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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.

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Sometime during the AU event, midmonth Septemberish

[charmpagne]

[It's been just long enough that Sparkling has taken note that things are a bit...strange on the peninsula right now, as it were. Not that that's an unusual occurance- that happens often here- but he simply can't understand how he's been affected personally. Yet, people keep reacting to him oddly, as if what he's saying to them is strange...the same thing happened with Pure Vanilla, who swore that he's meant to be a Vampire.

A Vampire! He can't imagine it.

For by Sparkling's memories, he's been a Merman for almost two years now. The little cove connected to the sea in the basement of the Grapevine simply makes sense. Of course it would exist. Why wouldn't it, when two Mers live in the vicinity? Two Mers that are really only safest from this constant rainstorm while in the water. Trying to do basically anything outside right now is basically impossible, after all...and since the bar wouldn't be opening up for another couple hours, Sparkling decides to take to the depths where he's the most comfortable.

He's already at the water's edge as it laps a bit more roughly than usual against the rocky alcove where the opening of the cave meets the sea, peering out into the turbulent waves. He's also already in the midst of transforming given how the water is washing up over his feet, prompting him to quickly get on his knees and dunk his head under the water before he can't stand up any longer. He peers through the surf, searching for any familiar flashes of gold and green.]

CC? [Yes he says it like Cee-cee.] Are you down there?

[clottedcream]

[Strange things have been happening, indeed! While he can't tell that he's been affected himself, Clotted Cream has certainly noticed a change in his fellow cookies. Pure Vanilla's changes have been subtle, but noticeable, like something just slightly wrong that he can't place. Sparkling, on the other hand, has changed monster types entirely.

He isn't the only Mer in the Grapevine anymore, and something about that just has him feeling elated. Even if Sparkling claims to have been this way the whole time, it's easy to ignore that and chalk it up to this month's occurrences. There's a social itch that he hadn't realized he'd been feeling, and having another Mer in the house just feels... right, somehow.

Being beneath the waves is the most comforting place for him with the weather as it is, and so he's taken to just... staying there, most of the day. And that's exactly where he is now, in the bottom of the alcove, shuffling through a pile of things that glitter and gleam in the light that filters through the water. At the sound of his name being called - and the nickname, which makes his heart soar, knowing he is close enough to have earned a nickname - he looks up, and spotting Sparkling up near the surface, he quickly clasps something in his hand and ascends, smiling brightly.]

Sparkling! Are you not getting prepared for the evening?

[charmpagne]

Oh, I probably should be! [Sparkling] But I wanted to come down here instead! The bar runs like a well-oiled machine at this point, so there's not that much prep that needs doing. It's fine!

[Back when he first opened, a lot of the initial opening stuff he had to do himself...but now he has employees that help him out with that, so it's a lot easier for him to actually live his life instead of devoting 150% of it to his work.

Which is why Clotted Cream will see the very, VERY long koi fish Mer suddenly slip headfirst into the water, his body snaking into the salty brine after him so he can meet Clotted Cream in the middle.

Pretty much immediately, he bumps their foreheads gently together, nuzzling his temple against the other's.]

What are you up to down here? Organizing your collection?

[clottedcream]

[It's true that Sparkling seems to have an abundance of hands ready to help him out with the Grapevine. Definitely not a bad thing. The two of them are alike in that regard, all too eager to bury themselves in their work and let the world flow by. This change, in that regard, is good for Sparkling, he thinks.

Being graced by Sparkling's full presence - and what a full presence it is, that water form is long - is an honor that makes his heart skip a beat. Much less the, ah. Much more affectionate gesture. His cheeks flush a light, dusty pink, and he laughs softly.]

Something like that. I was looking for something.

[Oh, he hasn't really prepared himself for it, but... well. He's already holding it. It's hard to hide the fact that he has something in his hand. No time like the present.

Clotted Cream pulls his hand from behind his waist, cupping both of them together as he opens his fingers and reveals a small pendant, gold in a circular wave-like design, inlaid with small diamonds and a pearl in the very center.]

I... wanted you to have this. For your collection.

[or to wear if he wants to it's no big deal really]

[charmpagne]

[Sparkling, meanwhile, is constantly moving even as he makes it to Clotted Cream. He swims in a circle around him, the rest of the length of his body trailing after him in a wide arc that sort of loops around both of them, all the way until he's made a complete circut and is facing him again, with one hand propped up beneath his chin.]

Oh? And what might this "something" be?

[He's curious, if the way he tilts his head is any indication, drawn in by the promise of something sparkly like any of their ilk would be. It isn't until Clotted Cream actually pulls it out from behind his waist that Sparkling gets a proper look, and given how close the other Mer is, he can probably see the light glint off of it, reflecting in Sparkling's eyes.]

Oh...oh this is beautiful...

[He reaches out tentatively, as if he's not sure if it's really okay for him to touch, before he moves to carefully take it from his hands.]

Are you sure you want me to have this? It looks rather priceless.

[clottedcream]

[Oh, he's taking it. He's taking it and he looks happy. Clotted Cream straightens up a little, beaming - shyly, somehow, but still beaming- as his gift is accepted and appreciated right in front of him.]

To humans, I'm sure that it may be. To me, however, your smile is payment enough.

[Was that. Too corny. It might have been too much oh divines what is he doing]

Th-that is to say, it would be an honor for you to have a piece of my collection in yours. If you'll have it.

[charmpagne]

[Perhaps! But for Sparkling, it was just the right thing to say to make him smile. He's positively beaming from ear to ear, and without missing a single beat, he ducks his head forward so he can slip the necklace on over his head, letting it float freely about his neck.]

Of course I will! It's perfect, thank you.

Of course, you know this means I'm going to have to get you something? Though I...seem to have misplaced my own little treasure horde recently. I could have sworn I had one down here...

[The true answer is it never existed-]

[clottedcream]

[That is, in fact, exactly one reason why Clotted Cream may have wanted to give Sparkling something from his--]

Ah, that's... quite troubling. I don't recall where yours might have been. Only my own.

[He may be sneaking a glance at that pendant free-floating around Sparkling's neck. It looks good on him, really.]

Would you like to find it? We could have an adventure, of sorts.

[charmpagne]

Hm...

[What could have possibly made him forget, he wonders. Maybe it got disturbed during the recent storms? That's the only explanation he can think of.

Yet, when Clotted Cream suggests they go looking together, well, Sparkling can't think of a better idea.]

Oh, yes! That would be wonderful! A proper adventure, just the two of us...I don't think we've had the chance to do anything like that yet, have we? It will be as if we'd known one another back home on Earthbread...except, well. I would be healing you if that were the case, which I can't exactly do anymore.

[clottedcream]

[There is a plan slowly forming in Clotted Cream's mind. Not a valiant plan, mind. He doesn't like lying to a friend. But, at the same time... it isn't truly a terrible thing when the intent is to help said friend, who is currently very obviously affected by the monthly goings-on, to feel better about things, is it? Particularly when it will be over within less than a week. Surely the normal Sparkling will understand...]

We have not! Were this Earthbread, I would be able to defend you with magic, but I can't exactly do that, either. All the same, we can have a different sort of adventure here.

[He nods, smiling, and reaches out to take Sparkling by the hand.]

Now, where do you think you might have hidden your collection? Mine is hidden beneath a pile of rocks - do you think you might have done something similar?

[A guiding question. Hopefully Sparkling will take it.]

[charmpagne]

[Hand hold :)

Sparkling takes Clotted Cream's hand readily, his tail swaying through the water behind him as the fins alongside his face ripple as he thinks.]

Hm...that sounds like the most reasonable place. Somewhere safe, but also someplace I could probably easily misplace it if I wasn't careful...do you think it might be nearby?

[clottedcream]

[Hand hold!!]

Hmm. It very well could be. After all, settling it underwater in territory that is technically yours is the safest place for it, in my experience.

[Hence his being literally right here in the cove. What Mer would be brave enough to slip into another Mer's territory and take their stash?

He tugs Sparkling out into the water a bit more, to follow the outer wall of the cave area into the open ocean.]

Let's take a look around here... Piles of rocks, or clumps of plant life. Maybe both?

[charmpagne]

[He'll follow without complaint, the whiskers and gills along his body trembling and flaring as if trying to sense their surroundings, like that might give him a bead on where the stash could be hidig. The ocean itself seems vast and endless, yet oddly peaceful under the surface despite the way the waves still churn angrily above due to the weather. But down here, they're safe. They're able to enjoy peace, for a brief time.

Peace, and something as trivial and simple as looking for a lost treasure horde.]

Both, probably! Might as well be thorough.

[clottedcream]

[The turbulence of the surface leads to a gentle bobbing and rocking of anything below it, and to be honest, Clotted Cream has fallen asleep to it most nights this week. It's soothing, in a way. The problems of the surface mean nothing down here.

Swimming along with the bobbing motion isn't as difficult as it sounds, particularly with his multitude of tiny legs paddling along as they go.]

Alright, then. Why don't you look by these rocks here, near the cove? I'll look in these out ahead of the cove entrance.

[Because he knows where his back-up stash is hidden, and it will mean more if Sparkling finds it himself.]

[charmpagne]

[Honestly, were Sparkling to have an actual, full month of lucidity as a Merperson, he would likely miss this quite a lot. It would be missed for all of the same reasons he missed being a Harpy...only now, he's gained the power of permanent flight. This, the ability to dive deep beneath the water, is different. That sensation will stick with him, even if the memories of this will be hazy later on.]

Mm, alright! We'll meet back here in a moment if we don't find anything.

[With his fins flaring to catch the current, Sparkling lets Clotted Cream's hand go and turns back towards the rocks where he indicated, starting to carefully paw through the rocks to see if there might be anything shimmering underneath. It takes him a few moments of searching and peering through the gaps, but eventually he sees something glinting in the sand...

He doesn't immediately recognize the particular baubles there, but it doesn't matter. In his excitement, it can only be one thing.]

CC! I found it, over here!

[clottedcream]

[As Sparkling swims off to search near the cove, Clotted Cream moves out to an outcropping of rocks and plant life nearby. He knows that there's nothing of interest out here - at least not jewelry-wise - so he doesn't make too much of an effort in actually looking. Mostly, his attention is saved for his fellow Mer only a short distance away, spent in long glances as he observes his friend's progress. It shouldn't be too long before he comes across it.

It would be nice, if things could stay as they are. But he knows that this is only temporary, whatever it is. Soon enough, Sparkling will be a Vampire again, and he will return to having the cove to himself.

Sparkling's call draws him from his thoughts, and he looks up, feigning that he hadn't been keeping an eye on his friend at all.]

Oh, did you?

[Good, good. He moves away from his own outcropping, swimming to his friend to look over his shoulder.]

Oh, very good. And now, two of us know where it is, so there's no chance of you losing it again.

[charmpagne]

[Sparkling looks positively thrilled as Clotted Cream makes his way over, his tail curling around him in the water as he settles next to the treasure cache.]

I need to be better about not forgetting where these things are, honestly...but I suppose that just means less chance of it getting ransacked, right?

[He chuckles, picking up a few bits and bobs to inspect them, though he...doesn't want to admit that he can't remember acquiring some of them. Is his memory going already, at such a young age??]

Perhaps I'll move it sometime, to be closer to yours.

[clottedcream]

Oh, absolutely. If it is so well-hidden that even the Mer that hid it cannot remember where it is, I would think that it's quite safe from being plundered.

[That, and this cove is his territory. Anyone else would be a fool to try to move in on it.

As Sparkling shifts through "his" treasure hoard, Clotted Cream can't help but feel a sort of... sense of pride, knowing that this is actually his own treasure. Sparkling certainly seems to like it, and the notion makes his chest swell.]

Ah... Truly? You would move them together?

[That's almost... combining.]

[charmpagne]

I would! Only with your permission, of course. I know you might not want our things to get mixed up, but...I think they'd look nice together, don't you?

[Surely, because they're all CC's-]

[clottedcream]

[Oh.

Oh.

Both piles are his. He knows this. But Sparkling doesn't. Sparkling believes this pile to be his own. Both piles would end up combined regardless, but for Sparkling to think that it belongs to him and still not mind getting the piles mixed up...]

I.

[He's not blushing. He's fine. Get it together, Clotted Cream.]

Well. Yes. Of course. They would look quite lovely together.

[charmpagne]

[Sorry Clotted Cream, Sparkling...Does Not Get It. He does seem very happy though, his fins wiggling at his agreement.]

Then that is what we'll do! Not right now though, but soon. I'll have to come back earlier when I'm not going to work soon.

Speaking of which, we should go for a swim before I have to leave. It's much nicer down here than it is on the surface right now, after all.

[clottedcream]

[Sparkling may not get it, but Clotted Cream doesn't know that. To Clotted Cream, it sounds like... like... oh dear.

He almost misses what Sparkling says, but his focus tunes back in the moment his friend mentions swimming. Ah. Yes. Swimming!]

Oh! Yes! Of course we should. Ah. How long do you have...?

[charmpagne]

[Oops well in that case Sparkling will also unknowingly make it worse by reaching for and taking Clotted Cream's hand, tugging him insistently forward.]

About an hour or so before the sun starts setting, give or take! So, plenty of time.

[clottedcream]

[They're holding hands. Oh, god, they're holding hands. But it's fine! It's nothing to worry about, surely! What's a little hand-holding between friends?]

Plenty of time, indeed.

[Well! A swim it is, then! Sparkling has plenty of time before the bar opens, so there's nothing obstructing them at all. He moves to catch up to Sparkling's side, giving his friend's hand a firm squeeze.]

Well, then, let's get going. Shall we?

[charmpagne]

Let's!

[Catching up to a Mer as long as Sparkling is won't be hard, given how much of him there is that trails behind them as they go. Even if they got separated somehow like this, it wouldn't be hard for Clotted Cream to find him.

Also don't mind the way Sparkling's hand-hold there is very eager, the pad of his thumb brushing over Clotted Cream's knuckles.]

Let's go a bit deeper down, why don't we? As long as we don't forget to come back up before too long, it should be okay.