#xiao's theme

[averaillisa]

[skellytron]

very!inlove dragon!bees in the vacuoan club :3

[hikato-chan]

I just realized that, from a writing perspective, Gongyi Xiao really had to die during the escape attempt.

He helped SQQ escape because he assumed that LBH raped him, imagine what would have happened if he was still alive to see LBH escape with SQQ's corpse? He would have gone to the CQMS delegation immediately and spilled everything he knew!

He's a good person, and he knows that he can't let LBH have the body of a person he already raped. But he also knows that he can't stop LBH alone, CQMS has to be informed about what happened. HHP will not help him. They might know he helped SQQ escape.

Imagine what kind of world it would have been for SQQ to wake up in, five years after his death and as such the death of the only person who could have said that LBH didn't rape anyone. People already assumed that LBH was doing something to the corpse in SVSSS, now that's just a fact! No idea how it would have continued. CQMS would have started a war, maybe. LBH might have been in a worse state, hearing people actively accusing him of raping his Shizun.

Gongyi Xiao had to make that assumption in order to help, but he had to be taken out of the picture so he wouldn't share that assumption with anyone else.

[clj-art-blog]

Tiny Moon | 500 years in the hands of beloved Xiaolanhua

[tumblingxelian]

There's this ridiculous narrative that going on in both RWBY subreddit: fans and critics alike are saying that Yang's memory is flawed (or even that she was lying) when she said that she basically had to raise Ruby herself when Tai shut down after Summer died. Their main argument is "Yang was 5! She couldn't even take care of herself, much less a toddler!"

Several works of fiction have five-year-olds whose parents are neglectful, emotionally defeated, or even abusive taking care of themselves just fine, like Matilda (Matilda Wormwood), Persona 4 (Nanako Dojima), and Kotaro Lives Alone (Kotaro Satou). Why are they willing to give them a pass for doing that, while saying that it's impossible in RWBY?

Yang's conversation with Tai before her sparring match in V4 doesn't work if this was the case.

I'm actually insulted by this argument because the mother of my oldest cousin was a complete and utter bitch who divorced my uncle, and cheated him out of as many supervised visits as she could by working overtime whenever she could. Combined with the fact that she worked an 8 to 8 job, my cousin had to teach herself how to cook, do laundry, change her bedsheets, and get herself ready for school since neither my uncle nor her mother were heavily involved in her life, kind of like Matilda, Nanako, and Kotaro. Gee, it's almost like fiction is at least somewhat based on reality. What a concept!

Sorry if I got a little rambly, but my cousin's experience and my own experience as an older brother cause this argument to REALLY make me angry.

I've had endless debates across Reddit, YouTube, Tumblr and forums alike with people who hold that exact stance and it is never not utterly asinine.

Even if we ignore the factual reality that lots of children, even very young one's often end up parentified and left grappling with adult responsibilities as a small child.

Which I need to stress we should not ignore and the fact these people do shows just how willfully ignorant they are being.

The fact of the matter is it makes no narrative, character or thematic sense for her to be wrong about this!

Like, really, what is the narrative end goal in these people's brains, to have one of the main characters most overtly emphasized sources of trauma. Not only brought up by herself but by the sister she had to raise. Be wrong?

It makes every scene discussing it, every aspect of her character it informs, every bit if dialogue that touched on it utterly meaningless. CRWBY don't have that kind of time to waste on a red herring that serves literally Zero purpose!

But of course these people don't give two fried fucks about things like basic common sense or competent writing.

They want Yang to be delusional or lying because in their mind the fact she 'dared' be traumatized, 'dared' to be something other than a ditsy party girl and 'dared' be even indirectly critical of a man, of her father, is an insult to them.

Thus they want to ignore what's on screen, what the writers say, what the characters say, what reality says about situations exactly like this to erase her trauma and depth, All our a blend of sexist offence and misogynistic defensiveness of a minor male character.

It sucks but then, since wen hasn't RWDE been awful?

On your example:

Extremely well said, very good examples, I would also add Gohan from Dragon Ball surviving in the wilderness for a full year at the age of 3/4/5 depending on translations.

There's so many conversations tat make no coherent sense if Yang was wrong, but as said, these people don't care about good writing.

My sympathies and respect to your cousin and exactly, reality is often stranger than fiction and frankly this fictional scenario isn't even that strange sadly :/

I am right there with you for my own reasons, it sucks!

Literally the only area in which one can reasonably argue that Yang might be somewhat misinformed I thin is in relation to what exactly was going on in Ruby's head at the time.

IE, believing she didn't understand what was going on yet. That doesn't actually undercut any of her own experiences, but could be the case as it seems Ruby's memories of those early days are perhaps clearer tan Yang realizes.

Of course this changes nothing about Yang being parentified from an incredibly young age, because Ruby herself outright said Yang raised her.

[makuzumepjsk]

Got a new phone so I made it all cozy by making it Mizuki themed~🌸💖🎀✨

[illuminatedferret]

@mxtxfanatic I'm making this a separate post since the original post started as MDZS and I don't want to bother OP, but where did you get this idea from? Do you remember what part of the novel suggested this to you? Because I've never heard of this before.

[sylvia-forest]

[CN] Shaw's Monkey King Date

⚡Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a Date which hasn’t been released in EN yet!⚡

[Released Date: 17 June 2024]

You can read the Prologue from here!

[Section 1]

The late nights in the small town are much denser than in the city.

Even though it's nearly midnight, Shaw and I are still sitting at opposite ends of the sofa playing with our phones, indicating that neither of us intends to sleep.

Shaw: Music cut. MC: You've already cut three pieces. Shaw: That may mean that this playlist is no longer good and it’s time to change the playlist. MC [angrily]: Don't question my musical taste!

I glared at him, warning Shaw not to secretly change my playlist. Seeing my firmness, he shrugged and backed down.

Shaw: Okay, this part is okay now, I feel like I can continue listening to it.

He adjusted his headphones and lazily slouched a bit further down, his gaze returning to his own phone screen.

Seizing the opportunity, I glanced at the progress bar of the player. Good, good, once this song finishes, it'll be perfectly timed.

I subtly adjusted my sitting position and quietly retrieved the confetti cannon that I had hidden under the pillow.

I no longer paid any attention to what the singer was singing about in the headphones; my heartbeat and the pounding bass drum were the only things I could feel, growing faster and more restless.

58, 59, 60......!

I pulled out the confetti cannon and pulled the string—Bang!

MC: Happy Birthday!!

The sharp sound of the confetti cannon and the song "Happy Birthday" from the playlist rang out simultaneously, interrupting the chirping of cicadas outside.

Amid the falling streamers, I beamed a wide smile at Shaw. He set down his phone and nodded back at me.

Shaw: Thanks. MC [confused]: ??

This guy, his reaction to my perfectly timed birthday surprise is so calm! I pouted in dissatisfaction.

MC: Shouldn't you be more surprised, more amazed? Shaw: It's a bit difficult.

Shaw brushed off the streamers from his face and smiled.

Shaw: After all, I am the one who brought you here to celebrate my birthday. You have been procrastinating and refusing to go to bed. I have already predicted what will happen at 12 o'clock. Shaw: Furthermore, if you have more "surprises" waiting for me until daylight, and you surprised me now, what's next?

Shaw [in a low playful tone]: Or are you saying that you want...

Shaw cleared his throat, and I suddenly felt uneasy.

Shaw [DAMN HIS SARCASTIC VOICE SOUNDS SO HILARIOUS]: Oh my, you actually sent me such a loud birthday wish right at midnight on June twenty-first. I'm so pleasantly surprised, moved, and touched that it brings tears to my eyes. MC: Stop! Stop! STOP!

I was grossed out by Shaw's cheesiness, covered in goosebumps, and quickly tried to cover his mouth, but he easily caught my wrist with one hand.

Shaw raised an eyebrow at me, his tone teasing.

Shaw [teasingly]: Do I need to continue praising you? MC: Hmph, never mind then.

I wrinkled my nose and tried to take my wrist out of his hand.

He tightened his grip unexpectedly, even pulling me forward a bit, causing me to lose my balance and fall onto him.

Shaw: Do you want to ignore me? Don’t you want to hear me finish what I have to say?

Feeling frustrated, I lightly bumped my chin against his chest twice to prompt him to continue.

Shaw: Even though it wasn't a surprise, you're the first one today to wish me a happy birthday, and I appreciate that. MC: Just satisfied? Shaw: I'm very happy too, that's why I wanted to tease you. MC: ... Such a perverse taste. Shaw: How can you call it perverse taste? It's the privilege of the birthday star, I'm the boss today.

Thinking back to the past few years when I teased him on his birthday saying "Birthday star is the boss," I feel like I'm lifting a rock only to drop it on my own foot

As I was speaking, Shaw's phone kept buzzing intermittently. Just as I was about to glance curiously at it, Shaw had already responded.

Shaw: Just some birthday wishes.

I took his phone and unlocked the screen. I scrolled up and down a couple of times, and sure enough, I saw familiar faces.

There were colleagues from Isolate, the owner of the Live House, Professor Shen who had already sent his greetings earlier in the day, and the old neighbors...

MC [excitedly]: Wow, without realizing it, you've become so popular.

Shaw [displeased]: Why do your words sound so strange? Could it be that I was not popular before? MC: It definitely wasn't as good as it is now.

Shaw's mouth curled into a subtle smile, and he responded with a prolonged "hmm."

Shaw: Now that you mention it, it’s true that ever since I met you, you've been organizing all sorts of surprise events with this group, making them more enthusiastic than ever.

I laughed and scrolled up again, and suddenly a text message sent during the day fell into my eyes.

Magician Zhang: Don't forget about tomorrow's show. You need to be there by 1 PM.

I read out the text in the text message and was a little confused.

MC: What program? Shaw: Hasn't Magician Zhang been learning ancient magic tricks here for several months? He has a performance tomorrow and asked me to do an opening act to warm up the crowd. MC: That's it...wait a minute! MC: Isn't the "tomorrow" he mentioned actually today? Why are you still taking on a warm-up performance on your birthday?

Shaw was a little confused, obviously not following my logic.

Shaw [confused]: What do you mean? MC: What I mean is...

My lips trembled a bit. Although I felt confident when I thought about it, I felt a bit unsure when I actually said it out loud.

MC [resigned look]: I feel like something always comes up on your birthday to disturb the celebration. MC: There's never a time when the whole 24 hours are completely mine. MC: It's just a little... upsetting.

Shaw [surprised]: ……

Shaw was obviously a little surprised, and then he seemed to have thought of something and raised the corners of his mouth again.

Shaw [teases her]: Completely yours? Oh, you want us to be like conjoined twins? MC: Is that not allowed? Shaw [in a good mood]: Of course it is. Then for tomorrow's little performance, you can join me on stage. MC [dumbfounded]: Huh??

—

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

—

[Section 2]

Even though it was just a small warm-up performance, we still arrived early at the town theater.

There was already a banner at the entrance of the courtyard promoting today's ancient magic performance. I looked up and tried to recognize it for a while.

MC: ... "Journey to the West"? How are they going to perform "Journey to the West" with ancient magic tricks?

Shaw: It's like regular magic tricks, but with some storyline elements added to make it more interesting for the audience. MC: Storyline elements... We're not going to have to perform too, are we? Shaw: Who knows.

Shaw spread his hands with a smile, clearly teasing me again.

Shaw: Anyway, you go over there and change, and I'll see you in the yard later.

After he finished speaking, he took a few steps forward, then, as if sensing my gaze, he turned back, the corners of his mouth curving into a slight, enigmatic smile.

Shaw: You even want my time when I'm changing clothes? MC [shouts]: ...I didn't mean to be conjoined to that extent!

My face heated up, and I quickly turned around and slipped into the dressing room.

There was already a stylist waiting in the dressing room. After I sat down, I couldn't help but ask her.

MC: How long will this show take?

The stylist picked up the makeup brush and smiled at me.

Stylist: It should only take three to five minutes. Stylist: Shaw specifically told us not to take up too much of his time because his girlfriend is waiting for him.

These words sounded a bit strange, and I couldn't help but pout a little.

MC: ... He didn't tell you guys that I'm demanding and bossy, did he? Stylist: No. What he actually said was, "My girlfriend came all the way to spend my birthday with me, so of course, I belong to her. Non-negotiable, five minutes."

I imagined Shaw negotiating the time with them for the performance and couldn't help but laugh.

During our chat, the stylist had swiftly finished my look. I looked at the "fairy" in the mirror and let out a sigh of relief.

MC: Thank goodness... I thought I might have to play some centipede or spider demon. Stylist: How could we make you play a demon? After all, the Monkey King hadn't even started his journey to the West at that point. MC: Monkey King? You mean he wants to act… Child: Wow, Your Majesty, you're so handsome!

The noise of children suddenly came from outside, interrupting my words.

The stylist understood and pointed towards the door. I smiled knowingly, lifted my skirt, and quietly went over to push the door open.

The warm rays of the morning sun filled the courtyard and also fell on the shining figure in the center of the courtyard.

Shaw was dressed in a bright red Sun Wukong costume, surrounded by a group of children.

Even though he is wearing heavy shoulder armor, it does not appear heavy or cumbersome. Instead, it accentuates his heroic and upright appearance.

Child: Your Majesty, I want to see you wield the golden cudgel! Child: I want to see it too! I want to see it too!

Shaw [irritated]: Tsk, why don’t you watch Old Man Zhang? Isn’t his performance better? Child: He is better, but the king is more handsome! MC [burst into laughter]: Hahahaha!

I burst into laughter hearing the group of "monkey children" praising Shaw excitedly. 

When Shaw heard my laughter, his gaze immediately locked onto me, with a hint of pleading in his eyes.

Shaw [sigh in relief]: Are you finally ready? Shall we go? MC [playfully]: Um... no, I also want to see Your Majesty perform a bit~

I intentionally pronounced "Your Majesty" in a playful and teasing tone. Shaw visibly tensed, then gritted his teeth and walked towards me with determination.

Shaw: What do you want to play? Let me play with you first—

Shaw's large hand gripped my waist and began to tickle me.

I couldn't resist, laughing and trying to evade him, but I couldn't escape his embrace.

Shaw: Still want to play? MC: No, hahaha nope!

I laughed so hard that I couldn't breathe and quickly raised my hands in surrender.

The group of children looked at the two of us curiously, and one of them suddenly understood.

Child: Your Majesty, you're so powerful, you've already subdued the demoness! MC [angrily]: I'm not the demoness!

How childish. The moment those words slipped out, I felt so childish. Unfortunately, the kids in front of us were even more enthusiastic, pointing at the two of us.

Child: But you're the one tempting the Monkey King! In the cartoons, it's said that the Monkey King must stay away from women! MC: Ah, what a mess... Shaw!

I was both amused and exasperated, so I decided to play along with their "Your Majesty."

Since the children started talking, Shaw's chest kept vibrating from trying not to burst into laughter.

Seeing a hint of embarrassment on my face now, he struggled to hold back his laughter and waved his hand at the kids.

Shaw: Did you hear? She's Ling Gege's girlfriend, MC.

[T/N]: "Gege" (哥哥) is a Chinese term that means "older brother". It is often used as a term of endearment or respect towards an older male, similar to how "big brother" might be used in English.

Shaw: Right now, I haven't transformed yet, so I'm not the Monkey King, and she's not a demoness. Shaw: Later, even if I do become the Monkey King, she won't be a demoness, she'll be a fairy sister, got it? Child: Oh…. Shaw: Alright, didn't you say you wanted to grab a good spot at the stage? Let's go before it's too late.

The children seemed to understand, but as soon as they heard that they had to occupy a seat, they stopped thinking about it and all went out in a swarm.

I watched their figures disappear at the doorway and lightly tapped Shaw's hand resting on my back.

MC: Shaw, do you know your explanation just now had a bit of a loophole that didn't quite satisfy me?

Shaw [confused]: ?What loophole.

I tilted my face up, tiptoed slightly closer to him.

The warmth from my lips intentionally brushed past his tense jawline as our breaths mingled.

MC: Are you really planning to "stay away from women" once you transform into the Monkey King?

—

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

—

[Section 3]

Of course he won't be close to women. On the contrary, I'll step up my game even more.

This guy really can't handle any provocation... or teasing at all.

I nervously pressed my lips together, not wanting the others backstage to notice that I had just been "tormented" by Shaw.

[You guys can already guess what might've happened 🤭, the consequences of provoking Shaw]

After chatting with Magician Zhang a few words, Shaw turned and walked towards me.

Shaw: Just wait for 20 more minutes. When the drumming starts up front, we'll go on stage. MC [anxious]: Wait, wait, go on stage directly? Don’t we need to practice? Shaw: Do you still need to practice something you have played a hundred times?

Shaw raised an eyebrow and suddenly snapped his fingers near my ear. Startled, I turned my head and saw that he had magically produced a paper flower in his hand.

MC [surprised]: …..?!

Although I knew Shaw could perform some tricks and magic, I always found myself gaping in awe whenever I saw it firsthand.

After a few stammering sounds, I remembered I should say something.

MC: What I mean is, you’ve got it all figured out, but I still don’t know what I’m supposed to do on stage. MC: I don’t have much acting experience, what should I do if I mess it up for you? Shaw: Hmm, now that you mention it, we should definitely rehearse a bit.

As Shaw spoke, he took hold of my wrist and led me to the prop room backstage.

Shaw took out a plate from the corner, played with it twice, and handed it to me.

Shaw: The rehearsal is pretty simple. After all, this role suits you perfectly. Just stand there holding the tray and make your favorite expression. MC [dumbfounded]: What expression? Shaw: Just like a pufferfish, all puffed up and glaring at me. MC: Shaw, I don’t—! Shaw [pleased with his provocation]: Yes, that's the expression.

I glared even harder, but my cheeks deflated as I let out a huff.

MC: Then I just hold an empty plate and stare at you? Shaw: Of course, the plate is not empty, serve it well.

Shaw smiled and, once again, pulled out a few glass beads from some hidden pocket. He placed them on the tray and covered them with a red cloth.

Shaw: You are now delivering elixirs for Lao Jun, but I stop you along the way. Shaw [acting mode on x1]: Fairy, can you let me see what you are holding in your hand?

I blinked and realized that he was guiding me, and I couldn't help but become playful.

MC: Nothing, just an empty plate. Shaw [x2]: Really? But how come I smell the scent of elixirs?

Shaw leaned in and sniffed the plate twice, then suddenly turned his gaze towards me.

Before I could react, his hand swiftly brushed past my temple, plucking one of my hairpins.

He clasped his hands around the hairpin, and when he opened them again, it had turned into one of the glass beads that had just been on the tray.

MC [shocked]: ….Oh?! Shaw [x3]: So, the elixir wasn't hidden in the tray but transformed into the fairy's hairpin flower, making it harder for me to find.

He spoke slowly and deliberately, leaning in closer with an intense gaze.

Shaw [in a sly voice x4]: Fairies are so cunning.

He should have said these words in the tone of a Monkey King.

But maybe because he wasn't rehearsing seriously, I clearly knew: the voice was Shaw's, the face was Shaw's, and the person teasing me right now... was Shaw.

The lips that had been kissed by him earlier began to warm up, the heat gradually spreading to my cheeks. I struggled under his gaze, unwilling to concede yet unable to resist.

MC [blushing hard]: You, you took away the elixir, how can I give it to Laojun? Shaw [x5]: Of course, I won't just take the fairy's elixir for nothing. I'll make it up to you with something even better. He flicked his cloak and lifted the red cloth on the tray, but didn't fully uncover it. Shaw [x6]: I have several peaches that ripen once every nine thousand years. Eating them will grant us longevity equal to that of heaven and earth, and our ages will match those of the sun and moon.

He suddenly unveiled the red cloth, revealing several bright pink peaches on the plate.

Shaw's eyebrows arched in unabashed delight, his eyes outlined with fiery red eyeshadow that seemed to burn through my very soul.

Shaw [in a light tone]: Fairy, would you like to... share eternal life with me?

I stared at him blankly, my lips parting and closing before I finally spoke dully.

MC: If we have longevity equal to that of heaven and earth, then I'll have to celebrate thousands of birthdays for you. It would be exhausting!

Shaw burst into laughter. He seemed to say something softly afterward, but the booming drum announcing the start of the performance outside drowned out his voice.

Before we got ready to go on stage, I asked him one last question.

MC: By the way, how do your tricks always manage to fool me? Shaw: Why do you say?

Shaw smirked, looking very pleased with himself.

Shaw: Magic is all about guiding attention, creating something out of nothing. Shaw [he sounded so happy here]: But with you, there's no need for guidance, because you only see me.

—

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

—

[Section 4]

The little program ended smoothly.

After the appetizer, it was time for the main event: Magic Zhang's portrayal of "Sun Wukong" took the stage.

Magic Zhang had already set up the stage with colorful balls, swords, beans, and rings from his tricks. I was about to watch the master's performance when suddenly, I heard a cold snort beside me.

Shaw: Caught the work bug? MC: No, I'm just an audience member... Shaw: Audience members can't do that.

Shaw didn't hesitate to cover my sight with his hand and gently turned my chin towards him with his other hand.

Shaw: He's the Six-Eared Macaque, I'm the true Monkey King. It's time for you to come with me.

As we wished, no one disturbed us for the rest of the time, not even the group of followers who seemed to have disappeared somewhere.

He and I walked around the town leisurely, and finally returned to the entrance of the theater.

Magic Zhang's performance had long ended, and the gradually setting sun fell on the empty stage. Shaw looked around.

Shaw: It's about time. Shall we change clothes and head back to the inn for cake? MC: Who said I left the cake at the inn?

Thinking about the biggest surprise I had prepared to show Shaw today, my voice couldn't help but carry a hint of excitement.

MC: While I've enjoyed watching you perform today, I actually have a magic trick of my own to show you.

I pulled out a chair and asked Shaw to sit down, and pointed to the high stage in front of me.

MC: Guests, please be seated, this fairy is about to take the stage!

Shaw's lips curled with interest as he nodded and took a seat.

I walked towards the stage and brought out a screen I had prepared earlier.

MC: ... Grandpa Zhang said it should be wedged here so people in the audience won't see the hidden passage......

I carefully adjusted the angle of the screen according to the method that Magic Zhang had taught me before. After making sure that nothing went wrong, I waved to Shaw.

MC: Watch closely now, my magic trick is called... Shrinking into Inches, Emerging from the Earth!

With solemnity, I gestured and chanted incantations in front of my sole audience member, slowly moving towards the hidden passage.

At the exact moment when the screen completely blocked my figure, I swiftly jumped into the hidden passage and dashed towards another exit.

The path was dimly lit underfoot, and my dress billowed wildly, so I simply held it all in my hands.

I may not have the ability to shrink into inches or emerge from the earth, but I have a heart that races towards him without hesitation.

MC: Phew... almost there!

On the table at the exit sat the cake that the stylist had set up for me earlier. After calming my breath for a moment, I picked it up and lifted the curtain to reveal it.

MC: Shaw, happy birthday————

The final note of joy lingered on my lips.

Because the moment the curtain was raised, Shaw stood in front of me, staring at me intently.

I had lost count of how many times today my mouth had dropped open in astonishment. My dumbfounded expression inevitably made him burst into laughter.

MC: You, you knew I would show up here?

Shaw: I know almost all of Magic Zhang's magic tricks and mechanisms. MC: But this... This isn't you trying to steal my thunder, is it? MC: Shaw, can't you give me a sense of accomplishment? MC: You will make me look very stupid…

Shaw [lowers his voice]: Why are you being silly?

Shaw interrupted my scattered thoughts and pulled me out of the dim passage.

Shaw: It's not that you're not capable of acting. Shaw: Pretending to be surprised intentionally, you find it cheesy and foolish. Shaw: Besides, someone told me they wanted to be conjoined twins with me for 24 hours, so I didn't want to wait, and I couldn't wait. Shaw [whispers lightly, barely hiding his hidden emotions]: MC, you've been running for too long, I can't wait any longer.

Shaw repeated twice that he couldn't wait, turning my slight disappointment into a bittersweet feeling.

But I still had a bit of unwillingness lingering, so I couldn't help but ask him.

MC: So, did I not manage to give you any surprises or unexpected moments today? Shaw [satisfied]: Of course you did, but I'm not telling you.

Shaw returned to his usual cunning self, taking my cake and placing it on the table.

Shaw: By the way, you didn't finish saying "happy birthday" to me just now. You need to say it again.

Do we still need to add some solemn reflections and vows during our blessings? It seems unnecessary now.

Because those things have long been mixed into various half-true and half-joking remarks between us, inadvertently becoming our promises.

I gazed into his bright eyes, where there was a dazzling sparkle.

MC: Happy birthday, Shaw.

I hope his fiery eyes can see through my heart.

I sat with him in the empty theater, sharing cake and chatting away, even the amber twilight tinted with sweetness.

MC: I'm curious though, even though you perform at Live House, it's always this cool style, no interaction with the audience at all. MC: But tricks are meant to amuse the audience. It’s not quite like your character. Why did you agree to this show?

Shaw: I didn't want to agree to it at first, but I liked the role very much. MC: Do you mean you really like it? Are you referring to the Monkey King? Shaw: uh-huh. MC: Do you like the Monkey King? Shaw: What do you mean, you don't like it?

Shaw's rhetorical question was a bit too natural, so I waved my hand with a smile.

MC: No, no, I mean I didn’t expect you to like the Monkey King enough to be willing to play him.

Shaw raised an eyebrow, his fork gliding through the cream twice.

Shaw: I didn't have the chance when I was young. Growing up, I had to experience it at least once.

I caught the key words instantly.

MC: Your childhood dream was not to become the Monkey King, right? Shaw: Don't you want to?

The tone of this rhetorical question is even more natural this time. I'm both surprised and amused, always feeling...

It was as if I was holding the hand of kid Shaw whom I had never seen before.

Now I seem to have only one last question left for this perfect birthday.

MC: So why have you been in such a good mood lately? Just because you get to play the Monkey King?

Shaw [ponders over a bit]: Yes and no. Mainly because here, I can satisfy what I wanted to do when I was young—unrestrained, free, and easy. MC: You seem pretty free and easy in Loveland City too. Shaw: It's different. MC: What's the difference?

I asked this question twice, but Shaw didn't answer. He just looked at me with a smile.

After a while, he suddenly spoke.

Shaw [hesitant]: MC, do you think I seem particularly childish and domineering today? MC: Hm?

Upon careful reflection, today's Shaw indeed rigorously exercised the authority of "the birthday star is the greatest," appearing much more assertive and straightforward than usual.

Upon this realization, the question he just avoided answering... I seem to have... a hint of an answer. I chuckled.

MC: Perhaps just a little bit, but it's nice to give yourself a reason to be childish for a day, isn't it? MC: And there is someone to be childish with you.

I pointed to myself. Shaw looked satisfied, leaned over, and took away the last trace of cream from my lips.

Shaw [pleased with her answer]: That's right, it's great to have you by my side. Shaw: "The Monkey King" has had enough freedom. It's time to return with you to Loveland City, back to the mortal world.

—

🙉 Epilogue 

🙉 Call

🙉 Texts

🙉 Video call 

🙉 ASMR 

•───────•°•❀•°•───────•

"Note from the translator"

Heya! I hope all of you're in good health. It has been a while since I last posted something, life has been quite hectic for me 🫠. Annnyways first of all I apologize if you find my translations sloppy or find any mistakes, plz feel free to tell me. I'm currently so busy right now that I've hardly had time for other stuff, Summer courses + internships are quite overwhelming 😵‍💫for me. So plz don't think that I've given up on Shaw cuz I'll never ever give up on him😤!! I'll translate his content wholeheartedly but do expect late updates from me! I just wanted to clarify this so that you guys don't think that I've abandoned this blog.

That's all from me! Thank you sooooo much for all of your support and please continue supporting me in the future cuz it adds more fuel to my motivation🥰! Have a nice day!

—

[falleri-salvatore]

.....Dragonslayer shippers, I am dissapoint.

The perfect Jaune and Yang offspring name is right there and none of you ever used it? Hongyang Xiao Long [虹阳小龙] or Hongyang Arc (whichever one floats your boat) Hong [虹] meaning "Rainbow"; refers to a two-headed serpentine dragon from Chinese Lore. It also invokes the rainbow theme from the Arc Family Yang [阳] meaning "Sun"; refers to, duh, the Sun and it references the shared yellow color theme between Jaune and Yang. It also follows the Xiao Long family tradition of always naming their children with Yang in their name. EDIT: Here's a relevant link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_(rainbow-dragon) If you give Jaune and Yang fraternal twins (boy and girl) then you can call the boy Hongyang (Hong is the "Male Rainbow" character) and the girl Niyang (Ni is the "Female Rainbow" character). EDIT 2: For the Bumbleby enthusiasts, don't you worry; I gotchu covered. Yinyang Xiao Long [阴阳小龙] or Yinyang Belladonna Yin [阴] meaning "Shadow"; is an obvious reference to Blake ("From Shadows") Yang [阳] meaning "Sun"; again, references Yang. It also follows the Xiao Long family tradition of always naming their children with Yang in their name. ......seriously. The names are right there.

[lost-in-termina]

My MDZS themed phone screen! App icons were a mix of being from immabunni on Etsy and from WallpapersClan on Reddit. Lock screen image is from JIRO on Twitter.

[goldenamaranthe-blog]

Yang: Hey, Blake!

Blake: Yeah?

Yang: How about you read me a scene from one of your books, and we can do that for date night tonight?

Blake:

(scrambles over to her bookshelf to start tearing through her library like a rabid fangirl)

[sky-dragon-03]

Bumbleby Week

Day 5: Evil Blake

Hope y’all like it 💜🐝

[sisislair]

Re-reading mdzs and my sympathy level for Xue Yang is absolutely zero

Like, you could have just gotten the one guy, it was so fucking disgustingly excessive to go for his whole clan, and then completely obliterating and destroying Song Lan's and Xiao Xingchen's lives as well for stopping you from getting the last of them?!?!

And then like, you really thought that after you devastated this man wholey and utterly, he would be able to take it? Of course he killed himself! Of course his soul would scatter to the four winds rather than be anywhere near you!!

Like it's sad, but more in a, Jesus fucking Christ way, than a, I feel sympathetic for Xue Yang way.

Like yes, I think it's sad that he didn't realize he actually had started to care for Xiao Xingchen and A-Qing a bit, but also like, there is no future where this worked out. You either live a precarious lie, or this ends in horror. You can't be yourself and have Xiao Xingchen, because your moral compasses are completely unharmonious.

[yourlocalxiaosimp]

NOSTALGIA OVERLOAD AAAAAAAA

THIS IS MY NINJAGO THEME YEAAAAAAA

[betabites]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: RWBY Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Blake Belladonna/Yang Xiao Long Characters: Yang Xiao Long, Weiss Schnee Additional Tags: Fluff and Angst, Canon Compliant, Bumbleby Week 2025 (RWBY), Suffering Weiss

Weiss reviews her latest accommodations for Yang's entertainment.

Takes place during Volume 5, between Chapters 8 and 11 (My BMBLB fic index).

Written for Bumbleby Week 2025: Day 5: WF Blake x Branwen Yang AU. ( @bumblebyweek-blog )