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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[Kiara perks up immediately when she hears and smells him. Her head practically whips up off her paws and her ears dart forward. She makes a sound of surprise and scrambles to detangle herself from the chair she's draped over, falls over, and bounds over to Lefou so she can butt her head softly against him, and stand such that he can use her to lean on.

She doesn't say anything she just purrs really loudly.]

[Somehow he's not taken by surprise (probably because she hits the floor before she gets up and hits him), and the hand not gripping the wall goes down to pet her reassuringly, burying his fingers in that hard to reach spot between her shoulders and on the back of her neck that she liked him to scratch before.

He can actually lean on her a fair bit since her shoulder comes up to about his hip, and he's glad for the help.]

I missed you too.

[Yay she is helpful! She thought she might be a good leaning level, and she's happy to lean back on him in support, and to rub against him.

Her ears go back a little in sheepishness.]

I was worried.

[He is so weirdly good at the scratching and she arches her shoulders up into it, leaning on him just a little more.]

[He appreciates the support, laughing a little as she leans him into the wall. He doesn't give up the scratching, though, so he's definitely not complaining about it.]

I appreciate it. I'm... sorry that I worried everyone.

[She cares about you!!! This is how big kitties show love so it's good you're chill about it. She rubs her face on whatever she can reach-so probably his hip and belly.]

Don't feel guilty! You didn't do anything wrong. We're just all glad to see you recovering. You looked... pretty bad, when we found you.

[It tickles, but the nuzzles also make it hard to forget how strong she is, that she's a big predator rubbing her face all over him like a regular house cat.]

I...felt pretty bad, too. I don't- remember a lot about what happened, I just...

[His hand stills with his fingers buried in her fur.]

I heard screaming, and I didn't even think, I just ran toward it.

[She's not really much of a predator, all told, but at least the underlying power is still there, if the ferocity isn't.

She rumbles with concern, tail swishing and looking up at him.]

You wanted to help. That was very brave of you.

[Well, neither is he, so at least they're even.]

Yeah, but... it didn't matter, did it. They still died.

[She mrowrs and bumps her head on him.]

It matters to who you are that you tried.

...Thanks.

[By now he manages to find a seat and sit down so that they're more on eye-level (much though his face isn't much to look at right now). He pets that hard to reach spot behind the ear.]

I made myself swear weeks ago that I'd stop trying to beat myself up over whether I could do better, but I was right there.

[Oof, poor baby. She presses her nose against his leg and sits down, chin on his lap.]

It's harder than it sounds to change. It's good that you're trying, though.

[She sighs.]

I guess I'd be really disappointed in myself, if it were me, so I'm probably a hypocrite, but I hate to see you blame yourself.

[When she sits and puts her chin on his lap, he strokes his hand down her neck. The motion is soothing, repetitive. It makes him feel a little better, and she likes it.]

Yeah, I'm... Lucky, I guess. If I'd hit my head a little different or gotten hit a little harder, I might not... be here.

[He says it almost like he's realizing it for the first time. He's apologized to everyone and their mother for worrying them, but he hasn't actually... admitted that he came probably within a hair's breadth of dying.]

[Soothing and repetitive is right. It reminds her of the way her mother would groom her when she was upset or cranky. She melts a little.

And then makes a very unhappy noise.]

It's about time we had a little luck around here. Losing three in one night...

[It's way more than she could bear. She could hardly bear losing the two.]

[Oh no the despairing noise gets her more soothing pets.]

Hey, it's alright... I'm fine now.

[Sad lion melts onto soft Frenchman, news at 11.]

Yeah. Yeah thank goodness for that.

[He lets his hand rest on her shoulders.]

Are you holding up alright?

I've been better. [No use lying about it.]

But I'm trying to hold on.

all that glitters is gold [AFTERPARTY]

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