Her head is throbbing. Like pins and needles except it's all through her skull. Frankly, she would prefer a broken wrist over this type of sensation. Her field of vision is blurred, it's a horrible idea trying to open her eyes immediately and she takes a deep inhale. The sound of something dripping is what alerts her first. The waterfalls at Wukong's mountain were always prominent. It was never this cold either. Finally after a few minutes of silence does she open her eyes.

And immediately regrets it when her right arm is jerked suddenly. A low grunt escaping her as something snags at her left and gazing at both reveals she's chained up. Heavy duty magic prohibiters on it from what she can see. Even still her vision is still blurry and it feels like something is stuck in her back. Her tail can't move either, weighed down by something or pinned down. Whatever's lodged in her back is staying for the foreseeable future and she can guess it's probably a drug that's debilitating her.

Eyes snapping to the side as she recognizes that voice anywhere. Gently tugging at her right wrist and she can barely make out the bright colors of Xiaotian. His name a mere rasp as she grunts in dissapointment. Her throat feels dry. Still, the last thing she can recall is that she'd been walking around the border of the barrier. Casually talking to Wukong who'd been a fair distance off.

         He doesn’t know why he’s humoring him ; there’s a part of him that wants to get this encounter over with, and there’s a part of him that’s curious as to whether or not Macaque meant what he said.  Or rather, what he proposed to the towering lion. 

   ‘ if it’ll get you to stop talking-- ‘  He wants to say aloud, but his train of thought is cut short when the dark-furred simian slips from view, only to reappear in front of Azure with a coy smirk playing on his lips.  He invades the lion’s personal space further with a step, hands reaching out to grasp at his thick belt and pull himself to come front-to-front with the towering lion.  

         He hates it when Macaque looks at him like that, with eyes half-lidded and probing for doubts and weaknesses.  A brief pause flies by, yet it feels like eternity before a hiss of discontentment leaves the ex-enforcer, air being sucked through ivory fangs as magenta eyes look down at the grinning shadow-mage. 

She would have taken anyone else to bump into besides Macaque. Not even twelve hours ago this very face had been intent on tearing out her throat, not even five had he been dead alongside the king, not even three hours ago had her world been all but obliterated by the gods wrath. Only she had survived. Only she. Why Buddha had chosen it, some sick second chance? Could he have given a second chance to those who she considered her true guardians. Those she had actually cared about?

Focusing on that doesn't matter. There is something vile here, worse than the Macaque (who's in shit condition and smells like he's rotting) deciding to take the lead. Their earlier confrontation hadn't been pleasant, with him managing to barely talk her down after she'd been quite content on attempting to see if she could spear him through the tree first. Brow twitching as she recalls the entire encounter, now to be stuck in a cavern with him (something following them no less) was grating on her last nerves. Except the sound of something clattering randomly makes her pause (while the other scurried back like a frightened cat) and stare in the direction it came from, years of brutal abuse training have her ready. Or so she thought.

Hardfast disgust rising, the urge to puke what she'd barely eaten for breakfast was an option as the scent of sulfur, rotting flesh and what she can only daresay was the scent of a rejuvenating corpse assaulting her sense of smell. Wanting to quickly get rid of the sense just from how potent it was, she actually does nearly gag when the thing finally shows itself. Disgust worms its way through her until quick acting despair grasps her heart like a claw plunging through her chest.

There's no damn way. That faint bit of an aura, smothered under the repulsive one that this entity was radiating. She grips the staff tighter, this reminds her too much of the abomination she fought in the depths of the sea when she'd been learning how to swim. Her lungs ache at the memory. Even still, dragging the end of the staff as sparks dance before the white lines amongst the red and gold ignite, the staff twisted in her arms for a steady one hand hold as she puts herself between the currently shock frozen simian and the corrupted being.

   ❝ your smile doesn’t meet your eyes, brother. ❞  Towering feline points out, concern washing over his features.

         Azure may not know everything, but he likes to think he’s knowledgeable on many topics.  The way that Macaque tries to shrink away from him, the delayed response... what good is their grand plan if one of the powerhouses has begun to crack under the pressure ?  

         Rather than keep himself distanced, the lion closes in ; but there is no malicious intent in the air around him as he approaches.  He stands near the simian, looking up at the wall that seems to keep Macaque’s attention, giving him a bit of space in case he felt the need to flee ; he hopes to relieve his brother from whatever ails him.  Or, at the very least, he can try to.

   @shadowyspectre​​ foretold :  

A low sigh rumbled from the man. It was a low thing, tinged with softness and mild exasperation. He wasn't upset with her, not really. Just...tired. He rubbed at the bridge of his nose, staring down at the floor of her office. "Chang'e..." The low tone that traced over her name, fondness and caution mingled together smoothly.

"Have you missed me so much that you wish me to move here?" The tease slipped out like honey, darting over the question with a practiced air. {For New Gods! Chang'e!}

   ❝ i’d like to hear less of your students having to decide whether to keep the lights on or how to deal with low water supply, ❞  Goddess says flatly, her words `cutting through the air of awkwardness like a sharpened blade.  She takes a drag of her cigarello, a leg propped up on the opposite knee and bouncing lightly as she thinks on her words.

         She knows about the struggles of his theater’s current location, and she is equally aware of how much the disguised one has dug his heels on how to approach the conflicts that come with it.  He built his theater from scratch, his students and employees are basically his children  --  and their families are, by extension, HIS family  --  and it’s no wonder he’s so reluctant to uproot himself.  A sentimental story, certainly ; but what makes the many-eared man different from others with similar stories ?  He has the evidence to back up his claims of creating most grandiose performers.

         Chang’e isn’t fully able to vouch for the teacher and his gaggle of theater kids, but from the feedback she hears from her staff and customers alike, it’s an enchanting experience that always keeps people coming back for more.  And since he’s been so gracious with providing the goddess with top-tier entertainment, it’s only fair for her to help him out once in a while, no ?

Macaque's trembling fingers brush over the glamoured cheekbones. He knew there were markings underneath, he...saw them. He doesn't quite remember what they look like but he remembers the ones that were under his fingers. His touch is soft and barely there, like he might flee. "Wukong..." he trailed off, voice hushed. He didn't know what to say....

" — ?!"

It was hard to hide the surprise as he felt trembling claws reach for his face, having to expected the shadow's approach. The way Macaque cradled his head so delicately in his hold in the moment. Making the Great Sage's heart skip a beat and fighting the soft ting of pink that wanted to spring to life on his cheeks.

Than he felt those nimble fingers start to trace over his cheeks as if to map out something hidden and unseen — the realization at what they were searching for. His markings. The bright crimson streaks that painted his eyes with their streaks. Brows furrowing together in the moment, questions bubbling to life in his mind. Did...did the other wish to see them? Why? He hid them away for a reason, having heard too many times how frightening they were — unbecoming of one who was painted as a Hero.

Hesitation ate at his core but the way the warrior traced over them with a smooth and delicate touch as if afraid to press anymore or he'd cause harm. His hold trembling still as he did. The look that greeted his own golden hues. A heavy debate to unveil his true self for the other simian. Which shattered as his name passed those lips in such a manner it cause a spark to dance across his being.

"As you wish..."

Letting his magic fade from his form as little by little what was often hidden surfaced itself. Crimson once more staining his face, dancing outward from his eyes and tracing along his cheek bones. Hoping that unveiling himself would help ease the stress coursing through Macaque — a silent offering of comfort to help him calm down. Wanting to reach out and hold him but fighting such an urge less he startles the shadow mage into retreating and making his state worse.