Episode Twenty-Six: Danse Macabre

In which our dancing slippers are worn threadbare. Featuring: the moon's pale voice, a plot to kill a king, yet another riddle, a party in hell, a familiar name.

Episode description: Once upon a time.

Episode Overview
Anna, Mabel, and Vera head to the royal ball.

Trigger Warnings

 * Distortion, choking, violence, references to capitivity/enslavement.

Episode Summary
This episode begins with Luna explaining how she met the King (in a field of flowers, where he saw her and decided she would be his). She says that if Anna and Mabel think they could dethrone him, then they should do it. Then it cuts to Mabel explaining to Anna about the ball, before Vera mocks them for being sappy with each other.

Vera and Mabel explain to Anna what Vera had offered Mabel- that is, herself-- and then they make Vera tell them her plan after Anna chokes Vera out. Vera says that she'll get them into the ball (seeing as she's closer to being a member of the Court than either of them), and Anna and Mabel have an argument about Mabel being dehumanized.

We hear from the unknown voices as they begin to record the ball.

Vera, freaking the hell out, explains how powerful the King is, before they find the entrance to the ball and solve a riddle (the answer to this one being "starling") to get in. They get into the ball and deal with various Court levels of nonsense before someone screams at a man named Madrigal to play some music. Anna, distracted, tries to go towards the man, while Vera freaks out again, seeing that Luna is still kneeling next to the King. Anna moves away and the episode erupts into distortion and noise before ending.

Continuity
''' Please note that this section contains spoilers for later episodes of Mabel. Continue at your own risk. '''


 * Vera has a position in the Court, while Anna and Mabel do not. This will change severely over the course of the season.
 * This is Jack Madrigal's first mention since Vanished.

Trivia
'''Please note that this section contains spoilers for later episodes of Mabel. Continue at your own risk.'''


 * Mabel's once again being referred to as a bird (see "Anna's hummingbird" from Vera in Eternal Return) here.
 * Anna and Veratrine's relationship is... not good, to say the least, but this marks at least a small turn of care for Mabel and Vera.
 * VERATRINE: No! You aren't listening! You don't understand, you can't -
 * MABEL: Are you - alright -