[Heart Game] From the ashes we can build

[castaside]

WHO: Macaque, Red Son, Wukong, Korone, Donnie, Cole, Wash
WHAT: Soul fixin'
WHEN: March 9
WHERE: Red Son's house, Blossomcrown
WARNINGS: will be marked

Comments

Level FE - IC

[castaside]

You walk out onto a mountainside. This time is equally eerie as Level C, but at least someone is sitting there.

Macaque is sitting on the side of Mount Wuxing, the Mountain of Five Elements. He looks over, his face numb and bleary.

"I can't hear him anymore," this unfeeling version of Macaque says to you, and then he pitches forward, blood pouring out his nose and ears and his blind eye, much like the lead-up to his heart game.

Before anyone can get to him, the blood starts morphing in shape, rising up from its puddle to create a blood version of Wukong.

Stay away from him, this twisted version of Wukong demands, he's happier this way.

This, it would seem, is the block on Macaque's feelings.

Re: Level FE - IC

[othellovonryan]

Donnie has the cloak and goggles on. He saw Macaque had a gift for them, and he was gonna use them to their fullest.

Donnie sees the sight before him, and there's a sick feeling in his stomach at it. He really had done a number on him, and now there's a blood monster and a Macaque whose just a mess.

He holds up the staff in front of him. "Feeling nothing isn't the same of happiness. This isn't what he wanted. This isn't what I wanted to help him with," he said. "Just stand down. I'm going to fix this."

Re: Level FE - IC

[castaside]

Through the goggles, Donnie will see the form of the blood flickers slightly when he says this isn't what I wanted to help him with. Probably that's a fruitful avenue of "attack".

But there's very little time to consider the implications because one of the pieces of Bloodkong attacks viciously, forming the Monkey King's staff out of one hand. It's incredibly fast like the real Wukong, but possibly affected by what Donnie said because there's at least some opportunity to dodge.

[ Roll 2d20 and drop the lowest result to dodge ]

Re: Level FE - IC

[othellovonryan]

Well then, that is an interesting reading.

It is fast, though luckily Donnie is also a staff user, and a damn good one at that, so things are a little more predictable, allowing for dodging and deflection (16+4).

Googles reacted when he spoke. So this may be less an actual fight as a talking one. Which is....certainly anxiety inducing in a lot of ways. Fuck. Okay. Channel his inner Leo.

"He was sad. He wanted to be friends with Wukong without hurting himself or Wukong. I thought I could do it! I thought it was reasonable! Its the worst when you feel like you're burdening someone you care about with your feelings, so it was only natural to try and change that! But this isn't that. This is hurting him, and Wukong and everyone else!"

Re: Level FE - IC

[castaside]

Bloodkong launches a series of vicious strikes, one of which hits Donnie dead on. But his cloak stops the staff in its tracks, Donnie barely feels anything.

"It's entirely possible that fixing his feelings means that he has no desire to play parent with you anymore. Are you willing to give that up so that he can go back to being miserable?"

Re: Level FE - IC

[othellovonryan]

Donnie is definitely keeping the cloak securely on.

Frowning at that.

"Macaque wants a family," he said simply, even as he keeps up the dodging.

Watching the reaction with the goggles.

Re: Level FE - IC

[castaside]

There's a slight reaction to that via the goggles.

Bloodking keeps up the strikes. You deftly dodge two -- barely -- and two others glance harmlessly off the cloak. The ground around you shakes from the power of the hits but the cloak protects you entirely.

"He thought Wukong was his family. If you get rid of me, that's what he'll go back to. There might not be any room for you or Choco. Think about it: didn't his feelings for you get stronger only after his feelings for Wukong were blocked? There was no room for anything but Sun Wukong in his head before. That's what you'll be sending him back to. And yourselves."

Re: Level FE - IC

[forgingfires]

He may not know what his devices are used for, but he'll have the wristband on, and have the lantern hooked onto his belt, ready for use.

He looks at the scene and there's the feeling of dread. He doesn't want to have to do this. He knows fixing this might mean losing what they had been building. But he sees the blood pouring from his face, and he knows he has to.

"He'd be happier for maybe a year before he was broken," Red Son said. "The real Wukong wants him to be safe. Can't be safe when you're broken."

Re: Level FE - IC

[castaside]

The wristband makes you feel almost restless to move as you look at the blood taking shape. You somehow have confidence that you'll be able to do this.

The lantern gives no hint to its use, though it thrums with energy.

Bloodkong chortles at you. "Is that what you really want, for him to love Wukong again? He'll forget all about you if he does."

As Bloodking says this, a staff extends out of his hand and he attacks. One strike you can see will be an easy dodge, but it's a feint. The true attack will come impossibly fast, aimed right at center mass.

The wristband glows and you somehow manage to dodge [ dodge a nat 20 even! ], miraculously. You move so fast that you didn't even realize that you were moving.

Re: Level FE - IC

[forgingfires]

That's fast.

Red Son is stumbling a bit with the sudden speed. He's used to using the wind and stat boost now to help with his speed (and even combined with fire at times), but this is a lot faster.

He gets his feet under him again, turning to face the Bloodkong. "If he goes on like this, the person I love will disappear. If I have to give up his feelings for me, then so be it," he said, even as his words waver. He doesn't want that outcome.

He truly, absolutely does not want that outcome.

But.

He throws out a burst of first at the Bloodkong. "I already know I can give up a lot to keep him safe." Chanting words, the feeling of no air.

Re: Level FE - IC

[castaside]

Bloodkong's staff rips into the ground behind Red Son's heels, so hard that the entire ground shakes. Any one of those strikes could have been devastating.

"You want to give his feelings for Wukong back? Wukong, who only ever hurt him? You saw his memories, he's happier this way. He wants to stay with you. And you're willing to throw that away. Are you sure that's real love? Sounds to me like you're not willing to fight for him. Like you'll just give up. Maybe you're not what he needs either."

There's a pulse of power from the lantern as Bloodkong charges you. Do you use it?

Re: Level FE - IC

[forgingfires]

Ugh, why does he have to keep fighting Wukong?

Red Son is sending fire to where those strikes are hitting, intending to sear the blood, make it steam and smoke. Time to see if Bloodkong's eyes are as sensitive as the real one's.

"We're immortal! If it can happen, then we have the time to try and make it happen again. But it can only happen if he survives and a broken soul would have him gone in a year. I'd rather pine for five hundred years than to lose him for one," Red Son said. "Besides, things are different this time. Macaque was trying to move on from Wukong alone. Of course it didn't work, but now he ISN'T! He has time and support!"

He feels the pulse and well, he can take a hint. Putting a hand on the lantern to try and activate it.

Re: Level FE - IC

[castaside]

Alas this isn't Wukong, just a representation of the mental block that Macaque has, so the smoke has no effect. Nice thought, though.

What does have an effect is the lantern. Bloodkong is about to issue one of those strikes that could cleave a mortal in half when it freezes. The lantern has captured its shadow and now it's frozen in place. Temporarily.

It can still speak, however:

"His love for Wukong lasted through his own murder. You can't think his feelings for you could possibly overcome that. You're talking a big game here and now, but do you really mean it? Are you really selfless enough to give up someone you love? You were pleading in there, pleading to keep him. Which is it?"

Re: Level FE - IC

[bluediligence]

[ Of course she'd started bolting forward the moment Macaque had fallen — only to skid hastily to a stop when the Blood King rises.

… Oh, there's no way she can let this slide without doing everything she can to help. Doesn't matter that speaking out will give her away. She'll just have to get out of dodge really, really fast. ]

This is hurting him. It has been hurting him for a long, long time. And we all know, he knows, that trying to deny the pain he's in isn't going to help him truly heal and move on. [ She gets moving the moment she's said her piece, light-footed and swift. ]

Re: Level FE - IC

[castaside]

The Blood King glances over, sharp-eyed, eyes unseeing but not able to doubt what it heard. It aims an attack toward the spot where Korone was in a second ago, punching deep gouges in the ground behind her heels.

"What would you know, child? You only just met him. You barely know him, and he's told you so little about himself. He hasn't mentioned all the times that he hurt others and enjoyed it. If you could see those pieces of his past, it would about make you sick."

Re: Level FE - IC

[bluediligence]

[ Okay, that was worryingly close. Close enough that she casts an equally invisible shield around herself just in case. If she slipped up bad enough to take a direct hit, she doubts she'd be getting up again after - ]

[ - snorts ]

[ okay, no, sorry, she outright laughs ]

Oh, you can fuck right off with that melodramatic nonsense. The past informs; it doesn't define. [ KEEPS MOVING, because as funny as that was, ending up as paste wouldn't be ] Not unless we let it.

I think it's safe to say … that he doesn't want to let it. He wants to find acceptance, for himself and for and with others. He wants to be able to feel his feelings, to reach out and meet in the middle, to love and be loved, even when it's fucking terrifying.

And, you know what?

We'll be there to meet him.

We'll be there to reach back, and remind him that he doesn't have to struggle alone. As many times as it takes.

[ GETTING OUT OF DODGE INTENSIFIES. ]

Re: Level FE - IC

[castaside]

That's a lot of words. A lot of Bloodkong being able to pinpoint your position. So it's a good thing that you cast that second shield, off which a hit that would definitely have sliced you in half glances, harmless but for the splotch of blood it leaves drizzling down the shield. Which is also a dead giveaway, and Bloodkong grins. Might want to cancel that shield and recast it.

Your ring shines at we'll be there to reach back, and remind him that he doesn't have to struggle alone. As many times as it takes. Seems like that is effective.

"And what is it that you think you can do? You're too fragile to hold yourself together, every little thing makes you jump or crumple."

Re: Level FE - IC

[bluediligence]

[ Yep, definitely recasting that shield. Fucking yikes, that was close enough to get her heart pounding. ]

We're stronger together. [ Firmly, with the kind of conviction that burns. ] Anatawa hitorijanai. You are not alone. He isn't alone, and every single person here will fight tooth and nail to be there when he needs us.

That's what it means to be family. That's what it means to be - [ a chirp, macaque's: home ]

[ Another dodge! ]

Re: Level FE - IC

[castaside]

"He had a so-called family, and they deserted him. He had a home, and it burned. Why do you think he did needs me? I protect him from any of that happening again."

The chirp that sounds back is grating and sneering: abandonment.

And the series of attacks it launches Korone's way is devastating, or would be without her shield. Three miss, but one hits dead on the money, so hard that her shield will leave a sizeable dent in the ground as it's entirely splattered with blood. Good thing there's no more cast limit!

Re: Level FE - IC

[noodleboi]

MK stared at this bloody version of Monkey king. He swallowed as he readied the shield and his dagger. Was he going to have to fight Monkey King? He didn't like this. At least this version didn't look like Monkey King or when he was possessed. No, he was just freaking terrifying being made out of Macaque's LEAKING BLOOD! Why are you so extra, Macaque?!

"...He isn't happy though. He can't feel emotions for the people he cares about. The people he wants to be close too. You have to see that."

Re: Level FE - IC

[castaside]

The shield pulses with energy as you stare down a Monkey King made of Macaque's blood. It wants to protect you and everyone else here.

Bloodkong scoffs at MK's words. "Close to who? You? All you make him feel is inadequate. And your King over there never sees him. You're all here for your own selfish desires, not for what he needs. Same as always."

The blood circles you, looking for a way to get past the shield. Not quite attacking yet as it creates a familiar staff from its hand.

Re: Level FE - IC

[noodleboi]

"That isn't true," MK said as he kept watching the Bloodkong. His feet shuffled and watched him. The staff was not a good sign.

"He asked us to help him. He wants this fixed. He isn't happy. ...I want to help him feel the opposite of that. He's enough. I don't want to fight you. Please. We're trying to help."

Re: Level FE - IC

[castaside]

"You don't want to fight me," Bloodkong says with sneering contempt. "What'd he give you that shiny dagger for, then? Is it that you can't stand to fight the form of your precious Wukong? Are you choosing him over Macaque, same as always?"

Whether MK wants to fight back or not is his call, but Bloodkong launches a devastating series of attacks regardless. One hits the shield and bounces off harmlessly, the other seems poised to take out MK's legs. Bloodkong is playing for keeps, so MK had better do something before he gets nailed.

Re: Level FE - IC

[noodleboi]

MK flinched at the words. That wasn't what he was doing at all! He didn't want to choose. That wasn't fair. He felt the blow hit the shield but it barely felt like a tap! He saw the attack coming and jumped over the staff. Okay. He could do that. Sure, he never own sparring against Monkey King but he could do this. This wasn't really Monkey King. This was how Macaque saw him. Or the block or something. MK moved in and sliced at the staff.

He trusted Macaque. He wouldn't have given him the dagger if he wasn't supposed to use it. Bloodkong was right about that.

"I'm choosing to save Macaque! We all are!"

Re: Level FE - IC

[castaside]

Is this how Macaque sees Wukong? Would Macaque be so in love with this version of Wukong that even his own murder couldn't change that? Of course not. So what's really going on, here?

Bloodkong strikes the shield twice more, strikes hard enough to slice most people in half, and MK will barely feel anything. Macaque was really looking out for him with that shield.

"Choosing to save him how? Do you even know what you're doing here? Or did you just think you could dive into his soul with no clarity at all and everything would turn out fine? Do you even know what you want?"