[ That is a full body flinch upon hearing his name. Not great is right. He doesn't turn to her right away, he's still a bit distant, but he's stopped moving, as though caught doing something he shouldn't.
On some level he knew this was bad, but he couldn't really process why that was.
He was just making it more like what it represented.
It takes pavlova a moment to turn around and... he's soaked. He may have been initially standing in the river, but he didn't last long before his legs gave out, and he can't swim. For better or worse he lost the butterfly wings that way.
( not with how upset he looks. after a moment, she'll gingerly walk over and crouch beside him, gently squeezing his shoulder- "i'm here, you're here, this is real"- before folding her hands together again. )
I found this. When I was looking around town. It had... cut feathers. And... A-and butterfly wings. And it smelled like--
[ He swallows, then fusses with the one if the ends of his ribbons ]
-- The Garden. And someone brushed my hair back... like mother does.
[ She's here, his mind screams. She's here. She's watching him, she's here. His breathing picks up again, and the poor boy is shaking. The cage was a threat.
Come home, or else. But he doesn't know how. ]
I l-lost the butterfly wings when I fell in the river... s-so...
( she's going to kill that bitchass has-been sun god.
ahem.
white lily cookie gently takes one of his hands in her own. )
That was likely our captor, playing with your mind. He is... adept at tormenting us. But, ah. If you're planting flowers, once this is finished, why don't we hang it out in the garden? And then we'll get you cleaned up, okay? Don't worry about the mess.
[ He doesn't flinch as badly when she takes his hand, though he seems a little reluctant to get her dirty, since of course his hands are covered in mud from gardening. ]
It... wasn't her?
[ it seems to confuse him... but he supposes vague warnings aren't really her style. Not like that anyway. Even knowing that it takes a minute for him to calm down from the surge of panic at thinking his mother was here.
He looks back to the cage and winces ]
... I guess that... makes sense. The Garden is all I knew so its all he could use.
It wasn't. And if it was, your father and I will not let anything happen to you- this world will be cruel, but I promise you, we'll both do our best for you.
( she squeezes his hand in her own softly. )
Now... can you tell me what you'd like to do with this cage? It looks like you're planting something, so we could hang it in the garden, if you'd like.
[ He has to think about it. He'd been in such a state of panic he wasn't thinking about what he'd do once it was finished or how the whole thing would look. It had made sense in his head at the time, but... ]
Yeah...
[ He doesn't want it in his room but he doesn't want to let go either. Is it wrong of him to cling so tightly to what's hurt him?
His dad won't like this ]
I want to see the butterflies...
[ Sugarfly Cookie... she's been on his mind a lot lately.]
[ The suggestion makes him tense. He looks at her, and then looks at the cage. The bars are wide enough any butterflies would be able to get in and out if they're careful, but if a bird got in there through the opening they might be a little stuck.
... he doesn't like this question. He fidgets again, averting his gaze. ]
... Sure.
[ It's a lie, he doesn't want to. But if it keeps the peace, then... ]
( the tension isn't lost on her, which is why she moves to be clearer in his view, speaking gently all the while: )
Pavlova Cookie, look at me. It's okay if you don't want to. You're allowed to tell me "no" about anything. That goes for all the adults here, too. You don't have to go with what anyone says, here.
[ oh that is the Mom Voice. He remembers that voice. He winces a little before looking up at her. His mother hasn't used that voice on him for a while. It's weird for an adult to tell him he can say no. He always got in trouble for that before. ]
... I don't... want a bird to get stuck trying to get the feathers and stuff for nesting materials...
[ His tone is somewhere between hesitant and petulant. It's probably not a big deal. It would probably be fine... but the thought bothers him. At least with the door closed nothing can get in either. ]
( she isn't used to having a large garden she can decorate, and it probably shows. and with vash no longer... being able to help, she has to get into that.
they aren't close enough for much physical affection, but she still stays with him. )
... Pavlova Cookie? While we're in this world, so long as you and your father are in this house, you both have a say in things. Alright? So... you can tell me what you do or don't like. I promise to try and accommodate.
I don't know much about houses... but I know a lot about gardens.
[ Obviously. He's only known gardens. He wouldn't know where to start suggesting anything for the house. That and his fear of incurring her wrath is why he's been on eggshells about house rules up to now.
... He hasn't let go of her hand. He's not sure how he'd feel about a hug but this... was okay for now. ]
I've never had a room before though, I like my room.
[ this is the one thing he is sure about with houses. He likes having his own space. ]
I know about plants, and how to cultivate and care for them, but not gardens. Isn't that silly? ... Pure Vanilla Cookie started the garden for the house, and I made the sun room here. But I think... they're different. So I'll take any advice you can offer.
And... ( she falters a bit before gently mussing his hair, is it too much? aaa. ) ... No matter what, your room is yours. We'll always have a spot for you here.
It's different 'cause with a garden you have to worry about what goes where and how the plants will get along with each other.
[ ... He means if one will choke out the others. That is just a very cute way of putting it. ]
I helped Master design parts of her garden, and I helped with some stuff outside too to make it look better for cookies traveling close by. Makes it easier to find.
[ ... He doesn't remember it now- that was done after the cliff incident.
--Ah he isn't expecting the hair ruffle, but she'll notice that the airy and light meringue that had been his hair translated over into soft, fine strands.
He allows it, though he seems to pout about it. He sighs after, looking over to the cage. ]
You really are a lot like her...
[ Clearly not Eternal Sugar. He looks somewhere between frustrated and lonely. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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On some level he knew this was bad, but he couldn't really process why that was.
He was just making it more like what it represented.
It takes pavlova a moment to turn around and... he's soaked. He may have been initially standing in the river, but he didn't last long before his legs gave out, and he can't swim. For better or worse he lost the butterfly wings that way.
He tells himself he's better off without them. ]
Miss White Lily Cookie..?
[ ... his voice is soft and cracked. ]
Oh, sorry for the mess... I'll clean it up.
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( not with how upset he looks. after a moment, she'll gingerly walk over and crouch beside him, gently squeezing his shoulder- "i'm here, you're here, this is real"- before folding her hands together again. )
... May I ask what you're doing?
cw dissociation/panic attack?
[ He seems to struggle describing it. ]
I found this. When I was looking around town. It had... cut feathers. And... A-and butterfly wings. And it smelled like--
[ He swallows, then fusses with the one if the ends of his ribbons ]
-- The Garden. And someone brushed my hair back... like mother does.
[ She's here, his mind screams. She's here. She's watching him, she's here. His breathing picks up again, and the poor boy is shaking. The cage was a threat.
Come home, or else. But he doesn't know how. ]
I l-lost the butterfly wings when I fell in the river... s-so...
[ he points to the nest with the cut feathers ]
That's me,
[ and the honeysuckle ]
... and those are for Sugarfly Cookie.
BABEY....
ahem.
white lily cookie gently takes one of his hands in her own. )
That was likely our captor, playing with your mind. He is... adept at tormenting us. But, ah. If you're planting flowers, once this is finished, why don't we hang it out in the garden? And then we'll get you cleaned up, okay? Don't worry about the mess.
no subject
It... wasn't her?
[ it seems to confuse him... but he supposes vague warnings aren't really her style. Not like that anyway. Even knowing that it takes a minute for him to calm down from the surge of panic at thinking his mother was here.
He looks back to the cage and winces ]
... I guess that... makes sense. The Garden is all I knew so its all he could use.
no subject
( she squeezes his hand in her own softly. )
Now... can you tell me what you'd like to do with this cage? It looks like you're planting something, so we could hang it in the garden, if you'd like.
no subject
Yeah...
[ He doesn't want it in his room but he doesn't want to let go either. Is it wrong of him to cling so tightly to what's hurt him?
His dad won't like this ]
I want to see the butterflies...
[ Sugarfly Cookie... she's been on his mind a lot lately.]
If there's room. The garden would be good...
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( she pauses and then glances to the cage again. )
How about we remove the door entirely? That way, whatever comes and goes is free to do so.
( ... but that's not the only reason, is it, lily? )
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... he doesn't like this question. He fidgets again, averting his gaze. ]
... Sure.
[ It's a lie, he doesn't want to. But if it keeps the peace, then... ]
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Pavlova Cookie, look at me. It's okay if you don't want to. You're allowed to tell me "no" about anything. That goes for all the adults here, too. You don't have to go with what anyone says, here.
Okay?
no subject
... I don't... want a bird to get stuck trying to get the feathers and stuff for nesting materials...
[ His tone is somewhere between hesitant and petulant. It's probably not a big deal. It would probably be fine... but the thought bothers him. At least with the door closed nothing can get in either. ]
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( she isn't used to having a large garden she can decorate, and it probably shows. and with vash no longer... being able to help, she has to get into that.
they aren't close enough for much physical affection, but she still stays with him. )
... Pavlova Cookie? While we're in this world, so long as you and your father are in this house, you both have a say in things. Alright? So... you can tell me what you do or don't like. I promise to try and accommodate.
no subject
[ Obviously. He's only known gardens. He wouldn't know where to start suggesting anything for the house. That and his fear of incurring her wrath is why he's been on eggshells about house rules up to now.
... He hasn't let go of her hand. He's not sure how he'd feel about a hug but this... was okay for now. ]
I've never had a room before though, I like my room.
[ this is the one thing he is sure about with houses. He likes having his own space. ]
no subject
And... ( she falters a bit before gently mussing his hair, is it too much? aaa. ) ... No matter what, your room is yours. We'll always have a spot for you here.
no subject
[ ... He means if one will choke out the others. That is just a very cute way of putting it. ]
I helped Master design parts of her garden, and I helped with some stuff outside too to make it look better for cookies traveling close by. Makes it easier to find.
[ ... He doesn't remember it now- that was done after the cliff incident.
--Ah he isn't expecting the hair ruffle, but she'll notice that the airy and light meringue that had been his hair translated over into soft, fine strands.
He allows it, though he seems to pout about it. He sighs after, looking over to the cage. ]
You really are a lot like her...
[ Clearly not Eternal Sugar. He looks somewhere between frustrated and lonely. ]