Heart Game: Intensity (Turn 1)

[idolpro]

In the beginning, there is nothing but darkness and silence. A sleep that gives no rest but one out of necessity in order to keep functioning. Behind closed eyelids, the numbers of a clock tick down - one painstaking second at a time.

TIME UNTIL REBOOT:


And then you wake up.

As you shift to a standing position, you feel something sharp and pointed press against your side. Digging into the nearest pocket, you will find two small puzzle pieces. And from their odd shape, it looks like they would fit into a 3D spherical puzzle. Odd. You've never seen them before, but you do get a sense that these are a currency of some sort. Spend them wisely!

Game start.

Comments

OOC Bookeeping

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Instructions / Info

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

During sign-up, you will have been assigned a faction/NPC based on Intensity's perception of your character and various other factors. Where you start and your relationship with Intensity will determine your standing with the different NPCs as well as your power set.

What you know:

Intensity's heart will reboot in exactly 4 hours.

Puzzle pieces are a form of currency and are used to align with different factions/NPCs.

If you started in Hell, you will have powers appropriate to the wish you were granted (assuming you sign the contract).

If you started in Heaven, you will have canon powers.

If you started anywhere else, you will have the same abilities you have in Imeeji.

How to win (this is known ICly):

By siding with the faction/NPC that has the most puzzle pieces after all Heart runs. You do not have to ICly give puzzle pieces to NPCs. You can also just use the turn-in (see below) after finishing the Heart Game. If you do ICly hand a puzzle piece to an NPC (or lose one), you can't give it to someone else later.

Making changes to Intensity's central programming without causing a core dump. Attempt too drastic of a change and it won't stick upon reboot.

Other OOC information:

In general, I am playing this as everyone is in the same space/time continuum for the first 4 hours of the Heart.

Then Intensity will wake up (hopefully!) and I'll let you exploradora at your own pace and will backtag as long as you want to.

What factions are available:

Hell - The King of Hell

Heaven - Mokuba

Blue Eyes

The True Heart

K̵̭͋̀̇̽ȁ̴̗͕̰̄̚ì̵̭̹͍̬̋͘b̴̰̦̝͕̆̇̈́ȧ̶̮͈̮͉̏ (Canon Intensity)

[[P.S. Sorry if any of the fonts/styling bork when viewed on mobile. Webdev or CSS master, I am not.]]

Turn-In

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Please comment to this thread with who you gave your puzzle pieces to and whether your run is scored/unscored.

Character Specific Introductions

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Heaven - Main Branch

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

You enter a very modern and very corporate office space - obviously of some higher ranking official in the company. If the pricey decor wasn't enough to give that away, the fact that you can see nothing but open sky outside of ceiling-to-floor length windows is just another data point to that fact. Also, if you have any experience with corporations or negotiations, you'll notice that this is a high-ranking reception room due to its sparse furniture. And no chairs on the customer-facing side of the desk indicates one meant to intimidate.

On various surfaces on the room, a single word has been - for lack of better description - erased. Where the company name should be (K̵̭͋̀̇̽ȁ̴̗͕̰̄̚ì̵̭̹͍̬̋͘b̴̰̦̝͕̆̇̈́ȧ̶̮͈̮̏) and the first letter in the company logo (K̵̭͋̀̇̽), it looks like static if you stare at it too long.

Behind the opulent desk (which still manages to have a 90s-style CRT desktop), the chair is turned away from you and facing the windows. But by the sound of fingers tapping together, it is obvious that someone is there.

On the edge of the desk sits a large crystal bowl that one might use to serve candies at a party. It currently has one (1) puzzle piece.

There is only one exit: [ Behind you ]

Intensity's Lab

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

The room you arrive in is plain and simple in contrast to everything you know about Intensity. There is one bed large enough to fit two children at most pressed up against the far wall. A chess set sits on a folding table with two chairs. Yu-gi-oh cards are scattered atop the rest of the table's surface - this one sitting proudly on top. And the far wall is almost entirely dominated by this image. In the center of the room sits an Intensity that can't be more than 10 years old and... smiling. Like. Actually smiling as he carefully puts together a 3D puzzle that looks like it would take a long time to complete even for an adult. But he seems to be entranced with it as he carefully slots two pieces together. Perfect fit. He looks up at you as you enter.

There is only one exit: [ Back to the Fin Common Room ]

Angel

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[ The darkness returns for you. But not the silence. ]

When someone says "jump" don't answer with "how high?"

Okay, I won’t. What do I answer with?

What do you see?
. . . probably those bodyparts . . .
Good. And why do you think everyone looks so upset?
They look upset . . . because they're upset . . .
Why, Angel?
Because they don't like pain?
And?
And . . . because their body parts are in a box?
And?
And it wasn't fun . . . ?
No. It probably wasn't fun.

What happened?
...A lot of things happened.
Did they hurt you?
. . . they tried to.
So you fought back.
With the knife. Lace and Little Red . . . both.
Good.

You should believe in me. I'm going to take over this place and change it into whatever I see fit.
Oh! Okay! Yaaaay, Intensity as the new ruler! And if they try to get rid of you, I'll get rid of them first!
And this is why you're my favorite.

Is that okay even if I can’t understand my feelings? Or have done terrible things?

Feelings are a fucking nuisance. And the only person who decides if you can live with the things you've done, terrible or not, is yourself. You don't have to answer to anyone.

Why did you have to die?! You're the nicest person I know, and you're always working really hard, and why can't more people try to protect you, too, I can't seem to do it, but you're helping me even now after all that you've gone through so at least people should leave you alone, it's not faaaair!!

Sorry that I was gone for so long.
It is okay, I am not unhappy! I knew you would come back.

Is there anything else you would like me to do?
Stay with me.
Of course.

Why is she hiding in the bathroom?
I told her that I loved her and then she ran away...
Is that how that's supposed to go?
I do not know. Little Red tried to torture and kill me a couple times, that’s all the experience I got.
Okay. I know for a fact that's not nor--- Okay. That's beside the point. I thought she--- Wasn't like that.

...Intensity would never replace me. Right?

There's no one across all the dimensions that could replace you. You're mine, you know. And no one else will ever get a say in that.

Of course, I know. Of course, I know . . . but I still . . .

Then let me prove it to you anyway. Do you want to go home?

I don't mean ... you don't have to prove it.

You act like being overly dramatic isn't something I enjoy.


Intensityyyyy...I won’t let anyone try to take you awayyy...
Of course you wouldn't. Don't think so little of yourself.

[[ Powers:

Krystal Avatar: You are under the protection of Intensity's true heart. You may call upon him from anywhere in the Heart. ]]

[[ Please proceed here. ]]

Duality

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Perfection.

The flames dance in the palm of your left hand, completely under your control. Completely mastered. The destruction limited to an area as precise as when you wield your ice.

Behind you, Mori gives a whoop of joy and claps you on the back. The fire doesn't even falter. Hardcore grunts something under his breath, but also seems vaguely impressed by the progress you've made.

Finally. Finally.

Still chattering praises, Mori gathers the three of you as you head away from the training room and back to the rest of the class. There is talk of studying and new missions, which you pay half a mind to as you watch Yuki bound down the hallway - apparently on a quest of her own. A couple other cats greet you as you walk.

As you head back, a notification lights up your phone and you fall back a few steps to answer it. Strange. Who would be texting you at this time? "Family dinner" -- it says. With a starting time in a few hours. From the silver geometric logo in the notification, you know just what family this is.

Oh. You better hurry, or you're going to be late. You rush by your classmates with a mumbled excuse as you head for your room, pulling it open and---

You wake up again.

[[ Powers:

Heaven-Piercing Ice Wall: Ice manipulation. Well-controlled and precise.

Wall of Flames: A burst of flames that covers a large area. Due to his inexperience with fire, roll a 1d2 when you use this ability. If it's a 1, it works as Duality intends. Otherwise, Heart Runner's pick. Ping me when that happens. ]]

[[ Please proceed here. ]]

Eclipse

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

Family was always a loaded term for you. Even after moving to AlcheME!, you had reservations about the word.

But friends. Kindred. Travelling buddies.

Those were things you had in abundance now.

You set down the bag of herbs that Shrike brought you yesterday - fresh from the garden she tends. And the letter she brought to you from Amaranth and Persephone. It seems the two of them could never stand still for long as they were currently on some mission or another probably halfway across the world.

Or maybe Persephone just wanted to see another exotic library. That was also plausible.

You tack it to a cork board amidst dozens of pictures from your time at Imeeji Productions. A group photo of B and C here. Silence balancing Jyanta on your head there.

And you can't help but smile. Maybe you should look into some of those portal magics and see if you can---

The phone underneath the picture wall buzzes with a text notification, startling you. What? You hadn't used the things in months. Maybe over a year now. Who could be---?

CEO: Step into my office.

As informative as ever. With a sigh, you turn the phone this way and that, marvelling how it was even able to turn on, let alone get a signal from Hell.

But whatever.

If Intensity wants you to come, then at least he should provide some sort of transportation. You head toward the exit of your room, heading back to the tavern on the port and---

You wake up again.

[[ Powers:

Socialize - Insight Check: Roll a 1d10. You can gain extra insight regarding an NPC's motives depending on how high you roll versus their ability to lie/conceal.

Occult - Occult Sense: You will hear wind chimes when supernatural bullshit is happening.

Occult - Messenger: You can summon a small pandemic dragon to pass messages to both PCs and NPCs alike. ]]

[[ Please proceed here. ]]

Mori

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

You exit the interview with a spring in your step and a smile on your face. You did it! Looks like all that suffering in Hell wasn't entirely pointless.

Just... mostly pointless.

When you rejoin your classmates, you give a thumbs up to both Duality and Hardcore. Duality smiles slightly in response. And Hardcore - well, he's Hardcore. Surely that body language also means impressed even if it doesn't show on his face.

Inwardly, you breathe a sigh of relief. Whew. What a week. This nailing of the interview was just the cherry on the sundae of stopping bad guys and helping people. It's a surprise you made it through unscathed. But even more important was that everyone else came home safe and sound, too. Not a bad job for a bunch of students.

As you turn to leave the studio, your phone rings. Pulling it out of your pocket, you smile at the flurry of text from your friends worlds away.

Gold: Good job.

Silver: Smooth, Mori. Really smooth!

B: (A flurry of congratulatory emojis and gifs)

C: Next time invite us in person!

One message seems a little out of place. And not referencing your recent celebrations.

CEO: I need a paladin's opinion on something. Meet me at your earliest convenience.

That's weird. You hadn't talked to Intensity-san since he'd given Lucifer the boot. Either way, you have time now, so all you'd have to do is take the subway and with a little Hell portal magic, you would---

...

You wake up again.

[[ Powers:

One for all: While he can't talk to the ghosts inside, he may rely on them for enhanced strength. He can use 12% of his quirk without hurting yourself and 20% is painful but bearable for a short period. If you use 20%, roll me a 1d2. If you get a 1, Mori is fine. If you get a 2, ping the Heart Runner for Heart Runner's choice.

Black Whip: He can manifest black strings of energy to spiderman swing around and binding people/things. For every comment you use this ability, roll a 1d5. If you get a 1, it's fine. If not, you get to rampage for 6 comments. Have fun! ]]

[[ Please proceed here. ]]

1/2

[nohalation]

[Angel takes a brief moment to remember that image on the wall.

She will remember this.

But more importantly:]

Re: Intensity's Lab

[nohalation]

Wowee, hiya! I'm Angel or QW5nZWw=, but most people call me Angel!

Re: Heaven - Main Branch

[asonoficeandfire]

... ah...

[wait what... was that a dream just now?]

Intensity?

Re: Heaven - Main Branch

[ferociousfuckingnerd]

[........well this is odd.

Um.

did I knock to come in here?? Knocks on the door even though he's already inside.]

Intensity-san?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[ The person in the chair whips around so fast at that name, it makes his head spin. Give him a few seconds to re-orient himself.

Oh! It's a member of Future is Now.

Apparently, he didn't even notice you came in. ]

Huh? What are you doing here? I thought you retired. Did the pension check not make it? You know, you can just get a real job, right.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[ The boy just blinks at Angel for several long seconds, utterly confused. ] I know that. You're also Dusk the Unstoppable.

[asonoficeandfire]

[he blinks in confusion, because he didn't expect Intensity's brother. also that is somewhat a little too many questions at once]

Mokuba...?

Re: Heaven - Main Branch

[inspiteful]

[ ...That was a strangely nice -- dream. Would it be weird to thank Intensity later? Probably. ]

Boss?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[ And Mokuba whirls around to Mori as well, eyebrows rising into his hairline.

Hello, meet Intensity's (less) gremlin of a younger brother who just happens to look a lot like C. ]

Another hero? Is something the matter?

[nohalation]

Yeah, that's me, too! I'm here to win a game! What are you doing?

[ferociousfuckingnerd]

[...Oh it's that boy from Intensity's memory]

Hello, Mokuba-san, isn't it? I'm Mori, nice to meet you. Is Intensity-san here?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[ By this point, Mokuba has spun around to face both Duality and Mori. And he startles at Eclipse's entrance. What the---? ] Why are all of you here? Do none of you know what retired means?

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

I'm working on this. [ He holds up his spherical puzzle. It's about 1/4 of the way done. ] You're good with puzzles, right?

[inspiteful]

Of course I do, but I wasn't going to just say 'no' to a request to step into his office.

[bluescreenwhitedragon]

[ He blinks. Once. Twice. Clearly neither of them know why Duality's here. And then breaks out in a sheepish grin. ] Yeah, that's me! Sweet gig, right? They promoted me to the Main Branch.