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[clottedcream]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, CremeConsul. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 536.05.022.03 *** CremeConsul has joined 536.05.022.03 <CremeConsul> Greetings! You have reached Clotted Cream Cookie. I'm afraid that I am away at the moment, but if you are in need of private counsel, please leave a message for me and I will respond as quickly as I am able.

Comments

[charmpagne]

Oh, CC...you have nothing to apologize for, okay? It was...

[He swallows, his mouth working for a moment as he tries to find the words. He doesn't want to say it was an accident, because it wasn't. It was...]

...it wasn't your fault.

[That's said with a conviction it perhaps doesn't deserve, given the fact Sparkling wasn't actually there when it happened. All the while he's leaning as close as he dares without potentially hurting him or putting undue strain on his injuries, his throat flexing as he swallows again.]

It can wait...forever, if it has to. I'm just...so glad you're alright.

[Sparkling breathes out those words, his gaze fixed not on Clotted Cream's face, but on the careful bandaging around his shoulder and chest.]

I was afraid I was going to lose you.

[clottedcream]

[Clotted Cream isn't sure of Sparkling's dating history, but he's aware that something had happened, even if just vaguely. No details, but hints here and there. If he had loved and lost...

God, what horrible timing.]

... I'm here. I'm not going anywhere.

[Clotted Cream's thumb continues to stroke Sparkling's cheek. He knows that if a monster dies here, they come back. Death isn't permanent. But that doesn't mean anything to the person that's experienced trauma related to it. Even if it wasn't his fault, he hates that he's done this to Sparkling. Hates the woman that did this to him, even though he doesn't want to hate anyone. They're humans, they're just trying to survive...]

The group was attacking Pure Vanilla. [His voice is soft, distant, as he glances over to the sleeping Minotaur.] I sang, to try to make them go away... and it worked, for all but one. I don't know how she wasn't affected - strong willpower, maybe. But when she came at me, I...

[He pauses, closing his eyes, his thumb stilling.]

I couldn't move in time. And even if I could, Pure Vanilla may have been in the path. There was nothing I could do to stop it.

[charmpagne]

[Sparkling listens, giving Clotted Cream his full attention as he explains what exactly happened to him yesterday. Given his initial gasped words, he could extrapolate most of it...but hearing it in full puts the rest of the pieces into place. Knowing that he'd gotten injured protecting Pure Vanilla only hurts his heart more.

He could have lost either of them...or both. Just like that.

Yet...he can't begrudge Clotted Cream for his choice, knowing he would have done the exact same thing if their positions had been reversed.]

...you made the right decision. Albeit a reckless one.

[His hand squeezes Clotted Cream's gently.]

It would be unfair of me to expect you to have done any differently.

[clottedcream]

... I don't know that I could have done any differently.

[It comes with a weak laugh, Clotted Cream's eyes focused on his lap. In the small gaps between sleep, he's thought about it a lot. What he could have done differently, whether he had time to move or not, if Pure Vanilla had even been in the line of fire like he believes he was. In the moment, things were either a blur or so, so vivid, but nothing can change what came to pass.]

Out of water, I'm not a fast monster. I have venom in my claws, but that requires getting close enough to do damage. I wasn't expecting her to leap at us the way she did... it left me with no time to react otherwise.

[His thumb rubs the side of Sparkling's hand.]

But I survived, and Pure Vanilla came out unscathed. That is what's most important. Even so, I... These people are only trying to survive, as well. I can understand that. I want to help them, but they're too hurt to realize that it's genuine. I can't hate them for what they do, knowing that, but the anger that I felt at that woman for attacking us... It's terrifying.

[charmpagne]

[Oh, Clotted Cream...]

It's...very complicated. I've gone from fearing humans when I first woke up here, to having a camraderie with them, to fearing them all over again. Yet at our core, none of us are really all that different. We have no more right to live than they do.

[He finally tears his gaze away from Clotted Cream's wounds, looking up into his eyes. Like this, with Sparkling on his knees, they're at eye level.]

Please don't feel bad for being angry. You have every right to, for the way she attacked you both. Even if it came from a place of hurt and confusion, it doesn't change the fact she chose to combat violence with violence.

[Yet...he says this, knowing full well that if he saw this woman on the street, knowing she was the person who aggressed his family?

He can't promise he would treat her kindly, or with mercy. And that...that may very welll be the feeling Clotted Cream fears. He knows it all too well.]

[clottedcream]

[It's exactly what Clotted Cream fears. There's a part of him, deep down, that wishes this woman dead, wants to feel the life leaving her body as he holds her under the water. It's a cruelty that he knows he's capable of - it reared its ugly head in the backrooms, with the woman he'd killed. It's rearing its head now, just at the thought of seeing this woman again.

But he can't act on it. He mustn't act on it. Sparkling got it in one: humans deserve to live just as much as they do.

Clotted Cream opens his eyes, looking into the mismatched red and pink of the Vampire's, and lets out a shaky breath.]

She deserves to live. I don't want to kill her. But if she comes after us - any of us - again, I will not hesitate.

[The look in his eyes is firm, resolved. This is not a kind environment that they're in right now. Kindness won't always be returned. He has to try, still, but when it doesn't work...

But then he shakes his head, pulling his hand away from Sparkling's head to press against his face.]

No. I'm-- sorry. You came here to gift me with flowers, not hear... all of this.

[charmpagne]

No...no, shhh. It's alright.

[He doesn't stop Clotted Cream from taking his hand away, instead just continuing to hold his other, letting his thumb brush along the back of his knuckles. Every so often, he feels his finger catch on one of those membranes, so he has to be careful not to let his claws get too close.]

I always want to talk to you, whether it's good or bad. Thank you for telling me this.

[Sparkling wouldn't have forced it out of Clotted Cream, if he hadn't wanted to tell him...but that wouldn't have stopped him from wanting to know what happened, even still.]

But if you'd rather talk about something else, that's fine too. There's, ah...there is actually...something else, I wanted to give you. I was going to wait for our dinner, but in light of everything...I think I would rather you have it sooner rather than later.

[clottedcream]

Admittedly, it was a bit like a kettle boiling over...

[It's a sheepish admission, but one that's not really needed, he knows. Sparkling is just fine with hearing what happened, and Clotted Cream is processing. He will feel better in due time.

The mention of something else makes his expression change from pensive melancholy to curious surprise. The Mer's eyebrows lift, and he briefly glances back to the flowers. Another gift? Flowers would have been plenty, but he finds his stomach doing flip-flops regardless.]

Something else...?

[You have his complete attention, Sparkling.]

[charmpagne]

[Sparkling nods a little, and...well. Now it's his turn to suddenly look sheepish, like maybe he's said something he shouldn't. This really is probably the least romantic time for something like this, but with how badly yesterday spooked him...he keeps getting caught up by this sense of foreboding, like he needs to give this to him right now or else he may never get the chance to, etc etc. He hopes this doesn't continue being a theme, but for the time being...

He reaches back, carefully rummaging in the inner pocket of his work vest for a moment.]

It's, well...

[...should he say it was from Pure Vanilla? Would that ruin the purpose of the gift? He's honestly not sure, but...he can't back out now. He already has his fingers closed around it, along with Clotted Cream's curiosity.

So, he carefully pulls it free and presses a pendant softly into the palm of Clotted Cream's hand, trying to will the blood to stop roaring so loudly between his ears, suddenly.

God, it's like he was just baked yesterday.]

This is for you.

[clottedcream]

[When Sparkling had mentioned something else, Clotted Cream had anticipated something small. He wasn't sure what, exactly, but something that could have been picked up just as easily as the flowers, something inexpensive.

Well. Size-wise, he'd been correct. But it's anything but small in all other meanings of the word.]

I... Sparkling...

[It's a soft whisper, surprised, a bit choked with emotion. There the pendant sits, glimmering in his hand on the low light, clearly not just an inexpensive trinket. No, this is worthy of being in his collection, this isn't just some throwaway costume jewelry. It's small, but it's big.]

It's... it's beautiful. Thank you. I...

[For once, the consul is at a loss for words.]

[charmpagne]

[Sparkling knows how much things like this mean to Merfolk. It isn't just a gift from a partner, it's something far greater than that. And when Clotted Cream picks it up and looks at the pendant like it's the most beautiful thing he's ever seen, Sparkling realizes that the timing never would have mattered, in the end. Now is the best time, simply because he gave it to him.

He'll have to thank Pure Vanilla for this, later.

Sparkling leans a bit closer, watching the way the light reflects off the various gems and jewels encrusted across the design. Clotted Cream's silence says more than he knows, truly.]

I figured you needed something to add to your collection, now that I've taken a part of it. Though...I think it would look just as beautiful on you, as well. It's yours to choose what you do with it.

[clottedcream]

[There's a soft laugh at that, watery and a little broken. Clotted Cream has been through so much in the past day, and now, it's his turn for the dam to spill over. Tears collect in the corners of his eyes, spilling down over his cheeks as they grow too heavy to stay, and he sucks in a quick breath.

This gift from Sparkling is so much more than just a gift. He can't possibly keep it hidden beneath the sea, where no one else can see it.]

N-no, it's. Help me put it on? Please?

[He'd put it on himself, but that involves lifting both arms up and back, and he knows that's a no-go with his wound as it is. But he wants to wear this. He wants to proudly display this, so that everyone knows.

After all, Sparkling had worn his pendant for so long.]

[charmpagne]

[Oh. Sparkling's ears lay back just a little when he realizes that he's made Clotted Cream cry. Or, more specifically, he's the straw that broke the camel's back here, as it were. He knows that these tears are happy tears, yet all the same he feels compelled to close the gap between them so he can kiss a few of them away before using his hand to wipe the rest of what he can't quite reach.]

It would be my pleasure.

[He's so, so thankful to have hands again. It means that he's able to retrieve the pendant with east, carefully turning it around and gauging a good place to pin it on Clotted Cream's lapel, about where he expects a medal of honor or something might be placed if he had one. Something regal and important...

Once it's in place, he leans back to admire his work. The pendant glitters brilliantly on his chest, and it makes Sparkling's own swell with pride.]

There. It looks absolutely wonderful on you.

[clottedcream]

[It's been a long day. A long several days. Aside from the elation of the night of the party, the days before it had been filled with preparation and running errands, and the days after it have been... well. As they've been. You can imagine the kind of stress he is under. Honestly, the dam breaking has been a long time coming, even well before this week. Events piled on top of events, piled on top of more events...

Clotted Cream sits still as Sparkling leans forward to clear his tears with lips and fingers, and for just a moment, he leans his weight into those touches. Just slightly, not enough to prohibit movement. He's still again as Sparkling situates the pendant, somehow finding the exact right placement on the shirt that he's only half-wearing, on his shoulders but unbuttoned. It's... perfect.]

... thank you.

[He lifts his good hand, gently touching it, running his fingertips over the inlaid gemstones. It really is beautiful. Where did he get this...?

Not that it matters. Clotted Cream turns his head to look back up at the Vampire, a warm smile on his lips.]

You certainly did return the gesture, didn't you?

[charmpagne]

I told you I would, didn't I?

[His voice is as soft as it is fond as he says that, looking on at his boyfriend with nothing but adoration...admiration. Clotted Cream truly is as handsome as he is charming, even when he's still laid up injured as he is currently. That's enough to bring some of that levity back, even if Sparkling's heart still feels heavy, knowing that he'd been hurt so badly.]

Now we both have something from each other to treasure.

[clottedcream]

You did.

[He just hadn't expected it so soon, honestly. It's only been a couple of days. That's part of the charm, the overwhelm - that Sparkling is so happy, so invested in this that he'd act so quickly... It makes Clotted Cream's heart soar. This is everything he dreamed it could be. Everything he'd hoped it would be.

He extends both of his hands, reaching for Sparkling's, to tug him up and in for a soft and gentle kiss.]

I will think of you every time I look down at my heart.

lets out a dying sound at this tag

[charmpagne]

[Well, when you think your boyfriend is DYING, sometimes you act impulsively. Sometimes you speedrun shit that you planned on saving for a more special occasion. Sometimes you are traumatized and you never know when the next day is going to be your last, haha October 14th approaches-

Yet, even still. The way Clotted Cream reaches for him and pulls him in for a kiss shows Sparkling that he's made the right decision. In this place, you can't worry about things being too fast or too slow, not unless the both of you have come to an agreement on one or the other beforehand. Sparkling made sure to ask Clotted Cream about this initially for this very reason. He didn't want to overwhelm him, or scare him away...

They kiss, and he smiles through it, letting their foreheads rest together afterwards.]

And I will do my best to be worthy of such an honor. Being a good boyfriend means more than just giving good kisses, after all. Which reminds me...you wanted me to bring you something, before?

OUGH CRITICAL HIT

[clottedcream]

[God, but it feels nice. The closeness, both physical and emotional, hits such a sweet spot in Clotted Cream's heart, one that he never realized he'd been missing until just now. In most part due to his father's agenda for him, he's just... never really become all that close with anyone else. The Consul is well-known for his silver tongue and his political prowess, but no one truly knows who he is beneath that mask. Sometimes, he even fools himself.

But right now, with Sparkling's forehead against his own? He couldn't fool himself for the world.]

You would be just fine even if all you did was spend time with me. But I will look forward to all of the opportunities to melt to your charms regardless.

[Oh, right. He had asked for something before. What was-- ah. Yes.]

Water, please. If you don't mind.

minecraft "oof" sound

[charmpagne]

[Ugh. Clotted Cream really is so...like.

How did Sparkling fool himself for so long into thinking he wasn't smitten with this man? Because he truly is. He can't even look at him without smiling so hard his face hurts, and that's saying something.

For now though, he'll carefully let his hands go and draw away so he can stand, taking the time once more to reach out and very gently thumb the remnants of tears from his cheeks.]

Of course. If you think you can eat anything too, let me know and I'll get it for you. The kitchen isn't far.

[clottedcream]

[... oh, that's such a fond gesture that it's hard to resist leaning into it. He's adjusting to this surprisingly quickly, he finds. Maybe it's the trauma of the situation spurring him on? Or maybe it's just that he's had a couple of months to let the thoughts sit and simmer.

Whatever it is, he's fallen, and he's fallen hard.]

Mm... I might stomach some saltines, if there are any.

[He'd ask for a plain scone, no jam, but he honestly can't remember if he has any left, and the supply of flour in the city has been rapidly dwindling anyway.]

If there aren't any, just water will be fine.

[charmpagne]

[If Sparkling could only read Clotted Cream's thoughts, he'd be rummaging a little harder to see if he could find something like that for him. Perhaps it isn't exactly practical, especially with the shortages, but they all could use a little something to buoy their spirits right about now, even if it's as simple as a scone.

He'll step away, then, to Pure Vanilla's kitchen where he's able to find some of the aforementioned crackers, grabbing them as well as a glass of water. Then, after standing in the kitchen a moment, he decides to fill up an entire pitcher and bring it along with him. All of these he'll set on the table in the center of the living room, handing both the glass and sleeve of saltines to Clotted Cream as he takes up a spot knelt by the couch again.

Could he be sitting? Of course...but it seems he'd rather be close, like this.]

I'm relieved to see that the fog is healing your wounds. I was...a bit worried, given how thin it's been recently.

[clottedcream]

[While Sparkling leaves to retrieve things, Clotted Cream lets his head lean back against the pillow, eyes slipping shut as if he's going to rest, but his fingers continue to touch the pendant at his chest. He's too awake right now to sleep, but luckily he doesn't have to fight the instinct to take this down to his collection in the cove. No, it's too important. He won't let it out of his sight, not even for the relative safety of the cove.

His ears can pick up the faint movement sounds of things being collected in the kitchen, and Pure Vanilla's tiny sheep-sleep noises in the corner. He's so used to relative solitude. Even back at home, he'd spent his time largely alone in his office, only meeting with others if they knocked on his door with important news or if he'd been called to them. It wasn't anything quite like this, so warm and with such personality.

He likes this so much better than solitude.

Sparkling's re-entry has his eyes opening, and Clotted Cream gladly takes both the water and the crackers. The glass of water comes first, lifting it to his lips to take a big pull from it. He hasn't been in the water in a couple of days, and he's really starting to feel it.]

Oh, thank you. That's so much better already.

[If Sparkling wants to sit close, he won't stop him. He hands the glass back, smiling softly.]

I'm still quite sore, but I can tell a notable difference already. Hopefully in another day or so I'll be feeling well enough to get up and walk around. I doubt I'll be allowed to go swimming yet, but it's something to look forward to if nothing else.

[charmpagne]

[It's evident that both Sparkling and Clotted Cream, while being similar types of people, have lived completely different lives. Clotted Cream's has been a live of politics and personal solitude, of official events and meetings...and Sparkling's has been far more humble, largely centered on his small business and the Kingdom, as well as the friends he's come to know there. A far more social upbringing, yet one that brings with it its own challenges. Sparkling wonders if, without Ryslig, the two of them could have ever had the chance to actually meet. It doesn't seem all that likely, thinking about it...

And what, then, would happen if they were to go back home like he wants so desperately? It's something he's thought about, wondered. At the very least, because he simply can't stomach the idea that they won't go back eventually.

Regardless, Sparkling is more than happy to provide what Clotted Cream never got to experience before. If he thinks it's something now, just wait...

Sparkling sits carefully on his haunches, his taloned feet folded underneath him as he leans against the edge of the couch, careful not to press his weight too close to Clotted Cream lest he accidentally jostle him somehow.]

So long as you remember to take it easy. If nothing else, I would be happy to accompany you down to the cove when you feel comfortable enough to try swimming again, so long as you don't try to go out into the open sea.

[DON'T GO WHERE HE CAN'T (EASILY) FOLLOW...]

[clottedcream]

[It's something that Clotted Cream has wondered about as well. The Republic is so far away from the Vanilla Kingdom, let alone the Kingdom that GingerBrave had told him about. If given the chance, of course, he would love to visit, but there had been far more urgent matters at hand before he'd arrived here. He'd been making plans to leave the Republic with Financier and a battalion of House Oyster soldiers to find the scattered Soul Jam fragments, so it's possible that his journey would have brought him to the Kingdom at some point. Would he have met Sparkling there?

The important thing, though, is that he's met Sparkling here. He wouldn't trade that for the world.

As Sparkling settles beside him on the floor, Clotted Cream opens the packet of saltines, fishing one out with his fingers as his now-free hand lays palm-up on the edge of the couch for Sparkling to take, if he so chooses.]

Don't worry, I think the cove would be a lovely starting point. I wouldn't leave you stranded on the shore.

[Eventually, someday, Sparkling can maybe come swimming with him. Or, if all else fails, Caviar's ship is still here. He's sure that the Captain wouldn't mind, and would likely prefer the ship be used rather than sit around collecting barnacles.

Not that he's allowed it to collect any, of course. He's been taking very good care of the ship. But that's beside the point.]

We could even start as small as the bathtub, though. I confess, if I am out of the water for more than a day or two these days, I start to feel a bit jittery...

[charmpagne]

[There are things that Sparkling has to thank Ryslig for, despite the seemingly unending amounts of trauma it's put him through. He's made lifelong friends as well as people he considers family now, and even when he thinks about going back home someday...he struggles imagining a life without them. It's one of the few things that truly give him pause.]

Whatever you need, CC. Whatever is most comfortable and convenient for you, that is what we'll do. I don't tend to shower every single day, so you're also welcome to sleep in my bathtub for a bit, if it suits you.

[And yes, Sparkling WILL take that hand and hold it, thank you. He only wishes he could more easily lace his fingers, since that's something he's become slightly obsessed with now that he can have his hands back on demand. Fortunately they can fudge it just a little bit, even with Clotted Cream's webbing getting in the way. The feeling of their hands gently tangled feels nice no matter the configuration, anyway.]