in the flowers; (Persephone's ideal world)

[idolpro]

In the flicker of a candle-flame, in the stir of still water, in the fluttering of flower petals, there is a voice.

Once, there was a maiden...

Comments

Re: katabasis: the clearing

[bondsofsuffering]

How recently did you do that?

[P. Patting him gently on the head?]

Re: katabasis: the clearing

[forgottenmercy]

It was, ah, a while ago, but they have to stay there.

Re: katabasis: the clearing

[bondsofsuffering]

Is it taking up energy to keep them like that now?

Re: katabasis: the clearing

[forgottenmercy]

It, ah, is. But it's, ah, fine...

Re: katabasis: the clearing

[bondsofsuffering]

...It's not. You need to be able to leave.

Re: katabasis: the clearing

[forgottenmercy]

Ah, why...?

Re: katabasis: the clearing

[bondsofsuffering]

Because you need to return to us. Everyone in the unit's waiting for you to come back.

Re: katabasis: the clearing

[forgottenmercy]

I, ah, have everyone's letters in my home.

Re: katabasis: the clearing

[bondsofsuffering]

Your home?

Re: katabasis: the clearing

[forgottenmercy]

It's, ah, just through the rest of this maze. I can, ah, give you a map.

Re: katabasis: the clearing

[bondsofsuffering]

...Alright.

But I'm serious. You need to come back.

Re: katabasis: the clearing

[forgottenmercy]

That's, ah, a kind thought...

[gives him a map made of flower petals.]

Re: katabasis: the clearing

[bondsofsuffering]

If you aren't there, who will remind us that we need to protect ourselves, too?

You know how we are. We don't want to hurt anyone else, so in the end, the ones who bear all that pain are...

Re: katabasis: the clearing

[forgottenmercy]

I...

[takes a slow, deep, shuddering breath, as the sky falls around all of them and the flowers continue to lose their color. but he can't deny this, just as he couldn't deny what Amaranth and Shrike said.] I....

...you're, ah right. Who, ah, else would?

Re: katabasis: the clearing

[bondsofsuffering]

[The sky may be falling around them, but he can't help but give a wan smile.]

...Thanks, Persephone.