#vol. 6

[flowers-of-buffoonery]

Nakahara Chuuya, Bungō Stray Dogs #22

[harukazedoremi]

Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 47-48-49

Let's start immediately with this: you can't summon destroyed shikigami anymore but like, the next person who will inherit the Ten Shadows Technique will have a brand new set or...? I always assumed that, since every TST user gets the Divine Dogs starters and Mahoraga is said to have never been "tamed", every TST user gets the same ten shikigami roster that they have to tame in order to be able to summon them at will. But I have no idea if this assumption is correct. And if it is, my question stands: will the next TST user be able to summon a "new" Great Serpent? Or once one is gone they are replaced by a different shikigami while the others remain the same? 🤔 So many questions so little answers...

Hanami speaks like humans are a source of wonder of sorts, like he has just a conceptual knowledge of them... Reinforces the idea that they didn't have many contacts with them because it was said that they learnt to hide from humanity pretty early on. And it must be sort of novel for Megumi and Maki to see sentient curses use tricks strictly used by sorcerers against them... I wonder if Pseudo-Geto teached them these. 🤔

Somebody needs to bonk Megumi everytime he thinks this stuff, really. Let's stop these self-destructive and self-sacrificial tendencies NOW. 💪 And this abysmally low self-worth too while we are at it.

I feel the need to open a parenthesis on Megumi's perception of his (and others) moral compass but… Maybe it's too early. But it's coming, believe it! (Sorry… 🍥)

"There are separate rules when shikigami inherit other shikigami." Let me guess, we'll never know what these rules are, right? 🚬🚬🚬

Megumi having war flashbacks, him actually uttering the phrase "I'll kill you if you die again!!", him blaming himself immediately for Maki being hurt, uhm uhm

Hanami 🤝 Me not knowing what a black flash is

(I've just heard of it but have no idea what they are...)

The fact that this panel implies that Nanami experienced the black flash (I know he holds the record of four consecutive ones that happened during 0) and is therefore put in the same cathegory Gojo is in terms of understanding deeply cursed energy is amazing, but all I can think of is: this man doesn't like being a sorcerer but has been gifted with a very strong technique and so much talent even the strongest sorcerer alive recognises it and counts on it… It's just bitter irony to me.

Nanami: *appears in one panel* Me: Let me talk to you about the sad thoughts that I get from that for a full paragraph! Why am I like this 😔

A nice moment to mention that the things Yuji thought to get in the zone are Junpei's death and Megumi's plea not to die. 🥲

Hanami 🤝 Me being confused about Todo and Yuji's antics

I really still have no idea what to think of Todo and Yuji's relationship honestly. 😶 They clearly get eachother, and because of this Todo is able to get the best out of Yuji, which is great. Also it's so nice that Todo actually cares about him and to see him bloom in his full potential. :')

I know for a fact that I don't particularly appreciate being introduced to a brand new concept that is said to be a hard thing to achieve and isn't something a person can control and not even two pages later Yuji's newbie ass is performing it seemingly at will. I think that the concept of "he's an incredibly fast learner" is being overabused at this point.

After I wrote this I went to look at some discussions about Yuji and black flashes, hoping to not get spoiled further in the process, because I was left sooo baffled by this development and found some really interesting insights and rationalisations, but the main thing is there seems to be no actual canonical explanation for his ability in making them happen so often and so easily, so for all the sense they make - it's because he's Kenjiaku's experiment, it's because he's sort of empty headed and a very straightforward person so he doesn't have to try really hard to concentrate (LOL poor Yuji 🤣), it's because he's lacking a cursed technique so he doesn't have anything in the way to get to the meat of it, it's because he has a weird approach to cursed energy because he got into it later in life -, they are just conjectures at best. And a lot of people just reduce his proficency as "he's the main character", which is disappointing I guess.

It's just jarring having him nailing all these things in a row, and if Divergent Fist made a lot of sense and was cool because it was technically a flaw turned special weapon, and him being able to hit Mahito also made perfect sense because he has Sukuna inside of him, this one is lacking a good explanation at the moment. (The one that in my opinion works the best, "It's because Kenjaku worked really hard on him", makes a lot of sense but only retroactively, so yeah.) Gege states no one can do it at will but then Yuji actually seems to do just that. This point is debated but it seems most people don't really believe he can do that on command but that he just seems to have an easier time to get in the right mindset to do it more easily, even though it's later stated by Gojo that Black Flashes are also kinda reliant on sheer luck, not just getting the cursed energy out at the right moment or being particularly talented sooo 🙄

I'm starting to suspect that I have developed a somewhat distorted perspective of what fights in shonen should be because I keep finding these sooo short, I'm questioning my sanity…

I actually don't like that we skipped the Gojo-Yuji lessons and now in the middle of other things going on we have to stop to talk about theorethical stuff that should have been already taught to Yuji. Unless it's to really hammer home that Gojo is a very lacking teacher. I guess that could be the case. (I mean Yuji didn't even know cursed spirits can heal themselves ffs. *rattles Gojo like a squeaky chew toy WHAT ARE YOU TEACHING THESE KIDS??? )

Still, I would have preferred seeing other flashbacks of Gojo's teachings to Yuji and him implementing them in the fight or finding out he's still not prepared enough against this kind of opponents. (Few are, and especially him should NOT be able to do what he just did, no matter how good of a teacher Todo is or how talented Yuji is proving to be.)

Hanami 🤝 Me thinking Yuji was just a beginner

Finally, I'm glad our nature cursed spirit is 🌼🌷✨enjoying himself🌼🌷✨

At least someone is 😬😬😬

[everyillumi]

[greenqueenhightower]

Welcome to yet another episode of DISTURBING Things I Notice in HOTD:

Today’s installment is on bloodlust and dermatillomania (tw!) as expressed by our two key figures of the Dance, Rhaenyra and Alicent, and their similarities between Daemon and Criston respectively (pls bear with me on this).

First up, even though we have seen many scenes of bloodshed in the show, I want to mainly talk about the two scenes of bloodlust we have seen with Rhaenyra in episode 3 where she kills a boar, and with Alicent when she cuts Rhaenyra's arm at Driftmark.

Why, though, do I say bloodlust? Because it describes a desire for bloodshed and carnage, often aroused in the heat of battle or the moment, leading to uncontrolled slaughter and torture. The perfect example of this description is Criston's killing of Joffrey at Leanor's & Rhaenyra's wedding because it was moved by a desire for bloodshed further motivated by Criston's emotional turmoil, it was aroused in the heat of the moment because Joffrey provoked him, and, most importantly, he had lost control. This means that Criston is not generally like that; had he not lost control, he would not have performed the act.

The exact OPPOSITE is Daemon's cold-hearted killing of Vaemond: there was no underlying desire, the moment was not heated, nor was he personally attacked, and he did not display any loss of control. This means that he did not need any provocation to perform the act. In other words, bloodlust and bloodshed are in general part of Daemon's character.

I think that the analysis of these two extremes helps in understanding where Alicent and Rhaenyra lay in the spectrum of bloodlust.

Starting off with the scene at the hunt where she slays the boar, Rhaenyra ticks all the boxes for bloodlust: a desire for bloodshed because of the hunt, arousal in the heat of the moment because she was attacked by the beast, which then results in uncontrolled slaughter. Yet, that doesn’t seem to have any effect on Rhaenyra, as we see her walking back to the camp, completely drenched in blood. Her sight stuns and terrifies spectators, Alicent included, but Rhaenyra's detached attitude toward carnage resembles that of Daemon's. I am not saying that bloodshed and carnage are part of her character to the extent that they are a part of Daemon’s, but she and he both display a higher tolerance to the sight, thought and feel of the act.

Let's get now to the scene at Driftmark and the confrontation between Alicent and Rhaenyra. Alicent, too, ticks all three of the boxes for bloodlust at that moment: a desire for bloodshed because of the maiming of her son, arousal in the heat of the moment because her concerns are not taken seriously, and loss of control that results in obtaining the Valyrian steel dagger and cutting Rhaenyra's arm. However, Alicent shows how horrified she is that the situation has gotten out of control, and she drops the dagger. Later on, we see her remorse which mirrors Criston's, who wanted to commit suicide. They both understood the lengths of their actions and were devastated.

And what about Rhaenyra when she gets cut in that scene? She is once again oblivious to the pain, staring Alicent dead in the eyes which terrifies Alicent even more. I have a few reasons as to why.

First of all, Alicent suffered from dermatillomania growing up, which is a mental health condition where a person compulsively picks or scratches their skin, causing injuries or scarring. Also known as excoriation disorder or skin-picking disorder, this condition falls under the category of obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCDs) and can be triggered by anxiety. There are several scenes where we see that same anxiety permeate Alicent and her resort to dermatillomania, as early as episode 1 (this is where her brother Gwayne is fighting with Daemon):

What science says is that such behavior is anxiety-induced, a clinical condition, and even though she could stop it if she chose to, it is not that easy or simple. Alicent was addicted to the numbing pain as a relief from her anxiety but she loathed herself for its destructive nature. She was often made fun of it by her father who told her that she was "destroying herself." We see that as her confidence grew in the later episodes, and when she was released from the strenuous puppeteering of Otto, she was able to overcome the habit.

To my eyes, this is why it is shocking for Alicent to a) cause pain to Rhaenyra and b) to see Rhaenyra oblivious to such pain. The fact that Rhaenyra doesn’t even flinch, when Alicent hated herself for causing harm to her own body for years and when she already hates herself for losing her temper, confirms to her Rhaenyra’s absolute callousness. Yes, she, who lusts after what she wants and knows no limits, and whose ambition runs thicker than blood, does feel entitled to Aemond’s eye.

In fact, Alicent barely recognizes Rhaenyra at this moment. Alicent has just become afraid of herself, and of the newly discovered bloodlust she didn’t know she had, and seeing Rhaenyra show no reaction to the pain, Alicent becomes doubly afraid of Rhaenyra. The one who stares deeply into her eyes and shows her that she cannot hurt her. Who tells her that she can take in much more. Who is not like Alicent, to become consumed by pain. Rhaenyra is a warrior, and she is capable of showing her heartlessness when necessary. And that’s when Alicent understands that she doesn’t know Rhaenyra anymore. Alicent becomes even more afraid of her, and the person she has become. The person she could potentially turn into when provoked.

This is what absolutely terrifies yet humanizes Alicent, who already hated herself for causing injury to herself, and who hates herself now for causing injury to Rhaenyra. Yet Rhaenyra won't let her hurt or pain show like Alicent does, and she is used to causing injury without feeling anything; just like Daemon.

*added the coloring to keep track of the many lines of thought happening here

[slaughter-books]

Day 30: JOMPBPC: Read In June

My beautiful reading wrap-up for June, 2025!🧡

[boxofcondoms]

[future-trance]

Future Trance Vol. 6 TV-Spot

[fixaidea]

Oh good, Pan Ma's little 'your friend smells like death and one of you will cause the other's death' speech was also in the book.

I love how Wu Xie and Xiaoge just. Look Fate in the eyes and go 'lol nope'.