[Heart Game]

[aberdevine]

(♫)

For a moment, there is nothingness. The black void is all-pervasive. Perhaps more worrying, though, is the fact that you seem to be unable to move. It's less a sensation of restraint than it is the horrifying sensation that your own body has gone numb and refuses to obey you.

But then there's a voice, speaking to you. "Remember," it says with a sort of vicious glee, "a bird can only fly within its cage."

And the world explodes into light and color, and you can move.

((NOTE: your scissors remain scissors, but your tape has become an emerald-green ribbon.))

Comments

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[scalesfromeyes]

[her mouth twists downward.]

Ah, is this what you wanted me to find? What am I supposed to do with this, Viridian?

[strokes very carefully.]

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[aberdevine]

What indeed?

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[scalesfromeyes]

[looks around the room… kneels down at his side by the bed and rests her head next to him.]

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[aberdevine]

There's a ghostly sensation like someone gently touching your hair... but as soon as you recognize it as happening, it's gone.

The screen in the corner of the room switches on. There's no picture, but you get the strong impression that you're watching something anyway. Echoes of a memory, with echoes of emotions that go with it. You feel... overwhelmed and claustrophobic. Full of deep anguish and betrayal. Humiliation. Self-hatred. It's hard to breathe, and your chest hurts.

"Hey, Hiwa-kun. It was fun there, wasn't it? You had a kind family and friends, and more than anything, you were free. Your body and heart weren't tied down by Sensai.

Even without you, that world will keep going. It's a world shared by countless users, after all. But unlike reality, since it's data, after all... root users can do just a little 'support.' How about it? Do you want a piece of that power?"

There's a stinging sensation around your left eye, and you miss what the voice says next. But it continues.

"I'm sure it's fun for those 'in the know' to live peacefully in that world too, right?

Even now that you know everything, you still love it more than reality, don't you?"

You finally manage to speak. "... if I do that... I can bring the dead back to life?"

The voice laughs. "You really are a pathetic person, aren't you?"

It doesn't matter, though. If you can protect the Amatsuki... if you can protect your friends and family... it doesn't matter that they're not "real." It doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter that you've only ever found happiness and love in virtual reality.

The memory switches off.

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[scalesfromeyes]

[her shoulders go up and her breath hitches, but all she does is reach up and stroke his hair just like that ghostly sensation.]

Well… so that's how it is, I suppose.

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[aberdevine]

"What a boring reaction."

It's the same voice as from the memory.

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[scalesfromeyes]

Oh~? I'm not a very interesting person, after all.

[doesn't look away from Viridian.]

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[aberdevine]

"Well, you're not really programmed to be. But you're an exception in several ways already, so why stop now~?"

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[scalesfromeyes]

Hmmm. I wonder… what was I programmed to be like?

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[aberdevine]

The voice laughs. "Come on, that would be telling!"

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[scalesfromeyes]

Oh, I thought that was the point.

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[aberdevine]

"Did you? Hmmmm."

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[scalesfromeyes]

[quietly continues stroking Viridian's hair.]

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[aberdevine]

There's a sound from the screen, and someone in a suit and labcoat walks into your field of vision. They look... holographic, as though they're meant to be on the screen, rather than in reality.

"Midori-kun is interesting, isn't he~?"

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[scalesfromeyes]

Is he?

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[aberdevine]

Of course. He's my precious test subject number one, you know? But he's also very naughty.

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[scalesfromeyes]

Hmm~. And I suppose that's quite terrible.

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[aberdevine]

Haha, I'm obviously not really me, so it's hard for me to say, you know? All I have to work on is his impressions of me!

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[scalesfromeyes]

Well, there is that. But it seems as though I'm not real in this world, either, doesn't it~?

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[aberdevine]

"Not to be pedantic, but you don't exist in the world this 'world' is based off. The layers of reality are pretty confusing. But I suppose this is what he wanted you to see... it really is pathetic."

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[scalesfromeyes]

Hmmm~. Well, I suppose if you wanted to think more deeply about it, the only reality that matters right now is Aather. None of those worlds are the world we're in right now.

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[aberdevine]

"And after Aather...? What of those who remain in the worlds you left behind? Well, you don't have to answer that."

With a jaunty wave, he vanishes.

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[scalesfromeyes]

A~h, what an irritating person.

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[aberdevine]

You're not wrong.

Anyway, to sum up things before that rude little interruption: you have a comatose Midori, a screen on the wall, and a door.

Re: >> LOGIN: M͡ÍD̵̨͠Ò̶R̸̷͝I

[scalesfromeyes]

[perfectly content to just stay there stroking Viridian's hair, tbh.]