jesterlies | INBOX

[ He's not particularly scared, but perhaps a little cautious as he approaches his father. He saw the screaming, the tantrum, the emotion... he wouldn't be surprised if Shadow Milk hadn't noticed him though, since he made himself scarce. Not his business how his father wanted to settle things with his soulmate.

But he does care about the aftermath. He does care about the turmoil this leaves, against his better judgement. It's achingly familiar to the explosive farewell Hollyberry got. He can only imagine how catastrophic it'd be if his father had his full power.

...

He enters, his little shoes tapping the hardwood to announce his presence. He's not sure exactly what his dad is feeling. Maybe he was a mix of things too. Either way, he wrapped his arms around him and sighed. ]

How're you doing?

[ Because asking if he's okay would be stupid. ]

[Shadow Milk is in the atelier for once. Though he has spent a lot of time in the Hall, he's feeling possessive of the house. He is the one that lives here now, and so he refuses to feel like he should leave. He was allowed in and everyone will regret that choice.]

[Though, he has couped himself up in here since Vanilla's return. He has emotions he doesn't know how to vent, and feelings that feel terrible and violent. He's trying to work it out of him by making something. He isn't sure if its helping or not, but hand stitching this robe is giving his hands something to do, he guesses.]

[He hears Pavlova's footsteps, ear flicking just a bit. He pauses in this stitch as he comes up behind him. The contact almost makes him jump, but he manages to sooth somewhat. He lets out a sigh. Doesn't yet trust his hands anywhere but on the arms of the chair for now.]

Why don't we play a game, Cherub? Can you tell if it's Truth or Deceit?

[The fabric he's working with is white, shiny, trimmed in gold.]

I'm right as rain, of course. As if I could be anything else.

A little of both, but the lead is Deceit.

[ The second half hits as how he feels about the situation. Plus he imagines there is some relief there, so it's not complete turmoil.

... he could potentially just-- look. If he wanted to. But he's not. That would defeat the purpose of the game. He even closes his eyes as he nuzzles his father's shoulder, careful not to ruin his work. ]

Well done. In order to tell lies, you have to know lies, after all.

[He sighs a little, as Pavlova cuddles in. He does a stitch or two, but he settles his hands down in his lap after a moment.]

I see you met the other half of my Soul Jam. What did you think?

[ He quiets a bit at the question, possibly telling in his hesitance ]

Doesn't feel like someone that unconditionally nice could exist.

[ He reminds him of Eternal Sugar before her fall. He's not sure he thinks that degree of kindness is safe. ]

I guess I'm worried. I don't know how to act around him. And he's important to you, so...

[ He can't afford to mess up. He knows his place is much lower than his father's other half ]

They very often don't, and if they do, not for very long.

[They fall, or they break, or they die. That's usually the fate of such people. Shadow Milk had tried to do one of those to him, and he'd nearly succeeded. Twisting, squeezing his soul in his hands until he snapped. Until Truthless had been all that remained.]

[Truthless brings forth complicated feelings in his chest so he banishes that quickly.]

You needn't worry about such a thing, Cherub. He will love you regardless, that is his nature. Besides, no Other-Half of mine would not be won over by your charms! I encourage you to get to know him. You might ...find him familiar. I see a lot of myself in him, from long ago.

[And perhaps that had been why he found Vanilla so unforgivable at first. Because he saw the Fount in him. That poor miserable wretch.]

[ He's quiet a moment. He can't lie, he does see a lot of the past in Pure Vanilla. And maybe that's what makes him so scary. The threat of it being taken again. The idea of that care twisting into something sinister.

He knows Pure Vanilla repelled that once. He knows what happened in the spire having read it himself...

But fear is an irrational thing and things can always get worse. Pavlova sighs and hides his face in his father's side ]

... You know I love you, right dad?

[ They've had this conversation before, about whatever mask he was wearing, he still loved him. It feels like it bears repeating now that Pure Vanilla's returned. ]

INBOX

After PV arrives

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject