Heart Game: Sol [#01]

[idolpro]

Note: please be as cryptic as possible regarding any specific actions your character takes when discussing them in the game channel to avoid influencing everyone else!

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[bluerosestyle]

[That person turns his head to look at her.

Obviously it's Sol, but he is wearing an eyepatch on his right eye. He looks much paler than usual.




He stands up fast when he sees her.]

Y-Yuuki?!

[sleeplessknight]

[alarm alarm alarm]

H-Hi...

[bluerosestyle]

Wh--



You have to be freezing! Come closer to the fire, otherwise you'll get a head cold!

[sleeplessknight]

[steps closer and after a moment of hesitation she sits down by his side]

Are you okay?

[bluerosestyle]

[Now that you're closer, you can see the dark bags under his eyes (one of them, at least). Also, his clothes are torn and have traces of dry blood on them.

He's taking off his scarf.]

Well, I'm hungry, but that can't be helped...

[sleeplessknight]

You look tired...

[bluerosestyle]

[loosely wrapping the scarf around her]

That can't be helped either. Being here is my Calling, after all.

[sleeplessknight]

[what??? too distracted by what he's saying to complain about the scarf, but]

No it's not!!

[bluerosestyle]

[chuckles]

But it is. My job, for the rest of eternity, is to look after this tree. To trim its branches every day, so that the tree can thrive.

[sleeplessknight]

... What's wrong with the branches?

[bluerosestyle]

They stain the trunk. Not all branches act the same, but... This is known as the Tree of Life now. Everyone here needs it to stay the way it is because it's what keeps everyone alive. Letting it change colors is punishable by monochromatosis. So it's my job to prune them. No one else will.

[sleeplessknight]

W-Wait, what?

Who else needs to be kept alive by it?

[looks around]

[bluerosestyle]

Those who live in the village... Ah, give me a moment.

[he brings his hand close to her shoulder and murmurs a few words (she can make out the words Generate Thermal Element) and now her clothes are warm.]

[sleeplessknight]

Ah... thanks.

—B-But you really don't have to stay here! Um. Where's the village? I'll bring you food.

[bluerosestyle]

Are you sure? I don't want to inconvenience you, but I do have to stay here, at least until my shift is over, and I don't know when that will be...

[sleeplessknight]

You haven't been sleeping enough either, have you?

[bluerosestyle]

Not at all... I've had to stay awake to kill stray goblins.

[he fishes for something inside his pockets, and then hands it to her]

You can't buy things with points here, so take this. The bakery might still be open.

[sleeplessknight]

Okay...

[takes it, getting up]

But I still have more questions for when I get back.

[bluerosestyle]

That sounds ominous...

[sleeplessknight]

[THIS IS ALL OMINOUS]

It's not, don't worry.

Anyway, be right back!

[and she's using Quick as a Wink to get there fast]

[bluerosestyle]

[There is no one guarding the entrance to the village when you arrive!

You can enter the village freely-- it’s a normal village that corresponds to... RPG aesthetics and the Japanese idea of what a medieval European village should be, obviously. Nothing you haven't seen before. It’s late, but there are several people crowding the streets, and all of them are heading towards the direction of the main square, talking between themselves and laughing.

The main path seems to lead to the church. You can also go right, or follow the smell of bread.]

[sleeplessknight]

[FOLLOWS THE SMELL OF BREATH BECAUSE FEEDING EUGEO IS IMPORTANT]

[bluerosestyle]

[You can tell this is the bakery because it smells like bread-- but not because of anything they have on display behind the window. After all, there’s nothing there. Just empty trays...

The baker’s wife notices you, and comes out of the store.]

Good evening. Did you want to buy something?

[sleeplessknight]

Hello... yes, please. Is there anything left...?

[bluerosestyle]

I have this morning's bread. But if you're hungry, you can go to the main square. Do you not like meat skewers?