idolpro | Shrike's Heart (#4)

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!heart games

Shrike's Heart (#4)

The woman before you is beautiful—fair of features, with lovely golden skin and luxurious long black hair, petite. You have the immediate and distinct impression that she's just let go of your hand, and she steps back, and smiles.

It's not quite a happy smile.

"I'm sorry," she says. "There's just nothing I can do, as things are. But the way is there; it just needs to be lit."

You open your mouth—maybe to say something, or to express confusion—but you have to cough, and taste something metallic, spattering black blood onto the ground in front of you. Then you realize—blood seeps from opening wounds in your arms, your chest, your stomach, your face. It rims your eyes and trails from your nose and you feel like you're dissolving—

—and you fall through the ground like it's the surface of a lake, and go down, down, down.

> Wake Up

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[Huh! He trots up to the cart, amicable]

Whoa! Is it moving day? Where're you guys going?

[ a girl peeks her head out of the flap of the wagon ahead, with long, mahogany-colored hair and fair features—you realize you've seen her before. The girl who spoke to you before all this started. ]

Oh, it's—you made it.

[He blinks, not expecting to see that familiar-and-yet-unfamiliar face. For a second he's taken aback, before collecting himself.]

And-- you're leaving?

Sorry, uh, who are you again?

Oh! I’m Lark—that is, Lark Sings At Dawn.

Or a memory of her, anyway.

Lark!

[He practically jumps at the name, and-- scrambles to grab the letter from inside his jacket. It's a little crumpled from the fighting, but--! He holds it out to her.]

I have something for you!

Ah—you do?

[ she takes the letter, clearly, and unfolds it— ]

[ she reads it, and her face softens into a smile. ]

...oh. I should have expected.

[He watches her, hopeful and expectant]

Do you find each other again?

...eventually. After we've both changed quite a bit.

This can't be changed. Here, I'm always leaving.

If she stays, something horrible befalls both of us, but we survive and find each other again; if she comes with me, we build a beautiful home and then it dies and so do I.

But I don't have to be all that's beautiful in the world alone anymore, do I?

[O-oh. Griffin's eyes go big, and he turns pink at the edges.]

She... has a lot of people who love her. That care about her. Even if the world still sucks--

I'll be there.

[ she—

—reaches over and ruffles your hair. ]

I know.

She doesn't forget that people care, anymore. For that, I cannot thank you enough. And because even though this place was never a proper home for her... that she can have one, all the same, I thank you, too.

[Oh it's a full on blush now]

C-come on, aren't I the one who's supposed to say nice things t'you??

[ she laughs. ]

Well, you're going to make me blush, but I'll accept it.

I love you, and I love her, and I love so many people—the whole wide world. I can't really help myself. But it feels... better now, better than it used to.

[That makes him smile. Genuinely, warmly.]

I'm glad.

Hey, is there-- is there anything I can do for you? Or can I, like, give you something?

Well—

If there's anything you could think to me, you'd be better served giving it to her, probably, so wait a little bit.

If you keep going, you'll find her. You're almost there.

Okay. Then... I'll just give you a hug?

I'd love one.

[ And she throws her arms around him, her face pressing into his hair; it feels... familiar, even though her frame is much more petite. ]

[He hugs her tightly, with all the heart he can muster.]

Travel safe. Even if this is the past or whatever, and-- things happen, I hope...

That the love in you's always warm.

I will. Everywhere I go... there my love will go also. And so will yours, too.

Thanks.

[He squeezes her firmly, punctuating the hug before they part. It's probably midday by now right]

Well, I don't wanna keep you if you're on a tight schedule.

I'm here for just a little bit longer, so—don't worry about me. I'll be off when it's time.

[ she combs her fingers through his hair, gently. ]

This is home, so part of me will always be here, because of you. It wasn't like that before. It was just... empty.

O-okay. Cool. Wow.

[im losin it]

I guess I'll. See you 'round. There, uh. A-anything I should know about the house?

[ paff

and she leans in and gives him a kiss on the cheek, for good measure. ]

Well, I'd say try not to run into Mother, but you could probably give her a run for her money.

Check on the garden for me, will you, though?

Garden. Got it.

[His cheeks burn red as he starts to leave, but not before telling her,]

Thanks. For being part of her.

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