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

[voidofhearts]

So what is behind it?

[peccatore]

"... Hunger."

[voidofhearts]

...

...Oh.

[peccatore]

"... And-- And the moment I lost it, of course. At the end. But everything leading up to it is just... that." He takes a deep breath. "Losing control. Learning control. Losing control anyway."

[voidofhearts]

Losing control anyways...

[she keeps staring at the door, before turning away and sighing]

...Fine. Fine. Alright then. You win.

[peccatore]

"I'm... sorry."

For what he's done? For frustrating her? For her own hunger? All of the above?

[voidofhearts]

Mmm...

...So what now? No more doors.

[peccatore]

"Now you... wake up, I suppose."

[voidofhearts]

Th-that's it?

[peccatore]

... He looks away.

[voidofhearts]

...Alright then.

How do you... wake up from dreams?

[peccatore]

"You... could try pinching yourself. It worked for Ambrose."

[voidofhearts]

...

...Could I have done that this entire time???

[peccatore]

"I-I don't know. Just try it."

[voidofhearts]

Alright...

[she pinches herself]

[she waits a second. she pinches herself again, harder.]

[she's still here.]

...Are you sure this works?

[peccatore]

"It-- I-I swear it worked for Ambrose."

[voidofhearts]

[pinches herself again. Still Here.]

...Lucky Ambrose.

[peccatore]

"Don't let him hear you say that."

[voidofhearts]

H-huh?

[peccatore]

"Nothing. Maybe-- Maybe think about waking up, instead?"

[voidofhearts]

There's not any kind of like..... dream door I can walk through that'll end it for me? That feels a lot more straightforward. [girl how is that straightforward?]

[peccatore]

"I-- I mean, there might be."

[voidofhearts]

Where?

[peccatore]

"... If I knew, I would have just told you."

[voidofhearts]

Fine I guess I'll just... look.

[She sighs, obviously unsatisfied. She knows she's leaving this whole thing unfinished, but she knows how bad an idea seeing more of Marco's hunger would be. As determined as she is, she really can't argue that. And she's wrung as much out of the guy himself she feels she can.]

[So she begins simply... looking for an exit. Any door. Anything that looks like it could lead her out.]