[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 - love]

[antreegonist]

FLUFF AND PUDGE . . . it's sprawled on its side, paws twitching a little; perhaps it's having an exciting dream.

Re: [center - love]

[oneknightstands]

[smiles at it, sitting down to pet its belly]

Re: [center - love]

[antreegonist]

Oh no bellyrubs oh no. It rolls over, all paws in the air.

Re: [center - love]

[oneknightstands]

[scritches and pets, making the happiest pudgy puppy]

Re: [center - love]

[antreegonist]

At some point you skritch it awake and it is climbing on you.

Re: [center - love]

[oneknightstands]

[o-oh no]

Good morning there.

Re: [center - love]

[antreegonist]

:3

Re: [center - love]

[oneknightstands]

[scritches its fluffy little head one more time before setting it down at the base of the tree]

Re: [center - love]

[antreegonist]

But what if it wants to follow you.

Re: [center - love]

[oneknightstands]

[o-oh no]

I can't take you away from where you belong.

Re: [center - love]

[antreegonist]

I don't understand what you are saying I am just a puppy who loves you.

I mean, arf.

Re: [center - love]

[oneknightstands]

[picks up the puppy and places it back at the base of the tree]

Now stay.

Re: [center - love]

[antreegonist]

. . . it follows you again . . .

Re: [center - love]

[oneknightstands]

[sighs a little, picking the puppy up]

[stops to put a hand on his tree as he does]

Re: [center - love]

[antreegonist]

What you get is an impression of your own mana, a sensation that isn't quite feel or smell or taste but has elements of all three. It's solid, complex . . . a little citrusy? There's a taste there of something twisty that you can pinpoint as human. It's probably a disorienting jolt, to have an additional sense for a few seconds.

There's emotion wrapped up with that feeling too: warmth, trust, the urge to motherhen a little, camaraderie, affection, and one or two other wisps of emotion you can't quite pin down.

But there's a sour and dissonant note somewhere as well, something you know doesn't belong, a slimy grey scum of loathing over the 'human' part. You can tell it's coming from somewhere up in the branches.

Re: [center - love]

[oneknightstands]

[pulls his hand away a little at the slimy feeling, looking up to the branches]

Re: [center - love]

[antreegonist]

There is a black shrike in the branches, glaring down at you. Meeting its eyes makes you feel irritable and nauseous.

Re: [center - love]

[oneknightstands]

[meets its gaze only for a moment before turning away, heading to the door on the left]

Re: [center - love]

[antreegonist]

. . .