LunaTheBlackWolf

Soulmates, romantically speaking. That is how Maggie Khan and her team described Rumi and Jinu's relationship. I don't think personally this was pulled out last minute, but an extra layer in understanding Rumi and Jinu's relationship.

Instead of thinking she is trying something last minute after the films success. Perhaps fans just need to understand she is describing Rujinu's relationship. Rumi and Jinu have a special connection and it's described as soulmates. Which can be a good way of describing why they "feel right" when they are around each other, and why they feel like "I can tell you anything".

So they are using Enemies to Lovers as a trope, they fall in love not because of attraction but because they feel the other has positively changed them. The attraction is there, but they are meant to have a deeper connection than sexual attraction alone.

They have a special connection that "feels right". A special connection that was described as soulmates.

It's this connection that healed Rumi's voice and gave Jinu hope. A connection that made Rumi come to save him, and for Jinu to risk his own life saving Rumi's. I don't think Maggie Khan calling Rumi and Jinu soulmates is a bad thing but helps us understand them better. Its a way of describing the connection and makes the ending more tragic. If Jinu comes back, Rumi will still have that special connection with him. If he doesn't it just makes the first film tragic. I then would hope she finds another person she clicked with, as much as she did with Jinu.

Other couples also have connections. In G4 MLP, Applejack's parents trope AND romantic connection is star crossed lovers. AKA, they are pony Romeo and Juliet.

(You can find the chapter here!)

Zoey asks Celine a few questions. Three different sleepovers are had, with varying results.

Heartpose 💖

WE TALK ABOUT BABY DERPY, BUT WHY NOT BABY SUSSIE

I did a post saying how I think analysis are a great part in a fandom. When you try to understand a character a bit better, such as Jinu and how much I like his character after thinking about the people who just blindly hate him for being complex and competent. I did see a post from a polytrix shipper who got mad at other fans to even talk positively about rujinu because "its a gay space". Something that perplexes me because its the fan who wants to stay in fannon while other fans actually want to praise this movie and rujinu is the movie.

So I am here to give a closer look at this cannon ship and why I think the movie did a great job with it. Warning this is cannon stuff no fannon unless it adds to the cannon.

I feel like I have said this a bunch of times but I will say it again. Rujinu is using the trope enemies to lovers and I think they did an awesome job. That is because I think enemies to lovers is a difficult romance trope to write. You have two characters who are on opposite sides to a conflict and you need them to be a couple at the end. The hard part I think is getting the audience to have empathy or sympathy for the antagonist love interest. Prove to me why they are a good person but is still on the bad guy side and why.

When we meet our heroine, we learn that she is a half demon and unlike her love interest who can use his magic to hide his patterns. Rumi is instead hiding her patterns by constantly covering up.

Then we meet Jinu and he starts the conflict to the story. Gwima is losing until Jinu show's Gwima his plan. What I like is that it is established Jinu isn't afraid to mock his master but he isn't immune to him either.

Then we have Rumi meet her antagonist who is also her love interest and I like how they played it out. I am just loving how she is so taken by how attractive she finds him, it's like her brain stops working. She gapes at him like a fish, bumps into him falling on the ground and is expecting him to help her up. Instead she gets rejected. Something she isn't happy about and Zoey and Mira come to support her with the whole "we were not just drooling over these men moments before".

Then we have the game show and I just love seeing Huntrix thinking that going against the Saja Boys, was going to be as easy as fighting dokkabi demons. They even prepare themselves for an ambush that just gets turned on them. They planned an ambush then ran into an ambush without thinking. They were not prepared for the Saja Boys and how many steps ahead Jinu is to them. Something that I take refreshing and amusing.

So the film has shown us Jinu and his boys are good antagonist and Jinu, their leader is someone they need to take seriously. This is why I feel Rumi is confused to why Jinu helped her when he could have just ended her and her girls here and now. Instead his actions sabotaged his own plan. This is also the first glimpse that there is more to Jinu besides being a capable antagonist.

Then we have the wall of hating their antagonist while denying they are attractive, talented competition.

I think what most haters don't understand is 1) yes Jinu is trying to manipulate Rumi. Gwima's summoning set him back on his original plan. He hasn't survived 400 years by making dumb decisions. 2) He isn't lying and gives more information about the villain Gwima and about demons such as himself. 3) I feel this shows that the Hunters are not perfect because they are trying to protect peoples souls, without knowing Gwima made deals and was still getting souls. Souls to enslave but souls never the less. They are fighting a powerful villain who they don't really know anything about.

A common complaint I hear from Rumi fans and Rujinu fans in general is that we hate when Rumi gets infantilized. She isn't stupid and she is still trying to keep Jinu as an antagonist. Their second meet is the fan event in which he had to come to her because she wasn't answering his letters. Here they are still trying to be antagonist but we also learn about them both. 1) Rumi's self hatred is making her pretend her patterns are not there. She isn't going to tell Mira and Zoey. 2) Jinu reveals hating Gwima isn't enough to get rid of him. Jinu himself hates Gwima but is forced to serve him. 3) The beautiful soul really struck a cord with his own self hatred.

The third meeting is on Rumi's terms and they get to learn about each other. It's also shows them starting to have real feelings for the other. Rumi is benefiting from being able to talk to Jinu about her patterns and demon half. She has had no one like that before hand. Jinu is benefiting from talking to Rumi because she instills hope into him, even though his 400 years of survival experience partly tells him he shouldn't. They are learning to be themselves around each other. Their self hatred lessens when they are around each other.

When they meet and sing Free it is an important show of how these two characters reveal how they feel about each other. It is also when Jinu decides to trust Rumi's plan thinking his connection with Rumi was enough to protect him from Gwima. Soon as she leaves Gwima drills into him that isn't true and Gwima sadistically let Jinu believe Rumi could help him get complete freedom. Then he summons him and drills into him "your not going anywhere".

The part that drives me nuts about rujinu haters and Jinu haters in general. Is the victim blaming on Jinu.

He is owned body and soul by Gwima and Gwima shows Jinu and the audience that he can get yanked whenever Gwima feels like pulling on Jinu's pattern chains. The movie early concept even explored different ways of showing the control Gwima has over Jinu. Both physically and mentally. If anything Rumi never guaranteed his safety from his abuser. She just had a "do this for me" without "I can protect you from Gwima if you do this for me." Even early concept shows that Jinu's situation with Gwima is not good.

I left off how I don't like the victim blaming of Jinu or the infantilizing of Rumi. So I am going to go over some parts that are important that lead to the betrayal that Rujinu/Jinu haters hate, but I feel don't understand.

Rumi has self hatred for existing. She is a half demon and was raised to hate that part of herself. This hatred has affected her greatly to the point she loses her voice. She also affected the Honmoon. Something she kept hidden from Mira, Zoey and Jinu.

The only difference between Rumi and Jinu is that Rumi is free. Gwima even reveals that.

Another thing Gwima reveals is that she may have patterns but hers don't work the way they are supposed to. Gwima can't touch Rumi. Unlike Rumi's father and Jinu.

That the patterns are not just shame, or demon marks. They are shackles that Gwima can yank on when he feels like it.

They didn't make them obvious, which as a creative decision I personally like that. We know Hunters don't ask questions. It make it worse if they were also were not observant of these patterns, that could lead to questions if they started thinking. Really makes me wonder even more about Rumi's parents love story and her fathers reaction to seeing his daughter had patterns. I HC he was pretty upset Rumi had them and if Gwima could take his baby away.

2) Jinu had a plan with Gwima first. He doesn't know Rumi that well and has survived for 400 years under his master. He may have sabotaged his ambush plan. But Gwima reminds him he is watching and knows about Rumi being a half demon.

When Jinu started believing in hope and that his connection with Rumi would be enough to keep him safe from Gwima. Gwima yanks him to him and tortures him into subjugation. Something that is both physical and mental. So he caves to Gwima and goes with his original plan to make the torture stop and to prevent more torture in the future. Rumi never guaranteed his safety from Gwima.

3) The betrayal happened because Jinu caved to Gwima's abuse. What Jinu haters don't understand about this scene, is that this is a physical show of what Gwima does to his demons. This is what Jinu has been living with and what her father most likely lived with. If Gwima owned Rumi like he does Jinu and her father, she would be getting this 24/7 for an eternity. She also would be getting burnt as well.

We then cut to her losing Mira and Zoey once they figure out she is a half demon, then Rumi confronting Jinu.

Jinu then tells her the truth of his past and she can see how much self hatred and loss of hope he actually has now. She tries to reach him mentally but it isn't working. Rumi becomes depressed and suicidal because her best friends left her and her love interest gave up hope. Gwima is winning.

A fan song I am rather fond of that really highlights this fight they had is chains. Give it a listen.

Rumi then finds the answer to dealing with Gwima, as well as a long over due confrontation to Celine. How Celine has affect Rumi and her role in Rumi's self hatred. The person who makes Rumi feel better about herself has given up, but its time to face the person who instilled her self hatred. Celine is a tragic hero, but she is flawed and did hurt Rumi mentally. Its through this confrontation Rumi finds the answer in dealing with Gwima.

Rumi then comes to save the day. Gwima tries to get into her head and manipulate her but she is prepared. Her song is about accepting your flaws even things your ashamed of. Mira and Zoey have a change of heart and come to support her in her fight against Gwima.

What I like about this scene is how Jinu recognizes Rumi's voice. He doesn't come to fight her and just stands back. She can see him truly as a demon but she isn't disgusted or horrified. She is still on her mission to save him.

What I really like is that his saving of Rumi is similar to the bath house. Rumi is in trouble and Jinu acts, his actions helping Huntrix win the fight. First time he just had to cover her patterns.

The second time was taking a fire blast for her, then giving her his soul to take down Gwima.

This movie did a great job with their enemies to lovers giving them a slow burn. As much as I wanted that aquarium date, I think the slow burn was a smart move. There was already too much at stake. They also made me care about both characters. Rumi's self hatred to self acceptance and my desire to see Jinu free from Gwima. Making us understand and care about the love interest is important in this trope. Jinu isn't evil but is doing bad because he is owned by Gwima. Gwima just underestimated how much Jinu grew to care about Rumi.

Gwi Ma: Is there a reason why you don’t take anything seriously?

Jinu: Jokes are a classic defense mechanism for someone with a traumatic childhood.

Gwi Ma: Would you like a traumatic adulthood?

Jinu: I would not.

~

Mira: They put pickles on my burger.

Zoey: They did.

Mira: What if I don’t like pickles?

Zoey: Just tell them not to put them.

Mira: I’ve already placed my order.

Zoey: Mine don’t have pickles. Let’s trade!

Mira: You would do this for me?

Zoey: Absolutely!

[Zoey and Mira trade burgers]

Mira: If you have enemies that need taken care of, you come to me.

~

Rumi: Okay, we can't all sacrifice ourselves. That would make the sacrifice useless.

Mira: So how do you want us to pick, huh? Make a list of reasons for each of us about whether we should live or die?

Zoey: Rock, paper, scissors.

Mira: I-- you know what, I don't know what else would work. Sure.

~

Jinu: You've been so nice lately, kind even. What's going on?

Rumi: I'm always kind. That's my thing.

Jinu: Hm, you talk about beheading and ripping out throats a lot.

jinu loves when rumi let her hair down 💜

THE GILDED FREEFALL, ACT ONE: THE FALL ► ILLUSTRATIONS

("Don’t look back, Jinu. Not until you look back properly. We deserve that much.") "I won't, Eomma," he whispers, then peers into the dark of the ramshackle shelter. It stretches out further than it should, with walls tarnished by scorch marks that he knows hadn't been there when he was younger. The air is thick enough to choke on and causes sweat to already bead and drip down his temples. This is no home, not with the sinister energy that swallows his own shadow. He walks deeper inside as his converse shoes squeak on ancient wood. While he can hear the sound of his father's bipa being plucked in the belly of the room, he can hardly make out the shape of the man who had once helped to shape him. But he's tired of the pressing, crushing emptiness of the dark, so... he wills it away. Like bugs beneath a lifting rock, the thick black noise in the air skitters away. Though the shadows linger in every corner, he can see the long dusty room clearly — as well as the figure in raggedy clothes sitting at the end of it. The bipa in their grasp plays beautifully despite its timeworn body. One last string is plucked before the hands still, then settle softly on the bipa's curving hip. His father's muddy voice beckons him forward, though he has no mouth to study; where there should be a face, there is only a writhing entanglement of dark paint strokes. It's as if someone had taken a brush and scribbled out his eyes, his nose, his lips, and Jinu quickly realizes that his father's face eludes him yet again. His shoulders sag in disappointment. "I'm not sure," his father begins, his voice flat, "what you expect to find here, Jinu." He looks to the rotting floorboards and admits, "I'm not sure either."

When someone asks you, "what is your love style" you would typically think of the 5 types yeah? Gift Giving, Physical Touch, Words of Affirmation, Quality Time and Acts of Service!

Totally okay and all, but what if I told you, sometimes they blend?

While these two often still struggle with communication, Words of Affirmation are still huge for them. Words that have meaning, that cherish the value of what stands for them as partners. Not like "I love you" (despite the wonders of the word alone to be spoken) but more so 

"You're not alone"

"Im here"

"Its going to be okay"

That alone is enough to be so genuinely comforting to them, to know that the other isn't leaving/they have each others backs in a world against them

But individually?

Rumi is touch

Jinu is acts of service

Rumi is obviously touch starved, living a life where she kept herself closed off so long and her skin being the symbol of everything 'wrong' with her

So when their hands connect in secret in public

When they hold each other a bit longer than needed

Falling asleep next to him and able fully hold him in the privacy

It feels like the universe never made herself feel all that hatred of her own skin

As for Jinu? You'd think after so long of serving someone, he wouldn't 

But it's not servitude in their eyes. Its him;

Sitting on the bed next to her as she sleeps

Making sure she has all the little things in her purse and replenishing them in secret so she isn't short of anything 

Ordering her favorite kimbap on a hard day and eating it with her in the breakroom after a concert

Its cheesy to say but he does so much for her without even thinking of it as anything like servitude, but simply being there for her

And sometimes? It can switch

No love language is solely meant for one person selectively 

Some days he holds her closer as she sleeps and finds that peace in just holding her

Other days he sees her ordering him some of his favorite colored shorts after they were messed up (helping her keep the honmoon safe

Jinu's main act of service always pertains to food.

Always makes sure others have before him

Always makes sure he has something to offer

It's all out of old habit of course; because he was so used to making sure his mom and sister ate well first, even if it meant he went hungry that day.

Despite acceptance, there's still depression

Despite understanding, there's still after-thoughts of the what if's

Despite happiness there's still days when it all gets too much, and Jinu is not surprised that on days like those that Rumi would hold herself up away from everyone. Old habits die hard of course, he could attest to that. He still runs on many of them.

He knows even with him, that she closes herself off, that communication is still a big hurdle for them both, though it's truly no one’s fault. 

But where words fail, action speaks. 

He knows by now what she's like when she's like this. How long she will stay in the same spot, be it closet, bed, or any of the many bathrooms strewn across the penthouse floors. How long she will go without a word or without even a sound. How long she will be trapped in her head. 

Perhaps that's why he always would offer her a snack.

When he was alive, the first time he was anyways, food was a commodity few afforded. But when you could, it was an instant relief of the pains of the days. It made your day better, made you more willing to keep going despite everything. Even if all it was was a piece of bread. It's not really the same much now, in this new age. Everywhere you look there's food. But Jinu still remembers how it made people happy back in his day, so to say old habits die hard would be an understatement, whenever he saw Rumi look just as depressed as those from his old life.

Rumi is so used to people trying to get her to talk, to get her to force the words out of her dry throat.

It never worked. It always just made her feel miserable

But imagine her surprise, when Jinu out of the blue tries something different

A little offer

Usually new. 

Usually an old favorite. 

But it always comes as a shock to her regardless, when he would slowly slide up to her, practically like a dog exposing his throat and belly to her, and slide a small package of something next to her as close as he could do without actually trying to disturb her.

She remembers the first time he ever did it

How she looked at him perplexed, and all he did in return was give that stupid sheepish lil grin he always had whenever words failed him and he was forced to try charm instead

damn him for knowing how much that worked on her

because he would get her smile

because he would get her to chuckle

because he would get her to eat with seemingly no effort at all 

and maybe the food would be just good enough that for a moment Rumi might forget just for a second why she was so sad

and maybe she in return would share a piece with him and as they would eat they would conversate. Slow and steady, but with heart and souls attached

and maybe. . .at moments like these, ones that bring him back during the time before he ruined everything, where things as simple as rice and bread would bring a smile to his mom and sisters faces, Jinu really kicks himself in his own ass.