Naoto's Heart

[dramatispersonae]

You find yourself falling through a black abyss, the air cold around you, although not bitingly so. Just as your eyes begin to adjust to the darkness on every side, you're dropped through a chute and tossed out into a brightly-lit area...


((#hardwired))

Comments

Re: The Swamp

[dramatispersonae]

As you approach the rock, the fireflies suddenly attack you--well, they land on you, but it feels like an attack because you are suddenly hit with a memory of being impaled alive on dozens and dozens of sharp spikes in an enclosed space and dying horribly.

Re: The Swamp

[uneulogized]

Shit.

Re: The Swamp

[dramatispersonae]

You're not actually dying, but it sure as hell feels like it.

Re: The Swamp

[uneulogized]

[holds on to the paddle with one hand and swats at the fireflies to get them off]

Re: The Swamp

[dramatispersonae]

Each time your hand comes in contact with one, the memory runs through you again.

Re: The Swamp

[uneulogized]

[... okay, he's just going to shudder and row and shudder and row and probably look like he's dying. there's some heavy breathing, but eventually, he gets to the rock...!]

Re: The Swamp

[dramatispersonae]

As you approach the statue, you see several fireflies have formed a circle at its base, lighting it up so you can see clearly. The statue is carved in the shape of a young girl, only about a foot tall.

Re: The Swamp

[uneulogized]

[... examines the statue]

Re: The Swamp

[dramatispersonae]

It's a statue. It looks like it can be removed.

Re: The Swamp

[uneulogized]

[pulls the statue into the boat]

Re: The Swamp

[dramatispersonae]

Another memory courses through you.

Re: The Swamp

[uneulogized]

[shaking as he sets it down]

Damnit, you wanna make everyone experience your life?

Re: The Swamp

[dramatispersonae]

Hey how about those fireflies attacking you again.

Re: The Swamp

[uneulogized]

[... rowing painfully fuck fuck fuck until they get back to the dock, where he drags out the statue]

Re: The Swamp

[dramatispersonae]

The fireflies relent as you get to the shore.

Re: The Swamp

[uneulogized]

[okay, statue in hand, he heads out of the swamp area and into the street one]

Re: The Swamp

[dramatispersonae]

The street leads you to a park, with several tall trees and a small pink pavilion nearby. It’s bright and sunny here, though not overbearingly so. There are a couple of people at the picnic table, one sitting down and one leaning over their shoulder. Both of them appear to be young men; one has short, light grey hair in a bowlcut, dressed in a school uniform. The other is dressed similarly, except he probably seems a tad more familiar. They’re both looking through what look to be a set of cards.

The one standing looks up. “Oh hey, it’s you.”

The one sitting glances up as well. “Hi. What's that?”

Re: The Swamp

[uneulogized]

[NOT FAMILIAR TO JASON in that way but Jason has had so many memories that everyone is familiar, okay]

A statue. Any idea what I've gotta do with it?

Re: The Swamp

[dramatispersonae]

Narukami and Bones glance at it, and it's as if realization hits them both at the same time.

"You found it..." Narukami stands up and puts the cards down.

"Holy shit, we've been looking for that thing everywhere."

Re: The Swamp

[uneulogized]

Yeah, yeah, I'm the big hero.

[setting it down on the picnic table]

Do I get a prize?

Re: The Swamp

[dramatispersonae]

"The best thing to do is to leave it here. It'll be safe."

"You okay, man?"

Re: The Swamp

[uneulogized]

[after a pause, he shrugs]

I'm alive.

Re: The Swamp

[dramatispersonae]

Narukami nods. "That's good."

Bones abruptly gives you a funny look. "Hey..."

Re: The Swamp

[uneulogized]

Look, I'm not here to chat with you guys.

Re: The Swamp

[dramatispersonae]

"The hell you aren't. What are you playing at, trying to get yourself killed when you've got that on you?!"