foolishmortals | all that glitters is gold [AFTERPARTY]

[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....

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[He feels for her, this poor little thing. She seems so hyperaware of herself, so hard on herself. He grew up in a very emotionally-stunted household; he gets it.]

We can't banish these thoughts from our mind. We can't run from them. But what we can do is remember that we can't change the past. We can only try to do better in the future. Do you know what I'm saying?

[ She nods, slowly. ]

I do. We should learn from the past, but... not dwell on it so much we lose ourselves in it.

That's precisely it. Don't be afraid to let yourself think about them. They need to be remembered. But we also have to keep moving forward.

I could never forget them.

... But I think they would want us to leave this place... don't you?

I do. And we will. We have to find a way.

[Especially with the Ghost Host gone...]

I think it'll be... much, much harder now. But, as long as everyone sticks together...

I hope we'll be able to find a way.

It will be difficult. But we're going to find a way to beat them at their game. We have to. Too many people have died...we can't let their loss be in vain.

[ She nods. ]

Everyone here deserves so much better. And... I know it's selfish, but I want to see the others' homes... Yours, especially.

I don't think that's selfish. Wanting to travel, wanting adventure...there's certainly nothing wrong with that, Naminé.

[He gives her a grin.] I'd love to show you my home. Take you monster hunting.

[ Her eyes widen a little. Even knowing what she is... It'll be hard to convince Naminé it's not selfish. ]

I... But, I need to get back to Kairi. To... make sure she becomes whole.

I don't know if it's fair to her to keep her waiting any longer.

But Naminé...

[Ford looks vaguely troubled.]

What about you? You ought to...do something nice for yourself. Something you'll enjoy. Especially after this...we all deserve it.

[ She wants to. She wants to so badly. ]

She's had to go on so long without a part of herself. I... I can't keep her waiting any longer than I have to, and going off to other worlds while Kairi waits...

It's not right.

[ That is to say... "It doesn't matter what I want." ]

[Naminé, that hurts him.]

But you...you're a person, too. And you deserve to go out and see the world if you want. Kairi...I don't know her, but I think she would understand that.

I... [ She hesitates. ] I'd like to at least ask her if it's okay to do that.

[ most likely scenario is kairi, riku, and sora wanting to come along ]

Well, that might be the polite way to do it. But...can you promise me something, Naminé?

A promise? I can try.

[Ford kneels down, only a little unsteady on his feet from the rum, and takes her by the shoulders.]

Please do something nice for yourself. Before you rejoin her. Anything at all.

[ She's just about to steady him that tiny bit, when... ]

I... I'll do my best to.

There's a good girl.

[Yeah, so, he's just drunk enough that he decides that he's going to drop a kiss on top of Naminé's head. She's so good. He hopes they both make it out of here. He doesn't know what he's going to do if anything happens to her.]

[ ... Well, heck. That confuses her. ]

Um--what was that for?

[ ??? compute: none. ]

Uh—

[Ford pulls back, and furrows his brow.]

It's a display of affection. I think that's what the correct thing to do is, when. Well.

[Ford shrugs his shoulders.] When someone's like family to you.

O-oh.

[ Oh. Oh, gosh. Naminé's stunned, but that doesn't last long. She looks happy. ]

I think of you as family, too. I just wasn't certain if you thought so, so I didn't say anything.

[Seeing that happy look on Naminé's face makes Ford's grumpy old heart feel warm.]

Well—good. I'm very glad to hear it.

[Ford wraps an arm around her and pulls her in for a quick squeeze.]

I'm going to make sure you get out of here safe.

[ Naminé hugs him back, squeezing tight for just a moment longer. ]

We both will. All of us will... won't we?

We will. Absolutely.

[And he knows he shouldn't promise that. He knows he has no way of keeping his promise. But he has to at least try.]

all that glitters is gold [AFTERPARTY]

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i love dying and being dead