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]

"But... But it's... fair."

He doesn't actually sound that convinced.

[oneknightsstand]

It might be the same thing happening again, but that just doubles the harm. Do you seek punishment or do you seek atonement?

[peccatore]

Marco makes a strange sound. Not quite a gasp, not quite a sob, not quite a laugh.

"Either. Both, apparently. And... And to that end, I...!"

[oneknightsstand]

You...?

[gently prompting]

[peccatore]

His hands shake. He doesn't seem willing to say it, or perhaps capable of doing so.

"F-Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned."

[oneknightsstand]

[gently presses a hand to one of his]

The Lord be in your heart and upon your lips that you may truly and humbly confess your sins: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

[peccatore]

"I... I..."

His entire body is shaking now.

"I thought I was doing it for Him... I thought I was doing it for them. How could I have been so...!"

... It seems he's having some trouble getting to the point.

[oneknightsstand]

For who?

[peccatore]

"For... For God. And for my parents' souls."

[oneknightsstand]

What caused you to believe that?

[peccatore]

"They... spoke to me."

He's curling in on himself more tightly. There may not be much more he'll be willing to say.

[oneknightsstand]

[Gently] Then you were mislead. Are you sorry for the actions you took? Do you intend amendment for how you live, or have you already begun to live an amended life?

[peccatore]

"I don't know. I don't know. I-I don't know. I've only just remembered... Just now... What I did because of them..."

... His voice is on the verge of cracking.

[oneknightsstand]

All right. As a priest, when you are ready to ask for absolution, and choose to strive to live in a different way, I can grant it to you.

As your friend, I'm worried about you, and want to help.

[peccatore]

Very, very quietly:

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

[oneknightsstand]

Is that an answer...?

[just looking him over, looking around. Feeling helpless and trying to stifle it]

[peccatore]

"What... What was the question...?"

Marco sounds utterly exhausted. There are doors to investigate, but if Kieran really doesn't want to leave Marco alone, it's cool we can just keep doing this I think maybe some more directed questions will help.

[oneknightsstand]

Are you sorry for not having an answer, or are you sorry for the actions you took...?

How can I best support you, Marco. Should I look around, or stay here with you?

[peccatore]

"... I don't know what to do with myself right now."

That is an answer.

[oneknightsstand]

That's understandable.

This is all part of you, right? [gestures around] Should I look around and see if anything gives me any suggestions?

[peccatore]

"That... seems right. I think that would be right."

[oneknightsstand]

All right. [gets up] Anywhere you want to point me toward or should I let my heart be the guide?

[peccatore]

He ponders this for a moment.

"That door..." He points. "Nothing there has to do with what I've done. It's... useless to you."

[oneknightsstand]

Bud, I consider you a friend. I'm not just a minister after all, you know? So nothing is about like, use or uselessness, but I can skip that one if it's not the place I can help you best.

[points to one of the other two at random (the door of the tormentor)] I'll go there, then?

[peccatore]

"... Yes. Yes, I think that would be helpful."