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

[too_cleverfox]

[just takes two steps back and waits to see if Marco is going to punch the shit out of this guy]

[peccatore]

It certainly looks like he's about to - but then he seems to remember Nikolai is there, and he gets back on his feet, averting his gaze.

"I'm... sorry."

[too_cleverfox]

... Just punch the guy, you know he deserves it.

[peccatore]

The guy in question laughs cruelly.

"Oh, buddy, he wants to do a lot more than punch me, I can tell you that!"

[too_cleverfox]

Oh I know, but it's a good safe start.

[peccatore]

Marco glares down at his tormentor. Clearly, he's not comfortable with the idea of doing any of that with Nikolai watching.

"... Well, now you know.

[too_cleverfox]

So he's in your memories, is he dead?

[peccatore]

"I... don't remember."

[too_cleverfox]

You hope for it though.

For exposing you?

[peccatore]

"... For not leaving me alone."

He clenches his fists. This is difficult for him to admit, given how he feels about the man overall, but...

"It's... a good thing that I was exposed. So early on. I-- I should never have gotten as far as I did."

[too_cleverfox]

Trying to expose the supernatural?

What made you decide to do that?

[peccatore]

"... You didn't realize...? I thought my parents were speaking to me."

[too_cleverfox]

I suppose. I'm not one to listen to long-dead spirits whose values are hundreds of years behind modern times and concepts.

[peccatore]

He takes a deep breath.

"They're not real spirits, Nikolai. I'm sick."

[too_cleverfox]

... Physically or?

[peccatore]

"... Mentally."

[too_cleverfox]

Huh.

Okay.

[peccatore]

"... 'Okay,'" he repeats like he's not at all sure what Nikolai means by that.

[too_cleverfox]

I'm not very well-versed in mental illnesses.

Most people don't live that long, or get locked up in some tower.

[peccatore]

"Ah."

Marco looks away, pondering this.

"I... already tend to worry it's obvious, when I'm awake. I guess that's why I assumed you would have..." He shakes his head. "Not that it excuses what I tried to do. Nothing does."

[too_cleverfox]

Have you seen the people around us?

So. You outed the supernatural, almost got revealed yourself. You know all this. What's your next step?

[peccatore]

"... Not almost. I did get unmasked. But... But that doesn't matter. I don't know. I don't know what I'm going to do. How I'm going to face everyone."

[too_cleverfox]

... Your friends? Do you have people who know who you are? Other... vampires?

Do you actually want to undo it?

[peccatore]

"Not just... back home. I have other things going on back home. I, I meant here. Everyone here. I don't know how to..."

He shakes his head.

"I can't undo it now. I'm aware of that."

[too_cleverfox]

Admitting you fucked up is a good start.

Accepting that not everyone is going to accept an apology is another. And then you ask for help. If you don't know what to do, that's the next step.