✝ even though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death ✝ heart game

[wwjd]

**TW: please note general potential warnings for murder, rape, suicide/mentions of suicide, gore, disturbing content/imagery, death, animal cruelty, cannibalism. This list will be updated as needed! Do not hesitate to PM me if something you aren't comfortable with ever comes up!**

[You’re suddenly in an open, expansive room. It’s huge. If you’re familiar with the setting or have the ability to compare it to something similar, it’s like the interior of a church—pews surround you, all centered around an altar, and all of the normal religious paraphernalia—Bibles, baptismal tools, sacramental wine and bread—is present as well, in its expected place for a church or set up on a table before the altar. The area is for the most part so dark, however, that you cannot clearly see around you for farther than a few feet. It feels like nighttime, but, well, you can’t look beyond the shadows to spy the windows to know for sure...

In this deep darkness, the well-lit altar is like a beacon. Blazing candles encircle it, and you can perceive at least four human-shaped figures standing upon it. Are they alive? Watch long enough, and you’ll understand that they don’t move, shift, or even breathe.

Also, you are dressed like an angel. ( 1 , 2 , 3 , or 4 ) Have fun!

You are directly in the middle of the central aisle, one that leads to the altar. What will you do?]

((game notes!

1) you are welcome to tag in at any time. this heart game will be running from december 10th to december 16th! please realize i have rl responsibilities and will not always be available to tag during the mornings/afternoons of every day, but in general i will be around.

2) my goal is to get everyone to at least one "room" outside of the church, but if that doesn't happen, it's okay! c:

3) this is my first time running a game thing/heart game, so if you notice any major problems or just want to check in with me about something, please do! i am doing my best (exercise_smiley)

4) again, i take comfort levels seriously. never hesitate to pm me if something is too squicky for you. i will change it right away!))

Comments

[ofobedience]

[he's in outfit number one because it's as far from a suit as one can get, and he looks pretty damned uncomfortable in it. nice pins, though. at least he's no longer wearing a muzzle?

he'll just approach the alter because it seems like the right thing to do, tottering slightly in those ridiculous heels]

[wwjd]

[At the end of the aisle, you bump into a prayer rail—it wasn't there before. It blocks your way and prevents you from reaching the altar.

More importantly, a crisp, airy but masculine voice rings out from behind you.]

Stop, you fool. This glorious King of Heroes demands it. I shall have some words with you.

[ofobedience]

[...which makes him stumble and almost fall, catching himself at the last moment. how anyone is supposed to walk in shoes like these is beyond him. that aside, he does a fair job of sounding coolly indifferent despite the ridiculous outfit and his inelegant display of moments before]

Come on, then. Let's hear it.

[wwjd]

[There is a blonde man sitting at the end of a pew, close to the aisle, if you turn to look at him. He's apparently naked, but some rich, red cloth is wrapped around his shoulders.]



This church is a waste of time even for lowly creatures like humans and their ilk, don't you think? ... Will you actually kneel to pray?

[ofobedience]

[well, all right then. he raises a brow, but says nothing of the stranger's state of undress. Instead, he shakes his head]

I have no use for religion.

[wwjd]

An admirable choice. Pursuits of the flesh of are much more satisfying.

[ofobedience]

I suppose so.

[but he sounds a little vague, as though the term 'satisfying' eludes him]

[wwjd]

Oh? Will you just stand there?

[ofobedience]

I doubt that to be a viable option. But what else would you propose I do?

[wwjd]

I am not going to think for you.



I do not know what pleases you. Perhaps it is sex. Perhaps not. Or setting this entire church aflame with the fire of the candles would be the only way to sate your passion. It may be that you will not rest until it is all destroyed, reduced to mere splinters.

I could not know.

[ofobedience]

[think for himself hahah is that a joke? and in truth there's nothing here that elicits any strong feelings in him. there is only indifference and mild discomfort]

I don't know what pleases me. It's irrelevant.

[wwjd]

You don't, hmm? How familiar. What a sorry man. Is this the truth? You will honestly stand by this claim, that you have no idea what brings you pleasure?

[ofobedience]

[almost - but not quite - defiantly]

Yes.

[wwjd]

Pray for yourself, then. For salvation for your hopeless soul...



[Laughing to himself, he raises his hand. The prayer rail disappears; you are now free to go.]

[ofobedience]

Oh, I think I'm long past that.

[he won't be doing that. but with an empty smile and a knifey shrug he does turn his back on the blond man. moves instead towards the alter]

[wwjd]

[You’re at the altar.

There are four stand-up cardboard displays in human form, like those oversized cutouts of celebrities for movies—if you’re familiar with those. The cardboard figures form a semicircle slicing through the center of the altar, cutting from one side to the other. They appear to be of an older man, a woman holding a baby, a man—neither too young nor too old, and a much younger man; actually, it’s Kuuha from Sakura, if you know him. Each of them wear signs that announce who they are, though you will have to step closer to really read them.

There is a message written on the platform of the altar, beneath your feet, in dried, red blood that sinks into the cracks between the polished wooden boards—having been smeared there haphazardly as if someone used their fingertip. It reads, simply,

STAB THE LIAR. ☺

And you feel the weight of a knife in your hand.]

[ofobedience]

[still struggling slightly with his heels, he moves unsteadily forward to read the signs]

[wwjd]

[At the rightmost side, the sturdy cardboard(?) cutout of an elderly man stands. Around his neck is a placard that reads “LOVING FATHER”.

Between the elderly man and adult man is a cardboard figure of a young woman with white, almost transparent hair. She is smiling, despite her thin, clearly ill frame and the eyepatch plastered to one eye. She carries a baby in her arms, a toddling thing with hair just as pure white as hers but eyes that are cool, empty, and dull gold—the baby girl seems to be her own separate figure, and it feels like you could pluck her right out of the slot between the woman’s arms if you wanted. A placard is looped around both of their necks, and reads “LOVING WIFE AND DAUGHTER”.

Between the woman holding the baby and the younger man is a tall gentleman, with dark hair. His elegantly sculpted beard makes you imagine someone who really has his act together. His blue eyes might even seem familiar, calling up the memory of someone else—oh, perhaps he’s related to someone you saw once, in the forest? His clothing is a smooth red suit. Nevertheless, he smiles warmly, looking at you as he would a beloved student with his wine goblet in hand, and it makes sense, because the placard hanging from his neck reads “LOVING TEACHER”.

Last but not least, there is a cardboard cutout of a member of Sakura, a younger man, someone that perhaps you have seen in passing—in any case, even if you don’t know him, his appearance is distinctive enough. He has spiky, white hair that trails down his shoulders and sakura-colored robes that are designed like a priest’s garb. Indeed, he wears a cross, and he’s holding his arms open wide, smiling gently, like he welcomes the word of the Lord from the ceiling of the church itself. It’s Kuuha, and the placard hanging around his neck reads, “LOVING OLDER BROTHER”.]

[ofobedience]

[wanna take a wild guess? yeah you got it, he's stabbing the brother. doesn't even hesitate-- sorry kuuha, nothing personal, but older brothers are not to be trusted]

[wwjd]

[It should have been a cardboard figure, but if it was, why is there this much blood spurting out? It's warm, red, and it coats you.

Kuuha gasps, shocking awake, his golden eyes opening wide and terrified. He simply flops to the floor, gripping his hands to his wound—bleeding all over. Yes, he has substance, now, and it is just like any real flesh body was stabbed.]

Y-You...! My brother—!

[He weeps. He cries and he sobs and he cries.

A giant pop from up above bursts and sends confetti and balloons raining all over you two, though. Victory fanfare plays.]

[ofobedience]

[oh, this is quite good. I mean don't get him wrong, his feelings are mixed, and on some level he's well aware that the person he's stabbing has nothing to do with himself or his own feelings, but there's love and hate and longing and guilt all rolling around in his head mixed in with a fast ascending visceral pleasure at the feel of the blood and the sound of the fanfare and all that confetti raining down on him.

when Kuuha hits the ground Giovanni will go down with him, just keep stabbing and stabbing until he's silenced.

looks like he's found something he likes doing, after all]

Hahahahah!

[wwjd]

[Well, that ensures Kuuha dies very quickly, in a mess of his own tears and blood.

At the height of your laughter, the altar whites out, and you wake up somewhere else.]