Heart Game: Run #3

[purrrnicious]

[Date: February 21, 7:00pm EST
Participants: D.Va, Ruby, Allen, Intensity, Kaguya(?)
Channel: kohime-heart]

Comments

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[purrrnicious]

[He can, though it doesn't do much. Taking a closer look at the plush reveals that the string is actually connected to a small, rectangular object that's tucked away in its jacket.]

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[lefthandpath]

[... what kind of rectangle object?]

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[purrrnicious]

[A cartridge of some kind.]

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[lefthandpath]

[... oh. hm.

i guess he's gonna use Adora as a distraction so he can palm that and then hand the doll back to Catra with a smile

time to investigate a red string, it looks like]

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[purrrnicious]

[Hold that thought -- as soon as you grab the cartridge, everyone present fades into a memory, living it as if it were their own.

It's Catra, maybe six or seven years old, huddled up on the lower bunk on the end of the row of the barracks, cocooned in a plain, rough blue blanket, and she starts crying, though she’s trying not to make too much sound as she does. After a short time passes, another little girl enters from the hallway: Adora, but also maybe around 7 years old, and she calls for “Catra” and comes over before kneeling in front of her to pull the blanket away from her head. Kohime hisses, and Adora smiles reassuringly. It's the same scene they came upon when they entered.

Adora: Catra, it’s okay! It’s just me.

She sits next to Kohime on the bed as she rubs at her tears with a corner of the blanket.

Adora: . . .It doesn’t matter what they do to us, you know? You look out for me, and I look out for you. Nothing really bad can happen as long as we have each other.

Catra: You promise?

Adora: I promise. C’mon, let’s go back out!

Adora puts her arms around Kohime and guides her to her feet, then takes her hand and leads her out of the dorm and back down the hallway. Kohime's clearly cheered up by this, even giving Adora a little almost shy smile as they go.

You start the memory feeling sad, hurt, and scared -- but Adora's presence is a reassurance, she cheers you up and you feel like this person will always be by your side, so you can manage all the dark and hurtful things in the world with her help. You love this person.]

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[sunflowering]

[ Ah... ]

I'm glad at least that they.... had each other.

. . . . . . And Adora. She's the core, somehow.

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[purrrnicious]

[Oops — once you come out of the memory, things look a little bit different! The room is a wreck. The blankets on the beds are torn and shredded, scraps littering the floor. The glass gems that had trailed to the bed have been scattered, many crushed, and deep, angry gouges deface nearly every doodle and image on the wall. The plushie has been discarded, and looks like it has a little stuffing coming out from somewhere near the neck, and instead of a shield there’s now a sword. It’s not clear if it still has the glass piece.

The thread has been severed; one end hangs off the cartridge you have, the other still seems to be connected to something in the vent, drifting slowly in the airflow.

The room itself is now cold. It feels empty.]

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[sunflowering]

. . .

Well, I thought that was nice. But something obviously... didn't go as one or more of them planned.

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[lefthandpath]

Apparently...

[rubbing at his eyes--WHO'S CRYING?! YOU'RE CRYING!

but moving over to investigate the string in the vent now]

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[purrrnicious]

[It's hanging from up there, though it looks like you can remove the vent cover if you wish.]

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[lefthandpath]

[pulling off the vent cover.

peering in to see if it's big enough for him or if it's just hiding something]

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[purrrnicious]

[A smalle child could fit through the vent, but it might be a little too tight for Crown. Just inside the vent, though, he can see another cartridge identical to the last, and the other end of that thread is attached to it.]

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[lefthandpath]

[using the red string to carefully pull it out...]

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[purrrnicious]

[As soon as you touch the cartridge, the room fades into another memory.

[This memory opens to a chaotic scene. There's a small village under attack, its buildings really just huts and hovels made from clay and wood from the surrounding area. The locals are humanoid deer, dressed in simple linens and flowers, and they run in a panic fleeing from the Horde army descending on them armed with tanks, armour, and rifles. It's not even remotely close to a fair fight, these people are unarmed and were in the middle of some sort of festival. Their village is in ruins now, crushed and on fire, and Adora marches out into the middle of it to stand in the way of one of the tanks, demanding they stop.

It does –– and then Kohime, of all people, comes out, calling to Adora and happy to see her. She scampers on all fours along the barrel of the tank to pounce on Adora, knocking her to the ground.]

Catra: They let me drive a tank, can you believe it?!

Adora: Catra, I don't––I don't understand, what are you doing here?

Catra: Uh, duh, we came to find you! "Cover for me Catra, no one will even know I'm gone!" [She quotes in a mocking voice, making a face, before returning to her normal tone.] Seriously, did you just immediately get captured right after you snuck out, or. . . what are you wearing?

[She draws attention to the flower that Adora has in her hair, which Adora hastily knocks off, crushing it in the process. ]

Adora: Look, there's no time, we have to put a stop to this!

Catra: What? Why?

Adora: Because this is a civilian town! Look around, these aren't insurgents, they're innocent people!

Catra: Yeah, sure, innocent people who kidnapped a Horde officer. Now come on, let's get you back to the Fright Zone. Shadow Weaver is freaking out. [Kohime takes Adora by the hand to lead her toward the tank, breaking into a laugh at this point -- only to drop into a flatter tone right after.] It'd be funny if she weren't such a terrible person.

[At this point Adora pulls away from Kohime, refusing to leave until the Horde stops attacking Thaymor.]

Catra: What are you saying?

Adora: I'm saying this is wrong! They've been lying to us, manipulating us, Hordak, Shadow Weaver, all of them!

Catra: ...Duh! Did you just figure that out?! Manipulation is Shadow Weaver's whole thing! She's been messing with our heads since we were kids.

Adora: How could you possibly be okay with that?

Catra: Because, it doesn't matter what they do. The two of us look out for each other, and soon we'll be the ones calling the shots. Now come on, can we go home already?

[At this point Kohime is imploring, smiling encouragingly at Adora, and fully expecting she'll come along with her. An explosion and screams interrupt them, and Adora's expression hardens into anger and determination.]

Adora: I'm not going home, Catra. I can't. Not after everything I've seen. Come with me! You don't have to go back there, we can fix this!

Catra: Are you kidding? You've known these people for what, a couple of hours? And now you're gonna throw everything away for them?

[But Adora still refuses. She says she has to do something, that she's sorry, and she turns her back on Kohime. And Kohime's expression just shifts. She pulls out a nice little taser baton and jams it right in Adora's back, knocking her to the ground. Adora is coming back whether she wants to or not! Though Kohime immediately apologizes, explaining she didn't think it would be so strong, only to give Adora another shock when she moves to get up, calling it a "reflex". She tells Adora she's doing this because Adora left her, and if she doesn't bring Adora back, Shadow Weaver will have her head for it.

That's about when Bow and Glimmer intervene, Glimmer firing her sparkle magic at Kohime to chase her off while Bow shoots a trick arrow that traps her in a net. Hissing and spitting, she goes down, only to break free moments later when Glimmer teleports Adora away, leaving Kohime to fight with Bow.

The end of the memory is just as chaotic as it started. Just when it looks like the Horde has the upper hand, a new princess emerges -- 8 feet tall and hella built, glowing faintly with residual magic in a new white skirted jumper and red cape complete with a tiara, and she just trashes the Horde with only a sword and ridiculous super strength. When she's defeated all the soldiers, tanks, and spider bots, someone calls a retreat and the new princess collapses, transforming back into Adora of all people. All while Kohime watches, stunned, and when Adora calls out to her faintly she takes one step back, then two, then flees into the smoke and dust with the rest of the Horde.]

This memory is... complicated. Catra is honestly ecstatic to find her friend, was worried about her––and fucking heartbroken when she refuses to come. She doesn't understand how Adora could have missed the lies and cruelty they were raised with. She doesn't understand how Adora could choose these people she barely knows over her. Adora promised her they'd be together, that everything would be okay, and now she's turning her back on her? She has to know what Shadow Weaver will do to her if she goes back empty-handed, and she doesn't care?

Was she even going to bother telling her she was gone, or was she planning to just stay with these princesses forever, letting her always wonder what happened?

. . .And why was anything only bad when it happened to these strangers? Why was it okay when it was happening to her?

The memory leaves you with a lingering sense of betrayal, of heartbreak, and all your insecurities and feelings of worthlessness flaring right up when the one person that you hinged all of your happiness, your safety and your self-worth on apparently turns her back on you without a second thought.]

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[sunflowering]

Find anything up there?

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[lefthandpath]

Mm... I think another thing like the one hidden on the doll.

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[sunflowering]

Can you reach it? Do you want me to squeeze in?

[ The things petite short people are good for. ]

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[sunflowering]

[ She will politely pretend she doesn't see him crying...! AHEM..

While he does that she'll sadly pick up the little plushie and look it over some...

She'll also gather up some of the stuffing... she doesn't have a sewing kit, but she can at least... try and put a little back. ]

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[purrrnicious]

[It's coming from a tear that's up in the neck. She can put it back -- is she trying to seal the tear in any way?]

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[sunflowering]

[ She sure is! Though she's not sure that she has anything useful. Hmm. Is there anything in the room that she can do a patch job with? She's not great but she can do her best...! ]

Re: Lvl. 2: Barracks

[purrrnicious]

[It might be a little Frankenstein-ish, but there might be small pieces of wire or metal from the wrecked room that she could use as makeshift staples.]

[lefthandpath]

[...............













oh no.

someone is not used to this sort of feeling at all. brb investigation of red string paused so he can cry a little.]

Ah... yeah... t-that's certainly a possibility...

[sunflowering]

[ AND THEN EVERYTHING IS RUINED AND IT LOOKS TERRIBLE. Gosh dang it Kohime your life. ]

[lefthandpath]

[this is so sad. alexa, play despacito.]

[sunflowering]

[ despacito ]