[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: [future - body]

[squirreledaway]

... That guy is still part of you, though.

Re: [future - body]

[antreegonist]

"Yeah, he is. I do a better job keeping him down most days."

Re: [future - body]

[squirreledaway]

Is it because of the memory...?

[it's weird talking to you like this, but...]

Re: [future - body]

[antreegonist]

"Yeah. I went crazy in it . . . and it's not like I ever stopped being crazy all the way, even here, you know? I just stopped letting it rule me. But it's all there.

Something that big . . . I had to let some of it go, to burn itself out for a little while, or it would've destroyed me to hold it in. So, that's what's all over the place right now."

Re: [future - body]

[squirreledaway]

[he nods]

... Yeah. If nothing else-- you have a lot of friends that can handle it here.

Re: [future - body]

[antreegonist]

"I wasn't expecting it. . .but I'm really, really glad you're all here."

Something warm sinks into you: relief and gratitude and affection.

Re: [future - body]

[squirreledaway]

[oh, that feels nice... he relaxes a bit]

... U-Um... You're welcome.

Re: [future - body]

[antreegonist]

"Eheh . . ."

Re: [future - body]

[squirreledaway]

So... where... do you want me to go? It's your heart.

Re: [future - body]

[antreegonist]

"Pretty much anywhere you go in here could use help, actually. The side paths -- you're in one right now -- have bits of the memory that need to be cleaned up. The middle road is . . . a bunch of stuff that was knocked out of true, and it's where I am. So, it depends what you want to do."

Re: [future - body]

[squirreledaway]

[he glances around again, and nods]

I think I saw people go the other ways, so I'll stay here.

Re: [future - body]

[antreegonist]

"All right. If you want to ask me something, I'm here. . .it's a lot easier now that you're inside."

Re: [future - body]

[squirreledaway]

[he nods]

And now that I know you're here.

[though, man, your garden's a little intense]

Re: [future - body]

[antreegonist]

You ain't seen nothin' yet.

Re: [future - body]

[squirreledaway]

[Is there anything else in this room?]

Re: [future - body]

[antreegonist]

If you look around long enough, you'll spot a couple of tucked-away vines that seem to have withered.

Re: [future - body]

[squirreledaway]

[looks at the vines... Pulls on them experimentally]

Re: [future - body]

[antreegonist]

One has thin sharp leaves. When you tug on it, you get an image of the Eternal Sword.

The other's leaves have all fallen off, but there are eleven dried seedpods along its length that rattle faintly. When you tug on it, you hear a flash of speech: "--and I call on the power of those who balance you, Celsius, and Volt, and Gnome, and Shadow, who are together bound by our pact and vow--"

Neither comes free of the general tangle, but they're pretty dead.

Re: [future - body]

[squirreledaway]

[he pauses, and collects the seeds carefully]

... Mithos... I know-- that they're gone but... I don't think they'd appreciate being in this state in your heart.

Re: [future - body]

[antreegonist]

Celsius, Gnome, Efreet, Undine, Volt, the Sylph, Luna and Aska, Shadow, Maxwell, Origin, Ratatosk -- their faces flash in your mind as you collect the seeds.

Re: [future - body]

[squirreledaway]

[looking for a good place... or making one, if there isn't, to replant the seeds.]

Re: [future - body]

[antreegonist]

You can clear a patch of earth and replant them successfully . . .

Re: [future - body]

[squirreledaway]

[Looking for something to water them...]

Re: [future - body]

[antreegonist]

If you poke around some more, you'll find a stream of clear water running all around the edges of the garden.

Re: [future - body]

[squirreledaway]

[okay, good, using Aqua's powers would weird me out, honestly. Looks for something to carry it in, but otherwise, I will get creative here.]