Laios's Heart Game

[myhungryass]

It's dark, and you are not quite conscious. You have the sense that you are climbing; that you have been climbing for a long time. You can feel the burn in your thighs, the ache in your calves. You're a little too hot, and what you're wearing is a little too heavy. You have the sense of taking a last weary, heaving step onto a plateau.



You find yourself in a dark, blank place, dominated by a huge, dead monster, building sized, as big as a tower. Each of its enormous heads that you can see laid out before you is easily the size of a ballroom. There is blood on its lips and nostrils, blood crusted around its empty eye-sockets, but there is a feeling of hollowness about it. On second thought, you're not quite sure if it's a corpse or a moult.

There is no sign of the stairs you vaguely remember climbing. You are standing on the surface of some opaque black liquid. It feels almost completely solid under your feet, springy, but your footsteps leave ripples spreading out in rings... all around you is a velvety, impenetrable darkness. The only thing you can see is the vast, lifeless beast in front of you, illuminated as if by spotlights, though no actual light-source can be found.

Its orifices are mostly clogged with blood, but somehow, as you stare at it, one vaulted nostril on the wolf's head begins to seem like an archway... the lolling tongue hanging out of the rhinoceros's head like an entry ramp... the exposed, hollow eye-socket on the eagle's head like a portal...

Of course, if you're not quite ready to step inside a monster, you could keep walking around its body and see what you find.

Comments

[myhungryass]

He scratches his head, dislodging a flea. "I think so. Well, something like that...?"

[scentsibility]

Then I'm in your dream. Ah, sorry for intruding, I guess?

[myhungryass]

He actually draws himself a little upright and flips his filthy bangs out of his face so he can stare at Al, earnest. "No, don't be sorry! You—you already helped me out a lot."

[scentsibility]

I have?

[myhungryass]

"Yeah." He looks away, embarrassed. "This part of my life—was really miserable. You reminded me it's not like this anymore. Even if this will always be a part of me—I'm not alone anymore. I even got to eat pancakes made by an amazing guy like you."

[scentsibility]

Ah ... it's not a big deal. I can make you pancakes whenever you want.

[myhungryass]

This man looks like he's actually starving. He's definitely malnourished. It can't be a surprise that his stomach growls in response.

[scentsibility]

... Speaking to that, can you eat if this is a dream?

[myhungryass]

"Well, I'm part of the dream. It's not like I'm even the real Laios. So, yeah."

[scentsibility]

Ah ... right, I suppose. I'm just wondering if it would help right now if you stopped and ate something?

[myhungryass]

He scrunches up his face in longing. "I can't stop the caravan, but I sure would love something to eat."

[scentsibility]

Why not? It's just a dream, right? Or—something like it, anyway.

[myhungryass]

"I guess it's... a little more complicated than that? This part of me is always here, always doing this."

[scentsibility]

Oh ... hmm. Just a second then.

[ he ducks back into the wagon, looking to see if there's any food. ]

[myhungryass]

He can scrounge up some travel snacks!

[scentsibility]

[ yes, good, he'll grab those and stick out of the flap again, sitting on the edge of the cart facing out to hand him some. ]

It's not much, but I found this, at least.

[myhungryass]

"Thank you so much!" He takes it and starts eating it with enthusiasm. "...it's good..."

[scentsibility]

Mm, I'm glad. Here, take as much as you want.

[myhungryass]

He's gonna. "You should try some, too. Food tastes better when it's shared."

The food in question is fairly decent beef jerky. If Al has some, it's a bit tough and salty, but tasty. It has a nice peppery kick and a pleasant chew.

Also, it tastes like gratitude and friendship, so enjoy that.

[scentsibility]

Oh ... this flavor is ...

[ it has nothing to do with its scent. Al is surprised by it and having a Feel for some reason?? ]

[myhungryass]

"It's surprisingly delicious for something this plain and simple, isn't it? Maybe it's just that I'm hungry..."

[scentsibility]

It's not just you. Maybe it's like you said ... food tastes better when it's shared.

[ he stays like that for a few minutes, munching on the snack together, but eventually he tilts his head a bit. ]

So ... what was all of what I saw before here? The big monster and the houses that were a bit off ...?

[myhungryass]

"A bit off?" He seems kind of confused. "I don't know exactly what's outside of here, but whatever you saw—it's all me. All Laios."

[scentsibility]

All ... you? Even that huge creature?

[myhungryass]

"It must be..." Thoughtful. "Though I can't say I know what you're talking about. There's a lot I still don't remember."