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

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.

"It does," Red Son said. Really, they should have figured.

"...you really are just going to touch first, huh?" Red Son asked.

MK blinked after the memory played for him. He shook his head and looked at Red Son.

"I...mean you know me. And...I get this maze. In a probably totally not healthy kinda way. And I know you do too," He offered the glove to Red Son.

"It's not a happy memory. Just so you know."

"True," Red Son said. "...and no, probably not a healthy kind of way," he said, squeezing his arm. He pauses, looking at the glove.

Before reaching out to take it and-

Oh.

"....being different is often a burden."

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