sticksandbones | crumbl cookies but in real life

[ The smile is good but those words are even better. Clotted Cream is moving past his father and his father's treatment of him. But ah. The dreams, nightmares really, that haunt him due to it. The trauma. Pure Vanilla nods gently in understanding. ]

For now they will cling, and you will have Dark Cacao and I to help brush them away when you desire it. Inevitably you will find one of us awake at night if you need the company, and soon sleep will come easier. Unburdening your heart helps, time helps, but so does distance. He is not here. And even should he ever show up, he will never come close enough to you to harm you ever again.

[ If Cacao doesn't break the man in half and feed him to the things in the Forest, Pure Vanilla will stick him in a Moonstone and toss him in the lake. He squeezes Clotted Creams hand, then let's go finally to take the unwrapped first outfit and put it aside, his voice gentle as he picks the other up to hand it over. ]

And like everything else, you will heal on your own time, but you will heal. Push yourself only as comfortable as you feel, my dear. Healing is healing, whether it is fast or slow, and it is quite all right to take it as slow as you need.

Thank you. Truly, I cannot ask for better company. Though I wish that none of us were here in the first place...

[ But, it can't be helped. Clotted Cream allows the outfit to be taken away, gladly accepting the unopened package. He can only assume that it's another outfit, at this rate. He will need a variety, after all, and his House Custard uniform is... probably ruined, to be quite honest. Bloodstains don't come out easily, especially on cream-colored fabric. ]

What I may need more than anything is a reminder that I am not at work. I'm afraid I am quite unused to taking a break, let alone an extended vacation.

[ He chuckles at his own expense - clearly, his mood seems to be lightening a bit. As before, opening a package with one hand isn't easy, but he manages. His forearm is braced on the top of the box, and his fingers pry it open. ]

We will make the most of it. I only hope we find a way to break this places' hold on us, and return.

[ Yet... if what he has been told is true, this is the proper home for them. Their souls original birth place. He sighs softly and smiles, tilting his head a little as he listens to the birds outside, filtering in through the window. ]

I am sure you will quickly come to realize that. Despite everything that happens, this place is idyllic.

[ There is frankly not much to do but investigate and ... live. Deal with the monthly things the forest throws at them, but otherwise grow vegetables and try to understand the world around them.

The second outfit is far more casual than the first. Again, in familiar colors, but also in a style that should be comfortable to simply spend the day in. The lack of formality might confuse the other, of course, since it's all he knows. ]

[ It's a hard truth to accept, that this place was their true home, that they weren't originally Cookies at all. Clotted Cream isn't sure how much he believes it... But he'd like to look into it all the same.

But it is idyllic. It's quaint, small village life despite the surroundings and the strange happenings. That, he can agree on. It's... nice, in a way. ]

As good a place for a vacation as any, I suppose. Perhaps I could help in the garden...

[ He always did have an interest in gardening.

The outfit in the second package is... not what he expected. Not in a bad way, of course! He would never look down on a gift given out of kindness. But it's... is this what they call "casual"? For a moment, Clotted Cream looks a bit perplexed as he looks down at the clothes from the box, eyes widening the slightest bit. ]

It is... certainly unique! I suppose this is worn more for comfort than anything else?

[ This man has never worn a casual outfit in his life. ]

I would be delighted to have your aid, and I am sure the plants would appreciate more than simply me working on them!

[ And the plantimals but that's less working and more running around and digging/chewing on things they shouldn't. The look on Clotted Creams face gets a chuckle out of him and a wider smile, inclining his head a little. ]

As much as we may be used to wearing our icing style for everything, clothes are not quite the same. You will welcome the change, I am sure.

[ Like the other, the sleeves are able to be pinned up, and certain adjustments have been made so there is ease in pulling them on single-handedly. ]

Are you feeling up for trying them on? Perhaps are a bath?

[ He loves you, son, but you're not exactly the freshest smelling cookie right now. ]

[ Like a change in icing... That's all it is. It's not so strange, is it? Plenty of Cookies change their icing style from time to time. Perhaps, this far away from home, from House Custard... Maybe he can develop his own style. All his life, he's worn the icing style of House Scone and House Custard, but here, it is just Clotted Cream. No House to be attached to. He can do what he wants.

Goodness, that soak sounds good, though. ]

I would like that very much, yes. Thank you.

[ He smells fine thank you he just needs to be in the water and he will smell like water again. ]

Excellent! Please allow me to draw one for you!

[ He won't coddle the other when it comes to his new disability, but he absolutely will fuss in other ways. Standing he grabs his Staff and heads out of the room. Soon the faint sound of the water running and tub filling can be heard, as well as some fiddling with things.

He is absolutely placing the bathing set he got from the shop in such a way as to indicate "use this". And yes, Pure Vanilla has labeled the things properly. The shampoo has "for hair" on it in neat script, while the soap holder has "for skin".

It's just easier this way, and in case they get anymore former Cookies. ]

[ While Clotted Cream is confident enough that he can do things on his own, and he knows that Pure Vanilla would never coddle him... Sometimes people enjoy doing things for others. This isn't coddling so much as it is a kindness, and who is he to deny that?

The sound of water running is a relief in ways he didn't realize, and he is on his feet in no time, padding barefoot to the bathroom. It has been far too long since he was in the water, and his body is aching for it, like all the water he's been drinking hasn't been near enough. A bathtub still isn't as big as he'd like it to be, but it does at least somewhat accommodate his tail.

Well, mostly.

As he walks in, he finds Pure Vanilla situating the bottles, and curiously tips his head. For hair? For skin? ]

What are those, if I may ask?

[ Ah, there he is. Beaming at Clotted Cream, he picks up the items and holds them up for the other to investigate properly. ]

Products for the human bits of us! While certain methods may keep the other half of us clean, it does not quite do so well with the human bits of us. We shed skin cells, sweat through our pores, and accumulate grim in the folds of our bodies. As well as our scalp produces oils that clog and dull our hair after a time.

[ Humans are so gross! He sets the items back down, tail wiggling gently. For the first time in a while. ]

Soaking will appease the aquatic portion of you, but I am afraid it will not do much for your skin and hair.

[ Oh. That's quite a description. Clotted Cream is too polite to truly show even the most mild expression of disgust, but his moment of hesitation before even responding to that probably says all that needs to be said. ]

... well! Human bodies certainly do seem to require a... special amount of care...

[ Honestly, it sounds like much more upkeep than simply rubbing your dough with flour and freshening your hair with cream. Or rubbing sandy river soil on your skin and scales. Which is what he's been doing, and it's worked just fine! ]

So, this is your way of gently suggesting that I use these products, I assume?

They certainly do! It's quite a lot!

[ Of course, Pure Vanilla has the addition of wool, which means it slightly more difficult. And he offers an apologetic look to Clotted Cream to the question. ]

I do not mean to be rude, but in lieu of sand to scrub with, water will do very little to get rid of any dirt accumulated on you, my dear.

[ Especially since his revival. There might have been a general clean up but he really does require a good scrub down. And Pure Vanilla is really loathe to let him go anywhere near the river at the moment. ]

You will require the wash cloth there, as the shampoo and soap is not abrasive.

[ ... sigh. There's nothing he can do about it, he supposes. This isn't a problem that flour or sand can fix. Human body parts require human solutions. ]

Alright, if you insist.

[ How bad can it be, truly? It's likely that the scents are either pleasant ones or nonexistent, if the goal is to get clean. ]

Thank you for thinking of me, Pure Vanilla Cookie. I believe I can figure it out from here.

[ That makes him laugh lightly and give the other a fond look. ]

I promise it is not so bad. The scents are rather neutral and light. If you require anything, I will hear you, simply call.

[ He goes to leave, then hesitates, and reaches out to set his hand on Clotted Cream's head again. A soft pet over the hair there. ]

I am so happy to have you back, my dear.

[ He leans in to plant a little kiss on his head, a familial touch, then draws back to leave to give Clotted Cream privacy. ]

I will. Do not worry. My lungs are still very much in working order.

[ There's nothing quite like the prospect of a good soak to put him in a good mood. Strange, considering before coming to this place, he never would have willingly set foot into liquid. Too much risk of getting soggy and crumbling. Now, though? Now he craves it.

He expects Pure Vanilla to simply leave after that, but gets so much more instead. A gentle pet of his hair, a kiss to the top of his head. It's surprising, but... nostalgic. It reminds him of his mother. ]

... thank you. For everything. It is good to be back.

[ And with that, he's left alone. Left alone to familiarize himself with the bottles so clearly labeled. For hair, for skin... Which should he do first? The one for the hair, he assumes is similar to cream. Apply to the hair, but the bottle indicates to rinse it out, so rinse it he shall.

Which leads to a startled yelp a couple of minutes later as he tries to do so, the water running off his head bringing soap suds with it. Unfortunately, soap suds and eyes do not mix. If Pure Vanilla comes to find out what happened, he will find poor Clotted Cream, face down in the water, shrimp tail curled tight against itself as he desperately attempts to rid his eyes of the burning feeling. ]

[ There is a clatter from the kitchen at the startled yelp, then the sound of hooves quickly clop clop clopping back towards the bathroom, little bleats of panic with each step. Pure Vanilla is quick to enter the bathroom, and oh! gently to what he sees.

Ah.

He knows that position!

Relieved over it not being something much worse, he quickly turns the water back on to start a fresh gentle trickle, enough to wash eyes with, then reaches out to gently manhandle the shrimp around so his face is near the faucet so Pure Vanilla can quickly scoop water into the eyes. Fresh water, not suddy water. ]

Blink, I know it hurts, but you can't hold the shampoo in your eyes, my dear. It's all right.

Edited 2024-04-30 17:40 (UTC)

[ Thankfully, Clotted Cream is partially aquatic, so having his eyes open in the water is not a problem! The problem is that, instinctually, the hand near his eyes makes him flinch a little. He has to fight that off for a second before any of it is even effective. ]

Why do humans use such harsh substances--?

[ How are humans not crumbling themselves constantly? This is awful. At least it doesn't take long until the water clears his eyes of the burning feeling, but his poor little shrimp legs are just flailing sadly. He can already feel his gills getting a little irritated. ]

[ He will carefully help Clotted Cream rinse his eyes out, making sure he's not in the way of his Staff so he can view the other. His voice is amused over it, because they've all been there. ]

Oh, it is not so harsh, we are simply not used to it. Humans bath their young in it from early on, and they build a tolerance. Though I do not think it will ever not hurt the eyes, must keep those closed.

[ Hm, his gills look a little reddened as well, sitting in water with soaps may not be the best idea for him then. A flour shower might be converted into a water shower? But then his tail... his free hand finds the drain to pull it and let fresh water replace soapy water, sounding so amused. ]

Humans are so very strange. Is the shampoo the only thing you used?

[ Humans bathe their young in this? By the Light... ]

I cannot imagine a human infant tolerating this very well...

[ It feels harsh! Ugh.

But there goes the water. Good riddance to the soap suds. He'd be glad to never have to see those again. Really, sand has done him just fine so far... He glances at the bottles, pondering the one labeled "for hair". Shampoo is such a silly name. ]

Only that. I hadn't used the one for the body yet. Nor am I inclined to, after what the shampoo was capable of.

[ Oh, he will not giggle, but his smile is hiding the laughter in it. Letting the water continue to flow, he redirects Clotted Cream onto his back to lay down a bit better, and work some clean water into his hair to help get rid of any lingering shampoo. Helping it back, away from his face. His fingers are strong but gentle.

He's had to bath sheep before, sometimes. It's not so different whether it's a shrimp tail or a sheep body. But he's just working the rest of the shampoo out of hair. ]

Good, it would seem even this is too much for your aquatic self. We may have to change tactics. Ah, how I wish it was as easy as flour still.

[ Gentle squeezes to get excess water out, then he'll let Clotted Cream sit himself up to hand him the towel, turning off the water. ]

We will figure out something else for you!

[ Clotted Cream can safely say that he can't remember ever having someone else bathe him. He's sure his mother must have, when he was younger, but many of those memories are lost to time. But fingers working through his hair to get the remains of the shampoo out... feels nice. That in itself isn't really a sensation he could experience at home - no fingers, of course - but that makes it unique.

Much like an animal being petted, it makes him relax. He can indulge in this just this once.

As Pure Vanilla finishes up and hands him the towel, he pulls himself upright with his hand on the edge of the tub so that he can retrieve it. It's honestly amazing, considering his injury, that he isn't any more sore than this. ]

Thank you. I am sorry that this form makes things more difficult, but it is simply another puzzle to solve. Perhaps there is something similar to flour that may help...

Oh, don't be sorry at all, my dear. It is not difficult at all! What were you using before hand?

[ And despite how little took place, Clotted Cream does smell much better. A honey and sandalwood scent, that cleans away the lingering scent of blood and uh... stale fish. And he'll turn his staff away to give Clotted Cream privacy so he can dry himself off.

Human bits and all. ]

Ah, I had been using sand. A fine grained variety, from the bottom of the river. It seemed to be working alright - similar to flour, but not as soft.

[ But that's all well and good for his skin and his scales, which clearly needs to be scrubbed a bit, unlike crispy dough that would flake at such rough treatment. So, it's been working well! Until it wasn't, apparently.

With Pure Vanilla turned away, it leaves him in a relative sense of privacy so that he can get out of the tub and dry off. However, Clotted Cream quickly finds out that... that's easier said than done. Even with the water drained, his tail isn't dry enough yet to revert back. So, he sighs, taking a towel and trying his best to dry off the chitinous shell so that he can climb out faster. ]

Sometimes, I wonder what exactly happened to us... Dark Cacao Cookie didn't arrive like this. He looks like a perfectly normal human.

[ Child, you had come back to life, had your arm ripped off, and had a stone planted into your chest that contains your soul. Sand was going nowhere near you until you had recovered.

And you reeked.

He hums softly in thought on the sand thing. Well, it shouldn't be too much to ask the trader for, so they don't have to go down to the water. :) Never allowed down to the water again. A pumice stone, he hears, should also help.

The question makes him frown gently, his ears flicking backwards towards the other. ]

... Do you know the young man, Beat? He has been changed similarly to us, yet he claims he knows the reason why. He has told me, though I have no recollection of it, that we were part of a different world before even this one, where we had been turned into Mythological - as far as he knew - creatures. A Werewolf for him, such as Werewolf Cookie. I am apparently a sheep based Minotaur. And when he learned you had been here as well... [A little smile cause the "distress" at not seeing Clotted Cream had been sweet, honestly.] he claimed you were a Mermaid.

[ Please don't tell him he reeked, he has a reputation to uphold. :(

The response leaves him silent for a moment as he digests it, continuing to dry himself off in a decidedly slow and distracted way. He doesn't know anyone named Beat, but... this Beat person knew them? Not just them, but what they are?

Clotted Cream frowns at his fins, humming thoughtfully. ]

The name is not familiar to me... But the fact that he seems to know us is interesting. And why is it that he remembers, but we do not...?

When I questioned him similarly, he said it's not unheard of. He explained something about a Sea of Stars, and how it likes to take memories, but some can "escape" with theirs intact. And I must admit, there have been times I have felt touches of deja vu, or moments of "I know this".

[ Like knowing Clotted Creams father was a man of anger and shame, before Clotted Cream had even told him. He sighs softly, one hoof pawing at the floor with a faint touch of trepidation. ]

I can verify the things he speaks of is the Truth. Joshua was apparently a part of it too, but even Beat cannot explain why he has regained his full body, though he thinks these bodies are not the original version of us and Josh - being of a Witch-like power - was able to recover his where we have failed.

[ Which disturbs him in ways he doesn't like to think of. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject