onepassingnight | Hansel and Lethel

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Hansel and Lethel

The twists and turns of the forest are long, secretive, and closed. But in this one small clearing, there is a house made entirely of sweets. Gingerbread forms the walls, adorned with enormous pieces of candy. The pillars and lampposts outside are peppermint, while the bushes grow marshmallows and slices of pie and cake. Even the paving stones of the pathway are rock candy. A river of pure dark chocolate flows lazily alongside the house, hot enough to be molten.

It's clearly a haven for children. In fact, a girl with pink hair and wearing a soft dress sits comfortably amid the wafer candy grass and nibbles at a handful. She looks up and smiles at the newcomer. Something about the smile is a bit too cold for her greeting, but with so much candy nearby, there's plenty to distract from the expression.

"Come over and try some," she invites. "You can eat enough to have a full stomach." This is a rare and precious thing, in a poor kingdom like this one. "Don't worry, I live here with my sister."

(ooc: story can be looked up here. Lethe is working for the witch to lure travelers in return for herself and Mnemosyne not being eaten.)

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Usagi is pretty much following her nose at this point. The inviationg of something delicious creeping into her nostrils... it's too good to resist! When the home in the clearing comes into view -- her eyes widen, her mouth hanging slightly open with a stream of drool creeping up on her. Her hands are clasped together tightly as she admires it. "W-well maybe just a little...!"

The girl is secondary to the scene as the blond slinks in closer, unable to believe this is really happening. "I've never seen a house like this before!"

"Taste some, stranger" Lethe invites with her usual slightly-cold smile. It's a very warm day somehow, and sitting in the shade near the chocolate river would feel nice, wouldn't it? "We don't have many travelers."

The girl is welcome to gorge herself so completely that she forgets about everything else.

"Ah haha!" she laughs loudly, far beyond the point of no return. "Well if you insist!" Usagi springs forward, pretty much gnawing at a side of the house, going up and down, in all her glory. "It's delicious! A house made of candy, I just can't believe it!"

There's a corner of windowsill in her hand as she chomps down on it, and turns towards Lethe with a full mouth. "You really live here?!"

"I do," Lethe says, without wavering in the least. She is the determined one, ready to spring her trap and take her quarry, and this girl who loves sweets so much is just the sort the witch wants her to catch.

"Come inside. I'll show you the rest."

"Wow! That's amazing! You must be so happy to live in a place where there's so many sweets all the time!" in her excitement, she almost misses that last bit -- but the promise of more junk food isn't something she can just pass up! That'd be rude! Heheh...

"You mean there's more? Ahhh... you must be one of the luckiest people in the whole world! I can't believe it! Everyone will be so jealous when I tell them!" finishing up the helping in her palms, she follows Lethe with a mischevious grin.

Lethe's steps are slightly slow as she heads inside. Happy to live here? She brushes that disquieting thought aside. Indoors, the house is much the same as outside, with candy everywhere. Peppermint sticks form chair legs, round candies form tabletops, and frosting makes for different wallpaper in the rooms - of which there are only a few.

"There's more," she agrees easily. "Won't you stay awhile to enjoy it?" Just a little longer, and this girl won't even so much as think about leaving.

"Of course!" she chimes in, finding a spot at the table with a bright smile. She can't help but continue to look around in awe of the surroundings, "Does anyone live here with you?"

[For just a second, there's something softer in Lethe's expression- just for a second. Then she remembers that to protect that person, she has to be strong.]

My sister.

Oh! ( she seems to brighten at that ) Is your sister going to join us too, then? Sweets are always better when you can enjoy them together!

If she gets home in time, she may.

[Not if Lethe has anything to say about it. Mnemosyne is too soft, and won't be able to face what they have to do here.]

That's great! I hope she makes it. Maybe we should wait for her? Hmm. ( yes, this is a big life decision... )

No; there's no need to wait. [Mnemosyne won't be able to bear it. It's better to keep going before she even arrives. Get this girl to eat a little more, just a little more, and then- spring the trap.]

Well... okay! ( it doesn't take much to convince her to give in, and by now she's halfway through the floral vase on the table... ) We'll save some for her!

[It might be something in the food, or something in the air; whatever it is, the more Usagi eats, the more difficult it will become to keep her focus.

Lethe doesn't help the matter by her questions that only seem to show how wide the holes are opening.]

You must have come a long way to arrive here. Where were you heading?

( she continues to stuff herself on the goodies available -- mmm'ing and licking her lips with every other bite ) Yeah! A really long way! I was going to... ( she pauses... where was she going; now that she thought about it? ) To... ah... Huh... I can't exactly remember now...

[Excellent; perfect, even. Lethe's smile grows.]

Were you meeting with companions? [This time, the question is for a reason. If more are coming - especially potential help for this girl - she needs to know it.]

Companions? ( she looks up to search the other girl's face ) I'm not -- sure... Was I?

They wouldn't leave you alone, would they? There must not have been any companions for you.

They aren't...? ( she seems to be staring off into space. it's as though there's a blank spot in her memory. as though what she was reaching for was somehow missing... ) I don't... know...

"That's why it's better to forget about them," Lethe invites, "And enjoy yourself and the food here."

Forget about... ( it's even too much to repeat the sentence. it seems to already be gone from her mind... a blank look overtakes her normally sunny exterior ) Right... I could... stay here.

[Exactly. Fall into this, just a little more, forest victim - and never leave here again.]

There's nothing left anyway. You came here to lose all of it.

I did? ( she looks to the other girl for a moment... then away towards the surroundings again... ) I -- must have. Why else... would I have come here...?

[See? It's not so bad at all. It's even peaceful, without having to worry about why no one's heard from Mamoru, or the identity of the strange new senshi, or the maybe-sort-of-crush on a hot new idol singer. There don't have to be worries at all. There can just be delicious food.]

You're a good girl, I see.

Am I? ( then what's that strange quiet nagging feeling? maybe some sweets will drown that out... ) I'd... like some more, please.

Hansel and Lethel

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the poor house. T_T

it never stood a chance u_u

goodbye, house; we knew ye well.

sob... in loving memory...

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