#Tyto reads Lupin

[kingdomoftyto]

It really is astounding how much Kaitou KID manages to capture the exact Lupin vibe despite them objectively not being that similar. I quickly lost track of the number of times I thought to myself "oh that's SUCH a Kaito move" as I was going through this book, which shouldn't be surprising considering he's expressly stated to be a huge inspiration for KID, but it's still wild to me considering the massive differences they DO have. How do these two thieves give off such identical energies when one of them doesn't even keep the things he steals???

[kingdomoftyto]

Finished the rest of Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Burglar and MY GOD, that last chapter...!

Not only do we get a fun little heist on its own--with the target immediately remarking on how much his new guest bears an uncanny resemblance to the famous Lupin! haha funny coincidence!--but then NELLY FROM THE VOYAGE IN CHAPTER 1 MAKES A REAPPEARANCE??

After how episodic these stories have been so far I did NOT expect that kind of callback, let alone for her to have such a profound effect on him. Lupin gets so flustered to be caught in the act of looting the place that he starts dropping things, and he blushes multiple times in her presence. And she!! is still!! conflicted about him!! Even knowing that he’s an internationally wanted criminal! She lets him get away--again!!!--and even expresses worry about him!

I genuinely have no idea if this character is never seen again after this book or if she’s a recurring love interest or what, but her wordlessly keeping these little secrets for Lupin is hitting all the right narrative buttons for me and I’m here for it

And ONLY THEN do we get to the true star of the chapter, the big man himself, the myth and the legend, Sherlock Fucking Holmes, who is treated with far more dignity in this first appearance than I expected him to be, and who, despite the disguise, suspects Lupin after exchanging barely two lines of dialogue with him. Lupin has a silent moment of, “Oh, shit, this guy is for real. He’ll see through any disguise I try to throw at him now,” and you can FEEL the weighty energy of these two legendary men as they face each other for the first time, and it’s incredible

Anyway later it turns out Lupin stole his watch

[kingdomoftyto]

I’m finally reading Arsène Lupin: Gentleman Thief and I’m losing my mind a little bit. I can’t believe this 115-year-old book is making me laugh out loud multiple times per chapter.

I figured out the trick in chapter 2 really quickly and then got to delight in the rest of the shenanigans from the criminals’ perspective. Then Ganimard shows up to interrogate Lupin in his prison cell and every single word they exchange is solid gold. (Lupin just keeps laughing at his own jokes while Ganimard glares at him, and it only makes it funnier.)

And then the reveal that he got away with it all is delivered via goddamn magic trick with a telegram inside a hollowed-out eggshell, which is just, *chef kiss*

And THEN as Ganimard turns to leave, Lupin is like, “Wait! How did your watch end up in my pocket? Haha whoops, bad habits. Anyway, here you go; it’s not like I need it... seeing as I already have the judge’s watch right here!!”

In the next chapter he breaks out of a prison transport vehicle, goes directly to a cafe for a drink and loudly announces his name to the manager, and then casually walks back to prison and demands to be returned to his cell. A few weeks later, he escapes for real by tricking the authorities into letting him walk out unmolested.

And in the last chapter I’ve read so far, Lupin gets robbed on a train and uses the police to help him corner the thief. Then he throat-chops the guy into unconsciousness, takes his stuff back, and leaves a generous tip for the police officers to find when they catch up.

In short, he’s a horrible gremlin of a man and I love him

He’s much, MUCH more like Kaitou KID than I ever expected