[Heart Game] From the ashes we can build

[castaside]

WHO: Macaque, Red Son, Wukong, Korone, Donnie, Cole, Wash
WHAT: Soul fixin'
WHEN: March 9
WHERE: Red Son's house, Blossomcrown
WARNINGS: will be marked

Comments

Re: Lobby

[othellovonryan]

[There is like]

[A minute]

[Where he doesn't breathe. Just staring at the paper because he]

[He isn't sure he agrees. He's not sure he CAN. Because he should have known better. It wasn't the FIRST time he used tech to alter a person's brain. And that had gone terribly. And then there was Leo, where a thoughtless comment had changed things between them where they weren't 'twins,' but instead he was the older brother and he hadn't ever wanted to win that argument, not really.]

[He keeps fucking up with people's brains because he doesn't think things through.]

[He finally takes a shaky breath.]

[He sets the papers down. Picks up the plush coffee cup.]

Re: Lobby

[castaside]

You are the Six-Eared Macaque, and you just met a turtle in the corner of his girlfriend's coffee shop. You find yourself quite enjoying the experience despite that it started with an elbow to your blind eye. Your own fault, really. It's interesting that his instincts were tingling too, normally no one can tell you're there at all.

He's a smart kid, this one. As you shoot the shit about random whatever, and he checks the store's system to make sure you really paid for that drink (which is clever and also you respect the impulse), you think to yourself that he's good company. Able to admit that he's still getting used to people, asks intelligent questions about your glamours.

The conversation moves fluidly from one thing to the next, and you aren't bored once. (Though you might act like it, force of habit.) The discussion about altering brain chemistry is fascinating.

You could see yourself getting used to this.

Re: Lobby

[othellovonryan]

[Oh no]

[THE PARENT-AGED FLAVOR VALIDATION]

[Of being smart and clever and a good conversation.]

[Rubbing at his eyes, sniffling.]

Are...

Are you just trying to front load us with positive feelings?

Re: Lobby

[castaside]

The shadow gives a mock-affronted "who, me?" type gesture.

Re: Lobby

[othellovonryan]

You're going to make me cry right out the gate, its unfair.

[Picking up the motherboard.]

Re: Lobby

[castaside]

You are Macaque, and you're worried.

You've just been by Donnie's place to drop off computer parts. That was supposed to be all it was. You drop the things off, get set up for some scans, be on your way. But you made him lie to his datemate and she seems so sweet and genuine... and you couldn't bear to leave it that way.

And you see how traumatized they both are, how in need of help and guidance. You're probably the worst person to give that, right? But you can't just turn your back--

Something just clicks, in the kitchen with the two of them. Korone shares about her magic and Donnie takes off his battleshell and you're agreeing to make them shadow blankets, give them a piece of your magic, the most personal thing you have to give. And it just feels right.

You only hope they don't regret this.

Re: Lobby

[othellovonryan]

[He frowns at that, staring at the motherboard.] Why would we ever regret it?

Re: Lobby

[castaside]

The shadow makes a gesture that somehow says "don't mind my crushing fears of inadequacy".

Re: Lobby

[othellovonryan]

[He taps the desk a few times.]

Put a pin in that for right now.

[Ice skate now.]

Re: Lobby

[castaside]

You are Macaque, and you're taking Choco ice skating. But not just that... probably. It might not be the perfect time, but one thing you've learned in your centuries is that there is no perfect time.

Koronai said that every part of Choco's heart wants you to be her parent-figure, and you're only too happy to comply -- but she also insisted that you had to tell Choco. Makes sense, it's the sort of thing anyone would care to be told, versus just winging it and assuming. You've never been a parent-figure, to anyone, and honestly you're not sure you'd be a very good one, but if she wants it, then it's hers. Already you can't deny her anything.

So you ask her, and she tears up and falls against you, sputtering on her words. By the way she clings, this isn't a "no". You hold her, and kiss the top of her head, and tell her that you've got her, from now on. For good.

You know that Donnie has a father, a family. (So did Choco once, but what you saw of her father in the heart is what made you decide to do this.) But you can't help wondering if maybe Donnie would want you to be the same to him.

If he did, you'd be thrilled, and honored. Other than this moment with Choco, nothing would make you happier.

Re: Lobby

[othellovonryan]

[OH NO THESE FEELINGS.]

[It kind of blindsides him, with the guilt he's been feeling. Like he doesn't deserve it. He shouldn't deserve it, not with how he messed up.]

[(Its not like having dad negates new dads. Draxum is proof of that. And Leo keeps attaching to older male figures. Really, the biggest obstacle there is making sure Macaque doesn't fall for Splinter's rizz, Donnie is not sure he could take that.)]

[He]

[He]

[He]

[Grabs the bloodstained cloth.]

Re: Lobby

[castaside]

You are Macaque, and you're standing in a waiting room with a bleeding arm, holding a shadow blanket.

Donnie exited stage left to wash his hands -- understandable, you'd love to do the same if your arm wasn't basically hamburger right now. You wait patiently, breathing deeply and willing yourself not to lose it. He needs you more than you need to lose your mind.

When Donnie gets back, he only gives you a look in response to your insistence that your arm is fine. At least he lets you put the blanket on him before his oddly ingenious robot hands start fiddling with your arm.

You tell him that was hard, but you're proud of him. And then come the tears you expected, and there's a twisting inside your chest. He needs it, he does, but all the same it hurts.

His robot hands tug you into the chair, and you're smart enough not to touch. You just sit, and wait, and feel frantically helpless. Until finally those mental hands tug your arm around him, and eventually he chirps for you to squeeze him tighter, and that's how you learn that you can do this without words.

You chirp back: protection, affection, commitment.

You're not going anywhere, not as long as they need you.

Re: Lobby

[othellovonryan]

[YOU KNOW WHAT]

[He goes under the desk]

[And just pulls into his shell with a fuckton of chirps because his brain is going AAAAAAAAAA and there are no blankets to burrow in, so he's just]

[Gonna do this for a Fucking Minute.]

CRASHING YOUR PARTY

[noodleboi]

MK had excitedly moved to chat with Donnie. He wanted to speak with him about an idea he had. Then he saw the turtle had withdrawn into his shell and was chirping like crazy. He blinked and watched. Oh that didn't look good.

He found himself chirping in concern just once. Just to alert Donnie he was here.

Re: CRASHING YOUR PARTY

[othellovonryan]

[It is a lot of AAAAAAAAA chirps. Not necessarily BAD, just]

[There is some over stimulation of emotions.]

[Some crying in the shell.]

[There is a pause at the chirp.]

[A chirp in response. Patience.]

[He'll be a minute to wind down.]

Re: CRASHING YOUR PARTY

[noodleboi]

Mk blinked as he stared. Okay. Patience. He could do that? Yes? Uh...right. No staff. Can't fidget without it. Can't fidget with the laser sword. That's not...oh! The keychain. He took it out and started to spin it on one finger. That worked.

Spin. Spin. Spin. Wait. Spin.

Re: CRASHING YOUR PARTY

[othellovonryan]

[It takes a few minutes, but he does manage to finally slowly pop out of his shell. Wiping at his eyes.]

....

[He waves a hand.]

Re: CRASHING YOUR PARTY

[noodleboi]

Mk came out of his focus on the keychain and smiled a little.

"Hey," He waved back. "Can I ask you a smarty smart guy question?"

Re: CRASHING YOUR PARTY

[othellovonryan]

What. [His voice catches.]

[He holds up a hand.]

[A deep breath. Let's it out.]

What is it? [The words are slow, but they do come out.]

Re: Lobby

[castaside]

From out in the trees, a few chirps of concern and reassurance and comfort.

Re: Lobby

[othellovonryan]

[At least his chirps aren't exactly distressed. More overstimulated. A lot of mental screaming.]

[The chirps do help, his chirps getting some words like patience and will be okay]

Re: Lobby

[castaside]

The monkeys quiet down and will leave him to his coping mechanisms.

Re: Lobby

[othellovonryan]

[Okay. Okay. OKAY.]

[Just]

[CHIRP CHIRP CHIRP]

[Chirp Chirp Chirp]

[chirp chirp chirp]

[Then slowly pulls out from his shell.]

[Rubbing at his eyes.]

[Going to just]

[Open the drawer and pull things out. Keep his hands busy for a few moments.]

[Oh]

[Shadow blanket]

[He'll just pull that around himself as he calms down.]

Re: Lobby

[castaside]

The shadow blanket feels even more like pleasantly warm water than usual here.

Re: Lobby

[othellovonryan]

[Yes, good. This is helping.]

[Looking at the water bottle.]