#what is an aid except a prison that has not been stripped of its glamour

[aloraaki]

Babbling incoherently

Saw someone else say something about the Pagoda being more of Li Jings punishment than Nezhas and I didn't get it. But it's been stewing in my brain and hhholy siht.

Like, it was meant for Nezha, obvi. It was given to Li Jing to protect him from Nezha but eventually it just isn't effective because Nezha stops trying to kill him. Nezha moves on, stops caring. No reason for the Pagoda anymore, Nezha's chill now. Other than the occasional nuisance demon, it's unused. No reason for it.

Except it is still there. It is still on his right hand. He never puts it down. One could assume it was attached to his hand, and in all cases but physical, it is.

There is no comfort in his sons calm, just the lingering fear, the nagging voice at the back of his head whispering "What if, what if, what if?" He cannot put it down. What could stop his son if he put it down?

He doesn't take the chance. He watches Nezha out of the corner of his eye, sends him on missions, on errands, keeps him far away. Nezha stops caring. It's not like the tasks are too hard for him. Li Jing finds himself fearing his sons boredom more than his rage.

The Pagoda, Heavenly Prison, Li Jings strongest tool. And yet, instead of keeping his son in line, instead of forcing his son into filial standing, all it does is remind him of his failures. Time spent with it is spent in tense waiting, just waiting, itching, nearly begging Nezha to step out of line. To justify his paranoia. And each time he doesn't, each time he is civil, Li Jing doesn't know whether to sob in relief or in hysteria.

The Pagoda was Nezhas punishment, yes. But it is Li Jings prison. He is the Heavenly, Pagoda Wielding King. He will never be rid of it. He will never be free of it.