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

[nobodyperfect]

[While he initially questions where Wander is getting paper for this, this week, Lea actually attends the afterparty. He's not in the mood for cookies, but he IS a teenage boy, so he's a little bit hungry.

When he gets to the lounge, he looks around a bit before grabbing an orange and plopping into a chair to peel it.]

[folkscallmewander]

[Once the food and plates are set out, Wander takes fruit bowl and a few of the warmest cookies onto a plate with flowers painted on the rim and sets them out by the memorials. The former for Mulan, the latter for Sophie. He would have to make Karolina's dish later on, but he's too tired today to do some heavy cooking. And he'll have to come up with something for Anna. He sits facing the offerings to departed friends with his knees tucked under his chin, thinking.

Afterwards, Wander returns to the lounge with scissors and a stack of stationery from the study. He sets a book on the floor, folding strips of paper into stars and dropping them into an empty jam jar.]

[chainbroke]

[ For the most part, Naminé sticks close to Lefou. But at some point during the gathering, she steals into the kitchen to prepare some tea for everyone. It's simple, very simple, and... well. It's the only thing she can really do. She wishes she could cook, but she's sure she'd make a mess out of anything she'd attempt anyway.

She flits in and out of the kitchen and lounge, fetching more hot water for tea when it runs low. There are as many tea bags as she can find, as well as enough cups for everyone. ]

[defyingfrigidity]

[Probably surprisingly, Elsa shows up not long after Wander sends out his notes. She's not really in the mood to be around people for too long, but... with Sophie dead, there's nobody to add to the little memorial list she'd set up. And Elsa, she just... she just can't leave it like that. Maybe it's out of some need to keep Sophie's memory alive, or something else, but either way, she heads right to where the list is pinned up. It's hard to keep her hands steady, but she tries as she writes three new names.

Princess Anna
Sophie Hatter
Tadashi Hamada

She wants to leave it at that. She's so utterly drained that she really doesn't want to do anything else, or even stay here much longer. But... Sophie had liked it when she set up her ice memorials for Karolina and Mulan - sculptures that were still there, set out beneath the paper. So... so she can do this. She has to.

It takes her a while to summon the focus needed for such precise work, but eventually she finishes her offerings; a twisting, swirling blue pattern around the edges of the memorial, an elegant pointed snowflake made out of diamond patterns, and another star - this one so pale blue it's almost white, to match silver hair - for Sophie. A small lumpy-looking snowman with an oversized nose, a goofy-looking reindeer, and... a small sculpture of Anna and Elsa ice-skating together in extreme detail for Anna.

Despite everything, she also leaves a small cat sculpture for Tadashi.

There's no pride or self-admiration when Elsa sits back to examine her work. Just a look of utter blankness, enhanced by the ever-growing shadows under her eyes.]

[chainbroke]

[ In-between her coming and going from kitchen to lounge, Naminé encounters Elsa. She hesitates--she isn't the one Elsa needs now, but... maybe it's worth a try. Even if Elsa ends up pushing her away, she has to at least try.

So Naminé approaches her with a cup of tea in hand, and she quietly holds it out for the taller blonde. ]

If... if you need something warm, here.

[folkscallmewander]

[Wander arrives at the memorial with a plate of cookies on hand to find three new additions to the gifts. The cookies were for Sophie, but there's someone else who could need one.

He holds a plate towards Elsa.]

[whistlenotchirp]

Don't suppose there's a smaller glass in those cabinets.

[He's gonna go ahead an not antognize people right now and especially not a young girl.]

[toogoodforhim]

[Lefou actually knows that there's a party this time, thanks to Namine reading Wander's note for him. And for the most part he stays close to her. He's not hungry, but he's curious about the fruit salad and he picks at a little bit on a plate.

When he's not with Namine, he's sitting down, in one of the chairs that he brought in for the wake, looking very Tired.

He needs coffee. Or ale. Or wine. Or something.]

[chainbroke]

Oh... I'm sorry, I didn't--

[ How could she forget how small he is. ]

I... I can look again.

[whistlenotchirp]

[Jiminy actually hadn't seen how the sculptures were made and had kind of assumed ghosts. Seeing it in person is a lot to take in, but he's considerably impressed.]

Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle. Not bad, not bad at all.

[whistlenotchirp]

[ohhhh darn did he upset her?]

Oh, it's quite all right. No need to run around for little ol' me.

[...He really hopes that didn't sound sarcastic.]

[chainbroke]

But... you would like some tea, too, wouldn't you?

[whistlenotchirp]

Sure, sure, but you've been standing up all day- I could just sit on the podium. No need for you to keep running around.

[folkscallmewander]

[Wander pokes his head from behind the side of the chair. You could have walked up like a normal person, Wander.]

Need help with that? [Points at the orange.]

[chainbroke]

It's no problem.

[ It's much more than her feet and legs that hurt. ]

I don't mind keeping myself busy, really.

[folkscallmewander]

[As Wander takes a break from folding paper stars, he stands up and searches the room for anyone that seems in need of assistance. Food. A person to talk to. He has to do something with himself.

That's how Lefou finds the orange alien standing in front of him and patting his leg.] Need a blanket? Ready to sleep? Tea?

[chainbroke]

[ It's not coffee, or alcohol, but Naminé brings over a cup of tea. She's got one of her own, and she takes her seat next to him. ]

I... hope it has enough sugar.

[defyingfrigidity]

[Sadly, the one Elsa really needs right now is dead and gone. But at the very least, she won't try and push Namine away.]

I appreciate the offer, truly, but I'm sure there are others who could use that more than I could.

[sixfingeredstan]

[At some point, Ford comes over and sits down beside Lefou, looking haggard. He glances over at the other man, and decides that attempting conversation is feasible.]

You look like I feel.

[Tired. and gay]

[chainbroke]

It's okay... I've been making hot water for everyone, so they should have enough.

[ As far as Naminé's concerned, Elsa really does need the tea. She hopes she'll accept it. ]

[whistlenotchirp]

[Ah.]

...And you're getting enough fruit salad and what have you for yourself?

[chainbroke]

[ Truth be told, she hasn't been able to stomach much aside from tea. She has had a bite or two of real food, so. ]

Yes... more than enough.

[ It's not a lie. Not really. ]

[toogoodforhim]

[The pat to his leg jolts him out of his middle-distance staring, but somehow he manages a smile.]

Long day. I'll...be okay.

[defyingfrigidity]

[Normally, Elsa would get a little flustered with compliments like that. And hey, she doesn't look put off by him approaching her, so that's something! But it just... sort of tugs at her, in a painful way she's sadly getting used to.]

Sophie liked it when I did this for Mulan and Karolina. I... I want to think she'd be happy if I did it for her as well.

[folkscallmewander]

[That is a lie and you know it. Wander thinks.]

You don't have to get up. I'll go grab somethin' for you and have a seat myself.