#characters with baggage

[ahb-writes]

Book Review: ‘HIGEHIRO’ #2

Higehiro: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway, Vol. 2 (light novel) (Higehiro: After Being Rejected, I Shaved and Took in a High School Runaway by Shimesaba My rating: 4 of 5 stars Sayu, frantically running away from her past, has run so far and so fast such that she has forgotten to allay herself of the benefits of having run away in the first place. That is not to say she hasn't indulged in the freedom of movement and behavior; rather, she has neglected to explore the emotional latitude one often earns for oneself when finally unshackled by the presumptions of home. HIGEHIRO v2 pivots, holding Sayu responsible for her actions and forcing her to confront the fragility she hides with five different dishonest smiles. Also, Yoshida's work life is getting more hectic. Also, Sayu snags a part-time job and makes new friends. Also, more folks within Yoshida's inner circle are clued into his home situation. Also, an adulterer barges back into Sayu's life. More and more developments layer the precedent, and readers are left to wonder how long it'll be until Sayu, or Yoshida, or any of the supporting cast, breaks down. HIGEHIRO v2 is about surviving the fiery backdraft of emotions left unattended for far too long. The novel isn't a tearjerker, but it's definitely heartbreaking on multiple accounts. It's a reality check, and nobody emerges unscathed. The expanding number of characters with baggage and a hustle and misconceptions about social propriety grows with each chapter. This novel series' premise hasn't changed. The tale of a "nice guy" office worker trying his best in spite of the world's emergent ills remains the primary theme. But the deeper readers wade into Yoshida's life, the more they come to find he's an aberration in more ways than one. In HIGEHIRO v2, Yoshida butts heads with characters whose perception of the world is falsely colored according to what they desire most. Airi Gotou is still the object of the young man's affections, but the woman's pretentious virtue nearly wrenches their whole dynamic off course. Mishima, Yoshida's kohai, still pines for her do-gooder colleague, but her indecisive disposition marks her for one who can never attain what she needs because she never voices what she wants. This is a character study on down the line. New characters are not immune to these clashes with reality. Asami Yuuki, for example, is a casual gyaru and one of Sayu's coworkers at a local corner store. The girl is a brilliant high-school student whose home life is the telltale consequence of neglectful parenting. The connections she makes, and the ruptures she inveighs, are direct consequences of these experiences. HIGEHIRO v2 tips its hand a little, strongly implying that Yoshida has found himself dead center in the most undesirable harem in the history of humankind: a gorgeous prude, a lazy and unambitious sidekick, an immature runaway, and a mature latchkey youth. Whether the man will acquiesce to one of these rotten desires, or fold his cards and walk away, is as of yet unknowable.

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[akanemnon]

Chara knows something that we don't, methinks...

BONUS COMIC

FIRST - PREVIOUS - NEXT

MASTERPOST (for the full series / FAQ / reference sheets)

[lilianade-comics]

Thinking about how Dani's episode is called Kindred Spirits, which implies that her unique narrative role is to mirror Danny and act as a foil to him, and then the episode is like "Here's some ✨superficial similarities✨. She is now going to leave the plot entirely and be 💖homeless💖"

[lazychimken]

Ok big optimus fella here. the ageswap au is very exciting and love optimus kinda sad and banged up from his time at war. he's had more time to grieve his friends and internalized years of sorrow from the war. I can imagine him as a more "conventional" optimus, very paternal of his team and tries to impart the wisdom he has(it is pretty biased and has an arc to unlearn the war time mindset he was raised with). I love a fan optimus design with a gresom scar behind his face mask dus wearing it permanently. And finally i'd love if he had an affinity for books and human stories in the way prowl became attached to earth's nature, loves the library and reads alot on this enormous kindle sumdac builds. idk with the current dynamic he and prowl don't have to trade the earth lover trait but i was just inspired

I love this take! Optimus would have a hard time adapting to times of “peace” and this extends to him struggling to connect with those under his command. Luckily he gets better at this over time!

I think in the TFA Age Swap AU he would be a better leader and fighter, but at the cost of him being able to get close with the other bots. He would exhibit a detached and commanding presence that was great for the war but not so much here with young bots who need guidance from a firm yet kind teacher.

[another-ninjago-person]

People were knocking on Kai’s characterization in DR but I don’t see what’s the problem?

He comes off as one of the wisest of the old gen ninja and is easily able to connect with new kids without the baggage of being a legend by meeting them at their level. By being a little silly.

It helps that we’ve passed the point of retreading old ground for the sake of drama: “i’m a hothead and family is danger so i’m going to do something incredibly risky that’s going to mess things up.” or “why i am unworthy/inferiority complex.” They’re finally letting him progress in the spotlight. No longer trapped in the character progression loop!

And because other characters run through his old beats he gets to bestow his wisdom. Telling them he was in their position and respecting where they come from. This happens with Wyldfyre and Cole (and lowkey Nya) and it works so well because Kai gets to be competent. And if there’s one thing I thank DR for is balancing Kai’s silliness and competence.

[beatcroc]

i keep seeing this tweet and it keeps making me think of them... 🤝my man

not to do them any disservice, they are like genuine actual legitimate friends who respect eachother beyond just their mutual of disdain for eggman. but surely they must joke about it..... we didn't really get to see much of them being realbuds at the end of scrapnik but i want to believe they are So homies now

[js-dragonart]

Fire and Blood.

This was one of my first fan arts of these two, I drew this around the time the HOD episode about the battle of Rooks Rest aired. It was a lot to unpack and caused a lot of ✨emotional damage✨.

It was also my first time drawing dragons and you can really see that. Think I´m gonna keep drawing humans, bats and crabs.

Posted this on my Instagram before.

[fishyartist]

[gilly-moon]

Another wip i may never finish

[crabsnpersimmons]

just wanted to say thank you for all the LOVE for Clip! he's happy to be here!

Clip is hella competitive 😅

and here are some doodles inspired by some of your comments and tags!

@nowiknowthislooksbad @normal-about-the-dca

he's having fun (: (the kind of fun i would hate because i don't like the sound of balloons popping..)

@vacantfields @petrixmuserb

i like to think the hair salon does these kinds of things for charity often. would you be in line? what would you pick?

@ramblingsofacotlfangirl @salamansir

oh dear..

@bennydunbar

loved this tag so i HAD to draw something for it--

oop well okay! i think that's enough for today! thanks again!

[emilinqa]

quantum leap spends an entire episode asking the question is it gay to be attracted to your best friend when he is magically turned into a beautiful girl and their answer is theoretically yes it is but not practically so it’s fine

[pluvioloulou]

Buck and Tommy’s relationship is really just straight out of a rom com

Hiding behind a couch and with all that space they decide to squish together?? Dorky flirting too??

[lainalit]

Rhysand Stans arguing back with the "So do you want rhys to slaughter and imprison hundreds of fae males bc they are abusive to the females?" everytime someone brings up the suffering of the hewn city & Illyrian women, isn't the gag they think it is

Cause yes why the fuck can't Rhysand the proclaimed morally grey character and saviour for all women from this fandom not just do that?

He already is/was a tyrant during amarantha's rule when he killed a bunch of innocent fae's under her command and he doesn't face any consequences for that other than a half ass "that wasn't very nice" statement from some high lords

also we rarely hear from him how horrible and guiltridden he feels about it since sjm can't write her characters feeling the impact of their actions for more than one scene

So again why can't feminist Rhysand not just be a tyrant to abusive men since the plot already don't care if he was one to begin with?

[nacreousor]

Frank Langdon is a high functioning addict and pretty damn adept at what he's doing as long as everything is going 100% his way. He needs people on his side that see him as a good guy. He needs to see himself as a good guy. He wears a handmade bracelet that his kid made him to work - brightly coloured with his sleeves rolled up. He sits with David after a traumatic event and tells him that Robby was the best man for the job - within Robby's sight line. He wants to get his four year old the puppy he's been begging for - for his wife to deal with whilst raising both his kids as he's out of the house for 12 hour shifts. When he gets caught, he says c'mon Robby, remember how I helped my mother move all by myself? He's taking risks with his addiction, and he's getting cagey and paranoid about it when we meet him. He's jumping at everything as the season opens. He knows people will see him differently if they find out and he knows his career is at stake.

But he's still a good guy - as long as people believe this, they're all his character witnesses. Enter new residents and interns, and as luck will have it, he gets paired with a friendly, bubbly, eager to learn, genuinely happy to be here resident. Ain't that swell. Her desire to trust and build relationships with people that is the perfect canvas for Langdon to paint the best version of himself. So he's charming, he's kind to her, he gets to show off a little because he is a damn good doctor, and it FEELS damn good to be observed as such, especially by someone fresh who hasn't also clued in to the fact that he's an asshole too. He works his shift building up a mentor/student relationship with her. He's not doing this out of the kindness of his heart or because he likes her; Melissa King is a convenient part of Frank Langdon's ongoing plan of manipulation. Her competence means that none of his agitated snapping gets aimed her way (yet).

That's because he's reserving all that for Trinity Santos - the more jaded and less naive med student who recognizes how manipulative men behave. After all, it's a lot easier to never have to see an abrasive recent grad he's not able to intimidate after one day than it might be to never see a second year resident with experience again. He's playing the whole field here, because in his mind, everyone is on to him already. (and best believe he would have thrown Mel under the bus and dismissed and gaslit her too if she had been the one to piece his little secret together)

[royalarchivist]

Pac: Take care of Ramon, take care of Richas, ok? See you on the other side, big boy.

Fit: [Laughs] Take it easy, big boy. Take it easy, big boy. Actually, nononono– You can't just say "big boy" and then just expect me to not drag you outta here. [Fit tries to lasso Pac] You're coming with me.

Pac: No, I need to leave!

Fit: You're coming with me. You are not dying today! You are not dying today!

Pac: I need to leave, Fit! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

Ironmouse: Are you guys like, having sexy time?

Fit: There's homosexual activity going on Mouse, don't worry about us, ok?

Ironmouse: You guys, we don't have time to be gay right now.

[ Full Transcript ↓ ]

-

Pac: I'm just here to say goodbye to you, Fit.

Fit: Goodbye? We're not– we're gonna be fine, we're going to get out of here, don't worry.

Aypierre: Yeah, don't worry!

Pac: I know, but like– I will sleep until the end, you know? I will pass through this moment sleeping, man. I won't be able to be awake for the moment.

Fit: [Laughs] You know, it's– I mean, if that's how you wanna go, but– I mean, that- I mean, isn't that bed kind of like.... I don't know, it's–

Pac: No no, I will be staying on the sofa, you know, I will be staying on the sofa.

Fit: Oh the sofa. Ok, that's a nice sofa! Yeah, that is a pretty nice sofa.

Pac: Yeah, it's a nice sofa right? No, yeah– I'm going to stay on the sofa, you know? So, since I will be going Fit... [Pac starts tossing Fit all his items]

Aypierre: [Not paying attention to their conversation] Is that bigger cell? I don't think it's a bigger- biggest one.

Fit: Oh... Thank you Pac, thank you.

Pac: Everything you need to survive, ok?

Fit: Wow.

Aypierre: Wow.

Pac: And if you need this one also, maybe, who knows? [Throws him more items]

Fit: Ohhh, well hey– just take this to remember me by, ok? [Tosses him a photo of himself – the same one Aypierre was carrying all day yesterday]

Pac: [Laughs] Ok, I will sleep holding the picture you know, like this. You know, I will dream about you, Fit. And I hope this is gonna be good dreams. I see you in the other side. Good luck, my friend.

Fit: The other side... Yeah, you know, yeah, we– we– you know? It's been an honor, Pac. It's been an honor, you know?

Pac: Yeah, for me too, you know? Take care of Ramon, take care of Richas, ok?

Fit: Ok.

Pac: See you on the other side, big boy.

Fit: I will sing your praise– Oh yeah, hey– [Laughs] Take it easy, big boy. Take it easy, big boy. Actually, nononono– You can't just say "big boy" and then just expect me to not drag you outta here. You're coming with me.

Pac: No, I need to leave!

Fit: You're coming with me. You are not dying today! You are not dying today!

Pac: I need to leave, Fit! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

Fit: Sorry, there's–

Pac: I'm sorry!

Ironmouse: Are you guys like, having sexy time?

Fit: There's homosexual activity going on Mouse, don't worry about us, ok?

Ironmouse: You guys, you guys– we don't have time to be gay right now, come on. There's no time.

Pac: No, there's no time! Oh, goodbye Fit...

Fit: Ok, c'mon, no no no, come on, we got this we got this!

Pac: Goodbye Fit, I'm sorry!

Fit: [Laughs] Oh no...

[rolanslide]

What Iris tells Edgeworth: I know what you are. I know you have a dark secret.

What Iris means: You've done something you could never forgive yourself for, all for the sake of someone who was only hurting you in the end. You still care about this person, even though they're long gone and it's long since been proven that they're not worth grieving. But they were still your reason for being, and you're not sure who you are without them. And even then, you can never forgive yourself for being tied to them for so long, and the people you hurt as a result. Your guilt has walled you off from any meaningful connection, as you're afraid of hurting or being hurt by anyone else. That's why you keep running away, from both your loved ones and yourself. Everything you do is atonement.

What Edgeworth thinks she means: Oh god she knows I'm gay