The Western Fardelshufflestein Halloween Shindig
7:00 AM
Western Fardelshufflestein National
Ophelia gave Marie a wavering smile as the Queen entered Alastair's room with a plastic bag slung around her wrist. Marie set the bag on the foot of Alastair's bed and rummaged through it for half a second before extracting a knit cap with a shade somewhere in the olive green family. Unfolding it, she revealed the hat's elongated ears that stuck out like fabric leaves; Ophelia, unable to help herself, giggled softly.
"Is that a Yoda hat?"
"Aye, Mom. We also got him a little scarf to drape around his shoulders."
"How funny! You and Wilhelm are really going all out on the Star Wars theme." Ophelia's eyes swept over the paper banners and the garlands that were draped all around the walls. There was one banner over the viewing window that proudly featured cutouts of R2-D2 and C-3PO, and another extending from above the door and all the way along the right wall showing Darth Vader wishing a Happy Halloween. The streamer on the wall behind Alastair showed figures of assorted characters designed to look like skeletons, while the fourth wall displayed posters of Chewbacca, Han Solo, and the Death Star.
"We wanted him to feel more at home while he is here. And...comfortable." Marie trailed off, frowned at the hat in her hands.
Ophelia turned to her son, who was sound asleep under his blankets. He still had on the black hat she had given him to keep his head warm; it was slightly askew, exposing his mop of overgrown hair. Compared to the mocha curls, his skin was practically white, and would have blended into the sheets were it not for the yellow tint.
"I may leave these with you since he is still asleep."
"'Tis perfectly fine. I can dress him when he has breakfast."
His right hand was cold, so cold, even though Ophelia was fervently rubbing it. Her husband's hand had been similarly icy toward the end.
But Allie was getting better. His brain injury was healing. He was able to remain sitting up for a few minutes at a time. The other day, he'd smiled at her a little. She hadn't seen Allie smile in months.
"Thank you--truly, for everything. You have been a blessing over the past three months." Marie hastily adjusted her purse as she addressed Ophelia with gratefulness flickering across her eyes. To be in the position Ophelia had occupied for years must be so shocking and disorienting to her, and for it to happen right after losing her father-in-law....
"If you need anything at all, do not hesitate to call me. Promise?"
"If I have the time today."
"You will stop by at some point before the ball, right? Uh, the shindig?"
"I will be with the visitation groups, so yes. My God, there are so many of them. You would think he was a tourist exhibit or something." She jogged toward Alastair's side and quickly kissed his forehead. "You are very popular, you know? Lots of your friends are seeing you today."
"He is very popular. I do not think he even knows how liked he is." Ophelia was not sure if Allie saw how much his family loved him anymore. He'd done so much to drown himself in his grief at the expense of his relationships and well-being that he was almost a stranger to her now. Her sweet, funny boy had become a wounded shell with a severe addiction and a death sentence. It had happened right before her eyes, yet she had never noticed. He'd done everything he could to hide it.
She understood now that he'd been afflicted for years. Flawless hindsight lent her a discernment whenever she reminisced about all of the times he had seemed dejected, lost in thought, or out of sorts. He had been drunk when he'd spaced out diplomatic functions, drunk when he was sworn in to accept his father's duties when he had fallen ill, drunk during the period seven years ago when he'd very nearly had a psychological break. Even at her husband's funeral, he was inebriated, his eyes a vivid cherry and his movements uncoordinated. Ophelia had believed him to be exhausted from grief the way she was, but now she realized that he was overrun by something far worse.
"Ja, many of the leaders love him." Once again, Marie gave Allie a kiss. "I will be back anon. Until then, fare the well."
"God be with you."
In his sleep, Allie shuddered. Ophelia reached out with one of her hands and drew the blankets closer to his neck. He really did look ill, with the tube protruding from his throat and the IVs embedded in his arms. There was even one sticking out of the back of his hand. But he was still Alastair, her firstborn son, her Star Wars and Hamlet-loving goofball. He needed her now more than ever to remind him that he was loved.
7:30 AM
The Grand Jacobean Hotel
The bleary-eyed, jet-lagged, and in many cases hungover leaders made their way to the private banquet room where they were to be served breakfast. Some had donned clothes for the day while others were still in their pajamas in spite of the hotel's dress code. Many made a beeline for the buffet tables that had been draped with white linen cloths for the food displayed in silver dishes and vessels, some immediately chose where to sit, and still others began to form a line for the waffle makers. Serving staff weaved through the patrons, doling out teabags and pouring them coffee upon each individual's request. Mimosas were brought out on silver platters for those who were of age (and all present were of age), as were small favors. Every guest received upon entrance a Shakespeare action figure that denoted which Alastair visit/tour group they were assigned; everyone who wished had a set time and cohort with whom they would visit Alastair.
Group A ([Titus] Andronicus Action Figure):
-John Adam Ross
-Nate Barton
-Jossefph Alistairlin
Group B (Bernardo Action Figure):
-Kuryousi Mattéo Adams
-"John Morris"
-Lord Bodie
-Bailey A. Washington
Group C (Cymbeline Action Figure):
-Sylvia Lucienne Dellamorte
-Julienne Victoria Dellamorte
-The Doomslayer
Group D (Donalbain Action Figure):
-Keller Harrington
-Jessica Madden
-Charlotte "Charlie" Huxley
-Adarsh Sawant
Group E (Edgar Action Figure):
-Etor Gurraniz
-HRH Paris Alerik Cärrino
-King Alostair
-Amelia Cortez
Group F (Falstaff Action Figure):
-Noah Jaye
-Jack Johnson
-King Christophe II
-Queen Margaret
-Leali III (Whichever one's the dog. Allie has a severe cat allergy.)
Group X (Not Visiting Alastair; Hamlet Action Figure):
-Ari
-Smol Rol
