Marco's Heart

[peccatore]

You find yourself in a bright white, circular room. It's nearly empty; too bare, almost clinically so. But the bareness of it means that what is visible here stands out:

A podium in the center, where a familiar figure sits, head buried in his hands. Three paths running from the podium to three different spots near the edges of the room - not corners; circles don't have corners - where three doors leading seemingly nowhere stand with no regard for their complete lack of structural support.

It doesn't take you long to figure out where you are, does it? You only have to decide where to start.

Comments

[peccatore]

"Well, ob-- obviously not exactly this."

[want_not]

That would be weird.

[peccatore]

"A little."

...

"So, how-- how is this going to work."

[want_not]

. . .

You tell me.

[peccatore]

"I-- I didn't even think I could step off, how would I know...?"

... He breathes in shakily.

"I... Well, I do have an idea of... what's behind each door."

[want_not]

[Smile. Hand squeeze.]

Good, Marco.

Okay, if you know what's there . . . is there anything in particular that's bothering you? Or that you think I don't know about and you want to show me?

[peccatore]

The withering look on Marco's face points to the answers to those questions being Yes, Yes and No, respectively.

[want_not]

. . .

Is there anything you want to show me in general?

[peccatore]

"I-- Mithrun, I really think if it were as simple as that, we wouldn't be..."

... Something dawns on him, actually.

"... Maybe... Sort of. But-- But I mean, it wouldn't be... it wouldn't address the, the problem."

[want_not]

[shrugs]

One bite at a time.

[peccatore]

"Then..."

He gulps.

"It's-- silly, and maybe self-indulgent, but there's somebody I'd like you to meet."