How could this happen? (afterparty)

[folkscallmewander]

[Wander has reeled back from this execution faster than Mulan's. This murder wasn't an accident, but it was still terrible all around, and it wouldn't have happened under normal circumstances. Knowing that Tadashi planned this out made it...a bit better, but it still made something awful eat at his stomach.

Speaking of which, everyone needed to eat something light today. Right after the trial, he heads to the kitchen and prepares twenty bowls of fruit salad and mixes together ingredients for chocolate chip cookies. While they're cooling off, he slides a note under everyone's rooms.]



There's fruit in the lounge, cookies coming soon. We should stick together, especially after this.

♥ Wander

Comments

[folkscallmewander]

That's amazin'... [Wander whispers as he faces the sculptures. Even after all this, he is floored by these neat powers.]

How long do they last?

[defyingfrigidity]

For as long as I will them to. As long as my magic holds up, so will they.

[folkscallmewander]

[As long as...then he doesn't have to worry about the food melting the ice sculptures into something unrecognizable. He learns over to tap the plate closer to Sophie's things.]

I was worried for a sec that I was gonna ruin them for you. Wouldn't want that to happen, huh?

[crisis averted, no panicking tonight.]

[defyingfrigidity]

[Elsa... makes a sound like she might be trying to laugh, but it just comes out as a sort of huff.]

Usually it's the other way around. I'd have to worry about my ice ruining everything.

[folkscallmewander]

I feel you there, Elsa. [A forced smile. Helping people leads to disastrous consequences at times, but. It all works out in the end, generally. And it's not like Wander has heoric superpowers like Elsa.]

But you're doin' a lot of good with your ice here. These sculptures, makin' ice cream, anythin' your imagination lets you.

[defyingfrigidity]

Ice cream... I never thought of doing that before. I could make shaved ice, if I had the flavors on-hand, but ice cream...? I don't think so.

[folkscallmewander]

It's just ice with cream, right? So long as we keep it cold while mixin', should be fine.

[It will be a lot of hard work, but Wander is willing to do that if it means making the others happy.]

[defyingfrigidity]

I suppose that does seem very easy to make... though it seems almost too simple.

[Maybe, if recent events hadn't happened, she'd experiment a bit with that. But she had to be so careful while she was doing this memorial that she didn't really trust herself to work with any kind of food and NOT ruin it.]

[folkscallmewander]

Sometimes, things are much simpler that you think they. Heaven knows I overthink stuff all the time!

[Was she there during his panic attack? Wander wasn't able to focus on the people that weren't holding him as he recovered. If she didn't, he has no reason to bring up that episode.]

I've helped make ice cream before, all I need is enough ice to keep the cream cold. And sugar and flavor and time, but I can work on that part.

[defyingfrigidity]

[Another sorta-huff.]

Is there anything you can't do, Wander?

[folkscallmewander]

Well...I can't beat up Watchdogs and bad guys like Sylvia does. I can't build a portal to other dimensions like Ford, or a mechanic genius like Fiddles. And I certainly can't make ice like you, and I'm not a good artist like Lavender. [Wait no one else gave her that nickname.] Anna Sasaki, I mean. I'm not brave like Lefou or strong-willed like Star to really stand up to Ghostave. I can't keep it together like Kiara does, and I'm sure I'm no hero like Maui.

[Those people are the real amazing ones. They go out and have their special skills to bring to the world, and Wander is here to guide them on realizing their potential.

He fiddles with his fingers.] Me? I'm just here if y'all ever need any help.

[defyingfrigidity]

But there are much more important things thsn fighting or being a warrior. Listening to others, trying to bring them hope... that's what everyone needs the most right now. You're the most important of us now, I think.

[folkscallmewander]

[Wander isn't sure how to take that. He understands that Elsa appreciates his help, and it's true that looking into the future with a smile can be a powerful thing. Everyone just needs a reminder here and there to remain optimistic. Heaven knows that it's difficult, Wander has struggled with it before he became the alien he is today.

It's. It's a strength.]

I'm doin' what I think is needed. I don't want anyone to feel so down they don't wanna go outside their room, but I don't think it's fair to call me the most important. All of us are!

[defyingfrigidity]

But without anyone to encourage them or keep their spirits up, people will give in to despair.

[Like she did, when she was still just a child. Like she has now, with her beloved sister dead and gone.]

You're keeping the others together now. I would call that quite important.

[folkscallmewander]

...Thanks.

[What else is he supposed to say to a gentle compliment like that? Most folks give a big speech about how he and Sylvia saved them, not a private discussion on why his optimism is important. Sylvia says in in her own way - silent, implied, spoken through her actions and care.

It feels weird to have it so blatantly stated.]

But don't you think you're not important for one second, either. I can see you're a smart, focused lady who knows how to keep her cool.

[defyingfrigidity]

[... Elsa can't even muster up the shadow of a laugh at that.]

You couldn't be farther from the truth with that.

[folkscallmewander]

...I try to see the best of folks. And that's what I see in you.

[Elsa doesn't deserve to feel like this, she doesn't deserve any of this.]

[defyingfrigidity]

[She just shakes her head.]

I think you're seeing things wrong. I'm not focused ; I have no idea what to even do now without Anna. I don't see how we can get out of here, I can't... see how anything will work out anymore.

[It's not even some explosive speech. Just... a tired, halfhearted mess.]

I understand what you want to do, Wander, but the others could use it more than I do.

[folkscallmewander]

[He turns to the memorial, knees tucked under his chin. This is why he's talking to Elsa, she especially needs all the support she can get. It hurts him seeing her on the floor and mentally hiding herself away from the others as if she were...helpless. Small and scared and unable to do anything.

More than anything, Wander understands how that feels and how sickening it is to see someone else go through it. He wants to jump up and find whoever is behind this, tell them that Elsa out of all people shouldn't deserve this.

He should have been the one to go inside the attic first. If it were for Anna's life and Elsa's smile, he would jump back in time, open the door, talk to the ghost, and hope that his friends would come to the rescue quickly enough.]

I'm sorry. [But ometimes, that all he really needs to say.]