[The gratitude is... unexpected. It has been so very long since he has done anything worth being thanked for. He had killed those who used to love him for his efforts after they had sunk a knife into his spine. Now with every bit of jam marring his armor, with every crumb that had stained his soul, he feels unsure how to handle it.
His head bows once more, and lifts only once she speaks again.]
I do not know how you have adapted so readily. You seem... comfortable. [Which is odd, once he thinks about it.] I only just saw you, as I remember you. Yet you are unchanged, and know me not.
Well... from my perspective, I've been here for a year and a half now, give or take. I woke up on the beach in the summer, remembering re-sealing the Silver Tree... and have spent much time adjusting since.
( ...
she wants to know him. she wants him to sit beside her and not before her, to know who she is without dark enchantress's war hanging overhead.
You still have much you wish to accomplish on Earthbread.
[This puts to rest any doubts he might have had earlier in the evening. She still remembered her duty, locked away though she might be. It is all he could ask for in this situation.
Yes. Even before I can consider more selfish requests, I have much to atone for still, and... Dark Enchantress Cookie must be stopped.
( and then there is of course the matter of what will befall the faerie kingdom- she loves it so, but she knows she is no queen. so much to do. ... though his reactions have been strange. she knows pure vanilla was able to win over shadow milk upon his arrival to the grove, but...
lily hesitates for a moment. )
... This community is very kind and accepting. Even... Even your fellow Beast, Shadow Milk Cookie, has changed. He's calmer now. Relearning how to... be. I have watched warlords find gentler paths here, despite the torment we endure.
It isn't a guarantee, of course... but...
... The kindness of the people here will surely reach anyone.
And this is why I have chosen to follow you. You understand what must still be done, even now. Wherever you may go on this quest, I will follow. [He pauses.] I can only hope you will forgive me my delay in reaching you.
[Silent Salt lapses into quiet. He considers those additional words, mouth shifting into a frown. The souls here sound not unlike the myriad cookies he had once known. His beloved knights would have enjoyed them, he thinks. And that thought only makes him feel all the less worthy.]
Their efforts would be better spent focusing on others more deserving.
[That's about all he'll say about that. He does make a note on Shadow Milk but... He will need to take the time to observe as much for himself before he goes and believes in it.]
( she listens to his words ringing in her soul jam, watches how his expression shifts. so somehow she proved herself and her cause to him... and as a knight, he has sworn fealty in turn. she can feel a faint echo of bitter regret, and she thinks back to everything else she's glimpsed from him. his lack of love for himself, the trials he's hinted he put her through, the confirmation of pain he's inflicted...
and yet he stands by her. kneels before her.
after a moment, lily sets vernal on the chair and slides out of her chair, joining him on the floor and gently reaching out to touch his face in her own wrapped hand once again. )
[Some part of Silent Salt is inclined to lean away. The only reason he bites down on the urge is the fact that her hands are wrapped. She will not be tainted by him like this. Even still, it feels like fire surging down his face, mildly unpleasant and loathsome at its core.
Despite this acceptance, he cannot help the way his lips turn down in a snarl.]
Then you know me not. In time you will understand that I do not deserve such kindness. Not after all I have done. Not after how I have failed.
[Her words from earlier echo in his mind. Silent Salt does his best to thrust them back out.]
Your heart remains kind after all it has been through. Mine has not. This is where I have failed, and you have succeeded.
[His gaze falls. She is right, of course, but it is so very difficult to admit. His tongue feels like lead in his mouth. His mind roils at the mere idea of being held in such high regard by someone that he does not deserve.
Finally, he angles his head away from her hand.]
It is too much to ask of me, White Lily Cookie. I apologize.
[Absently, he reaches for his helmet.]
I should leave. There is much I have yet to understand of this place. I cannot be of use to you if I am blind to the world.
( ah, she overstepped. she's always had trouble seeing what's too far or what isn't. it's... hard. that she even hurt her other half this way is terrible to consider. but she doesn't stop him, because... is it her right to do so?
she watches for a moment before sighing softly. )
I'm sorry. I've spoken out of turn. ... Please, be careful out there. And... I can leave the connection going, so we may find each other as needed.
[Try though he might, he can still feel the surge of regret through their connection. It only causes his guilt to multiply. Quick though he is to shake his head, he knows the damage is done.]
You have said what you felt necessary. Your kindness, undeserving though I may be, is appreciated. [A pause.] Please... do keep it open. I should like to know if you are ever in need of assistance.
[Maybe he is selfish, asking such of her. But he does not linger long enough to know if it is the truth or not.]
I will. And- I work at the clinic, and stay at the gingerbread house! You can find me there!
( and then he's gone.
...
marble harumphs and curls up on her since she's on the floor, head in her lap and the firelight flickers. she idly pets the large cat while vernal whines softly before she looks to her staff.
to her soul jam.
it stays attached to the staff through magic and will, so when she gently reaches for it, it comes to her hands easily. the door stays open, as he asked- as she wanted, too. maybe...
she holds the gem close to her chest, like an embrace.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-11-18 03:54 am (UTC)His head bows once more, and lifts only once she speaks again.]
I do not know how you have adapted so readily. You seem... comfortable. [Which is odd, once he thinks about it.] I only just saw you, as I remember you. Yet you are unchanged, and know me not.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-18 05:52 am (UTC)( ...
she wants to know him. she wants him to sit beside her and not before her, to know who she is without dark enchantress's war hanging overhead.
is that selfish? )
no subject
Date: 2025-11-18 06:20 am (UTC)... I imagine it was difficult, arriving here filled with such grief.
[In any case, he does not seem to mind lingering here in this moment. There is much he should do, but being in this moment... it is not so terrible.]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-18 06:35 pm (UTC)It still does, as much as I have come to love the people here.
( ... )
This place will change you, beyond the physical shifts. I am... unsure, if you are prepared for that.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-18 11:47 pm (UTC)[This puts to rest any doubts he might have had earlier in the evening. She still remembered her duty, locked away though she might be. It is all he could ask for in this situation.
Her own statement, though, gives him pause.]
... What do you mean?
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 12:37 am (UTC)( and then there is of course the matter of what will befall the faerie kingdom- she loves it so, but she knows she is no queen. so much to do. ... though his reactions have been strange. she knows pure vanilla was able to win over shadow milk upon his arrival to the grove, but...
lily hesitates for a moment. )
... This community is very kind and accepting. Even... Even your fellow Beast, Shadow Milk Cookie, has changed. He's calmer now. Relearning how to... be. I have watched warlords find gentler paths here, despite the torment we endure.
It isn't a guarantee, of course... but...
... The kindness of the people here will surely reach anyone.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 02:02 am (UTC)[Silent Salt lapses into quiet. He considers those additional words, mouth shifting into a frown. The souls here sound not unlike the myriad cookies he had once known. His beloved knights would have enjoyed them, he thinks. And that thought only makes him feel all the less worthy.]
Their efforts would be better spent focusing on others more deserving.
[That's about all he'll say about that. He does make a note on Shadow Milk but... He will need to take the time to observe as much for himself before he goes and believes in it.]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 02:06 am (UTC)and yet he stands by her. kneels before her.
after a moment, lily sets vernal on the chair and slides out of her chair, joining him on the floor and gently reaching out to touch his face in her own wrapped hand once again. )
What if I think that you are deserving?
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 02:12 am (UTC)Despite this acceptance, he cannot help the way his lips turn down in a snarl.]
Then you know me not. In time you will understand that I do not deserve such kindness. Not after all I have done. Not after how I have failed.
[Her words from earlier echo in his mind. Silent Salt does his best to thrust them back out.]
Your heart remains kind after all it has been through. Mine has not. This is where I have failed, and you have succeeded.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 02:16 am (UTC)( she will not stand still in her- in their path so he can rot in guilt. what good will that do anyone, most of all him?
which is to say
fucking bet. )
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 02:23 am (UTC)Finally, he angles his head away from her hand.]
It is too much to ask of me, White Lily Cookie. I apologize.
[Absently, he reaches for his helmet.]
I should leave. There is much I have yet to understand of this place. I cannot be of use to you if I am blind to the world.
[Any excuse.]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 02:27 am (UTC)she watches for a moment before sighing softly. )
I'm sorry. I've spoken out of turn. ... Please, be careful out there. And... I can leave the connection going, so we may find each other as needed.
...
Be safe.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 02:30 am (UTC)You have said what you felt necessary. Your kindness, undeserving though I may be, is appreciated. [A pause.] Please... do keep it open. I should like to know if you are ever in need of assistance.
[Maybe he is selfish, asking such of her. But he does not linger long enough to know if it is the truth or not.]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-20 02:34 am (UTC)( and then he's gone.
...
marble harumphs and curls up on her since she's on the floor, head in her lap and the firelight flickers. she idly pets the large cat while vernal whines softly before she looks to her staff.
to her soul jam.
it stays attached to the staff through magic and will, so when she gently reaches for it, it comes to her hands easily. the door stays open, as he asked- as she wanted, too. maybe...
she holds the gem close to her chest, like an embrace.
maybe he will feel it, too. )