#✖ chances are none of this makes sense to anyone else

[timeislikemusic]

[ ✖ ] So. Haha. About that episode. (VERY long rambles incoming.)

Regarding the male manipulator ⋯

I’ve been mentally glaring daggers at my LX muse since late last night. You would think, knowing the moral atrocities he’s committed, I would stop wanting to write him. But this freak has built himself a mind palace in the corner over there. He’s not leaving anytime soon and he knows it. Hate him sm /aff

Regarding the golden retriever ⋯

At the very least, it looks like XF’s PV occurs after the events of the Bridon arc — which is why Vein is watching XF from a distance. It also explains the ‘influencer’ description of that news broadcast when he goes missing: he’s seemingly taken that on by vlogging.

It suggests LX is the one to bring XF back into the fray, too, with his lil card, since he’s still openly in XF’s peripheral. I wonder if that’s why XF goes ‘missing’ so many years later. LX reunited him with his formerly-assumed-dead lǎobǎn and he’s therefore willing to toss his life to the side just so they can be together again… maybe?

Speaking of our dear lǎobǎn ⋯

I really adore his character. I know many folks were on the fence with him because, well, he does shoot CXS. But, he’s so silly! He says the strangest phrases and uses the most bizarre vocabulary and I love him? He’s very cute? Evil, sure, but cute. They knew what they were doing to make him likable despite the murder and his cannibalistic imagery.

Misc. Contemplations ⋯

In other news, I saw a few theories on Twitter discussing the interview, which specifically mentioned LX having multiple powers and Vein having none during the Bridon arc… The more I scroll, the more my ideas for what happened change. These are VERY scattered thoughts, so fair warning that they might not make sense:

Does Wang Qing know Vein personally? Maybe. But he seemed surprised to hear his name from her… So that doesn’t line up, unless she’s been gathering info on him in secret. I thought for a while it was whoever blue-eyed her who spoke, but the timing of the color change was too late- Unless, the animators were waiting to show the possession like they did with Chen Bin, because the color is only really there to help the audience.

So, was LX the one who blue-eyed WQ at the end? It couldn’t have been LG, because Vein doubles over before WQ’s eyes turn blue and after LG makes that weird hand gesture. Whatever LG was doing there, it probably had nothing to do with WQ. But if the animators were holding off on showing the eye change, and LX was in possession of her, he could have been using her power in the process… It may be activated by saying someone’s name, and he just seems more likely to know it than WQ (or LG, if he was in control instead). They’re on closer terms.

Alternatively, was it WQ using her own power, and not a possession issue at all? If so, what was she doing? I can’t imagine her trying to save Vein’s life. He just flung her around like a doll, and she was working with Mama Cheng + withholding the location of the envelope in her office. They’re likely on opposite sides. But, we still have that ‘fake-death ability user’ lurking around, whether it’s her or someone else at the school (or someone who took it from someone at the school. Staring at LX, who is the one to get Vein outta the bodybag lol)

Then again, LX’s first ability might not just be hearing heartbeats. If he can manipulate them too, that could come into play with themes of necromancy, revival, etc… hm. I guess that’s one way to rewrite a death node? To bring someone back in the present?

Smaller note here: If not in the Bridon arc, then does Vein eventually receive a power? Does he kill for it or later awaken it? I want to know because… If you off someone who has obtained multiple abilities, do you get them all? Do you only get the one they wish to pass to you (re: CXS passing LG the ball)? Does a ‘fake death’ count for the sake of a transfer? Is that person completely powerless afterward? (Can LX get Vein to kill him to loan him a power and then reverse his death? Basically offer him a knife with the blade aimed at his chest, hold his hand, and grin when he coughs up blood?) I have so many questions.

ALL THIS TO SAY. Those are my immediate reactions. I’m learning more with every passing hour, so ofc my perception of what went down will change. I plan to do a rewatch at some point as well! Replies will be slow until I’m done; I’ll be moving very carefully with my portrayals.