[a heart field trip]

[antreegonist]

*you're back on the island of Mithos's heart, on the dirt path through the meadow. the sky's still clouded and glassy, but it's no longer storming: you've arrived in the middle of a sunshower.

the freestanding door is there in its pool. the surrounding fog has thinned to translucence -- you can see a couple of large, four-legged shapes moving in it.*

Comments

[antreegonist]

*it's rather more spacious than it looked from outside, but still cozy. it's not an exact replica of Altessa's house. there's a front room and then two doors: one to your left and one to your right.*

[brotagonist]

[...llleft?]

[antreegonist]

*the left door leads to Altessa's dining room. there's a long rectangular table that looks like it could sit a dozen people or so -- in fact, it's fully set for a meal, though the chairs are disarranged, the food half-eaten and abandoned. you can make out an odd small shape under the table.

sitting at the table are three women...Martel, Colette, and Tabatha. their hands are folded in their laps, their heads slightly bowed. they are breathing, but not moving otherwise.*

[brotagonist]

What the hell...?

[puts a hand on Colette's shoulder?]

[antreegonist]

*it's like she's asleep! asleep with very good posture...yes...*

[brotagonist]

[...:I... checks under the table.]

[antreegonist]

*a treed black box.*

[brotagonist]

[puts a hand on her shoulder again.]

Colette! Wake up!

[antreegonist]

*...no...*

[brotagonist]

[is there anything else in the room?]

[antreegonist]

*THE TABLE FULL OF FOOD.*

[brotagonist]

[:|a]

[tries dumping a two-thirds empty water glass over Colette's head.]

[antreegonist]

*. . . you're a good friend . . .

that doesn't wake her up bro.*

[brotagonist]

[I am. I dislike seeing my friends in comas. It's a friend thing.

mops her hair up with a napkin considerately as he plans his next move.]

[antreegonist]

*. . . :|b*

[brotagonist]

Is something wrong with the food...? Maybe it was drugged again.

[tries to see if the smell is off...]

[antreegonist]

*the food smells normal.*

[brotagonist]

[PUTS A SMALL PIECE IN HIS MOUTH?]

[antreegonist]

*that dish tastes a little more salt-sweet than normal. it is the taste of tsundere.*

[brotagonist]

[I don't know what tsundere tastes like. maybe you've been eating tsunderes, Mithos Yggdrasil.]

What the hell? ...wait here a minute, guys... I guess you can't do anything else.

[IF THE ANSWER TO A PUZZLE IS NOT IN ONE ROOM OF THE DUNGEON, TRY THE OTHER...]

[antreegonist]

*the right door leads to a bedroom with several beds. a fluffy grey kitten is asleep upon the nearest bed.*

[brotagonist]

Is anything here awake?

[pokes the kitten.]

[antreegonist]

*it slits pale blue eyes open.*

[brotagonist]

—hey! Hello.

[antreegonist]

*yawwwwn flop...*