winterfrosting | Dark Cacao's Inbox

And in saving this world what if we can no longer save our own.

[And that's the rub. The only reason he's clung so long to his power and kingship- because cookiedom was so so fragile. They barely stopped Dark Enchantress before. Even with all their new allies, could they do it multiple Soul Jams down?]

[ Ah, he wants to shrink in on himself. ]

I am sure, even without my Souljam, so long as we return you and yours, our forces will not be diminished. You hardly need the Truth to lead you all anymore, my love. We have all been brought back, and upon sharing our Souljam, have become better for it. This is merely another step.

[ And he does not think he is ever going home. ]

Not need you?!

[Cuz yes, you may say the Truth but he knows what you mean sir. He sounds both insulted and hurt]

I need you. My Jam or Holly's or Golden Cheese's or even White Lily's is no more important than the other. Are we not a team? A family?

[ Oh. His weakness. He actually tilts his head away for a moment, looking miserable. Even as his hand tightens in Dark Cacao's. He's silent for a long moment, before speaking again, voice soft. ]

I need you too, my love. I need you all. I will always need you.

[ He reaches out to pick his souljam up, it's weight unnervingly heavy in his hand, before placing it in Dark Cacao's. ]

But I do not need this. Not while there is a chance it can go to use. What good is power if not for the benefit of everyone? I desire it not, if I cannot use it to truly do what I wish to do.

[ Which is help.

And if Dark Cacao listens through his own souljam, he may hear the tiniest of voices. The faintest of giggles. The touch of Deceit that still lives there. ]

Edited 2024-05-07 21:17 (UTC)

...

[And how can he argue with that? He should have predicted this would happen one day. Since he so quickly agreed with Clotted Cream. Maybe long before. He can feel that echo of the Beast Vanilla told him about and his hand closes over the gem, trembling with anger.

Begone. You have no place here-!

But he can't be mad at Vanilla. Not really. He knows that while his argument to save the power for their war made sense, it was not the real reason. He wanted Vanilla to stay powerful and safe. To not leave him again.

And there is no Honor is such thoughts]

Is... this really what you want?

[Deep down, part of him whispers: if Vanilla casts aside the Souljam here... maybe, maybe he won't be able to throw himself away against White Lily's shadow again. Maybe he can find some kind of peace]

[ In response to his scorn and anger, all he will hear from that tiny voice is laughter. Familiar laughter, like that which followed them out of the Forest after they got Clotted Cream. It goes on and on and on- ]

It is. I vow to help find a way to return us all to home, but until such a time occurs, I wish to use my Souljam to bolster and aid. This is the Truth of Power, my love. It must be used for the betterment of all.

[He is hiding something, Warrior of Resolve.

Look upon his hand.

Call him out for his silly little lies.]

But you needn't worry too much, I do not even know if it shall be possible here to break it.

[He tries to resist looking. And if it was someone else trying to force him he would have won out.

But his greatest enemy was always himself. His eyes flick down]

You said... there was something else as well.

[ The wound on his hand is faint. Mostly healed from Pure Vanilla lightly touching it all night with his abilities. But it's still pink enough to say it was recent.

Very recent.

Tiny tiny laughter. ]

Ah...

[ He curls his hand a little, before uncurling his fingers to show his palm to Dark Cacao. ]

Are you aware of what a few of our friends have? An illness called Oripathy? It is a deadly contamination like disease from their home world, which both empowers their abilities, but also spells a certain end. I have promised them I would work towards a cure, but... mm...

But...?

[dread curls in his guts]

But... I cannot bring myself to put them through the experimentation that would be required to find the cure. So I... might have infected myself, to experiment on myself instead.

[ He says might, because with the Souljams connection to him still, he has no idea if it took or not.

And this is the reason he asked Dark Cacao not to get angry at him. ]

What?!

[ Haha.

Ah. ]

I cut my hand upon Passengers Oripathy stone on his forehead. Theoretically, this should have transmitted the disease to me.

[ Don't be mad, don't be mad...! ]

...

You... intentionally gave yourself a deadly disease... and then wish to destroy the thing making your dough immune to aging and sickness.

[YOU CAN SEE WHY HE'S CONFUSED, BABE]

I know how it seems, my love! But I cannot subject anyone else through what it would take to find a cure! And I-I am unsure if I actually have it while my Souljam is a part of me.

[ Listen he understands it sounds insane but there's a method to this madness. ]

Then all the reason you can not give away all your Jam!

[ A pause. All of it is not an all together no.

He sighs and reaches up to cup Cacao's face, fingers stroking over his cheeks. He'll compromise. ]

Not all of it. I will give only a small portion at first away, to Ourania, as it has been noted she is able to at least halt the corruption. I will keep the rest on myself until I have cured this disease. It should slow the progression - if I have it - to a negligible pace. Is this all right?

[He gives a shuddering sigh into Vanilla's hands, knowing he has lost. He doesn't have the heart to try and convince Vanilla to do something against his nature. And... he had told him. He trusted him not to lose his temper.]

...very well. I am not happy about this. But I will... accept it.

I know, my love. I assure you, I will cure it. You will not lose me.

[ He drags him down a little to rest their foreheads together. ]

Swear it to me. On your Jam.

[His voice cracks just a tiny amount]

[ Oh his love. He drops his hands to fold them over Cacao's holding his souljam still, tightens his grip around it. ]

I swear on my Souljam, my heart. I swear. You will not lose me. I will cure it.

...

[he nods, not trusting his words. He can not do it again. Loss and treachery and death.

He was so close to giving up once. Another failure will break him.]

[ Oh, he knows. The silence tells him all. He reaches out with an arm to wrap it around Cacao's neck and bring the other into a tight hug. The tightest he can give, like he can merge them together and thus Cacao will never have to worry. ]

Shh. I am here. I will always be here. I love you, Dark Cacao Cookie.

[And he's just gonna rest his face into Vanilla's collarbone for a bit, soaking in his scent and warmth]

[ He's simply going to hold him there, fingers working through his hair and then resting on his scalp, lightly rubbing down to his neck. Where they will squeeze against the tight muscles. Relax him again, reassure him.

He is not planning on crumbling away any time soon. ]

[Eventually, perhaps longer than expected, but eventually, he sits up with a groan]

There is... something I must tell you as well.

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