we're not coming home 'til he's dead

[athleticallyinclined]

[ And he's dead.

The Beast is dead, and Gaston is celebrating. Immediately after the trial he goes to the dining room to decorate, using ideas from Louis' Mardi Gras party, various weddings he's attended, and his own hunting lodge as inspiration. There are candles on the centers of the tables, colorful banners and streamers draped around the room, and of course, antlers on the walls. The tables have tablecloths and real plates and cutlery. The only food available is meat, eggs, and beer, of course, but there's no shortage of any of it, and the meat at least smells amazing.

It's all surprisingly tasteful? At least until you look up to the banner above the buffet table. ]

HAPPY BEAST DEATH DAY

[ And in smaller letters underneath: ]

THANK YOU PRINCE KIT FOR YOUR SACRIFICE

[ Everyone gets personalized, handwritten invitations shortly after the trial.

𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒞𝑜𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝐼𝓃𝓋𝒾𝓉𝑒𝒹

𝒯𝑜 𝒶 𝑅𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓂𝒷𝓇𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐿𝒾𝒻𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝒫𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝒦𝒾𝓉

𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝒶 𝒞𝑒𝓁𝑒𝒷𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝑜𝒻 𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝐹𝓇𝑒𝑒𝒹𝑜𝓂 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝐵𝑒𝒶𝓈𝓉'𝓈 𝒪𝓅𝓅𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑔𝒾𝓂𝑒

𝒟𝒾𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑅𝑜𝑜𝓂

𝟩 𝒫𝑀

Comments

[stanbyme]

[He lets out a sigh he didn’t realize he was holding when her hand gently turns under his. He relaxes his hand so that their palms are touching more completely, curling his thumb around in a little hand hug, and hazards a tiny smile.]

...I’ll try and have a talk with Mabel and Soos, too.

[hasit]

[Leia, too, releases a breath, her shoulders losing some of their tension. He'd meant well, she knows; he'd been trying to protect his family. In any other circumstance, she'd have done the same. After all, she's a Skywalker. She inherited the 'too much' gene, too.

Her hand returns the squeeze, and though she's not exactly smiling, she's not frowning, either. Nor is she visibly angry.]

I'd appreciate that, Stanley.

[stanbyme]

[He nudges his fingers between hers.]

Especially Mabel. She’s got the spirit but her technique needs some work.

[hasit]

I...

[She pauses, stares at him for a moment, and then rolls her eyes, giving him a swat on the arm with her free hand.

God, she...

Hmm. Save that train of thought for later.]

Some things never change, do they.

[stanbyme]

[He can tell she’s not really mad because she hits him with her free hand instead of taking back the hand trapped by his. So he flinches away from her swatting him with a laugh, before sobering back down.]

Whaddya mean by that?

[hasit]

[She can't stay mad at him for long. It's a curse, or a blessing, she can't figure out which. But when her hand moves back, it's to cover his so it's sandwiched between both of hers.]

Just...you. You're always yourself. Always Stan. I...admire that.

[stanbyme]

[His other hand is still on the back of her chair. He raises her hands up so he can kiss the back of one of them, all thick whiskers and slightly chapped lips.]

Guess it was about time just being Stan came back to bite me in the ass, huh.

[hasit]

[That finally gets her to crack a smile; she makes a warm, soft sound in her chest, like a pleased hum.]

You know I wouldn't have it any other way.

[stanbyme]

I know.

[He leans in to nuzzle his big fat nose against her cheek.]

Still hoping you won’t up and develop taste on me one day. But til then I’ll take it.

[hasit]

[Leia huffs out a laugh, and when he pulls back she leans over to rest her cheek against his shoulder.]

Sweetheart, my taste in men is aged like a fine wine. It's not going anywhere.

[stanbyme]

[His expression goes soft when she leans on his shoulder, and he lets his free hand fall so that his arm is wrapped around her shoulders.]

Well, good, ‘cause at this point you’d break Mabel’s heart as much as you’d break mine.

[hasit]

I wouldn't want to do that to either of you.

[It's funny, thinking back three weeks or so, when she'd been vehemently denying that she even wanted this, telling herself it's a terrible idea. She still knows it isn't a great idea, but being with Stanley, feeling his arm curl protectively around her...

There's not much she'd trade that for, these days.]

[stanbyme]

[He smiles, one thumb rubbing her shoulder and the other rubbing her hand.]

Hey, on the bright side, don’t think he’ll be in much of a hurry to square up with me again anytime soon.

[hasit]

If he does I'll take my turn.

[She's sort of joking, but she has already punched him in the jaw once, and she'd be lying if she said it hadn't felt damn good.]

[stanbyme]

That I’d pay to see.

[hasit]

You must have missed it the other day, then.

[She rubs her knuckles thoughtfully.]

He called me a 'withered old hag.' I wasn't about to let that slide.

[stanbyme]

You’d think he’d’a started learning his lesson about respecting his elders by now.

[He grins at her.]

Now I’m sad I missed it. You’re stunning when you’re mad at someone who ain’t me.

[hasit]

One can only hope.

[She rolls her eyes, smiling at him.]

Thank you, Stanley. There aren't many people who can find a bright side to my anger.

[stanbyme]

You’re all fulla bright sides, Starshine.

[hasit]

You think so?

[She eyes him, eyes twinkling, and lets her head rest back on his shoulder.]

I've found a pretty big bright side, myself.

[stanbyme]

[He chuckles.]

All I ever been is a mirror, sweetcheeks.

[hasit]

[She can't help but roll her eyes at that, because it's a cheesy line, but it also says a lot about how Stan views himself. Mabel's words at the trial, about him saving the world, the universe...That had spoken volumes to her about how much he's downplaying himself.]

That's a terrible line. [She leaves it at that, turning to kiss him on the cheek before rising from her seat.]

I'm getting more wine. Would you like anything?

[stanbyme]

[He brings a hand up to the spot that she kissed, fingers touching his cheek like he can hold the shape of her kiss there a few moments longer. When she stands, he leans his elbow on the table, propping his cheek in his hand.]

Nah, I'll go grab a soda from the kitchen while you're up. 'Preciate the offer, though, kitten.

[hasit]

[He wonders if he even realizes he's doing that; she hopes he doesn't, and she doesn't intend to point it out, in case he stops.]

Suit yourself. I'll be back.

[Except she won't. Because Molly.]