sticksandbones | good morning starshine

Excellent, I will be right there!

[ It won't take him long to show up, Staff instantly focusing on Josh and his smile blossoming into a friendly, open one. ]

Hello, my friend!

[When he gets there, Joshua is sitting on the steps up to the front door of the inn, a tiny white hedgehog curled up on his lap, seemingly asleep.

Josh lifts a hand in greeting, eyes flicking to the staff for a moment. Hmm. A literal seeing eye staff?]

Hello, Pure Vanilla. How are things?

As well as could be, all things considering. What of yourself? I trust all is well?

[ He stops when he's close enough, and settles his Staff into the crook of his arm, turning his attention to the little Hedgehog. Hm. ]

May I take a look?

So far, so good.

[Ignoring the healing claw wounds on his leg, of course, but! The little hedgehog lifts his head, nose sniffing away. He turns, looking up at Joshua for a moment, who nods in response to whatever unheard thing was said.]

Go right ahead.

[ Ignoring the claw mark - so far so good hm? - Pure Vanilla waits politely for the communication between the two to come to a conclusion, then offers a small smile when he's given the go ahead. ]

Thank you.

[ Fixing his attention on the Hedgehog, Pure Vanilla's staff closes and his eyes open. ]

Oh...

[ It's quite beautiful, really, even with as dim as it is. The Celestial origins spark a resonance and he's now very glad he decided to go with his idea. It may help. He closes his eyes again, Staff opening. ]

Oh my little friend, you are not well indeed.

Edited 2024-03-29 01:26 (UTC)

[As Pure Vanilla starts to look - really look - at the hedgehog, Josh frowns thoughtfully. There's... a lot of power coming from him, suddenly. A lot of somehow familiar power. That's... hm. What is he?

He's quick to shift out of it once Pure Vanilla stops, though. Like nothing happened.]

You should have seen him when I found him.

[He hasn't improved by leaps and bounds, but at least he has enough energy to not just lay lethargic inside of a pouch.]

Ah, I must admit, I am surprised you found him alive. His light is so very dim.

[ Setting his Staff into the crook of his arm, Pure Vanilla reaches into a little inner pocket of his robes to pull out a Moonstone. To an untrained eye it merely glimmers with a soft blue sheen, but Josh will be able to see the power that Pure Vanilla poured into it, it throbs like a faint heart beat and the colors shift more iridescent deeper in. The perfect catalyst for something.

Or a little snack for an unwell star.

He holds it out for the other to take. ]

And I'm surprised you can see it.

[Though he doesn't extend that commentary any further, simply giving Pure Vanilla a raised eyebrow and a smile.

The Moonstone is interesting, though, and he accepts it gladly. The power coming off of it is nothing he's really seen before. Though, considering what he felt coming off of Pure Vanilla a moment ago, it isn't surprising. Josh holds it out to the hedgehog for inspection, letting him sniff it before his expression seems to just light up. He'd been sitting fairly relaxed before, but now he's basically unfolding from himself, little paws reaching out to take it as his tiny tongue begins to mlem at the surface of the stone.

He must have said something, too, because Josh chuckles quietly in response.]

Seems like he likes it.

Oh! That would be my Souljam. It allows me to see certain Truths.

[ He taps the gem on his chest, as he watches the moonstone being licked, which makes him beam happily, tail waggling. If the little Hedgehog decides to try and bite... it'll find the stone gives like rock candy.

Welcome to Earthbread items, everything is edible. Hearing it's liked makes him relieved. ]

I truly hope it helps.

Your Souljam?

[Not a disbelieving tone by any means, and more an invitation to expand further. A very loud invitation, but!

The hedgehog does indeed try to nibble the stone, and when he finds that little bits crack off, he just goes ham on it. Gnawing the rock everywhere, trying to break off as much as he can. Faster method of consuming, you know.]

We'll find out soon enough. I'm sure he'll appreciate the variety, at any rate. Living on one flavor alone gets boring pretty fast. Yours seems to be a hit, though.

Ah, I fear that would be a very long explanation.

[ He chuckles gently as he says it, however, before moving to sit himself on the inn porch as well. Enough of a distance away from Josh to be comfortable, but close enough to talk casually, laying his staff down to the side (it hates being laid down and glares uselessly). His smile is soft as the Hedgehog figures out he can Munch. He wonders what it tastes like for the little guy. ]

Should he require more, I have five more Moonstones I can empower, and a variety of other magical means, though they are far less in imbuing magic directly into things. As for my Souljam...

[ He doesn't unhook it from his clothing, but he does turn it towards Josh so the other can look at it. ]

It was graced to me for seeking the very thing it represents. The Light of Truth. It is a small portion of our Gods' power, gifted to those Cookies who embody the very essence of them. Truth is merely a small portion of the larger power of Knowledge.

[The hedgehog watches Pure Vanilla with golden eyes as he sits on the steps, even as he continues chowing down on the Moonstone. The mention of 'more' makes his tiny little ears perk, and though his mouth is stuffed with rock candy fragments, he tilts his head up a little bit as if silently saying something to Joshua, who nods in response.]

He doesn't want to sap you of energy and resources, but he'll gladly take another later on.

[That explanation, though... Joshua does peer at the stone, really peers at it as Pure Vanilla speaks. The Light of Truth being only a part of the more broad span of Knowledge makes sense, because along with truth comes fiction and everything inbetween. It's an awfully convenient thing, being able to see the truth of everything. He would know.]

Well, you seem to handle the truth of things fairly well. I can't imagine that's the case with everything, though. Some things are better off not being known.

[ That gets a wider smile out of him, and he inclines his head gently towards the Hedgehog. He might not be able to hear him - possibly could if he used his Souljam but - but Pure Vanilla can speak directly to him. ]

Consider it done, my friend. A week should be sufficient to allow me enough time to recover fully to put the same amount of power into it.

[ And then he ponders Josh thoughtfully. There is still the hesitance in handing someone the Souljam, but with his recent experience with the Beast - and before that, handing it over for testing - he's realized to guard such a thing is inviting Corruption. So with a small smile, he reaches up to unhook the gem from it's slot on his cape, then hand it out to Josh. ]

They are, indeed. It cost me my normal sight to see such Light, and even now there are times I hesitate to Look. It was fairly recently I was unable to handle what I had seen, as well.

[ Should Josh take the Gem, he'll feel a resonance. It's not the same as if the Light had chosen him - sorry Josh there is just no way you embody the Truth enough for it to speak to you - but Josh will be able to feel the power. The presence.

The tie still there, weakened by planes, to Deceit. ]

[The hedgehog seems to understand, and nods to Pure Vanilla, very politely swallowing his mouthful despite the voracity he'd been showing before. It isn't spoken, but in Pure Vanilla's head, he will hear a soft but very polite voice saying:]

'Thank you.'

[The gem being handed over so willingly is a surprise, but not an unpleasant one. With something so powerful, Joshua didn't expect to be allowed to touch it at all. Interesting... He takes it as offered, holding it gently in his hands. He knows how valuable it is, and he isn't that inconsiderate.

He can feel that power, though. It's strong. Similar to the uncanny feeling of being watched, somehow, and he's not sure if he particularly likes it. But the tie to Deceit is hard to miss, when he looks a bit deeper. There's potential in this, like in all sources of power, to unbalance.

Hmm. Best keep an eye on this one, just in case.]

Do you think it was worth giving up your sight for?

[ As Josh examines the Souljam in a way that Pure Vanilla thought he would - that of someone with magical means themselves - he reaches out to gently pet the Hedgehogs head as it munches and rests. A light touch with his finger.

And to the question? ]

Yes.

[ No hesitance. ]

I would have given much more, and gratefully, for the Truth that came with it. The understanding it bestowed upon me. I was seeking the answers to the worth of power, to how it should be best applied, and it answered. It has thus guided my life to it's best use. It was more than worth it.

[Revati seems content to just sit and munch away for now, so Joshua leaves him to it. The conversation has taken an interesting turn, after all.]

How much more is worth that truth?

[He tips his head, curious, and hands the Souljam back. He'd given up quite a lot himself, of course, but he's more interested in Pure Vanilla's answer.]

[ Ah, that IS an interesting question. Taking the Souljam back, he affixes it back to his robe, pondering as he does. What is the Truth worth? He thinks of White Lily and her fracturing, for the pursuit of something akin to Truth. For Knowledge.

Why did a piece of Knowledge go to you? It should have gone to her.

How much of himself would he give, to be allowed to wield this Grace? ]

I believe there is no easy answer for that. If I give everything I am, then mayhap I would lose the piece of myself that resonated with the Light to begin with. Yet I would give, gladly, what was demanded of me. What was required. For with the Souljam by my side, I am able to help those who need it. I am able to care for and keep everyone safe and healthy. I am able to bring joy, peace, and light to their lives, so they needn't worry or fret.

[ He smiles towards Josh, his Staff's eye curving upwards into one as well. ]

[Aha. That is an interesting answer, just as he expected. Joshua ponders it for a moment, ponders the staff that seems to be smiling just as brightly at him as Pure Vanilla is, and hums thoughtfully.]

So, you'd shirk caring for yourself to care for others, all because this gave you the ability to? That's quite a burden you're shouldering there.

[Hopefully, that isn't what quickens that seed of deceit that he detected in the Souljam. It is, in a sense, lying to yourself, isn't it? Taking on such a massive burden of truth and refusing to admit the toll that it's taking on you?]

Perhaps, yet it is one I shoulder gladly. And-

[ He pauses and his smile turns wistful and fond, as he turns his gaze out towards the Grove proper. He's unaware he's answering Josh's thought, as his ears lift a little to listen to the Groves noises. ]

I am truly not taking it on alone. There are four others graced by similar Souljams, all signifying a Virtue they correspond to the most. Resolution. Passion. Abundance. Freedom. They stand beside me, and they share my burdens as much as I share theirs. Ah-haha, even if they had to yell at me about trying to keep my burdens to myself. It is a lesson I will soon not forget again. And beyond that, there are even others around me, who lift me up when I falter, who cheer me on as much as I cheer them on. I am nothing without them. I could give everything, yet without them around me, what would be the point?

[ His friends. Dark Cacao, Hollyberry, Golden Cheese... White Lily. Gingerbrave. His heart swells with love and affection for them all. ]

[Ah. Well, isn't that so very prime time anime? Joshua huffs out a laugh, tipping his head back to look up at the sky.]

Sounds like you have quite the support network behind you, then.

[He lets that hang for a second, just a heartbeat, then shifts his eyes to give Pure Vanilla a sidelong glance.]

Just make sure you don't catch the embodiment of Truth lying to himself for any reason.

[He felt it. He knows it's there. Don't try to ignore it or say it's not.]

[ A cute game about Cookies actually!

He smiles softly and nods. Though he's missing them dearly here, he has Dark Cacao and he knows the man won't hesitate to shake him again.

And ... then he pauses to the glance, his Staff noticing it from it's own side-eye. Ah. He felt Shadow Milk. That makes him sigh softly, his Staff closing it's eye. ]

It has happened before, I'm afraid. Where I could not trust myself, or whose voice I was hearing. Yet a dear friend gave me the solution for that. When I cannot trust myself, then I place my trust in my friends.

[Hm. Joshua snorts softly in lieu of another laugh, eyeing the gem pinned back to Pure Vanilla's robes. It could be dangerous. For now it seems fairly innocent, but...]

And if your friends aren't around? What then?

[Always have a contingency plan. He tips his head a little more towards Pure Vanilla, so he isn't looking out of his peripheral anymore.]

You can't always count on them being around, you know. Who knows what this place has in store? Solutions that might work at home may not work the same here.

[ What then, indeed? Will he fall to Deceit, like Shadow Milk? There is some Truth in the other still, after all. The concepts are intrinsically linked. He thinks of his inability to truly stop White Lily's pursuit. He failed to stop her, would he fail to stop himself as well?

No. He can't. ]

If I find I cannot trust myself, and I am alone, then I will do what needs be done to make sure I bring no harm to anyone.

[ Whether that means taking himself out of the equation, or by breaking his link to the Souljam, and letting it find another to wield it. ]

If I can no longer discern the differences between Truth and Deceit, then I no longer have the right to bear the Jam.

[It's quite the heavy response, loaded down with responsibility. Joshua can feel the weight of that burden on his own shoulders, because he's carried it before, knows it intimately despite his refusal to acknowledge it. He'd at least known how to identify the tipping point and do something about it. It sounds like Pure Vanilla does, too.

The moment of silence that follows Pure Vanilla's words is broken by a hearty crunch from the hedgehog, like a cat crunching down on a particularly hard piece of kibble.]

Sounds like you've got it all figured out, then. As long as you're confident you can follow through before succumbing to something unsavory, of course.

[Deceit is one hell of a shift from Truth, after all. It's all too easy to stumble.]

[ The crunch startles him for a brief moment, his ears flicking up into Alert! position, until he realizes it's just the Hedgehog chewing on the Moonstone. He shoots the little Star a fond, affectionate smile. It helps ease the tension that had built remarkably well, and he chuckles when Josh says he has it figured out. ]

I am confident, my friend. There may be times I cannot fully trust myself, but I know I will never let myself be used to harm anyone else.

[Chop down the tree with your own hands.

He had denied it then, and he will deny it again and again. He is not a Puppet to Deceit. He smiles and shifts himself a little, tucking his legs up, getting more comfortable in almost a sheep manner, before tilting his head. ]

May I ask you a question?

good morning starshine

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