#ambiguous shadowpeach

[freetalessimain]

I love my babies. The context is whatever you want it to be… I didn’t think it through

I might eventually revisit and finish this!

[freetalessimain]

Took a break from art. And I will get these idiots to fall in love if it’s the last thing I do.

I CANT SEEM TO GET THEM HIGHER THAN GREAT FRIENDS GAAH is that the highest in the demo? IDK!

[freetalessimain]

If I may suggest something for Shadowpeach! A friend of mine and I have been playing around with the dynamic of Shadowpeach for a while, because we have trouble seeing them strictly platonic or romantic in the traditional sense. So, we went looking to see if there was another way we could describe Shadowpeach. And we found something called Alterous Attraction.

It is a deep emotional bond/closeness with someone that isn't strictly platonic or romantic. It is often described as a gray area of being between platonic and romantic, or its own thing entirely.

From Platonic: Goes beyond typical friendship into a more intense, defining emotional bond, sometimes serving as a "life partner" substitute.

From Romantic: Lacks the typical romantic expectations, roles, or feelings (like "butterflies"), focusing purely on the deep emotional link. I love the idea that Shadowpeach is more than something platonic/romantic. A secret third thing, that they have a deep, deep bond between one another that transcends a traditional platonic/romantic relationship/dynamic. They aren't sure how to describe their emotions to one another, but they know they love one another very much, and that's all that matters to them. And they get to decide what they are to each other, and what that means for them. And explore what kind of intimacy they have. Do they want to kiss? or is that too much? Do they just like cuddles instead? Then that's what they'll do.

WOOOWA, Thank you for the ask! I added some art at the end btw

I didn’t realize there was a specific term for this, but I’ve kind of always viewed love this way. And yesss, they are best friends!! Or were... Before everything, they were best friends, and honestly this might be my favorite flavor of Shadowpeach. You and your friend absolutely nailed it!

They aren’t strictly platonic or romantic. Their relationship just doesn’t fit neatly into either category, at least within canon I’d say. I don’t think they’d want to put labels on what they are until they can fully articulate how they feel. And who knows, maybe they’re just as comfortable staying exactly as they are forever.

I’m not usually a big shipper. I only really get invested when there’s a strong emotional connection and a lot of shared history and interactions. I didn’t start shipping Shadowpeach until mid–season 4 and 5 and (after MANY FANFICS…), when we got more backstory, and then I was completely hooked. The potential is just sooo good!! I also in general don’t enjoy enemies-to-lovers, relationships that grow out of hatred make me super uncomfortable. That’s why I never viewed them as anything beyond platonic until we learned they were genuinely close friends once.

I can’t fully explain it I just adore that idea. It’s such a good take!!

personally I believe that love and relationships are often way too romanticized and sexualized. Falling in love with your best friend doesn’t mean suddenly wanting to kiss them or getting butterflies and flustered around them. Sometimes it just means you adore them so deeply, and want to be with them forever, and that is enough.

The idea of a “life partner” substitute fits them perfectly. Their plan was to literally live a lazy life, basking in the sun together forever. When Wukong joined the rebellion, he just assumed Macaque would come too, because they always got into cheeky mischief together. And honestly, I fully believe Macaque would’ve been content staying on FFM for eternity. Even if Wukong got restless, Macaque would’ve stayed with him.

I headcanon that Macaque did stay on FFM after the fight under the mountain…at least until it was burned down and their people were massacred. Then he went to find Wukong, only to discover his mountain prison empty. Then later finds Wukong serving under Heaven, mind you the same Heaven that destroyed their mountain, their home. That’s when things go wrong. But hey, that’s just a theory, A GAME THEORY! thanks for watching.

Jokes aside, I really love everything you said. Even if I probably won’t get every detail “right,” this interpretation resonates with me a lot! It totally fits them. For my DLV AU especially, I wouldn’t lean heavily into romance at all. I’d just show that their bond is deeper than old friends or enemies. That they miss each other, regret everything, and are still hurting and angry, even while wanting things they don’t know how to fix.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ASK. You don’t know how much I appreciate not only the engagement but the insight and advice! I really like all you said, I may not stick directly to it, but will definitely be taking inspiration AND referring back to it many times

I wanted to make art for this ask, but wasn’t sure what. So instead ill dump some Shadowpeach related WIPs and no longer fully complaint (the video) art from my Destiny’s little voice AU.

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[freetalessimain]

I’ll never underestimate animators ever again this sucks, IM GOING LOCO

[freetalessimain]

Here is my current Animation Wip because OBVIOUSLY I HAD TO START ANOTHER INSTEAD OF FINISHING THE LAST 😭

I PROMISE MACAQUE WAS NOT ABOUT TO START TW3RKING. He’s just dramatic is all. What is the plot for this? I don’t know.

MACAQUE IS A DIVA! He wears eyeliner and fishnets, and earrings, its canon to me!! He’s the moment and the legend. Wukong is just chilling looking for something to watch— Oh horrors of horrors! It’s Macaque…?

I stole the dance from tiktok, and rotoscoped it! But everything else came from this little brain.

This took ages, I haven’t slept in the last 24 hours. Let’s hope I give it the grace of being finished someday.

Have some screenshots I took during the process of creation

[freetalessimain]

Do we want Platonic Wukong & Macaque or ‘something more’ for Destiny’s Little Voice AU?

ShadowPeach🍑💜

Eclipse Duo☀️🌙

Ambiguous‼️

Voting ended onJan 17

I like all of them, so whatever you guys decide I will do, unless I change my mind…?

Have some Shadowpeach related doodles (These are all super old btw, I don’t draw many works of them directly interacting)

If shadowpeach wins ill remake the animatic with the DLV version of them.. WHO SAID THAT!?

Im a strong believer of Macaque fell first (then fell out because tragedy) and Wukong fell harder (Loss makes the heart grow fonder type bull)