[Truth can be painful in so very many ways, and he is so intimately aware of all of them. There is a unique terror he feels when Pavlova says this to him, with all his heart, his sincerity. It was similar to when Pure Vanilla had said it to him, too, though at the time he had been in a wretched state of mind, had lashed out violently.]
[That isn't what's going to happen here, though something rises up in him that feels horror. Guilt almost. Is that love for him? Truly? Or is it actually for the Fount? Does Pavlova not realize they're different? No, they aren't, says a small voice, deep within his soul. He wants to twist this around so badly, warp it until it's Deceit, but he can't. He's left feeling bewildered, instead.]
[Shadow Milk's response is to take long, shuddering breath.]
[Is it possible for him to be loved, even with Pure Vanilla gone? Is there really anyone else out there besides Pure Vanilla that could?]
[Shadow Milk doesn't speak a response, but he does pull Pavlova in closer, tightly, possessively, and tries to smother what definitely sounds like a heaving sob so Pavlova doesn't notice. While he fails at words, Pavlova might be given the impression, mentally, as if Shadow Milk had floated the thought into his head himself, that he might return the sentiment.]
no subject
[That isn't what's going to happen here, though something rises up in him that feels horror. Guilt almost. Is that love for him? Truly? Or is it actually for the Fount? Does Pavlova not realize they're different? No, they aren't, says a small voice, deep within his soul. He wants to twist this around so badly, warp it until it's Deceit, but he can't. He's left feeling bewildered, instead.]
[Shadow Milk's response is to take long, shuddering breath.]
[Is it possible for him to be loved, even with Pure Vanilla gone? Is there really anyone else out there besides Pure Vanilla that could?]
[Shadow Milk doesn't speak a response, but he does pull Pavlova in closer, tightly, possessively, and tries to smother what definitely sounds like a heaving sob so Pavlova doesn't notice. While he fails at words, Pavlova might be given the impression, mentally, as if Shadow Milk had floated the thought into his head himself, that he might return the sentiment.]