idolpro | Heart Game: Duality

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!heart games

Heart Game: Duality - Round 2

Your sleep is restless, and it's hard to settle as your eyelids refusing to stop twitching, and you can feel an itch at the back of your mind, flashes of uncomfortable thoughts dipping in and out of your dreams, constantly interrupting your tries to relax. ... Are you even asleep?

...

Apparently you were, because you wake up with a start, cheek pressed uncomfortably to steel flooring and flickering lights overhead. Unfortunately, you don't feel very rested at all.

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[It'd make more sense if you'd walked through the labyrinth.]

I'm not... good enough.

[ Alas.

But considering earlier Eclipse and Silence were talking about Duality's self-confidence, it shouldn't surprise Eclipse that they ran into this eventually. ]

...This place has done a number to you, huh.

[He doesn't reply.]

Well, that's true for a lot of people here.

[ He's still trying to trudge along, though he's slowed down considerably as the cold gets to him more and more. ]

I'm still coming over, by the way.

[He looks troubled, watching Eclipse move. No you shouldn't come over here, it's dangerous.]

Why won't you listen? I can't... I can't save anyone. Please go back.

[There's a part of the rocks where it's precariously slippery and narrow. You have some trouble finding purchase with your feet.

Roll a 1d6. 2 & 6 means you slip and fall into the icy waters. 1, 3, 4 & 5 means you're safe.]

[ He rolled a 4, so for the time being he's safe. He looks out down to the water, and for a while he's quiet.

It turns out it's because he's debating with himself what he ought to say rather than because he doesn't have anything to say at all: ]

'Cause I do whatever the hell I want! That means I don't have to listen to you.

But you'll fall!

And that's the risk I know I'm taking! If I fall, it'll be 'cause I'm just bad at this.

I don't want my friends to get hurt because of me...

Even if it's my choice?

...Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm gonna just let myself get hurt if I can help it.

...

But eventually everyone gets hurt because of me, because of this place. Because I'm useless!

[As he raises his voice at the end, a shard of ice erupts from the ground close to Eclipse.]

[ Okay now that startles Eclipse, it gets him to stop in his tracks and stare at the ice.

(On some level he's thinking something like "ah yes, time to deal with the blowback and angry lashing out" and he's pretty sure it's kind of weird to be glad that at least that's familiar?)

...Then he resumes walking. Or tries to, he's starting to hate this cold even more. ]

And? Why should I care?

[He's startled by that reply, staring at him before he yells again, voice cracking slightly.]

Because I don't want you to get hurt! I'm not safe, you can't get close to me!

[Another shard of ice erupts from the rocks, and another.]

I've already dealt with that one from someone else and it didn't work on me! If you're actually trying to hurt me you're gonna have to put in more effort!

[ ...Eclipse supposes that it's really just an excuse and something like a challenge. He stops again as he contemplates how he should be going forward. Trying to manoeuvrer around these shards is making this journey even more difficult. ]

[They won't stop.]

I...

[He can't stop, you might wanna dodge a bit.]

[ > Eclipse has some regrets.

He's moving forward now, picking up the pace despite knowing this is perhaps unwise. ]

Anyway, I like you! And I hate being told what I should and shouldn't do, so I'm coming over whether you like it or not!

[Despite the odds, you somehow make it to the edge of the shore on the other side.

Duality is staring at his hands as shards are still sprouting around him, and from his own skin too.]

[ Why is it on his skin now too. Eclipse hurries over in concern. ]

Duality!

[He was already covered in it, really.]

No... why are you...?

[ He moves to grab hold of Duality's arm or hand -- anything, really. He just needs to make contact. ]

'Cause I'm a stubborn asshole, that's why.

[His skin is frigid ice. Touching him is painful.]

[ Eclipse is learning that cold is bad and ice is bad this is why winter is bad. He squeezes his eyes shut in pain and he bites his lower lip (and also regrets it), but he doesn't let go. In fact, he's taking this chance to use his empathy quirk. ]

Edited 2020-02-20 01:15 (UTC)

[He's slammed by intense feelings of uselessness, along with a disarray of flashes of this, and this hallucination, the things Absinthe told him in the House after Intensity off-handedly telling him he didn't need to come along, it wasn't necessary for him to help...

Mori rejecting him is in there too, but it's less obvious and more as a small sliver on top of the mountain.]

[ > Eclipse has more regrets. Who the hell knew empathy power worked this well?

At this point Eclipse is holding onto Duality more because if he let go he's going to fall, after being overwhelmed by all those feelings. He was right; be in this stupid place long enough you get baggage, whether you like it or not. ]

...Duality, you...

[Let's just say he's good at keeping up facades on the outside. His voice is quiet when he speaks again.]

You should turn back...

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