#davari

It’s an odd detail, when we know perfectly well that a) Davari is imprisoned, not dead and b) it was Tripitaka who did the deed. 

There are a few explanations. Like maybe Monkey was exaggerating for effect (definitely not out of character for him) or maybe the writer of that episode just forgot the details of last season. 

However, I prefer the explanation that Monkey is actually protecting Tripitaka. 

See, whoever defeated Davari is going to have a lot of heat headed their way. Even if demons have no particular love for each other, they can’t afford to let that sort of thing slide, especially from an insignificant human. If they ignore that, then all the other humans might start getting ideas. Even the demon lords of season two understood that, and they weren’t what you’d call insightful. 

But if Monkey did it... well, he’s much better equipped to handle physical threats and he’s got a well-earned reputation for killing demons. Random demons are likely to think twice before taking him on, no matter how good the reason. 

I made a meme

Tripitaka: I think you’re cocky, arrogant, bossy, and pushy. You also have a god complex and don’t think of anybody but yourself.

Davari: But--

Monkey: When I found out it was him...

Therapist: Mhmm, go on *jotting on clipboard*

Monkey: I felt betrayed and angry.

Therapist: And how does that make you feel?

Monkey: Upset! He betrayed me and framed me and killed The Master!

Therapist: And Davari, what do you have to say on this?

Davari: I mean, he's right, I betrayed him.

Therapist: And how does that make you feel?

Davari: It makes me feel... Better, like maybe for once, just once, I can be on top.

Therapist: What makes you feel like you need to feel like that?

Davari: *Looks at monkey and gestures at him* Just look at him!

Therapist: *Looks at monkey*

Monkey: *Playing with mini version of staff pretending hand is a person.*

Davari: He's an idiot! Him and his stupid perfect hair get to be immortal while I get to die! He gets to be the captain of the god's guard while I hide in the shadows!

Monkey: Wait a minute! I know what's really going on here!

Davari: *Glances at monkey*

Therapist: Go on...

Monkey: You told me I should be king and get a crown so I would put this crown on...

Davari: Yes...

Monkey: And when I put it on it won't come off...

Davari: Correct.

Monkey: So you could ruin my hair! You've been jealous of my hair all this time, haven't you? Jokes on you, the crown makes it look even better.

Davari: What!? No! See! See what I mean!? Idiot!

Monkey: *Sigh* so what do you think doc?

Therapist: *Turns clipboard around* It's monkeys hair, Monkey is right.

So https://incorrect-nlom-quotes.tumblr.com/post/178011367692/davari-talking-to-tripitaka-guess-what-i-have#notes has me wanting an AU parody/epic fail fic about Davari trying to seduce Monkey and Tripitaka. Like,the guy has NO understanding of personal space around those two – granted, it makes him seem friendlier/more menacing depending on the role he’s playing – and just seems so nonchalant and affably evil around them.

Which, actually, is canon to the original Journey to the West, where that Tripitaka is always getting kidnapped because demons can gain immortality by eating his flesh because he is the reincarnation of a holy being. BUT female demons can ALSO gain immortality by getting him to williingly sleep with him, which would be a violation of his monk vows.

I mean, I definitely prefer the NLOM route, where it's about Tripitaka’s mind and knowledge that are the key to immortality rather than her body, but...it's an interesting concept to explore.

Like,

Davari, to Monkey: Hey, so you know that monk you’ve been traveling with? Turns out he’s really a girl. Which, really, I’m fine either way. What are your thoughts on a ménage à trois?

And

Davari to Tripitaka: Hey, so I know I kidnapped you and forced you to give me immortality, but now that means I literally have forever to make it up to you. Wanna start now?

Monkey: ...that is the stupidest thing I've ever heard

Tripitaka: Never gonna happen. Why do all the guys who capture me, tie me up, and force information out of me think I want anything to do with them?

I was thinking about (spoilers!!) the so-called ‘real’ Tripitaka and how the hell he came back to life after six weeks. 

It really makes no sense. You could argue that he wasn’t really dead, that he was just in a coma, and in such bad shape that an inexperienced monk couldn’t tell the difference. But even if the first Tripitaka survived a crushed trachea and a house collapsing in on itself like a miniature black hole, he’d still had been alone and unconscious in the wilderness for six weeks. He should have literally starved to death long before Monica and the other monk found him.

There are possible explanations, of course. Maybe this first Tripitaka wasn’t human in the first place (could be a god?), or possibly a fake planted by the demons in order to draw out the Resistance. 

My theory, however relates to the Scroll of Immortality. 

Each of the Scrolls seems to come with a price attached. The Scroll of Creation demands a life for a life. The Shadow Scroll will create whatever you want, but the creation will always turn on its creator.  The Scroll of Knowledge couches its answers in riddles or metaphors which could easily be misinterpreted. 

So maybe the Scroll of Immortality works in a similar way. You will get eternal life, but the life is not limited to you. Something else must also live to balance out the effect you will have on the world. And who better to balance out a ruthless, genocidal demon bent on extending his already-long life beyond its natural limits, than the pure-hearted young messiah who was wrongfully murdered before he could even begin his quest? 

If we accept that Davari used the scroll six weeks after the death of the first Tripitaka (allowing for a reasonable travel time between Pallawa and Jade Mountain, plus various detours), then the timing is rather eerily perfect. Davari didn’t just extend his life that night; he also brought back the monk destined to be his nemesis.