+
(^Set before before the first scene)
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Thoughts on Dongding oolong that were supposed to be about the above scenes but then got way, way, way out of hand, more below the read more re: why I think he’s neat + some analysis and observations from this and his own event:
I probably should’ve posted more about him when his event came out, but haven’t gotten around to it, maybe eventually, but!
I really like his character
Is it the shadiness? The capacity to be ruthless but holding back? Willing to do whatever it takes to make up for a past mistake and get back that which he holds dear? Perhaps-
:readmore:
From his event, no one really really sees through him (with the closest being Royal Jelly, and them caring deeply for each other then, and perhaps still being able to read each other to a degree now). The guy has plans, layers upon layers, and when he wants something, he does his utmost to get it
He’s ruthless, and has tonnes of blood on his hand, and is well versed in underhanded means and the manipulation of people
Yet
He cares deeply and strongly and greatly about those he cares about, be it his dragonlings, Royal Jelly, etc. Those he cares about, to those he truly holds dear, he cares. He’s not above manipulation when he feels it necessary, but he worries and does whatever he has to/can to protect them, or at least he does, when he’s able to, and maybe that cherishing of them comes from loneliness from his duty and position? (Is he lonely? From all those days alone with so few people to rely on?) But besides that,
Even those who aren’t especially close to him but he somewhat likes he isn’t terrible towards. He schemes and lies but yet puts up with Yellow Tea Cake, gets concerned about her, doesn’t hold her mischief and blunders against her, is still cordial towards Junshan silver needle tea, is polite with Jinzy,
He teaches others lessons occasionally (telling Junshan silver needle tea how to convince investors to get the mountain fixed and why her approach won’t work), and is cordial, whatever the reason for it, and doesn’t seem to want to be unnecessarily cruel- to the emperor in the beginning of his event, he chides but doesn’t scold, treats him kindly when the emperor says he thinks of him as more than advisor, as his brother, even if he may not feel the same
He goes along with Yellow pea cake’s antics, when she hijacked his carriage, doesn’t kick her out before they depart, feels proud of her in one of the side stories when she makes a snarky comeback, even if he doesn’t say it and he’s manipulating her to make sure she doesn’t spill his secrets, worries about and goes after her when she doesn’t appear for a while after going to get water, doesn’t seem to harbour any grudge against her for her spilling all the deeds he’s done to get the throne for the emperor to the whole country, which, damn.
He even sees through Jinzy’s plan of giving herself up to stop Aizen and interferes to stop her, even though it wouldn’t have impacted him if she had.
He isn’t above terrible deeds when needs must, but outside of that he isn’t a terrible person, he’s complicated, and as they say, like an onion- multilayered (gotta love onions)
He’s trying to move on from stuff in the past and reconnect with Royal Jelly, and is ready and willing to do whatever he has to to get there, didn’t even hesitate to head to his hometown right after his duties concluded. He wanted to reconnect even when Royal jelly didn’t remember him at first, even though he felt weighed by it and relieved when he remembered, even if that meant he would hate him after.
He really treasured his and Royal jelly’s friendship, and really regrets what came to be between them- his concern and worries about Royal jelly’s wound, feeling regret and sharp guilt when thinking about the event. Then there’s also wanting to reconnect, but being willing to hide important things Royal jelly might want to know to maximise his chances of not getting pushed away even more- he manipulates Yellow Pea Cake into not giving up info about what he did to get the emperor his throne so that Royal jelly doesn’t think less of him. He’s selfish.
He’s selfish, yet extremely wary, and suspicious, and yet cares a lot, and is cordial, and is trying to be different and better (inner thought in his event when debating whether to just ditch Yellow pea cake and gun it after she leaves) after all he did to ensure the current emperor’s succession. He has regrets while still being unabashedly able to do whatever he needs for his goals, and I think that’s just majorly cool of him
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As a continuation of that, I know that I’ve mentioned it before, but I just really find his character interesting
He’s shady, but not bad, he cares about others, but is willing to play them to meet his goals, yet will step in if things go awry, like in the above screencaps
What I find interesting is that he let himself be discovered this time- not in this instance in the theatre, but in the beginning, when getting support for the two to get into the theatre. He called out his support, and let himself be heard while helping them get the support they needed
Was it because it didn’t come at high cost for him? Did he just want Yellow pea cake to know and get annoyed over it for shits and giggles? Did he just feel like doing it? Enigma of a man, 👑
He predicted or found out that they were heading to the town, (again, he wasn’t mad at Yellow pea cake, I don’t think he’s been actually really upset/enraged at her actions that we’ve seen, with him just being exasperated/annoyed normally) trailed along, saw them get themselves into a sticky but hilarious situation, and decided to play along and see how things turned out. He then somehow got excellent tickets, from a stellar vantage point, and when watching, “a towering figure leisurely figure clapped his hands and smiled faintly”
He cares! There was no one there who he would have to hold back around! He went to their impromptu show, bothered to somehow get excellent tickets for a hot event, and when no one was watching, supported them and felt happy for the show they were putting on, for them! No one knew he was there watching either, until he revealed himself! He was there because he wanted to be.
He’s somehow soft, yet sharp, yet kind, yet terrifying when need be. He cares for his friends! He has no need to do underhanded things as of now anymore! He can relax! And relax he is, getting to use his skills to just leisurely enjoy, instead of for whatever vital operation or the other to throw a country into upheaval, and I’m genuinely so incredibly glad for him, he deserves it
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Final analysis part, the first screenshots of the post:
Dongding Oolong stepped in the moment things started getting awry. He was watching the whole thing, and with his experience, could also tell when things were getting real.
He also did not kill nekomata. He restrained him. Dongding Oolong is, among many things, observant. With food souls and their hostility towards fallen angels, and with Dongding Oolong being as cautious as he is, he would have to have been trusting Junshan silver needle tea and Yellow pea cake to a certain degree to restrain, to do no more than restrain. Also, sending Fire and Thunder also added to the mood of the performance, making it not stand out at all while getting the objective done, hella sick.
The audience too, also visibly liked that, and took Fire and Thunder to be signs from/the great green dragon lord, to which Dongding Oolong scowled. Nothing confirmed here, but I like to think that that’s him not liking that help rendered equating rescue from the divine to others. He certainly doesn’t want to be identified as the one sending the dragonlings, but doesn’t like that they were taken to be from literally their god instead either. Maybe he doesn’t like that others don’t think to check for help from other sources (eg. Those organised by the non-divine) first and jump straight to the divine? Really interesting, and real glad we got to see that
Last screenshot here because formatting is wack already and why not, yea junshan silver needle tea and the others defo didn’t know he was there! Also unsure how canon it is, but maybe Thunder and Fire, being linked to Dongding Oolong, knows that they weren’t originally supposed to be found out then? Hence being meek? They’re so cute, gotta love them noodlies aa
No thoughts left and these here aren’t leading anywhere specific, but thought they were cool to share! And kudos if you read till here aha hope you enjoyed o7 (also wow aha this sure took a bit to write woogh)
As a final conclusion,
I just think he’s neat,
Dongding oolong my(our?) beloved <3
