#and if hell is real it would probably be meep city

[my-reputation-precedes-me]

just played work at a pizza place on roblox again and the nostalgia is hitting so hard i’m probably gonna cry myself to sleep

[dancingthesambaa]

The Smell of Plum Blossom Tea Ch 11

Summary: Just like a butterfly wing, a single act of kindness can change the course of the future, it certainly did for MK as a black furred monkey put out a hand towards him.

Rating: Teen and up

Chapter 11: It’s a Bittersweet Reunion

“Monkey King!” MK quickly stood up as he rushed towards his mentor, “it’s not what it-” he quieted down as he felt Monkey King glint ominously as he stared him down.

“You should probably listen to starlight there,” Macaque tried to say, but he sighed when the stare was directed back to him, but a lot more threatening.

“What have you done to him!?”

“Or you can just ignore me,” he sighed dramatically, but his entire body was buzzing in anticipation for the first strike. He knew how this is all gonna go down whether he likes it or not. So he takes a step forward with his hands out and says, “look Wukong, it’s-” then promptly stops as the Monkey sage takes a step towards him.

“Don’t you take another step forward,” he growled out.

“Look Wukong-”

“Don’t call me that.”

“I refuse to call you Monkey King, so Wukong,” he emphasized. He didn’t call him Monkey King back then and he sure as hell is not about to start now. “Open your fucking ears and listen, I’m not gonna hurt the kid.”

“Nice try, but I’m not buying it,” he watched his every twitch, just waiting to see when he would strike.

“But I’m not, you really think I’d hurt a kid?”

Wukong said nothing, but his narrowed eyes were all the answer he needed.

Macaque sucked in a sharp breath and gritted his teeth shut as his nails dug into the palm of his hands. He tried his best to ignore the hushed whispers in his head that begged him to show him real fear. Show how deep our shadows can take him. Show him how to see with one eye like him. Show him painpainpainpain. Then he let the air harshly out of his nose as clenched his teeth as he growled out. “You really think that low of me huh.”

“After what you did to them,” he shifted his foot back and gripped tightly onto his staff, “it does make me question a few things.”

The six eared demon couldn’t stop the jealousy and irritation that flowed through his mind when he heard those venomous words. Didn’t stop his hands from shaking nor his eyes or ears from twitching.

“What were you doing with MK,” he repeated himself.

“Oh some herb gathering, I’m out of stock you know,” he sarcastically said.

“If you're going to lie, at least think of a more feasible story,” Mac really wanted to rip off his tongue at that, “tell me the truth.”

“Or what?”

“But it’s true!” MK tried to say, but it seemed that his words were ignored.

“Or I’ll make you,” he let the golden energy roll over him as he stood in front of his student.

“Just try it,” he taunted as his own violent aura emerged and coiled around him. He knew where this was headed, but at this point he didn’t care, he wanted to vent out all his frustrations to this dumbass monkey for a long time. He sent over a glance to MK, who looked to be on the verge of a mental breakdown, to stand far away.

He heard it loud and clear as he opened and closed his mouth repeatedly before running as far as he could.

Then, in less than a heartbeat, there was a loud sound that blasted out as the two monkeys collided together in a burst of torrent energy.

BOOM BOOM BOOOOOM

They separated as the blow blew them both back, but Wukong charged first once more as Macaque sank into the shadows to avoid the attack. That didn’t deter the golden monkey as he activated his eyes of truth with a quick glance charged at one spot, only to block an attack from a clone emerging while the other followed suit.

“You really think it would be that simple,” taunted Macaque as he rushed in with a swing of his glowing staff.

Wukong easily dispelled the clones and side swept him with his own staff.

Neither side gave him as they instinctively began to run further toward the mountain while still attacking one another.

Both monkeys are opposite of one another in many ways, but those differences seem to not matter when face to face with each other as they both counter each other's moves.

When Wukong became a bird and flew high to drop down into a tiger, Macaque manipulated his shadows to tackle him out of mid air and send him spiraling to become a crater on the ground.

When Macaque tried to grapple him from behind and throw him to the mountain side, Wukong nimbly dodged and sent him a sidekick to the side.

When Wukong sent out a flurry of blows, Macaque easily blocked each strike with his own staff.

When Macaque attempts to kick him to the mountain and pin him there, Wukong jumps high and hurdles him away from him.

When one attacks, the other counter.

When the other strikes, one will block.

It was almost an endless cycle.

It may have been a long time since they last saw each other, but the knowledge and the instinct that was left upon them never failed for a second. So, with both monkeys equally matched it would lead to a stand still as neither side gave in or could push enough.

So how would this end?

With both sides killing the other off with one final blast, leaving the mountain and perhaps even part of the city in ruins?

Not quite. Actually it would end when MK had enough of this stupid fight and recklessly charges in.

“STOOPPP!” He yelled out as he made the final jump and stood in between the two enraged monkeys. He knows this is a very stupid move that he is gonna get lectured on later, but he thinks that this is the only way to stop the two of them from fighting.

And he was right. Both monkeys' eyes widened in horror as they saw where their attack was heading.

“MK/STARLIGHT!” They both screamed as both of them immediately aborted their powered up blast and screeched to a halt before they could run into him.

The sage monkey could feel his heart drilling in his ears as he was so grateful that he managed to stop when he did. Before he could grab his kid, another force beat him to it as he saw Macaque rush over to him. He sprinted over there to stop him from hurting him but it was too late as the black furred monkey grabbed MK, picked him up…and began to examine him frantically?

“Are you okay? Did you get hit? Did the excess release of the energy seep out and injure you? Do you feel any nausea, headaches, dizziness, need to run around and blow shit up, bloody nose?” He began to search not only his physical self, but his inner self in both body and spirit. He may train him and Mei to the ground every session and make them wish they wanted to rip out their own bones, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t take the utmost care of them. Hence why they have never left training with any broken bones or fractures alike, this is probably why everyone calls him a worrywart.

‘…what?’ Wukong blinked at the scene in front of him.

“I’m fine,” he tried to push the hands off him and focus him back on what was previously happening.

“That still doesn’t take away from the fact that you recklessly charged into the fight and almost got yourself killed!” He hissed out.

“Meep,” he lowered his head as he remembered, right, his Dad could care less if the world was burning around them if he was hurt in any way. Though that doesn’t stop the warm feeling in his gut at the thought.

“Ummm, what’s happening?” Monkey King couldn’t help but ask as he stepped forward, only to be stopped by Macaque turning to him, as he pushed MK behind him, and let out a short snarl to him with his eyes burning a bright violet.

He only stopped once he realized just who he was looking at and remembered what just happened not even a minute ago as he slowly eased his posture. But even when his eyes were focused on the monkey in front, he still kept three of his ears to MK behind.

“Wouldn’t you like to know tinker bell,” he couldn’t help grunting out.

“Okay, first off rude and secondly, I just want to know what you're doing with my student?” He rolled his eyes cause at this point he sorta figured out that he may have been slightly wrong about something. He just can’t put his finger on what.

“Oh now you want to talk,” the medicine monkey huffed, “would have been a nice idea before you decided to up and try to kill me.”

“I wasn’t going to kill you,” Wukong immediately said. “Just knock you out,” and that was the solid truth. He may not see eye to eye with him anymore, but he will not take away his life. He refuses to.

“Oh cause that’s so much better.”

“Would you rather you be a hundred feet underground?”

“As if you can manage that, I felt that last punch, it seems you are slacking old man,” he gave him a nasty smile.

“By only a thousand year!” His eye twitched at the age-old insult.

“Keep telling yourself that old man.”

“There may be a standstill but that still won’t stop me from throwing your scrawny ass off this mountain!”

“I would rather not,” both monkeys startled at the sound of MK's voice and they quickly backed away from each other as they just realized how close they were standing to the other. “I rather like my Dad alive.”

“MK don’t do-wait YOUR DAD?!” You can almost hear his neck snap towards his student at his words.

“Yeahhhh,” he couldn’t help but avoid those bewildered eyes as he rubbed his neck.

Wukong could barely comprehend his words as he turned his head to a very smug monkey.

“Surprise mother fucker,” he couldn’t help but say. He was very much enjoying this.

And for the first time, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, finally took a good look at his former friend and noticed that he has definitely changed. He couldn’t decide what to focus on, from his new clothes, his long mane (which really threw him for a loop), his sleek fur, or his very sparkly nails. But he decided it was probably best to focus on the human he is actually willing to protect as he formed up an articulate question in his head out loud.

“Dad?” Nope, he was still very thrown off about this. Macaque is a Dad?!? Are we still talking about the same angst demon monkey that would barely even stand the presence of others let alone a human child?!

“Huh, congratulations. I think you finally broke what was left of his brain no matter how small it may have been,” he complimented his child.

“I really wasn’t trying,” he sighed as he stepped closer.

“Then that’s even more pathetic on his part.”

“I’m still here,” Wukong couldn’t help but announce.

“Oh really I thought you left,” Macaque sarcastically said, “well since you're here then I guess you finally have time to listen or are you just gonna be an impulsive idiot again.”

“Okay, I’ll admit that I may have jumped the gun, but can you blame me for thinking that you would try something to get back at me?!” He shouted back, not knowing the fuse he had lit.

“Excuse me!?” At this point the demon monkey was fed up as he began to march back over to the sage monkey to start round two. He hoped he did not imply what he thought he did.

“I-I mean you used to never do this before,” he quickly said to calm down the enraged monkey, though he probably should have listened to MK frantic hand movements as they all gestured him to basically ‘shut up before you get killed.’

“I ‘used’ to! Past tense you egotistical fool! People-demons-I can change! I have changed, I know I am not the same demon I was thousands of years ago!” He had to stop himself from dragging his hands to that pretty little throat/begging him to understand. “I am not the same.”

“And you just happen to stumble upon a human who so happens to be able to pick up my staff?” He said in disbelief.

“Want to hear something shocking? Yes! I did! I found him and I adopted him cause I could, cause I wanted to, cause I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving him alone! So get off your high horse and come down to the rest of us beings, cause the world doesn’t revolve around you Sun Wukong.” Macaque could barely hold in his anger as he spat out his name.

Wukong didn’t even flinch as he held his ground, he knows that people can change, he sure as fuck had, but right now he wants to make sure that the demon in front of him had changed for the better. He knows he is driving a bigger gap between them than before (hurtpainpainwhydontdoithetribematefriend) but he can’t take any chances, especially with the kid involved in their mess. “That still doesn’t mean that you won’t try to use him against me like before!”

And it was that moment that the fuse hit the combustion and Macaque erupted in a glorious and deadly violet light as he smashed his right fist into the mountain side and moments later, that came crumbling down.

“How dare you,” the low voice harshly echoed out.

“Wha-”

“How fucking DARE YOU!” Voices overlapped each other as a pulse of dark violent energy instinctively flared out towards Wukong, who was just able to stand his ground against the wave.

“Mac-” The monkey tried to speak but was abruptly cut off.

“How dare you accuse I would do anything to harm my child! Fuck you, you flea ridden coward! Here’s a fucking clue things change! I can admit I done some shit in the past, I screwed many over, and I damn sure stained red with the blood of innocent and guilty, but don’t you even dare for a goddamn moment that you never done messed up shit fuck face! But how fucking dare you accuse I would do anything to harm my child!” His eyes glowed in pure rage as he locked onto shocked golden eyes. He was done.

“No! No I don’t thi-” He shouldn’t have done this, he shouldn’t have said a damn thing.

“Shut up! Like fuck I know I made my own stupid mistakes and even when centuries have passed I will never make up for some of those, do you want me to say sorry? Cause I fucking am!” He clenched his robes to where his heart was as he gripped it right.

Wukong eyes feel like it couldn’t enlarge anymore as he reached out a hand to him, “Mac-”

“I’m sorry for attacking you and your friends so many times! I’m sorry that I couldn’t change my ways back then! I’m sorry that I couldn’t keep up! I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to stay by your side! I’m sorry for all the years you wasted being my other half!”

He is sorry that he spend all those years with his Sun, he is sorry that he couldn’t help but feel alive when he is with him, he is sorry that he couldn’t help but falling in love with him for all those years, but he doesn’t-will not say that outloud nor will he ever truly regret it.

Wukong feels everything shrinking in on him as he only has eyes for only one as of this moment. He could see the anger in his voice, the frustration in his eyes, and the rage in his stand.

But if there is one thing Macaque has always been good at, it is playing the part, cause he can also see the desperation in his tone, the misery in his eyes and the pure betrayal in how his shoulders are a bit too firm.

“Mac no! I-” He wanted to explain that he didn’t want this, that he was being an idiot.

“Shut up!” He didn’t want to hear anymore.

“Listen!” He wanted to explain it all.

“Shut up!” Not a single word, not now.

“Please, just-” He needs to tell him.

Then his glamor flickered as all of his scars showed on his body and his hazy blind one appeared as he bared his fangs and screeched out.

“I said SAVE IT BASTARD!”

It was dead silent on the mountain trail, no bird was chirping, no leaves were rustling, not even a sound of heavy breathing was heard. If you listened closely you could hear the beating heartbeat of every living thing, which was quite a feat unto itself, but it was suffocating to two demons facing each other on the mountain.

MK was the one who finally broke the silence as he walked up next to him, while making sure his footsteps were loudly heard, and gently spoke. “Dad, your glamor.”

That was what snapped Macaque out as he looked down to his scar filled hands and already instinctively knew the ones on his face, let alone the rest of his body, was prominent. So, he took a long deep breath as he held one hand over his blind eye and released it as he put the glamor back on.

“I’ll be leaving first starlight, yell if you need me,” he quietly said as he lowered his hand to reveal the scarless eyes.

“I will…are you okay dad?” He worriedly asked as he looked at him.

Macaque could only muster up a small smile at his child care as he ruffled his hair, before sinking into the shadows.

Not once looking back to his old friend.

MK could only faintly watch his dad shadow travel and as soon as he knew he couldn’t see him anymore, he whirled around to the Monkey King, who still had a very horrified expression, with a pissed off look, “What the hell was that?!”

“What have I done?” He hoarsely said as he still had his eyes on the traveling shadow even when it had long escaped from the mountain.

“I don’t know, maybe jump to conclusions!” He snarked out to the Monkey King for the first time. He respects him, he really does and that won’t change, but that he cares more for the monkey who raised him and took care of him for all those years. So yeah, he is getting some answers out of him whether he likes it or not.

Monkey King, who hadn't moved since Macaque left, finally pried his eyes away from the moving shadow, no matter how much he wanted to follow, and looked to his student. “I messed up real bad, didn’t I.”

“If you mean by indiscriminately yelling at my dad before he even had the chance to speak then promptly fighting him and then going back to yelling at him once more? Then yeah, you did,” he sarcastically said.

He winced at the harsh, but very justifiable, tone. “…so, he’s your dad?” And he still can’t help but ask, because Macaque raising a child was not even on his list of things he could have imagined.

“Geez, how’d you figure that one out?”

“You get your snark from him don’t you,” he couldn’t help but say.

“Oh yeah,” he unashamedly said, “he did raise me after all.”

Wukong wilted at the reminder, “He did, didn’t he.” It was after he said that was when he squatted down, gripped his hair, and let out a short burst of frustration. He doesn’t know if he can come back from this, if things were bad before, they are absolutely horrendous to the pit of despair now.

The student silently calmed down as he blinked at the monkey sage actions then a few things finally clicked into place. “You still care about him.”

“What, the books don’t emphasize enough of our ‘wonderful’ relationship to each other,” Monkey King couldn’t help but sarcastically say. He has read the book and let’s just say that there are some details so far off that it just makes him want to completely rip all his fur off.

“No, but dad does tell me that you were his first friend,” he plopped down next to him.

The Monkey King, “He talks about me?”

“Ohhh yeah, he told me all the things you guys did together. Like that one time where you tried to trick a corrupt ruler by disguising as a pair of priests.”

“To be fair, the two of us were really hungry and that buffet that he had looked real damn good, it’s not our fault that the man got outed in the end and was left on the cliff…well only a little bit,” he snorted. You can’t blame them for being hungry, but they may have had a rather loud conversation out loud about the extravagant feast they saw to a couple of people…in the market of the common folks….and as they were in the middle of a shortage. Things just tend to escalate sometimes, but can you really blame them?

“Dad just said that what goes around comes around.”

“That too,” he said with a small chuckle as he trailed off and sighed, “he was with me since almost the beginning. When I left the mountain for the first time, I didn’t have my monkey nor did I know anyone, so meeting him was a blessing.”

“He told me the two of you met after you ate a mountain deity offering,” MK said.

“Like I said, I was still new to the world and I barely knew a damn thing, but he was there for basically it all and has to be one of the main reasons I’m even alive today, cause I can be real and admit that he was at least 75 percent of my impulse control.” He remembered all those times he had run off at the sight of the newest shiny objects or the next food and the amount of times Mac had to drag his ass away from there before the two of them were caught. “And I managed to ruin that all…twice!” He moaned out as he gripped his hair once more in frustration.

MK just watched his teacher silently self deprecate himself, he knows what it looks like, and sighed as he patted his shoulder. “It’s not totally over.”

“I essentially attacked him twice! I know some of those scars were made by me during our first battle and his eye,” he stopped short as he could feel the bile rise up as he remembered the hazy honey color eye floating back into his mind. “I made him blind, he is blind in one eye and I did that. Fuck I did that…I can’t forgive myself let alone even think he will forgive me.”

“Dad can hold a grudge, but he can also forgive. By the gods knows how many times I messed up before,” he lightly jokes.

“You're his kid and by the looks of it, someone he cares for greatly.” He doesn’t think he has ever seen his friend that worried before unless it was aimed towards him whenever he got badly injured. There is a painful tug of something weird coming from his stomach at the thought.

“And you're his friend, someone who he also cares for,” he shot back. “The two of you need better communication, but you two aren’t shattered and crushed up by a horse hoof during a race, just a bit broken but it can still be fixed.”

The monkey looked his student in the eye, “You really think so?”

“Mmhmm, Dad has missed you for all those years after all.” If he was any less observant he would have missed his Dad's nostalgic expression whenever he told him a story about them or his sad eyes when he would ask questions about the Monkey King.

“He’s not the only one,” he said as he finally sat down from his squatting position. “…can you tell me more about him?” It was about time he got reacquainted with his friend, they had over five hundred years after all. Maybe it was time to go back in the world again and see what he has been missing out on.

“Well he likes to garden,” he switched positions and crossed his legs together, this was gonna be a long talk.

Wukong's eyes blinked rapidly, “Now that’s new, I remembered that when we needed food we would just go to someone's farm and take some food there, there were so many times Mac took out weeds by accident, but damn it we still ate it just for the laughs.” He gave a small smile.

“He still does that from time to time out of habit.”

“Complains about it getting stuck in his teeth?” His eyes brighten.

“All the time,” he agreed.

The monkey let out a short chuckle, “Is that why you guys were up here? To get more plants?”

“Well no, we were here getting some herbs.”

“Herbs? Like for medicine?” He shot straight up and tried to ignore the growing pit of horror in his stomach. “Are you sick? Is he sick? Are you guys okay?!”

MK quickly shook his hands to dispel the worries monkey, he already had one, he was not looking for another. “No, nothing like that. He’s…well I guess basically a Doctor, I mean no one really puts a name on it, but yeah he usually collects herbs for his supply.”

“I’m sorry, he’s a what?!” Great! And here’s another thing he could have never imagined that Macaque being! “When-how-why did he become a Doctor?!”

“Honestly, he just said he was bored one day and saw Ping making medicine and decided to learn from him,” he shrugged. He should be glad that the Monkey King has come out of his depressive state, despite his over reaction to his dad…though it is quite funny.

“Whose Ping?” He knows that this is not someone the both of them knew when they were still friends, so this must have happened after.

“Ping is the human who-” MK cut himself off as he realized that perhaps he shouldn’t just tell his father personal secrets to someone he just had a fight with. “…who is one of his friends, he can tell you more about it if you ask.” Which will not be any time soon.

“Yeah, I’ll do that,” he said with deceit dripping from his voice, totally spacing out when he heard the word ‘friends’. “What else?”

“He sometimes likes to do shadow puppetry in the theater.”

“Now that’s something I know he won’t give up, I remember that he was more dramatic than me when it concerns his puppetry.”

“That’s what I said and he still is!”

Now everything still wasn’t fine despite the lighthearted atmosphere that surrounded the two. There was still a bone deep hurt that needed much time to be healed and nurtured between the two immortal simians, but this was the first step, no matter how small this may be. It will take time, patience, and so many apologies before anything can be forgiven, but for now it was the time to learn and let both monkeys calm down. For when it is time to meet once more, it is needless to say that a certain impulsive simian is going to go full force.

The sun was setting by the time MK got back from the mountain, he decided to go to his dad’s place for the night after he called up Pigsy to tell him the small change. When he entered through the front door the whole house was completely dark and silent as not a single light was on nor a single sound was uttered.

‘Oh no,’ he silently thought to himself as he made his way past the living room, passed their bedroom and finally faced a closet where they stored all of their pillows and blankets. He gently opened the door and his heart dropped as he saw his dad there in almost pitch darkness, kneeling with his head almost touching the ground and his hands covering all six of his ears as he methodically tapped the back of his neck with his middle finger.

MK opened his mouth to ask if he was alright, but promptly closed it as he realized just how stupid that question was, so instead he quickly head out to gathered some items before coming back. He placed the bowl of fruit and water bottles on the shelf above, he gently pried his dad hands off his ears and put the headphones on instead, he made sure to wrap the weighted blanket around the both of them, and he gently redirected his dad head to instead lay on his lap after he closed the door and began to groom his dad mane.

And yet throughout this entire process, Macaque had yet to utter a single word nor even shift an inch from his spot.

The boy knew he wasn’t going to respond, but he still can’t help himself but feel a twinge of anger directed at the Monkey King at what he has done.

‘This whole day was a disaster and a half,’ he narrowed his eyes as he numbly threaded his fingers in the fluffy fur. ‘He may be a God, but he’s not infallible…he’s not perfect.’ And with this little thought, he began to really realize that despite status or power, no one can be truly perfect. Not the Monkey King nor any other higher being that claims to be above them all. It’s a cynical thought, but he thinks that maybe it’s more real than he can imagine.

But those thoughts can wait for now. Right now, all he wants to do is focus on grooming this fur and just being there for his dad.

In the forest when the moon was high all were mostly sleeping and all was calm. Though some were laid to rest, there were other creatures, both mythical and not, that were waking up to their nightly routine. Everything was the same as always and nothing had changed enough to really bother any creatures despite.

Not even for a newly planted Plum Blossom seed that lay deep within the forest.

[secretcolorbase]

this is a long rant about lapis' situation

even though SUF has ended months ago, we still got fucking zero character connection between the CGs/diamonds AND LAPIS LAZULI??

honestly she only finished her arc, but she got poorly written to the point that the funky bismuth/peridot relationship with her almost can be seen as a joke. yes, I'm aware that lappy laughs with them but for apparently no reason? everything is developed outside the show? I don't buy that.

I've been a bismuth fan for around 2 years since I'm new to the fandom and I really want to see her having a real talk with lapis. well I'm not saying I dislike bispearl btw. bispearl is 10/10

anyway. u see? peridot got the main CG+bismuth friendships/family. Jasper had 2-3(?) episodes in SUF dedicated to her and Steven. and she eventually would get along with the famethyst and amethyst.

what about lapis lazuli? besides default Steven, and a really messed up relationship with peridot, she literally has no other support system. peridot already knew that she could rely on others and be herself and happy.

I can't get over it. especially in SUF, peridot doesn't even talk to lapis one single time!considering the fact that peridot was the only gem that had direct relationship with lapis lazuli and the crewverse just...abandoned all of these?

my interpretation is simple: peridot has already get over lapis since she has ENTIRE CASE to support her. they might already have a talk, or not. hell, even Jasper got bigger chance to develop a relationship with peridot than lapis!

now Steven is leaving for his own therapy and development. I don't see any reason that can hold lapis back on Earth. she can do meep morps everywhere so that's not a point. she's a crystal gem but the rest of CG don't treat her like one.

lapis is afraid of being alone. that's her arc. now the gem who used to care a lot about her, aka peridot, has grown up and maybe even don't feel the need to have connection with lapis anymore. sure they will stay as friends, or even merely acquaintance.

it might be a bit too far fetched but lapis doesn't really belong to little homeworld. she has a house for meep morps. that's all. I bet after Steven leaves beach city, she probably is about to leave at the same time if PERIDOT didn't act as lapis' savior this time. relationship takes time and effort to build. the whole lapis' relationship net is basically based on peridot.

you know what? lapis is goddamn powerful yet thats totally useless when it comes to defeating loneliness. at the end it's gems personality that really matters. without peridot, lapis is totally wrecked if she doesn't want to make friends anymore. sure she could probably befriend other hw gems coming to little homeworld and maybe develop a healthy and meaningful relationship.yet it won't be our main CGs anymore!

show her with pearl? no.

show her with garnet? no.

show her with amethyst? no.

show her with bismuth? no solving the poof incident.

show her with peridot? hell nothing!

show her with Jasper? still nothing!

and they don't even care to show her with BD bonding considered that she was part of her court.

too late to the party though.

not to consider Steven, but peridot being the only gem that can maintain a relationship (not to say healthy or abusive) just makes me... feel sad about lapis lazuli. I'm not saying peridot is bad or something, I'm saying that that's the only solution which sucks. peridot can have sole control over lapis' loneliness since lapis basically has no meaningful relationships except her.

I sincerely want to see a happy lappy. yet with this SUF ending, I can see no Canon healthy relationship she is with. unless you want to count on gem OC or even like what I mentioned:bonding with BD and get high 24/7...then that's another story to tell then.

TL;DR: Im sad about happy lappys relationships. oh and it's 8:48am for me now lmao.

[upsettlspaghettl]

Empire City Con 2019

I can say with confidence that this has been the best weekend of my life. People will be so quick to say that the Steven Universe fandom is one of the most toxic fandoms out there, but in all my years of going to conventions, this has been the most welcoming and friendly by far. Now, this could be because it’s a convention based on one singular fandom, as opposed to the mishmash of fandoms that gather at other conventions, but even Bronycon was nowhere near this level of welcoming. Then again, I only got the chance to go to 2 Bronycons so I don’t know if I can say much.

The flight to North Carolina was surprisingly not that bad. I’m very prone to getting lost, but I left 4 hours in advance and I didn’t even need those 4 hours. But this was my first time ever flying somewhere completely alone.

I got the chance to meet Deedee Magno Hall, who signed my Guide to the Crystal Gems. Now it’s my goal to get all the character pages signed. But it’s got all the fusions of season 1, so chances are I won’t ever get the chance to get Sugilite’s page signed. Oh well, a fan can dream, right? Just kind of a bummer because she happens to be my favorite fusion.

She also validated my OC ship with Yellow Pearl which was super cool of her. Deedee is a really sweet person. While waiting in line to meet her I made friends with a kid, and he was fanboying like crazy. Later on we met somebody else, and we all did karaoke together. Then they got to do a group Karaoke with Deedee, which I was unfortunately too nervous to join. She said she would try do one with me but we never got the chance, but either way I’m so grateful. She’s a really kind person and I hope I can meet her again!

My part in the karaoke was still really fun though. Me and my 2 friends were having a hard time figuring out what song to do, and since the instrumentals were live, the people playing only had a limited number of songs they could play. Eventually we agreed on Stronger than you. But the instrumental team couldn’t play that one, so one of my new friends asked everybody to sing along and be inclusive. I got to to do the Peridot rap onstage too! Only me and 1 other person in the audience did that though so it was really scary and I fumbled a lot... but I’m still so happy that I got to because it was just such a good time for everybody.

There was actually a garnet cosplayer who’s act was right before ours and they were still by the karaoke lineup, so one of my friends asked them to come join us. Toward the middle of our act, this same friend spotted a Jasper in the front row, dragged them up on stage, and we had an adorable fake fight scene. I had to hop off stage right before the song ended to hug somebody in the front row who was crying. I was relieved to hear that they were tears of joy. In the end, they invited my group to sit in the front row with them.

Right, and Garnet’s act! They actually sang the original SU opening in German which was super amazing. Toward the end, there was a Pearl cosplayer in her Mr. Greg tuxedo who sang It’s Over isn’t it with Deedee, and a Yellow Pearl cosplayer who did an amazing Yellow Pearl-y take on Do it for her. So yeah the variety of acts was fantastic and the whole thing was just so feel-good all around.

At the very end of the karaoke, after everyone had gotten a chance and we were all just hanging out in the karaoke room, I was given a Spinel promo pin by a Mystery Girl. Not literally a Mystery Girl cosplayer, but somebody who I thought was just... well, somebody. They mentioned having extras from the movie screening in CA, and were handing them out to Spinel cosplayers. Of course I was hopping up and down being super thankful to an awkward degree, like I normally do.

That night, I told my roommates what happened, and they told me just who that Mystery Girl was. None other than Mackenzie Atwood, creator of the Pearl’s Secret Rap Career series. My facial recognition is terrible, so I didn’t realize at the time. I was lucky enough to run into her again the next morning during breakfast in the hotel lobby, so I got to thank her personally in the end.

Speaking of Mystery Girls, there actually was a Mystery Girl cosplayer who was especially awesome. Not even ten minutes after arriving at the convention, I see 2 Spinels who welcome me into their Spinel group. A Mystery Girl cosplayer is with them, and they hand me a pair of shoe squeakers. They look like tiny clear whoopie cushions, and Mystery Girl was handing them out to all the Spinels. I don’t know about everybody else, but mine drew a lot of attention from other con-goers because I was super happy and energetic at this con so I ran everywhere I went. People were always laughing and it made me so happy that I was able to make people smile. I’ll definitely be using them again in my future Spinel cosplays.

One of the people I shared a hotel room with was a Spinel cosplayer on the first day, and they were carrying an amazing Spinel plushie that I remember seeing a photo of on Deviantart, and later showed up for sale on Etsy. It was super expensive and I remember wanting it, but I couldn’t be jealous because I know I was super lucky to even see the thing in real life!

On the second day, I met a sweet little girl who seemed to think I was the real Spinel. She drew me a picture of Baby Spinel, and I gave her my drawing of Baby Spinel which I’d made earlier that day in the quiet room. Later on, one of the convention organizers was holding a game session, and this kid crushed me in a round of Gem Gem Clod... which is Duck Duck Goose, but better. Note to self: playing games that involve running when wearing pink high heeled boots probably isn’t gonna go well!

After some games, we made some meep morps. Somebody started a trend of drawing Lion on the little canvases we were given, but my Lion wasn’t coming out quite right, so after I finished drawing his head I just. put it on one single leg. You’ve heard of Leg Pearl, now get ready for Leg Lion. I was super happy about that too because I made everybody laugh.

Once we ran out of canvases, the organizer offered to take polaroids of some of us, so now me and this adorable little kid had matching photos, which we put in tiny pink frames and put a Spinel gem on each.

oh also! the game organizer had a tattoo on their leg of a bunch of anime characters, mainly the cute “squad mascot” archetype. There was Hawk, Happy, a few other characters, and Keroro! I totally freaked out over Keroro because it’s a relatively obscure series, and it was the first show that really got me into anime! I’ve always loved things like Pokemon and Naruto, but Keroro Gunso was my gateway to the anime community as a whole.

At around noon, I spent a little more time in the room where the games were held, which had some board games of its own, books, and art supplies and overall functioned as just a room to hang out in. There I met a Pink Diamond cosplayer in a pink schoolgirl uniform and an Uravity hat (really cute outfit!), and a goth Spinel cosplayer. The Pink Diamond cosplayer was a great artist and drew a really cute magical girl Steven. These 2 people also taught me what a vsco girl was when they were joking about the fact that Pink Diamond would totally be one. I was super confused but it was really funny after they explained it.

There was a cosplay fashion show much later in the day and I made friends with a Ruby and Sapphire while sitting in line. They were a couple irl and went on stage together and they were adorable! They were also both Hazbin Hotel and Harry Potter fans, so we had a lot to talk about. We kept talking while we waited in line for the Sadie Killer and the Suspects concert too, and a few other people joined us. I’d only just met these people but I really felt surrounded by friends.

Earlier in the day, while I was waiting in line to meet Kinetic Cosplay, I ran into an amazing Sour Cream and Buck Dewey. I got their photo, only to later see them on stage as a part of the real life Sadie Killer and the Suspects. Jenny Pizza was also on stage, but I didn’t see her before that.

While the convention was great, something also happened that scared the hell out of me. At NYCC just last month, I bought some very tiny stickers, one of which was Froppy from BHNA. When I got home and unpacked, it was gone. I thought maybe it fell into the fabric of my backpack, and if it did, there was really no way to retrieve it unless it decided to fall out again. However at the convention... I was at the registration table, decorating my con badge. I pick up my phone, and suddenly the Froppy sticker falls out of nowhere. It looked like it came from the phone, but I can’t imagine where it would have fit and gotten stuck. It kinda just fell out of the void. Either way I’m glad to have it back.

Lets see... I also got some pictures of the real life Mr. Universe van... and later on I ran into the owner of the van in full Mr. Universe gear.

The Garnet cosplayer was Cotton Candy garnet on the second day and I still can’t get over how sweet and nice they were.

There were some family cosplays. On the first day I saw a Yellowtail carrying a baby doll dressed as Onion, and then on the second day the same person was with a Vidalia cosplayer, and an actual child dressed as Onion.

There were also a pair of parents dressed as Connie’s mom and dad, and their kid dressed as Connie.

On the first day there was a Mr. Smiley which was super cool and unexpected, and then on the second day they were Bismuth. There were actually 3 Bismuths in total at the con which was surprising because that wig looks super difficult to make. Anyone who can pull that off is amazing!

The last day only went on until about noon, but my flight didn’t leave until the next day. I didn’t book my hotel room for that night because I wanted extra time in case I got lost on the way to the airport. Turned out there were free shuttles. I ended up in the same shuttle as that Pink Diamond cosplayer and her dad, and she showed me this adorable RPG game app called Wholesome Cats. We took some snapchats together and now I know what I’d look like as a boy...

Since there was a shuttle to the airport, that meant I was super early for my flight. Super early as in, almost 12 hours early. After going through security, I was planning to just sleep at the gate, but my gate number wasn’t on the screen. So I asked an airport employee, and he told me that I wasn’t even supposed to be let through security until the next day, which was when my gate number was supposed to show up... whoops. It wasn’t so bad though, either way I’d just be hanging out at the airport for the night. I decided not to sleep though, just in case. It felt weird late at night, when the airport was more or less completely empty. It was so nice and quiet, and the Starbucks was still open so I had a super yummy dinner of pumpkin bread and cheese danishes.

I think that’s about it? If you wanna see pictures, I’ll be posting them all to a public album on Gnomie Leviton on Facebook, and I’ll also select a special few to post on QueenGnomie on Instagram.

If you add me on FB please tell me your url! I only add people who I've talked to before.

In conclusion!

This was by far my favorite convention I’ve ever been to, because you could literally just go up to someone, start talking, and you’d immediately have an awesome new friend. I’ve never been to a con before where every single person was so approachable. It really felt like everybody there was one big family. I already have a potential roommate for next year, so I really hope to get back on my feet soon so I can go!

[poetryarewe-blog]

Episode 1 - Season 1 - META WARS

Hello, and welcome to Meta Wars. This terribly written and horribly campy episodic novel focuses on the users of a small portion of the internet. Do you like meta? Well, you should probably stop reading and go do something productive... you still here? Good! Well, let’s get into it, then. I do feel sorry for you because you’ll begin to experience the once in a lifetime literature that you’ll hopefully put down and put away very shortly. 

I didn’t bother formatting it from my Reddit posts because I’m a lazy bastard and hopefully- just maybe, you’ll forgive that. I’m warning you that this is an episodic novel written like an ode and is intended to be represented as a television show. I’ll let that sink in for a moment... Yeah, I know. 

Okay, enjoy and thank you. Please keep all hands and feet inside the viewfinder at all times. Any person will be lost at some point and will be discarded at the end of the ride. Have a nice day. 

(This “FanFic of Fans” is from an entirely seperate show that currently exists and you should go watch that.)

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#EPISODE 1 - Where Do We Begin / It's Starco! / The Visit

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*Where do we begin? Like an Ode we'll start with a long monologue from the author stating that he can't quite understand things. That he needs some plea for divine intervention to come down and grace the page, but we won't do that today.

Today we'll do something much more simple. Something that all can understand in the moments of these principles.

I'm going to tell you that someday these words will fall to no one and will be forgotten in time. This is fine. It's all meant to be. The love I've shown for a nice show, the posters that behold what's seen, the people that have come and gone from me. I've witnessed somethings and somethings I shouldn't have, but through the liars, and thieves, and grieving, bickering and trolling... A new world formed and in my mind it's as real as you can believe. A world where timelines clash and pocket dimensions shatter and weave what is read. Someday I hope it to be true for you all the same. Thank you. I love everything you've done for me.*

[What a miserable day](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0XEYrJkn0A), as I recollect, but you're not meant to know that. Hell, I'm not even meant to know that. This land, after all, is as mysterious as it is unforgiving. After so many years of debating and integrating, I don't remember much. 

"Jarco?" He pronounced in his Slavic accent. "It had been taken! Most of the Jarco kin were wiped clean by the storm or escaped and took refuge in the Tomar Kingdom... Rumors say that some Jarco refugees began to flood the gates of the City of Neutrality." His face went grave. "Some willingly lent themselves to the terrifying Starco." This man of legend, a leader among his infantry had been lead down a dark and convoluted path but now commanded his own army. Some feared, some taunted, but despite an indescribable reputation, most knew his name: Terepin.

The wooden room of the ship was muggy and the mood of the captain's room embodied this embattled setting.

At this point, his men were weak, tired, weary; most were hired from Terepin's own pocket, but his care for treasure was always a novelty. There was nothing worth more than vengeance. His mind was always wandering back to revenge- since a slew of downvotes laid waste to his wife, downvotes that a wandering Starco fleet had unjustly handed, as is the story of many posters.

"You do realize we're running out of time, Tere. It isn't on our side." The room fell silent as Kuriyan spoke. His men could tell you of Terepin's anger, but so could KuriyanBBQ. He said it with integrity.

Terepin grit his teeth in response, "Time is on no one's side."

His hired propagandists, Kuriyan stood next to the tacticians' map that laid before him. The large vessel swayed side to side, as Kuriyan attempted to keep from wobbling. Some of Terepin's other subordinates surrounded their boss.

"Starco is so... so strong at this point, with all the headcanon lying around as fodder." He looked down at the map that lay before him. "Five generals. CardButton, here on the peninsula. iLoppio at the foot of Mt. Retcon. Dark_Magus is patrolling between the Bloodmoon Sea and the great Starconian Islands. The dreaded Spoderman holds training for the novices at the Grand Device Estates. And FrostyJam is cultivating minds in the Great Library of Archives."

"Sir, the emperor." RedLkas, a mercenary, expressed slowly.

"You'd think I'd forgotten about the most dangerous man in the MetaScape? Unlikely. He's spreading the Empire too thin, attempting to keep watchful tabs on the Tomar kingdom now that they've gone canon." He laughed a small bit, but his smile fell flat. "He knows that his time is short. The sand moves slowly, but once the final grain stands, it falls like the rest."

"...Dramatic, sir." The mercenary chimed back while Terepin leaned over the table that lay in the middle of the room. His head shot to the side to look at the official that spoke to him.

"You bet your sweet ass. Now," He looked back at the map, "for the true matter, The Grand Estates. This must be the first phase of an attack on the Empire. Take this back and we take their western front."

"About the Grand Device Estates...my children," Kuriyan interjected nervously

"Yes, I know. When the time comes I'll see to it that your kids are found."

"You better stick to your end of the-"

Terepin slammed his hands down on the table. With enough force to crush the small figurines that were below. He proceeded calmly.

"Yes. Kuriyan. Yes, it is your rightful land. Nigh, it is your rightful empire, Starco. It is not your fault that it was stolen out from under you by the tyrant, but please have faith in me and my army."

The room of all Terepin's cohorts stood silent. Terepin looked at the door, agitated and exhausted.

"I need to see the Oracles."

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[It](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hb8aaoGUrw) was the eve of the shipping war, a war that had never truly ended but at the same time typically finished before it was over; this time was different.

Three weary souls gathered around a table with a map and several figures lane scattered. Terepin, Poetry, and Meep were all sweating profusely as they knew time was near... also because the room was hot. Three men inside a small room, inside the cove of a cave can get pretty stuffy.

"Sir, Starco has refurbished four more Jarco ships that lay waste from 'The Happening.'" Poetry warned Commander Terepin.

"Right, we must send troops to aid the Jantom supporters. Starco must not know it was us that gave them the weapons."

Poetry looked at the strategic table and then at Meep. "Meep. What's your advice? Is it too early?"

Meep had his feet on the table and leaned back in his chair- staring at the ceiling. He lowered his feet and fell with the chair, falling harshly- looking harshly at both his allies. He quickly grabs his knife that swayed from his pocket and stuck it in the middle of the map.

"Post. Here. An attack, not just on Starco, but the whole of The Metascape! With haste."

"Meep, you just stuck the knife in the island. Is he crazy?" Poetry looked quickly at Terepin. Terepin shrugged, as if requesting to be left out of the debate. "You're crazy. Do you know what that kind of retaliation that would bring? Tere!" Poetry held his ground against the eager Meep.

Terepin began to chuckle, the chuckle turned into a laugh, and the laugh turned into a gale of large bellows.

Poetry looked on, defeated. He knew that Meep had been there longer and even if his position *was* technically superior to Meep's, deep down, he knew. Terepin, being an Imperator, would trust Meep's word over his own.

"Pure insanity. The shields haven't gone down for over a hundred years." Poetry whispered.

Terepin settled down and gave his rebuttal.

"You do know what this will mean for us, right? Once we begin this onslaught we can not go back. Ever." He looked serious and serious meant something entirely different to Terepin, since the previous shipping war took his... well, you know.

Insanity was the least of his concern.

Meep got to his feet. "What post? What post?" He passed back and forth, his decorative prayer beads clanging against his scimitar-like chimes in the wind. "It should be a collaborative effort. A manifesto for the entire Marclipsian elite to adhere. Is there any way to get a runner to deliver a warning to Zero in time?"

Poetry huffed but knew it was the only way. To take a gamble, to go out to see and hope for the shields of the island to drop at that time. It would make Marclipsa canon if the island so happened to accept it.

"Terepin. What think you? Is Subzero ready to begin phase one?"

"I think this is the only way-- the only way we must forfeit ourselves to the truth. We must do it alone. Do not rely on that shinobi. We rely on nobody but our own. We rely on the force of The Spade."

"You don't think it is too dangerous? Once this happens we must keep our fleet in constant rotation. Every Ship from here to Statera will be crawling all over us." Poetry was a coward at times, but his attendance was necessary for the survival of the fleet. Especially since the destruction of the entirety of the Jarco armada lost souls to the maritime skirmish with Starco. The storm of Season3A truly favored the majority that day.

Meep threw something Poetry's way. It was a blackpowder pistol.

"Here, you'll need this. Protect your assigned platoon."

"I always do."

Terepin looked both his generals up and down. "So, it's decided, then. By dawn we--"

Suddenly a crash came through the now-open door.

It was RandomInternetGuy, bleeding from his arm. Gravely wounded.

"TEREPIN! I'm sorry, I tried to get here before—" He yelled into the room, he began passing out, "It's Starco! and--"

He fell to the ground. He slid down the side of the wall, his account injured nearly beyond repair.

"Poetry, tend to his wounds!" Terepin ran quickly to Guy and listens closely. "AND WHAT!?"

"and--" Guy could barely get out his words, "and the Studo clan." He said softly to his Leader.

"Boba." He whispered.

"Looks like old rivalries never die." Meep proclaimed as he begins sharpening his saber. "Let's fucking do this."

The Marclipsa troops headed out of their enclave hidden inside a large opening similar to a grotto. A dank, obscure place they called home for the last four years.

As the four generals exited the clashing of swords could be heard echoing through the mouth of the cave. Poetry, still carrying Guy, laid him at the foot of the cave to investigate the scene with the other two.

"No." Poetry said quietly as he looked on.

"Damn it! I really liked this place too!" Meep conceited.

A large cavalry unit was tearing through the flanks of the Marclipsa ground troops that were unprepared and mostly unarmed.

"Let's go. We'd need to get to our weapon cache and start supplying the troops with everything we've got!" Terepin ordered. "Meep, begin to focus on the Studo fighters. They are the lesser trained ones!"

"Right!" Meep and Poetry both agreed.

Poetry yelled to some troops on the side protecting the caravan of civilians. "AtlantaisatlantaBWRD, semper-S3XY have all children, and workers safe; begin to arm those able-users with whatever weapons you can find!"

Meep whistled. A black horse at the stables tore apart his reigns from the post and started galloping quickly towards the barbaric black-attired hero. As quickly as he was standing, he swung on the horse in one gallant move.

He unsheathed his saber. Meanwhile, Poetry began to position the cannons and mortars in varying strategic positions. With the help of his allies he rolled many of the artillery to their proper position.

He looked across the open battle to see Terepin on his own horse making his way around the back of the opposing army. "What is he doing?"

He rode quickly, quicker then he had ever galloped. Towards the devastating general that he knew was behind all of this. "Spoder, I'm coming for you." No man could stop him, and atop the closest knoll to the east, in a perfect position for strategic placement perched the one, the oftentimes mad General De Equis of F. Hawk, and besides him was none other than the great betrayer, PoisonousBoba. Her trinkets and heirlooms hung off her horse, almost as to contrast the astute and dapper looking Spoder.

Terepin yelled out once more "I'M COMING FOR YOU!"

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The Mountain had frozen the breath on his beard. It had made his feet nearly numb even with all the layers he was gartered with. He had no longer any material for fire and the materials he had left in his backpack had no use for warmth.

"Two more kilometers. Just two more." He thought. The idea of the monastery's warm embrace taunted. *Like a glass of water in the desert so far out of reach. Or even having access to ten thousand spoons and all I needed was a knife*.

His feet led him up the path, and his joy was beyond himself when he felt the first step, the first chiseled step of the monastery. Overjoyed was an understatement. His trek took him long 4 days and 5 nights, but it was finally over. He knocked, kneeling at the giant iron double doors.

**BLACKNESS**

"He came alone?" One monk said in a hush. "Why would you come alone, good sir?"

"He had to come alone, Rainpelt, he's here for The Oracles. You know the rules."

Terepin was coming to while being dragged by these anchorites into the heart of the foyer. They let him down on the bench next to the blistering fire.

Terepin recognized the voices of both disciples. One, by the name of Rainpelt, was the scribe and librarian of this great monastery. The other was the youngest learning of the hiatus- RK- who had helped Terepin in the past with much more than just his visits.

RK ripped off the bandana that was shielding Terepin's mouth- revealing a frostbitten beard.

"Now what is so urgent that you need to visit The Oracles at the beginning of the snow season, Terepin? You know this isn't such a time."

"Time?" Terepin quietly said back, coughing. "Time is always what we have while we remain here."

Rainpelt sighed and began to walk away. Knowing good and well that their visitor was fine. "I'll fetch the tea."

"Alright then at least you have to sense to give me the password; now how about the tribute, sir," RK said facetiously. "You must have brought a decent historical piece if you've had these visits so close tog--" Terepin interrupts RK.

"Theory Number 8: CardButton's Removed Post." RK's eye's lit up as much as the glowing thread that remained in Terepin's hand. The post floated, controlled just off of his palm.

RK held his hand gently next to Tere's and the thread jumped to the monk's hand. He grasped it slowly and the post remained in RK's possession.

"This will need to be studied immediately. Malthus and A_Penguin will want to see you."

["Well. Isn't that a surprise?" Terepin said to himself.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi7KDOAj4Xo)