castaside | [Heart Game] From the ashes we can build

Red Son sighs, nuzzling into his neck, feeling the rumbling against him. Letting himself breathe and relax into MK. "....the other one was the high from his surgery?" He asked against his skin.

MK titled his head to give Red Son all the access to his neck he wanted. "Yeah. It was him after the talked with Wukong the first time. Just talking. He felt good. No more love. He could be normal. Like it was before...everything happened. ...Too bad it didn't last. He felt really happy."

"Freedom from complicated emotions can do that," he said. "It was likely always to blow up one way or another. Life is never so easy." He sighs, petting MK's hair. "Pain is much a part of us as the happy things."

"We probably shouldn't use that. Wouldn't want him to think of trying again."

"Yeah. I don't think it goes here either. Kitchen now?" He asked and motioned with his head in that direction.

Red Son nodded, one more squeeze before he pulls away. "Kitchen," he agreed and headed for it.

MK followed. Kitchen time!

In the kitchen, there is a stick with the end smoldering and glowing as if it's on fire. Just orange fire, thankfully. It is cool to the touch and despite the appearance, it's not actually burning.

On the turned-off, cool stove is a pan. There is something glittering inside it.

"Alright. Uh, do you want the stick or the pan? You choose. I'll take what's left."

"I'll take stick," he said. Just in case there is burning involved.

So he'll pick up the stick.

When you pick up the stick, you will notice that the embers remain constant despite the movement of air through them.

You get a feeling of determination. Not so much yourself, but for others. A determination to set things right no matter what it takes. No matter what it costs you, or what you have to do. You must do what's right for them even if it makes you want to curl up in the corner and sob.

Ah.

He looks at this stick with a frown. "I'm not sure if this is the healthiest mindset..."

Perhaps not, it is just a fraction of a feeling, though. It's not a complete memory. Chances are high that it's missing context.

This is true. Still, twisting yourself up to make things right for others too much seems ill advised.

At least to villain boy here.

MK nodded and moved to the pan. He touched it first then checked what was glittering inside it.

You find a dagger with a decorative golden hilt and sheath. There is a golden monkey wrapped around the hilt like it’s a tree branch with its tail curling around it. It is light and easy to wield, perfect for your hand. The blade is sharp and rings out as you unsheath it, and it's shiny enough to see your reflection in it.

You get the feeling that this is very significant. You want to hang onto it.

Notably, if Red Son or anyone else tries to touch it, their hand will pass right through. This seems to be meant only for you.

"Whoa..." MK said softly. He pulled the dagger out and looked at the blade. It was so sharp and shiny. He saw his own reflection in the blade. He nodded to the feeling. He gently sheathed it again. He pulled the shadow scarf out of his pocket. He tied the dagger to his side with the scarf.

"You're staying with me. Okay. Not sure what this is for but it's super important. I feel it."

"It is? Is it just emotions?" Red Son asked.

"That's all I'm feeling from it. Just that it's important. And for me. What about yours?"

"Twisting yourself up and crying in a corner if that's what it takes to make things right," he said, looking at the stick.

"...the anchor is good. Its important. But the void is...repairing a wall. Making it part of the house. A lot of these memories are about choices," he said. "I think it would be better to use the Samadhi Fire, or choosing to help Wukong. Where he in control of his choices, as questionable as they were."

"Choices," MK said as he thought back to his memories. The memories he had in his bag.

"I mean, I got a couple about choices. His choice to help me with making the game. Or his choice kinda being taken by the Lady Bone Demon. The game controller might work. So that one is good too. Okay. It's his home too. Macaque cares about Cole. This is his home. He found me with the game on Flower Fruit Mountain. That was his home too. I think it's the game controller. And people have games in their bedrooms. I do," MK was trying to think out loud mostly.

They had good choices. But which was the right one?

"Being taken by the Lady Bone Demon isn't really a choice as being very much trapped with no good option. Choosing to help you may also work. Can you tell me more about that memory?" Red Son asked.

"The coins were him doubting if he really should help Wukong again. He expected to be rejected again, but he went anything. The Samadhi Fire was about him choosing to take back his control. Even if it hurt, it was worth having his freedom."

"The controller he was being hunted by Peng. So he was hiding but knew I was in trouble. So he ended up grabbing programming books to teach me something I needed to know. And he said it would be easy for me to just know it, for once. He learned to program just to make it for me."

"So all choices, but different flavors. The choice to risk his life and learn skills for someone he cares about. The choice to risk his life for his own freedom. And the choice to face rejection again, but to help two people he cares about," he said.

"But which belongs in the bedroom? He chose to be here. It became his home. Hmmm. There's gotta be another clue, right? Everything here is so quiet. Why is it so quiet?"

"Because its peaceful," Red Son said.

There is a pause.

"There is....also the peacock masque. It...it was him thinking it was nice to connect with me. That he decided to keep doing so could be a choice," he said quietly. "It was...quiet. Peaceful."

[Heart Game] From the ashes we can build

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Re: Level S - East Door

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Re: Level S - East Door

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