thevoidsdarkhorse | Heart Game (Continued)

Heart Game (Continued)

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... Some of us just need a little more give than take at the end of the day. Makes it feel less pointless, in a way. Otherwise... you know... you just end up thinking that maybe whatever hellish destiny is out there just enjoys getting our hopes up, only to pull it away and mock us as we fall.

It's a little less mocking when there's something else to fall back on, anyway.

Could I tell you something, though?

[Yeah, frogs. Kind of weird.]

[Welcome back to LOPAN, though this time you're INSIDE Roxy's house.]

[It's a bit of a haze, waking up, talking to Jane, something happened that apparently made you pass out, but you brush it off because something else occurred to you. Without a word to Jane, you've run up the stairs, to the balcony, climbed onto your roof and you see it. A purple flashing kernelsprite.]

[You're excited, you're so excited, and happy to the point where it's almost PAINFUL, mixed with anxiety, and fear, because you're not sure if she'll like you, but you hope so. You hope so more than anything as you pulled out a sylladex bottle that, instead of containing a card, just has a bunch of green goo.]

[You're going to see her, you're going to revive her, you're going to see your MOTHER for the first time ever and it's going to be the BEST meeting EVER and you're ready to throw the bottle in.]

[...]

[Then this motherfucker shows up. And throws two troll lady corpses into the kernelsprite. Two, kernelsprites can only take TWO.]

[The clown honks.]

[And it's like a SWITCH as suddenly all you see is RED and you're screaming, crying, pulling out your gun, and CHASING that honking bastard without care of safety or anything else as you run down a fucking pyramid because he needs to DIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIE]

[But because he's a fucking clown, he escapes you in the rage haze and you run yourself down, collapse at the bottom. It takes a while to notice Jane is calling you, asking what's wrong, why did you throw a fit about the sprite, at least yours seems stable instead of exploding, and she doesn't get it doesn't get it doesn't get it because she didn't understand what it meant to see your mother.]

[You give her the biggest, emptiness smile of your life, tell her you're fine, just thirsty, and go upstairs to your mother's room that's full of booze.]

[You lock the door, and begin drinking yourself into oblivion.]

[Then suddenly you're you again, and there's Roxy, surrounded by empty bottles, and opening a new bottle to drink.]

What is it?

You have lost many people important to you.

[The slow is appreciated. She flinches as she talks, a hand moving to her ear, and it takes a bit longer for her to parse out the words. She's not used to being TALKED AT and needing to RESPOND, always having all the time in the world.]

[But she makes the motions and don't move! Don't move at all, I can totally fight!!!]

[...aha.]

And you're the Roxy of this area.

You shouldn't drink so much.

[Gestures. Outside. Near the house first.]

[(A dark thought, favoring those closest to her, but part of this is to also insure her own safety, even if it's mostly altruistic.)]

...why?

[She looking at the cubes thoughtfully.]

I think....more people.

Zelos said once that it was...dangerous. Living for only one person.

[okay, but. can she give her a headpat before she goes.]

Well, yeah. But sometimes it's still a good thing to say it anyway.

[And bringing her knuckles to his lips, briefly.]

The kindness I could share with you wouldn't ever be enough to thank you for your friendship, Roxy. Even if it's hard to take at times, or if it's hard to give in return. But I help you for the same reason you want to help me. And I'm sorry, that my pushing you away has caused you pain like this.

But as long as I know you, know that I won't stop being here for you... or doing my best to let you do the same in return. Let you give and take.

You've earned every drop of that.

[She looks at him, lost, confused, so very terrified.]

Why? Why do you....why do you even care?

[She picks up an empty bottle.]

[And THROWS IT so it goes flying right by his head, and she just gives him the most empty smile.]

Jsut maming hippy feels.

[ He pauses for a minute before he nods at that. ]

... He's probably right.

Because you're my friend.

I mean. . . I didn't know you very well before all of-- [sweeps his hands around him, gesturing to. . . everything] -- this. But you're still my friend.

And I can't ignore a friend who needs help.

. . . oh boy, explaining how I know all of this stuff about you when you wake up is gonna be really weird.

But...you couldn't change that.

[she just nods]

I know.

[to double check, does she have her weapons again]

[She flinches at first, stills.]

[Watches, waits.]

[Do you continue?]

[yes!]

Lots of reasons.

It's the right thing to do, everyone deserves help, everyone deserves to not feel alone, makes me happy to help. Those are most of the reasons.

They're my friends makes me more determined 'cause usually friendship happens at some point.

[Pause.]

Sometimes...I see how people act. And it's familiar. It's...it's what I know.

And I know how miserable it is, and I dun want that for 'em.

Because I said--

[ no, he can't keep using that as his cover anymore. at some point, it changed from determination to Roxy's feelings infiltrating him, to make him question what little he knows about himself, to... actually want to help her. this isn't just about a promise anymore. it's evolving into more than that ]

I care. [ not that he asked for that ] I've experienced some of your memories here. I've seen different parts of you. Parts that were pretending to be happy, but were in pain. Parts that wanted nothing more than to be understood and hurting others to share that. Parts that just wanted to protect, but couldn't protect herself. And your another part. That shares some of those qualities because you're all Roxy, right?

[ then, quieter ]

But I did also promise I would do whatever it took to help you. And I still mean that.

[Looks at it as it flies by.]

You should still sober up.

I know it sucks, but that's no excuse to drink so much.

[She stares at their hands, quiet for several long moments.]

It...took a long while. To know for sure, you cared. 'cause I'm kinda fucked up like that. But...I did see, understand it. So I know you'll be there.

[She looks up at him, questioning.] Will you really let me be there for you?

[Zelos: super good at giving advice. Shit at taking his own.]

...do you trust the people comin'?

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Page 65 of 192

Heart Game (Continued)

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