#cystali's fumblings

[cystali]

listen Luz has Amity's necklace and Eda has Raine's earring I am NOt okay

#cystali's fumblings #toh s3e3 #watching and dreaming #toh s3 spoilers #toh s3e3 spoilers #raine whispers #eda clawthorne #raeda #lumity #luz noceda #amity blight

[cystali]

has anyone written a fic about shadybug and claw noir returning to their world and having to contend with the fact that they are still, by their definition "broken" even though they want to be better?? and struggling to conceptualize themselves as different and finding comfort in the love-hate shadynoir dynamic????

#cystali's fumblings #ml paris special #ml spoilers #listen that scene with the mirror and shadybug??? amazing #also claw adrien blushing at her with the bakery flashback? #like these two have such an amazing characterization that I cannot deal with #I am trying to focus on chilumi but these two are Living in my head #shadybug #claw noir #ml thoughts

[cystali]

listen I would've paid money to see Lockwood randomly asking Fairfax to go the bathroom in the show like he did in the books. like, in the middle of a very serious briefing, Lockwood just insists on using the bathroom and Lucy and George are just staring like "what is wrong with you" and then it turns out he hid a bunch of magnesium flares in the toilet's water tank. the chaotic energy of that scene

#cystali's fumblings #lockwood and co #lockwood and co. #anthony lockwood #lucy carlyle #george cubbins #george karim #also that scene where he was wearing a weird outfit because he went IN DISGUISE to the place Combe Carey is in to get a reading on it #technically lockwood does ask the caretaker I think #but still

[cystali]

My Primary Derision Thoughts (as I live reacted):

?? Marinette backstory!!!!

surprise the backstory was (more) trauma.

Socqueline is the original real one, clearly. Alya and her should hang out.

omg I love how Marinette's big realization is that it's all Chloe's fault?? I mean, it's a little Kim's fault too but that's something!

!!! Chat Noir is just! beating him up - no superpowers just violence!! Kim messed with his person and he is very angry!!

Marinette and Adrien are telling each other their emotions! communication!!!!

#cystali's fumblings #ml derision #ml s5 spoilers #please let adrien beat someone else up that was so cool to me personally #not that violence is the answer #but really let us have that again #adrien agreste #marinette dupain cheng #miraculeakless #miraculous ladybug #kim le chien #socqueline wang #also?? marinette is so strong #and forgiving #not of chloe but I think that is good personally #this is one of the few times we got angry Adrien as well

[cystali]

505 by the Arctic Monkeys is such a chilumi song. I might even work a lyric into a title because this ten page draft currently does not have one!

#cystali's fumblings #chilumi #writing

[cystali]

how did my chilumi draft become over 5000 words!!!

#cystali's fumblings #I've been waiting to play the 4.1 archon quest until I finish it and Wooph #it's coming along quickly #I think because of how much I enjoy writing the two? #chilumi #it just gets me somehow

[cystali]

who. who was gonna tell me Good Omens Season 2 was just pain

#cystali's fumblings #good omens season 2 #good omens #my heart hurts now #good omens s2 #go2 #is this a spoiler or just a ? fact? #go2 spoilers

[cystali]

So Alchemy of Souls Season two comes out soon, and I saw someone talking about Mu-deok/Naksu's character consistency in season one a while ago: how she was inconsistent based on what we know of her past. I was in my feelings about it at the time so. here's some thoughts. more than a few

(Alchemy of Souls spoilers below)

The show focuses on Naksu's cold-blooded nature from her first scenes because she is an assassin. that is her character. Her name is based on the fact that "wherever she goes, heads roll," and she smiles when the mages declare her crimes, as if she is proud of them. She calls her name beautiful. During the fight scene, she cuts her enemies down with ease, which tells a lot about her skill, but she also doesn't have distinct facial expressions during the fight scene (until she gets injured). That, as well as her name and introductory lines, gives the impression that she cuts her enemies down with ease and without feeling. (When rewatching this scene after finishing the season, I think she does show some anger/desperation, but I still think she was meant to be seen as emotionless at the start of the show because of these reasons.)

Her soul shift scene strengthens this callousness because she literally tosses away a clearly disabled woman in favor of someone not. Both are innocent people to the audience's knowledge, but this does not matter to her. This is how Naksu is introduced - as a skilled, cold, killer escaping her fate. (which. she was)

When she wakes up as Mu-deok, her character's personality remains the same, but her loss of power and new social status makes her situation completely different. She tries to refuse chicken because of her assassin values but it is forced on her anyway, and she marvels at how delicious it is because she was never able to try it before. This is the first of many scenes demonstrating how sheltered her life was because of her role as Jin Wu's assassin.

Naksu was groomed to be an assassin, and as Mu-deok, she relies on an analytical, manipulative means of survival fitting for that kind of character - it just appears that she is softer and more empathetic because that is how she wants to seem to others. But also! in Mu-deok's body, her character begins to genuinely change because of her new environment and her growing connection to Jang Uk. her past does not go away, and we see her struggle between her newfound emotions and her previous apathy in certain moments, but she is able to accept love and loyalty in a genuine way. That is why her character appears so different from the beginning Naksu we see, but her flashbacks and backstory make sense of it.

There are no scenes of Naksu's past assassinations (which I feel was a missed opportunity that they lost because they focused a lot on Jang Uk's birth/political drama), but you can't just. kill someone heavily guarded every single time, even with her power. I feel that her actions as Mu-deok - her ability to be servile, to butter up higher officials, to slip into another role - speak to a past of infiltrating places using a different identity. I feel like creating flashback scenes that were plot-relevant but also showed her doing assassin work would have really been cool? and made this more than just my impression of her, you know.

Anyway, compared to her first scene, her behavior as Mu-Deok does seem like a drastic change. However, the writers did include Naksu's inner thoughts alongside her actions, and they have her be a much more dignified, stoic character when she is alone or with Jang Uk, who knows she is Naksu. The softer, more empathetic traits she begins to show are a mixture of genuine change and acting for others' benefit.

(a sidenote: I am very excited to see Naksu's original actress come back in season two because! it makes sense narratively if they bring her body back in a good way, and it allows Mu-deok/Bu-yeon to continue her storyline if the writers choose to? I'm not sure what they'll do with that if Mu-deok's actress does not return though. who knows. I also want to see how Naksu's dynamic shifts with Jang Uk because of the time skip plus body change. this is who she has been all along, just in a different body.)

#cystali's fumblings #alchemy of souls spoilers #alchemy of souls #naksu #mu deok #alchemy of souls season 2 #jang uk #kinda

[cystali]

listen I wanted Raine to come back but not like that!!!!

#cystali's fumblings #for the future #toh s3 spoilers #toh s3e2 #toh #the owl house #raine whispers #what did they Do to them #why #Raine better make it out of this fine and marry Eda or something

[cystali]

I say I'm excited for tomorrow and people assume it's because tomorrow is Christmas Eve. and I am to some degree but.

really I'm excited because it means another Alchemy of Souls episode is coming out.

#cystali's fumblings #alchemy of souls #alchemy of souls part 2 #listen I am so excited to see how they resolve everything #there are only six episodes left!! #and Jang Uk and Naksu/Cho Yeong need to remember and know each other!! #also the last episode's ending was very sad

[cystali]

I love writing because I've been looking into what potions/herbs/remedies were used for sleeplessness for an hour. For two to three lines

#cystali's fumblings #writing #wip #it is in fact my merlin wip #I'm doing something cool #but the background involves some physicianry #I'm getting native poppies as the least lethal..... #but do I cave and go with lavender since everyone knows about lavender #even though it was native to the mediterranean not europe

[cystali]

okay I'm not done with Labyrinth Runners.

I love the process of Hunter learning kindness from his friends. Someone made a great post about this episode and how kindness is cyclical, and I reblogged it I think. In addition to that, Hunter has very slowly been introduced to kindness this entire season, and he was finally able to respond to it in these past episodes, which I really appreciated.

Luz exposes him to kindness first in "Hunting Palismen," just by listening to him talk about his research and, indirectly, allowing him the opportunity to do something outside of the "morals" put forth by the Emperor. When he allows Luz to escape with the Palismen, he is acting out of a sort of debt because she helped him out of Kikimora's trap. He does not join her side or even act kindly to her fully because it is not what he knows. No one has shown him that kindness or freedom, but Luz exposes him to it. She also introduces him to Flapjack, who is probably the most influential figure in Hunter's acceptance of kindness.

Continuing on, Amity tries to show Hunter kindness in "Eclipse Lake," relating to him and offering an understanding hand, but he can't do anything with it. This is probably only the second or third time a person has actually. been nice to him in a real, meaningful way. He's too entrenched in his desire to please Belos, who Hunter was raised by and truly believes is good. He has used Belos and the Emperor's Coven as a template for what is good, and Amity can't break through that with one gesture. But in that episode, Hunter also communicates with Flapjack for the first time, and the trust between them builds. After bonding with his own Palismen, seeing Belos break and eat them seems even worse. (I forget where that scene of Hunter cringing at the image of Belos doing that is. I think there are multiple.)

Then we get the Emerald Entrails in "Any Sport in a Storm." In this episode, Hunter has a self-imposed mission that requires him to be social and to a degree, kind. He tries to do that by talking about the Emperor's Coven and all its benefits, but he doesn't get anywhere that way. Then, he meets Willow and Gus. This is the first time we see Hunter having regular, teenage fun by playing a game. Willow offers him understanding without knowing about his connection to the Emperor's Coven, and he is able to work in a team that he trusts. Not fully, but that is still an improvement. When he tries to take them to the Emperor's Coven, he retracts because they clearly do not want to. Their Palismen would be taken away and hurt. Flapjack opened an avenue of empathy for him, and after being shown such impartial kindness from the Entrails, he uses that avenue to understand that the Emperor's Coven would be harmful to them. Darius also offers him more freedom to interact with his friends and keeps Flapjack a secret, which further differentiates Belos' "kindness" from what Hunter is now experiencing.

In "Hollow Mind," Hunter and Luz are back together again, which is very fun for about four minutes and then it's just sadness. In this episode, Hunter still trusts the emperor, but it's clearly been questioned at least enough that he feels uncomfortable with some of his choices. Even still, Hunter resolutely tries to defend him even as they witness Belos attempting to harm witches. But when it comes down to it, Hunter accepts Luz's hand twice: once, when the Palismen creature finds them and they jump through the painting, and once when he grabs the jacket she offered him to hold onto. In the midst of all of this chaos, he does not know who to trust, only who he wants to. Yet, he still trusted Luz enough to accept help when she offered it. Accepting that kindness was his only means of survival, but it's something he may not have trusted enough to accept in the past.

Even in "Labyrinth Runners," Hunter still wants to trust Belos and his version of the world. He tells Gus that his living situation has been compromised, but then he adds "maybe," like he still thinks he can go back, or really just wants to believe he can. But he knows deep down that he can't, which is why he is hiding at Hexside, Hexside being the place that Luz, Willow, Gus, Amity, and the Entrails are. These are the people who showed him kindness or understanding throughout this season, and that affected him enough to view them as safe. Gus shows him Willow's breathing technique, and Hunter tries to replicate it later on. He is learning that kindness is different from what he had defined it to be under Belos' rule, and after a long time of being unable to trust kindness or accept it, Hunter does.

I'm not sure if I've articulated this well enough for it to make sense. I had a lot of thoughts. Regardless, watching Hunter interact with others and change reminds me of my past self, and I really think that kids/young people who don't understand the severity of the situation they are in will be able to find some part of themselves in Hunter. It's a start.

#cystali's fumblings #hunter toh #the owl house season 2b #the owl house spoilers #toh spoilers #toh labyrinth runners #labyrinth runners #toh hollow mind #does this make sense?? hope so #toh meta #toh analysis

[cystali]

listen I loved Labyrinth Runners. It gave Hunter a support system! Hunter and Gus got their episode together! Amity and Willow are learning to be friends as they are now! Luz told them not to scare Hunter away because she cares! also all the multi-track kids trying to live their best lives felt great. amazing. I also feel for Hunter and Gus and am very proud of them for getting through what they could.

I also loved that moment, even though it was a very small moment, where Hunter is like, "You mean Luz isn't with the Owl Lady?" because him and Luz just went through some really dark stuff together and I'm sure her safety is important to him. I hope they get to reconcile and annoy each other as the adopted siblings they are.

#cystali's fumblings #toh spoilers #toh labyrinth runners #labyrinth runners #the owl house spoilers #hunter toh #gus toh #willow park #the owl house

[cystali]

post ep 136 of @buggachat 's bakery enemies au:

Adrien: ... whatcha got there Marinette, surrounded by smashed baked goods: a smoothie

#cystali's fumblings #I literally #I love this #136 really got me #marinette's brand of chaos was perfectly portrayed #ml fanart #ml #miraculous ladybug #bakery enemies au

[cystali]

So Jin Bu-yeon has finally regained her memories as Naksu and Naksu is back! you can tell she is different from her stance and facial expressions in certain scenes, which I reblogged a gifset about.

at first, at least for me, it was hard to tell if she truly remembered her life as Naksu or simply became aware that those memories were hers. I think part of that was because Naksu herself was in the midst of remembering a different life that didn't feel entirely like hers. then, she had her conversation with Jang Uk and it became clear that she certainly remembered and felt enough about their time together to try to save him from some pain.

even with her memories somewhat restored, it still felt different from the Naksu we knew through Mu-Deok's actress - partly because it's a different actress - and even different from the original Naksu scenes we saw in the first episode. That's because she has undergone so much growth, and she also experienced a backward kind of growth as Bu-yeon, who didn't remember all her trauma. it's hard to get a handle on exactly who she is yet with her experience as Bu-yeon as well as her memories of Jang Uk, Jin Mu, and the rest of her life.

So, back to my thing: at first, she seemed to retain a lot of emotional openness which I associated with her time as Bu-yeon, so I couldn't tell even in the scene with Jang Uk if she was truly back with her memories. She still doesn't tell him everything, obviously, but last season, she would pointedly try not to cry or clam up when he called her out on an emotion. This time she is crying openly and being as honest as she feels the situation allows. That threw me off.

Then, she talks to Jang Uk again, and the mixture of avoidance and affection made me go- Naksu??? but what solidified it was her reaction to Jin Mu's name and her actions at Cheonbugwan. The flashback to her father's death, the facial expression she wore as she walked through the entrance, the no-nonsense responses to Jin Mu's demand, and her somewhat edgy sentence to Lady Jin all point to her past self, and that is when I knew she was truly back in her own power. (sort of)

But then she goes into the prison!!! her lack of strategy going into that and also her running away from that wraith are different from what we know of her. She has a cunning mind and battle prowess even if she does not possess the physical strength to enact all of that skill. it was odd. Perhaps it's a response based on her time as Bu-yeon, perhaps it's the writers wanting another moment for Jang Uk to save her. Also, I don't particularly know what to do when a wraith comes at you and you have no weapon. that's a tough situation.

Regardless, seeing some of Naksu's traits return alongside some of her new ones was nice, and I hope the writers allow her to truly come back into herself with some battle scenes or coolness. I don't know if they will, and I am not sure how they are playing out her character for these last two episodes because her differences are throwing me a little. But it is still her, and besides the romance, Naksu's character is the most important part of the show for me. I'm glad she is back.

#cystali's fumblings #alchemy of souls part 2 #alchemy of souls #alchemy of souls season 2 #alchemy of souls spoilers #naksu #cho yeong #I don't how to feel #but she definitely has some of herself back

[cystali]

Darius telling Luz not to bite anyone was so funny to me. like, Darius did not seem like a kid person based on his first interactions with Hunter, but then we definitely see him caring about him and giving him some personal freedom. so, I feel like he, Hunter, and Luz will be the best trio if they get to all interact. Imagine Hunter and Luz arguing over how to do a spell, and Darius dramatically acting annoyed and using his abomination powers to casually pull them apart. Later, when their backs are turned, Darius has a slight smile.

anyway, I love that everyone is coming together now!!

#cystali's fumblings #the owl house #gosh I could've had a whole season of just #the characters meeting each other #disney why would you limit these possibilities #toh spoilers #darius the owl house #luz noceda #toh hunter #toh