[Heart Game]

[aberdevine]

(♫)

For a moment, there is nothingness. The black void is all-pervasive. Perhaps more worrying, though, is the fact that you seem to be unable to move. It's less a sensation of restraint than it is the horrifying sensation that your own body has gone numb and refuses to obey you.

But then there's a voice, speaking to you. "Remember," it says with a sort of vicious glee, "a bird can only fly within its cage."

And the world explodes into light and color, and you can move.

((NOTE: your scissors remain scissors, but your tape has become an emerald-green ribbon.))

Comments

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[scalesfromeyes]

[goes to lean up against the door.]

Viridian… what is it that you want?

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[aberdevine]

The trees stir in the breeze slightly.

The door doesn't have a lock on it.

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[scalesfromeyes]

[sighs and tries the door.]

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[aberdevine]

It opens easily.

The cabin seems larger on the inside. It's-- well, not empty, but it's not filled with the trappings of day to day life, either. The only piece of furniture is a small podium, upon which a familiar(?) journal rests.

Behind the podium, a huge tree dominates the room, stretching higher than where the roof surely should be. Despite its size, its branches are positioned such that it would be easy to climb. Its leaves are thick and healthy, and, of course, colored a perfect emerald green.

A multitude of empty bottles of different shapes, sizes, and colors hang from its branches. There seems to be something -- a tiny knickknack of some sort? -- in each one. There are other things woven into the branches as well: ribbons and the occasional tiny, warmly-glowing light.

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[scalesfromeyes]

[> examine knickknacks.]

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[aberdevine]

This bottle contains seeds, this one has a tiny model of a one-winged hippo, this one has a gear, this one a tiny iris, this one a piece of thread, etc. Not all of them are unique. Some repeat multiple times.

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[scalesfromeyes]

[touches the one with the gear inside.]

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[aberdevine]

You get a brief flash of memory.

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[scalesfromeyes]

[well that was bittersweet.]

[hesitates, then touches the iris.]

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[aberdevine]

What was that about bittersweet...?

In front of the tree, the journal flips open.

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[scalesfromeyes]

[…well she certainly didn't expect that memory. inhales sharply, pulls her hand back, and goes over to the journal.]

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[aberdevine]

It's open to a blank page. Though there's no pen and no one visible to wield one, words begin appearing on the page.

You probably won't find anything new over here.

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[scalesfromeyes]

Ohhh, am I looking for something new, Viridian~?

[touches the edge of the page, not over the words.]

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[aberdevine]

There's something I remember now. Not about Aather.

There's a pause, as through the writer is gathering their thoughts, and then the writing continues.

I'd like you to find it for yourself. You can decide what to do with that knowledge once you have it.

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[scalesfromeyes]

Hmmm, all right.

—Ah, but I don't know how to get back to the beginning~!

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[aberdevine]

The computer terminal will take you there. Jeez, it's not difficult.

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[scalesfromeyes]

I'm afraid I don't know what that is, Viridian.

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[aberdevine]

You can almost hear the sigh.

The thing you touched to get here. Just go back outside and touch it again.

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[scalesfromeyes]

[:D]

Hmm~. I see.

[heads back outside and touches the terminal, okay, okay.]

Re: >> LOGIN: VIRIDIAN

[aberdevine]

Sure enough, you find yourself back at the ornamental lake.