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]

[shakes her head]

[peccatore]

"It could only make calls. I'm sure it sounds positively archaic to you."

Is Agnes smiling...?

[voidofhearts]

Only calls? Whoa. I mean, I do suppose every technology has to start somewhere...

[peccatore]

"... Well, it could also receive them, I suppose."

[voidofhearts]

I'd hope so...! One-way calls with no way to recieve them sound pretty dire, hehehe.

[peccatore]

"Is that not what radio is...?"

Ah. It looks like this memory is fading already, too. When Agnes notices, she casts her gaze to the floor, an oddly resigned expression on her face.

[voidofhearts]

[Already? She looks over to Agnes, a little worried]

Is everything alright...?

[peccatore]

"We are... reaching the end, Miss Void."

And everything blurs for the last time in this door.

When the world clears up, you and Agnes are in what appears to be the entrance hall of an opulent, but disheveled mansion. A half-dozen people aside from Marco are here, picking themselves up; a lanky man with dark green hair lies motionless on the floor.

Marco is in a strange position, half-kneeling, half-slumped forward. Another Agnes is there too, her small hands cradling his face.

[voidofhearts]

[She looks at the man on the ground]

...K-Kaphlar? The awful boyfriend guy???

[She looks around at all the new figures. This is entire scene looks... bizarre. Not on its own, but there's a strange sense of a lot of missing context]

[peccatore]

That's him, alright. He appears to be fully unconscious, breathing shallowly. Effy is here too, talking to an orange-haired girl.

Meanwhile, the Agnes of this memory speaks to Marco.

"Marco," she says. "Can you hear me?"

"Yes," Marco tells her. He doesn't seem all... there.

The two of them are silent for what feels like a long time, until she says with a gentleness that very few have seen:

"... It's okay. You will be okay. I'm here, Marco."

Marco's face is trembling. You get the impression that something like a sob is struggling to break free from his chest.

"I thought... A-Agnes. Agnes, I thought I couldn't talk to you. I thought you would... I thought... thought, they said... God said..."

She throws her arms around Marco and squeezes him tightly. That sob expels itself, and Marco is shaking, and somehow, he seems lighter.

[voidofhearts]

[okay well time to completely ignore Kaph. She turns her attention to the unfolding scene]

His god told him you... couldn't talk? That's so specific...

[peccatore]

"... The other way around, Miss Void. 'God' forbid him from talking to me."

It seems like the scene isn't moving forward, actually. You have time to explore if you wish.

[voidofhearts]

[She will in a sec, but first things first she turns back to Agnes.]

Forbid him??? Why would his god do that?

[peccatore]

"That... is a good question, Miss Void." One that she seems reluctant to answer.

[voidofhearts]

Can't imagine a good one... you seemed like one of his best friends.

[peccatore]

"I was. I am."

[voidofhearts]

[She looks over at her memory of Agnes hugging Marco]

I'm... I'm glad. I'm glad you were able to talk anyways, no matter what god had to say on the matter.

[peccatore]

Agnes nods. For a moment, she doesn't say anything, looking on at the memory herself.

"This is as far as I can take you."

[voidofhearts]

I see... thank you for guiding me this far. It's been... nice talking to you. I'll have a look around then.

[She nods and begins looking around... or no, first she'll lightly flick Kaph in the head. Then she'll look around]

[peccatore]

Agnes sees that flick. It pleases her.

What are you looking for, Void? There may not be much to investigate, but nobody's rushing you. If you wander off too far, though, you might find yourself at one of the other doors...

[voidofhearts]

[She'll start by examining all of the other figures. Effy is here, but she doesn't recognize anyone else...]

[peccatore]

As mentioned before, Effy is talking to a tall, orange-haired girl who seems to be trying extremely hard not to cry.

Close to Kaphlar's unconscious body is another girl who looks... kind of similar to him? Her hair is a different shade of green, but it is green, and whereas Kaphlar's sharp and slim proportions give him a somewhat androgynous, but ultimately masculine-presenting look, this girl is flat-chested and bony-shouldered, but appears undeniably feminine.

There is also a short, fat... furry guy?? With horns and glasses?? Who doesn't appear to be doing much.

[voidofhearts]

[Well Effy and the other girl seem... busy... so Heart is going to walk up to the green-haired girl.]

So... what happened here?

[peccatore]

"Just so you know..." She points at Marco. "He barely knows me. So maybe don't put much stock into whatever I tell you, alright?"

[voidofhearts]

[snnrk]

Hehehe, well thank you for being frank about it at least.