Of Course It Can Get Worse! [Snow]

[rogerrabbit]

It was a funny thing, seeing a Toon become depressed. For most people, they were able to go about their lives where anyone who didn't know them wouldn't be able to tell. They would just figure that they were focusing on their own lives, their own things, and the fact was that for most people, they weren't walking around with the word "DEPRESSED" tattoo'd on their faces.

Well, if you took a careful look under the shaggy bangs of Roger Rabbit, you'd find that that image wasn't too far off. The fact was, though, you didn't need to see that to know that all was not right in Rogerville. See, part of being a Toon is going all out. You wear your heart on your sleeve. If you sick, you damn well better actually look green. If you were angry? Smoke had better shoot out of your ear, things like that.

So what did that mean for a Toon who was depressed? Not even crying anymore, just depressed? Well, for one thing, there were the world's biggest bags under his eyes. Visible, gray bags that made him look a bit like a zombie. His clothes were looking strangely baggy, as if the past two months had caused him to lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time...could be because he kept forgetting to eat. Even with working at Yoshi's Yummies. Even candy didn't have appeal anymore. That was just a plain old travesty and the worst part was that Roger didn't even REALIZE it. It was like his whole being, everything that made him, well, him had left as soon as he ran out of tears, because that was really it. His Snow was really gone, and now he was a shell of the Toon he used to be.

Which was probably why he was just picking at the carrot cake he was having with his coffee, looking like he had aged about twenty years in two months as he numbly drank said coffee. That was just...it. No more joy in the world. That was it for him.

[Deleted]

Her first week in this new town, at her new job, had been relatively uneventful. The place was nice enough, the people... interesting, the students not all completely useless, but was this really what she needed? She felt guilt for leaving her children, but it wasn’t as if she had been raising them anyway, that was not the job of a future Queen. Perhaps the guit wasn’t caused by her leaving, but to her actual lack of guilt regarding the whole thing. She had left. She had walked away from the husband she no longer loved, the children she felt little attachment to, the kingdom she cared nothing for and the life she had grown to loathe. She felt no guilt for that, only apathy, and it was this that she regretted.

What kind of person was she?

Glancing back over her shoulder, Snow’s brow furrowed slightly but she shook it off as she entered the cafe. For days she had had this strange feeling that there were always eyes on her, that she was never alone, but she was sure it was only paranoia. She doubted her husband cared enough to send someone after her, not unless her absence was starting to affect his image.

Getting into the short queue, she barely looked around the shop, barely noticed a thing as she was so distracted by her own thoughts. It wasn’t until she stepped forward but was held back by a tugging on her cloak. Turning, she found that it had caught on one of the decorative knobs on the back of a chair. Working to free it, she gave a small smile to the boy seated in said chair. “Pardon me.”

[rogerrabbit]

Roger had only vaguely noticed the cape that had caught on his chair, and he was feeling so zombie-ish that it didn't seem to occur to him that this was odd. He was kind of just going through the motions at this point. Things just kinda happened, and he could barely bring himself to react anymore, not even when the pretty lady with pale skin, dark hair and the prettiest blue eyes ever apologized for her clothes getting caught on his chair and...

You could practically hear the cartoon sound effects with the way Roger suddenly sat up, eyes bugging out when it finally registered just who exactly he was looking at. Soon enough he found that he was gonna have to pull his jaw off the floor at this point.

It...it couldn't be...but it was! Oh my gosh, it really was, but...but...she had left without saying goodbye. What was she doing here, and why wasn't she at least apologizing for leaving him like she did?? And...and shouldn't she have been more pregnant by now, come to think of it, unless...nonono, he couldn't think something like that, because that might actually kill him even more than anything else that had happened since summer.

He shook so much that he was spilling his coffee, but he managed to get to his feet and stammer out, "Sn-sn-Snow? Wh-what are you, I..." It was getting to the point where if he said much more, his head would surely explode. Gosh, what was going on??

[Deleted]

Managing to free her cloak from the chair, Snow lifted her head to look at the boy; he was openly gaping at her with the widest eyes and most shocked expression she had ever seen... at least since the dwarfs had found her in their house all those years ago. Of course she was taken aback herself by this reaction and could only stare back at him. His eyes were bulging, he was practically vibrating in his chair, and his hands were shaking so hard that coffee was spilling all over them, though he didn’t seem to notice. There was something seriously wrong with him, and she was instantly wary.

Suddenly he leapt to his feet and she jumped back a step, her own eyes going wide. Did he mean to harm her? Surely not in front of so many people. Was he going to start screaming? What was wrong with him? Snow found that she couldn’t even begin to predict what he might do, and it caused a flicker of fear to ignite within her.

Then he spoke and he said her name, but his words were stilted, his voice strange.

Just stay calm, she told herself.

“I’m sorry, I have met so many new people this week,” Snow replied with what she hoped was an apologetic smile. “What was your name again?” She didn’t remember him from any of her classes, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t attended one.

[hunter]

Hunter had been trailing Snow all morning, doing his best to keep out of sight so as not to alert her to his presence. It was more than his life was worth to fail in such a simple challenge. Besides, as far as he could tell, watching the woman on Eve's orders wasn't doing any harm. Hunter knew there was a very real possibility that he'd be required to do something significantly worse in the future and he wanted to make sure he was in the Queen's good books for when he had to refuse her. As much as he valued his life, he was determined not to hurt anyone that didn't deserve it, no matter who was ordering it. It was that morality that had placed him in hot water with the Queen in the first place, all those years ago when he'd first failed to kill on her orders. He often wondered, while he was following her, whether Snow White appreciated just how much he'd risked by letting her go and whether she valued his sacrifice at all.

After waiting a few minutes, so as not to draw attention to himself, Hunter slipped into the Cafe he had watched Snow walk into. He stopped just inside the door and looked around, as though scanning for a table, letting his eyes pass over Snow's form without pausing, even as he took in her location and company. He didn't recognise the boy she was talking to but he was sure it wouldn't be too hard to find out who he was.

Hunter had intended on buying himself a cup of something before finding a table where he could sit quietly and listen to what was going on but Snow was standing far too close to the end of the short queue for him to risk going over. Instead, he headed straight for an empty table and settled himself in one of the unoccupied chairs, his back to the conversing couple to avoid the chance of being recognised.

[rogerrabbit]

If Roger thought that he was looking shocked...well, okay, no one could really beat a Toon in looking shocked. They were masters at expression and melodrama, after all, but all the same, Snow looked pretty darn shocked herself. Not in the way that it seemed like she thought that he'd never see him again, which was good in a way, 'cause, come on, if she had, he would have wondered if his for...his girl....she would have gone absolutely bonkers, because why would he have left if he thought there was even the slightest chance that she'd be back? But...actually, maybe he would have rather see that kind of shock, because there was something about the surprise on her beautiful, beautiful face that made him think that...it...it almost looked like she didn't...

Then she opened her mouth. That sinking feeling became more like the Tower of Terror in Disneyworld, falling down, down, down so fast that he couldn't even see where he was for a second. What's your name again? she had said. It was echoing in his ears like a bad dream so many times that he actually covered his ears with his hands for a second...before, you know, he realized she wasn't repeating herself, not really, that was his imagination playing with him, and as much as he felt like he had been Dipped, he didn't want to...he just...he didn't...he couldn't make her think...oh, he didn't know.

His hands slowly fell back to his sides, eyes still wide, because...this meant...she didn't know him? Ho...how was that possible? There was no way, how could she have forgotten everything--

Then again, didn't he work in the entertainment business? So of course he knew this kind of story: the hero or the hero's loved one gets amnesia...but wasn't that usually she wouldn't even know her own name? She reacted to him calling her Snow, after all, and had mentioned meeting people throughout the week...gosh, this didn't make any sense.

"I...I'm Roger..." he managed to stammer out, his eyes still wide, but more of in a pleading way. Because she...she had to remember him, right? Maybe if he said his name there would be...something, a little flicker of recognition in those pretty, pretty eyes of hers. Please Snow? I'm still in love with you, I still want to be a daddy, I...I don't know what I'm gonna do if you don't remember me...

Then again...wait. Maybe...maybe Snow had a twin somewhere? Maybe she only reacted 'cause she was so used to being mistaken for her sister or something. Well..that'd be just embarrassing, since Snow had never mentioned one, but...y'know, mistaken identity, happened all the time, right? "Y...you are Snow White, right?"

[Deleted]

Snow’s eyes grew less wide, but only so she could furrow her brow in confusion and question. The boy was covering his ears now as if she had said something terrible, something he didn’t want to hear. Was he really that insulted that she didn’t remember him? She was beginning to believe this to be true, as he looked practically ready to burst into tears as he introduced himself.

Oh no, not again. Being “the fairest of them all” back home for the earliest years of her life, she had grown used to people fawning over her. Of course at the time she had been too young and naive to realise the attention for what it truly was, and had just thought the people all so charming and friendly. She had made fast friends with the seven dwarfs and they had been willing to do anything for her, to protect her, but that’s what friends did, and of course people fell in love at first sight like she and her prince had, that was how things happened.

Now she knew better, and while the bloom of youth had faded and motherhood had left her body less desirable than it had been before, she was still beautiful and obviously boys still noticed. This poor kid had probably developed an unhealthy crush on her and was devastated by the thought that he hadn’t made an impression on her in class. Snow couldn’t help but feel a bit of sympathy for him, even if he still put her on edge with his erratic behaviour.

“Yes, I am Snow White,” she clarified to his question. Or perhaps she was completely wrong and this was merely a case of mistaken identity... though he was asking her correct name so that appeared unlikely. “I am the new Culinary Arts instructor. You have heard of me?”

[rogerrabbit]

C'mon, c'mon, p-p-p-please... Roger had thought, and his hands were folded again, kind of like that one day when he first met Plum. Sure, he was starting to think this whole deity thing wasn't gonna do him any good, but he still had to try. So he prayed as hard as he could that his Snowflake would realize, oh, of course. There he was, the boy that she loved, she had been looking all over for him because she felt so bad about leaving and wanted to make things right again. That had to be it, that had to be it...but there was no love in her eyes. Not even a little bit of recognition. If anything, she was looking almost...gosh, she looked so weirded out. By him? Oh gosh, oh gosh, oh gosh, this couldn't be happening, this couldn't be happening...

Then she asked if he had heard of her. This whole thing had to be some kind of joke, except Roger was not laughing. This wasn't the kind of joke Roger liked, this was just plain mean is what it was, and he was pretty sure that Snow...no, she wouldn't do a thing like that. The Snow he knew was the sweetest, purest thing on the face of the Earth. Even Roger, who had used to be able to look at the bright side of life, knew that Snow was really the representation of everything that was good in this planet that could be really miserable sometimes.

And that was when it occurred to him...she hadn't smiled once since they started this conversation. I mean, sure, maybe there was a tiny one when she was trying to be friendly (not that it was doing any good), but that wasn't the smile that Roger had fallen in love with. Her smile was kind of like looking at a bunch of stars on one face. It was the prettiest thing he had ever seen...and it was nowhere in sight. Even though he knew the face, it just didn't look right without that smile. Under different circumstances, he would have been immediately asking what was wrong, what he could do to make her laugh, because...he couldn't live without that smile of hers, he was sure of it. Heck, his current state was proof of that.

Now that he really thought about it, she just seemed so different, like, beyond some really selective amnesia...what was going on here??

"Well...yeah, I have, I..." What was he supposed to say? Sure, she looked like his Snow, she said her name was Snow White, but...it seemed like she wasn't the one he was looking for. Not really. He was so busy processing this that he answered, "I...I knew the other you," without really thinking about it. It was only when the words had already left his mouth that his eyes bugged out and he covered his mouth, realizing how crazy he was sounding. Now she was going to leave for sure, and no matter how much this was hurting, he didn't want her to leave yet! It...it was just so good to see her, even if it hurt like crazy.

"I didn't mean that! Uh...I haven't had my coffee yet." He lifted his cup, then realized that it wasn't entirely full. He managed a sheepish smile. "Uh...I spilled some of it...I...I say the darnedest things when I haven't had my coffee yet...?" And as much as it killed him, this was probably his best way: tell a bald faced lie.

"I meant..." He managed a very weak chuckle. "Yeah, who hasn't heard of Snow White, you're famous, after all." And he sipped his coffee so that he mouth would be full and he could maybe drown that darn lump in his throat that seemed to want to either strangle him or make him burst into tears and scare New!Snow off. Nope. Sorry Lumpy, not gonna happen, he said, sounding a bit more defiant in his own mind than he had in a while. Not like it was much, seeing as he wanted to just die when he looked at her, but he'd be darned if he didn't at least try to talk to her.

[Deleted]

The longer Snow spent in this boy’s presence, the more uncomfortable she felt. If he did have some sort of infatuation with her then she shouldn’t be talking to him which he could misconstrue as encouragement, but she was afraid of his reaction if she tried to leave. She had to handle this delicately and... oh gosh, was he praying?

She kept that same fake smile on her face, the one she had practiced so well as royalty, and waited patiently for him to speak. When he finally did, no amount of practice could have kept her from frowning in confusion. The other her? What was that supposed to mean?

“I’m sorry, I don’t-” she started to say, but quickly cut off when he slapped his hand over his mouth as if he had said something he shouldn’t have. Then suddenly he was rambling off excuses that sounded more like lies and Snow found herself scanning the shop for a quick way out. This conversation had quickly gone from uncomfortable and a bit worrying to downright distressing.

Roger tried to cover up his slip of the tongue but the damage was already done and she couldn’t forget what he had said. “Well, considering what I am ‘famous’ for, I would rather not be,” she said, casting her eyes around the shop again. For a moment they fell upon and lingered on a dark figure at another table before she drew her gaze back to the distraught boy before her. “I really should get into the line, so if you will excuse me...”

[rogerrabbit]

Wait...was she smiling now? Roger perked up for a split second before he got a better look at her face and then he immediately deflated again. Yeah, she was smiling, but it still wasn't the right smile. Toons could tell fake smiles from real ones, of course they could. Probably better than anyone, in fact, what with creating real laughter being their purpose and all. And this new Snow White was wearing one of the fakiest smiles he had ever had the misfortune to see. Gosh, what had happened to her that she had to fake smiles so much? Roger didn't even want to think that he was the cause of this, of course...mostly 'cause even if his Snow had completely forgotten about him, she probably would have just been concerned, nervous...she wouldn't have felt like playing a part. There had to be something else, he was sure of it, and everything in his heart wanted to fix that.

Yet she clearly wanted to leave after what he had said. Stupid, stupid Roger, now she's gonna leave you again... 'Cause really, it had to be something he did. Snow was perfect in every way, she wouldn't have left him without good reason, and right now was proof. He was scaring her off; even if it wasn't the same Snow he knew, it was the same kind of scenario. Maybe he was always coming on too strong with his jokes, even though Snow seemed to like them before she left...gosh, the way her eyes lit up when they were goofing around, having a pillow or flour fight, or just running around like the happiest lunatics in the world. They were so happy, at least, that was what he had thought...but he must've done something wrong. He had to stop doing the wrong thing or how was he supposed to win her back or...if, Heaven forbid, she really never wanted to be with him again, how was he supposed to find love ever again? Sure, Roger didn't want anyone but Snow, but a part of him knew that he couldn't be lonely forever...he couldn't be this way forever, could he? That was even worse than her leaving...at least...ugggh, he didn't know.

"Uh...do you want some company?" he tried once more, trying so hard to not look desperate, even though the same part that said he couldn't be this way forever also suggested that he just leave her be. He was being downright silly, and not the good kind of silly...but how were you supposed to look at the girl of your dreams and just let her go? "I...I know I've been weird and I'm awful sorry...but it's not every day I meet royalty...y'know?" Actually, it sort of was, this was Tintagel, but he had to be convincing, right? He tried for his sweetest smile by imagining that this was his Snow, imagining her smile and laughter...yeah, that did it. It also kind of took away a piece of his heart, but he would worry about that later.

[Deleted]

Did she want company? His company? She most certainly did not. To be quite frank Roger was frightening her and she wanted nothing more than to leave the shop and escape him, but she had the feeling that would be easier said than done. What if he followed her? She could always scream, get someone to keep him away... but he was just a boy. That was not to say that he could not harm her if he wished, but she preferred to just do what she could to keep it from coming to that rather than possibly provoking it.

“I really did only mean to come in and pick something up to take with me,” Snow replied gently, watching him carefully as she tried to talk her way out of this. Suddenly, though, he didn’t look so unhinged; instead he just looked completely and utterly lovestruck. She really shouldn’t encourage him, and while she thought that maybe he wasn’t dangerous after all that didn’t mean she should carry on this conversation, yet she felt herself waver slightly. “But if you wish to wait with me in line I won’t object.”

This time her smile was a little more genuine, and although thought she might regret this later at least she had still left herself an out. Now this meeting had a time limit, and once she had received her order she could hopefully walk away without any fuss.

[rogerrabbit]

Roger was pretty sure he was going to get all droopy and desperate if she rejected him, and he could see her wanting to from a mile away. Gosh, why couldn't he just leave her alone? Oh...right, because she was the love of his life, or at least he had thought. If they were really true loves, why would she forget him, but seem to have full knowledge of everything else and...he had never questioned that before...but now that she had left and forgotten him, it was getting a lot easier to think that maybe they really weren't--

No! No, they...they could make this work, right? They had to. Otherwise what was going to happen to him? He...he just couldn't accept a life alone, right? Right??

...then she said that it was okay and he calmed down again. And...yeah...that was a bit closer to the smile that he had known. Yes, there was hope! There had to be hope!

"Thank you," was all he could manage and it came out in a whisper that he rarely used. After all, Roger was probably the President of Boisterous, and quiet didn't usually suit him. Heck, most of his whispers came out as stage whispers...guess that was what total love and longing did to you. Leaving his coffee forgotten he stood up and went to follow her, and he really tried, he really did, to not stare at her, but...she was every bit as beautiful as he had remembered. He had to bite his lips to resist the urge to kiss those ruby red lips again, just so he could feel that again...no, he couldn't scare her off. Just a few minutes with her, that was all he asked.

"Uh, so...do you like it here? It's a nice little town..."