[Heart Game - Ed, Maya, Roxy]

[carptricks]

[It's dark. You're trying to move forward, but it feels like your limbs are weighed down by chains and shackles. Still, you push. You push and you pull and those chains are pulled taut and strained until suddenly--]

[Something snaps]

[You tumble forward, wind blowing past your face, until you lose awareness of anything around you. . .]

((another run ran concurrent to this one here))

Comments

[soulping]

[ALL THE ATTENTION]

[acceptance slowly starts to turn to fondness]

[I know that, but--]

[fuhrinkaed]

It's okay.

I know it's scary--but Splashy Jr. is a friend. He won't ever hurt you.

[soulping]

[the fond feelings suddenly turn very tsundere :T]

[I-it's not like I like something that used to be a fish or anything. . .!]

[Splashy Jr seems to remain blissfully unaware of this evolution and is just reveling in the attention tbh]

[fuhrinkaed]

[...well... okay that's normal for Kaito.]

...Okay, Splashy Jr. I'm going to go look for a shady guy who stole some clock hands from Kaito.

If you see anyone like that, stop 'em. Okay?

[soulping]

[Gyaradoses kind of have like one default expression, but Splashy Jr lets out a low growl and tries to look determined anyway. YOU GOT IT, BRO]

[fuhrinkaed]

Attaboy. Thanks.

[Alright then. TIME TO CHECK THE CASINO.]

[soulping]

[To get there you have to go back through the city hub, but from there, it's a straight shot to your destination]

[fuhrinkaed]

[Now that we're back, let's head ONTO THE BOAT.]

[soulping]

[YOU STEP ONTO THE BOAT--]

[well. no]

[you try to step on the boat, but as soon as your feet touch the ramp leading to the deck, Chikage descends into your path from above to stop you]

Nosy. . .!

[fuhrinkaed]

It's his team feelings, isn't it?

I need to get to the clock tower to keep a promise, and the best way is through a path of something he loves.

Since that's his team... I figured this would be the best way forward without seeing things he might not want to see. Right?

[soulping]

Team feelings? Oh, goodness, no!

[she laughs a little and doesn't move]

Those are around here, of course, but they are not on this ship. Perhaps you should look around a bit more?

[fuhrinkaed]

They're not..?

Then what is on this ship?

[soulping]

[Chikage lifts a finger to her lips and winks]

Se~cret.

[though it should be noted that the crates the mysterious figures are loading onto the ship are spread out across the docks, too. so he could look at them, if he wanted!]

[fuhrinkaed]

[He notes this as well... but first gotta try one more thing.]

You're part of Kaito. You have to know that the easiest way to get me to not nose in on something I don't know about is to tell me what it is.

Are you sure you want to go through things this way?

[soulping]

[she's still smiling, but it softens]

Sometimes. . . it takes a little bit of prying to see the parts of Kaito-kun that he's afraid to show people, mmmm?

He has gotten somewhat better at opening up, but if you ask me, a little push is exactly what he needs at times. ♥

[fuhrinkaed]

[Is kaito's (i guess cute??) mom trying to tell me to push her around in his heart??]

[.........UNSURE???]

[Well uh. I guess. Trying to literally. Push her so that he can get onto the boat???]

[soulping]

[she's a very cute mom, okok!]

[. . .]

[pushing her doesn't do much, though. it's like she's a rock that won't budge. a rock that pushes back]

[CAREFUL NOT TO FALL ON YOUR BUM, ED]

. . . do you always take things so literally?

[fuhrinkaed]

Well...

Yes?

I could try like. Using water. I'm a mage and we're on the ocean, y'know.

[soulping]

[FOLDS HER ARMS]

Think about whose heart you're in! Since when does Kaito-kun ever take the most direct route to things?

[fuhrinkaed]

...So I have to think like a thief, and not a mage.

...

[LETS GO LOOK AT THOSE BOXES NOW.]

[soulping]

[Chikage smiles again as you walkw away]

Hmmm, hmmmm! That might be a start.

[The crate you find is rather large and made out of some lightly colored wood. The lid is pretty secured on the top; you might need some help if you wanted to pry it open. One the side of the crate, the following words are printed in big, black and blocky letters: IMPORTANT BUT NOT FRAGILE]

[fuhrinkaed]

[Help is for people who arent epic level wizards.]

[Epic level wizards make ice crowbars en masse and pry the top open that way.]

[soulping]

[It works pretty well to pry the lid off the top of the crate. Inside, you'll find. . . a bunch of winter clothing? Jackets, coats, hats, scarves, gloves, you name it. And nestled on top of that bundle of clothing in this particularly rate. . . is a raptor egg]

[fuhrinkaed]

[...raptors imprint when they hatch right? Right. Oky.]

[THIS IS A SNEAKING MISSION, AND THAT IS A BOX.]

[Let's hide in there and reseal the lid.]

[soulping]

[You slip into the box, and as soon as you come into contact with the winter clothing, you feel a rush of hardheaded, stubborn determination rush through you]

[Just try'n knock me down and see what happens!]

[do you touch the raptor egg or do you leave it where it is]