reality_crossroads | (no subject)

*A certain being is sitting with his back against the well, reading a book with a plain red cover. He's humming tonelessly to himself as he flips pages and in general he seems exceedingly bored. A better distraction than the interminable tome would be welcomed.*

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From:

thelightontheedgeofsleep

The wish would drown, the coinage would attack the wisher and the stones of the well would chant about the stars being devoured? *He sounds amused more than anything, but not because he’s being facetious. After a thousand years of watching idiots dare each other to wish on, drink from and climb down the wells of the Neath, the idea of someone doing so at the well of Winking Isle at least counts as novelty.* Do you suppose there should be a ‘don’t climb in’ sign, or is that natural selection after the other signs?

From:

dee_lorean81

. . .I hate to say it, but there's probably visitors to the Neath who'd throw a coin in just to see that. [there's a staticky sigh from the radio] I dunno -- maybe it should just be a general "BEWARE OF WELL" sign, and anyone who messes with it, messes with it.

From:

thelightontheedgeofsleep

I admit that you might end up with a veritable thicket of warning signs otherwise. *He takes another look out the window.* Are there any especially nice parks around here? There's this 'picnic' idea that sounds interesting.

From:

dee_lorean81

Yeah. . .on the other hand, that would probably be the best way to keep people away.

Hmmmm. . . [she flashes her headlights thoughtfully] I know there's a nice beach, so there must be a good park. I bet one will pop up if we go off looking for it! Might even have picnic stuff already there!

From:

thelightontheedgeofsleep

Ensuring no one can reach it to begin with?

That sort of thing is a valid tactic in dreams, and this place has markedly dreamlike qualities. If not for the general lack of Fingerkings and tigers I might well mistake it for Parabola.

From:

dee_lorean81

Heh -- hey, whatever works!

Yeah, I think linking to every place in the multiverse -- including some dreamworlds -- means it necessarily has to be kind of reality-warpy. . . [as she drives along searching for a nice picnic spot] Dare I ask what Fingerkings are?

From:

thelightontheedgeofsleep

The Fingerkings are the serpents of dreams. A rather ironic name, I know. Sometimes they possess people in their attempts to Be. Often they have battles with tigers in strange lands.

I've walked in the Waswood, where no one that still exists may set foot. Winking Isle is my wounded kingdom. I've played both sides of that chess game, though of course I tend towards catkind.

From:

dee_lorean81

Oh -- that's actually better than I was expecting! I was thinking hand-spiders or something like that. So they and the tigers duke it out on the regular?

Right, yeah, that cat. . .that cat would make a terrifying tiger, that's for sure. [And oh look, it seems to be getting grassier outside the window. With apple trees and strawberry bushes and everything.]

From:

thelightontheedgeofsleep

The war for dreams is real, even if they aren’t. Parabola has more old battlefields than might be expected of a place that doesn’t exist.

Luckily for all sides, he rarely gets involved. Too busy with my people. Not to mention eating. Generally eating. *He spots the bushes and the trees a moment later.* Berries? I haven’t had berries in ages. Nor apples, although one kindly fellow tried to give me a few drops of Hesperidian cider once. It wasn’t enough, but it was a nice try.

From:

dee_lorean81

I see -- sounds like a pretty dangerous place to tread if you don't know what you're doing.

Heh, yeah, really. They probably thank -- uh -- something. [she was going to say 'their lucky stars,' buuuuut. . .] Oooh, yeah! I haven't had fresh strawberries for a while either. [she slows to a stop beside a particularly nice bush] Maybe it's like the Nexus version of one of those "pick what you like" farms?

From:

thelightontheedgeofsleep

Even if they do, sometimes.

*The stars force those of Parabola to be Is-Not, so stars are not to be thanked.* Strawberries it is, then.

From:

dee_lorean81

Mmmm, yeah.

[yeah, exactly why she stopped herself] Well, we can walk -- or drive -- over to the apples. I like those too. Could take some home for Victor; he really likes them.

From:

thelightontheedgeofsleep

Perhaps some of each, but we may as well start with strawberries. We're already here, after all.

From:

dee_lorean81

Yeah, definitely. And they look just about perfect! [she waits for Eaten to get out before transforming back into her human form, then goes to grab a handful]

From:

thelightontheedgeofsleep

*He stretches, though he doesn’t need to, and takes down his hood. The bestial skull underneath it watches her eat through candle eyes for a second, but then Eaten is more concerned with collecting as many fruits as he can. Ancient teeth, some crudely replaced by obsidian, devour food they weren’t made for—but then he’s used to that.* I will have to remember this place. Back home we mostly get citrus unless you’re mad enough to visit Parabola. Most of the apples belong to Apples, who is far too busy trying to make perfect Hesperidian, and in any case is in London where only a few destitute Seekers dwell compared to Mutton Island or the Chapel.

Not that there aren’t ways, but I have more important things to focus on. No one cares if the Chapel has tea and coffee, much less strawberries.

From:

dee_lorean81

[Dee noms her strawberries, taking little glances at Eaten as he eats his share -- it's a bit of a thing, watching such a frightening skull-face run sticky-red with strawberry juice. She nods as he mentions needing to remember this place] Yeah, I bet fresh fruit is in short supply down in the Neath. . . I'm surprised you can get citrus, honestly. And apples -- though I guess if there's someone dedicated to apples down there, that makes it a little easier. I guess Hesperidian is one of his -- okay, I know 'breeds' isn't the right word. . .types?

That's a shame. I know it's not a big priority, but -- still.

From:

thelightontheedgeofsleep

Citrus keeps longer than a lot of fruit does. As for the Hesperidian, have you ever heard of the apples of the Hesperides? Apples of gold that make the eater immortal, or so the story goes. Mr Apples spends much of his time on Hesperidian cider and other unlikely methods of immortality. I hope he chokes on it. *A cracked laugh.* I wonder what happens to someone that chokes on the fruit of immortality.

From:

dee_lorean81

Ahhhh -- I didn't know that. And I don't think I have -- unless those are the same golden apples as the one that helped introduce Paris and Helen and started off the Trojan War. Though, as far as I know, nobody tried to eat that one.

[she ponders that for a second] Probably they get stuck choking on it. Doesn't sound a pleasant way to spend eternity!

From:

thelightontheedgeofsleep

I believe it was. There are only so many golden apples in mythology.

Rather uncomfortable, yes. I'll see if I can make him find out.

From:

dee_lorean81

I didn't want to assume, what with all the other stuff that gets repeated in myths. [thoughtfully] Wasn't there also a footrace with a princess some guy won because he kept rolling golden apples to distract her?

I guess it would be a fitting -- end? -- to the guy.

From:

thelightontheedgeofsleep

I believe there was, yes. Presumably the same kind again.

Or lack of end.

From:

dee_lorean81

Presumably. [she licks some strawberry juice from her fingers] And all of this is making me want some apples. The non-chokey kind.

From:

thelightontheedgeofsleep

If you would like some then I can wait here for you--or come with you, if you'd prefer. *He takes another mouthful of strawberries, fruit that does not belong in that predator maw.*

From:

dee_lorean81

It doesn't really matter to me -- if you want apples, you're welcome to come with. [although looking at his teeth, she can't help but think she should have found a good steak restaurant instead. Maybe another time]