#onigo .flow

[pb-s-corner]

.Flow Week 2025 Day 4 | Wild Card/Free Day* / Warmth & cold / Shitpost; Sabi & friends as cat

This drawing is OLDDD, but it's honestly one of my best. It was made on the first months of January 2023 if I remember correctly. Due to this day being a wild card, I found the perfect excuse to finally post it! II hope you like it as much as I had!

This year's prompts were done by @rustedalleys.

[secondshark]

Oh yesterday in .flow I finally got the sugar float days event for the first time and I really like how subtle the event is.

I think it’s more of a fantasy than “the past” and definitely (imo) involves a family member. I don’t exactly think Sabitsuki’s mother died in labor, but died figuratively; her life was over because of Sabitsuki’s birth. Despite having to look for her, we still see a black haired woman quite a few times throughout the game in various spots that doesn’t exactly match the onigo.

I feel like Sabitsuki was always resented as a child and seen as responsible for the “death” of her mother as well as being the prominent host of rust

Sugar float days feels to me like an idealized version of Sabitsuki’s life, one where she’d never been ill or ruined anyone’s life by being born. The walls are still white, but not sterile like a hospital’s. There’s vines and greenery, but instead of it being overgrown or toxic like the plant corridors, it’s calming and frames an idyllic picture. It’s a simple type of happiness, and likely one Sabitsuki has never experienced.

This feels like the only area of the game where sugar is framed as a positive feeling or at least calm.

[purpletyrant]

this will never end ‘cause i want more more, gimme more, gimme more (x)

very old file. click the cut to see what it looked like before i started from scratch

[caseyah]

.flow

I just finished playing through .flow, so I think I’ll try to give my full thoughts and interpretations on a lot of I found and experienced in the game (in the form of a series of points, because my thoughts are scattered even at the best of times).

for now I will be just be tackling characters roughly in order of how relevant I believe them to be to Sabitsuki’s life and experiences, while I will talk about Sabitsuki (and, by extension, Rust) at a later time.

CHARACTERS: 

Black-Haired Girl / Onigo: Sabitsuki’s life began with a death. Specifically, the death of her mother. Onigo represents the very few things Sabitsuki both remembers about her mother (her distinctive long black hair and blue dress) and what she was told by the hospital staff (the fact that she died giving birth to Sabitsuki). The reason why she dies so often in the game itself (childbirth event, every time you encounter her as Rust) is because thats all Sabitsuki can relate her with. Sabitsuki also likely feels guilt in relation to "causing” her mother’s death, as she manifests the idea in the form of the incredibly visceral Childbirth Event. 

Oreko: Sabitsuki’s childhood friend, another child who either “lived” in the hospital like Sabitsuki or simply another kid who met Sabitsuki during a time she was in the hospital. Oreko would grow interested in technology and machines as she grew older, eventually becoming something of a mechanic/scientist (though Sabitsuki likely never exactly understood what Oreko’s machines were, which is probably was she internalized them as looking quite bizarre and scary). She also likely had a very big interest in the seas, explaining why she wears the divers helmet and why Sabitsuki associates her with the ocean. Oreko was Sabitsuki’s only companion in any sense throughout the majority of her life, someone who was there for Sabitsuki no matter how much abuse Sabi sustained from society or no matter how bad Sabi’s illness got. Unfortunately, Oreko’s life would eventually be cut short. Sabitsuki most likely never figured out how her best friend perished and was likely in denial about it for some time before making peace with it (Finding Oreko’s ghost requires interacting with her “alive” self a decent amount, and the area her specter is found in is relatively calm compared to most other areas containing significant characters). Oreko’s final appearance to Rust in deadhole could be the last remaining shred of “normal” Sabitsuki having one last memory of her best friend, before she disappears and only Rust remains.

School Girl/Kaibutsu Sabitsuki: Sabitsuki’s manifestation of what she once was/fears she could become again, the one who was harmed by and later took revenge on Smile and the one Sabitsuki is always running from to some extent. School was likely a very, very bad time for Sabitsuki on a personal level, possibly due to Oreko’s death (though there isn’t anything that really indicates when Oreko’s death happened in relation to Sabitsuki’s life so it could be for any currently unknown reason). Kaibutsu Sabitsuki is what Sabitsuki remembers herself as during that time: a violent monster who hurt the only person Sabitsuki was even remotely close to at the time.

Smile: Though Smile is obviously a very significant person in Sabitsuki’s life, exactly what their relationship was and Smile’s history in general is very vague. His appearance in Disposal is likely a representation of his first meeting with Sabitsuki, as he isn’t wearing his usual outfit and lacks his tattoos (their appearance while as Rust may just be because Rust always sees Smile as his “true” self) and seems to react to Sabitsuki’s presence with mild confusion more then anything else. They later met properly during school, where by this point Smile had gained his tattoos and they obviously had formed a relationship of some sort (whether it was just an acquaintanceship, a friendship, or something more significant isn’t exactly clear but Smile was at least comfortable enough around Sabitsuki to have her visit his house and meet his sister). Unfortunately, their ambiguous relationship didn’t last. Sabitsuki’s corrupted school event shows what I believe is likely the end of their relationship and the last time they ever interacted with eachother. For one reason or another, and I suspect the cause was likely Sabitsuki herself, Smile attacked Sabi in the basement of the school. On a personal level, Sabitsuki likely viewed this as an injustice against herself (even if Smile was likely only doing what had to be done) which is why Rust later imagines herself getting revenge against the boy.

The Cleaners: The Cleaners are people who “clean up” (i.e. kill) those with the illness Sabitsuki suffers from. At some point in the past, they massacred the residents of the hospital Sabitsuki was staying in (as seen in 0.16) but left her alive for whatever reason, taking her away to live an actual life beyond the hospital walls. Why they spared Sabitsuki specifically isn’t something I can explain really, but its possible she was simply much less far along in her illness compared to the others and had the potential to be “saved”. Sabitsuki likely doesn’t view the Cleaners as a threat or “enemies” as it were and rather seems fairly neutral about them despite understanding what they do on some level (as seen by obtaining the limbless effect from one’s chainsaw). The Cleaners also had a second purpose asides from their main directive: working at the Sugar Hole (or whatever its “real” equivalent may be). Given Sabitsuki’s fondness of the place (it being one of very few areas in .flow that aren’t directly threatening or foreboding in some way), its possible The Cleaners brought her to the Sugar Hole shortly after leaving the Hospital with Sabi.

The Girl In The Yellow Dress: Buried far in Sabitsuki’s subconscious are the few memories focused on a mysterious girl known only for her faded, dirty yellow dress. Though not strictly always buried far beneath (being seen in Deterioration very easily while smoking in the hall) and never reacting to Sabi’s presence, she is clearly someone Sabitsuki lost tragically and has done her best to bury all the remaining memories of. So, who is this girl? Though my theory is abit shakier thanks to just how vague a character she is, I believe the Yellow Dress Girl to have been a sex worker who briefly acted as Sabitsuki’s caretaker before she somehow met her end. Maybe through knowing the Cleaners somehow or just being in the right place at the right time, this girl ended up as the guardian to a young Sabitsuki. Working as a prostitute (either already her job or something she took up to support Sabitsuki), the young Sabitsuki grew to genuinely appreciate this girl as a motherly figure and they briefly shared a legitimately nice life together (as seen in the “sugar float days” event). However, it didn’t last, and thanks to the darker side of her job creeping up and taking over her life, the Yellow Dress Girl ended up separated from Sabitsuki and possibly even dead. Sabitsuki, unable to properly deal with the trauma of losing someone who did so much for her and she held so dearly, repressed the memories of her and pushed the Yellow Dress Girl into the furthest points of her mind, where memories of the good times were fleeting and brief while memories of the end lingered unchanging.

Little Sabitsuki: Little Sabitsuki is fairly self-explanatory: she represents how Sabitsuki remembers herself as a child, either weak and bedridden (hospital), or lost and forgotten (snow world). Little Sabi’s condition worsening as regular Sabitsuki’s does could represent just how sick Sabi truly believes she is, unable to see even her past self as anything but diseased and broken. Sabitsuki never got to experience a “proper” childhood, she has no memories beyond the hospital, the overgrown halls, and the cold.

The Inner Demon: Underneath it all, this is how Sabitsuki truly sees herself. A bloody, diseased demon who exists only to cause suffering to both the world and people around her, aswell as her self. A manifestation of all of Sabitsuki’s sins and wrongdoings in the form of a dark mirror, buried so far deep within Sabitsuki’s subconscious the idea of confronting it leads Sabi to vomit her own blood in anxiety and terror. Only once Sabitsuki sheds her sense of self and becomes Rust can she properly confront her demon. The years and years of self-loathing building up from her birth, to her disease, to the loss of her friends, to the loss of control, to the loss of her self, leads Rust to perform a metaphorical suicide as she beats the demon to death as the final action taken in her own subconscious.

Kaibutsu: What Sabitsuki fears she will become should her illness completely take over. They take the form of grown-up versions of her fellow children at the hospital, possibly meaning that she believes all of them would be doomed to become a Kaibutsu, or perhaps that she saw multiple children become Kaibutsu at the hospital.

Fetuses: Sabitsuki’s physical manifestation of her illness, only appearing by the time Rust takes over (as while Sabitsuki rejects and is terrified of the illness, Rust embraces it).

Takibi-san: A homeless girl Sabitsuki spent a small amount of time around after leaving the hospital. Sabi mostly remembers her thanks to Takibi’s distinctive pink hair, a very uncommon trait in .flow’s world.

While this is all for now, I do plan to do a similar analysis for Sabitsuki and Rust. If that goes well enough and I still feel up to it afterwards, I will do another two analysises for the maps and the effects.

[colorclicks]

ACCESSORIES the SHOW-PROJECT WOMEN-ACCESSORIE CIRCUIT-FAME-MODA January 2019

MEMOI-Fun, bright, colorful legwear that is edgy, classic, and traditional to pair with sneakers, heels, and boots.  Take a little bright green and orange, and throw it against a white background for some spring delight.  Add a sole-ful “Foxy” and “Lady” to each foot and let it be your mantra for the day.  Tights in sky blue are ready to compliment silk or chiffon skirts, or shorts!  Great color combinations to include with sky blue this spring in particular are: navy, white, sky blue, neon green, and turquoise.

ONIGO-Wear wonderful hats that protect you from the sun, and you will become a dermatologist’s best friend.  Their newest introduction is an over-sized fedora in striped beige and charcoal gray.  Wherever you go, whatever you do, neutrals are there to keep you company.  But, a pop of color can make you happy.  This is a company that makes the best of any color for your day, your week, your year.  A veritable hat wardrobe.

KARINE SULTAN-Jewelry adds a bit of sparkle to our wardrobe choices.  A bit of shine, a bit of matte, they have it all.  Their newest introductions include coins, pearls, resin, subtle matte, and bright metallics.

MEDUSA’S HEIRLOOM-when looking for a riff on Pantone’s coral color of the year, these hair accessories are a must, highligting beautiful hair, and pulling together your personal look.  As wedding season approaches, be sure to pay special attention to your hair.  Subtle embellishment goes a long way.

TOLANI-Gauzy dresses and cover-ups evoke Italy’s Capri with a sophisticated color burst.  The subdued yellow, fuchsia, leaf green, navy, mauve, and turquoise are each stand-alone colors in this spring’s forecast. Put them together in a floral print and wear the whole color array of the season at once.

KATHERINE WAY-offers UPF sun protection 50+ in her moisture-wicking , wash and dry, beautifully colored pieces.  She has a strong navy story, as well as a lovely coral story, with unexpected geometrics that give each timeless dress a current look.

PETIT POIS-This Miami designer loves to travel and walk the local markets.   In doing so, she has hit all the forecast colors: sky blue, purple, yellow, coral, and pea green.  Of particular interest is the manner in which she combines the colors to create a whole palette.  The colors flow into each other like a Caribbean dance.

LA FIORENTINA-designs ponchos with sparkle that are easy and fun.  The simplicity of the sparkle allows the pieces to go from the gym to cocktails.  The color palette begins softly with gray, pink, and muted green; then adds some spice with coral, fuchsia, sky, and red.  It is easy to pair these colors with black.  But, add adventure to your look and pair the colors with red!

WOVEN PEAR-Look down to your feet when wearing socks and you will enjoy a cheerful surprise.  Brown leopard print socks have a green toe box!  Brown and pink prints have a soft mint toe.  Buffaloes roam on beige, with orange toe tips.  What could be more special than dancing in your living room to a personal beat, with animals on your feet!  Porcupines, mina birds, clowns, octopus, and koalas each dance up and down your legs. This is all about serious fun.