spoilers for Nightglow // kinda spoilerish for Improvised Flow
oh, we definitely need to talk abt this card. feels like the trend where every new piece of Sylus' content becomes my fav is never going to stop.
we've come full circle from LAR in the most beautiful way possible, and there was simply no better way to do it.
what i love even more is how, with every new card, we dive deeper into the themes of trust, comfort, and openness within SylusMC's dynamic. they handle separation, unpredictability, and longing with maturity – grounded, calm, and trusting. they let each other into their lives and their worlds.
depending on the stage of their relationship and the situation, these moments unfold naturally (Melodic Wave → Magnum Opus → Freefall Gambit → Valleydream Bloom → Improvised Flow). they grow closer through exploring each other's worlds, be it the lively and yet more peaceful Linkon or the N109 Zone.
i feel like Nightglow brings up smth fascinating right from the start – their love languages.
Sylus and MC kinda have a long-distance relationship. not in the usual sense ofc, but still divided by some distance, opposite roles, initial conflict of interests. we often see them going through stretches of time without seeing each other – a day, a week, rarely a month. and they don't shy away from voicing it now – they openly say "i miss you."
this card really highlights their love languages for me. while i believe both of them express love in multiple ways, it's impossible to ignore Sylus' obvious dragon tendencies. it just screams gift-giving, and in his case, that ties directly into hoarding. Mephisto delivers 7 (this number again) gemstones to MC over several days.
as for MC, i'd say her love language is mostly quality time. it fits perfectly here. in Nightglow, she doesn't want their short meeting to end, her longing to simply be with him says everything. and she's the one voicing it.
i adore how natural and familiar their banter has become. especially when they reference each other's words. this time, MC recalls Sylus' words from LAR: "Don’t bother me with such trivial matters… Your offer will make people think I’m broke."
having full trust and never getting disappointed
MC's worried abt ruining the uncut gem, but Sylus couldn't care less. he's just happy they're doing it together and wants his wife to stop fretting over "such trivial matters" and to simply enjoy the act itself.
it's so very him, wasting no time on disappointment over small things and finding joy in the simplest moments they share. and i'm sure Sylus is deeply aware of how fleeting time is, which is why he values it so much. there was a time when they had so little of it together.
for months now (since ~March), we keep circling back to the topic of MC moving to the N109 Zone or joining Onychinus. it comes up so often it feels like smth's abt to happen soon. the writing team wouldn't keep mentioning it for no reason, not even just as a reminder of their contrasting roles.
i really admire MC's independence and moral steadiness. even while playfully humoring Sylus, she stands her ground firmly, aware of her duty and responsibilities. dropping everything to run to Onychinus wouldn't fit her character, not yet. and Sylus understands that. his words are never pressuring, he values her autonomy more than anyone.
*and let's not forget – Onychinus is an empire he built entirely for her. in Improvised Flow (iirc), he even says he's ready to be her second-in-command. because on this chessboard, she is the queen, and he arranges all the pieces for her victory.
but only recently does MC openly express her comfort with this idea. maybe we're closer to a turning point than we think.
small details, huge meanings
Improvised Flow and new affinity level decor foreshadow Sylus' upcoming myth so heavily with all this golden crow symbolism, so seeing that detail carry over from Chaotic Velocity just twists the knife again.
still, love that she's wearing that helmet now 🐦⬛
showing off his most prized treasure
jokes abt robbing the Louvre and perfect timing aside, this part hits me the hardest. it's the key point of the whole story.
this man is so utterly enchanted and in love that he goes searching for a jewelry set worthy of MC, one that complements her, not the other way around. he's not bragging abt these spoils, those pale next to his real treasure. and the only gem in that hall isn't on her, it is her.
what matters to me so much is that Sylus never shows possessiveness. he doesn't own her, their relationship doesn't include that kind of rhetoric. the ppl at the banquet got to witness, quietly and without grand gestures, that the most precious treasure at his side is not his to claim, but someone he treasures freely. he's not afraid to show softness and vulnerability beside her and for her.
it ties perfectly with his final words in Shared Bliss. peak writing indeed.
now, abt the jewelry. once again, we have green gemstones mentioned. we're seeing jadeite (翡翠) brought up more and more, and i don't think it's a coincidence. in Chinese culture, jadeite holds different meanings – immortality, purity, wisdom, and justice. and it's also known as a stone that unites opposites. it's closely associated with dragons too, they're said to dwell within jade itself. maybe we'll see more of that explained in Sylus' 3rd myth.
and that ring... was a straight-up shot to the heart. i'm not 100% sure (and pls, anyone more familiar with Chinese traditions, correct me if i'm wrong), but i've read that wearing a ring on the middle finger is often chosen for engagement or commitment, symbolizing balance and harmony. it's so SylusMC-coded.
and this… do i even need to say more?
this was simply so beautiful. as always.
theartofmadeline
origamiaround
kianamaiart
turnnoffyourmind
