[Open] Just the Honest Truth

[retirementsnotsopeachy]

WHO: Sun Wukong and YOU
WHAT: Just heading home after a successful trip out.
WHEN: August 12th
WHERE: Blossomcrown and Red Son's house.
WARNINGS: Carefree attitudes, and total honesty (prompted or not)


Blossomcrown

[Mission accomplished! Man it feels good to reward yourself for good work. It's a nice day and he's got a pair of soft pelts rolled under one arm as he walks home. He could have just flown the rest of the way, but stretching his legs is good and he wants to take in things from ground-level today.

Really, the only downside was being bit in the tail by this weird mushroom, but it's not like it really hurt much so it's just a little detail in the back of his mind. Nothing to worry about, especially because he doesn't know the consequences yet.]


Red Son's House

I'm home!

[Walking inside, he listens around for any signs of life besides the growing zoo they're starting. He's not going to be surprised to hear Red Son in his workshop, but it's getting close to dinnertime which means it's almost time to drag him out anyway.

As for MK, well he's as likely to be here as he isn't. That kid's a real doer. He smiles at the thought as he closes the door and squats to greet the two Pokemon.

Have you two been keeping Red Son from overdoing it~?

Comments

[retirementsnotsopeachy]

I think you're underestimating the difference. Losing someone due to their own or someone else's actions is completely different from being the one to do it with your own hands...which is different than having to watch and just let it happen.

[forgingfires]

[His hands clench.]

You're right.

There is a difference.

[retirementsnotsopeachy]

I've been through two of the three. And I just want to make sure you're as prepared as you can be.

[forgingfires]

I've already had to do two of the three as well.

Just let it happen is the third.

[retirementsnotsopeachy]

Right, Saya...

Then I'll drop it. Just let it happen is second for me. I hope it never becomes your third.

[forgingfires]

...

She told you.

[For the first time, all the energy is just kind of...out of him.]

[retirementsnotsopeachy]

The first day I was here, yeah.

[He just studies Red Son.]

[forgingfires]

She does always find it very easy to talk about most of her tragedies.

[He's just like a candle that's been put out.]

[He mechanically grabs his silverware and will eat some of the curry.]

[retirementsnotsopeachy]

Seems like she's been through enough that she wants us to know what to expect. But with you, she feels guilty.

[forgingfires]

I'm aware she does. But I'm the best option to minimize guilt.

[Red 'will do anything for his loved ones' Son]

[retirementsnotsopeachy]

You say that, but you're feeding her guilt pretty bad right now. She appreciates the help, but she's also worried about you.

[forgingfires]

I'm aware she still feels guilt. Ultimately, there is no solution that does not bring her some measure of guilt.

But once everything is set up, I can do the procedures on my own. If things go wrong, I'm fireproof, she's only fireproof until she runs out of magic, incineration works on anything that isn't, I have the perfect bait to get her where I want her, and she can't kill me as long as I'm careful about keeping all my parts together. [His voice is distant. Mechanical and pragmatic.]

I promised her no bystanders would be killed because these tests failed.

Hardly any reason to hurt more of her friends when I can do it. Then its just one person to worry about. Its the best option.

[retirementsnotsopeachy]

And it never occured to you to ask for help? I'm just as concerned about helping her, and I offered on day 1.

[forgingfires]

I'm not the only one working on the project. I do the test itself because I have the skills for both the science and for handling the potential failure. But its not just me who designs the test.

Even if I'm apparently the only one who doesn't act like its some fool's errand. [For a brief moment, there was fire in his words, determination, but then]

[Sighs.]

The first test went very badly. People got hurt. Traumatized. Minimizing the number is so its less painful. Saya knows I won't give up, no matter how bad it gets.

I have pondered asking for you to be a back up outside the testing area, if she escapes. If my blood is perfect bait, yours would be ambrosia. But I wasn't sure if you liked her enough to want to help her that badly.

[retirementsnotsopeachy]

I might not be the science-y or planning type, but Saya is hurting. It doesn't mean anything how much I like her. She opened up to me, asked me to make sure you don't stay holed up in your workshop, and she's accepted me flaws and all despite your pain.

The least I could do is provide a seal to try to slow her cycle. If I can do more, I will.

[forgingfires]

Yes, that tracks. [There is a reason he was against the blood drinking. He knows Saya fairly well.]

....would a seal work? She operates differently than us. Its all very much based on chemicals and biological things, no magic or spiritualism.

[retirementsnotsopeachy]

You can seal pretty much anything if you're careful enough. Don't forget, my waterfall seal is just a locked door. Nothing goes in or out that I didn't allow access. You just need to be able to see what you want to seal.

All I was trying to do was slow the countdown. I figured it might buy you some time.

[forgingfires]

You already did it?

[retirementsnotsopeachy]

She asked me to help her. And she trusted me, so yeah.

[forgingfires]

Ah.

[He sets down the chopsticks.]

[He stares at the curry.]

[Man, feelings are extra hard when you're dancing around your recent deep trauma.]

[retirementsnotsopeachy]

Yeah, it didn't stop it, but it looked like you've got an extra couple of weeks to figure whatever out. I even made it so it won't be in your way.

[He's genuinely perking up again.]

It's a good thing she remembered enough to let me try.

[forgingfires]

...it must have meant something to her. The emotional memories were more responsive.

[He's still staring at the curry.]

[Red Son.exe is very slow to process.]

[retirementsnotsopeachy]

Yeah. Probably did. It did to me.

[forgingfires]

....

She got under your fur fast, didn't she?

[retirementsnotsopeachy]

What can I say?

Saya just...she listens, she understands and we're really not that different at our cores. And...she's the first person who's ever said that I'm enough as I am and that I'm worthy of trust.