idolpro | HEART GAME: REQUIEM (run 2)

There's a me here?

"Yeah. Things change a lot in here but... we've gotten a bit stronger. Steadier, maybe? We're solid."

...huh. Weird.

Well, what about the thing you saw fly in here? What's that all about?

"It was some shadow...?" She says, looking back towards the cave walls. "Not really sure. It disappeared and I haven't been able to find it since I tracked it here.. but I'm not all that worried about it."

How come you were looking for it, then?

"Wanted to make sure it wasn't anything dangerous, mostly," she says. "But it isn't coming out, if it's even still in here, so..."

Huh. Want help looking?

She considers the cave for a long moment.

"... nah, it should be fine. Should probably make sure Hurricane didn't get chewed on, honestly."

[Considers her for a sec, then considers the area. And, because even when it's not real him and not real Hurricane, Nem's always got his priority, he's going to give it a shot. He calls out:]

Hey - anyone there? C'mon out, dude, we're not gonna bite.

[And that CHA roll sure is a nat 1, though his mod brings it up to a 6.]

Your voice echoes a little.

Nothing responds.

[...turns back to Nem, with a shrug.]

Maybe it passed through?

She shrugs too. "Yeah, maybe? Shouldn't be other exits here but it is pretty dark.

... we can always come back later though. If we gotta."

Guess for now, it's time to find the True Heart, right?

Just gotta figure out where she went.

[He considers a second.]

[This is Req's heart, right? So does that mean the phone is part of her, too? It's definitely not his.]

[He digs it out again and pokes into the photos and dating app, looking for clues about places the True Heart's been recently/where she might be planning to go.]

You open up the dating app and you get a notif:

SINGLE AND LOOKING IN YOUR AREA!!!

...

The pictures are all kitties. They're very cute.

Opening Idolgram brings up an instagram-like feed of photos, each of them a picture of someone Requiem knows. Clicking on a person brings up a video, with a comment feed beside it.

[Awwwwww, kitties.]

[...right, True Heart, back to work.]

[Clicks through a few of the videos at random, to see if any location seems to feature prominently.]

It's pictures/videos of people rather than random photos; the full list of people is:

Amaranth
Lavender
John
Dahlia
Lucifel
Loki
Anubis
Nya
Leviathan
Pink
Scarlet Sunrise
Cobalt
Sunshine
Corona
Shu
Yasuragi
Sanguine
Thorn
Intensity
Duality
Haruto
Aries
Silver
Whisky
Talon
Little Red
Man Eater
Aradia
Doodleman
Pharaoh
Ashley
Albert
Maki
Hiryuu
Mori
Hurricane
Eclipse
King
Primrose
Mars
E
B
C
X
Gold
Nemesis
Cardigan
Captain
Moon Moon/Leo/Whatever
Doll

Who do you choose?

[Let's start with Nem and Hurricane, since they (we?) seem to be in the heart.]

You click Nemesis's first. A video begins to play-- it's clearly memory. You can feel it, like it's your own.

You're laying on a bed-- your face is pressed into the blankets, there's a distinct feeling of hiding, and someone is gently petting your back. But you turn your head to look at her. To stare, for a moment or so too long, before you finally speak, saying, "If it's like this, for both of us, then-- ... d'you mind, having something like me for a girlfriend?"

Nemesis's face is red, but her expression is flat. "...Do I mind something like what?"

You're abruptly-- embarrassed. You shouldn't have said anything. You bury your face back into the blankets. "Nothin'. Just thinkin' stupid thoughts out loud," you mumble.

You hear, above you, "...Yeah. I wouldn't mind someone like you, I don't think."

...?

Warmth tingles in your chest. You turn your head a bit to look at her again, shoulders hunched. "... yeah?"

Nemesis is smiling, very red. "Yeah? I mean...I guess? I never done this before."

"S'not like I really know what I'm doing, but-- if you want me--" you hesitate, then roll slightly, so can gently take Nem's hand. You can feel your own cheeks redden, and in an effort to fight that down, you stare at the starry ceiling of your room. "... if you want me, I'm yours," you finally finish.

And you feel her lace her fingers with yours, and say, "O-okay."

Swirling thoughts and feelings fill your head, hard to pin down, but. She wants you. She wants someone like you. You never thought that was possible, but...

The memory abruptly ends there.

When you click Hurricane's, another video-memory, same as the last.

You're sitting with Hurricane on the couch, slumped back against it and-- honestly-- you feel awful. When don't you, recently, though. Your head is filled with guilt and fear and self-loathing with nowhere to really put it and Hurricane is here, trying to help you feel better, trying to talk to you, and honestly... honestly, all you can feel for a long moment is burning jealousy. And you say, "... I think you're... a really sweet, positive guy. And definitely human. If nothing else, anyone can tell exactly what you are just by lookin'."

And you immediately regret those feelings, as you speak. It's not Hurricane's fault you look like this, or were born this way, or are a monster. It's not his fault he's not any of those things, either. And maybe he'll never really get it but he tries so hard. And he's hurt so much.

"No, for real. Like - you seen some of the memories out there? We got places where animals talk, and cats are policemen. Can't throw a rock without hitting royalty or superpowers. I know a werewolf and a ghost and a vampire," he says, smiling. "Whatever you are - doesn't mean it's bad. Just means you're you."

But who am I? That thought takes over, almost immediately. Who are you? You're not Marceline-- right? You're not confident enough. You don't know yourself enough. You're not strong enough. And who even is Requiem, anyway? Some weak girl who can't even pretend to be okay and keep her friends from pitying her.

And it's... embarrassing. To have such a low opinion of yourself that others need to lift you back up again. But what Hurricane says warms your chest, a little. Maybe he's lying just to make you feel better, but-- maybe he doesn't actually care if you're a monster. Maybe he's okay with that part of you, too.

... it just means you're you.

The memory ends there.

Next to both videos are comment feeds; they're currently empty. The submission box blinks for both, awaiting input.

[He freezes for a second, because - wow. That was. Way more personal than he expected, and he kind of wishes he hadn't peeked? It feels private, and the first impulse is to back right the heck out of the app and put the phone away and get moving, like he should have been this whole time.]

[Only. Only, there's a comment section for a reason, right? And there's some things people shouldn't have to guess about.]

[Some things shouldn't have to have a "maybe" attached.]

[He stares down at the phone for a beat or two too long, considering - then he taps in a comment for the Hurricane video: "he's def ok with that part too, dude. just saying."]

[It's not everything he wants to say, but the clarification can't hurt, right?]

[He hesitates again, then adds: "ps u r awesome."]

[Then he closes the app and puts the phone away - glances up at Nem.]

...kay. Sorry bout that. Guess we got no lead to start with, after all.

Before you close the app you see a little heart emote pop up next to your comment.

Nem apparently has been watching over your shoulder, and says, "... that was nice of you."

Some stuff people oughtta know. Y'know?

...anyway, I better get outta here if I'm gonna find the True Heart. You, uh. You didn't see her come through, did you?

She hums a bit, and seems kind of embarrassed, but...

"I've never actually seen her before," Nemesis says. "... dunno if anyone has."

Guess I better get looking, huh?

You gonna keep looking for your shadow?

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

1/2

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE

Re: MARCY'S HOUSE