"No way. He's not my Dad" (Custas Character Analysis)
is how Custas responds when Coco asks about Dagda. It's chapter 43 that we are properly introduced to Custas. The previous chapters, he's an just unknowing that got into an accident. In this chapter, we learn that he is a traveler, can play several instruments, and has a bond with a man who he says is not his father but someone he "crossed paths" with.
In fact, he doesn't understand why Dagda is still staying with him. "He's too nice. It's not his fault I got hurt." Dagda comes back from mercenary work and Custas begs him to just leave him. He sees Dagda as chained down by the responsibility, especially since he strongly believes that everyone should have freedom.
(spoilers up to ch86 ahead)
(P.S this is a repost with some edits)
There are many chains bringing both of them down. They can't use magic to aid themselves. Their lack of a home restricts his opportunities, coupled with not going to school and always having to worry about food and money. He wishes to be free from these chains restricting the ways he can live, and the freedom he craves is symbolized as the flight of birds.
The first appearance of the motif of birds is in ch 45. A flashback features a starving Custas who attacks a crow. The page draws a direct parallel between the crow and the privileged people above Custas, perched on top the very walls that confine him.
It's an action for survival but also filled with resentment. He envies those that have wings, an appendage that'd let him fly over those imprisoning walls. His first meeting with Dagda and hearing his ballad makes him a little more optimistic, though. A panel two pages later features the same birds flying away, with a quote from Dagda's song: "You've gotta believe the chains of fate exist in order to have something to grab onto and throw off."
With Coco and Tartah's contraption, he's able to soar through the sky. He's able to have a taste of the amount of freedom witches have, and more importantly to him, he believes he's free from feeling like a burden to those around him. He even apologizes to Coco for not realizing that her "fate" being born a witch was just as much undecided as his situation.
But in his next meeting with Coco, everything changes. This happens in Ch 51, which has a cover where he is completely cloaked in feathers.
Now, after receiving silverwood legs from Ininia, he learns from the Brimhats that it's not birthright--it's not fate--that prevented him from using magic, but a secret that the pointed hats keep to themselves. This makes him lash out at Coco and Tartah, saying that they "wouldn't want me knowing how to help myself [âŠ] I'm supposed to keep relying on one of you to to show up." He still is living by the lyrics from Dagda's song. "You've gotta believe the chains of fate exist in order to have something to grab onto and throw off." Now he believes Coco and Tartah were lying about what those chains really were, and by crossing the line into forbidden magic, he can finally perch on top of the imprisoning walls like other privileged do.
Coco creates the next turning point in Custas' character in chapter 73. As Custas is dealing with the witches and knights still trying to apprehend him for rescuing people with forbidden magic, his rage for the unequality grows. Coco interrupts the situation by using a spell that blows away his brim into a pointed hat, with feathers errupting all around. Because he is just trying to help others, Coco believes that he should be on the side of the pointed hats. A bold, perhaps even naiive action, but the feathers being blown away start to hint that this isn't something he should have to face alone, that he should be able to join the pointed hats to keep helping people.
There's a lot to unpack in the chaos of the leech arc, but I will narrow my focus to its aftermath. In Chapter 81, he is not seen fighting witches or knights anymore, but being carried on Dagda's back. Coco assures him that the King can treat Dagda, and for once he can rest easy.
This is one of the most important pages to Custas' and Coco's characters. All this time he was so frustrated with how Dagda always risked his life for him, and he wanted to be free of owing anyone anything. But it's here that Custas realizes that he's the same way as Coco and Dagda--helping people isn't out of malice or control, they don't expect anything in return. It's just who they all are.
Finding this resolution with himself and feeling relief over Dagda's situation is what makes his body give in to slumber.
In Chapter 85, Dagda makes the same point. Just like how Custas was surprised that Dagda chose to go out and do Mercenary work for him when he could have easily gone back to travelling, Dagda sees how Custas could have done whatever he wants with his magic, but spent all of his efforts helping not only Dagda, but the muckpool people who are strangers to him.
These panels in 85 juxtapose the panels in chapter 45 where he is grimacing at the birds above him and attacks one. In this flashback with Dagda, he is at peace with the birds around him, even despite living a life of hardship that pointed hats would not know. Magic didn't bring him this life, finding Dagda did.
"I guess this is it"
"My happiness"
âMy happiness isn't in magic"
"It's here with you"
"Father"
In chapter 86, another bird-like creature is introduced. A silverwood seed awakens when the bird is injured, giving it the ability to fly again. Ironically, this ability is only given so that the bird can be rooted--chained down--to be part of a silverwood tree for the rest of its existence.
Custas believed that the silverwood legs and his knowledge of magic gave him the ability to 'fly' at the same level as the witches. However, they became the agent of his demise. It's a tragedy, except the "fatal flaw" of Custas is just that he wants to save others more than he's always being saved.
Indeed, what truly rid him of his burdens was accepting that help--doesn't matter if he "earned" it or not. Even with his resentment for the pointed hats, he accepted Coco and worked with her to find a solution. And in the end, it wasn't the silverwood prosthetic that brought him to safety like in the bird's case, but being carried on Dagda's back.
Magic is a powerful force that enables people to do things they couldn't, but it can never be happiness itself. What do you truly desire from it?
Back in chapter 45, it wasn't the mere ability to fly wherever that gave Custas pure happiness. It was the ability to fly into his father's arms.
What i love about this artistâs depictions of women is even the sexualized ones the woman is always genuinely happy and enjoying herself. Frolicking or making funny faces, sheâs living her life and looking sexy while doing it, not sitting in a sexual pose for the audienceâs view.
My favorite thing is how Hilda is almost always DOING something. Sheâs out there living her life. Sheâs not posing coyly for anyone, sheâs having her own adventures and itâs not about the viewer at all
Very soulmate behaviour from Custas and Tartah to be a boy made out of wood and a boy who is both Pinocchio (looking at that one halloween art) and a woodworker. Almost like they are two halves of a whole or something.
"kung pow penis," a phrase commonly used in reblogs to indicate utter disdain for OP, has twelve letters, each of which (traditionally) must be supplied by a different user. the unanimity of disdain indicated by these twelve unrelated users has strong parallels to the requirement of unanimity for a juryâalso traditionally of twelveâto arrive at a verdict. in this essay i will
With every move, the charge of Keiâs body grows. He drops his forehead to Tadashiâs shoulder, presses it down tight, but it isnât enough. Pushing himself up, closer, he wraps one arm around his shoulders â his deer shoulders, dappled in light â and then the other arm, and he grabs onto him for dear life, as if Tadashi, this destabilising factor, this explosive force, was the only thing able to keep his body together.
While that big wip is in the works, an illustration to one of the latest fics.
walks shining my beloved
the light of my eyes, walk shining, my beloved
in the cool shade, lie, boy
in the light breeze, lie, boy
I saw this when running newpipe. But wait, it gets deeper. I clicked on the details buttons and it said as of today, we have 83 days left until Google rolls out this new requirement for apps inside and outside of the google play store. If any developer disagrees with their new terms and fees, they will be blocked!
I'll share some of the info below:
Looks like they're trying to nuke the remaining privacy and freedoms we have left on the internet.
What to do?
-Get your developer friends to not comply to their new guides
- Sign the open letter on the site and take action by checking out the full resources list on their website as well!
To summarize, this is all daunting especially when you feel all alone with unfair and inhumane regulations comming out faster than improvements but we got this working together!
Share the link with your friends, family and anyone who will listen!
Your phone is about to stop being yours. In September 2026, Google will block every Android app whose developer hasn't registered with them.
Bronze and Crystal Sword from China, c.450-250 BCE: the hilt of this sword was crafted from rock crystal, turquoise, and gold
This sword is more than 2,200 years old. The elaborate hilt was carved from a piece of rock crystal and then embellished with turquoise stones and intricate patterns of inlaid gold.
Above: a close-up of the ornately-decorated hilt
The blade itself was forged from bronze, and it has a greenish-blue patina that was naturally produced over time.
Above: some of the damage and discoloration on the blade
As this article explains:
This bronze sword from the Warring States period stands as a testament to engineering and artistic excellence. Meticulously detailed, the sword features a slender, formidable blade that would have delighted its owner both in battle and aesthetically.
However, the true star of this sword lies in its exquisitely decorated hilt. Adorned with inlays of rock crystal, turquoise, and gold, the hilt showcases the remarkable technical and artistic skills of ancient Chinese artisans. These precious materials not only enhance the swordâs visual appeal but likely communicate the status and affluence of its owner.
The swordâs intricate craftsmanship and use of rare materials suggest it was likely commissioned by a wealthy and influential individual, such as a high-ranking military commander or an aristocratic elite.
Sources & More Info:
History, News, and Archaeology: The Jeweled Sword of Ancient China
Brewminate: Metallurgical Evolution in Ancient China
love how my tumblr also gets hyperfixations like yes today is avatar the last airbender day because why not yesterday was voltron. what will tomorrow be? probably gay
