⚜️ dead hearts are everywhere (forward-dated to later this month)

[lilyberation]

This is White Lily Cookie.

I am ( ... there's a very long pause. ) in no state to handle things on my own right now. I am asking someone to keep an eye on the clinic, the greenhouse and

Pure Vanilla's garden outside of our house.



Pure Vanilla and Dark Cacao are gone. I need time. I'm sorry.

( if one looks closely at the notebook, lily's writing is shaky here and there, and there are teardrops on the paper. )

Comments

[thebladebringstheflame]

I've had the greenhouse for a while now. Go to bed.

[lilyberation]

thank you.

the way i forget he doesn't capitalize things

[thebladebringstheflame]

don't mention it, just get some rest. and shout if you need shit i'm around

[kingincognito]

[ Gone... No, surely not.

But Clive is nowhere to be found, as well. He can't even sense Ifrit's aether anymore. If they had all gone... ]

I will tend to the clinic, my lady. Please, rest. And if there is anything that I can do...

[lilyberation]

I appreciate it. I

( ... words fail, and eventually she just crosses the 'i' out. )

[kingincognito]

Please be sure not to neglect your own well-being.

[ So help him he is going to make sure that you stay hydrated and fed. It will help him deal with his own sense of loss. ]

[ezellotry]

I'm willing to help out, though I see both Flamebringer and Joshua have beat me to it. Still, you won't have to worry, you have helping hands for sure.

And... if you need anything else, I'm more than happy to help with that, too.

[lilyberation]

Thank you

I can at least ensure I can take care of the little ones in our my care. I just know I can't do more than that.

They may appreciate company sometimes.

[ezellotry]

And you?

[quirkynote]

I almost wish I could be upset. Should I just expect this as a regular occurrence? Maybe he'll find a way to come back even more obnoxious than last time.

[lilyberation]

It's

not like that this time.

[quirkynote]

It doesn't matter which way it's like this time. I'm tired... So tired... I don't think I have it in me anymore to weep for him, but my heart aches for you.

[ghostharasser]

[Hey, fuckin. What? What????]

[What does she mean gone. Like ...into the forest gone? Like Siffrin? And...]

Hey. I'm coming over. I hope you like curry.

[lilyberation]

Okay.

[oleaeuropaea]

[Vash... had to stare at the words for a long time. He feels so much at once that he rapidly finds himself going numb.]

i'll handle the garden.
you. just take care of you.

[The urge to run takes him. The woods would be a welcome place for him to shed his tears. Instead, he heads to the inn's kitchen. He pulls out ingredients without paying attention. He's done this before. Somehow it feels right.

Eventually, there's a knock on Lily's door. When she answers it, Vash will already be halfway across the grove. What stands in his stead is a pot of fried rice, and a small serving of donuts and donuts holes.]

[lilyberation]

Thank you, Vash.

( she can- at least try and get him snacks as thanks. the hatchlings might try to "help"- or to get him to play...

... there's a knock. how long was she just- sitting, in vanny's seat, holding his yarn bowl? she doesn't want to get up. she doesn't... but what if...

she pulls herself up, but no one is there. just... ah.

for the first time in days she's tearing up for something warm. )

[oleaeuropaea]

[For obvious reasons, it takes Vash a bit to respond. But eventually...]

of course, Lily. let me know if you need anything else.

[theuniverseleads]

I know we haven't talked that much, but if there's anything a shining star can do to help, let me know, okay? I'll comet right over~

[........]

Sorry, that was bad. You can ignore me.

[lilyberation]

... Loop...

( after a moment, she draws a shooting star above 'comet'. )

I won't say no to company. I just won't be very good company.

[theuniverseleads]

[!

They didn't step in it...]

Worse company than me?? Surely not!

[They add a touch of craft to her doodle so the shooting star actually twinkles and flies across the page.]

We don't even have to do anything at all, if you want. Sometimes, it's just nice to be around other people.

comes in late with starbucks

[poaceae]

What do you mean th

[ No, that's stupid. He doesn't want to wait for an answer. He's going over to their house and knocking on the door. ]

[lilyberation]

( it takes a long moment, but the door cracks open. lily herself is... clearly a wreck. her hair's barely braided, dark circles mark her eyes heavily, and one gets the feeling that she's been crying. )

... Fern? Did... Did you need something?

[poaceae]

[ Wow. She looks awful. And he feels bad for bothering her, really, but it makes his chest clench ever harder with dread. PV died and still came back. Surely he's coming back eventually... ]

What happened to PV?

[ephemeralflow]

[Ah. Well then.

Timekeeper doesn't even respond on the netbook. The next time Lily turns around, she will simply be there, floating nonchalantly next to an entire tea set complete with fresh, hot tea, laid out on a nearby table. She's sipping her own cup, and will gesture wordlessly for Lily to help herself to the other. It's chamomile - something soothing.]

[lilyberation]

( it's telling how fragile a state lily is in when this makes her jump with a startled yelp before she realizes- her shoulders fall and she sighs with relief that turns into a touched, teary-eyed silence at the gesture. )

... Thank you.

( she takes a seat and pours a cup. )

... You saw, I'm sure...