malaierba

[malaierba]

[malaierba]

So...

Happy Women's day🌟

∙∙·▫▫ᵒᴼᵒ▫ₒₒ▫ᵒᴼᵒ▫ₒₒ▫ᵒᴼᵒ▫ₒₒ▫ᵒᴼᵒ▫ₒₒ▫ᵒᴼᵒ▫ₒₒ▫ᵒᴼᵒ▫ₒₒ▫ᵒᴼᵒ▫ₒₒ▫ᵒᴼᵒ▫ₒₒ▫ᵒᴼᵒ▫ₒₒ▫ᵒᴼᵒ▫ₒₒ▫ᵒᴼᵒ▫▫·∙∙

☬ (You can draw Adam for every holiday and it will not be a cringe, it will make ur every congratulations ���༺Legendary ༻꧂.) ☬

[malaierba]

i just peaked into an alternative TL where Laios was the one that got eaten by the dragon, so Falin & co had to go save him.

The way it played out (and I was thinking about this before falling asleep bcs it came up in a conversation with a RP buddy) Falin wants to go immediately, Marcille and Toshiro can't stop her, ChilChuck tags along, Namari is instructed by Toshiro to go look for his retainers so they catch up to them since he feels like the party is at a disadvantage with only him as a physical fighter.

The funny thing is that the fandom went from a ship war between Farcille and Shulin to a unspoken agreement that those three were in a V poly relationship, since over the course of the story the combined wet paper bag energy of Marcille + Toshiro (plus the face that Toshiro is canonically a bit intimidated by Marcille. Marcille. Marcille) made everyone realise, oh, they're a funny duo, let's put them in situations. Romance is a situation.

And this was the fanon until the party meets Kabru & co, and they rescue Laios, point at which the weird foiling/reflecting/"I respect you and I know you've had good intentions with me but the way you approach me gets on my nerves because it's rude and also I feel responsible for not making up for your carelessness which got you eaten but also if you saw me properly I'd want to befriend you please SEE ME properly so I can befriend you"/"you're the coolest thing since swiss cheese what do you mean we aren't friends already"/"actually I agree with the guy dying to kick some sense into you and also your ass I've been trying to befriend you for so long please look at me properly this is who I am underneath wanting to leverage your strength and also keep an eye on you bcs your fascination with monsters concerns me: a guy who recognises your strengths and your struggles and wants to relate to you as an equal"/"btw isn't it funny how we're so similar in so many ways, intrigued buddy who I've just adopted?" "You're right, interesting, this is the first time I find it so easy to speak to a guy approximately my age" "surrogate mommy issues?" 🤝 "Surrogate mommy issues" happens,

At which point the fandom divided like we were the sea and fucking moses was taking a stroll:

Pathetic failgirls V-shaped poly ship VS. Chaotic yaoi polycule. The shade was insane, "Toshiro's a trans girl and Falin cracked his egg" truthers vs. "He's gay and demi and so repressed he's one 'no, thank you' away from collapsing into himself like black hole"

Don't get distracted. The IMPORTANT THING was that in this dream I kept winning because my blorbo (Toshiro, Falin) is automatically my fandom bicycle so I was thriving. It was a feast and chat I was getting fed.

This revelation looped like 4 times with minimal changes in my mind (that I can remember). It was great. Why am I in this fuckass TL smfhsmfhsmfhsmfhblrblrwrlll

[malaierba]

The sun in the sky has a smile on his face And he's shining a salute to the Akatsuka race!

[malaierba]

I'm not dead btw, my life offline got incredibly chaotic out of nowhere and I don't even have the mental energy for social media, fingers crossed I'll come back at some point this year though! Hope you're all in good spirits and good health

[malaierba]

Oh my god. I just realised something so stupid but so important to me.

Toshiro being comforted, right?

The hand that pats Laios head after Namari does, going by closeness that's totally Toshiro, isn't it?

Did seeing Namari go for Laios hair bring back a core memory in Toshiro? How cute would that be...

[malaierba]

Real men don't need other people And real men suck it in Real men don't flinch or bleed in public Oh, I think I'm a real man

Little boys cry and look around for comfort (...)

But little boys hold me, color me Praise me, make me feel lovely For a little while

Real men keep cool in the face of a fire Go down with the ship

And real men don't eat, 'cause they're above that, damn it Oh, I'm gonna be a real man

[Thinking about Toshiro and his relationship to gender/manhood/desire]

[malaierba]

My unpopular (why) opinion is that Toshiro's and Falin's relationship (platonic obviously) is quite beautiful and if fans weren't so odd about shipping they'd see how very sweet it is that Toshiro started liking Falin when he realised she's an odd but gentle person, when he felt a sense of kinship that he likely never felt before.

From what we see they got along, Falin has a positive opinion of him, on the few instances when we actually see them talk (beyond just memories of them talking but no actual dialogue being shown to us) it's obvious she feels comfortable enough to be completely honest and transparent with him, while still minding his feelings. She likes the guy well enough, she doesn't want to hurt him.

The marriage proposal is actually so interesting... The way they communicate with each other. Falin let's Toshiro down gently, and reveals something so intimate about herself, how she's behaved until now, what she wants to do in the future, that she'd like to visit him again!

And Toshiro is so gentle. He obviously cares about her so much (and water is wet BUT im talking specifically about how it's portrayed in this scene). If what Maizuru says is true, that was the second time he made a "selfish" request ("marry me and come with me") but he simply asks this from her and offers reassurances, "I'll make sure you're comfortable", but he's not you know the Hardass some people pretend he is.

And what I love the most... When she rejects him not only does he accept it gracefully, he's inspired by her declaration that she wants to be more independent. Why did Falin say that? To spare his feelings further? Or because she knew that this realisation, which meant so much to her, would resonate with Toshiro too?

Gonna get personal but. I'm aroace, hello. I've had a few friendships go to shit because someone confessed to me and I rejected them. And exactly one where the person accepted it gracefully and our friendship, after surviving an awkward moment, blossomed.

Like. Relationships CHANGE, and they can develop and deepen and strengthen in many ways, regardless of the dynamic they take on. When aspecs say "friendship can be as important as romance" one of the things we mean is, allow romantic love to go back to platonic love and be stronger regardless OR EVEN because of it.

Like. How beautiful, that these two recognised a bit of themselves in each other, and knew how to approach the other. How beautiful that Ryoko tells us "their friendship survived a rejected proposal, when the commonly used trope would've made their friendship unviable from then on".

How beautiful that narratively Toshiro's sacrifice is never played for laughs or made fun of or devalued because """he didn't get the girl""', but instead the manga says "it didn't pan out but it wasn't a pointless sacrifice because Toshiro genuinely cared for Falin as a person, and always did what he thought was best even when it went against his normal behaviour." How beautiful that Falin wants to meet his friend Toshiro again, that she thinks to tell him "I'm going to start being an active participant in my own life" and Toshiro thinks "I think I need to start doing that too".

How beautifullll that a rejection ended with a promise to meet again, it's so beautiful am I insane? Can someone hear me hello?

The love was there and it mattered, but it's even better. The love shifts and survives because the care is genuine, because when you truly care about a person you'll want them in your life in whatever dynamic suits everyone involved the best. Because love, whether romantic or platonic or a mix of something else entirely, is selfless.

[malaierba]

namashuro worksties kicking ass manga cover save me save me save me

(fake?) Laios you lucky dog i wish i was you.

You get so much information from this cover. Namari is comfortable enough using Toshiro as a prop. Toshiro seems a bit surprised but accommodates her (peak him lol). She hit (fake) Laios, which can be taken as her watching Toshiro's back / Him trusting her to watch his back. The fact that she does it with a non-obvious weapon (her flexible thinking!). The way he's holding a tachi (longer sword than a katana, perfect for slaying things like bigger monsters). how angular their poses are, sturdy at all moments even when there's dynamism to them. oh man.

[malaierba]

honestly namashuro could be butch 4 butch and it'd go insane

[malaierba]

honestly namashuro could be butch 4 butch and it'd go insane

[malaierba]

Been thinking about a plausible reason why Eve didn't go into heaven. It's probably just her being the scapegoat for the whole apple situation, but what if there's more?

Something I've noticed in fics is people highlighting how little Adam and Eve knew about the real world and god's expectations, especially outside of the garden. Stuff like "they didn't understand they could die/kill" and that it was a sin to take away a human life, etc

At the risk of making Adam a huge asshole in earthly life (when I really headcanon it as him being super reverent of heavenly dictamens and the least willing to question them, which made him easy to manipulate and coddle in the afterlife), I think that as devastated as he was by the Cain + Abel tragedy, he saw god's curse on Cain as a mercy. From his POV, not only did he spare his life, he protected him from harm coming into him by marking him ("if anyone tries to harm you they'll be harmed back seven times that", God said, something like that). That he was cursed to wander, to be hated by animals and unable to grow his food was just an inevitable punishment for misbehaving.

In contrast, Eve had a more motherly view of the situation. Why was her child punished so harshly over something they didn't even know could happen, over something they weren't aware was a sin? She understands it's bad, she was destroyed by Abel's death after all, but why did God have to favour the offering of an animal life so much higher than the fruits grown from diligently working the soil and tending the trees for days and days? Why say anything at all? And if Abel was really so much more favoured, why not bring him back, why not give her two boys another chance, why take them both away over something that could've easily been avoided by an all powerful being?

I think Eve never stopped questioning heaven's handling of the situation, and in general she never stopped taking all her kid's side in life (not in defiance of heaven, but in understanding of the failings and uncertainties of human condition), and she was so willing to admit it even in from of the angels that visited them that THAT'S what landed her in hell.

[malaierba]

prev i hate that they took out BELL SCENE of all things like its SO IMPORTANT TO ME 😭💔

I keep it at hand lol.

It does so much for their dynamic... Toshiro showing his analytical skills — I'd have to reread everything carefully, but he always struck me as someone that understands diplomacy and politics (in the "politics studies the relationships of power" definition, not the "current social dynamics" one). That is, he can read people (but more importantly, people's interests and loyalties) in that context and in such conditions. Then the contrast with how clumsy he can be in his interpersonal relationships.

Kabru, gosh, I wish he would've answered. Would he have? Would it have been truthful? I'm surprised they didn't add that, since it was the perfect scene to push their Hardass Toshiro & Light Yagami Coded Kabru agendas? Anyway 😔 I will always love the RANGE he gives us at the bottom of the page. From deadpan to tentative smile to restraining Toshiro.

God they're so funny. I hope they can never have a serious conversation without Laios ruining it somehow ever.

And then just. The way Laios unsuspectingly changes the energy in a room, and in this case pushed out the least serious parts they'd seen of each other so far? I'm quite soft for the way I'm which Laios' weirdness takes out the silliest, most extra and low-key childish reactions out of most characters.

It's cute, it's funny, and it makes two characters that the anime is SET on portraying as less genuine and sincere in their commitment to seeing Laios' quest to the end than they are in the manga stablish in two minutes!! Their likely narrative roles, and what they both bring to the story in general and to the arch that started the moment they saw the canaries in particular.

That said I'm hoping it'll just be shown later on? The bell does play a narrative role and a plot relevant role. I don't think they can get rid of it...?

[malaierba]

it's interesting that Hien thought she'd end up in a position that (lover status aside) was for all intents and purposes the one that Maizuru currently holds, as the woman with the most sway in the Nakamoto household (above Toshitsugu's actual wife, which is, a whole other topic).

Hien doesn't really give off the feeling that she looks up to Maizuru in a particular way, but there's definitely some shared characteristics between them, right? They're wilful, efficient, perfectionists, and they're the two characters we see explicitly tell Izutsumi that "she should be thankful she's with the Nakamoto"

Makes sense they'd think that. I've commented here and there before that I really doubt the Nakamoto household is in anyway noble or aristocratic, since they're doing the things actual noble families can't do in the open (hence the shadiness), they're just connected to power because of the nature of their activities. And to me, that Hien would openly expect a marriage proposal from Toshiro confirms that. They're not so far-off in social standing that she could jump up to his position.

What I'm getting at is, Maizuru and Hien are both in a societal position that allows them to garner some respect (backed-up by their reputation as professionals) and power. It makes sense they'd regard the current system favorably.

It's just interesting to me, I guess. Hien probably looks at Maizuru's situation like, yeah, it sucks she isn't the actual Lady of the Household, but it's not that bad, we all follow her lead as if she were. She probably looks at her, looks at herself, and thinks yeah, I've got what it takes.

Which is a very different way to how Toshiro seems to regard Maizuru's situation.

I wonder what they'd both say, if the topic was ever brought up. Toshiro's obviously disillusioned in his household and in Maizuru (for several reasons but one of them is most likely just, that she's okay being in the position she's in, enabling Toshitsugu), and on top of that at 26yo it seems he had never had any marriage prospects. It probably makes no sense to him that Hien would want to be in a position that's a mix of his biological mother's position and Maizuru's position.

And while it's a very empathetic pov, it also shows a certain blind spot on his part, doesn't it? There just doesn't seem like there are many roads up the societal scale for someone like Hien. When you account for her personality, a marriage of convenience with her childhood friend really would look like an amazing deal.

[malaierba]

Estrogen saving her

[malaierba]

I think that Kabru and Shuro being friends makes no sense negl

Well... They are.

I'm gonna guess you want me to sell their dynamic to you?

I'm feeling so so sick I'll keep it short though. Nothing I say will be better than rereading the manga paying attention to their interactions.

1. Their stories parallel each other in several places. Raised by a surrogate mother, trained to be skilled warriors from a young age, both are disconnected with something about themselves as a result of their upbringing, both are politically minded, both capable of approaching any social interaction trying to determine what their interlocutor REALLY wants out of it... They are both also very ascetic and aren't very in touch with their desires. I feel like they both look outwards more than inwards.

I actually just saw this post which i find so apt. Kabru is better at taking care of his foils than himself. Toshiro, in a way, is also better at performing when it's for other people rather than for himself. Maizuru said it herself, asking for help saving Falin was his one selfish request and it wasn't even for himself. Parallel that with Kabru being so willing to sacrifice himself in order to prevent a tragedy like that happened in Utaya. Sacrifice is high on both of them.

I'm not saying all of these parallels are like, direct equivalents, just that they're similar enough that Kabru and Toshiro could look at each other and be like. Hmm. I feel like I get you.

2. 1. Toshiro literally has Rinsha Fana energy

Using these because it's the screenshots I have most at hand lol but. While maybe not her temper, something about their general approach to a group dynamic and general disposition is very similar to me.

2.2. Kabru has the type of social skills that would make it easy for Toshiro to communicate with him. It's not a perfect comparison but to me it's like if you took a bit of Falyn and a bit of Namari, yeah? Extroversion but also awareness of how to put someone like Toshiro at ease.

3. Idk their general interactions man, they just manage to communicate well with each other! Again no mangacaps bcs my head is killing me but, Kabru being able to talk some sense into Toshiro during his meltdown when he's about to kill Laios? When Kabru opens up about his trauma to Toshiro and Namari even though the way I read it, the action wasn't going to get them on his side anymore than they already were? (Aka true moment of seeking connection and showing vulnerability? You don't do that with just any stranger!)

Look at how they're hanging out during the feast. Isn't that so friendship.

TL;DR: they're both: 1. Similar in a lot of important dimensions central to their characters, 2. Already have friends that share traits or with whom they have a dynamic they enjoy, 3. They fr have chemistry man look at the manga.