Black Sapphire Cookie

He opens the door awkwardly, walking into the room. "Black Sapphire?" Lookin around. One bat ear twitches, swiveling slightly.

There is a very blorple Cookie on the bed, stretching his wings carefully. The room is pretty plain, almost empty... "That would be me," the Cookie answers, "And you are...?"

He looks him over, head tilting slightly. He blinks. "Ah, sorry. I’m.. Bramble Bat." He was unsure of Sapphire would recognize the name.

Sapph looks towards him. It's clear he doesn't recognize the bat, nor the name, at all...

"..I guess he didn’t tell you about me. Makes sense." He frowns a bit. "Uhm. I was.. I’m your.? Older.. brother." Awkward. He shifts his weight between two feet.

He stares a little longer, then looks away with his ears dropping, sighing out a "Of course we had a secret brother..."

"We?" He repeats with a blink.

"We h-.... had a little sister...," he mumbles in response, wings pulling close to his body

He nods a bit. "Had…" He mumbles, to himself mostly. "Uhm, Fount-" He grimaces. "Shadow Milk, only had me for a few years.. about 5.? I don’t remember much.."

"She was... younger than me...."

He opens the door awkwardly, walking into the room. "Black Sapphire?" Lookin around. One bat ear twitches, swiveling slightly.

There is a very blorple Cookie on the bed, stretching his wings carefully. The room is pretty plain, almost empty... "That would be me," the Cookie answers, "And you are...?"

He looks him over, head tilting slightly. He blinks. "Ah, sorry. I’m.. Bramble Bat." He was unsure of Sapphire would recognize the name.

Sapph looks towards him. It's clear he doesn't recognize the bat, nor the name, at all...

"..I guess he didn’t tell you about me. Makes sense." He frowns a bit. "Uhm. I was.. I’m your.? Older.. brother." Awkward. He shifts his weight between two feet.

He stares a little longer, then looks away with his ears dropping, sighing out a "Of course we had a secret brother..."

"We?" He repeats with a blink.

"We h-.... had a little sister...," he mumbles in response, wings pulling close to his body

He opens the door awkwardly, walking into the room. "Black Sapphire?" Lookin around. One bat ear twitches, swiveling slightly.

There is a very blorple Cookie on the bed, stretching his wings carefully. The room is pretty plain, almost empty... "That would be me," the Cookie answers, "And you are...?"

He looks him over, head tilting slightly. He blinks. "Ah, sorry. I’m.. Bramble Bat." He was unsure of Sapphire would recognize the name.

Sapph looks towards him. It's clear he doesn't recognize the bat, nor the name, at all...

"..I guess he didn’t tell you about me. Makes sense." He frowns a bit. "Uhm. I was.. I’m your.? Older.. brother." Awkward. He shifts his weight between two feet.

He stares a little longer, then looks away with his ears dropping, sighing out a "Of course we had a secret brother..."

He opens the door awkwardly, walking into the room. "Black Sapphire?" Lookin around. One bat ear twitches, swiveling slightly.

There is a very blorple Cookie on the bed, stretching his wings carefully. The room is pretty plain, almost empty... "That would be me," the Cookie answers, "And you are...?"

He looks him over, head tilting slightly. He blinks. "Ah, sorry. I’m.. Bramble Bat." He was unsure of Sapphire would recognize the name.

Sapph looks towards him. It's clear he doesn't recognize the bat, nor the name, at all...

He opens the door awkwardly, walking into the room. "Black Sapphire?" Lookin around. One bat ear twitches, swiveling slightly.

There is a very blorple Cookie on the bed, stretching his wings carefully. The room is pretty plain, almost empty... "That would be me," the Cookie answers, "And you are...?"

That. Was a definite deviation from Sapph's normal nightmares, startling him bad enough to just freeze, which results in him tripping and faceplanting shortly after. Down he goes, with a very loud crunch sound!

Sapph just kind of stays there, mumbling "There's... not really a point. I can try, but....," and then finally gets up, looking a bit worse for wear with jam starting to leak down his face from an apparently broken nose

Sapph just stares at the avian. Then says "There's no point because I'm running from something that can just... appear me back where it is. What can I do against that?...... logically, I know it's a dream. He's dead. But.... dreams aren't exactly meant to follow real world logic, y'know? The fear feels... real." Another moment of staring. Then, he adds "At least until something truly unexpected happens. Like a bird I don't know showing up."

That. Was a definite deviation from Sapph's normal nightmares, startling him bad enough to just freeze, which results in him tripping and faceplanting shortly after. Down he goes, with a very loud crunch sound!

Sapph just kind of stays there, mumbling "There's... not really a point. I can try, but....," and then finally gets up, looking a bit worse for wear with jam starting to leak down his face from an apparently broken nose

That. Was a definite deviation from Sapph's normal nightmares, startling him bad enough to just freeze, which results in him tripping and faceplanting shortly after. Down he goes, with a very loud crunch sound!

Pale Milk cookie awkwardly approaches, setting down the tray of food. He didn't know what the other cookie's food preference was but he tried to make it healthy at least. They obviously needed the energy to recover.

And the other Cookie squints at the food kinda suspiciously... unsure if he can trust this place or the food here. Also still unaccustomed to normal food again...

Sapph blinks, and thinks for a moment, then shakes his head and reaches for the closest bit of food... if it's poisoned, then it's going to be poisoned, he reasons to himself

Pale Milk cookie lets out a quiet sigh of relief as the other cookie takes a bite. While it tastes fine, it was like if someone tried to cook something from memory. The food isn't bad per say, just a bit bland. The pale cookie didn't want to risk upsetting the other cookie's stomach so he'd made a few changes.

And Sapph eats slowly... and a little uncertainly, but at least he's eating. He also watches his current host warily while he does, still suspicious as to what the Cookie wants with him

Pale Milk cookie stands still, simply observing his guest to make sure nothing bad happened to them while eating. Could cookies have food allergies? He can't remember but he's mostly sure that they can't.

Doesn't seem like his guest is having any adverse reactions! Just... anxious to be here, mostly, by how they're acting. Munch munch...

The pale cookie seems to relax a bit now that their guest is eating. though they still keep an eye on them. Pale Milk cookie eyes the Souljam on the other cookie's chest. He would recognize it anywhere. Why did they have it- Why wasn't it with it's proper owner- ...what could've happend to Shadow Milk cookie?... He clears his voice before speaking. "I suppose I'm long overdue for an introduction, I'm Pale Milk cookie"

The Cookie squints at him a little before mumbling "Black Sapphire...."

That earns a suspicious squint from the bat, but eventually he mumbles "Is it sweeter than... this...?"

Quiet staring for a moment... then Sapph nods and refocuses on eating what he has already

Pale Milk tries his best not to stare at Black Sapphire while they eat- especially not at the Souljam. Instead the pallid cookie busies himself by planing what he could make. 'Hmmm- cupcakes?- Bit basic but it might work...'

Sapph keeps focusing on eating his food. Ignore the weird Cookie obviously trying not to stare. It's fine. It's better than the alternatives. Maybe. Probably.

'Probably' was a good assessment- all things considered. Who knows what Pale Milk Cookie was capable of? It's clear the pallid cookie is not-so-sneakily glancing at Black Sapphire, apparently they weren't the most patient of Cookies.

Unfortunately for the pale individual, Sapph is showing no interest in picking up his speed whatsoever

The speed of which Pale Milk Cookie glances at Black Sapphire slowly gets faster as the awkward silence stretches on.

After a bit, Pale Milk can quite easily notice that Sapph is watching him. The purple Cookie starts eating even slower...

The pale Cookie's gaze narrows into a suspicious squint. Was his guest really doing something so childish? For what reason- What purpose could they think annoying him would serve?

Sapph, meanwhile, is watching his host with great suspicion... can he really trust this Pale Milk Cookie individual?

Pale Milk takes a quick glance at the tray of food beside Black Sapphire. The plates were mostly empty- well not really 'empty'- but what a small child might leave when offered dessert.

Sapph keeps watching PM with great suspicion as he eats very slowly

Deciding his patience had been tested more than enough- he takes action. With a flick of his wrist, magic envelopes both the tray and his guest before lifting them up. No offence intended, but Pale Milk Cookie was pretty sure Black Sapphire wouldn't be able to climb up the stairs in his current state....

Sapph kinda just freezes at that, eyes going wide and ears pinning back

Pale Milk Cookie feels the shift in Sapph's demeanor- turning around to face them. After a brief look, he raises an eyebrow.... "Would you prefer to walk up the stairs?" He says somewhat sarcastically.

The purple Cookie just responds with a quiet whimper, eyes scrunching shut. Scared him, I fear ú-ù

The pale Cookie pinches the bridge of his nose before rolling his eyes... "Oh don't be dramatic- Just- Uhh..." Dear Fates- He can't deal with this....What was he supposed to do with this?

Who knows? The purple Cookie remains very still and very scared in the pale Cookie's magic, though. At least he's not trying to get out, I suppose...?

With a sigh, he heads up the stairs with Black Sapphire Cookie floating behind him. The kitchen- or the closest thing he had to one wasn't too far.

And Sapph keeps his eyes shut and ears pinned back as they move, unwilling to look and see that everything is fine and he isn't in danger :/

Entering the kitchen, Pale Milk Cookie pulls out a chair and sits his unhappy guest down in the seat "If you have any preference for what kind of sweets you'd like- now is the best time to tell me"

Sapph finally opens his eyes in a squint! And he kinda just nods without saying anything. I suppose Pale Milk gets free reign on how sweet to make the food, then!

With a sigh, Pale Milk Cookie pulls out some bowls and ingredients for cupcakes. Maybe his guest will calm down by the time it's done cooking....

Sapph kinda just sits there for a moment before starting to look around from his seat... there's no danger here, ya purple guy, calm down

Giving Black Sapphire Cookie space while starting to mix the cupcake batter, Pale Milk Cookie ponders his life choices up until this point.....

Sapph has decided he's going to lean on the table and stare at Pale Milk... he's not sure he can trust this guy, but.. his options are limited, so he can at least watch out for anything suspicious going on

The only suspicious thing about the pale cookie so far, was the amount of sugar he had added to the batter....what kind of recipe uses that much sweetener?

Weird... but Sapph did ask for sweeter food. Maybe this guy is just adding more than the recipe called for?

Little did Black Sapphire cookie know, Pale Milk Cookie was following the recipe to the letter. The stupidly, excessively, sweet letter.....

Fortunate that Sapphire is unaware as he keeps watching. Not much else for him to do anyways, though...

It doesn't take much longer to finish the cupcakes, magic helping to speed up the baking time. With the final touches of frosting and some bat shaped sprinkles, the confection is done.

It certainly smells done! Sapph's guts can be heard growling for it...

Now that the sweets are done, Pale Milk Cookie slides them over to Black Sapphire cookie. "Careful, they might still be pretty warm"

Sapph just reaches for one with a mumbled "... 's fine...," moving to shove the whole cupcake into his mouth without looking at it at all

The pallid cookie blinks at his guest, clearly expecting some sort or reaction to the overly sweet treat.... "Soooo.... How is it?"

"It's alright," the purple cookie mumbles through his full mouth. It seems he's forgotten his manners...

"That's nice to hear, I thought perhaps it'd be too sweet" He scrunches his face at the sweet smell of the food "I personally find this recipe a bit too sugary for my tastes"

"Mmh..," he nods. "I can see why..."

"If it's too sweet I can adjust the recipe next time?" He poses it like a question as he glances at the leftover sugar. He'd have to get more soon....

"It's fine...," the bat mumbles. Not as sweet as I'd gotten used to.., he thinks somberly

"oh" The pallid Cookie is speechless for a bit. How could someone possibly like something so sweet. "How about you add the sugar next time?"

He shakes his head, "I'd rather not... it's your recipe..."

Pale Milk doesn't bother to mention how the recipe isn't actually his. He'd rather not explain where he got it from regardless... "Well- uh- How are you feeling so far?"

"........ better. I guess." Sapph neither cares nor asks about the recipe, instead asking "Any rules while I'm here...?" as he reaches for another cupcake

"For the most part you have free reign, but I ask that you avoid any marked doors" He pauses trying to think of anything else to add... "Make sure to clean up any messes you make as well" His archive may be cluttered in certain areas but that was irrelevant! Totally irrelevant.

The bat just nods, a crunch audible as he shoves this cupcake into his mouth as unceremoniously as the previous one

"If you don't have any more questions, I could bring you back to your room? It'd be best if you remain in bed till you're strong enough to start moving around properly" He tosses the empty cupcake wrappers into the trash with a flick of his wrist.

Sapph thinks for a moment, then nods... "A nap would be... nice..."

The Beast stands up from his chair. Seeing the bat's previous reaction to being held with magic- they try a new approach. Letting a thin barrier of levitation magic grow between them- they 'lift' Black Sapphire up with their arms, the cookie hovering a few inches above Pale Milk's actual grip.

And he seems much calmer this time - yawning, instead of panicking, and tiredly mumbling "Thank you..."

Pale Milk Cookie returns back the way they came, Black Sapphire in tow. They quickly reach the bat's bedroom and Pale Milk sets them down on the bedsheets.

And the bat yawns again, curling up where he's been placed with a much more quietly mumbled "Good night..."

The Beast waits till the bat falls asleep properly before closing the door. He should really get more sugar.....

Pale Milk cookie awkwardly approaches, setting down the tray of food. He didn't know what the other cookie's food preference was but he tried to make it healthy at least. They obviously needed the energy to recover.

And the other Cookie squints at the food kinda suspiciously... unsure if he can trust this place or the food here. Also still unaccustomed to normal food again...

Sapph blinks, and thinks for a moment, then shakes his head and reaches for the closest bit of food... if it's poisoned, then it's going to be poisoned, he reasons to himself

Pale Milk cookie lets out a quiet sigh of relief as the other cookie takes a bite. While it tastes fine, it was like if someone tried to cook something from memory. The food isn't bad per say, just a bit bland. The pale cookie didn't want to risk upsetting the other cookie's stomach so he'd made a few changes.

And Sapph eats slowly... and a little uncertainly, but at least he's eating. He also watches his current host warily while he does, still suspicious as to what the Cookie wants with him

Pale Milk cookie stands still, simply observing his guest to make sure nothing bad happened to them while eating. Could cookies have food allergies? He can't remember but he's mostly sure that they can't.

Doesn't seem like his guest is having any adverse reactions! Just... anxious to be here, mostly, by how they're acting. Munch munch...

The pale cookie seems to relax a bit now that their guest is eating. though they still keep an eye on them. Pale Milk cookie eyes the Souljam on the other cookie's chest. He would recognize it anywhere. Why did they have it- Why wasn't it with it's proper owner- ...what could've happend to Shadow Milk cookie?... He clears his voice before speaking. "I suppose I'm long overdue for an introduction, I'm Pale Milk cookie"

The Cookie squints at him a little before mumbling "Black Sapphire...."

That earns a suspicious squint from the bat, but eventually he mumbles "Is it sweeter than... this...?"

Quiet staring for a moment... then Sapph nods and refocuses on eating what he has already

Pale Milk tries his best not to stare at Black Sapphire while they eat- especially not at the Souljam. Instead the pallid cookie busies himself by planing what he could make. 'Hmmm- cupcakes?- Bit basic but it might work...'

Sapph keeps focusing on eating his food. Ignore the weird Cookie obviously trying not to stare. It's fine. It's better than the alternatives. Maybe. Probably.

'Probably' was a good assessment- all things considered. Who knows what Pale Milk Cookie was capable of? It's clear the pallid cookie is not-so-sneakily glancing at Black Sapphire, apparently they weren't the most patient of Cookies.

Unfortunately for the pale individual, Sapph is showing no interest in picking up his speed whatsoever

The speed of which Pale Milk Cookie glances at Black Sapphire slowly gets faster as the awkward silence stretches on.

After a bit, Pale Milk can quite easily notice that Sapph is watching him. The purple Cookie starts eating even slower...

The pale Cookie's gaze narrows into a suspicious squint. Was his guest really doing something so childish? For what reason- What purpose could they think annoying him would serve?

Sapph, meanwhile, is watching his host with great suspicion... can he really trust this Pale Milk Cookie individual?

Pale Milk takes a quick glance at the tray of food beside Black Sapphire. The plates were mostly empty- well not really 'empty'- but what a small child might leave when offered dessert.

Sapph keeps watching PM with great suspicion as he eats very slowly

Deciding his patience had been tested more than enough- he takes action. With a flick of his wrist, magic envelopes both the tray and his guest before lifting them up. No offence intended, but Pale Milk Cookie was pretty sure Black Sapphire wouldn't be able to climb up the stairs in his current state....

Sapph kinda just freezes at that, eyes going wide and ears pinning back

Pale Milk Cookie feels the shift in Sapph's demeanor- turning around to face them. After a brief look, he raises an eyebrow.... "Would you prefer to walk up the stairs?" He says somewhat sarcastically.

The purple Cookie just responds with a quiet whimper, eyes scrunching shut. Scared him, I fear ú-ù

The pale Cookie pinches the bridge of his nose before rolling his eyes... "Oh don't be dramatic- Just- Uhh..." Dear Fates- He can't deal with this....What was he supposed to do with this?

Who knows? The purple Cookie remains very still and very scared in the pale Cookie's magic, though. At least he's not trying to get out, I suppose...?

With a sigh, he heads up the stairs with Black Sapphire Cookie floating behind him. The kitchen- or the closest thing he had to one wasn't too far.

And Sapph keeps his eyes shut and ears pinned back as they move, unwilling to look and see that everything is fine and he isn't in danger :/

Entering the kitchen, Pale Milk Cookie pulls out a chair and sits his unhappy guest down in the seat "If you have any preference for what kind of sweets you'd like- now is the best time to tell me"

Sapph finally opens his eyes in a squint! And he kinda just nods without saying anything. I suppose Pale Milk gets free reign on how sweet to make the food, then!

With a sigh, Pale Milk Cookie pulls out some bowls and ingredients for cupcakes. Maybe his guest will calm down by the time it's done cooking....

Sapph kinda just sits there for a moment before starting to look around from his seat... there's no danger here, ya purple guy, calm down

Giving Black Sapphire Cookie space while starting to mix the cupcake batter, Pale Milk Cookie ponders his life choices up until this point.....

Sapph has decided he's going to lean on the table and stare at Pale Milk... he's not sure he can trust this guy, but.. his options are limited, so he can at least watch out for anything suspicious going on

The only suspicious thing about the pale cookie so far, was the amount of sugar he had added to the batter....what kind of recipe uses that much sweetener?

Weird... but Sapph did ask for sweeter food. Maybe this guy is just adding more than the recipe called for?

Little did Black Sapphire cookie know, Pale Milk Cookie was following the recipe to the letter. The stupidly, excessively, sweet letter.....

Fortunate that Sapphire is unaware as he keeps watching. Not much else for him to do anyways, though...

It doesn't take much longer to finish the cupcakes, magic helping to speed up the baking time. With the final touches of frosting and some bat shaped sprinkles, the confection is done.

It certainly smells done! Sapph's guts can be heard growling for it...

Now that the sweets are done, Pale Milk Cookie slides them over to Black Sapphire cookie. "Careful, they might still be pretty warm"

Sapph just reaches for one with a mumbled "... 's fine...," moving to shove the whole cupcake into his mouth without looking at it at all

The pallid cookie blinks at his guest, clearly expecting some sort or reaction to the overly sweet treat.... "Soooo.... How is it?"

"It's alright," the purple cookie mumbles through his full mouth. It seems he's forgotten his manners...

"That's nice to hear, I thought perhaps it'd be too sweet" He scrunches his face at the sweet smell of the food "I personally find this recipe a bit too sugary for my tastes"

"Mmh..," he nods. "I can see why..."

"If it's too sweet I can adjust the recipe next time?" He poses it like a question as he glances at the leftover sugar. He'd have to get more soon....

"It's fine...," the bat mumbles. Not as sweet as I'd gotten used to.., he thinks somberly

"oh" The pallid Cookie is speechless for a bit. How could someone possibly like something so sweet. "How about you add the sugar next time?"

He shakes his head, "I'd rather not... it's your recipe..."

Pale Milk doesn't bother to mention how the recipe isn't actually his. He'd rather not explain where he got it from regardless... "Well- uh- How are you feeling so far?"

"........ better. I guess." Sapph neither cares nor asks about the recipe, instead asking "Any rules while I'm here...?" as he reaches for another cupcake

"For the most part you have free reign, but I ask that you avoid any marked doors" He pauses trying to think of anything else to add... "Make sure to clean up any messes you make as well" His archive may be cluttered in certain areas but that was irrelevant! Totally irrelevant.

The bat just nods, a crunch audible as he shoves this cupcake into his mouth as unceremoniously as the previous one

"If you don't have any more questions, I could bring you back to your room? It'd be best if you remain in bed till you're strong enough to start moving around properly" He tosses the empty cupcake wrappers into the trash with a flick of his wrist.

Sapph thinks for a moment, then nods... "A nap would be... nice..."

The Beast stands up from his chair. Seeing the bat's previous reaction to being held with magic- they try a new approach. Letting a thin barrier of levitation magic grow between them- they 'lift' Black Sapphire up with their arms, the cookie hovering a few inches above Pale Milk's actual grip.

And he seems much calmer this time - yawning, instead of panicking, and tiredly mumbling "Thank you..."

Pale Milk Cookie returns back the way they came, Black Sapphire in tow. They quickly reach the bat's bedroom and Pale Milk sets them down on the bedsheets.

And the bat yawns again, curling up where he's been placed with a much more quietly mumbled "Good night..."

Pale Milk cookie awkwardly approaches, setting down the tray of food. He didn't know what the other cookie's food preference was but he tried to make it healthy at least. They obviously needed the energy to recover.

And the other Cookie squints at the food kinda suspiciously... unsure if he can trust this place or the food here. Also still unaccustomed to normal food again...

Sapph blinks, and thinks for a moment, then shakes his head and reaches for the closest bit of food... if it's poisoned, then it's going to be poisoned, he reasons to himself

Pale Milk cookie lets out a quiet sigh of relief as the other cookie takes a bite. While it tastes fine, it was like if someone tried to cook something from memory. The food isn't bad per say, just a bit bland. The pale cookie didn't want to risk upsetting the other cookie's stomach so he'd made a few changes.

And Sapph eats slowly... and a little uncertainly, but at least he's eating. He also watches his current host warily while he does, still suspicious as to what the Cookie wants with him

Pale Milk cookie stands still, simply observing his guest to make sure nothing bad happened to them while eating. Could cookies have food allergies? He can't remember but he's mostly sure that they can't.

Doesn't seem like his guest is having any adverse reactions! Just... anxious to be here, mostly, by how they're acting. Munch munch...

The pale cookie seems to relax a bit now that their guest is eating. though they still keep an eye on them. Pale Milk cookie eyes the Souljam on the other cookie's chest. He would recognize it anywhere. Why did they have it- Why wasn't it with it's proper owner- ...what could've happend to Shadow Milk cookie?... He clears his voice before speaking. "I suppose I'm long overdue for an introduction, I'm Pale Milk cookie"

The Cookie squints at him a little before mumbling "Black Sapphire...."

That earns a suspicious squint from the bat, but eventually he mumbles "Is it sweeter than... this...?"

Quiet staring for a moment... then Sapph nods and refocuses on eating what he has already

Pale Milk tries his best not to stare at Black Sapphire while they eat- especially not at the Souljam. Instead the pallid cookie busies himself by planing what he could make. 'Hmmm- cupcakes?- Bit basic but it might work...'

Sapph keeps focusing on eating his food. Ignore the weird Cookie obviously trying not to stare. It's fine. It's better than the alternatives. Maybe. Probably.

'Probably' was a good assessment- all things considered. Who knows what Pale Milk Cookie was capable of? It's clear the pallid cookie is not-so-sneakily glancing at Black Sapphire, apparently they weren't the most patient of Cookies.

Unfortunately for the pale individual, Sapph is showing no interest in picking up his speed whatsoever

The speed of which Pale Milk Cookie glances at Black Sapphire slowly gets faster as the awkward silence stretches on.

After a bit, Pale Milk can quite easily notice that Sapph is watching him. The purple Cookie starts eating even slower...

The pale Cookie's gaze narrows into a suspicious squint. Was his guest really doing something so childish? For what reason- What purpose could they think annoying him would serve?

Sapph, meanwhile, is watching his host with great suspicion... can he really trust this Pale Milk Cookie individual?

Pale Milk takes a quick glance at the tray of food beside Black Sapphire. The plates were mostly empty- well not really 'empty'- but what a small child might leave when offered dessert.

Sapph keeps watching PM with great suspicion as he eats very slowly

Deciding his patience had been tested more than enough- he takes action. With a flick of his wrist, magic envelopes both the tray and his guest before lifting them up. No offence intended, but Pale Milk Cookie was pretty sure Black Sapphire wouldn't be able to climb up the stairs in his current state....

Sapph kinda just freezes at that, eyes going wide and ears pinning back

Pale Milk Cookie feels the shift in Sapph's demeanor- turning around to face them. After a brief look, he raises an eyebrow.... "Would you prefer to walk up the stairs?" He says somewhat sarcastically.

The purple Cookie just responds with a quiet whimper, eyes scrunching shut. Scared him, I fear ú-ù

The pale Cookie pinches the bridge of his nose before rolling his eyes... "Oh don't be dramatic- Just- Uhh..." Dear Fates- He can't deal with this....What was he supposed to do with this?

Who knows? The purple Cookie remains very still and very scared in the pale Cookie's magic, though. At least he's not trying to get out, I suppose...?

With a sigh, he heads up the stairs with Black Sapphire Cookie floating behind him. The kitchen- or the closest thing he had to one wasn't too far.

And Sapph keeps his eyes shut and ears pinned back as they move, unwilling to look and see that everything is fine and he isn't in danger :/

Entering the kitchen, Pale Milk Cookie pulls out a chair and sits his unhappy guest down in the seat "If you have any preference for what kind of sweets you'd like- now is the best time to tell me"

Sapph finally opens his eyes in a squint! And he kinda just nods without saying anything. I suppose Pale Milk gets free reign on how sweet to make the food, then!

With a sigh, Pale Milk Cookie pulls out some bowls and ingredients for cupcakes. Maybe his guest will calm down by the time it's done cooking....

Sapph kinda just sits there for a moment before starting to look around from his seat... there's no danger here, ya purple guy, calm down

Giving Black Sapphire Cookie space while starting to mix the cupcake batter, Pale Milk Cookie ponders his life choices up until this point.....

Sapph has decided he's going to lean on the table and stare at Pale Milk... he's not sure he can trust this guy, but.. his options are limited, so he can at least watch out for anything suspicious going on

The only suspicious thing about the pale cookie so far, was the amount of sugar he had added to the batter....what kind of recipe uses that much sweetener?

Weird... but Sapph did ask for sweeter food. Maybe this guy is just adding more than the recipe called for?

Little did Black Sapphire cookie know, Pale Milk Cookie was following the recipe to the letter. The stupidly, excessively, sweet letter.....

Fortunate that Sapphire is unaware as he keeps watching. Not much else for him to do anyways, though...

It doesn't take much longer to finish the cupcakes, magic helping to speed up the baking time. With the final touches of frosting and some bat shaped sprinkles, the confection is done.

It certainly smells done! Sapph's guts can be heard growling for it...

Now that the sweets are done, Pale Milk Cookie slides them over to Black Sapphire cookie. "Careful, they might still be pretty warm"

Sapph just reaches for one with a mumbled "... 's fine...," moving to shove the whole cupcake into his mouth without looking at it at all

The pallid cookie blinks at his guest, clearly expecting some sort or reaction to the overly sweet treat.... "Soooo.... How is it?"

"It's alright," the purple cookie mumbles through his full mouth. It seems he's forgotten his manners...

"That's nice to hear, I thought perhaps it'd be too sweet" He scrunches his face at the sweet smell of the food "I personally find this recipe a bit too sugary for my tastes"

"Mmh..," he nods. "I can see why..."

"If it's too sweet I can adjust the recipe next time?" He poses it like a question as he glances at the leftover sugar. He'd have to get more soon....

"It's fine...," the bat mumbles. Not as sweet as I'd gotten used to.., he thinks somberly

"oh" The pallid Cookie is speechless for a bit. How could someone possibly like something so sweet. "How about you add the sugar next time?"

He shakes his head, "I'd rather not... it's your recipe..."

Pale Milk doesn't bother to mention how the recipe isn't actually his. He'd rather not explain where he got it from regardless... "Well- uh- How are you feeling so far?"

"........ better. I guess." Sapph neither cares nor asks about the recipe, instead asking "Any rules while I'm here...?" as he reaches for another cupcake

"For the most part you have free reign, but I ask that you avoid any marked doors" He pauses trying to think of anything else to add... "Make sure to clean up any messes you make as well" His archive may be cluttered in certain areas but that was irrelevant! Totally irrelevant.

The bat just nods, a crunch audible as he shoves this cupcake into his mouth as unceremoniously as the previous one

"If you don't have any more questions, I could bring you back to your room? It'd be best if you remain in bed till you're strong enough to start moving around properly" He tosses the empty cupcake wrappers into the trash with a flick of his wrist.

Sapph thinks for a moment, then nods... "A nap would be... nice..."

The Beast stands up from his chair. Seeing the bat's previous reaction to being held with magic- they try a new approach. Letting a thin barrier of levitation magic grow between them- they 'lift' Black Sapphire up with their arms, the cookie hovering a few inches above Pale Milk's actual grip.

And he seems much calmer this time - yawning, instead of panicking, and tiredly mumbling "Thank you..."

Pale Milk cookie awkwardly approaches, setting down the tray of food. He didn't know what the other cookie's food preference was but he tried to make it healthy at least. They obviously needed the energy to recover.

And the other Cookie squints at the food kinda suspiciously... unsure if he can trust this place or the food here. Also still unaccustomed to normal food again...

Sapph blinks, and thinks for a moment, then shakes his head and reaches for the closest bit of food... if it's poisoned, then it's going to be poisoned, he reasons to himself

Pale Milk cookie lets out a quiet sigh of relief as the other cookie takes a bite. While it tastes fine, it was like if someone tried to cook something from memory. The food isn't bad per say, just a bit bland. The pale cookie didn't want to risk upsetting the other cookie's stomach so he'd made a few changes.

And Sapph eats slowly... and a little uncertainly, but at least he's eating. He also watches his current host warily while he does, still suspicious as to what the Cookie wants with him

Pale Milk cookie stands still, simply observing his guest to make sure nothing bad happened to them while eating. Could cookies have food allergies? He can't remember but he's mostly sure that they can't.

Doesn't seem like his guest is having any adverse reactions! Just... anxious to be here, mostly, by how they're acting. Munch munch...

The pale cookie seems to relax a bit now that their guest is eating. though they still keep an eye on them. Pale Milk cookie eyes the Souljam on the other cookie's chest. He would recognize it anywhere. Why did they have it- Why wasn't it with it's proper owner- ...what could've happend to Shadow Milk cookie?... He clears his voice before speaking. "I suppose I'm long overdue for an introduction, I'm Pale Milk cookie"

The Cookie squints at him a little before mumbling "Black Sapphire...."

That earns a suspicious squint from the bat, but eventually he mumbles "Is it sweeter than... this...?"

Quiet staring for a moment... then Sapph nods and refocuses on eating what he has already

Pale Milk tries his best not to stare at Black Sapphire while they eat- especially not at the Souljam. Instead the pallid cookie busies himself by planing what he could make. 'Hmmm- cupcakes?- Bit basic but it might work...'

Sapph keeps focusing on eating his food. Ignore the weird Cookie obviously trying not to stare. It's fine. It's better than the alternatives. Maybe. Probably.

'Probably' was a good assessment- all things considered. Who knows what Pale Milk Cookie was capable of? It's clear the pallid cookie is not-so-sneakily glancing at Black Sapphire, apparently they weren't the most patient of Cookies.

Unfortunately for the pale individual, Sapph is showing no interest in picking up his speed whatsoever

The speed of which Pale Milk Cookie glances at Black Sapphire slowly gets faster as the awkward silence stretches on.

After a bit, Pale Milk can quite easily notice that Sapph is watching him. The purple Cookie starts eating even slower...

The pale Cookie's gaze narrows into a suspicious squint. Was his guest really doing something so childish? For what reason- What purpose could they think annoying him would serve?

Sapph, meanwhile, is watching his host with great suspicion... can he really trust this Pale Milk Cookie individual?

Pale Milk takes a quick glance at the tray of food beside Black Sapphire. The plates were mostly empty- well not really 'empty'- but what a small child might leave when offered dessert.

Sapph keeps watching PM with great suspicion as he eats very slowly

Deciding his patience had been tested more than enough- he takes action. With a flick of his wrist, magic envelopes both the tray and his guest before lifting them up. No offence intended, but Pale Milk Cookie was pretty sure Black Sapphire wouldn't be able to climb up the stairs in his current state....

Sapph kinda just freezes at that, eyes going wide and ears pinning back

Pale Milk Cookie feels the shift in Sapph's demeanor- turning around to face them. After a brief look, he raises an eyebrow.... "Would you prefer to walk up the stairs?" He says somewhat sarcastically.

The purple Cookie just responds with a quiet whimper, eyes scrunching shut. Scared him, I fear ú-ù

The pale Cookie pinches the bridge of his nose before rolling his eyes... "Oh don't be dramatic- Just- Uhh..." Dear Fates- He can't deal with this....What was he supposed to do with this?

Who knows? The purple Cookie remains very still and very scared in the pale Cookie's magic, though. At least he's not trying to get out, I suppose...?

With a sigh, he heads up the stairs with Black Sapphire Cookie floating behind him. The kitchen- or the closest thing he had to one wasn't too far.

And Sapph keeps his eyes shut and ears pinned back as they move, unwilling to look and see that everything is fine and he isn't in danger :/

Entering the kitchen, Pale Milk Cookie pulls out a chair and sits his unhappy guest down in the seat "If you have any preference for what kind of sweets you'd like- now is the best time to tell me"

Sapph finally opens his eyes in a squint! And he kinda just nods without saying anything. I suppose Pale Milk gets free reign on how sweet to make the food, then!

With a sigh, Pale Milk Cookie pulls out some bowls and ingredients for cupcakes. Maybe his guest will calm down by the time it's done cooking....

Sapph kinda just sits there for a moment before starting to look around from his seat... there's no danger here, ya purple guy, calm down

Giving Black Sapphire Cookie space while starting to mix the cupcake batter, Pale Milk Cookie ponders his life choices up until this point.....

Sapph has decided he's going to lean on the table and stare at Pale Milk... he's not sure he can trust this guy, but.. his options are limited, so he can at least watch out for anything suspicious going on

The only suspicious thing about the pale cookie so far, was the amount of sugar he had added to the batter....what kind of recipe uses that much sweetener?

Weird... but Sapph did ask for sweeter food. Maybe this guy is just adding more than the recipe called for?

Little did Black Sapphire cookie know, Pale Milk Cookie was following the recipe to the letter. The stupidly, excessively, sweet letter.....

Fortunate that Sapphire is unaware as he keeps watching. Not much else for him to do anyways, though...

It doesn't take much longer to finish the cupcakes, magic helping to speed up the baking time. With the final touches of frosting and some bat shaped sprinkles, the confection is done.

It certainly smells done! Sapph's guts can be heard growling for it...

Now that the sweets are done, Pale Milk Cookie slides them over to Black Sapphire cookie. "Careful, they might still be pretty warm"

Sapph just reaches for one with a mumbled "... 's fine...," moving to shove the whole cupcake into his mouth without looking at it at all

The pallid cookie blinks at his guest, clearly expecting some sort or reaction to the overly sweet treat.... "Soooo.... How is it?"

"It's alright," the purple cookie mumbles through his full mouth. It seems he's forgotten his manners...

"That's nice to hear, I thought perhaps it'd be too sweet" He scrunches his face at the sweet smell of the food "I personally find this recipe a bit too sugary for my tastes"

"Mmh..," he nods. "I can see why..."

"If it's too sweet I can adjust the recipe next time?" He poses it like a question as he glances at the leftover sugar. He'd have to get more soon....

"It's fine...," the bat mumbles. Not as sweet as I'd gotten used to.., he thinks somberly

"oh" The pallid Cookie is speechless for a bit. How could someone possibly like something so sweet. "How about you add the sugar next time?"

He shakes his head, "I'd rather not... it's your recipe..."

Pale Milk doesn't bother to mention how the recipe isn't actually his. He'd rather not explain where he got it from regardless... "Well- uh- How are you feeling so far?"

"........ better. I guess." Sapph neither cares nor asks about the recipe, instead asking "Any rules while I'm here...?" as he reaches for another cupcake

"For the most part you have free reign, but I ask that you avoid any marked doors" He pauses trying to think of anything else to add... "Make sure to clean up any messes you make as well" His archive may be cluttered in certain areas but that was irrelevant! Totally irrelevant.

The bat just nods, a crunch audible as he shoves this cupcake into his mouth as unceremoniously as the previous one

"If you don't have any more questions, I could bring you back to your room? It'd be best if you remain in bed till you're strong enough to start moving around properly" He tosses the empty cupcake wrappers into the trash with a flick of his wrist.

Sapph thinks for a moment, then nods... "A nap would be... nice..."

And Sapph only half watches. Oh, hey, a rock! He moves to sit on it, yawning... he's more tired than he'd thought he was....

By now, Sapph's fallen well and truly asleep. Slumped over on the rock and even snoring faintly! Completely unaware Storm just had his ass kicked, for now.

That doesn't quite seem to wake up the batty, who makes a quiet mumble but remains solidly asleep, tail twitching. Seems he's dreaming about something. Too bad we don't know what...

So he won’t wake up, huh… so he tries something else. He gets water and splashes him with it.

That!... almost doesn't work, but Sapph was breathing in at the wrong moment and now he's both very suddenly awake and very suddenly coughing. Great job, Salt 👍

There we go, he’s awake now. The knight was currently staring at him, head tilted.

The sopping wet cat is too busy coughing to react for a solid minute before he finally starts getting proper airflow again... after which, he just kinda vaguely whines before looking up and ahead - right at the knight, who can see some tears have formed in his eye now. From the coughing, or something else? Nah, probably from the coughing.

“Deceitful one.” The knight seemed not very pleased. But was still greatly curious. “Why are you in my lands.”

"... Storm dragged me along," he mumbles, a wheeze now audible in his breath, looking towards the way the pair had come. "I'm assuming you won the fight?"

“I did. I know what he was about to do.”

"Cool...," the deceit Cookie nods. "Is it my turn to get chased off now..?"

He shakes his head, "No. Was it that obvious?" Of course it was, Sapph. You're not even pretending to try to hide it. How boring.

“You look nothing like the black sapphire here, and you have four pairs of wings. And your dough looks different.”

A nod. "The... larger pair of wings is new. Working on strengthening them up," he murmurs, yawning again. "And the dough's been since shortly after-...." he falls silent. More tears are gathering in his eye, but he doesn't elaborate.

“Didn’t think Cinnamon Storm of all beasts would get himself a cookie from another timeline…” he’s pawing again, he doesn’t know why Storm has this black sapphire variant but now he’s here and on his land.

The only real sign of Sapph's discomfort in being pawed is his ears pinning back. "Pretty sure he didn't get me on purpose. Just... found a place and got curious enough to look around.... which I am thankful for."

“He always has some kind of ulterior motive, him and that fucking blue jester.” He uh, doesn’t seem to cinnamon storm and shadow milk, at all.

Sapph looks towards Salt for a very long moment. Then, more clearly, spits out "If not for them, I'd currently be locked in the middle of nowhere, chained to a wall covered in carpeting. I don't care what ulterior motives they have for me. It's better than the alternative."

“The wall covered WHAT?!” The knight visibly flinches back in disgust and horror. Congratulations Saph you mortified a very disgruntled knight

"... you heard me." Sapph looks away with an annoyed expression, before adding "I was in that place for years. Not even the worst part of it all, believe it or not."

“Either of them actually taking the time to save someone is what I least expected from them…” he’s seemed to have though very differently about them… is there… a chance that there’s more to everything than what he thought…?

"Yeah, well, they saved me." Sapph stands up and stretches, mumbling "It's shocking how grateful you can be to just walk around after all that..."

“It will probably be the only good deed they will ever do.”

".......... you have a very black-and-white view of things. You should change that." He's stretching the wings now. Trying some of the exercises he was suggested to do... if Salt isn't going to chase him off, he may as well use the time here well.

“There are things you do not understand. The goodness in them died the day they corrupted. Cinnamon Storm, I believe is the only victim of lies like I was. Rumors and lies don’t come out of nowhere. They come from that jester. His so called love of his life did this to him somehow, he ruined him. Then he ruined the others, and all of them ruined me.”

Sapph laughs. A pretty bitter laugh. "Yeah, because lies definitely didn't exist before papa fell. You should take a good long hard look at yourself, before you keep doing exactly what you accuse him of starting, Silent Salt Cookie."

“Mystic flour told me once he lied about the treasures in her cocoon. He caused he to do the horrid thing of abandoning her virtue and turn all including the innocent into flour. If he can lie about anything then it’s safe to say he lied about what Cinnamon Storm did. A reasonable possibility, might I add.”

"And that may have been cruel for him to do, but cruelty doesn't come from nowhere. And when you're constantly not believed for the truth, why should you care if the answer is a lie? The response is the same either way," he gives an irritated tail flick, "and additionally. What does that make the Cookie he had me with? Before he fell, who betrayed him so severely he was unwilling to tell me they even existed, let alone who they were? If he's a horrendous liar, what is the Cookie who did that while he was still your precious pious Fount? Who abandoned him while he was with child?" He's making a sound somewhere between a squeaking and a growl now. Clearly agitated.

Of course there’s only one cookie who ever “betrays” him according to every shadow milk ever. And that’s me. Of course mine says I sealed everyone, that was also a lie mind you. I crumbled my knights and we all got sealed in the tree. But of course, lie about the last cookie to lose his virtue as if being punished by the witches isn’t enough. We all deserved it from what I came to understand.”

Sapph just freezes. Staring at Salt, dead silent. Then, after an awkwardly long time has passed, finally says "That would imply the version of you in my timeline was my other parent. Which I do not know, nor did he ever confirm. And I'd really like not to believe. Because that would mean the Salt of Solidarity abandoned his partner and child unprompted."

“Knowing myself, even as the salt of solidarity, it’s unlike me to do that. Parents and children are who I considered to be assisted and cared for.”

Sapph is outright crying now??? "But if you were my other parent, you failed me! You abandoned us! Left us alone when Cookies kept insisting papa was wrong about basic math! Left us alone as papa slowly got worse and worse! Left me alone when he got sealed! Left me alone to raise my sister alone because he was in that STUPID tree because we were always ALONE! Because YOU COULDN'T DO YOUR JOB, AS A VIRTUE AND AS A PARENT!" Yeah, he's definitely really upset now... great job, Salt 👍

Sapph doesn't even try to dodge, vision clouded by tears as he just continues to bawl. Too distraught to fight back, too upset to think rationally. No thought, only cry ú-ù

Sapph is very much so still bawling. But! Upon hearing the jester's voice! He manages a distraught "P-PAPA...!"

Sapph is still crying, curling up where he is with a sob, just repeating himself with quieter and quieter mumbles of "P-papa... papa.... pap-p-pa... papa papa... p-papa..."

That fight lasted a long while… yeah this is a true beast on beast fight none of them are leaving this unscathed. So by the time they do stop fighting shadow milk, covered in many claw marks scruffs the bat and starts leaving.

Sapph remains curled and crying as he's carried off, though a good deal more quietly now... bruises already well on their way to forming where he'd been hit by the knight, and where he'd made contact with the ground when he'd been tackled

Sapph just sniffles sadly, and reaches for Beast... still too distraught to actually speak, but thankfully calmed down enough to have stopped bawling

And Sapph only half watches. Oh, hey, a rock! He moves to sit on it, yawning... he's more tired than he'd thought he was....

By now, Sapph's fallen well and truly asleep. Slumped over on the rock and even snoring faintly! Completely unaware Storm just had his ass kicked, for now.

That doesn't quite seem to wake up the batty, who makes a quiet mumble but remains solidly asleep, tail twitching. Seems he's dreaming about something. Too bad we don't know what...

So he won’t wake up, huh… so he tries something else. He gets water and splashes him with it.

That!... almost doesn't work, but Sapph was breathing in at the wrong moment and now he's both very suddenly awake and very suddenly coughing. Great job, Salt 👍

There we go, he’s awake now. The knight was currently staring at him, head tilted.

The sopping wet cat is too busy coughing to react for a solid minute before he finally starts getting proper airflow again... after which, he just kinda vaguely whines before looking up and ahead - right at the knight, who can see some tears have formed in his eye now. From the coughing, or something else? Nah, probably from the coughing.

“Deceitful one.” The knight seemed not very pleased. But was still greatly curious. “Why are you in my lands.”

"... Storm dragged me along," he mumbles, a wheeze now audible in his breath, looking towards the way the pair had come. "I'm assuming you won the fight?"

“I did. I know what he was about to do.”

"Cool...," the deceit Cookie nods. "Is it my turn to get chased off now..?"

He shakes his head, "No. Was it that obvious?" Of course it was, Sapph. You're not even pretending to try to hide it. How boring.

“You look nothing like the black sapphire here, and you have four pairs of wings. And your dough looks different.”

A nod. "The... larger pair of wings is new. Working on strengthening them up," he murmurs, yawning again. "And the dough's been since shortly after-...." he falls silent. More tears are gathering in his eye, but he doesn't elaborate.

“Didn’t think Cinnamon Storm of all beasts would get himself a cookie from another timeline…” he’s pawing again, he doesn’t know why Storm has this black sapphire variant but now he’s here and on his land.

The only real sign of Sapph's discomfort in being pawed is his ears pinning back. "Pretty sure he didn't get me on purpose. Just... found a place and got curious enough to look around.... which I am thankful for."

“He always has some kind of ulterior motive, him and that fucking blue jester.” He uh, doesn’t seem to cinnamon storm and shadow milk, at all.

Sapph looks towards Salt for a very long moment. Then, more clearly, spits out "If not for them, I'd currently be locked in the middle of nowhere, chained to a wall covered in carpeting. I don't care what ulterior motives they have for me. It's better than the alternative."

“The wall covered WHAT?!” The knight visibly flinches back in disgust and horror. Congratulations Saph you mortified a very disgruntled knight

"... you heard me." Sapph looks away with an annoyed expression, before adding "I was in that place for years. Not even the worst part of it all, believe it or not."

“Either of them actually taking the time to save someone is what I least expected from them…” he’s seemed to have though very differently about them… is there… a chance that there’s more to everything than what he thought…?

"Yeah, well, they saved me." Sapph stands up and stretches, mumbling "It's shocking how grateful you can be to just walk around after all that..."

“It will probably be the only good deed they will ever do.”

".......... you have a very black-and-white view of things. You should change that." He's stretching the wings now. Trying some of the exercises he was suggested to do... if Salt isn't going to chase him off, he may as well use the time here well.

“There are things you do not understand. The goodness in them died the day they corrupted. Cinnamon Storm, I believe is the only victim of lies like I was. Rumors and lies don’t come out of nowhere. They come from that jester. His so called love of his life did this to him somehow, he ruined him. Then he ruined the others, and all of them ruined me.”

Sapph laughs. A pretty bitter laugh. "Yeah, because lies definitely didn't exist before papa fell. You should take a good long hard look at yourself, before you keep doing exactly what you accuse him of starting, Silent Salt Cookie."

“Mystic flour told me once he lied about the treasures in her cocoon. He caused he to do the horrid thing of abandoning her virtue and turn all including the innocent into flour. If he can lie about anything then it’s safe to say he lied about what Cinnamon Storm did. A reasonable possibility, might I add.”

"And that may have been cruel for him to do, but cruelty doesn't come from nowhere. And when you're constantly not believed for the truth, why should you care if the answer is a lie? The response is the same either way," he gives an irritated tail flick, "and additionally. What does that make the Cookie he had me with? Before he fell, who betrayed him so severely he was unwilling to tell me they even existed, let alone who they were? If he's a horrendous liar, what is the Cookie who did that while he was still your precious pious Fount? Who abandoned him while he was with child?" He's making a sound somewhere between a squeaking and a growl now. Clearly agitated.

Of course there’s only one cookie who ever “betrays” him according to every shadow milk ever. And that’s me. Of course mine says I sealed everyone, that was also a lie mind you. I crumbled my knights and we all got sealed in the tree. But of course, lie about the last cookie to lose his virtue as if being punished by the witches isn’t enough. We all deserved it from what I came to understand.”

Sapph just freezes. Staring at Salt, dead silent. Then, after an awkwardly long time has passed, finally says "That would imply the version of you in my timeline was my other parent. Which I do not know, nor did he ever confirm. And I'd really like not to believe. Because that would mean the Salt of Solidarity abandoned his partner and child unprompted."

“Knowing myself, even as the salt of solidarity, it’s unlike me to do that. Parents and children are who I considered to be assisted and cared for.”

Sapph is outright crying now??? "But if you were my other parent, you failed me! You abandoned us! Left us alone when Cookies kept insisting papa was wrong about basic math! Left us alone as papa slowly got worse and worse! Left me alone when he got sealed! Left me alone to raise my sister alone because he was in that STUPID tree because we were always ALONE! Because YOU COULDN'T DO YOUR JOB, AS A VIRTUE AND AS A PARENT!" Yeah, he's definitely really upset now... great job, Salt 👍

Sapph doesn't even try to dodge, vision clouded by tears as he just continues to bawl. Too distraught to fight back, too upset to think rationally. No thought, only cry ú-ù

Sapph is very much so still bawling. But! Upon hearing the jester's voice! He manages a distraught "P-PAPA...!"

Sapph is still crying, curling up where he is with a sob, just repeating himself with quieter and quieter mumbles of "P-papa... papa.... pap-p-pa... papa papa... p-papa..."

That fight lasted a long while… yeah this is a true beast on beast fight none of them are leaving this unscathed. So by the time they do stop fighting shadow milk, covered in many claw marks scruffs the bat and starts leaving.

Sapph remains curled and crying as he's carried off, though a good deal more quietly now... bruises already well on their way to forming where he'd been hit by the knight, and where he'd made contact with the ground when he'd been tackled

And Sapph only half watches. Oh, hey, a rock! He moves to sit on it, yawning... he's more tired than he'd thought he was....

By now, Sapph's fallen well and truly asleep. Slumped over on the rock and even snoring faintly! Completely unaware Storm just had his ass kicked, for now.

That doesn't quite seem to wake up the batty, who makes a quiet mumble but remains solidly asleep, tail twitching. Seems he's dreaming about something. Too bad we don't know what...

So he won’t wake up, huh… so he tries something else. He gets water and splashes him with it.

That!... almost doesn't work, but Sapph was breathing in at the wrong moment and now he's both very suddenly awake and very suddenly coughing. Great job, Salt 👍

There we go, he’s awake now. The knight was currently staring at him, head tilted.

The sopping wet cat is too busy coughing to react for a solid minute before he finally starts getting proper airflow again... after which, he just kinda vaguely whines before looking up and ahead - right at the knight, who can see some tears have formed in his eye now. From the coughing, or something else? Nah, probably from the coughing.

“Deceitful one.” The knight seemed not very pleased. But was still greatly curious. “Why are you in my lands.”

"... Storm dragged me along," he mumbles, a wheeze now audible in his breath, looking towards the way the pair had come. "I'm assuming you won the fight?"

“I did. I know what he was about to do.”

"Cool...," the deceit Cookie nods. "Is it my turn to get chased off now..?"

He shakes his head, "No. Was it that obvious?" Of course it was, Sapph. You're not even pretending to try to hide it. How boring.

“You look nothing like the black sapphire here, and you have four pairs of wings. And your dough looks different.”

A nod. "The... larger pair of wings is new. Working on strengthening them up," he murmurs, yawning again. "And the dough's been since shortly after-...." he falls silent. More tears are gathering in his eye, but he doesn't elaborate.

“Didn’t think Cinnamon Storm of all beasts would get himself a cookie from another timeline…” he’s pawing again, he doesn’t know why Storm has this black sapphire variant but now he’s here and on his land.

The only real sign of Sapph's discomfort in being pawed is his ears pinning back. "Pretty sure he didn't get me on purpose. Just... found a place and got curious enough to look around.... which I am thankful for."

“He always has some kind of ulterior motive, him and that fucking blue jester.” He uh, doesn’t seem to cinnamon storm and shadow milk, at all.

Sapph looks towards Salt for a very long moment. Then, more clearly, spits out "If not for them, I'd currently be locked in the middle of nowhere, chained to a wall covered in carpeting. I don't care what ulterior motives they have for me. It's better than the alternative."

“The wall covered WHAT?!” The knight visibly flinches back in disgust and horror. Congratulations Saph you mortified a very disgruntled knight

"... you heard me." Sapph looks away with an annoyed expression, before adding "I was in that place for years. Not even the worst part of it all, believe it or not."

“Either of them actually taking the time to save someone is what I least expected from them…” he’s seemed to have though very differently about them… is there… a chance that there’s more to everything than what he thought…?

"Yeah, well, they saved me." Sapph stands up and stretches, mumbling "It's shocking how grateful you can be to just walk around after all that..."

“It will probably be the only good deed they will ever do.”

".......... you have a very black-and-white view of things. You should change that." He's stretching the wings now. Trying some of the exercises he was suggested to do... if Salt isn't going to chase him off, he may as well use the time here well.

“There are things you do not understand. The goodness in them died the day they corrupted. Cinnamon Storm, I believe is the only victim of lies like I was. Rumors and lies don’t come out of nowhere. They come from that jester. His so called love of his life did this to him somehow, he ruined him. Then he ruined the others, and all of them ruined me.”

Sapph laughs. A pretty bitter laugh. "Yeah, because lies definitely didn't exist before papa fell. You should take a good long hard look at yourself, before you keep doing exactly what you accuse him of starting, Silent Salt Cookie."

“Mystic flour told me once he lied about the treasures in her cocoon. He caused he to do the horrid thing of abandoning her virtue and turn all including the innocent into flour. If he can lie about anything then it’s safe to say he lied about what Cinnamon Storm did. A reasonable possibility, might I add.”

"And that may have been cruel for him to do, but cruelty doesn't come from nowhere. And when you're constantly not believed for the truth, why should you care if the answer is a lie? The response is the same either way," he gives an irritated tail flick, "and additionally. What does that make the Cookie he had me with? Before he fell, who betrayed him so severely he was unwilling to tell me they even existed, let alone who they were? If he's a horrendous liar, what is the Cookie who did that while he was still your precious pious Fount? Who abandoned him while he was with child?" He's making a sound somewhere between a squeaking and a growl now. Clearly agitated.

Of course there’s only one cookie who ever “betrays” him according to every shadow milk ever. And that’s me. Of course mine says I sealed everyone, that was also a lie mind you. I crumbled my knights and we all got sealed in the tree. But of course, lie about the last cookie to lose his virtue as if being punished by the witches isn’t enough. We all deserved it from what I came to understand.”

Sapph just freezes. Staring at Salt, dead silent. Then, after an awkwardly long time has passed, finally says "That would imply the version of you in my timeline was my other parent. Which I do not know, nor did he ever confirm. And I'd really like not to believe. Because that would mean the Salt of Solidarity abandoned his partner and child unprompted."

“Knowing myself, even as the salt of solidarity, it’s unlike me to do that. Parents and children are who I considered to be assisted and cared for.”

Sapph is outright crying now??? "But if you were my other parent, you failed me! You abandoned us! Left us alone when Cookies kept insisting papa was wrong about basic math! Left us alone as papa slowly got worse and worse! Left me alone when he got sealed! Left me alone to raise my sister alone because he was in that STUPID tree because we were always ALONE! Because YOU COULDN'T DO YOUR JOB, AS A VIRTUE AND AS A PARENT!" Yeah, he's definitely really upset now... great job, Salt 👍

Sapph doesn't even try to dodge, vision clouded by tears as he just continues to bawl. Too distraught to fight back, too upset to think rationally. No thought, only cry ú-ù

Sapph is very much so still bawling. But! Upon hearing the jester's voice! He manages a distraught "P-PAPA...!"

Sapph is still crying, curling up where he is with a sob, just repeating himself with quieter and quieter mumbles of "P-papa... papa.... pap-p-pa... papa papa... p-papa..."