Canis's heart

[soulping]

The moment you step through the mirror door, you seem to - slip, as if the floor were made of wax, but when you fall there is no floor to catch you; only darkness.

You fall for some time. Eventually, it feels as if you're not falling at all - but rather, floating . . . and some time after that, it almost feels as if you have no body at all. The light from which the entrance of Canis's heart is disappears quickly, and you're left with nothing - not even your own screams, if you have any; nothing seems to leave your throat, and there's no sound at all, besides. Even the rushing of wind is gone, and your own pulse seems to fade away. . .

. . . what penetrates your consciousness next is the soft sound of music. Someway or another, you find yourself on a white platform; you're dressed in plain clothes of your team color, all items gone from your person. In front of you, four stones float; all perfectly square and identical to each other. Each have images - a sword, a staff, a bow and arrow, and a sparkling circle . . . you understand what you must do.

CHOOSE YOUR CLASS
WARRIOR - MAGICIAN - ARCHER - ACOLYTE

CHOOSE YOUR CLASS | IRC: #swordheartonline! | PORT BAGHENNEN | LOCATION SELECT: 1 2 | AREA O█E: S█RE█G█H | AREA █WO: DU██ | AR█A THR██: █MOT█O██ | AR█A THR██: █MOT█O██: 1 2 | ██E█ ██U█: B███████: 1 2 | ?????: ███████ | TRUE HEART

Comments

[knighttolast]

"It matters. I can't change who I am. . . and I am Haruki-sama's Knight."

[wingtamed]

No you're not.

[ lowering his hand and--stepping towards the glass. ]

[knighttolast]

"I am."

[wingtamed]

"Haruki" ain't even here. 's useless to follow somethin' like that, ain't it?

So-- [ wow look at this long and pointy thing maybe i should just swing it really hard at this glass-thing. ]

[knighttolast]

Immediately Canis is in front of you - how did he get there that fast? - and swings his sword to meet yours, metal chinking as they meet. His expression, while it was calm and neutral before, shifts into a protective anger.

"How dare you raise your sword against Haruki-sama?"

[wingtamed]

[ sshifting back a bit, weight leaning heavily on one leg. ]

's glass! You said there was shit goin' on outside, right?! How's sittin' in here kneeling in front of some useless piece of glass gonna help you!

[knighttolast]

"I'm not meant to go out there! I'm meant to stay here, to protect him and his place!"

[wingtamed]

You're good for a lot more than that! You don't need to jus'--waste away in here for the sake of some guy! Live a little!

[knighttolast]

"I can't."

He puts more power in his sword, intending to strike at Mira's sword and knock it out of his hand.

"I must protect him. I am his knight. I was born for this person."

[wingtamed]

[ bye, sword. you will be missed. ]

Jus' 'cause you were born for someone doesn't mean you gotta stick with 'em for forever. You're not--whoever you were before anymore. You're Canis an' you're part of Barghest an' no matter what happens--you're gonna keep bein' part of Barghest. Even if you fall asleep again or if you finish fillin' in your mirror.

You're Barghest an' Barghest belongs ta me. Not this guy.

[knighttolast]

He brandishes his sword, pointing it at you - not with the intent to strike, but ready to move as needed if Mira tries to attack the stained glass again.

"I'm a knight before I am Canis. I am a knight before I am a person. I swore to protect him always, and I am devoted to him, whether I remember him or not. Whether I wear Barghest green or not, Haruki-sama will always be my top priority."

[wingtamed]

An' yet here we are, right. You've got somethin' real nasty in you an' I don't see any Haruki-sama comin' to save you.

[ he's not moving, at least. ]

Knights're supposed to follow kings who're worthy of them, aren't they? He's not here! He's not gonna save you. I came here ta save an' protect you. I wanna help you! I want. . I want you to trust me an' be part of our team, properly!

An' I'd give everything I have for that! You're a person, Canis! Not a thing! You have feelings an' you get hurt an' you're an idiot but you're my idiot!

You swore to protect him but that's jus' glass. It ain't a person! It's not gonna love you! It's not gonna care for you an' it's not gonna be there for you!

Are you gonna kill me over that?!

[knighttolast]

"Haruki-sama saved my life! And now it's my turn to save him - he's not here but that's not his fault; he's waiting for me to save him and I can't afford to let you hold me back!

I don't care if he loves me. I don't care if he doesn't care about me! I don't care if he's not here because that's not what he's supposed to do; I was created for him and I should be there for him! And I won't stop!"

He pauses - lowers his voice, when he remembers his place, and sheathes his black sword.

". . . I'm not going to kill you. But you have no place here. This is my place, and I was born to serve Haruki-sama . . . if that's not something you can't accept, you'll have to leave."

[wingtamed]

. . that's stupid.

[ his own voice lowers, shoulders loosening and he does--start walking towards the glass again, but at a very light pace. harmlessly. ]

He's not the only one who'd save your life, y'know. I get it; you wanna save him. You wanna protect him with all you got an' that's--fine. But I care about you. Even if you're stupid. Even if you broke my face. I'm always gonna care about you.

[knighttolast]

He redirects his sword, blocking Mira's way to the glass with his arm out.

"It doesn't matter. My feelings for Haruki-sama go way beyond what you're willing to do for me."

[wingtamed]

You don't even know what I'm willin' to do for you.

[ raises a hand to grab onto canis's wrist--gently. ]

[knighttolast]

"No matter what you do, it's beyond it. Far beyond it."

He doesn't seem to react to that . . . it's not Haruki-sama's portrait, so he doesn't care.

[wingtamed]

[ woah he touched canis and canis didn't give a shit how. great. maybe he'll just try to ssslowly wrap his arms around him. super gently. ]

[knighttolast]

. . . what is happening.

He doesn't actually do anything because you're not actually doing anything to Haruki-sama, but. . .

". . . what are you doing?"

[wingtamed]

I'm hugging you. 'cause I care about you a lot, y'know? An' 's easiest to--explain it like this, ain't it.

I want you to like me. I want you to--care 'bout me jus' as much as you seem ta care 'bout that guy up there.

[knighttolast]

There's a pause, and he looks . . . legitimately sad about what Mira says.

"I can't."

He presses his lips together; there seems to be a minor quake in the earth as it trembles, though nothing else happens. . . ?

". . . I can't do that for you. Even if I wanted to, I can't."

[wingtamed]

[ oh that's. different. ]

If you cared about be like that, I'd always--stick by your side, Canis. I'd love you an' take care of you.

Even if you can't--would you wanna?

[knighttolast]

He shakes his head.

"I can't."

In a tone that makes it sound like it's the only answer that matters.

[wingtamed]

Canis.

I'll love you, a'right? [ so clearly it's a great idea to take canis's sword from him and charge the glass!haruki with it still sheathed, right.

right. ]

[knighttolast]

ONLY IF YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO RAM A SHEATHED SWORD THROUGH CANIS.

Which is exactly what you may end up doing, only since it's still sheathed he can grip it tightly, yelling, "Stop!"