castaside | Heart Game: dreamwalker variety

The monkeys chirp contentedly. No words, just feelings. They're glad she thinks so.

[ She smiles faintly at the chirps. ]

I know you know this already, but I wanna say it again anyways: if you ever wanna talk about any of this ... or anything at all, I'd be happy to listen.

[ Anything else in the desk? ]

A few chirps from the monkeys that sound noncommittal but appreciative.

Nothing else in the desk! Just the elevator. No voids this time, just a button to open the doors.

[ Noncommittal but appreciative is exactly what Korone had been expecting.

After taking a minute (longer than strictly necessary, maybe—) to make sure everything in the desk is as she'd found it, she looks to the elevator.

The elevator she knew was there.

The elevator she is going to be completely normal about. It's fine. … And the lack of voids is a huge relief — yeah, she can focus on that. Focus on her dad.

…

She goes over and presses the button. ]

The elevator doors open. It is more than large enough to fit anyone, even accounting for Wash's power armor. It's well-lit and surprisingly modern in addition to being clean and spacious.

On the keypad you will see the following:

LOBBY

Level C

And then there is a small keyhole where you're clearly meant to fill in order to proceed any lower than Level C. It is different than the one that fit the staff before, looking more like an actual key goes in there.

After C is:

Level S

Level S1

Level U

And then another keyhole. And finally:

Level FE

[ She is going to be completely fine and normal about this and she is going! To focus! On what's important! AKA Macaque.

PTSD can fuck right off. ]

Keyholes, now? … That's probably a good sign? [ Or a neutral one, at least. ]

[ Tucking her wings in tight behind herself, Korone hits the button for level C. ]

The doors open at Level C. The construction yard from last time is no more. Instead there's a small, grassy hill with wildflowers growing on and around it. The moon is out despite it being daytime. On the top of the hill, Macaque is sitting with an unopened picnic basket.

"Hi, babygirl. Come sit down for a minute."

[ YEETS HERSELF out of the elevator as soon as the doors are open wide enough for her to fit through. ]

Dad-!

[ He doesn't have to ask twice; she makes a beeline straight for him. ]

He opens his arms for her, and mercifully, nothing happens except a big fatherly hug. No trauma this time, seems like.

"Do you not like the elevator? I can change it." The next moment, there's a fireman's pole in place of an elevator. It still requires a key and has a flat flange blocking the way down. "How's that?"

[ If the lack of trauma is a relief (IT IS), it's more for his sake than her own. She hugs him so tight, booping her forehead against his shoulder and chirping softly.

And then he offers to change the elevator. Wait, wha — ]

[ Reflex keeps the volume and pitch of her startled squeak just within Macceptable Parameters. ]

"I take it you approve. It'll be more fun this way, too."

I —

[ holy shit he just ]

[ swapped out a piece of his heart? for her? ]

You ... for me? Just like that?

"Just like that. It's really no problem. The central shaft is my way of getting around in here too, so it's considered part of the consciousness. And those parts I can change easily."

"Like this room. Before, I was so guarded that the only way to get access to the elevator was to temporarily destroy my consciousness. Now, I'm okay with people I trust exploring, so here I am with a picnic basket containing whatever you request, and a hill of wildflowers."

[ Just like that. ]

[ aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ]

[ She does relax some when he explains that it's under his conscious control. And the rest is — welp. Korone makes a wry li'l sound somewhere between a huff and a chuckle. Heart games, man. ]

Here you are. [ Squishes him into an even more thorough hug. ]

... If you say it's okay, I believe you. [ It's still HOLY SHIT though, because holy shit?! (She is a dab hand at having many feelings simultaneously.) ]

"It's really okay. As long as there's a vertical way to navigate the heart, I'll be fine." Of course he hugs her back, why wouldn't he?

"Something to eat or drink? I can pull anything out of this basket. But unlike last time, there's no taking it will you."

Vertical ... because layers, right? [ She hums. ] So if C is consciousness, does that make the others two layers of subconscious, the unconscious, and then ...

[ There's the faintest hint of a coo in her exhale. Macaque's hugs are the best. ]

[ She peers at the basket without making the slightest attempt to peel herself away from him. ]

Is there anything you've wanted to introduce me to?

"Subconscious is in two layers, then unconscious, and then -- well, I'm not sure what's at the bottom now. By definition it's hard for me to see."

The basket is empty. Marry Poppins Rules, apparently.

"It's hard for me to pick one place in particular. You're all over this heart now."

[ wait - ]

Me?

"Of course. How many daughters do you think I've got?"

[ help ]

I — okay, touché — [ FACEPALMS ]

[ hides her facepalmed face against his shoulder ]

He chuckles softly and leans his cheek against her head. "Just as I'm in your heart more than I was initially, right?"

[ Her wings fluff ]

... Yeah. [ She grumbles, embarrassed. Maybe one day affirmations won't hit like a landslide? (x to doubt.) ]

Can I have some strawberries?

"Coming right up, babygirl." He reaches into the picnic basket and pulls out a bowl of large, perfectly ripe strawberries.

Thank you, Mr. Menace.

[ IS THIS EVEN MENACING, KORONE ...

Boops her forehead to his shoulder and then shuffles around so she can cuddle and nom. ]

... S'there anywhere you know you don't want me to go?

[ Picks out a strawberry to delicately nibble. ]

Hmm. He considers this.

"The North door on S1 is anger. There's nothing to be done with him, and he'll try to kill you. The West door on U is where the Lady Bone Demon is trapped. Lots of light blue in the mirrors. She's trying to use Epsilon as a lure to draw people in, so she can try to escape. I won't say don't go in, just be careful. Everywhere else should be safe enough, even if it doesn't feel like it is."

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