( He awakens, and everything that had happened flashes before his eyes as though it was nothing more than a bad dream. But, he remembers the pain. He remembers weakly begging Pavlova Cookie not to end it for him. It had happened in an instant, and Pavlova's actions were so cold and calculated, as if it had not been the first. Even in all of his pain, he could register at least that much.
But, he ignores any tiredness he feels (dying is indeed as exhausting as one thinks) and begins to make his way to the inn. He takes more caution than what may be deemed normal this time, should there be any threatening growth that he might stumble upon. However, he thinks better of it quickly enough. He needs to let White Lily know he's alright. He needs to check on Pavlova Cookie. He needs to apologize to Shadow Milk, who had warned him the most out of all of them.
He wants to make sure that Elder Faerie had returned.
He begins to write then, listening for his surrounding in case something were to move that seemed unnatural as he does so. )
( the moment his handwriting appears, she drops the book and runs to find silent salt cookie- takes him by the arm and points outside, begging him to find pure vanilla and come back safely.
only after that does her own handwriting appear- )
( His heart both sinks and swells when he hears from White Lily. He feels an immense amount of relief and guilt. He has much to apologize for -- one that will need more than words.
A part of him doesn't want to burden someone with the danger, but he knows White Lily -- trusts her. She'd never ask someone to come if they couldn't defend themselves. )
White Lily Cookie! I am so relieved to hear from you, my flower.
I shall wait where I am now. There is still some ways before I reach the inn.
( Once Silent Salt finds him, they make their way back to the inn. White Lily may very well hear Pure Vanilla's footsteps as he enters. )
( There's no hesitance to return that hug - firm yet gentle. It's only when her grip loosens that he pulls away, and in what sign language he's been able to learn, he communicates with her. )
You have my deepest apologies. I never wished to cause you pain.
[Someone is ...taking this month poorly. Between his son and Pure Vanilla getting themselves killed in the most laughably horrific ways, despite everything he tried to do to keep them safe, no, there was a point he simply holed himself up in his old Inn room away from everyone to just not think, or do, or see anything.]
[If he destroyed some of the furniture when the impulse struck him, then sure.]
[He can't help a peek, though. His beholders are everywhere now. He catches sight of him eventually and then thinks to check the netbook.]
( He can only imagine what's waiting for him once he arrives in the inn, but he's certain it's nothing he can't handle. At this time, he's waiting for Silent Salt to reach him.
But, he finds that he feels relief from hearing from him. Despite knowing -- despite feeling it in his very core that Shadow Milk was alright, it's different from simply knowing.
The comment was from his other half... rightfully made. )
[Pure Vanilla has a way with words. Words that hone in on getting under his skin in some way without him apparently meaning to, (Or maybe he did, how would he know!!) For a moment, Pure Vanilla feels a pang from their Soul Jam, a burst of confusing and violent emotion. Anguish and anger. The connection quickly goes quiet after, like Shadow Milk had snapped the line shut.]
[It's a while before he responds again.]
I'm not. Go back into the woods, you clearly care more about it than listening to me.
( By the time Shadow Milk responds to Pure Vanilla again, he's on the way back to the inn, being escorted safely (though, they can protect one another, he's sure of it). He can feel such strong emotions from Shadow Milk, but perhaps Shadow Milk can feel the regret he feels -- from leaving him, for dying again. )
I cannot turn away from others who need aid.
Even so, I cannot apologize enough. It was never my intention to leave again.
[And yet, if he truly regretted, wouldn't he have listened? Shadow Milk hates it, hates that he's not surprised and yet here he is, constantly having his heart torn in two over this fucking cookie.]
Save it. It doesn't matter how sorry you say you are, you'll just keep doing it. Going out and getting yourself killed for nothing was clearly more important to you than not hurting the people you leave behind.
[ Looking at the netbook is about all he can do after his own return, but he still leaves it alone to give Pure Vanilla and the others space. He hides in his room for a few days before he can move enough to stumble down the stairs and sit by the fire. It's cold, especially since he's really not that used to cold weather, but the fire helped.
Call him a coward, he hides a little whe he hears Pure Vanilla approach, withdrawing into a blanket ]
( Pure Vanilla and the others have been letting Pavlova rest. He has so much to say to him, and yet -- he knows that it needs to wait. He wants to thank him. He wants to apologize profusely to him.
He wants to make sure that he's alright.
He doesn't fail to notice when Palova Cookie hides a little more into his blanket when he begins to make his way downstairs. Gripping his staff with both hands, he speaks gently -- quietly. He wants to reassure him that it's alright. )
I'm happy to see that you are alright, Pavlova Cookie.
[ Well, That's not the response he'd expected, but people had mentioned the man was weirdly forgiving. He doesn't really anticipate being allowed out of this situation without some kind of scolding, though. ]
Mm... Sure.
[ He'll try not to seem too tense, but that fake smile is back. ]
( He sits next to him then, keeping a bit of distance between them. He can't help but think that that would be most comfortable for the other right now. )
How are you feeling? I know what happened was not easy in the least.
[ After his dad wrote in the netbook he'd been in a bad enough mood, but the hours stretched on and on with no response, no explanation, and worse, he couldn't find White Lily either when he tried to find her and see if she knew anything.
Another hour, two, five. There was no daytime, but it had to be about the time he was supposed to be asleep by now. The fear was truly eating at him. Shouldn't he be back by now? Either of them? Had the forest gotten them? Or worse- had the forest kept them? It's infected Lily before, and Shadow Milk was a known threat to it.
Or had he done something wrong? Was this his punishment for going outside the inn and dying last month? The boy ran circles around in his head, feeling sick the longer he spent worrying about where his father and step mother were.
He doesn't have quite the same relationship with Pure Vanilla. He simply hasn't known him long enough to really get a sense of how safe he was to open up to. In theory he knows he can. In practice it just hasn't worked. But in this case he's all Pavlova can think to turn to. Silent Salt and Elder Faerie were both... too complicated for now.
So at what would roughly be midnight if anyone had a sense of time with the day/night cycle completely thrown out, Pure Vanilla will hear a very quick, soft knock at his door. ]
( He realizes almost immediately that the connection between himself and Shadow Milk had been disconnected. It was almost as though a part of him had been severed. A part of him wondered if this meant he was gone for good, and yet... he knew better than to jump to conclusions. More than that, he hoped that he was alright.
And then there was White Lily. White Lily... was someone he felt far more uncertain of. She had typically ventured on her own back at home. Despite her having suggested to stay together, he knew it wouldn't be unlike her to go off on her own, too. That didn't stop him from being worried, of course. There were no responses to his messages, no matter how much he reached out to her.
When he hears the quiet tapping at his door, Pavlova will hear Pure Vanilla call out with "just a moment!" before opening the door only seconds later. He looks to Pavlova only briefly before offering a greeting. )
[ "Good to see you" is probably charitable considering the poor thing is beside himself and desperately trying not to seem like it. ]
Mmhm.
[ He's like a fish out of water, stiff, scared to really ask anything of Pure Vanilla, but he's made it this far. ]
I... can't find my dad or miss Lily. I haven't seen them in hours.
[ There's no question or request voiced- like he was giving a report, but his demeanor spoke to his distress. Wherever they went, he clearly wasn't in the loop. ]
[ He's fully aware he doesn't know her well enough to say that. It's entirely possible that detail is different because of this place or because she's aware he and Shadow Milk have-- issues.
And usually when she does wander off it's not during something like this where there are evil moons and bugs out to get them and they're vulnerable. Maybe he's just saying that because he wants it to be true. He doesn't know.
The boy allows the contact, holding onto the other's hand like an anchor. Like he's scared if he lets go Pure Vanilla will vanish too.
What he needs is to feel safe and that probably isn't going to be easy to acheive. ]
( in his inn room, propped against his pillow, is an embossed white and gold heart shaped box, nestling an assortment of chocolates within. beside it is a small knit sheep.
( It's such a lovely surprise to come home to. And, a wonderful coincidence, too. Pure Vanilla had been looking for his own gifts for her. But, before he makes his way out to find her, he'll take the sheep and the chocolates away safely for his return.
He's found a rather fancy journal for any of her research notes, and a box of gourmet chocolates for her. Nothing too flashy or big, but enough that he hopes will boost her spirits a little.
When he finds her in the lobby, he tucks the presents behind his back before calling out to her softly: )
( the mischievous woman has made her rounds, snuck her gifts about- and as she sits with a book, a lap blanket and a cup of tea, she's quite pleased with herself. when pure vanilla calls her name, she looks up with a smile. )
Hello, Pure Vanilla Cookie! Happy Valentine's day.
I do hope you enjoy them. I had to pick the flavors myself, so I might have gotten carried away...
(
wait, gifts for her? she accepts them with wide eyes before she just sets the tea and gifts down and lunges at him in a hug- oh, whoops, they're tumbling now. despite the mess they land in, lily can't help but laugh- )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
after the january event (cw death/murder mentions)
Date: 2026-02-01 02:40 am (UTC)But, he ignores any tiredness he feels (dying is indeed as exhausting as one thinks) and begins to make his way to the inn. He takes more caution than what may be deemed normal this time, should there be any threatening growth that he might stumble upon. However, he thinks better of it quickly enough. He needs to let White Lily know he's alright. He needs to check on Pavlova Cookie. He needs to apologize to Shadow Milk, who had warned him the most out of all of them.
He wants to make sure that Elder Faerie had returned.
He begins to write then, listening for his surrounding in case something were to move that seemed unnatural as he does so. )
Is everyone unharmed?
(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-01 02:52 am (UTC)only after that does her own handwriting appear- )
I'm sending help.
(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-01 02:59 am (UTC)A part of him doesn't want to burden someone with the danger, but he knows White Lily -- trusts her. She'd never ask someone to come if they couldn't defend themselves. )
White Lily Cookie! I am so relieved to hear from you, my flower.
I shall wait where I am now. There is still some ways before I reach the inn.
( Once Silent Salt finds him, they make their way back to the inn. White Lily may very well hear Pure Vanilla's footsteps as he enters. )
(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-01 03:04 am (UTC)Oh thank dough-
(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-01 03:08 am (UTC)You have my deepest apologies. I never wished to cause you pain.
I will do whatever I can to make it up to you.
(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-01 03:21 am (UTC)( she wants to beg and cry and yell. but she can't bring herself to. especially when she ultimately... did the same to so many others.
she'd been told not to go to the witch's banquet, after all.
but... is this the same thing? is it... )
... Please, I will never stop you from helping people... but... in the future, please, listen to us. We all know we are powerless right now... I...
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Date: 2026-02-01 07:11 am (UTC)[If he destroyed some of the furniture when the impulse struck him, then sure.]
[He can't help a peek, though. His beholders are everywhere now. He catches sight of him eventually and then thinks to check the netbook.]
Fool.
(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-01 07:38 am (UTC)But, he finds that he feels relief from hearing from him. Despite knowing -- despite feeling it in his very core that Shadow Milk was alright, it's different from simply knowing.
The comment was from his other half... rightfully made. )
I am grateful to hear from you.
( He's so glad that he's safe. )
(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-01 08:30 am (UTC)[It's a while before he responds again.]
I'm not. Go back into the woods, you clearly care more about it than listening to me.
(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-01 09:24 pm (UTC)I cannot turn away from others who need aid.
Even so, I cannot apologize enough. It was never my intention to leave again.
(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-01 09:39 pm (UTC)Save it. It doesn't matter how sorry you say you are, you'll just keep doing it. Going out and getting yourself killed for nothing was clearly more important to you than not hurting the people you leave behind.
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From:Let's say a day or two after, since pav would be stiff
Date: 2026-02-01 02:38 pm (UTC)Call him a coward, he hides a little whe he hears Pure Vanilla approach, withdrawing into a blanket ]
baby boy...
Date: 2026-02-01 09:53 pm (UTC)He wants to make sure that he's alright.
He doesn't fail to notice when Palova Cookie hides a little more into his blanket when he begins to make his way downstairs. Gripping his staff with both hands, he speaks gently -- quietly. He wants to reassure him that it's alright. )
I'm happy to see that you are alright, Pavlova Cookie.
May we talk?
(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-02 12:46 am (UTC)Mm... Sure.
[ He'll try not to seem too tense, but that fake smile is back. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-02 02:47 am (UTC)How are you feeling? I know what happened was not easy in the least.
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From:While Lily and SM are AWOL
Date: 2026-02-12 03:36 am (UTC)[ After his dad wrote in the netbook he'd been in a bad enough mood, but the hours stretched on and on with no response, no explanation, and worse, he couldn't find White Lily either when he tried to find her and see if she knew anything.
Another hour, two, five. There was no daytime, but it had to be about the time he was supposed to be asleep by now. The fear was truly eating at him. Shouldn't he be back by now? Either of them? Had the forest gotten them? Or worse- had the forest kept them? It's infected Lily before, and Shadow Milk was a known threat to it.
Or had he done something wrong? Was this his punishment for going outside the inn and dying last month? The boy ran circles around in his head, feeling sick the longer he spent worrying about where his father and step mother were.
He doesn't have quite the same relationship with Pure Vanilla. He simply hasn't known him long enough to really get a sense of how safe he was to open up to. In theory he knows he can. In practice it just hasn't worked. But in this case he's all Pavlova can think to turn to. Silent Salt and Elder Faerie were both... too complicated for now.
So at what would roughly be midnight if anyone had a sense of time with the day/night cycle completely thrown out, Pure Vanilla will hear a very quick, soft knock at his door. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-12 04:44 am (UTC)And then there was White Lily. White Lily... was someone he felt far more uncertain of. She had typically ventured on her own back at home. Despite her having suggested to stay together, he knew it wouldn't be unlike her to go off on her own, too. That didn't stop him from being worried, of course. There were no responses to his messages, no matter how much he reached out to her.
When he hears the quiet tapping at his door, Pavlova will hear Pure Vanilla call out with "just a moment!" before opening the door only seconds later. He looks to Pavlova only briefly before offering a greeting. )
Pavlova Cookie! It is good to see you...
Would you like to come in?
(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-12 05:02 am (UTC)Mmhm.
[ He's like a fish out of water, stiff, scared to really ask anything of Pure Vanilla, but he's made it this far. ]
I... can't find my dad or miss Lily. I haven't seen them in hours.
[ There's no question or request voiced- like he was giving a report, but his demeanor spoke to his distress. Wherever they went, he clearly wasn't in the loop. ]
(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-12 05:08 am (UTC)Well, he's certainly going to speak to him once he returns. But, he doesn't want to assume the worst for White Lily.
He reaches, offering to take the other's hand in comfort, moving just enough to give him room to enter, should he not want to take his hand. )
I am certain that we will see them soon. White Lily Cookie has often done things on her own, and yet... she has never failed to return to her friends.
Until then, I am here for you for anything you need.
(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-12 05:18 am (UTC)[ He's fully aware he doesn't know her well enough to say that. It's entirely possible that detail is different because of this place or because she's aware he and Shadow Milk have-- issues.
And usually when she does wander off it's not during something like this where there are evil moons and bugs out to get them and they're vulnerable. Maybe he's just saying that because he wants it to be true. He doesn't know.
The boy allows the contact, holding onto the other's hand like an anchor. Like he's scared if he lets go Pure Vanilla will vanish too.
What he needs is to feel safe and that probably isn't going to be easy to acheive. ]
Do... do you think I did something wrong?
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From:on what is presumably valentine's day
Date: 2026-02-15 12:57 am (UTC)it smells like lilies. )
slaps a nsfw warning on this thread
Date: 2026-02-16 02:09 am (UTC)He's found a rather fancy journal for any of her research notes, and a box of gourmet chocolates for her. Nothing too flashy or big, but enough that he hopes will boost her spirits a little.
When he finds her in the lobby, he tucks the presents behind his back before calling out to her softly: )
White Lily Cookie?
heeheehoo
Date: 2026-02-16 02:13 am (UTC)Hello, Pure Vanilla Cookie! Happy Valentine's day.
(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-16 02:21 am (UTC)He'll lean forward with a brief kiss before pushing himself away just enough to offer his own gifts to her. )
And Happy Valentine's to you, as well! It seems as though we had similar thoughts in mind.
(no subject)
Date: 2026-02-16 03:01 am (UTC)(
wait, gifts for her? she accepts them with wide eyes before she just sets the tea and gifts down and lunges at him in a hug- oh, whoops, they're tumbling now. despite the mess they land in, lily can't help but laugh- )
Thank you!
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