Netbook

[jesterlies]

[Do you know what's depressing? Someone being unable to light up the netbook with glitter text because his magic's been shut off. Instead you get whatever this is.]





["No one murder anyone until I test a theory."]

Comments

[outofsynth]

PLEASE DO NOT TEST ANY THEORIES.

[jesterlies]

I respect your angle kid, but let the morally dubious ex-god with low empathy take a crack at this nonsense to see if it's a scam or not. Better me than someone else!

[outofsynth]

Or nobody could do this.

What if it is a scam and we manage to find some other way without you rushing into making bad choices?

[jesterlies]

Then we chalk this up to being a failed experiment where we discovered it was a scam and move on. Now there will be no question, no worries of "what if".

I have enough to gain from this if it isn't a scam, so it's worth the gamble.

[outofsynth]

What about what you could lose?

[jesterlies]

I've spent ten THOUSAND years locked in a dark, windowless prison without a body. If this insect manages to take more from me than THAT, then frankly, I'll be impressed!

...Your concern is misplaced but, I suppose I do appreciate it. How strange.

[outofsynth]

At least take some time to think about it. Please.

Even if you've been through a lot already, that doesn't mean you should throw your life away without even giving another option the chance. Joshua's planning on going to the library to see if there's any information that could help there.

1/2

[jesterlies]

[...what?]

[When has anyone ever said anything like that to him before? It's almost laughable. This person doesn't know the things he's done, the horrors he's wrought. If this were Earthbread, there would be cheering for his death. He is offering to be useful and he's being told to stop? When before the moment he did not preform his purpose, they had-]

[...]

2/2

[jesterlies]

Alright, don't get your undies in a twist. I'll wait a little before doing my little experiment.

[It's a lie. He's still going to go do it, but for now he can reassure him so he doesn't get more upset than he already sounds.]

[outofsynth]

[He'd probably be more annoyed at him acting like it's no big deal, but he's too relieved that he's actually managed to convince someone to listen to him.]

Thank you. Please try and convince other people who think this our only choice as well if you can.

[jesterlies]

[He almost feels bad about lying but really, he'll feel better knowing he agreed, right? This lie is a kindness from him.]

No promises, I'm not exactly someone people like to listen to!

[outofsynth]

That's OK. It doesn't look as though I am either.

[lovelyredthread]

Dad... this isn't going to be a dangerous theory, is it?

[jesterlies]

Don't worry about it too much. Once I'm done, I'll explain it to you in detail, okay? I'll be back soon.

[lovelyredthread]

[ He sees you dodging a yes or no on that question. It's all the answer he needs to know what his father is doing. He doesn't like it. ]

... Fine.

[namuthing]

is your handwriting really this shitty without your magic?
that's fucking hilarious.

[jesterlies]

[namuthing]

somehow that's worse
did you break your pen or something?

[jesterlies]

[namuthing]

fun as that was to watch.
a little big and inconvenient, huh?

[mooninthewater]

Do you need any help?

[jesterlies]

I shouldn't! I've an "assistant" already picked out! I'll be sure to update the journal with what I learn!

[mooninthewater]

If you are sure! But if you intend to hurt someone, or yourself, in this process, please consider my offer instead. I intend to help Mister the Forest at some point anyway, but don’t want anyone to get hurt ‘cause of it~!

Especially you, Mister Shadow Milk! He’s hurt you enough, don’t you think?

[itisa]

[This uh. Absolutely comes in after the res cooldown. Oops.]

"૮₍ ˶•⤙•˶ ₎ა

Too late.

[jesterlies]

Kudos on being so proactive you beat me to the punch!

[itisa]

Not sure that's something to congratulate me for... ㅋㅋㅋ
But.
(૭ ｡•̀ ᵕ •́｡ )૭

[ancientlight]

( He had felt it -- the moment that Shadow Milk's souljam go silent. It had been such a lonely, empty feeling. He's certain it's something he doesn't want to feel again. It was almost as though something that should have never been broken had done just that.

He's torn. He doesn't wish for this misfortune to continue to befall his other half, and yet... There's relief -- relief that he's well enough to write to everyone like this.

He has Words to say in response to his message, but... that can wait. )

Are you alright?

[jesterlies]

[Yeah...see. He knew he wouldn't hide this from Pure Vanilla. He hopes maybe he'd manage to take care of it before he realized he was up to something. Well, time to take his lumps, he supposes.]

Better than ever! I'm happy to report my experiment was a success. Where are you?

[ancientlight]

( A success....--

... Ah.

Was that it, then? Was his death because of his experiment?

He'll save his words for when he finds him. )

It's quite alright! I shall come find you instead. Did you wake up in the woods?

[jesterlies]

[Hm, hm, he hasn't begun scolding him yet. Tentatively...]

Yes, but I am already back at the Inn. I had to finish the other half of my experiment once I was revived, you see. I'll give you the details when I see you!

[Hehe, because he can see him.]

[ancientlight]

I see! I'm certain that you may already know, but I am almost at the inn as we speak! I believe we have much to talk about.

( And only moments later, Shadow Milk may very well hear the door opening and quiet footsteps as he indeed does enter. Though, he doesn't look happy. )

[jesterlies]

Of course! You and I are connected, after all~

[He knows he's in trouble. However, that will not stop him from trying to abate his ire by being hammy.]

Vanilla Bean! What a sight for sore eyes, hehehe-

[ancientlight]

....

( He stops for a moment, somehow unphased by that light tone. )

I am happy to see that you are alright now, but --

I also cannot pretend that I do not understand wanting to help, but you know of the risks here. Did we not just speak about how I had been far too reckless?

[jesterlies]

We did! And you’ve got me there! It is terrible being on the other side of it for once, isn’t it?

[So now you know how he feels! How he has felt multiple times! It sucks! But, also.]

I had to act fast, because there are other cookies here who might have tried to test it first. It’s better if I’m the one who makes sure no ones getting scammed!

[ancientlight]

( As usual, he knows how to say things that sting, and seemingly so easily. But, he thinks about Pavlova and the pain that his other half must have gone through. He puts a hand on his chest, frowning heavily. )

There is no victory in death! White Lily was not wrong when she had told us to stay together!

Your life holds as much importance as others here! If there is something dangerous happening, we must work together. Are we not a team at this point?

[jesterlies]

You need to think a little outside the box, Vanilly.

[Because he has seen victory in death, but he does not think Vanilla wants to see that particular memory.]

[Of course, him bringing up Lily makes him scoff.]

The entire reason I acted so fast was to try and stop Lily-belle from doing it first. Unlike me, people would grieve if something happened to her. Yet she still beat me to the punch. We are a "team" and I was taking one for it, which is miiiighty generous of me! I don't understand what the problem is.

[ancientlight]

( White Lily Cookie...? Was she truly making such a sacrifice? He has questions, and there's a part of him that is driving him to leave. And yet -- he can't - won't - ignore his words.

No one would grieve for me.

Hands tighten around his staff, falling silent for a moment. His chest constricts for him. )

Blueberry--

( A nickname -- affectionate and simple. He reaches for him, almost tentatively. )

You are cared for.

White Lily Cookie, Pavlova Cookie, and myself... We all care for you deeply.

[jesterlies]

[That name catches him off guard for a couple of reasons. Mostly because ...that's not a name he's been called in a very long time. There's no way Pure Vanilla knows that's his... the name before...]

[Was that a lucky guess? Or did he remember something...?]

[It's enough that he stops to listen, let's Vanilla reach for him. He makes a noise, somewhere between a sigh and a scoff. He shakes his head.]

I ...didn't mean it like that, I just- [But he kind of did, and it does hit him now that maybe Pavlova would have been horribly upset if something had happened to him, and ough. The two of them had left him alone.]

Crumbs.

[ancientlight]

( It's as if Shadow Milk comes to realize something important. Did something that he said just now reach him? )

Please... You have already been through so much pain. If there is a burden you wish to take on, then I am here to help to take it with you. I am sorry that you suffered.

( And yet, he wants to ask: )

What was the reason for this experiment?

[jesterlies]

[He sighs, because he knows there's not arguing with Pure Vanilla about this in particular. He drops his shoulders, which is as close to an "I'm sorry" as he's going to get, but at least the expression he wears is somewhat apologetic.]

[He needs to go talk to pavlova later.]

[And maybe think about the fact that he'll be missed if he goes and dies, which is the weirdest thing he's by far had to grapple with since being here.]

Well, for one, I wanted to be sure the Forest was correct before too many people got any bright ideas. I also wanted to test a personal hypothesis of mine about the nature of the Forest.

[He hums, thoughtful.]

For as cruel and ruthless as it often is, playing with us like toys and tormenting us for fun, there seems to be some sense of honor when it comes to deals and agreements. If the Forest says it will do something, it often upholds it's end of the bargain without too much trouble.

So, I thought, well, if there was ever a time for that entity to really abuse an agreement for it's own amusement, it would be this. Lo and behold, so far everything was handled honestly. Baffling.

[ancientlight]

( The apology, albeit not exactly being an apology, is more than enough. He can feel the way his expression softens further. He's aware that words alone won't be enough for Shadow Milk to believe in his words -- that he has others that care so greatly for him -- but he'll repeat it as many times as he needs to.

He pauses at his words then, looking thoughtful -- a bit puzzled for a moment. He was aware that the forest could be cruel and relentless, and yet... Bargaining with it was ultimately something that he had contemplated, too. Not to the degree that Shadow Milk had done.

But then, something that Shadow Milk had said before comes back to mind, and he looks hopeful. Then, he had meant it literally...? )

I see.. Then, what you had said --

( He reaches then, grasping his hand with his own. )

The forest! Did it return what it had taken?