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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Oh, sure. If not this then whiskey, which is also an awful lot stronger than beer.

[He shrugs.]

When you're drinkin' it from the time you're old enough to drink you build up a tolerance. I'll be just fine. I've got probably the strongest liver in this house.

[It's kind of touching that Mike is worried, though. Not that he'd expect any different. Despite being a Rebellious Teen, Mike is just about one of the most level-headed and caring people in this house.

God is he glad Mike's okay. For now.]

[He is the most G-rated gang member anyone could ever meet. He still has a face of so much Concern, but for now, just takes one more sip of his drink and then set it aside
\'-'\]

Well, you're the voice of experience here, so I'll hold you to that. [don't like, get stabbed in the liver or some shit bro.] I think I'll lean toward the lighter side for now. Aaand hopefully you won't have to keep building up that tolerance here.

... What do you mean?

[Haha, Mike.... honey.......]

[l i s t e n he has got to keep that hope spot.]

I mean, maybe things will get better? Like--this bites but we've been here for weeks now, and literally only one of us has caved. Everything else has been an accident or set up.

I dunno what's gonna happen after. . .whatever that was with the ghost and all, but we can't just resign ourselves to this, not after everything we've been through.

... Aw, Mike. I'm not drinkin' because I've given up. Bein' honest with you I feel... I feel more like I've got my feet under me than I have in a while.

[That doesn't mean he's sure of anything. It doesn't mean he's optimistic, exactly. But it means he's determined to keep going, whatever that means, until he drops. Which he won't. He won't. They'll make it out.]

Just right now I want a dang break. That's all.

[Mike still looks a bit worried, but it soon fades to little a relieved smile. I mean, he still doesn't think anyone should be pumping this into their bodies, but hey, a little fun is good for the soul.]

. . .heh. Yeah, guess so. You've really turned around since I first saw you. From the guy screaming over spiders to. . .well, a guy that will still scream, but probably would give someone a black eye while doing so. You're a tough cookie, dude.

You're right, nothing wrong with a little break. I think you guys totally earned one. You and Ford especially, you're always racking your brains at these trials.

Just needed a little time, I guess. To get... acclimated.

[He needed to adjust to a new normal, that's all. The new normal is shitty but it sure has put a lot of things into perspective for him a very definite way.]

I'm honestly not normally as scattered as I was back at the start of all this. It's just, y'know, it was a lot to deal with all at once. I figure now I've got my head on a little more straight the least I can do is try and be helpful.

[Which is an understatement. He has a deep, desperate need to help. It's why he's forced himself to participate even when all he wants to do is stare into the middle distance and contemplate how things ever got so fucked up. He'll never real feel like he's doing enough but he has to try.]

I didn't think you were scattered. Just scared. S'normal man, you're good.[A not so light shoulder pat. He believes in u nerds.]

You're doing more than trying though, man. You're a huge help! Not only are you a brainiac, you're a good cook, AND you can make booze out of what I'm just assuming is gas and starch. You've got a list of skills working for you!

All things considered? If I have to be trapped in some weird murder house, I'm glad it's with folks like you.

[Mike probably has no idea exactly how good the words 'you're a huge help' make him feel. He's going to take that sentence and clutch it very, very close to his chest. He is helping. He is doing good, and people have noticed.]

That's... that's probably one of the nicest things anybody's said to me in a good long while. Thank you. And thank you for -- I mean you've kept me from losin' it a couple times and I really appreciate it.

[Mike really doesn't have any idea--clearly Fidds and everyone know how good they are??? They are good and helpful and should feel like it and he will punch any ghosts that make them feel like they AREN'T useful, gosh.]

Hey man, it's cool that's what friends do. We're a team here--I'll always have your back. Trust me, if all you guys weren't so chill I'd probably have lost it myself a while back.

[Mike, buddy, you may be one of the few people here who doesn't have crippling self-esteem issues. Or at the very least is better at handling them than most.]

'Chill' is... well it's not the word I'd use exactly but I'll take it just the same. It's kind of you to say so.

[After the last couple of weeks it's more important than ever to remember that they're all just normal folks trying to survive. He has issues with paranoia sometimes but he won't let himself be turned against the only support system he has just because he sees red flags where they don't exist. Mike is right. They're all a team.]

all that glitters is gold [AFTERPARTY]

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