Eclipse's Heart Game ☉ Session #2

[idolpro]

You drift like you're floating in water. It's almost relaxing, actually. As long as you don't think too hard that what you're floating in may be bottomless, because under you lies only a deep darkness that only the ocean can provide.

Then something grabs you and drags you deeper, down, down, down into the abyssal depths. You can't breathe, but that's not on the forefront of your mind now, is it?

There is a mounting sense of anxiety and dread.

Who do you want to become? Will you even get to see tomorrow? What if all roads lead to ████████? Can you still stay '███'? If people see the ████ you, will they think less of you? Will they feel cheated?

You want to live. Even if it's a ███, even if your hands must be covered in █████, you want to live. You want to be '███'.

Finally, a voice pierces through the darkness. It a woman's voice.

"My, how unfortunate. Your journey ends before it even begins."

"... Just kidding. That would be terribly boring! I suppose I can do the boy a favour just this once."

You feel someone grab your arm and pull you up to the surface.

...

When you come to, you are standing somewhere else.

Comments

[featherbeaned]

... Is Eclipse having an identity crisis?

[intheshade]

A pause, as several things seem to click together in this guy's head.

"... Shit, he is at that age, isn't he."

He sighs.

"He'd loathe to call it something that sounds as dramatic as a 'crisis', but I suppose him struggling with this was a long time coming." One hand taps its fingers against the desk. "The part where he feels like he got played by some higher force over his damn name was just the straw that broke the camel's back."

[featherbeaned]

[ Headtilt, her ears quirking ]

Hmmmmm, hm, well ... [ Rubs her chin ] Tell me more about it. I don't want to suggest things without understanding his feelings first.

[intheshade]

He leans back into the chair, resting an elbow on the table.

"He recently found out he's the unwitting heir of a deeply problematic legacy. As far as he knows, he's come into great power, but with that also great responsibility, great consequences, and the very distinct possibility of great madness in his future. It's overwhelming, he can barely comprehend it, and that's on top of learning some unpleasant truths.

Of course, he then proceeds to lose his shit over his name, because finding out he unwittingly set himself up for the irony of being named 'Eclipse' over 280 days ago makes him feel foolish. He deeply dislikes the person who suggested it to him as well, so it's become more unpleasant with this discovery.

... It's just him trying to focus on something 'smaller' though, because the bigger question of 'what do I do with myself from now on?' is harder to answer."

He says it so bluntly that it sounds a little harsh, but he doesn't seem unsympathetic towards Eclipse either.

"... And there are far too many other things in the background that don't help. You may be better served looking at and touching some things in this room and in Perception, if you want to learn about the rest of those."

[featherbeaned]

... Touching? How will touching help?

[intheshade]

"Some things have memories and feelings tied to them. You can't exactly get a glimpse just by looking."

[featherbeaned]

Hm! Well! Okay then, I'll touch all Eclipse's stuff and do my best to help out.

[intheshade]

"Good. He trusts you, so I trust no one's going to get bright ideas about doing stupid shit in here."

[featherbeaned]

He does? I won't let him down!

[ Bounces on her heels. ]

Okay, I'm off - oh, wait, before I go, what's your name?

[intheshade]

"I'm Integrity. The real man I'm based on is named 'Azhar'."

[featherbeaned]

Nice to meet you, Integrity!

[ Before she goes, though, she's going to take a look at the wooden board she'd noticed. ]

[intheshade]

On the board, wooden slats are arranged in rows. They seem to be based on order of importance. Each slat has something written on them.

On the very top row:
"People should be free to choose their own path."

Middle row:
"The freedom to make decisions also means the freedom to bear the consequences."
"Hypocrisy is abhorrent."
"You can't help others if you don't help yourself."
"Always be wary of putting too much stock in the rightness or goodness of your own actions."
"Everything has a price."

Bottom row:
"Sacrifice in the name of the 'greater good' is self-righteous bullshit."
"Don't make promises you can't keep."
"The ones who are the most difficult to love and care for probably need it the most."

[featherbeaned]

Ooh, wow, he's got some strong feelings ...

[ She's reading the line about self-sacrifice again ]

[intheshade]

You get the strong sense he had some bitter experiences that led to this being put up on the board. There's something about it that's a little angry, but also just disillusioned.

[featherbeaned]

Hey, Integrity?

[ Points to the self-sacrifice thing ]

D'you know what happened?

[intheshade]

"Several bad experiences with people who were prone to throwing themselves onto their metaphorical swords," he says. "And him being unfortunate collateral damage who'd get pulled onto the blade with them. Despite being afraid of dying or getting maimed himself, and not wanting to see them be hurt."

[featherbeaned]

[ She frowns ... ]

What people do with their own lives is up to them, I s'pose, but dragging someone else into it crosses a line. [ She is! Not! A fan! ]

[intheshade]

"Unfortunately, that's what happened when he was wearing the same colour as them. It was hard for him to argue with them too, since a lot of them were motivated by not wanting to harm others. He just wanted them to try and not eat shit, even if it meant someone else would end up hurt."

"... Well, they aren't the only reason why he feels that way, but they certainly didn't help."

[featherbeaned]

Oh, so that's how it was ...

[ Frown! Intensifies! ]

Well, AlcheME's here for him now. We've got his back.

[intheshade]

He smiles, just a little.

"I can tell you he's much happier and more comfortable with you witches and wizards, at least."

[featherbeaned]

Good! I'm glad to hear it. He means a lot to me, and I bet the others feel the same way.

[intheshade]

"... He'd be happy to hear it, too."

[featherbeaned]

Ooh, he's gonna hear it, don't worry about that.

[ And off she goes, heading back to Perception! ]

[intheshade]

The room is simple, and somewhat less cluttered. Several paintings are hung up on the walls: one of the city outside, in all of it cramped; sprawling glory; one of the beach and the sea, one of a starry sky; and another of a lark perched on a branch.

There's one large table in the centre of the room, which has a huge writing slate laid on it, along with some pieces of chalk. Next to it is a piece of paper with a cat's pawprint (a contract...?), a book with an olive drab cover, and a glass eye.

Various writings are scattered here and there on the slate, like some work-in-progress collection of thoughts. You could take a closer look.

There are two exits: The door to the main library, and the door to 'Principles'.

[featherbeaned]

[ She investigates the slate! ]