The moon's a skull, I think it's grinning (COMPLETE)
20.4k, M, Sebastian/Ciel
When lower-class children start going missing and their families turn up murdered at an alarming rate, Ciel Phantomhive goes undercover and enrols in the Copperfield Ragged School with Sebastian acting as his guardian.
Ciel learns a few things about hunger.
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The Black Butler revival will, of course, in this day and age, be the complete embodiment of pro-ship vs. anti-ship discourse, given the subject matter.
But for those of you who are watching this for the first time in 2024 (which includes myself!), there are certain things about the show you simply must understand, for the sake of media literacy.
The first is that Black Butler is supernatural gothic romanticism at its core. This genre alone should tell you that the relationships integral to the plot will be complex, messy, and toxic, by default. That is not only a huge part of this genreās appeal, but very much the point of the story.
The themes are dark, the terrible things that happen to the main characters are dark, and therefore the relationships at the forefront (and in the background) will reflect that.
The gothic genre has been alluringly popular for over a century (longer, if you know your history) because audiences are entranced by the macabre, the tainted antiheroes, the monsters who live inside us all. Itās popular for a reason.
That being said, understand that whether you, the viewer, ship Sebastian and Ciel or not is irrelevant. Their bond doesnāt need to be understood as romantic or sexual, but it sure as hell isnāt normal. It isnāt healthy. And the audience knows that. Thatās the draw. Itās what makes them compelling to watch.
Ciel and Sebastianās relationship mirrors many gothic novels, poems, and penny dreadfuls written in the Victorian Era (the very same time period in which Kuroshitsuji takes place). The Victorian folks who read these tales for the first time ate that shit up, because it was tantalizing. It was shocking. It was inappropriate, and monstrous, and violent, and erotic, and went against societal norms. But that was the point.
A huge part of gothic romanticism is the blatant sexualization of the relationship between the āmonstrousā characters and their human counterparts in the story. Sex itself doesnāt need to take place for their bond to be sexually charged. The forbidden nature of their relationshipāwhich typically involves layers of social taboos, moral ambiguity, or simple infatuationāis what makes their interactions erotic. Sexual contact rarely ever actually happens in these stories. Itās the taboo nature of their bond that creates the tension.
One of the many reasons audiences love this genre is the constant question of morality in its themes. Who, between them, is the real monster? Could the human character have ever been saved? This genre is often associated with tragedy, because the bond forged between the characters in these stories are destined to end in death and destruction. The reader knows it canāt end any other way. How can it?
But an integral element of these gothic tales is the catharsis that comes with this tragedy. The corrupted human often gets what they want in the end, even if itās at the cost of their own life. Whether they regret their choice to foster this monstrous relationship varies on the story, but it doesnāt change the trajectory of their descent.
Sebastian and Cielās relationship is the whole plot of Black Butler. Their closeness bears a grotesque ick factor, but it is deliberate. It is a constant reminder of how unnatrual their bond truly is. Rationalizing or watering down how abnormal they are about each other misses the point entirely. They will never have a normal, healthy relationship, and thatās what moves the plot forward.
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On today's episode of 'thoughts to ruin your day with' -
Part of the reason O!Ciel fell into this routine of allowing Sebastian to so thouroughly take care of any and all matters of his appearance, is because there was a decent chunk of time during which he absolutely could not face looking in the mirror.
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the funny thing about the Black Butler revival is that Sebaciel is taking a lot of heat right now, here in the year of our lord and savior 2024, in which all ships are problematic and toxic.
because it's a pedo ship.
which is the most perfect low hanging fruit in all of anti existence.
but like, Sebaciel is really a microcosm of pro vs anti ship discourse in general, right?
everyone insists oh you like Sebaciel? you must be a pedophile... while totally ignoring that a lot of fucking teenage girls read Black Butler and imagine themselves AS CIEL. they have a crush on SEBASTIAN.
that's why they ship them. they're not generally lusting for the minor, they're imagining themselves as the minor, being MINORS themselves, and have crushes on the suave sexy demon guy... because that's literally budding adolescence in a nut shell.
Sure there are people who lust for ciel... but it's a fucking shonen. it's for teens.
Teens are allowed to have fucking crushes on Ciel and Naruto and Ichigo. They're also allowed to have crushes on adults, WHO ARE NOT REAL and can't return their affections or hurt them in literally any way other than fictional related trauma.
is it really that shocking that teens are projecting themselves on/lusting for the fucking kid protagonists? you know, like they're generally going to do??? because they're hormonal but also bc it's very normal for humans to have goddamn crushes on human shaped (and less human shaped) things???
and is it really that shocking that teens girls would lust after Sebastian?
are you telling them they can't do that, and then also ship their little self insert goth child with the object of their affection?
and also.
ALSO.
the harder thing for these people to swallow...
fucking adults can ship anything they want too.
literally who gives a fuck
just shipping a problematic age difference ship doesn't make you anything at all.
being an asshole in fandom spaces does, like harassing people for shipping or not shipping Sebaciel, sending death threats, doxing, whatever, but just the act of jerking it to Sebaciel fanfics, or writing them for yourself and friends, is not a goddamn crime.
nor is it anything other than a Catholic sin.
so I'm laughing at the modern discourse, as angry adults and teens try to cancel Sebaciel.
tale as old as time. but also Sebaciel is the fucking OG.
The og of queerbait shotacon nonsense.
you weren't gonna stop people in 2008, you won't stop them now.
just hang out in your own space and leave other people alone.
also just fyi. I don't ship this.
I ship toxic old man yaoi.
but I'm rolling my eyes and slapping you if I see you in the wild insisting a Sebaciel artist is a pedophile guilty of a real crime in real life.
ā A surprisingly long and in depth look about symbolism in the recent G-Fantasy cover by Yana Toboso ā¦
Including references, flower language, how to decode the meaning of flowers, and a little too much brainrot. As well my personal interpretation drawn from all the sources I looked at.
And of course what all of means (and maybe hints at?) for Sebastian and Ciel⦠and maybe even Sebaciel?Ā
Originally posted as a twitter thread, but threads suck and I forgot a couple things. so here now.
Disclaimer :
I donāt know FOR SURE that all these things were directly referenced by Yana when creating this art. But being a fan of her work for over a decade I've become familiar with her use of symbolism and reference, and believe myself to have a good eye for it at this point!Ā
Ā I'm also pretty familiar with the use of flower language, including different languages, due to having been involved in a project about it and having to read wayyy too much about this.Ā
Some of it also includes my own personal interpretation, but the meanings and info I based myself off of ARE factual. I think I made it pretty clear when referencing my personal interpretation. You're welcome to reach your own interpretation based off of the stuff provided!
And lastly, I'm not a sebaciel shipper. I'm not an anti (the complete opposite, actually) and have nothing against the ship, I like the narrative around them and how they're written but I donāt actively ship them romantically or sexually. So I'd say this is actually a pretty unbiased interpretation. Personal taste is one thing, but I donāt deny the author's intention and whats written in front of me! That is what this post is about.
Kuroshitsuji takes place in the Victorian period (1837~1901) in 1889.
The following are both important Victorian books on the language of flowers that I will be basing myself off of.
Language of Flowers by Greenaway Kate (1884), and The Language of flowers: An Alphabet of Floral Emblems (1857).
(Also, Iām treating Cielās rose as a deep red rose. Which is a bit different than red roses. But I am adding some relevant information about roses in general, anyway.
Now, on what they say about these flowers.
Deep rose, meaning "bashful shame". White lily, meaning "Purity and sweetness."
ā The White Lily
Most people assume that the lily refers to Ciel's purity, and thatās a fair assumption. But I disagree.Ā
Firstly, the one holding the lily is Sebastian. Holding it on his right hand, tilted towards the right. However what's relevant here is the VIEWER. From the viewer's POV he's holding it to the left. Note he also holds the scissors on his left hand, where he bears HIS contract seal.
How you hold a flower, what position you give it to someone in, changes the meaning of the flower. These context clues are very important. It tells us that 'purity and sweetness' doesnāt refer to Ciel, but actually refers to Sebastian (ā¦sorta).
This may be a little confusing. Purity and sweetness, Sebastian?! I know, I know. bear with me.
These books provide poems to help us understand how you may interpret the intended meaning. The lily poem is about enduring trials out of love because of the purity and sweetness he sees in his lover's eyes and soul. I believe Yana directly references the poems I will include in this post in her new artwork.
ā My Interpretation
the meaning of Sebastian's lily is:
"I do all out of love for the sweetness and purity within you."
Him holding it to the contact seal and cutting the flower could stand for him destroying this sentiment (affection within himself) that has arisen in him as a result of their contract by destroying the sweetness and purityāthe source of itāwithin Ciel (consuming his soul).
Note: This is debatable, as 'reversed' almost always means upside down. But if you consider the lily facing away from the viewer as reversed then it could mean "impurity and bitterness" which fits pretty well with Ciel, and it being held against the contract seal which is a physical representation of his impurity, brought on by his bitterness.
ā The Deep Red Rose
There something I find very interesting. The rose is in a teacup, standing in for tea (I think there's even tea alongside it in the cup.) From Yana herself we know that Sebastian's eyes are a reference to the reddish brown colour of tea.
Like I said, I believe this rose to be a deep red rose, which is a bit more specific than the meaning given to red roses. However I think the poem included for roses in general very much applies here.
I was going to add my thoughts but I found this interpretation that sums it up pretty well if you replace the carpe diem theme with a more "running out of time" or "impending death" theme, which seems to be a more accurate reading for this artwork.
Looking at the rose itself, it has no thorns or leaves.
It is not a youthful rose as its already fully open and losing petals. "No hope, and no fear" fits with the poem, the rose is basically an hourglass referring to Ciel. His fate is unavoidable, but this isn't a deterrent. He's dancing on the ledge.
The deep red rose means 'bashful shame'.
When you compare it to the lily, which is a direct proclamation, the deep red rose is a quiet confession one cannot verbalize.
Debatable, to be fair but given the tie in to Sebastian's eye colour and the fact that he is always the one pouring tea for Ciel, I believe the Sebastian to be the speaker here too, but this time speaking on Ciel's feelings (Hence why he's the one holding it) rather than Sebastian's own.Ā
ā My Interpretation
The meaning of the deep red rose Ciel holds, speaking about Ciel's feelings of guardedness, and in response saying:
"Abandon your bashful shame, and let yourself be admired without expectations (hope) or fear"
Sebastian speaks about Ciel's feelings, the deep red rose acknowledges his feelings but they remain unspoken.
The Waller poem is a plead for his beloved to seize the day, for time is short, and allow herself to be loved completely.Ā
Her beauty is one to be appreciated, she is not meant to be a rose unacknowledged (unloved) in the desert.
Regarding 'expectations', I think this is more about rigid ideas of how 'appreciation' or 'admiration, might be shown or received. Sebastian and Ciel's relationship defies normality or 'expectations'. So this, too, would defy expectations a young boy like Ciel, or a traumatised boy like Ciel, may have.
From Yana herself, we know Sebastian's dedication and how highly he holds 'beauty', specifically Ciel's beauty.
The author of the poem proclaims that beauty not appreciated is not beautiful indeeed, and so he calls his beloved to come to him and be appreciated wholly during the invaluable, limited time they have.
We see the deep red rose's petals fall away, in my opinion not only symbolising the withering away of time, but also the crumbling away of this "bashful shame" that Sebastian ascribes to Ciel.
How Sebastian wishes to "appreciate" this beauty is debatable. How he wants to "admire" and "desire" (per the poem) Ciel is rather open ended. Wether it be in a romantic way, a sexual way or by consuming his soul.
However, I donāt think these are mutually exclusive. And consuming Ciel can easily be a metaphor for the former two.Ā
ā The Lily and The Rose
The Greeneaway book has this poem which im sure was directly referenced. This poem speaks about the lily and the rose in a direct power struggle and fight for dominance, until they eventually unite and reign as one.
Now when speaking about this "union", you could say it refers to their contract, but I donāt think so.
The contract ties them to each other, but it doesnāt necessarily unite them. So I believe 'unity' to be about the appreciation Sebastian speaks of Ciel opening up to.Ā
"The Lily" and "The Rose" might be interpreted as directly representing Sebastian and Ciel, and the unity that would come from them joining and becoming a truly complimentary pair. I think a power struggle and fight for being the one in control is very accurate way to describe their current dynamic in canon.
It may also be interpreted as "The Lily" and "The Rose" as being representations of their feelings and ideals previously. And then it would represent these two conflicting expressionsāa loudĀ Ā unrelenting and destructive devotion, and a guarded, bashful, unspoken reluctanceā coming together and turning from conflicting to complimentary.Ā
Or as it tends to be with these things, both!
Either way all of this is expressed under the sense of impending doom created by their circumstances and the contract. So there's a sense of urgency permeating all of it.
Also clear to me is a sense of internal conflictedness coming from Sebastian's message that is usually only hinted at like this, and some people end up overlooking.
Sebastian desires Ciel deeply, but having him would also mean not being able to have him anymore.
Sebastian is torn and thatās why he attempts to cut the root of his wavering feelings represented by the lily.Ā
All of this makes me wonder about what's next, and if we will see these things said more blatantly. Foreshadowing with flower language and references like this, isn't exactly rare for Yana. I wonder if we will see this 'unity' come to be, and what necessary development Sebastian and Ciel will need to undergo to make it possible. As well as what shape it will take.
I also wonder very much about Ciel's perspective in all of this, as this was almost entirely from Sebastian's POV, but I think that's intentional. Ciel has his own goals and a lot on his mind. Sebastian's goal IS Ciel. So I assume he spends a lot more time thinking about Ciel and this kind of thing.
Thank you if you read the whole way through. Like I said before, even though the sources defending it are, my interpretation is not law and you're welcome to reach your own with the things presented.
Links for sources, including free public domain PDFs of the books mentioned are found at the end of my twitter thread.
G Fantasy, May 2024 issue. S feeds Ciel a shorn white lily and bloody red rose.
Japanese lily
Color is also important when conveying meaning with the lily (yuri). For example, white lilies represent purity, orange lilies show revenge or hatred, and a red spider lily (manjushage) symbolizes a final goodbye.
While a red roseā¦
Currently, the symbolism of the rose color is universal: a white rose is spiritual love, red is passion, yellow is recognition and admiration; red and white roses combined in one bouquet mean harmonious love, and a blue rose is an achievement of the impossible.
Episode 1: His Butler, at School, things and landscape, almost no people
When it comes to background and colouring, the tableware, the chandeliers and oil lamps, the flames, the details are astounding as if you could touch them. The folks at CloverWorks have done justice on what actually Yana Toboso is known for. Her aesthetics in this anime shine!
I hope you donāt mind my adding on here with some comparisons to the manga!
Because of expansion, there isnāt a direct 1:1 for each of these background scenes, but part of my delight with this new anime is the attention to detail theyāve put into each scene.
I love how they made the Purple house even more spooky:
Or the little details of Cielās study to really set the scene and give us time to wait for the āyes my lordā while also featuring the moon, a common motif i in the series:
Initially, I thought we didnāt have an aerial shot of the campus in the manga, but I was wrong:
The scene I am especially happy with in the anime was how they really bring the dining hall in the blue house to life:
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