Dr. Ver is an amazing character for the story of Symphogear. He's not someone you want to see redeemed. He's manipulative and abusive. He's a pathetic man who thinks the world revolves around just him. He falls down a slope twice in the same series. He lashes out whenever something doesn't do according to the way he imagines or wants. Everybody, even the people he works with can't stand him. They'd all punch him in the face if they could. He understands this and continuously exploits the fact that he's only kept around to be useful to insidiously steer plans in his direction. He's one of the smartest character's in the series ultimately figuring out and being correct about a fundamental aspect of the entire main cast's power system.
The problem for him of course is that while it's true that love being the real power all along is factually true, logic never actually wins out in the end. It's about people being passionate about the people around them and defying god and any semblance of logic to ensure the future. Hibiki constantly defies all odds by saying "screw logic, Ima hit them with everything I have and then hold hands with them so they become friends with me."
Ver also fails at the lingering message the entire series presents in episode 1; "Don't give up on living." When all his plans and manipulation come crumbling down, instead of accepting defeat, he turns to nihilism since if he can't be a hero, the world shouldn't exist. And instead of being killed by anyone, he's treated as just a person, no one special. Not a hero, not a villain, not a martyr, and not a monster.
Admittedly, this reading gets more complex with how he's treated in GX when he's stripped of humanity and thrown in a giant box underwater since he fused with a relic. But this plays into Symphogear reminding the audience that while people like Hibiki and Genjuro continue to treat people with the humanity they deserve, larger systems dehumanize people, exploiting them and treating them as convenient tools. See also Maria and the deal she makes with the UN.
Ultimately, Ver recovers some of his humanity when he does something for someone else, even if it's motivated by spite, saving the world and leaving information for the SONG. Fittingly, he's refereed to as the "worst possible/bare minimum hero." Caring about anyone other than yourself is the lowest possible bar a hero must overcome.
And again, Hibiki, who cares more than anyone else to a self detrimental fault demonstrates why she's the biggest hero in the series. She reaches out to other people, and in turn they also reach out. And when she needs them, they are there for her.
Surprise, the funny idol/sentai/tokusatu/mech lesbian anime is actually a show about characters so the action has meaning.
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Now for Shirabe Meshi vol. 2's bonus pages, post 1 of 2 (second post will be posted at a later time and have the bonus manga since this volume has two with multiple pages)
As before, I'm starting with the cover under the sleeve
It takes place at the end of GX when Carol's Green Lion starts to explode (Exterminate starts playing). Dr. Ver is still alive, trapped in the ruined Chateau de Tiffauges, knowing that he's about to die
The arm injected with Nephilim cells attaches itself to the Chateau. Ver assumes the cells are hungry for relics, as they normally would be, but comes to the realization that it's protecting him and begs it to let him die a hero
Ver survives the explosion, and wanders off wondering if his dream of becoming a hero that saved the world has ended
As for the pages after each chapter...
Chapter 7: Shirabe goes to the school library and notices a certain book about being honest with yourself and recognizes the title as advice that Miku gave her. She looks inside at the card with the names of students who have previously checked it out and to her surprise sees..."Yukine Chris"
Chapter 8: Fujitaka says "Huh? K2 is the world's second tallest mountain, what are you talking about?" to which Elfnein panics because she realizes the Autoscorers must have sucked out such an irreplaceable memory along with the memories of food
Chapter 9: Chris is shown giving Valentine's chocolate meant for friends to Genjuro and Ogawa. Genjuro wonders if she thinks of them as friends and comments that he doesn't understand kids these days, but Ogawa says that it makes him sort of happy
Chapter 10: Yumi and Elfnein are singing a slightly altered version of "We Are" from One Piece (replacing the word "yume" with "uta")
Chapter 11: Maria says it's time to sleep and turns off the light. She, Serena, Kirika, and Shirabe lie in their futons for a bit but then Serena says that she heard "in Japan, during times like this, people like to tell scary stories or ones about their love lives" to which Maria responds "WE SHALL NOT!" with Kirika and Shirabe mortified in the background
For context, in this chapter Maria walked in on Shirabe on top of Kirika while they were both naked and assumed they were uh...you know...doing the deed (it was a misunderstanding but that explanation came too late and the embarrassment on both sides had already set in)
Chapter 12's is just art of Tsubasa and Kanade, no text
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Bad day
Honkai: Star Rail - Aventurine x Dr. Ratio
A/N: HAPPY (LATE) BIRTHDAY @fluffy-ami!! I'm sorry for being such a horrible friend and only noticing the date has passed me by almost two weeks later. I hope this humble mess can make up for my delay. Love you, *mwah*
Summary: Ratio had a bad day, so Aventurine came to the rescue!
Word count: 1153 words
Ratio looked down at the hands wrapped around his chest, pondering whether he should question it or not. He was nearly sure he did warn that idiot gambler about the risks of pestering him tonight, so why, of all things, were Aventurine holding (or, at least, trying to) him down?
“Let go, gambler,” Ratio sighed, tapping the back of one of Aventurine’s hands with the vain hope it would be enough to convince him. “I’m not in the mood for your foolery.”
The only answer he got from the other man, however, was something suddenly pressing on his back. The doctor looked over his shoulder and could tell that the gambler was… leaning into him? Without moving his arms a single inch, Aventurine pressed his forehead on Ratio’s back, nudging slightly. “This isn’t ‘foolery’, I’m trying to be nice here, doc”.
“Then do it to someone else, can’t you tell I’m busy?”
“I can also tell you’re in a bad mood, doc,” Aventurine spoke softly, his words almost muffled by Ratio’s body. The doctor sighed, looking up to the ceiling. Oh Aeons above, what did he do to deserve this idiot in his life? “I thought someone as smart as you would be able to tell what a ‘hug’ is,” Aventurine teased, tightening his embrace.
Ratio wasn’t exactly restrained, but he couldn’t properly move either. Aventurine’s arms kept his won from moving all the way, leaving him in a quite difficult position. “Sigh, I’m serious, let me g-”
“So am I, doc,” Aventurine mumbled, leaning into the other as he tried to get closer to his face. The gambler stood on the tip of his toes, but still lacked a couple inches to properly reach Ratio’s. “What happened? Did you have a bad day?”
“Gambler,” Ratio warned, tugging at the back of Aventurine's wrist with a messed up grip, his fingers barely managing to graze at the other’s arm. “...why are you so clingy? Are you even sober?”
Aventurine couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle, planting his heels back into the ground. “Did you just hesitate?” He said smugly, tilting his head to the side to try to peek at Ratio’s expression.
His attempt to fend the other off with snark didn’t seem to work, Ratio noted mentally. Maybe it was the tiredness from work, but responding to Aventurine’s teases seemed to be a more difficult task than he first anticipated. “That was just another of your delusions, I’m afraid. Now, care to let me go?”
“Not until we work on this bad mood of yours, doc,” Aventurine insisted, pressing his forehead on Ratio’s back again.The scholar gritted his teeth, regretting not keeping in mind how persistent the other could be at times. “My mood will improve greatly once you let me go, gambler.”
Against his expectations, what followed the short conversation was absolute silence. Almost as if he was actually pondering the matter, Aventurine only hummed quietly, making the doctor feel somewhat… uneasy.
Aventurine could be pretty unpredictable - an aspect of his that Ratio always despised utterly. Bold moves, careless thinking and an awful attitude, yes, that was Aventurine. On top of that, the fact that things always seemed to work in his favor only made it worse.
The moments in silence seemed to drag on for hours and were making Ratio more anxious - to not say “curious”. The room was so quiet that he could almost hear the gears inside Aventurine’s head turning, plotting his next flawless plan.
“Alright, that enou-ugh!” Ratio widened his eyes. If looks could kill, Aventurine would already be a better place by that time. “Gamb- ah! G-Gambler, don’t you d-dare.”
Aventurine laughed sheepishly, nuzzling the tip of his nose between Ratio’s wing bones. “‘Dare’ to do what, doc? I’m not sure if I’m following.”
Before Ratio could voice another retort, he felt those pesky fingers digging into his sides again. An electric sensation ran across his body, not to mention the fact that Aventurine kept his arms tightly wrapped around him, preventing him from moving. Damned gambler.
“Y-yohou know what I’m tahahalking about!” Ratio giggled against his will, moving his torso as much as he could inside the gambler’s hug, but his efforts were all in vain. If anything, whenever he moved, Aventurine would poke his sides again in an awfully tickling manner that would make him jump in place.
The gambler pressed the tip of his fingers on the spot, taking advantage of Ratio’s fashion choice to rub small circles on the bare skin. “Come on, you’re too handsome to be frowning like that ~”
Ratio wasn’t sure if it was an extra measure to keep him moving away or something else entirely, but Aventurine was suddenly leaning on him again while his hand wrecked havoc against his half exposed side. Now, besides finding a way to deal with the annoying tickling, Ratio also needed to be careful to not make Aventurine fall to the ground or, worse, be dragged along in the other’s fall.
“Gahahambler! S-stop it!” Ratio hissed, his hands desperately trying to dislodge Aventurine’s, but he always seemed to be out of his reach. “You ihihidiot!”
“Ehh? How mean!” Aventurine chuckled, vibrating his fingers under one of Ratio’s ribs, making the scholar let out an uncharming, loud laugh. “I’m very worried about you, doc! N- now, could you squat a little?”
“W-whahat?!”
Ratio had been tickled by Aventurine before, yes. He also returned the favor a few times. And considering the history of episodes regarding this matter, this particular request became even more odd. It wouldn’t surprise him if Aventurine teased him or threatened him with more tickling, but… squat?
“I c-can’t reach your face, you’re too tall…” The gambler muttered shily, almost innocently, but his hand didn’t stop - not for a single moment. The contrast between his acts and his attitude annoyed Ratio even more. “C’mere, please ~”
“H-how cahahan I move with you hohoholding me, yohou imbehehecile!”
“Agh, fine,” Aventurine groaned, deciding to take the other’s requests in consideration and, at last, letting him go.
Ratio gasped, quickly reaching for his abused side and trying to rub off the ticklish sensation. “You d-damned gambler,” he panted, turning around to face Aventurine, who wore that handsome stupid smirk he always used to.
“Nah-ah, before you scold me…” Aventurine ordered, pointing towards the ground as a reference to his demand. Ratio usually would’ve denied but, just this time, he decided to oblique.
Slightly bending forward, Ratio’s eyes were almost at the same level of Aventurine’s, waiting for the gambler to take action. “So, what did you want?”
“This, doc,” Aventurine muttered, gently wrapping his arms around Ratio’s neck and planting a kiss on his cheek. “I hope you have a better day tomorrow,” he whispered close to Ratio’s ear, burying his face in the crook of his neck.
“...gambler,” Ratio called softly, letting out a pleased sigh.
“Yes, doc?”
“Thank you.”
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