Aurora - Rean Heart

[awakenerd]

You float in a void--darkness around you, above, below, in every direction, nothing. You stand on nothing, you even breathe nothing. But you do not feel in danger, you are not suffocating. You are simply existing in… Nothing.

Crow | Towa | Dusk | 80H | Rufus

Comments

[awakenerd]

It is carved in designs, old and pretty, but worn. They do not seem to mean anything, and the door is incredibly solid.

[overworker]

[There must be something else then. As much as she wants to open that door, it may not be possible right now. So she should see what she can do-- what she might be able to do to open it.

Which means turning her attention to the layout of the rest of the cave. Is there another path?]

[awakenerd]

It's a single room, with no way in or out but that heavy door. And nothing that interesting. Except that voice, a bit louder now.

Give up.

What are you thinking, Towa? Or feeling.

[overworker]

[Only one way forward then.

No. No.]

I'm not giving up!

[She feels frustrated, but more than that determined. Even if she doesn't stand a chance in hell, she'll throw her whole body against that door.]

[awakenerd]

It's useless. What can someone like you do?

It sounds like your voice?

The door doesn't budge.

[overworker]

I--

[She falters. What can she do? She finds her answer quickly though.]

I won't know if I don't try--!!

[awakenerd]

A weak little girl like you can try all day but what will it amount to?

[overworker]

Then I'll just work twice as hard to make up for it!!

[awakenerd]

Do you really think that will cut it?

[overworker]

I've gotten this far, haven't I? Maybe I still have a long way to go, but-- I'm going to keep going, no matter what!

[awakenerd]

You might as well give up now and save your strength.

[overworker]

No!! If I can't use the strength I have now when it matters most, what good is it!?

[awakenerd]

Ha! What strength?

How do you feel? What are you thinking?

[overworker]

Mrrghhh...

[She's here for a reason-- she knows she is. And she'll beat herself up again and again, as much as it takes. She needs to do this, she needs to be stronger.

Her body hurts from being slammed into the door, but her mind is sharp. It's focused on what she wants.

That determination has only gotten stronger. What confidence she lacks in herself she can draw from just how important this is to her.]

[awakenerd]

The more determined you feel the less solid the door is starting to look.

But the more the voice negs you.

Weak. Useless. You're just a burden. Someone will have to come rescue you. You're nothing but a mascot who can't do anything.

[overworker]

[These thoughts echo her own. She knows them well. That's why she can say very confidently--]

I'm... not... listening!!

[Right now, it's not about her. There's something a lot more important she needs to do. And to do that, she's willing to push herself as far as she can go. Her determination is stronger than she is.]

[awakenerd]

With a groan of stone grinding on stone, ponderous, the door starts to open a little.

Hey! You can't just determine everything will be okay! How is that realistic? You're just a weak little girl who needs other people to do things for her!

The voice sounds a bit more frantic than before.

[overworker]

That's right. I need them-- but that's why... I need to be there to support them too!!

[With the door giving way, she's going to push even harder. Even though it seemed impossible she could do this.]

[awakenerd]

The door opens, finally, and the voice...

Is no longer your voice. It's from the guy standing in front of you.



"Heh heh. Not bad. I knew you could do it."

[overworker]

[........she's Tired already. Aidios, why did you send her this idiot?

Towa brushes herself off and pouts at her new company.]

Oooohhh... I'm sure you had a great time watching.

[awakenerd]

"You were really inspiring. Made me think even the little guys can make a difference."

[overworker]

["Crow" she will leave you here right now. Do not.

...okay fine, she won't, but she will glare about that "little" part and punch him in the arm.

Ahem.]

Why are you here anyway?

[awakenerd]

He laughs unrepentantly.

"Well, I figured I was the best guy to cheer you on. Trust me, you don't want those other stick-in-the-muds glowering at you when you could behold my handsome face."

[overworker]

Now I know I'm in serious trouble.

[She's kidding this time. Comments aside, it's not bad to see him after all that.]

...thanks. I mean it.

[But she doesn't have time for Crow's friendly banter. Now that she's gotten past that door-- what can she see on the other side?]

[awakenerd]

Oddly you are once again surrounded by... A lot of nothing. You're on a stable floor at least though, talking to Crow.



"Like I'd let anything happen to a cute girl. Seriously though, you're only in as much trouble as you want to be, here. Your will shapes the world. But that means you'll have to be careful. If you're hard on yourself you'll just get stuck again. Worst case, you could really get hurt.

Wanna know a trick?"