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

[jesterlies]

Do not

[You can tell this is a serious response because of the way Shadow Milk hand wrote it and how the paper has an imprint from how hard he pressed on the paper with his pen.]

[ancientlight]

( Pure Vanilla responds gently, yet there's firmness in his words as well. )

My apologies, but I cannot leave a friend to fend for themselves if they are in danger. I promise that I will be cautious.

[jesterlies]

AND IF THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO BE FOUND AND YOU BECOME NEXT? WHAT A POINTLESS STUPID WAY TO GET KILLED BY THIS PLACE.

[He is scared more than anything, because there's nothing he can do right now. No magic, so if something happens to Vanilla then he can't save him. He'll just lose him again-]

[But that's not going to convince him, he knows this so he tries to calm down. Try again.]

I'm helping Salt look for him. Will you at LEAST wait for me to put eyes on this fool before running out into the dark?

[ancientlight]

I appreciate your concern greatly. Please, I would not step into a situation as this carelessly.

At least allow me to join the both of you. I cannot stand idly by if someone is in danger. My healing magic may be what's needed to help him.

( He hopes that asking to join them will ease some of Shadow Milk's concerns. How could he just stand by, though? He's never been one to do that, even when the danger is one unknown. )

[jesterlies]

You can join me down in the Inn Lobby. I'm helping him remotely.

[Shadow Milk doesn't address the part about his magic yet, though. Pure Vanilla hasn't noticed everyone's powers have been shut off yet, so he'll use that to reiterate how foolish going out there right now is when they're in person.]

totally up to you if you want to switch to action

[ancientlight]

Of course. I'll be there shortly.

( With that, he'll begin to make his way to the inn. Carefully, cautiously. At the least, he knows the way by heart by now. )

action!!

[jesterlies]

[And of course once Shadow Milk realizes Vanilla is already outside and wasn't currently in the inn he is even more on edge. So he listens for someone approaching. Yanks the door open when he recognizes those footsteps because of course he does.]

You are so incredibly reckless you're going to give me an ulcer, Vanilly.

[Spoken tersely with his jaw clenched, like he is trying to keep himself from rattling apart by keeping tight control on every inch of his body. Once Vanilla inside though, he starts to settle back down.]

[ancientlight]

( Gently, Pure Vanilla reaches for Shadow Milk's hand, offering what he hopes to be a reassuring squeeze. )

I took the utmost caution when I ventured outside. ( He is a healer, after all. Caution is something he's used to taking, even if the situation is dangerous. ) But, I am relieved to see that you have taken shelter here without any harm coming to you.

( He follows Shadow Milk as they make their way into the inn. )

Have you heard any word from Elder Faerie since he had last written to us?

[jesterlies]

[He isn't sure how much he believes him, but he gets a grunt of acknowledgement anyway. He squeezes his hand back.]

[He's rather pleased he managed to get him to fall into his trap so easily.]

Of course, I know better than to play a losing game.

[He hms.]

I have blueberry beholders growing all over the grove. Whatever shut off our magic didn't cut my connection to them, so tracking down his whereabouts was easy enough. Salt's already found him.

[And there Pure Vanilla might note how fierce his grip on him is.]

There was nothing left to save.

[ancientlight]

( He feels his stomach sink. It's a nauseous sort of feeling, one that he can barely focus on when his mind begins to spin.

He's dead.

He's gone.

Pure Vanilla was too late.

He couldn't have known. How could he have? Everything happened so suddenly -- as if the entire world had turned upside down in the blink of an eye. He feels his fingers twitch before tightening around his staff. Perhaps Shadow Milk can feel the connection between them shake with the pain that Pure Vanilla felt. )

I...-- ( His throat is tight, a free hand moving to his head, burying itself in golden-locks. )

He only just reached out to us. Could this new threat truly hurt someone so quickly?!

[jesterlies]

[What a familiar ache, it hurts in a way having his pain echo through him again like it used to. Of course that's not a surprise, Vanilla was such a bleeding heart so of course this is hard to swallow-]

[But that's just how nasty the Truth was. Vanilla needed to learn that now rather than later.]

[Shadow Milk turns towards him when he asks that, when the distress roils through him and he buries his hand in his hair. Comfort him, a little voice pleads, and Shadow Milk hesitantly tugs Vanilla a little closer to him.]

[His voice takes on a softer quality, just a tad.]

It did, and it will come for us all if we're careless. Do not make me grieve you a second time, Vanilla Bean.

[ancientlight]

( Pure Vanilla feels that tug, and the smile he offers is a little weak. He hates that his friend has suffered a second time. He can't even imagine just what he had felt. He shudders a little at the thought.

He'd be back. Surely, he would be. Any words he wishes to say need to be saved for when that happens.

The truth could be cruel. That was the hard lesson everyone needed to learn, wasn't it? At the same time, it could be a guiding light. )

We all must remain vigilant. ( Not just him, no. Shadow Milk may be powerful, but they do not know the extent of damage that this could do. Still, his words only make him want to be all the more cautious. The words that both Shadow Milk and White Lily had spoken to him upon first arriving are still fresh in his mind. ) Surely, there must be a way to help those who encounter this growth.