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

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.

Red Son was cuddled close to MK. Maybe peaking out an eye to watch Doodleque a bit.

But eventually, the alarm is going to sound and Red Son sighs. Reaching for his phone to turn it off.

"Come on. We have to explore a maze and shower him in more affection," he said.

MK nodded and sat up. He stretched and turned his head. His neck cracked and he got up.

"Alright. Let's get going. Let's keep going." He offered his arm to Red Son.

"Lead on, my Prince."

He takes MK's hand, lifting it up to kiss the back of it, before linking their arms. "Doodleque, can you show us the way out of this room?"

Doodleque points them over to the very corner of the room, opposite the entrance. He draws the corner of the room on his sheet of paper and raps on it like he's knocking.

"Guess we knock on the corner then?" MK said and walked over and knocked.

"Looks like. Thank you, Doodleque," Red Son said, following after MK.

When MK knocks, the corner of the room opens into a rad secret passageway. What's the point of a maze if you're not going to have secret passageways? Doodleque salutes from his page.

They will find themselves towards the end of Corridor C. And there they will find a single glove on the ground.

"A secret passage. That...yeah. That makes a lot of sense," MK said with a nod as they walked. When they found the glove, of course MK just reached down to pick it up.

"Memory or feeling?" He asked as his fingers touched it.

You are a six-eared macaque, and you are trying your best.

You try to join in with the other monkeys, but they run away or turn their backs or hiss as if you're going to hurt them. You look different, and they're afraid of you. You try to hide your ears with mud and fruit husks, but they can tell. They won't let you close. You don't know what you do.

You hunt down the best fruit in the area, sometimes traveling for days to find it. When you bring it back, they won't touch it. You try to break it open and show them how good it is, but they don't believe you. They won't go near any of it. You eat it alone.

You can hear danger coming from anywhere, and you try to warn them. They think you're the danger instead. They don't listen to your warnings. Sometimes some of them die because of it.

You spend all your time alone. One day, you talk to your shadow. It talks back. It's comforting.

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