...They were... devout worshippers of a particular cult. An old one. They often went to go engage in their rituals and rites.
It's easy to get lost in the mire of worship. It does things to people, the occult -- but mostly their minds. Attempting communication with those kinds of powers deteriorates your mental state over time.
Sometimes it's a slower process. I watched them get worse the older I got.
[ For Pickles, it's an eventual thing to be apart from his parents. He's aware that humans grow at a slower rate, so this must have been really bad for Daan. To slowly watch them get worse and then never coming back again... ]
I was thirteen at the time, so... well. I was sent off to an inn first, the kinds they put stray kids like that in. Didn't stay there much long, though. I could tell they didn't have the best intentions for the children. I would be better off in the alleyways than in that place.
Just scraped by on the streets after that, doing... whatever I could to not starve. Eventually got a job as the assistant to the help of a more wealthy estate in Rondon. Lived there since.
Oh... yes. I suppose it's considered unusual to take the woman's surname, but the Baron had all but adopted me into his house and I didn't have a surname anyway... it benefit the house too, I'm sure. Keep the name alive and all.
But she was wonderful. Inquisitive and a beautiful soul. Somehow deigned to accept me as a partner in life when she probably could have had any well-off suitor she wished.
[ Him... just a dirty stray they cleaned up, and yet. ]
But she chose you, and I think... that is beautiful in its own right.
[ Pickles, who normally doesn't care about romance or anything whether it be from the world of humans or dogs, appreciates the sentiment. Also because it's like being chosen from the kennel out of all the other dogs. And that's what makes it special. ]
...Yeah. [ Certain details leave things a bit... ambiguous here and there, but the core still stands -- he loved her. Loves her, not even past tense. ] For that time... I do think I would be considered happy.
I am glad that you had that sort of happiness in your life.
[ Even if it was temporary, but Pickles won't say that. He realizes and it won't do anything to shove the metaphorical knife into his heart. Instead, he holds onto Daan's hand again, since giving him a hug last time made him look uncomfortable(??). ]
[ These hallucinations... they shift, from her voice to theirs, and back to hers. Very mean but funny of the flavourtext to say it's laughter and all, because he hears giggles, an unfulfillable promise of together forever... but it's fainter as the tea wears off slowly, the imagined feeling of her arms around his shoulders disappearing. He just looks at his hand being held, actually real in this moment. ]
It's... wearing off, I think. Sorry for the trouble and all. I'll be alright.
[ It really is the fact that I have to live with that Pickles is ICly conventionally handsome and I have to be blind to it being Timmy Chalamet because Daan would not know who that is. You're like a weird son to me who is also man's best friend.
It's not quite a proper smile, just maybe sort of a ghost of one but there was an attempt at coming off as okay. ]
I do hope you'll be open to me helping you when you're in trouble like this too.
[ Look, those are just his thoughts, okay. I think Pickles can do so much. (but he's dead)
Pickles looks up at Daan. ]
... Then, I am glad that you think so. It is rather difficult to do so as a dog due to communication failures, so to hear that I have helped you in a way that matters means a lot to me.
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[ The voices shift a little. You don't want to come with us, Daan/Daniël? Alright, stay here if you want. We'll be back. ]
I haven't seen them in fifteen years. They were... preoccupied, with their own interests.
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[ :c
Pickles turns a row in the cube. ]
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It's easy to get lost in the mire of worship. It does things to people, the occult -- but mostly their minds. Attempting communication with those kinds of powers deteriorates your mental state over time.
Sometimes it's a slower process. I watched them get worse the older I got.
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How did you live from then on?
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Just scraped by on the streets after that, doing... whatever I could to not starve. Eventually got a job as the assistant to the help of a more wealthy estate in Rondon. Lived there since.
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Did it make you happy?
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[ He was fine. He had a job, a roof over his head, and that was fine. He hears whispers at night and yellow eyes in the dark, but that was fine.
He just ignores it, he always does. ]
...Though eventually, it did. The young lady of the house... Elise von Dutch. She was like no other... and somehow, the woman I eventually married.
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Pickles looks so surprised. Daan was in love! And married someone he loved! Pickles would gasp, but like. "Was". mm................. ]
Is that where you got your surname from? What was she like?
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But she was wonderful. Inquisitive and a beautiful soul. Somehow deigned to accept me as a partner in life when she probably could have had any well-off suitor she wished.
[ Him... just a dirty stray they cleaned up, and yet. ]
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[ Pickles, who normally doesn't care about romance or anything whether it be from the world of humans or dogs, appreciates the sentiment. Also because it's like being chosen from the kennel out of all the other dogs. And that's what makes it special. ]
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...Yeah. [ Certain details leave things a bit... ambiguous here and there, but the core still stands -- he loved her. Loves her, not even past tense. ] For that time... I do think I would be considered happy.
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I am glad that you had that sort of happiness in your life.
[ Even if it was temporary, but Pickles won't say that. He realizes and it won't do anything to shove the metaphorical knife into his heart. Instead, he holds onto Daan's hand again, since giving him a hug last time made him look uncomfortable(??). ]
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[ These hallucinations... they shift, from her voice to theirs, and back to hers. Very mean but funny of the flavourtext to say it's laughter and all, because he hears giggles, an unfulfillable promise of together forever... but it's fainter as the tea wears off slowly, the imagined feeling of her arms around his shoulders disappearing. He just looks at his hand being held, actually real in this moment. ]
It's... wearing off, I think. Sorry for the trouble and all. I'll be alright.
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[ Pickolee Chalamat smiles at Daan, happy that it seems to be wearing off. Bad vibes, go away. ]
I am glad that I could help.
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It's not quite a proper smile, just maybe sort of a ghost of one but there was an attempt at coming off as okay. ]
I do hope you'll be open to me helping you when you're in trouble like this too.
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There was an attempt and Pickles squeezes his hand for a moment. ]
I will. I am aware that things are difficult to get through alone, even if I would prefer to be alone sometimes.
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Thank you for the trinket...
[ Cube. This is already seeing use btw since he lent it to Alfyn to distract from the thoughts. ]
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Of course. I am glad to have the chance to help you.
[ Because he's normally a dog. ]
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You've helped plenty.
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Pickles looks up at Daan. ]
... Then, I am glad that you think so. It is rather difficult to do so as a dog due to communication failures, so to hear that I have helped you in a way that matters means a lot to me.
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I can only apologise for the amount of back and forth that happens along the way sometimes.
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[ He squeezes Daan's hand a little. ]
Would you mind me staying here for a little while? Or would you prefer to be alone, now that things are a little better?
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[ You being locked into playing human!Pickles for backtags is taking me out. ]
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Pickles smiles at him, because he definitely wants to stay. ]
I do not need to be entertained. As long as I have your company, I am satisfied.
[ if he had a tail right now, it would wag a lot. pseudo dad... ]
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A quiet moment is alright, I guess...
Yeah.
Haven't had one of those in a while -- not a normal one.
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