Clearly you don't know the definition of Stockholm syndrome bookie- The author literally said it was about the EXPANSION of their love, pea brain. It starts off toxic but slowly turns more emotional and complicated, if you view their relationship with a closed mindset then obviously you won't see them as 'being in love'. Love isn't black and white which is exactly what this story portrayed, Euihyun didn't have Stockholm syndrome, he realized that Taeju was the only person who cared for him, even when he hurt him. Taeju was a selfish bastard who learns to comes to terms with his emotions and reflects on his actions; he literally tried to die and DISAPPEAR for the sake of making Euihyun's life better, if you choose to willingly ignore his character growth then do that but it's unfair to act like he didn't change by the end of the story. Euihyun and Taeju both aren't good people and constantly hurt themselves and others around them, the whole point of them falling in love was them learning how to care for someone other than themselves. Taeju learned to love Euihyun, Euihyun learned to love Taeju; it's honestly that simple. I agree with your frustration of Euihyun forgetting to take his pills but his brain was clearly scattered due to Taeju's cousin planting that seed of doubt in his mind, being honest Taeju had actual good development unlike 90% of toxic tops, the story could've turned into Jinx or something much worse so you're honestly just projecting hate. Also the reason Euihyun didn't try and work things out with his father is because he literally NEVER payed his husband's debt! If he didn't leave and go ghost for years and had been an actual father he would've payed off that scumbags debt but he didn't and instead took Euihyung instead as if he was "helping". the story isn't perfect because they aren't perfect, go read a fairytail if you're not mature enough to understand the complexity of the brain and it's emotions.
blud did NOT pay attention to the story
Me or the other person??
The other person lol
Here is the AI definition: Stockholm syndrome is a theory that explains why some victims of abuse or captivity develop a psychological bond with their abusers or captors.
Here is the dictionary definition: feelings of trust or affection felt in many cases of kidnapping or hostage-taking by a victim toward a captor.
While Taejoo didn't physically confine Euihyun, in the beginning, he still wasn't able to escape Taejoo's constant presence in his life. Taejoo even arranged the home and work for Euihyun. It's confinement without chains or a locked door. (It's similar to the hidden dog fence idea.)
Wow. Thanks for the insults -- it really helps your argument. While I accept the words of the author as this is their work it does not mean I have to accept what they tried to showcase in telling their story. I just don't see the author's intentions. I did not see the gradual development of affection between Taejoo and Euihyun. I saw a manipulative man finally get what he wanted and a poor distraught young adult consign himself to him as a result of the constant manipulation.
You saw two broken souls find each other in such a tainted world. I saw something else; I saw a crude gangster use his position of power to force a relationship with a debtor and the debtor finally surrendering to that gangster under the belief he was "in-love" but also afraid of abandonment. I saw no character growth on either one -- I did see regret and I saw fear. I didn't choose to ignore something I did not see.
My issue with Euiyoung's father -- While Euiyoung's father wanted him back, so he could he have a better and safer life, I didn't like that the neither of them sat down and discussed both boys coming to live with him. Euiyoung's dad only wanted his son and not his adult brother. He saw the situation both of them were living and it never once crossed his mind to offer a home to BOTH. And it never crossed Euihyun's mind to ask to go with his brother. He could have still gotten a job to work on the debt and been in a safer environment with his brother. But, alas, drama prevails. (Or perhaps I'm too logical for that situation.)
One story. Two opinions. Two very different views on the flow of the story. You may have intended your parting shot as another insult but I don't: I love fairy tales especially international fairy tales.
Euihyun + Stockholm syndrome-- I admit the insults were immature of me, there's nothing wrong with having a different opinion but if you chose to be willfully ignorant then there's a problem. Euihyun still doesn't have Stockholm syndrome btw, his feelings for Taeju were much more complex then that. A perfect example of Stockholm syndrome is Yoonbum from killing stalking (great psychological manhwa), Yoon is physically trapped by Sangwoo and despite knowing that Sangwoo is a monster and doesn't love him he develops feelings or him and becomes delusional. When Euihyun caught feelings he saw the GOOD in Taeju and then went along from there, I'd understand your point if Taeju was a bastard through and through but he wasn't, he changed and became gentler and more genuine towards Euihyun therefore Euihyun slowly started to fall for him. What they have isn't your typical love story, I agree the author could've done a better job portraying it but it's not difficult to understand.
Euihyun and Taeju-- I might not have explained myself good enough in my first comment but I by no means find their love story pure, it's grim, violent, dark, but that only adds to it's charm. I see why you would consider it crude, I did as well when I first read this, but a story is not complete without it's ending, what's the point of reading a story if you only stop halfway? The development should've been better but you can clearly see a shift between their dynamics, Taeju changed who he was for Euihyun, Euihyun learned to forgive and make peace, in my personal opinion that's a good ending and explains a lot about Taeju's character development. I respect your opinion but you can't truthfully say that Taeju is the same man that he was to Euihyun in the beginning and end of the stoty, no matter how you view their relationship.
Euihyun + Euihyung's father-- If you agree that Euihyuns and Euihyung's father was not helpful then why disagree? We both agree that he only cared for the younger and not the older which I understand but as their parent he should've been more compassionate. He remarried and was living carefree until he suddenly got involved out of the blue after leaving Euihyun when HE was still young. You keep saying that they should've had a conversation but it wouldn't change anything, Euihyun would want to keep Euihyung in his custody, his father would want to take Euihyung and leave Euihyun to fend for himself. Also, Euihyung is basically living with a stranger; their father left when he was a baby so he has literally no memory of him. It would be too much for Euihyung mentally which is why he felt so depressed the short time he was living with their father. Euihyun clearly doesn't like feeling indebted which is why he most likely didn't ask to live with them, he could also tell he wasn't wanted which is another reason he put up little fight, he wanted what was best for Euihyung physically but failed to see he was the better option emotionally just as you did. A conversation would've been pointless and would just worsen things, their relationship was already broken beyond prepare so why break it further?
My last comment was sorta an insult but not exactly, I only said you should read fairytails since you don't enjoy negatives turning into positives in a realistic perspective. Fairytails are clearly less complex and don't actually get into the dirt and grime of a bad person, someone who's bad isn't bad forever unless they choose to be. That's what fairytails teach yet you have a hard time seeing that with Taeju but to each their own. My intentions aren't to change your opinion but to offer you a differing one so you could have a less narrow-minded perspective. I hope you have a good night, evening, afternoon, or morning. (Sorry for any grammar mistakes in either of my comments, I'm dyslexic and have a hard time proof reading.)
While their relationship with might not be true Stockholm Syndrome it is to a lesser degree Trauma Bonding, which falls under the diagnosis of Stockholm Syndrome. This isn’t me being willfully ignorant, it is me viewing a subject matter, in this instance, this story with different set of eyes and experiences. I do not see them bonding or coming to care for each other any other way.
No, I don’t expect their love to be full of radiance, true love, or love in general, is not a straightforward path. There may be grim and dirty areas before you reach that final agreement of love. I’m not so young that I believe in an all-flowery path, but I’m not so old and jaded that I believe all love should have a gritty undertaking to reach it.
We will have to agree to disagree on the finale and “love “between Taejoo and Euihyun. However, since you took the time to write such beautiful prose of what you experienced, I’ll will try to explain my insights better.
The exact moment this story took a nosedive for me and garnered my 1-Star reaction and vote was the kidnapping incident. I will say that I almost started to see them differently when they were living together. Taejoo and Euihyun’s relationship started to seem more normal and less manipulative and took on a more playful tone. But the kidnapping ruined it for me. It wasn’t the kidnapping itself – he could have been kidnapped any time he left the house. (And as voracious reader of myriads of comics on this site I knew this was coming – they were too happy.) It was the catalyst that led to the kidnapping – the debt. The debt that brought them together, and kept them connected, the very debt Taejoo refused to let go and write off. Taejoo lied by omission; he led Euihyun to believe his debt had been cleared and he owed him nothing; his walls were coming down to finally let another into his life other than his brother. Betrayal. Pure betrayal. If Taejoo really cared for Euihyun that debt couldn’t have been used as a mechanism that led to his kidnapping. I can’t remember the exact words that Euihyun used, but to paraphrase, you don’t let someone you love owe you money. The debt not being cleared – it was pure emotional manipulation not love. Taejoo couldn’t get rid of the debt due to his fear of having no connection to Euihyun, so instead he lulled Euihyun into a false sense of security and trust. That’s not love.
After all that transpired between them: Taejoo left Euihyun. Euihyun’s now living in the apartment with his brother. No debt to weigh him down. He’s free to focus on himself and learn about himself. Give his mind time to heal. Give himself time to figure out what he really wants in life. What does he do? Drugs and rapes Taejoo. Forcing a rut to engage in sexual coitous – it’s still rape. All because Taejoo confessed but is now avoiding him. That’s not love either. It’s two miserable broken people deciding their pieces fit. Furthermore, not in a good way, as we fit and complete each other, no, more like traumatic bonding over messed-up experiences. Still not love. Taejoo is trash and Euihyun is broken. They are not in love.
As for the Euiyuoung dad issue: We seem to be two boats traveling on the same path, but we slightly diverge on how we get to the endpoint. I can understand your POV where it would be unnecessary to have the talk with the person who abandoned their child to a teenager and another abusive male in that home. I may not have explained myself well either on this point. I think if both Euiyoung and Euihyun had moved into the house together it wouldn’t have been long before Euiyoung would have gradually warmed up this his father IF the relationship between Euihyun and his dad was good. Euiyoung is very attuned to his brother, so if his brother was happy in that situation he would be happy too. But this is moot point. As this situation never occurred or was talked about between them. (I probably fangled this point again. Apologies.)
True fairy tales are grim, gritty, bloody, and not always the outcome you’d expect. Fairy tales often were used as fables to discourage or warn about certain actions. True fairy tales are not Disney-fied versions of love overcoming all. Sometimes it happens, but the path to get there is more often dark and disturbing.
neither character was perfect. euihyun tried to kill his little brother for fucks sake, taeju was obviously a manipulative bastard that only wanted his smell and hole
but honestly, how could you not recognize the redemption arc? the author did it so well that i feel bad you weren’t able to appreciate it
An author will always lose me when they start writing a redemption arc for a rapist, it just doesn’t work in my opinion.
The only way a redemption arc works is if the rapist’s victim gets away from them and they grow apart. Which clearly isn’t the case here.
I understand why people might like this story though but it’s not for me
The whole point of euihyn not going with his little brother is because he was constantly involved with loan sharks and it was a danger to his little brother. That was quite literally the whole point
So the tired old BL trope of a seme who's a rapist and manipulator rises again in this story with the added bonus of Stockholm syndrome. Yay. I kick myself as I stayed to the end, instead of dropping this trash sooner, especially when I saw the direction the story was headed. There really isn't many redeeming moments within this story. Taejoo rapes, manipulates, and threatens the Euihyun repeatedly and somehow his actions were for love?! F*ck off with that nonsense!! As for Euihyun, yes, he was a different sort of uke, almost rare -- a strong fighter who usually isn't overpowered. You'd think that was a good quality, but unfortunately I can't praise it, since he is stupid as f*ck for falling for the very individual who dragged him deeper into Hell. Although, I applaud him for not using Haesung's feelings for him to seek a safe place, but I can't believe he thought running to the rapist thug was the better choice in his life. Another gripe, Euiyoung's mom (dad) comes back into their life -- why not negotiate to have both of you live with him as you work off the debt?? Nope!! That's too good of a solution let's do the exact opposite for more drama. -__- Lastly, you're an Omega and you were late taking the full dosage for the morning after pill AND you were knotted -- but you don't think to check for pregnancy?? Yesh!! The HEA is a lie brought about by Stockholm syndrome. There's no way I'm going to accept or believe either of them are in love, because every time I thought something redeemable was going to happen in the story it took a left turn back towards manipulation, stupidity, and lack of communication. Trash!!