[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]

*when you touch the handle there are feelings! caution, look before you leap, etc. . . . but after a moment they transition into mild surprise, then fade into welcome . . .*

[brotagonist]

[... :o opens the door.]

[antreegonist]

*water rushes in, carrying you with it.

you're in a cave. it's huge, dim, and you're at the centre of it, on a circular walkway surrounding a very large hanging birdcage. all around you is a seething dark lake. it looks like you could step down from the walkway, though: a thin, flat pane of something glassy has been laid over the water.

if you squint hard you can just about make out four massive white pillars farther out in the cave.

the cage is the only bright object here. it's made out of something clear with a rainbow gleam to it. it's suspended by a chain that leads up into the gloom. the bottom of it goes under the pane and touches the water. you could also reach it from here if you stretched.

Mithos is inside; he is covered with bleedy wounds and has a first-aid kit next to him, along with a thick book and a misshapen glass object. he -- well, he was bandaging an arm, but now he's staring at you.*

[brotagonist]

...oh. This is what she meant...

[antreegonist]

. . . Lloyd?

[brotagonist]

Hey.

[antreegonist]

*ties the bandage off and scoots over to the bars*

Hi...

[brotagonist]

[kind of unsure, from the cautionary feeling on the door; moves towards the bars on his side?]

Surprised to see me?

[antreegonist]

Well, it's not like it happens every day -- whoa, whoa, don't touch the cage.

*reaches toward you through the bars though.*

[brotagonist]

[takes his hand where it's past the cage...]

Don't touch it?

[antreegonist]

It'll kill you. I'm setting up stuff to change that, but it'll take time . . .

[brotagonist]

Okay. ...why're you stuck in there, anyway?

[antreegonist]

*:|a*

It's part of me.

[brotagonist]

But...

[antreegonist]

*twines his fingers with Lloyd's :X*

Hmm?

[brotagonist]

...I don't know a lot about symbol stuff, but I'm pretty sure that's a bad metaphor. Like, limiting yourself, or something. Especially if no one can get inside...

[antreegonist]

*l-laughs, huffy and a little surprised*

It's left over from a bad time, so you've probably got something there.

[brotagonist]

Mm.

[squeezes his hand]

You're okay? You look kind of beat up.

[antreegonist]

Stuff gets healed...it's been a bit rough lately, but nothing too bad.

[brotagonist]

Can I do anything to help? With any of this.

[gestures at the cave, the Mithos, the cage, in general]

[antreegonist]

*headtilts*

You already helped build it . . .

[brotagonist]

Huh?

[antreegonist]

The whole place. The whole heart. That's why you're welcome here.

[brotagonist]

[.........///////]

O-oh.

[antreegonist]

*:Da*

You didn't know?