Fear
Fear.
A sensation that paralyses you, dries your mouth, chills your bones and blood, and revolts your insides. A warning of impending danger, a way the body prepares you to fight or flee.
Macaque felt fear many times, it's part of being alive.
The first time was so long ago that the memory was blurred at the edges, like an old photo. He remembered his tail wagging, sweaty hands and ears twitching as he lured Wukong onto the beach. There, under the tree on the shore, he made his feelings clear with awkward words and eyes that refused to look the other in the face.
The fear crawling inside him vanished with a bright smile from his now partner.
The second time he had felt the paralysis, unable to move to prevent his beloved from giving himself up to save their lives. Fear for the fate of his mate burned that moment into his mind.
This eventually faded as well. The harsh words under the mountain shattered it.
The third time fear guided his every action. The fear of losing his mate to a group of people who hurt him; the fear of seeing him change, driven by pain; the fear of having the person who lit up his life, who made his heart beat, taken away from him. That fear made him act, lash out, blinded and hurt.
That fear was supposed to fade with Wukong's hand in his, both of them walking away from the monk and that mission.
He didn't realise how wrong he was until the fourth time. The last time.
There are many things that people mistake for fear. Hardly anyone has ever felt genuine fear. There was a fundamental difference from anything he had experienced before, a bitter taste at once familiar and totally foreign. Macaque thought he felt it, but now he knew better.
The first time it had been plain nerves, with a touch of anticipation. The hope was there too, a sweet taste waiting to fill his palate.
The second time it was angst. Deep down he knew that it was impossible to kill Wukong, and that whatever punishment it was, it would eventually be overcome. Defeat and the uncertainty of being at the Jade Emperor's mercy only amplified that feeling.
The third time it was just sheer desperation.
What had run through his body were variants of fear. More opaque versions or different hues. Mere shadows trying to mimic the real feeling.
The fourth time began with defeat. In the world where they lived, there was only one fate for those who dared to face the Monkey King and lost.
The red and gold staff descended unavoidably towards his face, certain and lethal; the soft eyes of the person he had so long considered a friend, a comrade, a lover, now cold and devoid of their former warmth. Nor a spark of regret or doubt could be seen in them.
His body froze and his blood chilled, unable to process the brutal inevitability. As everything slowly went black, Macaque had only one thought.
He had been so, so foolish.
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TAYLOR DAY FOR TUMBLR USER EMERQLDV LIV!!!! u can get back to this ask after the hype has died down a bit but im using this opportunity to be vv nosy & curious about your dayy how did it gooo what did you wearr who did you go with omigosh what was your fav songg tell me everything i hope u have/had the loveliest time my love<3
HI LAYLA!! where do i…..even start. okay so i went with my sister who’s as big a fan as me!! her outfit was fearless inspired but mine was lover bc… DUH! had pink trousers and a white top with a pink boa n heart-shaped earrings and gem-outlined heart sunglasses!! also did my makeup which looked SO GOOD! put some gems around my eyes n lots of glitter on my body it was a LOOK!! would post but i’m afraid of face reveals and face reveals are afraid of me 😶��️
but GOD! everything about it was insane! the seats! right in the middle!! phoebe opening with matty healy playing on stage with her ???? boygenius performing cool about it???? i’ve basically seen everyone on my spotify wrapped now like what do i even do with my life??
AS FOR THE SHOW!! cruel summer was. insane. the entirety of the reputation set 😵💫😵💫 illicit affairs was one of what i was most excited for and it absolutely did not disappoint. and fearless!! mastermind!! SURPRISE SONG #1 WAS OOTW!!! ABSOLUTELY CRAZY!! AND NUMBER TWO WAS FIFTEEN AS IF I WOULDNT LOSE MY MIND!!
had the best best time it still hasn’t hit me i actually just saw her but trust my only personality trait (<- taylor swift fan) has only heightened
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Due to people being on vacation at work, I have to show up for an earlier shift than normal tomorrow.
That would be fine by itself.
It's warm enough that I ought to leave the windows open at night to cool off and help me sleep.
That would be fine by itself.
But my neighbors are throwing an extremely loud party and the two aforementioned variables make that a problem for me.
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