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quitealotofsodapop · 7 days

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Between Azure and Wukong... I think he did manipulate Wukong into taking the fall for them when their initial attempt to overthrow the Jade Emperor failed, similar to how he had manipulated MK into freeing the other members of the Camel Ridge trio. The difference, I believe, is that with Wukong, he had done so unknowingly. He truly had admired, possibly even loved, Wukong... but he'd done so in the most toxic way possible, and when Wukong was young and at his most arrogant, making him easy prey to fall for it. And I think the entirety of the odea to overthrow the Emperor was Azure, tbat maybe the Havoc Wukong had caused may have unintentionally opened the door for them to rally behind, but the truth of the matter was that Wukong was jsut lashing out and hadnt actually intended or wanted to start a rebellion. I think Azure put the idea into his head, or rather, put it into everyone's head and then just elected Wukong as leader after hearing the story, leaving him the perfect scapegoat for when the plan went south.

And Wukong KNOWS he was manipulated into it. He knows it and wants to protect MK from this. When he spots Azure, he IMMEDIATELY pushes himself to the front to block his view of MK and Mei. He was at the back of the group but pushed himself in front to block Azure's access to the two youngest members of his new family. I don't think he's entirely aware that it wasn't intentional, but I'm certain Wukong is self aware enough to realize who it was who wanted the Jade Emperor's throne and who was it that got pulled around like a puppet and then had hsi strings cut the moment he couldn't live up to his puppeteer's expectations

Huehuehuehue

My buddy @a-tea-goblin has done some amazing posts on why Wukong despises Azure specifically for what he did to him, even if the lion isn't aware of it.

This shot in particular I think sums up Azure Lion's motives;

Azure pretty much put Wukong on a pedestal. A powerful demon king with loyal subjects. Someone able to go toe to toe with the gods. Thats what Azure, Peng, and Yellow Tusk saw. To make someone an idol is to unknowningly dehumanize them.

Wuong is someone that DBK calls their "youngest worthy brother/xiandi" in JTTW. Someone who became king of his people when he was barely a cub. Someone who is clearly not mature enough to rule the Universe. People like DBK and Macaque were able to see this side of Sun Wukong that the others couldn't.

Azure used Wukong's immaturity to head the charge when even his own brothers saw him as "the Leader", because he was trying to defer punishment that would have befallen him if they had failed.

For Azure, it was easier to say that Wukong "betrayed" his brothers when he was captured by Erlang (and Furnace'd) + forced to surrender to the Buddha, rather than admit that he allowed their youngest brother take the blame.

And it was easier to think that Wukong had "become a warrior for the oppressors" than admit that the monkey was on religious probation. And ofc dodge the tiny detail that Camel Ridge stripped the dao of it's surroundings into a desert + in the novel was actively hunting and eating humans and sapient animal spirits. Macaque gained his reputation as a "coward" not because he ducked out at the sign of danger, but because like Wukong - Macaque cared for his own people and not for some Demon Las Vegas like the other Three.

even Macaque points this out in the S4 special

MK: "I thought he wanted to help people. He said he wanted to be the hero." Macaque: "I'm sure he does. Everyone thinks they're the hero of their own story. Azure's always been good at convincing people he's the good guy. He's even fooled himself."

Ultimately I think Azure's greatest sin is Inaction/Refusal to take blame. Even when he was at peak power in Heaven, he said nothing about the divide between the celestials and mortals. Azure doesn't want to admit that he was no more than a celestial agent who jumped straight to rebellion instead of reform. Someone willing to fight but die for their cause.

Which the lion attempts once again when he manipulates MK into rescuing his old brothers from the Scroll. Azure literally sees Wukong within MK, and by seeing the full of how much alike MK & Wukong are; he panics and almost cuts him down.

Because Azure saw the "old" Wukong in MK, and when he saw the "new" that he had encountered back during th Journey - he knew his attempt to make MK the new rebellion's idol had failed.

Think about it. Why did he only show MK his memories and not his allies? Because someone more emotionally mature like Pigsy or Sandy would have immediately clocked on that Azure was full of it and called him out.

Azure, describing Camel Ridge: "But the celestial realm did not abide competit-" Tang, interupting with his copy of JTTW: "Didn't you guys eat people!? Alolai was a paradise because it was full of peaceful non-people-eating monkeys!" Pigsy, furious: "That is it! Stay the Diyu away from my kid!" *whacks Azure with the Jade-Toothed Rake*

Even if Azure doesn't realise that he's doing this conciously, he still manipulated Wukong and attempts the same on his successor. Whilst LBD sought out a new world order by erasing the past, Azure does so by repeating the steps of his past failure.

And we see that when Azure does become a true leader when he takes the celestial throne, his decaying mind defaults to accusing his remaining comrades of treachery and Wukong of poisoning his mind when it is his own refusal to admit that he's in way over his head.

And of course, it is only when Azure is defeated and being ripped apart by the Emperor's power does he recognise all of this...

#lmk theories #lmk azure lion #sun wukong #lego monkie kid #lmk #lmk the brotherhood #lmk s4 spoilers

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bestanimatedmovie · 1 year

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Tumblr's favorite animated movie, Round 1!

Classification round | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4

Round 1:

Results overview

A Monster in Paris vs Sailor Moon R: The Movie

A Silent Voice vs Shaun the Sheep Movie

A Troll in Central Park vs Rugrats in Paris: The Movie

Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods vs Lu Over the Wall

Astro Boy vs Ferdinand

Azur and Asmar: The Princes' Quest vs Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie Part III: Rebellion

Barbie & the Diamond Castle vs The Great Mouse Detective

Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus vs My Little Pony: Equestria Girls

Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper vs Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Adolescence of Utena

Barbie Princess Charm School vs Turning Red

Batman and Mr. Freeze: SubZero vs Robots

Batman Ninja vs Barbie Fairy Secret

Belle vs 101 Dalmatians

Birdboy: The Forgotten Children vs The Princess and the Goblin

Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie vs All Dogs go to Heaven

Chicken Run vs Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Cinderella III: A Twist in Time vs Green Snake

Despicable me vs Wreck-it-Ralph

Fantastic Mr Fox vs Wendell & Wild

Fantastic Planet vs Anomalisa

Gnomeo & Juliet vs Ernest & Celestine

Home on the Range vs A Goofy Movie

Hoodwinked! vs Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro

Ice Age vs WALL-E

In This Corner of the World vs We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story

Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem vs The Tale of John and Marie

Isle of Dogs vs Weathering with You

James and the Giant Peach vs Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Klaus vs Summer Wars

Kubo and the Two Strings vs Bambi

Liz and the Blue Bird vs Tekkonkinkreet

Madagascar vs Encanto

Mary and Max vs The Sea Beast

Monsters vs Aliens vs Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

My Little Pony: Equestria Girls – Rainbow Rocks vs Night Is Short, Walk on Girl

Night on the Galactic Railroad vs Metropolis

One Piece: Baron Omatsuri and the Secret Island vs Star☆Twinkle Precure the Movie: Wish Upon a Song of Stars

Paprika vs The Secret of Kells

ParaNorman vs Suzume

Penguins of Madagascar vs The Sword in the Stone

Persepolis vs The Garden of Words

Phineas and Ferb: The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension vs Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus

Planet Hulk vs Zombillenium

Pocahontas vs The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

Pokémon Heroes vs Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva

Porco Rosso vs Meet the Robinsons

Quest for Camelot vs Digimon Adventure: Our War Game

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas vs The Nightmare Before Christmas

Spookley the Square Pumpkin vs Kirikou and the Sorceress

Tales of the Night vs Stormy Night

Tehran Taboo vs Emesis Blue

The Adventures of Tintin vs Bee Movie

The Book of Life vs The Aristocats

The Boy and the Beast vs Waltz with Bashir

The Brave Little Toaster vs Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker

The Breadwinner vs Millennium Actress

The Congress vs The Legend of Hei

The Fabulous Baron Munchausen vs Ringing Bell

The Jungle Book vs Wolf Children

The LEGO Batman Movie vs Kung Fu Panda 2

The Lego Ninjago Movie vs Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride vs Watership Down

The Little Prince vs Loving Vincent

The Pagemaster vs Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade

The Phantom Tollbooth vs The Sorcerer's Apprentice

The Secret World of Arrietty vs 9

The Thief and the Cobbler vs Felidae

The Wind Rises vs Brother Bear

Tokyo Godfathers vs 5 Centimeters per Second

Trolls World Tour vs Promare

Unicorn Wars vs Batman: Gotham by Gaslight

Whisper of the Heart vs Batman: Under the Red Hood

#round 1 #long post #best animated movie #animated #animation #not a poll #tournament poll #tumblr's favorite

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niabridges · 1 month

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I wanted to write a character profile for my MC, Ennea Bragge, and some cool moments with her new best friends. (I’ll probably have better screenshots coming)

Full name: Ennea Emiliana Bragge m. Ennea Sallow Name explained: The word "Ennea" is the Greek word for "nine". Nine represents the combination of three trinities (3x3). This symbolizes Ennea's internal struggle between light and darkness, her past self and her new identity, or conflicting loyalties.

DOB: February 1st, 1876 Nickname: E, Enny

Gender: Female (she/her)

Nationality: English

Blood Status: pureblood

House: Slytherin

Wand: Phoenix core, 10 ¾" Length, Willow, white or black (haven’t decided yet)

Patronus: Unicorn

Likes: Butterbeer, cats, owls, cheesy jokes

Dislikes: liars, stupid rules, getting up early, Ravenclaws (sometimes when they bully her)

Magical pet: Siamese cat Loona

Owl: Boisie the eagle owl

Hobbies: Seeker on the Slytherin team, drawing, piano

Appearance

Hair: Hazelnut brown

Eyes: Azure blue

Height: 166cm

Physique: slim, too skinny, but she develops curves later on when she gets older

Other features: Tiny freckles on the nose, moles, blush

Parents: Unknown to her (grew up in a Muggle orphanage), Anton Bragge, Mona Bragge

Siblings: Ivanna Briarwood (Bragge), Ivory Bragge

Future

Career: Unspeakable at the British Ministry, briefly Arcane at MACUSA Arcane Department

Partner/Spouse: Sebastian Sallow Children: twins Silas and Slaine Sallow, Anya Sallow, Eloise Sallow

Primary background (will edit)

Background: Ennea Bragge comes from a long line of pureblood witches and wizards, but having grown up in a Muggle orphanage not much is known about her family. She transferred to Hogwarts in her 5th year, having previously been homeschooled (her magic more suppressed than encouraged) due to her unique magical abilities and the dangers they posed.

Personality: Ennea possesses the shrewd mind and relentless ambition of a true Slytherin. Her intelligence is her weapon, resourcefulness her shield. Though fiercely independent, she forges bonds of unwavering loyalty to those who earn her trust. A strong moral compass guides her, but it's tempered by a pragmatism honed by Slytherin House. Though guarded, her deepest secrets-- her ancient magic, her hidden fears-- burn with an intensity that rivals any Gryffindor's courage. Never underestimate what Ennea will do when she sets her sights on a goal.

Magical Abilities: Ennea possesses a unique form of magic that allows her to tap into ancient, nearly forgotten spells and incantations. She has a deep connection to the magical world and can sense magical auras and disturbances. Her ability to see and understand the hidden layers of magic makes her a formidable witch, but it also makes her a target for those who seek to exploit her power. In her 5th year she won a battle against a rebel Goblin Ranrok and saved Hogwarts in secret. She lost her mentor professor Fig in the battle. She contained all the repositories of ancient magic. Her famous reputation at school slowly started to grow.

Hobbies and Interests: Ennea is an avid reader and spends hours in the Hogwarts library, researching ancient texts and forgotten spells. She's also passionate about dueling and has honed her skills in Defense Against the Dark Arts. She loves to explore the outdoors around the castle.

Key Relationships:

Sebastian Sallow: Ennea shares a close bond with Sebastian, which has evolved from friendship to something deeper. She admires his courage and strength, and their shared adventures have created a strong connection between them.

Ominis Gaunt: Ominis is Ennea's loyal friend and confidante. She values his wisdom and unique perspective, and they share a deep mutual respect.

Challenges: Ennea grapples with the responsibility of her unique magical abilities and the dangers they pose. She is keeping a lot of secrets like ancient magic and Sebastian’s dark secret of killing his uncle and sometimes it become a burden. She's also navigating her feelings for both Sebastian and Ominis, creating a complicated love triangle within their trio.

Role in the Story: Ennea is the central character in their adventures, often guiding their decisions and actions with her knowledge of ancient magic. Her character growth is closely tied to her acceptance of her abilities and her relationships with Sebastian and Ominis. As they face increasingly perilous challenges, Ennea's determination and strength become vital to their survival. Ancient magic: A Double-Edged Sword

While potent and alluring, ancient magic is a demanding force. Unlike the controlled spells of modern times, it operates on a primal level, often reflecting the raw will of the caster. This translates to several key limitations:

Unpredictable Power: Ancient magic is notoriously difficult to control. The desired outcome is never guaranteed, with spells potentially backfiring or producing unintended consequences.

Emotional Volatility: Ancient magic is a reflection of the wielder's deepest self. Strong emotions, especially negativity, can corrupt the magic, twisting its effects and potentially causing harm to both the caster and those around them. Maintaining emotional control is paramount.

Hidden Costs: Tapping into such potent magic can exact a toll. Using ancient magic can leave the wielder drained, both physically and mentally. Overuse can lead to a dependence on its raw power, making it harder to utilize traditional, safer magic.

A Legacy of Power, a Burden to Master

Ancient magic offers immense power, but it comes with significant risks. Those who wield it must be prepared for its volatile nature, the emotional discipline required, and the potential consequences of wielding such a primal force. It is a legacy of power, but also a burden to master.

#hogwarts legacy #hogwarts roleplay #hogwarts legacy mc #sebastian sallow #ominis gaunt #ominis x mc #slytherin common room #slytherin #sebastian sallow fanart

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emelinstriker · 3 months

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So the cannibal asks were interesting but I'm curious about what would happen if a master came across them, and their first instinct is to get the heck out of dodge.

Like what are the reactions gonna be to:

1. Master trying their level best to escape because A. they don't wanna be eaten,

B. nor do they wanna be around people who eat other people.

2. Master having panic attacks, straight-up crying, or both?

3. Master fainting, and while I presume all mess would be cleaned up, they're now wary around the Servants and Champions.

I hope this isn't too detailed, obvs no pressure to answer, I'm just really amazed by your world. It's absolutely fascinating!

Actually, no matter which option, Mink would be there for them. As much of an asshole as he is, he is also seen as a major bridge between the Reader and their servants. He sees and understands both sides of the relationship.

Due to the goop-goblin's down-to-earth talk and rather wise words, he has a much easier time calming down the Reader than anyone else. Mink usually avoids being the one to comfort them, but he's also the closest form of comfort they'd have in such scenario. He can also analyze the type of comfort the Reader would need based on how they usually act on their own and interact with others.

Of course, the others would feel absolutely horrible if their Master avoids them and is genuinely afraid of them. Azure would probably try talk to their Master about it since he's not participating in any of the feasts either. He's also basically the calmest, if we ignore Wukong's and MK's calm expressions. So he'd have an easier time approaching them about the topic.

It doesn't make the champions feel calm if they were the reason their Master was crying and feeling scared, after all. They most certainly felt their Master's negative emotions peak when they spotted at least some of them feasting on a corpse. And to mend their relationship, they would do things that are rather small for them. Also bringing them offerings by stealing secretly borrowing things they'd like from the city.

Once their Master is no longer as scared of them/their actions, they wouldn't just outright drop the cannibalism or the other questionable things they do, but they would make sure the Reader is nowhere near them to witness any of it ever again. Especially when they know their current Master is rather sensitive about darker topics.

(I wanted to make a comic on it but motivation said no so uh- oop-)

#eternal servants au #esau qna #esau mink #esau azure #angst #at least the premise #cw: cannibalism #mainly mentioned tho

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yoonkinii · 10 days

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We Were Human

Pairing(s): Ascended!AstarionxReader

Part 5:

Synopsis: Astarion died as soon as he became something the world has never seen before. No one noticed the damage before it was too late and the Astarion everyone loved was lost to the new one. No one could notice when the turn was slow and silent. He slowly lost the playful glint in his eyes. Lost the love he gaze upon me with. Lost everything that made him the man I loved. Oh, how I would give anything to get him back. I would gladly give up my damned soul for him.

Aka you are transported back to the past in order to prevent ascended Astarion from losing himself the only problem? You don’t have a lot of time.

Warnings: Gore, blood, cruelty, cursing, death/murder, mentions of using oneself unwillingly, abuse, mentions of torture. It's ascended Astarion, prepare for the worst.

Masterlist

Note(s): For the sake of the plot- Astarion will not automatically be damned from the start. In this world, Astarion becomes lost to the ascension overtime until he becomes the ascended vampire we know him to be in the game. Another note that should be highlighted is that this story will be told from the first person perspective since it benefits the story more than any other perspective.

You will also notice various things being different from the game. For example, Karlach will be able to stay in the ‘human’ world and she fixed her heart. (I love my girl, I’m not sending her back), Szaars palace has a different layout cause the one in the game was stupid. There will be more that you will notice in the future so beware.

Thank You.

It’s just my luck for this to happen to me. Earlier, the sky had been a clear azure, but it rapidly transformed, now brooding with dark, menacing clouds that swallowed the sun whole. Adding to the irony, I found myself in the hands of the very goblins I was trying to reach before Astarion. I suppose that it was both unlucky and lucky at the same time. As I was led through the goblin camp- well more like forced to walk around unless I wanted to get impaled by a feisty goblin with a spear behind me.

My capture had happened in a blink- an unexpected encounter with a goblin patrol while I was attempting to trail Astarion. I was just grateful that they decided to ask me what I was doing there instead of attacking right then and there. The charisma that I had harnessed over the months of lying to get past the people I wanted coming in handy.

All it took was telling the goblins I was there to join their cause and they quickly ushered me deeper into the forest. It didn’t take long to reach their base, the base hidden within the heart of the dense forest amidst the labyrinth of towering trees and verdant undergrowth. Their stronghold was cunningly concealed within a labyrinth of towering trees and lush undergrowth. The settlement was fortified by a wall made of both felled and living trees, an organic barrier that melded seamlessly with its surroundings. Under the dense canopy, daylight struggled to penetrate, the impending storm turning the sky even darker above us, the air heavy with the promise of rain and thick with the scent of smoke.

The familiar chatter and beating of drums sounded in the air, merry songs muddled with the shouts of anger, excitement, and drunkenness. Passing through the gap of the wooden wall, my nose wrinkles in distaste with the onslaught of goblin smell. I don’t know what I expected and I had no other words to describe the smell other than the smell of multiple things rotting. The camp was a chaotic jumble of makeshift shelters crafted from scavenged materials, standing stubbornly against the elements. There are several crude pits of fire, casting flickers of shadow that dance across goblins faces. Goblins either lounged inebriated, feaster noisily, or darted about with frenetic energy. The center of the camp is filled with a large ramshackle tent, its fabric patched with various patterns and frayed from use. Surrounding the main tent, are smaller shelters, most being lean-tos made out of fallen sticks and thin logs.

As I am led to the main tent, goblins gaze upon me with a range from sneering to curiously probing. I stumble slightly as I am harshly pushed into the tent, the flaps of the entrance being pulled back by a grumbling goblin stationed there. I squint against the difference in lighting of the tent. Inside, the tent was dimly lit, a stark contrast to the gloomy daylight outside. A few feeble candles flickered, doing little to dispel the shadows.

Then, from the depths of the tent, a voice broke the semi-darkness, rock and mocking. “Ah, what a surprise to see you here, hero of Baldurs Gate.”

Recognition from the voice alone caused my eyes to widen in surprise, of course I showed mercy when everyone else in the team advised against it and it has finally come to bite me back.

“How am I not surprised that you are the one causing trouble, Dror Ragzlin.” I scoff, my eyes adjusting enough to discern his looming silhouette. “Why persist in these schemes? The Absolute is gone, and it was never a god to begin with.”

As he paced the tent, my gaze followed his movements intently. He released a harsh laugh, the sound sharp in the quiet of the tent. “This isn’t about the Absolute anymore,” he declared, his voice echoing slightly, the raucous din of the goblins outside muted by the tent’s thick fabric. “It’s about revenge for what you did to me.”

I rolled my eyes with a scoff, hands landing on my hips. “Seriously? You’re lucky I spared your life!”

“You should have killed me!” He retorted vehemently. “Do you know how hard it is to deal with the embracement and shame of mercy? Death would have been a kindness.”

His words stunned me into silence; this man's foolishness was astounding. Shaking my head in disbelief, I sighed, “You can’t seriously believe that. It’s absurd. Instead of turning your life around, you persist in the very actions that led you here.” Pinching the bridge of my nose, I muttered, “Looks like I might have to finish the job this time.”

Dror’s chuckled was deep and unsettling, sending shivers down my spine.

“That-” He paused, the sounds of feet shuffling against the floor of the tent alerted me.The candles flickered out one by one, their light succumbing to the growing darkness, leaving only a solitary flame to my left. My muscles tense, my hand instinctively reaching for the dagger at my waist as I prepared to summon a flame to light the room. But before I could act, the tent flap burst open, flooding the space with blinding daylight.

I recoiled, realizing just how close Dror Ragzlin had approached; he was only a few steps away from me, easily within striking distance. He wasn’t alone; several goblins lined the walls, their grins menacing in the dim light. A nervous breath escaped me, aware of how perilous my situation might've become had we not been interrupted.

Dror Ragzlin snared, looking at the goblin that opened the tent. She was hunched over, breathing heavily, the beads in her hair clinking softly. Shadows played across ehr form as she struggled for breath under the harsh outside light.

“I’m sorry, sir.” She gasped, voice hoarse, “It’s just that-” She paused to clear her throat again, the urgency in her eyes unmistakable.

“Spit it out already or the next breath you take will be your last.” Ragzlin snarled, his sharp teeth catching the harsh light gleaming in.

The goblin took a deep breath, stammering as she replied, “Someone has broken into the camp and is slaughtering everyone!” She exclaimed, her voice trembling with urgency as she fixed her gaze on Dror.. “We’re losing warriors by the dozens. No matter how we retaliate, he just carves through us-as if we’re nothing.”

My eyes widened at her words- she said him.

“What did he look like?” I demanded

Both Dror and the goblin shifted their attention to me. The goblin’s mouth opened, but Dror’s stern look silenced her. “I…don’t know,” she murmured, her voice strained as if honesty caused her physical discomfort-a surprising notion of a creature usually so adept at deceit.

I shot an irritated glance at Dror. “What do you get out of not telling me?” I pressed, hoping my voice masked the creeping dread I felt. If it really was him, my fear was justified, yet I could not let that fear paralyze me. As I weighed my next move, Dror signaled subtly, and the armed goblins lining the tent’s edges swiftly departed, their faces set with grim determination, unaware of the slaughter that likely awaited them.

Dror lifted the tent flap, the female goblin hovering behind, poised to follow.

“Stay put, or things will get worse for you,” he warned.

I fought the urge to respond sharply, my throat tightening with fear. The mere thought of facing him again, after our earlier encounter, dredged up nightmares I had long tried to suppress: memories of being pinned down, cut repeatedly as my own vampiric blood fought to heal the wounds only for them to be reopened- him observing, a grotesque smile playing on his lips while adoring acolytes clung to him as though her were a deity. The memories of unbearable hunger twisted my stomach; I had been so famished I thought of ripping out my own entrails, but I couldn’t, no matter how deeply my nails dug into my flesh. I could never bring myself to do it. His laughter echoed in my mind as he once forced me into sunlight, my skin bubbling and dripping off my very own bones, until he forcefully dragged me back to the shadows and forced me to drink blood in order to continue living for his own pleasures. Resistance was useless; his compulsion was absolute, leaving me powerless and broken.

An ear-piercing scream shattered my descent into the past, reverberating through the goblin camp. I stared, wide-eyed, at the tent flaps, the chaos outside syncing with the pounding in my ears. I had to stop him, but the enormity of that task loomed over me now.

“Stay Away.”

Astarions voice suddenly rang in my ears. His body doubled over, grappling with an unseen agony. Stay Away. He told me as he shuffled backwards, his eyes wide not with fear of me but of what he might do to me. He was battling something internal, perhaps his very nature. .

Without fully processing my decision, I bolted from the tent. The scene outside instantly froze me in my tracks. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood mixed with the acrid stench of burning flesh. Fire rampaged through the camp, casting wild shadows as panicked goblins scrambled, desperately seeking a way to overcome an unstoppable foe. The carefree revelry I had first witnessed was annihilated, replaced by sheer survival.

A goblin darted past, arms laden with weapons, oblivious to my presence. I trailed him, cautious of becoming an unintended target. It wasn’t long before I encountered the epicenter of the carnage.

There he stood in the midst of it all, his figure shrouded in a macabre cloak of crimson. Fog crawled along the ground, cloaking everything in a deceptive calm. Blood, dark and viscous, coats his skin in a mosaic of pain and violence. It drips from his moonlight hair in rivulets, staining his features with a grotesque mask of beauty. At his feet, a sea of bodies formed a grim carpet.

His movements were eerily calm as he lifted the severed head of Dror Ragzlin by the hair. The morning light filtered through dense clouds, casting a pale glow on his teeth as they parted slightly. I watch in silent horror as he tilts his head back, blood dripping into his mouth, some missing and streaking down his chin. His once vibrant clothing was now a sodden tapestry of dark stains, each a silent witness to his brutal deeds.

I was frozen, eyes flashing to what was before me. This is what happened in my previous life. This is what destroyed him. This is what I was meant to stop but- I was too late. A distant cry snapped me back to the present. He let the head drop, and it landed with a soft thud, swallowed by the fog. Nudging something with my boot, I bent down and recoiled as my fingers closed around the cold, severed head. I straightened, the dead eyes staring back at me, the mouth agape unbelievably wide in a permanent scream of terror.

Releasing a shaky breath, sweat beaded down my neck. I dropped the head, which hit the ground with another dull thud. Suddenly, the owner of the earlier battle cry materialized through the fog. He moves, a flash of violence as one moment an ax is raised and the nex it has raced through the air, the blade glinting ominously before embedding itself in the ground beside me, a green, bloodied hand still clutched around the handle. Blood slowly drips down the hand, creating small ravines of blood on the wooden handles.

Swallowing hard, I looked back through the fog, where he kneels before the goblin, both figures fading into the mist. The crackling of flames devouring the camp mingled with the ringing in my ears, overwhelming my heightened senses. I widened my stance, every nerve on edge, attuned to a danger I could not yet see.

My heart, though lifeless, threatened to burst from my chest as an arm encircles my waist, yanking me against a solid frame. A hand clamped over my mouth, stifling the scream that clawed its way up my throat.

He clicked his tongue, his breath warm and disquieting by my ear. “What are you doing here, pet?” he murmured, his voice a sinister melody that sent shivers down my spine. His fingers eased from my lips, tracing a path along my bottom lip and jaw before coming to rest ominously at the crook of my neck. I was in this exact position before but this time, it was different-cold and calculating. His grip on my neck served as a chilling reminder; it was not affection but control, poised to turn lethal with any misstep.

Gulping down the fear that thickened my throat, I mustered a facade of bravery. “I was-” My voice trembled. I moistened my lips, gathering the shards of my resolve. “Looking for you.”

Chuckle rumbled in his throat, amusement coloring his tone. “Looking for me? And why is that, pet?” The pressure of his fingers increased, pinching my skin, a pointed reminder of his dominance.

The truth of my next words could provoke his wrath, but silence was no longer an option. I had not returned from the past to quiver under his gaze; I had come to confront the past, to change him and to save us both. Pushing past the paralysis of fear, I declared, “To stop you.”

A hush fell, thick and suffocating. I waited, every nerve taut, for his reaction. Suddenly, he burst into laughter, the sound sharp and devoid of any real joy. He released me as he stepped away, allowing me to spin towards him, my breath catching at the sight of him.

Blood marred his mouth, his lips a grim canvas of crimson horror. The eyes that had once danced with vitality now shimmered with a void of emptiness, shadowed by unseen specters. His smile twisted cruelly, revealing fans slick with dark blood. His laughter subsided, leaving his chest heaving with its remains.

“No need?” I echoed, incredulity sharpening my voice. His eyebrow arched, a silent challenge. At that moment, my patience shattered. I wouldn’t let his menacing demeanor silence me. Gesturing to the chaos around us, I pressed on, “Look around you! All this carnage, this needless slaughter-this isn’t our mission. We were not sent here to massacre every single one of these goblins.”

His expression darkened, a storm brewing in his gaze. His lips twisted into a force scowl. “Who are you?” he demanded, his voice resonating from deep within.

“I’m your wife,” I replied, the words stark and heavy in the air between us. Standing before him, the man who haunted my darkest memories, the distinction between him and Astarion was stark yet irrelevant in the face of my fear. A battle loomed-not just between us but within myself-and I clung to the hope that I would not falter.

“No.” That single word fell from his lips before his blood-stained hand clamped onto my cheeks, tugging with brute force to make me meet his gaze. He leaned in, our noses almost touching, his eyes drilling into mine with ferocious intensity. “You are my consort. Not my wife,” he snarled.

Confusion and anger knitted my brows together as I met his piercing stare. “Consort?” I echoed, my voice tinged with defiance. “Is that just another term to claim me as your spawn? Another way to soothe your conscience, Master?” Venom dripped from my words, mirroring the malice he often showed me.

A chilling silence followed my outburst. His grip on my jaw tightened, threatening to crush the bones-something only my vampiric blood prevented. Our eyes locked, unblinking until without so much as a twitch of his lips, he hurled me to the ground. The earth beneath me, muddied with gore and viscera, squelched under my weight. My hands and robe stained with the filth of battle, I hit the ground with a force that left my body aching, sure to bruise.

He towered over me, never stooping even as he gazed down at me as if I were beneath him. Tilting his head slightly, he seemed almost to savor the sight of me in such a depraved position. “It seems you do not know your place, Consort,” he scowled, the pure disdain in his voice unmistakable. “No matter,” he mused, his tone chillingly casual. “I know exactly how to teach you respect.”

A sinister smile curled his lips as he noted the confusion on my face. He lifted his gaze to the overcast sky, humming thoughtfully. “I wonder how long these clouds will shield you from your demise.”

Panic widened my eyes; his cryptic words hinted at a terrifying fate. The privilege of withstanding daylight was now revoked from me. My mouth opened, but words failed me. No plea for mercy would sway him, would save me from this man. Driven by instinct and terror, I scrambled to my feet, my hands reaching for the familiar strands of magic, the weave that had always been my anchor.

I chanted the cantrip for Misty Step, desperation fueling each repetition as I pulled on the weave, feeling it burn within me. It didn’t matter that the city was near, my life hung by a mere thread. No matter how far I got away from him, his laughter echoed in my ears like a harbinger of my doom.

Again and again, I casted the spell until I was sure I was sick. Even when my vision blurred from exhaustion, I muttered the spell under my breath. My body was soaked with my own sweat, tears of panic and despair flooding my vision. Even as I breached the city's walls, I didn’t stop; not when the sun was now at its peak and the clouds could no longer hold it back.

Spell after spell, I cast until sickness overwhelmed me. Even as my vision blurred and my body protested, soaked in sweat and tears, I continued to mutter the incantations. Finally reaching the city, I didn’t stop-not when the sun climbed higher, the clouds thinning dangerously. The previous gloomy weather seemingly disappearing with every passing moment.

Casting the cantrip, my feet landed against a tiled roof- choosing to avoid the crowd that could prevent me from making it to my destination in time. Only the footing on the roof slipped upon a loose tile. A raspy gasp was all that signified my fear as I plummeted down to the stone walkway below. A scream rang out from a passerby as I cracked, body wracked with pain, painting on the cold stone, my nails digging into the ground.

Every muscle in my body screamed, my eyes begging to close, to rest, yet I forced myself up. The fall had broken something within me, causing me to lose focus on simply casting and ignore everything else. I was too drained to tap into the weave, too weary to walk straight. I stumbled through the crowded streets, jostling against strangers, too parched and desperate to apologize.

I avoided the path that would lead me back to the crimson palace. It was perhaps a folly, but with my skin still crawling from the memory of pain and the muffle of fear clouding my senses, I couldn’t bring myself to return to the place he would inevitably come back to.

Seeking refuge, I made my way to the one place in the lower city that promised even a whisper of safety-a modest house tucked away in a secluded corner, home to a solitary resident. My steps faltered as I approached, my hand raised to knock but my strength betrayed me. I swayed, crashing heavily into the door and relying on it to keep me upright.

“Bloody hells!” came a startled voice from within. “I swear to the gods, I’ll bust your hea-Shit!” The exclamation cut off abruptly as the door swung open, and I nearly collapsed through the threshold. Warm arms quickly enveloped me, steadying my trembling form. “Woah, soldier, are you alright?” Karlac’s concern was evident, her face etching with more questions that seemed to dissolve into the thick air around us. Her words barely registered as the relentless grip of fear that had ensnared me, keeping my body awake, finally began to loosen. As darkness edged my vision, cloaking the world in shadows, a single, haunting thought pierced my weary mind:

Was I really meant for this?

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chibifox2002 · 1 year

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Part 78

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Mama Azure making a comeback! 👑💖

(I missed drawing her, I was so excited sketching this page out!)

#queen shit #azure the goblin #log the gorc #creepy crew #creepy crew comic #my character(s)#my art #my comic

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andromeda3116 · 1 year

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all right fuck it let's talk redcloak

i will say it's been years since i read start of darkness, and i've since lost my copy of it, so i only sort of remember what happened in it, but i recall it establishing that redcloak is the king of the sunk-costs fallacy, and it really becomes clear with his brother.

he has to pull this off. he killed his own beloved brother for this, it has to be worth it. he has to make it be worth it.

and he has his moment of revelation at the battle for azure city, that he's been treating the hobgoblins as fodder -- the way that everyone else treats his goblins -- even though they're the same species. they're all goblins, tarred with the same brush.

and like... he's not really wrong. the goblins were fucked from the start, created to be nothing more than walking xp for adventurers, robbed of their chance to have their own lands or gods or homes. he is absolutely right to campaign for goblin equality. it's hard to blame him for taking every step necessary.

and then durkon meets with him.

and durkon negotiates, he argues pretty convincingly that following the plan, as-is, will destroy everyone, goblins included, and that -- while imperfect -- if they live and the dark one becomes a god on the same tier as thor, things can begin to improve for the goblins. it will take time, it will be a hard uphill battle, but they can make it happen. they can work this out.

and redcloak can't relent. he can't accept that. he has to make this all be worth it, and a generations-long war of attrition against speciesism to bring his people onto equal footing isn't good enough. and like. i get that. it's not the perfect solution he wants. it's not the glorious revolution where everything is magically better on the other side of it.

it's the exact same mindset of probably millions of online leftists right now: this "solution" you're offering, of clawing our way through incremental change to ultimately create a better world we will never see, as opposed to our "solution" of violent revolution now that puts our guy in charge who will somehow magically fix everything as soon as everyone realizes we were right all this time -- is unacceptable. redcloak is a bolshevik. he's a communist revolutionary, he's lenin. he's standing up for the oppressed, he's Fighting The Good Fight, he thinks the ends will justify the means, even if that means includes his own death, because it will mean that he died trying to make things better for his people.

he doesn't see that this "solution" is doomed to fail. if not because of flaws inherent to itself, because the world itself will crumble around him if he doesn't let go of this fantasy of a perfect ending.

and when he tries to kill durkon and casually asks, how many goblins have you killed? and durkon replies, carving redcloak entirely bare, straight to the core:

not as many as you.

redcloak is the arbiter of his own destruction. he's a walking sunk-costs fallacy. he had good intentions. he meant well. he isn't wrong, at the core. but he has to make this all be worth it. he has to justify the moment where he killed his own brother.

he's an incredibly compelling villain, magnificently well-written and deep, and it's like... he's beyond redemption, he proved that when he tried to kill durkon instead of taking his offer seriously. and that's a tragedy. because redcloak just wanted his people to be treated like people. but he hitched his wagon to xykon, and he kept spiraling down and further down, and now...

i honestly have no idea how redcloak's story ends. does he turn on xykon in the clutch and save his people at the bottom of things? does the dark one abandon him and force him to face the mirror, the fact that this hasn't been about his people for a long time? does he die screaming, cast into the rift or destroyed by the snarl? does --

i genuinely can't guess. and I don't know what the "correct" ending for him is. i do think the dark one is necessary to containing the snarl -- but what of what's inside the snarl? and what happened to laurin when she looked into it? and --

ugh, this story is so good, and redcloak is such a damn amazing villain. i admit that i'm a sucker for the sunk-costs fallacy villain, who started off with good intentions but kept going further and further down in the pursuit of their goals, until they no longer know just what they're fighting for anymore, except to make this all be worth it.

and redcloak is one of -- if not the -- best examples of that i've ever seen.

#order of the stick #redcloak #order of the stick spoilers #oots #oots spoilers #oh shit and now that i'm fully caught up i'm considering all of redcloak's actions and then the warg says in the most recent comic #''intentions matter only in the absence of results. and then only for the blaming.''#like. shit.

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astronnova · 10 months

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Hello! I hope your week is fine. I'd like to ask, in your reblog of Wukong's Mess, you mention that Macaque is being hypocritical, especially during the mountain prison fight. Can you elaborate on that? I'd also like to know your opinion on Sun Wukong, and why his side of the story has been silent and unspoken for so long. Eat you fruits and sleep early!

Side note: do you think, in Shadowplay, the story that Macaque tells us, is in actuality similar to what happened with MK and SWK when the latter witnessed LBD's return, a vision of MK being burned, which spurred him on mission to stop her while keeping MK in the dark about the reason for his "trip" in s2 beginning?

hi hi!!!! i'm doing good!!! hope ur doing well too :333 thanks for ur question!!

this got longer then i thought it would. also wanna write up a short disclaimer that no, i don't hate macaque. i like him alot, he's one of my favorite characters, but he's also a really bad person LOL and im just writing about the fact he is. i like that he's a flamboyant asshole, that kind of character is fun to me.

macaque has shown a lot of hypocritical moments during the show, some of the more memorable ones being in season 4, though he's done this before.

s4ep10 when macaque gives his (questionable) advice to MK and talks about how LBD and azure have been trying to get in his head and a bit about how MK's grown paranoid about that. totally not gonna mention that macaque was the one who originally turned MK into a more dependent and paranoid guy. nope. let's not talk about that at all. he's such a freak goblin

macaque insists that wukong left him behind or abandoned him during shadowplay and in season 3, but in season 4 we learn that macaque was the one to leave wukong under the mountain when wukong needed him most.

during their argument under the mountain, wukong says "...because you always rush to my rescue!" while he's upset. mean thing to say, but it's built in some truth if macaque's actions from the show are anything to go by. at every major conflict he's apart of, he flees to save his own skin. we love a cowardly weido! #slay. macaque counters this with "no, that's you! you're the one that's always running off, looking for more sources of power, sources of immortality!" which also has some truth to it, but the difference is wukong hasn't been fleeing any battles to leave macaque, he's been training and climbing the ranks in heaven to grow stronger to protect macaque and the mountain.

when macaque says "not the great sage, he's got to drag everyone else into his mess!" he's retroactively trying to take the blame of the attack on heaven off himself and the brotherhood and place it completely on wukong. macaque's acting as if he was unwilling and forced into the attack when he could have said no at any time. he's acting as if wukong forced everyone to help him when in reality to plan was mostly azure's, wukong was just their strongest fighter and the one who ultimately led the charge. macaque has a habit of doing this though, removing himself from a problem while pointing the blame at wukong. put a pin in that

wukong even says back to macaque that "you're not in this mess! you're still free!" which is. completely true. macaque's fine, wukong's the one paying for the entire brotherhood, including macaque's, involvement in the attack. and macaques out here yelling at wukong for it as if he isn't gonna be here for what he thinks to be eternity. macaque's fine, is what im trying to say here. macaque's not payin' for jack shit. wukong even says right after that that all of his training and "running off" was him working to protect the mountain and macaque. he says "everything i did, i did it for us!" and then macaque shuts him down and calls him selfish again, even though its pretty clear (with knowledge from jttw AND lmk) that what wukong's saying is true. macaque even calls him an "obsessive demon" which is so funny, thats like. stop yelling at the kettle, pot. macaque's entire identity is based around wukong, ur such a little hypocrite. if oneo f them had to be the obsessive demon, it would be macaque.

macaque then goes on to say that "i told you going against the jade emperor was a bad idea, but no, wukong doesn't listen to anyone! he just does whatever he wants!" which this whole statement is just so weak on his end. macaque warns wukong once, and thats when azure first brings up the idea of going against the jade emperor. he says something along the lines of "idk about this wukong, going against the jade emperor could have some consequences". wukong quickly reassures him and macaque smiles and is like "okay wukong, whatever you say". he says that very fondly. macaque's "warning" to wukong isn't much of a warning, it was a small thought that he quickly drops because wukong says it's going to be okay. macaque and wukong were extremely close, they should know the other's personality. macaque would have known that just a small, off-hand comment wouldn't even be considered a warning to someone as headstrong as wukong.

we can headcanon and imagine all we want that maybe macaque and wukong talked more about it, maybe they even argued about it, but none of that speculation means anything because canon only ever shows us macaque casually mentioning potential consequences that both macaque and wukong ignore. obviously to the characters, including macaque, the consequences weren't really that important if they never brought it up again. macaque is Once Again forcing more blame on wukong as if he didn't have an equal part in the attack or the planning leading up to it.

i mean, look at wukong's face here in response to macaque saying that! that looks like the shocked face somebody makes when they hear someone say they did/said something they know they didn't. that, along with the "obsessive demon" insult has wukong making a "what the actual fuck?!" kind of face. the one where you're shocked the other person even has the audacity to practically lie right to your face, yknow?

"you put yourself here, not me" macaque says, then he destroys the peach and leaves it on the ground in front of wukong, basically as an act of severing ties. macaque has, in his mind, been innocent the whole time and has no reason to try and stick around and help wukong because, he thinks, "well it's not my fault any of this happened". macaque is constantly playing the blame game, i think it's his favorite

NOW! onto this:

I'd also like to know your opinion on Sun Wukong, and why his side of the story has been silent and unspoken for so long. Eat you fruits and sleep early!

first of all, love eating fruits! apples are very good. secondly, i uh. sleep early. yeah. oops..................... (i went to bed at 2:30 am last night).......... but we're workin on it!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

I have a lot of things I could say about Wukong. a lot of things that i won't for the sake of brevity but in general, Sun Wukong reads as someone who's tired and wanting desperately to move on, while also feeling an innate responsibility to keep helping the world and defending people from large threats. that's why he takes on MK as a successor, because he wants a way to almost "pass on" into obscurity so MK can be the next hero. MK's young, excited, and in his prime while wukong is old, tired, and bogged down with all of his past mistakes that no one ever lets him forget. he's surprisingly really realistic and well rounded compared to the rest of the, ill be real, close to flat cast, which is what drew me to his character. he doesn't feel as tropey as the rest of the cast, he feels like you could assign him a trope but it won't ever perfectly describe him, which is really cool. he perfectly embodies his original character purpose, to represent the power of the mind, as he's constantly changing and growing and learning from mistakes. that's what makes him such a realistic character! he's built to be extremely human even if he's an overpowered stone monkey.

wukong isn't the type of guy to really open up about what he's thinking and spill his insecurities. during the journey, a lot of times wukong would point out a demon threat or would come up with ways to stop threats against tripitaka who, 9/10 times didn't believe him or punished him for his ideas. wukong's basically internalized the idea that he needs to play his cards really close to his chest, which includes his plans for fighting back against something or his own feelings. hell, wukong's only really started opening up to MK in season 4, and he barely does! the only time he ever truly opens up is in the s4 special where he's basically given up. and even then he's filtering himself and not explaining his side of things, just his emotions. its a start tho

that's basically why wukong's taking so long to explain his side of the story on anything, its difficult to have him do so and have it be in character because his major traits are about being closed off emotionally. unfortunately because hes taking so long to open up, the fandom seems to be believing macaque and the villains more and more, painting this really nasty view of wukong which is. so odd to me.

i also have some gripes with the writers for not using the only tool that could almost force wukong to open up or show his side of the story to do that. they show a couple snippets of wukong's past, but it's all pre journey stuff and it all includes macaque. we never learn his side of the story about killing the camel ridge trio or his fight with macaque that led to macaque's death. we don't even hear his own inner monologue or thoughts! and now the scroll is effectively out of play, so we arent even gonna get to see that stuff. which sucks

okay, for this one it's complicated. so, yes and no.

macaque only does the shadow play to torture MK and make him feel even more insecure about wukong. he says it himself at the end of the episode, it's why he gives up on the fight so quickly, he just wanted to torture MK, mostly for fun. (is this how you get your sick kicks?!)

MK has a habit of mimicking and internalizing everyone else's words and personalities. the most obvious example is how at the end of season 1, in s1e9 his entire personality changes when macaque trains him, and macaque plants the seeds of insecurity in MK's mind about wukong "abandoning" him. it gets even worse in shadowplay in s2, because thats when MK really start's thinking wukong's abandoned him and he's really putting himself in macaque's headspace. bro stop!!!!!!!! he's evil!!!! stop!!!!! he's a liar!!!!! get out of there mk!!!

so anyway, macaque's whole point is that wukong "abandoned" him to go be a hotshot in heaven and then to go on the journey and make new and cooler friends, and now MK's worried that wukong just did that again but to him. macaque knows wukong's not around, too, which makes this "lesson" easier to tell MK since wukong's not there to defend himself or to explain the truth to MK. macaque's goal though with the shadow play is to insult MK by comparing him to wukong. he's trying to fuck with MK and make him feel shittier, that's why he kidnaps MK's friends, because he wants to be like "wow you didn't even notice they were gone! ur such a bad person lol! just like wukong the hero!" when in reality MK's put himself in macaque's role as the warrior and is just thinking all of his friends abandoned him. he knew they weren't around but he assumed they just didn't want to be with him, not that they were actually captured. it's a whole mess that just makes MK feel even worse by the end of it, but it's still an interesting episode that says a lot about the characters.

so, partially, yes, the shadowplay is similar to wukong leaving mk during season 2 when you look at it through MK's point of view. but objectively? it's not even close.

in reality, we the audience know that wukong isn't just going on vacation, he's actively looking for ways to stop the lady bone demon and doing research. he's finding ancient temples and scouring through their information, he's interrogating anyone who might have a clue, he's very active this season, we just only get clips of what he's doing while we focus on MK. we see multiple instances of him searching for answers, we know he's trying to stop LBD. he isn't really fucking off and doing nothing (but for some reason the fandom thinks he did because pigsy says that??? so).

wukong leaves MK because he's trying to protect him. he trusts MK's ability enough to deal with the occasional monster of the week at megaopolis, but he doesn't think MK's ready for a bigger threat like LBD. he's still communicating with MK to give him advice, but he knows MK knows the basics and can handle himself well, he just needs the occasional push. he's not intentionally abandoning him, he's keeping him out of harms way because he believes MK isn't ready for a world ending threat.

so basically: we know that macaque is trauma dumping and twisting the context of the story to make him seem like some sort of victim that was left behind, that MK is internalizing the story to mean that wukong is abandoning him, and that wukong isn't doing any of that and is trying to protect him. it's a big narrative mess but it's a good one! we the audience know MK's going down a bad path for his mental health and we know that wukong isn't doing any of that because we can see it through wukong's words and actions that he cares about MK and is trying to help him while keeping him safe. unfortunately, wukong's a little too late coming back to the city and LBD starts her plan before wukong can stop her.

sorry this got so long! i think about them a lot

#critical . txt #🐒 critical watches the kid monkie show #oopsies its a long post #✉ mailbox

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