livestage | UNHOLY DISORDER

UNHOLY DISORDER

[Something is wrong with the room you are in.

At first blush, it seems normal enough. It's nicely furnished, lavish dark oak, brass and a rich green drapery and carpet. Except in the middle of the room, a simple glass box sits wrapped in chains. Inside, a heart rocks back and forth as it beats, chambers constricting and relaxing around air.

But the more you look around, you might notice that the rafters beyond the brass lamps are made of bone, spine connecting them all. You might notice that the binding on all of the books seems to be an unusual leather. You might notice that teeth have been used as nails.

You almost can't help but notice the strange ... give... under your feet. Whatever is under the carpet seems almost spongy.

You know, instinctively, that the heart is in danger.

But so are you.]

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[The chains constrict and the glass box seems to shriek as it is forced even smaller.

The heart inside is little more than a mass of flesh, shuddering helplessly.

You don't have much time now.]

Letters then. Or names of a certain length.

... That's still a lot of names.

Down to nine if we assume it isn't Forte.

...We could also just guess that it's Forte. Take that 1/10 chance that we have any control over helping him.

[Now that he's had a chance to digest things more.]

There's a number of Siren's on the list.

[Pain.

Your world explodes into bursts of white and black.

The others in the room will see you stagger and collapse to the floor, but your memory ends in one burst of white and begins again with your face in the odd, terrible carpet.

It isn't getting better fast enough. And something IN you has begun to change. Your ribs crackle and ripple under your skin, and your clothes begin to soak with blood from your chest.

Your joints are stiff and becoming more so with every moment.

You are feeling more EMPTY than usual.]

[ carefully, gently, slowly, takes one of Phoneix's hands and places it palm-first, flat against Heron's own chest. He breathes nice and steady, slow but not too slow, calm and easy to follow. ]

In and out, in and out, like that. Just follow the rhythm, you can do it.

I'm going to try something else, okay? Just - trust me, and keep focusing on your breathing, and it should help quiet things down.

[ first of all, he will let himself focus on that tingling feeling, that ticklish, light presence that he instinctively knows is a Blessing brushing against him, and... carefully, pull on his own Blessing to snuff it out, to muffle it like a blanket dropping over a bird cage. Normally, he'd stop at turning off how it affects him - normally, he can't do anything else, but. But Phoenix is on the edge of panic and Forte is in pain and something is up, so he stretches the blanket out, frowning in concentration, pushing his limits to make everything quiet for Phoenix's Blessing. Ideally, silent, but at least quieter. ]

We'll have one more guess after this one, though, right? There's a lot of Siren's and Forge on this list, too.

I guess it does. Hey, is there anything we can offer you or your partner to get more questions?

[ TRYING HIS LUCK ]

Not a terrible idea but if we what's the likelihood that makes it worse?

Now, now. Just because you're my champion doesn't mean I'll let you get away with bribery.

[Writhing on the ground in pain, Forte is no help at all as the others attempt to narrow things down. Blood oozes out from his chest and clothes, body contorting. Searing pain blinds him, filling his mind and he can't think beyond the agony of wanting it to stop.

Blood pools from his mouth and nose, dribbling down to the sickening floor and he chokes raggedly, gasping on every breath.]

Ah, alright. You've set up serious enough consequences that it was worth asking, but I won't push my luck if that's more cheating than creativity. I've still got to get to know your preferences, haven't I?

[ Here's the thing: Phoenix has never known true silence in his entire life (in either life). And breathing does help, a quiet sensitive thing.

He can still feel it - he can still hear them so much louder than anyway possible -

And he breathes slow, steady. And right along.

And then the world goes quiet for once and he gives a small quiet gasp, like a sense has been turned off that he's never quite figured out. ]

Hmm. Speaking of consequences, you may want to keep an eye on your wayward family members.

You mean like, it's a big switcheroo and the only way we can save the heart is by not guessing it?

...I wouldn't put it past them, but it's probably more of a, "don't give anybody enough guesses to narrow it down so everybody feels like shit when the heart gets squished" situation.

[ It's too much. It's far too much.

Your fingers brush against the book, touching the skin it is bound in... your mind opens again, pouring into the miasma of suffering.

Except... it recognizes you this time. You are a little too in tune. A little too much like an echo of their own wailing and screaming.

The book twists in your hands, and a mouth forms in the skin. It begins to devour your hand. Then forearm, and then elbow. It draws you into the pages, into its story..

After all. You belong there. ]

[ yikes yikes yikes ]

. . . yeah. I guess. . . yeah.

Yeah, at this point there's no way we're not going to have to let our personal feelings affect the decision, we simply can't rule everyone but one person out. And it's possible it's Forte's heart, even if it's unlikely.

It is the kind of twisted thing the Dame would be into.

I think, if we rule out it being Forte, we can - no. We should guess that it's Gingham's. He's the Sun Sign that has the closest connection to us, so that would also fit with the theatrical set up and the emphasis on putting our hearts into things. Honestly, if we're totally wrong and it's a Forge, they can bill us for distress later.

[ COOL HE HATES THAT ]

[ ????? ]

[ Okay, who cares about the books screaming now it's HIS TURN TO SCREAM and also try to like somehow shove himself away from a book that is -

that's not working his hand is gone and then his forearm and, he doesn't want to be part of that story he doesn't - ]

So do we want to ask whether the heart belongs to a Sun Sign, or do we ask whether it's Forte, just to completely exclude that?

[ keeps breathing, slow and steady, reassuring. present. ]

That's it, there you go. Just breathe, nice and easy. It's okay, it's me, you're okay.

[ but is Heron okay, ]

Hey there!

[ going to reach for Phoenix to pull him back ]

You can't have him! [ to. the book but also ] C'monnn.

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UNHOLY DISORDER

[Heartbreak]

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[Forte]

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