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

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?

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.

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?"

"When you're alone, you will cling onto anything that will make you feel less so, even if its your hatred," Red Son said. "There is nothing healthy when you're alone."

Red Son approaches. Maybe he can at least get rid of the staff.

"Love doesn't have to be an either or. Its not a competition. He thinks I love MK more. MK thinks I love Saya more. Saya thinks I love him more. Everyone is always decided that I can only love one person the most, ignoring how if I was ever asked, I would not have an answer to that question," Red Son said.

He reaches to grab the staff and try to yank it away. "I don't need him to overcome Wukong. I just need him to look my way. I want him to. Desperately. I want to believe he will, even if its hard. That someday he will want me again. That he won't have to suffer in Wukong's blinding light forever. And I'm willing to work as long as it takes to help him actually see more than Wukong, but I'm not going to force my feelings on him. I'm not going to have him hurting because I'm afraid to lose him. He deserves to choose."

Bloodkong strains against the limits of the lantern, but remains still for now. Unable to move.

"Their wondering is your failing. You should have never given any of them the opportunity to doubt. Why is it on them to ask and not on you to make sure that they know beyond any doubt?" Bloodkong spits the words like they disgust it.

For all that, Red Son's words seem to have had some effect, since Bloodkong doesn't seem to be trying quite as hard to overcome the freezing effect of the lantern.

"He'll choose Wukong. Just like he always has. What will you do then?"

"Because I've told them both I don't have an answer, but their self esteem is garbage," Red Son said. Which, well, was true. He didn't have an answer and had no interest in trying to figure out if there WAS an answer. "And before I could tell Macaque, this came out, and that wasn't fair to bring up."

"Continue to be his friend," Red Son said. Letting his fire heat through the staff, to try and burn away the blood. "Continue to be there for him. Continue to help him find happiness in other ways. Even if he stops loving me doesn't mean I'm going to stop loving him. Before this started, he was still my best friend."

"Sounds to me like you're blaming them for not being sure how much you love them, when that's not something they could ever be expected to know on their own, no matter their self-esteem. Don't make excuses for yourself now."

That seems to anger Bloodkong enough that it breaks free of the lantern-capture and resumes striking at Red Son, gale-force. (The lantern appears to be charging back up, it'll need a second before it can do another capture.)

Bloodkong's staff shakes the ground as it hits behind Red Son, the wristband lets him dodge even one that feels like the world is coming to an end right behind him, close enough that some of the blood sprays him.

"Then it's the same situation he's got with Wukong in reverse. One party always pining for the other and waiting for their love to be returned. He wanted out of that dynamic, that's why I'm here. Why will you be different?"

Fuck, there he goes again.

Red Son has to move back again, getting space, and using that speed to its full advantage to try and keep himself alive. Throwing up a smokescreen of fire to keep Bloodkong from getting too close.

Blood hits him, but its easy enough to sizzle off, honestly.

"Because I'm going to talk to him. I'm not going to keep my mouth shut and hope the situation changes without ever saying anything. Did that once and it ended terribly. If he wants me to stop pursuing him, then I'll respect his wishes, but he's gonna know for damn sure I still care and I'd still be open if he wanted to give it a shot until he tells me its not going to happen!. It'll be different because we're different!"

Blookong strikes the ground a few more times, but he's moving slower. Like a toy that needs to be wound or a clock with the pendulum sticking. His staff starts turning into mist and vanishes entirely, his hand opening to release it as it goes.

"Don't be another thing that he has to survive," Bloodkong says as it pauses, and then vanishes entirely, its blood dissipating into the air.

Red Son is breathing heavily by the end of it. "I'm not. Even if it hurts...it'll be at least honest and careful..." He murmured. No grand abandonments or betrayal.

Just...

Words and unreturned feelings, if that's what it has to be.

Then he turns and rushes to Macaque.

Macaque is laying there without moving, but as Red Son touches him he'll see that he's just sleeping. Very soundly. He won't wake no matter what you do.

Well.

WELL!!!

Hopefully he is...recovering then.

Maybe he will just guide Macaque's head to his lap and will groom his hair as Korone goes and DOES PIGEON GIRL THINGS.

Macaque seems to snuggle a bit closer... maybe... or it's just your wishful thinking, impossible to say.

[Heart Game] From the ashes we can build

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CLEAR

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Re: CLEAR