#also tall Sanzang rights

[the-monkey-ruler]

what year is the jttw animation where Wukong has brown fur and a circlet with a crescent moon shape?

Do you mean this one? It's called Journey to the West: Legends of the Monkey King 西游记

So officially the first movie (the start of the series and considered the first 4 episodes in the Chinese run) came out in 1999-07-23 and this is widely known as the 1999 jttw or jttw99. The real run of the show started around 2000 but I will say that you will only get results for this Wukong calling him the 1999 version.

He is also a fav! One of the best, if not THE best, cartoon versions of Wukong. Not only for being one of the most accurate jttw retellings but also for keeping that charming, clever, mischievous, and incredibly powerful Wukong. He is the ultimate grandpa being kind to his monkeys and sympathizing with lower celestials but also being ruthless in his attacks.

His first appearance in the 1999 movie is slightly different with him having redder fur but this is the same monkey when he is greenlight for his own cartoon series.

I hope this helps, if not I have the #animation tag in my blog where I haven't gone through ALL jttw media but there is a large list of animated Wukong I have gone through thus far

[violett-orwhatever]

I have come to the conclusion that I don't dislike macaque anymore and that I never hated him before either. I just have beef with his fans bc they are infuriating me (obv not all of them but there's a good amount out there)

Mischaracterizing aside (this excludes AU's do whatever you want, I'm only referring to canon compliant stuff) I feel like he gets too much praise

And I honestly think theres two reason why ppl originally started liking him from his first appearance onwards...bc he's tall dark and handsome or whatever, and bc Billy Kametz (and Alejandro Saab) has a seductive voice. You can't tell it's bc he's tragic or whatever bc in his debut episode his only goal was to kill mk which is why I didn't like him AND HE DIDNT EVEN DO THAT FOR LBD he just did it bc he was mad at wukong like what the fuck dude 😭

I started sympathizing with him later on bc he did get tortured and that's...a not good thing (I never felt anything about his death bc we don't know anything about that, since OUR JTTW isn't exactly a reliable source considering LMK's version has different lore in some places (for example not making tang sanzang the whimpiest whimp around ty for that creators))

Also hot take: I partly blame the samadhi fire incident on macaque. BECAUSE HE WAS THE ONE WHO THREATENED TANG TO FINISH THE RITUAL sure maybe he wasn't thinking straight and I understand that he just wanted to be free if LBD but in the process he got mei hurt

Wukong said he never ment for mei to have the fire, sure his plan wasn't thought out well but let's say nezha and macaque hadn't intervened, there's no saying for sure what he would have done but he sure as hell wouldn't have mei get hurt

Macaque also never got a redemption arc even tho many claim he did. He sided with the gang and helped out in s4 but that's not...real redemption. He just had some off screen self reflection and suddenly a good amount of ppl act like he pulled a zuko when he never even apologized for what he did!

wukong apologized more than once in the last two seasons but apparently he is the bad guy here bc he's stupid and a bad mentor and - that's a whole other can of worms bc i think they both equally suck and excell at being mentors (both of them got the right idea but the execution...)

Aaand this concludes this months rant

[phoenixeclipse-lmkau]

Phoenixeclipse JTTW/LMK Fanfic

Chapter 3 - The Hunter

Phoenix immediately narrowed her eyes, her hands clenched into fists as she prepared to strike. However, the person who came out of the trees wasn’t a demon or wild animal like she expected them to be. The rustling increased as a large man walked out of the trees. He was... huge, wearing tiger skin as clothing and carrying a large spear. He caught sight of Phoenix and raised his spear.

“Demon! You will die here and now!” He shouted causing the tips of Phoenix’s ears and cowlicks to flicker with flames, this was going to be very annoying, she could already tell that much.

Her hands immediately blocked the strike easily, as she grabbed the base of the spearhead and threw it to the ground. She jumped back a few feet and spread her wings to fly onto a tall tree branch. A deep glare covered her face but couldn’t be seen due to the mask. Crossing her arms across her chest she crouched waiting for his next move without a word. She wasn’t going to fight him unless necessary.

“Get back here-” The hunter was cut off by Tripitaka who shouted loudly in fright.

“Don’t attack her! She isn’t an evil demon!” He shouted as he ran in front of the hunter, clearly shaking in fear as he faced off against the man over twice his size.

She tilted her head in interest, humans are known to both help and fight against one another. She was curious to see what would happen, unsure what she would do if the hunter attacked Tripitaka. She had just saved him so it would be a waste to just let him die, and he wasn’t a bad human from what she could tell.

“What?” The hunter looked perplexed at the notion that she wasn’t evil.

“She just saved my life from two terrifying ogre demons, she isn’t an evil demon. You have my word, good man,” Tripitaka actually went down into a bow of sorts.

Phoenix looked at him dumbfounded, he just left himself open to be attacked and honestly killed but he didn’t seem to even care about that as he shivered. He was terrified but he was also very… what was the word she was looking for, oh yes stupid.

The hunter didn’t seem convinced but when he looked up at the branch to see that she hadn’t moved at all he sighed. He still looked like he would kill her given the chance, but she wasn’t too worried about it if his grip was anything to say about his strength. She could take him on, he was strong for a human but not someone strong enough to defeat her.

“I see, and who are you?” He asked before crossing his arms over his chest.

“I am the Monk Tripitaka Tang Sanzang, I am on a Journey To The West to collect scriptures,” He replied whole heartedly.

“A monk? I see! Come right this way, it’s nearly dark! You must be starving,” The Hunter’s glare quickly turned into an excited smile. “My name is Po Chen by the way, my cabin isn’t far from here.”

Phoenix tilted her head while she examined Tripitaka, maybe she should just leave them be. He would be safe and while she knew he was traveling west she had no idea where exactly his journey ended. With that thought she smiled before standing up, getting ready to leave only to stop when Tripitaka called to her.

“Phoenix! Come on,” His eyes were clearly hopeful, she wasn’t sure if she should follow him but with a sigh she found herself nodding.

She could deal with this for a while longer sure, she just had to make sure that hunter stayed in check. If Tripitaka wanted to stay for too long she could always just leave. Stretching out her arms above her head she jumped to the ground, following the duo as they made their way to Po’s cabin. Her eyes scanned the area, looking for any sort of landmark that could tell her where she was.

“You allow this demon to accompany you?” Po asked with a slight frown.

“I’m not a demon, I’m a mountain spirit,” She interrupted Tripitaka before he could speak.

“Really? You?” Po looked unconvinced, but Phoenix just shrugged she told him the truth it wasn’t her business if he believed her or not.

The trio continued to walk until they reached an old beaten path leading to an even older log cabin. Upon seeing it Phoenix stopped as she narrowed her eyes at the building, the aura of it was… off. Narrowing her eyes she scanned the house, he attacked her for being a demon an yet some sort of demon or spirit resided in his own house. She glanced at Tripitaka and quickly realized that he didn’t notice a single thing.

Her feet dug into the ground as she debated on what to do. Her decision was made for her once again when the monk turned around and gave her that smile. With a low growl in her throat, she clutched the bag strapped to her tighter and proceeded into the building after them.

“Oh guests, what a surprise,” A woman gasped, she was much smaller than the man and quickly bowed to both Tripitaka and Phoenix.

“My dear wife, this is the Monk Tripitaka and his companion Phoenix,” The hunter Po boasted causing Phoenix to glance at him, he was stressing about Tripitaka being a monk something was up.

“Ah welcome, welcome! Please come in,” She quickly ushered the two forward to a table.

“Yes, it has been so long since we’ve had guests,” Po added as he sat down, his wife quickly serving up food for the group.

Looking down at the food, Phoenix sniffed it cautiously, it didn’t smell poisoned. Honestly it looked like plain deer meat stew, smelled pretty good actually. She glanced at Tripitaka for a moment and frowned when she saw the pale look on his face. Confused her tilted her head ever so slightly as he gulped before quietly speaking up.

“S-Sorry but I don’t eat meat,” He said cautiously while staring at the deer stew as if it personally offended him, which she guessed it kind of did.

“Oh I’m sorry honored guest,” A sudden ghostly voice spoke up as his bowl was taken away, the bowl slipping from the ghosts hand rather quickly.

… GHOST!? Phoenix stood up shock in her eyes, her sudden movement sent her own seat tumbling to the ground as she watched Tripitaka scream as he fell backwards in shock. Standing before them was a short old man, half translucent and a warm smile on his wrinkled dead face.

Chapter 4 - The Ghost

[tiredconfusednovice]

I have to talk about this more, because I’m a shameless suntang shipper. Whether romantic or platonic. It’s my jam.

The fact that this is Sunzang from Wukong’s perspective is so sweet??? And heartbreaking at the same time. This picture is just so soft and his voice is so soft. Everything about Sanzang is presented in such a loving and respectful way (playful too, more on that later)

When MK reaches the temple (aka in game store) Wukong introduces it as a place where “wise teachers” can train you.

Sanzang is then introduced, and he’s bathed in sunlight and accompanied with peaceful music, and yeah like I said in a earlier post: very not heterosexual [x]. But, what’s really interesting to me is that Wukong shows off Sanzang before himself. There are two ways I interpret that, either he sees Sanzang as the superior teacher or as his equal. Either way, I love it, but I see it the latter more than the former.

Because, Sanzang could’ve easily been made the objective in the game. Put in a princess peach kind of situation; instead he’s safe in a temple. AND, he’s the key to beating the final boss along side Wukong.

Wukong presents the answer:

“Remember, not every opponent can be beaten with brute strength.”

And then Sanzang provides the skill, the actual training. It’s just…so wholesome??? Wukong and Sanzang work together to impart this lesson. Now, that’s not to say that I think he didn’t have a relationship that didn’t allow him to tease Sanzang.

^ This picture right here? I love it as much as I love the first one. Sanzang just looks so done, and the way he sighs just before the game shows an insanely ripped and tall Wukong??? I burst out laughing. You just know that Sanzang and Wukong bumped heads over this situation in the past. Brute strength vs mindfulness. You just know that Sanzang wore this look a LOT, and that it was probably aimed at Wukong a LOT.

The best part of this, is that the joke isn’t in any way meant to be mean spirited. It’s gentle ribbing; Sanzang’s approach isn’t shown as wrong or weak.

I will die on the hill of Wukong and Sanzang being equals, and that they loved each other. Faults and all.

Now to the sad part of this. Mei mentions that Wukong’s spent over 10,000(?) hours on this game. Yikes. It also seems like this game isn’t available anywhere? Neither Mei or MK drool over it, they don’t say anything about having played it before or having heard of it. It seems like it’s new to them. Making me think, that either Wukong planned on selling this game, but than noped out (maybe because it was too personal?) or he just made it for himself. As a way to remember his friends—his family.

Which I gotta say, not the healthiest coping method. 😬

[fff777]

.

I woke up early this morning dry heaving and I’m like I swear to god if this is because I’m stressed about the wyf situation I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself. I lost sleep because I woke up so early and started dry heaving and I am so tired now. Thank goodness it’s Friday. I’m feeling better now but jesus I was S T R U G G L I N G.

I’m not exactly stressed about the wyf situation, I was just coming to terms with deleting my fic. I do regret it a bit, because I was talking to somebody who made a really good argument for leaving it up. But I think that I needed to delete it in order to make it through what’s happening now. I may regret it, but I need to get out of this alive. Anyway, what’s done is done, I just need to get over the regret.

New information came up with regards to the defrauding (more on this later), and also apparently dmz deleting some posts/some posts being written by hired writers. Don’t get me wrong, I am not jumping back and forth between whether wyf is guilty or not. At the very least, he is a creep who tricks girls into coming to his home under the guise of an audition. At the very least, I can no longer read or imagine Fanxing the way that I used to when I was really into them. (I can, but it takes a lot of effort and suspension of disbelief. RIP to all those old fics I will probably never reread that were terrific.)

Anyway, I realized that deleting helped me so that I could handle reading news about the situation. It’s stressful for me to continually adjust my stance on the matter as new information arises, while also having a fic up. I know fic and real life are not the same thing, but the association feels real to me. I just keep worrying that at every moment that new information arises, I keep having to justify to myself why having the fic up does not mean I support him, and it’s just. So very tiring.

The thing I realized is that I don’t even have an issue deleting super long text posts I make on Tumblr. It’s the stat count on AO3 that’s making me wary because I feel like I’m losing comments and kudos or whatever. So I just need to pretend it’s a Tumblr text post and somehow I already feel 80% better. Maybe I’m taking the “archive” part of AO3 too seriously for myself. I’m sorry to the people who might’ve liked that fic and might’ve wanted to reread it. I don’t even mind sending a copy of it to those who want to reread it, but I needed to clear the name away from my periphery so I don’t think about him for a while.

This person on Twitter said it best. Even though they didn’t stan wyf, they feel like they’re going through the seven stages of grief. And to get over this supposed grief of mine I need to do brash things to stamp down the bad feelings.

Back to the defrauding. The defrauding showed up on the news last night here (in Canada). My parents know of Chinese celebrities but it’s not like they keep up with current celeb news, so I explained the situation to them. I basically said he was being accused of luring young girls and my parents were both like wow what trash, etc. My dad was like how ironic is it that he played Tang Sanzang (a monk) in a movie when he’s doing this stuff in real life.

I spoke about the details of what I read with my mom, because, like, I needed to tell someone or else I’d implode. I told her that I read the interviews and she was like why would you do that to yourself and I was like I gotta, you know? It’s the least I could do as a bystander. She was like rip to you but I’m different but my mom is faint of heart so like we both understand she does it for her own well being. Of course she was very sympathetic, being like, men in power are always so shitty, etc. It was very freeing to talk about this stuff out loud to someone, like, orally. And it was freeing to think about wyf like how most people think of normal celebs. Forget the idol stuff for a second. If any other celeb I liked did this, I would not have been this invested. Even if any other idol was like this I would not have been this invested. Literally the only reason I am even a little bit bothered was because I wrote one <2000 word fic on him. God I hate myself. Someone make me go outside and touch grass. Guess the moral of the story here is don’t write fic.

My mom also knows about the rest of Exo China line because they are so famous and keep popping up in her celeb gossip mags and also she stumbles upon their dramas all the time on her lil streaming device thingy. To lighten the mood I was just mentioning how they are they are all in the same group and we talked a bit about their dramas, which helped me calm down.

Or so I thought. Because I woke up dry heaving. Maybe it’s just the accumulated fatigue over the entire week. Did feel very tired because I didn’t sleep though. I don’t think I was sick but maybe I was?

But anyway. I’m better now. Much better. 

P.S. My mom thinks that Yixing is a good actor because she watched one of his earlier dramas and she thought he made a good impression. She swears the drama was Back Kitchen but he wasn’t in that drama and after I did some research I’m like are you sure you aren’t thinking of To Be a Better Man where Yixing does play a lil chef-in-training? I’m pretty sure I’m right ;3

P.P.S A while back my mom watched that drama with Tao and Jackson Yee, Forward Forever, and she thought it was cute with minimal romance. She was like you young folks would like it. The thing that struck her the most was how big and tall Tao was because if Jackson Yee is very little :3 I might watch it because I did like Jackson’s acting from the Longest Day in Chang’an. Also I know they know each other from the first season of Street Dance of China and like, I want to know what their chemistry is like lol.

This started rough so I’m trying to end it on a light note.

[legendary-bard]

i did more genyattas

Menace

“You are a little menace,” Zenyatta chuckles.

The fat, ferret-like little dragon cocks its head almost quizzically. The little beast is currently covered in moist dirt, which clings to its scales like cement. The dirt came from the plant Zenyatta had been watering; the little dragon underestimated its size and accidentally tipped the pot right over. Fortunately it was close enough to the ground to not shatter, but there is soil everywhere, which Zenyatta will have to sweep up.

He gathers up as much of the soil as he can with his hands and deposits it back in the pot. The plant, which spilled out with its dirt, quickly goes after.

He gathers the dragon in his arms. It makes a soft cooing noise, nuzzling its overlarge snout against Zenyatta’s neck.

“Master, have you seen-” Genji walks in, stopping mid-sentence upon sighting his dragon. “You’re dirty! What have you been up to?”

He motions to take the dragon from Zenyatta’s arms. The creature affectionately slithers from Zenyatta’s care to Genji’s, wrapping around his neck and shoulders like a scarf.

“I think we could all use a bath,” Zenyatta says, brushing a clump of dirt off of Genji’s armor. The cyborg snorts, amused.

“I think so, master. Whether or not this little demon will actually behave-” He presses his thumb and forefinger against the dragon’s plump cheeks, and it sticks out the tip of its tongue- “Is impossible to tell, though.”

Patient

“This may be a painful memory for you, but I would like to know. You have told me how you became what you are, but what was it like, being in Doctor Ziegler’s care?”

“Being her patient was certainly not fun.” A laugh shared between the both of them. It’s an old wound, one that has been healed. His sensitivity and self-consciousness was alleviated by his master’s very presence, although he has made great strides on his own. “I was young and terrified of death. Doctor Ziegler told me I asked her at least three times a day- ‘Am I going to die?’- and I would forget her answer every time. It was very difficult. Possibly the most difficult experience of my life.”

“How did you manage?” Zenyatta’s interest cannot be expressed by his face, but his voice and the slight tilt of his chin expresses his curiosity.

“Without McCree, I would’ve died.” Genji says with faint certainty. “He gave me hope.”

“Doctor Ziegler didn’t?”

“She was my doctor. It wasn’t until much later she became my friend.” Genji recalls. “McCree was- I think- the closest friend I ever had, even before I was injured. Most days when I woke up he would be there, would tell me a foolish joke or some bit of news. He was the light of my world- Until I met you, of course.”

A genuine laugh from Zenyatta, that tinkles like a bell. “You flatter me. Did you ever try a romantic pursuit?”

“If he asked, I would’ve said yes,” Genji recalls dreamily. “But he didn’t, which suited me fine. I think I would’ve preferred to just stay friends.”

“I regret I was not there to help council you through your tumultuous beginning.” Zenyatta says.

“I wish you could’ve been there, too.” Genji gives a slight shrug. “But I think I learned many things as Doctor Ziegler’s patient. She and McCree helped shape me into who I am.”

Fiend

“You are a fiend,” Sanzang’s voicebox pops and hisses, a blown-out speaker. “A cut-throat, a scoundrel-”

“And you are a fool.” Oni responds. His voice is warped, mutated, bastardized by his new form. “A handsome fool, but a fool nonetheless.”

“You aren’t going to breach this sanctum. Nothing in here is yours to take.”

“And who’s going to stop me?” Oni growls. “You? No.”

Sanzang shifts in the rubble he’s been lying in. One of his arms is damaged- not irreparably, but he’ll need proper attention to it at a later date.

“If you get up, I’m going to kill you.” Oni tells him. He paces for the tall wooden doors of the monastery, casual as you please. He doesn’t expect resistance. Sanzang is broken.

“I’ll marry you.” Sanzang offers. His voicebox lets out a soft, snapping hiss.

Oni stops moving.

“Is that so?”

“Yes,” Sanzang croaks.

With Sanzang’s marriage comes immortality. Oni may be a demon, but he has not been able to grab immortality for his own. It’s a far sweeter prize than what lays within the inner walls. He paces back to Sanzang and kneels beside him.

“If this is a trick, I will devour you.” He says. “That is a far easier way to gain your immortality.”

“Is this not the sweeter way, demon?” Sanzang’s voice fizzes. Oni’s garish face and fangs bare in an unpleasant grin.

He scoops Sanzang up, bridal style, and carries him away.

Orphan

“Although they died, I never felt like an orphan. I still had a home at the Shimada castle. I had the elders, I had Hanzo.” Genji says.

“Was it nice to have a family?”

“Mother was kind.” Genji replies. “She tempered Father’s wrath. She kept me out of lots of trouble when I was a little boy.”

“And your father?”

“He didn’t know how to be kind. Our grandfather- on Father’s side- was not exactly a nice man, and he raised Father to be the same. Enough about me, though- I know so little about you, Master.”

“There is not much to know.” Zenyatta says simply. “I was born in an omnium in the northern part of India.”

“Ah.” Genji surprises himself with how frequently he forgets Zenyatta does not have a human upbringing. He is so humanlike with his words, his gestures, his dress, that it slips his mind. “Are all omnics orphans?” He asks, ponderously. His master likes to dwell on questions such as that, ones that are practical but have philosophical leanings.

“No,” Zenyatta decides. “We have not lost parents if we never had any to begin with. But that doesn’t mean we cannot find family.”

Under the visor, Genji smiles.

Crackdown

“I know this establishment is mistreating its omnic staff.”

Genji slams his palms down on the counter. The human standing there blinks.

“If you have a complaint, you’ll have to take it up with-”

“I’m taking it up with you. I saw what you did,” Genji seethes. “I was watching. You don’t put your hands on your employees, and just because they’re made of metal doesn’t mean it’s okay-”

“They can’t feel it.” The man attempts to dismiss him. Genji almost lunges for his throat, but Zenyatta’s hand grabs his wrist tight.

“Don’t,” Zenyatta whispers. “Let me handle this. Go back to our table, finish your drink.”

“Zenyatta-” He has to resist the urge to wrench his hand out of Zenyatta’s grip and get up in the human’s face. He takes a deep breath, pulls his hand away, and pads back to their booth.

Zenyatta and the human talk amongst eachother, indistinct from this distance. Another human comes by, a manager of some variety. The two humans discuss, with Zenyatta occasionally chiming in. The manager’s face gradually grows redder and more flustered. The manager starts chastizing the other, voice snowballing and gaining anger until he’s is practically shouting. The human employee sputters frantic excuses, and Genji watches with a wicked sense of schadenfreude.

Zenyatta floats over fifteen minutes later.

“A much cleaner way of punishing him.” Zenyatta says softly.

“What did you do?”

“I told the manager who I was and what his employee was doing. The manager handled it from there.”

“Ah, you’re famous, master.” He raises his empty cup in a mock-cheer.

He gets the feeling Zenyatta would be smiling.

Flirt

“Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?” Genji asks, sidling up beside Zenyatta.

“Oh, yes. I’m made of metal, I fell very swiftly.” Zenyatta has a twinkle of amusement in his voice.

“Zenyatta,” Genji groans, “That’s not how it works.”

“My apologies. Let’s try again.”

“Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?”

“I turned off my pain receptors, so no.”

“Zenyatta!” Genji brays.

“I’m sorry, my student. I promise, I’ll do it properly this time.” An electronic snort of mirth, and Zenyatta gestures for Genji to try again.

“Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?”

“There is no pain in the Iris.” Zenyatta replies harmoniously.

“Forget it!” Genji moans.

Revolt

“What did you think of your brother, Genji?”

“I think he looks ridiculous. Our father must be rolling in his grave.” Genji snorts. “Did you see his piercings? And that undercut-”

“I had the feeling that Hanzo was very traditional. I did not expect it.” Zenyatta nods.

“I thought I was the only one in our family who could revolt against tradition.” Genji sounds almost proud. “He surprised me.”

“Was it a pleasant surprise?”

“Oh, absolutely.” Genji snickers. “I think I still win. An omnic boyfriend, a cyborg body-”

“Green hair,” Zenyatta murmurs, and Genji laughs.

“You like my green hair.”

“Whenever I see it, I also see your wonderful face.” Zenyatta sighs.

Dreamer

“Do you dream, master?”

“Hmm. Not quite.”

“Not quite?” Genji questions.

“I don’t dream the same way you do. Every dream I have is lucid- And they’re not dreams, so much as my subconscious mind projecting scenarios and imagining. They’re like… Daydreams when sleeping. I do not have nightmares. None that I cannot turn back, anyway.”

“It must be nice to not have nightmares,” Genji says wistfully.

“I would take them from you if I could.” Zenyatta lays a comforting hand on his shoulder.

“It’s fine. When I wake up, I know you are there. That’s all I need.”