steelmyself | who stole your heart and the key?

Entry tags:

a forest dark,
ic

who stole your heart and the key?

In the dark, you taste something sweet and tart on your tongue, almost like apple but not quite: pomegranate juice, out of nowhere. A hint of something metallic accompanies it.

You fall down.

« Join channel #swordhell on Slack if you can. This heart will involve violent imagery and possible uncomfortable sexual imagery; it also contains the possibility of corruption for your characters. »

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ ...peers around him to see what he's busy with ]

On closer examination, the large stone has a sword plunged into it. That's what the ginger-haired young man, a boy in his late teens, is fussing over. He's trying to pull it out.

His eyes flicker a little in your direction, but he refuses to be distracted from his task.

Hey, Arthur. You need a hand?

He smiles a little at the joke. "No thanks, I've got this. It might take a while, but I'll get it eventually."

Yeah?

[ goes to eye the join between sword and stone ]

Has it moved yet?

[ not accusatory or condemning, just curious ]

It's pretty solid. "Uh, maybe a little. That's okay, I can keep doing this."

How long've you been doing it for?

"I haven't been keeping track..."

Maybe it's time to take a break? Or, uh. You sure I can't help? Maybe you'll have more success.

"No--" He sets his jaw stubbornly. "I've got to do this alone."

...Some things you can't do alone. Sometimes you need help. There's nothing wrong with admitting it.

He just shakes his head, still stubborn.

[ frowns lightly ]

Anything I can do for you?

"Uh...I haven't really thought of that. Just let me save you when the time comes, all right?"

What if I can save myself?

"That's fine, but let me help too. I'm going to save everyone, so that's how it is."

[ takes a half-step back, eyes widening in realization holy shit ]

Everyone, huh.

"That's right." He smiles brightly. "It's my dream."

Do you think your dream and this sword-in-the-stone are related somehow? Maybe?

"Sure." He keeps pulling at it. "I'll be able to save people if I can pull out this sword."

Anddddd maybe it's not moving much because your dream is aiming a bit too high? Like maybe it's only moving a bit because it's only partly possible?

"What do you mean?" He shakes his head. "I mean, it doesn't matter that it's impossible. I know it's impossible! Even my father said so. You can't save everyone. But it's a nice dream, isn't it? I have to try."

A distant rumbling roar of deep, pained distress echoes throughout the land. It seems to come from both above and below at the same time.

A dream that's only going to destroy you isn't a dream at all. There's aiming high, and there's unrealistic. Save as many people as you can, but accept that there will be those you can't. And saving everyone is literally impossible--but you can still make a difference with every life.

Also, stop listening to your dad. He's wrong.

"Don't say that! My dad's great." With a huff of effort, the young man resumes tugging at the sword.

[ I HAVE HEARD SO MUCH THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THE OPPOSITE ]

I'm not saying he isn't. Just that maybe... Maybe he's not always right.

[ going over and wrapping a hand around the hilt as well, tugging ]

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START

Re: START