The Hand Jumper Myth Doc is finally BACK. The big update is Essence Theology, a new framework I've been building for quite some time that maps each of the seven essence colors to a specific mythological category. It reframes how a lot of canon characters and gifts read, and gives me a foundation for theorizing about unnamed champions going forward. Go check it out in the Essence Archetype tab.
Big shout-out also to @thenightraze, who put together the most convincing Naj theory I've seen so far - closest anyone's gotten to pinning down who Naj actually is. I've added it to the Godlings tab with a link to their full theory or you can find it on tumblr yourself. Go read it, it's worth your time.
Almost forgot:
This codex benefited greatly from research conversations with @ziddeth. His vast knowledge made him an invaluable sounding board for choosing which figures fit where. He also assisted with review and refinement, helping double-check clarity, structure, and accuracy throughout.
THE JASON & THE ARGONAUTS PARALLEL HAND JUMPER MYTHOLOGY THEORY š This document connects mythology directly to Hand Jumper's story, characte
Penitent - Is a person who feels deep regret for a wrong committed.
In a religious context it is a person that repents for their sin, and in Roman Catholic tradition it is someone who confesses their sin to the priest and is tasked with a penance (task/devotion performed voluntarily to show sorrow for a sin) by the priest. This āSacrament of Penance/Reconciliationā is meant to remove eternal guilt and sin. They then receive forgiveness from God. As we know guilt is a huge theme in Hand Jumper, especially for Sayeon (and Ryujin too).
Curious about this possible religious context too, since other titles in the webcomic like "purgatory" are also connected to Catholic theology (there are possibly other religious allegories in other places too). The episode "Purgatory" is also connected to Sayeon and Ryujinās guilt; how they cannot forgive themselves so they remain in āpurgatoryā .
Pairing this with @autistic-elfās great theory post on Sayeon possibly receiving the Penitent Relic from Wolhye. I found the words āaccept her emotions and humanity ā in the post especially interesting, since āself-examinationā is meant to be the first step in the āSacrament of Penance/Reconciliationā. That she will allow herself to feel penitence which may lead to penance? Which might lead to forgiveness of some kind? However, I know this story is likely going to be a tragedy of some kind so I feel like there might be some complications in this healing.Ā The episode 112 title "Guilt will save the world" has always interested me too though, and what would "save" mean?
This is just a random thought, but I find it interesting how important Father Hope seems to be in this arc (we see him with Jinhee, Rarog mentions him and we know he is involved with the Cult of Naj too). He is a priest (though a fake one). I kind of wonder if itās possible for him to task Sayeon with a penance? idk just a thought.
Anyway, let's properly start!
Is it Samin! Baby Samin!!
Hmm sheās just casually walking along the rail? Does essence help with balance too, or is she just so sure even at this age she could survive a fall from there?
She's holding a red paper plane hmm. Paper Planes can symbolize "youthful innocence" and letting one go can represent "chasing a dream".
A red one could represent that that "youthful innocence" is stained maybe?
Oohhhhh so Wolhye did know Samin!! This means she probably knew Sayeon too, right?
Hmm was she about to say Auclair casually at first? Before deciding to add Miss? Because of familiarity? And to try and add some distance?
She does not seem happy to see her.
If the Sea Wolves already tried to take Samin and Sayeon under their wings, only for Samin to disagree, then this must be after Sara's death, right?
I still wonder how Samin looked after Sayeon during this time? She's so small, and it would be a big responsibility to look after someone who is only 4 years old. Thatās not even going into how she looked after herself.
Also what about money and everything like that? I guess there could be an inheritance and Samin might already be gaining money in the underworld too? Though sheās so young š
I also wonder about the government too? We know Sayeon went to school so she must have been in the system, right? They had Sayeon down as an orphan too I think? How did no one show up to investigate her? Did the Sea Wolves help forge some kind of story so the government didn't look into it?
Did Samin go to school too? Or is she not in the system? She kind of looks like she is wearing a school uniform here with the bag, but I'm not sure? It kind of looks like casual wear too?
Was little Sayeon left on her own too? Samin couldn't always be home, right? Like right now it looks like sunset, so Sayeon would be home from any kind of schooling she might have, right? Is little Sayeon home alone right now?
I could understand not wanting the Sea Wolves involved, but why the anger towards Wolhye too? Just because she is also a member?
Wait "Auntie"... Is that the word Samin almost called Wolhye before?
It's interesting that even though Samin seemed to be afraid of her mother, she is still so angry that she died and is angry at people that could have prevented it. I guess emotions are complex like that, even if she was afraid she still probably loved her mom too. It could also be a bit of a security thing too? If Sara was alive would people leave Sayeon and Sara alone? There would also be a little less responsibility on Samin alone?
Also I mentioned earlier how Samin was just casually walking on the rail. Could it be showing her mental state a little bit? That even though Sayeon is relying on her now, that she would take an unnecessary risk (even if the risk is minimal for an aberrant?)?
Wolhye looks so sad š
Hmm also the placement and color of the speech bubble is kind of interesting? It's right behind Wolhye's head, is it to symbolize this thought is also stuck in Wolhye's head?
Such a pretty green. A rather rare color to see in this comic (without it being connected to green essence). I wonder could you mean something?
Sara seemed to really care for Wolhye too? Or seemed to be softer to her?
āNo one can tell the futureā
Why would you say that when you live in a world with people who have magical gifts! Did you never question what Sara's gift might be!? The person āwho is never wrongā?
Also I already strongly suspected Saraās gift was some kind of āfuture sightā, and this seems to confirm it even further I think?
I kind of find it interesting that the number starts at 3 too? The number that Sayeon currently is in the Corps? And the last number shown is 10, the highest level you can attain in the Corps? Hmm honestly I didn't think we would see Sayeon become a level 10, since I thought the series would end before then (e.g. Sayeon would achieve her "goal" in another way), however this makes me wonder? š¤
Bwhahah Samin is so blunt.
Oh Oohh I know everyone in the fandom was joking about Wolhye's crush on Sara, but was Wolhye actually in love with Sara. I guess that's why Wolhye reminisces so much on Sara and the kids (besides the story needing exposition).
I wonder what Sara thought about Wolhye? Earlier I said it seemed like she cared, but I wonder how much? Hmm I think others have mentioned too, but Wolhye and Ryujin seem like they might have a similar role to their respective Lee? Sara and Sayeon lost their husband/love interest, but then they were able to lean on their female "friend"?
Oh the "trust" word again. We know this word is important to the story. Sayeon always wants people to trust her, and just recently we got a confirmation that Sayeon trusts Ryujin.
It's interesting to see Sara use the word too. Hmm well Sayeon originally got the word from Samin, when Samin told her to "just trust her". I wonder if Samin originally got that saying from Sara maybe?
I also wonder why thematically Sleepy makes "trust" a big thing in the story? I wonder where it's leading us?
Ā Green background again. What does it represent?
I wonder if it's saying even if you trust someone you should still not let them decide everything themselves or something? š¤
She was wearing brighter clothes but is now wearing black mourning clothes.
Her shoes were red, to symbolize she was part of the Lee family in a way? Since all Lee's have a red item? However now she isn't?
Also in another episode didn't Sayeon recently think about Ahn with blue shoes very similar to this? Is the blue and red shoes meant to show a foil between them in some way?
Hmm I feel like this scene could mean something? Samin is on the rail, a dividing line? She has the sun directly behind her.
One hand is holding the paper plane which might mean "innocence", though a stained one? However she's holding onto it over the ledge, but not throwing it (not making a dream?)? Then on the other side she has a pink band aid on her knee, which makes me think of Jaeil and his pink band aid? The one he got from Sayeon? So maybe it symbolizes love? Which is on the bridge side? The safer side?
For Sayeon will Samin take risks and stain her innocence?
"My sun, my star" Yeah sad lover girl.
Also if Sara is "the sun" then I kind of find the placement of the sun interesting in the above image (Samin) too. To say she is "watching over them" e.g. Sara's plan is in action?
That is the question, isn't it? What is her plan?
Ohh so that's why she hasn't been around.
And there's that famous saying too "Debts owed, debts paid". Another Wolhye & Ryujin parallel?Ā
Wolhye is using it more as an excuse to do what she wants to do anyway; to help Samin and Sayeon. Just like how Ryujin might have partly used it as an excuse to return to Sayeon in ep 71?
Oh it's sad to see what could have been.
Wolhye really trying to step up. She basically offering to adopt them.
Also Samin is holding the paper plane in the other hand here? The safe side? The bridge side?
Oh interesting it used to be Sara's Relic? Or..
Is it possible it could have originally have been Doyeon's Relic? Wolhye didnāt seem to have the Relic in the flashback in episode 112 (when Wolhye and Sara were visiting Doyeonās grave). We know Doyeon likely had a Relic too (though in episode 1 it looked like it was a ringā¦ is it possible for Relics to change its resting form too?). However, the fact that Doyeonās grave was shown at all in episode 112 āGuilt will save the worldā possibly points to this theory even more? To show Wolhye and Doyeon had a connection?
Hmmā¦ Furthermore, I have heard a theory that he might have even killed himself and that is why Wolhye said āDoyeon was too kind for this sh!thole planet. Thatās why he left, I thinkā. A Relic like this that seems to feed off your sadness or guilt, having to experience those emotions constantly to fight would surely start to affect your mind, right?
If true, it would also answer a question I've had since reading episode 58 too. Why was the funeral smoke purple? Is it because a purple-essence Relic was the reason for his death?
This might also be why Samin is so angry that Wolhye has it? Samin seemed to really love her dad, so to see someone else have it could hurt her even more?
Also could add some interesting symbolism if the Relic does somehow get passed down to Sayeon too?
Idk just a thought. Iāll need to see more, and this would go against another theory I had that Han might have Doyeonās Relic ring? Though the only reason I thought of that theory was that they both likely have/had ring Relics (+ Sara killed Lt. Baek's daughter and there was a theory I heard where it might have been in retribution for Doyeon's death, meaning if Doyeon did have a Relic then the Corps might have it).
She only 11, but she scary.
I kind of get it, but I'm still surprised how much Samin seemed to hate Wolhye? Is she just taking her anger out?
And we are back to the present.
I find it so interesting that the Relic has the form of a Scythe. There is a lot of possible symbolism to that.
Wow so activating the Relic makes it rain? That's pretty crazy. Rain for tears?
So Relics are made directly from godlings. I've had that thought before, but the episode where we saw it being gifted made me question that theory. I suppose tears are still part of the godling though? Or there might be more to that story? If tears are what the Relic is made from then it is not necessarily only bones, but just parts of the body then that can be made into Relics?
I also wondered if godling blood then could be turned into a "Relic"? I've had a crazy thought/theory for awhile that Ryujin might mix her blood with a godling (with Lilith?)? Since it seemed like Raon might have been able to control Bones's blood when she mixed it with his? (huh his name being Bones feels interesting in this context too..). Idk just another of my random thoughts.
Huh it's also very interesting to learn that the size of the Relic effects the power of the Relic... What if you have the entire godling then? So Lilith really can be turned into "a weapon of destruction" (ep 53).
I've had a terrible thought and wondered could aberrants be turned into Relics?
Yes! Confirmation that the Relics have color types like the aberrants, and that effects what the "usage condition" is?
I wonder if the same godling can give out different essence color Relics? @queenxfirefly theory is that since godlings have white essence (all colors into one) they might be able to create champions of every essence color. If so, then could the same godling make different essence color Relics too?
Ha so it was connected to the godling Selume! Interesting!! I heard this theory in the Webtoon comment section a few episodes ago and thought it matched, however when it was revealed that Wolhye's Relic was a Scythe and not a sword (like we were shown) I had my doubts, but this confirms it is!
Hmm I wonder then if the weapons form can change depending on the user then? Or were we only shown the sword because it was a story, in other words because Jinhee didn't know and she was telling the story then we weren't shown the truth? It shows we can't always trust what we are shown then..
Also interesting to learn that the Relic is called Penitent.
Welp that doesn't look good for Snake. I don't see her coming back from that..
Is this maybe why the Well Godling only mentioned Wolhye in it's warning to Sayeon? Since everyone else is so below her threat level?
The others might arrive soon to though. Butcher, Minnie and Ishaan - I wonder what will happen?
So, this is unfinished piece of an OST I've been working on for a game my friend is currently making, I titled it Marionette of Glass. A little summary of his game: You play as an orphan girl named Muyta in her dream world, seeking to resolve various emotions while trying to uncover some truths about her waking life. It's conceptually about what complex emotions parallel the everyday struggles and how they manifest as "nightmares".
I wonder if Yesol and the knight in episode 50 - Godlings could be related? The shards surrounding the knight reminded me of Yesol's gift shards. They are both blue essence users too.
Disclaimer & Spoiler Warning: This theory is about a Patreon-exclusive post from Sleepacross titled 'A Moment Frozen in Time.' This is for Patreon subscribers only. Though I will say this, I did not post any artwork from the patreon because it is behind a paywall for non-subscribers, I only posted the link to the patreon post, which is still available to everyone in case anyone wants to subscribe to see it. But I will be discussing that post and my theories on it for the upcoming episodes and eventual season two finale.
Link here:
Sayeon's gift is both ideally suited to her abilities and also the cruelest power she could have received. She's a perfectionist, and on top
My theory based on Sleepacrossā Art and Comment:
So, from the beginning, sleepacross posted artwork called "A Memory Frozen in Time" showing āCorps Sayeonā staring down into a snow globe. Inside that snow globe, it shows āpre-Corps Sayeonā holding a bloody knife, standing in blood-stained snow, with part of the image censored in black with what looks like another person she may have killed. Sleepacross said she'd re-release the art "with modifications" after Season 2 ends. And this is my theory on what that might be.
While I previously posted the theory that āJugyeongā might be entangled with the Cult of Naj, Iāve been harboring a secondary theory that I have not released. Honestly, I was holding out for more evidence to back the idea (and I hoped sleepacross would release this to the non-subscribers), but with the finale seemingly on its way, itās time to finally put this out there before it is too late.
My theory: What if the censored shape is Jugyeong's body? What if Sayeon killed her?
Let me explain why:
During the years following her fatherās death maybe Jugyeong eventually pieced together the truth about her fatherās death and confronted Sayeon. And Sayeon, young and terrified of being exposed, panicked. Something happened that Sayeon doesnāt remember with a knife, her stabbing (possibly killing) Jugyeong and ended up with blood on her hands.
My 2nd crack theory: What if Sayeon doesn't remember doing it?
Iāve theorized Samin's gift is Temporal Editing, an ability to cut, erase, freeze, or modify moments from the original timeline (albeit this may seem too OP, but just play along). If Samin found her little sister standing over Jugyeong's body, she could have cut that memory out entirely. Sayeon remembers Jugyeong disappearing, but not the act itself. Yet, the guilt is still there. Remember, Sayeon herself told us her recurring nightmare is mostly about Jugyeong. What if Sayeon's guilt is more than just the murder of Jugyeongās father?
This could also explain the Godling memory blockage (during the beginning of the series). Every time Sayeon tried to think about the Well-Godling, she seemed to hit a wall (headaches, static, a blockage she couldnāt push through until recently) before she could hardly remember anything after waking up. What if that's part of Samin's gift? Samin knows the Godling is trying to communicate with her sister to become its next Champion, so maybe Samin fortified Sayeon's mind to keep the Godling, or the idea of their existence from ever occurring? Essentially, Samin erase part of Sayeonās memory of Jugyeong to protect her, and she also trying to fortify Sayeonās mind to keep the Godling out as much as possible (until Samin finds a way to kill/imprison it).
Panels from Episode 40 Wishing Well, Episode 65 Mind over Matter, & Episode 72 Blood Covenant
When Samin first encounters the Godling in her own mental space, she has complete control over the entire mindscape; throne, stairs, architecture, everything. The Godling itself is surprised, saying mortals don't usually control their full mental space. The Godling tells her,Ā "You're obsessed with CONTROL, Samin Lee. Over yourself, and everything around you." In which Samin responds: "This is my mind. My dominion. If I don't have power over this, I don't have power over anything." We know aberrants can get powers very similar to their core personality, if Samin is obsessed with control, maybe it isnāt only manipulating the flow of time, but controlling what gets remembered, too, like entrapping memories in a pocket space inside their mind??
Just makes me think, if Samin has enough mental control to architect a psychic throne room that surprises the Godling, can she edit Sayeon's memories or trap/freeze them in time like inside that snow globe āA moment frozen in Timeā. The Godling tells Sayeon its powers have waned, "that's why you can't entirely remember" but what if the Godling's weakness is only part of the equation? What if Samin's mind fortification is the other half? The Godling is weakened AND Samin built a barrier to protect her sister.
And if the snow globe contains a frozen memory of Jugyeong, if that is what Samin sealed, then the snow globe cracking and the sky cracking can be the same metaphor. Maybe that's why we had that visual in episode 65, when Sayeon finally admitted this could be a Godling and that Godlings exist, and it's talking to her, like she had to come to the conclusion herself in order to break the barrier, then afterward she started remembering whenever she talks to the Godling. Maybe it might be the same with the memory of Jugyeong, she will have to admit or come to the conclusion herself in order to finally remember??
Sleepacross said it herself, "Her worst guilts are frozen deep in the original timeline, infecting a history her power can never reach."
When that censorship comes off after Season 2... I think itās a strong possibility it could be Jugyeong.
Obviously this is a theory, you could say, āWhy didnāt Samin just make Jugyeong and her father lose the memory of finding out about themā but maybe Samin needed to make an example in order to keep Sayeon from making the same mistake twice.
Well, that is my theory I am throwing in the hat for now.
ok time to ryujinpost: the gift reveal segment made me gasp on a first read, esp bc i interpreted blood manipulation powers to allow for āblood bendingā type control over other ppls bodies as in atla. but then the way ryujin threatens to hurt sayeon - the finger gun gesture particularly unnerves sayeon - made me feel like no, blood manipulation seems to be only manipulating the properties and movement of ryujins blood in hurting others, not in controlling their movements. ryujins flashback to her mom had her using it to carve up her old colleague rather than āblood bendingā him to stop attacking. so thatās it then right? mystery solved?
but on my reread i couldnt stop thinking abt this sequence
does that not look like she stood him up by controlling her own blood in his body, physically forcing his body to stand. is this not some blood bending type shit. im going crazy.
i WANT it to blood bending bc
1. fun irony of ryujin submitting to being a puppet when she has a puppetmaster type power,
2. implies a wider breadth of violation against a victim - she could not just injure someone by puncturing their body, but also force them to do things they do not want to do (tying in w the irony that this sort of existence is what she has grimly locked herself in to by working for the corps)
3. its like tailored specifically to be able to incapacitate sayeon and stop her from rewinding by freezing her movements (and thus her hand snaps!), making ryujin the armor piercing arrow hitting sayeons Achilles heel. like TAILOR MADE to counter sayeon its so beautiful it brings me to tearsā¦ only a yellow essence gift negation ability would be a better counter than thisā¦
ābut user lesbixch, if ryujin could blood bend, she wouldnāt need to pin father hopes legs down to the floor w her own bloodā ok yesā¦ trueā¦ its probably not the case that blood manipulation powers confer bodily control. it would be cool as fuck if they did tho.
so, what if they donāt? what is the thematic relevance of blood manipulation powers?
1. any violence ryujin commits requires harm to her body (overwhelmingly self harm). she bites her lip, plunges a knife into her hand, etc to be able to harm someone. theoretically, using too much blood might make ryujin anemic or outright pass out, depending on how she balances her essence healing. pushing herself to exhaustion does sound like another girl we knowā¦ it hurts ryujin on multiple levels to use her gift (esp if its only application is purely violent) and it builds towards the general message that committing violence is destructive to both victim and perpetrator, cycles upon cycles, etc. this great post also gets into the christ allegory, w ryujins stigmata, blood sacrifice and others
2. more abstractly, the spilling or exchange of blood evokes close ties, friendship - āblood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the wombā etc. that ryujin can manipulate her blood - can form connections w people, build a little community for herself - is loosely part of this. ryujins whole deal is abt finding love and community after her mom abandons her, and then losing that love and community, and punishing herself for her guilt forever after. if sayeons aura feels like its rotting and festering, ryujins aura probably feels like its an open wound, constantly bleeding..
3. if we want to get psychoanalytic w it, the concept of someoneās bodily fluids entering another person, and then Penetrating them from the inside evokes some sort of bodily violation and assault. like yes, pretty much all weapons created from essence tend to be phallic and penetrating peoples bodies i know i know. all forms of violence r some sort of physical assault and some are more sexual than others. but there is smth abt ryujins power involving bodily fluids in such a way that i like to read as a particularly gruesome assault. i think that this is part of why ryujin would not like using her gift!! its not just that she doesnt want the corps to know it, she herself prob kinda hates it! ryujin is usually not the one manipulating ppl to do things, or encroaching on other ppls agency (she prefers to be the puppet instead..) i think even if her gift helped her survive and kill one of the gyeons who killed her nest, she would be pretty ambivalent abt this gift seeing how violent and coercive it could be. even when ryujin will punch anyone, shes kinda nonviolent abt it bc she knows what real fighting and death looks like LOL. like shes a softie shes a bleeding heart she cares too much she doesnt rly want to be slicing ppl up and ending lives if she can help it. she lets a begonia member go despite how she assumed he hurt sayeon. she maybe (?) could have killed juni to save yesol but she instead asked sayeon for help to save yesol. as much as she hates the gyeon family she has not brought up anything abt the cute little deal sayeon offered re: killing them. she doesnt want to kill ppl!!!
this third point thematically is present w/o the blood bending aspect, but would be strengthened much more w the blood bending of it all, bc it makes her ability that much more coercive. widens the possibility space of how she can violate a persons bodily autonomy lol, furthers the assault/violation vibes of it. explains why ryujin would dislike using it even as it is this powerful. I find that having some blood control over ppls bodies just enhances these points in so many ways. AND it means that the corps would risk having her wreck the other blue ties bc that sort of ability is just that tantalizing. who wouldnāt want an ability granting partial control over an aberrants body!!! they have to train her and use her!!
speaking of who wouldnt want an ability as powerful as thatā¦ā¦ if sayeon knew ryujin could easily kill, and not just kill but control the body of her victims, she would absolutely go crazy. like ryujin is absolutely the queen piece on the chessboard, vitally important to any schemes sayeon can make. all while she is too at risk of ryujins power. much like ryujin turning around and betraying sayeon in yesol arc, ryujin could literally incapacitate sayeon and prevent her from rewinding by freezing her body, pinning her hands, etc. sayeon could be completely helpless in the face of ryujins ability. ryujin could be sayeons greatest tool and the most vulnerable chink in her armor. the knife that sayeon sharpens and then lethally cuts herself onā¦ it would be soooo delightful I Wish To See It
in summary, ryujin probably doesnt have blood bending type powers as part of her blood manipulation - theres only that one sequence i posted that could be interpreted as proof - but i would really enjoy how bodily control thru blood bending furthers the already existing characterization and thematic elements at play.. it would be . So . Good .
finished my hj reread and paid extra attention to min. he does not seem to have ANY āinternal monologueā, at least not in his own voice. a majority of his emotions and thoughts are conveyed through flashbacks, thru his facial expressions/framing, OR *vague spoilers for ch128 which is currently a fast pass chapter* thru occasional omniscient narration/another characters voice.
this is ofc fundamentally abt his agency and personhood being denied thru his whole life. he is not afforded a voice and interiority at all on account of being samins sharpened blade. I really really love this as a narrative choice - his arc seems to be abt breaking free from both samin and sayeon and reclaiming agency for himself as a person, rather than as a tool - and so it will be great if, as he develops his own goals and autonomy, we start actually seeing his internal monologue the way we see sayeons/ryujins/iseuls
more rambling + screencaps under the cut
ch111 (first kiss) also clued me in to how mins body and personhood is not just weaponized but violated in other ways, so during my reread I catalogued each time ppl touch him - most times r . sudden and one sided, such as ppl hugging, kissing, smacking, or putting a hand on him ā¦
im not counting combat, such as training between sayeon and min, or combat w wolhye, etc. so sayeons first āpunchā where she tricks min in the first five chapters or so is not here lol, but it is an important characterization moment: if min is fairly opaque due to his lack of internal monologue, then his speech tends to be honest, except in cases where it is necessary to lie. min doesnt speak much, so the times he does speak tend to indicate either his honest thoughts (āim sorry for cutting off your hand. i didnt want to do itā) or maintaining his cover as samin commanded him (questioned about samin: āi dont know who that is.ā arguably he might be honest bc he knows her as red more than samin)
when min doesnt have anything honest to say, he keeps quiet. such as when iseul asks him early on his name and what his goal/dream is and min just says his name (sayeon talks abt world peace!<3) or when iseul asks whether min knows sayeon from before, and min doesnt answer until a dozen chapters later. these questions r some of the only times min is treated as a full fledged person w thoughts and emotions of his own. samin and sayeon both use him as a tool, samins gang understands him better but tend to condescend to him (see below lol), cell 3 is wary (or hates him in taehos case). juni mostly dgaf. ryujin doesnt talk a lot to him - notably calls him sayeons attack dog lol. no wonder he was making banana bread for iseul day 1
As for the screenshots and touch: the most positive physical touch seems to be with iseul, who pushes taeho away and touches mins shoulder as .. protection? and also hugs him and says he loves him LOL. jungwoo (silver, samins group) is being playful but min kind of looks pained. pink hugs min only after she denigrates him (āyouāre a puppet, booooringā), and it seems more to assuage her guilt than something that would make him feel better lol. i wouldnt be surprised if hes not super fond of either jungwoo or pink, despite the fact that all of them share the role of samins second favorite (sayeon is always first!!) the fortuneteller lady is more neutral..? i dont think he was expecting the cheek thing but he cooks dinner and helps her get to bed so.. I guess he likes granny? but what i rly wanna get into is samins hold
mins past as a victim of trafficking implies either a lack of physical affection/touch, or experiencing violating, traumatizing physical touch (as in, being strapped down and operated on, but up to and including sexual abuse). he doesnt flinch back, though he does seem to freeze, as in the assault scene (first kiss). probably he grew up with very little positive and affirming physical affection. he may or may not be touch starved, but does not generally react to it. So when samin squeezes his cheeks, refers to him as a cute child, and promises him a Family, i think the physical affection is part of why he gets attached to her. shes the cloth mom LOL she provides affection even as she treats him as a tool and denies his personhood. i think paralleling sayeon holding his face the same way - explicitly threatening, demanding loyalty and obedience - reframes samins own hold into something more foreboding. holding a head in place, unable to move, restrained, caged. samin and sayeon r capable of great brutality and gentleness, sometimes both at the same time! sayeon only ever exchanges blows w him in training, while treating him as her attack dog!
re: sayeon, she also seems touch starved (sleeping w a plush rabbit, deriving comfort from being punched by ryujin..) so I find the resonances btwn min and sayeon fascinating. sayeon rejects samins kindness, a loving touch and a scarf around her neck. min watches. min would do anything to be sayeon, to have a scarf wrapped around his neck by family. Sayeon avoiding samins affection and min craving itā¦. physical affection being an important part of child development, and both either being denied of positive physical affection or forced into unwanted physicality. samin being at least partially the reason for both of them being the way they areā¦.
the other samin touch is from the most recent chapter (124), where samin puts a hand on the umbrella min is holding, while saying sheās counting on him.. again, a light but loving touch. Cloth mom doing it again while sharpening min into her own personal knife. she sucks <3
So combining everything: min does not talk often, min does not have his own internal monologue, mins interiority is explored thru the voice of others (flashbacks) or thru fairly ambiguous cues like facial expressions. mins body is used as a weapon, and his own desires and thoughts are deemed unimportant, unheard and unvoiced. when not used as weapon, min is touched by other ppl in what i would argue r largely neutral to negative ways, in neutral to negative contexts. his body, agency, autonomy r all violated. the ongoing arc has been the tension btwn this reality and mins own burgeoning emotions and ideas - the desire to protect iseul, the desire to disobey sayeon, the desire to make samin happy. disobeying will have consequences, but it might also lead to a min who more openly voices his thoughts, who initiates touch or physical affection, and who has his own internal monologue. im very curious how things will go!!
.
.
.
FAST PASS CH128 SPOILERS
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
so with all that said I find it delightfully wonderful that samin is also mins Voice in his internal monologue. Even in his head the way he speaks to himself is thru her, he is not afforded a voiceā¦ not even in his own headā¦ samin is a person in a way he is not.. his self talk is samin denigrating his actions, foreverā¦. WOW!! GET A JOB STAY AWAY FROM HIM
i need min to just. Speak his mind and cuss sayeon out. Maybe he doesnt fully renounce samin but god he should cuss sayeon out at least once . Letās use our wordsā¦ letās say how we really feel.. no more internal monologue samin to mediate. . . letāss be a personš«¶ i am looking forward to how his arc develops a lot!!
Trojan Warrior fighting the Giant Serpent.
As the Greeks were unable to take Troy by force, they pretended to sail home, leaving behind the wooden horse. While the Trojans were assembled around the horse, deliberating whether they should draw it into their city or destroy it, Laocoon hastened to them from the city, and loudly cautioned them against the danger which it might bring upon them. While saying this he thrust his lance into the side of the horse. When Laocoon was preparing to sacrifice a bull to Poseidon, suddenly two fearful serpents were seen swimming towards the Trojan coast from Tenedos. They rushed towards Laocoon, who, while all the people took to flight, remained with his two sons standing by the altar of the god. The serpents first entwined the two boys, and then the father, who went to the assistance of his children, and all three were killed. The serpents then hastened to the acropolis of Troy, and disappeared behind the shield of Tritonis. The reason why Laocoon suffered this fearful death is differently stated. According to Virgil, the Trojans thought that it was because he had run his lance into the side of the horse, but according to others because, contrary to the will of Apollo, he had married and begotten children, or because Poseidon, being hostile to the Trojans, wanted to show to the Trojans in the person of Laocoon what fate all of them deserved.
