sticksandbones | so i'll just wander home

Entry tags:

so i'll just wander home

Who: Pure Vanilla Cookie & You
What: Pure Vanilla is familiarizing himself with his surroundings
When: Endish of February
Where: All over the Grove
Warnings: Will edit if needed but nothing so far

a) take me to church - specific for ww but open to all otherwise

[Trying to orient himself more with the Grove, Pure Vanilla has taken to visiting the various buildings. The first place he visits is the one that calls to him most: the Church. It's quiet inside, cozy, and familiar in an unfamiliar way. It reminds him a little of the Solarium of Unity. Not quite in visuals - and most certainly not in the iconography that is completely foreign to him - but in the general feel of the place. There's a peace to it, a feeling of welcome. It sets him at ease, and he visibly relaxes.

He stops next to the pulpit, merely looking around for a moment, before a noise catches his attention and his staff glances up. Oh. While it proceeds to go through the stages of grief and attempts to curl its vines up to cover itself, Pure Vanilla smiles and tilts his head back towards the pigeons in the rafters. Are they mixed with plants? How peculiar.]

Hello there, little ones. I hope I am not disturbing you.

[Extending a hand, he waits patiently and is rewarded with a pigeon fluttering down to it. Because he's a fucking Disney princess and it's canon birds love him. Take it up with his world. The Staff glares at it like it's personally shit on it, but Pure Vanilla ignores it. Don't be mean.]

Do you live here?

[He's not expecting an answer, to be honest, but he is enjoying the bird. It's very cute.]

b) all that wander are not lost but this sheep may be

[Other than the Church, Pure Vanilla can be found in other places, studying them and getting used to them. He may be found in the Bath House, delightedly exploring this bodies waterproofing by taking a dip or two. Only to find out wool is very heavy when wet and waterproof doesn't mean unsinkable. The Therapy Office also calls to him, mostly the Library, where he can be found seated with a few books around him. Though they're mostly self-help, he's never read them before, and he's quite engrossed. He explores the School with the air of a teacher saddened by the state of it, mentally marking places he may be able to aid in refurbishing it. In fact, he may have a little pad of paper and pencil with him to make notes on it.

As promised, he can also be found at the Lab or Clinic so that the Healers there can look him over as they so desired. He will gladly offer any sort of samples that may be requested from him.

And last but not least, he can be found staring intently at the eyeball lemons at Elsword's House. Well, the staff is staring intently, Pure Vanilla looks amused and seems to be trying to convince the staff they're not going to respond to it.]

c) baa baa white sheep asks you for help

[Are sheep common in the Grove? If not, it might be quite bizarre to see a perfectly normal looking ram standing in the middle of the grove near the well. Simply standing there, stock still. Well, almost stock still, it's ears keep flicking up at every little sound. Nearby is a staff that may or may not be recognizable, laying in a puddle of water that had spilled from a drawn bucket, the eye on it frantically looking around.

Should the eye land on anyone, the sheep will twist it's ears in their direction, then turn it's head. It's eyes are open, blue and gold staring almost pleadingly at whomever approaches and it speaks.]

Help.

[Sheep sure did ask for help, do you accept this quest?]

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[OURGH PV PLEASE by the time this is over he's going to go blind-

That said, having someone entertain the birds is a blessing, so he isn't going to complain about it. He just watches out of the corner of his eye as the birds take turns getting ferried down to Pure Vanilla one by one. They're all incredibly docile and used to people after living here a while, though there are a couple that seem a bit flighty and unsure of the staff as it's lifted their way. A couple flutter their wings and hop away from it, but they'll come back eventually.]

Really? Cause I figured they just wanted to be away from the snow.

[That's probably also true, it had been snowing a lot before Pure Vanilla arrived. The plantimals desire warm and dry places.

He turns his attention to the floor as he sweeps, though he will keep talking in that low baritone he has.]

Yeah...I guess you're right. This place is meant to be non-demoninational. Anybody who wants to pray can come here and do it, even if it ain't somethin' I pray to.

[Wolfwood shrugs a shoulder. He doesn't judge (usually).]

Just don't read the books.

[The sheep is slowly amassing a tiny army of the pigeons on him, shh'ing them when they peck to establish sitting positions. One or two have climbed up onto his horns, clinging to the tips. His Staff looks so done with this, if it could sigh, it would as one runs away and Pure Vanilla pulls back to give it a little moment.]

The could roost in one of the empty buildings, where there would be no one to bother them. They are surprisingly hardy against the cold. Come, dear, come on...

[There, got another, though this one doesn't seem to want to get off the Staff, now that it's on, and pecks at Pure Vanillas fingers when he attempts to transfer it. It just makes him huff a laugh. Ornery.

He's not entirely sure what non-denominational means, but he gets the other part, and nods gently. The warning not to read the books makes him tilt his head, but he smiles anyways.]

Of course not, if that is your wish.

[He won't even ask why! Instead he focuses on winning the pigeons trust, letting his fingers be pecked.]

Thank you for this place, my friend.

[Wolfwood snorts, lifting his head to actually look back at the sheep for a moment.]

Not gonna ask why?

[He's almost surprised. Most people would, immediately. Then it's back to sweeping as Pure Vanilla continues wrangling the birds, having become a veritable perch for them as they nestle on his horns or in his wool. Or on the staff, unfortunately for the staff.]

...it's nothing special. I just asked Heimr for it.

[And Wolfwood gets a smile in return as the pigeon finally steps onto his finger but somehow manages to look disgruntled about it.]

There is no need to ask, my friend. You do not wish them to be read, and I will respect your wishes.

[It seems like Pure Vanilla has the pigeons all on himself now, and he's looking like a veritable park statue. To keep them from making a mess, he heads for the door with them in tow, shaking his head to Wolfwood playing it down.]

It is more special than you think. A place of repose is most welcome.

[He won't be gone for long as he leaves the church with his pigeon entourage in tow. He'll simply shake them off outside so they spend a few moments flying around. They'll eventually return but for now, they can stretch their wings. Pure Vanilla will even make sure to clean his hooves with his robe ends before coming back inside.]

That should buy some time. May I help further?

[Wolfwood certainly isn't used to people being this good and understanding. Almost like someone else he knows.

He watches as Pure Vanilla releases the pigeons outside (they'll be back within like, 30 minutes tops) and returns, his hooves clicking on the stone floor. Despite the church being relatively small for a church, the sound echoes as he walks, making the place feel even more dilapidated than it is. Still though, if people find it to be an inviting, safe place to be? Who is Wolfwood to argue that.

He sighs, leaning on his broom again.]

You could help clean up, I guess. There's not a whole lot left to be done since I got most of the plants out that had been growin' in here, unless you've got an idea for keepin' the birds from making a mess.

Of course, I would be delighted to help with both!

[Not that Wolfwood isn't right, and there's probably not much to do around the small Church, but you bet your bottom dollar Pure Vanilla is going to figure out a way to get things absolutely sparkling. If there's not something to dust with, he'll use his robes, scrub things up and make them shine.

And he will think, his staff eying the rafters above them.]

The best way, I believe, would be to make a roost for them outside the Church. Too far away and they may not use it, as they see the Church as their home, but if it is close enough to it, mayhap they will take to it more readily?

[He places his hand on his chin as he thinks, smearing a little bit of dust across it as he does.]

It is the only way I can think of to minimize needing to clean up. Any other way, such as meshing or draping under the rafters, would require them taken down and cleaned.

[A roost, huh. He wonders if that's something he could purchase. He'll have to ask Heimr about it sometime, assuming he could even convince the birds to leave. They seem awfully content with the setup they have currently as it stands.

Pure Vanilla may unfortunately be using his robes to dust, since Wolfwood doesn't have anything like that on him handy. Just his broom, which he's been sweeping at the floor with this whole time.]

I'll keep that in mind.

[There's a beat of silence, then, as the two work. The place isn't filthy- Pure Vanilla happened to arrive after Wolfwood cleaned up most of the worst of it- but it still has work to be done. And that comes with time to...talk. To think.]

...I don't really get why you're helpin' me when I was kindof an asshole to you before.

[That gets a beaming smile at Wolfwood before Pure Vanilla settles in again to help make this little church clean as they can get it. The silence is companionable, interrupted only once in a while with a soft humming and the clip of hooves, and staff, on the floor as the ex-Cookie moves his way around. Care is taken to make sure everything is neat as possible.

The comment makes him hum, his ears twisting in Wolfwoods direction as he wipes his hands on his robes to clean them off. His staff is leaning against the wall now, just keeping an 'eye' out for him so he can work more freely.]

You did me no harm, my friend, and I understand your disbelief at the idea of a being who was a confectionery once before. It is a difficult concept to imagine, I am sure! Someone who was once a food stuff, and changed as well, which is outside the norm of this place? To call it into question is something anyone would do!

[He stops to admire his handiwork a little, checking to make sure everything is as clean as he can make it without better cleaning products, before turning to Wolfwood, his hands folding together and his sleeves covering them.]

And it is a joy to help another, even with something as simple as keeping the dust clear.

[Wolfwood watches as Pure Vanilla works, having stopped up near the pulpit so he can observe the other for a moment. Watching him move about the church as he does...it's the first time he's actually clocked the fact that Pure Vanilla has never once opened his eyes since he got here, yet somehow navigates a building he's never been in before with ease.]

...yeah. I can't imagine being turned into a sheep after being a cookie.

[Like. How do you even fathom something like that?

Then again, if he thinks about it, he does have experience in being turned into something he's not. Maybe not quite so dramatic as Pure Vanilla's transformation, but...

He sighs, pushing off the pulpit so he can go back to sweeping. There's another bit of silence before he decides to just...ask, so that he isn't wondering forever.]

Can...you see?

Neither could I before coming here, my friend! Yet, here I am!

[There's laughter in his words, bright and happy. He's gotten used to it already, and while humans and their functions are disgusting, sorry Wolfwood, he's adapted. Sort of. As Wolfwood returns to sweeping, Pure Vanilla will smile and settle in to sit a little. There's not much to be done without the proper equipment, and he's already planning on coming back later with some things.

The question makes him tilt his head out of his repose, smiling lightly.]

Yes, well enough. My Staff is connected with me, allowing me to see through it. With it, I see the world as most would see it, albeit perhaps a little lacking in depth.

[It's one singular eye, after all, compared to two. Said Staff seems to be dozing, though, as it's eye is closed currently. Maybe that's why Peepaw sat his ass down.]

I see. Seems pretty handy, considering.

[Okay noted. Pure Vanilla is blind, at least without his staff.]

So is it, uh...magic, then?

[The question makes him smile again, and he gestures towards the Staff. Wolfwood is free to pick it up and examine it, if he'd like. Peepaw remains seated. He's a Peepaw. He's comfortable. He may doze. He now has a pigeon on his horn as they begin to creep back in. He doesn't even blink.]

Yes, and a little sentient. Enough so that it may feel curiosity towards things. Though I sometimes wonder how much of that is simply a bleed from myself.

[The Staff will open its eye, haha not dozing, to Look at Wolfwood.]

...hang on. It's sentient?

[Wolfwood lowers his broom and, like. Looks over at the eye, as if he isn't sure he believes that.

But no, no...it sure is looking at him. It almost seems to be making a face at him, even.

Sortof.]

[If you see an expression, it's most certainly there somehow. Maybe the way the leaves that hide it fold and crease. It's studying Wolfwood as much as he's studying it now.]

Yes, though do not consider it so as in it will talk if given voice. It can... [How to put this delicately]. It sees, and can feel vague soft emotions, but only in so far as it knows them from my own. If we were removed far enough apart, it cannot think on it's own. It will simply close it's eye, and return to a stat of stasis. Does this make sense?

Kinda... [Barely. You can practically see the gears turning aggressively in his head as he tries to understand it.] So what you're sayin' is, it's connected to you. And it's animated only because you're with it, but also kindof...has a mind of its own, but it's also sortof your mind?

[????]

[That makes Pure Vanilla laugh and it does seem like whatever the Eye is doing gets overridden by Pure Vanilla's emotions in return, crinkling up into a "smile" as well, if the curve is any indication.]

I know, my friend, it is strange to speak of. It is alive and reacts as any plant does, as it was merely a flower staff before hand. I bound it to myself, and though I cannot say it has developed it's own soul - for it has not, you need not worry about that - it has taken on aspects of myself. It can feel but it cannot form thoughts, as you and I can.

[Mimicry. Sentient enough to look and study, but no actual thoughts. No desires. No wants.]

[God that is so fucking weird. But he guesses it's no different than someone doing experiments on themselves, in a way...just with magic instead.

Wolfwood feels an inward shudder pass through him at the thought.]

Pretty useful that you can do that at all. [...] Think you'd be able to do it for someone else? Or is it like...a personal thing.

[He's thinking about Elsword, honestly. He's missing an eye, now.]

[Honestly, this may be what gives Pure Vanilla the idea later with the eyeballs... He hums softly, wrapping the edges of his sleeves through his fingers as he thinks.]

I may be able to? With permission, as many might find it intrusive. It may also be quite disorienting, as you must imagine seeing out of it while it is over there, and being painfully aware my body is here instead. Plus...

[He hesitates, turning his head a little to ponder his staff.]

You must keep into consideration, everything of my world is made from similar things. I myself am made from vanilla bean and cream as a cookie, and my staff is a vanilla orchid. It was a quite harmonious binding.

I get what you're sayin'. Probably wouldn't be as "perfect", if you were to make somethin' like that here.

[Any prosthetic, be it an eye or a limb, is a tricky, delicate process. He himself has no idea exactly how Vash's arm works, for starters...just that it's made from Lost Technology, which is why he's able to use it as seamlessly as he would have his old arm.]

Yes... I would fear rejection, especially if the same thing happened.

[With the whole mild sentience thing. He stands and moves over to his staff to pick it up again finally. He studies it, eye to eye with it, before smiling a little and reaching up to take the pigeon off his horn and gently settling it on a piece of the church.]

But there are safeguards to place, so that no one gets hurt, if anyone would like to try.

I can think of a couple people who might benefit from that sorta thing, s'all. But that's not my call to make.

[He shrugs one shoulder, watching as Pure Vanilla walks over to retrieve his staff.]

Might be somethin' to think about though, if you and Add ever wanna work together on it at the clinic.

I do need to get in touch with this Add one day still, I shall bring it up to him if he is willing to listen.

[He looks around to this church and he can't help but smile. It's simple, and it has an inviting air, and ... well the pigeons do add a little charm to it, their soft cooing and the faint rustle of their feathers.

It feels like a Church should feel. Not the grand thing his architects made, and he was coronated in. Stained glass and gleaming columns of white chocolate. No. Simple. Welcoming. For all.]

May I come back here?

[A lot of folks in the Grove might assume Wolfwood would be like "no", since he's been grouchy about people squatting in the Church before. But...that was back when it was new, and he was trying to clean and people just kindof sat in it. Pure Vanilla, meanwhile, has been helping...and he seems generally interested in the place as a whole in a way that many others have not.

He purses his lips, picking up his broom and setting it aside for the time being.]

Yeah. Any time you want, even if I ain't here. Just make sure you close the door when you leave.

[Take a Peepaw Smile, Wolfwood, the Minotaur beaming happily at the other saying yes.]

Thank you, my friend, I will remember and shall take care to keep it clean and tidy. Thank you for having me today, and for allowing me to help.

[He looks up briefly and smiles at the birds.]

I shall also try to think of more ways to help our little friends find someplace else to perch. If you will excuse me?

[He gently sets his hand onto his chest and bows towards Wolfwood, so he can take his leave. He's intruded onto the mans good graces long enough for today.]

May you have a lovely day.

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so i'll just wander home

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