[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]

[IF YOU GO SLOWLY. . . YOU CAN MAKE IT!!]

[feytality]

[not so good with the slow part]

[soulping]

[if she moves too fast, then, her hand will slip on one of the handholds, causing her to lose her grip and tumble allll the way back down onto the padded mats]

[feytality]

[DOWN SHE GOES]

AAAAH!

[soulping]

[the pads at the bottom cushion her landing so it doesn't hurt at all!]

[the figure tsks, but the wall is still there to climb, should she wish to give it another shot]

[feytality]

[what about her pride and dignity though]

[climbing agaaaaaiiin]

[soulping]

[YOU CAN DO IT MAYA]

[the figure doesn't drop any slime on her this time, and if she chooses to climb in an area that isn't covered in the slick, slippery substance, she SHOULD be able to make it to the top]

[feytality]

[she's 2determined can't b tamed etc GONNA MAKE ITTTT]

[soulping]

[AND EVENTUALLY]

[SHE REACHES THE TOP]

[victory fanfare plays, and the dark figure slips through the door. Kaito's voice can be heard on the PA system again]

"Congratulations! You've cleared obstacle two!"

[feytality]

How many obstacles are there, exactly?

[soulping]

[the only way to find out is to move forward! and presuming she does]

[You enter the third room. As predicted, the door shuts and locks itself behind you. The room is comprised of a tile floor and white walls, and for now it seems. . . empty]

"Final obstacle: solve the jigsaw puzzle!"

[What jigsaw puzzle-- ooooooh. If you look down, you might notice that each tile has a strange, disjointed pattern painted on top of it. Further inspection reveals that you can pick up and remove the tiles super easily. Nifty!]

[. . .]

[Oh dang that's one huge jigsaw puzzle]

[The dark figure leans against the door on the opposite end of the room. It isn't holding anything other than the clocktower hands this time, luckily for you. Better get to puzzle solving!]

[feytality]

[

[soulping]

[. . .]

[The puzzle has been solved. A bright green clover, no longer disjointed but finally whole again, stretches across the floor. The door clicks open, and the figure quietly slips through it. Do you follow?]

[feytality]

[YEP.]

[soulping]

[You enter what looks like a backroom gaming area! There's a television set up in the center of the back wall, and it has a entire game system hooked up to it with an impressive collection of games. Two bean bag chairs are placed in front of the tv in case you feel like indulging. In addition to that, there's a table set up in the center of the room with cards and various papers strewn across it. Next to the table stands the figure, who is still holding the clocktower hands. Only it isn't a dark figure anymore]

[It's a man with a mustache, smiling warmly at you from ear to ear]

That was quite the impressive showing, if I do say so myself. You must forgive Kaito-kun. He has a very. . . odd sense of humor.

[The whole area seems to fill you with a sense of mischief. You get the feeling someone from very far away is laughing at you]

[Gotcha]

[feytality]

So that was Kaito all along? [HUFF]

Where are the fish?!

[SHE'LL SHOW YOU MISCHIEVOUS]

[soulping]

[omg Maya. the man-- Kuroba Toichi-- laughs]

Ah, ah! If that's what you're looking for, then you're in the wrong area entirely.

[feytality]

...Actually, lemme find him first. I'll take care of the rest.

[soulping]

Oh, he's around. Not in this room, unfortunately. . . but I'm certain you'll find him eventually.

[feytality]

Then tell me what you know!

[PUFF PUFF GETS UP ON TIPTOES]

Who are you supposed to be, anyway?

[soulping]

I know what this room represents. I am afraid that is all, however.

[he smiles. it's a warm, friendly smile]

I am Kuroba Toichi, Kaito-kun's father.

[feytality]

His.... dad?

Did you raise him? Do you have embarrassing baby stories?

[soulping]

[omg]

I do! Would you like to hear one?

[feytality]

...Yeah!

[PRIORITIES]

[soulping]

Well. . .

Once, when he was a child, he stuck a bouquet of roses in his hair and walked around the hose calling himself the flower master all day.

[there's an amused twinkle in his eye]