Heart Game

[digitalemperor]

You have the sensation of falling--no, drowning. Your lungs burn, you can’t breathe, you try to struggle but the current drags you down down down and just as you’re losing consciousness you know you’re dying...

You jerk, abruptly, the landing a little rough as you stand. Your clothes are dry and there’s no water in your lungs. You can breathe.

You find a bluetooth headset on your head, it crackles with static then goes silent.

((Join #sharkbait. Go ahead and start right here. Unless you're Nezumi in which case start here. If you're late check with me on IRC where to start.))

((POWERS: all combat and non-healing powers are ON in this heart. Status removing powers and items are off. Healing powers and items are almost completely ineffective at the start, I'll tell you if it changes. You have all your equipment.))

Comments

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[brotagonist]

Hey, Kazuki! So... you're not dead?

[prods the corpse with his toe]

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[virtuallyroyalty]

... no, but I killed the me in the mirrors.

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[brotagonist]

Oh.




I guess that's this guy. That... explains that?

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[virtuallyroyalty]

Yeah. Don't touch the mirrors.

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[brotagonist]

[fervently]

Still not touching them! Thanks, Kazuki.

[THAT... IS THAT, THEN]

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[digitalemperor]

......

"What is even happening in there? I don't mind helping you. Do you have detonators?"

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[virtuallyroyalty]

Should I try and head back and meet up with you?

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[digitalemperor]

So bold Kazuki~ You feel a soft feeling of being loved but it's so faint it's barely a whisper of emotion.

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[brotagonist]

I think I'm okay for now, since you were going back before... but if you change your mind, yell for me! Maybe we'll be able to hear each other.

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[brotagonist]

I think from what Kazuki said, he touched a mirror and another him crawled out and then he killed him and left him in the middle of the floor. That whole sentence is creepy.

I think I'm looking for detonators now! You should talk to me till I find'em, 'cause I really hate these mirrors now.

[LINING UP TO THROW A ROCK AT THE NEXT MIRROR FROM A SAFE DISTANCE :'|]

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[digitalemperor]

"Wow that's like a horror movie. Hey are you okay?"

You know the drill with screaming voices when you break mirrors right? The shards are still trying to reach you.

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[virtuallyroyalty]

Just blow shit up soon, okay?!

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[virtuallyroyalty]

[ Hanging up! And addressing the sword. ]

Seriously... we really need to get out of here! And you! Go back into my hand, or... something!

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[brotagonist]

I'm okay. I saw a lot of dead guys at home, it was just a little weird 'cause I'd just been talking to him! And the mirror bits are alive or something. I can hear Shark yelling a lot.

[covers the earpiece to yell WE'RE COMING! at the screaming Shark voice]

What is this place?

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[brotagonist]

I'm trying!!

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[digitalemperor]

Are you telling the sword you want it inside you Kazuki? I'm just checking here.

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[digitalemperor]

"...You know when someone's lying a lot, about how they feel? It's kind of like they reflect what they think you want to see back at you?"

"You're basically inside what's been killing him. That's probably why it's so hard to find the way. Because it's what's separating 'him' from everything else. So if you're hearing him that's good. Probably."

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[brotagonist]

So he's been struggling against these mirrors... but he can't break loose?

[LINES UP A GOOD DISTANCE FOR ANOTHER MIRROR SHOT :'| YOU'RE GOING DOWN IF IT TAKES MY THROWING ARM ALL DAY, though his movements are slowing down a bit from minor blood loss. talking to Kida helps the lightheadedness a bit.]

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[digitalemperor]

"Something like that. It's all symbolic right? Like the dragon and the shadows were the emotions he couldn't control, and the paintings were the unhealthy feelings he had of everyone. I don't think you guys can make him less crazy, but if you at least get him out of there..."

It's going to take a long time at your pace even when it was fast.

"How are you doing?"

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[brotagonist]

[brief pause to yell HANG ON at Shark again D8<]

I hope I find the last piece to blow this place up soon. I've got a lot of cuts, but they're mostly shallow. My head's a little swimmy but I can still throw this rock. Man, I'm glad I had this rock.

[THROWS IT AGAIN!]

I still don't understand why you and Anri— hell, I'm looking for Anri too, she might be sick— can't change things yourselves...

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[digitalemperor]

"....Normally we could I mean, normally he's really resilient. But how are you supposed to fix anything when you're alone? I bet your heart's really resilient but you're still at least influenced by people around you right? If you can't even be yourself or talk to anyone... At least for us, for him..."

"....."

"It wasn't even exactly what you guys did last time... Most of this happened afterwards. The worst of it."

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[brotagonist]

What you do to yourself when you're alone...

[shakes his head]

I tried to tell this to Cub, but he didn't listen... I knew way too many people at home who'd wrecked themselves 'cause they were alone, or out of love gone wrong... over years and years, sometimes.

So us not leaving him is why you still have power in this heart, huh? Is that what you meant back then?

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[digitalemperor]

"...Yeah... He was wrecking himself... That's probably why Anri-chan's having a tough time in there too. She's not fragile but that place is nasty, especially for her."

Another pause. "Thanks for not leaving him. Sometimes you guys made it a hell of a lot worse but... It's really important, that you stuck with him. He's going to still need you."

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[virtuallyroyalty]

[ ... Y... es. ]

[ Shut up. ]

Re: Hall of Mirrors

[digitalemperor]

What if it's too embarrassed gosh? You're being really pushy! This is in public! Kind of. Even if no one is around.