diplomaticimmewnity (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
diplomaticimmewnity) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sticksandbones2024-03-08 01:53 pm
diplomaticimmewnity) wrote in sticksandbones2024-03-08 01:53 pm
Entry tags:
- !fammeet,
- !npc: moder,
- !npc: nene,
- !npc: suri,
- !npc: zahliya,
- arknights: gnosis,
- arknights: mizuki,
- arknights: passenger,
- arknights: phantom,
- arknights: sesa,
- arknights: silverash,
- cookie run: pure vanilla cookie,
- elsword: add,
- elsword: elsword,
- original: felicity morais,
- original: kiera canorus,
- the world ends with you: beat,
- the world ends with you: joshua,
- trigun: livio
March Family Meeting
Who: All
What: Town Hall / Family Meeting
When: Mid-March
Where: Inn Lobby
Warnings: Child death mentions, torture, body horror. More will be in post titles as they come up.
Silverash will leave a note in the inn's lobby, as well as one in the notebook about a meeting coming up — a town hall to let everyone know what's been going on and gather information between one another. The Guardians, as always, are invited, and Enciodes even lets Ydalir and Heimr know what his plans are, in case they want to attend, though he does mention it might get rather uncomfortable for them, and he understands if they would rather not.
Silverash will use the notes taken at the last town hall and write them down again for all to see and pay attention to. There is a lot of information to note, so he is sure to outline and title all the important things to look at via your own disclosure. (As an OOC note, this is also the IC reasoning of why a lot of this was copy and pasted from the last meeting.)
Our lives as we currently know it, while it did happen, are because of we've originated here at the Grove in a past life. Some sort of ritual was meant to save our souls, thought we physically didn't survive. For the most part, it seems our personalities from our past life carried over somewhat, but overall, it doesn't seem like learning about them in detail provides any information on how to get back to our current home or how to best the creature.
The Shopkeeper and the Trader — They lost their names to the forest, so their new names are Heimr and Ydalir. With this in mind, do not give the forest your name. They cannot be referred to by their old names, but Heimr used to be the person in charge of the Grove and Ydalir his sister.
The Guardians — the Guardians we can currently seek out within the Grove are Zahliya, our small gargoyle friend; Moder, the large moose-like creature; the River Guardian, a fish(?). Treat them respectfully and give them offerings if you require their assistance or plan to take anything that is theirs. There are more guardians outside of the Grove. They're akin to... demigods, in a sense of the word. Moder and the River Guardian used to be corrupted, though on their deaths seemed to have been cleansed of this corruption. Though, going forward, killing the Guardians to purify them may prove detrimental. We simply got lucky with the first two. They were strong enough to revive. If we try again, we might not have this luck.
Zahliya is able able to purify things with some sort of holy magic. However, his purification is not as strong as it needs to be to fully purify something of corruption. As such, it's in our best interest to figure out how to do this so we can use this ability to cleanse other Guardians and residents in the future, like Elsword and Nene. If you know of anything that might be helpful, but don't think it's a good idea for the creature in the forest to know, ask those two to leave, first. They may be on our side, but their corruption lends to the forest being able to listen in anyway.
We've found shards of the sun, the moon, and know of Ydalir's star shards. They seem to be manifestations of holy magic, considering that this world reveres the sun and moon deities. We've given Zahliya the sun shard in hopes it'll help him purify things. So far, it seems to be going well, though it seems like there needs to be something a bit stronger to help.
Belief in something gives it power. Names give it power. As such, refrain from giving the forest/the creature/the entity a true "name" of any kind. It's recommended to swap out the vague reference you use. Vice versa for our Guardians - please use their names, and believe in them intrinsically when we require their assistance. Mizuki has recommended before that we sing to Zahliya when he purifies things. Songs of protection and such might do us some good, I think. Just remember not to wish for things too frequently, only if it's absolutely necessary.
It considers us toys. When it gets bored, which so far has been every handful of weeks or so, it will play games with us of some kind, as you may have noticed with the race. They seem to vary in intensity. Residents were trapped inside a volcano and meant to get to the top before else risk burning alive… and it also seems to know what our absolute worst fears are, respectively. It will get in your head. Don't give it that opportunity.
It is not a god, but it does possess a great deal of power, somehow. Finding the source of this may be vital, as it is a chaotic nature with a child-like, sadistic personality, which is a deadly combination.
Aldric's Manor is a place where Heimr's kids are currently. We can't get to it, but the children inside do have a notebook, and we hope they'll try to communicate with us. One of his children… There's a grave outside for her. Do not do anything disrespectful by it.
There's a part of the forest where you might find people you know, but as trees. It's… very upsetting there. Refrain from visiting it too frequently.
The Garden is where you'll end up if you die. Nene brings you back if you do end up here. Do not die. Do not end up here. Coming back will have you giving up something important.
The River is where the River Guardian is. Return any remains of the fish we eat from there back to it after we're able to fish there again. Thank the River Guardian when you take apples from the tree nearby there, and thank Moder when you take berries from the bush near it. Do not take bones from the river without permission. Be kind to the river's inhabitants, and don't dump any trash into the water.
The Well The well water will always stay clean. Don't go dumping garbage into it, of course, but know that the water there is safe to drink regardless of what happens, it seems. Also, the well is completely bottomless, so if you can't breathe underwater, I don't recommend trying to swim down it. Mizuki tried to, but at a certain point it felt like something was pushing him back.
The Burnt Part of Town and Other Expansions — The Grove, prior to stuff going awry, was a sizeable place, so we're likely to explore more areas as a "reward" for participating in games. For the people who weren't here, it seems to have been "frozen in time". Which also means any corpses that were in there haven't been fully decomposed or anything, so be wary of that. Please also look out for the sink holes at that part of town — it's quite dangerous there.
The Church was Nene's previous home, and a former place of worship for whatever sun-based deity this world revered. It has since been worn down and transformed into something to worship the creature.
The Temple is separate from the Church. Zahliya was formerly a statue guarding this place. It is also where the creature was previously contained.
There's other places within the forest and such, but if you want specifics, talk to Elsword. He has a map.
If you do end up going into the forest, bring a pair of the golden spectacles that Heimr has with you. They will show you a safe-adjacent way into the forest. It won't guarantee safety, but it'll be your best case scenario.
Not outside the realm of possibility, but currently unable to. The creature in the forest needs to be dealt with first, as even if we find a way home, it can likely just bring us back.
Mizuki has the moon shard, and has since apparently swallowed it, giving him the ability to stop the corruption. Likely, the moon shard itself has calming, healing, and soothing properties. The sun shard is able to burn corruption away. Not as much is known about it, but we can likely ask Ydalir about it, and the star shards, if needed.
What: Town Hall / Family Meeting
When: Mid-March
Where: Inn Lobby
Warnings: Child death mentions, torture, body horror. More will be in post titles as they come up.
Silverash will leave a note in the inn's lobby, as well as one in the notebook about a meeting coming up — a town hall to let everyone know what's been going on and gather information between one another. The Guardians, as always, are invited, and Enciodes even lets Ydalir and Heimr know what his plans are, in case they want to attend, though he does mention it might get rather uncomfortable for them, and he understands if they would rather not.
Silverash will use the notes taken at the last town hall and write them down again for all to see and pay attention to. There is a lot of information to note, so he is sure to outline and title all the important things to look at via your own disclosure. (As an OOC note, this is also the IC reasoning of why a lot of this was copy and pasted from the last meeting.)
Reincarnation and Our Past Lives
Our lives as we currently know it, while it did happen, are because of we've originated here at the Grove in a past life. Some sort of ritual was meant to save our souls, thought we physically didn't survive. For the most part, it seems our personalities from our past life carried over somewhat, but overall, it doesn't seem like learning about them in detail provides any information on how to get back to our current home or how to best the creature.
The Residents
The Shopkeeper and the Trader — They lost their names to the forest, so their new names are Heimr and Ydalir. With this in mind, do not give the forest your name. They cannot be referred to by their old names, but Heimr used to be the person in charge of the Grove and Ydalir his sister.
The Guardians — the Guardians we can currently seek out within the Grove are Zahliya, our small gargoyle friend; Moder, the large moose-like creature; the River Guardian, a fish(?). Treat them respectfully and give them offerings if you require their assistance or plan to take anything that is theirs. There are more guardians outside of the Grove. They're akin to... demigods, in a sense of the word. Moder and the River Guardian used to be corrupted, though on their deaths seemed to have been cleansed of this corruption. Though, going forward, killing the Guardians to purify them may prove detrimental. We simply got lucky with the first two. They were strong enough to revive. If we try again, we might not have this luck.
Purification, Zahliya, and the Corruption
Zahliya is able able to purify things with some sort of holy magic. However, his purification is not as strong as it needs to be to fully purify something of corruption. As such, it's in our best interest to figure out how to do this so we can use this ability to cleanse other Guardians and residents in the future, like Elsword and Nene. If you know of anything that might be helpful, but don't think it's a good idea for the creature in the forest to know, ask those two to leave, first. They may be on our side, but their corruption lends to the forest being able to listen in anyway.
We've found shards of the sun, the moon, and know of Ydalir's star shards. They seem to be manifestations of holy magic, considering that this world reveres the sun and moon deities. We've given Zahliya the sun shard in hopes it'll help him purify things. So far, it seems to be going well, though it seems like there needs to be something a bit stronger to help.
Belief and the "magic" of this world
Belief in something gives it power. Names give it power. As such, refrain from giving the forest/the creature/the entity a true "name" of any kind. It's recommended to swap out the vague reference you use. Vice versa for our Guardians - please use their names, and believe in them intrinsically when we require their assistance. Mizuki has recommended before that we sing to Zahliya when he purifies things. Songs of protection and such might do us some good, I think. Just remember not to wish for things too frequently, only if it's absolutely necessary.
Forest Entity
It considers us toys. When it gets bored, which so far has been every handful of weeks or so, it will play games with us of some kind, as you may have noticed with the race. They seem to vary in intensity. Residents were trapped inside a volcano and meant to get to the top before else risk burning alive… and it also seems to know what our absolute worst fears are, respectively. It will get in your head. Don't give it that opportunity.
It is not a god, but it does possess a great deal of power, somehow. Finding the source of this may be vital, as it is a chaotic nature with a child-like, sadistic personality, which is a deadly combination.
Places of interest
Aldric's Manor is a place where Heimr's kids are currently. We can't get to it, but the children inside do have a notebook, and we hope they'll try to communicate with us. One of his children… There's a grave outside for her. Do not do anything disrespectful by it.
There's a part of the forest where you might find people you know, but as trees. It's… very upsetting there. Refrain from visiting it too frequently.
The Garden is where you'll end up if you die. Nene brings you back if you do end up here. Do not die. Do not end up here. Coming back will have you giving up something important.
The River is where the River Guardian is. Return any remains of the fish we eat from there back to it after we're able to fish there again. Thank the River Guardian when you take apples from the tree nearby there, and thank Moder when you take berries from the bush near it. Do not take bones from the river without permission. Be kind to the river's inhabitants, and don't dump any trash into the water.
The Well The well water will always stay clean. Don't go dumping garbage into it, of course, but know that the water there is safe to drink regardless of what happens, it seems. Also, the well is completely bottomless, so if you can't breathe underwater, I don't recommend trying to swim down it. Mizuki tried to, but at a certain point it felt like something was pushing him back.
The Burnt Part of Town and Other Expansions — The Grove, prior to stuff going awry, was a sizeable place, so we're likely to explore more areas as a "reward" for participating in games. For the people who weren't here, it seems to have been "frozen in time". Which also means any corpses that were in there haven't been fully decomposed or anything, so be wary of that. Please also look out for the sink holes at that part of town — it's quite dangerous there.
The Church was Nene's previous home, and a former place of worship for whatever sun-based deity this world revered. It has since been worn down and transformed into something to worship the creature.
The Temple is separate from the Church. Zahliya was formerly a statue guarding this place. It is also where the creature was previously contained.
There's other places within the forest and such, but if you want specifics, talk to Elsword. He has a map.
If you do end up going into the forest, bring a pair of the golden spectacles that Heimr has with you. They will show you a safe-adjacent way into the forest. It won't guarantee safety, but it'll be your best case scenario.
Returning home
Not outside the realm of possibility, but currently unable to. The creature in the forest needs to be dealt with first, as even if we find a way home, it can likely just bring us back.
The shards
Mizuki has the moon shard, and has since apparently swallowed it, giving him the ability to stop the corruption. Likely, the moon shard itself has calming, healing, and soothing properties. The sun shard is able to burn corruption away. Not as much is known about it, but we can likely ask Ydalir about it, and the star shards, if needed.
1/2
... ]
2/2 nooo not a mummy Peepaw :(
[ It's a good thing that he didn't know that Pure Vanilla has been investigating the inn and...the locked rooms, especially. He's been avoiding them, even if he also feels strangely and irresistibly attracted to them at the same time — one of them in particular.
But nothing good will come from obeying that attraction. Perhaps he is afraid of finding out what manner of ghosts lie behind its door. Either way, Phantom would rather turn his attention and curiosity elsewhere.
Anywhere but that locked door. ]
no subject
[Standing from his seat, he moves over just enough so that his staff can glance at the photos again. To give Phantom his space. Though he's already spent such a long time studying them.]
They were hidden away in some of the empty rooms, in drawers or closets, tucked away and forgotten.
[He smiles a little sadly at the photos; faded with age, discolored, but he can imagine in his minds eye how they must looked at the time.]
I felt everyone deserved to see them, and know once upon a time in this Grove, happiness reigned. That there was joy, and peace.
no subject
Phantom nods. It was a good thing that his friend gave him a much-needed space, since his eyes were focused on them now that Pure Vanilla had made him look. For a moment, he almost forgot that his friend was there, along with all the other people who were still in the room with them. ]
...Yes. Perhaps.
[ He responded, still a bit distracted, gaze distant, fingertips touching the photos lightly and carefully before he turned the page of the album in the same manner — as if touching them would bring all those people back; as if he was afraid of ruining these relics of the past if he was careless with them.
As if by turning the page, he could also turn the years, shed them like coats, like the cold that still lingers on the edges of the room despite the presence of so many people and the crackling eternal fire in the hearth. ]
It could have been nice, isn't it? A perfect ending. [ A small smile was playing on the corners of his lips — a wistful one, leaning more towards sorrowful. It was an unconscious gesture, uncaring of the presence of other people in the room. ] Or rather a perfect life. Is this...really me, though? Really...us all?
[ His fingers brush a particular photograph. It was strange in more ways than one, since he never knew how he looked when he was younger. Of course, there are mirrors, and as the chosen star of the Troupe, it wasn't as if he was kept in the dark on how he looked, growing up - vanity was truthfully encouraged for him, although Lucian always felt ill at ease with it - but seeing it with his own eyes was...different.
Even if it wasn't really him as he was now and he lacks his ears and very possibly also his tail, as Gnosis had told them. Still, it was himself. There was an odd, tingling sensation in his heart the moment he saw the photos. ]
What do you think we were doing? In these photos? It looks as if we were celebrating something. [ ... ] This one...looks like the end of a play, after the curtain falls.
no subject
They lived here. They loved here. They grew and laughed, and helped one another. ]
I believe it is. An us we may not entirely recognize now, but us nonetheless.
[ He doesn't see himself, but that doesn't surprise him. Maybe he was taking the photos, and that's why he found them. But he can spot a few he recognizes, in amongst the happy faces. Younger. Carefree. ]
It looks like we were celebrating a festival of sorts. Mayhap a custom, or a celebration of a new time.
[ He smiles down at the distance faces, photos candidly taken in moments of joy, etching the happiness into his mind. There are sketches as well of various new plants and animals, tucked into the album, and may be helpful later but Pure Vanilla knows the stars are the photos. ]
It eases my heart, despite our current situation, to know we were all happy for a time. Life here may have been new for us, but we faced it with joy. I hope we may find it again.
[ Even if they have to wrest it from the creatures maw. ]
no subject
There are some faces whom he did not recognise, although vaguely familiar nevertheless. One who looked like an old acquaintance, unfamiliar lines of a gentle, sincere smile on an otherwise familiar face. And...a woman who looked like him, along with a man who brought a wave of feelings so strong that he felt as if he was knocked breathless.
The man had his arm around the woman's waist, and they were both smiling with the teenage boy who was a splitting image of himself. She was very beautiful, the image of a star, drawing all attention to her without even trying to; her husband was no less handsome, having a princelike quality about him — no, it was more accurate to say that he looked like a young count. It must have been easy to mistake him as one, despite the unflashiness of his clothes. ]
...This life must have felt like a dream. [ Phantom - Lucian - hummed his acknowledgement, his fingertips gently tracing the lines of the woman's face, and then the man. The man have his eyes, although they were a pair of hazel with golden flecks rather than his felinelike yellow-gold. Although it was perhaps more accurate to say that he had the man's eyes, instead of the other way around. ] A gentle one. Or perhaps it was just a town gathering. Either way...I never had a life like this.
[ Never even knew who his parents were in this incarnation, before the Crimson Troupe took him in. If he ever knows them, he didn't recall — there never were any obvious truths in his story to begin with, just like how there are gaps in his memories. Gaps that he sometimes pretend didn't exist. Perhaps the Troupe had something to do with them, or perhaps it was something else.
Either way, the sorrowful smile on his lips turned into a more content one, perhaps even happier, albeit still laced with a wistful quality, as his fingers now traced the etched memory of himself, much younger and god knows how many more centuries apart from his current incarnation. He did not need to ask; he knew who the man and the woman were.
Even if he must have had a different set of parents in this life before they passed away, something inside of him felt as if it had simply clicked into place.
At last, the orphaned boy saw the faces of his parents, happy and proud. ]
...I suppose you are not wrong. Thank you. [ Even if they have to commit the unpardonable sin of ending the creature's life. If it was even possible to do so. But...the photos gave him resolve to face the future, instead of what he feared, that he would lose himself further and be burdened by them. Seeing everyone, including his parents, so happy and proud and loving strengthened his heart.
For he remembered that even though killing is just a means to an end, and death is just death in the end instead of art — the guilty must still be punished. ]
It falls to us to bring that back. Although...we now still have our respective worlds to go back to, and our unfinished business there... [ He paused, unsure about adding this last bit because he wasn't certain if he was at all missed. Aside from The Doctor and Miss Christine
and hopefully a certain blond Perro, practically no one else would notice his absence, much less missed him. ] ...as well as the people who cared about us there.no subject
Despite the creatures sinister nature, and it's desire to do harm - as proven those nights ago - people have yet had a chance to have a relatively more peaceful life here than before.
Pure Vanilla dislikes that more than he can even consider.
He gives Phantom some privacy, as he views the photo album, being careful to keep his staff turned away. Though the words do bring a sigh to his lips, and he tilts his head back to study the ceiling, as if he can look through it to the world beyond. ]
Yes... though I will not deny that time here may be good for some, without the creatures malevolence, many of us were taken from places that require us to be returned.
[ The hesitance on that last bit will make Pure Vanilla turn an ear towards Phantom, and he smiles a little. ]
Indeed, my friend. I am sure we are all missed, dearly. We will find a way home, I believe we will.
[ Though some may not want to go. ]
i forgot that the photos' colours are fading so shh
Do they still want to go back home - where they're supposed to belong - or would they want to stay here, given the chance? If...at some point in the future, they managed to defeat the entity. After all, he couldn't deny that...well, despite the constant threat that the Forest poses, and before It sent Its monsters to the Grove after Wolfwood burned those religious texts...life here wasn't all that different from in Rhodes Island, if not more peaceful in a manner of speaking. There was only a handful of them, after all, and for one, the Feline has been eating more regularly; he'd also admit that he was starting to enjoy his daily routine of getting his daily supplies from Heimr and cooking them in the inn's kitchen.
There was no Catastrophe here, no discrimination against the Infected. Although...well, he supposed his time is limited either way, and it wasn't as if his Oripathy was getting any better. He's been stingy with his pain suppressants, but recently he'd been forced to used up two.
...In any case, it was a peaceful life here. Perhaps just like Rhodes Island in that respect.
Phantom and his fingertips lingered, then, for a moment on that particular photo, before he moved on, glancing at the sketches of the various new and interesting plants and animals. He was still no scientist, and he also feels that the photographs were indeed the star of the show, but they were something to take note of, nevertheless.
He was quiet for a moment after Pure Vanilla's answers, although he felt the reassurring smile that his friend was sending him, and he tries to respond with an acknowledging, reassuring glance sent his way. ]
...Yes. It had took us from our worlds in order to compose its troupe of entertainers. Although It had provided us with food and shelter in return... [ Sounds deeply familiar. He trailed off for a moment, gaze once again distant before returning back to this moment in the inn — this conversation with Pure Vanilla. ] ...But I am nevertheless glad for your confidence, and it puts me at ease to hear your reassurance. Would you...want to go back to your world, though?
[ Again, he pauses, lifting his gaze to find the Cookie's gaze, or his staff's. ]
...At one point, would our world ceased to be our world, and this place our home? And your current body, no matter how strange and alien compared to your original, Cookie body...yours? [ Asking the
peskyphilosophical questions, as usual. ] No need to answer them, these questions are merely food for thought.In any case...I do not think I'd glimpsed your face here, dear friend, in these vintage photographs. I found myself, and— [ He was almost afraid of saying the words out loud, as if afraid of shattering the illusion, if this entire thing was one of his hallucinations. ] —my parents of that time, as well as what seems to be an old acquaintance of mine and a couple of other people I know or have seen around here. Yet it troubles me, admittedly, that I could not find yours...
[ Not yet, perhaps. ]
i saw nothing its all good
It is not a matter of want for me, my friend. It is a matter of need. I must go back. My world is dangerously on the brink of War, that promises countless lives pointlessly lost. We have not yet rallied the forces we need, and dangerous Beasts are on the edge of returning to full power.
[ He touches the gem on his clothes lightly, before sighing and folding his hands together in his lap. To not return... no, it's not even something he could even pretend to entertain. Not even with the promise of memories here that sing of everything he's ever desired. ]
No matter how much time passes here, I must return.
[ He can't let them fight without him, without his support. The question about not seeing him makes him hum softly, thoughtfully. ]
I believe I may be the one taking the photos. It could be why I found these, compared to those who may have searched for them before. Perhaps the magic of this place aided me in my search. Moments from my past.
thank you <3
His friend's answers and brief elaboration reminded him of the gravity of the situation back home. Even if he didn't understand what Pure Vanilla had meant by Beasts, the Feline could, unfortunately, comprehend the rest.
...Victoria was at the brink of war, too. The situation is as dire and as perilous as it could get, and the Sarkaz...well, last he heard, they have built something extremely dangerous, a devastating weapon that promises even more life lost.
Even though he wasn't a patriot by any means, and he mostly felt as if he wasn't even a true Victorian due to one reason or another - in addition to the fact that he was bound to Rhodes Island and had essentially lived there ever since he found his way there - he still understood full well the gravity of the situation. If Victoria goes to war, as a major player in Terra's world politics...a full-scale war between the powerful nations could ensue.
And even more lives would be lost, both non-Infected and Infected. It was a while before he offered his response. ]
...I understand. My country is on the brink of war, too, and a...foreign power occupies her soil, even as we speak. [ It wasn't a well-known fact, as Londinium was closed off and isolated for a while after the Sarkaz occupies it, and he recalled that Rhodes Island had to mount a special operation to infiltrate it with the help of some locals. ] Not that war was a foreign concept to us in the first place. I suppose I might have mentioned that my world...is not, in truth, a kind and gentle place. Amidst the promise of wars and numerous small-scale conflicts littering it, we are chased by Catastrophe that loomed over our lives as if it was a terrifying specter, and...
[ Well, there was no avoiding the topic now. His gaze was already elsewhere, once again distant, but not to the life he once had in Aldric's Grove. ]
...We Infected lived on even shorter time. This illness is a sword of Damocles hanging above our heads, poised and armed, ready to fall anytime. [ And that was why he could never achieve his dreams of singing freely again, of being who he was. Ever. Even if he'd escaped the Crimson Troupe's clutches, technically or otherwise, Oripathy would never let him escape. ] In any case...I understand the sentiment. I must return, too. Not for the sake of myself, but...for the sake of my commander.
[ For Rhodes Island. Besides...he felt as if he was undeserving of it — of a peaceful life. In the tragedy plays, characters who ran away from their fates always ended up getting caught precisely by the fates they'd attempted to avoid and often spent a lifetime escaping from. Phantom understood this more than anyone. The curtain will fall for him, either way, and he would not escape. ]
...But that makes for a lot of sense. [ Once more, he nodded, trying to lighten up the otherwise gloomy situation. A faint smile touching the corners of his lips as he shot Pure Vanilla a glance. ] In that case, might I convey my gratitude to you for documenting these moments in the past?
<3
And Phantoms words about the infection makes Pure Vanilla determined all the more to look for a cure for his friends. His healing can fix even grievous injuries, but...
A slight nod in return to Phantoms words. To return isn't something that's for them. It's for those they love, they're fighting for. Maybe this place would be better, quieter, once they've gotten rid of the evil that lurks. But that's not something either of them can consider.]
I am truly sorry you are dealing with a life like that, my friend. I hope, someday, peace returns. And I hope there is a cure for this Infection.
[ At Phantoms home, because Pure Vanilla will work to find one here.
The attempt to change the mood makes him smile, and he gives his friend a fond look. ]
Knowing my heart and soul, I know it was my joy and pleasure to do so, my friend. To capture those candid moments, expressions unveiled. To share them with everyone. I would do it again, in a heart beat.