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Your phone beeps, and displays only the following:
Once, there was a maiden...
...who was the living embodiment of everything right in the world.
While she lived, no real harm could come to anyone. Oh, wounds, disease, even death, sure. But she stood between the world and anything worse.
Shrike Plucks the Thorn from her Chest must be returned to reality, either by convincing or by changing and fracturing this dream enough that it cannot hold. Good luck.
Full points will be awarded to anyone who convinces Shrike to leave her Ideal World.
One point each will be awarded for every major change or fracture someone creatres in the Ideal World, up to five.
You have whatever items you would have on you, except weapons. Technological items are still with you, but will not function apart from phones, which only display the above message.
Powers are off.
If you are in the same area as other characters, you can talk to them.
One point each will be awarded for every major change or fracture someone creatres in the Ideal World, up to five.
You have whatever items you would have on you, except weapons. Technological items are still with you, but will not function apart from phones, which only display the above message.
Powers are off.
If you are in the same area as other characters, you can talk to them.
You're standing in the middle of a dust-covered dirt road—really more of a path, if you're being honest, leading to a small cottage with a sturdy but simple roof. Maybe big enough for two people at best, but it looks well-cared for.
Surrounding you, and as far as you can see, are fields—the ones nearest the cottage growing crops, or planted with flowers, and then further out, wild grasses as high as your head, swaying quietly in the light breeze. There's a little birdsong, if you sit still and listen long enough.
You must be at least a day's walk if not more away from any other settlements, towns—civilization in general. And yet, someone clearly still lives here.
Regardless of what direction you intended to go, the door opens with a swish of wood creaking against wood a moment later—and a familiar face pokes her head out.
Surrounding you, and as far as you can see, are fields—the ones nearest the cottage growing crops, or planted with flowers, and then further out, wild grasses as high as your head, swaying quietly in the light breeze. There's a little birdsong, if you sit still and listen long enough.
You must be at least a day's walk if not more away from any other settlements, towns—civilization in general. And yet, someone clearly still lives here.
Regardless of what direction you intended to go, the door opens with a swish of wood creaking against wood a moment later—and a familiar face pokes her head out.
"Oh! I wasn't expecting you at all," says Shrike Plucks the Thorn from her Chest. "I'm not ready for guests, but..."
She smiles, gently. "I'm so glad you're here. Make yourself at home."
She smiles, gently. "I'm so glad you're here. Make yourself at home."
[ The actual growable area is pretty modest—there's a bed of flowers, mostly what seem like local wildflowers. Bright colors in a rainbow of hues, tall stalks and short stalks, manicured only a little.
Behind them there's a bed of bok choy, and some wheat, and herbs like cilantro and green onions. Tomatoes, a small field of soybeans... the kinds of things you need to be self-sufficient.
Near the edge of the growing area, there's a tidy area with farm tools put away—a hoe, a rake, a small scythe for cutting crops, a shovel, shears. All in good shape. In some cases, rather sharp edges.
In the yard, there's also a well, with a single wooden bucket swaying in the wind. ]
Behind them there's a bed of bok choy, and some wheat, and herbs like cilantro and green onions. Tomatoes, a small field of soybeans... the kinds of things you need to be self-sufficient.
Near the edge of the growing area, there's a tidy area with farm tools put away—a hoe, a rake, a small scythe for cutting crops, a shovel, shears. All in good shape. In some cases, rather sharp edges.
In the yard, there's also a well, with a single wooden bucket swaying in the wind. ]
[ You head inside the cottage, following Shrike. The decoration's pretty sparse—mostly limited to a little wooden board next to the door where she's pinned up what looks like letters and photos. There's a number of little gifts on a side table there, too, partially-opened—like they came from visitors.
It's really... mostly one room—a small table for eating in the center of the room, with one chair at it and a few others pushed to the side, out of the way.
A curtained-off area looks like it has a sleeping mat and a small chest of drawers behind it. The only other real room is through a door to the side with a kitchen. ]
It's really... mostly one room—a small table for eating in the center of the room, with one chair at it and a few others pushed to the side, out of the way.
A curtained-off area looks like it has a sleeping mat and a small chest of drawers behind it. The only other real room is through a door to the side with a kitchen. ]
[ .......Oh. Oh of course it is a place like this. Whether or not her influence has anything to do with it, it is exactly Shrike's sort of serenity. ]
Thank you, Shrike.
[ She bows with the added politeness of someone seeing a friend for the first time in a long while.
—Out of curiosity, what is she wearing, here in this dream? Whatever LiliS clothing she was in, or something else? ]
Thank you, Shrike.
[ She bows with the added politeness of someone seeing a friend for the first time in a long while.
—Out of curiosity, what is she wearing, here in this dream? Whatever LiliS clothing she was in, or something else? ]
[ she'd find herself wearing whatever she feels like she'd probably wear if she returned to Creation.
Because of course that's where they are, right? ]
Of course, well—you know I'm always glad whenever you come by. So it's good to see you again, and—
Well—would you like to come inside? Or if you want to see how the crops are coming along. I could always use your appraisal as my superior in farming, General.
[ she says it with a lightly teasing air. ]
Because of course that's where they are, right? ]
Of course, well—you know I'm always glad whenever you come by. So it's good to see you again, and—
Well—would you like to come inside? Or if you want to see how the crops are coming along. I could always use your appraisal as my superior in farming, General.
[ she says it with a lightly teasing air. ]
[ echoing the tone ] I'm glad to hear my legend lives on.
—But the crops can wait a short while. I'm sure you have a wife I ought to meet?
—But the crops can wait a short while. I'm sure you have a wife I ought to meet?
[ she waves a hand; details ]
You know what I mean. Though I've hoped, too, that I might finally get to meet that young woman I saw in your memories.
You know what I mean. Though I've hoped, too, that I might finally get to meet that young woman I saw in your memories.
Lark, you mean, surely?
Well, the great people of the world keep her pretty busy in soothing their tempers and tantrums, but as much as it keeps her on the move, all the better that today's battles are in her arena rather than mine.
Hopefully, though, you'll both manage to visit at the same time. How's Cardinal, by the way?
Well, the great people of the world keep her pretty busy in soothing their tempers and tantrums, but as much as it keeps her on the move, all the better that today's battles are in her arena rather than mine.
Hopefully, though, you'll both manage to visit at the same time. How's Cardinal, by the way?
[ then. a pause.
her first real test: what they both might wish the answer to be—or what it truly is. ]
...Cardinal is beautiful in their conviction and their skill, as they always are.
But it is hard—for both of us, in truth—to preserve our ideals while we are still confined in Tokyo-F.
her first real test: what they both might wish the answer to be—or what it truly is. ]
...Cardinal is beautiful in their conviction and their skill, as they always are.
But it is hard—for both of us, in truth—to preserve our ideals while we are still confined in Tokyo-F.
[ she tilts her head, a little confused— ]
Well, I suppose all of this feels a little unreal after all the trials we've been through, doesn't it... that there we could be at peace like this.
Sometimes I wake up and feel like—certainly I must go back to war, surely something somewhere must be demanding blood, but...
We really did it.
Well, I suppose all of this feels a little unreal after all the trials we've been through, doesn't it... that there we could be at peace like this.
Sometimes I wake up and feel like—certainly I must go back to war, surely something somewhere must be demanding blood, but...
We really did it.
[
gods this sucks. ]
...Let's go inside. I think I really would like to talk about what we have done, and what we have yet to do.
gods this sucks. ]
...Let's go inside. I think I really would like to talk about what we have done, and what we have yet to do.
[ pausing to appreciate the home—like the fields, so very attainable ]
Did the three of you construct this place yourselves, by any chance?
Did the three of you construct this place yourselves, by any chance?
[ proudly: ]
Oh, it's mostly my work!
Even learned a bit of woodworking—I mean, a lot of people really kindly chipped in on supplies, but... well, it's still not much to look at, I'm sure, but it's home.
Oh, it's mostly my work!
Even learned a bit of woodworking—I mean, a lot of people really kindly chipped in on supplies, but... well, it's still not much to look at, I'm sure, but it's home.
It's wonderful. [ and she knows that she means it. ]
I've always known that there is so much you can accomplish when you work towards it.
...Should we sit?
I've always known that there is so much you can accomplish when you work towards it.
...Should we sit?
Oh, please do! I'll pull over another chair—and I can make a pot of tea, if you like.
[ she goes to get a chair from where a few others have been stacked in a corner, and motions for Amaranth to sit.
The table is modest, and wooden—unvarnished. There's a little ring where she probably puts a teacup a lot, a rough-woven placemat that was cut close-to-rectangular from a bolt of cloth.
It's set for exactly one person; there's a notebook sitting next to the singular place setting, closed. ]
[ she goes to get a chair from where a few others have been stacked in a corner, and motions for Amaranth to sit.
The table is modest, and wooden—unvarnished. There's a little ring where she probably puts a teacup a lot, a rough-woven placemat that was cut close-to-rectangular from a bolt of cloth.
It's set for exactly one person; there's a notebook sitting next to the singular place setting, closed. ]
[ ...Amaranth lets her hand rest gently on the notebook's cover, to feel the texture and weight of it. What does the cover look like? ]
Just one place setting? You mentioned Lark is traveling, but what about Nero?
Just one place setting? You mentioned Lark is traveling, but what about Nero?
[ it's got a sewn binding, with a slightly heavier-weight cover; it looks a little more modern than what one would expect from Creation, but not quite to the point of industrial manufacture.
and Shrike... pauses, turned away. ]
Well—we both always knew we had things we needed to protect. That we'd both be needed at home, someday, for business we'd regret not finishing.
and Shrike... pauses, turned away. ]
Well—we both always knew we had things we needed to protect. That we'd both be needed at home, someday, for business we'd regret not finishing.
[ slams hands on table!!! as she stands back up ]
What?
[ a pause, stopping herself. probably just going right into yelling about how this ideal world SUCKS and she should LEAVE is too much sacrificing the advantage. ]
It isn't like Nero at all to make that kind of compromise. It doesn't suit him.
What?
[ a pause, stopping herself. probably just going right into yelling about how this ideal world SUCKS and she should LEAVE is too much sacrificing the advantage. ]
It isn't like Nero at all to make that kind of compromise. It doesn't suit him.
[ she jumps like, a foot in the air out of alarm ]
...Amaranth, it's—
I wouldn't just ask him to abandon his home, and all the people he's responsible for protecting!
...Amaranth, it's—
I wouldn't just ask him to abandon his home, and all the people he's responsible for protecting!
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