Eclipse's Heart Game ☉ Session #4

[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's 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

The Azure Pavilion

[intheshade]

When you arrive outside the blue building, there are two signs hanging above the door, each in a different language. Even if you don't know the languages, you understand that they both basically say the same thing: 'The Azure Pavilion'.

Once you're inside, you're in a lounge area that is a cross of traditional and modern. On the table there's a tray with a teapot and some tea cups.

A woman dressed in fine blue clothes sitting is playing a guzheng, across the table. The song she's playing is beautiful, and she currently seems so absorbed in it that she hasn't noticed you. She looks quite similar to Eclipse, actually ...

There is a set of stairs that leads up to a hallway with several rooms.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Does this look at all like the tavern Eclipse's mom ran?

Not that it matters. It doesn't change his less than hospitable greeting.

Which is to walk right past and up the stairs. Surely someone else will play nice with the locals.]

[intheshade]

The brothel his mother worked at, yes, but Persephone and Tatsuo are probably the only ones here who know that particular bit.

She doesn't notice him, so he is free to go upstairs.

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[protectshisown]

[Oh hey.]

[That's Eclipse mama, he thinks.]

[He will just wait for her to be done with the song. Then he can check if nosy is approved of.]

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[intheshade]

She keeps playing and only looks up when she's done with the song. Up this close, the similarities to Eclipse are more noticeable. She's wearing a purple silk flower in her hair.

"Oh! I didn't notice you sooner, goodness... Welcome to the Azure Pavilion, dear."

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[protectshisown]

That's all right, I didn't want to interrupt.

You're...heart part of Eclipse's mom?

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[intheshade]

"Ah, but you're a guest. I wouldn't have minded being interrupted."

"Mmmhmmm. I look like her, at least. I am Love and Affection."

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[forgottenmercy]

[he definitely absolutely knows what this place is. careful and graceful as he crosses the lounge area. takes a moment to pour Eclipse's mother a cup of tea.]

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[intheshade]

When she hears the sound of tea pouring, she finally looks up. Up this close, the similarities to Eclipse are more noticeable. She's wearing a purple silk flower in her hair.

"Oh! I didn't notice you sooner, goodness... Welcome to the Azure Pavilion, dear."

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[forgottenmercy]

Ah, good evening...

I hope I am, ah, not interrupting...?

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[intheshade]

"Oh, you aren't dear. You're an important guest, after all. I wouldn't have minded."

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[Nothing to see here. Just Oscar the Grouch covered in dust and heading toward the exit with a dustpan and a lockbox in tow]

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[protectshisown]

[Seeing that and]

[Wait.]

Are you just taking stuff out of the room?

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Yes.

These are his negative feelings about Heart Soldier Senshi, the first unit he was on.

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[protectshisown]

And you're....

Just trying to throw it away entirely? Apart of his own experiences wholesale?

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[forgottenmercy]

[delicately going to brush some of the dust off him, then.]

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Hello, Maiden.

Have you found Eclipse yet? I need to talk to him.

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[forgottenmercy]

I haven't, ah, seen him yet, no...

What is, ah, in the box...?

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[intheshade]

"Ah, you took out the box."

She's not admonishing him, just stating facts.

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

I did.

Are you going to tell me where he is?

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[intheshade]

"He isn't anywhere any of you can reach by yourselves, and I mean this quite literally. The True Heart isn't going to let just anyone see him."

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[protectshisown]

Were you calling me?

[He will sit. And keep the box in his lap, away from things.]

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[intheshade]

"Yes. Since you want to know more, and it's better to have someone actually talking to you then...well, that."

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[protectshisown]

Probably, but I wasn't sure if you'd be able to tell me things. Since...negative.

Re: The Azure Pavilion

[intheshade]

"I am Love and Affection. However, I'm also some other things that lie on the other face of that coin, you could say."