sticksandbones | (no subject)

( the house is cleaned. the tea kettle is on. silvery-purple wards have been painted on the doorways and windows. and felicity is in a bundle of blankets on the floor of the living room curled up with a ragdoll cat, barely awake. at the sound of footsteps, she manages to lift her head for a look, but she's clearly exhausted. )

Hm...? Nothing else happened, right?

I made a list.

[The past few days have been intense, to say the least. Not just that but emotions have been running high, and Dipper being the emotional sponge with difficult to control empathy, has been feeling it like someone has gripped his heart and won't let go.]

[So he copes by being an anxious, neurotic busybody and has been just running around this house doing all many of chores and tasks in order not to vibrate apart.]

This is the stuff in the kitchen we have, and this is everything we've used in the past two days, and this is the projected usage going forward-

Lists...

( a good idea, probably, but her head hurts so, so much that it's hard to parse what she's reading for a moment, even with his explanation. )

Normally I go foraging. I've been teaching Sesa. But... I don't think it's a good idea right now. Some of the herbs and stuff we've been growing, I think. If not, we can get the seeds from Heimr- or the plants he sells. Might need to ask Moder for a boost...

( felicity is just. staring at the netbook. she's livid. she's furious, even. she has to let go of the book before it crumbles to dust in her hand, and the more magically inclined can even sense that her magic is on the verge of boiling over (a toxic, awful, rotting thing)- )

...

Ffffuck.

Edited 2024-07-09 13:59 (UTC)

[ And Pure Vanilla's staff is staring downwards at his own, his expression torn.

Affogato named the thing. Hurt his family. Yet Vanilla knows the circumstances surrounding it that may have driven the other-

Fel's fuck snaps him out of his reverie and he breaths a quiet laugh, even if he looks miserable. ]

That is succinct, yes.

... I even told him he reminded me of myself, how did I not think something could happen?

[ Silence, for a moment, as he recalls what Fel told him of her life and sighs. ]

Because you did not want it to. You recognized yourself in him, and hoped in turn he would see himself in you, and reach out should he need it. It is easy to forget at times we need to be the ones to reach out.

I'm lucky. I've had support for years now. I don't think he ever has. Not even when he was with Cacao.

[ That-

Why does that hurt so badly? He knows Cacao has had difficulties but he sees how Crunchy Chip is with him, how much Caramel Arrow adores him and assumed Cacao had been giving all of his subjects the same amount of attention and care. Certainly the attention Affogato has thrown Cacao's way seemed to suggest it? ]

I... was not aware of that. Others of Cacao's retinue seemed supported...

I wouldn't be able to say for sure. But with what I've seen here? I think Affogato tried as best he could with the harm he's been dealt- ( misery makes trust so, so hard. open communication even harder, when you have to use a silver tongue to get by. ) -and it did get him far, but not what he needed. After all... An advisor supports the king. But who supports the advisor? Who did he have to ask for help, or to vent to? Who did he have to tell him he was going too far?

( she thinks back to his immediate hostility when she told him he reminded her of herself. suspicion and a well-disguised fear. )

... I don't think he had anybody.

[ That makes him sigh softly, look down at the journal open before him again and Affogato's confession. Thinks back to Cacao at the prom, and speaking about Affogato, but how they seemed to have made up.

All that time and Affogato was with Suri, because he had been pushed away. ]

We will change that. He is no longer alone. Pain begets pain, it's a cycle that needs be broken. He has us, even though I do not think he will be keen on hearing it.

[ White Lily and Clotted Cream attacked by him, because Suri. ]

All we can do is reach out, and hopes he takes our hands.

[At some point in the mid afternoon, keen eyes might see a streak of light through the sky. It is gone just as quickly, but when the next person walks into the living room, there is... the Cosmic Serpent, shrunk down but floating through the air as if it's swimming. In it's jaws is a simple chest, but those with magic can feel something radiating off of it.]

I come bearing a blessing, as your shrimp has requested. I am... Sorry, that I am too late for the worst of it. But we can prevent more. Summon the rest of your house.

[ You know what's fucking bizarre, walking into your living room and there being a tiny cosmic serpent to greet you, just swimming genlty in mid-air, telling you about blessings from a shrimp with a box in it's mouth.

Pure Vanilla is sure he really really needs sleep. He contemplates his tea gently, before inclining his head lightly towards the Serpent. ]

Of course, one moment.

[ Dark Cacaaaaaooo??? Sweetie?? Do you see this too??? That is distressed bleating as he goes to find his husband. ]

Edited 2024-07-09 16:55 (UTC)

[Dark Cacao is down stairs, staying cool in the hot mid day, reading at his desk. When Vanilla beckons him up his brow furrows but he stomps up and freezes at the water snake in his house]

Ah.

[His sword starts to jitter where it's resting against the wall, and while his dragons do not come out their voices do:]

Another dragon? Master is a two timer!!!

I am beholden to none, your Master is still yours. The rest of your house, please.

[ Oh good. He's not going insane yet. When Cacao Ah's and the Dragons speak, he relaxes immediately, kisses Cacao on the cheek in thanks, and trots along to find his children, calling their names lightly. And White Lily, which he will insist on helping along cause lady. ]

Edited 2024-07-09 17:12 (UTC)

( oh did something happen? helping white lily out of bed, she helps guide her to the living room and then pauses. )

...

That's the Cosmic Serpent-

[ Clotted Cream can get himself out of bed, but it's slow and careful going because walking still hurts. At least it doesn't take him too long to get down to the living room once called, arriving just behind Fel and White Lily. What he sees makes him stop, holding on to the wall for support, eyes widened.

Oh. Is it...? ]

Serpent...! You came all this way?

You were no longer at the beach.

[It seems to twirl in the air a little, circling around before dropping the box onto the coffe table and nodding to whoever's closest to open it. Once they do, she keeps swimming. Inside the box is six iridescent seashells, radiating of magic.]

Attach these charms to a silver chain. Silver is a holy metal, and conducts magic well. Nothing else will work to the same effectiveness. They are shells imbibed with the Celestial magic that has turned my Cove into what it is today. While wearing them, they will guard you from all manner of personal attacks from the Entity within the forest... or, they should.

Blessings are new to me. If there is any flaw in their make, any gap for it to find it's way in, that is my fault.

But they should protect you well... be it whatever has touched your house with venom, the dreams or anything else that would come for you personally.

Edited 2024-07-09 17:28 (UTC)

[Cacao goes to open it and holds the box out for the others to see]

... you honor us, Serpent.

Oh....

[ That... he lays his hand over his heart, looking touched, as Cacao shows them the insides of the box and the shells. ]

Great Serpent, thank you. I cannot begin to tell you what this means...

It is your little Shrimp you should thank. He asked it of me after my rain, to protect your home.

[ Oh... Oh this is more than he ever expected. A ward perhaps, to keep the influence out of the house, but such personal protection is... ]

No, Serpent, please do not be so hard on yourself if something does slip past. [ His voice is still weak and a bit gravelly from disuse. ] Even if it does, this is still a wonderful gift. It is far more than I expected to receive upon my request. Thank you.

[The Cosmic Serpent stares for a moment before gently pressing it's head against his own.]

You have been kept up enough. Attach your charm, and resume your rest.

Edited 2024-07-09 17:42 (UTC)

( well after the cosmic serpent's arrival and departure, after affogato's confession, felicity... thinks. though she putters around the kitchen- fresh mint in the jar, check the tea stock, put away clean dishes, do we need more salt and pepper, how about the other spices- she stops every few minutes to take out the iridescent scallop shell on a silver chain worn around her neck and stares. )

...

( and every time she does this, she stops to look out the window towards the therapy building as well. she's so lost in thought that she doesn't even notice dark cacao until she practically crashes right into him- )

Sorry! Sorry. I was distracted-

[Cacao had returned home very shortly after running off after the confession... and since then has been very quiet. Not morose like he might have once been. But very self reflecting.]

Ah, it is fine... I wasn't paying much attention either.

Edited 2024-07-09 17:52 (UTC)

... Penny for your thoughts?

( she's not like mizuki, or nova back home, or anything like that. she just is. but 'just is' is pretty good at navigating the unfortunate pains of betrayal, she thinks. she's been on both sides, so it's something she understands intimately. )

...

[he ponders if he is willing to burden her. But Fel, more than anyone, is aware of his complicated relationship with Affogato]

I am worried about Affogato Cookie.

I am, too. The Entity has proven vengeful and petty, and that's not counting the others' anger...

[he lowers his voice- he knows nothing said in this house is completely safe from Vanilla's minotaur hearing, and he has no intention of hiding anything from him. But he also doesn't want to hurt Lily and Clotted Cream by showing sympathy for their attacker.]

He betrayed us. He has earned punishment. But what the creature may do to him for exposing what happened...

[Their entire house was targeted because of defiance and the loss of one of it's followers. There's no reason to think Affogato would be spared.]

... no one would deserve that. Yet I doubt our new charms would work, or that he would even accept them if they did.

I won't argue against anger, but I feel like if we let people act too far, it might... push him back again.

( if he can drag his favorites with him, would he care as much? it's not a question she wants the answers to. )

... I can... try to make something. It won't be as strong as what was given to us. But I'll need help getting things for it. Do you think he'd let me, though?

[He laces his fingers and rests his chin on them, brow furrowed]

I think if he would take it from anyone in this house it would be you. But the ideal would be to acquire Mizuki's help.

Mizuki needs to stay with him right now. For as flawed as his loyalty is, it's going to keep him safe from what he can.

( a punishment is deserved, yes! but it cannot go too far. for everyone's sake. and she's not sure she can be the one to give it. )

... Can you help me get supplies? There's one other thing I'd like you to do, too.

Of course. I am at your command.

Follow me for a second?

( she'll lead him up to her room. at a desk is crystals and shells from the beach, alongside some jewelry making tools. felicity sorts through some of the crytals before plucking up a purple gemstone and a black crysyal. she presses them into one of his hands. )

While we get things, I want you to hold on to these and focus thoughts of protection into them. It's not as hard as it may sound, and I'll be doing something similar. These gems already bring protection and clarity, but we're just going to give it a... boost.

I see... very well.

[He closes his hand over the stones, closing his eyes. He's not a mage like Vanilla and Lily, but there's magic in him. Power infused in his dough from his Soul Jam and his dragons. Magic already colored towards protection and power.]

( while he holds onto the crystals, she thinks. amethyst for clarity, black tourmaline for protection, both are good for healing in their own way. she'll have to ask moder for some advice too. jasmine, rosemary, maybe poppy? no, she can't guarantee the sleep would be safe.

she absolutely doesn't realize she's talking out loud as she searches more around her desk. )

... Maybe nettles...?

[Dark Cacao peeks his eyes open when he notices her mumbles... and smiles warmly at that]

You sound like Pure Vanilla. He's a chatterer when he's thinking too.

( not unlike a cat felicity freezes, wide eyed, and slowly looks over.

she stares.

stares a bit more.

and immediately scrambles to "recollect" herself despite it being not very necessary at all. )

I don't know what you're talking about.

... Anyways, wanna help me get some flowers?

[His cheeks puff a little, clearly fighting to not laugh and embarrass her]

Yes. Though you will need to guide me- herbalism outside my home is rather beyond me.

Well now I'm curious about what you do know!

( dad get her stuff from your home she wants to experiment! let her add to the already massive garden. )

Anyway, I don't mind. I've already been teaching Sesa stuff about foraging, so we'll be able to identify things pretty easily. ... It's possible I'll need to order some things from Ydalir too, if they aren't growing here.

The idea is that with the crystals- which naturally bring protection, clarity and mental healing- empowered by us, alongside a bottle of jasmine flower, rosemary, and maybe some local flowers that bring protection from evil, imbibed with stardust, it sssshould make a powerful enough charm to keep him safe? And as you charge the crystals you're granting them extra power. Like I said, I'll be doing the same, so they'll be sufficiently charged to say the least.

( that's not counting her other plans, too. this bottle is going to be fucking Packed with protection. ... and a prayer, for affogato. butterfly scales for change. deer antler bits for new beginnings. and that's not even mentioning that the stardust she's talking about is her own blood. if she carves butterflies onto the bottle, maybe...? )

Edited 2024-07-11 02:26 (UTC)

What I know is not useful for magic, I will admit. But as a youth I wandered a lot. So knowing what plants are good for eating or to ease pain is always useful. I was a passable forager.

[Her explanation is understandable enough]

I can only hope it will be enough. The creature is a god, after all. If we can at least make him feel like perusing Affogato is not worth the effort...

I mean, that stuff is also important to know. ... Hence why I've been teaching Sesa about foraging. Come with sometime, the things here are a lot like what I'm used to.

But, thats the idea... and. Well. He's a sun, right? Suns are also stars. So- maybe I have a chance?

More than most, I would suspect. But... I ask you do not go out of your way to make yourself a target.

[Like a CERTAIN SOMEONE did]

Oh nooooononono I do not want an angry god in my head. I do not like angry gods, I would prefer to avoid them! But! He's going to be defenseless and I'm mad but I don't want him to get fucked over.

( felicity seems to deflate at that, because she is mad. and exhausted. everything is so much and she hates it. )

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cw implied blood magic

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[re: affo's confession]

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After recovery begins

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[closed to cacao]

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cw blood magic mention

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