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alias_sqbrMasterlist of Dandelion posts
Time for Jisoo, the roguish black cat with a heart of what may or may not be gold.
I am taking a break from the game here because this path was setting off my "this will trigger you" alarm, so I looked up a summary, and it turns out the plot hits multiple other unrelated triggers/squicks. Since this is the last guy before the secret ending (which will probably also be triggery) I'm just going to put Dandelion aside for now and see if I feel like picking it up again later.
Other than that Jisoo was actually starting to charm me! But emotional reactions are messy and I gotta look after my brain.
Content notes: relationship violence, consent issues, disability, little sister issues, also the same abusive parent stuff as always
Our power's out so let's see how quickly this eats up my laptop battery...
WAIT CRAP I FORGOT TO OPEN THE WALKTHROUGH WHILE I HAD INTERNET. I guess I can probably manage?
YOU CAN'T PLAY OFFLINE? SCREW YOU CHERITZ, STARDEW VALLEY STILL LOVES ME
*power comes back and I grumpily start up Dandelion again*
So far my interactions with Jisoo have involved Heejung looking at him affectionately, him getting grumpy and not giving any points, then him messing up whatever practical task she's trying to do.
Also apparently he's got especially high requirements for success. She needs 20 Art to be your girl? Can you even DRAW, Jisoo??
There's never any discussion of how the poop situation is handled but the animals do lick themselves to get clean. I'm often left wondering what cultural norms are like in their society.
Apparently Jisoo's bad end is gotten by gaining a heart with Jihae. He really hates that guy!
...ok Jisoo doesn't seek out baths with Heejung but they're an option and he gets a blushy cat sprite.
I'm not sure I've mentioned it but Jisoo is constantly hungry. He even tries to eat her art. BAD JISOO.
First gift: an empty tuna cat. Thanks, Jisoo.
On a beach date he's napping inside a sand castle and the correct choice is to break the sandcastle on top of him instead of letting him sleep. Ok then!
Second gift: PIXELLATED SEXY LINGERIE
Interesting, every time I've tried patting him he reacts so badly I lose points, even when he's at max points and EVERY action should succeed. So maybe it's to indicate that he's stand-offish about affection. The actions he responds well to are "bath", "play", and the most affectionate option, "poke". These little bits of characterisation in the game design are cleverly done but don't always combine well with trying to successfully play the game as a game.
JISOO PATH!
Heejung has a cold. She thinks back to being "sick" all the time in highschool, but on further thought it was just that she cried all the time :( Her mother blamed Heejung for not exercising enough or eating right instead of trying to figure out what was actually wrong.
Jisoo (still a cat) walks into the room and sits on Heejung's chest. His weight is comforting and she falls back asleep. "He eats a lot and can be silly but he's cute in his own way".
And then she is woken by a huge weight on her chest: a guy around her own age lying on top of her.
Me: Oh, this is the context for the kinda rapey looking CG from the trailer. Phew. Maybe this path won't be too dubconny after all!
Jisoo: Are you alright? *goes to feel her forehead*
Heejung: *slaps his hand away* Who are you?
Jisoo: The one you call Jisoo. *whispers into her ear* You brought back my true self.
Heejung, struggling: Get off!
Jisoo, holding her down: I was worried about you, you fool! And I'm not letting you go until you listen!
Me: Ohh...this path is going to be dubconny as hell.
Once he's explained everything and she's persuaded he's Jisoo, she runs out of energy and gets woozy. He's sweetly concerned and the next time she wakes up he's curled up next to her in his cat form. The next day she decides it was a weird dream but then...
So far he's been basically good natured and a little flirty, but says stuff like "girls like that sort of cake" which bug me.
WHY IS JIYEON NAKED EXCEPT FOR A SMALL TOWEL
I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS SPRITE BEFORE
IT'S NOT EVEN HIS ROUTE
WHY
Jisoo: You surprised the Foodgiver! You take too many baths!
Heejung: THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM
Jisoo and Jiyeo get into an argument about cleanliness standards for cats while Heejung and I are just PUT SOME CLOTHES ON
(Jiyeon's not a bad looking dude, as teenage catboys go, it's just...look, I can't explain why I get weird about (even partial) nudity sometimes but this is definitely in the NOPE category)
Jiyeon's ready to remove the towel to get dressed, all "But you've seen me naked before ;)" and Heejung vows to never wash him again. GOOD CALL HEEJUNG.
(this is all funnier knowing that Jisoo and Jiyeon canonically had a drunken Something that Jisoo refuses to acknowledge because he is VERY STRAIGHT ACTUALLY)
Jisoo: What a freak, taking a bath every day. I'd die if I had to take one even once a week.
Heejung: How often...do you bathe...?? D:
Jisoo: idk? I mean you made me have a bath when I was a cat...
Heejung: THAT WAS A MONTH AGO. YOU ARE HAVING A BATH RIGHT NOW.
But he's too heavy to drag into the bathroom as a human haha. He shouts back a bunch but she's determined and a little condescending, and when she says "I don't like guys who don't take baths" he becomes more pliably resigned...and then they interrupt a naked Jiyeon in the middle of changing (not drawn). Look, I'm not saying they were all secretly thinking about a threesome, but I'm not saying they weren't...
Just as I was wondering about the necklace even cat!Jisoo wears...
Jisoo: Foogdgiver! Look at this great cat bed on the shopping channel! It comes with a free mouse toy!
Jiyeon: No, noona, look at this diamond necklace in my magazine! isn't it pretty?
Heejung: Mmmm (If you're rich, maybe...)
Jisoo: pfft, kid, why are you looking at at a magazine full of useless things like shoes and makeup? These informercials are way more practical!
Jiyeon: Don't call me kid, you clearly know nothing about women. And aren't you always wearing a necklace?
Jisoo goes quiet, and says he's going out for air.
Jiyeon: he must have gotten that necklace from a girl who dumped him, and talking about it stirred up old memories.
Hejung ponders that a good looking, nice guy like Jisoo has probably had a lot of girlfriends, and find herself bothered by the idea for reasons she can't place.
"This disobedient cat always throws himself at my grocery bags when I come home from the store". He's using his larger size to peek inside, while she firmly scolds him "No! You'll eat it!"
Look, if you're both into it, I'm not judging.
*suddenly starts imaging swapping these two with Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian from The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, which would be amusing in both directions*
Jihae offers to cook for her and Heejung think he's an angel. She's found life even harder since the animals became human: more housework, and a little stress about sharing her house with them.
Jisoo: I can cook to, you know :(
HOW WOULD SHE KNOW, JISOO??
Jihae: I refuse to eat your cooking.
BAD JIHAE
I hoe he's not going to become really bigoted against cats to create strife on this path. I mean it makes perfect sense for someone with his background to project his own self hatred onto the others his society considers lesser, but it's still unpleasant.
Jisoo: Shut up, you know-it-all aristocrat! I used to be in charge of taking care of my family!
Jihae: I can just imagine how food will taste when it's prepared by an evil man like you.
There's chibi art of Jisoo giving Jihae a pixellated rude hand gesture haha.
Heejung: Since Jisoo was here first why don't we leave it to him.
Jisoo: I'm going to cook you something FANTASTIC :D
...there's not going to be anything vegetarian is there...
HAAAA
Even Jiyeon refuses to eat it. Jiwoo complains that there's no vegan option and Jiwoo is unrepentant.
Heejung: I can see you went to...a lot of effort...
Jisoo: Yes! I was very creative! :D
She vows to never let him in the kitchen again.
In general Jisoo comes across a not really understanding or caring a lot about art, but trying to be supportive and liking how into it Heejung is.
She bumps into him on the street and he suddenly steps close and smells her shoulder.
Jisoo: You got a boyfriend, Foodgiver? Huh?
Heejung: Why is it so important to me that he know the truth?
Me: Why does he think he has a right to be pissy about it >:(
Heejung, paralysed a little by how close he's standing: N-no?
Jisoo: I see ^_^
Heejung lies in bed wondering what to do about her future. She tries to remember what it feels like to be happy. Back when her mother would sometimes smile. All she feels now is anxiety, pressure, and the feeling of not being accepted for who she is.
Jisoo hears her crying and comes in to ask why. She says it's personal and asks him to leave, not wanting to look pathetic. And then he grabs her wrist and angrily asks "Were you lying when you said you didn't have one? Who made you like this?!" because he is a RAPEY IDIOT.
Her wrist hurts and Heejung feels scared and confused. Everything was almost working out back before the animals became human, but everything she treasures disappears. Happy smiling faces become angry.
Heejung: Let me go! *bursts into tears*
He doesn't let her go but does loosen his grip. "Do you enjoy making a toy of me? You think I don't get hurt? It drives me crazy to think of you with another guy!"
She wonders: Why did he jump to that conclusion? And why is he so angry at the idea?
Heejung: You misunderstood, it's not about a guy.
Jihae: Oh. I'm sorry. But then why?
Heejung: ...it just happened.
Jihae: I don't like seeing you cry. I'll make you tell me reason soon.
Dubcon emotional support, huh. This is the ride I'm on, may as well roll with it.
He ruffles her hair and tells her not to even think of other guys. "Good night. And stop crying."
Heejung is left trying to understand what's going on with Jisoo, and with her own confusing responses to him.
And at this point my brain said STOP PLAYING. THIS IS GOING TO TRIGGER YOU.
Like, his behaviour so far hasn't been outright rapey, but it's still very early on and a sign of the dynamic to expect. I could deal with it if Heejung was into it, but right now she's just sad and scared a lot, and while I'm sure they'll end up fine I have no idea how much upsetting stuff I'd have to sit through to get there.
So! I looked up a summary.
My prediction was that some girl he knew and had feelings for had cheated on him and/or been hurt by another man, which is why he's over-protective and jealous.
But actually his issues stem from...his tragically disabled little sister! Who kinda looks like Heejung as a catgirl! And whose illness is the reason Jisoo joined the game!
And as regards my original reason for checking, his good route CGs look mostly cute but seem to include a forced kiss, and his bad end looks rapey as all hell. This (very spoilery) review doesn't inspire much optimism either.
(Jiwoo's issues also stemmed from a disabled family member's illness messing up his life, and involved him projecting Issues With A Female Relative onto Heejung, but I can deal with Mommy And Big Brother Issues better than Little Sister Issues, and it looks like this is all more central to Jisoo's arc)
Also it turn out Jisoo and Jiyeon's original names were Bryce and Nick respectively which is blowing my mind a little? Jieun, Jiwoo, and Jihae's original names are Etinos, Miran and Eddison, which is also a little weird to think about. I have no idea what to make of all the love interests being white guys from a European fantasy world who learned Korean through magic and then just went along with being given new, Korean, names. But also I just...Jiyeon is a Nick? haa and apparently "Jiyeon" is a girl's name.
Anyway.
I AM GOING TO STOP FOR A WHILE.
Time for Jisoo, the roguish black cat with a heart of what may or may not be gold.
I am taking a break from the game here because this path was setting off my "this will trigger you" alarm, so I looked up a summary, and it turns out the plot hits multiple other unrelated triggers/squicks. Since this is the last guy before the secret ending (which will probably also be triggery) I'm just going to put Dandelion aside for now and see if I feel like picking it up again later.
Other than that Jisoo was actually starting to charm me! But emotional reactions are messy and I gotta look after my brain.
Content notes: relationship violence, consent issues, disability, little sister issues, also the same abusive parent stuff as always
Our power's out so let's see how quickly this eats up my laptop battery...
WAIT CRAP I FORGOT TO OPEN THE WALKTHROUGH WHILE I HAD INTERNET. I guess I can probably manage?
YOU CAN'T PLAY OFFLINE? SCREW YOU CHERITZ, STARDEW VALLEY STILL LOVES ME
*power comes back and I grumpily start up Dandelion again*
So far my interactions with Jisoo have involved Heejung looking at him affectionately, him getting grumpy and not giving any points, then him messing up whatever practical task she's trying to do.
Also apparently he's got especially high requirements for success. She needs 20 Art to be your girl? Can you even DRAW, Jisoo??
There's never any discussion of how the poop situation is handled but the animals do lick themselves to get clean. I'm often left wondering what cultural norms are like in their society.
Apparently Jisoo's bad end is gotten by gaining a heart with Jihae. He really hates that guy!
...ok Jisoo doesn't seek out baths with Heejung but they're an option and he gets a blushy cat sprite.
I'm not sure I've mentioned it but Jisoo is constantly hungry. He even tries to eat her art. BAD JISOO.
First gift: an empty tuna cat. Thanks, Jisoo.
On a beach date he's napping inside a sand castle and the correct choice is to break the sandcastle on top of him instead of letting him sleep. Ok then!
Second gift: PIXELLATED SEXY LINGERIE
Interesting, every time I've tried patting him he reacts so badly I lose points, even when he's at max points and EVERY action should succeed. So maybe it's to indicate that he's stand-offish about affection. The actions he responds well to are "bath", "play", and the most affectionate option, "poke". These little bits of characterisation in the game design are cleverly done but don't always combine well with trying to successfully play the game as a game.
JISOO PATH!
Heejung has a cold. She thinks back to being "sick" all the time in highschool, but on further thought it was just that she cried all the time :( Her mother blamed Heejung for not exercising enough or eating right instead of trying to figure out what was actually wrong.
Jisoo (still a cat) walks into the room and sits on Heejung's chest. His weight is comforting and she falls back asleep. "He eats a lot and can be silly but he's cute in his own way".
And then she is woken by a huge weight on her chest: a guy around her own age lying on top of her.
Me: Oh, this is the context for the kinda rapey looking CG from the trailer. Phew. Maybe this path won't be too dubconny after all!
Jisoo: Are you alright? *goes to feel her forehead*
Heejung: *slaps his hand away* Who are you?
Jisoo: The one you call Jisoo. *whispers into her ear* You brought back my true self.
Heejung, struggling: Get off!
Jisoo, holding her down: I was worried about you, you fool! And I'm not letting you go until you listen!
Me: Ohh...this path is going to be dubconny as hell.
Once he's explained everything and she's persuaded he's Jisoo, she runs out of energy and gets woozy. He's sweetly concerned and the next time she wakes up he's curled up next to her in his cat form. The next day she decides it was a weird dream but then...
So far he's been basically good natured and a little flirty, but says stuff like "girls like that sort of cake" which bug me.
WHY IS JIYEON NAKED EXCEPT FOR A SMALL TOWEL
I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS SPRITE BEFORE
IT'S NOT EVEN HIS ROUTE
WHY
Jisoo: You surprised the Foodgiver! You take too many baths!
Heejung: THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM
Jisoo and Jiyeo get into an argument about cleanliness standards for cats while Heejung and I are just PUT SOME CLOTHES ON
(Jiyeon's not a bad looking dude, as teenage catboys go, it's just...look, I can't explain why I get weird about (even partial) nudity sometimes but this is definitely in the NOPE category)
Jiyeon's ready to remove the towel to get dressed, all "But you've seen me naked before ;)" and Heejung vows to never wash him again. GOOD CALL HEEJUNG.
(this is all funnier knowing that Jisoo and Jiyeon canonically had a drunken Something that Jisoo refuses to acknowledge because he is VERY STRAIGHT ACTUALLY)
Jisoo: What a freak, taking a bath every day. I'd die if I had to take one even once a week.
Heejung: How often...do you bathe...?? D:
Jisoo: idk? I mean you made me have a bath when I was a cat...
Heejung: THAT WAS A MONTH AGO. YOU ARE HAVING A BATH RIGHT NOW.
But he's too heavy to drag into the bathroom as a human haha. He shouts back a bunch but she's determined and a little condescending, and when she says "I don't like guys who don't take baths" he becomes more pliably resigned...and then they interrupt a naked Jiyeon in the middle of changing (not drawn). Look, I'm not saying they were all secretly thinking about a threesome, but I'm not saying they weren't...
Just as I was wondering about the necklace even cat!Jisoo wears...
Jisoo: Foogdgiver! Look at this great cat bed on the shopping channel! It comes with a free mouse toy!
Jiyeon: No, noona, look at this diamond necklace in my magazine! isn't it pretty?
Heejung: Mmmm (If you're rich, maybe...)
Jisoo: pfft, kid, why are you looking at at a magazine full of useless things like shoes and makeup? These informercials are way more practical!
Jiyeon: Don't call me kid, you clearly know nothing about women. And aren't you always wearing a necklace?
Jisoo goes quiet, and says he's going out for air.
Jiyeon: he must have gotten that necklace from a girl who dumped him, and talking about it stirred up old memories.
Hejung ponders that a good looking, nice guy like Jisoo has probably had a lot of girlfriends, and find herself bothered by the idea for reasons she can't place.
"This disobedient cat always throws himself at my grocery bags when I come home from the store". He's using his larger size to peek inside, while she firmly scolds him "No! You'll eat it!"
Look, if you're both into it, I'm not judging.
*suddenly starts imaging swapping these two with Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian from The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, which would be amusing in both directions*
Jihae offers to cook for her and Heejung think he's an angel. She's found life even harder since the animals became human: more housework, and a little stress about sharing her house with them.
Jisoo: I can cook to, you know :(
HOW WOULD SHE KNOW, JISOO??
Jihae: I refuse to eat your cooking.
BAD JIHAE
I hoe he's not going to become really bigoted against cats to create strife on this path. I mean it makes perfect sense for someone with his background to project his own self hatred onto the others his society considers lesser, but it's still unpleasant.
Jisoo: Shut up, you know-it-all aristocrat! I used to be in charge of taking care of my family!
Jihae: I can just imagine how food will taste when it's prepared by an evil man like you.
There's chibi art of Jisoo giving Jihae a pixellated rude hand gesture haha.
Heejung: Since Jisoo was here first why don't we leave it to him.
Jisoo: I'm going to cook you something FANTASTIC :D
...there's not going to be anything vegetarian is there...
HAAAA
Even Jiyeon refuses to eat it. Jiwoo complains that there's no vegan option and Jiwoo is unrepentant.
Heejung: I can see you went to...a lot of effort...
Jisoo: Yes! I was very creative! :D
She vows to never let him in the kitchen again.
In general Jisoo comes across a not really understanding or caring a lot about art, but trying to be supportive and liking how into it Heejung is.
She bumps into him on the street and he suddenly steps close and smells her shoulder.
Jisoo: You got a boyfriend, Foodgiver? Huh?
Heejung: Why is it so important to me that he know the truth?
Me: Why does he think he has a right to be pissy about it >:(
Heejung, paralysed a little by how close he's standing: N-no?
Jisoo: I see ^_^
Heejung lies in bed wondering what to do about her future. She tries to remember what it feels like to be happy. Back when her mother would sometimes smile. All she feels now is anxiety, pressure, and the feeling of not being accepted for who she is.
Jisoo hears her crying and comes in to ask why. She says it's personal and asks him to leave, not wanting to look pathetic. And then he grabs her wrist and angrily asks "Were you lying when you said you didn't have one? Who made you like this?!" because he is a RAPEY IDIOT.
Her wrist hurts and Heejung feels scared and confused. Everything was almost working out back before the animals became human, but everything she treasures disappears. Happy smiling faces become angry.
Heejung: Let me go! *bursts into tears*
He doesn't let her go but does loosen his grip. "Do you enjoy making a toy of me? You think I don't get hurt? It drives me crazy to think of you with another guy!"
She wonders: Why did he jump to that conclusion? And why is he so angry at the idea?
Heejung: You misunderstood, it's not about a guy.
Jihae: Oh. I'm sorry. But then why?
Heejung: ...it just happened.
Jihae: I don't like seeing you cry. I'll make you tell me reason soon.
Dubcon emotional support, huh. This is the ride I'm on, may as well roll with it.
He ruffles her hair and tells her not to even think of other guys. "Good night. And stop crying."
Heejung is left trying to understand what's going on with Jisoo, and with her own confusing responses to him.
And at this point my brain said STOP PLAYING. THIS IS GOING TO TRIGGER YOU.
Like, his behaviour so far hasn't been outright rapey, but it's still very early on and a sign of the dynamic to expect. I could deal with it if Heejung was into it, but right now she's just sad and scared a lot, and while I'm sure they'll end up fine I have no idea how much upsetting stuff I'd have to sit through to get there.
So! I looked up a summary.
My prediction was that some girl he knew and had feelings for had cheated on him and/or been hurt by another man, which is why he's over-protective and jealous.
But actually his issues stem from...his tragically disabled little sister! Who kinda looks like Heejung as a catgirl! And whose illness is the reason Jisoo joined the game!
And as regards my original reason for checking, his good route CGs look mostly cute but seem to include a forced kiss, and his bad end looks rapey as all hell. This (very spoilery) review doesn't inspire much optimism either.
(Jiwoo's issues also stemmed from a disabled family member's illness messing up his life, and involved him projecting Issues With A Female Relative onto Heejung, but I can deal with Mommy And Big Brother Issues better than Little Sister Issues, and it looks like this is all more central to Jisoo's arc)
Also it turn out Jisoo and Jiyeon's original names were Bryce and Nick respectively which is blowing my mind a little? Jieun, Jiwoo, and Jihae's original names are Etinos, Miran and Eddison, which is also a little weird to think about. I have no idea what to make of all the love interests being white guys from a European fantasy world who learned Korean through magic and then just went along with being given new, Korean, names. But also I just...Jiyeon is a Nick? haa and apparently "Jiyeon" is a girl's name.
Anyway.
I AM GOING TO STOP FOR A WHILE.
