Chapter Text
Bad End Beauty waved indifferently at one of Terminus' mute servants as she strode down the halls in search of her master. She'd noticed in training that despite her recent rebirth, she felt leagues ahead of the others in terms of—well, everything. Her powers were more developed than even March's, she was stronger than Sunny and faster than Peace. Even in a straightforward contest of strength, something as boorish as arm wrestling, perhaps, she had enough strength in one slender arm to pin down both March and Sunny working together against her.
It felt wrong.
She arrived at the unadorned oak door that marked Terminus' throne room and raised her hand to knock.
"Come in." Of course, Master Joker could sense her before her knuckles touched the door. "And do pardon the brightness."
She didn't question the addendum and opened the door. "Pardon the intrusion." The door swung open, and Beauty stared in disbelief. As much as she could express disbelief, at any rate.
The typically pitch-dark throne room with its view into the inky blackness of The Terminus had been... renovated, perhaps, that seemed like the right word. It now resembled a courtyard in a palatial garden, with a bright blue sky arching high above and the sun sparkling on dewdrops that still adorned the petals of countless flowers—ones that Beauty inexplicably recognized. Another oddity for the list. It felt cool, like an early morning before the sun had a chance to warm the earth below. The chirps of avian life played a lovely backdrop to the quiet burbling of the marble fountain in the center of it all. Joker and Ritz sat opposite each other at a table of burnished ebony that looked as if it had been grown rather than formed by hand, a servant at the side having just appeared with a tea cart of refreshments. Both thanked the wordless servant, who poured the tea for them and set a silver cloche on the table along with a bowl of sugar cubes and a small carafe of milk.
Joker lifted his teacup as the servant shuffled away, disappearing amongst the seemingly endless flower beds. "Now, madame, I know more than most of your love for Ceylon, but mayhaps next time we try something different? Darjeeling, perhaps, or a nice Nilgiri blue." The harlequin chuckled.
The blue-eyed woman simply smiled, the gilded veins in her irises pulsing as they flicked to Beauty. "Perhaps we'll let our guest decide, hm? Beauty, what tea do you prefer?"
Joker turned to face Beauty as well, dropping two cubes of sugar into his tea and stirring it in. "Yes, that's a good question, isn't it? Perhaps one that should be asked of all your sisters. Go on, I'm curious."
Annoyance flared up in Beauty. Wasting time on chatter and pleasantries wasn't much her idea of a good time. She'd never say so, of course, and instead bowed slightly to her two masters. "I've not had much of a chance to drink tea, Master Joker, Lady Ritz. I wouldn't say I'm the best person to ask."
"Ah, but of course! How foolish of me to forget!" A third chair appeared at the table without fanfare—or perhaps it had always been there? Beauty couldn't quite remember. "Come, come, sit. Unless you've any objections, madame?" His gaze went to Ritz, who shook her head once. "It's settled, then. Come, come, Beauty, take a load off."
Inwardly, Beauty was seething as Sunny often did, but she kept her exterior calm and cool as ever as she seated herself. Joker poured a cup of tea for her as she took note of the playing cards on the table. Perhaps they'd been playing that game that Joker called his favorite—gin rummy, she thought. "Thank you for your hospitality." She bowed again, ever so slightly, then took the steaming teacup and accompanying saucer in her hands. She blew gently on the surface of the tea, causing a sheen of micro-crystals of ice to form and immediately melt.
"Lovely trick, my dear." Joker took a sip of his tea. "Ah, but let's not forget!" He lifted the cloche, and Beauty's senses were struck by a familiar barrage of scents.
Butter. Sugar. Caramel. Her eyes lit up, a rare ghost of a smile coming to her lips as she laid eyes on the beautiful confection, still fresh enough to have caramel oozing down the side. "Tarte tatin," She said, barely louder than a whisper.
Ritz smiled at her. "Are we a fan, Beauty? I must say, I've not seen you smile before—it's quite lovely, isn't it, Joker?"
"Oui, of course. What else would you expect, madame? I sculpted these girls myself." Joker set the cloche aside and set to cutting a couple slices of the tarte tatin, one for each guest at the table.
Normally, Beauty's smile would give way to a derisive sneer in the face of comments like that, but the sight of the familiar treat had softened her heart for a moment.
But why was it familiar?
The question dropped into her mind like a cannonball into a puddle. She stiffened for a moment as Joker passed her a slice of the tart, something which did not go unnoticed.
Ritz quirked her eyebrow. "Something the matter, Beauty?"
Beauty set her dish on the table. "If I may, Lady Ritz. Have I been returned to life in the past... before now?"
Ritz's dark eyebrows raised in surprise. "You can tell? How odd, your Origin should have been reset after last time you died."
"Perhaps her will is simply stronger than the others, madame?" Joker mused. "She can be quite stubborn at times."
"So I have. What have I done? What roles have I served?" Beauty mused, not sure if she'd receive an answer, or even if she wanted to.
"Mm, I'm afraid I can't tell you. The memories you have, or uncover yourself, will be all you retain from those previous lives." Ritz took a bite of her tarte tatin, chewing slowly. "However, this is a stroke of luck for us. With your greater power, you may be able to serve as a commander."
That intrigued Beauty. "A commander? You would place that much trust in me, Lady Ritz?"
"Joker, would you?"
"Oui, madame, of course. My Beauty has always been loyal, no matter who she's served. The Blight, the King of Nothing, or you—and needless to say, she was quite loyal to myself and Emperor Pierrot, may he rot in hell." The last words came as a snarl as Joker took another sip of tea. "The tarte tatin will get cold if you leave it too long, mademoiselle."
"Ah, of course." Beauty dug into it with the side of her fork, cutting off a small bite that she raised to her lips.
"Malice."
The fork stopped, hovering inches from her open mouth.
"That's your name now, dear. I trust you find it familiar?"
"Yes, Lady Ritz." It was a name she'd heard more than her own, but she never knew who it spoke of in her memories.
"Then I do hope you can make some new memories with it. Any objections, Joker?"
"Non, madame."
"It's settled, then. Enjoy it, Malice, and do not disappoint me."
Malice nodded, then slipped the bite of tarte tatin between her lips.
It was delicious.