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

MK put the sun plush in Red Son's hand.

Red Son gets the following memory:

You are Macaque and you are curled up with MK in a field of swaying grass, under a warm sun. You feel unusually good, but it's not all the fairy dust; it's that spending time with MK makes you happy. Being able to be close makes you happy... even if MK is acting a little cagey, claiming he doesn't want to push so he's not going to want anything from you.

You groom each other and you talk. Really talk. You open up about how special MK is to you, worth the risk of opening yourself up, even if that's difficult. You find yourself wondering why it can't be like this all the time. Because MK really is special to you, even if he seems not to believe it--

He wouldn't believe the truth any more: MK isn't just special to you, you love him. He's so precious to you, more than anyone else. But it almost seems like he doesn't want to hear that, so you don't say it.

He says he's attracted to you, and you hear yourself blathering on about Wukong and complications, even though right now it doesn't feel complicated. You wonder if perhaps you're overthinking, overfeeling, since the very last thing you want to do is hurt MK or make him pay for someone else's... not mistakes, exactly, just associations that ping some feelings that are overwhelming in all sorts of ways. It's not his fault, and he's being extremely kind about the fact that he's paying for it regardless.

Are you being too careful? Not careful enough? Everything feels precarious, like you're going to mess it all up if you move a hair too far in any direction. You already messed everything up once, and it was the biggest regret of your life, if you lost MK by making the wrong decision...

MK says he'll be patient with you, and you swallow past a sudden lump in your throat. It means so much that he's willing to give so much when by all rights he should tell you to get your shit straight and then talk to him. But he never does. He's too good for you, and you have no idea what to do about that.

But maybe you should give him a little of what he's looking for. Maybe he'd like that. You'd sure like that. Even if it might be fleeting because of your stupid bullshit issues.

Red Son closes his eyes, considering the memory. "....it does have the feeling. The excitement and the worry. A little bit trapped in wanting the sun," he said. "I think it would work."

"Alright," MK said with a nod. He took the sun back. He held it for a moment to just soak in the feelings. He moved under the bed and pushed it into the void.

With the sun in the void, it knits closed. The feelings of comfort and safety in the room increase just a bit.

Red Son reaches for his hand, squeezing it. "Want to grab some of the snacks for later?"

MK squeezed the hand and nodded.

"Yeah. I got you some already," He held out the spicy snacks. "Can we just cuddle for a little while? Is that okay?"

Red Son considers a few moments.

"Yes, I think so. Since cuddling should be extending our time," he said. He has a clearer idea of what's going on this time. And no one has called screaming yet, so its Probably Fine.

He'll take some of the spicy snacks and will pull MK to a bed to cuddle for a bit. "Does Macaque want to show off a shadow play?"

MK popped a chocolate snack into his mouth and snuggled close. If there was an emergency, someone would text or something. He held up the paper with Doodleque on it.

"You wanna show us a shadow play, friend?"

Doodleque is on a paper now, but he waves around to get your attention and holds out his hand where a fake fire is burning, then he blows as if to fan the flames. Bigger fire for a shadow play!

"Can do," Red Son said, holding out his hand to the side and lighting it on fire to produce more light to work with.

Plenty of fire, thanks! The shadows dance on the wall for a moment, and then start forming shapes.

Doodleque is telling the story of the seventh daughter of the Jade Emporer and the mortal cowherd she met while bathing in a river. The two fall in love. They are happy together, marry, have children, all in secret. The goddess eventually stopped wanting to return to Heaven altogether, as she was so happy. But the Jade Emperor finds out, and orders the Queen Mother of the West to bring his daughter home.

The cowherd's ox, a banished god, creates a boat to bring the cowherd and his children to Heaven to look for his wife. But as they're about to reach Heaven, the Queen Mother of the West created the River of Heaven, also called the Milky Way, across the middle of the sky to prevent the couple from reuniting forever. The two lovers each became a star on their end of the galaxy.

Eventually, the Queen Mother of the West allowed the two to reunite for one night a year, on the seventh day of the seventh month, when magpies swarm into the sky and create a bridge for them.

MK watched the shadow play. It's a love story! But one that doesn't have the happiest ending. They got to see each other, at least. But to be so apart. To be away from each other. He snuggled closer into Red Son and nuzzled his mate's shoulder.

"The Queen Mother seems kinda nice," He mumbled. "That was beautiful. Like super beautiful. Thanks, Doodleque!"

"By giving them a day a year?" Red Son said, looking at MK in confusion.

Because he certainly saw something different. With his own parents and their star crossed love story. Again caused by heaven's arrogance.

"The play was beautiful." Even if it was a sad story in his opinion. Not the worst outcome, but far, far from the best.

"The Jade Emperor wasn't gonna give them anything. ...I'd rather they be together forever. Like, why not? Just because she was the Jade Emperor's daughter and he was a banished god? It's not fair. Like, at all. ...I wish it had a happier ending. I wouldn't want that for anyone. But...if it was that or nothing...isn't it better than nothing?"

"It's better than nothing," Red Son said, giving him that much at least. "But it was likely more out of pity than kindness. The Queen Mother is hardly without rank."

He pulls MK closer. "It was because of that my mother chose to leave heaven herself when she decided she would be with father. In a rather direct and violent manner, to make it clear to retrieve her would mean death for someone. She would have accepted banishment. She could not accept such separation. It's why Zhinü is one of the few Celestials mother would say I could show some measure of trust." The weaver girl would understand the pain of separation and wouldn't be a threat to their family in that way.

MK snuggled closer and nodded. Maybe it wasn't nice after all. He wouldn't know unless he had a chance to talk to this Queen Mother. More reminders that it wasn't all good in heaven and not all demons were evil. Things were complicated. As much as MK wished they weren't, they were.

"Well I know one thing for sure," He said and kissed Red Son's on the cheek. "We'd never let anyone do that to us. Ever. Doubt anyone is powerful enough to even try."

"Hm, true," Red Son said, kissing MK's temple. "I doubt anyone could contain you and I know I can force the issue on my end. Not to mention the trouble Wukong and Macaque would give heaven if they tried," he said.

He nuzzles the top of MK's head. "We're together as long as you wish to stay with me."

MK purred and nuzzled under Red Son's chin.

"And we're together as long as you want me around," He answered back.

"I'll always want you around," he murmured, holding him close.

Though after a few minutes... "We do need to finish this room though. We still have the other path to check for objects and voids."

"I'll always want to stay with you," He mumbled back. He nodded.

"Five more minutes? Please?"

Red Son hummed and pulled out his phone.

Sets an alarm for five minutes, and sets it aside. "Five minutes. Then we have to help our Macaque." Leaning down to kiss him gently.

MK kissed back and nodded.

"Deal," He said softly. He closed his eyes and snuggled in closer.

Red Son holds him close, breathing softly, and enjoying the peace and closeness.

Just for a little while, letting himself get centered and enjoy the affection as they take a little time for themselves.

MK smiled and looked up at Red Son. Then at Doodleque. The centering was going both ways. He felt calmer now. A nice ease coming over him. Sure, it was stressful. He was scared. And he was terrified of what came next. Whatever it was, they'd get through it. In whatever way it happened.

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door

Re: Level U - East Door