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

[ She wants, so badly, to ask.

To talk to him like she's wanted to for what feels like months —

… It's not the time for it, though. Is it? Later. Later, when they're out and safe, when they know Macaque is going to be okay and they can all breathe ... then they can talk. They will talk. ]

- Donnie? I love you too.

I just...

Wanted to remind you.

That you're loved.

A great deal.

What brought—? [ She doesn't finish the question.

The way he'd frozen.

Immediately hidden the item and told her not to touch it, and the way he'd all but thrown himself at the vases rather than talk to her about what he'd seen ... ]

... Oh. [ She squeezes the robot hand she's holding, lifting it to press it against her cheek. ]

You remind me every single day, Dokkun. [ Softly chirps, love, mate, family, belonging, promise. ]

You deserve the reminders.

He loves you too.

A lot of people do. [The robot hand gently strokes her cheek. Chirps. Love. Skymate.]

[ A chirp back of her name for him. After a moment, she says, softly, ]

I'm pretty lucky. [ She nuzzles the metal, brushing a kiss against it. ] To be surrounded by such an incredible family.

[He nods, rubbing at his face.] We're lucky to have you.

We should....

We should keep going.

Hey … Donnie? Before we get back out there …

[ … ]

I just want to say —

You too. You're so loved, and cherished, and even when there's parts of you that doubt and worry and hurt ... we'll stand by you.

Now we can go.

[He takes a shuddering breath.]

[Then nods.] Noted. [Its not a dismissal. Its just]

[The feelings. They are hard.]

[But it IS noted.

Do you....want to touch the feather?

[ She isn't stung by it. The feelings are HARD and Donnie is trying to shoulder ... so much. Too much. She gives a little chirp of love and here for you. ]

Mm. I'll give it a try.

[ Okay. OKAY. Heading out of the pillowfort to touch the feather. ]

Before you can crawl out of the pillowfort, another shard zips in from the ceiling and rips a void into the area of the stage just past the items.

It seems to have bounced off the pillowfort rather than hit you directly. On the upside, the pillowfort is also protection! Downside, you didn't have the chance to catch the shard or get a peek at it.

[Donnie jumps at the sound, a hand going to Korone's shoulder to still her.]

....go out with a shield active.

[ TH...THANKS, PILLOWFORT. ]

[ Lets out a breath, nods, and casts a shield. THEN it's time to go investigate that feather. ]

[He lets her go and looking out for any other signs of danger.]

No other shards are forthcoming. Yet(?). So you are able to get to the feather without further issue.

You are Macaque, and you are thinking.

You learned a bit about MK, the Monkie Kid, back when you were trying to kill Wukong and, incidentally, MK -- sorry kid, it wasn't personal. Just like it won't be personal this time.

There's a lot that you have to balance right now. The Lady Bone Demon's magic is inside you, she'll know right away if you try to run again. So that's out. But you can't actually turn MK over to her as requested. No, it's unthinkable. Bad strategy.

MK lost is powers, and you're going to help him get them back, just as he stole them back from you before. That's the only way forward. And you're going to have to do it while it looks like you're trying to kill his friends and capture him.

You sigh. Nothing's ever easy, is it?

But fine, this is reality, no sense in mourning for what-if. Besides, the kid isn't that complicated. If you put his friends under threat, he'll crack like an egg. And possibly kill you in the process.

Whatever. It's not as though your current life is much of a life.

[ A sharp breath in, closing her eyes. ]

You guys really do have a complicated history, huh ...

[ Turns the feather over in her hand, tracing the edge of it with her thumb. And then she speaks up properly, ]

It's from when he was being forced to work for that awful witch. Trying to … toe the line, I guess. Play the villain convincingly enough that it wouldn't tip her off.

His history does seem very complicated.

[Toe the line though...]

Well, with that and the stage, I guess this would be him putting on a show?

[ Hums in response, considering]

Kinda ... [ Turns the feather over again, again, again, thinking it through. ]

The vibe I've been getting is ... [ Flaps a hand. ] Sensei maneuovering people. Reading them, reflecting what they want to see, so he can get what he wants or needs, or give them what he thinks they want or need.

....so he's Leo.

And Kaito and Wash-nii.

No wonder he passed my vibe-check so fast. Stupid scary smart theater kid nonsense.

Sounds about right.

....the vases are deceptions for people he's closed to. Putting himself second and hiding things.

So probably not that.

The score is protective, but its also the kind where you lie to protect someone from a thing that might hurt them?

…

[ Reaches for the thermos ]

[ CHUGS ]

Mm. I think I'm leaning towards the mirror? It's hard, and it's painful, but he's using those skills to help the people depending on him ... and it's working.

[A pause.]

Its better than what I saw and those skills are useful if you can do them right.]

[AKA Leo.]

If you think its a good one, then I trust that.

I ... I think it's ... probably good? Or at least ... I hope so.

- okay.

If you're sure you don't have any ojections, we'll go with that one.

[ If he doesn't raise any, she'll go ahead and slot that one into the void, hoping against hope that she hasn't read this whole thing wrong in a way that might hurt him. ]

With the mirror inputted into the void, it closes up. There appear to be no other shards forthcoming, so best get out while the getting is good.

The rest of the floor has been cleared, so probably best to take the elevator down to S1.

You're a good judge of character, even when you don't like certain character traits.

[HE BELIEVES IN YOU.]

[Heart Game] From the ashes we can build

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