EVENT & TDM 029

[sticksandbonesmods]

WAKE UP

A house springs up in Aldric’s Grove one day. That comes with the usual tidings of autumn — the leaves change colour, the air gets colder, pumpkins and squash start growing out of the sides of buildings and damaging rooftops, and people emerge out of caskets in square graves that have yet to be covered.

…

Yeah, all of that is normal. You may find that people here before you are willing to help pull you out of your grave, if you ask nicely enough. Maybe they’ll even tell you that you aren’t dead! Yet.

But don’t worry about that. Let’s worry about the house, which is inhabited by the dead — specifically a family of skeletons, who wave everyone, new arrival and old citizen, within their walls. A cloth sign hanging on the awning outside reads “BONE-JANGLES HAUZ! COM IN GET FUD”. The Bone-Jangles are a family of eight — Mr. Bone-Jangles himself wearing a sheet ghost costume for Halloween, Ms. Bone-Jangles wearing a pumpkin hat and an apron as she sets food from your homeworld on the table, and their six skeleton children (“children” may be generous, as these are full-sized adult skeletons, but is your baby not your baby no matter how old they may be?) are wearing various animal costumes. Bees, wolves, cats, the sort.

If you just crawled out of a grave, they permit you to use their shower before dinner. The water pressure is a touch too low, and the soap is several hundred years old, but it’ll get the dirt off.

You return to dinner with the skeleton family and several other Grove residents who came for the party, and despite the oddness of the situation, it’s a lovely time. At the end of the night, before everyone plans to head off to Roseroot — a city to the north, just over the mountains, which you are hopefully informed of by your peers before they all ditch you here to go on vacation — Mr. Bone-Jangles hands you a bag of microwave popcorn and an oversized chocolate bar. Trick-or-Treat!

A note attached to the inside of the chocolate bar wrapper reads in Ms. Bone-Jangles’ curly handwriting: “Be cautious on your journey tomorrow morning.”

You go to sleep holding the well-wishes close to your chest.

…WAKE UP?

What do you last remember?

You were somewhere. Not here. Not within this city. Were you at home? With your friends? At the bar, the cafe, one of the churches, the General Store? The Bone-Jangles’ house? …How did you get here?

…that’s right. The truck. A truck had barrelled through the woods a week ago, with two people stumbling out of it and telling you they could get you out of here. The truck was small, though — at most, it could fit six of you, and that was assuming all six of you packed light for the journey. You talked with who you were journeying alongside as you rode in the bed of the truck, while two others in the vehicle proper got to talk to the drivers. The ride had been bumpy, the car travelling at a medium clip through rough terrain. At one point, the car’s driver had shouted that those of you in the back should “hold on tight” and floored it, nearly jiggling someone next to you out of the back seat as you approached the mountains.

You did not remember the mountains being so close to the Grove. Weren’t they much farther away? You remember the—

The…

…

You’re in Roseroot! The truck comes and goes throughout the day, dropping people off before it turns around and heads out again. Some of your peers who were particularly fast or could fly might have opted to simply follow alongside the truck. Maybe if you can find one of them, they can help you bring your stuff further into the city? Where are you going to live from here, speaking of? In a house? A mansion? A hole-in-the-wall restaurant? You feel like you’re missing something as you wander the beautifully-paved streets on foot. You remembered to pack your toothbrush, right? A change of clothes?

The thought of “someone” comes to your mind, but the silhouette is blurry. A person nearby you asks if you remember two gargoyles with purple skin, and a shadowy woman with her turtle, and a kindly shopkeeper with salt-and-pepper hair, that they think they might’ve left behind in the Grove. You shake your head.

You would remember people like that.

THE CITY OF ROSES

Roseroot is a beautiful city, truly. Every building is beautifully designed, roses of all colors and sizes growing from the ground floor to window boxes to special trellises and even on the rooftops. It's almost overwhelming. A river flows through it, framed with stone sidewalks and curved wooden bridges. Warm streetlights line every few yards, illuminating it even in the dark. Museums and theaters can be found all over, and there's even an aquarium! … It's only got water and plants, but it's there. Truly, this is what one might expect from an affluent city dedicated to flowers and scholarly pursuits!

… It's just… empty. Not a single soul aside from the lot of you can be found. Businesses still provide services, but by who, and how? The answer eludes even the most curious of folk. If you choose to steal, dine and dash, break in to something, well. You can, and nothing is going to stop you. But the emptiness of it all is jarring, isn't it?

Of course it's not. This is how it's supposed to be!

As the days pass, however, the beauty begins to fade. Flowers wilt. A strange substance seems to grow out of cracks, creep up windows, grow. The beautiful sky gets darker, cloudier, drearier. A fog creeps in. And when you sleep- and you will sleep- you dream. Maybe it's the sweetest dream of your life, and maybe its a nightmare. Maybe it's something incredibly silly! What a pity that the dream doesn't stay in your head. Or stay as pleasant as your dream might have been.

Soon the fog is so thick, you can barely see the next streetlight. And you are no longer alone. But the trucks are gone, and the city borders seem to have vanished.

A PLACE YOU CANNOT LEAVE

The fog does not fade. But sometimes, you can hear something- just out of sight. The giggles of childish, cruel whispering. The sound of glass breaking, footsteps dragging across the pavement. Twisted beings born of your worst traumas shamble through the fog, lashing out, hunting, seeking, wanting. Every day the remains of Roseroot grow more dilapidated, some buildings even crumbling and collapsing while others cease existing all together. Roads vanish or twist to loop around into giant circles. Safety is growing limited, but how does one escape?

That may be on the forefront of your mind, but it's not something you can focus on- not while you're fighting off these monsters.

How does one get supplies when grocery stores are claimed by sudden bursts of an all-consuming rot? How does one sleep when those monsters could be anywhere, when one has to keep moving?

Fight on. Protect yourself. The way will show itself soon. You just have to outlast your pains made manifest.

MONSTERS ENCOUNTERED

This list will be updated as the event goes on, but feel free to pull from any monsters from our toplevel below as well in case updates are delayed!

An unholy, angel-like being found stationary in a warehouse. The top half of her body hangs down from a portal in the ceiling, and no matter which way you face, she can twist around to track you. Her wails and sobs cause hallucinations, panic attacks, dissociations, and crippling self-doubt; when characters are distracted, she will attempt to sever them with two oversized swords.

A shambling, undead, fully-armoured knight with seven swords stabbed into it, most of which through the back and one of which through the head. Each sword is engraved with words; five of them say “sacrifice”, one says “the one you loved most”, and the last says “hubris”. The knight wanders the city streets and attacks indiscriminately.

Seven assassins wrapped entirely in black robes and bandages to hide their identities. When they are being looked at, they become stationary, therefore they try to spread apart within their pack to keep most of them able to move. They move like glitchy robots with jerking and seizing limbs, yet are fast enough to slit throats in an instant, and largely stick to alleyways and tight corners to get a drop on someone.

A hand-monster called the Docent, who hides in the shadows and exacerbates negative emotions and insecurities. Even if you can't see it yet, if it's nearby, you will feel cold and miserable. Its physical form is made up of hands and if it catches you, it will add yours to the collection.

Mannequin-like people who look similar to Firefly, wearing plug suits and acting as mannequins in storefronts primarily. They will not "activate" until you come close to them, where they will be like dolls that creak and crackle and either start moving or pull themselves up off the ground to slowly chase you. They are dangerous in numbers, not as much as a single unit. They only speak if Firefly is around, saying things like "you let us die", "you didn't protect us", etc. By the end of the time in Roseroot, most will default be splayed on the ground all over looking dead, but they aren't.

The Swarm, a mass horde of diverse insectoid creatures with the sole drive to propagate and spread. They're big, and can hide invisible if they choose. They will start in small numbers, but slowly spread throughout the town during the end of their stay. They will swarm you and attack if they see you.

A young man with cat ears who has been burnt to a crisp and is still smouldering, who will wander the city and attempt to set people on fire.

A pack of small robotic bears with various weapons who run around indiscriminately and try to kill anyone they see. Despite how armed they are, they are easily defeated, but they roam in extremely large packs.

A phantom that specifically stalks Till, covered in blood and with several bullet wounds through various parts of his body. Characters who spend a lot of time around Till may have to watch out…

Shadows shaped like people on the walls, always watching, whispering, giggling, pointing. If one gets too close to them, they can reach out and attack like a particularly brutal child bully might- and like children, they do not know when they are going too far.

Shambling skeletons or rotting bodies dressed in strange village clothes, waiting to drag whoever they seek out into the earth.

An almost giant skeletal bird caught ablaze, trapped humans within its ribcage forming a grotesque heart. It does not fly, and molten poison drips from it.

Young men and women in a black uniform, half-gripping swords. Their footsteps sounds like bottles breaking. Soon enough they are accompanied by their killers as well.

A very tall priest in holy regalia... except his face is a mass of writhing blue tentacles of varying lengths, singing the song of the Seaborn. He shambles like he no longer remembers how legs work, swaying like a drunk almost, always wandering and reaching for his target. He sings a song of an unknown language, haunting and mesmerizing. If somehow you anger him, he will throw rocks at you... and if he gets his hands on you he will absolutely try to eat and/or assimilate you.

A monster that changes shape whenever you blink. It is normally faceless, and usually appears to look like some abomination-adjacent version of people you know.

A monster that wears clothing of a holy priest, with far, far too many arms. It "attacks" by trying to grab onto you and try to hug you almost comfortingly, while two hands strangle with rosary beads.

A creature that takes the form of something in the water- you'll never truly see what it looks like. But if you get too close to the river, something will reach out and try to drag you under.

A headless mannequin dressed in kingly finery, wielding a heavy sword. It wanders in search of one person, but will stop to kill anyone else it finds too.

An Ifrit, bleeding from a wound not unlike the ones Joshua inflicted upon Clive. It's furious. It's terrified. It will see your death done.

Shadows that, while not the most harmful things, will whisper, gossip and grab and pinch and punch and tear! They say things to characters reflecting their deepest insecurities. In short, the shadows are school bullies.

Two figures, a man and a woman, sewn together by the half. They bicker in a ghoulish language at each other, but are largely uncaring of others. When they find Zoey, they all but descend upon her, both wanting her for themselves and uncaring if they pull too hard in one direction or another. Their grip is like iron, and they're capable of tearing others in half.

A man-shaped monster whose head is a black skull. He wears a suit, tie, and gloves, and carries a rotating number of weapons- pliers, knife, scalpel, hacksaw, hammer, anything that might be used for torture, smeared with blood. Sometimes he just has a gun. He moves in an uncanny, inhuman jerk, and prefers his victims trapped and isolated. He will passively darken the area around him, turning working lights dim, and is accompanied by the sound of a power drill and his own creepy laughter.

Something dark, mostly shapeless, but the size of a large man, with bat-shaped spikes coming out of its head. Or maybe they're bat ears? He is able to shoot projectiles with deadly speed, sharp enough to gouge a hole in metal. They disappear like smoke once they've hit their mark. When faced more or less head-on, shoots a grapling hook at its victim with enough force to seriously maim, uses it to pull them close and break their bones. May appear suddenly from behind and break bones before you have a chance to react. He moves sometimes as a literal shadow, but when outside of shadow form, moves with grace and speed. Sometimes his presence is accompanied by flashbangs, smoke, and the sound of radio static or ringing in your ears. Otherwise, it is completely silent and doesn't even breathe.

A monster wearing armour and carrying tomahawk axes, with crablike appendages protruding from her abdomen that have pincer-claws. The semi-congealed gore that drips from them can be sprayed at enemies. As she talks, she claims to know "what you really are" and can absolutely back that claim up.

A brutish monster that is constantly on fire. He moves quickly enough to "blaze past" you, and likely set you on fire by proximity. Otherwise, he boasts impressive and inhuman strength.

A doll with swords through it that leaks toxic ooze as it moves around. Slow and moves around pathetically, looking as if in pain, and moving as if crying. Gives hugs instead of attacking, but the swords through it will hurt you if you let it, and the toxic ooze feels akin to acid.

A shambling amalgam of corpses and heads much akin to the Cramped Casket that pulls itself with its many arms across the ground. It easily spans around 12 feet tall. At the very front of it of it is the upper half of a young boy. It attacks by slamming itself into the ground where you stand, and is otherwise silent... unless you are Elsword, in which case it asks, "why didn't you save me?"

A monster that looks like a pirate that's on fire. Permanently. To most, it only appears to be leaving scorched earth in its wake. To Mizuki, it looks like everything around it is burning. It attacks with a cutlass, and otherwise looks mostly humanoid.

An ambling monstrosity that easily towers any house and building. It moves slowly, and seems as if it's "sliced" down the middle, with two "heads" and a mangled body. One arm carries a harpoon, one arm carries a kitchen cleaver. They mutter conflicting questions that, if you answer, you'll be contradicting the other. "Should we go left?" "Should we go right?" asked simultaneously, so answering "yes" would be answering both. Things like that. To kill it, you have to pick a head to cut off, and if you choose wrong, it instantly grows back and you'll have to try again.

A small, cute puppet with a circle of knifes protruding from its neck. It constantly cries and attacks by trashing around like a child. It doesn't even seem to be aiming for anything specifically, but its thrashing is so wild and erratic the knives in its neck are bound to hit you anyway if you don't put distance between the two of you.

An angel with wings and a halo of light that towers around 10-12 feet tall. It's head is replaced with a bouquet of flowers and it's hands are fused together in a constant prayer.Everywhere it walks, it leaves flowers behind, but they wilt and decay and rot within seconds and stay as a stain upon the land. It attacks by summoning blades of light from the ground under your feet. If you listen closely, you can hear soft singing.

A cloaked being with black crystals growing out of it who floats along the ground. It freezes anything it touches solid in blackened ice, and a trail of said ice follows after it. The air becomes frigid when it is close by.

A loud, ravenous monster that is majority mouth with waaay too many teeth. More dog-like than human shaped. Does not have eyes and thus cannot see, but can hear a pen drop. While it will bite to kill, it plays with its food. Lashes with claws and attempts to do anything it can to hurt you as much as possible before you break.

A mass of black crystals, the shape appears to be in that of Faust. Its arm is replaced with that of a crossbow. Its bolts are enough to shatter concrete. Despite being made of stone, it is very fast.

A monster that takes the shape of prey animals, starting off as smaller ones, then becoming larger ones as it stalks you. It does not necessarily attack, keeping a distance. But the more it watches, the more starved for food you feel. You haven't eaten in a while, have you? Are you hungry? Are you going to die because you can't eat? Aren't you just a waste of space if can't kill something to feed yourself? Killing it won't be easy, as it is fast, but if you do manage to, it will fall to the ground immediately as rotten, disgusting mass of meat that is not safely edible. The monster will spawn in again as it's smaller form all over again if not eaten.

A small army of husk-like creatures. They're just so hungry. Won't you help them? Won't you feed them? They appear like demons, with the stronger ones looking like some of Mystery's old friends...

A large, train-sized worm patterned in purple stripes. They have four eyes above their gator-like mouths which are full of sharp teeth. Their backs are ridged with green shark fins. Sandworms burrow through the ground at alarming speeds and feast on the dead along anything else they can catch. They aren't picky.

Spark Notes

summary

WAKE UP: Good morning! It's autumn! New arrivals are crawling out of graves, Mr. Bone-Jangles has invited everyone to his house, and everyone is having a nice little family Halloween get-together.
…WAKE UP?: Do you remember your old life? The people you left behind? ...of course not! You barely remember the truck ride over here! Welcome to Roseroot! Enjoy your vacation!
THE CITY OF ROSES: Roseroot is a beautiful, empty city. It's clearly a wealthy place, connected with nature, but you lot are the only ones there. ... That's how it's supposed to be, of course. But something forces you into sleep, and when you dream something awakens. ... Now that it's awake, something is making the city rot.
A PLACE YOU CANNOT LEAVE: The city is falling apart, rotting, vanishing and looping into itself and you are not alone. Monsters born from your trauma are out to hunt you down. Thankfully, they can be killed. You just have to keep fighting, even as places of rest and food dwindle rapidly.

out of character

Hello everyone! Welcome to our October TDM. This is a reminder that TDMs are considered game canon. This is our last TDM of 2025! November-December will be check-in AC and we will be back to our regular schedule with a TDM in January 2026. If there are questions, please hit up the toplevels below.

updates

None yet! Important updates about how characters interact with the log and change the course of events will be placed here.

submissions

❖ Questions
❖ October Plotting
❖ Past Life Plotting (Closed to Game Members)
❖ Investigations

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Comments

[lovelyredthread]

[ Neither, but he's not going to elaborate on that now. Maybe he'll tell him about his ability after he's had a few days to adjust. ]

My guess is that they just haven't been revived yet. I'm not sure. Death isn't really final since the god is using us like chewtoys. Not that it's without consequence. Your memory was probably the price this time.

[ Pavlova doesn't understand why some deaths are more final than others, why some take longer to revive. It feels abitrary, only this time Pure Vanilla's lost all memory of before, like a hard reset. Maybe so everyone has to suffer watching Pure Vanilla make the same mistakes all over again.

That seems like something the Forest would do. Whatever hurts the most. ]

[ancientlight]

( To think that others have experienced death, only to return from it. As sorrowful as death can be, there's something cruel about breaking that natural cycle, too.

The last thing he wants is for anyone to experience something like that more than once. )

... Thank you, truly. You have done a great kindness by explaining as much as you have.

( There's a brief pause on his end before he speaks again. )

At one point in time, I was without my memory, much like now. While the reason may be different, perhaps there can be a way to regain what was once lost.

[lovelyredthread]

Both Shadow Milk and Miss Lily talk a lot about you, so I guess I'm curious.

[ "Pure Vanilla would adore you," they'd said. He doubted that.

As far as the memories go... If only it were so easy. He doubts that he will ever get those memories back. That's the whole point of a consequence, after all. That said, the boy taps his shoe thoughtfully against the earth. ]

Well, even if you don't, I can probably tell you a few things to fill in the gaps. Being aware of it is better than nothing.

[ancientlight]

Oh, my... I do hope that I live up to any kind words they have to offer.

( He offers a smile, bright and warm. )

Any friend of White Lily's is a friend of mine, as well. I'm thankful that we ran into one another so quickly, despite the circumstances.

( Though, admittedly... Shadow Milk and Pure Vanilla's interactions have been rather tense, but he's been hoping for that to change. )

Before we continue, shall I go try to find something warm for the both of us to drink? Even if we do not go inside, doing this much will help fight the chill in the air.

[lovelyredthread]

[ "Friend" seemed at once like both an overestimation and an underestimation of their relationship. He really doesn't know how to explain it without talking about his relation to Shadow Milk and Shadow Milk's relationship with White lily from there.

For once he could identify this as firmly not his place to talk about ]

It was pretty much only kind words. You're a very loved person.

[ His heart proves as much with a glance. Covered in threads, so many friends and loved ones... but he won't look too close for now. ]

Sure! The inn's just south of here, and there's a café a bit more south from there.

[ If they have some time they might as well. He's very curious about Pure Vanilla anyway. He offers the man a hand to help lead the way. ]

So you don't remember being here before. What's the last thing you do remember, then?

[ancientlight]

The feeling is mutual, I can assure you.

( Though, if it's with Shadow Milk as well... He'd be surprised. Pleasantly so, but it's definitely a dramatic change. )

Please, lead the way. I shall follow behind you.

( What he remembers last... He falls silent for a moment. )

... The last thing I remember is making plans to travel back to Crispia. If I had arrived to this world any time before then, I'm afraid that there are no gaps in my memory. However, Shadow Milk Cookie and I were not on the best of terms at that time.

[lovelyredthread]

Situations tend to change when you can't run from things.

[ The ittiest bittiest jab at his father, there. It's affectionate, though.

He'll lead the way out of the forested area into the clearing. It let them out just behind the inn, so he leads them around the side. ]

I dunno if you're going to be living with Shadow Milk, Miss Lily and I, but if not, the Inn here is probably where you'll be staying for a bit. The Café is right over there.

[ He gestures over at it with his free hand. Up to him which they go to. Pavlova doesn't seem to mind. ]

Hmm... that was probably around the same time I was taken here? Maybe a little earlier or later? Hollyberry Cookie was escaping from the Garden and all.

[ He gives a little shrug ]

Well, from what I can tell, Shadow Milk came from roughly the same point in time, he's just been here with you and the others for... a while.

[ He can't recall if he ever actually asked. He was kind of frazzled when he got here. ]

[ancientlight]

( Perhaps so, but if Shadow Milk truly took the offer that Pure Vanilla was giving to him, then how could he not feel overjoyed? He may have lied to him in order to save his friends, but that didn't change the fact that he wanted so much to help ease Shadow Milk's loneliness.

He doesn't really want to impose on either of them, though staying close to his fellow cookies does sound rather nice in a situation that seems so new... )

A garden? I admit that it has been a while since I have last spoken to Hollyberry Cookie, but I am glad that you were given the chance to meet her! She has been a dear friend of mine for a long time. If there is anyone who can inspire another's strength, it is her.

( He moves to head to the cafe. At the least, going somewhere warm would be better for the both of them. )

I see... If that is the case, then time here is far different than that of Earthbread's.

[lovelyredthread]

The Garden of Sweet Delights~ You're looking at one of Eternal Sugar Cookie's closest subordinates.

[ Well, he's her son. But he felt more like a lackey after her fall, so it's not entirely a lie. It's just not the whole truth.

This of course does also mean that he was in fact not helping Hollyberry Cookie. So what Pure Vanilla just said was a little awkward. ]

... Right. I think she just saw me as a brat.

[ At very least she shot down his observations at every opportunity. Whether that was because she didn't want to confront what he was saying or she just flat out disliked him, he's not sure. ]

[ he doesn't let that stop him from heading to the café with him, though. He's keeping an eye on Pure Vanilla's reaction. The café is quite warm though. Pavlova nudges him at one of the tables. ]

Yeah, it's really strange. I'm guessing it makes sense because of the trip that some would arrive before others... Oh! Do you want tea? Or maybe hot chocolate?

[ Lily and Shadow Milk are both tea people to the point he just kind of assumes Pure Vanilla is also a tea guy. ]

[ancientlight]

I am certain that it was not that. Once Hollyberry Cookie has a goal in mind, she... can be rather stubborn. She's known well for her passion.

( To say the least. It's something that he's come to know very well over the years, but he sounds fond. Hollyberry is one of his most precious friends.

But, Eternal Sugar Cookie... One of the beast cookies, perhaps? If that was the case, then Hollyberry Cookie had her hands full just as he did. However, he has faith that Hollyberry made it through any trials that she ended up facing.

Pure Vanilla takes a seat, though he hesitates at the offer. )

If you wold like to, I would be thankful for tea. Though, will you allow me to treat you to something similar in return when I'm able to?

[lovelyredthread]

[ Stubborn is a way to put it but he's still all but certain she hated him.

Then again he's convinced most of the ancients secretly have it out for him. He holds himself a bit tense. ]

You're already thinking about paying me back? It's not that big a deal~

[ Deftly avoiding the question as he heads up to the counter. Now, he's not sure what Pure Vanilla's favorite is, but he does know what kinds Shadow Milk and Lily kept on hand, and from reading his father he knew that those were kinds he'll drink. It's ordered and Pavlova is returning to the table with it not long later. ]

Are there other things you want to know?

[ancientlight]

It would be my pleasure, in the future.

( He'd never ask for anyone to return kindness to him, but he's a big believer in doing that on his end. It's alright if Pavlova avoids his question now. It's something they can return to later. )

Have you been staying with Shadow Milk Cookie during your time here?

( There's much he wants to know about this place, but knowing more about his fellow cookies isn't something he'd pass up, either. )

[lovelyredthread]

Mmhm. He and White Lily Cookie were living together when I arrived, and they let me stay with them.

[ --because he's Shadow Milk's son, but that's not a revelation to be had now. He's sure his father would like dropping that on him much more. ]

It's been nice. I never lived in a house before.

[ancientlight]

White Lily Cookie and Shadow Milk Cookie have...?

( There's surprise in his tone when he asks, tilting his head a little. So much of this has been so much to take in... He has much to catch up on, and he's certain that White Lily will also fill him on everything that's transpired in his absence. )

Despite everything, it sounds as though this world has had some blessings in disguise, too. I am glad that you've been able to experience something positive.

[lovelyredthread]

They were the only two cookies here for a while. I guess that probably helped them put some things aside.

[ He gives a little shrug. He could give a play by play of their relationship and how it progressed but he doesn't really want to right now. ]

I'm sure you'll like it here in the down time between the horrors. It's not that bad day to day.

[ancientlight]

It sounds as though they found common ground in their situation. I am grateful for that. Shadow Milk Cookie may not admit this, but... I believe that he yearned for a true friend.

( And White Lily is someone who is perfect for that. Bias aside, he knows how much she treasures others. )

One can find a home, even in times of misfortune. Sometimes, it's the company around you that can create that.

[lovelyredthread]

Dad is a very lonely person.

[ Just says that. Not like PV didn't know already. ]

I wonder sometimes if it would have helped if I could have visited him at the spire, but it probably wouldn't have.

[ He was barely old enough to be a good conversation partner, let alone understand most of what his father would have wanted to talk about.

Besides as a parent, he probably didn't want to push that onto his child.

He can't help feeling like it was his fault though, for not trying harder. He felt that way about his mother too. ]

[ancientlight]

( He stops for a moment then, looking up from his tea. With the words that he's saying, it's simple enough to know exactly who he's referring to. But, how could it not be a shock? )

... Father? Do you mean-- Shadow Milk Cookie?

( So, he shared his dough with someone...? Perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise. Much of the history that the beasts share remains a mystery. )

[lovelyredthread]

[ Oops, he hadn't meant to say that. It's become a habit. ]

Uhh. Surprise?

[ He's able to pull a shadow milk and use magic to pop some confetti for effect. Like father like son. ]

[ancientlight]

( He seems unphased by the confetti for a moment, simply in shock before he clears his throat, regaining his composure. )

... It is surprising that we have only just met now, but it's a pleasure all the same.

Please, if you're alright with it... I'd be happy to hear more about you.

[lovelyredthread]

Dad didn't really talk about me much, I think. I lived with my mother.

[ It wouldn't surprise him if Shadow Milk completely forgot he existed until he visited the Garden again, honestly. From what Pavlova can tell, he's been very busy. ]

I guess I don't mind. What do you want to know?

[ancientlight]

The times I did meet with Shadow Milk Cookie wasn't... exactly ones for normal conversation, however being here has proven to be a blessing in disguise.

I'm grateful that we have the chance to speak now.

( He raises a cup to his lips in thought. )

The better question may be, what are you comfortable with saying?

[lovelyredthread]

[ This is SO weird. Pavlova tilts his head slightly, lips pursed. ]

I mean sure, but it's hard to figure out where to start when you don't ask questions...

[ he tries to shake off the nerves and awkwardness- his father likes this guy, and everyone he hears talk about him always glows about how kind he is. May as well go for it. ]

Well, I guess... My mother is Eternal Sugar Cookie, but that was probably pretty obvious. I like to read, and I love love! Hollyberry Cookie considered me nosy for it, but like, helping people find their happiness is my job. I'm also a really good archer, most people wouldn't be able to draw the string on my bow.

[ancientlight]

Your job sounds like a noble one! Striving to find happiness for others is a goal that you can take pride in.

( It's something he's sought after for a long time. Even though he's failed in the past, it's inspiring that others share that very dream. )

Though, love and happiness go hand-in-hand, don't they?

[lovelyredthread]

Hmmm, you would think, but not always. You've felt it many times yourself. Love hurts just as much, giving as much as it takes. Some of the most gut-wrenching, horrible things are fueled by love! Lives torn apart because someone loved something too much! Oh, I've seen all of it before.

[ His smile is so serene despite the turn of the conversation ]

I had many people come to me in the garden seeking out their happiness, but it wasn't always granted quite as expected.