

[Startled, Belle blinks up at Ursula, feeling heat rise to her face.]

I'm not...sure I know what you mean.

[anasty]

That's because you're a naturally kind person, Belle. For some of us, that sort of behavior has to be learned... or earned.

And Ren's certainly never done anything for anyone so far as I've seen, save try to flap the Narrator's unflappable mystique. Yet time and again I've seen you continue to treat him kindly despite his churlish manner.

Is there something you've seen from him that the rest of us haven't?

[greatwidesomewhere]

[The compliments hardly phase her; perhaps it's that there's not much genuineness in the tone behind them. But she'll still smile and bob her head in thanks.

Hands clasped together, Belle bows her head to study them for a moment.]

There are moments that make me think he might actually have some kindness in him. Despite all his blustering, and his threatening looming...I believe he is good at heart.

[However misguided that may actually be.]

[anasty]

[ It's because while Ursula means what she says, she doesn't mean it as a compliment. There's no real warmth to what she says, but she's not putting on the sort of affectation she usually does, either. Perhaps the culmination of events and her efforts tonight have drained her and she is simply... honest. Tired. Drunk?

She frowns, puzzled, arching a brow. ]

Why?

[greatwidesomewhere]

[Slowly, Belle shakes her head, unable to properly explain.]

I don't know. Perhaps it's that...he reminds me of someone else I knew. Someone who was coarse, and unrefined...and turned out to be kind and gentle when given half the chance.

[anasty]

Hmm...

[ Having finished gathering up the ham, Ursula sets the plate atop the stack that Belle built and gathers it all up in her arms. Her tentacles go to work then, gathering up the ends of the tablecloth. The fact that it looks like she's going to create one giant snatchel for the remaining food becomes apparent pretty quickly to anyone paying attention. ]

He does seem to defer to you often, so perhaps you're right.

[ The edge of her mouth curls knowingly. ]

But then, I suppose it helps you're also an attractive young lady. Men often do find a soft spot for a pretty face.

[greatwidesomewhere]

[That's...weird of you, Ursula. Belle doesn't question it; she can only assume that the sea witch is going to toss the scraps to her pets over in the pool.

Her cheeks flush a little more pink, and she shakes her head demurely.]

Oh, I—I'm sure that's not the reason...

[anasty]

Oh? And just what makes you so sure? Are you an expert in the desires of men?

[ Now she does look amused. ]

Or do you just hope that isn't the case?

[greatwidesomewhere]

I—no! I'm not...unused to men looking at me in a certain way. But the way Kylo regards me...

[She sighs.]

That very well could be, I admit. But he also doesn't seem the type to be swayed by something like a woman.

[anasty]

[ Her eyebrows arch. ]

You're attracted to him!

[ Now she's grinning. ]

Perhaps that's what you're not used to, hmm?

[greatwidesomewhere]

No—!

[This is not going well and she does not like this conversation.]

No, I merely find him...interesting. If you must know, I lost another too recently to even have such thoughts.

[anasty]

[ That takes her a bit aback. It definitely makes the grin fall flat. ]

Well! [ This is awkward. She looks at a loss for a moment. ] ...I had no idea. I hope you can forgive me for making such an... insensitive mistake. That wasn't my intention.

[ Ow ow ow ow. ]

Truth be told, I'm not sure I could have managed all of this without your help. And when I saw the two of you arguing earlier...

[greatwidesomewhere]

It's alright. You had no way of knowing. It was...right before we came here, you see.

[And the thing is, Ursula isn't necessarily wrong...but Belle isn't going to tell her that. A convenient omission.

Her shoulders shrug.]

It was nothing. Just a disagreement over the best way to deal with our host.

[anasty]

Let me guess. You told him to stop trying to get himself killed by antagonizing Rod and he refused.

[greatwidesomewhere]

That's...almost exactly it.

[anasty]

It makes me wonder where he's from, and who he was there, that a man could lack fear the way he does. It can't all be a temper.

[ Having finished bundling up the food on the table, Ursula sets the satchel on the ground. With the table free and clear, she sets the plate of meat scraps on it and holds the rest of them to out Belle. ]

If you'll take what you can to the kitchen, I'll take the rest.

[greatwidesomewhere]

He told me he comes from among the stars...up in the heavens. Of the rest, I have no idea. He hasn't exactly been forthcoming.

[Nodding, Belle takes what she can, and starts toward the door, laden with empty dishes and garbage.]

Thank you...for arranging all of this.

[anasty]

[ Ursula follows her, baring up the food and garbage with every arm and tentacle, save the three she left free for the task of dragging the tremendous weight of it all along.

To that end, it's difficult to tell if her grimace comes from the effort or Belle's thanks. ]

After everything those girls did... I only wish I could have done more.

But here, even my powers are limited.

[ She snaps her fingers as she says so, and one by one, every will-o-wisp light in the pool room begins to wink out. ]

[greatwidesomewhere]

[She bobs her head in agreement, wishing she wasn't talking about Thalia's death. Thalia's sacrifice...and for what?

It's all too much to think about right now. So she'll focus on the snapping of Ursula's fingers instead.]

What can you do normally?

[anasty]

You name it, sweet cakes. A better question would be what couldn't I do!

[ Aw here it goes, Belle. Fortunately, not even Ursula can make wielding garbage into something glamorous, so she doesn't break into song.

She does seem to have gained an extra sense of bravado to help her move it along, however. ]

I'm the most powerful witch in the seven seas!

[greatwidesomewhere]

['Sweet cakes' what the hell—

But a witch? That's...interesting.]

Really? Like...like an enchantress?

[anasty]

Witch, sorceress, enchantress, they're all just different names for the same concept - a woman with the power of magic.

[ But she's curious, glancing at her. ]

Have you dealt with an enchantress before?

[greatwidesomewhere]

I see...

[She returns the curious glance with a tiny nod.]

Yes—although I never met her. I merely saw her handiwork.