Nettlelove - Mlem

My Analysis and Theories about Demetrius, Melinda, Donovan and Imperial Scholars

I hope you like reading because this is going to be a long one, I'm sorry. But I'm hoping to hear your ideas about these.

The Desmonds, aside Damian, are definitely weird, but I think there’s a high chance that Demetrius, alongside Melinda, was brainwashed and their minds are manipulated.

Demetrius seems to have empty thoughts aside from his constant belief that he doesn’t understand anyone, not even his brother and his father, despite spending a lot of time with him, as Damian stated. I think these thoughts have been instilled in him through brainwashing and mind manipulation.

That's likely the reason why Donovan spent a lot of time watching Demetrius when he was a child, forcing these ideas upon him since childhood.

This is the same idea he shared with Loid when they first met, that humans will never truly be sympathetic to each other because, at the end of the day, we are strangers, even to those who are our blood and flesh.

Melinda is the same too. Based on what we’ve seen of her so far, she seems to have conflicted feelings about Damian.

However, I think she was genuinely concerned for her son, but her husband is trying to instill those dreadful ideas onto her. (It might not be Donovan who was doing the mind manipulation, but based on the stitches on his head, there’s a possibility that he had been experimented on and had gained a mind ability somehow.)

I think that’s why she’s scared of Donovan knowing that she came for Damian at that school bus incident. Donovan doesn’t want her to care for anyone, not even their own sons (These poor kids).

But I believe she truly wants to be a good mother, and she wants Damian to break the cycle going on in their family. (If she didn’t care, she wouldn’t race through Eden just to check on Damian’s safety at the bus arc.) And I think that’s the reason why she wanted Damian and Anya to be close, for Damian to have someone that would make him break out of the expectations he had set for himself and be finally free to be a child since it’s what her son deserved. (But still, this theory of mine still doesn’t make her not suspicious to me; right now, all I’m giving these newly introduced characters is the benefit of the doubt)

Why does Donovan want to instill these ideas that humans can’t truly understand each other, not even those who are family? Because that’s the reason wars happen—people not trying to understand one another. It occurs when they don’t strive to meet in the middle. Assuming he does indeed plan to wage war against Westalis, then instilling that idea would benefit him.

Of course, it’s hard to instill the same idea in every citizen in Ostania, especially when the current government is trying to establish a diplomatic relationship with Westalis. So, how could he encourage these ideas? Where are ideas usually taught? What establishment is so respected that these ideas would be very much welcomed and widely taught in a subtle manner, making individuals unaware that they are being influenced? Oh, right—educational establishments, schools, and universities. And which is the most prestigious school in Ostania that could assist in achieving this and influence the children of Ostania to acquire nationalistic ideas so that, in the future, they would carry these ideas for the sake of Ostania? Eden Academy.

This is where the hidden agenda of the Imperial Scholars, I think, plays out. Kids like Demetrius, I believe, are being brainwashed to adopt the same thoughts and ideas as Donovan. Children are the most vulnerable to manipulation, absorbing ideas like a sponge. That's my guess about what’s going on with these Imperial Scholars in Eden.

Why do you think they choose the cream of the crop among these students? The geniuses—won’t they be useful in terms of war? The other talented and athletic students could boost Ostania’s economy, and when they become famous celebrities, they could be influencers, shaping public opinion in line with the ideas they hold. The heroic and helpful ones could also be valuable in times of war, willingly risking their lives for Ostania.

When I was a Humanities student in my senior year of high school, I remembered studying a case in my country where athletes and geniuses were brainwashed by rebel groups into supporting their ideals regarding the government. In the end, these students did join those rebel groups, believing they were doing the right thing. They left their families, not even caring about their feelings, because they firmly believed that what they were doing needed to be done. They were first introduced into these societies or clubs, usually inviting geniuses and, take note, scholars. As they associated more with these clubs or organizations, they became more and more exposed and influenced. I can’t help but think that this could also be true in Eden Academy. I think this could be confirmed or debunked once we meet more Imperial Scholars or former Imperial Scholars and have their minds read by Anya. So for now, this is purely my speculation. But I'd like to know your ideas about it.

Operation Strix, I'd say, challenges Desmond’s ideas about people not understanding one another. Remember, Twilight’s goal was not to assassinate him; it was for him to determine if Desmond was engaged in any suspicious activities that might lead to war between East and West and to prevent it from happening. I think, in a way, Operation Strix could really achieve that because at its very core, it disproves Donovan’s ideas about people. These three individuals bound by Operation Strix, who barely knew each other and hadn't even spent a year together, have a lot of secrets and differences in terms of nationality, behavior, upbringing, and ideals. Yet, they managed to live peacefully as a family. They may not understand each other completely, but that doesn’t stop them from trying.

Twilight, despite Anya being a stranger to him, strives to always humor her no matter how weird her statements are. Even though he couldn’t fully understand her, he wanted to and he always tries to, because he’s not just a spy; he’s a parent, her father. That’s what parents and families do—they always try to understand one another. This connects back to the inside cover theory I talked about before, regarding the Forger family understanding one another.

It was fascinating to see how the Desmonds and the Forgers are alike in terms of being not a normal family but very different, especially in how they treat each other. I would love it if Donovan, as a character, symbolizes the idea of war, while Twilight and the family he built for his mission are a symbol of peace, proving it to be possible despite all differences.

What do you think about this?

The fact that this is 80 fucking years ago but still just as relevant is terrifying.

it's me and the four people on ao3 who understand my favorite character in the exact same way against the world

i cannot emphasize how necessary it is to have a buddy to participate in fandom with. completely elevated experience. don't have a buddy? find someone you like and message them and be their friend. gush over every sketch and drabble and insane headcanon they have. live life to the fullest.

Something so funny about Yuji when you know what he can so is realizing that in the first episode/second chapter that he could have possibly broken out those restraints. But chose not to because he needed answers.

And before anyone goes "but he couldn't when---", he had to realize he was even tied down. Once he did, that's when he settled down.

Just that scene alone though (in general, the first two episodes and chapters), in all seriousness, shows just what kind of person Yuji is.

He doesn't actually get panicky or thrash around. His immediate reaction to waking up was asking about Fushiguro and the others. Then even after that, he didn't ask "what are you going to do about me" or anything. Given, Satoru dove right into telling him he was to be executed.

Even with those news, Yuji's reaction was annoyance and disappointment. But he lets Satoru inform him of the situation and responds when need be, he's active in the discussion.

That, along with the issue before (curses attacking his upperclassmen, seeing Demon Dogs and Sukuna's finger) showcases just like in a fight with an opponent, Yuji learns to adapt to whatever is going on around him while being observant and calm, even though he can (and has) be annoyed.

He's not reckless in the sense of "I don't have time to be careful, I'm going to wreck everything". He tends to be cautious if he is allowed (note come his first mission he tells Nobara to be careful and curses aren't a joke), but it's often put in situations where to be reckless is possible and must.

I also feel like Yuji doesn't know his own strength sometimes. Just me, but based on how he acts, it's like Yuji does forget he can outrun a car or break concrete because he doesn't do things like that all the time. When he is made aware it's when it is a time of importance.

It's like when you have a special skill, but it sits in the back of your brain until you remember it. Like... curling your tongue! You can do it, but because it's not something you do all the time you forget you can do it until it's remembered.

So rewinding back to that holding room scene, I'm imagining that Yuji somewhat forgotten how strong he is, so he didn't try to break out the restraints. However, he also does know he could but chose to be patient so he can get a better understanding of what is going around him (again as he is in fights).

I've read the chapter a couple of times now and I seriously don't understand why people want Gojo revive after that. He's content, at peace, together with the people he likes and says right at the end that he hopes this moment won't end and just be his imagination. There's a resolution to his character (he was able to connect with someone who's the same as him) and he liked the way he died. Even the whole Geto thing got tied up.

I can understand not liking where his character ended up (he doesn't really want change or help people, just try to lift them to his level to be able to relate to others), but it seemed that's what Gege had in mind for him. This more self-centred mindset that makes most of his students not a concern to him anymore is frustrating, but I think that was the plan, just terribly executed. Gojo left some of his care for others in the Prison Realm. He had so much time to think that he became entirely focused on the past and is so sick of imprisonment that he'll even take Sukuna to finally feel something.

Yuuji & Hana's worry about him forgetting Megumi was well-founded. Gojo's biggest concern about him is explaining Toji and he left that to Shoko. It's character development and resolution, just in a negative way. The problem is also that since his unsealing we barely got any focus on Gojo's mindset and experiences in the Prison Realm, so there's almost no foreshadowing. He comes across more detached and uncaring/disinterested with what is and was happening, but that's it. We don't even know if he was concerned about Nobara's limbo state - probably not - or if he ever had any bigger plan when facing Sukuna. Other characters like Shoko noticing a change in him could've prepared the reader better for what happened during the fight. Nanami and Geto call Gojo out for not caring about the current goals of the protagonists and just seeking a connection with Sukuna and finding pleasure in that instead, but it's the last chapter and Gojo's death scene, so it's a little late.

Either way, Gojo seems entirely satisfied with where he ended up. He is finally less alone, even if the comradery of strength he sought was found in Sukuna, and Sukuna also acknowledges that. There's a focus on Gojo's mouth when Sukuna says "You did well. I will never forget you", implying he's happy about that. While the setup and execution was very shaky, we have reached an end and just bringing Gojo back would not only feel unsatisfying, but also go against the wishes we see Gojo express here.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to do silly, frivolous things that serve no other purpose than making you happy.

Random worldbuilding: A culture where everyone's social status is expressed through how their hair is braided.

Children all have the same kind of a simple, unisex "child's braid" which is meant for their parents to be easy to do - traditionally boys were only taught how to do a "wife's braid" while women braid both their husbands and their children, but a modern man is naturally an attentive father and contributes to both cleaning and feeding, and clothing and braiding his children.

While this kind of knowledge is more accessible in the modern age, the art of braiding is still seen as an intimate family thing, and it's not unusual for a youth to come out to their parents by the way of braids - for example a daughter asking her father to teach her how to do the "wife's braid", or a son asking her mother how to weave the "husband braid" for their future spouse. Or a trans kid asking their parents to give them the other gender's braid when it's time to transition from the child braid into the "unmarried youth" one.

It is nonetheless still somewhat common to see an older gay man with a "wife's braid" or two older women both wearing "husband braids", because that was the only way they were taught to braid a future partner's hair when they were young. They could learn the "appropriate" braid now, but it has become a part of the culture, an old-fashioned gay thing to do. It's pride - if you wear this braid to show that you're an adult with a spouse, why try to hide who braids your hair every morning?

The only braid that one is expected to do on themselves is the widow's braid - the only one that is also unisex, braided in reverse from the simple children's braid. Sometimes, young unmarried adults who have no interest in starting a family switch directly into wearing a widow's braid to signify that they are not looking for a partner and are independent adults on their own.

hello. selectively mutedrien au. + alt universe. its everything i ever wanted. i feed this to you with my bare hands.