Taisuke's heart

[dramatispersonae]

There's something humming inside of you, a strange new power etches itself into your heart, something you can't quite sense what it is but can feel it's importance. An endless sea of stars stretches before you, shining brightly, but despite the beauty of the scene there's a yearning deep in your gut. You need to go, you need more, you need to move. As if in answer, one light shines brightly in the distance and calls you forward, blinding you as you reach towards it--

Comments

Re: START

[mythlology]

[ focuses on that image harder and staggers to his feet in the now-shallow water. walking is harder than swimming with all these burns but dang is it worth it to get out of Lake Depressing McDepressionton ]

-- holy cow, Fire!

Re: START

[heroic_homemaker]

[It takes a long, not fun while but you eventually make it to your destination. The source of the sobbing is a very young Taisuke, likely no older than six or seven, wearing a simple black suit and curled up on the surface of the water with his knees drawn to his chest. He doesn't react to your appearance.]

Re: START

[mythlology]

[ kneels down next to him, reaching to put a hand on your shoulder ]

-- hey. Hey, what's the matter?

Re: START

[heroic_homemaker]

[The second you touch him, you're overwhelmed by feelings of guilt. It's all your fault, you're a monster, you can't ever be forgiven, if not for you...

You're sinking again. Fast.]

Re: START

[mythlology]

[ wraps his arms around him protectively, thinking of annabeth -- “You are such an idiot sometimes.” She smiled. “Come on. Take my hand.” ]

It'll be okay, it can get better, we can protect them.

[ talking to himself as much as tiny taisuke ]

Re: START

[heroic_homemaker]

[But those memories are getting fuzzier. Can you remember her voice at all? Can you see anything other than how completely awful you are? You don't deserve the girl you can't remember.]

Re: START

[mythlology]

[ Holds Taisuke closer as the memories fade. ]

I'll protect...

[ What? Who? ]

Re: START

[heroic_homemaker]

[You're falling, almost completely under...

When a hand grabs the back of your shirt, hauling you away from the kid]

Bad idea.

Re: START

[mythlology]

-- Fire!

[ Struggles against the tug. I want to help the kid :( ]

Re: START

[heroic_homemaker]

[NNNNNope dragging you back]

You're not gonna do anyone any good if you drown!

Re: START

[mythlology]

[ i can't drown!!!1! ... usually ]

What about him -- you?

Re: START

[heroic_homemaker]

[...Sighs]

He can't be helped here. He won't move forward.

Re: START

[mythlology]

Why?

Re: START

[heroic_homemaker]

Because reasons!

Re: START

[mythlology]

"Reasons" isn't a reason!

Re: START

[heroic_homemaker]

This place exists to bury it all.

Re: START

[mythlology]

... why're you so sad?

Re: START

[heroic_homemaker]

...

[Holds out his hand]

Re: START

[mythlology]

[ Takes it unhesitatingly. ]

Re: START

[heroic_homemaker]

[Memories flash through your mind in a blur, Taisuke laughing and talking to his parents happily in the car ride on the way to school, drinking from a can--

The can rolls under his father's foot, 'the brakes--'

The car got wrecked. It's raining, his sister next to him clutching his hand so tight and crying, begging him not to go, not to die too, please, please don't die.]

Re: START

[mythlology]

[ stands, startled, for a moment

then reaches awkwardly to put his hand on taisuke's shoulder, but it turns into a full-fledged bro-hug if taisuke'll allow it ]

Re: START

[heroic_homemaker]

[He'll allow it. And hug back.]

Haah, don't worry about me. I'm the part that's working to get over it.

...Well, I'm not doing very well, but I'm trying.

Re: START

[mythlology]

You know... getting over stuff doesn't mean forgetting, right? It can be motivation.

Re: START

[heroic_homemaker]

Believe me, I know. It's convincing the rest of the heart of that.

Re: START

[mythlology]

Who are you? I mean, what part of the heart?