Dark Cacao's Inbox

[winterfrosting]

DC is usually patrolling or at Pure Vanilla's house. But poking his notebook will always eventually get his attention!

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[winterfrosting]

[His sheep bits are adorably honest. He's quickly learning the silent language of them]

Very well. Do not take overly long.

[And yeah he's nooot grabbing his shirt as he goes, ha]

[purevanillacookie]

[ ... Well if Cacao thinks he's sleeping in his under armor, he's got another thing coming. But what else is he gonna sleep in? Pure Vanilla desperately needs to buy them some sleeping outfits or he's not going to last.

He'll join after tidying things, locking up, snuffing the fire and lights. Night routine. Teeth taken care of, hair brushed out, a book ready in one hand from the library because he knows himself and knows he's just going to lay there so might as well read a bit by candlelight. A warm glass of milk.

He gets so in routine he forgets Cacao is waiting for him and is half off with his robe - the cape already laid aside - with one hand, book clasped firmly in the other, when he remembers. He stops dead in the doorway, one arm still trapped in his robes, half snagged on one horn. The other half of him is free.

It quite looks like he had a fight with a line of laundry and got it tangled up on him. ]

Ah... Uh... I... I cannot sleep in my robes, my apologies, my wool compacts...

[winterfrosting]

[He has his own, shorter, routine to go through as well. So by the time Vanilla arrives he's already in bed, making a guess on what side Vanilla prefers from which one has a used bedside table and leaving it open]

It is fine. The bed is big enough it should not be an issue.

[Even so he looks away for Pure Vanilla's sake, blushing a bit but not looking particularly put out]

[purevanillacookie]

[ He's a little slower - a little shyer - removing the rest of his robes now while somehow juggling his items and fighting with his horns but he eventually gets it. Staff laid against the wall for a good position to read by, book and milk down on the table, then he sits and shyly swings into his half of the bed, tugging the blankets over him.

Then ponders and reaches over to his bedside table to pull open drawers. He doesn't use them often but for Cacao's sake.... the tips of his horns get carefully padded and wrapped. Even as dull as he keeps them, they will hurt if caught on.

Then with a boldness that comes from the room being dim, he can turn to lean over and gently find Cacao's cheek with his fingers, and kiss it. ]

Goodnight...

after cc soul get

[purevanillacookie]

[ Vanilla feels incredibly bad about making the other Cookie carry him back home, but there was no way he was making the trip under his own strength. He was sapped; exhausted physically, mentally, and somewhat spiritually. And when they arrive home, he simply takes a moment to rest. There is a part of him that feels incredibly ill over what he just did. Did he condemn those souls, simply in exchange for Clotted Creams? Were they even aware enough to be condemned?

When they've both had enough time to simply relax and de-stress, and Pure Vanilla has carefully placed Clotted Cream's Moonstone into a safe location, he moves to find Cacao and for a moment simply moves in to lean against him.

Straight against his front, just tucks himself into him, face planted into him, horns pressing in from how intensely he's squishing in.

Cacao will soon feel the wet of tears, and Vanilla's voice is small. ]

Did I do the right thing?

[winterfrosting]

[he expected this. Had since they walked through the door. So there's no hesitation in crushing his friend to his chest, regardless of the horns]

You did your best.

[right or wrong meant little in the heat of it. There was only choices. And consequences.]

[purevanillacookie]

[ His best. And what if his best is wrong, as it often is. What If's fog his brain and he wraps his arms around Cacao in return.

And for one in his life.

He sobs. ]

[winterfrosting]

[It's strange, seeing Vanilla openly weep. He never saw it during their adventuring days. Grief, pain, yes. But never such open suffering. Always willing to shove it down so others burdens would be a little lighter.

He carefully guides them both to the couch to sit, so Vanilla can cling to him more easily. It's new, but knowing his dearest friend is willing to let him see it is a responsibility he takes willingly]

[purevanillacookie]

[ It is definitely a build up over time. A compounding of shoving it down until this tip finally breaks the icing, and having someone he trusts with his heart to show the weakness around.

He lets himself be led wherever, he doesn't care, and curls up as small as he can in against the other Former-Cookie. His sobs will quiet but the steady leak of tears continues longer.

Until those too finally dry up and he's merely curled in against Cacao. His voice is tiny. ]

My apologies...

[ He's not removing his face from Cacao's chest though. ]

[winterfrosting]

There is no need. You are the one that said we should share all our thoughts and feelings, after all.

[purevanillacookie]

[ The dirty truth to that is he meant they should lay those upon his shoulders, not visa versa, but he won't say that. Instead sneak a hand up to wipe his eyes and try to wipe some of the damp off of Cacao. Yay wool. ]

Yes... of course you are right.

[ Followed by silence as he doesn't do that. Give him a moment. ]

[winterfrosting]

[He doesn't push. Just pets his back]

[purevanillacookie]

[ It's very soothing and he soaks it up a bit longer before finally speaking his worries. ]

The souls in the Corruption are... broken. Half-things with no thought, no desires, twisted by the creature. I feared Clotted Cream's soul would become the same, lost in that baleful madness. Yet I cannot help but worry I condemned the souls I ripped free from the Fog to feed into that Monster- [ Callan does not deserve his name right now ] -in exchange for his. If the Corruption is ended, will they be free? Or will they have ceased to exist, devoured.

[winterfrosting]

If you knew that was the case, for certain... would you have left Clotted Cream's soul there?

[purevanillacookie]

I- I truly do not know.

[ How selfish of him. The answer should be simple. The one for the many.

He feels rotten admitting that. He is just as bad as Dark Enchantress... ]

[winterfrosting]

If even then you feel you would have done it, then it is the truth of your heart. There is no shame in that.

[He sighs, soft and sad]

Regrets... can never be avoided.

[purevanillacookie]

[ Oh, he knows that tone in Cacao's voice. He moves his hand to find one of Cacao's and takes it, squeezing tightly. ]

We are quite the pair, are we not?

[ Both so broken and filled with self-doubt and regret. ]

[winterfrosting]

We are.

...Vanilla. That spell. I... please warn me if you use it. I thought in that moment I was going to lose you again.

[purevanillacookie]

Oh...

[ It's breathed out and his expression pinches. ]

I'm so sorry, I was not thinking.

[ Oh he's made such a mess of all of this. ]

I will not use it again.

[winterfrosting]

I did not say that. It worked. We have Clotted Cream's soul- it was worth a moment's discomfort.

[purevanillacookie]

[ He shakes his head gently, rubbing his horns against Cacao. ]

Nevertheless, it is not a spell I should be using. And I did not consider what you might see. I am sorry.

[ He squeezes Cacao's hand tightly, fingers folding in tightly. ]

[winterfrosting]

[not only does he allow this he rests his head on top of vanilla's and sqishes him in with his other arm. Human bodies are soooo good for squishing]

[purevanillacookie]

[ Oh being squished in is so nice. It's warm and comforting, and there's something nicer about human bodies than Cookie bodies for it. He sighs and shifts to return the hug as tight as he can. Oops that's tight, that Minotaur strength. Probably wont feel too bad for Cacao though. ]

Thank you, my dear.

[ For being you. ]

[winterfrosting]

[For a normal human or cookie he's be a little crunched, but thankfully Cacao has that Souljam sturdiness. But it's still hard enough to notice- something he hasn't been used to for decades]

Oof...

[He kisses his head, not responding to the thanks. He doesn't need it, he never has]

[purevanillacookie]

[ The oof makes him smile a little, finally, but he doesn't reduce his hug. He's clinging to the other, thanks. And he'll take the kiss to his head - ignore the very soft very comfortable baa that echos into your chest, sir - and knows he wont respond to the thank you. Stubborn old goat. ]

Where would I be without you.

[ He knows the answer to that. ]