Cinnamon Cheese

I have read Journey To The South and it was pure psychic damage. It somehow managed to character assassinate:

— Sun Wukong

— Bodhisattva Guanyin

— Princess Iron Fan

— Red Boy (And he's not even THERE)

— Nezha

— The other Pilgrims (And they're not even THERE)

— The Six Eared Macaque (And he's not even THERE)

— The Literal Buddha

(I will say they got the Jade Emperor perfect though. I will give them that.)

This is my portrayal of their relationship early on in the AU. It's got a lot of rough patches.

I ask that you take the time to read this wonderful analysis by Tuima11 to avoid developing a misconception of what I'm trying to convey-> https://www.tumblr.com/tuima11/814808770344566784/the-golden-fillet-canon-vs-fanon-fight?source=share

Moving forward now.. symbolism!

The Hollow Red Circle -> There's a lot to cover with this one. The imagery was actually inspired by anti-wolf collars (these are leather collars that have spikes embedded into them; sheepdogs wore them by their necks to protect themselves from wolves when defending the sheep)

oh my god where do I start.

The circlet, right? Not related at all to the collar imagery. Yet.

Tripitaka recites the Headband-Tightening Sutra every time Wukong commits an act of unnecessary violence. It is meant to discipline him, to teach him that the cooling blood on your claws is not the way. You are wrong. I think Wukong would see the dots, but not connect them. After the circlet's put on, and after he experiences the head-splitting agony every time he kills someone, there's like. This feeling that he's lost some of his freedom to express himself, you know? Like he's in a cage.

Basically, he chalks the circlet as a collar, a device meant to tame him. That's what they're meant to do after all. (And honestly, he really isn't wrong). However, Wukong convinces himself that this is how his Master sees him. An unruly, uncivilized beast that does not deserve to have free agency. This kind of mindset causes him to harbor a festering resentment against the monk, but the thing is, he wants to like him, to get along because after centuries of living, he's well versed in spotting sincerity, a rare find in his opinion. And his Master is the pinnacle of it. But when he remembers how Tripitaka looked at him after reciting the spell, he couldn't help but see the Celestial's judgment in his wide eyes. The fear that lingers afterwards doesn't really help either. (This is the end of the symbolism commentary sadly💔)

After the fourth time, the resentment cements itself and desperation starts to creep in. He's trapped. It doesn't matter how kind this holy monk is because he is just like the Celestials, like those humans, like everyone else. He will always be a mindless ape in their eyes.

So he does the only thing he really knows how to do in situations like these.

And now, we have The Incident.

okay this is getting really long actually. we're not even halfway lmao

@exploringwonders-mads I blame you for this (pls check out her ao3 fic "The Moment To Fight", it's just really fun to read and reread)

this was supposed to be angsty but I couldn't resist