My DTYIS took so long, that by the time I posted it, I felt like it didn’t really fit my style or skill level anymore so I thought “why not do it again?” SO HERE WE ARE
Third times the charm✨😎
Me rambling about all the little details:
For this one took a lot of inspiration from the wrathful aspect of the Bodhisattva of wisdom Mahakala (I did a research project on him a while ago and the iconography stuck with me). He was mostly prayed to to protect troops during wars and battles so I thought it fit well with Wukong and his warform. The five jewel ornaments in Wukongs hair are reference to Mahakala’s five skulls, which also represent the five wisdom‘s. The skullcap and knife of course reference the spread of wisdom and destruction of ignorance.
For what Wukong’s outfit I thought since he doesn’t necessarily need armor, it would be fun to reference opera! I did have to change the colors tho from his opera outfit to better mesh with the color scheme.
And for the last bit- the ruyi bang. For my redesign, I included lotus buds that bloom when wukong reaches enlightenment. But I wanted to continue having the staff change with along with him- so in place of the lotus buds, I decided to put Dragon Pearl for the time spent at Ao Guangs palace. Dragon pearls are usually flaming, and that also reminds me of the Buddhist mani, wish granting jewels (which can also be flaming).
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Goodbye... but not farewell
In the timeline of “that fic I’ll never write”, this takes place about 12 hours after this.
Story under the cut :)
So, the morning after Taylor and John’s last night together in her bunker, which was also the first they—chastely—spent in each other’s arms, he packs his belongings, dresses nicely (because John Seed simply can’t wear sweatpants in public), and she drives him back to his ranch.
When they arrive, she stops her pickup truck a few meters away from the house… and from the small group of cultists gathered at the entrance, eager to celebrate the return of their Herald.
Upon seeing them, Taylor chuckles softly.
“Looks like they organized a little homecoming party for you”, she comments.
John, sitting next to her on the passenger seat, is also looking at them, a tender expression on his face.
“Yes. I’m back home, I suppose.”
His smile then slowly fades, and he turns to Taylor. When their eyes meet, she notices a hint of regret in his. He’s back among his brothers and sisters, sure, but she’s not coming with him...
“Well... I guess this is goodbye, then,” she says, trying not to let her own sadness show.
“But not farewell,” he assures, nodding.
The Baptist gets out of the car, grabs his coat and his bag, goes around the vehicle, and stops at the driver’s open window.
“Thank you for the ride.”
“You’re welcome.”
“In fact…” he adds in a low voice, placing his hand on hers but making sure that, from his followers’ point of view, it looks like he’s just touching the door, “…thank you for everything.”
She smiles fondly in response, and he just stands there in silence for a moment, seemingly studying her features, maybe trying to engrave them in his memory.
“How I regret not kissing you again earlier this morning when I still had the chance,” he finally murmurs.
The cultists are too far away to have heard him, but Taylor isn’t, and her right hand tightens on the wheel.
“See you again soon, ‘Deputy’.”
He hasn’t used this nickname in a long time, and she lets out an amused huff when she hears if. John, now mischievously smirking, discreetly winks and starts walking toward his ranch.
Although he briefly turns around halfway to give her one last, small wave and bittersweet smile (which she returns), she realizes each step he takes hurts more than the last, and that the further away he gets from her, the deeper her heart sinks into her chest.
It was at this moment Taylor knew there would be no going back.
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