Elder Faerie comes to a halt several steps away, looking so dejected. it is easy to see how sullen the Beast is, even now. Elder Faerie brings his hands up to hold over his stomach, managing to keep the tears at bay, even if he is wounded]
My apologies. I did not mean to make you nervous.
[he would hold him, if he could. but maybe those days are long gone now. perhaps... Silent Salt does not want that]
...But do understand that I care not for what happens to me. I have already departed, and, the moment I am sent away from this world, I will be gone for good.
[Perhaps that had been the wrong choice. Silent Salt does not miss the visceral reaction in Elder Faerie's form. Yet he also does not understand it, either. Centuries, trapped or otherwise, had not been enough to wash away the crumbs and jam that stained him. Even in their precious, shared moments, he had doubted his worthiness.
But surely it was obvious now that he did not deserve such light. Elder Faerie was the wisest cookie he had ever known. Surely even he would agree that things should be left like this. Wounded as he might have been, he would remain untarnished by Silent Salt's own presence.
It doesn't make any sense. And with little to work with in terms of an argument, especially when Elder Faerie seems more concerned with him, he can only choke out.]
I am not nervous. [That much, at least, he can dispel. The rest of what Elder Faerie says, however, manages to shatter any other argument he might have had. Even if he knows that his companion was gone from their home, it is another matter entirely to even consider witnessing such a thing.
He was beginning to understand just how far the cruelty of this realm ran.]
So. This place offers up that which we long for, all for the sake of tearing it away?
[Even the Beasts had not displayed such cruelty toward himself or his subjects.]
Yes. But that is not all that it does. It may also corrupt us to our very cores, take away our senses, our limbs, torture us until we beg for crumbling...!
[but then he nods to the people at the feast, enjoying themselves]
And yet, ne'er have I witnessed such kindness in the face of despair. The fondness I feel for these beings, my new companions, has rejuvenated me in ways I did not think were possible. As I would protect my own Kingdom, so, too, would I protect everyone in Aldric's Grove.
[there is solidarity here, Silent Salt. which gives him hope]
[Silent Salt speaks even before he has fully processed Elder Faerie's words. Nevertheless, he does not regret his resolve. Even if he was unworthy of the other cookie's embrace, he would still fight to the bitter end to keep him safe.
Given the force with which he speaks, it's a good choice indeed for Elder Faerie to shift to their surroundings. Silent Salt forces himself to look away, studying the crowd. That earlier sensation begins to well up, only this time he finds it's so much stronger than before.
Once more, he is grateful that his face remains obscured.]
I have only just met them, and yet. [It takes every ounce of strength he has to keep his voice from wavering.] They remind me of my knights.
[Solidarity indeed.]
If these are to be your new charges, then know this. You will not stand alone when protecting them.
[Even after a scant few days, Silent Salt knows he has taken an accurate measure. They are deserving not just of his own efforts, but of Elder Faerie's as well.]
[Elder Faerie settles again, focusing his gaze upon Silent Salt for a few moments. the poor guy. he's so sad and bitter. and that is okay. Elder Faerie is not going to give up on him just because he doesn't think he's worthy. he wants his friend back. Salt of Solidarity may be gone, but there is still good in Silent Salt, the Beast.
besides, when has Elder Faerie ever not given others a second chance? or third, or fourth? heck, he has had a few conversations with Shadow Milk Cookie, while being here. maybe they weren't nice conversations, but they weren't inherently awful.
he eventually steps off to the side to get two cups and pours them both some tea]
Things are different, now, yes, but I shall be happy to stand at your side, as before. I always will, dear friend.
[here is tea. he sets the cup and saucer on the table nearest to Silent Salt, because he's worried the Beast won't take it from his hand. kind of like he's trying to win over a feral cat]
[So much has changed, both as a result of arriving in this world and due to the events back home. It makes the way Elder Faerie tends to him taste so much sweeter. Even if he feels he does not deserve any of it, Silent Salt accepts the ministrations all the same. To turn him down a second time would feel all the worse.
Still, he is grateful when Elder Faerie sets the tea nearby, rather than attempting to hand it to him. Trying to avoid grazing the other cookie's hand while also navigating his gauntlets would indeed be difficult. But then, so its attempting to handle the tea cup.
Very well then. Remiss though he is to remove any of his equipment in a still unfamiliar face, he peels off both pieces of armor and carefully sets them aside. Loath as he is to set it upon the ground, it feels better than disgracing the furniture.
At least now he can enjoy the warmth of the tea cup between his hands. It might feel a little small between his palms, but he appreciates it nonetheless.]
I admit... I do not know what I have done to continue to deserve your kindness.
[Elder Faerie takes up his own cup and sits down on a couch. he is still aware of some people watching them, but most are courteous enough to leave well enough alone. back to the feast, for them. it's so warm, thanks to the tea, the fire, the movement from other bodies. Elder Faerie is becoming quite used to his new human dough]
Perhaps it is sentimentality, on my part.
[he says this, but doesn't seem ashamed of it, watching as Silent Salt holds the cup. good]
Honestly, I am not the hero you perceive me to be. You are here, and this makes me happy. Selfishly so, in fact! Through some miracle, I have been brought here, and you have been brought to me. Even though i know you and I shall suffer for it, I welcome whatever tragedy may come my way, even if I only have a moment of your time now.
[being brought back to life into the horrors was Worth It]
[It is so very strange, how many people seem to be invested in their conversation. One young man in particular, scarred and unfamiliar though he is, seems to be paying particular attention to Silent Salt. More than once, he sees a hand twitch toward the weapons on his person.
Odd, at passing glance, but still unsurprising. Elder Faerie was a beloved leader back home. It should not be so strange that he had established himself as such in this world.]
You say you are not a hero, yet our plan came to fruition because of you. My other half lived because of you. [Before, he had felt bitter and angry that White Lily had been the unwilling cause of Elder Faerie's demise. Now, some part of him feels grateful.
One hand looses itself from the teacup and twitches toward Elder Faerie. Once more, Silent Salt pulls back.]
No matter what it is you claim, you shall always be a hero to me. Time and again, you have proven to be my guiding star, Elder Faerie Cookie. [Beneath his helmet, Silent Salt's mouth curls into a faint smile.] So perhaps it only makes sense, that I would follow you here.
[It takes some doing, but Silent Salt manages to lift the tea up to his mouth, then takes a sip. Somehow, it manages to hold a centuries old chill at bay, even if only for a moment.]
You are among Cookiekind, among those that I have suffered for. It should not be any surprise that I would gladly do so again.
[such honeyed words make Elder Faerie's knees weak. he is so glad that he is sitting down. it's a lot to take in, Silent Salt being here. he's scared that he'll blink and that he'll lose this conversation.
so he will enjoy the company while he can. the persistent ache in his heart is also soothed by the tea]
You are going to make me blush. I would like to keep my composure while we are in front of so many people.
[teasing, he grins subtly]
I, too, would do it all over again. My only regret is that I could not have been more... forward with you, and White Lily Cookie. I would have liked to help you, both, even more.
[There is a moment where Silent Salt recoils slightly. His mouth parts around an apology, but Elder Faerie's grin manages to cut through it before he can even begin. Instead, he offers something close to a huff, ignoring the way his no-longer-dough seems to warm.
For a moment, at least. The moment sobers just as quick as the levity had arrived. Metal shifts as Silent Salt straightens up. It is... probably ridiculous, the way he continues to stand and loom over Elder Faerie, but to lower himself would be to abandon a more defensive position.
That's what he tells himself, at least. Admittedly, to sit upon the ground would certainly produce enough noise to disrupt the goings-on of the party. To say nothing of the impact it would have on the gravity of the moment.]
I do not know how you could have helped me more than you already did, Elder Faerie. [There is a note of incredulity to his tone.] My plan would have crumbled if not for your efforts. Your knowledge and strength is what gave us the ability to seal the Beasts away to begin with. I do not accept your regret. It is unnecessary.
[Still, he'll admit that the word forward managed to produce a wholly altogether response. He tucks that away, to be considered never.]
[he hadn't meant it like that. probably? who knows! he'll not say a word if Silent Salt won't. Elder Faerie closes his eyes, not wanting to go around in circles with the Beast. he would like to ask for forgiveness, for not being able to keep his friend safe back then. but it won't do any good. Silent Salt does not see the faults, there, and neither did White Lily.
so he abstains, for now, sitting back into the couch and sipping his tea. it will do no good to mull over the past, not when they have a new future to think about]
If you say so, then I shall not argue with you. For now, I wish to know how you have been doing here. When did you arrive?
[For as willing as Silent Salt is to bend the knee to certain individuals, he is terribly stubborn when it comes to matters of said souls' worth. So it's probably a good thing that Elder Faerie does not press the matter. It keeps them from wasting valuable time and breath rehashing a matter they are unlikely to see eye to eye on.]
Little more than a few evenings ago. [When he says it, he almost feels guilty. He had no way of knowing that Elder Faerie was here, yet his heart aches over not seeking him out sooner all the same.] I have spent most of that time trying to understand the lay of this land, and the threats that it harbors.
[His gaze flicks off to the side, to where a once dormant pull tugs at his senses. For but a few hours, he had believed Shadow Milk to be the largest threat in this place. Now he knows differently.]
[Three weeks is nary a drop in the bucket compared to their long lives. Yet some part of Silent Salt has the audacity to long for the weeks he might have missed. He scolds himself for the foolishness of it all, even if part of him acknowledges that in a place as seemingly volatile as this, three weeks might as well be a lifetime.]
It seems a comfortable enough accommodation. [But then, anything would be compared to the catacombs, now wouldn't it?] Is it always so... lively?
[Some distant part of Silent Salt hopes it is the case. He misses the bustle of his knights, of his beloved charges.]
[he chuckles at Silent Salt's curiosity. if he could, he would have parties and feasts here every night! for the both of them, as well as for the others]
Many times, when I return here, it is quiet at night. However, I suspect the inn, itself, is haunted.
[Schooled as his response might be to the odd passerby, Elder Faerie might note a hint of disappointment there all the same. Indeed, his tell is the way his head tips downward, the way the plume of his helm almost seems to diminish faintly.
It lasts only seconds. Curiosity takes him shortly after, and his head lifts once more. A subtle glance is cast around, as if searching for the very spirits Elder Faerie refers to. He has his own experience with hauntings, something that they both surely know.]
[another sip of his tea as Elder Faerie considers how to answer]
I hear heavy footfalls in the halls here. As though someone is running. Yet, when I open my door to observe, no one is there. There are also doors that remain locked, no matter who tries to open them. I do not fear these things, but I remain vigilant, nonetheless.
[he gets very little rest here. but that is not all because of the location. he is in unfamiliar territory, and he never feels safe]
[If there is one thing Silent Salt has learned over his years, it is that joy is fleeting. He will just have to treasure this evening for what it is, and then tuck it away within his mind forever more. It will be yet another thing he can look back on with melancholic fondness.
For now, there are more pressing matters at hand. He considers Elder Faerie's words, mouth pressing into a firm line. The air does not feel immediately threatening, and the situation that is described to him sounds more inconvenient than anything. Nevertheless, it is a disturbance, and he cannot imagine it has sat well with his companion.]
Allow me to stand watch this evening, then. If anything occurs, I will be on hand to witness it. And I should hope it allows you the ease of better rest.
[Even if Elder Faerie does not mention the lack of pleasant slumber, it is easy enough to deduce. And Silent Salt cannot help but fret over his friend. Alive though he may be, his countenance remains of great concern to the beast.]
[even Elder Faerie cannot be unflappable all the time. he chokes a little on his tea, bringing a hand up to rest against his chest. he's fine, he's fine! Silent Salt needn't worry.
but hoo boy, he just had not expected that response. it surprised him!]
Y-you want to... stay here?
[with him? guarding him? potentially keeping threats at bay? no, it's silly! there are no threats, certainly not composed of the haunted footsteps. no, the only threat here is...
[Once more, that head inclines faintly. Indeed, the question of Elder Faerie's well-being dances upon his lips, but he does not speak the question into fruition. Rather, he does not have the time to, considering his companion's own words.
Admittedly, he does not understand why the thought seems to fluster Elder Faerie so. He has his own retinue back home, after all. A cookie so beloved by his people would surely have many falling over themselves to ensure their leader was kept safe. And the Salt of Solidarity had been no different in that time, loyal to his own people.
It is simply the logical solution to the problem at hand.]
Good. Then after the festivities have died down, I shall accompany you to your room and hold vigil within the halls.
[Which is... probably not at all what was expected. Oops!]
[hold vigil... in the halls. of course. the fun sleepover idea Elder Faerie has in his head vanishes without a second thought. he finishes off his tea, his wings fluttering lightly]
Yes. Though, if you get tired, you are free to rest, you know. I do not believe any harm will come to me tonight.
[still, the idea of Silent Salt being near is... enough to make him happy. he feels like he might sleep more soundly, feel safer. it's comforting!]
[Silent Salt has no reason to believe otherwise. Aside from a few stray animals wandering through the village, there has been little to speak of as far as disturbances go. Though he had no doubt there was a significant threat posed by the menace within the Woods, it was clear that it was not keen on acting on the urge at this time. Even Shadow Milk had proven himself to be docile, better served as an ally for the time being.
But even still, he cannot help but be concerned. Despite the environment being different, Silent Salt knows what it is like to lose what is most precious to him. Duty has had him spread across many different places over the last few days. It only stands to reason that he settle here for the time being.]
You know me, Elder Faerie Cookie. It is not in my nature to abandon my duties part way through. [If he is determined to be on guard for Elder Faerie, then he will see the duty through to completion. It is, after all, the least he can do to redeem himself in the eyes of one so beloved to him.]
[even though the Salt of Solidarity is gone, there remains pieces of what once were in Silent Salt. that is why... Elder Faerie is hoping that they can rekindle their relationship, become close once again]
At the very least, I shall keep my door open for you. And, if we just so happen to strike up a conversation while you are on guard duty, then so be it.
They both know the cookie he once was has all but been erased, washed away by the crumbs and jam of those who became his enemies. Whatever paragon he had once tried to be — whatever being that had somehow managed to be worth something in the eyes of a great and kind cookie such as Elder Faerie — had crumbled centuries ago. That Elder Faerie attempts to be amicable is one thing, it speaks to his very heart and spirit. But to try and open the door for what they once were...
It fills him with hope, a sensation not at all unlike what White Lily Cookie had managed to draw out of him. And he... he is so undeserving of such things, that having it reflected on him twice over almost makes him want to roar with fury. Surely they both deserved more.
But he does not protest. He does not defy their will, because he knows what the cost will be. He has already disappointed Elder Faerie once. Doing it again would be a travesty. While the fingers of one hand may curl into fists, and while the tea within the other might come close to sloshing, he minds his words.]
If that is what you wish, I will not turn you away. Though I - I do hope you will consider resting. That is the point of my watch, old friend. To ensure you have enough peace of mind to slumber peacefully.
[had he said something wrong? he must have overstepped his boundaries, again. Elder Faerie wipes the satisfied smile off of his face and adopts a neutral expression. for now]
Of course. I thank you for your concern. It shall be nice to know peace, if only for a short while.
[thanks to you, he thinks. he looks into his empty mug sadly. he should eat, and then practice his sign language before bed. ah, yes, he wants to tell Silent Salt about that, but he feels White Lily Cookie should tell him first]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 05:09 am (UTC)Elder Faerie comes to a halt several steps away, looking so dejected. it is easy to see how sullen the Beast is, even now. Elder Faerie brings his hands up to hold over his stomach, managing to keep the tears at bay, even if he is wounded]
My apologies. I did not mean to make you nervous.
[he would hold him, if he could. but maybe those days are long gone now. perhaps... Silent Salt does not want that]
...But do understand that I care not for what happens to me. I have already departed, and, the moment I am sent away from this world, I will be gone for good.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 05:25 am (UTC)But surely it was obvious now that he did not deserve such light. Elder Faerie was the wisest cookie he had ever known. Surely even he would agree that things should be left like this. Wounded as he might have been, he would remain untarnished by Silent Salt's own presence.
It doesn't make any sense. And with little to work with in terms of an argument, especially when Elder Faerie seems more concerned with him, he can only choke out.]
I am not nervous. [That much, at least, he can dispel. The rest of what Elder Faerie says, however, manages to shatter any other argument he might have had. Even if he knows that his companion was gone from their home, it is another matter entirely to even consider witnessing such a thing.
He was beginning to understand just how far the cruelty of this realm ran.]
So. This place offers up that which we long for, all for the sake of tearing it away?
[Even the Beasts had not displayed such cruelty toward himself or his subjects.]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 05:38 am (UTC)Yes. But that is not all that it does. It may also corrupt us to our very cores, take away our senses, our limbs, torture us until we beg for crumbling...!
[but then he nods to the people at the feast, enjoying themselves]
And yet, ne'er have I witnessed such kindness in the face of despair. The fondness I feel for these beings, my new companions, has rejuvenated me in ways I did not think were possible. As I would protect my own Kingdom, so, too, would I protect everyone in Aldric's Grove.
[there is solidarity here, Silent Salt. which gives him hope]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 06:00 am (UTC)[Silent Salt speaks even before he has fully processed Elder Faerie's words. Nevertheless, he does not regret his resolve. Even if he was unworthy of the other cookie's embrace, he would still fight to the bitter end to keep him safe.
Given the force with which he speaks, it's a good choice indeed for Elder Faerie to shift to their surroundings. Silent Salt forces himself to look away, studying the crowd. That earlier sensation begins to well up, only this time he finds it's so much stronger than before.
Once more, he is grateful that his face remains obscured.]
I have only just met them, and yet. [It takes every ounce of strength he has to keep his voice from wavering.] They remind me of my knights.
[Solidarity indeed.]
If these are to be your new charges, then know this. You will not stand alone when protecting them.
[Even after a scant few days, Silent Salt knows he has taken an accurate measure. They are deserving not just of his own efforts, but of Elder Faerie's as well.]
silent salt has joined the party
Date: 2025-11-16 06:14 am (UTC)besides, when has Elder Faerie ever not given others a second chance? or third, or fourth? heck, he has had a few conversations with Shadow Milk Cookie, while being here. maybe they weren't nice conversations, but they weren't inherently awful.
he eventually steps off to the side to get two cups and pours them both some tea]
Things are different, now, yes, but I shall be happy to stand at your side, as before. I always will, dear friend.
[here is tea. he sets the cup and saucer on the table nearest to Silent Salt, because he's worried the Beast won't take it from his hand. kind of like he's trying to win over a feral cat]
[final fantasy victory music intensifies]
Date: 2025-11-16 06:27 am (UTC)Still, he is grateful when Elder Faerie sets the tea nearby, rather than attempting to hand it to him. Trying to avoid grazing the other cookie's hand while also navigating his gauntlets would indeed be difficult. But then, so its attempting to handle the tea cup.
Very well then. Remiss though he is to remove any of his equipment in a still unfamiliar face, he peels off both pieces of armor and carefully sets them aside. Loath as he is to set it upon the ground, it feels better than disgracing the furniture.
At least now he can enjoy the warmth of the tea cup between his hands. It might feel a little small between his palms, but he appreciates it nonetheless.]
I admit... I do not know what I have done to continue to deserve your kindness.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 06:40 am (UTC)Perhaps it is sentimentality, on my part.
[he says this, but doesn't seem ashamed of it, watching as Silent Salt holds the cup. good]
Honestly, I am not the hero you perceive me to be. You are here, and this makes me happy. Selfishly so, in fact! Through some miracle, I have been brought here, and you have been brought to me. Even though i know you and I shall suffer for it, I welcome whatever tragedy may come my way, even if I only have a moment of your time now.
[being brought back to life into the horrors was Worth It]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 06:56 am (UTC)Odd, at passing glance, but still unsurprising. Elder Faerie was a beloved leader back home. It should not be so strange that he had established himself as such in this world.]
You say you are not a hero, yet our plan came to fruition because of you. My other half lived because of you. [Before, he had felt bitter and angry that White Lily had been the unwilling cause of Elder Faerie's demise. Now, some part of him feels grateful.
One hand looses itself from the teacup and twitches toward Elder Faerie. Once more, Silent Salt pulls back.]
No matter what it is you claim, you shall always be a hero to me. Time and again, you have proven to be my guiding star, Elder Faerie Cookie. [Beneath his helmet, Silent Salt's mouth curls into a faint smile.] So perhaps it only makes sense, that I would follow you here.
[It takes some doing, but Silent Salt manages to lift the tea up to his mouth, then takes a sip. Somehow, it manages to hold a centuries old chill at bay, even if only for a moment.]
You are among Cookiekind, among those that I have suffered for. It should not be any surprise that I would gladly do so again.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 05:59 pm (UTC)so he will enjoy the company while he can. the persistent ache in his heart is also soothed by the tea]
You are going to make me blush. I would like to keep my composure while we are in front of so many people.
[teasing, he grins subtly]
I, too, would do it all over again. My only regret is that I could not have been more... forward with you, and White Lily Cookie. I would have liked to help you, both, even more.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 07:14 pm (UTC)For a moment, at least. The moment sobers just as quick as the levity had arrived. Metal shifts as Silent Salt straightens up. It is... probably ridiculous, the way he continues to stand and loom over Elder Faerie, but to lower himself would be to abandon a more defensive position.
That's what he tells himself, at least. Admittedly, to sit upon the ground would certainly produce enough noise to disrupt the goings-on of the party. To say nothing of the impact it would have on the gravity of the moment.]
I do not know how you could have helped me more than you already did, Elder Faerie. [There is a note of incredulity to his tone.] My plan would have crumbled if not for your efforts. Your knowledge and strength is what gave us the ability to seal the Beasts away to begin with. I do not accept your regret. It is unnecessary.
[Still, he'll admit that the word forward managed to produce a wholly altogether response. He tucks that away, to be considered never.]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 07:50 pm (UTC)so he abstains, for now, sitting back into the couch and sipping his tea. it will do no good to mull over the past, not when they have a new future to think about]
If you say so, then I shall not argue with you. For now, I wish to know how you have been doing here. When did you arrive?
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 08:46 pm (UTC)Little more than a few evenings ago. [When he says it, he almost feels guilty. He had no way of knowing that Elder Faerie was here, yet his heart aches over not seeking him out sooner all the same.] I have spent most of that time trying to understand the lay of this land, and the threats that it harbors.
[His gaze flicks off to the side, to where a once dormant pull tugs at his senses. For but a few hours, he had believed Shadow Milk to be the largest threat in this place. Now he knows differently.]
And you...?
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 08:51 pm (UTC)[he sets his cup against the saucer in his lap, tilting his head towards Silent Salt]
Certainly not as long as others. It does not feel real yet. I have been staying here, at this very inn.
[it's been lonely, but he does not want to overstep his boundaries in White Lily's home]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 09:07 pm (UTC)It seems a comfortable enough accommodation. [But then, anything would be compared to the catacombs, now wouldn't it?] Is it always so... lively?
[Some distant part of Silent Salt hopes it is the case. He misses the bustle of his knights, of his beloved charges.]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 09:15 pm (UTC)[he chuckles at Silent Salt's curiosity. if he could, he would have parties and feasts here every night! for the both of them, as well as for the others]
Many times, when I return here, it is quiet at night. However, I suspect the inn, itself, is haunted.
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 09:25 pm (UTC)[Schooled as his response might be to the odd passerby, Elder Faerie might note a hint of disappointment there all the same. Indeed, his tell is the way his head tips downward, the way the plume of his helm almost seems to diminish faintly.
It lasts only seconds. Curiosity takes him shortly after, and his head lifts once more. A subtle glance is cast around, as if searching for the very spirits Elder Faerie refers to. He has his own experience with hauntings, something that they both surely know.]
And why is it that you suspect this?
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 09:33 pm (UTC)Hm.
[another sip of his tea as Elder Faerie considers how to answer]
I hear heavy footfalls in the halls here. As though someone is running. Yet, when I open my door to observe, no one is there. There are also doors that remain locked, no matter who tries to open them. I do not fear these things, but I remain vigilant, nonetheless.
[he gets very little rest here. but that is not all because of the location. he is in unfamiliar territory, and he never feels safe]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 09:43 pm (UTC)For now, there are more pressing matters at hand. He considers Elder Faerie's words, mouth pressing into a firm line. The air does not feel immediately threatening, and the situation that is described to him sounds more inconvenient than anything. Nevertheless, it is a disturbance, and he cannot imagine it has sat well with his companion.]
Allow me to stand watch this evening, then. If anything occurs, I will be on hand to witness it. And I should hope it allows you the ease of better rest.
[Even if Elder Faerie does not mention the lack of pleasant slumber, it is easy enough to deduce. And Silent Salt cannot help but fret over his friend. Alive though he may be, his countenance remains of great concern to the beast.]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 09:51 pm (UTC)but hoo boy, he just had not expected that response. it surprised him!]
Y-you want to... stay here?
[with him? guarding him? potentially keeping threats at bay? no, it's silly! there are no threats, certainly not composed of the haunted footsteps. no, the only threat here is...
never mind]
.............I would not say no...
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 09:58 pm (UTC)Admittedly, he does not understand why the thought seems to fluster Elder Faerie so. He has his own retinue back home, after all. A cookie so beloved by his people would surely have many falling over themselves to ensure their leader was kept safe. And the Salt of Solidarity had been no different in that time, loyal to his own people.
It is simply the logical solution to the problem at hand.]
Good. Then after the festivities have died down, I shall accompany you to your room and hold vigil within the halls.
[Which is... probably not at all what was expected. Oops!]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 10:04 pm (UTC)Yes. Though, if you get tired, you are free to rest, you know. I do not believe any harm will come to me tonight.
[still, the idea of Silent Salt being near is... enough to make him happy. he feels like he might sleep more soundly, feel safer. it's comforting!]
no subject
Date: 2025-11-16 10:23 pm (UTC)[Silent Salt has no reason to believe otherwise. Aside from a few stray animals wandering through the village, there has been little to speak of as far as disturbances go. Though he had no doubt there was a significant threat posed by the menace within the Woods, it was clear that it was not keen on acting on the urge at this time. Even Shadow Milk had proven himself to be docile, better served as an ally for the time being.
But even still, he cannot help but be concerned. Despite the environment being different, Silent Salt knows what it is like to lose what is most precious to him. Duty has had him spread across many different places over the last few days. It only stands to reason that he settle here for the time being.]
You know me, Elder Faerie Cookie. It is not in my nature to abandon my duties part way through. [If he is determined to be on guard for Elder Faerie, then he will see the duty through to completion. It is, after all, the least he can do to redeem himself in the eyes of one so beloved to him.]
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Date: 2025-11-16 11:21 pm (UTC)[even though the Salt of Solidarity is gone, there remains pieces of what once were in Silent Salt. that is why... Elder Faerie is hoping that they can rekindle their relationship, become close once again]
At the very least, I shall keep my door open for you. And, if we just so happen to strike up a conversation while you are on guard duty, then so be it.
[he beams]
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Date: 2025-11-16 11:31 pm (UTC)They both know the cookie he once was has all but been erased, washed away by the crumbs and jam of those who became his enemies. Whatever paragon he had once tried to be — whatever being that had somehow managed to be worth something in the eyes of a great and kind cookie such as Elder Faerie — had crumbled centuries ago. That Elder Faerie attempts to be amicable is one thing, it speaks to his very heart and spirit. But to try and open the door for what they once were...
It fills him with hope, a sensation not at all unlike what White Lily Cookie had managed to draw out of him. And he... he is so undeserving of such things, that having it reflected on him twice over almost makes him want to roar with fury. Surely they both deserved more.
But he does not protest. He does not defy their will, because he knows what the cost will be. He has already disappointed Elder Faerie once. Doing it again would be a travesty. While the fingers of one hand may curl into fists, and while the tea within the other might come close to sloshing, he minds his words.]
If that is what you wish, I will not turn you away. Though I - I do hope you will consider resting. That is the point of my watch, old friend. To ensure you have enough peace of mind to slumber peacefully.
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Date: 2025-11-16 11:40 pm (UTC)Of course. I thank you for your concern. It shall be nice to know peace, if only for a short while.
[thanks to you, he thinks. he looks into his empty mug sadly. he should eat, and then practice his sign language before bed. ah, yes, he wants to tell Silent Salt about that, but he feels White Lily Cookie should tell him first]
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