For the WIP game (yes the one from like 28 days ago...listen I'm sorry, I kept forgetting to send an ask earlier 😭), I'd love to hear about "Trust shatters once you play God"! It feels so rare to come across others who've played The Arcana, so even though Asra's never been my favorite, I just GOTTA know more.
No worries! I'm happy to also find someone who knows of/played The Arcana!
"Trust shatters once you play God" started as a one-shot. It was a rewrite of this one scene through Asra's route when the MC finds out why they have no memories of their life. When I got to this scene, I had to take some time off playing. I felt so many contradictory emotions. It had to marinate.
After some time, I arrived at the conclusion that, while it's great that the MC got a second chance at life because of him, who was he to decide that?
Essentially, it's my take on this scene where the MC is furious at Astra for bringing them back.
It's kind of my headcanon that the MC (I called them Aziraphael) is connected to the temple of an obscure deity that represents the cycle of life. And learning that their existence goes against everything they believed in breaks them. All because of Asra's selfish decisions.
This is the fragment (I personally think) that turned out the best. Everything else needs some fine tuning. :
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"How could you? How could you when you knew what balance mean to me! The Goddes I serve, the one who guides souls to their places of rest, the one who dances with life and dines with death, the one who ensures the cycle of being stays unbroken yet never chains it- has turned her back towards me. She swallowed the light from her lantern and walked away, leaving me in the dark so my eyes would never find the right path! I am now forced to forever remain in the state of stagnation, to be embraced by the listless limbs of those who had forsaken her in their pursuit of greatness!"
Their voice finally gave out. A wet hiccup escaped the pursed lips, now deprived of their usual plumpness. They couldn't hold their tears in any longer.
Now, it all makes sense. The stares of disbelief and dread from the townsfolk. Slight shivers of fear or anxiety whenever their hand accidentally brushed the skin of previously friendly vendors while buying their goods. The strange feeling of longing inside their heart. The sudden pain they felt whenever a thought of paying a tribute to the Goddesses and Gods watching over them.
Their knees gave out, and before they could even comprehend what was going on, they were already on the floor. With shaking hands as their only shield from the hard wooden flooring.
"Aziraphael!" Asra, hold out his hand and practically threw himself forward to try and catch his friend.
The shout startled him, to the point that he pushed his own weight away from crying Aziraphael, loosing his footing in a process.
Now, both of them were on the ground. Both distraught but by a hell of entirely different making.
Aziraphael continued with a breaking voice. No louder than a whisper. They took a hollow breath, fighting with their lamenting soul.
"Because of you.. I will never see my family. I will never be reborn. I will ne-never feel my goddess spirit again."
Astra's entire body was shaking. He thought.. he thought his love was enough, even if not reciprocated. He thought he was doing good. He wasn't going to accept his beloved friend's departing. He thought.. he thought that after some time, they might forgive him.
He grabbed his head. His breathing became fast, so fast that if he were a normal human, he might suffocate.
No.. it's not happening. This can't be happening! He loves them. Why are they like this? Isn't living a desire of all?
He most certainly desired Aziraphael to live! Then why..?
He could feel it. He could feel those eyes that once gazed at him with such warmth..
For the first time since their talk, they made eye contact.
There was no longer warmth, no more love, no more affection.
He couldn't dare to reach his hand, but the desperation was pushing him.
He started crawling towards his companion. Tears rolling down his eyes like waterfalls.
"Please, no... Please don't say this-"
"I do not want to see your face ever again."
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And basically, that's that! Yippee!
I don't know if I ever finish it or post it once I do, but it was a fun way to express my emotions. :))