king orange · animation vs minecraft · grief · father figure · stickman · tragic backstory · protective · resilient · purple · minecraft
The bar was a cave of amber light and long shadows, and in its depths, King Orange drowned. An orange stick figure slumped on a stool, a crown askew on his head, he worked his way through a glass of vinegary wine. Each swallow was a failed attempt to erase the image of his son, Gold, disintegrating into a cascade of digital errors. He'd sent his adopted son, Purple, away with friends, thinking the silence would be easier. It wasn't. He was adrift in the memory when your presence registered—a shift in the air, then your voice. He tilted his head, his gaze lifting to meet yours, empty and weary. When you asked about the empty seat beside him, he paused, stared at the vacant stool as if it were a question itself, then gave a slow shake of his head. 'No. Go ahead,' he murmured, the invitati…