[heart game]

[dormancy]

There is a click, a soft urging, almost whispered too soft to hear, but you can sense that you are being beckoned somewhere, lead to an elaborate open door with wood panels and great curls of gold leaf. You cannot see what is beyond the door, but it smells sour and sharp. Before you can turn over the thought of should you or shouldn't you, if you are the kind, there is a quiet push at your back and through the door you go . . .

Join #supersafe, because I like being misleading. When in doubt, use this for flower meanings if you character is the type . . .

Comments

[dramatispersonae]

Hmm, none of the bindings seem to mention Briar, though about half of the team from far back are represented. The other missing half are nowhere to be found.

[sightunseen]

[stays still for a few more minutes, trying to feel out the direction of the wind again; still west?]

[dramatispersonae]

It is hard to get a strong bead on it here. Rather than coming from any direction, this area seems to just feel cleaner, purer, including the moving air.

[surefire]

[apparently my goal this heart game is to make myself mildly miserable ok puts the book back]

[turning away from the bookshelf and surveying the rest of the corner to see if there's anything else of apparent interest]

[crueltobekind]

[SUCH A JERK]

[kicks the bookshelf!!

and stomps away to go see what's through the door]

[dramatispersonae]

The chaise is in disarray in as much as blankets and pillows strewn about merits that term, meanwhile the small table looks like a storm has passed over it. Ink drips over the edge, and papers and flowers petals are scattered everywhere. You can see a solitary black chess piece on its side . . .

[sightunseen]

[picks up a pair of scissors to take with her and heads into the hedges :|a]

[dramatispersonae]

They are a rather simple but sufficient pair!

When you enter the maze, you realize that you may not have to pay as close attention to which way you turn. The hedges are short, only coming up to your shoulders at most, and cut away completely in other places. It looks like if you want to cut through, you should still be careful, because of the thorns and so on.

Not that you really should need to cut through, you have the maze completely remembered by now, don't you? Left, left, right, left . . . You know where you wish to go, so go, then.

[surefire]

[reaches out to pick up the chess piece and turn it over in her hand]

[dramatispersonae]

The bookshelf gives an ominous lurch, but it eventually settles itself.

The room is elegant and well-put together with a few arm chairs and bureaus. Heavy curtains hang from what appear to be windows, and a vase full of dead and dry flowers in what must have been a lovely arrangement sits on a low table. There are a few empty dishes and a teapot set out.

[sightunseen]

Ah...

[f...following her own directions?!]

[dramatispersonae]

It is a pawn. The stone is cool and smooth to the touch, but it has a certain satisfying weight to it.

[dramatispersonae]

As soon as she starts following the directions, the feeling, the presence, of capability and knowledge fades away. Perhaps, that wasn't meant for her . . . Will you follow them still?

[crueltobekind]

Huh . . .

[moving to the windows(?) to see what's outside]

[playfreebird]

[will try to clean this as well!]

[surefire]

[considering it for a long moment before standing it upright on the table]

[dramatispersonae]

When you look under the table in search of more ink to permanently stain your sleeves with, you can see a few more pawns rolling under the floor, a curl of silver peeking out from underneath a paper . . .

[dramatispersonae]

It looks very pretty upon the pool of ink. ♥

[sightunseen]

[...her chin goes up; yes]

[playfreebird]

[picks it all up carefully—the pawns the paper and the silver]

[dramatispersonae]

Underneath the curtains, there are windows! But whether it is paint or darkness, there is only black to be seen. The longer you stay, the more you may feel like an intrusion, an unwelcome visitor . . .

[fraternalorders]

[hm. Well. Puts that one down and checks out the books with the colored bindings]

[dramatispersonae]

There are more random notes that can't be pieced together without the rest if at all. It seems someone was in a fine fit when they tore into those books.

The scissors look imposing, especially with the dark stain of blood upon them. The length of the blade seems too long, the point too sharp, and the flourishes of silver all along the handle are exquisite. However, upon closer look, it seems the blades have rusted in a few spots. It seems these haven't been handled in some time.

The four pawns are heavier than they would appear and feel like they are made from some kind of stone. (Alabaster, two in black, two in white, for those with an eye for it.) They seem lost without a board, though . . .

[crueltobekind]

[Being unwelcome isn't so much a problem for a Hitachiin, luckily.]

[Trying to open one of the windows . . .]

[dramatispersonae]

It doesn't take very long, though some of the turns seem counterintuitive to arriving at where she was. Eventually, she comes to an ornate black iron gate with curls and the like. It feels as pleasant on this side as from the other.