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]

Before too long, all that's left is the burial itself. Marco gently, gingerly picks up his mother's body.

"I... I'm really doing it..."

[pyrrhicviktory]

[ Viktor will silently pick up the father's body if Marco doesn't voice an objection-- he isn't strong enough to do so in real life, but in the dream space it doesn't seem to matter. ]

[peccatore]

Marco does not object. In fact, he mumbles a "thank you" before he carries his mother's body outside.

[pyrrhicviktory]

[ Gently laying the father's body down in one of the graves, arranging him as respectfully as possible before stepping back. ]

... I can help with putting the soil back. If you would like.

[ it's an offer, but he isn't sure if maybe Marco wants to do it on his own. ]

[peccatore]

If there is one thing that has become obvious to Marco tonight, it's that he can't move forward all on his own, without help. Whether that lesson will stick or not is anybody's guess, but for now...

"I... would appreciate that."

[pyrrhicviktory]

[ Viktor reaches out again with his magic, and the dirt that Marco had shoveled to make way for the graves slowly begins to make it's way back into the holes. It takes a bit of concentration, but when it's done, Viktor encourages some flowers to grow where the headstones might have gone. Probably nothing Marco is familiar with-- he doesn't know the plants of Earth, only the plants he grew up with, which aren't quite the same. But they look close enough to daffodils if you squint. ]

... I'm sorry, I don't know ... what they would have liked. But these are used for purification, where I am from.

[peccatore]

Marco was fully expecting Viktor to use the shovel again, so to say he's surprised by what actually happens is an understatement. He leans in to look more closely at the flowers, stunned.

"T-- They're beautiful."

[pyrrhicviktory]

In real life, they are very difficult to grow. But this place is only in your mind, so I thought... perhaps it would be possible.

... Would you like a moment alone?

[peccatore]

"I..."

He thinks about it.

"It... feels strange to say it, considering this place is just... in my head. As you said. But... Maybe."

[pyrrhicviktory]

[ Viktor nods ]

It is not so strange. The journeys that happen in our mind are just as important as the ones that happen in reality.

... I'll be around the front.

[ he grips Marco's shoulder once, and then starts off to give him some solitude. ]

[peccatore]

Marco isn't sure how much time he needs. He ends up not being quite sure how much time he takes, either.

Eventually, though, he's ready to rejoin Viktor.

[pyrrhicviktory]

[ Viktor nods again and stands from where he was sitting on the ground around the front when Marco rejoins him ]

Healing is not a linear thing. It takes time, and occasionally we go backwards. But I hope... I hope this helps, in some way.

[peccatore]

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

Has he already thanked Viktor? He honestly can't remember. If he has, he hasn't done it enough yet.

[pyrrhicviktory]

... I don't need thanks for this. But ... you are welcome.