a shark apologist in several fandoms

"George, contrary to what the movies would have you believe, sharks rarely attack humans." (aka the only good line in RAN). Posts about Criminal Case, Pokemon, and Nancy Drew. (Really, whatever I'm interested in.) I'm sharkyena_queen on Instagram, sharkyenaqueenm on TikTok, and SharkGirlNirea on Archive of Our Own.

[asharkapologist]

I have come to the realization that my interpretations of Celine x Mi-yeong and Jinu x Abby are, out of all ships, parallels to each other. Celine was in unrequited love with Mi-yeong, a fellow Hunter, only for her to fall in love with a demon. Abby was in unrequited love with Jinu, a fellow demon, only for him to fall in love with a Hunter.

[asharkapologist]

I’ve seen a lot of bad takes in my years in fandom, but one of the worst has got to be that Jinu sacrificed himself for Rumi to manipulate her further and make her feel worse. Genuinely, do people who say this a) know what a character arc is or b) have actually watched the movie? If he wanted to make Rumi feel bad, he wouldn’t have been apologizing to her, ignoring the pain of being BURNED ALIVE, assuring her that she saved him, and giving her his soul. Instead, he’d be screaming in agony like Anakin Skywalker on Mustafar and accusing her of failing to save him.

Or, you know, he wouldn’t have jumped in front of a fire blast to begin with and would’ve just let her die.

I’m willing to entertain the idea that him dying for Rumi was an elaborate act of committing suicide and he was happy with his death because it meant no more suffering for himself, but saying that his death was him actively trying to make Rumi feel awful? I don’t think we watched the same movie, and that take is just, quite frankly, beyond media illiterate.

[starcut-sand]

Something I also find of note that I feel gets overlooked a lot by the fandom is how casual Gwi-Ma’s physical abuse of Jinu is—like even after the bathhouse fight when Gwi-Ma is pleased with Jinu and (sorta) complimenting him (“I taught you well, Jinu” still mostly praises Gwi-Ma and “Surprisingly, your plan is working” is like, reluctantly impressed), Gwi-Ma still yanks Jinu down to the realm rather roughly, if Jinu’s grunt when he lands is any indication. Unlike the shame Gwi-Ma consciously inflicts on his demons, he doesn’t even draw much attention to the fact that he can drag and yank them around, it’s more of almost subconscious for him. Idk if that made any sense lol. I could be way off hahaha

It's true. I think... Gwi-Ma goes about his abuse in a fairly casual, conversational way, whether it's physical or emotional or whatever--he always acts like it's a natural fact of life because he wants his demons to believe it's a natural fact of life. By just constantly throwing in little barbs like the ones you mentioned, Gwi-Ma sets the tone for the dynamic between the two of them. Just like a constant drip, drip, drip of undercutting whatever Jinu's done to wear him down.

I imagine the physical abuse, especially, is something that Gwi-Ma wants demons to expect as "natural" and just a fact of their existence because so much of it is meant as a reminder that he owns their soul. He couldn't do anything to them if he didn't own their soul. He wants them to stay aware of the fact that Gwi-Ma has control over their souls (and by extension their bodies), because if they start to believe that they can escape Gwi-Ma's control, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy--like what happens with Jinu in the end. And Gwi-Ma can't have that.

[asharkapologist]

No this makes perfect sense, and honestly, I love it when fan content explores and addresses how violent Gwi-Ma’s physical abuse of his demons can be. He owns their bodies completely, and I love when people write or talk about him being able to use patterns to constrict their throats, slam their mouth shut, twist or break their limbs, etc. It’s incredibly violating to not even own your own body, how Gwi-Ma can yank you around with just a thought.

[starcut-sand]

So TIL that there’s a difference between emotional and psychological abuse, and that makes me wonder—do you think Gwi-Ma mostly uses one over the other against his subjects, or do you think he uses them both? 

Also, I’m not crazy in saying that Gwi-Ma could also be called physically abusive, right?

I mean, it's hard to say given how emotional and psychological abuse are often used interchangably and have a fair amount of overlap and stuff, but overall, I would say that Gwi-Ma uses more emotional abuse than psychological abuse? At least based on what we're able to see in the movie.

It's a widely debated point, but generally, most people seem to agree that the difference between emotional and psychological abuse is that emotional abuse targets your feelings (aiming to make you feel a certain way), while psychological abuse targets your mind (aiming to warp your logic and reasoning). ...Which, you can see why they're often used interchangeably. If you're being psychologically abused, there will be an emotional element (as in, you will be distressed) and if you're being emotionally abused, there will be a psychological element (because emotions happen in the mind, and given the way our society talks about/views emotions, consistently manipulating someone into strong negative emotions is almost definitely going to make them doubt the strength of their own mental reasoning and logic).

...But anyway, I'd say more emotional than psychological because Gwi-Ma's main aim is to make people feel shame. Like Jinu says, making demons feel ashamed is how he controls them. That, to me, seems to fall a lot more under emotional abuse than psychological abuse.

No, I don't think you're crazy for saying Gwi-Ma is physically abusive. It might not be in the "traditional" or more well-known sense, but the amount of ownership that Gwi-Ma claims (and freely exercises) on his demons' bodies reads to me as a very physical type of abuse. He pulls them around, tells them he owns their soul, and physically tortures them if they step out of line (given the implication that Gwi-Ma physically hurt Jinu during that torture sequence--it feels to me like we can fairly confidently say that Jinu was being physically hurt then, given the audial and visual cues that scene gives to us, like the knife tshing sound paired with Jinu flinching and tensing up as Gwi-Ma enters his mind).

Overall, though, I feel like it's a good example of how types of abuse tend to bleed into each other. Even though Gwi-Ma uses some methods more than others, it all just depends on what's most convenient for keeping the demons under his thumb at the moment.

[foolscapper]

“Enough!”

The familiar voice, usually silky smooth, is sharp and full of authority. Every demon that hasn’t been turned into ash on the wind stops where they stand. They all look up, expectant, panting, confused, and Rumi follows their gaze to the dark-dressed figure crouched on the sagging limb of a riverside tree: Romance Saja, with one hand steadied against bark and the other hanging too casually over his knee. He tilts his chin up, earrings dancing beside his sharp cheekbones, smiling at the hunters standing tall in the middle of the confused crowd. Abby Saja leans on the base of the tree with his arms folded over his firm chest. The hanbok he wears his just as raggedy as the one Rumi had seen Jinu in, time and time again.

As Baby wipes his bloodied hand on the dead demon’s back and rises up, Mystery moves to join him, modern jewelry in conflict with the antiquity of his robes.

The Saja Boys. Covered in Gwi-Ma’s barbed purple patterns, eyes glowing fiercely like a Golden Honmoon, skin the color of a frozen death — they’re nothing like the bubblegum pop pastels that once taunted them so openly.

“You idiots,” Romance says, voice lilting. “Are you really trying to kill our only hope of survival?”

— The Gilded Freefall, Chapter 38

[n30nd3m0n]

Documenting every physical interaction between the Saja Boys because I'm unwell about them

-

Abby leans an arm on Jinu’s shoulder whilst flexing. Baby also leans on Jinu, his arms crossed and face partially hidden, to add to that cuteness factor

They switch positions, but Abby doesn’t break contact with Jinu, fully draping his arm around him. Baby holds onto Jinu’s arm with both arms, cuddling it. Abby’s touch lingers on Jinu as they spin into their next positions

In their farewell, Baby leans on Mystery’s shoulder, while Abby leans on Romance's shoulder

During the game show, Baby places a hand on Romance's shoulder

PLAY GAMES WITH UUUUUSSS! Ahem, sorry. Mystery leans an arm on Romance. The boys' positioning will be repeated in the bathhouse scene later

Abby giving Baby a piggyback is so damn cute, and it's for literally no reason. Pretty much every other interaction between the boys seen thus far has been in front of fans and, therefore, potentially staged. What fan is going to see them running off set like that? You cannot convince me they're not goofy goobers

In the bathhouse, the boys are posed ready. Abby is once again leaning an arm on Jinu, while Mystery leans on Romance

When Jinu kneels down, Abby slides his arm off and poses similarly to how he did during the game show. Mystery remains leaning on Romance, but their positioning shifts slightly. I'm not counting this as a separate interaction, but I wanted to mention it nonetheless

During the idol award show, Abby has an arm wrapped around Baby's shoulders. Kinda thought Romance might have his hand on Jinu's shoulder, but I don't think he does

On an advertisement board, Baby leans on Jinu, while Abby has his arm wrapped around Mystery

During their fan club announcement, both Abby and Baby lean on Jinu. Baby also has his arm wrapped around Romance

Post Huntr/x breakup, while the boys are expressing false sympathy, Baby has a hand on Romance's shoulder. This action matches what was seen during the game show

Before the boys run off into battle, Abby places a hand on Jinu's shoulder, dragging it down his chest before taking off running

As Mystery runs to follow the others, he shoulder-checks Jinu. Hardly an affectionate act, but it counts as physical touch

I made a stats chart of who touches who, but I kinda don't want to make people look at maths if they just wanna look at the boys

Bonus Round!! For Zoeystery and Miromabby

Baby bonus, because he's the only one aside from Jinu who puts hands on Huntr/x

[gunstellations]

🫣

[asharkapologist]

worst part of KPDH is how none of the Saja Boys, not even Abby, have any cake at all

[asharkapologist]

People who hate Jinu 🤝 People who love Jinu

Enjoying seeing Jinu be tortured

[xekstrin]

I don't think Jinu is evil. I think he was manipulated while on the verge of death. I think he had to choose between 1) starving and watching his family starve to death 2) being tortured, enslaved and abused for 400 years.

And frankly, I think if he had dug deep into the well of Human Spirit or whatever, and denied Gwi-ma, Gwi-ma would have grabbed his family and killed them in front of him anyway just to prove he could.

Gwi-ma feeds pretty indiscriminately, but I do think it means something that he offered Jinu a deal for his soul. He wanted Jinu, and I don't think saying 'no' was ever an option Jinu was ever meaningfully afforded.

[asharkapologist]

THIS

[sajasagawriter]

My personal headcanons of the Boys for Pride

❤️🩷💚💙💜

[asharkapologist]

I talk a lot of talk about loving Sajatrix/being a multishipper with KPDH, but haven't ever actually made a ship chart about them. Well, that changes now!

(I guess my OTP would be a massive, uh, funfest between all eight of them...)

[oiulse]

my abbyjinu hell scape

[misty-magic]

She’s everyone’s type

[saturnsvision]

Sajatrix blurb and it’s The Saja Boys finding out about periods and learning how to help the girls get through it

After cowering in fear when Mira tried to kill Jinu for eating the rest of the ice cream and putting the empty container back in the fridge

Bobby gave them a rundown on the girls and explained what a period was and left them on their own to handle it

Zoey gets extremely tired on her period so if she’s not sleeping she’s laying ontop of Derpy because he’s a really comfortable purring heating pad for her

Rumi’s period is actually a lot better than the other two because it lasts only 3 days. Unfortunately those 3 days are unimaginable hell for her and she’s usually curled up in bed trying not to breathe too hard

Mira gets hungry during her period and usually if she remembers, she’ll stock up on snacks, and if she forgets that’s what Bobby is for, but now that the Saja Boys are there, she sends Abby out to buy her snacks every 2 hours and he’s too scared to say no

[strawberoni]

Romabby Deux 🩷🌽

I love them sm i wanted to draw them again. I’m still getting used to drawing Abby. 😔💧 even though he’s my LITERAL BIAS. Still love him though <3

I included a no background version cuz it does look a little scuffed with the bg but i’m too lazy to work on this any longer cuz i wanna draw more saja boys stuff waaaah.

I need more art of them with these clothes raaaah

(also, yes i saw the freaky reblogs in my last romabby art… ahaha… ☺️🙂‍↕️ i toooootally wont draw them again /s)

[asharkapologist]

My flaming hot take today is that Jinu would be a Polytrix shipper. He’d think Rumi deserves much better than him, it’s clear that Mira and Zoey absolutely adore her, and he thinks that they wouldn’t burden her with their problems the way he would. If Polytrix happened, despite his genuine feelings for Rumi, he wouldn’t be clingy, manipulative, and jealous, trying to get Rumi to pick him, he’d be relieved and thinking that Mira and Zoey are way better for Rumi than him.