#IC. ♞ ━━ « ruthlessness is necessary »

[warriorslantern]

@inmiasma || from { x }

"It's true, look at you."

The shadow waved a claw at the celestial, gesturing at all of him. Still, he kept some distance from Nezha. It was not out of niceness. Nor a respect for personal space. Not the other's anyway. It was so his own, the nasty little thing inside his chest did not like the god.

This was something he would have to look into later.

Lugu could feel it tightening around his core as if trying to remain as small as possible. It had never done this before. Still, while he was here—

"Can't you assign this to another? At least some of it? It doesn't make sense to keep the load purely on yourself." He hummed, leaning against the wall while keeping an ear out. "Well, I suppose that's your choice though."

"...."

"I have a request for you. There's some knowledge I am trying to acquire, and I need to check Heaven's library for it."

"Name your price, and I'll consider it."

[warriorslantern]

"I guess you could say that it feels like it earned it." He didn't exactly go down easy.

The range of emotions that passed over his expression was something for sure. Bafflement was a common one. Before he had been debating if it would be a good thing to tell the other the vibes he gave off made him want to bite him. But he found himself snorting in a strange mixture of confusion and amusement.

"Heavens above," he wheezed.

"How could you be 'pretty bad' with chopstick etiquette? It's like second nature to me."

"You're just that cozy for it, huh?" He asked, arms folded. "Weird thing to gloat about."

But, he'd be damned if it wasn't reassuring a little amusing, what he was interpreting as assurance - or, rather, if it wasn't, it was at least enough to lower his guard--

Until that.

"Ooh, they sound like bad vibes, too. Okay, I'll admit, I'm pretty bad with my chopstick etiquette, and I tend to leave hair in the drain, but I didn't think it was that obvious by looking."

[warriorslantern]

@6em4k || from { x }

The warrior's silhouette spreads over one of the nearby walls, a purr rising from his throat as he spoke. "Yes, indeed. It might be different in your world."

"But in mine, demons do not exactly have hearts. Their energy, their life magic, is settled in their chest." The shadow shifts to another wall, tapping a claw to his chin. "It forms the very same shape of the magic we took from the kid. You can do many things with it."

"Suck it dry with a seal, grind it to power for 'medicine', or a faster option..." He emerges from the wall, fangs bared in a grin.

"Eating it."

[warriorslantern]

@townofcadence || from { x }

"Aw, what's with the face?" the ebony simian hummed, slipping from the shadows.

"Just wanted to say hello to my second favorite person, and you treat me like a bad omen!" A smirk pulled at his lips as he stepped a little closer. "I'm so hurt, bud."

Stopping for a moment, he tilts to the side a little as if remembering something. "Oh, I saw a shopkeeper or something of the like when I was looking for lil you." Behind him, his long tail flicked back and forth. He should have bothered the fella sooner but he'd been busy for a bit. But hey! He found his latest toy easily enough.

Easy was, in fact, not the correct statement.

"He seemed fun."

[warriorslantern]

[Muse: Six Ear Macaque] [AU: Reluctant Hero] "Hm? Oh I-" A pause in speech as he needed a moment to register what he was looking at before continuing," Wasn't expecting someone to be up here yet and certainly not another me. Thought you were Mk coming up here, what brings you up here on flower fruit mountain or is this just a passing through type of deal?"

The warrior paused, taking in the sight of the other. His tail twitched once behind him before stilling. For a moment, there was silence. But then a low note left him, growing as the seconds passed. Laughter. It did not last too long, just enough.

He lifted a claw, wiping underneath his good eye with a finishing chuckle. "Never thought I'd get to meet another me," was the hum as he tilted his head. "Guess I must be real lucky."

He cleared his throat, muscles popping as he straightened up. "Nah, just passing through. Don't worry."

[warriorslantern]

"???"

Wow, he hadn't expected that. But hey, who was he to turn down an ego boost? The warmth in his chest was inconsequential. His lips curved upwards, a real smile as he gently squeezed the kid's shoulder.

"That's true, I am the best." The warrior moved back tucking his hands into his pockets with a low hum. His glamoured ears twitched once, and his head turned. He could feel a prick in his core, and he wanted to sigh. Still, the smile remained on his face.

"Well, guess that's my cue. See you around, MK."

“Well! I know I don’t have to worry about that! Because you’re the Macaque! And you’re the strongest shadow monkey I know of!”

A pause… wait can there be more. “Uh… do I include your shadow guys? They also technically count as shadow monkeys but they’re still… you. Ah! Forget it! The point is… go get ‘em, tiger!”

[warriorslantern]

"...is it done?"

The serpent demon drew back at his tone, he had waited long enough for them to arrive. Their hesitation didn't do them any favors. His head turned, magenta eyes settling onto them and the box they held between their claws. But they were not handing it over, despite their trembling.

"...I...my reward..."

He clicked his tongue, slipping from the shadows and landing on the ground not far from the demon. "Give me the box, and you will have your gold." He lifted a claw, staring down at them.

"I want double," they stammered, pathetic in their attempts to hold this over him. "This took a lot of work to get." The warrior sighed, head falling to the side a little.

"How disappointing," he mused. "I thought you would be smarter than the rest."

He watched as the shadows impaled through the demon, as blood split across the ground. He picked up the fallen box, having no care for their garbled cries. Claws smoothly opened the wooden container, taking a look inside. Sitting upon soft velvet was a mask, colored golden and red. He snapped it shut, humming.

"Have your meal," he cooed to his shadows, leaving the facility.

[warriorslantern]

@townofcadence from { x }

"Oh, it's quite the contrary."

The ebony simian stalked closer, before simply circling around the other. Fangs come into view as the other grins at him, sharp and deadly. The warrior and his passenger were aching for something to eat. Normally he didn't target humans, they didn't give too much energy. Not like yaoguai. Still, anything was better than nothing.

Besides, he didn't want to have his tag-along taking over him instead.

He supposed he should've had more tact, but hungry had it's way of controlling you.

"You're lost, Buttercup. Anyone with half a mind can see that. You've lost your way and you don't belong here." He crept a little closer, tail swaying behind him.

"You'll be gobbled up by other yaoguai."

[warriorslantern]

@siixkiing || from { x }

"Ohoho, come on, Monkey King. Bothering you is one of my favorite things!"

He plucked a jar from the top of the fridge, tossing into the air and catching it. The shadow stared at the king as he did, contemplating.

Before chucking it at him and running into the shadows.

[warriorslantern]

"How lovely, thank you for that."

Perhaps he will visit later. This had been a rather...interesting experience. He leaned forward a little, tempted to show even a glimmer of his true self. Scaring mortals was so fun.

But perhaps not, he may want to actually visit later.

He could do it then.

"Hmm...yes, I suppose it is." He pushed from the counter, moving to the door. "I like you, I might come by another time." The words were a purr, the demon disguised in man's flesh walked from the store. Finally giving up on his hunt for now.

"Right." Byron said, in a tone saturated with misgivings. He crossed his arms, to give them something to do. There it was, all he needed to know. His nose twitched in a pinch. "I'll be sure t'let him know."

His brows found their ways to near covering his eyes, just seeing that fucking smile again. A shudder stayed seized in his vertebrae from the way his limbs stayed locked. "Anything else, 'r'sthat all you needed?"

[warriorslantern]

starter for @dxwnxdusk

The night was beautiful and silent, just as he liked it. His claws scrounged around in the open chest of his latest meal for a moment. Now where did it go? It should not be too difficult. Perhaps he struck too deeply, and sent it out?

If he fucking had to scrouge around this area for it, he was going to be pissed.

Ah, there it was—

!!!

"Back off, this is mine."

His claw wrapped tight around it, ripping it out as he snapped his head around. His fangs were barred, the shadows springing to life around his feet. Claws like black tar emerged, tearing at the grass.

The forest had been a perfect hunting ground, away from the city. From prying eyes. He was not moving from these grounds, he always dropped prey to hunt here.

[warriorslantern]

"Don't you know you shouldn't come into alleyways?"

Blood stuck to his claws and a bit on his front. The rest of the mess lay on the ground beside the dumpster. He had no intentions of finishing off the rest of the body. All that mattered was the simple triangle-shaped object settled in his claws. It sputtered but still pulsed with the life magic he needed. The core would do well enough.

Not like its previous owner needed it anymore with the hole in their chest.

[warriorslantern]

@ryouscared || from { x }

His lips twitched, delight filling his chest from the look sent his way. The warrior giggled, not yet shifting from a silhouette to the physical world. "A grumpy one, I see," he hummed, the shadow across the wall stretching its arms over its head. "That's not too bad I suppose." The occupant inside his chest was slumbering for now, sated.

Joy, now he could have fun.

"I go by many names, you can select either Macaque or Lugu if you'd like."

He shifted up the wall, visage stretching across horizontally. "But that's not important for the moment. Are you lost, Spitfire?" He lifted a claw to tap at his chin, head tilting. "I mean, of course you are, you smell quite different than a normal occupant."

[warriorslantern]

He spared a glance to the other. "The king hasn't been around that long? Dang, guess he really didn't want to do his job."

The shadow leaned back, claws sinking into the grass slightly as he settled them on either side of himself. It was interesting, though. Why would the king just bail on the one place he 'belonged'? A new thought crept in, making his tail thump against the ground.

Things could be different here, it wouldn't be improbable for it to be the case.

But what could be different? He eyed Macaque, nails testing against the grass once more.

He was hungry though, he'd have to find something to sink his teeth into. That was another concern, though he could make it wait a bit.

"Least it makes things more interesting and keeps you on your toes, anticipating what will come next." The idea of things being the same was appealing to some but Macaque preferred the strangeness. That made life more interesting, not knowing what exactly would happen next.

"If you mean anyone else around it's just me up here with the monkeys that reside on the mountain. The kid comes by for his lessons and Wukong hasn't been here in centuries." It was odd to not see someone like Wukong here as he would normally be a permanent fixture to this very mountain. However, things were different here and he had taken on the role of the protector of this place and he would continue to do so, regardless of if his plan to save wukong succeeded.

[warriorslantern]

"Despite the thousands of questions I have in my head right now, I'm going to bite my tongue." || from tongbi wooo ||

"You intrude in my territory and think you would have the right to ask questions?" he tsked softly, shaking his head. "People have no respect anymore."

His silhouette stretched across the wall, spreading onto another one as it shook its head. He wouldn't leave the in-between, not yet. Playing with his food for a little while would be alright. It had been a long time since someone had dared to bother him. But the tightening of the thing around his core reminded him of the cost of losing this one.

Sigh. You let one go and you're never forgiven for it.

A large claw, wrapped in ribbons of writhing darkness burst from the shadows collected in one of the corners. It makes a swipe for the intruder, the shadow humming from his spot on the wall as he watched.

"You really shouldn't have come in here, ya know?"

[warriorslantern]

starter for @hismentor

They gave him a good run, and he will allow them to have that praise. It was not often someone spurred excitement from him during his hunts. Not since it had become easy. They were a speedy thing, tearing themselves through the undergrowth. His clones gave pursuit, keeping tabs on the prey.

He had spent far too long scoping them out to lose them.

The shadow was not trailing behind like other hunts, he was chasing after them. Adrenaline flooded him, filling that excitement to a boiling point.

Where he finally stopped playing this game. He was hungry, they were hungry. It used to be simple, just to keep the thing sated. But then he got addicted to it. Perhaps it made this unspeakable act easier. Removed the guilt and left him only with the need to fill his feelings and his magic. His shadows hissed in anticipation.

He struck, the cudgel shooting from the shadows to impale the prey's leg. Their cry ripped through the trees, the bird had gone long silent. "It's just you and me," he cooed, watching their impact with the ground. "I must say, you have given me a good chase. Not many do that."

He moved forward, each step greeted by hungry shadows clinging to him. They hissed with glee when he finally stopped before the crawling demon. It truly was no effort to keep them down, but he supposed he should give them something of a gift.

Lugu knelt down, striking out not a moment after. For both of their sakes, he would ensure this death was quick. The demon did not even have time to scream, coughing up blood from the fist bursting into their chest. Bones gave way easily like chalk crumbling beneath the force. Gore sprayed onto the ebony simian, and his claw reached down.

There.

Something wet and hard, pulsing weakly against his fingertips. He was far more delicate now. His nails scraped over tissue clinging to the object, cutting them from it. His mouth filled with saliva, he wanted to tear it out, but that would risk damage to the precious gift inside. He couldn't risk it with it connected.

Finally, finally, it was free. His shadows thrashed with their anticipation, their impatience. He stilled them with a snarl, trying to focus as he removed it from the concaved chest. His tongue darted over his lips.

"Perfect..." he murmured, brushing his thumb over the carved surface. The core fluttered against his touch, the hard surface almost breathing against his palm.