rest under the stars

[purevanillacookie]

Who: Peepaw + You cause lbr he's inviting everyone
What: Sleepover! In an outside blanket fort!
When: Time is wobbly
Where: Outside Peepaw's Place
Warnings: It's gonna be cute and loving

[ Life's been rough, come hang out at Pure Vanilla's in a blanket fort, which is what the little jot in the journal says. The quest was for loved ones, but Pure Vanilla loves all of them? So, blanket offering.

Literally. ]

Please come visit tonight and spend a moment of rest and relaxation with me, my dears! This month has been rough, and I feel we can all use it.

[ Those who show up will find one side of his Cookie Cottage absolutely turned into the largest blanket fort he can make it. Most of it is made up of wool blankets, but when he ran out of those, he's stolen extra blankets from the Inn, as well as stripped his house of them. Pillows and furs line the ground, and small shards of light that seem almost ethereal litter around the area. Some float in the air like small gleaming prisms, some are attached to the ceiling of the blankets like their own stars, while others sparkle gentle amongst the furs. Touching one for any length of time will make it fade into the person who touched it, and give them a sense of warmth and peace.

And there's food. Lots of it. Drinks too, carefully marked that they will aid you into sleep. Peepaw spent the entire day busy. And a bunch of various things to do to unwind with. Books to read, marshmallows to roast over carefully shielded fire pits (there's little magic circles around them to keep the fires magically going and safe), a record player with various records he borrowed. If you really want to fall asleep, he even had his things to make yarn dragged out, just be sure not to fall asleep mid-spin. And a little telescope or two set up from the School.

It really does look like a school camping trip...

There's also a larger shield around it all, near invisible in the moon and starlight, but it shimmers occasionally. People gathering in one spot is always a prime target, and he's not going to let his loved ones be hurt.

Vanilla will greet every one with a wide, happy smile and a hug. Get loved. ]

Thank you for coming!

Comments

[ozmosis]

[ Oscar's initially not sure if the invitation in the journals is really meant for all of them. But when he glimpses the sheer size of the blanket fort, it serves as reassurance that... yeah, this is probably meant to be a pretty big party.

Still, he's not about to show up empty-handed! Every party needs snacks, and Oscar happens to know his way around a kitchen, and when he sees the invitation he also happens to be in the process of making a huge batch of easily frozen snacks for himself. So when the time for the party arrives, Oscar arrives as well, his cane in one hand and large porcelain bowl in the other. He's in the middle of greeting Pure Vanilla when... yup, that's a hug he's being pulled into. Oscar accepts the gesture a little bit stiffly, but it doesn't seem to have dampened his friendly mood at all. ]

Thank you for inviting me. It looks like you've got plenty to eat, but I brought something extra just in case.

[ He offers out the bowl which, it turns out, is filled with what looks to be a few dozen pierogis. ]

[purevanillacookie]

[ Oscar will find the vibes definitely less party and way more "it's time to unwind and have the best night sleep you've had in days". Pure Vanilla will take the bowl in amusement, obviously pleased, however. ]

Thank you, my dear. You needn't have, but I appreciate it!

[ And because he has no clue who this one is! ]

I am Pure Vanilla, and please, find any spot you desire and settle in.

[ There are a few activities to do to unwind with. Oscar is going to have the best sleep tonight or so help him. ]

Shadow Milk

[jesterlies]

Look, this kind of thing isn't really his style, right? There's all this friendliness and PV is spewing his little love hearts everywhere and it's a bit much for him, but, he is also someone with incredible separation anxiety who has a hard time leaving PV to his devices without getting jealous that someone or something else might have his attention, sO-]

[He is here, but he is very small. He has taken the form of a small blue snake that is currently curled up in Vanilla's robes. He does not feel like getting into fights with the other ancients, or to see if that shield triggers something in him he will find unpleasant, while in close quarters with people he does not know. He would like to watch from a safe perch!! And, who knows, maybe he will enjoy this, he hasn't slept well since waking up here, sleeping is awful? These bodies are the worst-.]

[When he is not in PV's clothes he may be slithering along elsewhere, but he is going to do his best to stay out of sight. Snakes are something of a hot button in this town lately, and he is not trying to get stomped. He will still get up to a little mischief, though. Stealing a snack of your plate before slithering off cackling.]


[Maybe towards the end of the night, he can be found by the telescopes, no longer in snake form, but with his amorphous void-like hair tied back while he looks through the telescope. He seems to be writing stuff down.]

[purevanillacookie]

You know...

[ Vanilla's voice is soft as he settles beside him, looking up at the sky as Shadow Milk peers through the telescope. The small smattering of stars... the ones who need to be cured. He's trying, darlings, hold out. ]

You should be sleeping.

Telescope

[winterfrosting]

[ not wanting to fight with other Ancients? Probably assuming by now the joyless block of beans was asleep? Surprise, no.

Or well, he was. But Cacao has always slept light.

Even so, when he approaches most of that murderous aura from their introduction is gone. Truthless was restored, and Cacao now knows taking the Jam would have been pointless.

Not that the energy now is friendly, of course. But the terse:]

Shadow Milk Cookie.

[ is closer to a greeting than not]

Telescope

[myceelium]

How is the view?

[ Jade smiles, a few feet behind Shadow Milk. Curious eel is curious. ]

[poaceae]

[ Fern joins the party with extreme caution, sticking to the outskirts and being generally inconspicuous. It takes a lot for him to not actively hide from Cacao, Lily, or Dipper (if he comes). But he really does want to be here. He doesn't socialize too much, but he soaks in the energy like it's sunlight. He was a very social person, once!

Here in particular, he's so unsure of his place that he find PV first to ask if he's really sure it's okay for him to be here. ]

[purevanillacookie]

[ And Vanilla will beam in reply and scoop him up into a big tight hug. ]

Of course you are, dear. Find someplace comfortable to relax and help yourself to whatever food or drink you want. It's just a little sleepover!

[ Fuss fuss you really shouldn't wear a hat all the time it's going to give you hat hair, do you have comfy pjs, have you eaten, have some popcorn- ]

[winterfrosting]

[Cacao is here! Of course he is, that's his husband. He can in fact be found...grilling. Outside the 'tent', of course. It's slow going with one hand but he has lots of meat and grilled veggies for everyone to enjoy.

Later he can be found lounging by the record player, listening to the music and looking like he might doze off.]

later

[lilyberation]

( it's been a very long day, one that lily's more than happy to help with for their husband's sake, but... cacao looks so very cozy. which is precisely why lily is tucking herself into him, gently headbutting his chin from below as she settles for illegal snugs. )

Hello.

grill

[purevanillacookie]

[ That's such a dad-activity that Pure Vanilla has to stop to watch in amusement, then wrap his arms around him from behind once he's safely away from the grill. Voice muffled now from somewhere along his back. ]

I knew I could count on you, my heart.

[ephemeralflow]

[Hey. Hey Dark Cacao, your grilling is taking too long for the tastes of the most impatient cookie ever. Please don't be alarmed if a couple of items suddenly look like they're cooking on fast forward for a few moments, then just as suddenly vanish from the grill. You might spot them on Timekeeper's plate a moment later, it's fine.

...she's combined them with some of the other food available to make a sandwich, of course.]

this is PV's fault

[poaceae]

[ Fern waits until Cacao is done grilling and there's not too many people around him to approach, fidgeting with his fingers just short of wringing his hands. ]

Um... hi.

[ Feel free to chase him off, he's braced for it... ]

[quirkynote]

[As the resident cookie house attic monster, you can bet A.B.A noticed something was going on. Lots of...shuffling, noises...things being moved... Oh how she tries her hardest to ignore it, but after reading beloved cookie father's invitation, curiosity gets the better of her.

And then she sees it.

And then she sees how crowded it is.

And she wastes no time trying to make a hasty exit. Nope, nope, nope, nope.]

[purevanillacookie]

[ Vanilla will not stop her but he will eventually make his way towards wherever she disappeared too with a bunch of things for her. Her own things she can make a nest with nearby, if she still wants to be included in the sleep over, and some things to munch on and some books on cookie alchemy to read and - ]

[beathollow]

( mafuyu is here with an apple-owl perched nearby, a deernicorn at her feet and a little... goth circus rabbit plush? in her arms, looking sleepy. she's been resting for a long time and it still doesn't feel enough- vanilla will be able to see the two black suns, one on her ankle and one near her neck, and...


mayoi's soul? where a gemstone she wears as a necklace over her chest.

its probably fine.

every now and then she takes a sip of chamomile tea from her thermos. )

... What are those lights...?

[purevanillacookie]

[ He recognizes that plush and beams at it - good boy, Shadow Milk - and makes sure her little ones have enough food as well. He's in the middle of fluffing up a pillow bed for her as she asks about the lights, smiling. ]

Light.

[ Pure and simple. He picks one up and it glitters like a star in his hand, and he holds it out for her to take. If she does she'll find it has enough 'resistance' to feel like holding a soft warm orb. And if she holds it long enough, it'll turn into sparkling motes that will eventually fade, but from her hand will arise a sense of peace and warmth.

He can't heal... but he can offer other things. ]

[kingincognito]

[ Joshua is more than happy to come to Pure Vanilla's get-together. He isn't really certain what to call it otherwise - is it a party? A meal? It's hard to say. But he brings Willowisp with him, because Pure Vanilla should meet her if they are all to be working together. No matter what the gathering is for, he knows that she will sit docile and keeping to herself until he has need of her, so she won't be an intrusion.

He hadn't been expecting something quite like this, though. It's almost ethereal. Beautiful, really, and the sight of it alone warms him. After how this month has gone, it's... nice, to be somewhere so calming.

And he can see that shielding, too. It means that it's safe from the snakes. By far the biggest relief of the bunch.

Joshua avoids the drinks marked as sleep aids, but Willowisp certainly seems interested in some of the meatier foods, so he spends a bit taking off smaller bits of a larger piece and handing them to the little white owl on his shoulder. She is, maybe, getting a little bit spoiled already. ]

[purevanillacookie]

Hello, sweetheart.

[ Joshua is going to be greeted with a warm smile and a hug from the small Peepaw. It's a warm, loving hug though. Squish. He pulls back after a bit and immediately reaches up to begin fixing Joshua's hair. It's a mess, he needs a hair cut, maybe he'll let him trim it just a bit.

Thinks the man with hair down to his tootsies.

He beams at the owl sitting on Joshua's shoulder. ]

And this must be your familiar?

[bajamutblast]

[Dion wasn't exactly planning on going to the sleepover. However, a passing glance had revealed the sleeping drinks and, well... he's already prone to nightmares. He'll take whatever advantage he can get.

He's already dozing in a pile of blankets, halfway through his drink, when he hears a familiar voice. Dion sits up, rubbing at his eyes and trying to focus. When he finally settles on Joshua, he lifts a hand in greeting, followed by a sleepy smile. Don't mind him, he's a little sleep drunk.]

[ephemeralflow]

[Hey, look who showed up! With absolutely no fanfare, certainly without greeting Pure Vanilla in any way, just sort of spontaneously appearing here and there. She's just here for the free food and potential gossip, honestly. No, the invitation in the notebooks didn't say there would be food, but it's Pure Vanilla, so of course there is.

She might also be here to bother Shadow Milk. She knows he's here somewhere. Where is he.

If you're very lucky, you might catch her later in the night - actually asleep. Seems she couldn't resist trying some of the drinks, despite the warnings on them, and with how little she actually lets herself sleep it didn't take much. So there she is, in a far corner of the fort, hands folded in her lap and eye closed, her top hat toppled off her head and lying on the blankets beside her. For most, it's probably the first time seeing her without a smile of some kind on her face.

Continuum Cog has been following her about tonight too, and seems content to simply nestle in the blankets beside her when she falls asleep, but it will stir if someone approaches.]

[jesterlies]

[No Shadow Milk in sight buuut did your shadow just move??]

[Looks like it's waving at you. How strange!]

Story Time

[purevanillacookie]

[ Later on in the night, a little away from the blanket fort, Pure Vanilla will build a bonfire, using magic and shields to make it safe. But with the smoke hiding him a little (so no one can see him glowing from his runes), he will weave illusions. Using the smoke to hide the edges of the surroundings, to make the area seem bigger than it is.

Would you like to see the story of five heroes taking down Leviathans, creatures of such size and shape that they may almost be Eldritch horror in nature, dwarfing the five? Titans that cannot be left alone, lest they damage or reshape the very world around them? Or Dragons being slain to stop them from terrorizing all they encounter, driven by greed and hubris.

Or would you like to see one Heroes solo battle against a Red Green Dragon, after which she then unites warring houses until her own rule? Perhaps the story of a young warrior who faced twin Black and White dragons and struck a blow so mighty it split the sky into night and day, and trapped the dragons within his blade?

Of course, he's willing to let others get up there and tell tales too while he weaves their tales into life through the illusions.

If you see him afterwards, sprawled out face first in some pillows, snoring away, tell Cacao. They have a bet going on. ]

[lilyberation]

( lily will be sitting beside him, smiling warmly at the memories. ... and providing her beloved husband with snacks so he doesn't wear himself out too much! )

[theuniverseleads]

[They don't quite get what they've been invited to until they arrive at a sea of blankets, stop in place, and bark out a startled laugh. Oh wow, a midnight picnic under the stars! And a sleepover!! Just like all the ones they never got invited to!!!

It's very funny to no one but them. It probably looks like they think this is stupid, the way they're just standing there laughing themselves to tears.

... but it's actually very sweet. They're glad they got invited to this one. It's a chance to make up for lost opportunities, even if they're a little sad stardust can't join them. They'll just have to hold it over him once he finds his way back.

Laughing fits aside, they spend some time celebrating with drinks, which for them is just harassing people into toasting with them. To what? Doesn't matter! Toast to something so they can drink their alcohol, that's just the way that it works! But for most of the night they're off by themselves, laying in the grass and stargazing while the party continues on around them. It's nice, being able to simply exist in the presence of others sometimes. They might look like they're zoning out, but they'll be quick to notice anyone lingering a little too long around the weird star person that they are.

unless they've fallen asleep, in which case—can you draw on their face??? Science demands an answer.]

[purevanillacookie]

[ There's his star baby! Of course Vanilla will toast with him earlier, but he lets him mingle so he doesn't overwhelm him immediately. But when he catches him stargazing? He will join him, moving to sit in the grass beside him, tilting his head to look up. ]

Thank you for coming, my darling.

Pure Vanilla

[oleaeuropaea]

[You just know Vash, clad in the pinkest pair of footie pajamas you've ever seen, is booking it for those marshmallows. He makes himself two pairs of s'mores and then starts looking around. A grin cracks his face when he spots Pure Vanilla, and he holds one of his sugary sandwiches out in offering.]

A sweet treat for my sweet treat? [He takes a bite out of his own and, through a full mouth:] Shanks fer puddin' dish on.

[purevanillacookie]

[ Vash... where did you get those. The pajamas get the most amused look out of him and he laughs to the offering and the flirt.

Instead of taking the s'more offered, he takes hold of Vash's wrist to bend in and take a bite of it like that, letting go to cover his mouth and chew to be polite.

Even if Vash speaks with his mouth full, which makes his face crinkle up in more amusement. Give him a moment to clear his mouth. ]

Even a brief moment of relaxation and rest can do wonders for everyone. Thank you for coming, my love.