post-hearts

[idolpro]

Who: Sleepyheads
Where: Honmachi Sakura Park
When: Day 326

[ After a long, long, long night, you wake in the dead zone, having slept more deeply than you've ever slept before.

Perhaps more restfully than you've ever slept before, even—do you remember your dreams? Is it all coming back to you, now?

For certain dreamers, the flower markings have disappeared, though if you wake early enough you can catch them glowing bright before burning away painlessly. With that, it feels as though maybe a weight's been lifted off your shoulders—maybe you really needed that sleep.

For certain dreamers, you may find yourself waking up with something new—was that always in your hands? Where did you get that from? Do you remember?

And, for a certain few unlucky dreamers, you may find yourself waking with pain, wounds or scars that remind you that what happened last night was not entirely a dream.

But then, who could ever believe it was a dream anyway?

The sun shines bright; Heaven's chain shines brighter. In the distance, white clouds roll toward the city, threatening rain.

-

Please note: Characters may not fully remember their romps in other characters' hearts immediately. This is so that if you're still backthreading hearts, you can have your character not remember what happened or otherwise not be affected by the changes in the run until later.

Heart Game channels will be up until mid-February, although they may close sooner/later at runner request. If you're finished with your run and don't want any more pings, just remove the role and it'll be gone from your sidebar ✨ ]

Comments

[rollplayinghouse]

Yeah, I did too. I went around with Vergil... it was pretty nice, actually.

Yours was nice too.

[selfpreservationist]

... really?

[rollplayinghouse]

Yeah. I mean, not all of it. Your basement could use some work. But...

[selfpreservationist]

... I...

[he chuckles a little]

I feel like you... were in there a lot. Or... for a long time. It's hard to describe. Just... that your essence was... everywhere.

[rollplayinghouse]

[/////]

I... tried to be quick looking at everything, because you told me things needed to get back into place, and that Vergil needed help too...

But I did get everywhere, I think. And I had to make sure all the "yous" felt... safe and loved. I guess.

[EMBARRASSING]

[selfpreservationist]

[he just smiles at her, and takes her hand to hold]

[rollplayinghouse]

[She takes it and holds it firmly.

Her hand is a little bit bloody, though]

[selfpreservationist]

... were you hurt?

[rollplayinghouse]

...Ah...

[she blinks and raises her free hand to her throat, where it also comes away slightly bloody]

...Yeah. In Nero's...

[selfpreservationist]

...

[raven's brow furrows, and he tugs his collar away to reveal bloodstains on his feather shawl]

[rollplayinghouse]

...No...

[selfpreservationist]

[nods, otherwise silent]

[rollplayinghouse]

No. You too? That's not...

[her grip on his hand tightens to be almost painful]

How?

[selfpreservationist]

I failed him. I... couldn't give him any advice worth giving. I think I... only made things worse. I was with Vergil to begin with, and eventually we were separated. I don't know how he fared... but I have to imagine it was better than I did.

[rollplayinghouse]

...I was... too rash, I think. There was... a calm, rational energy... I didn't have any of that. I only saw Nero for a second before he turned into a griffin, and...

[selfpreservationist]

... I was the opposite. I was... too calm. I fought all my instincts that wanted to lash out, be violent, because I told myself I couldn't damage Nero's heart. I met the griffin at the end, too.

[rollplayinghouse]

[blinks]

Ah.

...I... wanted to take down anything that hurt him. There were those kids, and that scientist... and there was no way I was going to be calm and rational when Jason and Shrike were trying to kill each other, so...

Maybe failing in both directions will balance out?

[she sounds manically amused, almost on the edge of tears, rather than actually hopeful about that]

[selfpreservationist]

[he looks at her for a moment, and then reaches for her to pull her into his arms tightly]

[rollplayinghouse]

[she collapses against him, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his shoulder, even if it's bloody.

Her voice is quieter when she speaks again]

...I wish I'd been there with you. We could have helped him together.

[selfpreservationist]

[he holds her and presses his face to her hair]

... perhaps.

[rollplayinghouse]

We could have.

[more firmly]

I felt... so much better, just talking to you in yours. It...

[she hesitates]

It's hard to be alone.

[selfpreservationist]

You won't be alone. Ever. Not with me around.

1/2

[rollplayinghouse]

Ah—

[she physically startles at that reassurance]

That's... I-I mean, I just meant, it's hard to know what to do, in that kind of situation, without—

[rollplayinghouse]

[halfway through that sentence she realizes she's not sure why she's avoiding it, and she trails off, tightening her arms around Raven, her voice coming out more weakly]

Mm... Thank you. You won't either. I promise.

[selfpreservationist]

[softly, just by her ear so only she can hear it]

I love you, Morning Glory.