katya and dmitry (my beloveds), or discussing mutation motifs in texts from a biological and psychological standpoint
CONTENT WARNING: DISCUSSIONS OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND HUMAN EXPERIMENTATION.
READING-THIS WARNING: I MISINTERPRET STUFF A LOT, THIS IS PURELY MY INTERPRETATION OF THE SERIES. SORRY IF I'M WRONG. :(
When I first watched through Parties are for Losers and its respective songs, my brain was already whirring. Come on. I'm a Vocaloid nerd, obviously I have to look into it, and I know something is up, which means the analysis brain begins. I really enjoyed the Evillous Chronicles, and it seemed as though this was similar. Unlike it, this was actually in English (being set in Russia), and the narrative felt inherently more understandable, although that may just be because it's only 13 songs, compared to Evillous' 82.
AND it covers topics of biology and its affects on psychology. it's perfect. why have i never heard of this before??!?!?!?
There's a lot of aspects to explore within PafL, but I want to specifically focus on Katya (KT) and Dmitry, and their mutations, taking a biological and social approach to their current mental state. I will refer to Katya by her full "name" because it feels a little more humanising, and our baby girl deserves that.
Human experimentation/mutation is a fascinating topic to explore, because it questions the essence of humanity itself - how could you do that to another human being, a child, no less? End and Save is one of my favourite webtoon comics because of this. The abilities that these children gain typically have significant disadvantages, due to the inherently unethical nature of the creation. In some ways, the mutation itself explores corruption.
Biologically, genetic mutations are a natural occurrence, resultant from selection. We are nowhere near the current level needed to cause significant mutation like that of Katya and Dmitry's, and despite what most people think, there's actually no real intention to head in that direction. Therapeutic gene editing (LITERALLY MY SPECIALISED INTEREST. LIKE I WANT TO GO INTO THIS IN THE FUTURE. THIS IS PERFECT.) strays away from eugenics, and focuses on curing genetic disease. It's a fascinating topic of research, and one I hold dear to me. CRISPR my beloved
Katya's mutant ability is directly related to stress. It causes the extensive growth of tissue when she's in a stressful situation, and she has limited control over the flesh. This then has to be cut off, leaving serious wounds to heal on her skin.
art by Ferry
Taking this biologically, it would have to be mutation related to extreme cell division in tissue - in more simple terms, it's not unlike cancer, where a cell does not consider the required markers for division, and instead rapidly divides. Katya's seems far more controlled than cancer, sticking only to particular sites, and also significantly more extreme. Considering the stress required, it may actually be related to an influx of hormonal changes during stress sequences.
As a result of this, Katya is hypersensitive to the emotion of others and can tolerate a high amount of stress, with inherent optimism. She's relatively simple, and tries her best not to let her abilities weigh her down. In the end, she resigns herself to undeserving of true kindness, suggesting she has some well-hidden low self-esteem.
Dmitry's mutant ability seems more controllable, and therefore powerful, than Katya's. He has the ability to pick up anything, with vague limitations on weight, provided he knows specific location and it is within a 15 metre radius.
art by Ferry
Telekinesis from a biological standpoint? I'm not opening that can of worms. I'm not even gonna try. Make it up yourself. I'm pretty sure A Certain Scientific Railgun couldn't even really explain Kuroko's powers, and I'm one small scrawny rat.
Dmitry suffers severe physical consequences as a result of this ability, even using it regularly - severe headaches, loss of consciousness, and dizziness, which can been seen when he attempts to save Anya. Dmitry is significantly more cautious of the outside world than Katya is, and he's somewhat more hostile, threatening Yura and Sanya when he is blackmailed. However, he's practical, likely from the skills taught to him through use of telekinesis.
Dmitry and Katya were set out to have a negative relationship, due to the power dynamics between the two of them making them inherently different people. Dmitry was used for several years as an "assistant" to test Katya's abilities, and seems to hold a grudge with her over that. They have differing opinions on the outside world, particularly due to the way Dmitry's inhumanity was repeated to him often, as the lab researchers began to fear his power. He's not so pessimistic that he acts as contrast to Katya, but the clashing elements still causes them to go their separate ways in KT's Guide.
I couldn't find any specific links between the use of GUMI as KT and Fukase as Dmitry, but I'm sure there is some when considering the different Vocaloids used as a whole. I just wish I could understand what it was, but I don't quite know enough about Vocaloid as a whole for that. Alternatively, it could just be because of gender and the fact that both sound good with the style of the song.
song i wrote this listening to (after PafL, of course): sleep thru ur alarms by Lontalius
it's been a rough night, okay? i needed this as a distraction.
thanks so much to powercoreact for the suggestion! i genuinely really enjoyed this, and you hit my secret hidden love for vocaloid right in the feels. can you believe i watched this like an hour ago??? i feel like i've known it for years.
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cw. gifs, jitters
🔓
𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫: 𝐀𝐜𝐭 𝐈
Trickery of Light and Shadows
Quest Started
I think
Some people were born a shadow.
Destined to always be the second best.
(Love is fleeting. Love is conditional. Love is pain.)
Destined to always be the second option.
(Love is cruel. Love is a game of logic. Love is a race.)
Destined to always be…
…. alone in the dark.
….
….
….
I dare not defy the fate bestowed upon me, for I know it would not be kind. It never was and it never will. Ice destroyed all that I held dear, yet it is that same ice I had no choice but wield.
But the lights; oh how they call upon me.
So when I see a sun so incandescent—
The brighter I wish for it to dazzle.
You are not worthy
You are not worthy
You are not
ー I am not worthy.
“What are you zoning out for? Duty calls.”
“But Lord Tartaglia, your injuries—”
“Eh, I’ll be fine,” the harbinger blinked and smiled almost knowingly, “… Or would you rather stay in Liyue?”
“What?! No! Of course not! I—”
In my clouded chase of a disillusioned future, I have ruined everything.
“There is… no place for me here.”
Not anymore.
“…. If that’s what you think. Then, I guess you’ll be going with me to Fontaine.”
“Of course. It is only right, seeing as I am your underling.”
The two pairs of boots crunched against the stone pavements leading towards Liyue Harbor’s gates. Coviello reached into their pocket, habitually checking to see if they had their Delusion - yet their fingers brushed against two folded sheets of paper. One, they recognized, but the other....
“……?”
a friend of mine gave me this for protection, but i don’t think i’ll need it, so i'm giving it to you.
stay safe and drop by whenever you're in liyue. i wouldn't be opposed to hire such a capable part-timer. the patrons will miss you.
— your ex-boss
.... Should I send her a letter, at the very least?
........ No.
I'm sure she's already back arrived back home safely.
𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫: 𝐀𝐜𝐭 𝐈 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞
Trickery of Light and Shadows
Quest Completed
[ To be continued(?) ]
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