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

[oneknightsstand]

Maybe already married. Hard to say. We're getting off topic.

[peccatore]

"R... Right. Sorry."

[oneknightsstand]

The point is, we as people live in the now. Other people aren't required to forgive you for something you have done. But atonement isn't about if other people hate you, or resent you, or simply want nothing to do with you. Atonement is about living as yourself and deciding what you want to do and be going forward. And there are other people who will say, hey, I see that you are not doing those things any more. I am fine with giving you a chance, and then it's your job to live up to that chance they give you -- not to reject it by nature.

I am sure Tristan has a lot of deaths in his past. I also see the person he is today, and I love that person. I think you will have that available to you too, from many people, if you allow yourself to be the person they can love and to let that love into your life.

[peccatore]

Marco stays silent for a few moments, clearly taking some time to process this.

Then a noise that sounds very much like a quiet sob comes out of his mouth.

[oneknightsstand]

[shuffles over and puts an arm around his back]

[peccatore]

"I-I'm sorry..."

The words come so quickly, it's evident he's saying them on impulse.

[oneknightsstand]

It's okay.

[peccatore]

... He's probably going to sit like this and sob quietly for a bit.

[oneknightsstand]

[will hold him]

[after a while] If there's more you want me to see, I will. But... Marco, none of this will change my opinion of you and what I feel you need. And it's all stuff you can tell me in person if you'd like. So there's a big part of me that thinks it's more important to just sit here with you now.

[peccatore]

"T-That's... That's very kind of you. So kind... You're so kind."

He sobs again, once or twice.

"I... I don't remember the last time I confessed, you know." A pause. "Which-- Which doesn't necessarily mean anything, given-- given our situation. But."

[oneknightsstand]

I can't tell you to go confess. But I can say that I think it'd be good for you. My job is to remind people that there is no such thing as a sin that can't be forgiven by God, and help you find a way to move forward here among the rest of us. You know? I want to help get some of that weight off your chest so you're not pinned down by it.

[peccatore]

"... Do you... really believe that?"

[oneknightsstand]

Yeah. I do. There's no asterix on redemption and no list of exemptions. I have to believe I chose this weird path for myself because I seriously believe that someone needs to say it with their whole chest.

[peccatore]

After a short pause, he smiles faintly.

"I can see why Tristan likes you."

[oneknightsstand]

Aw, shucks, dude.