idolpro | Nero's heart game / Session 3

You stand on a large, circular platform, suspended in a void of light. The floor beneath you is the same stained glass window you started from, but the colours shift and dance, like an aurora borealis. It's strangely soothing to look at.

At the center of the platform sits the empty base for a statue, with an indent for placing the weapon you received.

Ah...

...it's pretty, actually.

[ well, it seems like... there's only one thing to do, which is to place the book onto the pillar in the indent. ]

As your hands leave the weapon, it begins to shine - pulsing for a moment, before all the energy gathered from the tower unleashes itself. The particles swirl in place, before converging into a solid shape...

Mostly blue light, with a smattering of red - they all swirl together and solidify into Nero’s form, glowing with new life. He opens his eyes.

"Ha... Sorry you had t'see youself like that."

[ well, first, before responding to that, she's just throwing her arms around his shoulders and pulling him to her tight. muffled: ]

It's fine. It's like I said, right?

What matters is having a home to return to.

He hugs her back tight, as tightly as he can muster.

"Thank you. For being that home. For reaching the end."

[ she cards one hand into his hair, and pulls her head back so she can look at him properly. ]

I couldn't bear having it any other way. I wasn't going to go back without you, after all.

How do you feel?

"Like things are getting sorted back into the right place, in head. But the others..."

He squeezes his eyes shut, focusing on the other parts of the tower.

"Adora's been killed. Kohime... became something she wasn't supposed to."

Oh no—I got separated from them, I didn't realize—last I saw Adora she was fine...

He shakes his head.

"That's what this place is - a demon's heart. There's always the danger of losing control if you go too far..."

With a soft sigh, he caresses her cheek. "It's not your fault."

...I suppose if there's one thing I'm decent at it's not going too far to any extreme.

I take my eyes off those girls for how many minutes... they'll be all right in the end, won't they?

"You've looked into the abyss and come back out. Not many people can claim that."

The dappled light shining through the stained glass array flickers red for a moment, as Nero's brow furrows in concentration.

"The best I can do is... to make it feel like a dream for Kohime."

...probably for the best.

Ah, though—in that case...

...well, I'd like to be a little selfish with your time, now, just a little.

"It is the perfect opportunity. I mean, how often can I say, you have my whole heart, and have it be literal?"

Cupping her face, he leans up and kisses her tenderly, relishing in the warmth and triumph of the moment.

[ she grins, and kisses him back, with enthusiasm and cathartic, exhilarated joy. she's been scared and alarmed and frustrated and hurt, but—well, everything feels like it's going to be all right, one way or another.

she tips her forehead against his, to rest. ]

I hope if you saw my fighting it was at least a little impressive.

His smile glows bright as he tips his head up to nuzzle her nose.

"Babe, you were magnificent."

[ she—laughs, in a delighted, bubbly sort of way. ]

I'm really glad. I figured if there was ever a time to work hard at being a bit cool...

"When you tore out that apple with bare hands? And then pulled the legs out from under a giant? And that last strike--"

He is practically starry-eyed over it.

"'Give me back my husband' - it gave me chills, you were so cool."

[ she grins even wider, and hooks her arms around his waist. ]

It turns out I just really like getting to say it.

I'm really glad you're all right.

[ok fuck this, back to brackets]

Yeah. I feel... despite everything, I feel calm inside.

Guess 'cause I have what's important.

We'll go home together.

Also this you is a lot cuter than all the ones I saw reflected in those apples.

That's the apple's wishful thinking - if I'd gone on different paths to be more virtuous, the way I was supposed to. Living by the book, or the sword, or for the people...

But the one thing I ever took from our teachings was the importance of love.

...you've got a lot of compassion in you already, as it turns out.

Only 'cause of people like you in my life.

Well, and I'm braver because of people like you in my life, so we're even.

Nero's heart game / Session 3

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