[a heart.]

[antreegonist]

There's a moment of nothing but light and sensation. Someone's looking you over and the scrutiny prickles and burns – it's nearly a physical pain, like fine little hooks digging past your skin, into the very meat of you. I know who you are, it says, and I know what you are, and that you don't have any business here --

“But you do,” says Mithos behind you. He's a tired, steady voice in your ear, a light hand on your shoulder. “I don't know what Dream's thinking, but everyone is welcome here in my heart; just keep in mind it's a real mess right now.”

Your vision clears.

((assume your characters wandered in here through a dream. also join #ihateyouihateyouiwanttocuddle on irc if you can!))

Comments

Re: [center - knowledge]

[antreegonist]

"Part of him. My name is Guardian.

What happened?"

Re: [center - principle]

[antreegonist]

He grins a little.

"The foundation. That place never has trouble these days..."

Re: [roots]

[antreegonist]

He tries to ghost stab you uselessly while you do that.

Re: [center - principle]

[orange_sun]

*nods*

Good to hear. I guess that means I should leave it alone, then...?

Re: [past - mind]

[gravitysrainbow]

But I know that there are people out there who will like you fine for who you are. So maybe even if you make your own place you'll run into them someday.

Re: [center - knowledge]

[bondingspirits]

[shakes head]

I just met another you. Are you guarding these books?

Re: [roots]

[unionoftheheart]

[s-seems legit]

[...heading for the black tree when he's done]

Re: [center - knowledge]

[antreegonist]

"A part of me from that memory, from the look of you.

I guard most of the heart. But right now this has to be cleaned up."

Re: [center - principle]

[antreegonist]

"It's up to you! It's not one of the problem spots, but understanding is still cool."

Re: [roots]

[antreegonist]

You pass quickly through the roots and approach the trunk of the black tree. It's so large that this close, you can see that climbing it the normal way is inconceivable; instead, the bark itself forms a rough, ridged path up, more than wide enough to walk on. It looks pretty twisty, if you glance up; the jagged wound in the trunk has damaged it in places. But it's still navigable.

Re: [center - principle]

[orange_sun]

Maybe I'll come back when I've fixed some of the problem spots...is that all right?

Re: [center - principle]

[antreegonist]

"Of course. You're welcome in here."

Re: [past - mind]

[antreegonist]

"Can that really happen? Even for the likes of me?"

Below you, the party's almost to the top of the cliff.

Re: [center - principle]

[orange_sun]

*smiles at him*

Thanks.

Does it matter which way I head from here, if I'm looking for trouble?

Re: [center - principle]

[antreegonist]

"Ahead or to either side. The sides are worst off, but it's all gonna need cleaning up eventually."

Re: [center - principle]

[orange_sun]

Yeah, I kind of figured. I'll be back.

*hmmm. heading forward, because why not.*

Re: [past - mind]

[gravitysrainbow]

I think so. Even if— even if most of the people in the world seem like they're horrible. If you get people who abuse power, or - or just bullies - if you can get past them, if you can survive what they throw at you, then you'll definitely meet someone who's better.

Re: [center - principle]

[antreegonist]

. . .

Re: [center - love]

[orange_sun]

*...sure, looking for his tree thing, why not >>*

Re: [past - mind]

[antreegonist]

"Oh . . . oh."

He fades away completely.

Re: [past - mind]

[gravitysrainbow]

[!!]

Um—?

[l-looks in the flower, did he teleport back in there]

Re: [center - love]

[antreegonist]

Your tree is near the middle; it's not one of the surrounding seven, but close. It is in fact an orange tree, quite tall and healthy and sturdy, heavy with fruit. There is a Tiger's Eye key hung from one branch, a set of familiar yarn bracelets from another, a little string of multicolored beads on a third, two carved leaf charms on a fourth.

Its immediate neighbors are a coconut palm with a Sapphire key and a dolphin charm hung on the branches, and a birch tree with a Peridot key and wayfinder.

Re: [past - mind]

[antreegonist]

No, he's just . . . gone.

You can probably shut the box now.

Re: [past - mind]

[gravitysrainbow]

[good plan

... pulls his hands into his sleeves so that he doesn't touch it directly when he does '^' DOES THAT EVEN HELP]

Re: [past - mind]

[antreegonist]

. . . no you still get crushing defeat. If clothing barrier was a pass Lloyd Irving would never get feelings or memories from touching stuff, dude wears gloves all the time.