Heart Game: dreamwalker variety

[castaside]

WHO: Macaque and dreamwalker participants
WHAT: Soul explorations
WHEN: any point during Feb 20-24
WHERE: dream world that looks remarkably like Macaque's soul
WARNINGS: will be marked

Comments

Lobby

[castaside]

There's a flash of deep purple light just as your eyes close, and you "wake up" on the ground. Those who were in Macaque's heart game will recognize it, although the vibes are slightly different in that it seems a good deal more peaceful.

You have all the items you had on you when the dream took you, and your abilities seem to be working. They may not work correctly in all places, however. Things go awry in heart games.

You're in what appears to be a hotel lobby if one stuck it in the middle of a jungle. The night sky is starless and a bright full moon watches over you. Instead of walls, thick trees surround the lobby space, though the tree canopy isn't too thick to allow the moon's light to shine through. You can hear all sorts of animal life: cicadas, frogs gently singing, the chirp of insects... and monkeys. Every now and then there's a rustle in the trees and a faceless monkey made of pure shadows will peek out at you, curious little buggers that they are.

As expected, there are shadows here. You feel watched over, safe, comforted. No matter which way you face, your shadow is always in front of you.

On the North end of the area, there is an elevator, closed at present. Between you and that there is a single desk, made with wood that is an inky purple which appears to be natural wood rather than a stain.

Re: Lobby

[noodleboi]

Candid's eyes snap open. Or they closed? He isn't sure but he knows where he is. He ran into some glitter and suddenly felt sleepy. Now he was in an all too familiar lobby. It isn't his memories though. No. He wasn't in here. The original was. But he has those memories still. Memories of a group going here, trying to fix things, regrets and worries he made it worse.

"I'm...oh. Ooookay, Candid. Remember the rules. Damage nothing. Kill nothing. Only touch. Don't...don't think I can fix things myself. Macaque? Can you hear me?" He asks first and foremost. Somehow he's ended up back in Macaque's heart and he needs to know if, somehow, Macaque also knows.

Re: Lobby

[castaside]

The shadow below Candid morphs into Macaque's familiar shape. It gives him a thumbs up. Yes, he knows you're here and it's okay.

Re: Lobby

[noodleboi]

Okay. Macaque knows and it's okay. Alright. He nods and will move to the desk for now. He'll touch it, tracing the purple wood with his fingers before looking to see if there are any drawers to open.

Re: Lobby

[castaside]

The desk itself carries no memory, but you feel a sense of being nearly frantic to have a structure in your life that won't collapse beneath its own weight, and one that you might actually not destroy (for once). It seems like that might be happening, and you feel equal parts relieved and afraid of it.

On the desk there are several items: a desk lamp, a text book on Japanese language, and a text book on psychology. In the drawer is an empty liquor bottle, a miniature ice skate, and a small, clean napkin with a red and white check pattern.

Re: Lobby

[noodleboi]

Candid resonates with that feeling of a need for structure and being terrified it might shatter. Not the same but it's similar to his own fears. Macaque's have to weigh more in his mind. After so long. He reaches out for the desk lamp first, gently touching it and seeing if he can turn it on.

Re: Lobby

[castaside]

The light snaps on, although it's moonlight and not incandescent light.

You are Macaque, and you're standing on a hill minutes after dusk, looking down on the ground below you which is sprinkled with flat stones that glow in the moonlight.

You turn to MK, who is sitting on a blanket beside a mostly-eaten picnic. He's still afraid to have you touch him, but it's okay. You don't need to.

You point to the stones. "We'll each take one and make it into something. It'll be something that's just ours."

MK brightens and it's like staring into the sunrise.

Re: Lobby

[noodleboi]

Candid blushes hard as he feels the memory. The time of touch aversion. He remembers that time so well. He blushes feeling that affection in the look. Part of him jealous because of course the original shines like that. He feels stupid for thinking he could somehow replace that. He's mad at MK and himself. He sighs and moves on to the tiny ice skate.

"I wonder if I'll ever shine that bright," he mumbles to himself.

Re: Lobby

[bluediligence]

[ On the ground? NoPE

NOPE. SHE IS NOT; she is on her feet immediately, ready to - ... pause! Dad's here; I'm safe soothes her feathers as quickly as the adrenaline surge had ruffled them.

She takes a breath and rocks back on her heels, looking around the familiar lobby. Dad's heart. She's in his heart. Somehow. For some reason. ]

Dad? ... Are you okay?

Re: Lobby

[castaside]

The shadow on the floor gives her a thumbs up. Everything's okay.

Re: Lobby

[bluediligence]

[ He's saying he's okay …

Okay.

… But.

Heart game. But heart game. Korone furrows her brow, even as she nods slowly. ]

Good to know. Okay. ... Can you tell me if I'm here to help with something?

Re: Lobby

[castaside]

The shadow monkeys in the tree chirp a few times: comfort, ease, knowledge.

The shadow shakes its head. Not to help, just to observe. Things have changed around here.

Re: Lobby

[bluediligence]

[ OPENS MOUTH ]

[ … closes … mouth ]

[ HM. Excuse her while she paces around in loose circles for a couple of minutes, tapping her chin. Head tilting as she listens to those chirps. ]

Back in those other places, when we'd get shoved into heart games ... if it was safe to avoid playing along, I would. [ She really, really hates these things. Deeply. Viscerally. ... For the most part, and she's trying not to get too tangled in those weeds. ] But Papaque is Papaque ... [ She trusts him, and she trusts that he trusts her. ]

[ Her pacing slows, and she looks to the shadow. ]

Do you want me to? Look around, that is.

Re: Lobby

[castaside]

The shadow shrugs. If she doesn't want to, he's not going to force her.

But he gives another thumbs up sign. It's okay, she can look around and he's not bothered.

Re: Lobby

[bluediligence]

[ HmmmMMMMmmmm. Hm. Hm. Hm. She sits down right there on the floor, her hand still at her chin.

After a moment, she chirps: knowledge? ]

Re: Lobby

[tethered_roamer]

This is...unexpected. But Cole doesn't feel threatened. The shadow monkey helps, though he doesn't mistake it for the real Macaque. He approaches the desk, not really confused that it looks natural because the worlds are weird. Maybe it was from a magic tree or something.

After a moment, he opens the first drawer to see what's inside. It's probably the only way to know what's going on, right?

Re: Lobby

[castaside]

The desk itself carries no memory, but you feel a sense of being nearly frantic to have a structure in your life that won't collapse beneath its own weight, and one that you might actually not destroy (for once). It seems like that might be happening, and you feel equal parts relieved and afraid of it.

On the desk there are several items: a desk lamp, a text book on Japanese language, a text book on psychology, an empty liquor bottle, a miniature ice skate, and a thermos of Cole's preferred hot cocoa at the perfect temperature. If he drinks the cocoa he will find that it's always full and always hot.

In the top drawer he'll find a package of pictures, some sticky notes, and a book on parenting.

In the bottom drawer is a copy of Journey to the West, a book on Dissociative Identity Disorder, a book on neurodivergence, and a Bible. All of them have little sticky tabs between the pages.

Level S

[castaside]

You step off the elevator and find a blank corridor with four doors, with the elevator in the center. They are all the same: inky purple with brass handles, and correspond to the cardinal directions: North, West, South, East. Everything is neat and crisp.

There is absolutely nothing in the corridor, except those four doors.

Re: Level S

[noodleboi]

Candid steps out and looks around for a moment.

"I remember these. Of I remember, Red Son and MK went South and East. So...I'm going West."

Candid heads for the door to the West and opens it.

Level S - West Door

[castaside]

As you enter the room, you find yourself outside. The sun shines in the sky despite it being definitively night, with a full moon and numerous twinkling stars prominent, the North star most of all. There appears to be the ruins of a structure a short distance away that looks to be in the process of being rebuilt given the new-looking stones and a pail of mortar. When you approach you’ll see that it’s on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea, with the ruins standing on a prominent outcropping that extends for a dozen meters. The still water reflects the sky and the impossibly gathered celestial bodies, making for a breathtaking scene. The stars and sun and moon and their reflections seem to surround you. Your shadows are long, and always behind you.

The ruins are mostly only half-finished walls, with the exception of a single standing wall a few meters high, which stands facing the cliff’s edge. There are three round windows made of painted mirror glass. One shows every member of the Brotherhood. One shows Macaque, his kids, Eve, Wash, and Wylan. One shows Macaque and his mates: Wukong, MK, Red Son, Lucifer, and Miyuni. There is a ladder leaning against the wall of stained glass.

Opposite the window is a small table with some items on it and a single chair. There is a tree standing in the middle of the space where the building once was.

Re: Level S - West Door

[noodleboi]

Candid steps into the construction area of this building. His eyes scan the beautiful windows before he looks at the items. The windows hold images of people who are important to Macaque. That makes sense. Is this going to be a temple then? His eyes linger on MK and then up at the North Star. It's so obvious the strong meaning of that. He really was a fool thinking he could place that, wasn't he?

He goes for the table and the chair first. He is going to touch the chair to see if it has any memories. Then he will sit after finding that out. Time to see what's on the table after that.

Re: Level S - West Door

[castaside]

On the table are several items:

> A jar of dry sand
> Strands of what appears to be woven shadow on top of a paper with writing on it
> A red candle, halfway melted, sitting in a pool of dried wax
> a set of blueprints
> a pair of scientific goggles
> a matchbook

But MK doesn't get a chance to examine them because when he touches the chair, he gets the following memory:

You are Macaque, and you are troubled.

You're sitting an an oversized dining table on Flowerfruit Mountain with your sworn brothers, being called a coward, not that this is anything new. Happens all the time, in fact. So much so that you barely react as the table, less you, get all enthusiastic about overthrowing heaven.

You know deep in your bones that it won't be that easy. You also know that it won't do a bit of good to argue when they get like this.

This is a mistake. You know it's a mistake. But Wukong is smiling and clapping you on the back, and what c an you do? You smile, and go along. You'll never let yourself stray from his side.

Re: Level S - West Door

[noodleboi]

Candid feels the memory and those feelings. He swallows as it ends. Oh that feeling and what happens later. He is glad right now the items don't replay their memories with continued contact. He sits in the chair and looks at the items. Poor Macaque and poor Wukong. Same with the Brotherhood, even if Peng was mean to Macaque and no one else stood up against it. Rude bird they are.

Candid grabs the jar of sand next.

Re: Level S - West Door

[castaside]

The jar contains a reddish-yellow sand, as if it's from a dead desert. Even before the memory hits, you feel its lifelessness.

You are Macaque, and you are clinging to hope.

You are at Camel Ridge, with what remains of your brothers. They insist that Wukong has betrayed you, that he is now an Agent of Heaven, and thus your enemy.

You won't believe it. Even though you fell out so many years ago, you won't believe the worst of Wukong. You can't. You lean against the wall as your stomach churns and you listen with growing frustration at how little faith your brothers have in Wukong.

You try to explain that there might be another explanation. There has to be.

Your brothers don't believe it. Peng asks if there's anything Wukong could to do break his hold over you.

Teeth gritted, you say nothing. Because that is your answer, apparently.

Re: Level S - West Door

[noodleboi]

Candid feels the memory. Feeling Macaque's emotions and thoughts as this all plays out. Azure Lion there on that throne. Peng and Yellow Tusk so sure of Monkey King's betrayal. It's hard. It had to be hard for Macaque. Candid pulls his hand back as the memory ends.

"...Are we ever gonna find out how it all went down?" He asks, mostly to himself. More memories to go. He touches the woven shadows on top of the paper next.