#in that ep he's the only one who can tell when someone is possessed by that youkai i.e. wearing that youkai on their face

[coquelicoq]

[Image description: Two stills from the episode. The first is a close-up on Natori's face as he holds up a black crow feather. He's wearing glasses and a bucket hat and saying "I sent Hiiragi after him so we could take him out". In the second, Natori takes off his glasses, looking at Nanase offscreen at an exorcist meeting. He's still wearing his bucket hat, which throws the top of his face into shadow. Hiiragi is visible behind him. /end ID]

Rewatch: S2E11 Assembly of Conjurers

A horrible exorcists rewatch post. What is the horrible exorcists rewatch?

🌹Summary Natsume encounters an injured crow youkai. Natori invites Natsume to a meeting of exorcists to chase after a youkai that looks like a flying head.

🌹Canon Notes +this episode corresponds to manga volume 3 ch 11 +dangerous youkai can run around eating youkai and eating livestock +youkai are used as guides to lead people to exorcist-youkai gatherings +ideograms can be drawn on parts of human bodies for protection  +srry hiiragi, that you got punched this one time when you were trying your best to help but the misunderstanding was hilarious (and you wonder if any exorcists ever get protective tattoos of certain ideograms? probably not, knowing the negative connotations on tattoos and yakuza in japan) +both youkai and people attend the meetings; not everyone at the meetings can see youkai, some can just sense them +natori suggests that natsume should wear a mask at the meeting; info-gathering is important, while also trying not to give away too much about your own identity +natori’s family, apparently, was famous once as powerful exorcists +the lizard youkai on natori never goes to his left leg. +nanase-san knows about the name Natsume Reiko (and presumably, so do some of the others at the meeting) +natori also asks “is matoba-san here too?” at the meeting. matoba does not appear at the meeting +exorcists hunt youkai and get bounties from posters on exorcist bulletin boards +natori can find other youkai with his paper dolls if he knows the youkai’s name and he draws a circle of water for the tracking spell. +sealing pots (or objects) can be enchanted to fly back to an owner’s hand

🌹 Comments For a natsume yuujinchou episode, this one starts out on a much darker and bloodier note with the death of a crow youkai that was eaten in front of natsume’s eyes by another youkai that looks like a giant head. we find out from natori’s first appearance that individual exorcists exist; with this episode, we get a glimpse at a larger world of an exorcist community beyond natsume’s usual peaceful town and forest adventures. like all communities, they have their own conflicts, intrigues, and secrets. things we learn about EXORCIST WORLDBUILDING: entire families can become famous for their exorcist powers, as the ability to see youkai (and the ability to fight them off) is something that can be passed down through blood relatives. masks and fake names are used and seen as a wise necessity when attending exorcist gatherings; people want to get information but find it dangerous to have their identities known. we can sort of understand why this would be the case for youkai, seeing as natsume’s book of friends is seen as a powerful object, when all it has are youkai’s names in it. but why do exorcists want to hide their names from other humans? perhaps some are part-time exorcists, like natori, and can’t have their faces intefere with their other real-world jobs? or perhaps some families are feuding with each other and find it easier to gain information and reduce conflict if other people’s identities are obscured? exorcists can also get assignments by finding bounties posted on an…exorcist community bulletin board or answering requests from other individuals. from natori’s first appearance, he was disarming and charming, and a little dangerous, but was also balanced out humorously with ridiculous background roses and sparkles. in this appearance, his exorcist side is present in full-force, and he’s more grim, more serious throughout. while he’s not at ease during this episode, he seems entirely nonchalant about the life-threatening danger he faces when tracking down the giant-headed youkai, which could end him in one bite. it’s just another day’s work to him. we also get more snapshots of his background story; natori is the son from a famous exorcist family (”The Natori family have always been exorcists…I’m famous by birth, so there’s no point in hiding”). the lizard youkai on his skin never goes to his left leg, which he finds unsettling. there’s also a teasing hint of an unspecified conflict between natori and another group of exorcists (”The Matoba group and I don’t get along well”). this is also the second or third time when natori asks natsume for help with exorcist matters, worded in a way which appeals to natsume’s compassion: “You have power. There are those who need it. Will you ignore them?” power, the sight to see youkai, the ability to defeat them–these are the values of the exorcist community, and, at least in natori’s view, can be used to help others. we also meet another exorcist at the meeting–Nanase-san, who natori introduces to natsume as “something like a secretary to the Matoba group.” natori also takes the trouble to specifically introduce hiiragi, his new shiki, to nanase-san. i wondered for a moment why he would take the time to do so; but it makes sense. if shiki are introduced to other exorcist colleagues, the likelihood of someone accidentally banishing or sealing your shiki are reduced. nanase-san first appears to be a kindly character; when she is introduced to natsume, she tells him “But you need not fight alone anymore.” Were these the things natori was hoping natsume would hear, when following him to the meeting–connection, sympathy, community? (natori takes off his glasses during the brief scenes of introduction, which may not mean much of anything; but we do know that the glasses add a bit of security to natori’s mind, to help him see youkai better). as the episode proceeds, nanase-san, by her appearance a smiling respectable elderly exorcist, turns out to be absolutely ruthless in how she interacts with youkai, natori, and natsume. not purposefully cruel or rude; but ruthless. the sealing jar she at first gifted to natori turns out to be the means to help her gain a new shiki after natori had done the work of sealing the youkai and she had used the crow youkai as bait at the beginning of the episode. finally, when natsume is angry with her, on behalf of the crow youkai which had died, all she tells him is: “Oh dear. That tenderness will be the death of you.” in the exorcist community, compassion, softness towards youkai (or towards other exorcists?) leads to a person’s ruin. if nanase-san and natori had been acquainted before, had this ever been something she had said to him? we find out more about the exorcist community, the darker, dangerous world that natori interacts with outside of his acting and his roses. as for what natori thought about other exorcists when he first met them when he must have been younger, all we have to infer from are natsume’s reactions, which run from excitement to mixed, uneasy emotions: If I go, will I find others like me? Will I find people here who know my pain? Can I honestly, truly believe in others? I have to protect…the people here who understand my pain. I have to be able to at least do that!… But it’s people like me who are the most dangerous. I thought what I wanted was to be strong, because I found those I want to protect… natsume never completes his last thought on what else he wanted to be, other than someone who was strong. the parallels also diverge at the point about other people; we don’t know yet, if there’s anyone, or any people that natori wants to protect (personally), if he can understand that impulse at all.

Feel free to reblog with your own comments or to link and type a separate response post. Previous posts: S1E9 rewatch. S1E13. S2E3. More exorcists meta can be read here. Other rewatch posts will be tagged with ‘horrible exorcists rewatch’

[bengiyo]

Century of Love Ep 5 Stray Thoughts

Last week, Vee decided that he wanted to steal the stone to heal his grandmother, and so pushed San to let him live in the house. Vee wanted to get into the locked room, and was eventually let in by San. Vee also learned that San has suffered every night for a century. Vee also tried to seduce that man, leading to another wet dream. Nephew came back to start shit again. Goons kidnapped grandpa, and then one of them snuck into the house, stole the stone, and stabbed Vee!

Ah, Grandpa wasn't kidnapped. They just wanted them all away from the house.

Watch enough Thai dramas and you start to recognize the hospital hallways.

I hope that was a decoy stone intended to be stolen to learn who their enemy was.

Nephew! I knew it was you!!

In typical drama fashion, we have to reveal exactly how we outsmarted the enemy.

Not only does Daou look great in this hoodie, it makes it easy for any stunt doubles.

Oooh a car chase.

WELP, DROWNING IN A CAR IS ONE OF MY PRIMAL FEARS.

Don't worry, Vee, they don't know you also tried to steal the stone.

I do like that Vee is having fun teasing San. I haven't forgotten his homelessness story from last week.

Oh that was a good cut from the bench back to the room.

POND PONLAWIT

It's interesting that Vee knows Third already. We're gonna flip multiple dynamics in this lifetime. Already thinking about the observation from I think @mysterygrl20 that this time around San pushed Vee into a loveless marriage.

San looks familiar to Third! The plot thickens.

Juu is my favorite. She will never give San a break.

Now, San, no one said anything mean about you; that was all you. Vee is also correct that he doesn't have to prioritize the lore about previous lifetimes, especially when San insists that he isn't Vad.

Honestly, I'm totally down to see what kind of romantic chemistry Pond and Offroad can build with these characters. They can play out this jealousy plot for a bit if I can get that.

LOL, Juu. She does not want to follow them.

I feel like the dino art reaction is a play on Daou's fandom thing.

I'm with Juu. He barks orders like an old man, and then he wants a friend.

A balloon arch! How fancy.

An upside down book. It's a common trope, but now I want to watch Goblin again.

Oh good. I was hoping Vee would catch them in the picture.

That's right, Vee, tell his old ass that he has no right to control you. You're allowed to entertain suitors!

OOF. Vee is taking this in stride, but it definitely hurts to be shunned.

Not this show getting me to root for Third! I am such a sucker for second chance romance for the gays.

WHY LIGHT THE FIREWORKS IF HE AIN'T ACTUALLY KISS THAT MAN?? SPARKS ARE NOT ENOUGH!!

I'm happy for Vee that he got a response out of San, but curious how he navigates more interactions with Third next week.

This show is so smart, and is having a lot of fun interrogating its own premise. I like the implication of Trai being reincarnated as Third, and having a genuine relationship with Vee that he wants to turn into romance, whereas San is being possessive of Vee in a way that's about someone else entirely. San has to also build a real relationship with Vee, and it's good that the show knows that. We noted that Vad and Vee have similar features, but I'm curious what the investigation into those relatives will turn up and if there is a female Vad doppelganger with the same birthday as Vee.

[quitealotofsodapop]

[Once Mac learned that Wukong got possessed trying to take down LBD, the shadow monkey almost 99% decided that he wasn't going to lose his King to that bony biotch. And depeneding on how messy the Samadhi Fire ritual goes, the last thing Wukong says to Macaque is along the lines of "You ruined everything!", and Macaque doesn't want those to be the last words he hears his King say…] + [And soon Macaque started to remember how much him and Wukong discussed Having a family once the war on heaven was over, and how much they both wanted to be parents…]

he spent this whole time trying to put the... whole thing with Wukong on hold until he was free from LBD's control. keyword being trying, ofc. things don't really work like that when you're tasked with hunting the other monkey in question and his friends down, so he accidently made things worse and know he's trying to reign everything back in long enough to have even a chance to fix it.

[Its also around the time Macaque really has it sink in that; "Oh sh-t. I attacked the Monk and fought Wukong when he was pregnant. No wonder he killed me." He isn't sure how to build himself up to discussing this fact with Wukong yet, but he'll get there.]

it's probably something he decides to bring up shortly after the whole s4 debacle. Between the fight from right before ep 1 to the world almost ending again, he doesn't want to risk his death potentially being another surprise argument that gets out of hand or risk another world ending event getting in the way of any substantial healing again. he knows disagreements are normal and even healthy in any kind of relationship, lest the relationship be codependent, but he'd rather not fight about that.

[Red's hair is ruined with baby monkey drool by the time someone gets Yuebei off of him.] + [Nezha, angry flames flaring up: "You mean to tell me that you were "with Stone Egg" during the ritual to separate the Samadhi Fire!? She could have suffered the same fate as Ao Lie!" Wukong, guilt-ridden: "Yeah. Don't remind me. She kicked me non-stop for days afterwards."] + [Yuebei: *tries grabbing Nezha's skates to test the "spicyness"*]

Wukong is laughing at Red the whole time.

Ne Zha def feels a bit guilty about his first reaction being to bring up Ao Lie's death, probably knowing how Wukong feels about it.

and aww no, no I'm picturing Wukong so in pain from Yuebei's distress that he's basically bedridden. I imagine he'd spend this time resting with Ao Lie until they both recovered (atleast on the surface) while the other pilgrims fuss over both of them.

Ne zha can only squawk indignantly when Yuebei manages to get her mouth around one of his rings, immediately trying to pry it from her little jaws. with him and Wukong combined it takes 10 minutes and the promise of a lot of fruit to get her off. luckily the rings aren't perpetually on fire.

[And the dragon's last words to assure his friend that he never blamed him for the accident, nor his baby. Ao Lie was just sad that he'd never be able to meet the cub in this lifetime. He just wants Wukong to stop being so hard on himself for it. If only the dragon he tell him that in person.]

Scroll of memory! Ao Lie already broke the mold by interacting with Mei, he breaks it again when MK + Macaque are scroll diving for Wukong by telling him to pass on the message to the king that his stance on the matter hasn't changed.

[He def makes an awkward apology once they run into eachother at the start of S3. He refuses to let Wukong get into danger or exert himself tho - Nezha's a momma's boy at heart after all.]

Wukong insists it's fine, and that Ne Zha couldn't have known that he kept it from basically everyone, but Ne Zha still feels bad about everything regarding the ritual. he intends to make up for it by doing whatever he can to protect Wukong and his little one now (even if Wukong insists its not nessecary)

[Spider Queen hears the sounds of a thousand knuckles cracking and realises that she's looking at the person who might as well be the Monkey King's Mama. SQ ain't even mad by the end of it.] + [And although SQ kinda trusts the demon a little more, she's far more hesistant to step on the Monkey King's toes than before if his Mama's gonna respond. SQ is a lot more scheming for the rest of S2.]

I love the mental image of Guan Yin using their hundred hands to aid in their righteous beat down

Spoder Queen knows she kinda deserved this, she did put a heavily pregnant person who is practically made of magic in a magic draining web. she was basically asking for this.

she will take this loss with the dignity and grace of the queen (believes she) is and not bother Wukong again (yet) she promises- please don't punch her again.

[LBD almost in the same fashion it tried absorbing the Samadhi Fire so many years ago - guess his baby found the ancient demoness "less spicy".] + [BTW I love the art you did for this scene!! Stone Egg had enough of LBD's nonsense and was Hangry, and Bama had spoken some sense into Baba, and now Nom NOM NOMNOM.]

she is very icy!

and I'm glad you like the art!

[Oh gosh Macaque realising that the baby looking like him brings Wukong joy too would make him cry even harder. He almost cost his mate everything by risking the world over his own debt to the Bone demon. Mac would gladly have died all over again if it kept the baby safe.]

Macaque is an inconsolable sobbing mess of emotions for a while after first meeting Yuebei, for a lot of reasons. and imagine how hard he cries when Wukong first names her out loud officially calling her "Sun Yuebei Xing" for the first time, Yuebei being a moon inspired/adjacent name. he's practically wailing at one point.

[She plants a big kiss on Yuebei's forehead, forgetting that her lipstick stains. Her husband chuckles, still teary-eyed, at his wife's embarassment at planting a big kiss mark on the baby's head.] + [MK is having unknown instinctual urge to curl up with Yuebei (his honorary sister) next to the other monkeys. Pigsy laughs that MK did the same with his fave plushie for years.]

Wukong laughs at the befuddled chirp Yuebei makes when PIF kisses her.

he would also very much welcome MK into his nest with his sleepy little family.

[Also, Mac is def the kinda guy to use exaggerated versions of the Brotherhood's voices when narrating villain characters in Yuebei's books. The little raspberry noises (or "Boos" as Mac likens them to) she makes at the voices encourages him even further.]

I love this. He so would. Wukong would be laughing his tail off the first time he hears Macaque voicing a villain with an over exaggerated Peng voice, Wukong actively encourages him to do this as well.

[And considering Yellowtusk is the only one with the sense to feed and bathe the hostage infant, he's not surprised when she turns on Azure and Peng specifically.]

I'm now thinking of a scene where yellowtusk manages to get Yuebei away from the others long enough to give her bath, and she's fussy about it but baths with her Baba and Bama in the mountains hot springs were usually fun and calm and she felt better afterwards so she didn't put up much of a fight when Yellowtusk tried to get her into the water. anything that reminded her of her parents is comforting right now. but she's crying the whole time and chirping for her parents as she's very far from home and with no one she recognizes, but this elephant is giving her fruit and cleaning her as best he can, so maybe he's okay? she ends up clinging to his trunk like how'd she would cling around her parents neck, and thats how he got his sore trunk during Yuebei's "tantrum". it wasn't her getting mad at him the same way she got mad at Azure and Peng, she was just scared and clung to the first person she felt was safe with, her uncontrolled baby strength leaving it's mark despite him being the only one she didn't really feel threatened by.

kinda sad note on Yuebe missing her parents, but I feel like she'd have seperation anxiety after the s4 debacle. she needs at least one of her parents in the room with her at all times when she's awake or she's wailing at the top of her lungs.

[Some of Peng's feathers are stolen too (Yuebei had a mouthful of them) and Macaque and Sandy turned the feathers into a cat toy. Mo and Yuebei both adore it.]

this is amazing Macaque would so let Yuebei keep a "trophy" of her victory over Peng in the form of a baby appropriate toy. he also is def never letting Peng live down that they lost to a baby if they ever meet face to face again. hell, they day he got Yuebei back he was ragging on Peng for their loss before the bird could even be peeled off the ground

Sequel to this Slow Boiled au post.

[he spent this whole time trying to put the... whole thing with Wukong on hold until he was free from LBD's control. keyword being trying, ofc.]

Yeah, Macaque is having a not-so-fun time trying to get used to being alive again, being still in love with his former mate (who killed him), having his soul indebted to a omnicidal Bone Demon, his former mate having a baby etc...

After finding out about MK and the Stone Egg; Mac was sorta half-hoping that he could duck LBD enough to slowly absorb the whole Wukong situation, maybe meet up with some old allies, get some answers, that sort of thing. The Mayor kidnapping him really threw those plans out the window.

[it's probably something he decides to bring up shortly after the whole s4 debacle. Between the fight from right before ep 1 to the world almost ending again, he doesn't want to risk his death potentially being another surprise argument that gets out of hand or risk another world ending event getting in the way of any substantial healing again.]

It's def a super awkward thing to approach, especially with Yuebi literally just being born and stuff.

Wukong now knows that Mac knows, and is super guilty for not having told him back then. At the same time, Wukong is confused why Max seems so... ok with it suddenly??? Like;

Wukong: "Dude, I killed you." Mac: "Yeah, and I attacked you while you were carrying a baby. Lets call it even." Wukong: "You didn't *know* at the time!" Mac: "Don't matter. Lets just drop it ok?"

Mac does have his own super complex issues regarding the whole "being killed by your former mate"-thing, but in his mind - he really could have killed Wukong and Yuebei if he hadn't been careful. He also knows that in his heart-of-hearts, he wouldn't have even considered fighting Wukong had he known about the Stone Egg ahead of time. He ultimately doesnt want to open up any old wounds Wukong has from the incident since he's been living with the outcome of that fight far longer than Mac has.

Bumping around Wukong's memories in S4 really dredges Mac's buried resentment and confusion about the last fight to the surface. Questions like; Why was Wukong protecting the monk that hurt him? Why was Wukong going on this Journey and not returning to his throne? Why did he hide the Stone Egg from the world?

MK is politely trying his best to let Mac vent to him about what happened between him and Wukong, but ofc they quickly stumble into MK's shared history with the Monkey King.

Lots of hugs, peaches, and family counselling is required afterwards, not doubts about that.

[and aww no, no I'm picturing Wukong so in pain from Yuebei's distress that he's basically bedridden. I imagine he'd spend this time resting with Ao Lie until they both recovered (atleast on the surface) while the other pilgrims fuss over both of them.]

Ao Lie and Wukong are quickly panicking over eachother while their other bros are forcing them to rest after the Samadhi Fire Ritual. Wukong was in so much pain that he was convinced that he was going into labor, or that he even lost Yuebei as a result of joining in the Ritual. Eventually though, the Stone Egg calmed down. Ao Lie's pain did not.

[Ne zha can only squawk indignantly when Yuebei manages to get her mouth around one of his rings, immediately trying to pry it from her little jaws. with him and Wukong combined it takes 10 minutes and the promise of a lot of fruit to get her off. luckily the rings aren't perpetually on fire.]

Yuebei mistook the rings as chew toys and liked the shiny gold colour. It takes Nezha a solid minute of apologizing to Wukong for his past behavior to notice that the little monkey cub has clamped her mouth over one of his skates. Wukong is laughing hysterically, especially as Nezha tries his best to gently remove the ring from Yuebei's mouth without activating it. Luckily all it takes to distract the baby is for Experienced Dad™ Pigsy to pull the oldest trick in the book.

Pigsy: "Got your nose, mooncake!" Yuebei, drops ring: :O! Nezha, quickly picks it up: "How did you know to do that?" Pigsy, still holding Yuebei's "nose" as the baby grabs at him: "You'd swear MK was half-garbage disposal from how much stuff he tried to eat as a toddler. Stealing his nose always worked." Wukong, a little wistful: "Tell me more, please?" Pigsy: "Sure thing. Guess little monkeys aren't much different from little MKs." *gives Yuebei her nose back*

Nezha makes note of hiding anything flammable whenever he visits the monkeys.

[Scroll of memory! Ao Lie already broke the mold by interacting with Mei, he breaks it again when MK + Macaque are scroll diving for Wukong by telling him to pass on the message to the king that his stance on the matter hasn't changed.]

Oh gosh... Imagine this though... Wukong trapped in the Scroll, busting on through his memories. Suddenly he hears a familar voice...

Ao Lie: "Wow! She really did make us all wait, huh?" Wukong, frozen in his tracks: "What?" Wukong: (*slowly turns to see the memory of Ao Lie, far older/frailer than what Mei had seen, standing by and watching the memory of Yuebei's first day of life.*) Memory!Ao Lie, smiling: "She's a perfect little pup... Mei was right on the money when she called her a ball of cuteness! She really looks like you! The blue eyes are a little unexpected, but considering that your mate dragged himself out of Diyu to be there - I guess anything could have happened!" Wukong, lip quivering: "No... you're just that memory curse. Ao Lie never got to see her! You're not real!" Memory!Ao Lie, frowning: "Why are you so stubborn to admit that it wasn't your fault? I really truly never blamed you, or her." Wukong, crying: "Why were you so ok with it? Because of me, the Samadhi Fire it... hurt you." Memory!Ao Lie: "I would rather die protecting my family than live and let them be hurt in my stead." (*quietly moves to hug Wukong*) "That includes you and your pup, Wukong. Always has." Wukong: (*now sobbing, hugging Memory!Ao Lie tight*)

Eventually the Memory!Ao Lie has to remind Wukong that he has friends to reunite with in the present. Wukong hesistates to leave Ao Lie alone again - the memory reassures him that he'll be fine as long as his pilgrim brother lives his life without the weight of the Ritual upon his shoulders. And to make sure to spoil Yuebei in his stead.

[Wukong insists it's fine, and that Ne Zha couldn't have known that he kept it from basically everyone, but Ne Zha still feels bad about everything regarding the ritual. he intends to make up for it by doing whatever he can to protect Wukong and his little one now (even if Wukong insists its not nessecary)]

Ofc Nezha feels like garbage for treating Wukong's actions during the Ritual as a failing.

Wukong thinks he has it bad with DBK, PIF, and Pigsy forcing him to rest? Imagine how stubborn Nezha is when he's worried over the Monkey King.

[I love the mental image of Guan Yin using their hundred hands to aid in their righteous beat down] + [she will take this loss with the dignity and grace of the queen (believes she) is and not bother Wukong again (yet) she promises- please don't punch her again.]

Spider Queen isn't sure who she's afraid of more; the spooky ancient bone demon pretending to be a little girl, or the 1000 Armed Bodhisattva that just whooped her hard (but mercifully let her live) for hooking the Monkey King to the power-draining Spider Mech. Spider Queen makes sure not to directly target or interact with the Monkey King or his protege if she can for the rest of S2.

The Spider Gang has nightmares of Guanyin coming to beat the rest of them up like she's a Jojo stand.

[she is very icy! and I'm glad you like the art!]

It's really great art!!

Also LBD's soul probably tasted like shaved ice with a hint of chalk. Lots of it, but pretty bland. It filled up Yuebei at least!

[Macaque is an inconsolable sobbing mess of emotions for a while after first meeting Yuebei, for a lot of reasons. and imagine how hard he cries when Wukong first names her out loud officially calling her "Sun Yuebei Xing" for the first time, Yuebei being a moon inspired/adjacent name. he's practically wailing at one point.]

Aww ohoho! Macaque makes so many joyous squeaking/hooting sounds during Yuebei's arrival. To hear that Wukong has named her his little "Moon Comet Star" just makes him cry harder, especially with how casually Wukong names her. Like he'd had it it long before this moment, before he even knew that Macaque was back in his life.

I think in older Chinese traditions, the parents typically wait for the Man Yue (30 Days) celebration to publically announce the baby's name. But I bet Wukong is just so happy that he tells everyone Yuebei's name long before that time.

Nezha insisted on being at Yuebei's Man Yue to bless her, as that's his whole Patron God of Children thing.

[Wukong laughs at the befuddled chirp Yuebei makes when PIF kisses her. he would also very much welcome MK into his nest with his sleepy little family.]

There's def a bunch of photos of the incident with Yuebei looking at PIF with the most confused doe-eyed look ever, a huge red kiss mark on her head. The Princess looking embarassed and adoring all at once. It's PIF anf DBK's fave baby photo of Yuebei - besides the one where she tried eating Red Son's hair.

MK is very tired after the battle, so the gang has no problem just letting the kid rest in the nest with the monkeys. t

[I love this. He so would. Wukong would be laughing his tail off the first time he hears Macaque voicing a villain with an over exaggerated Peng voice, Wukong actively encourages him to do this as well.]

Heehee, Macaque finally agrees to read Yuebei a kids-friendly version of JTTW at MK's insistence, and when he gets to Camel Ridge, he pauses before looking towards Wukong for confirmation. At Wukong's excited nod, Macaque grins evily.

Macaque, narrating: "In the kingdom of Lion Camel Ridge, there lived three Great Demon Kings." Macaque, exaggerating the real voices: "Azure Lion! Yellow Tusked Elephant! And the Golden-Winged Peng!" Yuebei: *blows raspberry at the villains!* >:P! Macaque, normal voice: "Yeah, boo! These guys sucked!" Wukong: *laughing hysterically!* MK, sitting cross-legged on the floor: "Did they really sound like that?" Wukong, trying hard not to cry from laughter: "It's closer than you think!"

Macaque also deliberately exaggerates the voices of their allies like PIF and DBK so Yuebei doesn't accidentally associate their voices with the muddy past shown in the book.

[I'm now thinking of a scene where yellowtusk manages to get Yuebei away from the others long enough to give her bath, and she's fussy about it but baths with her Baba and Bama in the mountains hot springs were usually fun and calm and she felt better afterwards so she didn't put up much of a fight when Yellowtusk tried to get her into the water. anything that reminded her of her parents is comforting right now. but she's crying the whole time and chirping for her parents as she's very far from home and with no one she recognizes, but this elephant is giving her fruit and cleaning her as best he can, so maybe he's okay? she ends up clinging to his trunk like how'd she would cling around her parents neck, and thats how he got his sore trunk during Yuebei's "tantrum".]

Awwww..... :(

Yellow Tusk brings up the matter shortly after their takeover. Their former ally's cub is very fussy (especially since Azure has had her for about half a day now) and is starting to smell... ripe. Peng takes one sniff and recoils in disgust. Azure is clueless and isn't sure if monkey cubs work like lion cubs or not. Yellow Tusk has the sense to ask the remaining servants for help with tending to the infant - a group of seven brave orchard maidens stepped forward to run the baby a bath and prepare her a meal. Yellow Tusk is sure that he recognises them.

Baby monkeys instinctively cling to whatever is nearby - especially in situations where they feel scared or unsafe. So when the elephant gently put Yuebei in the warm bathwater and offered her mashed fruit, she instinctively clasped around his trunk like it was the arm of her parents, making sad hooing sounds as she sucked on her fingers. Yellow Tusk felt his heart break at the sight. He simply cannot fathom harming her in any sense of the word.

Azure must be mad to think that Sun Wukong won't kill them all to ensure this child's safety.

[kinda sad note on Yuebe missing her parents, but I feel like she'd have seperation anxiety after the s4 debacle. she needs at least one of her parents in the room with her at all times when she's awake or she's wailing at the top of her lungs.]

Absolutely.

Baby monkeys are already super clingy - the trauma of Yuebei's kidnapping during S4 only intensified this. She fears that if either of her parents leave the room, that they might not come back. Considering it was her parents arguing and "something" (aka the Scroll) taking her Baba away preceeded her kidnapping...

The first few times it happens, Wukong and Mac + the extended fam are terrified and aren't sure *why* Yuebei is so distressed. Eventually they figure out it's her anxiety, and are able to at least keep a clone posted to ease the worst of her worries when the others babysit. MK thankfully is one of the figures that Yuebei is calm around, and while she loves her uncles and aunts; Yuebei still starts wailing after a few minutes of realizing that she can't find her Baba or Bama.

It takes a long time for the baby monkey to be comfortable to not have her parents in sight. And considering how worried and overprotective that Wukong and Mac can be of her, they aren't in any rush to force her independance.

[this is amazing Macaque would so let Yuebei keep a "trophy" of her victory over Peng in the form of a baby appropriate toy. he also is def never letting Peng live down that they lost to a baby if they ever meet face to face again. hell, they day he got Yuebei back he was ragging on Peng for their loss before the bird could even be peeled off the ground]

Imagine the smug look on Macaque's face as he sees Peng reduced to a chicken burger on the ground by a *baby* with not even a tooth in her head. Mac would make a show of picking up his baby girl and kissing her all over while commenting in baby-talk; "Did you have fun with the birdy and kitty, moonlight? Yeah? Do you want Bama to take something to remember your little play date?"

And before Peng could make a snarking comment, they squawk! at the feeling of feathers being removed. They look up and see Yuebei playing with a handful of golden feathers. The Shadow Monkey grinning like a cat who's caught a mouse. The celestial bird faints from embarassment.

Macaque has one of the feathers preserved as a bookmark. It brings him great joy.

Again tysm for being so invested in this au!

[ideasarestuckinmyhead]

Basically a ramble about Auron's Story.

Can't help but think about Auron getting jealous over a person who has a crush on Rook in the workplace. But the kicker is Rook doesn't know bc the person is someone they work woth everyday.

So Rook only sees them as someone that can actually get their work done as quickly as Rook can. I wonder if Auron would ever like try and show off how Rook let's him be in their personal bubble. Since I think? Rook is more closed off compared to most of the listeners.

So when the coworker sees how Rook feels comfortable with a boss that is usually in his office it makes them back off a bit. You know bc it shows how Auron is the only one for them. Bc we all know he highkey lowkey a yandare for Rook.

Or even reversed I think I've talked about it before for Rook showing off to a coworker how Auron let's them in compared to literally everyone. Even Trish, I like to think obvi the possessiveness is mutual for Rook and Auron. Since Auron tells them basically to own up to want they WANT than what they need.

Bc even in the comfort workplace audio that Yuuri did Auron even told them even if it's better pens they need just tell him and he'll get them. Bc he wants to provide for them, it's obvi his love language to them. I feel like as the series goes on Rooks gonna be more comfortable with being blunt to Auron of what they want from him.

Bc we've seen kinda in the series of escape that Rook holds back a bit in the relationship. I think it comes with the insecurity anyone would have with dating a rich CEO. Bc you can't help but think they can do better so why stay with me. I feel like that's why Auron said it's not just a you think it can be a us thing in the car ep after spending some time in his office~

I think it's interesting how Yuuri tries to give the listener a general characteristics that anyone can have. It makes the insert of the Listener feel more real.

[clara-maybe-ontheroad]

Random thoughts about Sand/Ray (Only Friends ep 1)

Rewatched the first episode of Only Friends and I have a few (many) random thoughts, here are just the ones about Ray and Sand because they deserved a whole post (everyone else is in this other post) :

Ray mentions his dad in the first scene we ever see him in, getting mad at Sand who told him not to be a burden on other people and replying "are you my father ?"... Foreshadowing much ?

The first interaction between Ray and Sand ends with Sand telling Mew to take care of his friend, and you believe that's what Mew is doing but then next party he abandons him

Ray throwing up and his friends immediately letting him go and pushing him away is... funny in the context of the scene but again I think telling us something about how they're all going to treat him

(Sand/First opening and closing the intro is *chef's kiss*, he's not the main character clearly but as an outsider and a "morally straight" guy he's going to be a force to shake things up I'm sure)

Sand and Ray's second interaction immediately revolves around once again Ray being a burden but also Ray's friends not being present enough for him and Sand disapproves of both

Did Ray already drink and drive before this ? Did anyone stop him before?

Ray's throw up sound in this episode are truly awful and make me quite uncomfortable. Good acting though

Him immediately passing out on a random man's shoulder after being taken to this stranger's place does imply a worrying lack of survival instinct. Baby he could steal your livers ! or what's left of it

(The owner of YOLO bar is Yo, as reiterated many times by Ray and Sand, and given how often he's mentioned he must have a role in the story, but he's hasn't shown up yet ?) (Edit : didn't know Yo was played by Jennie so we have actually seen her around, just haven't gotten a proper scene with her, looking forward to really meeting her !)

Ray becoming aggressive and accusing Sand of stealing his stuff only after Sand says he didn't sleep with him and didn't even consider it seems to indicate that Ray truly thinks people can only take an interest in him for sex or for money. Arf this continues to get more sad

The fact that Ray actually checks his pockets when Sand gives him back his clothes is so indicative of what's actually important to him : not his safety or consent but his material possessions and external signs of wealth

Ray complaining to Mew that he got kicked out by Sand for no reasons is so rich, but again I think Ray truly doesn't realise how what he said was offensive because he's so closed in his own bubble

But Mew saying he thought Boston was taking care of Ray when he literally just asked Ray how he got home last night and knew that Boston refused to take care of Ray is so hypocritical ?! And goes to show he wasn't really bothered to make sure Ray had a way to go home safely. He assumed he'd be fine on his own and didn't care that much

Ray sad that his crush is talking to someone else and driving home alone in his fancy car in a tee shirt that says "Poor Boy" is High Comedy

Boston asking Ray why doesn't he just become Mew's boyfriend was such a dick move, but also Ray is so convincing at denying he would be ? Is it because he's so used to lying about this, or because he doesn't think he's worth Mew's affection so he doesn't even dream of being his boyfriend ?

Ray does have a habit of just exiting the situation for something that his friend all excuse as being one of his addictions (drinking, smoking) and they don't even try to stop him

Sand tells Ray he has his lighter because he got him drunk and stole from him with such confidence I don't care that he's joking he could be telling the truth and I'd find it hot

The moment Sand actually gets visibly angry is when Ray tells him that Sand caring is "boyfriend behaviors" and that's telling on how Sand is disgusted with the idea of being his boyfriend but also resents the fact that caring about being respected is something only boyfriends do... when in fact people who are only friends can too ! (see what I did there)

That dialogue between them does illustrate the power of not just saying sorry, but saying thank you. Which is an actual thing I try to apply in my own life so I thank the show for reminding me haha

the softness in the voice of Sand when he then says "obviously" and agrees to give his lighter to Ray made me melt

Ray's eyes during the whole scene are truly so seductive, Khao does know his fuck me eyes very well

There's no conclusion except to say Sand is going to get fucked by Ray in more ways than one and I'm looking forward to it

[klissblog]

Who does Saiki end up with?

5 Reasons to prove that Saiki ends up with Teruhashi.

This is a long post because I explain everything in one post. Saiki K maybe too japanese, but it doesn't matter if you open your mind. After you read this, you can't deny that Saiki will marry to Teruhashi because she is his only future wife.

I have just finished Saiki K anime (because someone recommended it last month, January 2023). English isn't my first language, but I hope I can explain why they will end up together. I hope it is not too late to write about this. 

I will type Kusuo, Kokomi (Teruhashi), Miko (Aiura) and Reita.

1. Kusuo´s type

As we can see, in the beginning, he thinks girls will give up on him in a short time and find a new love. 

Chapter 0.2

The same as Yumehara, who gave up on Kusuo easily and he said that's way too fast.

But Kokomi will never changed her feelings for Kusuo and that's why he says offu. (His face looks like he did not mean to say offu out loud). Chapter 214

(Explain: Kusuo asked Miko´s help to stop Kokomi from being Gyaru. Miko accidentally tell Kokomi what kind of girl Kusuo likes and tell her to find another man, but Kokomi just listens only to Kusuo´s type. She knows if she stays true to herself, and she will never change her feelings no matter what. She knows one day (just a matter of time) her effort will melt his heart. That's why he said offu.

It is actually his type of girl he likes because Miko´s prediction is 100% accurate. Well, I think he might regret to reveal that because Kokomi will never give up. Kokomi is invincible, he always says that before. And yes, his heart begins to melt because of her (This is the reason why he feels nervous to be with Kokomi alone in chapter 216 because he is afraid that he will have a feeling for her, and he begins to say we are invincible in chapter 218). 

Ps. Offu means Oh! (my understanding). It can be positive or negative depends on situation.)

Ps2. Man i manga like to use his hand and cover his mouth when he is blushing. But I don't think Saiki is blushing. He doesn't want her to know yet (save for the last, Huh?).

2. God helps them to be together.

I wonder why God (Asō sensei) always helps Kusuo and Kokomi to be together because I thought Kusuo was Miko´s soulmate. But he is not.

Miko said her soulmate is a student in PK academy and has the initials about s.k. Reita´s name 「鳥」 tori 「束」 tsuka. 「束」 contains s and k, which means to bind/bundle (to be possessed (by a ghost).

Ps. Toritsuka Reita 鳥束零太(とりつか • れいた) is from 取り憑かれた (とりつかれた/toritsukareta), means to be processed. A spirit medium is 「霊媒」 (れい ばい/reibai).

Ps．相卜命　(あいうら・みこと) Aiura Mikoto. Her name means fortune telling from 相 appearance (example face), 卜 predicting a future (example using crystal ball to predict a future) and 命 (personal) life (example date of birth). When I hear the word “Miko” 「みこ」 I think of this Miko 「巫女」 → shrine maiden, shaman because of her ability that predicts the future.

Initials can also be nicknames. Reita is a sidekick. He is in the psychic trio at the PK academy and in Japanese (psychics) サイキックス saikikkusu (initial s.k.k.s as Miko says about sk or ks) and psykicker(s) サイキッカーズ Saikik kā(zu) which has initial s.k. I think this is the answer as the picture below.

Miko said that her soulmate has pink hair and has some crazy abilities (a Spirit Medium)

Chapter 73 and the last volume

(Explaination: This means that Asō sensei have given a hint who else has pink hair and made this storyline since chapter 73 or before. And the picture from the last volume (Japanese tradition, is also a hint about who ends up with whom.) If I didn’t see that Reita has pink hair, I thought Kusuo was Miko’s soulmate.

I think Aiura and Reita have spent time together (as a friend? I don't know) and Saiki just ignores them (season 2 ep 24).

(Explanation: This scene does not appear in the manga. Appears only in the anime. We can see Reita holding Mikoto´s shoulder and saying "Don't run away. I can't deal with him myself". That means he needs Miko´s help. Reita did not ask Kusuo about it and Kusuo didn't interfere with them.

I have to be direct here. What did Reita say? It was a pick-up line indirect way. When boys and girls in manga or in reality have to confess, they need to be brave to say it, but some wants to just say it in an indirect way. Example in the picture below.

"If you don't come home with me" later on, he means he wants her to be his wife and comes home with him. A strange pick up line, but what Reita says is a hint from sensei. Even though Miko seems uncomfortable, but she doesn't hate Reita. For a westerner, it might be ok to hold friend like that, but i am not a westerner. If a man (who i don't have feelings for) holds me like that, I will push him away.If Kokomi feels uncomfortable, Kusuo will say something. Unlike in this situation, Kusuo just ignores them. Don't forget that he can read minds.

We don't see Reita and Mikoto in a romantic situation. Only when they share the same room at the hotel. (maybe they don't have enough money or there is no more available room - irony) Just fight and make arguments like some couples in manga.

If my man blames me that he has to wait for me in the same hotel room with woman-friend. She told him to take a bath which he did. She moved the beds, but he didn’t move the beds back. This is me, me, me, me, me and me.

Please remember the main focus character is Kusuo, not them and that's why we don't see that. But Asō sensei just wants to add this scene and it means a hint. It is pretty clear to me in the picture of the last volume who ends up with whom).

Plus, Kusuo doesn´t buy soulmate and no boy love. He admits that he is a tsundere.

「ツンデレ歴はアンタのほうが長いからな」 → “You‘ve been a tsundere longer than me.”

「今回は僕がデレてやるよ」　→ “I’ll be the one to be the ‘dere’ side this time.”

ps. Tsun is saying/acting cold and don´t care that opposite of his feeling. You can see Kusuo`s grandpa act like he doesn't care, being cold in front of Kusuo, but his acting is different when he is in another room alone.

‘dere’ = be nice, warm, in this context for grandpa can be care, kind and nice, but for couple = love, nice, kind, care

Explain:

At the end grandpa and Kusuo wanted to be ’dere‘, but they are being ‘tsun’ to each other because they are tsundere in front of the one they like.

Ps. I have seen manga and anime. Kusuo is being ‘dere’ just only one girl, Kokomi of course in the way she is never known or noticed.

So, here I will explain when he is being a tsundere in no. 3

Please remember, Kusuo never shows his inner thought like his grandpa who is a tsundere as pictures below (Kusuo is also a tsundere). That´s mean what he says or acts, it´s not always true.

3. Kusuo starts to like Kokomi. There are many reasons that he won´t fell in love with her in the beginning.  

Kusuo knows that Kokomi is beautiful, but he won´t fall for that because of his power that he can read her mind and know who she really is, and he has an x-ray version to see through everybody in just a few second. 

He doesn’t want to associate with Kokomi because she is at the top of pyramid, and he doesn’t like to stand out in the whole series. I mean all he cares about, is a normal average teenager (not to stand out and not be a loser). The power makes him special.

He uses his power to stop and avoid every girl and make them to give up on him. So, he never has a chance to experience romance. 

Besides, Kusuo doesn't know about love yet. The same as Kokomi who wasn’t sure that she liked Kusuo in the beginning. 

However, Kusuo can´t stop or avoid Kokomi, because God always helps her. (I can see Kokomi is author´s favorite female character here). These situations give him chances to get to know the real Kokomi. She changes her attitude about getting married with the rich guy and she never ever sway her heart. She always has the feeling for Kusuo and never change her feeling. And throughout the series she proves herself from being a bad girl to a (slightly – I think) nice girl like her name.

PS. Kokomi 「心美」　 心 (heart) 美 (beautiful) = beautiful heart.

「ここみ」 Kokomi may comes from 心を読みます or 心読み (こころをよみ ます/kokoro (w)o yomimasu) →  read minds/minds reading. Normally, read minds 「心を読む」 kokoro (w)o yomu.　

Let´s take a look at timeline of Kusuo. Saiki x Teruhashi. I will divide into 3 parts.

The first part: Chapter 0 – 181: he tries to avoid her and has no feeling for her. He is not interested in relationships.

These chapters show Kusuo´s expressions: stress, uncomfortable, awkward, tired, etc with Kokomi. He has no feelings for her. Please remember chapter 108 he means Kokomi is “troublesome/annoy no.4 the most dangerous of them all. 「忘れてたもっとも 危険で煩わしい 四号を」(wazurawashī – troublesome/annoy)

If you ask me the reason why he jumps out of window is because of gag manga. The same as Ranma. Both of them have instinkt to warn them from danger and avoid it, but he can't. It´s kind of funny for Japanese. Please don't take it seriously.

Anyways, there are three chapters in this timeline. The author shows that Kusuo has a romantic side that he is not aro or ace. (Saiki k is not hentai or shōjo and that's why it has a romance in funny way). These three chapters make me think that Kusuo is interesting in Kokomi.

Chapter 38 - Kokomi threw away the chocolate that she would give to him, but he accepts it.

I mean Kusuo accepts chocolate because he doesn’t hate Kokomi that much. He knows about romance (who doesn´t know about valentine´s day, besides Reita asks him about how many chocolates he will get today), and he can read mind what Kokomi thinks of him. The author's purpose is to show that he is kind of interesting in Kokomi. Kusuo never gets chocolate from the other girls. Kaidou throws away chocolate from Nendou and he will not eat it. This is not a joke for Kaidou, even they are friends, but he won’t eat it.

Chapter 131 – the second confession. The first confession, Kusuo looks awkward, but the second confession, he is blushing. I can see this as tsundere – He says something not nice (tsun) which is different from his face expression (blushing – “dere”). Btw, blushing is blushing. It is not embarrassing. There is a picture above showing he is embarrassing in chapter 227, and next to that picture Kusuo is blushing and grandpa says Kusuo is happy.

Chapter 161.5 - Indirect kiss (appears in romantic manga). Kusuo takes her smoothies and drinks it. He smiles at Kokomi when she notices that there is less drink than before. In this chapter I know for sure that he is a tsundere.

The second part: Chapter 182 – 203: Kusuo is more open to Kokomi and respects her feelings.

Chapter 182: At the mixer, Kusuo felt guilty that he used a dirty plan to get rid of Kokomi. And from this chapter Kusuo is more open to Kokomi because he feels ashamed of what he did to Kokomi. He owned her a lot. These three guys are not deserving her because these guys did not pay attention to Chiyo without Kusuo´s power.

Explain: Even though Kokomi is having a good time, she still thinks of having Kusuo with her and makes him smile. Why does he help her? I did say he feels guilty about his plan to sway Kokomi´s heart, but Kokomi sways Kusuo´s heart instead and Kusuo smiles. The reason is because of his type. The girl who never waivers, stays true to herself. That´s why Kusuo stops his plan and says to these guys “I can´t give her to any of you”. If this Shoujo manga, the man who acts like this and says no one can have Kokomi, he is a tsundere and jealous. So, Kokomi sways his heart. From this chapter, Kusuo is more open to Kokomi´s feelings. He respects her feelings and does not avoid her.

He looks away while his friends are greeting Kokomi in chapter 189. Kusuo is angry at Takahashi that he ignores Kusuo and he still makes an angry face when Kokomi asks him to be her art partner, but Kusuo does not refuse to be her art partner (chapter 197). He does not use his power to avoid being with Kokomi in chapter 202 unlike chapter 55. Kusuo looks unhappy.

Explain: If you think Kusuo can´t communicate with Kokomi that he does not want to be with her. The question is he can´t or he doesn´t want to?

He looks unhappy but is he unhappy? This is typical tsundere (act different from his feeling). He has a power if he doesn´t want to be with her, he can use his power to switch his name when Kokomi draws a lottery like in chapter 55. This means he acts unhappy (tsun), but his feeling is ok to be with Kokomi (dere) chapter 202.

The third part: Chapter 204 – 281. Kusuo is being ‘dere’ 「デレ」 to Kokomi

Kusuo did promise that he wouldn´t buy a present for Kokomi, but he did it anyway. He buys it and takes it home, and then switches the present. He will buy something for Mera because he feels sorry for Mera´s family and poverty: he has empathy, this is sweet (chapter 240). But why did he buy a present for Kokomi? They are not that poor and promises in Japan should not be broken, unless it is important. Does Kusuo do this to help Makoto (Kusuo does not like him) or does Kusuo care about Kokomi? He wants Kokomi to be happy with the present. She doesn't even know if it is from him (chapter 204).

Explain: He bought the gift (dere) but does not tell her (says no in the beginning, seems he does not care - tsun). This is unlike Mera. He’ll buy food in the canteen and give to her. I don’t think he’ll give her a present in secret; being tsundere.

Chapter 214 - This chapter Kusuo says Offu (opens his mouth and says). This chapter he could pretend that Miko was his girlfriend, but he didn’t do it. He cares about Kokomi and says "Hope nothing happen").

Chapter 242 - He carries Kokomi to infirmary in front of people. Kokomi tried so hard to be kindness and popular. Saiki could use power to save her, but no one deserve Kokomi. No one noticed how tried she was. Just only him noticed her. His feeling are angry to those boys.

I know Kusuo likes Kokomi for sure in this chapter. Kusuo came to save Kokomi without thinking about himself. I mean Kusuo has power. He can use it and there are many different ways to help Kokomi with his power. He can use the power to pull her before she falls to the ground (see the way he helps chiyo in the picture) and let those men carry kokomi to the infirmary. Do you think that the author wants to show that Kusuo does this because Kusuo and Kokomi are just friends? No.

Asō sensei wants us to think that Kusuo forgets himself about being a standout when it is about Kokomi. 

This is a kind of typical romance manga where the guy helps the woman in a situation. Some guy doesn’t know his feelings yet, but his action proves that he has feelings for her. And the way he carries her. It is not normal for Kusuo. Carries a woman in front of others (Draw attention). 

Kusuo looses control of being himself at that time (helps kokomi in front of others). We can see that in this chapter both Kusuo and kokomi have their own priority (Kusuo – avoid stand out, Kokomi – being popular). But they choose each other over their own priority. (Kokomi says sorry to the boys when they want her to talk with them -she chooses kusuo). 

These actions are ‘dere’. He is being ‘dere’ in the way she doesn’t see it because she is unconscious. If Kokomi didn’t ask her classmates, she would not know.

When Kokomi runs to him, he says “Yare Yare” with a small sweat drop. But chapter 280. Kusuo has a small sweat drop and explains the reason he doesn´t want to be with Kokomi because of being a standout.

This action calls “tsun”. He has a power. He knows that Kokomi finds out that he helps her. He did not jump out of window. He did not teleport or hide himself from her, but he says yare yare and his face does not match his action. He walks and then waits for her when she calls him.

He is a tsundere because he doesn't admit that he cares about her. chapter 260

Chapter 279

What is the reason he had to go back in time, and what he did, made his friends not remember about hugging, many Kusuo´s (the power) and confession. Kusuo knows that his friends will accept him for who he is (he has a power). His friends don´t forcing him to tell his secret and they can wait if he wants to talk to. They don´t care if Kusuo has a secret and continues being his friend. So, the power is not the reason he went back in time and wipes his friends´ memory about it. Kusuo said that he felt bad about Chiyo´s confession. I mean he does not need to go back in time, just put the device on to seal his power and say to his friends about the power, but he went back in time anyway. Well, the reason is not about the power and the confession. So, there is only one thing left. What is the worth for Kusuo then?

The pictures show that Reita, Kusuo and Miko stand next to each other, but his friend asked where Kusuo would go. If Kusuo, Reita and Miko disappear together, they will mention their names. That means Kusuo went back in time one day alone. He didn´t take Reita and Miko with him because of the butterfly effect. He could manage this alone after he knew what and where was going to happen.

Think about what Kokomi said "stayed with me". I think it's a hint from Asō sensei. It appears after Miko says your friends will still accept you and he says yeah. Kokomi says (I combine 2 situations) Kusuo could read Kokomi's thoughts (what she thinks when she sees they are hugging) and he still stayed with Kokomi.

I mean, I did mention chapter 214 when she saw Miko with Kusuo, and Kusuo cares about Kokomi´s feeling. He doesn't want to hurt her feelings about hugging either, and he is not the type of the person who would try to explain to her about it.

Well, Kusuo doesn't hate Miko when she hugs him, but it is pretty clear to me that he chooses to stay with Kokomi over Miko. He risked his life for Kokomi, so she wouldn’t remember about hugging. That's why he went back in time and that's why Miko did appear just two panels in the next and last two chapters (chapter 280 and 281).

This chapter is the last chapter in weekly magazine (Shōnen Jump). Asō sensei had to write two more chapters (280 and 281) and made a new ending because it´s not enough pages to make the book (have to be the same thick as vol. 1-25). These two chapters published in Shueisha's Jump GIGA. For those who think Kusuo will die after the meteor. Well, the author wanted chapter 279 was the true ending (happy ending) which proved that Kusuo survived and his power wasn't gone. The author means chapter 280 and 281 are unnecessary and pointless. (but for me, the author made it´s clear that Kusuo ends up with Kokomi in chapter 281)

Read Asou sensei´s afterword 1 and 2 under.

chapter 280

He can't control himself and continues staring at her face for about a 0.5 minute after losing his power. His face is very close to hers (less than 5 or 10 cm). He got caught (seems nervous or worried). He falls for her charm and beauty, otherwises he won't stare at her for so long.

Later, he doesn't want to be in Kokomi's group because he doesn't want standing out. (Well, he's not ready for troublesome things yet.)

Explain the pictures

ろくでなしBLUES is the first manga that I know about author´s hint from the last volume. The ending, two boxers are on boxing ring. The readers don't know who the winner is, but the picture from the last volume shows who is the winner.

うる星やつら Urusei Yatsura (gag manga the same as Saiki k) - The ending is quite the same as Kusuo. The woman, Lum wants Ataru to say love, but in the end Ataru says he will say it on his deathed (Ataru is a tsundere til the end). Kusuo is also a tsundere and the author won't let us see the moment Kusuo says offu in front of Kokomi in the way that she knows it, but the author shows Kusuo smiles instead. He did say in one chapter he refuses to say offu even he is kokomi´s boyfriend (typical tsundere).

The picture from last volume shows who (mostly, the main characters – Japanese tradition; hints from the author) ending with whom. Kokomi´s holdes Kusuo´s shoulder is from the cover, but I have to remove the front cover from the book as in the picture. This is the hint from the author, but Asō sensei does not show it in the front cover. He gives us many hints and we have to find the easter egg.

The first day Kusuo and Kokomi met and talked, Kusuo did not let´s kokomi touch him. But in the end, he is totally fine.

Chapter 281 - The ending Kusuo says

“So, my life in peace 「平穏」 is over now, but I actually feel that´s not bad at all. Perhaps, I like to deal with hassles (めんどくさい　mendokusai) after all”.

When I heard it, I think of the word 「穏便」 in chapter 181

「僕は 面倒なく穏便 に すませたいだけだ」  → I wanna calm down/settle down peacefully without trouble), 「穏便」 uses in the context to settle peacefully and carefully without causing trouble. Kusuo means Kokomi's romance is a trouble for him.

Ps. When he say trouble 「面倒」 mendō or めんどくさい　mendokusai - the same word), he says in two chapter: 279 and 181. Not in chapter 108.

Kusuo calls his friends "troublesome" in chapter 279/ season 3 ep 2. 面倒な奴らだ全く。 But he can be with them I mean they don’t ruin his peaceful life). He is not honest. He smiles and says friends are troublesome (He is being tsundere). He is kind of thank his friends not forcing him to tell the secret, accept him and still be his friend (dere side). That means he did not mean his friends are troublesome.

That´s why the last chapter his words refers to Kokomi only. He changes his mind (opposite from chapter 181) and says bye to his peaceful life and he likes troublesome. (Ready for troublesome things)

Asou sensei shows on twitter that Kusuo startled when he heard someone calls Kokomi´s name. Kokomi says she has not make Kusuo says offu yet. Do sth, God. So, Kusuo smiles. (Well, Kokomi sways his heart once and makes him smile (chapter 182) and she did it again. Her effort melts his heart finally). First, he doesn’t want powers, but Kokomi words is one of the reasons that drives him to accept his power and ends his peaceful life.

Ps. When Kusuo talks about God, he refers to Asō sensei who helps Kokomi, but when his friends talk about God, Kusuo refers himself as a God. Example Saiko´s ship episode: God likes Kokomi and he says it's impossible. The ending when Kokomi says do sth, God. Kusuo grabs glasses and says he is a psychic.

The quote in the end “So, my life in peace is over now, but I actually feel that´s not bad at all. Perhaps, I like to deal with hassles (Kokomi´s romance and love effort) after all”.

This is not offu (he mentioned that even he is her boyfriend, he won't say offu. He is a tsundere like Ataru that will say on his death). However, this is a kind of confession because Kokomi said she hasn’t make Kusuo say offu yet. Kusuo heard it and smiled. Then he said he liked to deal with the trouble. Both chapter 279 and 281 shows that Kusuo chooses Kokomi and has feeling for her.

I personally like the ending of chapter 279 more than chapter 281 because I don´t need to find what is the trouble for him.

What happens next?

Being with a tsundere you have to be patient and understanding. Kusuo will be more open like his grandfather in chapter 183. He asks Kusuo to do what he wants. From the quote at the end, he sure be more opened. This relation will work eventually.

4. Kusuo´s reaction (He treats Kokomi special than the other friends. Like a girlfriend or couple). Of course, he loves her.

Ps. you can find more reactions in another post.

5. Asō sensei has a plan that Kusuo ends up with Kokomi from the beginning. Please respect that.

The ending cover & pic next to it (Reita and Kusuo has the same hair color), the 2nd popularity poll, the hairstyle, match color, the dolls represents the one you have feeling for, the author and his wife

The author plans since beginning that Kusuo and Kokomi have the same birthday month (August 6 and 16: Leo). Miko and Reita also have the same birthday month (September 7 and September 10: Virgo). Saiki's father x mother and grandpa x grandma have the same birthday month. The first name of Saiki´s family begins with k and Kokomi's name begins with K.

Kokomi began to talk to Kusuo and has the feeling for him on her birthday. She asked (God) for a decent man and saw Kusuo. Kusuo´s father asks God about a nice girlfriend for his son, and Kokomi appears. Asō sensei likes this couple very much. He planned on sending them to each other since beginning.

Throughout the series, we can see the romantic moments and development of their characters and personalities. For example, chocolate on valentine´s day, indirect kiss, holding Kokomi in front of people.

The author changed Kokomi's hairstyle like his wife's, and he tweeted that Kusuo´s tie and Kokomi´s sweater were the same color in 2022, even Kokomi didn’t win the vote. She was the only one girl in the choices. (Who cares. He likes Kokomi. The match color is common for couples because even my husband's tie matched my dress when we attended the party). Celebrating 5 years, Kokomi´s dress and Kusuo`s tie has match color and duet song, Kusuo´s shirt and Kokomi´s dress is blue and white while Miko’s dress is red. If Kusuo´s pants are red, I'll say it a 50 50, but Kusuo and Kokomi always have match color Kokomi wins 100%(Match color is not in the storyline, and I think it's more like they are a couple after destroying meteor/the story-end). Don't you think Asō sensei didn’t plan on Saiki x Teruhashi?

Kokomi is his favourite female charater and God (Asō sensei) loves her. His wife (Furukawa Mirin) is talented and beautiful (like Kokomi, I guess his type). Kokomi is the main female character and has a lot of airtime. She has a big aura (giantic wings with black and white feathers: dark and bright side, no one 100% good/perfect), but her aura is smaller than Kusuo. I guess her guardian spirit is Asō sensei (not dead, but helps Kokomi a lot to be with Kusuo than other woman). So, he plans Kusuo x Kokomi from the beginning (birthday month, etc and look at his picture again above - look alike Kusuo) and he makes Kusuo x Kokomi happen at the end of this manga (you can read chapter 279 and 281).

The first popularity poll (from the reader) Kusuo won the 1st place, but Kokomi did not get the 2nd place, so Asō sensei asked his acquaintance (friends, family, colleagues, etc) for the second popularity poll (total 46 ppl). Seems like he wants Kusuo and Kokomi to win. When Kusuo and Kokomi get 1st and 2nd place, Asō sensei draws crowns to them like the prince/king and princess/queen on the coloring pages. Alt Asou sensei did, shows/proves that He is the most powerful SaiTeru shipper and no one can beat him.

The pictures from the anime. Only Kokomi holds Kusuo doll and Mera holds food which represents what they like (author's drawing). Kusuo and Kokomi are holding each other's doll (the name of the episodes). Same post, same background, but different color. Kusuo is just holding a girl doll (Kokomi). Asō sensei didn't draw these pictures, but he won't let Kusuo hold the other girl's doll other than Kokomi to avoid misunderstanding who Kusuo ends up with. (No fan service for AiSai)

Well, the picture from the last volume is pretty clear to me that Saiki Kusuo ends up with Teruhashi Kokomi. Kokomi holds him on the shoulder (picture from last volume) like Reita holds Miko´s shoulder (season 2 ep 24). Kokomi's hair drops down on Kusuo´s shoulder. That means they stand very closed. Kokomi's brother looks at them with a smile (not siscon anymore) and Chiyo looks at Kokomi with a smile. They are happy for them.

Many people think Kusuo and Kokomi are just friends because in some cultures friends can hug and share drinks. But that does not mean that all cultures are the same. Don't forget Kusuo's personality and character, Asō sensei has shown Kusuo getting hugs from Nendou, Kokomi and Miko, but Kusuo has never given a hug to anyone except Kokomi. He never shares a drink with anyone other than Kokomi. Kusuo treats Kokomi specially than the other friends as a couple or a girlfriend. This is the point Asō sensei has made in the series. He plans Kusuo x Kokomi in the beginning: At Christmas, Kusuo expects Kokomi as a girl to visit his house instead of Nendou. It means that Kusuo is interested in girls. The author always gives them chances to be together and lets them know each other and develop feelings. Kusuo didn't have a feeling for her in the beginning, but the author shows that Kusuo has a feeling for Kokomi and he chooses her at the end either 279 or 281. Every hint that Asō sensei shows/gives (for who Saiki Kusuo ends up with) only points to Kokomi. He never ever plans that Kusuo ends up alone or someone else except Kokomi, see the picture from cover of the last volume that I have to remove the plastic cover. It confirms Saiki Kusuo ends up with Teruhashi Kokomi. That means Saiki Kusuo is going to get married to Kokomi because she is his only one possible wife.

I dont need to root/cheer this ship because it's already canon.

~/) /) ~ ┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓ ( •-• ) ~ ❤️Saiki x Teruhashi❤️ TeruSai/SaiTeru❤️ /づづ ~ ┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛

Thanks for reading 😊

Update 25 august 2023

For those who read this, I know about this from the first day I watch anime and then read manga. I think it’s the time to reveal this lovely easter egg, because it’s almost September.

When Nendou writes his career survey about his plan after graduation in charter 265. (Ps. Nendo can’t write kanji)

1st choice「はしもと かんな と けっこん」→ marry to Hashimoto Kanna (she starred as Kokomi in live action).

2nd choice 「かやの あい と けっこん」→ marry to Kayano Ai (Kokomi’s voice in anime)

3rd choice 「ガッキーとけっこん」 → marry to Gakki (Aragaki Yui: not relate to Saiki k).

But in anime s.3 ep.1, Asō sensei changed no.3 to でんぱぐみのだれか(とけっこん) → Married someone in Dempagumi(.inc). Netflix doesn’t translate the texts in anime.

This episode was on aired in December 2018 (Japan) and March 2019 (Netflix). I think he proposed marriage to his wife, Furukawa Mirin, an idol. The author announced they decided to get married in September 2019 on twitter. Some idols and singers have contracts about no romances. I don’t know how long they’ve been together because of his wife is an idol, but obviously, before Saiki K ended. The hairstyle, the marriage proposal, dempagumi.inc sings Saiki k anime songs.

This makes me really like Saiki x Teruhashi even more when I saw this scene 🥰. The author changed one scene for Furukawa-san, and it’s in Saiki K forever. He is really sweet ❤️. In the author eyes, his wife is perfect, the most beautiful and talented like Kokomi. Without a doubt, Saiki married to Teruhashi.

Ps. About the popularity poll, normally the votes are from the reader, but i LMAO when I know he asks family, friends, his acquaintances for the votes (he can insist them to vote who he wants - who knows, it’s typical Japanese) and just for 46 votes he draws Saiki x Teruhashi who’s got 1st and 2nd place with the crowns on the coloring page ❤️🥰.

Extra credit and special thanks to jujus-stuff 🥰 who left the comment and explained about aro ace (which I still don’t know the meaning 😅) on my tumblr ❤️

Yess!!! Agreed with everything. Btw, i still think Saiki is aro or ace, or both, who knows, but, just to add something: Ace people can also fall in love, it's just more hard to happen, but It happens!! Btw, let's read the definition of being an Aromantic Person: A person who is aromantic experiences little to no romantic attraction to persons of any gender. People who are aromantic also lack interest in having romantic relationships. Romantic attraction refers to a desire to have emotional contact and interaction with a partner, while the definition of a romantic relationship can vary depending on the individual. ALT. Also, being an aromantic person myself, i've Fell in love only one time, it wasn't mutual but the feeling is valid, and so is my romantic spectrum. Still, i have more to say, since it's an spectrum, Saiki can feel or not romantic feelings, but, hence the informartions above, i have to say, Teruhashi is Saiki's romantic interest. Have this said, i think since we can say that Saiki is/can be aromantic/asexual/aroace the feelings that he has for Kokomi turns out to be even more special❣️❤️ That's it, i hope i've added more important informartions . So Bye bye❣️❣️

[ranchthoughts]

Moments of ephemerality/permanence/YOLO/photography/voyeurism/control/hypocrisy/accountability etc. in Only Friends ep. 9

last week in meta

Permanence vs ephemerality

As usual, a quick little recap on moments that to me spoke of the ephemeral and the permanent:

Nick says "Why can't I forget about Boston despite the fact that he did lots of shit to me?" -> Nick wishes Boston, his love for Boston, and his memories of Boston are more ephemeral than they are

Nick calls Ray Sand's "haunting spirit," Sand says Ray won't find where he is and join them because Sand isn't that important to him (not worth the time and effort to drive 2 hours into the mountains) -> Sand thinks his relationship with Ray is ephemeral, that what they have (and the interest Ray has for him) is not lasting or permanent

Sand had imaginary (spectral) friends as a kid because he had no real friends as a child

Sand and Nick try hooking up but it doesn't do anything for them -> friendship is the lasting relationship between them, anything romantic/sexual is just a passing fancy, the awkwardness of the moment is also fleeting and they quickly go back to normal

Ray's shirt says "YOLO" while he and Sand sit in the water and talk

Ray again tells Sand "Don't think too hard about it," like he did in his car that one time -> live in the moment, go with the flow, YOLO

All the talk about death at the camper van between Ray and Sand (Ray talking about his life flashing before his eyes, Ray asking if people would cry if he died, Ray requesting a funeral song from Sand, while Sand says "I have dreams. I don't want to die just yet.", Ray asks if he can follow Sand and Sand's dream around "now that I live") -> life is fleeting

Ray and Mew break off their relationship -> this arrangement, pretending to be romantically involved, was fleeting; their platonic friendship is more lasting (like Mew said a few episodes ago about being friends forever)

Cheum says she thought of Mew's changes as him being possessed by an evil spirit (ephemeral, something outside of Mew's control) but Mew says he was just lost and trying to become stronger by becoming someone else for a bit

Despite breaking things off with Ray and understanding that his party-going behaviour was a way of coping with everything that went on, Mew is still dressing like Ray at the end of the episode (are these changes in behaviour, or at least in dress, more permanent than they may have initially seemed?)

Atom wanted a more lasting relationship with Boston, despite the pretense for them hooking up was as one-time experiment to see if Atom was in fact interested in men; once again Boston is saddled with a man who wants something more lasting and committed than he was prepared to give (or was agreed on)

Recording and digital media

Of course, a core example of permanence in this show has been recordings, either in audio or visual form. We saw more of that this episode.

Top records Ray and Sand making out in the music room, though he doesn't show the footage to Mew (...reminiscent of Mew obtaining the footage of Boston and Gap but not showing it to his dad/posting it online... though making Boston very aware of what he *could* have done and what a good person he is for *not* doing that)

Atom says he wants a photo to keep (the idea of photos being a permanent keepsake), Boston took photos of Atom after their hookup

There's something here as well about consensually being recorded vs. not... Atom asking to be photographed by Boston vs Top recording Ray and Sand, like how Boston recorded Ray and Mew or Gap recorded Boston and others (which itself can be contrasted by Mew expressing interest and excitement at being recorded by Gap when he was on his reconnaissance mission).

I was playing around with the idea of surveillance the other week, with Gap running a channel full of sex tapes (that may or may not have been recorded with consent) and Boston using Instagram to find his friends. This week:

Ray figures out where Sand and Nick are based on Nick's Instagram story -> just like how Boston figured out his friends were at the hostel based on Cheum's Instagram story. Again, the characters don't think about what their social media presence is revealing to others

Mew's moms saying they recognize Top from Mew's Instagram

Social media, especially Instagram, has had a recurring role in this series. It makes sense, given the age of the characters, but it also brings up ideas of the appearances we put up/narratives we tell ourselves and others, surveillance, permanent records of things vs. the ephemerality of digital content, etc...

And of course, we these tie into the theme of voyeurism too: Top records Sand and Ray making out in the music room, Nick listening to Boston and his hookup kiss in the bathroom stall for a moment (before interrupting to give a heartfelt apology and goodbye).

Control and Boundaries

Last week I thought some thoughts about control and boundaries, and especially cases where characters said "it's none of your business what I do". We had lots more examples of this this week too:

Sand asks Ray to get out of his way multiple times in the music room and Ray doesn't

Ray tells Sand "Now that I have you in my life I won't let you walk away"

Top steps in to say Mew has a boyfriend when Mew is chatting to the random bar stranger, then grabs Mew by the arm and trying to pull him

Mew tells Top to stay out of his life

Ray demands sex from Mew and Mew shuts him down, Ray asks why Mew slept with Top but not him, Ray giving reasons why he is "owed" sex ("I've been nothing but good to you for the last four years")

Ray phones Sand many times and when Sand picks up, Ray gets mad it took him so long to answer

Sand tells Ray not to come to him, Ray finds out where Sand is and goes to him anyways

Sand tells Ray "I'm not just stuff you have in your possession. I have feelings."

Atom shows up at Boston's house to ask why Boston isn't answering his messages

Boston and Atom have a one night stand so Atom can experiment and figure himself out but Atom is mad it was only one night

Top invites himself along on Mew's shopping trip with his moms even though Mew repeatedly tries to get him to leave

Sand says whether or not he and Nick are hooking up is none of Ray's business

Sand says that if Ray doesn't sort himself out and someone without conditions comes by he will not wait for Ray, though he says he doesn't want this to be pressure on Ray

Mew talks about Sand to Ray in the context of ownership ("If he loves you too, do your best to keep him")

Again we see the idea of ownership - who gets to dictate or have opinions on your life - and boundary crossing, especially as it pertains to leaving people alone (I've lost count in this series so far, but there's been so many cases of people saying "don't find me" or not answering texts but being tracked down regardless).

I would also like to point out how interesting it is to have Nick promise not to see Boston any more in a show where everyone has been categorically incapable of leaving people alone/tracking them down.

Friendship

We had more this episode on friendship, and what friendship entails (I was batting this idea around the other week as well).

Sand and Nick kiss then admit it did nothing for them and agree they are better off as platonic friends (though platonic friends can cuddle). Mew says it is lucky he and Ray didn't hook up because otherwise they wouldn't be able to look at each other in the eye. Again, we see friendship as something defined by the lack of sex, that sex changes a relationship (and that sex is generally something not possible/desirable in a platonic relationship).

Previously, Mew has told us friends are not people you fuck in a car, and Sand has said friends don't struggle to stop kissing one another. Only Ray has provided an alternate definition, that friendships can start from sex, though the audience may debate whether he has been successful in creating friendships or rather other types of relationships.

Change

A couple of weeks ago, and the week before that, I was tracking what characters had to say about change (did they think it was possible? under what conditions? etc.):

Nick in the past has tried to change himself (go to the gym, dress differently, etc.) to appeal to Boston. This week, Nick tells Boston he doesn't have to change, that his friends like him for who is, that people (including Nick) will love Boston for who he is.

Mew in the past has said people can change though it will take time, and he was skeptical of Top being able to change and repent. This week, Mew says he wants to give Top a second chance because he can see Top's efforts (Top is capable of change, it just takes time and effort), and Mew talks about how he himself changed (in behaviour, dress, interests, etc.) as a way to recover from his experiences and find strength ("I want you to understand that what happened to me affected my self-confidence so much. I just thought if I became someone else, I would be stronger"). Mew also tells Ray "Reduce your ego. Not everyone can put up with everything you do" (implying that Ray should change himself so Sand will stick around).

Ray in the past has hinted that change is possible, as he made comments about getting over Mew. This episode we had more of the same, with Ray saying he is working on getting over Mew though it is hard, and also showing a change in the way he interacts with Mew (more self-aware, less idealizing or all encompassing in his feelings for Mew).

Cheum in the past did not think Mew's change (in behaviour, wardrobe, interests, etc.) was good or healthy. This episode she said Mew changing is like he was possessed by an evil spirit, and she says she will come back and work on the hostel project if they all promise to stop with the mess (if they change their behaviour).

We've also been talking about how often characters in Only Friends have had a vested interest in preventing others from changing, like Cheum and Top teaming up last episode over "concern" for Mew (1, 2), and how that relates to themes of control, hypocrisy, and the permanency of labels.

Honesty (and accountability)

There was QUITE a lot of honesty this episode:

Sand and Nick trying to hookup but then admitting it isn't doing anything for them and they are better off as friends

Sand pointing out the parallels between him and Ray hooking up while Ray is seeing Mew, and Top and Boston hooking up (which Mew points out later in the episode as well)

Sand saying he likes Ray a lot and he is jealous of Ray and Mew, but he knows that isn't his place to be upset about; Ray admitting he likes Sand too but Mew is special to him and it is not easy for him to get over Mew (implying that the end goal is to get over Mew)

Ray and Sand talking about Ray's crash and how that made them feel (Ray talks about flashing back through his life when he crashed, Sand says he would have never forgiven himself, etc.), Ray asking if anyone would cry if he died

Mew and Ray's conversation on the bench where Mew says he knows Ray went to see Sand and Ray doesn't deny it, Mew says he is glad Ray picked Sand and admits "You can clearly see I dated you just to hurt Top," Ray admits that he knew that ("I kind of got the hint. But I was trying to fool myself") and says it is nice Mew loves Top; they then share the most honest and sincere "I love yous" with each other this series

Nick giving a heartfelt speech to Boston about his feelings for him, apologizing for what happened, and promising not to see him anymore

Mew admitting to Cheum he is still in love with Top and explaining the reasons why he changed as he did (he felt vulnerable and insecure)

I'd like to point out that not only are the characters being honest with each other to an extent we have not seen before, but they are also being honest with themselves. Sand admits he really likes Ray, Ray admits that he was trying to convince himself Mew actually loved him romantically, Mew admits that he changed because he was insecure and wanted to be strong and that he was just dating Ray to make Top jealous... and so on.

There's been some talk about how maturely Ray and Mew, for example, handled their break-up, and the amount of honesty in that conversation played a big role in that maturity. If the characters do not own up with themselves (and others, of course) about their behaviour, their motivations, and their impacts, how can they show true accountability and learn and grow from their actions and choices?

Hypocrisy and moral superiority

After episode 6 I threw around some ideas about Top and Mew and their dynamic. Top has a habit of casually trying to sway Mew's opinions, especially against Ray (insinuating that Ray doesn't work hard on the hostel project, insinuating that Ray will never stop having feelings for Mew, etc.). I noticed a few things this episode that reminded me of this:

Mew tells Top to stay out of his life, that his choices are none of Top's business, and Top says he knows that he has no right to make comments about Mew's life and choices (after coming in and making comments about Mew's life and choices...) and then says "I bet you know what you are doing" (trying to smooth it over and convey absolute belief in Mew)

Top doesn't show Mew the video of Ray and Sand ("I don't want to play another dirty trick to get you back") but does make it pretty clear that Ray is doing something -> he's a "good guy" because he didn't share anything that isn't his business, but he hinted at it enough he may as well have shared it. He gets to keep his veneer of "good guy" while also getting his desired outcome (getting Mew's wheels turning re: Ray) - see @thatgirl4815's post here. This is also very similar to what Mew does with Boston and the sex tape: holding all the cards, threatening with them, but not actually deploying them, which allows them to claim moral superiority (and, in Top's case, claim that he is leaving Mew alone to make his own decisions).

Top says if this "Mew the party-goer" is who he wants to be, he will support him, BUT he also says he would love to have the old Mew back -> again, Top gives himself a veneer of "good guy" (he will be there to support Mew whatever his choices are! He respects Mew's autonomy!) BUT while doing so he manages to convey his preference (Mew to return to "normal") and still give an opinion on what Mew should do. It reminds me of what Top said about Lasik - laying it out as an option and suggesting it casually, before belatedly tacking on a comment about how he like Mew in glasses. Top made his preference clear then backtracked, claiming to respect whatever Mew chooses, much in the way he frames his comments about Ray (just simple, casual observations).

This dynamic is really interesting to me given all the talks about control and hypocrisy we've been having over the course of the series, and Mew's much explored superiority complex (especially with regards to morality and sex). Top demonstrates a similar superiority complex, and given he's trying to win Mew back, it's interesting to wonder how many of these affectations have been adopted to appeal to Mew's love of the moral high ground and appease Mew's repeated protestations that his decisions are none of Top's business.

@waitmyturtles and @twig-tea were also talking last week about how this moral superiority works hand in hand with ignoring other peoples' agency and a lack of reflection on how one's actions impact others. Accountability - these young people coming to terms with how their decisions have consequences and setting aside their YOLO ways a bit to think of others - is not possible without (self-)honesty, without giving up control, without taking a step off the high horse of moral superiority and comparison.

Random thoughts

Ray and Mew talk about a sleepover they had (with at least Cheum as well) in second year and talk about being in each other's lives for 4 years... we are getting a slightly better understanding of when this group came together.

On assumptions, which I was thinking about a couple of weeks ago: this episode Ray sees Nick and Sand in bed together and assumes they were hooking up. Once again, we have a character interpreting things through their own lens and one that perhaps reveals more about that character than about what is going on.

On "should have" and the narratives we tell ourselves: once again we had Mew (and Ray) talking about their relationship in terms of what "should" be, for example Mew telling Yo he should be in love with Ray because Ray has been by his side forever.

On comparisons, since this friend squad is constantly comparing themselves to one another: Sand and Mew compare what Sand and Ray have been doing to what Top and Boston did, Ray compares his physical relationship with Mew to Top's (and isn't pleased), Sand says that compared to Boston Ray is a saint (see @lurkingshan's post on that here).

On addiction, which we've seen a lot of talk on/mention of in the show so far (but I haven't been collecting mentions of, regrettably): Mew tells his moms he is not addicted to cigarettes, Mew tells Ray to consult with a therapist about quitting drinking.

hello ephemerality squad: @chickenstrangers, @clara-maybe-ontheroad, @colourme-feral, @distant-screaming, @lurkingshan, @neuroticbookworm, @rocketturtle4, @slayerkitty, @thatgirl4815, @twig-tea, @waitmyturtles, @wen-kexing-apologist

[topazpearl]

So remember my big sbg theory doc? forget that existed, heres the new one

Discusses up to Ep 61. Fast-pass spoiler FREE

Content discussions about death, mental illness, sui.cide; yknow. Heavy Thriller webtoon stuff (tm)

[Hamilton chorus voice] NUMBER ONE: Giant freakin phantompedes and how to escape them

-I was right about the football field lights to try to kill them idea yippee

-HOEWVERR, theres so many attacking the school rn and its freaking collapsing?? I literally dont know how they’re gonna get outta this

-Unless (unless) my Phantom Ashlyn theory is relevant, ashlyn can talk to them and tells them to go away and they… do! idk lol it's stupid but maybe ash has enough girl boss energy to convince them. or theyre so shocked by a human talking to them theyre like "dang ok". Could still happen! 

NUMBER TWO: Phantom Transformation Theory

So it’s Basically confirmed: 

If you die in the PD, you start to turn into a Phantom.

Of course we wont know for sure until we actually SEE it but like, Aiden’s creepy af smile and basically coming back to life in ashlyn’s arms after DYING it’s like, basically confirmed. 

Ash wonders why Aiden snapped out of his seizure so fast compared to Tyler. Severity of injuries could definitely be a factor (tho like, im assuming Aiden got freaking blunt force trauma brain damage which, to me, is just as bad as being impaled). Another factor could be that Tyler died only about 30 minutes into the Time, while Aiden died almost right when it ended. And… we saw how fast Aiden started to “turn”. Red technically never shows us Tyler during those hours after he died. He very well… may have completely phantomized, but when he woke up in the real world, the transformation reverted. I'm very scared abt what Aiden’s gonna be like next night.

SUB THEORY: The Power of Human Connection and Phantom Reversal

Remember how Jasmine (the gang tour girl) asked if it was alright that all the kids got sucked in w/ ashlyn? This implies that 

1. They usually expect 1 person/their target to get sucked into the PD

2. The origami gang has never dealt with a group being sucked in at once

- I believe (and the evil gang doesnt know this) that the kids being together is an integral part of their future survival. Tyler snapped back to consciousness in the hospital after Taylor had her PISSED moment. This moment was similar to Logan’s freakout, in that it tugged the phantom world to the real world, for a second. I think these intense emotions (taylor’s specifically out of anger and worry for her twin), pulled tyler’s “soul” out of the PD and into the RD. 

- Now, you may ask, “what abt if a random person got into the PD and died and went into a seizure/coma? Why couldnt their loved ones “bring” them back?” thats a good Q idk. Perhaps the kids all being in the PD together is what creates this flow, a two-way street, between the two dimensions. 

- Anyway also while Ashlyn and co didnt didnt get into an angry freakout moment when Aiden died, but we all know Ash and Aiden got something developing/going on thats special ♥, and thats what tugged Aiden back (its cliche but its the power of love there i said it). 

- Also NOT saying that the other kids’ concern over their friends doesn’t matter or count (Ben and Aiden are Fam too), but like, i’m wondering if it needs to be a REALLY INTENSE love (familial/romantic/whatever) in order to basically bring someone back from the dead. idk

-interestingly, ty WAS essentially in a coma-like state, like how the spy said, which supports that it’s expected that ppl die in the PD eventually, and go into comas. I’m wondering if those who normally get sucked into the PD and die, theyre dealing with it by themselves, have no one to “pull them back” like taylor and/or ashlyn did, and they stay in a coma. 

-rlly hope the boys arent like “possessed” or smn. Maybe the soul is like, tainted? Those big black eyes man… (ALSO THAT PREVIEW IMAGE WITH LOGAN AND THE BIG BLACK EYES??? WHAT??)

-going off the dead PD ppl turn into phantoms theory>> If a phantom is killed, their connected person in the RD who was in a coma dies fr permanently

NUMBER THREE: Ashlyn and the Phantoms (cool new band name) 

we know the kids are getting influenced by the PD, making phantom noises (further supports phantoms were people theory) but with Ashlyn's "really strong" connection to the PD, she's in special danger. If one can turn into a phantom without dying, it's gonna be her. Ryan the spy said that "the girl" – assumingly ashlyn– should be "especially" at risk of danger. This could be bc she was the one who interacted with the rift, or bc she already has a higher level of phantom influence on her. 

-when ashlyn told the phantom to let go, and her friends to calm down, both times she spoke with a black speech bubble WITH PHANTOM NOISE LINES NEAR IT. this is different than characters who have also spoken with black bubbles (aiden, logan, taylor). obviously these have been with threats/malice, but they didn't have the red lines. These times ashlyn has spoken, the phantom acknowledged her voice, and her friends' spell-like violence trance was broken. Theory: ashlyn not only can hear phantoms, but she can speak their language sort of

-when ashlyn was born, a phantom like touched her in a blessing/cursing sense which is part of the reason why she can hear phantoms and her strong PD connection. possibly even possession???? 

-tldr i want ashlyn to enter her monster girl era 

The evil gang seems confused why the kids have lasted so long. maybe Ashlyn's PD connection goes both ways. she provides a strong anchor to the RD. Maybe the PD is USUALLY all desolate with the pillars that we saw in the finale (maybe it's even an afterlife of sorts?), but Ashlyn makes a huge radius (~30 miles! (assuming kids were driving at least 60mph for 30 minutes)) of the PD around where she wakes up mirror the real world, creating a safer space for her and the kids. meanwhile a normal person that gets sucked into the PD gets thrown into a desolate hell world different from the RD (also maybe stuck there permanently), causing them to die much quicker. 

-maybe this influence is even part of the reason why RD tyler is awake (And aiden)

-Ashlyn's influence extends to jamming the recording devices like some kind of weird phantom static.

-Broke: Ashlyn's parents wanted her to learn self defense and have a knife bc they're in the military. Woke: they want her to be able to protect herself after the phantom scare when she was a baby

-Also THANK GOD she’s finally acting on her intuition. Sm times she’s been like “this feels bad!” and doesnt do anything. Almost makes me wonder if it’s a supernatural intuition based on phantom stuff. Like shes WAY OFF from the hospital and the drama and is like “HMM! Smn going on” 

NUMBER FOUR: Origami gang and Co INC. 

-The gangs symbol is an origami crane (orizuru). the crane in East Asia has longevity as one of its symbolisms, with some myths saying it flies souls up to paradise. there's the popular myth that if you fold 1000 cranes you get a wish.

Heres where the evil twist comes in. The gang boss believes that if he traps 1000 people in the PD as like, a sacrifice, then he'll get a wish and he'll ask for eternal life or whatever. this gang is a cult and he's tricked everyone saying that they'll also get a long life but really it's probably only gonna be him 🤫 So they go around to different haunted places in America and pick ppl they sense can open these shadow rifts and get sucked in. the phantoms may be ppl they trapped in the past and they've turned into phantoms

-Ryan, the guy who's spying on the kids, maybe is ALSO "Mr. thomas". he just puts on a wig and is a good actor lol. this is the reason why he asks about "Mr. Thomas's" fate. What goes against this is that Ryan seems to know all about the PD mechanisms, which doesn't fit Mr. Thomas being confused abt ashlyns hair. Unless he wasn't expecting it

– or "Mr thomas" could just be Ryan's friend or brother or smn. A low ranked guy in the gang that got stuck with roping Ashlyn into Savannah, but doesn't know the truth/details about the PD. 

-the gang mentions that "both sides" are trying to track them. either the government and a supernatural hunting group, or even some force in the PD like some Alpha Phantom like the devil who's like "Where's my dead people quota hello?" or better yet "you're messing with MY domain and I'm gonna Get You". 

-This is based solely on the Boss' appearance and smiling countenance: the gang Boss is Aiden's uncle, his dad's brother, his weird, estranged brother who's also evil probably. I'm really hung on this idea don't mind me 

-you have to be able to make a paper origami crane from memory to be an official gang member /hj 

NUMBER FIVE: Gen story/Character arcs and futures

-ready for a “power of love and friendship” aesop. these kids are gonna be so Bonded now after these traumatic experiences

-i had come up with an elaborate “death order” but thats now completely jossed now so im ignoring that

-PRAISING THE FREAKING LORD THAT ALL THE PARENTS KNOW NOWAND THAT MIKE BELIEVES THEM AND IS HELPING HIS DAUGHTER. DAD OF THE YEAR AWARD. IF ANYTHING AHPPENS TO HIM IM SUEING!!!!!

- SO NOW that all the parents know, and like, have seen all the phantoms and everything and BTW WILL PROBABLY GET SUCKED INTO THE PD AT SOME POINT because they felt the shift like the kids did, they help the kids get to Savannah yippee!! a cool Big family squad force they all hop on a working school bus or smn and drive there. PLs

- the families getting sucked in would be HUGE cause they arent prepared. Logan’s grandparents and Lily are top targets 😭

So the kids are gonna get kidnapped. that's definitely gonna be a thing, either mid S2 or ending. up in the air whether the kidnapping is successful or not. (assuming the gang would be smart enough to get rid of the kids’ phones when they get them)

-actually I'm placing my bets now S2 finale will be them getting kidnapped and it just cuts off there for another awful cliffhanger.

-since it seems Mr thomas will be involved, he'll ask the kids to stay after school to talk abt their failing grades or smn, and then maybe they're hit with knockout gas??

OR the gang has been spying on them so they pick a time the kids all separated and jump them. 

-maybe this is when aiden knowing where ashlyns dance studio is is actually plot relevant!!?? like he (and Ben probably cuz they're always together) are able to escape their attackers and Aiden goes to help ashlyn cuz he wants to make sure she's OK. and she's either fine cuz she's a girl boss and can kick butt, or he saves her oo la la 

–lol imagine kidnapping is successful, gang tells kids why they were kidnapped, (if Evil Boss Uncle theory is true this helps facilitate this) but Ashlyn "goes off" on Aiden yelling and "attacking" him and stuff saying he's part of the gang, he planned it all along etc, but it's all a ruse to have the gang think she'll cause another energy spike (and Aiden gets this and plays along) so assuming the kids are locked up, the gang opens their cell to stop ashlyn, and that's when they escape lol

so like, i THOUGHT ashlyn/aiden was gonna be a slow burn but HAHAHA. i mean not as freaking slow obviously as like Miraculous love square lol, but like slow for thriller standards? But things are gonna be heating up between these two 😏 watch ashlyn be ~conflicted~ and ~in denial~~. And meanwhile poor aiden is a confused boy who doesnt know what ash wants like “b u told me to give u space and now here u are grasping my hand like ur life depends on it” 

Sorry back to character arcs:

Ashlyn: Learn to trust and connect with people, make friends, lean on others. Could be nice if she accepts and admits the kids are her friends by the end of S2, leaving the next season for Aiden/Ashlyn dev specifically? More development about her connection with the PD, which could put friendship to the test. [already getting this with her dad and Aiden so this is great]

Also she has the freaking GUILT like i expected! Watch her think tay hates her for like a week before tay is like “no?? I hate the ppl who did this to us instead” and then they hug it out 👍

Taylor: Willing to bet money the twins are unhealthily codependent on each other. She is on the edge bro. Unhinged feral. Is probably gonna be more angry in general despite it being a bad idea, like the top has been blown off. Bottled up emotions~! 

Still thinking she’ll get close to Ben too (whether anything romantic develops on top of it is debatable, but I can see it. theyve already got a cute little closeness going on)..

Tyler: Get this boy some ~THERAPY~ help he’s so depressed and angry. Learn to have hope again (like ben 😭). He has so much negativity inside him, i dont think that’ll help with whatever is going on with him rn like, hes probably in the THICK of the PD influence. He’s kinda like ash, needs to learn to rely on others.

Logan: Seems to be overcoming his fragility well if the arcade scene is any indication. Still has self-worth issues to overcome due to his parents' abandonment. Maybe we'll learn more about that in S2. That could be a rumor and the real reason he lives with his grandparents is that his parents died but idk why that'd be hidden unless their death was suspicious (like, drug ring?? His gpa got the GOODS APPARENTLY). 

Ben: Still needs to find a new passion for life, i suspect playing musical instruments like the guitar will be the answer (thank you tyler). Tho maybe learning to love his altered voice could happen? (tons of dudes have a rough/husky singing voice that ppl love) But this is probably unlikely.  

Aiden: Good Lord like, Aiden being (most likely) suic.idal in the past (and possibly even still NOW?) has floored me. I figured his loneliness and suspected parental neglect was bad but IT’S BAD. Dude wants to feel alive and not depressed… frick. AIDEN ARE YOU going to therapy??? Do your parents KNOW??? Is that why your parents finally settled down?? Guh. this on top of probably untreated ADHD.

–I’m assuming now Aiden started dying his hair to try to get any fragment of serotonin. 

– Kinda wondering if he grew up in a "toxic positivity" mentality home, where his parents are like "we're so privileged we shouldn't complain" ?

– im actually THIS close to beating Aiden’s parents with a stick.

NUMBER SIX: Miscellaneous predictions, wants, musings & hypotheticals.

-guessing now that the twin’s dad had cancer or smn

-hey uh what about the photo Logan took of the phantom back at the sorrel-weed house?? surely he still has it? can he show the parents?? will they be able to see it?

-Logan saw the whole Aidlyn hug from the roof from his snipper position, change my mind.

-Another “death” will happen in S2, possibly even two deaths. (GOD I WAS RIGHT)

-Mr thomas switches sides and helps the kids, gives them info

-Ryan (the spy) switches sides and helps the kids

-the tour lady Jasmine and the Boss are a hot evil couple 

also kinda want them to have a Rourke & Helga dynamic where he throws her under the bus at the last moment and she's Bissed 

-I want the boss to die by his own evil plan. 

–i doubt a redemption arc will happen but I'd be down for it if done well.

-*grabs your shoulders until they bleed* listen. Aiden saved ashlyn, now I need her to save him. I need this. 

-Taylor and Ashlyn girl time please!!!

-Logan and Aiden becoming closer would also give me joy. big Freckle and Rocky energy. 

-this doesn't have to happen but I think it'd be really funny if Aiden somehow gets the IDEA that Logan has a crush on Ashlyn when Logan doesn't, causing a stupid silly short jealousy arc.

-actually I really need a "can skydive from 10,000 ft but can't confess to the girl he likes" Aiden Clark 

-I've got a bad feeling smn will happen to Ashlyn's parents, specifically her dad

-if any of the gang/cult members hurt the kids or their fam fr irl im gonna >8) lose it

-the Origami gang fails to kidnap the kids and they accidentally create a huge "energy spike", making phantoms appear everywhere in town.

-if the kids DO get kidnapped successfully, I want Ashlyn to be an awesome girlboss and use her knife shoes to help them escape.

-if my puppy fic became Canon that'd be swaggie actually.

-let Ashlyn have a dog 2023

-pov you're in Georgia in the fall and a hurricane hits, knocking out solar power for a few days. what then? :)

-when all this garbage is over and they hopefully all live in the end, I want them to have a fun stargazing party led by Logan cause they can finally enjoy the night (And maybe aidlyn have their first Kiss?? 🙈)

-If there ISNT a "group goes to see Ashlyn in a ballet performance" scene then I'm WRITING IT MYSELF 

-At the end of all things, Aiden and Ashlyn will become a couple, or at least have reciprocal romantic feelings. This is not just my shipper heart talking. I feel it in my brain, in my soul. 

-So we know one or both of Aiden’s parents are writers. If anyone knows if that trophy Aiden’s dad is holding in that photo is a real award, hmu

-a kid going into an angry protective phantom mode to protect another(s) 😳 (aidlyn on the brain but it could be anyone)

-if I had a nickel for every time I've imagined Aiden dying in Ashlyn's arms, I'd have many nickels (IT BASICALLY HAPPENED! GREAT! 👍😭)

-what if having a good singing voice ran in Ben's family? haha jkjk…unless??? but they don't sing like ever cuz they don't want Ben to feel bad 

-man what if an sbg kid “died” by a phantom pushing them down a set of stairs.. 

-Rlly hope that Aiden's parents don't get scared seeing phantoms in their house and hearing other families having phantoms in THEIR houses and thinking the whole town is haunted, and they consider moving which they don't wanna do bc Aiden finally has friends but what else can they do!? angst. 

-John 15:13 for Ashlyn with the others except it's not permanent (I'm not saying ash is a Jesus figure tho WHWKEJEJDJ)

-I rlly wanna see ashlyn laugh

-Taylor actually using her mechanic skills. like maybe the jeep gets damaged [HAPPENED] and she fixes it. I dont want that jeep gone bro its already iconic (update: it’s probably gone bro.. sad)

-might be nice for Logan to have a reflection moment where even though all this horrible stuff is happening some good came out of it like he's not a slave to bullies anymore 

-I want to see Ben happy. well actually I want them all happy pls

[dangermousie]

So much of ep 33 to me is about choice and how TTJ chooses who he wants to be, that he fights predestination to be a demon god host. Because this ep makes clear that unlike in the novel, it’s not that TTJ decides to go evil and slowly becomes demon god, TTJ is merely a vessel whose role is basically to be demon god’s meat suit. That to me is even more horrible - his whole life is basically to become a vessel to be possessed by another entity. And he’s suffered his whole life to make him more receptive to be willing to give up anything for a chance to end his suffering and to destroy the world that hurt him (which is why it’s all supposed to be so bad as to want to drive him to suicide; someone who has given up enough and wants sessation of pain that badly would be OK with letting demon god puppet him - as we saw in the very beginning when he, at his lowest, was offering himself.) But also, if he is basically the host (with results best achieved when the host is willing, but even if not willing demon god can work with it), that makes all the “gotta murder him” or “his suffering is deserved” even more wrong and odious.

Susu here talks about her father but - I don’t want to say the same applies to TTJ because it does not. Di Mian chose to go evil and it’s definitely him who did whatever bad stuff. Demon God that Susu met in ep 1 is not really TTJ, is it? TTJ’s soul is not the driver, it is not it that looks out of demon god’s eyes. I am not really an expert in possession stuff but it’s like blaming someone who’s been possessed for what they did when they weren’t them. 

I love this so much. SO MUCH!

He now has something to live for - her, his sect, just generally the fact that he is not in constant suffering. Of course he would fight being taken over. Susu was on the right track though she never truly figured it out since she didn’t know they are separate entities, when she thought if he had kindness he might not become demon god. Who on earth would want to be possessed if they had a better alternative?

And I love that they do talk about it and even though Susu is hiding her demon bone plan, they are honest about his fears and how she sees him.

The way she unhesitatingly addresses his biggest fear - that she will always see him as demon god and not him. It took Susu a long time to get there but once she did, she is unwavering and I love it, I love that she can tell the difference, I love that she realizes potential is not the same as reality and that he cannot be punished for what the man standing in front of her never became (and that is not even him, since demon god is a separate entity in any meaningful sense.)

His looking for reassurance - because he insists so hard he is not demon god but he has to have doubts, it’s only human.

AAAA her answer!!! And also whatever lessons she’s failed to learn, she learned this one, no more repetition of that set of mistakes from past life.

Yes, thank you. It’s actually such an interesting set-up (if different from the novel) - the host refusing to host the demon because he has his own damn life to live and his own values. It’s kind of body horror but also so fascinating.

Awwwww

This has got to be such an utter horrifying trip. It’s interesting that all that suffering that was given to him to prep him as a willing host actually prepped him to be tough and deal with all sorts of insanity and thus enables him to fight demon god now.

Yikes! And knowing he’s terrified of it, we all know what will happen...

Poor man! Yikes. He can’t even properly enjoy his sect because in the back of his head is the worry he will be exposed and driven out yet again. Talk about being punished for something you have no control over and no fault in.

[analog-cottage-gore]

OKAY ANALYSIS TIME. LOOK UNDER CUT.

Basically it seems to be an ad for watchful eye toys, but also not, like most other "ads" we see in wtdw.

So the video starts with a new character already, this guy:

Keep them in mind, we'll circle back to them later.

Thet say that "It's been far to long since we last spoke", before quickly diverting to a new character who immediately just flings themselves in our face:

Their name is Morris, they're a court jester vampire bat, and right after they say hello, there's a random beeping noise. This happens at other seemingly random points through out the video. We then learn more about other products that watchful eye toys makes.

The jack in the box is called the "Itty Bitty Jester Bot/Box" (I couldn't tell which), the bat is a "Mystery Cove Bat Friend", and the tambourine is a "Twinkle Light Tambourine". Not much is known about these currently.

They then go on to talk about Twimblo's, showing this ad. Now, this was shown in ep 13, but I wanted to bring up the "phone number" (does anyone know if this is a code or just random symbols because idk codes), but also not only do these go for $500 (before tax), they still put up a "buy one get one free", presumably to get more souls.

Then we get this little scene, showing Morris talking to Oddity, which first of all, why is he here, second, Morris is surprised that Oddity can talk?

Is talking like, and Oddity thing and not just a Twimblo thing? Is Oddity possessed? What is that about?

Also Oddity doesn't even know why he's here, or where he even is, someone help the poor guy-

They then get to the real purpose of the video.

Dreamworld is making a new animatronic.

what.

Apparently, the viewers get to comment features they might like the animatronic to have, and Watchful Eye will go through the top ten most liked and create a new animatronic??? Okay, cool, that's interesting, we'll talk about this later.

After that, they do an outro to the video, officially clarifying that yes, that's Oddity, and Morris asks if the camera stopped rolling, and if this means they can "Finally go-", before getting abruptly cut off.

There's then static, we get this image;

And then we see announcer guy again

They say their the project manager at the facility, before saying "But, you don't recognize me? What if I just..." It then cuts to this all to familiar screen;

We of course here training tape person saying their basic introduction, implying that announcer and training tape (who sound almost nothing alike) are on in the same. And then finally, we're left with this;

And a long stretch of blackness.

So, first off, announcer is pretty obviously Litho. Project manager for watchful eye, implies he voices the training tapes, which I always assumed were voiced by Litho possessing Sara, and shows a image that is clearly implied to be Litho quickly after. Plus, something I noticed is that Sara has pink eyes for most of the plot, aka when she's being possessed, but looking at when she's not obviously possessed, like for example her in highschool;

Her eyes are brown. So it appears that a sign of Litho's possession is pink eyes. And who else has pink eyes? Announcer guy.

Next, touching on Morris. My theory is that Morris is Rainbott, due to similar color palettes, and the fact that we never really learned what Winnie did to Rain. Now, the question is, what is Morris? It's never stated they're an animatronic, so what are they? Could it be similar to poppy playtime toys? Are they actually just an animatronic? Who knows.

Finally, the whole Amazing Automations thing. Why are they doing this? Why do they need a new animatronic?

I think I have an idea. I think they're planning to kill someone, and need a place to keep the soul. But who?

My top guess is Wiatt, due to how much trouble he's caused, and how odd it is that Litho let him stay around and keep his job. My next bet is Celio, but due to them just getting there, it's unlikely. Maybe Oliver as well?

And one last note that probably doesn't mean anything but it's interesting.

The eyes look vaguely similar.

This has been my wtdw Ted Talk. I hope you enjoyed.

[quietwingsinthesky]

10 thinking jack managed to get out somehow bc he shows up in front of the terrarium one day seemingly fine and 10 hasn't seen the master in a while and then he. realizes. the master using jack's body once martha is captured to try to fuck with her even more.

also like. s4 finale specials the master splitting 10 from his body for funsies and later in the ep, when he's back, 10 apologizing to wilf for having to see that and wilf's just like "i'd keep you in a terrarium. i'd keep you safe". god.

also harold saxon website. "i'd take care of the aliens" that man is the only prime minister wilf has EVER voted for idc if canon says differently

aauuuguh. im so glad we can bring possession horror into doctor who now. its fun for me :) enrichment. and martha T-T she has been through so much and now we have to fuck her up even more. she hadn’t even considered the master could force his way inside someone, cause the doctor always asked, the doctor always made it sound like time lords had to ask or couldnt get in. martha who is haunted for the rest of her life by intrusive thoughts that the person she’s talking to might not be the person she loves, might be something else inside them pretending to get her to trust it. something she only ever tells jack because jack was there, jack gets it.

🥺🥺 at the house 14 buys so that wilf can live with them, he builds a little terrarium in wilf’s room that he can slink into and hang out in. they vibe together.

WILF FOR HAROLD SAXON 2007!!!!!! do you think he made pins. do you think he still had some of them when the doctor visited with donna. Harold Saxon: The Man You Can Trust, sitting out on a table somewhere while ten stares at it like 😨😨😨😨.

[invisibleraven]

The more the merrier

A series of ficlets for @polyshipweek 2023!

Day Two: Second Chances-Regal Butterfly <-AO3 link

Flynn wiped the tears from her face as she surveyed the apartment one last time. It had been her home for the past year, and was full of memories. Mostly happy ones; her and Reggie giggling as they painted the walls and got more on themselves at first. Making meals together and eating them as Project Runway played in the background, Reggie whispering assurances in her ear that one day that would be her. The weird spindly cactus that was only staying alive through sheer force of will and not because Flynn or Reggie had any success in keeping plants alive.

But then, they started fighting. Long hours at work, frustration on Flynn’s part on her lack of momentum getting anywhere with her designs. Reggie’s devotion to his band, who were in the same state of stasis. They started out small, petty nitpicks and took their frustrations out on each other. Then it seemed as though they couldn’t go without arguing, until today.

Today when Reggie had blown up, and told her that if she was so unhappy, the door was right there, and then stormed out of it himself. So she took that to mean this was over.

She had packed what she could, loading her car quickly, not wanting to see Reggie when or if he got back. She didn’t think she’d be strong enough to go then, and Flynn Taylor was not a woman who begged someone to take her back. She kept her grief at bay until she had her last bag, and stood in the doorway. Whispering a silent goodbye, and left.

She didn’t know that Reggie came back a mere hour afterwards, an apology bouquet of tiger lilies-her favourites-in hand, an apology on his lips. Wasn’t there to witness his panic at finding her gone, and his subsequent breakdown when he found her key sitting by the entrance.

He never tried to contact her, figuring it must be over if she left. Merely went about packing up his own things numbly, thankful they didn’t have a lease to break, and went off to cry on Luke’s shoulder about his whole world falling apart. To him, that was it, but maybe it was better this way, that they didn’t hold on and make each other miserable as his parents had.

A few years later, Flynn was thriving. Her designs had finally taken off, she had a little boutique selling them in Manhattan, an upcoming trunk show, a great place in Astoria, and a gorgeous woman waiting home for her.

Flynn was still nursing a broken heart when she landed in New York, hoping the change of scenery would do her some good. Plus here there would be no chance of memories haunting her. She stayed with a distant cousin for a bit before finding Julie’s ad looking for a roommate.

And the rest, as they say, was history.

She and Julie became fast friends, staying up late getting to know one another. Julie tells her all about her late mom, her drive to get into Juilliard so she could keep her mom’s music alive. Now she was an accompanist for a major Broadway company and working on putting together an EP of songs she had written with her mom as a teen. Flynn told her all about Reggie, and how despite it all, she still missed him, still loved him.

A tiny part of that was true, even now.

But Julie had understood, and even after they finally confessed as to the feelings between them, Julie had promised her that she knew a part of Flynn’s heart wasn’t fully hers. “You can love as many people as you want cutie,” Julie said. “I’m not the type to get jealous or possessive.”

That had been well over a year ago, and Flynn couldn’t be happier.

Which is why she had to do a double take when walking down the streets of Brooklynn, she spied a familiar red flannel. He froze as he saw her too, and they stared at each other across the busy street. Flynn had to admit, he looked good. A little more trim and fit, his hair brushing his collar, freckles out in full force. She gave him a smile and a friendly wave, and he dashed over to her.

“Hi,” he said, that lovely pink blush she had treasured so dearly making an appearance.

“Hi yourself,” she replied. “What are you doing in my neck of the woods?”

“The band got signed to a label here, so we came to record our album, play a few gigs. Figured it was a nice change of pace from LA after we weren’t getting any traction there,” he explains. “Plus I got a job at NYU while we’re waiting, mostly helping at the math center and the library, but I like it.”

Flynn grinned at that. Reggie might play the himbo, but he was actually really smart, excelling at math and had taken great joy in helping her with her financial reports when she was doing projects for design school. “That sounds perfect for you.” She paused for a moment and then asked, “You wanna get a coffee and catch up?”

“I’d like that.”

So they did, Flynn telling him all about her line, and he whistled when she showed him her website. It felt so easy to talk to him again, like no time at all had passed. But it had, they were different people now, and it made her sad to think that she might not know the man before her that had been the centre of her world not that long ago.

Yet as they kept talking, Reggie was still his sweet, dorky self, and that warmed Flynn more than she thought it would.

“You seeing anyone?” she finally asked.

“Not anymore,” he shook his head. “I was… in a bad place, after you left. Got a bit of therapy to get back out there. Was with this girl Carrie for a bit, but we could never make it work long term. Been pretty casual since then, and haven’t been in NYC long enough to look. You?”

Flynn flushed, and told him about Julie. How happy they were, and Reggie smiled as Flynn showed him a picture. “Damn Taylor, you did good.” His smile seemed a bit strained for a second, but it never faltered. “I’m glad you’re happy, and that you found someone who treats you right.”

“I hope you find your own Julie,” Flynn replied, squeezing his hand.

“Maybe,” he hummed. “But you see… the real reason I haven’t is that my heart got broken really badly by this girl. My own fault really, we didn’t know how to communicate back then. But-it never really let go of her.”

His eyes met hers and Flynn bit her lip. It had been years and still those green orbs could disarm her. The sincerity in his voice, his expression, and every feeling she had thought she had locked away came flooding back. “I know,” she whispered. “Mine’s the same. But Reggie-”

“You have Julie now, I know,” he said, offering her a sad facsimile of a smile. “And I have no intention of ruining that for you. But we ran into each other like some sort of serendipity, so I had to say something.”

Flynn nodded, and then took a napkin from the table, scrawling her number on it. “Look, maybe we can try to be friends again at least? Call me if you want that, but I’ll understand if you don’t.” With that she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and ran out. Only this time when she turned back to look, she could see the stunned expression on his face as he touched the spot her lips had and watched her go with sad, shimmering eyes.

Flynn raced home, all but collapsing into Julie’s embrace, tearfully telling her everything. “I didn’t think… after all this time…” Flynn blubbered.

“Sssssh, it’s okay mi amor,” Julie soothed. “We both knew this day would come. I just hoped it wouldn’t because Flynn I love you, and I don’t want to give you up.”

“I’m not leaving you for him, I love you Julie, never doubt that,” Flynn assured her. “It’s just… I still love him. After all this time.”

“Then what do you want to do?” Julie asked. There was a long beat of silence as Flynn worried her bottom lip with her teeth, Julie waiting on tenterhooks for the answer.

“I don’t want to choose,” Flynn admitted. “Because no matter what I do someone comes away with a broken heart.”

Julie held her tight, both of them pondering it over. Finally, Julie spoke, though her speech was hesitant and stumbling. “W-what if you didn’t have to choose?”

“What?”

“You could date us both,” Julie said. “At the same time.”

“Isn’t that cheating?”

“No hun, that’s polyamory.”

“I thought that was when there were like… sister wives and that?” Flynn asked.

Julie chuckled at that. “No babe, it’s when you have romantic, consensual relationships with multiple people, with everyone in the know. I’m not saying invite Reggie into our relationship, because he and I might not get along, but if you want to date us both, then you can do that-as long as he’s okay with it too.”

“And if you end up liking him as much as I think you will?” Flynn asked.

Julie shrugged. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. But… I’m not opposed to us having a more open relationship or inviting him in if that’s what we all want.”

“So I guess I hope he calls and we talk about it?” Flynn mused.

Julie grinned. “I don’t think you’ll be waiting long.”

With that, Flynn’s phone started to ring, with an unknown number. Flynn grabbed a hold of Julie’s hand as she answered, a smile splitting her face when the voice on the other end said hello. “Hi Reg, I was hoping you would call.”

A year after that, Flynn walked out of her apartment for the last time. But this time, she was walking right into a bigger one where her two partners were waiting for her, and this time? She didn’t look back.

[miss0atae]

Random thoughts about Dead Friend Forever ep 4:

▪️ Fluke was a damn nuisance. I can't stand this guy. He is so self-centered around himself: how he will be a doctor, how he needs to have a clean record, how he needs to survive... F*** this guy! He doesn't deserve a single thing. He treats people like shit. He was annoyed when he had to care about Por but also Top (when he suddenly went back to the house) and he was terrible to White. I also want to know why he thought White would be the killer. Poor guy knew nothing about the shit they've done to Non. In addition, Fluke said he knew what happened but told no one and it's not because he wanted to protect his friends. It's just because he wants to save his own ass. He made me so mad. He was ready to shoot people just to protect himself. Why did he stopped the ride from coming to help them and broke their only way to communicate with people outside the forest? His logic makes no sense. If he is innocent... he risks nothing. He should die next!

▪️ Por finally died in this episode. May his soul rest in peace... but I'm not sure he deserves it because he was involved in what happened to Non. At least, he survived during four episode with the help from Fluke the insane soon-to-be doctor (I think he can forget about it after this episode but the guy is delusional). I didn't expected Top to be the one who would put him out of his misery. To be honest, I thought we would never see Top again. I was socked to see he was the one hiding behind the mask but there was this all possession act... It was weird. Is he really the killer or is he someone who is possessed? It's not clear.

▪️ Then we had Tee. I'm sorry for White because he found the worst boyfriend ever. Tee arrived late at the house after White was bullied by Fluke during half of the episode and also he seems to have a quite dark past. We had a small conversation between White and Fluke talking about his uncle. If you've seen the picture, I'm not sure this uncle is really a good news. We learnt how Tee hid deliberately some part of his life from his boyfriend. Last episode, I said how suspicious he was and I was right. Two characters already told us how Tee is responsible in what happened to Non.

▪️ Phi and Jin did nothing in this episode. They escaped the coffin but as a result Jin dislocated his shoulder. It wasn't already hard to survive without having injury but now Phi has to care about him. He also had a vision of someone dead and freaked out because of it while Phi tried to understand but couldn't because he wasn't able to see what Jin was talking about.

▪️ Next episode should bring us some answers about the past and Non. It's about time because it was annoying how so many characters tell us that something happen, they know something, it was terrible... but we are still left in the dark. In addition, I believe we already establish how Tee, Top and Por were not that great... but what about Jin and also what about his relationship with Non. I got a feeling, they were together.

We'll see.

[kenjiyabuki]

thoughts on the 2nd ep of THC

last week they started w a dark hidden story to make a boom which worked (if the intention was to get a lot of backlash lol). thankfully this week’s story wasn’t disturbing, it was only really boring. why are we so worried about what these boys were up to during their pubescent years?

my cringe tolerance for bad liars and men trying to be suave is extremely low, so all of them trying to gaslight each other was a struggle for me to get through😭 please boys, at least don’t do this in front of the Mile Phakphum Romsaithong...

the young ones talking about their past love lives made me laugh. being all “i was a player” or “i gave my %100 back then″. yeah, when you were in middle school. what did you give, some of your gaming or homework time?

naturally it took like 0.1 seconds for the truth or dare to get dangerously TMI. i saw angry/critical tweets about it, esp towards lotte’s confession. i don’t like that these boys are encouraged to be open by production without considering the repercussions. 

so, we can safely say they chose competitors with pasts of being unruly/rascals on purpose. maybe to show people change, maybe to get more views. idk whatever Pond was thinking. yes, people can put in the work and change but to do it in public eye is whole another story. feels like they are setting the boys up for failure by laying out too many of their questionable antics/qualities and making them more unlikable than honest. of course boys aren’t exempt from being judged, they are responsible for their actions but still, they are rookies in this industry and they are getting dropped into piranha infested waters by this experienced producer. all the boys seem to trust and respect Pond a lot which makes me worried but i would love to be disproven

i had to watch voting scene several times to figure out which FOOLS chose Max but couldn't see clearly

“but Max seems nervous”, my dudes, Max constantly looks like a gazelle who just sensed a lion

now i need Apo just loitering around in his cool fit and serving Mile in every ep

i find Mio really endearing and everyone else seem to think so as well. loved him trying to talk deeply about love and the boys cracking up

i am not exactly enjoying or hating this show, i am experiencing just some other third thing. it’s what you feel when you watch a bad reality show. someone should invent a word for that feeling.

all i will say about the preview is that i am afraid about next ep

i don’t want to be all negative so i’ll say one positive that applies to everyone: all the boys looked so dashing in their tuxedos. if there is one thing about BOC men, it will be that they will always clean up nice and serve looks

some judgments about the boys:

last week Max’ story seemed to get a lot of angry reactions from viewers (rightfully). i didn’t take it that seriously for several reasons, biggest one being: i find him a really weak figure among these strong/loud personalities and YES its early to make a judgement like this but still, i cant imagine him winning at all.

New gets on my nerves A LOTTT and nothing i learn about him makes it any better. i want him gone like yesterday and i don’t feel bad wishing he’d be the first one to get voted off the show. 

Copper gets on my nerves too but i’ll give it to him, at least he doesn't have an homophobic past, he is just plain annoying. he can stay for now. 

every time I see Bump, i think “damn, not a thought behind these eyes, huh?”

like Perth, JJ being self conscious is such a shame. What makes a person appealing isnt just having perfect features, it also requires charisma and sincerity, which are qualities he seems to possess. ALSO someone should tell him that BL fans go absolutely rabid for tall men so he can feel better. 

so far i like Jet, JJ, Perth, Woody and ofc, sugar daddy Mio!!!!!!!

[canayams-art]

when i tell you i can't even put into words how excited i am about the rest of the season and more lqq scenes, i mean it! i personally cannot wait to see him boiling qr alive, even if the censorship laws makes me think they might remove it :// still im excited to see how it gets handled! LITTLE LQQ WAS ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE AS WELL SKEKEKKEK I CANNOT BELIEVE I FORGOT TO MENTION IT BUT OMG I WANNA WRAP HIM IN A BLANKET AND TUCK HIM SOMEWHERE SAFE

honestly i do believe there was a lot of missed potential for a lot of dynamics in tgcf, but we can always make up for it by being completely delusional about it! personally as much as i enjoyed them, i would have loved seeing mq interactions with literally any character beside the xl and fx and hc, and i think his character could only benefit from not being constantly and only put into scenes with three people who he has a complicated past with. his relationships with characters beside them, even if superficial, would have been great imo especially when it comes to the very polarizing view fandom has of him. and for lqq as well, seeing him also interact with people who are not apart of his arc/closely tied to his past would have been so good, but i guess there was sqx to fill in that in some way lol. i am somewhat disappointed that we didn't get to see much how heavenly realm works and that we didn't get much side characters interactions with other side characters. im always sooo interested in behind the scenes works and im not more often than not left hanging and needing to fill in the void myself :"))

i think tgcf, heavenly and ghost realms especially, explored through the politics among gods and ghosts as well as their relationships outside of it, is always cool, and i love it when i stumble upon it in fics.

lqq and mq being complimentary to each other and in a weird way, being what the other needs in their life to some extent, is soo true. i think they have the great potential of eventually getting closer even post-canon in the novel, lqq needing someone who can both help with guzi and is more cynical about the world around him, mq recognizing lqq's struggles navigating his relationship to xl after everything is out in the open because of his own complicated relationship with xl. i think there is a part why qianqing is so appealing to me is because it's somewhat similar dynamics to mulian, especially lqq and xl's parallel storylines, while also not possessing the issues mulian have throughout their entire relationship. (not that i don't find mulian issues appealing, quite the opposite but the mood has to be there lol)

there's also the fact that now that lqq apparently has haters as well (i honestly was so surprised when i saw, because it makes little sense to me), it just makes sense to have him and mq stick together 😭✊

mhmm, i totally agree. there's just some special charm about side characters/rarepairs that is hard to come across canon pairings. the "what ifs" and "could have beens" that makes even the best of us absolutely deranged about it.

snjsjeejej i cannot wait for it! i personally know i would love to see donghua lqq in your artstyle, he will be soo pretty!!! 🥰🥰🥰

ps. perhaps we just need to sit him on someone's lap while he holds hands with other two!! cuddle pile is always the option when you don't have enough hands for your boyfriends 🤭

[Disclaimer cos I’m still an ep behind on s2 so I have yet to see how the donghua team has handled Qi Rong lol]

Every lqq flashback restores another 5 years of my life. I really love the care that’s gone into making him such an interesting, compelling, and likable character in the donghua. We already knew he was all of these things, but I think seeing him in motion beyond the mind’s eye has been so good in terms of being able to really perceive his character. I love seeing the way he’s charmed so many people hehe

And yes! One of the reasons I love exploring rarepairs and thinking about hypothetical scenarios between characters who don’t typically interact in canon is because it forces me to consider how their behaviors and impressions of these new acquaintances may shift. I don’t like to assume that mq, lqq, or any other character is confined to one rigid type of interaction just based on the limited interactions we see them share with just 1 or 2 arc-relevant characters.

The more I think about qianqing the more I WISH they were closer in proximity LOL. If only lqq had been the martial god of the west, or mq the martial god of the southeast— seeing them as amiable neighbors in a way. I think mq would have a much easier time working with lqq than he would with qyz (although if you or anyone else wanna debate it I’d love to hear more about qyz and mq cos THAT has always been a funny combo in my head). In some respect though I could see qianqing being sooo bittersweet with respect to the mulian parallels— lqq’s stubborn determination to never lose his sense for justice and heroics would likely throw mq into a dizzying sense of deja vu. Every now and again I can envision him mistaking lqq for young xl— at least when a nostalgic “Your Highness” escapes him it’s technically the correct address,,,,, even if where lqq is standing, mq saw young xl for just a moment.

(I can’t even get into why I don’t understand lqq hate so I will simply be and let be 🥲👍)

Qianqingxuan cuddle pile is just two affectionate sweeties and their reluctant but tolerant cat (mq) who is trying so hard to seem like he’s not actually content to be there LMAO

[russett-pots]

im sorry for being dumb can you please explain the plot of The Forbidden Marriage cos like I only saw clips and didn’t watch the whole thing….. why was minju murdered twice and why did she become a soldier??

Okay I just say episodes 5 and 6 and I see what you were actually asking. I thought you had mistaken Sorang for Minju but it turns out that the Minju soldier was actually a Minju lookalike. She was kidnapped and used as a decoy to trick the king and make him obsessed with Jayeon/crowned princess (minju). but once they are done with her they sent an assassin to kill her. and he used his favorite method of strangulating girls then make it look like suicide. same method with minju.

okay now below is the plot i can think of when i watched ep 4.

Okay. the drama opens up when the king decrees that no one that is aged 13-18 shouldn't get married since the crowned princess (Minju/Jayeon) has died. fast forword 7 years later. a beggar/swindler (sorang) moved to seoul to open a tea house but secretly it has been telling fortunes for girls that want to get married (which is a lie). so she got caught and sent to prison. but she scammed her way to show that she can see spirits. the staff of of the palace were desperate for the king (Lee Heon) to get married so they ask sorang to comfort Lee Heon. She just pretends that she has been possessed by Minju/Jayeon. so they decide that she would be part of the King's royal entourage something idk what you call it. but it is so that Lee heon can communicate with the fmr. crowned princess. But Lee heon is still obsessed with Minju/jayeon. It was revealed (for the audience) that Minju/Jayeon killed herself by hanging. Lee Heon doesn't believe that and thinks she was murdered. I just want to note here that Minju when she was alive was very courteous to Lee Heon. She did not abuse her power or act entitled. She respected the king and her powers. Also to note Minju has her own entourage and slept in a different house since they were married. so in the movie, it felt like minju was distancing herself from Lee heon but in reality, she loved him.

okay back to the story, sorang was given a position to be a woman in the palace but she is always watched by the best friend of the Lee Heon (Shinwon) who is the head of the investigation bureau. soon they became friends and like gotten close (partially thanks to some alcohol). But there was a secret that Shinwon told Sorang. He was supposed to get married to a girl. so before he got married he stalked the house of the girl he was suppose to marry. at first he saw someone but she (Hyunhee) was a brat and very rude to her own maids. Then he met another girl that was very pretty, kind, and mature. she is the one who was been receiving letters from shinwon and is who is supposed to marry him. But at the ceremony, Shinwon thinks something sus and realized that the bride he was going to marry was hyunhee, the bratty bitch, and not sorang. it turns out the stepmom of sorang/the biological mother of hyunhee switched them around and got a ninja (idk what are Korean ninjas called) to assassinate sorang. (i think that's why you think minju was killed twice it was sorang not minju/jayeon). but before the marriage became official. guards from the palace told everyone that they cannot be married (so shinwon almost married a bitch). he devoted hs life to find the person he was supposed to truly marry. that's how he got to the investigation bureau.

okay since the king still havent lifted the marriage ban for 7 years people have been complaining and spreading rumors of the king. he might be gay or he has a tiny pp or something. so he decided to got on a hunting trip he was a little hesitant since before when Jayeon/Minju was alive. he went hunting and brought a dead deer to Minju. she fainted and when she woke up, scolded lee heon for killing a dear. but that was just a side story. but he decided to go anyway to show off his handsomeness or strength or something masculinity or something. but sorang got sick because she fell into the water with the lee heon (idk why lee heon wasn't sick). she instead came but everyone thinks she is at the palace. so she was disgusted as a soldier to go with the hunting group. (maybe she wanted the food or to try out hunting idk). but they were able to kill a "wild" boar. (the reason why it was there is that some peasants who were sick of the king's rule wanted him to use it as a sacrifice and that ceremony will lift the marriage ban). tho some people from the king's court gave those peasants the hint that they should do it. (it isn't totally clear yet, as of ep 4).

But during the hunting trip sorang got really sick and they had to call a doctor for her. at this point it is obvious that lee heon and shinwon and in love with her (also they are best friends). when they came back the king's entourage noticed that the king is in love with sorang. so they dressed her up nicely with clothes and make up. she was walking down the ailse to the lee heon's door BUT THEN shinwon grabs sorang's hand and takes her with him DA DU DUNNNNNNN.

anyway thats the main plot. there is still whats happening at the tea store, the evil step mom and the king's court which i haven't touched.

dm if you want a source to watch it. im more than happy to share it.