[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: [roots]

[antreegonist]

He's pointing the sword at you. On the ground behind him is a box filled with dark fluid; it's turned on its side, the lid a little bit ajar, leaking.

"Empty words."

Re: [roots]

[squirreledaway]

They aren't! You know they aren't, even if you're mad...!

Re: [roots]

[antreegonist]

He is in fact moving to stab you.

Re: [roots]

[squirreledaway]

[oh shit--]

Re: [roots]

[squirreledaway]

[just kidding, like I'd let myself get stabbed-- blocking]

Tch... Disgraceful.

Re: [roots]

[antreegonist]

Yeah you're not ringing any bells either. Thank god.

"Get out!"

Re: [roots]

[squirreledaway]

[why would I ring any bells. '-'

Also, shoves him to the side and then turns, backing up towards the box]

Make up your damn mind. You said I was welcome. Are you the liar now?

Re: [roots]

[antreegonist]

He snarls and keeps attacking you, not seeming to notice he's forcing you right back toward the box.

Re: [roots]

[squirreledaway]

[blocks and shoves him back, and then uses a Demon Fang to create some distance between them, before reaching down to the box, to set it upright]

Re: [roots]

[antreegonist]

There's a flash of pure unadulterated rage when you touch the box. You want to destroy it -- you want to destroy everything --

Re: [roots]

[squirreledaway]

[that.... is extremely familiar and he has to stop, just out of pure sensory shock--]

Re: [roots]

[squirreledaway]

[but that's okay, THIS IS WHERE I COME IN FOR.

sets the box upright, pressing the lid down, mostly out of shock and confusion over what that just did to him]

Re: [roots]

[antreegonist]

--Mithos was charging you here; he completes a lunge, sword aimed to run you through.

But he goes . . . right through you.

Re: [roots]

[squirreledaway]

[oh god that was, mildly terrifying. Just... kind of falls back...]

M-Mithos...

I--... I really am sorry...

Re: [roots]

[antreegonist]

"What did you do!? Why did you do that!? I hate you! I hate you!"

Re: [roots]

[squirreledaway]

[stands up, and turns to face him]

... If it's true-- I'll do my best... to prove you wrong.

I'm sorry, I... didn't really do a good job this time.

Re: [roots]

[antreegonist]

He keeps shrieking in frustration.

Re: [roots]

[squirreledaway]

...

[no, just, takes a moment to approach him]

Re: [roots]

[antreegonist]

He's trying to stab you again. It's super ineffective.

Re: [roots]

[squirreledaway]

[it's okay, he just... kind of stays there, trying to find the right thing to say, even if he knows it's ineffective]

... I don't know if I just... boxed up all of your bad feelings, Mithos, but... I'm hoping part of you hears me... Don't... um, let them bundle up... Don't be-- like Peridot.

[suuuuuch a raaaaging hypocriiiiite]

Re: [roots]

[antreegonist]

Nope rant rave shriek etc. He's quickly getting incoherent; that's how angry he is.

Re: [roots]

[squirreledaway]

[just... going to slowly back away, and then... turn to the trees...?

... Those are calling my name.]

Re: [roots]

[antreegonist]

There's three paths! Left to the solid one, right to the ghost one, center between them.

Re: [roots]

[squirreledaway]

[he... goes right.]

Re: [roots]

[antreegonist]

You pass quickly through the roots and approach the trunk of the ghostly 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.