the-lonely-spire

[the-lonely-spire]

PV gave a slow nod as he started to sink down where he stood, eventually coming down to sit as well so he could listen. He laid his staff across his lap, keeping the eye pointed outwards so he could see.

PV: Of course... You may if that's what you wish. I'll be here to listen.

---

Strawberry nodded to Black Sapphire as she continued the climb, keeping her eyes locked on the book. She reached it after a relatively quick climb and carefully balanced herself on the ladder rungs before she reached out to tug the book off the shelf.

She seemed to realize how heavy it was once she started tugging it free from the shelf judging by the way she stopped and readjusted her arms, but she still picked it up. She let out a quiet grunt as the weight of the book caused it to sag in her arm, but she managed to keep her grip on it.

Hugging the book as tightly as she could against her so it wouldn't fall, she kept her other hand on the ladder as she began her descent back down the ladder. GingerBrave was watching and waiting as she came down, immediately offering his arms to take the book from her once she got close enough.

GingerBrave whistled as the book was passed into his arms, similarly caught off guard by the weight as he adjusted his hold on it. But like Strawberry, he managed to not drop it as he turned to face Black Sapphire and the rest of the group.

GB: We got the book!!

He happily declared, puffing his chest out with his sense of accomplishment. One could guess that he wanted to hoist the book into the air in triumph, but he thankfully seemed to realize that hoisting that much weight over his head would be a bad idea and refrained from it.

Oh, more outsiders... the Fount is gonna looove this.

Hey, quiet down. We're tryina wrangle some teens here, we don't need more of you being rowdy. Where did you two come from anyway... They came from up, right? They didn't just follow the lights?

Hitchhiker Hat anon

Wizard: Hi again?? Do we know you??

GB: Wrangle some teens... Hey!

PV: Everyone... Calm down for a bit... There's a lot of noise and a lot of people talking right now. There's also still the predicament of our... extra friend up there...

PV: It looked like they came from somewhere up there, yes. I don't know how or from where.

Pure Vanilla appears to be whispering to... something or someone. The request to quiet down came from his direction, though it didn't sound like his voice.

Odd.

White Lily is regarding the two new arrivals with a hefty look of caution and skepticism, but she says nothing as she continues to straighten out the petals that top her staff. Her head is tilted a bit further back than that, signaling that she may be using the staff upkeep to mask the fact that she's sneaking glances up at the bookshelves above.

Almost as if she's watching for something. Strawberry also seems to be occasionally casting very subtle and uneasy glances towards the ceiling.

GingerBrave, determined to do the exact opposite of keeping an eye out for things that go bump in the library, focuses on the duo.

GB: Are you here to visit the Spire too? We're having some... uh... not so great luck with that so far... I don't think you wanna look up right now... It's nice to meet you though!! My name's GingerBrave and these are my friends!

Wizard: Didn't the apple themed Cookie say something about meeting us...?

( @minions-of-beasts-inc )

[the-lonely-spire]

Ebany: Then... go ahead and talk about them like I'm not here. Say the first thing that comes to mind...?

Ebany Rosette Cookie wasn't sure what could make the Fount reveal everything... What could she say or do? What could trigger it? She was a coward as well when it came to certain things... but the stuff she went through helped her grow past that at least a little. What was to help the Fount...?

The Fount ran from whatever happened. He didn't help his friends or talk to them... After what happened back then, of course he'd be scared stiff to even talk about it! Or even acknowledge it!

(I don't know if Ebany's close to helping him or not... I'm also running out of ideas! But good job on the trauma. It's very deep, complex, and difficult to unravel! It feels so real and perfect! Not perfect in the regular sense of a situation, but for the situation.)

(OOC: Oh no, Ebany is doing GREAT- Fount just had a tough shell to crack! That being said, she might have just cracked it ;) )

(Also, thank you!! I'm glad it's coming off well! I spent... a LOT of time and brain power towards building parts of Fount's backstory and how it haunts him in the present when I was cooking up this AU so I'm so glad to see it's coming off so well in practice)

The Fount took a deep breath as he weighed the potential benefits of her offer versus his hesitance in his head, letting the words settle on him for a bit. Finally, after what felt like several minutes, he gave a small and weak nod.

He wound up closing his eyes as he turned his head slightly away from her. He felt like not being able to see her helped him imagine her not being there like she suggested.

Fount: I was... afraid...

He started quietly, his voice fragile and tinted with something that sounded like he was embarrassed.

Fount: I was afraid for... a very long time... Long before my old friends were ever sealed away. I was happy in my Witch-given role in life at first. I was told I was important and that I had an important job from the moment I was baked. It... made me feel special.

He took a slow and deep breath, his eyes squeezing shut a bit tighter.

Fount: And I was special. Cookies would come from all over Earthbread to hear my teachings and seek my wisdom on certain subjects. I loved that attention at first. I reveled in it. That's even part of the reason why I built the Spire of All Knowledge back in the day. I needed a place where I could collect and write all of my teachings to share them with the world.

A sad smile crossed over his features.

Fount: And that's exactly what I did... For a time. Eventually... As history went on and Cookies started to learn more about the world and draw their own conclusions... They started to reject my teachings. Some because they thought I was a liar, some because they didn't want the harsh truth and hoped that I would be able to prove them wrong, others still for reasons I'm sure they had.

His eyes slowly fluttered open again, set into a wistful frown.

Fount: ...And it frightened me. I couldn't understand what had changed or why it had changed. If I was meant to be perfect, to be this shining beacon of Knowledge for the world, why did they all suddenly hate me? Why did the looks of curiosity and wonder give way to open contempt or despair depending on what I told them?

He gives a quiet, broken laugh.

Fount: It's pathetic, isn't it? God being so afraid of the mortals he once taught... Of their opinions... Of their judgmental stares... Of their hatred and disappointment... I couldn't stand it...

He paused, likely to give Ebany Rosette a chance to process and a chance for him to regather his thoughts as he took slow and deep breaths.

[the-lonely-spire]

Ebany Rosette Cookie felt it... perhaps by letting even more out might do him some good. Maybe... maybe it was time to bring up the one he spoke about...

Ebany: I'm not surprised you didn't talk to anyone. It takes courage to tell someone everything you're feeling and going through no matter who someone is! They could help, but we're too scared to find out. We fear their reaction, their willingness to help, the whole thought of it! Heck, even me! And I'm all about not bottling up stuff because of what it does to people! But I know that eventually I have to spill stuff out and so do you. *holds his hands*

Ebany Rosette Cookie looked him straight in the eyes, she spoke from her own experiences about what she's seen and done... Then she remembered something she always feared...

Ebany: I always have someone to talk to... but when I get the chance, I hesitate. I can't even form words and end up not saying anything... That goes for my friends... Even my parents. They're always there, but... I don't tell them or talk to them about my feelings! At least not right away or for a few days... sometimes it takes someone or something else to get us started and then we manage to talk to those close to us...

The Fount hesitated as she looked into her eyes, his frown deepening as he stared back into hers. He was quiet again as he let her speak, allowing his hands to rest in hers as well.

The way his mouth quivered said that he was still so close to spilling so many things that were on his mind.

Fount: ...Why do you think I insist that I'm a coward...? I had a chance to handle everything better and I didn't. I ran. I'm... avoiding this conversation even now...

His face fell, self awareness washing over him like a blanket of shame.

Fount: ...I don't... even know where to start with something like this... There's just... So much has happened... There's so many things I could talk about...

[the-lonely-spire]

Ebany: Then go ahead and let what you're feeling out. Let it all out and don't hold back until you're too tired to say or do anything. *Looks at him* I'm no psychological expert, but from what I do know... Bottling things up isn't good or healthy. You didn't really have a choice of that since you're the only one here. But I'm here now. I'm someone you can rant to. I do the same when my friends need a shoulder to lean on or an ear to listen to. Go ahead and say your piece, as much as you want. I want to listen and help.

Ebany Rosette Cookie spoke true. It's something she had done for years with her friends in the Mythical Lands. If there was something she could do, she'd try to do it. It was just in her nature.

Ebany: Whenever you're ready, just say whatever.

The Fount was quiet as he listened to her offer, a hint of some kind of emotion flickering through his eyes at the open invitation to freely rant. His shoulder began to shake again, though it was unclear if it was because of his emotions this time or because of his attempt to hold them all in.

Fount: Oh, but I did... I did have a choice! I could have brought any of this up to the Spire-Watcher at any time because it's been here nearly as long as I've been locked in here and I never said a word! Not a wooooord!

He shivers, pausing long enough to take a deep breath.

Fount: And then- And then- It's my fault for running away from everyone and everything in the first place! I could have still had people to talk to! I'm sure he would have listened to everything that was plaguing me! And yet, what did I do? I ran away like a coward and let him and everyone else think I'm probably crumbs!

He lets out another bitter sounding laugh, his extra eyes starting to blue with teardrop shapes again. The look on his face implies that he wants to keep talking and rant about everything, but it seems there's still some part of him that's holding him back from doing so.

Perhaps... With a bit more encouragement... The floodgates would open and let him spill out everything plaguing him.

[the-lonely-spire]

The other Fount still appeared curious as he watched the other, listening intently to every word he had to say. His expression was slowly giving way to an innocent type of curiosity as well beneath the skepticism, clearly fueled by his desire to learn something new.

He did, however, tense up again when the topic of the Beast Cookies came up, his eyes widening again.

Fount: Beast of Deceit... Is that one supposed to be me...?

He questioned quietly, more so to himself than the other Fount in the room. His facial expression warped into a deep frown as he quietly cleared his throat.

Fount: ...The, um... The... Beasts... The former Virtues... My old friends... They're... all in the Silver Tree right now, to my knowledge. All four of them.

And they said it would be easy crossing the path, and now look where he ended up. the fount doesn't even recognize the place anymore and sure knows this isn't his world. The beast would've showed up and killed him

"Ugh....how do I keep messing this up?"

//hehe your blog cool, may my fount interact? @wolfinsheepclothings

(OOC: Hi! Thank you! ^^ And yes, he may! That's going to be interesting...)

The Spire of All Knowledge stands tall, imposing, and strange around the newcomer, saturated in heavy themes of white, blue, and gold. Its odd architecture twisted and wound every which way from the looks of it, creating what one could call either a confusing maze of whimsy or madness depending on how one looked at it.

Still, it looks nice enough all things considered. At least the decor is pleasant to look at even if it's keeping to the same uniform color scheme.

The foyer that the newcomer had arrived in was... quiet. There was a gentle stillness around the area, as peaceful as it was slightly unnerving if one was the type to be unnerved in big empty spaces like this.

Various gilded doorways connected to the room, no doubt leading to other rooms or assorted hallways if the newcomer had to guess. It seems it was up to him to decide where he wanted to go from here or what he wanted to investigate.

The Spire looked... abandoned, to some degree. But was that really true?

[the-lonely-spire]

Ebany Rosette Cookie didn't know who this, him, was... Nor did she know what she could say or do that would comfort the Fount aside from her embrace. He was mad and disappointed with himself and to find a way past that... He needed to forgive himself at some point.

If things were different, then it might be easier. But he had a point about his old friends. Four of them were locked away in the tree with no way out. It's not like they were going to escape anytime soon so there was no mending any sort of relationship that way.

The Fount continued to look angry and upset with himself as he rested unhappily in her embrace, having turned his head in such a way to avoid her gaze again. Maybe it had become apparent at this point that he was afraid of being stared at and judged.

He was quiet for some time again before he let out a slow and audible exhale.

Fount: ...Sorry... I'm getting whiny and carried away again... I guess I finally have someone to talk about all of this with and it's all just bubbling to the surface all at once. Ugh...

[the-lonely-spire]

The other Fount's multitude of eyes turned up in even deeper bewilderment as he listened to what his double had to say. His tense body language relaxed slightly at the realization that this phantom most likely wasn't the phantom that had already been haunting him around the Spire, but he still looked a bit skeptical.

He shuffled just a few steps back from the other Fount as he held his staff close.

Fount: ...Another world...

He mused quietly.

Fount: I always did have theories about the existence of other worlds and timelines... Places where things were different... Where maybe I wouldn't even exist or would exist in entirely different forms... You being here more or less proves my theories assuming you're telling me the truth...

His multi-eyed gaze finds the other Fount again, still cautious but now perhaps a bit curious as well.

Fount: Do you... have any idea how you might have gotten here...? How you wound up displaced from your home timeline...?

And they said it would be easy crossing the path, and now look where he ended up. the fount doesn't even recognize the place anymore and sure knows this isn't his world. The beast would've showed up and killed him

"Ugh....how do I keep messing this up?"

//hehe your blog cool, may my fount interact? @wolfinsheepclothings

(OOC: Hi! Thank you! ^^ And yes, he may! That's going to be interesting...)

The Spire of All Knowledge stands tall, imposing, and strange around the newcomer, saturated in heavy themes of white, blue, and gold. Its odd architecture twisted and wound every which way from the looks of it, creating what one could call either a confusing maze of whimsy or madness depending on how one looked at it.

Still, it looks nice enough all things considered. At least the decor is pleasant to look at even if it's keeping to the same uniform color scheme.

The foyer that the newcomer had arrived in was... quiet. There was a gentle stillness around the area, as peaceful as it was slightly unnerving if one was the type to be unnerved in big empty spaces like this.

Various gilded doorways connected to the room, no doubt leading to other rooms or assorted hallways if the newcomer had to guess. It seems it was up to him to decide where he wanted to go from here or what he wanted to investigate.

The Spire looked... abandoned, to some degree. But was that really true?

[the-lonely-spire]

Ebany: I don't know the answers but... what you said... Grandma Rose said the same thing... she blames herself for not being able to save her old friends... even if it's been years... *snuggles out of habit* Maybe you couldn't do anything back then... but that doesn't mean anything about what you can do now. All there can be done is to wait and see... As for the shadow Cookie... I don't really trust what he said.

Rose Phoenix Cookie wept as the Holy Forks of the Witches pinned down each of the former Virtues. She had tried to talk to them, to talk them out of the path they were going on, but it was no use... The events that led them to corruption were set in stone. No matter how much she tried to intervene, it was no use.

Ebany Rosette Cookie knew little of what happened aside from the obvious details. Rose never told anyone, not even her brother, the leader of their Clan, what exactly happened in Beast-Yeast. All she did was leave behind a Rainbow Rose in the Faerie Kingdom, something for her friends to remember her by since she wouldn't be returning for the foreseeable future.

Ebany Rosette Cookie held onto the Fount. She wondered if her grandmother would be doing the same as her...

Fount: Wait and see... For what? If my old friends are ever going to escape that tree? If they're all going to hate me and blame me for not coming to save them? If the Witches are going to call on me and force me to fight back against them all? ...If the Witches even remember I exist at all?

The Fount mumbles, his tone bitter as he continues to allow himself to be held. He sounds less angry with her and more angry and upset with the circumstances and the events beyond his control that had led him here.

He takes a deep and shuddering breath.

Fount: I couldn't blame them if they did hate me because all I knew how to do was run away and hide away in my Spire like a pathetic coward... I ran away from them... From him... From everyone else I was supposed to be teaching and lecturing...

[the-lonely-spire]

The other Fount startled at the sudden voice, jumping slightly. That seemed like a fairly clear indication that he hadn't realized someone else was there.

He took a deep breath, holding his staff close as he started to turn around to face the stranger.

Fount: Yes? May I help... you...

His voice trailed off as he caught sight of the other Fount, staring back at him with a look of blank confusion that quickly gave way to absolute bewilderment. A few eyes along the underside of this Fount's hair blinked at the other one as well, mimicking the same look of bewilderment that was on his actual face.

If one didn't know any better, they might have said a brief look of fear even flitted through his several eyes.

Fount: ...Why do you look like... You're not that shadow phantom, are you...?

And they said it would be easy crossing the path, and now look where he ended up. the fount doesn't even recognize the place anymore and sure knows this isn't his world. The beast would've showed up and killed him

"Ugh....how do I keep messing this up?"

//hehe your blog cool, may my fount interact? @wolfinsheepclothings

(OOC: Hi! Thank you! ^^ And yes, he may! That's going to be interesting...)

The Spire of All Knowledge stands tall, imposing, and strange around the newcomer, saturated in heavy themes of white, blue, and gold. Its odd architecture twisted and wound every which way from the looks of it, creating what one could call either a confusing maze of whimsy or madness depending on how one looked at it.

Still, it looks nice enough all things considered. At least the decor is pleasant to look at even if it's keeping to the same uniform color scheme.

The foyer that the newcomer had arrived in was... quiet. There was a gentle stillness around the area, as peaceful as it was slightly unnerving if one was the type to be unnerved in big empty spaces like this.

Various gilded doorways connected to the room, no doubt leading to other rooms or assorted hallways if the newcomer had to guess. It seems it was up to him to decide where he wanted to go from here or what he wanted to investigate.

The Spire looked... abandoned, to some degree. But was that really true?

[the-lonely-spire]

Fount...

Ebany Rosette Cookie didn't know what to say or do... Due to not knowing the exact events, it limited a couple of things she could think of to help. For now, she made sure the Fount was held in her embrace. She held onto him and began to rub his back.

It was what her grandmother did for her long ago... It was something Ebany did for her friends when they were down. They stayed their in silence. Ebany hugged him as long as he needed. What he said earlier... about truth and knowledge hurting others... She hoped that shadow Cookie wasn't watching.

Since her eye was still resting, she couldn't tap into her magic sight. It was a risk of damaging her eye, even if it had been healed earlier. Ebany Rosette Cookie was a cautious one, not entirely open to certain risks... all she could do now is comfort her new friend, something she was more than happy to do.

The Fount allowed her to rub his back, slowly slumping into the touch in a way that implied he found it enjoyable or comforting. He didn't try to pull away, instead just allowing himself to be held for now.

He was quiet for quite some time before he finally spoke again.

Fount: ...It makes me wonder if that phantom was right... Maybe I am just as bad as the others and I'm just lying to myself...

His head drooped lower.

Fount: ...I couldn't save them... I couldn't save anyone...

[the-lonely-spire]

The Cookie (or perhaps... the other Fount?) in the room continued to organize the bookshelves in relative silence, only breaking it on occasion to mutter to himself as if going over a mental checklist of things he needed to do.

He continued like this for at least a few minutes as he moved down the shelves, reorganizing the books and returning things to their rightful places... until he managed to accidentally bump into one of the lower bookcases he passed. Slightly rattled from the sudden impact, the bookshelf proceeded to spill more than a couple of the books it held onto the floor.

Even from where the Fount was, it was possible to see the other Fount's eye twitching in frustration.

Fount: Come on- Really now?!

The other Fount audibly complained loud enough to be heard this time, letting out a heavy sigh. He seemed uninterested in bending down to manually pick up the books again, instead letting his staff glow before the books started to magically float back onto the shelf.

He seemed to find that easier because he proceeded to continue using his magic to shuffle books around as he continued his reorganizing.

And they said it would be easy crossing the path, and now look where he ended up. the fount doesn't even recognize the place anymore and sure knows this isn't his world. The beast would've showed up and killed him

"Ugh....how do I keep messing this up?"

//hehe your blog cool, may my fount interact? @wolfinsheepclothings

(OOC: Hi! Thank you! ^^ And yes, he may! That's going to be interesting...)

The Spire of All Knowledge stands tall, imposing, and strange around the newcomer, saturated in heavy themes of white, blue, and gold. Its odd architecture twisted and wound every which way from the looks of it, creating what one could call either a confusing maze of whimsy or madness depending on how one looked at it.

Still, it looks nice enough all things considered. At least the decor is pleasant to look at even if it's keeping to the same uniform color scheme.

The foyer that the newcomer had arrived in was... quiet. There was a gentle stillness around the area, as peaceful as it was slightly unnerving if one was the type to be unnerved in big empty spaces like this.

Various gilded doorways connected to the room, no doubt leading to other rooms or assorted hallways if the newcomer had to guess. It seems it was up to him to decide where he wanted to go from here or what he wanted to investigate.

The Spire looked... abandoned, to some degree. But was that really true?

[the-lonely-spire]

Ebany Rosette Cookie listened and watched him... she could feel his pain and somewhat understood what he meant. She had seen and read about characters in stories doing all they can for the good of the world... but in the end... the world and Cookies they protected betrayed them and tossed them aside for whatever reason.

Ebany wasted no time and mustered up her strength to lift him up and into another hug. She wrapped her arms and wings around him... Somehow... She could feel his pain. She wanted to take it all away.

Ebany: ... I used to tell lies all the time as a kid... I didn't know it was wrong. I just wanted to be part of a fantasy world and make believe... I made a classmate upset with one of my lies... But no one noticed. I eventually stopped. Over the years... I learned that it's better to accept the truth, even if it's bitter and horrible. Sure, everyone might be happier if they hear everything they want to hear, even if it's a lie... But it won't do them any good in the long run.

Ebany Rosette Cookie looked at him...

Ebany: I'd rather embrace the truth, whatever it is. If one tells a lie to protect another... No matter how small, it can cause trouble much later. The only lies I tell now are to enemies to throw them off my trail. Maybe to a friend so they'll be surprised later for their birthday. I know what it's like... to feel like you're always wrong.... *slowly pulls away but still holds him* I didn't always get things right and others didn't like that... Things had to be done a certain way and if you didn't do it properly, then it's wrong... It was like that until I was homeschooled. I found my own ways of doing stuff wrong and right. Times have changed... Years have passed... I have a feeling whoever you knew back then... might think differently now. I don't know what happened or what you did at the time... but I still think that things have changed.

The Fount didn't fight her or protest this time as she lifted him into the hug, instead going willingly as he leaned into the feeling. He rested limply in her hold, either too tired or too unwilling to muster up the strength for much else.

He was quiet again as he allowed her to speak, his eyes now open but quiet and distant as he seemed to stare into some time or place only he could see inside his head. Occasionally a flicker of emotion passes through his expression, but it disappears in the ashamed numbness soon afterwards.

He's not quite sure when he wrapped his arms around her to return the hug, but he seems unwilling to let go just yet.

Only when the mention of the past comes up again does he properly react, his shame coming out in full force as he sinks into himself.

Fount: ...Changed for the worst, maybe...

He mutters quietly in response to her last statement, his voice broken.

Fount: I willingly led the entire world to either think that I was trapped in that tree too or that I had crumbled...

He comments something else to add onto his thought judging by the way his mouth moves, but he doesn't allow himself to vocalize it and put actual words to it.

[the-lonely-spire]

As the Fount approached the room, he could see that the door had been left slightly ajar and was spilling some of the light from inside the room out into the hallway. And if he were to look inside the room...

The room appeared to be a lounge of some sort... or at least that was the assumption. The impressive amount of bookshelves might have made one wonder if it was a study instead, but the rest of the furniture seemed to imply it was some sort of lounge or sitting room.

The footsteps started up again from within the room until the figure of a Cookie came into view. This Cookie appeared to be busy organizing one of the shelves, mumbling quietly to himself as he did so.

Starry blue hair adorned the Cookie's head, matching with his powder blue dough and the familiar blue shape that was set into the staff he carried. His black and gold robes swished around his feet with every step he took, though they didn't seem quite long enough to risk tripping him.

It seemed he hadn't noticed that someone else was nearby yet.

And they said it would be easy crossing the path, and now look where he ended up. the fount doesn't even recognize the place anymore and sure knows this isn't his world. The beast would've showed up and killed him

"Ugh....how do I keep messing this up?"

//hehe your blog cool, may my fount interact? @wolfinsheepclothings

(OOC: Hi! Thank you! ^^ And yes, he may! That's going to be interesting...)

The Spire of All Knowledge stands tall, imposing, and strange around the newcomer, saturated in heavy themes of white, blue, and gold. Its odd architecture twisted and wound every which way from the looks of it, creating what one could call either a confusing maze of whimsy or madness depending on how one looked at it.

Still, it looks nice enough all things considered. At least the decor is pleasant to look at even if it's keeping to the same uniform color scheme.

The foyer that the newcomer had arrived in was... quiet. There was a gentle stillness around the area, as peaceful as it was slightly unnerving if one was the type to be unnerved in big empty spaces like this.

Various gilded doorways connected to the room, no doubt leading to other rooms or assorted hallways if the newcomer had to guess. It seems it was up to him to decide where he wanted to go from here or what he wanted to investigate.

The Spire looked... abandoned, to some degree. But was that really true?

[the-lonely-spire]

Ebany: That type of kind set, huh? Push everyone away and hide to protect them. I understand why some folks do it... But I never liked it. Hmm... Have you ever wanted to hurt anyone? Do you think you'll hurt someone if you leave? I get avoiding pain altogether, but even just by going out and minding your own business, I don't think you'll end up physically or emotionally hurting someone.

Ebany Rosette Cookie was trying to understand the Fount's reasoning. She knew that it had to be tied to when the Beasts were sealed away... Something must have happened right after, but she didn't know what. Her analytical mind was at play, trying to unravel the threads and strings that were the Fount's mindset.

Hopefully by doing that, she could help him be at ease with himself or maybe find closure, or forgive himself for anything he blames himself for. Still... It was a sensitive topic and Ebany had to tread carefully and not force anything... It wasn't going to be easy, but she hopes he'll ease into talking and revealing things himself.

The Fount immediately lets out a bitter laugh in response to her last statement, his eyes squeezing shut even tighter as his shoulders tremble slightly.

Fount: So bold of you to assume I haven't already hurt people...

He lets out a shuddering breath, attempting to keep a handle on his emotions. It does not seem to be working judging by how tense his arms are.

Fount: Honestly, what's the point of all of that truth and Knowledge if all it ever does is hurt people? What's the point if all it ever does is make everyone hate you and make them look at you like you crumbled their mother!

He lets out another bitter laugh, running his free hand through his hair.

Fount: You do everything you're told and you do everything right and somehow you're still wrong. You're still wrong and you'll always be wrong according to THEM!

His hand slides out of his hair, traveling down to cover his face instead as he lets out a sniffle.

Fount: So why bother? Why bother going out at all when my existence is pain to literally everyone around me? I'm sure Earthbread is so happy now that I'm locked away like some dangerous exotic animal! The only difference is I did it myself!!

[the-lonely-spire]

Ebany: Ahhhh. That clears things up. *Adjusts her position to get comfortable* *still holds his hand* Since you've been here for a long time... It makes sense. Why do you stay here alone anyways? Grandma Rose didn't tell me everything that happened the last time she was in Beast-Yeast and... I never asked.

Ebany Rosette Cookie wanted to ask more, but she decided to start with one question at a time. All she knew was that Rose Phoenix Cookie was friends with the Beasts and the Fount before everything went haywire. She also knew Elder Faerie, but hasn't spoken with him since she left the continent.

Rose Phoenix Cookie was deeply saddened by what happened. That was quite obvious when Ebany Rosette Cookie did notice a look at her grandmother. Since she didn't like seeing her grandmother upset, Ebany didn't ask or pry and was always shy to do so.

The Fount frowns as he listens to the question she offers him, dipping his head lower as his eyes avoid her gaze. His gaze did briefly turn in the direction of his Soul Jam-topped staff, but it didn't linger there either.

He was still holding her hand at least. Judging by the careful and gentle squeeze he gave it, he was finding her presence grounding as he searched through whatever thoughts and emotions were warring inside his head.

He was quiet for a long pause as if he wasn't keen on answering her question... but then he finally took a slow and deep breath as he closed his eyes.

Fount: ...It's just... better if I stay here... Away from the masses... Where I can't hurt anyone... Or be hurt...

[the-lonely-spire]

Ebany: *holds his hand* I don't know. Trouble finds me anyway, but it's not always a bad thing. Honestly, had I not been sent to Crispia, I wouldn't have met so many new friends. Right now, I want to help you anyway I can. I always help others if they allow it. If I get dragged into things... I used to try to get out of them, but I tended to do so by solving the problem at hand. Being a Hybrid Cookie, one's life is filled with trouble of all sorts. Long story short, I'm used to stuff and this is nothing. *gives him a look* Don't even think of yourself as a burden either because you're not. I don't know if you're thinking it right now or not, but you better not be! To me, you're not one at all. I just see a new friend who needs some company and someone to talk to.

When she spoke of the Fount possibly thinking he might be a burden... That sounded personal. Ebany Rosette Cookie knew someone who thought herself a burden and she always told that Cookie that she wasn't.

Ebany Rosette's expression also told much if one paid attention to the details. Her life was never quiet as much as she wanted it to be. Being a hybrid meant that trouble and danger would automatically come her way. It was inevitable no matter what someone did.

In the Mythical Lands, there were many perils... some others look for and the rest find them. A few of them... hunt the Hybrid Cookies for sport... The Mythical Lands were a safe and beautiful land for the most part, but not every place was perfect. But hey, that's home.

If her friends were in trouble, Ebany Rosette Cookie didn't hesitate to help.

The Fount is quiet as he lets her speak, simply holding her hand and enjoying the small act of grounding comfort while he listens to her stories. He finally shows a reaction at the statement to not think of himself as a burden in the form of sinking into his shoulders slightly and looking away.

It seems that she might have correctly guessed exactly what kind of emotion is running through his head right now.

Fount: ...I'm just... not used to having company like this... Or someone to talk to like this. It's honestly a little bit terrifying with how unfamiliar it is.

[the-lonely-spire]

Pure Vanilla follows Candy Apple until the two Cookies come to a stop. He frowns at the sight of them sinking to the floor, a hint of concern gracing his features.

PV: You didn't upset me, Candy Apple... Are you alright?

---

Strawberry nods before she looks up the ladder, eying the book above with a slight frown. GingerBrave offers a few words of encouragement, which is enough to get her on the ladder.

Strawberry: Just... don't let the ladder fall... Please...

She requests before she begins the ascent, keeping her eyes locked on the prize ahead.

GB: You'll be fine! I can grab the book when you get back down here!

He calls after her, waiting by the base of the ladder in preparation of being handed the book as Strawberry cautiously climbs upwards.

Oh, more outsiders... the Fount is gonna looove this.

Hey, quiet down. We're tryina wrangle some teens here, we don't need more of you being rowdy. Where did you two come from anyway... They came from up, right? They didn't just follow the lights?

Hitchhiker Hat anon

Wizard: Hi again?? Do we know you??

GB: Wrangle some teens... Hey!

PV: Everyone... Calm down for a bit... There's a lot of noise and a lot of people talking right now. There's also still the predicament of our... extra friend up there...

PV: It looked like they came from somewhere up there, yes. I don't know how or from where.

Pure Vanilla appears to be whispering to... something or someone. The request to quiet down came from his direction, though it didn't sound like his voice.

Odd.

White Lily is regarding the two new arrivals with a hefty look of caution and skepticism, but she says nothing as she continues to straighten out the petals that top her staff. Her head is tilted a bit further back than that, signaling that she may be using the staff upkeep to mask the fact that she's sneaking glances up at the bookshelves above.

Almost as if she's watching for something. Strawberry also seems to be occasionally casting very subtle and uneasy glances towards the ceiling.

GingerBrave, determined to do the exact opposite of keeping an eye out for things that go bump in the library, focuses on the duo.

GB: Are you here to visit the Spire too? We're having some... uh... not so great luck with that so far... I don't think you wanna look up right now... It's nice to meet you though!! My name's GingerBrave and these are my friends!

Wizard: Didn't the apple themed Cookie say something about meeting us...?

( @minions-of-beasts-inc )