#🥜 peanupdate 🥜

[wanderpawn]

An In-Depth Analysis of Neuvillette's Character Stories and how they tie into my headcanons

I posted part of this on twitter yesterday because some fellow neuvifuri enjoyers were asking me to write a Neuvillette character analysis, so I'm posting it here, too. And I realized I never actually explained why I believe the things I believe about Neuvillette, so I'll be doing that here as well.

This analysis is divided into three parts— Foundation, Gender Identity, and Dissociative Identity. The "Foundation" section is the basis for all of my headcanons for Neuvillette.

⟡ Foundation

Neuvillette’s character is essentially a story about being freed, which is a parallel to Furina’s story. Though, instead of being freed from a burden put onto them by others, Neuvillette’s story is about finally being freed from a burden placed upon themself, by themself.

It’s the symbolism of external conflict vs. internal conflict that makes Furina and Neuvillette's relationship so interesting.

Neuvillette is a very strong person, having been able to be completely impartial and separated from society for their entire life. Something that’s mentioned a lot in their character information is that they’ve always felt like an outsider around others.

They felt like they had to “act as a normal human,” which prevented them from being unequivocally themself.

But after the events of Masquerade of the Guilty, there was no longer a need to be so closed-off. The worst had already happened, and there was nothing left except to pick up the fragmented pieces of what they once had, and put them back together.

Despite regaining the full extent of their Dragon Sovereign's powers, Neuvillette was left having become even more human than they were before. Just as Furina became fully human with Focalors’ sacrifice, it could be argued that Neuvillette did, too (metaphorically).

There is no longer a need for Neuvillette to pretend. Now they are free to exist, in whichever way they choose.

⟡ Gender Identity

Neuvillette is not human, despite how human they seem. They are in essence a Hydro Dragon, and given what we know about dragons in Genshin (re: Zhongli, the genderfluid shapeshifter) and what we know about the Archons (inherently genderless), we can assume Neuvillette is also inherently genderless.

And the truth of the matter is that they take the form of a man, so we can assume they've done that by choice, i.e., pretending to be a "normal human", or what a normal human looks like in their eyes. And if they have dysphoria with how they look (which is not necessarily a trans thing in this case, dysphoria can also be dissociative), they would want to assume the role that would alleviate it. Therefore, Neuvillette = transmasc. I need to be clear about that.

So, after regaining their powers, and feeling the weight lifted off their shoulders, it would make sense that they'd stop caring about looking like a "normal human" as much, and assume their naturally genderless stance.

⟡ Dissociative Identity

These excerpts all have one thing in common: incongruence.

Definition (in psychology): "Incongruence is when there is a misalignment and not a balance or overlap between the real self and the ideal self." (link)

Neuvillette's struggle with incongruence can be interpreted as Neuvillette themself, the alter, being Neuvillette's mind's manifestation of what a "normal human" looks like, which can be backed up by the quote "The only person who isn't really him is the one who goes by the name of Neuvillette."

It's really convoluted... it took me a while to understand, too.

I'll try to explain it like this: Neuvillette is the one who is trying to fit the mold of a human. That's why the Melusines say they're not really the "real Neuvillette"— because the "real" Neuvillette has desires and a personality that Neuvillette has subconsciously decided doesn't fit for a "human" to have. (of course, there's some cognitive distortion going on there.)

The "real" Neuvillette is the one I like to call Leviathan. They're the one who shows up more after the events of Masquerade of the Guilty. They're the one who has the courage to cut their hair short and smile at their friends.

Of course, all of Neuvillette's parts are equally Neuvillette, it's just worded that way for literary effect, I suppose.

⟡ Conclusion

In the end, Neuvillette's story is a story about being freed, but it's also very much a story about identity, at its core.

It was fun to write this... I'm sorry it's so long... but it really is nice to have all of my theories written out finally. I've been rolling all of this around in my head for the entire past year! It's so nice to see it in words :')

Hopefully you found it interesting!

[wanderpawn]

Analyzing Neuvillette's Character Teaser From a Dissociative Disorder Perspective

I mentioned this headcanon a little in this post of mine, and described it heavily in this fanfic I wrote, but now I'm actually going to talk about it a little more in depth (´-ω-`)

I'm going to start by looking at a definition and a list of symptoms of dissociative disorders, because I think it's good to have some background on the topic, and I'll be referencing them throughout the post.

Now I'll look at the teaser!

This is one of the first scenes of the video:

In this line, Neuvillette says, "I neither know why I was born in this form, nor do I understand where this long life should take me."

Memory loss of this caliber (one's entire past) is known as dissociative amnesia. (unless it's caused by a brain injury... which I think it's pretty safe to say it's not, in this case.)

Also, I think it's true (for me, at least) that not having a clear vision of the past + present can cause one to have an inability to imagine the future.

Later we see Sedene say, "It's not like you to zone out!" to Neuvillette, despite how we see them "zone out" multiple times during their appearances in the game. I will also note that the "zoning out" was triggered by a memory, which makes it much closer to dissociation than just merely "zoning out".

The last part of the teaser I want to talk about is the end, where Neuvillette says the line pictured above.

They say very clearly that they can only understand themself through observing other people. This blatantly shows that they have a very blurred sense of identity, which is one of the defining traits of a dissociative disorder.

Then there's a few more points I want to make that's about their character in general, without the video.

The fact that Neuvillette is so closed-off towards others, and has such rigid boundaries, and doesn't understand human emotions— well, don't you think they must feel rather separated from themself and their emotions?

And they don't have many friends at all... they keep a harsh distance from everyone in Fontaine... doesn't that count as "problems in relationships"?

And if you've played/watched the Fontaine storyline, and/or read Neuvillette's character stories, well, you'd know they're definitely traumatized.

SO yeah, that's all, I just wanted to finally dump my silly little Neuvillette perspective on all of you (even though that's all I ever do anyway) ( ; ω ; )

Thank you for indulging me, haha!!! 💙

[wanderpawn]

Furina’s Vision (and their story quest in general) has always meant more than words can say to me because it’s what allowed me to finally see myself for who I am. Every part of myself.

Furina struggles with something very similar to me, being split into different parts. After 500 years of suffering, they wholeheartedly believed they didn’t deserve to have friends or a nice life because of the turmoil they had caused and the parts of themself they had to keep hidden from everyone else. 

But then they were given a Vision. As a reward for going through all of it, supposedly. For being strong. For being themself.

That’s what always stuck with me. Furina’s Vision is like a reward for being uniquely themself, chaotic parts and all. It was a sign— to me, anyway— that meant “maybe it’s not so bad to be the way I am, if it’s worthy of being rewarded like that.”

I have Furina’s Vision in real life, too. It was made for me by a wonderful friend. Just like how a good amount of people think Neuvillette was the one who gifted Furina their Vision, mine was also a gift from someone really important to me, who helped me realize my true self.

Aaaaaanyway, the one-year anniversary of me being Furina just passed, so I wanted to share all the thoughts that I still have scurrying around in my head a year later :’3

Did you guys know I’ve cosplayed Furina to 10 different events over the past year? It’s my most worn cosplay ever, by far!!! Definitely my comfort outfit (´-ω-`)

[wanderpawn]

An Introduction to the Neuvillette Trio

I don't believe I've ever actually introduced them before... so have these little character profiles of the three of them, for reference!

✧ Neuvillette 🌧️

- looks grumpy, but is actually just neutral about everything.

- likes: water, rain, writing, puddles.

- dislikes: swimming pools

- doesn't smile much. very awkward.

- very literary... types like someone writing a novel.

- is my brain's manifestation of what Neuvillette believes a "normal person" looks like.

✧ Leviathan Neuvillette 🌦️

- much more animated and cheerful!

- likes: water, steak, and drawing.

- dislikes: how little it rains around here...

- slightly less awkward, and better at talking to others.

- they're assigned the 🌦️ emoji, but they still don't like sunshine.

- is the Neuvillette who's more willing to show who they are on the inside.

✧ Diluvium Neuvillette ⛈️

- kind of crazy... with unstable mood swings...

- likes: water, and chocolate pudding

- dislikes: social media and performing as someone he's not

- doesn't like to leave his room much.

- always has a wacky expression on his face. just what is he thinking....

- the Neuvillette who is unafraid to show his true self.

And together the three make Leviathan Diluvium Neuvillette! My full name!

Just some wanderpawn lore for all of you 🥹

↑ Height comparison :)

[wanderpawn]

An Introduction to the Zhongli Trio

This is part two to the introject introductions I made before c: this time I'll be introducing my Zhonglis!

Zhongli 🍂

- extremely awkward. Much more so than Neuvi.

- likes: cool rocks, collecting things, writing angsty journal entries

dislikes: chaos.

- kindhearted, but doesn't know how to have a proper conversation.

- fronts so frequently they have a silly nickname from my friends :') (I would share it but it's the teeniest bit raunchy...)

- they're the shortest of the three (just under 5'5)

Rex Lapis 🌾

- likes to be called Rex.

- very easygoing and relaxed.

- likes: soup, silliness, drawing

- dislikes: loud noises and my brain's rules

- always has a :3 expression (in spirit)

- extremely scatterbrained....

- is the second shortest, almost tied with Zhongli.

Morax 🍵

- grumpy old man

- likes: touching grass. And tea.

- dislikes: physical pain and suffering

- has perpetual dark eye bags from all the pain he's gone through

- is also the one who handles all my physical pain (which unfortunately is a lot)

- doesn't talk much.

- very tall.... like, Very tall....

We don't have a collective name like "Leviathan Diluvium Neuvillette," I just use the name Rex because it's silly and I like it!

Something else I forgot to mention on my last introduction is that all three of my Neuvillettes and all three of my Zhonglis are extremely aroace. I don't know where I would've fit that in, though.....

Also, the drawings here are a little outdated. All six of us have very short hair now.

Yay, thanks for reading! :D

[wanderpawn]

nono issok <3 and tysm i hada wonderful halloween

except i also stayed up til 4am cos i wrote fic and then played genshin and hsr lol TwT

but yay :D also mr reca looks great in ur style

~🪶 anon

That sounds like a super fun night!! I hope you were able to get enough rest, too, though! (all those nights I've spent drawing until twilight hours flash through my mind....)

And thank you for saying that ;u; I'm kind of obsessed with drawing him.... I think I make him look too baby, though, haha..... I feel like I'm drawing myself every time I draw Reca because his hair looks exactly like mine if I had longer brown roots 🥲 and for other reasons too, but i digress >_>

Sorry, tangent.... ahaha..... anyway, I'm very glad you had a nice holiday !!

[wanderpawn]

happy late halloween ^^

~🪶 anon

And a happy Halloween to you too, delightful 🪶! I hope you had a very nice one :)

[wanderpawn]

tysm levi!!

for now im probably sticking with she/they ^^

~🪶 anon

Cool cool ! It's always good to practice coping strategies, they help with so many things! 🫡👍🥹

[wanderpawn]

can i say again i love your art so much (very gender. also cute art style)

also i feel like you’d be a good friend /gen

~🪶 anon

I'm so happy you like it 🥹 thank you!!!

And thank you for saying that, too :') If you ever wanted to chat about anything, feel free to message me! (No pressure, though!)

[wanderpawn]

i love how you changed the intro /lh

that is a wonderful idea from your friend on bird app :3

my she/they ahh wants a binder. and will probably get one at some point once i remember lol

sunday is cool. both you (ofc) and the hsr guy

~🪶 anon

Haha, you noticed! I'm glad ^^

Yes definitely get a binder if you're interested, they're so neat! I started wearing one long before I became transmasc, there's definitely many purposes to them!

Thank you, friend :') I can't really choose my identity, but it's very nice to know I'm cool for it!

[wanderpawn]

ahhhhh tysm <3

i did not know how much i needed to see sunday in a binder?? its amazing. also sunday is so gender goals /lh

~can i be 🪶 anon? cos i might visit pretty regularly :>

Of course you can!! Aaah I can't believe I'm cool enough to have resident anons now 🥹

Funny story about the binder Sunday drawing– my friends on Bird App actually suggested I draw him in a binder now and then with top surgery scars after I get top surgery next year! Since I am Sunday and all (parallels....) Indeed he is my gender goals :'')

I'd love it if you did visit regularly! It's always a delight seeing anyone in my inbox!

[wanderpawn]

im the anon from before ^^ i just wanna say that it was partially your art that later helped me find out i’m nonbinary!! so i actually am very grateful for you and i hope you have a great week :D

Oh wow!! I'm so honored that my silly art could help you in any way!! That's such a wonderful compliment, you are so sweet anon 🥹 Thank you so much for enjoying what I create, and congratulations on your gender!! 🥳 🩶

This serves as a good time to announce to all of you who follow my art: the gender posting certainly isn't over! I haven't done any in a while, but I promise it'll be back! 🫡 (how can I not, it's like my brand at this point)

[wanderpawn]

hi hi hi your artstyle is so adorable???

i forgot your acc for a while lol but im back

love you levi /platonic

Aww thank you so much c': you're so kind! 💙

I hope you're having a good day, anon!!

[wanderpawn]

hey just a friendly heads up that people who are AFAB can have penises, XY chromossomes, no breast mammary development and high testosterone! u probably should just say female instead (neuvillette headcanon)

Fair point, I didn't think of that before! But honestly I don't even know how to phrase it that way, because Neuvillette has a female body, but they're definitely not a girl, and if I were to say "female", wouldn't it mean they are a girl (which they're not), or the same thing as afab? Now I'm confused 😵‍💫

Someone please tell me a better way to phrase it, if there is one!!

[wanderpawn]

a while ago, i wrote a reader insert featuring they/them neuvillette that i posted on ao3. and now, a whole two months later, i am still on massive brainrot for that headcanon :D

so, i really, really want to write a fic centered around it— something like neuvillette telling furina they want to use they/them pronouns, or anything like that. the only problem is, i have no ideas for the actual plot >_<

i suppose i’ll just be waiting for inspiration to strike !

[wanderpawn]

Sweetie... you're not cringe, you're precious! I love looking at your interpretation of the characters' and honestly I seriously enjoy the artwork you do for them!!

xoxox

Thank you so much! You're so kind! 🥹💕 I always worry that I'm annoying, so I really do appreciate the kind words (*^^*)