"And he knows that about himself, it's so foundational even "well, I was a god back then" doesn't make him question that certainty. He can envision no version of himself, no matter how out there, for whom that wouldn't be true. ♥ ♥ ♥"
YES! ♡♡♡ 'No matter how long ago and how different the circumstances, I would never do THIS.' It's wonderful. ♡
"That he almost interfered and went after or chased off whoever past!ZYL was with? (He wouldn't - he didn't - but that's the sort of thing he always thinks he's closer to doing than he actually is ...)"
Yeah, that's definitely how I'd interpret his words too, if there was nothing else. But then it throws me off that the next line is "The rest of what he’d started to say was likely unfit for polite company." - it feels like it has to imply something indecent? If it was more in the vein of 'something Shen Wei would never admit' then it would be more clear to me that it's just him hiding his violent/posessive urges (that he indeed never acts on), as usual.
"I think it's true insofar as he cares deeply about not showing evidence of his monstrous nature in front of ZYL, in a way he doesn't about other people. He's still hiding it, it still matters to him, but he doesn't care about other people's judgment or good opinion the way he does ZYL's, so the stakes aren't the same, and he's a lot more tightly wound around ZYL as a consequence."
Yeah, I see how it's all more figurative and relative than literal, and it does make a lot of sense - 'slightly less tense' will automatically feel like 'more relaxed'. (The part that doesn't ring true to me in the literal sense is "Where others put up a facade around outsiders, then relaxed and revealed their true selves with an intimate partner, Shen Wei was the polar opposite." Because it would mean that he does reveal his true self around outsiders, which he doesn't.)
"LOL! Mostly I'm wondering what supernatural shenanigans are keeping this phone working for so long!"
Hahah, yes, this too! :D :D (My first reaction was 'I have phones from 20+ years ago that still work', but they were only in use for a couple of years and then left alone. A late 90s phone that still works after 15 years of daily use, yeah, must be enchanted. xD)
"So glad I'm not the only one who was confused by that!"
Yep, same, I saw that you commented on it too! :) There is some vital detail clearly missing from the waitress scene.
"No matter what he's up to, he's such a troll - humming, flipping through a magazine, OMG, SW! I love that for him. :D"
It's beautiful, I'm reveling in the mood he's projecting. :D :D :D
"Not really seeing the connection? Gulping down alcohol is a pretty different vibe."
True, and higher stakes too, but I do see the more general vibe of 'I am not doing bullshit ceremonies with someone who doesn't deserve it'.
no subject
YES! ♡♡♡ 'No matter how long ago and how different the circumstances, I would never do THIS.' It's wonderful. ♡
"That he almost interfered and went after or chased off whoever past!ZYL was with? (He wouldn't - he didn't - but that's the sort of thing he always thinks he's closer to doing than he actually is ...)"
Yeah, that's definitely how I'd interpret his words too, if there was nothing else. But then it throws me off that the next line is "The rest of what he’d started to say was likely unfit for polite company." - it feels like it has to imply something indecent? If it was more in the vein of 'something Shen Wei would never admit' then it would be more clear to me that it's just him hiding his violent/posessive urges (that he indeed never acts on), as usual.
"I think it's true insofar as he cares deeply about not showing evidence of his monstrous nature in front of ZYL, in a way he doesn't about other people. He's still hiding it, it still matters to him, but he doesn't care about other people's judgment or good opinion the way he does ZYL's, so the stakes aren't the same, and he's a lot more tightly wound around ZYL as a consequence."
Yeah, I see how it's all more figurative and relative than literal, and it does make a lot of sense - 'slightly less tense' will automatically feel like 'more relaxed'. (The part that doesn't ring true to me in the literal sense is "Where others put up a facade around outsiders, then relaxed and revealed their true selves with an intimate partner, Shen Wei was the polar opposite." Because it would mean that he does reveal his true self around outsiders, which he doesn't.)
"LOL! Mostly I'm wondering what supernatural shenanigans are keeping this phone working for so long!"
Hahah, yes, this too! :D :D (My first reaction was 'I have phones from 20+ years ago that still work', but they were only in use for a couple of years and then left alone. A late 90s phone that still works after 15 years of daily use, yeah, must be enchanted. xD)
"So glad I'm not the only one who was confused by that!"
Yep, same, I saw that you commented on it too! :) There is some vital detail clearly missing from the waitress scene.
"No matter what he's up to, he's such a troll - humming, flipping through a magazine, OMG, SW! I love that for him. :D"
It's beautiful, I'm reveling in the mood he's projecting. :D :D :D
"Not really seeing the connection? Gulping down alcohol is a pretty different vibe."
True, and higher stakes too, but I do see the more general vibe of 'I am not doing bullshit ceremonies with someone who doesn't deserve it'.