001 NETBOOK

[argentry]

[the words are scribbled hastily in loopy handwriting. those who know him may be able to figure out who is writing, based on the language he uses, and if they know his handwriting. it's not in song form, though. probably for the best]

I regret to inform everyone that I have made a grave error. I shall be brief, as I do not know how much time I have left.

One of the insectoid monsters found me a short while ago. I fear that my body is slowly changing, and that it may no longer be my own. I was certain that I would be able to treat myself, or that I would be able to remove it, but to no avail.

Take heed; do not travel outside alone. Do not attempt to fight them. Do not let them near your mouth.

I apologize for leaving this harshest of messages to you all. I do not know if I am contagious at this point, or if something else will happen to me. Do not try to find me. Stay safe, stay vigilant. And good luck.

Comments

[yourtomb]

[It is... hard to say what Silent Salt feels, reading the text before him. He recognizes the handwriting immediately, just as he recognizes the urgency in those words. His heart seizes as he stands. He has not taken his armor off since everything had gone to shit, so he does not need to do anything more than stand and grab his sword.

That, and frantically scrawling into the book:]

Where are you?

[argentry]

[it's a little while before the reply comes. Elder Faerie was afraid of this, afraid of Silent Salt seeing the message. but he knew of the risks when he wrote down his thoughts]

I am sorry.
Please, take care of Puck.

[yourtomb]

[Teeth gnash behind his helmet as he reads the words. Elder Faerie is hiding. He is obscuring his injury for the sake of protecting him. It is near the exact same thing Salt had done to his beloved when confronting Shadow Milk.

The Witches are surely laughing in his face, having presented him with such a cruel irony.]

Do not apologize to me!
Tell me where you are, Elder Faerie Cookie.

[jesterlies]

[What? WHAT? Are you fucking kidding him, Elder Faerie's barely been here a few months and he's already gotten himself into this kind of trouble?]

[He doesn't care. That man can die a thousand times, honestly! He doesn't care!! But Lily would. This is going to devastate Lily and so he has to pitch a fit.]

YOU ABSOLUTE BLOODY FOOL WHAT DID YOU DO.

[yourtomb]

Help me find him, Fount.
Please.

[jesterlies]

[What a punch in the chest.]

[It takes him a moment to respond because his reaction was strong enough that he had to break something to calm back down again. His writing is uneasy.]

Do NOT call me that again.

Where are you?

[yourtomb]

... Apologies.
I am tracing the perimeter of the woods. I have just retrieved Nox Black Salt from the barn.

[jesterlies]

Save it.

I'm still connected to the blueberry beholders in town, I'm checking through them for the Fool King now- I see you.

[You better not get that far from him because guess who has NO MAGIC right now and is otherwise forced to walk with his legs.]

[yourtomb]

If you are connected as you are then you should stay in the confines of the inn.
I will not lose any lives today. Not his, and certainly not yours.
Guide me from your post.

[jesterlies]

[Hm. He almost had his hand on the door, but he hesitates. Tch. He doesn't care. He Doesn't Care.]

Suit yourself, I didn't want to be out there anyway. If something gets to you, I'm not letting you back inside.

Found him. To the east at the edge of the forest. You're welcome~!

[yourtomb]

I would expect nothing more.
Someone proposed a code to me. If I am unable to tell you my name, as it was, then you have full rights to crumble me.
A fair trade, yes?

[jesterlies]

Hm! You'd better hope I remember such a thing, after all this time!

[Like he's physically capable of forgetting anything.]

Best of luck out there, I'll be waiting.

[yourtomb]

I will not keep you waiting...
And.
I will return with him.

[lovelyredthread]

[ He really is earning that drink with Luca dear lord. ]

Why did you go out there?? You were already at the inn and its clearly dangerous!

Ugh! Where are you?

[jesterlies]

NO!

[lovelyredthread]

But dad!

[ They both know lily will be upset if something happens. ]

[jesterlies]

[Yes, but you are his son and he does not want ANYTHING to happen to you. Hope you enjoy reading the desperation in his writing.]

If that Fool's been taken down by something in the woods I do not want you ANYWHERE near it, do you understand?

[lovelyredthread]

[ Ugh! This sucks! Why does he even care. He shouldn't care! ]

I-

[ He almost writes a protest, but he thinks better of it ]

Fine. But I don't want you doing anything dangerous either!

[jesterlies]

[Good. Good. His heart rate settles down, then.]

I assure you there would be little for me to do in this case, even if I wanted to, which I don't. I'm down in the lobby waiting to see what the horse drags in.

[lovelyredthread]

[ You are getting THE MOST grumpy little cookie pattering down to the lobby. His wings are fluffed up, and thats probably the most obvious tell of how upset he is over this. He wasn't overly fond of Elder Faerie, but that kind of thing was horrible for anyone. ]

Dad.

[ Just to let him know he's here before he latches onto his side. ]

[jesterlies]

I'll crumble them both for this.

[Is the response he gets as Pavlova comes in for the hug. He puts one arm around him to show him that he's there while the other fidgets with his staff. He WAY pacing around like an aggitated butter tiger but he stops enough for Pav to swoop in.]

I'll make it three-for-three, and crumble them together, I bet they'd enjoy that!

[He is NOT fucking worried shut UP.]

[lovelyredthread]

They'd be sappy and romantic about it if you did that.

[ He notes, not missing a beat. Better apart so they don't wax poetic.

Continue your pacing, he's flapping his little wings. ]

What was he even thinking going out there?

[jesterlies]

Gross.

[But it's true, they would be. Two sugar peas in a pod, those two. Ugh.]

Never doubt the depths at which that fool will reach for self sacrifice. It was once considered a rather noble trait of his. Annoying.

[He pauses as his view begins to get particularly interesting, watching his not so perfect view of Elder Faerie from the single stray beholder that glimpsed him.]

Hm...

[lovelyredthread]

Silent Salt didn't listen to my warning that it's likely he'd die.

[ He says it mildly, but there's a touch of annoyance there. He understands. It's denial, but ignoring something like that makes things worse.

He perks a little as his dad seemed more intent on... something. ]

Mm? Something happen?

[jesterlies]

Of course, he didn't. That was the least shocking twist one could have possibly written into his script.

[He also says this mildly, like they are gossiping about something totally inconsequential.]

...Yes.

[And he goes quiet, paying attention. He holds hand up to Pavlova to give him just a moment before he explains. Once the deed is done and he watches Salt go into the woods, he lets out a little sigh, closes his eyes to wince a little, a headache forming from being so focused on his eyes.]

...There was no saving him. Salt should be on his way back soon. Let's not rub it in his face, just this once, how wrong he was, hm?

[lovelyredthread]

[ He's patient, silent until his father speaks, but... Well, can't say he didn't try to warn him. This place is prone to this kind of thing. ]

Alright.

[ He just kind of snuggles closer to his father. Even if they had their reasons to not like the two of them... It sucks they didn't make it in time. ]

[yourtomb]

Stand down, boy.
You mean far too much to far too many people to risk your life.
I will find him.

[lovelyredthread]

I can also fly and shoot arrows. I'm pretty much perfect for scouting without getting close to those things.

[yourtomb]

Do not risk it.
He would never forgive himself if he were wounded for his sake.
Nor would I.

[lovelyredthread]

[ ???????????? ]

I thought you hated me?

[ You in this case being plural, but he doesn't specify ]

[yourtomb]

... I have been wrong about a great many things, of late.
None the least of which has been relating to my feelings about yourself, your mother, and the rest of your family.

But -
It can wait. I am sorry, I must make sure he is okay.

[lovelyredthread]

I wouldn't... get your hopes up on that. But even if something happened he'll be back. We'll have to be ready for that too.

[yourtomb]

We will not have to worry about that.
He will be fine.
I will make sure of it.