selfpreservationist | [RAVEN'S HEART GAME

The first thing you hear is the sound of rain faintly hitting the exterior of the house. The soft pitter-patter is almost soothing, in a way, but it’s quickly followed up by rumbling thunder in the distance. You open your eyes, and for a second all you see is a flash of light--at first it seems like it’s lightning, but then you see something. A vision of a man dressed in rags, hunched over, waves of demonic power rolling over him. He howls, and something terrible starts to grow out of him: the bloody roots of a massive tree. An immense wave of panic hits you, and you can’t move, you can’t speak, you can’t breathe--

And then it’s over. It’s over. You’re fine.

The sound of rain returns. (This time it’s definitely soothing, compared to what you just saw.) You’re standing in the foyer of a mansion, a wide open living room in front of you. The door behind you is faintly ajar, leading outside.

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Strangely, it isn’t raining once you step outside; it’s just overcast.

Past the cobblestone steps that lead up to the mansion is a small patch of green. Once upon a time there was a playground here, but the structures have been smashed and bent; the ones that haven’t are heavily rusted over. The only thing that’s semi-intact is an old seesaw that creaks loudly in the wind.

You’re not alone here: sitting on one end of the seesaw is a boy, about eight years old, with white hair and a dour expression. He’s wearing an amulet around his neck.

You can go back into the living room from here.

[It feels almost instinctive to follow that path, how many times did he do just that when this was a happy place...

So it seems strangely fitting that's who he should come across. But also...what do you do with your child self? He just stops and stares, and could be mistaken for frightened, really.]

The boy stares back, in that familiar sullen expression.

"What do you want?"

...Nothing.

You...shouldn't be out here alone.

[Of course he can't help but remember what happened here. But he's not sure trying to herd him inside is the best idea either, with the state of things. So he goes to sit on the other end, not in playing position, just sideways.]

The boy shrugs.

"It's not like there's anywhere else I can go."

Why not?

"I don't belong anywhere but here... I suppose. It's fine, though. I'm not in any danger."

He kicks at the sand a little.

What, just sitting out here in limbo? What about at home, or the library?

Re: OUTSIDE

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[RETURN this time with book in hand, which he offers up to the boy.]

The boy looks surprised. He takes the book, looking it over. He doesn’t smile, exactly; but his expression grows a bit softer. “Thanks,” he says. As he does, you feel something click, though you’re not sure where it came from.

[Did he do right by the child version of himself who he feels personally responsible for and like somehow he as his adult self failed even though that's completely impossible because that's not how time works?? Well it makes him happy to have comforted him a bit.]

Are you sure you're alright here by yourself?

The boy is already opening the book and setting it into his lap so he can start reading.

"Yes. It's lonely here, but I'm alright."

...Alright. Enjoy your book.

[...He kind of wants to just stay so he's not lonely? But there's things to do. So he's once again heading to the library to demand answers of Raven.]

"Mm," the boy responds.

[

ugh.]

Vergil.

The boy just stares at you, with that same sullen expression.

"Yes?"

So, either Raven or Vergil's heart.

[he swings the sword over his shoulder for now.]

You know you can't use the see-saw by yourself, right?

He doesn't seem terribly put off by the fact that you're injured and covered in blood.

"I know that. Obviously."

So, what're you waiting for, then?

"I'm not waiting for anything. I can't leave here."

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[Well he was just on his way out but, he's not sure if that's addressed to him or the kid?

Wait was Jason always covered in blood?]

...What happened to you?

I ran into you.

[he pauses]

And guess that narrows it down to this bein' Raven's heart.

[HONESTLY, he has. a lot of wounds.

were he not a bat, he would definitely be looking for a hospital.

but he is a bat.]

[Vergil has no point of reference for what is a hospital type wound (or amount of wounds,) for a human despite Imeeji because he can't get it through his head, so he's not that concerned about this? If Jason seemed more concerned then maybe.]

How many of me are there here?

Just the big, ugly tentacle one.

Managed to grab this.

[he shows the cane sword]

[Ugh. Great. Well guess that's what he'll have to look for next, makes the most sense, even if he doesn't want to.]

...That's Raven's isn't it? Hm.

[He thinks about this for a moment. Arm didn't go in the chandelier, but, it's made of swords and that's a sword, and this is Raven's soul or whatever so...]

Try putting it in the chandelier if you haven't found anything else. Otherwise, Raven is upstairs, maybe he wants it.

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