The phrase comes from Tumblr and broader fandom slang that took off in the early 2020s, where scrungly and scrunkly became shorthand for a scruffy, pathetic, but deeply loved character. Naming a Sebastian as the scrungly follows that template, applying it to a specific favorite in gaming circles. The clip spread as a reusable reaction sound on soundboards and in TikTok edits because it instantly signals affectionate fandom without needing context, letting creators label any tired-looking cat, NPC or anime boy as the beloved one.