unfairest_ofthemall | MESSAGE INBOX

That would be just peachy!

[With a little giggle.]

[She giggled as well.]

Oh splendid! It's cooling now so it should be ready to eat.

[She led the way back to the dining room, several of her animal friends helping with the laundry to be done tomorrow. She set herself to the task of slicing a piece for Apple and then a piece for herself, plating it, and then having a seat at the head of the table where she tended to sit.]

Apple, I hope you don't mind my asking you a few questions?

[Apple nodded thanks to the animals they passed, taking her seat. Just like on day one, her manners were impeccable, delicately taking a fork and making sure not to leave any big crumbs. But if they're to talk, she's gotta keep her mouth empty.]

You can ask me anything you want...!

[She hesitates on the end of that sentence. Does she call her mom? or Snow White? Or Miss?]

[Snow White doesn't know herself. She's never actually BEEN a mother, though she mother hen's like no tomorrow.]

Well, I suppose I'll just jump right in and ask.

Dear, why are you so nervous around me? Have I done something to upset you in the future? [Is she as bad as the queen?!]

[Aaand Apple almost spits out her food AGAIN. Why must we keep having important talks when there's food?! But this time she manages to chew quickly and swallow.]

W-what?! Of course not! You're the best mother ever!

Oh dear! [She makes to reach out, she really DOES need to pay more attention when Apple is eating.] Are you alright?

[Still it's nice to hear that Apple thinks so highly of her! She smiles and reaches out, resting a hand atop Apple's.]

Well, I'm sure I strive to be the best mother for such a spectacular daughter and a loving husband. Still, I do want you to know, while this may take a bit of adjustment for the both of us, I will do my very best. I hope you know, you will always have my support because you're family.

[Chew, swallow, sigh, smile.]

Yeah, I... I think this'll be nice for us. I'm busy at school, you're busy with the kingdom, so we didn't get to spend any time together lately. It's... not the exact way either of us would have wanted, but it can still work out!

Which also means, Apple dear, that you can relax a bit more. [She smiled.] It's alright to be nervous, I was very nervous too when I started out and about in Verens. But I had support from plenty of friends to help me get properly on my feet.

[That, and Snow NEVER wastes time when it comes to getting situated.]

You don't have to be nervous around me, I want you to feel right at home.

Your friends...

[It's hard to think of Apple having friends besides the dwarfs, which she knows aren't here.]

... Would you mind if I met them?

Not at all! I would love for you to meet them! You can even meet my business partner and my employees! Now then- Oh! A dinner party! That's the best way for you to meet all of them!

A dinner party sounds like a perfect idea! And I bet we could all use a nice evening to unwind and relax. I just wish you could meet my friends... maybe they'll wind up here!

I would love to meet your friends, Apple. Would you like to tell me about them?

Of course!

[The sun outside gets a bit brighter, the room smells a bit better...]

There's Blondie, she always keeps everyone up to date on the latest news. Briar is the best when it comes to planning parties, even in her sleep! And you can't beat a good cup of tea from Maddie...

But my absolute best friend forever after is Raven! She's my roommate, and she's wonderful! She's so smart, and and beautiful, and she's going to make an excellent villain someday!

[She listens and is quite happy to hear about all of Apple's friends. When she talks about Raven, she can't help but smile a bit wider.

Only to pause at that last part.]

Now Apple, that isn't very kind to call someone a villain when they're older.

Huh? Raven's the same age as me. Villainy knows no age, after all.

What I mean is, she's the one who's going to poison me! She's the daughter of the Evil Queen - your stepmother - my stepgrandmother, kind of, - and so it's going to be her role to try and poison me just like the Evil Queen poisoned you. And she's going to be great at it, I promise!

Edited 2017-05-18 21:58 (UTC)

That isn't what I meant. Saying someone will be a wonderful villain when they're older is quite-

I BEG YOUR PARDON! [First off, Apple THAT IS A LOT TO UNLOAD ON YOUR 15 YEAR OLD MOM.] Let me make sure I understand all of this.

MY stepmother has a daughter, not only do I have a stepsister and YOU a stepaunt but that SAME stepsister is going to POISON you?

APPLE THAT IS NOT SOMETHING TO SMILE AND BE HAPPY ABOUT! [Snow tended to keep calm about most things, or get to be calm about most things. But this was her DAUGHTER. She was allowed to be upset, she imagined.]

Edited 2017-05-20 19:48 (UTC)

[W-w-w-w-what?! Apple is so startled she scrambles to get out of her seat, knocking the chair over. She backs up, trying to process what was just shouted.]

Wh... what's wrong? I'm doing exactly what you did! I'll be poisoned, Charming will wake me up, and then we'll live happily ever after, just like you! It's what you've - we've always wanted!

What's wrong! That you want to be poisoned! That- I didn't want to be poisoned, Apple. It wasn't something I was or am excited about.

[She moved to take Apple's hands, trying to calm down herself, but incredibly worried.]

The last thing I want is for you to be hurt. I never want you to know the pain of a family member hurting you like that, I don't want you hurt in the slightest! And you're sure that your stepaunt wants to hurt you? But you spoke so highly of her as if she was a close friend. Why would a dear friend, family no less, want to poison you?

But... No, it's...

[Apple is flummoxed, considering all her life, Snow's said the exact opposite of these things. She feels dizzy.]

I'm following your destiny! You had be poisoned so could get your happily ever after with the prince, and that's what I'll get too! I want Raven to poison me! That's her role! Every destiny needs heroes and villains, and she's supposed to be a villain! That's her destiny! She's supposed to do it, no matter what we feel about each other! She HAS to do it!

Apple... I'm... flattered you think so highly of me. But I don't want you to follow my destiny, dear, I want you to forge your own! You're a smart girl, far smarter than me, you're a kind girl, and a sweet one too! I don't want you to feel the pain I did and I most certainly don't want your friend Raven to live with that guilt on her shoulders of hurting a loved one.

[Not that her stepmother had any shred of guilt on the matter.]

Simply because someone is supposed to do it doesn't mean they should. She doesn't HAVE to hurt you if that is something she doesn't want to do. What does hurting you do? A happily ever after doesn't come simply because you follow someone else's actions. You must make your own happily ever after.

[A lot of this has already been told to her by other students at Ever After High. But hearing it from Snow, of all people? It's more than she can bear. Her fingers find her hair, twirling and pulling, and there's a hard crack in the wooden floor.]

You... you... you don't understand! You're the one who tells me how great this is! All my life, I've wanted to do what you did! Everyone wants me to! I'm - I'm Apple White! The daughter of Snow White, the one with the greatest destiny of all!

[That's right. It doesn't matter what Snow says now. She'll change her mind later. She just hasn't realized anything yet. That's all. It must be that.]

It's what I want... and it's what you want... you'll see. You will.

Apple... even if it's what you want, is it what Raven wants?

[There's a painful pause.]

She... she just needs some convincing.

No, Apple. [She spoke firmly.] Wanting to follow my footsteps is one thing, but trying to force Raven is another entirely.

She's your friend, and by the sounds of it, you care for each other very much. But by trying to force her to do this to you, you are making yourself out to be the villain here. Heroes do not force people to harm others for their own needs.

You just don't get it!

[She turns away, upset.]

If she doesn't poison me, I won't get my happily ever after. She knows how much this means to me! All the other villains in Ever After High want to do their duties, she shouldn't be any different! It's not force, it's what's supposed to happen!

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