#Ota family

[ibrokeeverything]

I will never get over Gintoki giving Lake Toya to Shinpachi in the Beam Saber arc 😭😭😭

[sebfreak]

[wizardmarriage]

also picked up some ultrama.n nexus recently \o/ it's very interesting, but it's kind of funny watching while following arc's broadcast

[blackbackedjackal]

.

[hijitae]

Hijikata/Tae & Loid/Yor

Yes, another random couple comparison meta post from yours truly. This time, we will be noting the similarities of Hijikata x Tae with Loid x Yor from Spy x Family. This is something I have discussed with @arirna​ (who I thank for early feedback on this post) a few times over the last couple of years, and then most recently with @suchine-toki​, so this meta post is dedicated to both of them!

SPOILERS AHEAD for Gintama and Spy x Family if you are unfamiliar with one or both of the series.

HijiTae is one of the earliest ships I became utterly devoted to, resulting in comparisons to similar ships ever since then. I can’t help it; I used to do the same with Bulma and Vegeta of Dragon Ball Z, who were my first ever OTP.

I started reading Spy x Family early in 2019, pretty much when it began serialization – much thanks to @arirna​ for his manga recommendations! I immediately liked it, and as the story progressed, we both realized something about Loid and Yor: they had That Dynamic. The HijiTae Dynamic. Now, we’re very biased toward HijiTae, but then @suchine-toki​ mentioned also seeing a strong HijiTae similarity in Loid and Yor, as well, so that confirmed the dynamic from a more objective viewpoint. We don’t just have HijiTae permanently engraved on our brains – there IS a certain dynamic to be found in other ships. It’s almost challenging to narrow it down to a handful of tropes. Suffice to say, you just know it when you see it, when it all feels familiar.

Now, let us unpack the similarities:

Note: I’ve fallen behind on the SxF manga, and I just recently caught up with the anime, so I’m using various SxF character bios for information. This is not an in-depth analysis, but rather a general one to generate ideas and discussion. 

HIJIKATA and LOID Fans may instinctively connect Loid and Gintoki instead because of their main character status, but Loid actually has more in common with Hijikata than he does with anyone else in Gintama, and vice versa. This doesn’t mean you can’t envision Gintoki as Loid, or another favourite MC in Loid’s shoes. By all means, go for it. Fanfic and fanart open up the possibilities. I’m simply saying that in terms of basic commonalities, Loid and Hijikata can shake hands more confidently than any other two characters within their respective series. Hijikata may be rougher around the edges and Loid can be more charming as part of his work, but they have many things in common:

They’ve both had a traumatic childhood, losing both of their parents and other important family figures (I don’t know too much about Loid’s past yet other than the part concerning his mother).

They take their jobs seriously and work hard to ensure complete success.

They are strict on subordinates or others under their tutelage for good reason.

They serve under a higher authority figure (Kondou and Handler).

They both have nicknames – Demon and Twilight – with reputations for being not only skilled but also austere and dangerous.

They are capable of undercover missions. Loid, obviously more so, but Hijikata has done some undercover work, too.

They both have a colleague obsessed with them in different ways: Sougo and Fiona.

They both have a colleague who also serves as a friend, foil, and comedic relief: Kondou and Franky.

They both have an enemy in the brother of their love interests: Sougo again, with Mitsuba, and then potentially Shinpachi with Tae in the fanon realm (except I don’t believe Shinpachi would be as extreme as Sougo); for Loid, it’s Yuri with Yor.

They have been left speechless by Tae and Yor for different reasons, usually as part of comedy scenes.

They both smoke or have smoked before, as @suchine-toki​ reminded me here (thanks again!).

They are frequently the Straight Man in comedy scenes, questioning the bizarre events happening around them, although Hijikata is likelier to participate in the weirdness now and then compared to Loid, whose weirdness – to people around him – is more grounded in how impressed people are by his mind. Not that people aren’t impressed with Hijikata’s mind, lol, but Gintama fans will understand best what I’m getting at here (because sometimes even Kondou is embarrassed by Hijikata, and that says a lot!).

TAE and YOR Yor has quickly become iconic with an instantly recognizable outfit that has inspired many a crossover/AU fanart for other series. Since there aren’t nearly as many Tae fans in comparison to Yor’s, you might be wondering what on earth could they possibly have in common? The answer is: a lot more than you initially thought, I’d bet!

They both lost their parents at a young age and had to raise their little brothers by themselves.

They both can’t cook and are notorious for creating toxic meals by chance.

They both have brothers who are very attached and protective of their older sisters. Shinpachi isn’t as extreme as Yuri, though, lol.

They both had shoulder-length hair as children (a very basic similarity, but you’ll see why I mention it in the pics below).

They both work ordinary jobs (hostess, office worker), but have other jobs/lives (Deva, assassin).

They have similar personalities: kind, smiling, polite…

…But they also have explosive tempers when provoked, making them frightening figures in their own right. Tae is also more cunning than Yor, I’d say.

They are both known for being physically very strong, especially at moments where they need to protect others or themselves.

They both have nicknames, such as Boss Lady and Queen of Kabukicho (Tae) and Thorn Princess (Yor).

They’re both skilled in their chosen weapons of choice (naginata, knives/ice picks).

Others look up to them as mother/older sister figures, such as Kagura and Anya.

They both have a colleague/friend that is occasionally antagonistic toward them depending on the context. For Tae, Sacchan tends to play that role, as well as Ane at Snack Smile. In Yor’s case, we have Camilla. Yet, we have seen them cooperate with Tae and Yor when it counts.  

HIJI/TAE & LOID/YOR Now we come to the heart of this post: the similarities between Hijikata x Tae and Loid x Yor. Given that one ship is considered more canon and widely accepted than the other, what is it that unites them in terms of dynamic and possibility? Let’s take a look:

Personality Contrast: It’s clear they each differ in personality except for when it comes to those that are important to them. We see how Loid and Yor have the same goals concerning Anya. Hijikata is utterly devoted to Kondou, and Tae stood up for Kondou before a corrupt Shogun, so Kondou is like Anya’s equivalent in this context. Tae and Yor are viewed as bright, cheerful people in contrast to Hijikata and Loid’s seemingly cold, stoic natures – yet we’ve also seen both men display passion for subjects that interest or provoke them.

Frightening Figures: This goes without saying. Individually, all of them are scary in their own right, but together? Yikes! Okay, that was cheesy, but you get my point. Loid and Yor are feared for different reasons, but put them together, and they become extremely fearsome, especially when it comes to protecting Anya. Same with Hijikata and Tae, who are already feared by many people, and together, they would be a fearful power couple. (Incidentally and ironically, both Tae and Hijikata fear ghosts.) It’s also worth noting that Hijikata and Loid are often left stunned by Tae and Yor’s feats of strength, and are sometimes on the receiving end, lol.

Relationship of Convenience: This is obvious with Loid and Yor; they have entered a marriage of convenience for both of them in order to carry on with their covert operations. For Hijikata and Tae, a more comedic example is in the Time Skip arc when it was revealed that Hijikata was actually the father of Tae’s baby (if you don’t know Gintama, it’s too much to explain this arc right now, lol). Despite the circumstances, Hijikata was willing to take on the responsibility of raising the child, with or without Tae. If this arc was serious and something like that actually happened, I can imagine both Hijikata and Tae entering a similar relationship of convenience in order to raise their child together. They were both willing to give up what they had in order to give their fake baby a future (again, non-Gintama fans, if this all sounds bizarre, well, it’s supposed to be).

Now, in SxF, Loid and Yor’s relationship of convenience is central to the main plot, and I’m sure they will inevitably move toward a real, genuine love behind that relationship before the series’ end. In Gintama, it’s too late for anything really, and Sorachi didn’t handle his romance all that well (too complicated a subject to get into) by the end, but given the significance of the moments Hijikata and Tae did have, and their devotion to tradition, I imagine they would’ve made a good couple who can stand on equal footing with each other.

Cooking Skills: Loid appears to do most of the cooking than Yor, and I can imagine Hijikata sharing in the responsibility to make up for Tae’s notorious “skills.” Also, Hijikata’s mayonnaise obsession might be all that steels his stomach against Tae’s meals. Currently, Loid still passes out from consuming Yor’s meals, but there is a possibility of him building an immunity and being able to handle her cooking in the future. Yor takes steps to improve her cooking knowledge, and Tae has done the same with a cooking class in the past. Anyway, the point of this section is that the cooking dynamic is virtually the same for each ship.

Conversations: Both have had more in-depth conversations with each other than surface-level interactions. Think Loid and a tipsy Yor in the park, and Hijikata and Tae at Snack Smile in the Yagyuu arc. When the comedy and the rarity of their interactions pass, these two ships can actually have good conversations with one another, confiding when necessary and influencing the other in a positive way.

--

Anyway, that’s all I have to say about Hijikata/Tae and Loid/Yor for now. I’ll be glad to hear of more similarities that I probably missed. Like I said, I’m not up-to-date on the SxF manga, so I don’t know it as well as I know Gintama, but I think I managed to cover most of the basics. Still, I’m always up for friendly discussion concerning these two ships and their similar dynamic. 

[brawlqueen]

"I have to agree 1001%! Mizuki is absolutely 1000% adorable!! I'm so glad you're already in my life!" Here comes Iris to give Mizuki a hug.

it took her so long to get used to affection . years of abuse and neglect and fear of touch; and any touch was cruel and confusing as mizuki never understood what she'd done to deserve it . . and in the same breath felt even now, maybe she had deserved it ?

but when iris shows up; all rainbows and safety , much like miss sagan . . . she remembers how iris was really the first person she trusted. her mother , hitomi , became someone she trusted. maybe . . even if her gut reaction said, you're betraying mom, by thinking . . maybe that's how a mother who loved you was.

despite that she never envied iris more than a sense of wishing she had even a little bit of it . the sagans gave it tenfold whenever they saw her. slowly defrosting the walls and ice around her heart enough that mizuki was comfortable in their home, laughing, eating dinner, even smiling . .

iris was her best friend . mizuki, still grappling with what once was said... was the girl who to iris of all people, said herself, was three universes worth. to think she'd have love like that in her life, family like that in her life . . . like . . . a big sister.

careful of her strength; and for once, not on edge, not with iris anyway, softened grey eyes meet her face with a look she probably isn't aware of. a look of familial love as she leans into her hug with a small laugh. " you sure you aren't biased ? "

it's teasing and soft for once; the twelve year old leaning into her embrace and soaking up every bit of love iris had to give. she had been living without love or basic kindness for so long. it was only right that mizuki returned it tenfold , too , right ?

she fumbles over her words.

" iris . . . you're . . i'm really happy i met you , iris. and miss sagan . i'm happy that . . . you're my best friend. and . . i'll always be there to protect you no matter what ! " it's said a bit fiercely , and with the grade schooler even at twelve, carrying strength more than groups of men three times her size . . . she could back that up. and when she got older ? she'd prove that too . all her life !

" . . . .... so . . ! i want you to rely on me , okay ? " there's a vulnerable look hidden by her face buried in iris' bright pink and white jacket. " . . . 'cause .... " we're a family or...i want to be. i want us to be family. but i'm scared to ask . i want to ask. but --

" oh , uh . never mind. i'll tell you later . . . "

maybe she'd get her courage to say it one day.

[pridaxus-worldbuilding]

Madame Regent Jasmine in 1025 painted by her daughter

[starlight-phantom]

Okay, I've just played through Mayumi's Somnium and that scene in the hospital and ooh boy I need a moment

[tae-shimura-is-my-wife]

I didn't remember Gin had a photo with Tae in! That's cute and again she's together with the rest of yorozuya

[terriblysims]

Andrés Legacy💟

[jojea]

aitsf thoughts

mizuki route grabbed me by the throat with that good found family content and by god i love that girl but HOW HAVE I SEEN LITERALLY NOTHING ABOUT OTA ROUTE

[forgloryforhonor]

what do you think about tae's love for obi? do you think this still makes her aro even though she had romantic feelings for him?

The word otae used for it was "admiration”, not necessarily "love”. It was shinpachi who teased her for it by calling it "hatsukoi”/first love and it just caught on with gintoki, kyuubei and kondou.

Like ofc Otae could be lying, or covering up her feelings. I just like the wording she used at the end "from those of us who admire you.”

Makes me think, did she see obi as a love interest or just someone who could run their dojo later?

And i think that’s deeper than simple romantic notions of love coz their dojo is her life.

[cangrellesteponme]

MAYBE SHADOW SORCERER HERMIT SEB USES THE SHADOW GOO POWERS TO SAVE HIS ADOPTED CHILD YOU MENTIONED, but.. as things go... at a cost. 💀💀💀

i mean, you don't get shadow goo powers without sacrificing a few souls. so ofc the adoption comes at a cost... but maybe they can have a nicer arrangement. just imagine ciel is like "so. eternal servitude? my soul? eating me alive?" and seb just. "...i kind of want a son." that would be hilarious. ofc it still comes with eternal damnation and eventual soul consumption for dark purposes etc etc, but we get some good parenting for a few years!

[itachi86]

i love curtis but his little speech about trust is kind of bull

[guraiuna]

Sougo lowkey developing a crush on Lumine as they interact because nosy-badass-alien-with-a-savage-attitude where did he saw that before– ah right...

[cochidinh]

they changed her outfit in the game but it's still cute!!

I love her sm

Do any of you just look at a character with messy light colored hair and likely purple eyes and say "Hey! This character looks adorable. This will be my favorite thing in the world from now on." Because

I love her sm

Like, it's not even a normal amount of love.

She literally just had a few minutes of screentime and showed up near the end of the series.

But just look how cute she is

She's so adorable

I wanna

I wanna squish her face

I need whatever she uses under her eyes. Blue blush? Idc I need it.

If she dies in the game I'm going to throw hands.

(I got the pics on the tribe nine wiki)