[ic] inbox for labyrinthum

[jugglery]

WELL, HELLOOOO THERE! Say the words at the thing!
[ text ⦿ voice ⦿ video ⦿ action ]

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(Breaks the inbox ice) - The Games We play

[heterochromeow]

[ perhaps unsurprisingly, Catra doesn't want to arrive in some boring normal way. She went through all the trouble of finding the cottage after all.

Quiet as a cat, a window's opened, and she slinks in on silent feet with a soft drop before looking around to see which room she snuck into.

Now, depending on what Shadow Milk is up to, he might be VERY surprised to feel a presence just over his shoulder when she speaks up. ]

Hey Shadow~

[ Voice smooth and playful. She's just barely holding back a laugh. ]

[jugglery]

[this is why he respects Catra, deep down. she's not boring.

he's been doing some reading up on this world, with whatever he can find. studying. but he hasn't quite forgotten that he told Catra she could come visit. he is, though, very surprised by the sudden intrusion. how did she find him?

the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end and Shadow Milk whips around to face her]

YOU. Oh. It's you.

[who did you think it was, Shadow Milk?]

[heterochromeow]

[ Good question, who?

Catra's brow raises, fangs flashing inches from Shadow Milk's eyes as she grins, then leans back slightly. That long dark tail gives an amused flicker as she lets out a catty bark of a laugh, so unique he could certainly pick it out. ]

Yeah, duh.

I did tell you.

[ Best not worry about how she found him. Details, details.

Catra steps to one side, hand on a hip, still very much grinning. ]

So what game are we playing?

[jugglery]

[he stands up straight, watching her for a moment. well, she did say she would find him. but maybe Shadow Milk will ask her about how she did it later]

..Okay. Well, I still don't have my powers yet, so I can't get too creative. But I did manage to find some stuff here.

[he sets his book down and starts walking out to the kitchen area. there is a table there, with what looks like some boxes]

[heterochromeow]

[ Her head tips, from looking down to looking up, somehow still seeming smug. ]

You're an entertainer, right?
I'm sure you can work with what you have.

[ She taunts mid-walk, following close behind and walking a slow circle around the table to look over the boxes with a raised brow. She has, surprisingly, seen boardgames before, since she got here. Though it's unlike she recognises any. ]

So... ?

[jugglery]

Soooo...

[she's putting him on the spot. what Catra fails to realize is that Shadow Milk doesn't usually entertain guests. and his definition of entertaining can be skewed at best]

Let's get dicey, mmmn? ...Little gaming joke, just for you.

[he starts setting out the games. they are...interesting, and weird. Corrupt Four, Existence, Oligopoly, Battle Boat, Sweetworld, Insignificant Chase... those are the big contenders, but Shadow Milk doesn't seem particularly jazzed about them. he pats one of the boxes anyway with a grin]

[heterochromeow]

That was terrible.

[ She gave him a whoooole (most of a) day. That's plenty of time right? Not like he's some kind of perfectionist, surely.

Catra comes to a stop nearby, looking over the games with... mostly just curiosity, tail slowly swaying. Peering, reading, then those sharp eyes peek up at him instead. ]

They look kinda boring... Do you like any of these?

[ Those eyes sure do look dangerous, even when she's not trying. It's probably the vertical pupils. ]

Can we make it more interesting?
How about a bet or something?

[jugglery]

[awww, his gaming joke was meant to be terrible.

he stands up straight, setting his hands on his hips]

Ooh, a bet! Of course we can do that!

[he doesn't answer the first question. he's pulling out one of those cute fishing games]

action for blood-and-thunder

[jugglery]

[Shadow Milk is feeling apprehensive lately. so many positive things have happened, and he's just waiting for the other shoe to drop. he's fooled people, here, has gotten them to think he's a nice young man, or sad and lonely, or whatever. he truly is the greatest liar of all!

he doesn't want Pure Vanilla to see his changes, so he makes sure to let the other Cookie know that, if he has guests, he shouldn't be bothered! this may be Pure Vanilla's cabin, but he does not want another Catra-situation.

speaking of which... well, he will talk to her again, soon.

eventually he gets a note from Noire saying that she is on the way, and Shadow Milk actually tidies up the main living room. weird. why does he even care? then he waits. nervously]

.......

[blood_and_thunder]

[ Maybe it wasn't the wisest decision to meet up with a complete stranger in a new realm, but Noire was... maybe desperate wasn't the right word. Not lonely either - she had Owain and Inigo. So why was she here? She still wasn't quite sure, but...

Perhaps because this was a new realm. A world without the Risen, without Grima, without war and battle and death constantly breathing down her neck. A chance to find out what it would be like as a normal girl. Doing normal people things. Wasn't that what she'd been fighting for? A chance to be like that, someday?

With a small basket filled with baked sweets - but no cookies! - she nervously knocks on the door. ]

... Excuse me. Shadow Milk, sir...?

[jugglery]

[the very normal door opens with a grand flourish. confetti and everything. why?? Shadow Milk stands there, bowing with arms outstretched. he is not a very tall human, with a slim build and long hair pulled back back aside from a few bangs that fall over his mismatched eyes]

Welcome, welcome, hand-holding partner!

[this whole grand entrance just for her, huh? he is such a performer. he stands up straight soon enough to get a good look at her with her basket. a kid!]

'Tis I, Shadow Milk Cookie! It is so nice to meet you face-to-face!

[blood_and_thunder]

[ Whoa! Confettei? She blinks rapidly, obviously not having expected such an entrance... Oh, she's staring, so impolite! She's quick to bow, holding the basket. ]

Y-Yes, you too, Shadow Milk...

[ ... huh? Did he say...? She lifts her head, confused. ]

... Cookie?

[ she's. pretty sure he only introduced himself as Shadow Milk on the network. is. is his name. really Shadow Milk Cookie? That sounds like a dessert Owain would come up with! this is a compliment i promise]

[jugglery]

[he plucks up the basket, looking into it. how cute! he wonders if she actually made these things, or just bought them. not a cookie in sight, pleasantly]

Oh, yes, that. Come in, and I will give you the whole run-down.

[he sighs, as though he's put-out. it's hard explaining this to everyone, but it's better than having it come up too late. Shadow Milk turns to lead Noire inside the cottage. it's charming, really. it's been cleaned nicely, and smells faintly of vanilla]

I didn't really go over it on the network, but the whole Cookie thing isn't a joke. My, erm. My roommate and I are both magic Cookies that come from a land where there are a lot more of us!

[hence why he requested that she not bring cookies. he sets the basket on the table and plonks down on the couch]

So that's my full name. But, as you can see, this world has blessed me with a normal human body. No powers, no nothing. So, you can call me just plain ol' Shadow Milk, if that's easier for you.

[blood_and_thunder]

... I'm sorry, but I have to ask.

Is this a joke?

[ She has friends who can turn into dragons and gigantic monster bunnies, but. This grown man is claiming he's actually a cookie. She can't help but think he's fucking with her. It's an odd practical joke, to be sure, but still.

Funny how the master of lies finally tells the truth and isn't believed. ]

[jugglery]

[the reaction causes him to laugh]

Either way, does it matter? You can believe me, or not! It won't change the fact that I'm here!

[he's told enough people about the entire Cookie existence thing, and they seem to believe him. finally, someone is not taking his words seriously. it's hilarious. this one is smart]

[blood_and_thunder]

[ ... He has a point. Besides, if this is a joke, it's a very harmless one. Her mouth awkwardly wiggles - she's not really used to smiling. She can't even remember the last time she laughed. So, enjoy the weird not!smile? ]

I guess that's true. And either way, you were still very kind to me. I can't tell you how much that means.

audio - un: ITSTVTIME.

[crticalhit]

Hey, hi, Shadow Milk? It's Tenna! Just wondering, are you busy tonight? Because if you're not...! I kinda need to talk to someone about. Something.

[Smooth as hell, this one is.]

[jugglery]

[Shadow Milk has a message! and, hoo boy. why would you choose Shadow Milk, of all beings, to vent your problems to? why?

Shadow Milk practically chirps out his own response]

Well, hello to you, too! I'm free tonight! You wanna get together in person?

[crticalhit]

[This is a good question with no good answer.]

Oh, great!! Yeah in person would be perfect. Do you know the Wandering Boar tavern? We can go there.

[jugglery]

Sure.

[he stands up from the couch. honestly, Shadow Milk was bored tonight, and he didn't like being left with his own thoughts. too many thoughts about too many different people. making friends is weird.

he stretches, cracking his back]

I can be there in a jiffy.

-> action.

[crticalhit]

Okay, good! I'll see you soon.

[Tenna does not need to go there himself; he's already in the tavern. After Dreamercon ended he's been left with far too much time and silence on his hands, so hanging out in crowded taverns is preferable to lying face-down on his bed feeling Sad and Rejected. At least he can accidentally bump into people for interaction out here.

As ever, he's not hard to find. Tenna's leaning against the bar counter so he's still at least a head and shoulders taller than everyone else around him. He's fiddling with an empty glass in his hands, tapping a finger against it every so often.]

[jugglery]

[Shadow Milk is still as short as ever as a human, but he waltzes into the tavern in such a grandiose way, as with everything he does, that it makes up for his small stature. he is really curious about why Tenna called him out, and what he wants to talk about. it's... funny. that he would come to Shadow Milk at all.

but Shadow Milk is slowly discovering that people have been trying to reach out to him, and wish to learn more about him. and. it's terrifying. but warm? and complicated! certainly, he doesn't have relationships with these other characters that are similar to what he has with Pure Vanilla Cookie, but they are all meaningful in their own ways. he's very confused about it.

in any case, he sidles up beside Tenna, clapping him on the shoulder]

Mister Tenna! Fancy meeting you here!

[like they didn't just plan to meet less than a half-hour ago]

[crticalhit]

[Tenna has a hard time seeing anything happening to the side of him, given his lack of peripheral vision, but he does catch sight of Shadow Milk just in time to not be too startled by the sudden clap to the shoulder. It still makes him jump a little bit, for reasons he'd rather not call attention to, before he grins at the smaller man.]

Hey there! What's a cookie like you doing in a place like this?

[He can play along with banter, easily. Tenna puts his empty glass down and settles back against the counter.]

Thanks for coming out this way.

[jugglery]

[Shadow Milk removes his hand. he does notice that Tenna seems to be on edge, but he won't call attention to it. he was only teasing, anyway. trying to be... friendly? he supposes. he moves a stool to take a seat beside him]

Don't worry about it! I wasn't doing anything important.

[just contemplating his Labyrinthum choices]

25/12 gift delivery.

[crticalhit]

[A small package gets delivered. Inside is a large grey mug with little wolf patterns around the rim, and inside that is a packet of cocoa mix. The accompanying card reads:]

Dear Shadow Milk, Merry Christmas!
The mug reminded me of that one wild time we had a few months ago - the cocoa is just for fun. Have a good holiday!
~ Tenna