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]

"Hey, I'm not stopping you, if that's what you're expecting. I am coming with you, though!"

On the other side of the door is an arena - no, a TV set. It is certainly styled as an arena, though. Nearly all the seats in the audience are filled. Aside from the camera crew, four people are in the arena:

A shorter, chubbier girl in a corset.
A taller, sturdier girl, bound tightly in vines.
A less spidery, but perhaps sleazier version of the figure that has followed Naoki in here,

And Marco.

[rescentful]

[under his breath]

Oh good... there are two of you...

[peccatore]

"You're being pret-ty rude, you know." The man who followed Naoki in leans over his shoulder. "If you hadn't barreled past me, I might have just taken you straight to the point, but I guess you have to see more of me now!"

As for the version of him that's in this memory, he's advancing towards Marco, addressing him with derision.

"Thank you sooo much for coming, Marco Evangelisti! Man of the hour! Man of the YEAR, the way things are going!"

Marco's eyes quickly dart around... but they seem to linger on Naoki a moment longer than anywhere else.

"Mr. Kinra, I'm not sure what you want from me."

[rescentful]

Sorry.

[edges away a little. but he tries to give Marco an encouraging wave.]

[peccatore]

Marco gives him the most minute nod before the memory carries on.

"Oh, just looking for a chat," says the man who's apparently named Mr. Kinra.

"In front of a live audience? In front of cameras?" Marco stretches his mouth into a practiced smile. "I think my office would have been a nicer venue."

"Maybe." The lanky man's grin, in turn, twists his delicate features into anything but. "But I thought, 'Gee, wouldn't it be funny if the organizers had Good Samaritan Mr. Evangelisti on speed dial?' And lo and behold, they did! Now why is that?"

"I'm not a difficult man to reach."

"Unless someone tries to invite you to an afternoon picnic, am I right?"

The so-called Mr. Kinra is advancing in on Marco again.

[rescentful]

[to the Mr. Kinra who is lurking over his shoulder:]

...are you, like, a gameshow host...

[peccatore]

"Fucking-- excuse me??"

[rescentful]

Well, with the arena style set, and all...? Uh, I guess not? No offense...

[peccatore]

"It's not my arena. Didn't you hear what Past Me was implying? Marco bankrolled this." He nudges Naoki to pay attention to the memory, frowning.

Right now, it's hard to say if Marco is uncomfortable because of this man's entire attitude, or if he fears there's something else going on. He starts to say, amid a nervous stammer:

"If you wanted to go out for lunch, there were far more harmless ways to--"

"Ew, what?" Kinra interrupts. "Spare me. I know I'm gorgeous, but I don't swing your way. Besides..." Another step closer to Marco. There is a dangerous glint in his eyes.

And then, things happen very quickly.

"Between you and me, Marco? I get the feeling nobody's -" (he's winding up for a punch) "- gonna be calling you to dine out -" (but it isn't a punch; a bright blue flame blazes to life in his hand) "- after today!"

Kinra swipes. Mortal danger whizzes inches past Marco's nose, and he stumbles back, hissing in the dead silence of the arena.

[rescentful]

[Even though it's a memory, Naoki can't help but start forward, wanting to cover Marco.]

...can't stop the past...

[He catches himself, though, muttering under his breath. He can't stand just watching, though, so he starts trying to make his way over to the person bound by vines.]

[peccatore]

Well, nothing's stopping Naoki. While the so-called Mr. Kinra laughs and taunts Marco, the bound girl raises an eyebrow. She's pretty tall, on closer examination, with orange hair in a short bob.

"Y'know I'm fine, right?"

[rescentful]

...well, I know now. I wanted to make sure, though.

[peccatore]

"... That's nice of ya." She huffs. "Nah, we're just here 'cause... we were there then, I guess."

[rescentful]

Did Marco really set this up? His own public unmasking?

[peccatore]

Good old Mr. Kinra cuts in with a laugh before either of the girls can answer.

"You're getting a little ahead of yourself! No, that part wasn't in the plans."

[rescentful]

What was the plan? What did he want to have happen here?

[peccatore]

"All he wanted was more fuel for the fire." Kinra grins. "But you don't know what that means yet! So that's why I'm here."

The surroundings are starting to blur... Is a new memory about to take place?

[rescentful]

Uh—

[looking around sharply]

[peccatore]

Kinra winks, and the world changes, rushing past them. When things start to slow, they coalesce into the back alley of a rainy street at night, with buildings that stretch far into the sky.

It looks kind of like San Francisco in the mid-to-late 2010s, if that means anything to Naoki.

"Tch." Naoki's self-proclaimed guide crosses his arms, pouting. "This one's so vague. Are we leaving the best for last?"

[rescentful]

"Best" is so subjective.

[...just like his historical dramas... he starts looking around for Marco]

[peccatore]

Well, Marco is a little further into the alley. He's leaning against a wall, looking... perhaps less put-together than you have ever seen him before. His hair looks like it was disheveled even before the rain flattened it down, and his tie is hanging on stubbornly under a collar that certainly isn't as high as Marco seems to prefer.

He looks exhausted. And sort of scruffy.

[rescentful]

[approaching a bit cautiously]

Marco...?

[peccatore]

He doesn't appear to see Naoki before he smashes his fist against the wall behind him, leaving sizeable cracks. Annoyingly, your guide hovers right behind you, Naoki.

"Heheh. He's mad."

[rescentful]

Okay, do you have any new or helpful information?

[peccatore]

Grinning: "Fuck you!"

Absolutely no one enjoys what is happening here. Marco slams his fist into the wall again. Then a third time. Then he slides down until he's sitting on the ground, shaking.

"D... Damn it. Damn him...!"