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

[gigadevilbreaker]

Well everyone already knows it's true, so it's fine.



...

I love you too.

[auguryofinnocence]

[Cool cool cool, this is fine, doing great, they're not pathetic at all.




Well can't get much more awkward. He...kisses the top of Nero's head. Again. But for real this time.]

[gigadevilbreaker]

[0% pathetic here


especially the way Nero makes a choked little nghuh?? sound and retracts into his neck a little bit when he feels a headsmooch. Goes very still, like

is this real life

i'm invisible if i don't move, right


sniffle

ok the only reasonable strategy is to pretend that didn't happen and we're both normal and dignified]




So....... what was my soul like...

[auguryofinnocence]

[It's fine this isn't weird, just a couple demons...! Guess no one's letting go though.]

It was...I suppose a tower? Each floor had a statue of someone you know and vague instructions on what to do. Painting a wall, comforting Shrike, dealing with some childhood bullies, fighting Sashay as a monster, Urizen...

[gigadevilbreaker]

Oh. So just, a bunch of challenges, one after the other.

[That sounds right, for some reason?]

...Well you're a pro at towers anyhow.

[auguryofinnocence]

[Somehow it just seems like a normal thing!

He laughs.]

I have a certain affinity...

[gigadevilbreaker]

As long as you didn't see anything too embarrassing.

[auguryofinnocence]

...There were your thoughts or feelings at times. Nothing I would call particularly embarrassing.

[Outside of, you know, it being embarrassing to have any of your thoughts and feelings shared with people? He knows.]

[gigadevilbreaker]

[Looks at him like, that sounds awful, what do you MEAN not particularly embarrassing]

[auguryofinnocence]

I know. Comparatively. I saw worse, I am led to believe mine were as well.

[gigadevilbreaker]

So... that means your flowers are gone too?

[auguryofinnocence]

They are, though I don't believe there was any memory loss. Perhaps yours was more advanced.

[gigadevilbreaker]

Well, I had three tattoos...

[auguryofinnocence]

...Three? I had only heard of two from anyone else, and saw up to only two in others'...souls or worlds, whatever we are calling that.

[gigadevilbreaker]

[SHRUG??.....]

Lucky me?

[auguryofinnocence]

Lucky you. Just that much better than everyone else.

[gigadevilbreaker]

They say the Lord works in mysterious ways.

[auguryofinnocence]

Uh-huh. Well He's lucky He took it back then, before I climbed that chain to kill Him myself.

[Or whoever's in charge now. Whatever. Same thing.]

[gigadevilbreaker]

[He huffs a small, but grateful laugh]

Sounds like what's in a demon king's job description anyway.

[auguryofinnocence]

All in a day's work. Can't be invading the human world all the time, once in a while it should be Heaven.

[gigadevilbreaker]

Or humans just don't put up enough of a fight.

...But maybe no more trips to Heaven for a while. I don't want the flower thing to happen again.

[auguryofinnocence]

It was remarkably boring anyway, there wasn't anything to fight. I tried going back in to find out what was going on with you, but it was exactly the same. I see no reason for anyone to be taking trips in there.

[gigadevilbreaker]

But... it has those pools that cure corruptions - I never found it when I was there.

If I got rid of mine, I wouldn't have to worry about transforming anymore. No more losing control and mauling someone.

[auguryofinnocence]

[He frowns.]

I expected it might do something like that so I tested with only a finger. It felt terrible, and surely you know pain is nothing to me.

How then would it feel on a corruption? One that is part of your mind and soul rather than only your body? What would it do to you, particularly when you are a demon regardless of any influence of this Hell. Don't take that risk, Nero.

[gigadevilbreaker]

Oh...


[Dad... worried for him ;-;]

Well, I wasn't going to risk forgetting you again either way... And I've gotten better at managing my anger, so it hasn't been a problem for a while.