Heart Game: Sol [#05]

[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!

Comments

[bluerosestyle]

[The tree might be thankful for it, but is Okami happy to do that? It really is very cold, and the sun is setting down...

The source of the sound doesn't seem apparent here, but he may be able to hear a rustling sound that seems to come from the other side of the trunk, as well as someone walking away from it.]

[furrytailprince]

[ Going to check out that rustling sound ]

Hello? Is someone there?

[bluerosestyle]

[Sol is approaching a dying bonfire, in Taisho clothing and wearing a big scarf around his neck that you may have seen him wear before. He's carrying some silver and bronze branches.

He turns around to look at him, and now Okami can see that he’s wearing an eyepatch on his right eye. He has dark bags under his eyes... well, eye... and he looks paler than usual. His clothes are torn and have traces of dry blood on them.]

--Okami?

[furrytailprince]

[ Rushing over to him to grab his hand ]

Sol, what happened?

[bluerosestyle]

What do you mean?

More importantly, what are you doing here?

[furrytailprince]

[ Gesturing at Sol's eyepatch ]

Your eye and your clothes...

I am not sure. The last I knew I was in some large library, but something kicked us out.

[bluerosestyle]

[he brings his hand up to his eyepatch]

Ah... I'm sorry. I never told you I was a sinner and a criminal, did I...? I would have liked you not to find out.

[furrytailprince]

You are none of those things. Whoever says so, they are wrong.

[bluerosestyle]

[he smiles a little, but it's short-lived]

I don't have to say it... It's the truth. That's why I'm here.

[he looks up at the tree]

This is my new Calling. My job, for the rest of eternity, is to look after this tree, trimming its branches every day so that the tree can thrive. And I've been having trouble with that lately, so I haven't been back to my parents' home in a few days and I haven't been able to change my clothes. There are goblins around, so I've been fighting them off...

You don't need to worry about me. This is a Calling I chose for myself.

[furrytailprince]

Why do you have to trim the branches?

[bluerosestyle]

The original Gigas Cedar was a demon tree from my world that sucked up the blessings of the Goddess of Light to make them its own. Here, this is known as the Tree of Life, and it sucks up color instead. It needs to stay the way it is-- but most of the branches stain the trunk. And allowing it to change colors is punishable by monochromatosis.

If I don't want everyone here to die, I have to do this.

[furrytailprince]

... Sol, it is all right to have connections on the other team. That does not make your connections with Taisho weaker.

[ Also I'm mad at this tree and taking back my scarf :/ ]

[bluerosestyle]

[THE TREE WILL BE SAD!]

This is not about that... but you're also wrong.

[Sol turns around, to leave the branches he's still carrying next to the dying bonfire]

[furrytailprince]

[ Grabs for his arm ]

Then tell me what this is about?

[bluerosestyle]

This is my way to atone.

[furrytailprince]

Atone for what?

[bluerosestyle]

. . . For what I've done.

[he rests a hand over Okami's-- he's cold. colder than the trunk]

Come, let's sit by the fire. I'll rekindle it and we can talk more if you want.

[furrytailprince]

[ He's going to try to cup Sol's hands in his own instead ]

All right... I do not want you alone if those things come back to hurt you.

[bluerosestyle]

[You can do that, he looks a little surprised.]

Are you sure? I have a weapon, and I've fought them before. You shouldn't stay too long, you'll be safer in the village.

[furrytailprince]

I will not leave you to suffer by yourself!

[bluerosestyle]

...


[he pulls away from Okami gently, then extends his arm over the bonfire, murmuing something. Once he's done, the fire is rekindled.

He sits down.]

To tell you the truth, I'm... tired.

[furrytailprince]

Tired?

[bluerosestyle]

Yeah. I don't have the resolve I used to have. More and more branches have been giving me trouble, and I can't even rest or get myself anything to eat. My life depends on this tree. I know this. But even so, sometimes I wonder, what if I took my sword and cut it down...?

[he brings up his hands, looks down at them]

I can tell that I'm reaching some sort of limit. I've been trying to find a different way to go about things, so I've been taking a lot of memories lately. But by doing that, I think I've made everything worse. Now everything is freezing, and I don't know how to stop it.

[furrytailprince]

... It sounds as though you are pushing yourself too hard. I could bring back food to you. There are fish nearby. And I could go find the source of the cold...

You should not let that tree define you. Even if it is a Calling you once gave yourself. You are more than a singular purpose, Sol.

[bluerosestyle]

More than a singular purpose... I wonder if that's true. I think I was able to believe that once, but I can't remember.

Food would be nice. Looking for the source of the cold might put you in danger, though. You're not dressed for it.