I Think Theres Something Interesting Behind Ivan Not Understanding Sua's Sacrificial Form Of Love For

i think theres something interesting behind ivan not understanding sua's sacrificial form of love for mizi but understanding the romantic notion behind something like a kiss.

i do find it odd human activities and their meanings were preserved such as middle fingers, religion/worship, and kissing considering those are actions historically spread through group interaction. and for the most part, in alien stage it would ideal to separate and pit them against each other (to keep them from rebelling) but ig not?

more importantly the nuances behind the actions were kept. typically types of uh. kissing (I LOOKED AT THE WIKIPEDIA PAGE FOR IT FMLFMLFML sighs. science. history behind human action is interesting but very disputed on) are separated into romantic, ritualistic, and friendly/peaceful (which is also demonstrated in species like bonobos(?) so theres probably a bit of instinct behind that).

quick tangent from ivan but it also goes back to ivan: in the context of alien stage it's almost exclusively interpreted as romantic (both to the characters and to the audience) but there ARE undertones of the other 2. especially with ritualistic/worship with mizisua (my god my universe + the action of kissing a symbolic item like a statue or a crucifix) and the peace "offering" idontevenknowatthispoint instance with ivantill. which is another massive can of worms of "i want you to see me. and not just to look. all this time we've spent together has had to build up to something. to some understanding."

to an extent till also understands the emotional weight of kissing. every other day ivan has some form of contact with till whether it be punching him or poking his face and. i. blood scene. (the clarity of this post is coming i will be haunted) he probably finds both the blood scene and ivans teasing in the comic gross and ends up ignoring it to neutralize ivan in some way but the difference is he at least HUMORS ivan in the comic. "i'll do it on your birthday/i'll think about it." even if he wouldn't ever actually do it ("does he really think i'll do it?") and ivan himself knows till wouldn't do it ("you know i don't have a birthday") the idea wouldve been completely shut down.

also something something them having emotional proximity to each other to at least joke around. something something till surprisingly is more delicate around *that* topic. whether it be because he fears having an actual conversation with ivan about physically everything surrounding them or something else he never really goes "*you're* gross" or continues to close it off. his reaction between the 2nd and 3rd panel makes it appear like the initial reaction was more just. instinct before weighing other factors in (SORRY MIND DUMP OF IDEAS I COULDNT INCORPORATE PROPERLY) (it also looks like till sat down after the initial reaction SORRY I'LL SHUT UP NOW)

anyways ivan doesn't understand the emotional intricacies of sacrificial love once he sees the effects ON THE OTHER PERSON. but ultimately he demonstrates that himself because it's attached to emotional intimacy which he wants from till and finds it through methods such as the club scene or kissing, which is oddly an action he and till understand the weight of. their understanding is likely due to the way till's wariness forces him to literally and figuratively keep his eyes open meaning that in a moment like round 6 it's unavoidable to look at ivan. as for ivan he understands consensual physical intimacy implies the presence of understanding of the other person which again is something he wants from till.