#then letting her loose as soon as he dealt with the demon army soldiers only for jade rabbit to go straight to trying to kill him again

[cave-monkey]

Monkey King Episode 8 (Part 2/2)

*BUSTS THROUGH THE DOOR* All right, time to finish this!

It's been two days since I watched this episode let's see what stuck.

"The Six-Eared Macaque has six ears! Isn't he really cute?"

Ginseng Fruit thinks Six Ears is cute. Canon.

Okay, so. The fake bunny ears? Absolutely adorable. Holy shit. These kids are the cutest. Jade Rabbit's body dysmorphia is probably on a level to qualify as the full disorder, and that's less cute and more sad and distressing, but it's so nice this attempt at comforting her worked and they were able to make her feel a little better about it.

Stone Monkey was so worried about her, too! Six Ears was clearly only there as emotional support (desperately needed, because Stone Monkey was not doing okay) since he had no idea who she was and Ginseng Fruit just didn't like her, but Stone Monkey probably would have started ripping the island apart stone by stone to find her if they hadn't managed to coax her out. He was worried! And emotionally unstable about it! Ginseng Fruit losing their patience and insulting her got them attacked.

Like, it took Marshal Ma a multi-episode timespan to wear Stone Monkey down enough to have him almost lunging for Marshal Ma's face. Ginseng Fruit got there in about two sentences. Even Six Ears was pretty alarmed about it. (Six Ears trying to comfort an angry and distressed Stone Monkey by cautiously reaching out to touch his shoulder from an entire arm's length away is very monkey of him. I just had to note that.)

Also that thing again of Stone Monkey's genuine anger being pretty violent. And how much quicker he is to lose it if the ones you're jabbing sticks at are his friends and not him.

I can't even really blame Ginseng Fruit for being upset they were spending so much time and energy checking on Jade Rabbit, since from Ginseng Fruit's perspective she was actively trying to hurt/kill the two of them nearly since Ginseng Fruit met her. They have reason to not like her and not want Stone Monkey around her. Still not the time or place, but their concern and frustration was understandable!

From Stone Monkey's perspective, what's a little attempted murder between friends, I guess? They had a Bash Brothers bonding moment against the Demon King's army before Jade Rabbit's headwrap was knocked off and she panicked, so clearly it's all square now. She was just upset! She didn't even manage to actually hurt them! It's fine! It's also possible he blames Ginseng Fruit for Jade Rabbit being angry at all, since if Ginseng Fruit had just stayed away from him like Stone Monkey had wanted them to, and hadn't tagged along, they never would have had a chance to run their mouth and set her off. Which isn't really fair, but. Stone Monkey barely seems to tolerate Ginseng Fruit at this stage of their relationship and that was true even before all this went down. I'm not sure he would be fair. Especially not when they're shouting insults his already hurting friend might be able to hear.

Six Ears got them to work it out, of course, but I definitely noticed that Ginseng Fruit's tears weren't even enough to rock that look of utter disdain until Six Ears scolded Stone Monkey about it.

(Ginseng Fruit: *sobbing*

Stone Monkey: Suffer.

Six Ears: Hey. Hey, isn't it funny how all your friends keep getting sad around you?

Stone Monkey: 😟*🎶SHOT THROUGH THE HEART🎶*)

Six Ears really did go for the throat, though. Jade Rabbit wasn't even Stone Monkey's fault! Don't imply it is! He'll believe it if it comes from you!

I thought it was pretty funny and cute though, that Six Ears apparently just took it upon himself to carry Ginseng Fruit around while they were accompanying Stone Monkey. Looking at all of this though, it might also have been him just trying to keep Ginseng Fruit alive. He put Ginseng Fruit down for FIVE SECONDS and in the next scene they're picking a fight with an already upset Stone Monkey and almost getting their skull crushed in. They were right back on Six Ears's hip in the next shot lol. Can't take these guys anywhere.

But in reality it was probably just Six Ears's self-appointed Monkey Kinda-Maybe-Prince Boy Scout babysitting reflexes kicking in. He accompanied an upset Stone Monkey to go find this other friend of his, saw this little guy with tiny little legs trying to keep up with them (and especially Stone Monkey who was probably not in the mood to slow down or have Ginseng Fruit on him), and just scooped without a second thought. And Ginseng Fruit likes him! At least if their comment about Six Ears being cute later is anything to go by. You have a stalwart fan now, Six Ears. You carried them, spoke up for them a bit, and now they will die for you. Ginseng Fruit does nothing by halves.

This episode had so much character relationship building in it. I loved it a lot. The actual editing of the episode was a bit more like a fever dream or like the guy storyboarding it hadn't slept in a week, so I hope they're all right, but the writing was hitting all the beats. It was so good. Easily my favorite.

#mhw09 personal #this was 'stone monkey loves his friends so much' the episode #jade rabbit! #speedrunning enemies-to-friends #their entire back-to-back fight! #starting from the three-way fight between stone monkey the demon army and jade rabbit #from stone monkey LOOKING RIGHT AT HER before 'accidentally' letting her get caught by the rope and then going #'oh whoops didn't see you there!' #(I don't think he actually knew who EXACTLY was behind him but he wasn't too torn up about the fact he got jade rabbit caught lol) #(he knows she's out for his blood) #then letting her loose as soon as he dealt with the demon army soldiers only for jade rabbit to go straight to trying to kill him again #right up until a soldier gets a shot at jade rabbit's back and stone monkey TAKES A BLOW FROM HER to protect her #(his pained grimace-smile and mild trepidation knowing he's left himself vulnerable to her. ahhhh.) #then THAT TROPE of her looking like she was going to take advantage and strike him before taking out the OTHER guy coming up behind HIM #AHHHH #the truce! #stone monkey putting himself at jade rabbit's back 'IF YOU WANT TO MAKE ME INTO MEDICINE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO KILL ALL THESE MONSTERS FIRST #with that absolutely infuriating smug grin #jade rabbit being immediately on board: 'Okay. And when I do I won't have mercy on you!' #a true bash siblings moment #lol

[the-house-of-the-nine]

In Depths Below: Masquerade, Part 2

[ K.A ]   Koltun for the most part was wise enough to let the lot of them talk, listening quietly while weighing the choices and options offered.

"Few are truly loyal. Many will run. Casualties will be higher than most of you hope or even anticipate.  But fleeing soldiers often bring more soldiers.  The point is, letting them run off is just as dangerous as letting them live."

He suddenly rumbled, folding his arms over his chest as he continued to regard everyone. At least until that felfire gaze settled on Siida.

"I have protected you since you were small. You don't remember those times, I know that. I am -against- using Siida as bait... as the Blade of the council and protector of this family since even my younger days, it speaks out against everything I do."

He held up a claw.

"But that's not to say I cant be convinced. Find a use for me where I can get to Siida if needed, I'll do as ordered.”

[ P.K ]   Vari snorted and shook her head.  A cold aura swarmed her entire body as she listened to the discussion.  She would sooner take life, than give any who dared do the same a fitting chance to survive.

“They are rich, wealth comes with guards. They are fodder to be dealt with. If this plan is to work, I suggest Koltun and I and a small team of our hand select, deal with them before anyone knows...I do not want loose ends to spoil our chances of success and further put you in danger Siida.”

[ S.K ]   “Is the only way to garner your approval Pyravari, to allow you to kill men and women who may not come to raise a hand against you...to kill them based only upon assumption that they will behave as such?”

The youngest member of the family said while holding her head upward and glancing with golden eyes toward her older.

[ P.K ]   Vari hissed inwardly and narrowed her gaze at her younger sister.

“This may be our only chance to get to our brother, Siida.  Nothing.”  the cold voice of the older sister sang into the walls. “Nothing, is going to stop us from getting the answers we need.  And if some half paid soldier who is charged with protecting these cowardly vermin. . .”

She hissed and let off a cold chilling burst of energy as her hand hit the top of the table.

“Death to all those who support these magisters, it is an inevitable end to every man or woman who puts a blade in their hand should know. Know the difference Siida between mercy and stupidity. They will die not because they are our enemy.  But because they opted to strike when logic would have dictated they surrender.”

[ K.A ]   Koltun arched a brow.  He understood all too well what Vari meant and added to support her words. "There is more to this world than you know, Siida. This is one area Vari and myself know. They will raise a hand and more if given the chance. A lesson we learned the hard way years ago."

"Would you so willingly offer up our necks and your own purely to -see- if your own assumption is correct? To try to put trust in men paid for their blood lust that they would not try to kill you or us?"

He grunted and shook his head.

[ P.K ]   Despite the obvious bias that Koltun and Vari shared on most matters concerning battle and strategy, they could fight and disagree. They could be against one another on every topic you could imagine, but here they stood united.  

Even if they had disagreed prior to a battle; when it was time for business, they would always fight side by side.  Here though, he was a bit more personable though and she would silence herself to allow his point to be made.

[ V.D ]   "Death is inevitable for some. To ensure our longevity we cannot put trust that those we come by, our enemies, aren't as passionate for their cause as we are. Often, if you kill the leader the followers will lay down their arms... Other times they fight twice as hard to avenge their leader."

Twirling her fingers around she'd soon waggle this finger outward,

"All that should be spared is the young. Babes. Women and men fighting under the Magisters house names are the threats."

[ K.A ]   "And when lion Cubs grow into lions, Verzatea, what then? Don’t expect a cub to sit back and think 'shit my family was killed for vengeance....oh well, time to be a seamstress." The hunter snorted, flexing hos wings to stop himself from beginning to pace.

"Destroy them all or leave a loose end."

Koltun stated firmly, looking to Siida.

"Ask yourself this, Siida Kash'ebal. If these men and women KNEW who you were, what you meant to us... do you think they would offer you the same mercy you hold in your heart for them? You have a good heart... which is why you are not the Harbinger, or the Blade. Our hands, minds and hearts do what yours cannot. Keep that in mind when you offer orders."

[ S.K ]   Siida resisted the urge to look back at Marseille for guidance...he wouldn't always be there to give her a direction to choose or be the deciding force...some consequences and guilt would have to lay on her shoulders.

"I will listen to the advice of those more learned than I...but as I listen to you I am learning more and more why Lazarius thought the role of Matron was fitting for more me, I grant my consent that the forces amassed in the defense of the magisters should be culled...”  her soft voice trailing into a breath.

“And in doing so I fully acknowledge that I make widows, orphans, and end lines of family heritage....that is the unseen cost of these actions.”

Siida did not utter such words out loud.

"What is next?"

[ L.K ]   Kross took this time to admittedly try and steer the conversation over to another end.

“Are we in agreement that Verzatea and the bakery will be used as a front to ensure the Confessor, the Shade and she can be there? With Sennaris and those three inside, and Siida still in control with Sunwood in our pocket....I feel we can have a large portion of control of the scene with Koltun and Vari handling the personal armies and guard forces asked to remain with their masters carriages and belongings.”

[ V.D ]   “We could easily disguise two others as baker employees, too.” added the Confessor

[ L.K ]   “Best to keep only Sindorei in the sight of these magisters.”. Marseille stated. He could shift into one with his disguise as could Zalra.

[ K.A ]   At Kross's voice, he quieted and allowed himself to pace, like beast trapped in a pen, back and forth beside Vari's chair. "Agreed. " he rumbled finally. Hell even he knew when to dip his horns to Kross and not antagonize.

[ S.K ]   Today was not the day to tell Koltun her answer to that question, they had a meeting and she was not one raise her voice...this kind of conversation would have led to a screaming match. "Agreed."

[ V.D ]   Bristling. How instantly Koltun managed to get under the Confessor's skin, her teeth beginning to bare in a sneer, her brows furrowing and eyes narrowing into golden slits... Talk about cubs and you risk a protective mother lion. The area surrounding Verzatea would turn cold, the shadows cast by her person darkening until she looked... Dimmer.

"I beg the pardon of the council..." she laughs dryly, "But I would like to state; because I feel it bares further discussion,  I don't believe young ones are old enough to grasp the situation enough to feel compelled to seek vengeance. If we kill all charged with their care, all who could possibly tell them the stories of what happened that made them orphan, then the children are of no risk to us."

[ K.A ]   Mother Lion, meet nightmare. Koltun was he who flapped in the night.  The demon stories warned about that hunted moonless nights and left nothing in his wake but destruction and death. He exuded darkness, pure terror. That cold fear that tugged the base of your spine and sent a chill up your back leaving you jumping at shadows and finding religion with desperate whispers.

Where Vari was unadulterated rage and open fury, Koltun was calm. A calculated anger that stayed dormant until permitted release Felfire eyes slowly turned towards Verza, that same brow arching with almost deliberate slowness as he slowed his pacing to a halt and directed a claw towards Siida.

"Look at our Matron, Miss Verzatea."

He said quietly, ever keeping his gaze locked on the woman, the mother lion.

"Tell me how long ago it was that she was left alone and alive." He shifted to stand beside Verza, lowering his lips near her ears. "Unknowing."

His hand lowered, drawing that same claw up along the length of the woman's slender ear.

"And yet where does she stand now? With such wants and orders upon her lips? What has become of the little Kash'ebahl cub, Siida." Koltun returned to Vari's side and returned to silence, letting his point settle home.

[ V.D ]   Oh how she seethed.  How she would have to bite down on that fleshy mound that forked and hissed with every word the demon threw at her.

“You are bending my words to better suit your approach!” she snapped outwardly, his eyes widened as even she appeared to be shocked with the outburst.

[ K.A ]   “Is that what you think I’m doing? Manipulating you? ��Or are you simply unconvinced yourself that perhaps I am right?” the demon said smirking behind the chair of his love.

[ V.D ]   “You know as well as I do that, that is an isolated incident.  Not ever--”

She was cut off mid sentence by the gentle voice of one sitting between them.

[ S.K ]   “We.Are.Not Doing.This.Now!"

Siida hissed, glaring at both Verzatea and Koltun.

"Not...now. . .Not while my brother is still in danger and not while we continue to cut at ourselves.!”

Her soft voice heaved between breathes as she struggled to maintain her pitch and confident tone behind those teared eyes which were just as boldly fighting back the urge to let loose.  The loss of her brother after finding him; it was not something she wished to speak of again.

[ K.A ]   "I offer only advice, Matron Kash'ebahl" he said gently towards Siida. But no apology was given with it.

[ L.K ]   “I have to stand in agreement with the little sister, this is a pointless discussion at this moment.”  Marseille added as he still stood by her side. “The guards will be dealt with...enough squabbling.”

[ V.D ]   Every snarl and quip she held on the tip of her tongue was redacted on account of Siida. Every insult that he, as a man who let alone shouldn't procreate, but couldn't wouldn't understand the instincts... Or at least, thats what she assumed of him.

Regardless, her attention would not be placed on Koltun for the remainder of the evening. She decided that inwardly while turning her eyes away. Or else she was in danger of losing herself in an argument that she, as a woman, knew she was totally right about.

"The Delightful Delicacies will be professional. True, this night is to once and for all protect the name of the House Kash'ebahl against Dawnseeker... But genuine nobility and high class families will be in attendance. In the off chance we can undergo opperations quietly... Perhaps we'll make a few allies."

[ S.K ]   Siida rested back in her chair....she was ready for this meeting to be over and simply drown herself in a book for several hours....or to go some place and rend something to ribbons.

[ Z.A ]   Zalra's violet, illuminated gaze drifted silently to focus on those who spoke; shifting noticeably so those would know her attention was undivided. She knew her role in these plans. The rest of the more veteran members of the order were merely discussing minor agitations that could potentially unravel the situation.

What the ren'dorei was concerned of, in the moment, was anyone's disagreeing with her posing as Lady Sunwood. She was desperate to contribute more to the order's efforts rather than rely on her fighting talents. However, none seemed to argue with that fact. Good.

Though, her eyes did narrow at Koltun briefly when he spoke of Siida in a presumably condescending tone. But, before she could make an audible warning, the voices that actually held weight spoke up. No need to stick her hand in a pot that was already closed. Her attention shifted to the younger Kash'ebahl, and she attempted to flash her a weak smile of comfort.

[ L.K ]   Kross bowed his head and motioned toward both Siida and Sennaris.

“You both will work together and organize this...Marseille, Zalra please, since you both were successful in aiding our Matron in coming up with this plan...accompany her to the Compellors chambers and begin this as hastily as possible.”

[ S.K ]   "Of course Kross, we'll get to it right away." Siida would rise, happy to leave the room and giving a smile to Zalra. It had worked....sort of.

[ S.D ]    “As you wish.” the Compellor said softly as her eyes drifted toward the young member of the family.  If they were to plan this together, she would go to prepare her chambers for the guests so they could begin immediately.  

Sennaris followed suit right behind the Matron.  And soon would make her way to the location of her sanctum.

[ L.K ]   Marseille would offer a bow toward the remaining members of the order, and grab the hand of Zalra as he would not give her any quarter , she was dragged along behind him as they exited the chamber with Siida.

[ V.D ]   In that moment the Confessor would exhale slowly, her weight rolling into her elbows as she propped them atop the table, her face burying into her plams as she did so.

Thumbs would gently rub the exhaustion from her eyes before her palms would clasp together as if in prayer, her chin resting atop her thumbs while her lips pressed against the length of her forefingers.

She'd stare toward the ceiling for a moment, trying to work out her course of action in her head, ears wilting the deeper into thought she fell.  It was no use though.  She too would quietly vanish from the great council chamber, and go to prepare her business for its premiere event to come.

[ K.A ]   Koltun remained silent, leaving everyone to their thing before lowering his voice to Pyravari. He said only three words before turning from her, clawed hands already reaching back to unhook the curved blades of his glaives from his harness before heading out of the room. It was clear he was heading towards familiar ground. Outside to the training yard. His chapel.

[ P.K ]  Vari would give only the slightest crack of a smile when Koltun whispered to her.  She placed her palms flat against the top of the table and pushed her plated body upward as she rose.  The others were filtering out one at a time and she soon joined them.  

Her destination would be the loft where her lover found solace.  They’d need to determine who were coming with them.  She marched out of the door, giving Kross only a single look back; and a smile, before exiting in a cascading boot march that echoed for several minutes after.

[ Z.A ]   Zalra blinked, standing from her spot with a bow after her dismissal, only to have her hand taken gently within Marseille's. Oh. Interesting, however, she did not make any comment on it, nor did her expression hint towards any qualms or retaliation. Out of the room she was made to follow. The huntress attempted to give a polite nod of her head to the senior members.

[ L.K ]   And as the final members of the council vanished from the illustrious chambers that held strong for so many centuries, the withered old gilnean expelled a soft breath into the cold.   The smile from his adopted daughter; the Harbinger, it warmed his dead heart.   They were always close and her concern was welcoming, yet still even now he felt sadness.

His thoughts drifting from his former Mistress and lover, to the now lost child he’d watch grow into the man he respected so deeply.  Kross knew that showing too much emotion toward the others would only muddy the waters of what his position actually was, but behind those heavy eyelids that sheltered two ghostly white pearls, a sense of remorse and sadness fluttered like a torrent wind.  The steward was lost without his Master.

It would be up to them now.  The coming days would be spent carefully planning their attack and organizing exactly how they would orchestra such a massive undertaking.  Each person specifically had to play their part or it would fall to pieces in an instant.  If this was to go off without a hitch; they would need to be sure everything was perfect, otherwise they may lose more than they bargained for. . .

To Be Continued. . . . “In Depths Below: Masquerade, Part 3″

@siidaraykashebahl

@pyravari-kashebahl

@whatadarkbitch

@daltalah

@thebladeitself

@zalraazurestar