So, i originally wanted to talk about just the flower, but it’s not my only symbolism regarding Shinsou, so why not talk about the three I think of the most?
The clematis is usually violet in colour and it’s got a star shape. Already, looks wise, it’s similar to Shinsou. I read an excellent post associating standing-up hair with mental complexity (alluding to his quirk) and the flower is also spread out in points that can play into it.
Its symbolism is generally mental beauty/creativity. In a Victorian context it means cleverness and intelligence. It can also mean artifice. In a negative interpretation, this flower basically says ‘Your too clever for your own good’.
Shinsou has to adapt his skills in relation to his quirk. That would mean to be an effective hero, he’d have to be a quick thinking one and a creative one. It’s very fitting for this flower to call him out on it too, Shinsou’s (possible) weakness being his wit outpacing him, which might end in his death, I’d say.
This flower isn’t perfect I’ll admit, because it does seem to symbolise analysis smarts rather than people smarts, but it’s fitting for one more reason.
Clematis is a climbing vine. It aggressively scales up through walls, trees, whatever it can reach. While this relates to high intelligence and problem solving, it can also be a nod to Shinsou’s own clawing towards heroism. He’s worked hard to get to where he is now and a creeper/vine is a plant i often associate with him.
I’m very biased with this one, because I love ravens and pigeons. They are the underdogs of the bird family so of course they suit Shinsou, pigeons more than ravens.
Pigeons are called pests, and sky rats or rats with wings. They’ve been shunned and overlooked despite us breeding them in the first place. This misunderstanding and alienation suits Shinsou and how his quirk was perceived in his younger years, by peers and himself. Like a pigeon, these definitions do not deter him.
The homing instinct directly relates to his stubbornness. Pigeons will navigate the magnetic field of the earth to get to the right direction no matter what, and Shinsou won’t let deflection make him veer off his path either.
Also! Shinsou’s voice and word based quirk can relate to pigeons and how they were used in war to convey and deliver messages. The words on that paper defined its value, like the words Shinsou has to use to provoke responses.
Ravens are less aligned with Shinsou in my opinion only because their intelligence isn’t the kind Shinsou has. They generally have a more analytical meaning when Shinsou’s street/people smart.
Still, they’re also close to him because they are regarded evil and treated like shit for it. They’re smarter than their given credit for (pigeons are given even less credit) and they’re easy to look over. People generally don’t care about things that don’t look cute.
Of course, these are very heavy on the misunderstood part, which I don’t always use for Shinsou because it makes it feels like that’s his only trait. Shinsou is a pigeon because he’s adaptable and resilient. He’s a raven because he’s perceived as one.
(My own lore also uses heavy raven-with-broken-wings symbolism for Shinsou but I digress)
I see Shinsou’s face as a mirror, not a mask.
When he’s with loved ones, their features rub off on him faster than his does them. He’ll subconsciously join the rhythms of other people because he’s learned to be overtly aware of them. This can flex back and give him control over his face, hence a very good poker face when the situation calls for it. He’s controlled his body by letting it mimick different things.
Mirrors are also parrallels so I like to think he rarely sees himself when he looks into one. It’s less of a dysmorphia thing and more of a random, loud imaginative thing. A hundred what-ifs. He feels how much he’s grown when he sees his middle school version and barely recognises him.
That’s how I visualise his quirk sometimes. It’s efficient enough to think of as a line with a hook, but what about a mirror with no reflection/a foggy one? With a response from his target, he flips his position with them cognitively and suddenly they’re the ones from outside looking in.
Also fun fact, both birds I mentioned can recognise their reflections.
Anyways, for everyone who read all that, uh… I’m sorry, I ran away with my mind.
