[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: [past - mind]

[unionoftheheart]

[startling a little]

...Mithos?

Re: [past - mind]

[antreegonist]

"Don't do that."

Re: [past - mind]

[unionoftheheart]

[does he sound angry]

...why not? I saw something like this somewhere else...it's hurting you.

Re: [past - mind]

[antreegonist]

He sounds neutral.

"So? What's the point . . .?"

Re: [past - mind]

[unionoftheheart]

[turning his wrist a little, if he can, so that he's holding Mithos' wrist in return, just gently, let's holding hands]

I want to help you.

Re: [past - mind]

[antreegonist]

Sure, you can hold hands, though his is limp and unresisting.

"I'm just so tired. Save it . . . I can't go on anymore."

Re: [past - mind]

[unionoftheheart]

[r-reassuring squeeze 8(]

I've got plenty of help left in me. And you're my friend. If you're tired...you should have a chance to be happier while you rest, okay?

Re: [past - mind]

[antreegonist]

"I don't anymore . . . it's too much . . . what was I thinking? Of course I couldn't change things."

Re: [past - mind]

[unionoftheheart]

Oh, Mithos...

[tugging gently, hypothetically this hand is attached to a Mithos and I want to hug the Mithos]

That's...what your friends are here for...it's okay to be tired if it's too much, we've got you...

Re: [past - mind]

[antreegonist]

You can tug him gently out of the Seed -- again, it's a younger, softer version of him. He looks tired and blank.

"Friends leave..."

Re: [past - mind]

[unionoftheheart]

[reeling him in gently, cradling him; he doesn't expect much in response, but he'll still apply love]

Not...all the time. And wherever they are...they're still with you in your heart.

Re: [past - mind]

[antreegonist]

He's not very responsive, but he ain't fighting.

"Are they? Are they really? You'll leave too."

Re: [past - mind]

[unionoftheheart]

[I can live with that]

They are. Always. And...I don't want to leave you. And I know I'm not the only one.

Re: [past - mind]

[antreegonist]

"You say that now..."

Re: [past - mind]

[unionoftheheart]

[squishes him gently]

I mean it.

Re: [past - mind]

[antreegonist]

"Of course you do..."

Re: [past - mind]

[unionoftheheart]

[cuddle cuddle love]

...will you let me help you, then?

Re: [past - mind]

[antreegonist]

"I just said it was pointless . . ."

But he's not moving to stop you or anything. The party's almost at the top of the cliff, though.

Re: [past - mind]

[unionoftheheart]

[soft soothing noise]

[let's. let's get that lid on the box before more things happen.]

Re: [past - mind]

[antreegonist]

What hits you when you touch the box is a crushing sense of defeat -- all you want to do is sink to your knees and curl up in a ball and die.

Re: [past - mind]

[unionoftheheart]

[.............oof]

[that...at least...is more manageable. and a little painfully familiar. fumbling that lid into place kind of weakly.]

Re: [past - mind]

[antreegonist]

Mithos fades, as does the scenery, slowly.

You get to watch as the party reaches the clifftop, one of the dignitaries draws a weapon, and Martel pushes Mithos out of the way, though it gets too hazy after that to make out the actual stabbing.

Re: [past - mind]

[unionoftheheart]

[still that. gives an idea of what happened at least.]

...oh Mithos...I'm so sorry...

Re: [past - mind]

[antreegonist]

It's long done and paid for a thousand times over, but you don't know that.

You're in a large round chamber with a cloth hung all the way around the walls. It's raised a little to leave room for the doors (one on the left and one on the right). A great deal of the cloth is still bare, but parts of it, at intervals, are thick with colourful embroidery.

The top of the chamber is open to the stormy sky.

Re: [past - mind]

[unionoftheheart]

[taking a few deep breaths and peeling himself off the floor to go check out those embroidered sections]