HEARTFORGE - pep!pep! (Session 2)

[idolpro]

You are in the heart of a massive forge. In front of you are tools, and your objective is clear - to use them to channel the strength of your heart and create.

What are you creating? Who can say. Only you - and only you'll know if - and when, it's good enough. The stories before you are not yours right now, but you'll make them yours soon enough.

And you will survive.

Comments

DISCUSSION

[idolpro]

Re: DISCUSSION

[identitypolitics]

[ squints ]

This kind of thing again...?

Re: DISCUSSION

[warningbells]

@LAVA: It seems so.
@LAVA: i think this one is sadder.

Re: DISCUSSION

[identitypolitics]

Yeah, I guess that does seem like the right tone to match this story...

...but it'll make us a weapon.

Re: DISCUSSION

[warningbells]

@LAVA: Weapons are mechanisms of defense.
@LAVA: They are forged in and of flame.
@LAVA: Any motive has the potential to ignite and become an inferno.
@LAVA: Even sad ones.









@LAVA: If i am doing well at understanding humans so far,
@LAVA: Sometimes it is especially sad ones.

Re: DISCUSSION

[thisismagrave]

[THIS STORY IS EXTREMELY RUDE.]

Usually weapons aren't for storms. Takes a pretty big offense to make weather obey.

Re: DISCUSSION

[identitypolitics]

I'm guessing it's a metaphor, because basically everything here is a metaphor.

Re: DISCUSSION

[thisismagrave]

....they do like them a lot.

She seems like an earnest girl.

Re: DISCUSSION

[identitypolitics]

Yeah—hard-working, possessed of likable qualities, unassuming. I'm picturing an unassuming person.

Re: DISCUSSION

[warningbells]

@LAVA: Weapons can take any forms.
@LAVA: So can storms.
@LAVA: i am a weapon (shield),
@LAVA: and i have stopped storms.
@LAVA: i am the fire that protects.

Re: DISCUSSION

[thisismagrave]

Usually the only way to deal with weather was to shield against it back home, though it takes some...serious creativity to make those effective offense.




We could always burn the storm away.

Re: DISCUSSION

[warningbells]

@LAVA: Yes.
@LAVA: We should cleanse it with fire.

EMOTION 1

[identitypolitics]

..."dutiful" seems like it fits here, but it's kind of awkward to express a lot of things that would go in these stories, huh.

But—I haven't said it before straight-out because it didn't seem necessary, but I consider everyone on this unit my first responsibility over everything else, while I'm here. There's nothing else I'll prioritize over the rest of you.

Re: EMOTION 1

[thisismagrave]

[He nods.]

That seems reasonable.

[SEEMS LEGIT.]

MEMORY 3

[identitypolitics]

[ it's this memory, which you may or may not have seen before ]

Re: MEMORY 3

[thisismagrave]

[....oh]

[There is]

[Sympathy, in a distant sort of way. Since he has imagined he'd get something fairly similar except maybe the resentment.]

[Hesitation]

[And he lightly nudges her side, just to see how she's taking contact right now.]

Re: MEMORY 3

[identitypolitics]

[ it doesn't bother her, and seems to shake her out of her thoughts a little, which is probably for the best. ]

Oh, sorry. Spaced out.

Re: MEMORY 3

[thisismagrave]

Its fine.

You okay?

Re: DISCUSSION

[thisismagrave]

[It is a memory of duty. A study of a strange house with a dangerous house demon. He knows the house demon can get wherever it wants for a rather large radius if given motivation, but it can only sense so far and that's what he wants to study. So what if a few scouts are traumatized?]

[He studies the inhabitants once he has a safe range, a feeling of bitter disappointment towards Lilith, and an intense curiosity when he sees Luz using glyphs that is pushed to the side for his observations.]

[Until he's giving his report to the Emperor. He's in a good mood. He's allowed some sense of familiarity with the man. He feels more like an uncle then his Emperor today and he's allowed to hover close by.]

[There is surprise at the talk of promotion, a feeling of pride and satisfaction with himself, right up until he learns its the Golden Guard whose the coven head. Not himself as an individual. He...]

[Understands the reasoning. He does. It promotes unity. And its not like he cares for personal fame.]

[But as he's left alone, he can't feel like he's not enough. The Golden Guard is perfect, but he's not. To have people know him would just threaten that perfection.]

[...its something he needs to make peace with.]

Re: DISCUSSION

[identitypolitics]

[


hm. ]

I guess it's not surprising that you're a responsible kid.

Re: DISCUSSION

[thisismagrave]

I had a duty to uphold.

And he needed help.

Re: DISCUSSION

[thisismagrave]

[Sometimes you take a memory because you're kind of expecting another betrayal memory, and you hope its not as charged as the other two girls.]

[Rufous shouldn't bet.]

[The memory starts with him so excited. The amount of pure joy he feels is...a rush. He's sure that they will be as happy as he is, as the memory starts with him declaring how they're all going to be part of the Emperor's Coven and can play Flyer Derby.]

[The kids are shocked.]

[So sure he is of this, he gives his name to them because of course its fine to tell THEM his name, and clarify he's the Golden Guard. Willow asks if he's the same as Luz told them amount and he confirms, complete with magical girl transformation. Then scouts appear to grab the others, to his surprise, but Darius apparently sent them. Unexpected, but he's all too happy for this.]

[Then there doesn't have to be a delay in branding them and taking them away from their friends and family forever. Because that's clearly okay for what they're going to get in return! This is a good thing!]

[They do struggle, a lot, with Skara punching Steve, and the kids have to be shoved into a cell for now. Steve and Hunter keep an eye on them while waiting for Darius and what follows is a very....odd conversation.]

[Hunter genuinely, and truly, believes joining the Emperor's Coven is the best thing possible. They keep all their magic, free room and board, and they can even play Flyer Derby on their day off! Which...is fifty two weeks away. They get one a year. Which is clearly a great boon!]

[They don't care. They don't want this!]

[Hunter insists they will eventually. They can trust him, he's their friend. And he genuinely MEANS it. He is so incredibly fond and HAPPY for them because this is great for them!]

[Gus says friends don't stab each other in the back.]

[Hunter counters that of course they do. The coven heads do it all the time. This is Normal and Fine. He's sure Captain will understand and he asks her.]

[And Willow...is having a bit of a break down. She thought she could be good at this, and Hunter doesn't understand. Why doesn't she think she's good? She's amazing! But she continues that they're there because she made a bad call. She's just Half A Witch Willow.]

[And that. Is not something said lightly. He understands that feeling. He understands the helplessness, the failure, the self hatred that comes in those words, and he doesn't understand why. This. Is good. This is a good thing. Why is she so hard on herself...?]

[They're teleported away and Hunter realizes its Darius, eagerly going outside to talk to Darius. Bragging about finding recruits. Asking if he can wear a symbol on his cloak with pride, looking for validation, looking for approval, because he did as asked and he did it well. But for others Not Hunter, its very clear Darius is not impressed with anything that's going on, and is only handing over the cloak to get Hunter off his back. The only bit getting through to Hunter when he asks if he really can wear it with pride, understanding that Darius had...doubts? But why....?]

[Then Steve comes out, not envying the kids, and Hunter brushed off the seriousness of basic training. Steve is incredulous, because it involves Witch's Duels, deadly mazes, and being left alone on a mountain to survive, which he feels a fondness for. That was fun! It'll be easy. Hunter is sure this will work out, they'll see.]

[Until Steve brings up Belos taking away people's palismens. And then there's a bucket of ice dumped in his veins. The memory doesn't contain WHAT happens, but whatever the Palismen collecting is, its Not Good. And its then Hunter realizes that]

[Maybe he has actually hurt them in a way they won't recover from.]

[Basically, Hunter is in a literal cult and is only just recently starting to question things because other then a few points, its the best thing EVER.]

Re: DISCUSSION

[identitypolitics]

[ uh






okay well how's he looking, first of all. how's he doing with all that. ]

Re: DISCUSSION

[thisismagrave]

[CONCERNED CONFUSION, MOSTLY.]

Re: DISCUSSION

[identitypolitics]

Are those—all people you knew pretty well?