#i cant choose i like them all so here we go: silent dotting affection as the prompt

[popponn]

xavier falls asleep easily enough as he is, but whenever he has his head on your lap, your fingers combing through his hair—all he can do is just sigh and give in. closing his eyes, he knows better than to fight the temptation, especially within the comfort of your touch and pleasant weather. though admittedly, he will find any weather pleasant as long there is you, safe and close to his side. as he slowly drifts to sleep, he dully notes with a hum when you praise his hair. he will do his best to make sure he will also praise your features after he is awake. he could think of so many to say—your smile, your voice, your whole being. and maybe, he will also give a kiss on your forehead and lips too—he thinks before finally falling asleep.

zayne loves many parts of you, from the one that often surprises him most to the one that offers him a comforting mundanity. so, when you press your forehead to his and call his eyes beautiful, he knows himself enough to just accept your words in silence with a smile. a burst of adoration and more blossomed warmly, weighing his chest and dizzying his head instantly. he is tongue-tied, certainly, however, he too can't exactly find the words to tell you how much more beautiful yours are to him. or perhaps, he doubts there are any words to describe what he truly feels. though, for now, he will settle with a gentle squeeze from his hands to tell you as he presses back his forehead gently against yours.

rafayel gets flustered pretty easily sometimes. it is both adorable and funny, seeing the way his ears turn red as his usually chatty mouth closes with a pout-like expression. but, even this state he could never take his hands off you. you could keep kissing his face, neck, and chest—right over his beauty mark—while hugging him without a clear rhyme and reason, and like a true lovesick man he will let you. hands resting on your arm, stilled in his brand of rare shyness all while still clinging unto you out of his obvious fondness. of course, even if he does enjoy this, he will come back with a vengeance the moment he gathers himself.

[papers4me]

Fruits Basket Manga Review , ch 109

-The Tragedy of a an episodic format attempting to connect narrative in a series: (Tohru’s Background or Kyo’s Focus?)

One of my issues with se03, ep6 (other than it being 3 chapters combined horribly with new material added for shock value) is that it was weakly undecided who would be the focus? who would the narrative follow?: Is it tohru’s own pov abt herself? is it the gramps giving boring exposition abt tohru over weak still images of flashbacks or is kyo thinking abt tohru’s pain?

The truth is, it was all the above in the manga, but the manga gave each a chapter focus so that the chapter is well-directed with focused narrative. The anime weakly jumbled the 3 chapters together as they always do. You mix chapters & tada~ you got an ep, you only need a broad weak theme that connects the dots! here: it is tohru! & that’s it. As long as the 3 chapters discuss tohru in any form & manner, nothing will seem off if we put them next to each other in a 20 minute ep! right? riiiiiight ????

.. this was never a correct way. Just like a chapter needed a narrative direction, the ep is the same!!

ch 107: The beginning of tohru’s pov on her realization abt loving kyo.

ch108: tohru’s full pov of shock upon reaching the conclusion that she loves him & the beginning of her mom’s issues & abandonment.

ch109: Kyo’s pov abt tohru’s pain & his involvement, guil & the sheet hug.

ch110: (completely cut from the anime!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Kyoru’s part: the aftermath of kyo & tohru crossing the line of being in the most vulnerable & intimate, building towards a more crushing impact of the climax. The stronger & more painful their love is, the more it will hurt. Also a yuchi buildup?!!!!

-so, you see each chapter has a direction i& a narrative it follows independently that is weaved together to make a connected tissue of the overall plot. The anime puts the 3 chapters next to each other & we are lost on who to follow? kyo or tohru or the gramps. That’s why it feels tohru is weak & her two chapters worth of pov is stolen from her cuz it cut or shortened to include the grandpa, kyo, isuzu, shigure & let’s not forget (kazuma, yuki & haru) at the beginning, the dramatic shock value addition & OP & ED. All these take valuable screen time. The ep shocks us by moving from tohru to kyo. One minute she’s crying with him on the streets, next he’s at the grave & she’s visiting isuzu.

Kyo said he isn't going to the grave in the ep, upon seeing him actually going, I just assumed he wanted to avoid, hana, cuz I’m so invested in his story that I remember sth happened in se1, ep 14.. ages ago, The anime didn’t even allow kyo to inner talk abt avoiding hana... In their weird mind, kyo only inner talks in dramatic situations..See the difference!

Not only the writer (a) reminds us why kyo avoided the grave visit, she also (b) seized the opportunity to shine lifht onto an issue that will be the center of kyo’s struggles: Running away!

The anime introduce this in kyo’s pov only when kyo confronts tohru. Only when it was needed & couldnt be avoided. This is sth that will be the core of all the climax & the aftermath as well! Kyo running away.. How bad are you if you avoid inserting one line only that can be said in few seconds & establish great deal & foreshadow plenty!!!!!!!!!! I can’t for the life of my understand why short lines are cut from kyo when in the anime they have him be standing silent in the graveyard. Like slap the line above the silent scene!!!!! But doing so means the anime team understands tohru & kyo’s issues. They don’t. Not the slightest.

-Ep 6 signals the beginning of the anime moving from episodic format of se1, 2 & 5 eps of se3 & entering a connect plot. The anime doesn’t know how to do that & screwed tohru in the process. The protagonist’s main issues are one ep worth only. The antagonist main issues are one ep only (ep7).  Ep 6, was treated as a stand alone ep (minus the inserted shock scene to create a lingering issue that needs a following ep to explain. TOLD YOU they don’t know how to make a series!). Thus the following ep 7 is akito’s focus. Everything that was established in ep 6 was pit on hold until akito reaches the craziest mindset for the climax. See why ep 6 was so bad? it is Should NOT be a stand alone ep.

-The plot connects kyoru emotional & physically: (Kyo’s chapter with a tohru’s focus:

Unlike the anime, the chapter knows what it’s presenting 7 where it’s going. Kyo’s issues. This ch focuses on him uncovering parts of his past as it connects with tohru’s. Unlike the anime, we know why kyo's connection to kyoko’s past. The anime is hiding this for the climax, no problem, it can still work both ways. However, hiding kyoko /kyo connection doesn't necessarily mean hiding kyoko/tohru connection. But the anime is cutting this to milk it in an ova or series next year~ no problem,  it can still work if you handle this ep’s  flashback better. for all the artistic creativity they inserted in the added scene, they failed miserably in tohru’s flashback portion. how?

By choosing a frontal pov shot in tohru’s grandpa flashback as if the audience are the ones who abandoned tohru or opening the door to find her alone. it does NOT work at all. why? the audience are encouraged to be like tohru since ep 1 as tohru is the mother, angel, fixer & endearing hopeful girl. The audience will NEVER abandon tohru, that’s why tohru’s story felt disconnected & weak in the anime. Not knowing what kyoko did, who would abandon such child?! differently not us. so why use the frontal pov shot? -_-’

-tohru confesses her pain to kyo without being ushered by isuzu, without any outside factor. She simply visited the grave & came home. hiding her pain. once again. like she always do. One question by kyo, prompts her to “ complain a little” call back to se1, ep5 as he advised. we see tohru get out of her shell little by little. NOT SCREAM OR SLAP. She opened up. why? cuz the story is abt “ opening the lid” not abt “ snatching the lid”. No need for shocks. Yuki opened his lide slowly, tohru even slower, kyo is resisting opening his altho it is cracking in this chapter. When your story focuses on character buildup it pays!

-I’ll give the anime credit when it due. The hug scene is so good both in manga & anime. but so awesome in animation, colors, music & voice acting. It’s breathtaking & painful. The most beautiful kyoru scene in the whole anime.

-It represents their mutual vulnerability, understanding, pain & determination to love the other but not also let go. kyo has made his mind to be locked in order not to hurt tohru & tohru has made her mind that she can’t let go of her mom.

You see, the scene’s meaning hits different between manga & anime; In the anime: tohru has already challenged the sohmas & screamed to be with kyo, while kyo is still decided to leave her. In the manga: they’re both at the same spot (undecided). I like both interpretations but I’ll choose the manga’s version. Simply cuz it means tohru is still uncovering her issues which means more focus on her, & more explanation of why cant tohru love her mom & kyo at the same time.

-This expression on tohru’s face is a the complete opposite of the shock value expression in ep 6! T_T. I do’nt even hate the shocked scene addition itself that much, I just think (a) this is NOT its time! Tohru deserved better spotlight! (b) kyo didn’t friggen forget! ah! THIS I HATE! (c) the whole shocked scene was so wasted in ep 7. tohru return to her stupid dumb lalala~ land, cooking & forgetting kyo. what growth? what determination & screams to isuzu? what enduring kagura’s slaps? nope! just happy & cooking, lalala~ no one was freaking over her mom’s picture~ lalala~ & kyo just slept it over~ shhhh... its okay. he’ll forget again... see? totally wasted!

The anime knows nothing abt connected narrative! augh!

Side Notes:

We see kyo asking the gramps why he’s offering him info abt tohru which is so logical! XD. I love it.

I’ve read ch 110 & wanted to insert the kyoru scene in ch 110 here, & put yuchi alone in a different post, then I realized I’ll need to talk abt it again once I analyze yuki’s own expressions! XD. so, I’ll put all ch 110 together in one post. It kinda half written by now, so I’ll publish it very soon in two days time. I didn’t read ch 111 yet tho.

I hope ch 110 is the last I feel this much disappointments in furuba’s anime & by ch 11, it hopefully be be minor changes altho I doubt that cuz the manga needed to dwell into tohru’s mindset & the anime kinda stopped after ep 6. so, yup! more big changes coming!

The sheet hug is so brilliant in theory & application! so romantic & so endearing! love it so much! The anime did it so well, too!

I love kyo’s narration & pov cuz it’s so refreshing change from the anime where he rarely does!

I really wish they kept the kyoko abandoning tohru part in the anime... sigh~ it has nothing much to affect her story with katsuya. so it won’t ruin the spin off/ ova or whatever it’s called. 

I love the light focus on tohru in this chapter & how organic & natural it is opposed to how forced the plot seems in the anime....

[blueburds]

Meeting Mom (AU)

Imposing just as he’d imagined her, Lord Sen’tulo sat only across the way. Her office--what could have been drab and monochrome--was decorated with flora from across the Galaxy. Quite the collection, Theron would admit, yet some species were more sentient than they led on. The Huttese Toad Snatchers, for example, were known to eat beasts as large as womp rats. Needless to say, they’d consume someone’s hand if one wasn’t careful.

But the flora complimented each other, strewn across the room. The colors, the way the vines draped and dangled from higher up, could have brought a sense of peace in the room--if not for the glaring Sith on the opposite side.

“You realize how many hoops I had to jump through to allow you an audience?”

The tone of her voice made Theron’s skin crawl.

“Quite a few, I’d imagine, my lord,” he said, faking his best Imperial accent. Stars knew if there were any listening devices in here--until his suspicions were either confirmed or otherwise, he’d continue his act.

Sen’tulo extended a hand in gesture, “We are alone. You may lose the act.”

Theron gave a hesitant nod. Skeptical, of course, as he would normally be. But this was Altrethir’s master--the one who trained him. The one who taught him honor, humility, honesty. The woman who raised him when his own mother was gone. He trusted her with his life; certainly the least Theron could do was believe her.

“Okay,” he muttered. “You--”

“Sit.”

Theron swallowed dryly, claiming a seat across the desk. Ah, the familiar uncomfortableness of Imperial chairs. He’d missed it.

“I would be remiss if I did not inquire about Altrethir. He is well?”

“As well as can be.”

Sen’tulo nodded silently, golden eyes dropping to look elsewhere for a moment. “I do not speak with him as often as I would like anymore. He has his hands full with the Alliance, understandably so; the leadership role is more than demanding.”

"Keeping in touch with you is still high on his priority list.”

“Your reassurance is appreciated. It has been... quite an adjustment to learn that he was still alive. That he wasn’t lost to the cold depths of space.”

“It was a shock for me, but I never lost hope.”

“You are optimistic, are you?”

“I’d like to think I am.” Theron leaned forward a bit, “I’m enjoying the small-talk, but there’s got to be a reason you went through all that trouble to bring me here.”

“Indeed there was.” Sen’tulo stood, and her decorated fingers ghosted the petals of a nearby flower. “You are romantically involved with Altrethir; you are aware that I know, for he has long since mentioned your relationship in our letters.” Her eyes snapped back to Theron, “Will you deny these facts?”

“I--no. No reason to hide that from you.” If Altrethir trusts her, so can he.

“Excellent. Your relations began some five, perhaps six years ago. Though he was absent for most of those years, you grew close nevertheless. You understand how others’ influence affects him. You understand that he may bend the knee to appeal to others.”

Theron’s brow furrowed. “Not without reason. I don’t always understand how his mind works, but the changes in his plans, attitude or opinion always fit the bigger picture.”

Sen’tulo’s painted lips curled into a pleased smile. “Precisely.” Then she turned, stepping toward a shelf upon the wall. And only now did Theron see the small, clear cages in which critters were stored inside. Sen’tulo opened the top, reaching in with just two fingers. Theron watched a small, red reptilian creature climb up her hand until she scooped it up comfortably into her palm. “People often change for the ones they love or admire. They wish to be accepted, or to blend in with their loved one’s peers.”

She tipped her hand downward, toward the blue flowers speckled in white. The critter slowly crawled from her hand and onto the stem, balancing itself before moving upward.

“They will change, becoming hardly the person they once were.”

Theron looked to her only as she spoke, but his gaze was fixed upon the tiny creature for the remainder of the time. Its claw-shaped foot clutched at the stem, and slowly the colors of its scales changed. The stark red was flushed out by the speckled pattern of white and blue, until it was completely camouflaged within the flowers.

Theron connected the dots--he understood her meaning. It was obvious; Altrethir was Imperial, he was Republic. Neither had any intentions of abandoning their home factions, if the Alliance ever dispersed. Would it even fall apart? Stars, he hoped not. The Republic was his home, but he wasn’t content with its current state. If he could choose, he’d manage the Alliance with Altrethir forever.

They wouldn’t have to fight each other, that way. Their relationship wouldn’t have to be kept secret, either.

“I don’t intend to try to... lure him over to the Republic, or whatever you’ve got in mind.”

“Whether you intend it or not, your influence will affect him.”

“Right now, we’re focused on the Alliance. We don’t exactly have time to try and convince each other to join our own factions.”

“Your Alliance has already forged a bond with the Empire; the Republic has noticed and plans to make enemies of you. You will defect.”

“No,” Theron said, perhaps more harshly than he anticipated. “Saresh is gone and the Republic’s healing, but my work in the Alliance isn’t done. We’re still at war with the Eternal Empire, and I’m not going to drop everything--everything Altrethir and I worked toward--for the Republic. I’m not leaving them. I’m not leaving him.”

Sen’tulo observed his sudden burst of passion with keen interest. And stars, had Theron seen that exact look before: the same way her eyes had fell half-lidded, her brows just slightly perked, and jaw softly clenched. How her head canted just a bit to the side in interest, lekku subtly twitching just at the tips. 

“Your reassurance is appreciated,” she finally spoke, repeating a phrase from earlier in their conversation. “Still, it is important that his loyalties lie in place.”

Theron bit his tongue. He felt himself growing hot in the face, anger and frustration eating at him raw. Sen’tulo could certainly feel it; her lips perked into a small grin as she looked him over.

“You disagree?”

“What will you do?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“If he defects. If he decides the Empire isn’t what he wants to keep fighting for. What will you do?”

Sen’tulo answered as though she’d spent her life thinking of the question: “My disappointment will be immense; I will grieve, knowing he will not be with me and instead within enemy lines. I will want nothing more than for him to return, as I know the Republic will not so willingly accept him. He will be an outcast among your people, where he will always have a place in the Empire.”

“That’s not the answer I want.”

“That is the answer you have received.”

“Will you kill him?” Theron said, nearly cutting off her words.

“I will not.”

A short breath of relief escaped his mouth. He wasn’t a Force-user, but there was genuineness in her tone.

“Good,” Theron muttered, pushing himself up from the desk. He slicked back his hair, maintaining that staunch Imperial look he wore when he entered. “Nice chatting with you, my lord,” the last two words carried an accent. And he left, leaving the air thick with tension.