mini event: growing pains

[sticksandbonesmods]

Who: The Grove
What: Something is happening!
When: Time is Fake you know that
Where: The General Store
Warnings: :)

It's a normal day, isn't it? Or as normal as it can be in Aldric's Grove while a mischievous and loving skeleton is pranking literally everyone. The Goddess's statues rest in the center by the well. Flowers are blooming. Plantimals are also blooming, and getting into things they shouldn't, and playing. Biblically accurate animals are grazing peacefully or resting in trees.

It might even be pleasant.




Up until a large crash from the General Store. Maybe you should check it out.

Comments

[sticksandbonesmods]

"Either it's gonn' be just what I need, or a real kick in the teeth- haven't had a body to eat or drink with for centuries."

... Granted, it could also be both.

"Normally I brew it for the smell and then leave it as an offering at one o' the shrines."

But then he. Kinda. Grew a body.

Rapidly. So it's no surprise the tea was left out.

Heimr takes a slow, almost cautious sip before his eyebrows shoot up and he exhales as the cup pulls away-

"It was both."

[winterfrosting]

Cacao gives a sharp but warm bark of laughter at that.

"Sometimes it is indeed both. How do you feel? In pain? I can call for Pure Vanilla Cookie if needed..."

[sticksandbonesmods]

"Gods, yes. I can't say this is an experience I recommend."

PLEASE HE IS SO SORE. HE IS SO SORE AND SO TIRED.

[winterfrosting]

He nods.

"Then drink your tea. I will go find him and return promptly."

[sticksandbonesmods]

"Mm. Will do."

... But first-

"What do I call you? I knew you once, by a different name."

[winterfrosting]

"....ah. Vanilla told me about that. These... other selves. I am Dark Cacao Cookie."

[sticksandbonesmods]

"... Somehow it suits you. Mean that as a compliment. You were a friend."

[winterfrosting]

That makes him smile slightly. Barely a quirk to the mouth.

"Well, hopefully that can continue."

And off he goes! Thankfully there's only so many places Vanilla might be.

[purevanillacookie]

And Cacao will return with one (1) blonde former cookie. The first thing out of his mouth?

"Return to bed!"

And if that is not complied with he will physically carry you do not make him do this.

[sticksandbonesmods]

Heimr had just been waiting with some tea and much-too-large clothes and then this! Happens! And he just barks out a laugh-

"I been in bed since winter, let me have my drink!"

[purevanillacookie]

HMPH! WHO IS THE MEDICAL OFFICER ON THIS SHIP!? But PV will grant him that, set his staff aside, and lay both hands on the poor mans head. His healing feels like gentle warmth, seeping in and easing aches and pains in a trickle down effect.

"Have you eaten?"

[winterfrosting]

"Not yet. I did not want to shove food on him right away."

[sticksandbonesmods]

"Which I appreciate. Starting with liquid seemed like the safest bet."

Heimr is quiet and allows any other manhandling as needed- just don't send him to bed yet.

"... For the record, Van, this ain't normal of humans. You ain't gotta worry about suddenly regrowing or changing anything."

[purevanillacookie]

"Indeed it is. Honey in the tea?" Aimed at Cacao mostly.

He won't send him to bed right away. And will laugh as his mind is read.

"Ah, good, I do not wish to adjust again." Horns, hooves, and wool is enough thanks. But the man is going to get the gentlest of non-invasive physical exams anyways. Sir. What the fuck?

[winterfrosting]

"Hm." He nods and goes to get honey- he just boiled what he already made, after all.

[sticksandbonesmods]

Heimr allows the exam. He's tall, still- no longer seven feet tall, but he's still big-bodied. For as gaunt as his face seems, he's a bit heavy-set- not matching Aldric's lean stature at all. By now, surely the Cookies have seen the photo of the red-haired, green-eyed man. Now? Now his hair is long, dark and greying, and curly. Nothing seems to be wrong, save for a certain stiffness, a bone-deep soreness that comes from suddenly growing flesh, bone and more in a matter of seconds.

"I had a weird time lately- bein' sick and the like. And then I had dreams 'bout the past... When I was still Aldric. I woke up.. thirty minutes ago? Felt like I was burnin' up. And then... Boom. Crack. Body."

[purevanillacookie]

"Yes, Ydalir told me you were ill, but there was nothing I could do at the time." Dreams of the past... And look, Aldric can be said about the man. PV remembers his talk with Gnosis and how it could only be said about the Grove.

"Aldric." A little test, and Pure Vanilla smiles and hugs the man, gentle enough to not break his back but hard enough to squish him a little. And have some more healing magic poured into him for that bone deep ache, let's clear that up. And some energy. "Though I am unsure what has happened, welcome back, my friend." To his name, as well.

[winterfrosting]

While Vanilla is squishing him Cacao reaches over and takes the mug to start adding honey and mixing it to melt it.

"Do not struggle, he won't let go until he is satisfied."

[sticksandbonesmods]

He doesn't mind the affection but you are sending two handsome older men to dote on him and I must ask you consider that. He does pause though, even as he returns the hug, shy and awkward-

"No. Not anymore. Aldric is... me, yes. But he's also a long-dead man. I don't even look the same anymore. Heimr is all there is, now."

[purevanillacookie]

Cacao you can't call him out like that, that's so rude, stop warning his victims.... But sorry, sir, returning the hug means Pure Vanilla tightens his. Cacao wasn't wrong.

"If Heimr is still how you wish to be known, then that is how it will be, my friend. How are you feeling now?"

At least he will let go so Heimr can properly assess himself.

[winterfrosting]

It sounds similar to the difference between them and these previous selves, from what he's been told. Only Heimr remembers back then. He hands the mug back, looking thoughtful.

[sticksandbonesmods]

Oh nooooo he's getting a warm hug oh noooo whatever will he doooo. Other than accept the mug and take a sip, mindful of Pure Vanilla.

"Thank you, Dark Cacao. ... And it makes sense, don't it? It's an entirely new body, after all. I don't even think I'm the same ethnicity..."

[purevanillacookie]

Suffer through more hugs. But not right now, Pure Vanilla will let Heimr focus on his tea.

He is going to start gathering things to make broth though; sir you regrew a body, your immune system needs some immediate boosting. As much as PV hates it, bone broth is the best.

Also what's ethnicity????

"It does. I am no longer Percival Vienetta, after all, even if my soul is the same." The name sounds so weird to him but that's what he signed his stuff he found. Bizarre. "You are Heimr now."

[winterfrosting]

"Percival... hm." He wanders over to watch PV cook, his tone dry as a desert but clear to his fellow cookie- and possibly Heimr too, since Dom was also this way- that he finds the name very amusing.

[sticksandbonesmods]

After a moment, Heimr just chuckles a bit.

"You must'a passed the store's storeroom on your way in, right? If you need any of the produce back there, go for it. Plum'll allow it if it's for me."

If I forgot to mention, the store room does have plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, alongside spice jars and other lovely cooking implements. He'd sell this at any time, too, you just need to ask.