The arts of shipping

It’s this superb artwork from Yana Toboso’s Art Book (vol. 3) in commemoration of the series’ 15th anniversary.

Okay, Sebastian is pouring tea into our!Ciel’s cup.

But there’s a green liquid string coming from the flowers and plants blooming inside that fancy teapot, which then start to grow inside our!Ciel cup. What type of flower(s) Sebastian and our!Ciel are holding… I guess they are the same, right? Most importantly, what’s the meaning behind them? Also, those slightly violet, spiky flowers, curiously positioned in the foreground of the picture? It ought to have a symbolism too.

I’m completely in love with this imagery. There’s a faint bit of melancholy in our!Ciel’s stance… and serenity. Sebastian is 300% mesmerized by gazing intensely at his extravagantly dressed master, in a very relaxing way cocksure bitch is not even paying attention to the task, yeah I know, “one hell of a butler”, they said. There is a bright sunlight bathing both from behind, partially, but it gets diffused through the foliage. So, on the whole, the picture seems positively idyllic…

Enjoy.

I have got some questions though.

As I understand it, baby’s breath is on the right of the teapot on this picture. Do you know what flowers are the ones I circled in red and in blue?

However, I hope I got it right.

Let's start with the flower framed in red, which I could identify as a Bellflower. I must confess, I must have looked for about a hundred flowers to come across it. But from the shape of the flowers and the very fine stem, it is my result.

As you can see, the Bellflower is extremely diverse. Probably because there are over 500 species. Some of them grow with their calyxes upwards, others fall gently downwards. However, its dominant petal colours are white, blue and purple. Matching the colours that reflect O!Ciel.

Its meaning, which again fits very well into the history of the painting so far and is very beautiful: The close calyxes of the Bellflowers symbolise togetherness and unity. Whoever gives Bellflowers as a gift wants to say: "Our hearts beat in the same tact".

Well, a plant couldn't express better how closely O!Ciel and Sebastian are connected, could it? Even if we take away the implied romantic background, the focus here is on their magical bond of contract.

But let's take a look at the other flower in the blue frame, which I identified as white Forget-me-not.

After thousands of flowers - I'm not exaggerating - it was the leaves and the rich dark green of the leaves that made me think of the flower species. Also the small distance between the petals.

Ironically - in relation to this fandom - according to a middle-age myth, the plant Forget-me-not got its name because God asked it not to be forgotten.

Because of the emotional and romantic association, the flower is very often given as a gift to express love to someone. And the wish not to be forgotten.

If we take a look at the mythology of this flower, it becomes very interesting. Because apart from the fact that the Greeks saw in it a sacred flower of the faithful lovers, it belongs to the so-called elf plants of which there are two species: Those under the special protection of the elves and those who are supposed to protect against them. Forget-me-nots are among the latter.

Maybe I'm interpreting too much here, but are Sebastian and Undertaker possibly the focus here? Sebastian protecting O!Ciel from the Undertaker the whole time, while the Undertaker preserves and protects R!Ciel? I find this idea very interesting somehow.

And as if things couldn't get any better, the flower is called the Blue Heaven's Key. Or also: "The Forget-me-not - the key to the true treasures of the soul."

I forgot about Spocks heavy telepathic powers. But he doesn't sense it, if Jims hand collides with his private parts just one episode later ...

Still not watching snw and hating 99,999% of it, but ... I got shortly aware of the mind link between Jim and Spock and now I can't make it unsee.

But...

If we continue this thought. In my opinion, Kirk and Spock decided together that they see, how working together in command would evolve. And then decide if they would be together officially or not.

Because in season 3 of tos, it seems like they broke up for real. And Spock was so hurt, while Kirk was so cruel prancing with every female in front of Spock.

before chapter 211

after chapter 211

What is she upset about you may ask? Straight Spock. She is an avid hater of straight Spock. She said it was fine in AOS because he was “In the closet. Clearly he was dealing with some things.”

TOS Spirk for me has Spock falling for Kirk first. With him obviously holding feelings for Kirk but not saying anything till at least post the motion picture. But there is an underlying jealously and slightly melancholy to Spock’s affection for Kirk, that is amplified by Kirks many MANY romantic forays. I think we see it especially in episodes like the Edith Keeler time travel one (I can’t remember the name right now).

But with the Kelvin timeline I think it flips with Kirk falling for Spock first. After the 2009 film we don’t really see Kirk experience the same attempts as romantic twists that TOS Kirk does. Instead from into darkness onward his strongest emotional connection is with Spock. Spock is with Uhura in these movies (which I personally do not like much at all but hey it’s there I suppose) and thus that emotional sensitivity is tied to their relationship rather than Kirk and Spock’s like in the original. And I’ve always read aos kirk as being a little jealous of that, much like tos Spock is of Kirk’s romantic connections.

I also feel like the presence of tos Spock in the Kelvin timeline might have amplified those feelings, cuz the is NO WAY that some of tos Spock’s gay feelings for tos Kirk didn’t bleed through that mind meld. And the idea of aos Kirk knowing that he and Spock had something in another life really adds to the repressed yearning.

Jim fell in the AOS movies first. And I wouldn't be surprised if it was the moment Spock stood up in the hearing.

In my opinion, this Jim really falls for people who held them at distance, because of all the hurt he receives in the past. And as soon as they come closer he pulls away.

However. With Spock it's a save number, because he is Vulcan and also seems to dislike him clearly. But then the good old Vulcan comes into the picture and Jim feels not only all of his hurt feelings, but also gets some memories transferred.

This or it's clearly coincidence that Jim does literally everything, just to keep Spock on the bridge and away from Khan.

But that's not easy, because Spock tries so hard to make Jim see how he got deeper and deeper into a situation he can't get out without getting hurt.

And in the end this happens.

In my understanding Spock is a very strong touch telepath. We know this from TOS Spock who can also manipulate people through doors and walls. And can also meld with a lava alien.

So in that Kelvin time line it's possible the first time Spock touching Jim's mind is the moment Jim dies in the radiation chamber.

His other hand is still on the level of Jim's face, so it's possible he was so deep, that he also got aware of Jim declaring of his love for Spock. This beautiful little kitten possible knows everything about hand kissing, fraals and whatever kinky Vulcan stuff he could hack himself into.

But from the moment he was alone in his head, all his fear suddenly seems to go away that moment Spock touches the glass. And that's why I believe they melded and Spock got aware not only of Jim's feelings for him. But also that they are T'hy'la.

Why?

I know many people hate how aggressive Spock reacts to Jim's death. To me it's only logical. Because when he got aware of Jims compatibility and also them being T'hy'la, he was so deep, Jim was ripped from his mind as he died.

Spock lost already so much. His home planet. His mother. And now his T'hy'la. And this is the breaking point for Spock.

All his Vulcan rage breaks off and so he chases for Khan to kill him. Breaking his own bones while breaking khans. And invasion his mind to break him from the inside.

Those are ancient fighting rages of Vulcan before Suraks teachings.

Because of a love he lost. A bond he could have had, but did not know it would exist for him.

And Jim later say so himself.

When we lose someone we love, our first instinct is to take revenge. But this is not who we are...

After this, their friendship seem to take a road closer than ever. And deeper than ever before.

I find it interesting when in Beyond Jim speaks to his captain log, we see in his voice over Spock. The same time when he speaks how it feels to search for the one thing that seems unreachable.

And later we come to this... After-sex Scene. I can watch it a thousand times. And every one time it feels as if they had something between them and I do not mean their strange secrets of leaving each other. What also is strange next level, if they wouldn't love each other so much.

So many things happen after this. But one thing is ground breaking.

Spock gets hurt and nearly killed by that shrapnel. Also they are separated and Jim says so himself.... After Bones already told Spock himself.

I need to know that you are okay, so I can think clearly.

I mean. Hello?!

And Spock can break up with everyone around him. But not tell him he is going away. Totally logical.

But that's not enough.

Later Jim again nearly gets killed by saving everyone else, and Spock pulls him inside with all his Vulcan strength while having heavy petting with him.

I don't know what I would do without you.

Jim's words after Spocks left hand is underneath his shirt. That's rich coming from mister I do not need anyone. And I can leave the ship into the hands of my Vulcan captain. He is the best in everything.

Being separated and getting confronted by the situation of a hurt Spock maybe brought out the realization that he can't leave. Not when Spock is also right now single and he can't die another time, while not telling him of his feelings.

And yes. I know what they force at us at the end of the movie. But tell me this expression on Spock face doesn't say.