6/1/26 - Video Footage, ████████ St.
Avery - @averyposting
Derek - @derhutchins333
Heart - @letshaveahearttoheart
Trigger warnings: implied stalking
The lights in the café were dim and warm, reflecting off the darkened wood that made up a majority of the furniture and flooring. Some natural light streamed in from the windows facing the street, but otherwise the café was practically in its own little world.
Some plants sat to one wall, a vine creeping up a nearby column, but it was neatly trimmed to not disturb any that sat close. A quiet chatter filled the air, accompanied by the occasional dings of cutlery against plates and cups.
A small bell rang when Avery and Derek walked in, although no one looked up to really take a look at the new arrivals.
At the farthermost table from the entrance, a little blob of bright pink caught the duo’s eyes. On closer inspection, they find a girl seated at the table alone, eyes focused entirely on the glass she’s holding in her hand, swirling the rosy liquid inside.
“A little blob of pink” was a surprisingly accurate description even now that they’re standing up close. Her hair, her drink, every single element of her outfit — even her skin seemed to give off a rosy pink tone. Safe to say, they found their meeting point.
“Ah, you’re- um, you’re here. I didn’t- I didn’t actually expect you to come s-so soon…”
Yep. That’s definitely her.
“T-Take a seat. It’s… a bit of a long talk.”
Taking a small sip of the liquid in her glass, she waves the duo over and at the seats opposite of hers.
When Avery saw the pink woman, it nearly took him off guard just how.. Bright she. They looked at Derek for a moment before proceeding further.
"Hey! So you must be the uh.. The heart person, yeah?"
Once they sat down they had their hands folded on the table.
"Heh, you weren’t kidding when you said you’re easy to recognise.."
“That’s- that’s why I was confident in not giving any directions, yes.”
The girl takes a shaky breath, visibly calming down just a little, before continuing.
“And… just Heart. That’s- that’s my name. Legally, I mean.”
She slides the drinks menu over to the duo without a word, taking another sip of the roseate drink.
“It’s… I guess it’s kind of related to why we’re even here, actually.”
Derek glances at the menu before back up at Heart, not looking directly at the pure explosion of pink that is her.
"So, uh… Heart. Why are we here? I mean, you… you clearly know of me, and you mentioned someone called 'Them' in your messages, as well as seeming in a rush - I just…" He breathes, rubbing his eyes. "What is going on?"
She takes another sip from the glass, before putting it down with a shaky sigh as the glass clinks against the table.
Taking a moment to compose her thoughts, she turns to look at the other guy.
"Avery, you've… seen one of- one of the newer anons already, right? The… the Spade one. Talks fancy, writes in cursive."
"Oh! Yeah the on that’s- Who’s writing is a bit hard to read, yeah. What about them?"
"…We. Know each other, to put it that way. I'll… I'll explain in a second. Do you remember the…"
The vowel trails off as the girl reaches into a small pocket of her corset and pulls out her phone.
"…one moment. Not… Not great at counting in my head."
After a minute or two of awkward silence, the girl places her phone, rosy pink phone case covering most of it, in the middle of the table, close enough for the two to see.
"…do you remember this ask? The- The second one They sent."
They glance over at Derek, almost concerned, before giving her a nod.
"That- the spade anon. They don't seem… dangerous. Talks a bit fancy and old, but… not bad." Derek looks at the phone, reading the ask. Most of them he skimmed over unless it seemed to really affect Avery.
She stiffles in her seat, seemingly preparing herself for whatever she was about to say next. The next 30 seconds or so are taken by attempts to take another sip alone. Once that's done, she sighs again and slowly raises her hands in surrender.
"…Avery, take off your phone case."
The girl pulled back ever-so-slightly, putting more distance between them. It's as if she was trying to remove even a shadow of a possibility of her being responsible for this. The other phone still laid there, its screen glowing with the very same red words Avery read several days ago.
Avery looks at Derek once more, as if they’re hesitant. That’s not something they’d usually be put off by, but the girl’s body language was somewhat concerning.
They started taking off their Green phone case that was covered in various stickers.
The playing card slides right out, landing softly at the edge of the table facing up. It was hard to deny the quality of the print - the ebony-coloured background looked immaculate on the plastic card, while the silvery tones of the royalty gave the print a soft ivory gleam. The spades and the K's in the corners completed the image, attracting most of the viewer's attention due to their subtle detailing.
The girl doesn't speak up just yet, letting the duo talk first. Her hands don't drop even for a second either, despite her noticing some subtle looks of confusion and even concern in her direction from the other tables.
"…you keep a playing card in your phone case…?"
Avery turns to Derek while shoving their phone back into the pocket, seemingly just as confused as him if not more.
"..Dude I don’t even have those in my house."
"Then who do you think placed it?"
The girl finally speaks up again, waving her raised right hand before slowly reaching back for her phone.
"It wasn't… wasn't either of you, I can tell you that much."
As she picks up her phone, closing Tumblr with a quick swipe, her thoughts trail off, seemingly unintentionally.
"…doubt the recent incidents made it that difficult for Them."
"Who is this 'Them' you keep talking about, Heart? I'm - I'm grateful you want to explain… something, but it's just… beating around the bush isn't a good way to do it. You said it yourself, there isn't much time." Derek puts his hands on the table, the small impact hoping to get her attention. He definitely looks frustrated, even if it's layered by confusion and concern.
"The playing card. Was it spade anon? And please just be clear with us. I'm so… sick of unclear answers."
Avery puts their hands onto the table, anxiously tapping on it.
"Being vague isn’t really doing any good. Only making this more tense."
"…yes. Spade put it. Around… the night before that ask."
The girl closes her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose as she falls back onto the backrest.
"I don't… I don't remember when exactly. Somewhere in that time. I'm sorry."
Just as suddenly as Heart fell back, she snapped forward again, her arm now moving back to the glass.
"Right, I. Didn't mention it yet. I can see some of- some of Their memories, but it's- it's inconsistent. It's rare, and even those that I can see are- are blurry and unclear."
"Jesus fuck can something paranormal not happen at least for a day in this fuckass town.."
"Okayyy and.. What does this mean for us?"
She swirls the glass in her hand once more, eyes briefly focused on the liquid inside.
"…They're not. Here. That much I know. But I don't know what They're… what They're going to do. They were always odd. But I really doubt They're up to anything good."
Avery simply sighs once more, putting his hands on his face. They were just so.. tired of this. All of the stuff that just keeps happening, everyone trying to go out for them abd Derek.
They just want to have some peaceful time with their lover.
Their hands move to their hair strands, pulling on them a tiny bit.
Derek looks at Avery, taking their hands away from their hair and into his own. He squeezes lightly.
"If we removed the card, would that… do anything? Alert Them in some way, stop Them from watching, maybe stop whatever They're going to do, or is this just some… pardon the pun, just some calling card with no other properties."
"Ah, no. The card was just… a warning. A calling card, as you put it."
She takes another sip (or does she? It sure doesn't look like there's any less drink than when they sat down), fidgeting with her phone in her hands.
"It's. Kind of our thing, if the names didn't tell you that much."
Avery’s hand relaxed as Derek took it into his own, just lightly squeezing back against his too now.
"..'Your thing'? So are you guys like in kahoots orrr.."
Derek suddenly looks to the ceiling, sighing as if a weight just settled on his shoulders. He rubs his eyes, staring at Heart through his hands.
"You're Heart. They're Spade. The cards… is there also a Diamond and Club around somewhere? You're all some… group that uses playing cards as a symbol?"
"I think I uh.. I did see the diamond anon on one of the blogs, yeah."
Breathe. Strange things happen in this town. Derek has a god in his head. It is not that much for them to understand.
"We're… Aspects. Four gods, one per suit. We're their- We're their champions of sorts."
She picks up the glass one more time, taking a pretty large swing this time, and putting it down with it just as full as it was before.
"We don't. Get along well. We don't get a choice of not interacting though, not… with this shit."
"That's the second- That's the second reason I'm here, actually. You're searching for a way to get the King out of your head, right? It's… not really the same thing, but- whatever one of us finds could work for the other. I don't… I don't want to be this."
"Always more gods to worry about." Derek mumbles, picking at a old sticker on the table. He visibly straightens when Heart mentions the King. "I… we are, yes. Searching for a way to get the King out."
"…how do you become this? At least with the King, I knew what would happen. Well, most of it." He gestures broadly to Heart's entirety, eyes mostly focused on the hearts all around her.
"Are gods just like.. Naturally attracted to us or what."
With a flick of her hand, 10 cards manifest in her hands like a magic trick. 2 through 10 of Hearts, and a Jack of Clubs all sorted nearly in ascending order.
"All Aspects have their 'deck', so to speak. Divine cards we always have on us, even if we lose them. 9 cards for making Acolytes, and one for every Aspect that doesn't exist right now. We…"
"We… have to put the cards inside the person's heart. The gods will heal their wounds and bring them back as an Aspect or an Acolyte."
Avery frankly looks a bit confused.
The cards vanish as the girl's hands rush to cover her face, stiffling a hiss.
"…I was… I don't… remember, I-"
Painfully slowly, the girl moves her hands away once more, both of them now gripping the glass before her.
"…we don't. Have any memories before we became this. Well, almost any. The ones we're allowed to keep don't- they don't help. We're not… we're not allowed to remember our name. Or our relatives. Or how it was that we… became this. I only know that the others already- already existed by the time I manifested."
"Ah. That sounds… hard. I'm sorry that happened to you. It… I can't even imagine not being able to recall who you are." Derek rubs his neck, a familiar shiver sneaking up his spine.
"The cards. Uh. You had ten. So you don't have Acolytes, nor is there a Clubs."
He holds up two fingers, trying to get his thoughts in order.
"Two questions. Um, do either Spade or Diamond have Acolytes? And… how does one of you… stop existing?"
"Diamond has one. They're- She's… an odd one out. It said- It said that she sought it out to become an Acolyte. Willingly. Happens maybe… once every 50 years, at best?"
She looks up at the ceiling, visibly crunching the numbers in her head.
"…Something like that, yeah."
"Spade… Spade has- Spade has six."
"Every 50 years…? Six? That's… how long have…" Derek clenches his jaw, stopping his train of thought. He stares expectantly at Heart, hoping she answers his second question.
"As for your second question… well, we're mortal. Our identities aren't, but…"
She sighs once more, though this time it's moreso for gathering her thoughts.
"Have you seen Doctor Who? It's… kind of the same principle. We're still- We're still the same four each manifestation, but- but we use different people and have different personalities. I can… I can see the memories of the previous Heart, even though- even though she existed long before me."
She takes another heavy swing, holding the glass to swirl it once again.
"The last Club died… died around two weeks ago. And I think- I think Spade wants Avery to be the new Club."
"I… haven't, no, but I do know a bit. Regeneration to change actors or something. But… okay. Alright. That makes sense. Or about as much sense as something like this can."
Derek's arm moved over Avery as Heart's final sentence sunk in, a minuscule protection against the concept.
"Spade wants Avery to be what?"
This whole time Avery was just sort of listening in on the conversation, trying to fully understand. They were struggling to follow, but they’ve been getting the general idea so far.
Once that last sentence came up, Avery nearly jumped. His nails nearly sunk into the wooden table that their hands were placed on.
They almost screamed, hastily going silent once they quickly realized that they were still in public. They took a few seconds staring at Heart, processing.
"Why?! Why- Why me??? I already have the King on my ass! I-.. Why me?"
While there was fear in his voice, part of him sounded almost.. Frustrated.
"I… I don't know. I know- I know our gods are picky with their Aspect vessels, but… the Chalice already showed me several people they'd be fine with. I don't know what- I don't know what's going on in Their head."
She pinches the bridge of her nose again, struggling to formulate her thoughts.
"They're- They've always been a weird one. Diamond is odd and eccentric, but I can- but I can at least try to comprehend its motivations. I never- I can never understand Spade or Their actions though. It's-"
She buries her head in her hands, mumbling something incomprehensible for a second, before going completely silent.
Avery stares at her with what can only be described as concern, his hands slowly relaxing.
"Heart I’m-.. I’m sorry but- no. I’m not becoming a vessel."
She sighs, before raising her head again.
"I know. I- I'm warning you to stop it from happening. Derek is- Derek is probably my only hope to break away from this, so… I have to return the favour, right?"
She chuckles, though there's not even an inkling of bite in it.
"I… found an apartment not far from here. I'll- I'll give you my number. Call me if you need my help, okay?"
She throws her right hand to the side, a small pink heart appearing in her grasp.
"I'm… I may not be that strong, but- but the Chalice does give me some powers."
"You, uh… well, thank you for wanting to help, first of all. You'd be surprised how many entities kinda want us dead or otherwise." His joke falls flat, although it seems clear even Derek didn’t think it was funny. He coughs.
"You've… mentioned the Chalice twice now. Is… that the name of your… 'benefactor', for the lack of a better term, or someone else?"
"Yeah. That's- That's the deity of Hearts. The Roseate Chalice."
She swirls the glass once more, already holding it with her free hand.
"Each Aspect has one. They- They give us powers, and they see through our eyes in return. That's also why I'm… why I look like this."
She gestures at her attire as the heart in her hand disappears.
"I get… really strong headaches if I try to wear anything other than pink. The Chalice adores the colour. Not that- Not that I don't like looking like this, but I'd appreciate at least- at least some variety."
"Well that’s just an asshole move on Chalice’s part.."
"Ah… I suppose it makes sense. You all align with a card symbol but I doubt the cards predate all of…" Derek gestures broadly to her. "…this."
"What's your number? I can put it in my phone now."
Avery pulls out his phone so that he cap put her number in as well.
"████████████. Just… call me when we're out of here and I'll add you. I doubt we have much longer until They find us."
Finally, in a single large swing, she finishes her drink and sets down the empty cup.
"It's- It's been a pleasure."
