sticksandbones | MATTERS OF THE HEART

Entry tags:

MATTERS OF THE HEART

Who: Livio, Wolfwood, Elsword, Mizuki, Add, Heimr
What: heimrquest
When: several days after the bar is built, late in the evening
Where: ???????
Warnings: mentioned child death, mentions of plague, paranoia, supernatural-driven insanity, survivor's guilt, death, possession, impersonation, body horror. more will be added as needed.

The General Store isn't always the most bustling place, least of all in a small make-shift town of only a handful of people, each one more troubled than the last. But at some point, each and every one of you has needed something from Heimr today. Maybe it was just a bag of candy. Maybe it was something more pressing, or some groceries. Regardless, one by one he's tended to your needs, and you leave the store with little fanfare save for the fact that it's unusually foggy out this evening- not enough that you can't see other buildings...

Until you can't.

All around you is a heavy mist, and the scent of a wood fire and warm spices floats through the air. There's no turning back, so all you can do is move forward.

On an OOC note, the Choose Your Own Adventure threads will eventually merge into one group thread. Once this occurs, mod tags will occur after each involved character has tagged, or after 24 hours have passed. That said, if it looks like good banter or development is happening, the Mod will hold off a bit or until dramatic irony strikes.

LIVIO | WOLFWOOD | ELSWORD | MIZUKI | ADD
LAYER ONE
LAYER TWO
LAYER THREE
LAYER FOUR
LAYER FIVE

FIN?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The hand on his arm, holding his sleeve, is grounding, at least. Aldric gently squeezes Mizuki's hand in his with a fond smile before he shoots the merchants another glare.

"He's right, y'know."

"We don't want to disturb anything, son, don't worry. We just want to let the world remember history."

Ohhh, that seems to anger Aldric even more, but he stays cool.

[ A glance to Aldric, then a look around the inn's lobby. Everything seems so nice around here. It's kind of hard to believe things could have such a lively, kind atmosphere. This is when things took a turn for the worse. For what was quite literally hell for Heimr. But on the same token, Mizuki — this Mizuki — wouldn't exist without them. It's kind of cruel to think about things like that, isn't it? Especially when he does care for Heimr.

But… ugh. This is confusing. What is he supposed to do here? Stop this? See it through? Maybe just make sure Aldric doesn't totally break down? He doesn't want any of that. He just bristles in place, almost wanting to hide behind Aldric at this point, but opts to just stare at his shoes instead. ]

…I don't understand. [ It's a simple phrase — one Mizuki perhaps says far too much. ] You said you're good guys? Then you'd be a little more straightforward with what you want, wouldn't you?

The leader of the merchants opens his mouth before a woman, smooth as silk and just as soft, steps in.

"My dear friend is a little overexcited... but it's a little hard to discuss ideas, when your father won't even entertain the possibility that we could be harmless and well-meaning. All we want is to see the temple."

... Aldric rolls his eyes. But he doesn't say anything.

Edited 2024-02-20 07:23 (UTC)

I'm sure Mister… um… [ "Mister Aldric" might get some weird looks here, huh? "Mister Heimr" even weirder ones— ] Dad has a lot of reasons to be cautious. Perhaps if you'd let him know the things you intend to do? Precautions you'll take? What you seek to gain from it? Things like that, and maybe from there we might be able to reasonably collaborate things that seem like bad ideas or… something like that?

The woman smiles sweetly.

"We just want to map out the area and observe what's accessible. Would you like to see some of my sketches of similar ruins?"

[ Mizuki raises his hand. It's really hard to be impartial here when he knows what happens, and he knows he can't fix this. It's not like it's time travel. This is just… a memory…

And yet he desperately wants to try to fix it anyway. ]

With all due respect, if you were simply looking to map things out, then I don't think… Dad would be so against it. Not to mention the fact that you aren't being incredibly forthright. Holding cards so close to your chest when you're making a proposal is a good way of evoking distrust from the people you speak with.

Aldric glances at Mizuki with fondness.

The original merchant frowns, but the woman doesn't stop smiling.

"I think there's a misunderstanding, but it looks like you're both set on us being bad guys... it's sweet that you're such a loyal boy, but you'll have to stand on your own eventually. Regardless, you can't stop us from going to the temple, Aldric. The most you can do is provide us room and board in town. We'd hoped for a business agreement, but really... don't you think you're holding yourself back?"

He gives them a flat look, one arm over Mizuki's shoulders.

"Not really."

[ He squeezes Aldric's hand in one of his own, trying mostly to soothe his own festering fury. Both on behalf of Aldric to listen to someone essentially tell him that they don't care if he says "no" they're going to do the thing anyway, and also for himself, to be told that he has to "stand on his own". He's never been good at making choices. He's never been able to do things without a bit of guidance. But that's never been truly an issue for him because he's had such solid support in his life. To be told something like that so callously, though? It struck a nerve.

But he doesn't show it. He smiles sweetly. ]

Ehe… how very bold of you to go ahead and making so many assumptions in just a few sentences. You lot must be the type to always get your way, hm? How very fitting that that way of thinking stops here, then. [ In more ways than one, but— ] For starters, we have every right to turn away business we don't find amiable to the Grove, so I'm sure you have tents and things packed, no? It would be rather silly if you came all this way so unprepared.

And, secondly, if you didn't want us to hold back, you could've just said so. I can think of several things to keep you from going to the temple.

Aldric blinks and cracks the first real smile of this entire encounter- with how close Mizuki is, he can probably hear that Aldric's trying to not laugh. Mizuki may feel a soft warmth- like something else is there and proud of him.

The woman doesn't seem to falter, putting a hand on her companion's shoulder to keep him quiet.

"I'm sorry, I must have touched a nerve. Though... it is a little concerning, how defensive you both get. I suppose without a mother, some lessons got lost."

Aldric freezes- "And how do you know about that?"

"We do our research, sir. Just as your son's asked, we do have supplies- we were simply hoping for a warmer welcome, and we'd use the funds from our findings to continue uplifting the town. It would draw in quite the market, but... I don't think I can in good concious bring other historians to this place with the treatment we've received. Though, I'm curious... Evan, was it? What would you know about such a place?"

[ On the one hand, Mizuki doesn't want to mess up Heimr's memory. This must be an important time. He must blame himself for not stopping this. But these people are awful. Horrible, even. Especially when they go and say such cruel things like this. Mizuki doesn't know Evan, so it's rather hard to try and consider what he might say or do in a situation like this — and there's a part of him that says maybe he shouldn't care. None of this is "real" to Mizuki. Why does it matter??

Ugh.

They're talking about Heimr's ex-wife, and Mizuki knows this, but there's something that still stings to think "some lessons got lost" isn't directed at him and his mom. Especially when every day he worries that he hasn't grown up to be someone she'd be proud of. He wants to think he has, but there are some doubts. This doesn't help.

He keeps his composure, though, for the most part. For now, anyway. If only because he figures these fools paid the price on entering the temple. That, and… Mizuki hasn't looked much at Aldric, but the presence is familiar all the same. It helps. He doesn't want to disappoint Heimr, either. ]

I know a good many things. I know that there's nothing we can say that won't keep you from going into the temple and putting your hands into things they shouldn't go, for starters. I know that you're going to regret it immensely, and I know that right now you don't believe it because you think you're above any and all consequence. I know you don't even think about any of us, any of the people here, or any of the people Dad cares about in a way that matters, yet you're more than happy to weaponize it.

That's not something a good person does.

…

You should leave.

Finally the woman falters, leaning back, eyes wide and a hand over her chest. Mizuki's not wrong, of course- she thinks this little hick town will go under soon enough and the kid's loyalty to this cowardly man is going to kill his future- and she'll laugh, of course- but he doesn't need to say it. She tries to recover, but her smile falters.

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you were threatening me, sweetheart."

"Don't-"

"I don't know what your father has told you, but it's clearly gotten into your head. Aldric, was it? Be sure to teach the boy some manners. I'd hate to see what state your girls are in, too."

She moves to stand from her chair while Aldric just scowls.

"For someone who's never been here before, you sure know a lot about my family."

"Of course. It's important to know the people you hope to do business with."

The woman's companions are either bored or amused- she may be leaving, but they're still going to get their riches, after all. No use in arguing with a teeanger.

"Well. We clearly aren't wanted here, so I'll take my leave. But Aldric... do be careful. It's a great big world out there, and if you really want your children to thrive, you'd do right to let them spread their wings outside of this little forest. ... But if you don't treat the outside world right, they won't have much of a future, you know? I know you're a good man. You best do right by your kids."

... And then she turns to leave.

[ There's a little sigh. The overwhelming hate has seemed to fizzled out for the most part. These people aren't good by any means, but he shouldn't get so riled up like that. Perhaps he was just stressed being in this position — trying to be something he's not, and it made him a lot more on edge than he would've liked. Maybe he just figured that, as Heimr's "son", he had to do everything he could to protect him, like he hadn't done for his own parent. He's better now, though. This isn't something he could fix, anyway, even if he so desperately wanted to. ]

I'm sorry I came off as impolite, ma'am. Don't take anything I said to mean I hope something bad happens to you — I do not. I hope you can come back safely, and I hope you take everything we've told you as a cautionary warning. We'll pray for your safe travels, and if the worse comes to it, then for your safe departure, too.

[ Imagine rolling two 19s in a row —

Anyway, Mizuki turns to Aldric after if just to give him a hug. Both because he probably needs it, and because… well, he shouldn't have had to deal with any of this. It sucks that there wasn't someone here to actually behead that lady. Were this real and Mizuki had simply travelled in time, and not just a memory, he might have, knowing that this trolley problem of the merchants for the creature being locked away is, indeed, a lever to be pulled. ]

The merchants leave- there's a small fuzzy feeling, like something else should happen that Heimr can't remember, but it fades. Aldric wants to say so much- wants to make these people hurt for threatening his kids and their future, for their complete disrespect- but he just buries his head into his son's hair, holding him tight.

"... 'm sorry. You must think I'm a fool..."

For what? Not engaging with someone who was obviously being manipulative? I don't blame you at all. She was going to do anything to get her way, and it's not like you could've known… [ Beat. ] Er, nevermind. It's alright, Mister… um, Dad. You didn't do anything wrong.

"I keep thinkin' I should have stopped them somehow. That I could'a prevented everything. But they brought up Marlene- and then you and the girls..."

He drags a hand down his face, keeping his other arm around Mizuki protectively. When he moves his hand away though, his eyes are a familiar glowing gold, rather than the green of Aldric.

"... If I had known, I probably woulda sabotaged their gear. Never wanted to hurt anyone. ... Even if sometimes they deserve it. But Gods, I wish I'd known."

[ … Oh. Oh no, he really does blame himself for this, doesn't he? Mizuki's glad, then, that he held back. He holds Aldric— Heimr tightly. ]

No one prepared you for what you were going to go through, Mister Heimr. There was no way you could've known. And yet, you still did the best you could, and you still didn't give up after everything had happened.

…

And that is enough. Thank you, Mister Heimr.

Of course he does. He blames the merchants and their arrogance as well, but-the people wanted a leader. And in the end, all he could offer was a plan that hinged on their deaths.

"Mizuki... Thank you. I think I'll always carry this with me but- shit, you did know what they were walking into, and you still couldn't stop them. Is it bad that that's a lil comfortin'?"

Well, it's like I said to them — they were going to get their way regardless of what we said. I've met people like them before… Selfish and uncaring of who they take down in their way to get what it is they want. Unfortunately, without anything short of… divine intervention [ Feeding god flesh to people and them going insane— ] then the only way of gettin' through to them in such a short time frame is gonna be gettin' evil out of them the hard way.

But, um, I was afraid of messin' up your memory or anything like that if I had tried…

"It wouldn'ta messed anything up, just... given us a "what if", likely pulled from my imagination. Truth be told you handled things better than Evan. He threw a drink at the lady."

A beat, and then-

"Bought him a mini cheesecake for it. Though, I admit I do worry about your methods sometimes."

Is that so? Cicero used to say I had very good patience, and a lot of the doctors that I've had have told me I'm polite… Maybe that's why?

…What's there to worry about, specifically? People have mentioned that before, but I'm not sure I understand why.

"They just seem a little... violent? It ain't for me."

But he shrugs, one arm still around Mizuki in a hug as they sit at the table. He hums softly before looking back to him.

"I'm proud of you, for how you handled things though. Are you ready for the next step?"

It’s nothing to worry about, Mister Heimr. We make sure it doesn’t hurt for long, and We purify all the evil within, too, so it’s really not all that bad. I can understand it’s not easy to understand, though.

[ Yeah, you know, totally normal stuff! ]

Step? Is there steps here? Should I be ready?

""We", again..."

Hm. What happened to his little boy? And why is he royal?

That is a joke.

Honestly maybe Heimr should be worried given the rather chaotic nature of the people in his heart? But he isn't.

"I can't let people out normally, so all you can do is go forward through my memories. You'll either be able to interact with them like this- as yourself or in a role, like this. Just do what feels natural- don't worry 'bout messin' anything up. You can't change the past, all I'll get is a... hopefully nice daydream."

[ Just some cult stuff, Dad, don’t worry— ]

Oh… um, but will you still be here? If I go forward, I mean…

"Yes, and no. This is my heart, so I'll persist across everything. Once you leave, this memory will come to a close, but the 'me' who's still here... will go back to bein' a memory. My consciousness is still awake, runnin' the shop, and I'll probably be able to tap in to whatever memory you go to next."

MATTERS OF THE HEART

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