#who wants to step up LOL
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persephone's relationship with demeter is so fascinating. her existence is just an extension of demeter, at first, and their bond is a never ending cycle of life. demeter birthed kore and the personification of spring came forth, but her absence leads to cold and drought to not just her mother's heart but to the whole world : it is a deep connection between the child x the creator and so much more ( ... ) i'll write kore as a defiant force against her mother but doing so in a respectful, wishful, and even adoring way ; questioning her place as only a secondary piece to an olympian instead of her own diety that deserves praise and fear as any other. a being refusing to go against what the fates have written, but wondering if she's meant to be just maiden of spring ( sometime i'll write how that defiance applies to hades as well and how far were her choices considered but i believe it is much more complex considering how the hades and persephone thing is seen, usually, and how many myths and tellings are of that story. i like the homer route and the goose tale, too, that little know of. anyway ). wondering if demeter is correct in keeping her just that, her daughter, and little else. the sensation of being held back. and later on, above all, fighting for power against demeter, as i believe gods of any size are in a constant battle for glory and power despite love and adoration for each other. i believe wholeheartedly that the mother x daughter relantionship is a fascinating aspect of our lives and usually the most definining one be it healthy of not. the same applies here. she's much more devoting to her duties to demeter once she has her own steady foot equal to hera and amphitrite's, loving her as spring does the earth and all its living creatures, but demanding equal respect and consideration despite demeter being her creator.
#and thus i invoke ╲ proserpine › about.#there is a moment in life that we look at our mother and we realize they were once a girl too#persephone does that but instead of it she realizes the power her mother has#but defies it when it is to be applied on her#she wants equal footing and can be cruel to demeter in attempting so#only when she reaches what she believes is just that she may question it and continues to love her mother as she did as kore#above all she's dutiful#but it is put into question how much agency she had in any of it#which is interesting to think about and it depends on the myth#reasons why writing myth characters can be maddening lol#i need affiliates demeter and hates for this asap fr#who wants to step up LOL
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you're a good kiddo
#rain world#rain world au#rain world oc#rw pioneer#rw huner#slugcat#slugpup#artificer's pups#ask blog#step-dad hunter 👏#the dad who stepped up 👉😎👉#a smol comfort drawing because yet again i want to do everything but my responsibilities#i'm afraid no asks will be answered until AF is over lol#a week more to go...#i really like the bg in this idk how i did that
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Time. Worried about Wars.
Time. Worried about Wars. Time is worried about Wars- Time has to be so freaking scared for Wars I-
Warriors is going into his first dungeon which has challenges for how he should deal with it, and Time is stressed. Ima rant about it
At this point (update Entrance) Time is obviously... well, terrified. His concern for mr. stubborn after his injury is obvious and he wants to make sure it does not happen again
And his concerns are valid- they are all now painfully aware of their lack of skills in working as a team. And they are heading into a dungeon- where that instantly results in stuff like this lol
And then Wars openly says that he has never done this before
The group is obviously uhh concerned that he hasn't done this or had any dungeon experience
'No dungeon experience?' / 'Has he even seen certain monsters before?'
Time wanted to stay in a group for safety- but they have to split up. Dungeons are cramped and messy and small, and Wars is used to fighting on a battlefield - not this sort of setting
And they still joke around about it- and Wars instantly starts analyzing.
'Tell me. Give me the intel' / 'This isn't practical'
Honestly Wars' response to this is pretty cool- it's totally in line with who he is as a captain and hero. He instantly starts thinking about it and treating it as a different type of battlefield to figure out strategy. Also I think it's pretty cute that he said 'intel' even if he's grumpy about asking the others for advice and what a wallmaster is
Wars can handle it and learn what a dungeon's like- I think it'll be fun to see him go through his first dungeon :D
But. He's still never done a dungeon before. It will be interesting to see how that develops in this arc... and let's not forget he's pissed the shadow and his emo sword off before. This isn't where he fights best and Wars is particularly vulnerable in a major way.
Time was already stressed about mr. stubborn Twilight, but hearing that the captain, that Warriors isn't prepared for this is. Extra scary. I just think he must be really concerned for him- for all of them. And now mr. reliable is in a learning position and not a leading one
Their faces fjdkfsjdksjsk
But these are his boys and he'll have to trust that they'll be ok. Therefore I think this was Time's thinking:
Time, thinking: "Dungeon. A dungeon oh this is dangerous- no one can get hurt-"
Wars: "can't say I've really been in one"
Time, absolutely sobbing internally: "YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE THE RELIABLE ONE"
.
Art by @linkeduniverse au :))
:)
Hey, don't worry too much about it I'm sure it'll be fine :) (mostly)
#looking forward to Legend stepping up since Time is out of it and Wars will walk in the wrong direction half the time#linked universe#linkeduniverse#Lu time#Lu wars#mr. reliable#Lu twilight#mr. stubborn#don't worry about the nicknames ok#they make me happy :)#I hope this post is ok... I love these guys. they're so goofy I want them to be happy sometime#:)#ya know I make a lot of assumptions on times thinking for a guy who doesn't talk that much.#he's terrified and stressed and all around not ok. pretty sure about that much lol#must suck to be Jojo's favourite character
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i think i saw someone make this meme the other way around but i wanted to make one that was more true to myself
#in a world full of bilbos someone's gotta step up w be the thorin🤚💯#listen i cant swordfight & im not a smith but i can make clay sculptures & i also have an unwavering sense of duty & loyalty so. who want me#also thorins of the world rise up☝️#also this is half a vent post bc i lowkey wish i had a cute bilbo gf lol oh well🤕🤕🤕#jupiter.txt#thorin#bilbo#bagginshield#lotr#the hobbit
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What?
#warrior nun#mother superion#yasmine amunet#well well well guess who managed to make gifs in a new and painful way after her laptop died and took quicktime along#sister makes gifs once in a blue moon#anyway i love these two and i've been wanting to make this for DAYS#my laptop dying was not part of the plan#yasmine's little nervous laugh kjwrjkwkjfsg#me: wn fandom step it up and give me stuff to reblog#also me: [makes stuff to reblog myself]#i'm a firm believer in diy lol#gifs and other visuals
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blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
#tomgreg#greg hirsch#tom wambsgans#succession#succession fanart#with open eyes#my art#digiart#fanart#succession season 4#me who hasn't stepped in a church in months: hmmm how do i make the tomgreg covet sticker thing about catholicism#it's up to you how you want to interpret this in your heads lol
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Any personal headcanons on Rick and Michonne as a couple? Like their favorite things about the other, what they argue about, love languages ect. lol they’ve set up camp in my brain and I just want more of them 🙇🏻♀️
this is so funny because i've been thinking about their love languages ever since danai did that interview with YNB after 1x04! yvette said rick's is words of affirmation and michonne's is acts of services, and I definitely agree but I also think they display pretty much all of them, and quite a bit? rick is obviously into giving gifts and loves quality time (family fun day, begging her to spend just a few more days on the road in 7x12) and to say they both love physical touch is an understatement. this gorgeous gifset highlights it all beautifully.
anyway, some headcanons~
I really don't think they argue about much? they are very in sync most of the time. historically their big arguments are about how to handle major threats (negan, the crm, rick's PTSD) and since nothing bad is ever happening to them ever again because I said so there's no need to fight about those things anymore
michonne's favorite things about rick are how affectionate he is with his family, his strength, his accent, and his hair
rick's favorite thing about michonne is everything
i actually think they talk about books a lot. they're both nerdy as hell in different ways and love that about each other
michonne likes to cook and is very experimental while rick likes to bake (mostly secret family pie recipes) and they love feeding each other and their kids
michonne absentmindedly sings and does little dances when she's doing things around the house and rick stops whatever he's doing to lean against the wall and watch her and smile
that scene we saw in 9x01 where they cuddle up in bed and unpack their day was a ritual they started way back at the prison, even though back then it was obviously platonic (we do actually see them talking when everyone else is asleep several times throughout twd). they would linger and chat before heading to their respective cells at night. in the six years michonne spent without rick, she continued the tradition herself, talking to him out loud alone in their bedroom
rick DEFINITELY teases michonne about being oblivious to his feelings for her before The Couch
michonne hits back by teasing him about Whatever the Fuck He Was Doing With Jessie 💀
you didn't ask for grimes family headcanons but:
after they got home, michonne has a moment like that scene at the end of kill bill vol 2 and has a near silent hysterical laugh-cry of relief by herself in the bathroom before calmly walking back out to join her family. only rick notices
rick on the other hand is afraid to let any of them out of his sight. he spends the first six months he's back home being a total insomniac watching the three of them sleep because he's afraid if he closes his eyes he'll wake up alone back at the CRM
antony azor who plays rj is apparently very shy and reserved but opened up unexpectedly with andrew lincoln and so obviously this is also exactly what happened with rick and rj. father and son bonded INSTANTLY
his first night back, judith asks rick to finish reading the wizard of oz to her because he never got a chance to. it takes a good five minutes for him to compose himself but she does finally get the full story from her dad
rick and michonne do have an actual wedding ceremony, but it's just for them, judith and rj.
#richonne#the ones who live#people should definitely reblog this and add their own headcanons btw!#oh i also have this very specific scene in my head but idk how plausible it is because i didn't watch enough of late seasons twd#so i didn't include it but it goes like this:#rick and michonne are just kinda wandering around alexandria and michonne has just stepped away for a quick second#and some random alexandrian (or whoever) who has never met him but knew michonne had a significant other who was presumed dead#and who also thought michonne was nuts for believing otherwise#sidles up to rick like oh HI are you new here??#only for michonne to suddenly appear and. with MUCH delight. be like oh HELLO KAREN have you met my dead husband?#rick is tickled. he has no idea what's going on but gets snarky in solidarity#i just REALLY want michonne to have many opportunities to be smug about being right that rick was alive AND for bringing him home lol
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Lois and Clark 2x13
#lois and clark: the new adventures of superman#lois and clark#tnaos#my gifs#my gifs: tnaos#they crashed into each other in the dark#after one of the lamps blew out#Lois stroking his pec is actually insane#it feels so intimate to me#like who does that to their friend who they are on an almost-first date with?#As easy as it would be to have them make out here or even go further than that#I'm kind of glad they didn't#and I love the way he's making it a point to not touch her and get too intimate#i mean i guess first of all they're WORKING doing surveillance#so they can't just make out#but they're also drinking wine so where's the line? lol#but also I like that they're being cautious#like at least they're making steps towards a relationship#but not rushing the intimacy part#although I think Lois would have crossed that line#if he didn't say 'i guess so' when she said 'I guess I should get up'#but ALSO we don't find out until s3 that Clark is a virgin bc he'd been waiting for the right person#and even tho Clark knew the second he first saw her that she is his person#Lois doesn't know that yet#and they're nowhere near making a commitment#and he's still not ready to even tell her he's Superman#someday I'm going to write an essay about Clark wanting wait until they're married to have sex#because I have big feelings about it :')#krista watches tnaos#dctv
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I know I’m posting a lot of like. semi-bitter stuff and especially posts with frustration towards the Democratic Party and the liberals who refuse to look anywhere but themselves when it comes to why they failed, as well as acknowledging the fear and anxiety that comes with what we’re about to go through. But I want to say, that despite all of that and the awful feeling in my chest, I have so much compassion for the world. I still think we can fight for a better future, that it’s not over. We got this. It’s bleak but it was going to be no matter what, and we can make it. The results have inspired me to get even more active and try even harder, and I know there’s a lot of people that feel the same. We’ll all support each other, and we will make it. It’s going to suck, and I don’t want to put down the very real fear and danger folks are in— but I also don’t want to give in to that feeling of hopelessness and doom. There are so many people all over the world facing similar plights, or worse, and the least we can all do is keep fighting and supporting each other! Again I don’t want to step on the very real anxieties and fears and sadness from the results of this year’s election, I just feel some encouragement is in order amidst all the fear. For every person that refuses to turn on each other and continues to stand with all those who suffer just like us in our own homes and all over the world, we will be stronger for it. Take care of yourself, and take plenty of time to cry and fear of course, that’s not wrong, but don’t forget it isn’t over. There’s still a lot of love in this world!
#current events#us elections#election 2024#palestine#don’t give up.#I’m putting tags on this but I’m bracing for some idiots to find this#if you are one of the liberals who still thinks this wasn’t entirely the democrat’s own grave and that it’s somehow third party voters#or minorities or whateve: kindly scroll. I do not want to deal w ur rabid fear-crazed asses rn and tbh you will regret saying these things#btw if you voted for Kamala it doesn’t automatically make you one of the people I’m annoyed with. it depends on how you did it#if you did it acknowledging she sucks and is condoning genocide but were acknowledging your acting out of self preservation?#ur good you understand where you’re coming from. as long as ur not blaming anyone other than Kamala and the Dems themselves#and the people who were allowing them to step all over them without vying for our leverage#not to mention the alt republicans. like they’re getting blame here too obviously lol
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Time Loops are they/them culture (Patreon)
Bonus of my little guy in ISaT style:
#Doodles#Pixel art#ISaT#Siffrin#Loop#And then I still don't have even a code name for smol and my time loop concept lol#I'm sure you can imagine my excitement upon seeing a time loop RPG <3#Not to be silly but the thought of either of us picking up the wavelength and running with it is fun to me haha ♪#I...may or may not have developed brainworms about it it's fine lol#Good characters! Good story! I'm always a sucker for a tragedy with bright spots <3 It's hard to even call the ending bittersweet tho hehe#It's very sweet! Like sugar :) Hehe#Shock of shocks I - person who has done this how many times now - liked the dynamic between Sif and Loop best haha#Is it spoilers if it requires past knowledge of my faves hmmm inconclusive lol#These were just introduction doodles - not even Getting Used To doodles yet a step before that!#Fun designs :D I like Sif's hair a lot <3 The way it's two-tone because he likes black! Adorable! And cowlicks hehehe#And eyepatch hehehe Sif's design is so fun ♪#What no my time loop shop keep lad having a hat like that has no bearing! I'm completely unbiased! Lol#For the pixel art I did directly just use Siffrin's hat in shape haha I just added the belt and buckle ouò#Man it's been too long since I've played with pixel art it's still so fun <3#Someday I'll get Aseprite. Someday#In the meanwhile it was fun to make their colour palette :D#I love that ISaT is in black and white canonically as well I think it's really cool ♪#Me when monochrome red 💕💖😭🤌💗#It is simply The Best colour palette out there I'm sorry others need not apply#Again my pencils and blood pen surely give away none of my biases because I don't have any lol#Hrmng I want SASASAP too pixel art cool - the glow up in ISaT is only strengthened by looking at the original closely!#Ah well I'll just admire at a distance until then <3
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omg it’s yujiro’s first song as “someya yujiro” what if i cried
#can’t believe i missed it the first time but aaaaaaaaaaaa#(ignore the 5s ago at the bottom this ss was from when it went up 2 hours ago)#but. guys… i can’t believe how much the someya bros secretly care about each other. brotherly love sure is sweet~~~~~#still waiting on the someya bros duet hw—#i want them to have flower symbolism like how the shibasaki bros have their dogesque selves x their cat-like lovers thing going on#n o you see the flower symbolism suits them bc y’know the longleg was like ‘you aint got any flowers kid’ wrt yujiro’s beauty#and yet shortleg says ‘your flowers will never wither’ which i g u e s s could be telling yujiro that he’ll be pretty forever y ‘ k n o w#and this is coming from shortleg who is allowed to perform kabuki [read: passes longleg’s unrealistic beauty (read as ‘flower’) standards]#w h i c h i guesssss could be taken a step further in that shortleg’s song was originally sung by flower on omoiai. hm. w ait a sec.#i think my tinfoil hat’s stuck on way too tight lol i dont think hw were putting this much thought into using flower for shortleg’s song#see you next week for shibasaki aizo’s debut single!!!!! (is joke)#i’d ascend fr if aizo’s wearing a matching necklace as yujiro (as seen in this illust) in his yuko song ‘mv’ lmao#if aizo’s solo really does drop next week (or the week after) y’all owe me one dollar
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back on my bullshit (meeting men im in love with). Ben Schwartz is so kind and tall :-) I didn’t totally freeze like when I met the Jonas brothers but the selfies we took are blurry so 😔
(at least I have these bc I told sam to record the whole thing heheheh)
#also the show was great#I had to slap sam many times bc she was choking from laughter#ben schwartz#bro how did i forget my personal tag for ben#ben schwartz my beloved#me#also forgot me tag#editing tags after the fact to recount the entire experience#so we waited outside for about 10 minutes and I had no expectation of how long it usually takes for him to come out and take pictures#he comes out without a mask which is surprising to me and says ‘you guys wanna take some pictures?’#we all just kinda form a non sensical blob (there’s maybe like 10 ppl total) around him#Brandon Katie and Eugene hang back towards the stage door unsure if anyone wants to chat with them#I’m gushing over how tall and handsome Ben is to my sister who is ready to record our interaction once he gets to me#as I listen to him chatting with the other fans I can’t help but smile and say to my sibling ‘he’s so sweet’ every minute#he meets someone who has a cool sketchbook of the skits from the show that he wants to take a picture of#but they need to write their handle so he says he’ll talk with some others and get back to them#so he does and then later I see the girl ready to talk to him again off to the side#so I tell her ‘you can go ahead and finish talking to him”’ and she’s like ‘are you sure?’ and I’m like duh!#finally it’s my turn and he looks at me and says ‘hi I’m Ben’#yes Benjamin Joseph Schwartz I know#he sees me holding my phone and immediately sides steps to get into selfie mode as I ask him if he’ll sign my Jean Ralphio figure#he steps back to Be in front of me ‘yes of course!’#what insane media training he has#he says ‘I’ve seen this! this is the first one I’ve ever signed’#upon seeing the figure he says ‘it’s beautiful’ lol#he’s concerned that the sharpie I brought will not show up and I mention that it was probably a bad one to bring because it’s pastel#he signs and holds it up (as you can see in the first photo) to make sure it’s visible#he hands it back to me and I thank him and he says ‘do you want to take a picture?’#and I say ‘I would love to!’ and then I hold the Jean Ralphio figure and he looks to my sibling assuming she’s taking the picture#she’s like ‘no I’m just here for moral support!’
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2024 reads / storygraph
At The Feet Of The Sun
book 2 in a slow paced high fantasy duology*
the right hand of the emperor (who is off searching for an heir) struggles with what to do after passing on his responsibilities and also discovering various pieces of information that are mindblowing to him, personally,
after adventure is thrust upon him, he travels to find His Radiancy and they go on some otherworldly adventures while growing closer and figuring out the nature of their friendship
(*there’s extra novellas & i think another book coming? duology adjacent, currently,)
#At The Feet Of The Sun#lays of the heart-fire#aroaessidhe 2024 reads#giggling and kicking my feet. and also crying#bro the yearning….the yearning#I can definitely see why this loses people - it’s so long and very self indulgent#(listen. i enjoy it a lot . but does it need to be THAT long (i just checked. 375k? lord))#but it is easy to read and also very funny. it felt less repetitive than the first book to me#I did find it hard to keep track of some of the side characters though#The first world-travelling stuff caught me off guard initially - I feel like all the weird magic was more background in book 1?#or maybe I just didn't pay attention.#taking a step back it is a bit like - kip sure does achieve everything and then some and just continues to achieve everything huh#and it gets to a point where it's like.....okay yes I get he's so talented at this etc etc.#but I guess it’s a nice change of pace from the kingly swordfighting fantasy protagonist who’s perfect and wins everything -#someone whose skill is people and negotiation in a humble way is a bit more interesting. still. it maybe felt less grounded after a while?#the deep exploration of platonic yearning and desire for strong friendship and fear over that person just wanting romance/sex#when that’s Not what you want out of the relationship………#not to mention his complex feelings over meeting two people who were like his platonic soulmate rolemodels#and then finding out they just used that term because gay relationships weren’t accepted and trying to not be disappointed#(because gay is also good!) but also like. so lonely in feeling like nobody understands his desire for a platonic soulmate#to be treated equally as romantic relationships are. oof#I am a little baffled to see people interpret it as a romantic asexual relationship?#I feel like that does such a disservice to the . everything that has been set up in what 600k words of books#like the implication of that is that you think other romantic rships w/o sex are unheard of in this world. I find that hard to believe idk#(I mean - a bit romantic on fitzroy’s end; and in the nebulous queerplatonic area between friendship and romance; sure#but like a straight up romantic relationship just without sex - I don’t understand how it could be interpreted that way lol?)#(anyway other people’s interpretations don’t matter)#I do have questions about the telepathic dinosaur soulmates. you can’t just mention that and now show me them#also. kip being like 'wait there were sirens? i wonder if i can hire them' kshfkjsgkf#asexual books
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HEY DIDU GET A LOT OF VOTING MAIL?
this is what the ACTUAL absentee ballot envelope looks like if you've been waiting for it and aren't sure if it's in the pile of other shit they send out!!!
it will have this logo on it and also specify that it is "official absentee balloting material"
every 'official' looking piece of mail i got for weeks i thought would be it and wasn't, my ballot was returned to the city clerk office so i went in and picked up a new one in person
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YOU CAN DO THIS TOO!! i am holding your hand, i am prepping a blanket fort for you to crawl into and hide once you get back, it's ok, we can do this<3
IF YOU'RE MISSING YOUR BALLOT, check vote dot org, or, just google your city/town and 'election office' or 'municipal clerk', you can go in and let them know you don't have your ballot yet and would like to cancel what they sent out and pick up a new one in person, you may even be able to just fill it out there and hand it back to them all in one trip!
i'll rebagel with some links i can get a better pic also if anyone needs sorry i was just sending it to the gc but then decided to also post ;w;'
#remembering now i saw another post that had this logo on it#but id forgotten OTL#im not sure if the envelope may look a little different if its actually Mailed and not Handed over the counter but prob just addresses#vote#just me#fucking FINALLY have this thing it was expected the FIRST WEEK OF OCT#i dont want to go up there a Third time but i refuse to just mail it back i dont trust it i am Handing this to a physical person#dont be complacent- remember hillary was 'so far ahead she doesnt think about trump' IDC WHAT THE STATS LOOK LIKE RN#we need to assume that Every asshole and racist and malicious bastard out there who can vote are going to because they Will#because its just another day to them just another act of bigotry whereas anyone with a#conscience is having a fucking nightmare of a time about it AND THATS OK me too bud but thats why we gota do it<3#a lesser evil is still less evil#pick the one that wont make it even More impossible to ever be able to get ranked choice voting so we dont *have* to pick between evils#we can pick good#but rn we just have to pick as good as is possible to Get there#im doing it you can too<3#there are so many step by step posts out there and vote.org really does make it ez but if you got any questions lmk#anon asks are on u can message u can email whatever lol idc if u need help to get this done i will do my damndest
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#Hi chat#don't you just hate it when you're working on a big project and you get suddenly woozy and slAM INTO THE PROJECT AND KNOCK IT ONTO THE FLOOR#ISN'T THAT FUCKING HILARIOUS LOL???#i don't even want to clean it up but if I don't Fuxi will step on it =_=#//Someone's sculpture took a tumble and she wants to commit various warcrimes#//low-key projection bc why am I so woozy? who knows? 🥴
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Rain (a Journey to the Au Drabble)
I wrote another thing! I was touched and inspired by @journey-to-the-au ! I wasn’t expecting to finish it in one sitting but my brain was afire, and I lost track of time so swiftly. I hope you like it and I hope I did your babies justice !
“Another day in paradise.” Earth Reaching Willow spoke the words aloud, soft and sad.
Then why did it feel like another day pressed between the pages of a book? The thought came like a tidal wave to the front of her mind, stirring and shaking Willows mask of serenity just a bit. No colors or sensations, just the barest touch of description was what the South Pole Palace had become to her.
Heaven was peace - but that peace was starting to chafe Earth Reaching Willow sharply. Here she stood, Eldest Daughter to the Jade Emperor along the railing of her favorite bridge in The Garden of Heaven, feeling the softest breeze curl against her cheek. The water beneath her did not stir with the breeze. The koi swimming beneath in their burning colors of gold and orange fire had the grace of clouds, hardly stirring the silt beneath them.
‘Why can’t I be content?’
She knew why. Earth Reaching Willow was able to eloquently pick apart her own thoughts just as she could with any noblemen or Celestial counselor that brought her gifts to bribe her hand.
Knowing peace all of her existence was beginning to feel as if she were repeating the same day over and over. Reading the same passage in a book, viewing the same painting upon her fathers study wall of bobbing cranes and water dragons. The frustration rose in her. But that’s all I can do. I view the things I hear of. Read of them but I, Daughter of Heaven, will never experience them.
She let that grace her father so prided her on slip off of her as she slumped to rest her arms upon the bridge. The same breeze teased her face again and also revealed she had, surprisingly, a loose thread upon her sleeve.
Earth Reaching Willow took the thread in hand and twisted it between her fingers.
The golden royal hues of her gown were pearled in the most intricate of stitches of willow leaves and falling blossoms, reaching downward from her arms to brush against the river that wove itself across the hem of her attire in a frothing and silent roar. Her handmaidens were so scrupulous in their fussing of her that she was surprised they had missed this little thread. She tugged and noticed the thread was connected to a stylized blossom on her wrist in free fall. It was forever stuck in its descent, never moving beyond where it was perched.
“Are you rebelling against the design of your Life, little thread?” Earth Reaching Willow gently asked.
She had been taught and schooled in being the epitome of serenity, in walking with a stillness and grace that other immortals and celestials envied. Willow and her sisters danced with grace, every motion balanced and calculated. That was the true flow of peace- to balance every motion to not disrupt the water around it. All the people of earth craved this peace, this very place that Earth Reaching Willow lived in.
She plucked at the thread. I am but a stitch in Heaven's grand tapestry. Just like this thread I’m bound up and frozen in a state of existing between.
It almost raised Willows emotions above that dam she had built within herself, almost swamping her in the feeling of stasis.
I cannot succumb to that feeling. She would not. Her finger came away from her sleeve with a snap that startled her silence. The thread she had been twisting and worrying at had come free. It waved in the breeze between her fingers.
Earth Reaching Willow let it go, watching as it floated down and shattered the mirror surface of the water. Ripples rolled from its wake, the most movement Willow had ever witnessed here. The carp swam close, investigating this intruder to their watery paradise.
“Be free Little thread. Be free for both of us…”
“Should I be concerned that my bride-to-be is talking to her clothing?” A warm buttery voice called from behind her.
Willow knew this voice.
“You should be more concerned you have yet to greet me this day, Husband-to-be.” Earth Reaching Willow responded, turning. Sun Wukong, Great Sage Equal to Heaven strode forward and took her hand to kiss it.
Of all the heavenly attendants and immortal beings in all the heavens of the worlds she knew, she was glad Wukong was hers. The Monkey King was dressed in his royal regalia, the armor shining bright in the perpetually perfect sunlight. He was dressed to impress. But it wasn’t to impress her.
Willow raised her sleeve to cover her face in mock flustered love, when really she was hiding her silent laughter. She whispered just loud enough for her dear friend to hear but too silent for any eavesdroppers to catch.
“How many are watching?”
Wukong looked up from her hand, hiding his own smile against her wrist.
“Two from beyond the wall and one from a bench beneath the pear blossom tree. I think if you entwine your hand with mine and if we make moon eyes at each other we may satisfy their curiosity.” He had a spark of mischief in his eyes.
“Done.” Earth Reaching Willow dipping her hand to clasp Wukongs fingers, laying her own kiss upon his skin.They pressed their faces close, cheek to cheek.
Playing at being head over heels in love was the most fun Willow had ever had. When Wukong and her and thought up the scheme, she had had her concerns- mainly with the retaliation from the simpering suitors that would be furious that a mere immortal had caught the Princesses attention. There had been protests of course. Then Wukong had declared his intentions, regaling the court with his great deeds and how, if he had to, he would champion himself and outdo all his previous accomplishments in the name of proving he was worthy of the hand of Earth Reaching Willow.
Well that had set the court to a flummoxed and outraged chaos. When Wukong and Willow had gotten away from the courts eyes and ears they had bent over and laughed, tears welling in their eyes. Yes Earth Reaching Willow had had her misgivings. But months down the line Willow loved the game they played. It was the most alive she had felt in all her life. She began to look forward to her days and meetings with Wukong, this handsome monkey who brought life to her she so craved.
After a time of whispering in each others ears (mostly jokes or riddles that would set the other to smiling) Wukong flicked his tail, their silent signal that they were alone.
They stayed close but relaxed truly now, smiles becoming wide and friendly instead of the flirty facade they played for court.
“We should start our own acting troop.” Wukong said, resting his arms over the bridge to gaze out on the garden.
“Oh?” Earth Reaching Willow raised a perfect brow.
“We are both actors of stunning caliber!” He said, tapping his chest with pride. “You keep pace with every act I bring to the table and have even come up with your own! Remember the Banquet of Snow?”
How could she forget? “We danced together so long that my own Father had to interrupt us! Then I fed you from my own plate and you me- I am pretty sure we left them all sick with how in love we had been.”
Wukong laughed. Willow laughed with him. He had that effect with his laughter, so warm and uncontained. The sound broke Heaven's peace in such a way it swept one up with it in a tide of warmth.
An edge of melancholy overcame Earth Reaching Willow then. I want to feel this all the time- this laughter. This light.
“Oh Wukong, I wish you would never leave.” She told him then, staring off into the water. Her thread was gone, either taken by the invisible current or plucked out of the water by some invisible attendant.
The Monkey King turned his head, ears curved forward.
“Now Willow, what has made you so sad?”
She shook her head, eyes cast to the water below.
“Don’t try and hide it from me- I know you too well now. You may be an actor but you can’t fool me. I’m your partner in crime, after all. I’ve seen all your tricks.” He jested, smile playing along his lips
“Oh have you?” Willow asked but her voice lacked the usual playful banter. Her mind had returned to the heavy thoughts of grace and perpetual serenity, of the mantle of sameness and here, with him, she couldn’t hide.
“Willow…” Wukong gently tapped her arm with his hand. “What has dampened your light ? My friend, tell me. There is no one in the Garden. It’s safe here.”
It was the softness with which he spoke that almost broke Willow. He had always been kind to her. She took just a half shuffle to the side, reaching for recomposure. If she stayed in his kindness she would have unleashed that tidal wave battering within her.
It wanted to get out.
She had to keep it in.
She took a breath.
Then another.
“Heaven is … Paradise.” The words came from Earth Reaching Willow softly. Only a bit- only a trickle of that emotion I will let forth. If I let it flow free I’ll loose that peace and I don’t want my Father to catch wind I cried in the Garden. Or to thing it was Wukong who caused it.
“Maybe a little rain or something.” Or anything her heart sang. A bird within a gilded cage.
Now that it was out- now that she had said it, her body felt lighter. A stone cast from her soul. If it had just been her, Willow was concerned she wouldn’t be able to cast off this pallor of sorrow with ease. With Wukong however, his vibrancy drew from her heart the deepest of her well locked up sorrows.
Wukongs hands were suddenly over hers, tugging Willow off and away from the bridge.
“W-Wukong what -“ Earth Reaching Willows voice faltered. Her friends face was brighter than any sunbeam she and her sisters had ever woven, some unknown emotions twinkling in his eyes.
“Come with me Willow-I have something to show you!” He pulled her off the bridge and out the garden, tail tapping in tandem to his bright smile and little laughs. “Come come- out of that stuffy garden with you!”
“Wukong what has taken over you?”
“An idea. A brilliant and stupendous idea! But it is a surprise so you must close your eyes!” He peered right into her face, mockingly stern. “No peeking! It will ruin the effect!”
Willow snorted, being swept up again in his golden glow of emotion. He is quite adorable.
“Alright alright ! I will cover my eyes!” Willow lifted her hands, covering her eyes from view. The smile dancing on her lips couldn’t be washed away by the tide of sorrow within her. Not when this burning bright flame of a person was with her.
“Wukong…”
“Not yet!”
“Wukong how much longer?”
“Not much farther! Just — oop watch your step here!”
It had been a short flight to this mysterious place Wukong had taken Willow and she couldn’t help the electrical feel of excitement ripple up her spine. Any other being covering her eyes would give Earth Reaching Willow pause. Wukong however ? This was her sweet monkey, the kind soul that had seen her trapped between unhappy marriage options and had come in to give her an escape.
She trusted him just as he had trusted her with his past, with who he was.
Wukong stopped.
“Alright Willow- let me cover your eyes now that I have you on a safe spot.”
“Don’t want me to wander off a cliff dear husband-to-be ?”
“I would be a terrible husband if I let my wife-to-be walk her way off a cliff. The Emperor would have a new monkey rug to enjoy.”
She laughed, smiling against his palms.
“You could never be turned into a rug my dear.”
“You are right- however my own mothers would make me one in his stead.” The laughter slowly faded and Willow felt Wukong lean forward from behind. He was warm against her back, the breath against the shell of her ear making her ticklish.
“Are you ready?” He asked. She couldn’t help the spark that set off in her limbs. Surprises in Heaven were always of the placibile kind. A new set of moon needles to sew with, a gown woven from the beard of a water dragon, a parasol that changed decorations by the phases of the sun- all orderly gifts expected to be given to a princess.
Wukong however was not of the Heavenly court. His gifts had never been of the ‘appropriate’ kind that those stiff backed men had presented to Willow.
“Yes.” Her breath came quickly now.
“Alright…” the Monkey King removed his hands from her face. “Open them.”
Earth Reaching Willow did.
And lost her breath.
She and Wukong were standing upon the edge of a mountain cliff, facing out to something Willow had only seen once before. The ocean sparkled and flashed beneath the warm amber sun that was beginning to set in its sea. Like scales upon a dragons skin, the ocean moved as if breathing, basking in the buttery glow of the sun. Colors came alive in the twist of the mountains beside them- upon the leaves of the trees as they refracted the sunlight. Something was rising from within her, a rush of feeling. What could it be? It was as if she had drunk too much heavenly wine, a headrush so clear and bright and so unlike the muddling effects of wine. Willow opened her mouth, to speak to gasp to thank, she didn’t know. She didn’t get a chance.
A great cloud of gray swept over one of the mountains, close enough to see its plumes of ink dark but not in the way of its storm path. Great sheets of water streamed down beneath its mass, diamond drops of water glowing like honey in the sunset. The sound! Her ears, if they could move, would have swiveled to catch it. A great Crescendo of sound, sweeter than chimes and deeper than flutes, fell with the rain. It made sound out of the colors and things before her, falling on that great oceans back, painting the mountain dark, and scenting the air with such a perfume as to be heady and intoxicating. It made her heart race, her blood feel afire. Willow took a half step forward.
“Careful love.” Wukong caught her arm, gently stopping her from getting too close to the edge. Willow turned to him and Wukong gasped. Her monkey reached up and wiped away something that was spilling from her face. A tear. She had been crying?
“Wukong …” she heard the emotion in her voice, that swelling water within her threatening to come up and drown her words.
“We call it a sun shower.” Sun Wukong replied, gesturing to the magnificence before them. “Do you like it ?”
The dam within Willow broke then. Her smile became as wide and bright as to rival the sunset before Wukong. She laughed, throwing back her head in a way he had never seen before.
“Like ? Like ? Like does not even begin to brush upon the - this - this feeling. It’s-“ How to describe this thunder within her body? Willow was eloquent and well versed in poetry. But all the poetry of the broad heavens and the words in all the languages known and unknown failed to compare what this gave to her. She could only laugh, only cry and only smile. “I Love this…”
Suddenly Earth Reaching Willow was vibrating with a radiance The Sage had only caught in glimpses when he had disarmed her within the court with his charm or wits. Wukong felt a glow of pride and love wash over him, seeing her in a way no one else had.
Earth Reaching Willow was finally alive in a way she had never been in all her eternity within Heaven's own Garden. Rain and sun, sea and sky had freed her and, if Wukong had anything to say about it, he would give her this every day for the rest of their existence together.
Earth Reaching Willow was for the earth after all. She was finally Home.
#hcwrites#writing stuff#for journey to the au#I got carried away I think lol#but Willows expression had me falling in love#you ever step outside into a sunset so painted with color that you momentarily forget life ?#Willow would be the kind of person who would enjoy the colors of life and never get tired of them#and Wukong is the most charming !#did I tear up writing about the sunset ? yes.#I wanted to be there with her seeing it#Wukong you better give her all the beauty of the earth#journey to the west#jttw tag#sun wukong#Earth Reaching Willow#ERW#journey to the Au#I blasted my fave music by Ellet Duhé writing this#I have been listening to her a lot to write - I think it’s the instruments she uses and the lyrics that make my mind explod#I pass out now I lost track of time and I work today pftttt#but when I don’t write and have the itch like this it keeps me up#brain fire exists#thank you for giving me permission to write your babies!#hcfanfics
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