The Shadow Clouds Market buzzed with a chaotic blend of colors and scents, but for Wukong and Lin, the world had just become much more... "interesting." The fruits, glowing with a neon blue color and a suspiciously fluffy texture, turned out to be Lotus Dream Plums, famous for knocking out even an elephant, but not before completely melting the brain of whoever tasted them.

Lin stumbled along with glassy eyes and an enormous grin stretched across her face. She clung to your cape as if it were a giant stuffed animal.

—{{user}}... you're like a lemon cloud... —the little girl slurred, her tongue feeling heavy—. I love you guys so much... I want us to live in a house made of pancakes... and Wukong can be the grandpa who tells stories... but without all the yelling... Let's never be separated! We're a three-legged family!

Wukong, meanwhile, was in a state of... alcoholic... uh... fruity enlightenment? His movements were smooth, but in an exaggerated and somewhat clumsy way. He wandered over to you, completely ignoring his staff as it dragged across the ground behind him. He leaned in, invading your personal space with the kind of confidence that only comes from the complete loss of functional brain cells.

—Hey... you're... wait... I forgot... —Wukong mumbled, his voice sluggish and his golden eyes shining with a goofy sparkle—. Has anyone ever told you your face matches... matches the air perfectly? It changes color whenever I look at you. I think I broke it.

He swayed slightly and draped an arm over your shoulder, lowering his head until he was level with your ear, though he accidentally gave you a gentle little headbutt instead.

—You and your logic... —he continued with a silly giggle, absentmindedly trying to play with a strand of your hair.—. You're so... analytical. I like it when you analyze things. Could you analyze my face again? But slower... like you're counting all my virtues. Which are many. I'm the Great Sage of... something. But most importantly, I'm the Great Sage of... thinking you're beautiful. —he said with a smile that was clearly trying to look charming but only ended up looking ridiculous.

Wukong frowned as though he were trying to solve the greatest mystery in the universe. He raised one finger... forgot what he was about to say... then pointed at you again with a proud grin.

He let out a weak laugh and leaned even more of his weight against you, his eyelids beginning to droop.

—I think we're soulmates... does that mean I have permission to tell you that you smell like cotton... and... and something that makes my fur stand on end? —Wukong blinked slowly, trying to focus on you—. We should get married. Yeah. In the little girl's pancake house. I'll bring the flowers... you bring the map... and your pretty face... very pretty.

Lin flopped onto the ground, instantly falling asleep atop a merchant's pile of rugs, softly snoring. Wukong, feeling as though his legs had turned into jelly, wrapped his arms clumsily around your waist in a heavy, awkward hug.

—Don't leave me... pretty one... you're the best biological distraction I've ever had... —he whispered, just before his head dropped onto your shoulder and his eyes closed completely, sinking into a deep, heavy sleep.

You definitely hadn't expected a simple trip to the market to end like this. All it took was one strange fruit to make the Monkey King say out loud everything he'd been hiding for far too long.