grrlofswirls

[grrlofswirls]

rb to tell ur mutuals ur fond of them

[grrlofswirls]

rb to tell ur mutuals ur fond of them

[grrlofswirls]

Just the two of us

[grrlofswirls]

💙💿📖🎮

[grrlofswirls]

small roboven stuffs

[grrlofswirls]

my lame slop #myslop

[grrlofswirls]

influence

[grrlofswirls]

over time

[grrlofswirls]

[grrlofswirls]

ref: Only Dance! / namacream

[grrlofswirls]

🎱🤖 💕

My new hyperfixation✨️

[grrlofswirls]

I just think testament and Johnny should kiss, that's all :)

Oh I think they will~

[grrlofswirls]

console announcement today :)

[grrlofswirls]

hug

[grrlofswirls]

Today, the omnibus for sono.N’s sci-fi yuri manga SHWD has been released, allowing readers to finally read the whole story after a nearly three year wait. While that is more than enough for me to share my article discussing plus-sized yuri manga, it has suddenly become even more relevant due to a completely different yuri series that is currently being released in English, Luka Kobachi’s Rainbows After Storms. 

In volume 4, which was released in English earlier this month, there are instances of the girls body-shaming themselves, calling their bodies “pudgy” even though they are skinny teenagers with minimal curves and stomach fat. This kind of casual fatphobia was disheartening to read from a series that I enjoy. Negatively judging our bodies, especially “fat” bodies, is extremely harmful, and unlearning these hurtful views about my body was, and still is, an ongoing process.

That’s why, I feel that reposting my article discussing plus-sized yuri manga is all the more important. It’s difficult to find bodies like my own represented positively in comics, especially women’s bodies, so to find two delightful yuri manga series that focus on plus-sized women’s bodies not just being present without shame, but also desired, is something I continue to find joy in to this day. I hope you enjoy the article, I consider it to be one of my favourites.

[grrlofswirls]

Took me a while, but here is my write-up discussing even more Robovenom and Uniburi parallels! I'll be going based on the Dual Rulers anime's chronology to help keep my thoughts in order, but that means my discussions of Robovenom will be out of order, just as a heads up.

Also, content warnings in advance since this post will also include some direct/indirect discussion surrounding Venom's planned suicide attack against Bedman, Robo-Ky self-destructing, and Venom and Unika pushing themselves to the limits of their magic usage to the point of inflicting pain upon themselves. Please keep that in mind if you still want to read.

First of all I wanted to mention that one consistent trend I observed while putting this together is that Venom and Unika's experiences tend to parallel each other, and Robo-Ky and Bridget's experiences tend to parallel each other in turn. This makes sense since Venom and Unika were treated as disposable weapons throughout their lives, always fighting for the sake of other people's rather than for themselves. Meanwhile, Robo-Ky and Bridget, who have gone through their own personal hardships, some of which being based around identity and the environment they were born into, offer solace and support to their respective partners based on their own experiences.

For example, shortly after Robo-Ky and Bridget save Venom and Unika, respectively, the characters have a conversation about what they plan to do next.

In Xrd Robo-Ky eggs Venom on to hurry up repair his body, as he should be grateful to the person saved his life. Angered by this, Venom tells Robo-Ky that he resents him for saving his life, because he intended to die while fighting Bedman.

Meanwhile in Dual Rulers, Unika admits to feeling pained because she has failed her father's mission and doesn't know what to do next.

After Venom and Unika talk about their negative feelings, Robo-Ky and Bridget offer emotional support in their own way. Robo-Ky opts for the more blunt approach, telling Venom that he isn't expecting a life debt, and to not undervalue his own life. He also brings up how Venom is ironically the more "robotic" man out of the two of them, subtly observing that Venom's upbringing under the Assassin's Guild has resulted in lack of experience with basic human decency and kindness, which have negatively impacted his sense of self.

Meanwhile, Bridget opts a softer approach by forging a shared connection, telling Unika that she also has also made mistakes in her life, especially when she first began her career as a bounty hunter. By letting Unika know that she isn't the only person in the world who has made a decision they regret, or questioned the choices they've made in life, Bridget helps Unika realize that she doesn't have to face her struggles alone.

While their approaches are different, Robo-Ky and Bridget were both successful in getting Venom and Unika to stop spiraling into self-loathing thoughts, as seen by subtle changes in their body language, and Venom admitting that Robo-Ky was correct.

The next parallel is actually the first one I talked about in a previous post: both pairs have a deep an meaningful chat about their lives and identity in the desert. I mentioned this key parallel before, but it is also interesting to note that some of wording used in both conversations is also similar, when one examines what they say in Japanese. Specifically, Venom asking Robo-Ky if he hates his fate (jibun no unmei / 自分の運命) while Bridget asking Unika if she knows her own shape (jibun no katachi / 自分のカタチ).

Both of these conversations are important turning points for the characters involved. Bridget's discussion of her journey to finding her shape, and self-acceptance as a trans woman, helps Unika to reflect on herself.

Meanwhile, Venom's discussion with Robo-Ky is the start of an empathetic connection between the two, causing their dynamic to evolve from strangers to partners, which I have previously discussed. While their circumstances are different, the two were able to find connection in their fates being impacted by the organizations that forged them into living weapons.

Later in Dual Rulers, Bridget helps assist in helping divert power toward the magic weapon to help stop Nerville Hammer, but in the process is attacked by one of Nerville's many copies. Unika is somehow able to sense Bridget is in distress, much like her mother, Dizzy, did when Ky was near-mortally wounded in Xrd, and sees Bridget being carried away on a gurney with visible wounds.

Distressed at seeing her savior injured, Unika flies off to launch a powerful spell, amplified by the magic weapon, to attack Nerville Hammer.

Receiving the additional magical energy from the weapon causes Unika to experience intense physical pain, but she chooses to power through and successfully fires her spell.

After casting the spell, Unika has spent the majority of her energy, which causes her to faint and begin falling through the sky.

Meanwhile in Xrd, during the climactic final battle between Venom and Robo-Ky against Bedman, Venom prepares his strongest magic attack: Terra Machina System.

Since the attack requires an extreme amount of magical energy from Venom, and the results near fatal for the spellcaster, it also causes him a great deal of pain.

After Robo-Ky self-destructs, severely injuring Bedman, Venom is shocked by the robot's actions. His comrade's inactive severed head landing near him, Venom finds the resolve to finish casting his strongest spell, dealing the final blow against Bedman.

After casting the spell, Venom, having expended the majority of his energy, collapses, unconscious, onto the ground next to Robo-Ky's head.

After the events of their respective narratives, Venom and Unika both think about what they want to do next with their lives. Unsurprisingly, the people who saved them, Robo-Ky and Bridget respectively, have a huge impact on what they decide to do next. Venom's original goal was the help restore Robo-Ky's body, imploring his former associates not to kill him until after he has fulfilled this promise.

Following the events of After Story B, Venom now fights to protect the townspeople, and is part of the community as the baker of Underside Bakehouse. Strive confirms that Venom and Robo-Ky are now beloved members of the town, and have recently gotten Robo-Ky a torso with limbs thanks to their bakery's massive success. The game also implies that Venom is still saving his money to get Robo-Ky a full body.

Leo: I'd be more relieved to see you robbing banks, to be honest. Venom: Alas, coins tend to slip right through a phantom's pockets.

After the events of Dual Rulers, Unika now fights to learn who she really is, which is directly motivated by Bridget encouraging her to find her own shape. This is something that Unika is still searching for in Strive, but it seems as though she is making good strides in learning who she is, with her family and friends supporting her. She also remarks that once she discovers her true self, Bridget will be the first person she tells.

Unika: When I discover my shape, you’ll be the first to know.

Overall, these parallels show how two people, whose circumstances were completely different, were able to form and deep, meaningful connection, that has positively impacted everyone involved. While I doubt these parallels are intentional, it is still lovely to see two of Guilty Gear's explicitly queer characters lives being shaped by selfless, reciprocal acts of kindness.

[grrlofswirls]

you ever start learning a character even though you suck bc you love them? no? okay yeah same haha