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]

Marco seems to glance at you for a moment before he goes on.

"But that is probably enough beating around the bush. You didn't come here to listen to a rich man say nothing of consequence. I'm sure you get enough of that in your job." His smile is a convincing facsimile, from a distance. It may not fool you. "My announcement is as follows:"

The room is utterly silent, awaiting Marco's words.

"From today on, I, Marco Evangelisti, vow to make the public aware of a threat that has menaced mankind since its inception. For centuries, all manners of inhuman creatures with supernatural abilities have lived among us in secret, and they pose a danger to us all."

[voidofhearts]

A threat???

[immediately stands up]

[peccatore]

At that exact moment, many cameras go off. The journalists seem universally hesitant to speak up, but once just one of them does, the dam breaks.

And you feel a hand on your shoulder.

[voidofhearts]

[swivels around to face whoever. her eyes look wide and panicked]

[peccatore]

It's your good old faithful guide. There's a piercing, cold look in his eyes.

"And there you have it."

[voidofhearts]

W-wait, no, that can't be the end of the... wh-what? Why!? I don't get it!

[peccatore]

"What else are you expecting, huh? What kind of explanation do you want from dear Marco?"

[voidofhearts]

Why would he say that???? What was he hoping to do???

[peccatore]

"Gee, I don't know. Sounds like you have one more door to go through!"

[voidofhearts]

I...! Oh fuck you.

[peccatore]

"Why are you telling me to go fuck myself when he's the one lying to people, huh?" He points at Marco, who is avoiding your gaze far too deliberately to be simply reliving this memory.

[voidofhearts]

I can be mad at multiple people...!

[She groans and side-eyes Marco and just, marches up to him]

...Am I going to get an explanation from you?

[peccatore]

"I..."

He looks ashamed, for whatever that's worth.

"You should. Y-You really should."

[voidofhearts]

Should what?

[peccatore]

"Get it. From me."

Ashamed and afraid.

[voidofhearts]

Okay well I'm standing right here, so I'm pretty sure the rest of that is on you?

[peccatore]

"... You're right. It is."

The podium shatters. The audience disappears, as does Kaphlar. Marco crumples to his knees.

"It's going to sound like an excuse, you know. There's-- There was the other door too. But you wouldn't have... I'd just be delaying the inevitable. Isn't that right?"

[voidofhearts]

...It's your heart. You know what happened, and I don't. You choose how you want to explain. Whether that's through the other door, or right here and now.

[peccatore]

He nods, defeated.

"I was ill. Deeply ill. ... Delusional."

[voidofhearts]

The... hallucinations? That led to this???

[peccatore]

"The timeline might seem a little... jumbled to you. I suppose that's on me too. I don't know why it's all over the place." He shakes his head. "It's not like I haven't pieced it together, myself."

[voidofhearts]

I mean, you're right that I... still don't get it...

[peccatore]

"... I'm... I'm sorry."

Something about those words seems to be making Marco withdraw again.

[voidofhearts]

...Will I get a full explanation if I go through the other door?

[peccatore]

"You-- You'll get more of the picture. But..."

He may not have said anything, but he knows how you felt in some of those memories with Agnes. He knows, and that's where this warning is coming from.

"... There are many... violent memories behind that door. If, if you'd rather avoid that..."