Wishes for Me?

**Earlier this month Avaris wrote Gurashi a letter asking them to make some posts, one of which involved asking that people send wishes/gifts to Vaevaya! Gurashi did so, as well as sending the starchild herself a gift from themselves:
scribe origami origami Hello Miss Vaevaya! It is me - Gurashi! We met once, when you came down to visit our City of New Celest, yes! When you first hello to we and the Lady Empyreals - I was the one who gave Miss Kennian her vow, I did! Anyway, Mister Avaris helped me make a post to New Celests talking about you! Letting everyone know you were here, and to encourage thems to send you wishes and gifties while the storm is raging! Did you know I make wishes every new years, yes? Think everybody should gets at least one when the year starts fresh, yes, even though I usually wish for the same thing: for my loved ones to be happy, and healthy, and for those who are not to feel better soonly. I hope someday can meet you again, for have so many questions for the stars in general because I adores them so muchly! Stay goodly and kind, and keep shining brightly, Miss! Kindest regards, Gurashi!
<-- sticks in a platter of cheesy popcorn

~~~
A FEW HOURS LATER
~~~

<-- Gurashi, sitting at the gazebo (which totally has a roof and doesn't not have a roof) in New Celest's park while copying down the last few pages of their book.

Delighted laughter rings about you as stardust mingled with popcorn kernels rain about you.

You blink.

In soft, mellifluous tones, you say, "Ah...!"

Golden shades radiate from your chest and your heart beats faster with newly-appeared determination.

You have emoted: Gurashi's head lolls backwards, and they pause in their writing, looking up at the ceiling of the gazebo, then the sky. "Ah?"

The pointed tips of your ears twitch to hear an errant sound.

LOOKIT ME
Standing at a lithe five-foot eleven, they are a graceful elfen kindly demigod changeling. Their shoulders are sharp and broad, their arms surprisingly sinewy and ending in long, lissome hands. Their gentle complexion is of a smooth tawny hue and covered in a smattering of dark freckles. Their long cheeks and thin, upturned nose both bear a permanent shade of blush, accentuated by the greatest cluster of freckles. A moderately sized crescent-shaped scar mars their right cheek, brightly visible against the deep hue of their skin. A hint of discolored flesh can be seen at the center of their sternum, mostly obscured by their clothing. Their thin elfen ears are slightly longer than average, pointing downward and just visible behind the tangled mess of vibrant, apricot-colored hair. A shock of bone-white has grown in along their left temple, lending a somewhat aged appearance to their otherwise youthful features. Their sleepy eyes are perhaps their most striking feature, a vibrant blue-gray that almost seem to glow against all the surrounding hues. A steel-hued scar traces along their cheek, gifted by Terentia, the Even Bladed, for their mettle in the field of battle.
They are wearing:
a starry wreath of celestial light set atop their head like a halo
a circlet of crystal thorns resting loosely atop their head
a vivid red-orange poppy tucked lovingly behind their left ear
an ebon throwover cloak striated with lilac patterns wrapped protectively about their form
the Mantle of Starlight which flows dreamily about their shoulders and back
a sleeveless black tunic which clings to their upper body flatteringly
mercurial Mysraian prayer beads pulled taut against their right wrist
a Glomdoring friendship bracelet which jingles softly on their left wrist
minty citrus incense beads pulled taut against their right wrist
a shifting, living poppy of silvery petals worn delicately upon their left wrist
a driftwood ring of sea breezes fitted tightly to their left middle finger
simple white linen trousers which swish around their legs freely
Refined Boots of the Paladin, worn and weathered from use.

Bizirik, the leothin proceeds to start licking the popcorn off of the ground piece by piece, snuffling.

Despite the terrible storm raging above and all around the City of New Celest, the laughter upon cosmic dust continues, until twinkling motes of starlight drift down and coalesce into Vaevaya, the Refulgent.

Your eyes bug out as you boggle in amazement.

You see the following people here:
Vaevaya, Gurashi.

In soft, mellifluous tones, you say, "Oh my gosh!"

LOOKIT VAEVAYA
Drawn down from the heavens themselves, peculiar points of starlight constellate into the coruscating form of Vaevaya, the Refulgent. Like glittering night scattered across the surface of the open sea, she wavers upon ripples of celestial energy, shifting and flowing with stirrings in the air. If they exist, any features that might contour the finer details of her face - or indeed a body of any sort - lose themselves in her twinkling glow. Her nebulous shape would find a vaguely humanoid frame in spite of it, if only one could trace lines between the brightest of her aspects. Ephemeral and insubstantial as she is, her every step sheds sparkles of evanescing brilliance, their stellular trails lingering in her wake, winking and then dwindling into nothing.
She is wearing:
a band of starlight spinning contracurrent to her movements, undimmed around each would-be wrist
a whirling stardust anklet pealing with gossamer music where she steps
a nebulous wreath of stars dancing above her, caught within her wayward orbit
a haloed circlet of cosmic rings revolving around her crown, casting galactic afterimages as it circuits.

Books tumbling out of their lap as they scramble to their feet, you exclaim, "It is you, Miss! Hello!"

Radiating joy with her pealing laughter, Vaevaya, the Refulgent exclaims, "Goodness, that was so much fun! Hello, Gurashi!"

You have emoted: Gurashi giggles, bringing their hand to their mouth. "Oh! Did you enjoy the popcorns?" They ask, watching as Bizirik, the leothin continues to snort happily and lick up the popcorn from the ground, leaving nothing but stardust behind.

Your shoulders bunch as you let out a short giggle.

You face lights up as you smile brightly at Vaevaya.

You think to yourself: *their previously dull thoughts all at once bloom with bright pastel colors - a sense of joy, of delight, of surprise and relief: she is here! she is real! she is really real! She is so s h i n y~!*.

"Popcorn," Vaevaya laughs, sparkling merrily, "that is what that was!" She whirls an excited dance about you, kernels of popcorn still caught in her orbit, her small bit of gravity tugging on you like a strong wind before she draws up again. "I heard your wish, too," she beams.

You have emoted: Gurashi nods, leaning towards the star, drawn in by her bright laughter and delight. They find themselves swaying in place, their long ears flushing red as the star speaks. "Oh! You did? I am glad that it got there safely!" They bring their hand to their heart. "Many thank yous for listening to my wish, Miss!"

"Wishes have so much power," Vaevaya says, not uncheerfully, her coruscating lights flickering as her chiming voice rings, as though each part of her constellating form acted of its own accord. "I am always so honoured to be entrusted with them."

Her voice a carillon of music, Vaevaya, the Refulgent sings, "I always do all that I can to make sure wishes made upon me come true."

You have emoted: Gurashi's face resumes its normal color as they continue to sway, smiling to the star, head canting to the side. They seem utterly entranced when Vaevaya speaks, blinking owlishly, then nodding once, twice.

Smiling, you ask Vaevaya, "Is it fun, to listen to all of those wishes? To get to listen to thems all?"

You eyes light up as you smile.

You think to yourself: *their head is dazed, shiny, dazzling - ah! the list! had actual questions! not just dummy gawking, dummy! being r u d e l y*.

The way that Vaevaya flickers in answer to your words offers a sense of the affirmative. Her starlight swirls, shifting, some of her larger and brighter aspects drawing inward as though reaching inside of herself. What she conjures when she rearranges herself properly once more is a twinkling wish doll, hovering just before her.

Confidingly despite all of her bright tones, Vaevaya, the Refulgent says to you, "Avaris wished for me to have this, but it's not yet completely manifested."

Vaevaya proudly shows off a twinkling wish doll:
Comprising far too many pinpricks of light to count - and spinning far too quickly within their enchanted bounds to properly study - this little doll twinkles here with all its might. Many details are difficult to discern through the concentrated glow of sidereal luminescence, but it certainly seems modelled after mortals with its rounded head and four appendages. Instead of clothing, a veil of galactic colour shifts and dances over its entirety, blue and pink and purple and many other hues besides. A pale, iridescent halo enfolds the toy within its shimmering embrace, occasionally pierced by a tiny, orbiting comet whose cosmic-dusted trail quickly vaporises into nothingness.

You have emoted: Gurashi blinks slowly, their lips parting and forming a little 'o' of surprise. "Oh... it is a doll," They comment, holding out their hands and cupping them in the air around the manifested shape, not touching it. "How does it work, Miss? It is not yet manifested?"

"He was so, so kind," Vaevaya says effusively. "He wanted me to have something to bring me comfort while the storms block me out from all of you, and it manifested..."

The twinkling wish doll twirls about Vaevaya excitedly, swept up in her orbit before she draws it into herself once more, "...as a place for me to hold and treasure everybody's wishes."

You have emoted: Gurashi stands on their tip-toes, squinting at it before falling to stand flat, smiling. "Oh! I did not know that was somethings we could do for you," They scrunch up their face curiously, then smile again. "I am so happy you have something to bring you suchly comforts, yes! What a goodly idea!"

Vaevaya's lights bob within her form, an enchanting, dizzying dance were one to focus overly much upon it as she sings, "That is why I was so, so very excited to hear your wish! Now I have another to try to make come true."

You hands fly to your mouth as you give a short gasp of elation.

In soft, mellifluous tones, you say, "Oh!"

In soft, mellifluous tones, you say, "I mean - wish was for peoples to be happy, yes, and know you already make SO many peoples happy, yes! I have heard such lovely stories! They already tell such lovely stories about you!"

Caught in a sudden bout of whimsy, you twirl about the room in idle circles.

You think to yourself: *an excited ripple - she dances!*.

Vaevaya pauses in consideration, the agitated whirling motions turned to cosmic drifting as she shines upon the inner floor and roof of this open hut. "Do you hold wishes for your own self as well, Gurashi?" she twinkles, the light in key with her voice.

You blink.

In soft, mellifluous tones, you ask, "Ah, oh - wishes, like, for me?"

Affirmatively glittering, her thin radiance focusing gently upon you, Vaevaya, the Refulgent says, "For you."

You have emoted: Gurashi stops mid-twirl, balancing on the balls of their feet, wobbling, coming to rest. "I, ah, I do not know," They confess sheepishly. "I would think wishing for others would count, wouldn't it?" They quirk their mouth to the side, then look off towards the south, listening to the rain patter gently against the roof of the gazebo. "Uhmmm..."

One wayward popcorn kernel caught in Vaevaya's orbit launches away from her, landing upon the floor amidst a sparkle of stardust near Bizirik, the leothin.

Bizirik, the leothin gives a short gasp of elation.

Bizirik, the leothin , who had only very recently laid down in its boredom, scrambles after the popcorn, snatching it up off the ground and chomping it in entirely too many chews. Then, it stares at Vaevaya, watching the popcorn the orbits still within the star, tail slapping the gazebo floor once.

Vaevaya's giggling is a gentle tinkle of gossamer bells as another cluster goes flying, skittering across the floor in benign mayhem. Even so, despite the spark of play, her attention is still largely upon you, remarkably patient for her youth.

You think to yourself: *an anxious thrum - the things they've done for themselves in the past always seem to blow up in the face - to wish for something else? what DO they wish for? to stay goodly? to serve the Shofets well? to be a friend to all? which do they pick? are those wishes??*.

Pale gold in hue, the wreath about your brow shimmers in a steady pattern, like unto a heartbeat in its gentle pulsation, crowning you in a flickering halo before settling still once more.

The stars of Vaevaya are a soothing, refulgent glow haloed with celestial iridescence. "Do you hesitate because you are scared to wish for yourself?"

You fret over everything that might go wrong.

You have emoted: Gurashi watches the popcorn go flying, smiling as the starry being dances about the gazebo. They too spin a little, following the pair in their play, Bizirik hungrily horking up popcorn from the gazebo ground as the elfen considers their response. "T-there is just not muchly, that I wish for myself!" They confess at last, lifting their hands. "Everything, ah, I can think that I want, is really somethings that would wish for someone else, m-maybe...!"

Bizirik, the leothin chirps happily at Vaevaya.

Bizirik, the leothin bows playfully, tail raising in the air while the elfen fumbles over their words. "I can only think to wish that I, ah, remember to stay goodly, and to try, even when I do not feel like it! To change, for the better... so," They nod slowly, "I can ...better take care of others, who needs it - yes yes."

Bizirik, the leothin chirps happily at you.

You tilt your head, gaze softening as you frown.

You blush furiously.

A single mote of starlight contained within Vaevaya drifts free as though to caress Bizirik, the leothin - though the touch she offers lacks in pressure, it is pleasantly cool for the companion all the same. As she does, she flickers contemplatively. "You would wish to take care of those you love," she ultimately sparkles, the words warm despite the physical coolness of her presence. "That is a beautiful wish for yourself. May I be entrusted with it?"

Looking embarrassed, you say, "Oh, m-my, of course!"

In soft, mellifluous tones, you say, "All that wants is to make peoples happy, yes yes."

You have emoted: Gurashi sways a little where they stand. "Peoples who feel loved and goodly, happy and healthy: they do goodly things then, for OTHER peoples. It is like waves in the sea, ripples, yes!"

Bizirik, the leothin snorts, then HACKS up a kernel onto the gazebo floor, snorting, staring at the offensive snack. It gives it a few sniffs before eating the kernel again with much more success.

"Making others happy," Vaevaya twinkles warmly to you, her starry mote drawing back from Bizirik and into her ephemeral cluster once more, "is the very best way to make our own selves happy."

Gently, you say to Vaevaya, "Ahhh, Miss Vaevaya - yes, yes that. I like that thoughts very muchly." They smile, swaying once more. "Oh! I, ah, was wondering..."

Vaevaya glitters rapidly, curiously.

Bizirik, the leothin snuffles around for more popcorn. Then, finding none, it yawns and flops bodily onto the ground, staring up expectantly in the hopes for more snacks.

Wide-eyed, you ask Vaevaya, "Do you have lots of friends? The stars, I mean," They point up sheepishly, "are ALL the stars alive, like you, Miss?"

You look at Vaevaya hopefully.

A flash! Another! And another still! The storm clouds above shudder from the onslaught of lightning, their silvery down woven with hidden scripture illuminated from within.

The thoughtful humming of the stars of Vaevaya is resonant, yet somehow faraway and distant despite her proximity to you and Bizirik, the leothin. "I have many, many friends amidst the stars," she finally says, her coruscation a ripple of joy that falls back into thoughtfulness, "but are they like me? Maybe 'alive' isn't the right word. Maybe 'awake'. I am awake, and I don't think many, many stars are awake just like me-".

You have emoted: "Awake - you are more, awake-er than the rest of thems?" Gurashi asks, then jumps a little, startled by the thunderstorm, briefly glancing out from under the gazebo before returning their full attention to Vaevaya.

You face lights up as you smile brightly at Vaevaya.

Their long ears drooping a little, you ask, "T-The storms are so loud, yes - are you O-K?"

Cut off, Vaevaya's form trembles beneath the flurry of lightning high above, a brief shiver of fear before she glows brighter in response. "I will outshine you yet!" she yells toward the sky, her ringing voice a clang of cathedral bells, then returns her attention to you. "This is a very, very big question," she says, her quivering motes of light pulsating now contemplatively.

You have emoted: Gurashi's jaw drops, and then they let out a little laugh. "The lightnings may be bright! But you are brighter! The shiniest Vaevaya!" They insist as the rain begins to thunder again on the gazebo roof. "A big questions, yes, but, are you??" They ask, hands on their hips as they watch the water spill over the steps leading up to the gazebo shielding them.

You huff, puffing your cheeks.

After a thoughtful, pondering moment broken only by a glimmer of affirmation to your laughter, the stars of Vaevaya resolve in a uniquely unified flicker, rare for her form to manifest. "It's hard to say. Am I more or less awake than you? Than your daughter? Than the Great Lady Lantra? Than other stars? It's a very big question! Maybe you can visit them yourself to ask one day!"

You nod your head slowly in understanding.

You look at Vaevaya hopefully.

In soft, mellifluous tones, you ask, "Ohhhwaouh, me? Visit the stars?"

"I would like it very much if you did," Vaevaya sings.

You have emoted: Gurashi lolls their head back, staring up in wonder. "I would love to! How do I do so?" They ask eagerly. "Must I become a stars first? Or must I find another way?"

You have emoted: Gurashi makes their hand snake through the air as if they were making a journey. "I have wings but that would be a lotta flapping. I could still try."

The clouds overhead rumble ominously and bolts of lightning strike the ground, followed closely by peals of furious thunder.

You have emoted: Gurashi looks over their shoulders, considering their wingless back. "Would be nice to figure it out, then could bring everyone to come up and meet you and your friends!" They turn forward again, smiling. "Until then, am grateful you came to visit! Come to visit, yes yes!"

Your shoulders bunch as you let out a short giggle.

Vaevaya swirls in a fit of cosmic dreaminess, considering your question with all due seriousness. "Is visiting the stars another wish of yours, for yourself?" A shimmer of iridescent mischief ripples across her aura. "Maybe it will happen, if it is."

You have emoted: Gurashi looks up again wondrously, considering the storming skies before wheeling around to face Vaevaya, pupils dilating within their pale blue eyes. "May I do that?" They ask. "If you gaves me the idea? It doesn't break any wishy rules? I do not know all of the rules," They whisper, sounding quite excited regardless. "Because oh, my, yes, I would wish to find a way to visit you in the sky, you among the stars and the other stars, to see thems, and meet thems! You can introduce me and then can introduce everyone else!"

You look at Vaevaya hopefully.

Wriggling their fingers in the air, you say, "Maaaany shiny new friends."

Like a river of celestial dreamstuff, Vaevaya wraps herself around you in answer, a snaking hug that pushes and pulls at you before she releases you. "I will carry this wish with me," she promises the elfen, "and I will nurture it until it grows. You can believe in me, just like I believe in you."

With that, Vaevaya's coalescence scatters, leaving nought but flecks of starlight in her wake.

A flash! Another! And another still! The storm clouds above shudder from the onslaught of lightning, their silvery down woven with hidden scripture illuminated from within.

In soft, mellifluous tones, you say, "Oh!"

In soft, mellifluous tones, you say, "Ah!"

You have emoted: Gurashi twirls in place as the refulgent twirls about their being and swirls away. "Thank you," They attempt to call out to her before she is gone in a dazzling array of starlight and dust. "I do, I most certainly do..."