thenearshore | Cookies for Heaven

Entry tags:

Cookies for Heaven

Who: Princess Celestia
When: October 14-21st
Where: All around the Far Shore
What: Princess Celestia brings cookies and, perhaps more importantly, wellness checks to the temples of the Far Shore.

Two things circled each other in Celestia's mind, forming a taijutu symbol in the way each completed the other: A lot of people in the Far Shore really needed some personal attention, friendship, and care; and she had, thanks to practice and effort, gotten quite good at baking cookies.

So each morning, Celestia cheerfully moved dough into her oven on sheet after sheet, the entire kitchen in Inti's temple animated in golden light like Merlin himself had set it all to baking-- and each afternoon, Celestia took wing above the Far Shore, traveling from temple to temple to seek out the inhabitants therein.

So at some point, an alicorn will come knocking at your door, with a bright smile on her face and a basket of cookies floating by her side.

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[To say Adrien was surprised was a bit of an understatement. Bright green eyes stared before he gave a curious little tilt of his head - the action breaking his staring. Realizing that yes he'd been so rude he rubs at the back of his neck a blush flaring up his cheeks.]

I'm sorry. I-- I've just never seen anyone like you before. Are - are you a friend of Marinette's? Would you like to come inside?

[Even as he speaks he's drawing back to hold the door so that she can come inside if she'd like.]

I am, yes. But more importantly than any of that, I brought cookies.

[Smiling, Celestia gestures with a wing to the plate and basket trailing magically behind her, even as she takes him up on his kind invitation to come inside.]

Oh good, I'm always happy to meet her friends. As you've likely guessed I'm her Shinki, Adrien. It's nice to meet you. You brought cookies?

[He's glancing to the plate curious as to how it's just floating behind her. Adrien doesn't know why he's all that surprised. This place is full of magic. But he still is impressed. Letting her inside he's gently closing the door behind her. They're in the seating area with it's many sofas, chaises, and of course what he'd been told is his piano.]

Can I get you a drink or anything?

That would be very much appreciated. [More out of the rituals of offering and accepting hospitality than anything, though it is nice to be asked so simply instead of a great procession erupting to ensure she had everything she could ever wish.] Oh, this temple is charming!

We have all the basics so if you want something specific - We have a couple different juices, lemonade, water, and milk. Maybe tea, too. [Adrien smiles at that. Even if he didn't have anything to do with what the temple looked like he was still proud of his home.] It's very cozy, more like a real home than a temple.

Edited 2018-03-03 04:21 (UTC)

I had the feeling Marinette would prefer that. [It's very homey indeed. And such a polite welcome.] Lemonade would be lovely, if it's not too much trouble.

She is a very warm comforting person, isn't she? This temple suits her. If you think this is something you should see upstairs. You're more than welcome to if you'd like or you can stay down here. [He laughs softly.] Though I warn you if you go up to the second level there are four little kittens that will happily get underfoot.

[He shakes his head with a smile.] It's no trouble at all. I don't mind going up to the kitchen to get it. [He'll likely come down with the whole pitcher and two glasses but honestly Adrien doesn't consider that any trouble or imposition. He just wants their guest to feel welcome. If she'd made some odd demand for something they didn't have that was one thing but a glass of lemonade? Perfectly manageable.]

I can be comfortable anywhere. I certainly don't intend to intrude. [Though she does love kittens, as does any sensible pony, and is not so perfectly composed that she doesn't sneak a glance at the ceiling, as if she could spot them through it somehow.] I find my own temple tends to take certain inspiration from Inti's culture on the Far Shore, which is both interesting and problematic.

You're more than welcome to come up. It's just the two of us and kittens. I just hope you don't mind going up so many sets of stairs. The kitchen and living room area is on the - Assuming this is say the first floor - the main common area of the house would be the third.

[He smiles.] In the end it's all a matter of what you would like to do really. [Adrien's head tilts and he's looking at her with confusion.] You might have to explain that to me a little. I'm not very well versed in gods and theology.

Oh, well, neither am I, but what I do know is that it's strange and foreign to me. I don't consider that a bad thing, but, perhaps I'm a little selfish in wanting a place I find comfortable and familiar as a home.

[Maybe she should open her mind more, but really, isn't she allowed to be just a tiny bit selfish sometimes?]

I promise you, though, if you'd seen the palace in Canterlot you wouldn't worry about how many stairs I can handle. [She punctuates that with a wink.]

Oh. Huh well I guess if it didn't feel right it would make me want to change it. Lucky for me I've never felt like that here. I love being here more than anywhere else. [Adrien pauses before shaking his head.]

I may be the odd one out here but I don't really think it's selfish to want to live somewhere comfortable and comforting. You deserve to be happy. It's bad enough you've been displaced like this, right? Way from family and friends. Sometimes you need a little something that's just you.

[Like he even knows what he's talking about. Then he's laughing softly starting up the stairs.] Right then. Follow me. This next floor is my room and the rest room and stuff. The kittens tend to stray between the second, third, and fourth floor. I try to keep them out of the entertaining room as much as I can since they might get out.

[Once they reach the second floor they're greeted by a meowing black kitten tangled in bright yarn. Adrien isn't even surprised. He's just moving to pick up the bundle of cat - yarn and all.] And this is Miss Snowflake. She lives to make me untangle her from everything - yarn, ribbon, fairy lights.

Edited 2018-03-05 17:11 (UTC)

[Celestia can't help but grin, every bit as susceptible to a cute kitten as any other pony would be.] A little energetic even by kitten standards, I take it? Would you care for some help?

[Celestia has never had a kitten for a pet, but that doesn't stop her from knowing perfectly well how to care for them. She offers out one hoof, so Miss Snowflake can get a good look and a sniff at her.]

That or she's just really unfortunately clumsy. She's always getting into some kind of disaster. I love her though. I love all the girls. [He smiles happily.] That would be great.

[Adrien stills holding the bundle of yarn closer to her but still settled in his arms against his chest so she doesn't get too alarmed. There's a soft mew from the mass then a dark head popping out. The movement of the kitten's tail and her ears reads curious yet anxious.

She's sitting up a bit trying to make herself look bigger. As long as they're patient and quiet the kitten seems to calm by little degrees, shifting foward in Adrien's arms to sniff at her hoof. Then there's another mew, softer this time then there's a slow kitty blink.

Congrats, Celestia, you have been accepted as kitty friend.]

I think she likes you.

[Truth be told, if that hadn't happened, Celestia would have been very puzzled. Even cats generally appreciated the Princess of the Day, just as part of her gifts.]

[Very carefully, Celestia lifts the kitten with her magic, just far enough that she can send the yarn poofing outwards with her magic. Once it all unwinds, it collapses back into a sensible ball that this time contains no kitten at all.]

There we go. But we should find something safer for her to play with.

[He's watching. Nope still not used to magic, every time he sees it the blond is more than a little surprised and impressed. Seeing her untangle the little black kitten he smiles. Adrien can hear soft meows before starting to purr loudly.]

She's got toys.They all do. Marinette made them mice and little balls with bells. Don't be fooled. Snowflake just likes getting into things she isn't supposed to and getting attention. She got herself stuck in the sleeve of one of my shirts.

[It's clear the cat amuses him. Leaning he's picking up the ball moving to put it into the basket that it belongs in this time closing it and flicking the latch before reaching gently to take hold of the kitten.]

Well, then on her own head it be if she gets in trouble. [Celestia gently deposits Snowflake onto her back, between her wings, a place she's often found cats and kittens appreciate.] Have you considered one of those large cat trees? She seems like she'd benefit from such a thing.

I think she just like making me spent an hour untangling her from everything. Not that I mind much? As long as she doesn't get herself in real trouble or hurt I'm okay rescuing her from her own antics.

[He's watching her settle Snowflake on her back and smiles. The cat looks a bit confused but eventually settles to lay there looking like a little loaf of black fur and big eyes.]

I have to say, you're got quite a way with the fluffs. You mean a scratch post with the little level things? It might be a good idea. I could keep it down here on this floor that way there's space and it's out of the way.

[He's leading the way up to the next floor and yes there are two of the other kittens there - Luna and Joli curled up together sleeping.]

That means the tiniest terror must be upstairs in Marinette's room. Make yourself comfortable. I'll get that lemonade.

[There's not much separating the living room and the kitchen just a small breakfast bar. He's crossing over into the kitchen taking down a couple glasses and adding a bit of ice to them before fetching the pitcher of lemonade. After pouring the glasses, he returns it to the fridge, holding a little treat he's taking from it; snagging a small plate and a few other pastries to place on it - even if Celestia brought cookies it's just good hospitality to provide a little something.

Pausing he's getting a fork and a napkin and placing them on the plate. Picking up the glasses, balancing a small saucer of pastries - passion fruit Madeleines, bite-sized cherry clafoutis, and min-strawberry cheesecakes - a top his own cup, moving into the living room.]

It's actually nice to meet people that are making friends with my goddess, I admit. It helps me learn who's welcome here and isn't a stranger just snooping around. So you said you were from some place called Canterlot? What's that like?

[And he's placing the little small plate down gently before reaching for a cookie from that floating plate, taking a bite. Settling onto the chair leaving the sofa vacant.]

[Oh goodness, so many kittens! Celestia paces quite gently up the stairs, as comfortable a seat for a kitty as any feline could ask for even given her movement.]

[By the time Adrien returns from the kitchen, she's tucked herself up onto the sofa without any problem at all despite her equine anatomy, her shoes kept carefully off the cushions. Her own plate of cookies drops down to add itself to the treas, the better for Adrien to reach them. She herself takes a cheesecake with her magic and a smile of thanks.]

It is the capital of Equestria, and considered to be a very high-society town because of that. It does often tend to be the site of the most prestigious of social and cultural events...

[So now there are three fluffs on the couch between then; Snowflake curling up against Celestia as she hunkers down. Adrien is happily eating his cookie blinking.]

This is a good cookie. [He's not a judge exactly but it's as good as one of Marinette's therefore - good. Bright green eyes are watching her listening curiously.] So it's kind of like the center of all the important things? Kind of like the meeting hall here and that one temple - Amaterasu's? [He thinks anyway.]

And you said you'd been to the Palace there or lived there? Something like that? Do you miss it there?

Yes, I have lived in the palace for a thousand years now -- so being here is honestly quite a delightful vacation. [Celestia smiles with unreserved happiness. She doesn't miss the palace, or the duties, though she does miss the ponies.] So much politics, and duties, and formal occasions, there's never a rest!

[He's staring at her with wide eyes - clearly he's surprised.] A thousand years? You don't look that old. [A frown settled over his features.] Formal events? Like that party in the hall? I mean it was nice but it's got to get bothersome - especially if you're in charge of trying to make everything just right.

I'm much older, but thank you for the kind words. [As usual, her response is warm and amused, because really, he's a human -- how does he know what a thousand-year-old magical pony is supposed to look like?] Luckily I have staff and planners to handle those sorts of things, but that doesn't make them any less grating to endure over, and over, and over again. If last year's Grand Galloping Gala hadn't ended up in absolute disaster I think I would have cried!

Really? I'm just surprised. I've never known anyone or anything to live so long so it's kind of amazing.

[He's finishing his cookie then nodding.]

Having help is always good. You must have had a lot of responsibilities. Was being a good here and easy transition then? you know since you're already used to people depending on you.

Oh, well, it was rough in certain ways. My uniqueness remains unabated all this while. [She says this airly, waving one hoof to emphasize that she certainly isn't staying up nights crying over it.] In terms of responsibilities, however, I do far, far less as Inti than I ever did in Equestria. I feel like I'm on vacation here.

I don't think there's anything wrong with being unique. We're all set apart somehow. I could see wanting friends and people like you around, though.

[Adrien smiles before giving a little nod.]

That's a good way to look at it.Really, that's wonderful I wonder if more people feel that way. I mean I'm just taking it as some really neat adventure, meeting new and interesting people.

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