all that glitters is gold [AFTERPARTY]

[sixfingeredstan]

[It's been a very long, and very upsetting morning, and honestly, Ford is feeling goddamn drained. All the events of the day have hit him like a ton of bricks. And as much as he wants nothing more than to sleep for about a week...well. There's work to do.

After talking it over with Fiddleford, his first mission is hitting the kitchen and scraping together all the eggs, potatoes, and onions he can find. It takes him a good few hours, but eventually he's got five big casserole dishes full of kugel, steaming hot, fresh out of the oven. He stacks up a big pile of plates, forks, and serving utensils and carries it all into the lounge in trips.

Next is the business of the still. Between the two of them, the two Fords manage to get it into the lounge and set it up on a table where it's easy to access. Ford also pilfers a big glass jug of apple juice for the kids and puts it nearby. All the adults are free to partake of a cup of Fiddleford's sugar shine. They'll be needing it, tonight.

Lastly, are the notes. Ford writes them all out in his neat, block lettering, and slips one under each door—pausing at the doors of the deceased with a sad frown each time.

The lounge is quiet while they wait for everyone to arrive, save for the sounds of banjo music....

Comments

[sixfingeredstan]

I won't. There are...some things I'd like to say to you.

[He comes in and closes the door, leaning heavily against it.]

I want to....well. That's to say—I'd like to apologize. For accusing you.

[ilovepuppies]

[She visibly tenses, hugging the pillow tighter.]

You were all gonna vote for me.

[And the ghosts would pull her on stage and make fun of her before they... who knows, tore her limb from limb or electrocuted her or hanged her.]

[sixfingeredstan]

No, of—of course not. You have to understand, we needed to explore every possibility. And with your history of...

[FUCKING AROUND IN THE SEANCE ROOM]

Dabbling in the occult, it was an avenue we had to go down, regrettably.

[ilovepuppies]

I could handle it! I fight monsters all the time! It's what I do!

If I ever summoned anything it'd have to go through me first before it ever got close to any of you.

[sixfingeredstan]

I don't doubt that. [He sort of does.] But I know better than anyone how quickly things can get out of hand. And I just...we weren't accusing you. Fiddleford didn't mean for that to happen. We wanted to clear your name so we could move on. That's all.

[ilovepuppies]

That's not what it felt like.

[Guess who's stubborn and doesn't want to stop being mad at you, Ford.]

[sixfingeredstan]

I know. [He lets out a rough hiss of breath.] I know. Look...

[This is so hard when you've got an ego the size of Mount Saint Helens.]

I know you and I got off on a rough start, but...that doesn't mean I would send you to your death at the drop of a hat.