purgastory | week six

week six.

Once again, the fog moves, filling every nook and cranny of the blanket fort, letting it all slowly fade from view. As always, Heart locations remain, joined by a few new additions. You know the name of this game now. You know that choosing to stay behind is not the key to moving forward, and therefore, you must cross the border and plunge into the fog once again.

This time the fog has a bite of frost, the temperature dropping drastically as the cloud of fog peels back, revealing the shiny, glittering expanse of snow beyond. Shivers run through your no doubt unsuitable clothing, but luckily for you the luxurious resort beyond is just close enough to avoid the worst of the chill. (Your shoes will absolutely get wet though, sorry...) Once inside, the lobby is warm and toasty, filled with squat, comfortable couches and a minibar on the opposite corner. There is an elevator to take you to another floor, as well as signs for the ski slopes outlined on the walls opposite.

Welcome to your Wintry Wonderland! You may change into appropriate attire in one of the many changing rooms, but please be careful -- you will feel an urge to seek warmth as you explore this particular maze, whether by an embrace or through hand-holding. It will feel like second nature to you, and perhaps a godsend in this freezing landscape.

0. heart tasks

The notice board is still here this week, now with a new set of tasks written on it! Along the Akheron river, there's a fresh slew of boxes and containers along its bank. They're all locked up tight, but they have your names on them. They're also nicely decorated.

Mementos Mori Homesickness is a terrible thing. Complete one of these tasks and you may just find yourself with something to ease it.
✦ Bite someone with feeling and explain the feeling.
✦ Exchange thoughtful gifts with one other.
✦ Tell someone a secret, something you think that person should know about you.

Whether you intend to or not, if you complete one of the above tasks, you'll know that your box has been unlocked. Inside can be an item from home, it doesn't matter how big or small. It doesn't need to belong to your character or your character's Eurydice, as long as it's something they might want. The box will have your character's name on it though and written in small script Good luck! Almost there. The item may also be a pet. You do not need to report this to the mods; we'll go by honor system.

i. central ice rink

Once properly attired, you are free to venture outside. Here, the fields of snow seem endless, bright beneath the winter sunshine. All that clean snow, just begging for someone to make footprints, construct castles, or initiate snow fights! What fun! What joy!

A little further ahead is a large lake, completely frozen over. There is a stand nearby offering skates of all sizes, for those who would like to skate along on top of the ice. There are also convenient guard rails along one edge of the lake for our timid novices. Take a few turns and get comfortable. Or maybe not too comfortable...

As you make your loops, you may notice movement, and as you coast to a stop, you will realize that the movement is in fact an image, a memory being played in full view on the ice beneath you. No matter where you skate off to, the memory will follow, seemingly endless in every direction. Of course, you could still try to stop the memory, perhaps by smashing your skate through the ice if you're desperate enough, but that will only send you and whoever is with you beneath the ice and into the freezing lake, where you will be both submerged.

Whatever happens, the memory will have a specific theme of either greed or charity, such as:

✦ A memory where you experienced some form of desire, possession, greed, or experienced the consequences of such greed from another.
✦ A memory where you experienced some form of charity, whether positive or negative -- when you received something from another that you desperately needed at the time. Perhaps it was a hopeful plea, perhaps it was demeaning humiliation. Or perhaps you were the one who sought to give, your intentions kind or conceited.
✦ A fantasy of all that you ever wished to possess, or one of all the things you've given to see others thrive.

ii. santa's workshop

If you venture down to the resort's basement, you will what looks like a charming, rustic... workroom? Or perhaps a storage room? There are piles upon piles of objects, some wrapped neatly in boxes, others still needing some work done, because apparently, all of these objects are broken in some way. There are instruments that still need to be stringed, shoes missing their pairs, flashlights that don't turn on, paddles with only the letters "Y A O" carved into them. Whatever you can think to find, you will -- except in a state of repair.

Just on the table beyond are a few very basic tools: screwdrivers, hammers, wrenches, etc, but the supplies themselves seem to be missing...? Turns out that if you want to fix an object, you'll have to take apart something else to get what you need. Unfortunately, you'll have to apply a little bit of elbow grease to get what you want -- as the objects themselves don't feel like giving them up? Stuffed animals will take a swat at you, toasters will hit you with their cords, and sexy lingerie may even attempt to strangle you...

But they're just objects, and you can obviously fight back. Or if not, then feel free to try other more peaceful approaches: such as mentioning a time, object, concept, etc that you wish you could have or return to or telling someone what you wish you could give them. Once shared, the objects will go back to normal.

iii. the charity auction

Ascend the stairs from the lobby into the resort's magnificent ballroom, where apparently some kind of banquet is underway? There are crowds of shadowy figures seated at tables and milling about, holding sparkling glasses of champagne and eating little appetizers from large trays, but most of the activity is directed towards the stage, where a shadowy auctioneer thumps their mallet and calls out the name of the newest object.

A name that turns out to be... yours! Before you know it, you are ushered onto stage, squinting against the bright lights to see the crowd beyond. Distantly, you can hear the auctioneer announce your name, a fun fact, and why exactly you deserve to be taken out! Whether on a hot date or wiped from the surface of the earth. Or maybe both?

The only way to leave is if some merciful soul makes a bid for you. For those who find themselves in the crowd, desperate to save whoever's on stage -- you will feel the urge to make your bid (or don't, maybe you think this is funny). Of course, the bid has to be... substantial. Money can only go so far... We're looking for creative bids here, y'know?

Once your bid is accepted, you may escort your prize from the stage. Please know that whatever the bid is -- it must be paid on the spot. Maybe you promised an ear lick or a kiss -- maybe you promised to be their servant for an hour henceforth. Whatever it is, you have to do it in the Grand Charity Gala room in order to be set free.

iv. snowman sculpting

Maybe you decide to go back outside after the warmth of the resort, or maybe you'd like to keep playing in the snow... Nearby are several different snow figures, all in need of decoration. They are just so sad and naked without you...

🥕 Carrot Nose: You feel an intense curiosity to know everything you've yet to learn about the person you're with. What's their blood type? What's their dream wedding venue? If they were wooed by a shark or a pirate, then which would they choose? The questions can be completely nonsensical and unrelated to each other. It doesn't matter, because you need to know!!
⚫ Coal Smile: You feel the burden of your sins weighing upon you. Suddenly, you need for the person you're with to forgive you for what you've done to them, or for what you will do. Maybe you feel the urge to confess to a curse. Maybe you want to tell them that you thought they were really annoying once. Or maybe you want to apologize for thinking they're a great big degenerate.
🧣 Cute Scarf: Congratulations! You Are A Child Now. Feel free to keep your adult minds, or revert back to the mindset you had as a smol baby.
🎩 Snazzy Bowler: You are on the run from your creditors. You must hide now! Now! Take whoever's with you so they don't sell you out to the IRS, or because they clearly have crimes they're on the run from too. Go and hide in a cramped closet together.
❌ Naked: For some reason, you don't want to dress any of these snowmen. Boo, tomato, tomato! You will be haunted by three ghostly versions of yourself: past, present, and future, who will all talk about your faults and how you are not a good person and how you should turn it all around somehow.

mod notes.

✦ Hello again, darling clowns! This week's log features both the aforementioned maze and our central locations! Feel free to write central-specific or maze-specific prompts. Or both!
✦ For the Ice Rink, mods will not be policing what memories (trululus) or fantasies (delulus) you choose to have your character share, but please keep to the themes of greed/charity! Moreso, memories must have a canon basis, even if they’re headcanon. However, fantasies can be from alternate route paths (otome/visual novel/AU style) as long as they’re within the set parameters. There will be more opportunities for this in the future, so don’t worry about not being able to give out your lore. Have fun!
✦ Questions specific to this log can be directed to the #mod-questions channel in the discord!
✦ Maze Runs are available for this week!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Yeah they can both be freaks together. Hien calmly watches the process and it feels... cold. In comparison, Hien is really warm. ]

"Holding back?"

[ He says that in a way that implies that Hikaru doesn't have to. ]

[Hien... masochist.

There's conflict here. A clear back-and-forth between letting go to pure instinct and being leashed. Yoshiki said to behave... and it doesn't want Yoshiki to be mad at it, or hate it. It's trying not to be the monster Yoshiki thinks it is.

If only it can just be... more like Hikaru.

But Hien understands, right? Hien... understands... right? The glob of what it is builds up, stretches out. It climbs Hien's arm to the elbow, to the shoulder, cold and searching, squeezing. Inherently, it is a predator when not held in the confines of a corporal vessel. The places where it crawls hurts, stings, bruises, and it keeps going, trying to consume up Hien's neck toward the face, down too over chest and ribs.

It constricts and begins to bear down on Hien with a with a suffocating pressure.]

[ He likes it when people can be their "true selves", and Hikaru, or the entity within, is not an exception. He's also very curious despite hating pain and wants to see. Hien, more or less understands him and watches him to go to the elbow... shoulder... then over his neck, chest, and ribs. It's cold. The squeezing, stinging, and bruising continues. It hurts. The immense pressure of the constriction make it hard to breathe.

There's a vague thought that passes Hien's head. All of this to "bite", huh? He supposes he could make a comparison. For him, there's a normal bite and the unrestrained bite. He feels like he was encouraging Hikaru for the latter.

...

He did ask for it.

So, Hien doesn't move despite everything. ]

[It's so hard not to try to eat Hien. The consuming isn't even really a malicious thing. A tumble back into something instinctual. A curiosity--eating to know.

Is there even anything there of Hien to know?

But there is a part getting leashed by human morality. There is a gloomy-looking boy with dark hair who doesn't want him to do weird things like come out of the vessel and try eating someone else, Concept or not.

So all at once, the entity freezes, realizes what it's doing, how far it's going, and very, very, very hastily starts backtracking, returning to the vessel and away from Hien, even if it leaves behind some bruising marks where it had clutched. Out and in, and then there is simply "Hikaru" standing there holding Hien by the wrist and looking surprised at himself.]

[ Hien feels like he can finally breathe properly. He supposes he's seen enough and mindlessly rubs a part of his arm. ]

"... Do I look too much like Yoshiki?"

[ He wonders if this is the reason. ]

[Hmmmmm. He looks at Hien for a long moment, appraising Hien's face. Well, Hien does sorta look like Yoshiki a little.

He shakes his head and lets go of Hien's wrist.]

I'm not supposed to 'cause Yoshiki said. Ya aren't human, but ya aren't hurtin' anyone, or Yoshiki, so... I don't want Yoshiki to hate me.

"It matters that much to you even though he's not right here at the moment, huh?"

[ Alien love. Wakaru. ]

[His smile is lopsided in the charmingly teenage boy kinda way.]

Yeah... I always wanna be by Yoshiki's side, so I can't be doin' anything to make him hate me. He already said I'm not like Hikaru at all. That's okay. I'm me, and he still wants me around.

"Good. I'm glad you have that sort of acceptance."

[ Though that raises the question... ]

"Do you have a name of your own?"

[Hmm. He peers at Hien for a long moment, then shakes his head. He glances at his hands which aren't his hands at all.]

Dunno. I never felt or thought until I was in this body. I just went along on autopilot. I wasn't ever hungry, but I liked to eat souls, I think.

I'm just "Something," I guess. What did that guy say...? "Anomalous Being." The people in our town think I'm Nounuki-sama. That's what they call the god on the mountain. I'm just Something that got in Hikaru's body.

[ Oh. Basically a freak like him. Hien wishes to adopt this existence. Thank you. ]

"Like it's on instinct?"

[ He is not horrified by soul eating. ]

"And now they're trying to identify you as a god...? Huh."

[A little freak exactly like him. Turns Hien into a gay little freak teenager.]

Yeah, like that.

[He laughs good-naturedly.]

They don't know no better 'cause they're humans. At least, that's what that man said. They think everything has a reason, ya know? A god, a demon. I was just minding my own business, I think. But then Hikaru asked me to make sure Yoshiki wasn't ever alone.

[ okay!!!!! ]

"Oh, so... you're carrying out his will. Did you want to? Or was it a part of a deal you two made?"

He made a request when he died. He reached out to me and asked me.

[He says this like it's just another day. No biggie. The blood contract.......]

I just feel like I'm supposed to honor it.

[ Hien nods as if he understands. A request. The way Hikaru says it makes it feel like he did it out of the goodness of his heart, so that's what Hien will accept. ]

"Did you tell Yoshiki about it? Or is that something you can't tell?"

I didn't need to tell him. He already knew. He knew I wasn't Hikaru even though I tried to act just like him. He keeps sayin' I'm nothin' like Hikaru.

[So mean. It confused him at first, but he hasn't ever been insulted. He's not Hikaru, yeah.]

I got all his memories, but I didn't live them even if it feels like I did.

[ He nods again. ]

"... I feel like you don't have to act like Hikaru to make sure he isn't alone, but having a human body is pretty convenient. You just need to learn about human social etiquette."

When it's only us, I don't gotta. But I have to be Hikaru so no one else knows. It isn't like here.

[But he gets what Hien means.]

They're confusing. Obikawa is right. They do all kinds of bad stuff to themselves, but then call you a monster 'cause you do it without feelin' guilty.

"Mm. It's a little like hiding in plain sight. I usually don't talk and hide my eyes because people think it's scary. They're scared of the unknown, like most living beings. It's how they cope. Sometimes I pretend I'm a normal dog."

week six

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject