dreamsarebutterflies

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i'm thinking we should start strong with our captains. sam. robby. devon, you'll go next. hawk, demetri. and miguel's our anchor.

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Just wanna do something silly with his cape? cloak? mantle? idk

But anyway-

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VnC has so many gorgeous panels but I think this one is my favorite. It summarizes their relationship so well. The light shining from below Noé and making him brilliant for Vanitas. The soft smile on his face. Vanitas completely taken aback and made vulnerable by Noé's words...

It's also notable for me because it comes after the 'you will find someone to keep you warm' flashback with Luna. Jeanne kept him warm, yes, but there's something so delicate about Noé bringing a blanket up instead of forcing him to come down. Noé, for once, giving him the space he needs.

Plus cmon, Vani's weakness is his self-hatred. Noé knows Vanitas can't bring himself to accept Jeanne's (or Noé's) affection because of it. And for that kind of person, is there anything more incredible (say even romantic) than someone saying "I have seen the worst facets of you, every horrible bit, and I still want you exactly like you are."

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um...well fuck you actually

haven't we put noé through enough by now :')

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I didn't mean this particular scene or by the end of the manga but BEFORE that obviously. Ranma's character development is never stopping and that's what I love the most about his character: he's willing to learn and I do believe he knows himself too. After all, you need to if you try to be a master of martial arts.

Independently of the curse itself, parental pressure played a role in this idea of what a man is supposed to be. First, Genma and his mother made a freaking pact to make a MAN™ out of him. The alternative is DEATH. That alone would put things into your teenage head.

Despite this, he inherited his mother's kindness and he's genuine. Those parts can be seen as feminine in the most traditional ways. He wasn't raised to expose these qualities to the world, which makes him awkward at times when he wants to be nice to Akane for example. To be fair, he turned out fine as far as traditional boys go. He can be a jerk but he's a good kid who has actual affection for all these crazy people coming at him and Akane. If they get into trouble or ask for his help, he'd probably assist them.

Ranma wishing to be a FULL man isnt something new but the reasons evolve as the story goes on. Not necessarily because he changes or because he meets new people but we, as an audience, learn more and more about him.

You cannot ignore that this kid who didn't see his mother for ten years and lived in his father's fear of disappointing her for the whole while he was cursed, deeply wished to cancel this part of him so he could get home and see his mother again (and get rid of one more threat to his life). This reason surely existed before she was introduced. Because, as you said, Ranma has no idea what a home is. His mother was initially home. Now, the idea of Home is Akane and what brought them to be together. You cannot tell me he didn't put it into his head, one way or another, that for him to deserve to stay there with her, he had to be a Man™.

Isn't an explicit notion but the simple fact that Ranma mentions getting back to Akane as he is here is a hint that he wanted to return to her as a complete man again at some point. So it was an objective as well until now. It's not insane to interpret it that way, because she believes in him and he learned not to disappoint. But it's okay if he fails this time because he knows that's not really what Akane needs or wants, she knows and accepts him as he is, entirely.

Now he even has a reason not to be selfish, unlike his father. If you stretch it, you can assume that Ranma breaking the curse has never been something that he wanted for himself, it was yet again all about what his parents wanted for him. What always shocked me when I started the show years ago was how docile he was in the first episode. Meeting Akane, he learnt to express himself more and was finally allowed to want and need things for himself. He didn't need to live in survival mode anymore, not just because he had a roof and free food but because people around him are not threatening him on a daily basis. Until then, he never had to make real decisions for himself. Akane gave him a safe space to be who he was and think outside of his parents' unrealistic expectations.

Also, that's just an idea but: Ranma seems to believe in breaking the curse to make Akane happy. I wonder if that's also a way to erase the primordial fight: he lied to her and pretended to be a girl on day 1. Before this event, Akane was very welcoming and nice to him. Probably the first person to act that way towards him in years, mind you. Perhaps it would be a way to make things right.

Martial arts are Ranma's life, but the training trips with Genma were more about survival. In a way, he doesn't start living until he finds a home with the Tendos, but even more, Akane is home. When he's at death's door, Akane is the one who brings him back. She is his will to live.

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I actually forgot about this part. It is implied that Ranma won't admit to his feelings and won't marry Akane until he finds a way to be a real man again :'(

Martial arts are Ranma's life, but the training trips with Genma were more about survival. In a way, he doesn't start living until he finds a home with the Tendos, but even more, Akane is home. When he's at death's door, Akane is the one who brings him back. She is his will to live.

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old movie 14 sillies i forgot to ever post

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there are times when I feel the weight of my destiny crushing me…

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› TRACES. till's mother — art and story by vivinos , translation by dwh_2.0

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Funny enough that the fact that till's mom prayed to anakt for his son to be loved forever and ivan's name literally means "a gift from god"

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Actually devastated by the central theme of the Io and Till comic.

Io loved him and yet she knew she couldn’t protect him. She couldn’t keep him. In this world, she doesn’t have the luxury of keeping something as precious and fleeting as Till. He’s a tool and she is his maker. She brought him into a world where she fears he will only suffer. And Till has suffered. Till has suffered so much.

But Io wanted him to be loved. Prayed that someone could ever possibly love her baby as much as she did because she knew one day she couldn’t offer him love anymore. All a mother can hope for is that someone will love you like you deserve when I’m gone.

And someone did.

Someone loved Till. Someone protected him. Someone’s entire life was driven by love for her baby.

Someone on Twitter pointed out that Ivan’s name means “gift of God.”

Ivan was Io’s gift from whatever being she desperately prayed to.

Ivan didn’t think he mattered to anyone, but look.

He was everything Io ever hoped and begged the universe for for her child.

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Ada Limón, “To Be Made Whole”, On Being with Krista Tippett

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We lay here for years or for hours Your hand in my hand, so still and discreet So long, we'd become the flowers We'd feed well the land and worry the sheep

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As long as there is love, there will be grief.

The grief of time passing,

of life moving on half-finished,

of empty spaces that were once bursting with the laughter and energy of people we loved.

As long as there is love

there will be grief

because grief is love’s natural continuation.

It shows up in the aisles of stores we once frequented,

in the half-finished bottle of wine we pour out,

in the whiff of cologne we get two years after they’ve been gone.

Grief is a giant neon sign,

protruding through everything,

pointing everywhere,

broadcasting loudly,

“Love was here.”

In the finer print, quietly, “Love still is.”

- Heidi Priebe