ryslig >> IC inbox

[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.

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[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.]

[clottedcream]

[Oh. Sparkling would... do that? Just let him take over his entire bathtub like that? Clotted Cream pauses, fingers flexing against the Vampire's as he regards his boyfriend with a gently surprised expression.]

I... Yes, I would like that very much.

[Being able to sleep in water while still maintaining proximity to medical attention - and to Sparkling - sounds like a dream at this point, honestly. It's only been around a day or so, at least as far as he's aware, and sleeping in Pure Vanilla's apartment feels odd. Not in a bad way, and certainly no disrespect to his friend, who had not only taken the time to mend his wound but also sacrificed a part of his own living space, but just... odd, in the way that he's become so used to the gentle ebb and flow of the ocean's waves rocking him to sleep each night. There isn't any of that here.]

We may want to wait to get Pure Vanilla's approval, of course, but so long as he is alright with the idea, I would gladly allow him his personal space back. In case he would like to entertain visitors, or something of the like.

[That last comment has a bit of a teasing lilt, soft and knowing and deeply fond. He and Sparkling have talked about it before, but after meeting Vash in person? He's a bit soft on the idea of Pure Vanilla pursuing happiness for himself.]

[charmpagne]

[Sparkling nods, seeming to have no problems with this kind of setup at all. It might not be the exact same as the ocean, lacking in natural motion, but it's better than nothing. And it's as Clotted Cream already surmised: he'll not only be in the water, but he'll be close by so Sparkling can make sure he's recovering well and has everything he needs. Plus, Pure Vanilla will just be down the hallway if they need his help in particular.]

We'll talk to him about it when he wakes, then.

[And yes, he knows exactly what Clotted Cream means. The thought leaves him excessively fond, because such a thing is deserved. Pure Vanilla he daresay deserves it more than most, actually.]

The only issue I can foresee is with getting your bandages wet, but I'm sure we can work around that somehow.