[He was fine. He made it seem like he was fine when it was all said and done. He'd made the decision to do this, it was with his hands he took her life, so that they could end this nightmare.]
[He did it. Everything had been his doing, his strings, his machinations. All him.]
[So that's why he did not show anything but his usual mask to the others before leaving. Nothing but the prideful Puppet Master who did what had to be done. It wasn't until he got back that he realized he was shaking.]
[Why does grief follow him like a shadow? Even now?]
[He almost doesn't answer the door, but thinking it might be news about her drags him to his feet. He takes his staff off the wall to open the door.]
[How interesting. Someone in the town worrying about him? How did he manage to cultivate such an image.]
[Something rises up in him that makes him want to lash out. A dark madness almost, slam the door, say something insane, hurt the man in front of him. He's grieving and all he wants to do is destroy-]
[But he steps outside of it, like he has learned to do. Like Vanilla taught him.]
Suit yourself! I'm not going to turn down freebies! ...Pavlova Cookie will probably appreciate them.
[he waves a hand and walks away, leaving the door open. AN invitation to come inside if he likes.]
( lily's a quiet woman, and pavlova seems like a quiet enough kid too. yet something about the house as it is right now seems off, despite him never having visited before. )
[There is a multitude of ghosts in this house. Of people having come and gone. This is a house of mourning, perhaps that is what Sidney is picking up on. The other two in the house are quiet, but Shadow Milk has always come across as larger than life, until now.]
On the table is fine. D'you like tea?
[He guesses he could pretend to be a host. Have some tea. He won't admit it but the quiet of the house was making him feel crazy. He snaps his fingers and the stove will start heating the kettle.]
( he sets the basket down as told, and pulls a chair out for the both of them. )
Finger foods, primarily- like a charcuterie board, almost, but with none of the energy needed to make it. I have some fresh fruits from the Guardian' trees in there too. For heavier food I made a stew, that you can just pop on the oven when you're ready. ... Simple things.
Figured it might make things a little easier for the two of you. And if Miss Lily needs a rest, I'm willin' to bring more over later, too.
[He gets a few mugs down, floats them over to the table. Something generic, though is hand touches the shape of Lily's favorite mug and his hand recoils a moment.]
[He hands his staff up so he can see the kitchen properly, and then comes to sit down, leaning over the basket to poke around and see. He takes out a peach and bites into it.]
Right. She'll be back soon.
[Because the way she vanished in his arms was not entirely what he planned. They had surmised this death would be one of the lesser deaths, like what always happened during one of the Warden's games, but-]
[There is a part of him that's worried, which is why he refuses to acknowledge it.]
( it's probably not what they want to discuss, though. and he's grateful that shadow milk is eating at all- that had been a major worry, and what prompted this little visit to begin with. )
... Since I'm here, if you need a hand with anything, let me know. As thanks for the tea.
( obviously. )
--Oh, have you heard? Half the inn rooms have been taken over by the little plant animals now. Rusty's been goin' nuts barking at them.
no subject
[He did it. Everything had been his doing, his strings, his machinations. All him.]
[So that's why he did not show anything but his usual mask to the others before leaving. Nothing but the prideful Puppet Master who did what had to be done. It wasn't until he got back that he realized he was shaking.]
[Why does grief follow him like a shadow? Even now?]
[He almost doesn't answer the door, but thinking it might be news about her drags him to his feet. He takes his staff off the wall to open the door.]
...Oh, it's you.
[Mildly confused, but not hostile.]
no subject
( he holds up the basket, but otherwise makes no movement. if he's allowed in, it'll be by shadow milk's discretion. )
no subject
[How interesting. Someone in the town worrying about him? How did he manage to cultivate such an image.]
[Something rises up in him that makes him want to lash out. A dark madness almost, slam the door, say something insane, hurt the man in front of him. He's grieving and all he wants to do is destroy-]
[But he steps outside of it, like he has learned to do. Like Vanilla taught him.]
Suit yourself! I'm not going to turn down freebies! ...Pavlova Cookie will probably appreciate them.
[he waves a hand and walks away, leaving the door open. AN invitation to come inside if he likes.]
no subject
I do hope it helps.
( lily's a quiet woman, and pavlova seems like a quiet enough kid too. yet something about the house as it is right now seems off, despite him never having visited before. )
Where'd you like me to leave this?
no subject
On the table is fine. D'you like tea?
[He guesses he could pretend to be a host. Have some tea. He won't admit it but the quiet of the house was making him feel crazy. He snaps his fingers and the stove will start heating the kettle.]
What'd you bring?
no subject
( he sets the basket down as told, and pulls a chair out for the both of them. )
Finger foods, primarily- like a charcuterie board, almost, but with none of the energy needed to make it. I have some fresh fruits from the Guardian' trees in there too. For heavier food I made a stew, that you can just pop on the oven when you're ready. ... Simple things.
Figured it might make things a little easier for the two of you. And if Miss Lily needs a rest, I'm willin' to bring more over later, too.
no subject
[He hands his staff up so he can see the kitchen properly, and then comes to sit down, leaning over the basket to poke around and see. He takes out a peach and bites into it.]
Right. She'll be back soon.
[Because the way she vanished in his arms was not entirely what he planned. They had surmised this death would be one of the lesser deaths, like what always happened during one of the Warden's games, but-]
[There is a part of him that's worried, which is why he refuses to acknowledge it.]
S'not bad.
[That's kind of a thank you.]
no subject
( it's probably not what they want to discuss, though. and he's grateful that shadow milk is eating at all- that had been a major worry, and what prompted this little visit to begin with. )
... Since I'm here, if you need a hand with anything, let me know. As thanks for the tea.
( obviously. )
--Oh, have you heard? Half the inn rooms have been taken over by the little plant animals now. Rusty's been goin' nuts barking at them.
no subject
[He's a bad person! the worst! He killed White Lily, after all. H-]
The Inn is first come first serve, isn't it? Let them!