what we gained - and lost

well

The scene right after where Noé’s like “I’m glad you’re the person you are now” always lives rent free in my brain and soul but rereading this just hshdjdjdjdj

You’re telling me noé specifically has a flashback to when vanitas SPECIFICALLY says the thought of anyone liking him romantically disgusts him and immediately says “well I still don’t like you or anything” WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE and an even softer smile on the next page

and I’m not supposed to go insane

like

come on

vanitas’ face after noé’s small pep talk is interesting too 😭 we all know how when he asked roland and Olivier of all people for love advice how he panicked and ran away with Roland’s very Direct Self Love Approach

Noé basically said the same thing roland did about how his past doesn’t have to control his future but vanitas actually looks like he’s listening in this panel

And sure, maybe you could argue that noé only added the “I still don’t like you or anything” just to get him to see that someone who finds him “unlikeable” is grateful for who he has become

But the fact noé still addressed vanitas’ “likability” while thinking about something he said clearly in a romantic concept just makes me go hmmmmmmm

Time hasn't been kind to me, I pray

When I look inside the mirror and see someone I love