She couldn't tell for certain yet what the stone had given her, but Miriam straightened up from her slump with a perkiness to her nonetheless. Control slipped for a second, mouth widening far enough that her face appeared like it might have been splitting in half from her toothy grin.
The following day, unsurprisingly, the Wishing Stone was visited by her again. Greed gleamed from her canines as she greeted it, another request falling from her maw. This one reeked far less of ulterior motive and had everything to do with practicality.
Hello, dear! I was wondering if you might have a way to fix this little issue of mine: I dabble in art, you see—carving—and my claws have difficulty with finer details, careful as I am. Would you happen to have tools for this, preferably for wood or stone. Perhaps I might render your likeness—though I'm afraid it might be far duller and dumber than you, I must warn. Unfortunate limitations.
What to wish for...?
Porkchop considered. He would have power and recognition coming to him soon enough, he was sure. He hadn't had a watermelon since the quest group had left the carnival, though, and watermelon was a need... But even as his stomach growled, Porkchop rejected the idea. This was a MAGICAL WISHING STONE. He had to ask for something one-of-a-kind, something ORIGINAL.
But he was hungry.
So Porkchop leaned forward and whispered hoarsely, white eyes glowing with anticipation: "Gimme a snack! Something unique, original, one-of-a-kind, AS or MORE delicious than WATERMELON, that nobody in these caves has ever tasted before!"
Then he leaned back again, satisfied.
Maybe he was overthinking about it all. Gembounds came and went and came back, after all, so he could always have asked for something and come back the next day if he thought of something better. But the truth was that Zhusha didn't really know what he wanted, and hadn't wanted to use a wish on something frivolous.
Watching each Gembound make their wish did help, though. Apart from a few odd occurrences, like the little primate who'd sat there looking shell-shocked, and then begun to cry, these Gembounds all seemed to be happy with their gifts. It gave Zhusha the confidence now, after a week, to finally go forward and make his wish, without second-guessing himself any longer.
He stepped forward and tilted his head at the stone, watching its colors pulse and shift for a minute before finally touching a claw to it. Do you remember the long, shining weapon you gave to the tall purple one a few days ago? he began. There are some old, rusted weapons in the space under Leo. Here, he pictured a few swords, something that looked like it might have been a spear once, a brutal-looking club, and even a battered, half-rotted bow.
But they are mostly large, and brutal. Many are not as beautiful as the shining weapon. I would like to wish for a weapon, too, please--but one that is beautiful, magical, and elegant; and not designed for something so big as a five-meter-tall Gembound.
It was less that he wanted something to fight things with—Zhusha had no hands, after all, but he always had his natural weapons for that. But even among the piles of jewelry and myriad hats, nothing had stood out to him so much as the Warden's glaive, with its lovely light, smooth shape, and gleaming metal. He wanted something different, but still beautiful for himself—and not so big, so he wouldn't look stupid next to it.
that i might drift with the fallen flowers to a place no one has known
It granted wishes, it said? she was still young, she didn't know much of herself yet, or what she wanted, but she knew she was bored at the very least. so, she sat by the rock to think.
"Give me.. she started, pondering. "Something.. to find.. something nice.. i'd like to discover something beautiful." she said, and waited for a reply.
Genevive had neighed in delight at the diamond collar and put it on almost immediately, the dangling stones twinkling as they swayed. she had thanked the stone, and left for a few days.
then she was back, and she seemed almost... hesitant.
she sighed.
she hesitates, before admitting again,
The "unicorn" waited, looking around to ensure nobody else had heard her.
Forgraves had come back a few days later, seemingly as if he was a whole other person, the sparkle in his eyes as if the sight of the stars had imprinted itself and never left.
he sat down, smiling, and asked the rock a question.
OOC note: if its hard to read, they're asking for a CLOAK
Banshy was happy, they thought. they lived with their brother and his large family, the people in the house. it was loud and active but not in a way they disliked. it was happy. but this also meant they heard immediately about the wishing stone, and while they had waited a while to visit, they came around eventually.
they had followed the hum, and the rock fascinated them. it was incredible. lovely colors, a nice shine, if the stone could hear their thoughts it might be inclined to take it as a compliment.
They waited, thought for a minute. what do they need? what do they need they don't already have?
well. they could go to the library they supposed if they wanted to learn a craft. but banshy did want something nice, so they'd ask for something nice.
that was it, and so they waited. they nodded in gratitude though.
Oka!
One of the last creatures to visit the stone was Oka. And it was no wonder, despite Oka's size, it was still a snail. As the snail went, it left a sizable trail of slime in their wake, though not as putrid as Effluviums. As at last they put a tentacle on the wishing stone, tentative and soft, Oka gave a simple request. "Um, I'd like anything grown on my shell to not die, please? I'd like it to thrive, actually... Can you do that?"
(Feel free to skip this one, it's rather last minute!)