crumbl cookies but in real life

[clottedcream]

[ The handwriting that shows up in the journal is... not new, not exactly, but decidedly... well. Careful and precise as can be, but it's very clear that the person writing it is not currently writing with their dominant hand. Either that, or it's someone with horrible handwriting. ]

Hello. This is Clotted Cream Cookie.

Pardon my handwriting. It is, admittedly, not as clear and practiced as I'd like it to be. The forest has taken my arm from me.

I am looking for anyone who has experience in... this. Losing an arm. Adjusting to the loss in day to day life. I'm afraid it puts me at a considerable disadvantage.

[ If he sounds like he's taking this well, it's only because he's practiced it. He's not. ]

Comments

[purevanillacookie]

I am sure you shall!

[ But there is almost a paternal tease in his voice, like he's thinking oh? going to dress up and woo some young lad or lass? When Clotted Cream says yes to food - and you certainly can survive off water and toast ask him how he knows - he beams and gestures for the other to follow him out of the bathroom and to the kitchen. ]

I am glad you are feeling better enough to eat. Do not worry, it won't be too heavy, your stomach will be quite upset with you otherwise. Some oatmeal and fruit?

[ Setting his staff off to the side, Pure Vanilla begins to busy himself in the kitchen, moving around it easily to begin cooking some oats and chopping up some fruits. ]

[clottedcream]

[ Pure Vanilla what is that tone. Clotted Cream's ear fins angle backwards just a little, as his expression turns the barest hint flustered. What is that supposed to mean? Ultimately, he knows that Pure Vanilla has only the best intentions at heart, so it's easily dismissed as the Ancient Cookie's whimsy. It's good to see him in a good mood after everything, anyway, so he isn't inclined to shoot that down! ]

Oatmeal and fruit would be wonderful, thank you.

[ Just another way of letting Pure Vanilla fuss over him a bit. He takes a seat at the table, leaning back into the seat a little. Normally he would clasp his hands together, but... ]

It is good to see you in good spirits, if I may say so.

[purevanillacookie]

[ It means Peepaw is psychic and knows Clotted Cream is going to meet a lovely young man at a party later on-

His tail wiggles happily as he chops, sliding some strawberry pieces over to Clotted Cream so he can pick at them while the oatmeal soaks. ]

Hm? Ah. Well. Truthfully it is because you are back, my dear.

[ It's a little embarrassing to admit just how strongly he latched onto the other. ]

I fear I grew quite despondent over you missing.

[clottedcream]

[ Ooh, strawberries. Clotted Cream does love strawberry jam on scones, but actual strawberries are just a step below it. Probably far healthier, honestly. He gladly snacks on them as they talk, slowly so as to extend the duration. ]

Ah, did you...?

[ That's... surprising. Honestly, he hadn't expected being missed that badly. But Pure Vanilla is full of love for all Cookies, so perhaps it isn't so strange... Even so, it makes his cheeks dust with the barest hint of pink among the golden and cream scales. ]

I... I meant to ask, Pure Vanilla Cookie. Do you know what happened?

[ He's highly curious about the stone in his chest. It hadn't been there before. ]

[purevanillacookie]

[ Don't look at him. He didn't mean to thoroughly adopt the other as his child, but it sure felt like he had lost his own when Clotted Cream had disappeared.

And his chopping pauses briefly, the slightest hitch, to the question. ]

I.. do. Do you truly wish to know?

[ He won't lie if asked but... he's unsure if he wants Clotted Cream to hear about it. How he might judge him. He cleans his hands and leaves the strawberries now that their prepped to fetch the oatmeal. A little touch of sugar. Milk. Make it creamy and sweet. And in the strawberries go, and he slides it over. ]

[clottedcream]

[ That hesitation is noted. Really, it only makes Clotted Cream even more curious. ]

I do. I know that this stone contains my soul. I can... feel it, somehow. But how it came to be that way is a mystery.

[ He gladly takes the bowl of oatmeal, taking in the make of it. Pure Vanilla made it just the way he likes it... He's not sure that anyone has taken such care in a long time. ]

Whatever the truth is, I promise you that I can take it.

[purevanillacookie]

[ Whatever the truth is... he sighs softly, and moves to find a chair and sit himself down on it. He's silent for a moment, but he was asked directly, and he won't lie. But he does fiddle with the hem of his robe sleeves, brow furrowing lightly. ]

You were... Ah. Your body was unfortunately unrecoverable, but your soul was, and it had not yet joined those lost in the fog, with the creature. I was able to bargain for it, and placed it into a moonstone. I.. I was not expecting you to return.

[ He looks a little distraught. Grace would have had no problems putting his soul back into his body if Pure Vanilla hadn't intervened. ]

So when you were brought back, you were without a soul, until Nene fetched me. Thanks to Grace - the soul that lives in the Garden and works to fix those who pass - we were able to reintroduce your soul into your body via merging the Moonstone with you.

[clottedcream]

[ ... ah. His body had been... ]

... I am... sorry that you had to experience that. But I do not blame you for expecting the worst and acting accordingly.

[ It was a foolish mistake on his part. He really should have let someone know where he was going. He shouldn't have gone alone. And it cost him, and led to Pure Vanilla doing something so dire... ]

Please tell me that you didn't have to give away something important for my sake.

[purevanillacookie]

[ Devoured. Thoroughly. Dark Cacao had told him not to close his eyes and he hadn't, but he knows what the other found was a portion of Clotted Cream. He twists his fingers together.

And that he hesitates too, because while it was no personal loss for him - energy mostly - the souls he ripped out of Callan himself, the souls he ripped free from the Fog wall.

If they were too lost, was it a kindness? Could they have simply been freed, could they have been cleansed, did he damn them forever like the silly silly cookie he is? ]

I am unsure how to answer that one, my child. I lost nothing.