[Action] > backdated to yesterday afternoon for pacing's sake.

[vermified]

[If you happen to be out and about in the village today, you might find find a strange sight. There is a scattered trail of brightly coloured candies in the snow, in various locations throughout the village. Where a tree or a bush might have once been, there is now nothing but candy. In the smithy, what was once a sword is now candy. The broom that might have been useful in cleaning up such a mess is also gone. Certain spots in the grocery store are full of candy as well- as if someone had taken something off of a shelf and replaced it with a handful of sweets. The entire tomato and pepper sections have been completely cleared out, inside transformed into bins of candy.

And in the plaza, sitting on the edge of the fountain, is Edward, his face buried in his arms. It's hard to tell if he's annoyed or just downright depressed. And the fountain itself, instead of being filled with the normal flowing water or even seasonal ice?

Full. Of. Candy.]


[ooc: Edward has the superpower of the SKITTLES MAN. May children everywhere now love him. Just don't let him shake their hands...]

Comments

[vermified]

[For once, Edward is pretty relieved by the distance. The comment puzzles him for a moment, but he takes a likely guess at it.]

For Capell, my lord?

[chaincutter]

He might have run off, if not for you.

[vermified]

I consider myself lucky he didn't run off because of me. He thought me to be the villain. [He pauses, and then-] I'm glad, though. That I could be of help to you both.

[chaincutter]

Hm. [He goes silent for a bit and idly examines what used to be a working fountain, picking up a handful of candy and letting it fall back in.] He said you turned his door to candy.

[vermified]

[ERK. Caught. Edward sinks down a bit, like a chided dog.] ...It seems this experiment has given me a very strange effect, my lord.

[chaincutter]

[Honestly, Edward. Even Sigmund's six-year-old self would have had a hard time keeping that a secret for long.] It might be a problem.

[vermified]

[Anyone else would've gotten the Edward equivalent of "no shit, Sherlock". As it is, Edward just gives him a long-suffering look.] I'm not sure what can be done about it.

[chaincutter]

[Sigmund is immune to that look.] You've no control at all?

[vermified]

None. I don't even know why it's happening. I've never had an experiment affect me like this before.

[chaincutter]

[And Edward does about as well without explanations as he might do without air. Wonderful.] Try not to touch anything important.

[vermified]

[SIGH.] That's why I left the house.

[chaincutter]

[Now, now, Edward. No need to look quite that downtrodden.] ...Chicken, right?

[vermified]

[Oh that wasn't vague at all.] My lord?

[chaincutter]

You like chicken soup. Correct? [He wasn't calling you a coward or anything, Ed, don't worry.] I doubt you'll be able to cook.

[vermified]

[...Oh. OH GOD HE CAN'T COOK ANYTHING, HOW IS HE SUPPOSED TO EAT

Though the offer is unexpectedly kind.] Y... yes, my lord. I'm sorry for causing you trouble.

[chaincutter]

Capell and Katie will still need to eat. [Something that isn't candy. But maybe Edward should apologize to them instead, if Sigmund's cooking.]

[vermified]

...How is Capell, by the way? [He's a little nervous about asking, but it's sort of an important thing to know.]

[chaincutter]

He's- [He's so tiny and he still looks so much like Sigmund but not quite and he ran up and hugged him and called him father and- but Edward probably doesn't want to hear any of that. Sigmund takes a breath and starts again.] He seems... happy.

[vermified]

[Edward has a pretty good idea that's not all he has to say, but he's not expecting any big revelations, certainly not on the first day. He nods.] I thought that as well. Much bolder as well, for a child.

[chaincutter]

[This conversation is meandering into dangerous territory for Sigmund. Nothing to cause guilt like seeing a happy, well-adjusted and loving child. It's probably for the best if they just... avoid this subject for now.]

Do you intend to stay away?

[vermified]

...I don't want to. But I'm concerned about what could happen if I touch someone.

[chaincutter]

Perhaps you should stay at the smithy. [...Alright, that's kind of cruel and he knows it.] Or not leave your room.

[vermified]

[....SOB, HE'S BEEN BANISHED.] Wh... whatever you think is best.

[chaincutter]

[Stop being a drama queen, Edward. No one was banished.] I wouldn't want any accidents.

[vermified]

[HIS ROOM OR THE SMITHY? Come on.] Nor I. I don't know what would happen, and... I'd rather not know.