heart game - Kantera

[wroughtandtempered]

I’m sorry. I tried— I tried, but I can’t keep going—

I don’t think I can do this alone, so— Please. Please—

I need help.

Comments

Re: the basement.

[happydreamed]

If Kantera had a nickel for every time this month he saw a muzzle on someone he dearly loved and was very upset about it for the second it was on, he'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's two nickels too many.

"...How are you feeling?"

Re: the basement.

[wroughtandtempered]

"...Better. Thanks." She heaves a huge, gusty sigh and gingerly goes to lay down, though she still keeps an eye on him. "...We'd worked through that piece of shit ages ago, having it ripped back out fucking sucked."

Re: the basement.

[happydreamed]

"Happy to help. -Is there anything else I can do for you? If you still don't want to be unchained."

Re: the basement.

[wroughtandtempered]

"Not really. Some shit you've got to process yourself, you know?"

There a soft crackle from the corner the muzzle fell into, and a fresh wisp of smoke rises to join the smog. She whuffs, satisfied.

"You might want to get out of here. It's going to get fucking hot soon."

Re: the basement.

[happydreamed]

"Very well, then. Take care, Eve."

Up the stairs he goes. Any noticeable changes in the room?

Re: the basement.

[wroughtandtempered]

"Yeah, yeah, you too—"

As he climbs out of the basement, the soft crackle behind him builds into a roar... and Eve outright cackles, clearly delighted by this development. Once he's out, he can just barely hear her yell:

"Fucking finally—

—before the trap door swings shut of its own accord, and melts into the wooden floor as though it had never been there to begin with.

Not just the room, but the overall atmosphere has changed. The overwhelming scent of smoke has faded, giving way to the smell of freshly baked goods wafting from the kitchen, along with a welcome wave of warmth to chase away the cold. The firepit in Eve's bedroom crackles away merrily, echoed by both the sounds of other fires and the beginning of here-and-there taps on the roof— which turn into a steady patter as rain starts to wash away the snow.

Re: the basement.

[happydreamed]

"Ahhh, now this is much more like it."

Is this what he'd come here to do? He should probably check back in with Nysteri, if he isn't immediately booted out of the heart for Mission Accomplished.

Re: the basement.

[wroughtandtempered]

He is not! Back to the kitchen he can go.