CabrioDeb's Topics (6)

... with 2 epilogue episodes, at https://yaoimangaonline.com/painter-of-the-night-by-byeonduck-eng/
But be prepared to live thru how all the dire warnings Baek Na-Kyum receives play out....
Have your tissues and antacids ready as you back and but-wrench your way they this absolute masterpiece of art and story.
I just wish it was uncensored.....

Love this!
But the first conception is still a mystery. It's obvious when their first meeting was, and the chairman's name was mentioned in regards to Seonu's pre-natal care. So, there MUST BE a story untold there!
Spill, please...
I need to know!

we are going through the roots of the relationship with them, not just, "8-10 years later... " with their roots shown in cold flashbacks.
You're right, the heat from the slow burn, the pain, the joy...its all super intense and really, really well written.
The only criticism I have is that Yujae was so tight-feely and over-affectionate when they were younger, I'm not entirely convinced that either Yujae himself or Hanjun would really be THAT hard to convince of Yujae's true feelings. Because in the earlier chapters, I was sure Yujae was the pining one....
That said, can't wait for S3!!!

You're all correct and I agree with you all. BUT, the real tragedy is that there are actually a couple of good sub-stories here, and I feel it was a failure of story development that let it down.

My understanding is that Inyeop experienced LAFS or something like it, and was completely incapable of recognising it, coping with or expressing it - partly because of age/inexperience, partly because many don't believe in love at first sight, and partly because love was probably a foreign emotion in his household.

He was obviously completely struck by the beautiful Neul on their first meeting. Neul's beauty, relative freedom and timidity flipped one of the many psychotic switches in our mini sociopathic gang boss (or vice versa - sociopathic switch in the psychopath...).
Inyeop was already damaged goods, probably by nature, but also by nurture - who buys and installs 3 kids for their child's amusement????

Initially, he keeps his distance, but I THINK, shows his favour and affection to Neul in those small looks and gestures. Neul's fear and timidity make him behave like prey. He subconsciously recognises Inyeop's overtures and tries to avoid his gaze.

Meanwhile, Inyeop, is dealing with his psychopathic nature, lack of healthy nurturing/a loving home environment, and these new/unfamiliar feelings of attraction. I think this habit of holding back just a little shows his inner struggle - he wants Neul and thinks he is a beautiful thing. But he knows he destroys beautiful things... Or does he make them more beautiful in his eyes? Either way, he shows restraint in their middle school years by only beginning his abuse of Neul once he is the only one left. And then he begins the elaborate manipulation to leash him forever to his side. He waits nearly 20 years to consummate his LAFS by pushing Neul to breach the original contract. Then, his actions are justified in his mind. But, this is all an immature psychopath's obsession with something he considers beautiful, even pure.

Neul had plenty of clues about Inyeop's true feelings. He could have adapted to this situation to his greater benefit. But, he remained stuck in middle school immaturity. Maybe he is the first truly heterosexual character engaged in the acts, ever written in YAOI. Because his complete inability to see Inyeop's obvious desire - ya don't get hard for just anyone, right? His requests for kisses/kissing in general - and still, after 19 years, calling clear/honest homosexual desire "disgusting/pervert", he either absolutely couldn't accept it, or was in absolute denial that he might feel something similar too - noting Inyeop's dead eyes, but always calling him handsome.

So, I agree that if this was all they were going to do with such a violent non-story, it could have been a one-shot. But there was a lot that could have been developed here. And ultimately, neither character grew or progressed at all in 20 years. We found out nothing more about any of them in 7 chapters, despite the richness and popularity of the genre and sub-genres.

The art was absolutely beautiful and could have supported or led a heart-rending whirlpool of two broken people in a twisted, broken obsessive love; or one of difficult but determined redemption for one or both. But, the editorial choices made here gave neither the characters, nor us, ANYTHING to go away and think about....except the horror!

Inyeop's first penetration of his 20-year obsession should have had dedicated panels of the moment, his face/exclamations... Instead, we got Neul's timid, "Did he really put it in?" That monster dick that "hurt" so much later? That's what they chose to mark the moment with?? When did the physical abuse escalate to nudity and sexual acts? What were the knife cuts?

Its like they were all asleep during story-boarding and development. Or maybe they slipped it altogether? Whatever happened, it's a shame. I hope the writer/artist revises the story and gives it the full treatment the art deserves.

.....That the characters are cats transformed into human form. Kagami considers Shingo his prey. But, remember, a big chunk of interaction is missing from that night, and Ayo explains it to Shingo (and us) in a later side story from Kagami's perspective.
Kagami is immediately drawn by Shingo's masculine physicality and cat-like agility, and then their chemistry takes over. But, admittedly, the role their pheromones/scent plays is not so clearly expressed in this first book. But it is more clearly revealed as their story develops. I wonder if that's more an issue of the translation than the story-telling, though?
Anyway, considering their libido and stamina, effects of pheromones and mate for life, you have to accept that these are less human. And Shingo seemed to be more upset at being topped (as a seme until that moment, tho we see no evidence of it except a past delicate-looking bed partner) than anything else...?

I am forever in awe of Mangaka, the artists and storytellers and their abilities. They have kept me rapt with gripping storylines - funny, endearing, thrilling, frightening. They have made me fall in shameful lust with virtually every seme I've come across - with their beauty, virility, sexuality, masculinity and romance. Weirdly, though I might sympathise with the ukes, quite often, I don't see what all the fuss is about. I feel that there are often far more attractive or even more beautiful, intriguing or engaging characters in the story.

But, I digress...It's my first time contributing to a comments section! I'm unloading...

So, it was with a true sense of "were they on such a tight deadline that nobody noticed??" that I noticed that in chapter 5, from one panel to the next, Seung Hyun's pants disappeared, stayed gone for a bit, then were back again, all while he was still.... busy.... with the same task.

It has no real bearing on the story. I just wondered if anyone else noticed, because the artistic and editorial team did not, bless them. But I've read enough manga set in this world not to be too hard on them. They are a wonderful breed. It's like a blooper reel, or something. And I usually don't spot them.

Although, SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL THEM THAT TWO LEFT OR TWO RIGHT SHOES DO NOT MAKE A PAIR!!!

This has been going on for decades across manga, manhua and manhwa! Please stop it, for the sake of all that is Holy! There's nothing worse than the sexy, stylish seme whose just had the most mutually satisfying, athletic, nasty, body fluid-exchanging coitus ever, stepping out all nice and showered in expensive threads, hand in pocket, smoking.... with two left or two right shoes on! ARRGGGGHHH!!! SMH+++++ people!!