[IC] Fables: After The Ever Afters

[Saarebas]

"Once we were a thousand separate kingdoms, spread over a hundred magic worlds. We were kings and cobblers. Wizards or woodcarvers. We had our sinners, our saints, and our blatant social climbers. And from our grandest lord to the lowliest peasant girl, we were, for the most part, strangers one to another. It took an invasion to unite us. Beyond the farthest shores of Never, the Adversary lived in a remote kingdom, ignored by other powers as his strength and ambitions grew over the long centuries."

"Some say he was a mere woodland sprite, while others claim he was once a god thrown down from the vast heavens when his corruptions had become too great for his lofty brethren to tolerate. Whatever his true origins, he grew into a dark thing of infinite hunger. And after he'd conquered his own lands, putting each of its former kings to the sword, he turned his unquenchable appetites in our direction."

"When the emerald kingdom fell we tisk-tisked and tut-tutted in our homes sad for the fates of those unfortunate souls, but we weren't tempted to intervene. After all, they were always odd folks, and ever so far away. It wasn't our business. Then the kingdom of the great lion fell, and again we did nothing, because we always found the old lion to be too pompous and holier-than-thou for our tastes. And one by one, our scattered lands fell under the Adversary's dominion, swallowed up into his ever growing empire. Had we banded together early, we might have been able to stop him. By the time we realized that he wasn't merely interested in conquering that land, or those people, that he was coming after all of us, it was too late. He'd grown too powerful."

"Many of us didn't have the chance to run. Some of us survived. Too few. Alone, or in small groups, over the span of many years, of lifetimes, we hid and ran and avoided capture. We lived as outlaws and phantoms. Until we could make our way here, to this dreary mundane place: The one world the Adversary seemed to take no interest in. And here, united by our common enemy, we learned to set aside old grudges. We forgave our many grievances, to make covenant with each other. And now, predator and prey, prince and pauper, we are all of a single community allied in our undying memory of the Homelands, and the unshakable determination that one day we will return to win those lands free of the hated one. Ladies and gentlemen, lift your glasses and join me, please, in the drinking this toast. To the Homelands!"

"Elsewhere throughout the city, tonight, in private homes and treasured public places and in the upstate homes, where our more inhuman members dwell other glasses are raised, by those who couldn't be with us here tonight but are still citizens of Fabletown, and are equally determined never to forget."

The warm, calming voice of a older gentleman filled the extravagant hall, drowning out the silent mummers and shuffling of the other occupants of the room. The origin of the voice was a jolly looking fellow who stood behind a podium that overlooked the mingling crowd. His kind eyes looked over the guests as they applauded the speech he had just finished given, just as they did every year when he gave it, all the way back years upon years ago when he first gave it. For the grey haired, slightly heavy set gentleman was no other than King Cole himself, the very same King Cole who had served as the mayor of the secret community of Fabletown ever since its founding centuries ago. And it was this community that he had the fortune of overseeing this night of their most cherished event Remembrance Day, the day they honored what was lost during the tragic events that lead to the abandoning of their lands.

The evening was in full swing. Men fitted in their finest suits danced with woman dressed so elegantly they look as if they stepped out of a fairytale, which they might as well have. The band played a lively tune, allowing those who wished to dance if they wished to. Servers made their way through the crowd, offering glasses of champagne and appetizers to the guests. The feel of the whole event was simply thrilling, this undoubtedly being the largest social gathering all year. There were smiles and conversations between friends, dances and whispers exchanged between lovers, laughs and cheers over old exploits. All of which only served to add to the joyous feel in the air.

--------------------

In the midst of such a colorful and luminous crowd one figure stood out among the rest do to its sheer contrast from all the other far more spectacular individuals that surrounded it. Dawning simple and quite dull suit that looked like it would be more akin to a funeral rather than such a lively occasion at which it was currently worn the fair skinned fellow that looked so alien in the celebration scanned over the festivities behind a pair of thin lensed glasses as he sipped upon a small glass of champagne. He set his glass aside on the table at which he was seated before he brushed back a strand of his raven black hair that had managed to fall away from its proper place among it brothers. The dreary man was no other than Boogie, the once infamous monster that plagued countless nightmares now a mere party goer. Though the blank and disinterested look that sat upon his face may have suggested that Boogie was displeased with his presence here, but that would be quite untrue. In fact Boogie has having quite the pleasant time, it wasn't often that one would find such a concentration of Fables in one place and Boogie was more than happy to have the chance to analyze... I mean reminisces with his old friends.

[Tuxedo Fox]

@Saarebas
Yen Sid made his way among the Fables of The Woodlands with the social grace of an ox; which is to say he had shown up in a suit of mismatched colors. The top part of his outfit was a light blue while his pant legs and shoes were a laughably bright orange; the memorable look topped off by a large white trucker hat that read "Honk for Hooters" that he had picked up from lord knows where-Yen Sid having insisted the night before that Mickey let him dress himself for the annual party. After four hours of crying like a child and nine hours shape shifted in the form of a remote his young apprentice Mickey finally broke and granted his request.

Walking hunched over as he commonly did due to his back problems he talked to literally anyone that would listen-and often times kept talking long after they left. It was actually a sad sight to see for those that noticed; the haggard old man literally talking to chairs and tables half the night while a good number of guests used his odd behavior as an easy talking point. There were many laughs, but Yen Sid seemed not only unaffected but completely oblivious to the fact.

Eventually he made his way over to the table Boogie sat at while people watching; his ancient emerald green eyes twinkling in recognition at the odd man. He went to sit down beside the former monster like they were old friends and as he sat his frail hand shakily extended outwards, grasping at Boogies shoulder as he literally grunted himself into the chair with effort. Like most encounters with the old man Yen Sid spoke first. "How goes it Dr. Manson? Beautiful celebration isn't it? I swear the Queens truly outdone herself for the harvest festival this year." Who or what he was talking about was a total mystery-apparently he was having one his mental episodes, something Boogie was all to familiar with as the old mans psychiatrist.

"Oh! Before I forget!" The old wizard practically shouted at Boogie while grabbing at him. Quickly he took his old wrinkled hands off of Boogies outfit and pulled what looked like a simple small purple "crown royal" bag out from his pants pocket. Whatever paltry gift or token the crazy old man had fit inside the tiny bag probably wasn't worth anyones time.

Boogie watched as the old man reached into the tiny palm sized bag...then kept reaching, and reaching...and reaching. After a moment the old mans arm was somehow impossibly and completely engulfed within the small cloth bag, his face wearing an expression of concentration and struggle as he dug around in some unseen effort to find something; obviously magic was at work. "Now where is that...no that's not it...here?" He pulled a black cat out of the sack, the dark feline quickly hissing at him before Yen Sid shoved it back in the bag "No No...Here!" This time he triumphantly pulled out a small fancy looking box made of finely polished and darkly stained wood. He sat the gift infront of Boogie, his eyes looking at the man many people feared with both genuine appreciation and affection. "A gift for a friend, while I can still remember." He knocked the side of his head comically as his eyes began to grow hazy yet again.

Suddenly his eyes locked with Boogies in frantic panic, his face deathly serious as a terrified look came across his whole body. Just as quickly as the fearful look came it was replaced by one of pure awe, his eyes catching sight of the large elaborate fountain inside the ballroom. "My goodness. Wonderful harvest festival."
--

@Yvain
The fairly large two story brick building that sat on the corner of Bullfinch and King Street was packed to full capacity; although it wasn't really a surprise that the normally popular hole in the wall bar and diner would be rather busy today, afterall it was the annual holiday known as Rememberance Day. It was the one time of year even the most hardened of Fables found it hard to not look back at their old lives with longing-more importantly it was a time to remember those who hadn't survived the relentless war march of The Advesary.

The occupants inside of the establishment affectionately called The YellowBrick Roadhouse were a farcry from anything similar to the hoity toity crowd celebrating the same holiday just a stones throw down the street at the Woodlands. Here there were no suits in site nor finely dressed women (atleast not by societies standards) but that very fact seemed to suit the crowd just fine-all of which were laughing and carrying on as an unseen jukebox blaired a rather catchy track. The floorboards that made up the ceiling on the first floor occasionally squeaked and groaned, the party having grown to fill up the second floor as well.

Mickey couldn't picture being anywhere else at the moment, afterall it was tradition for him and many others to meet at the Roadhouse each year on this specific day; he especially couldn't imagine celebrating with the more well to do (or those that wanted to act well off) Fables that no doubt were doing their best to act like they were having fun this very moment. The thought of having to return there tonight made him take a deep drink from the mug he clutched in his right hand, quickly wiping away the foam left behind off his sharp facial features. Feeling the slight blonde stubble on his chin reminded him he needed to shave.

He leaned back in his chair as his clear blue eyes scanned the room surveying what he could of the crowd while simultaneously finishing his drink; there was the woodsman arm wrestling Grendel at a table not far off, briefly he caught a few minutes of Tweedle Dee and Dum doing their best to prove who was stupidest (really, who cared who could fit the most eggs in their mouth-apparently those two stupid louts), and the tooth fairy pounding back shots (of Whiskey, Mickey thought) like nobodies buisness at the large square bar that sat in the middle of the main room that made up the Roadhouse-there was also an unseen kitchen in the back and stairs that lead to a pool hall upstairs. The room Mickey currently found himself in consisted of large round tables with cheap wooden chairs for patrons to sit at while cushioned booths ran along the majority of the walls.

It was hard to keep an eye on any one individual or pick someone out because the crowd itself seemed to shift and move as if it were alive-the vast number of clearly drunken fables apparently doing their best to see and talk to everyone they could along with buying their friends drinks. Mickey couldn't imagine just how much cash Dorothy, the cutthroat owner of the bar/diner, would make that day. The thought reminded him to say hi to the little hellion of a woman.

As he finished draining the yellowish liquid that had filled his mug he caught sight of a woman he knew better then he wished he had; her blonde hair and floppy bunny ears (Yeah, she had bunny ears) catching his blue eyes from across the room as he quickly noticed her playing some card game-or, if he knew her, more like cheating at some card game.

Cutting his way through the crowd of Fables Mickey made his way to the large chest high wooden bar that stretched out in a perfect square within the middle of the room. The bar itself was lined with stools, all of which were occupied by fables from various worlds. Two rather good looking men worked with an almost unnatural speed behind the bar countertops, their skilled hands serving up drinks to the large crowd faster then Mickey could feasibly keep up with.

Making his way up to the bar Mickey squeezed himself between the tooth fairy (who he gave a wink too, which was returned with a giggle) and the headless horseman-who once again was looking for his head. Mickey picked up a pumpkin shaped face that sat on the bar countertop and quickly plopped the half decent looking jackolantern onto the headless horsemans unglamored body. In a show of relief the horseman felt the pumpkin like head with both hands as if to verify that it was indeed there. He gave Mickey a thumbs up.

“Keep better track of that noggin, mate.” Mickey said in his peculiar twangy accent as he slapped the horseman jokingly on the back-almost knocking his fragile head off once again. Turning his attention back to the bar Mickey slid the now empty mug onto the tabletop “Hey T-Man, leme get two buddweisers. Bottleknecks.” He finished the statemet by slapping a crinkled looking ten dollar bill on the table, within moments Tinman had two ice cold budweisers uncapped and standing before him. With a nod of thanks Mickey picked up the alcoholic beverages before doing yet another amazing display of footwork to get through the mob of people that separated him and his destination.

He was just emerging from the sea of bodies, drinks in hand, when he heard the argument taking place.
“I said your a fucking cheat, you god damn rabbit. I don't give a fuck what day It is, you hear me? There's no way you drew those two cards by chance. I want my fucking money. Nobody cheats Jersey-You hear me? Nobody!” The skinny balding beanpole of a man with a bad seventies moustache spat at the blonde Bunny eared girl. Mickey had recognized the prick as soon as he heard his distinct annoying and naisly newyorker accent-he was one of those scumbags who had been welcomed into Fable town under some old “wipe the slate clean” bullshit accord-in Mickeys oppinion all the monsters of his type deserved to be wiped off the map.

He couldn't help but laugh as he thought this; for at the same time he remembered he had been coming over to say hi to a woman (bunny?) that had literally left him to starve to death a lifetime ago. Nonetheless the way the weasely looking man spoke to Lola really grated on Mickey's nerves for some reason-before he knew it he was stepping in, his mouth performing that awful habit of saying exactly what he was thinking.

“Hey there Babs. Brought ya that drink you wanted.” He set the ice cold buddweiser down, the kind of simple beer he actually enjoyed, infront of Lola's massive pile of gambling winnings. Honestly Mickey wasn't even sure what she was playing but he'd bet his money that she had in fact been cheating.

Turning to face Jersey, a man who Mickey was well aware was far deadlier then he appeared, he locked eyes with the glamoured fable. “What about you Jersey? You want a drink too mate? I brought enough for everybody.” He asked in a rather challenging way: as if on cue each of the fingertips of his free hand crackled to life; a dangerous arc of white hot lightning dancing playfully back and forth from fingertip to fingertip. His message was clear.

“No. No I'm good.” The creature known to the mundees as the Jersey Devil quipped back while simultaneously shooting Lola a look that read 'this isnt over.'

After watching the man stalk off Mickey collapsed into the now vacant seat across from Lola. Without a word he started reshuffling the cards before dealing them out; the pair beginning to play a game without word. “So...when you gonna stop trying to cheat other fables? I mean, its not like you must be hurting for the money that much.” Out of the corner of his eye Mickey kept watch on Jersey who eventually sulked off, quickly lost in the crowd. “I'm tellin ya Babs, onea these days your gonna steal food from the wrong wizard.”

[Yvain]

@tuxedo fox
“Gee, Well what's the problem oldie, Huh!?"

"I said your a fucking cheat, you god damn rabbit."

"He don't know me very well, do he?~" Whispered the blonde to three men rather obviously with a hand covering the side of her lips in amusement as she sat at the other end of the table. Clearly poking fun out of the jersey devil without a care in the world for her own personal safety, she found that ticking him off even more would kill the time and simply released a chuckle as she slowly raised her shoulders to a shrug and leaned back in her seat."Hey, Relax ol'Jersey! It's remembrance day--A day to--"

"I don't give a fuck what day It is, you hear me? There's no way you drew those two cards by chance."

"Feisty, Ain't he?" winked the woman as she admitted her own deviousness to switching out the cards with a sleight of hand trick. She clapped her gloved hands clean as if to prove she didn't necessarily cheat the devil and shook the sleeves of her turquoise fur coat around. "I ain't got any tricks up my sleeves!" She shouted. "For gods sakes i'm barely wearin' any clothes doc!" She shouted as if she was proving a point, pointing at her bikini top. At one point the woman even stood up and quickly sat down as her breasts bounced for a moment."Nothin'!" she yelled.

"I want my fucking money. Nobody cheats Jersey-You hear me? Nobody!”

While the man she had defeated by dirty tricks was clearly enraged at being cheated on in the game, The blonde leaned back in her seat in silence as she looked up at him. Her elbows rested on the back of her seat and she bit her lips, thinking. She had no more tricks up her sleeves, none which came to her head. Seeing as Jersey clearly caught her trick, simply rendered her useless from using her confidence and head to get through this stick situation smoothly and she eyed him with a sneer in silence. Lola wasn't sure if she should feel worried, or submit to his anger. But of course, submitting was never an option to her. Then before she knew it, a drink had appeared in front of her face and she batted her eyes in surprise, quickly following the hand which placed the drink down in front of her.

Everyone's voice was blurred out, Lola barely listened to anyone's voice and she furrowed her eyebrows trying to remember who the man was. But as she pondered and blocked out everyone's voice, she simply went with the flow and suddenly found herself playing cards again quickly with the familiar man. Thought her fable life, she has encountered many people so it was hard to keep track of all of them instantly. “So...when you gonna stop trying to cheat other fables? I mean, its not like you must be hurting for the money that much.” said the man. Lola looked up from her cards. "It's a living." She responded casually, putting down a card. "Besides cheating ain't all that bad.." She grinned. "Unless you're caught, that is. But little old Jersey is just mad that I won fair and square." concluded the rabbit. “I'm tellin ya Babs, onea these days your gonna steal food from the wrong wizard.” said the man.

At that moment, Lola immediately looked up from her cards and proceeded to laugh. "Oh!--Pffft, You're that moron!" She stated. As usual, not a care in the world. Who cares if what she did attracted more enemies? Lola didn't seemed bothered by the idea and she held an amused grin on her face as she put down another card after her new blonde opponent. "Gee, Ain't I stinker?" snickered the young looking woman rhetorically in response to his hint of the past which involved her. "What's even more amusin' is that a moron like you helped a rabbit like me!" she pointed out, holding her cards with one hand and grabbing for the free drink given by the wizard-apprentice from the start when he had approached her, and saved her ass at that.

"Ah~" She uttered after taking long gulps of the Budweiser and putting it down. "So, What's up doc?" She asked, her most famed catch phrase which was well known amongst everybody--Even human children. Before she knew it the woman had a glint in her eyes as she stared back at Mickey more attentively with sudden interest. She pushed her seat in more closer to the table and leaned over the table, waiting to hear anything he wanted to talk about. After all, the catch phrase was an opening to welcome just about any conversation. Normally, she would ask this after doing whatever it was she was doing at the moment, but she seemed to make a fairly 'special' exception for the man. Would this be business or a plain conversation? Surely Lola hoped that he wouldn't disappoint her and she simply continued playing as she waited for whatever topic he wished to start with.

[Saarebas]

@Tuxedo Fox

It was quite the impressive night Boogie had to admit, when it came to the Remembrance Day celebration King Cole certainly pulled no punches. The band's lively playing was nearly enough to sway Boogie to joining the rest of the crowd on the dance floor, but only nearly. There were dozens of servers scurrying about the extravagant ball room brandishing trays of varies foods and beverages. There was even an extensive buffet that looked like it was tailored to meet the preference of all those in attendance. "Well almost everyone." Boogie added that last thought as he recalled what, or rather whom, his previous diet consisted of.

Boogie was pulled away from his analyst of the night's events when he felt a frail hand clasp itself onto his shoulder. Offering a side glance to confirm what he had already expected Boogie found that the owner of the hand was no other than the ageing wizard and one of his patients, Yen Sid. Not many other Fables socialized with Boogie unless it was absolutely necessary so it was no surprise for the former Bogeyman that the only soul in these festivities that bothered to speak with him was one of his patients. In all honesty this did not bother Boogie, he genuinely enjoyed the old man's company even out side of his office hours.

Boogie offered Yen Sid a smile, or rather the dry pencil thing that passed as his smile, as he took a seat next to him. As expected the once renowned shapeshifter began to speak in what others would label as nonsense, but to Boogie it was clear as day. Though he may have been in the dark about social cues, but Boogie couldn't understand the brain and its functions any better. Though Yen Sid's ramblings may have seem sad or been written off as nothing else, Boogie took them as a good sign that the old man still held enough of his mind that he could draw the conclusion of the celebration and festivities around him.

Before Boogie could give his greeting in earnest Yen Sid insisted on something that he had tucked away. Boogie watched as the elderly fellow began to have his arm consumed by his coin purse, unlike many people Boogie remembered that despite his current mental state Yen Sid was still quite the impressive spell weaver so it was no surprise to him as the wizard rummaged around his enchanted bag. When he was presented with the small present Boogie couldn't help but break out into yet another of his dry smiles, it was rare that he got to see the clearer side of Yen Sid and even more so that he was given such a kindness from another Fable. He wrapped his slender fingers around the box carefully and gave Yen Sid a respectful bow of his head as a thank you before securing the present away into the pocket of his dress jacket.

But this tender moment seemed to have been whisked away once a look of pure and utter terror came upon Yen Sid's face, a look Boogie knew all to well as he had inspired the very same one countless times in others before. But before he could pursue his suspicions further Yen Sid had slipped back into the haze that enveloped his mind. Having to stifle his worries for now, though he planned on bringing up his concerns with Yen Sid's apprentice Mickey later, Boogie drew on yet another smile for the old man. "It is quite the pleasant evening Yen, and a even better one to enjoy with good friends." He said in the warmest tone he could muster, which even then came across as welcoming as the plague.

[Catchphrase]

Martin Krpan was sat at the bar of the local pub, drinking his favourite drink, bourbon and Coke, when he heard the commotion from the gamblers. He looked over and watched what was happening, apparently Lola and Jersey, it was the typical dispute, someone accused the other of cheating all the time, but he was happy when it was all over. He saw it all quite down and Lola made her way to the bar. He felt in a sociable mood, and decided to talk to the Rabbit. He walked next to her and gave her a nod, "How are ya doing Lola? Still beating everyone in cards? Or is it dice this time?"

[Yvain]

@Catchphrase
After the game with Mickey, Lola found herself at the winning end once again. She smacked her cards down on the table and snorted."Hah! I win again!" She yelled obnoxiously rather deliberately in attempt to edge the new man on, her familiar opponent from a previous tale. At this point, Lola stood up as she pushed her seat back and grabbed her drink as she walked to the bar in order to serve herself a new drink. Perhaps something stronger, and more to her taste. Taking a last swing from the Budweiser without much of a problem, she tapped the glass bottle over the counter for one of the servers attention and burped."Excuse me." She politely said, but her tone was rather rough and not so girlishly pleasing. "Anyways--Give me something... Hmm.. Strong.. and make it pink... Oooh! And pretty!" Grinned Lola. "Are you gonna pay?" scoffed the bartender. The blonde looked around as she avoided making eye contact with anyone. right? She saw some large muscles and thought,'Don't do it doc.' to which she slowly looked to her right, eyes shining as she simply pick pocketed a man's crumpled twenty which stuck out and tossed it on the table. The bartender sighed."What? I paid--You didn't specify my money, right?" She snickered playfully. "You're no good." chuckled the bartender with amusement as he turned around to prepare the girl a drink to her liking.

It was only then that Lola had without shame, crawled over the table nearly bent over as she quickly attempted to grab as much drinks as she could for fun. To which the bartender looked up at the mirror in front of him while preparing the drink and smacked the woman's hand away half-heartedly. "Nice try." He uttered. "Bite me." She stuck her tongue out and sneered as she sat back down, facing the other end of the bar as she casually leaned back in her seat, Her elbows resting over the wooden counter. Then, the rabbit heard another voice."How are ya doing Lola? Still beating everyone in cards? Or is it dice this time?" Lola looked to where the voice came from and she fluttered her eyes as she grinned, putting up a peace sign with her fingers."Oh--It's you, mister!" She acknowledged. The blonde was clearly never good with names either but she did somewhat have a memory.. Memories to her were subtle, but there."You know, rabbit's luck. Or at least, Lady Luck just favors me." Started the woman. "I'm beating everyone in both as usual, cards and dice--And well, just about everything else." answered Lola with a shrug as she heard a whistle and spun around in her stool, saluting the server with two fingers when her drink was finished.

Her fingers wrapped around the slender body of her glass cup as she eyed the man. "So, How's life? Still single, muscle man?" she blatantly asked with a rather teasing chuckle. "Ok, seriously." Lola seemed to whisper in a sigh as she momentarily paused."The salt business?" She asked, losing her obnoxiously cunning behavior as she appeared to have an actual normal conversation with the man. It was moments like these which she cherished, Just a peaceful conversation once in a while without any ulterior motives on both ends. No one hunting her, no one bothering her, she loved these short-lived moments but never seemed to strive for them long enough. She leaned the side of her head on one of her hands as she eyed the male, and took a sip from her martini. Still not the strongest, but she did mentally credit the server for how pretty the cup was, rimmed with sprinkles and filled with a pink alcoholic beverage.