[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: [resolution]

[icarussurvived]

[of course it is.]

[wish there was a vanship. but at least there are flowers. going to looke at them closely right now. what sort of flowers are they?]

Re: [resolution]

[antreegonist]

All sorts, all colours. The most prevalent ones are large blooms like in this icon, white with yellow centers.

Re: [resolution]

[icarussurvived]

[plucking one out and taking it if possible]

Re: [resolution]

[antreegonist]

You can pick one!

Re: [resolution]

[icarussurvived]

[picks a few] [goes to the center]

Re: [resolution]

[antreegonist]

In the center is a fiercely seething pool of thick dark liquid. It's bordered by a rim of something rather like glass, but with strange rainbowed reflections. Four channels lead from the pool, out through the garden, to northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest, feeding the garden. The water seems to flow through the rim into these channels, and what runs away from the pool is changed, no longer dark. The channels leading northeast and southwest are filled with clear water. The ones running northwest and southeast are filled with red blood.

You might notice that the fountain nearest the pool (fashioned like a spreading tree itself) is distinguished from the rest, just in a very subtle way: there are five small objects in the basin, under the liquid.

Mithos is standing by the pool, looking down into it. He appears the same as in Aather, but he's covered in scars and a couple of visible fresh gashes on his arms. There's an odd internal light to him too; something white and bright and steady.

Re: [resolution]

[icarussurvived]

[what]

[runs to him] Hey, what are you doing?

Re: [resolution]

[antreegonist]

"I'm doing my part to manage the memory I just got . . . hello."

Re: [resolution]

[icarussurvived]

What part? And who are you? Aren't you a knight I've seen at games?

I don't think we talked...

Re: [resolution]

[antreegonist]

"No, I don't think we have. I'm Mithos . . . a piece of Mithos."

Re: [resolution]

[icarussurvived]

[frustrated sigh. and much more serious tone of voice] Don't tell me you're some knight's heart. It's a heartgame?

Re: [resolution]

[antreegonist]

"It's not a game. But yes. It's a heart."

Re: [resolution]

[icarussurvived]

So I won't even win a memory for it?

Eeehh, better tell me how to exit without breaking that Mithos.

Re: [resolution]

[antreegonist]

"I doubt it . . . I don't know how one leaves. Truth does. Nothing breaks here."

Re: [resolution]

[icarussurvived]

[whistles]

Nothing ever? That sounds nice.

Re: [resolution]

[antreegonist]

"Not because of people wandering in, anyway . . . mm, it used to break a lot without that, too. But it's better now."

Re: [resolution]

[icarussurvived]

How did you do it?

Re: [resolution]

[antreegonist]

He tilts his head.

"I grew up . . . and people helped me."

Re: [resolution]

[icarussurvived]

True, people can be great at helping, somehow. Even if they're troublesome, as Night says.

Which people? I wonder if I met them.

Re: [resolution]

[antreegonist]

"You have. Everyone in Aather, really. You're one."

Re: [resolution]

[icarussurvived]

Am I? This is the first time we've talked, so I don't think so.

But I can help, if you need me to. Or just talk to you. Bodies are a boring company, you know. You could use some alive people in this place~

Re: [resolution]

[antreegonist]

"Responsibility is a pillar the heart is built around; people make up more; and you're in the heart now.

That's up to you, right? We'd really appreciate help, but company is also its own form of help, especially in this area."

Re: [resolution]

[icarussurvived]

I don't know this area. But it's yours, so... can I explore it?

Re: [resolution]

[antreegonist]

"You can explore this foundation if you want . . . mmm, you've seen most of what there is to see in it, though, if you've come here."

Re: [resolution]

[icarussurvived]

Alright, show me something I haven't seen yet. Show me other places here.