did u know. i love using religious themes for ibunome (traditional art, ink on paper + screentones with minor digital touch-ups)
symbols explained below
both ibuki and nome symbolise jesus in a way- but they represent two different sides of him. ibuki is kind, holy (halo) but it comes to him naturally; he doesnt remember his suffering (no blood) yet he still holds onto his faith tightly (his cross necklace is tightly wrapped around his arm) despite not centering his existence around it (its a cross necklace, not a rosary - he doesnt actively participate in prayer, symbolically)
nome on the other hand is tortured, he remembers his pain yet his sacrifice wasnt enough to make him holy (crown of thorns, no halo, blood), he centered his life around his "faith" yet he has no real connection to it, and hed gladly give it away in exchange for comfort (he has a rosary but it hangs loose on his hand, not close to him, hes detached from it)
nome holds a sacrificial dagger in his hand, aimed at ibuki- ibuki is the lamb, and nome desires to sacrifice him for his own sake, he wants revenge, he wants to inflict back the pain he once felt
despite being the "holy" one, ibuki is in a position of submission, reversing the expectations of their roles (being under the sole/kissing it in some eastern orthodox traditions is an act done during a confession) yet his eyes are open, hes fully aware of the truth and hes willingly letting it happen, while nome with his eyes closed feigns ignorance of the truth and the "sin" he is committing (addendum: my friend also added that the eyes could be interpreted as ibuki not being afraid to look forward for the future while nome is trapped in the past. another addition is that nome is in a way "mimicking" sainthood as often saints and other holy figures are depicted with their eyes closed, as they can see the truth behind the material world. cool!!)
the broken goblet and the spilling wine have a triple symbolism - they represent nome breaking the tradition (committing a "sin"), but they also represent the pain he felt (wine puddle resembling blood) and his slowly draining faith in his choices and his family
the candles behind them are used to remember people, especially the dead, or sometimes as a general prayer for wellbeing. the top row symbolises the tatsunagi family: their grandfather (whose fire died out naturally from old age), the sisters (in no particular order) between whom is nome (the shortest candle still burning, showing the fact he feels like he cant live the way hes living for much longer) and lastly takuto (whose candle was cut down to stop the fire, showing his premature death caused by void)
above the candles is a crucifix, half hidden. hiding him was an attempt to hide the "sin" nome is committing, yet he cant truly hide it from an all knowing entity. the jesus on the crucifix knows whats happening, yet is powerless to do anything (the detail was too small so i couldnt add it properly, but in my mind his head is turned towards nome and ibuki, his left hand stretching out to them)
the draped over cloth has "fidem immutatam conservate" (conserve the unchanged faith) written on it. its directed at nome, who must follow his family's traditions without allowing any doubt. yet the cloth is partly fallen, once against showcasing nomes growing doubt in whether or not following his family's traditions was the right choice in the end
both the cross and the writing present on it are also directed towards nome-"memento mori" or "remember you will die" serve as a reminder for him that even if he gets away with his choices and his "sins" in his mortal life, he too will die and he will be judged for them like anyone else. in this way, its not just a reminder - its a threat of the inevitable if he doesnt do something to change it
