soulping | Canis's heart

Canis's heart

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I don't get it.

Devotion glances over to Sparrow, lips pressed into a thin line.

So you're sayin' I'm not good enough.

"—that's not—! That's not it—"

I'm not good enough, but she is.

[ approaches quickly ]

That's not it, Mira. What did you feel when you touched the wall?

He doesn't want me. He wants you. He wants somethin' familiar, an' I ain't it.

You're not familiar yet. That doesn't mean he doesn't want you at all, or that you aren't good enough.

[ reaches out to touch the wall, palm pressed flat against it. ]

It wibbles under her touch, scared scared scared lonely lonely everything's changed— you can hear the faint crying again, the grief of lost love.

[ her heart aches to hear the grief and she leans in to press her forehead against the wall as well. ]

Do you remember me? It's Sparrow. I'm here with Mira and Devotion to see you, so you don't need to be alone.

The wall begins to feel like flesh where Sparrow touches - softer on her hand, a bit hard on her forehead and altogether warm, notably moreso than the rest of the entire area. Sparrow can remember her and Canis's reunion, with the squirrels - there's an appreciation for Sparrow, her familiarity, her kindness. A relief, small and restrained and hesitant but there all the same.

Softly, the wall cries, I remember you. Friend. I'm scared, I don't want to be hurt again. It's so, so lonely. . .

[ slouching over onto the floor, both arms raised to cover his head. ]

He doesn't want me. He's not gonna want me. I messed up real bad.

[ she maintains the contact, eyes closed while she takes in his feelings. ]

I know. It hurts a lot to not be able to talk to them and touch them, and have to miss them.

Mira and I love you, we want to help you. I... I don't want you to feel lonely and scared any more. Will you let us try?

[ in a whisper under her breath she adds, "I want to be there for you. Please let me." ]

There's a moment of hesitation before the wall pushes forward, flesh forming and tearing from it like paint peeling, in the form of Aquila. Her hand presses against Sparrow's, her forehead pressed against Sparrow's own too, and she's bare - not seeming to mind either, more focused on Sparrow with tears in her eyes, red as if she'd been crying for a long time.

"I - I," she tries, before looking to her - pleadingly, desperate.

Devotion pulls Mira close, kneeling on the ground behind him to pet his hair gently.

. . . you said you'd love me, right?

"Always."

[ Sparrow pulls Love into a tight embrace, kissing her cheeks and stroking her hair. ]

I'm here, I love you, I'm not going to leave you.

[ she murmurs it softly as a promise. ]

And Mira is here for you too.

It ain't right for you to talk to his heart like that, Sparrow.

[ there's--a bit of bitterness behind his tone, jealousy. ]

's not right for you to make him love you. You're not even part of Barghest.

[ ...ah. coming from Mira, that hurts to hear.

she stiffens but tries to keep the hurt off her face as she reminds herself they promised Sirius they wouldn't scare Love.

some of the hurt slips through in her voice and Sparrow tries to hold onto Love's hand. ]

If Canis loves me, that's his choice. I... I just want him to know I love him, even if I'm not part of Barghest.

Why're you good enough an' I ain't? [ he keeps his head down, forehead pressed to his knees; there's pain in his tone, too, voice cracking. ]

Why's this part of him sayin' he'll love me but she wouldn't even come out when I found 'er? Why're you better than me?

Love holds onto Sparrow tightly, and there's a sense of unease directed to Mira, but Sparrow can feel an anchoring calm as well, a soft wave of tranquility and security when she holds onto Love, as if the NPC were a sort of calming agent. She however does not speak, instead inching away from Mira and his bitterness.

Devotion on the other hand holds onto Mira tightly, "That's not true, you're fine you're perfect I do love you please, please don't be sad, don't hurt."

Love is scared, Mira. The people Canis loved most are asleep, and he woke up without either of them.

[ she absentmindedly brushes her thumb against the back of Love's hand. ]

It's not that he doesn't love you. It's that he misses familiar things and people.

Leave for a second, Sparrow. Please.

...Is that alright with you, Love?

Love doesn't look so sure. She holds onto Sparrow a little more tightly, nervously.

"I'm scared. I-I don't want to be alone again, I don't want to be hurt again. . . . d-do you have to go?"

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