#i will never not reblog cool old kingdom fanart

[basil-touche]

For the character meme! Usagi Tsukino and Jigen Daisuke!

Right, here we go!

Usagi Tsukino

How I feel about this character

I love her. A lot. Started to watch this series when I was slightly younger than her and became obsessed with the anime (albeit with the terrible dub).

She's just so kind and friend shaped. She's the type of person who would leave no one behind and is devastated when she can't save everyone even her enemies (well in the anime at least). I was a pretty lonely kid so I clung to her as a sort of comfort character.

All the people I ship romantically with this character

You know, I don't really ship her much with other characters. Sure I ship her with mamoru (they have their really cute goofy moments) and I love fanart where she's in a poly relationship with the inner senshi, but I don't actively go looking for it...

My non-romantic OTP for this character

All of her friendships in this series are just too good, it's hard to choose.

Usagi's biggest skill is being able to befriend anyone and bring them out of their shell which is especially prevalent with her and Ami. Ami is just incredibly patient with her and is the kindest to Usagi at all times (the only one of the Inner Senshi who doesn't roast Usagi at every opportunity, I do find the roasting pretty funny though).

The only episode where it's only Ami and Usagi is really sweet too. I wish there were a few more episodes of just them too...

My unpopular opinion about this character

I'm not sure what opinion of her would be unpopular. Perhaps the headcanon I have where Usagi secretly is a bit unhappy with knowing her entire future, that she can't really forge her own path in a sense.

Not to say she hates her future, just that her destiny is sealed and she can't do anything to change it if she wanted to.

One thing I wish would happen/had happened with this character in canon

Kinda wish Usagi got to learn more about the Moon Kingdom and her mother. It would be cool if she found out that her mother wasn't the pure goddess everyone saw her as (a la Rose Quartz in Steven Universe).

I'm thinking of how in the anime Queen Serenity sealed Queen Nehelenia in her mirror forever, did she know Nehelenia had lost her mind and needed help, but refused to help? How would Usagi react to that?

It would also be pretty great if Usagi found out the origins of the Sliver Millennium, we get a hint of that at the end of the manga but not much (I actually have a whole storyline about it that will probably never leave my head).

I would love it if she was shown to be pretty shaken up by the events of the series, showing PTSD symptoms and learning to develop healthy coping methods (basically just give me the hurt/comfort content I crave).

Daisuke Jigen

How I feel about this character

I love this grouchy ass. He's my third favourite out of the main cast and he has one of the best designs to boot. Normally the voice of reason to Lupin's hectic personality but I do love it when he's equally a dumbass.

He genuinely looks really cool when using firearms as well (for a guy who covers his eyes with his hat).

All the people I ship romantically with this character

My fave ship with him is with Goemon (they have similar personalities, but I do love the idea of Jigen getting a rise out of Goemon too) but I'm not picky about the other ships. Big fan of the Thief OT4 too.

The only ship I'm not big on is him and Fujiko (mainly as I find them at each others throats more entertaining).

My non-romantic OTP for this character

While I may reblog a lot of ship art of him and Lupin, I actually enjoy them more as best buds. Like when they both act positively silly during heists. Although, Jigen getting annoyed with Lupin's antics and being tired of his shit never gets old.

My unpopular opinion about this character

His design in Cagliostro is his best design in the series (followed by part 1). Also, his design in the new CGI film is the weakest of the main cast for that film (not enough beard and they made him too young, the whole sexy angle they went for doesn't do anything for me for obvious reasons).

One thing I wish would happen/had happened with this character in canon

I just wish the writers could just let him be gay. There's been so many incidents in the series where the writers try to pair him up with women and it feels so incredibly forced.

Or when there's one off male characters from his past and the writers are like "Nah, this is clearly just guys being dudes". I mean really, I get so many gay vibes from Jigen it's just laughable (and disappointing) when the writers are cowards, which is pretty much all the time. :/

[true-intha-blu]

I propose this simple Question

First:  why I ask this. Since the infancy of the KH fandom all the way back from KH1, I noticed this simple trend one that picked up tremulously after kh2. No this has nothing to do with shipping. Also to note; I have genuine curiosity if anyone else notices this and this is from my perspective and experience with dealing with the Kingdom hearts fandom. Others may have very different accounts but others (that I have asked) have indeed noticed this as well in my own view. I am not aiming to stir up hate or discourse. I aim for peaceful fandoms. However, this subject is something I see no one ever addresses and well... maybe breaking a status quo or ‘unspoken rule’. I hope this can be a reasonable discussion where I can learn another perspective or some people may notice it and just go... “Oh yeah. That is a thing.” To which the question at hand. “Why does R*ku always have to be cool?”

(Disclaimer I do not hate this character. This question is not hateful. It is not anti or whatever. I mean exactly what I say. I will not be tagging this in the R*ku tab to prevent any misunderstandings. I ask others do the same. Anyone who reblogs this with hate is in no way associated with me.)

I will state the positive traits about R*ku. He has had the greatest character arc out of all the Kingdom Hearts Characters. A great redemption arc from his lowest to blooming into practically a whole new person in his own struggle against his KH1 self. He’s loyal to his friends. Smart. Gets along with Mickey and Yen Sid. Mellow. Saved Kairi and Sora. Knows what he has done. He’s honest and shares his concerns with others. Since KH2 he has always been trying to help Sora in the best of his ability. In acknowledgment of his misdeeds in CoM and Days is very good and we see a character who has genuinely f’d-up and his trying his best to move past that by helping his friends despite the limited resources offered to him. ^These are very good traits for a character to have. Any character. Besides his one time self in KH1, what else is there to him? What can be addressed as a flaw or criticism of him? (I approach characters as even though a character goes through a development arc, does not mean they are void of flaws. No one works like that. Not characters or actual people.) I say this. I love Sora and Vanitas in the Kingdom Hearts fandom. However, I am not afraid to draw them doing stupid or silly things and point out they have various of unfavorable flaws. Sora is utterly dense and I hate the fact how he was portrayed in DDD but I accept it and I will drag him along pointing out that fact. It is part of his character. He’s a dork (and not always in a good way). He impulsive and is kinda a mess of a human being. He's stubborn in the worse ways and volatile. Vanitas appears to be on the surface a straight up evil villain. As far as the games go, he is just utterly vile in his contempt for the characters and his actions have brought suffering and misery to various of characters. (though there may be other traits that could set for his own arc) (I still love them both) But note how none of these flaws listed above are ‘endearing’ or even remotely positive. They are problems, that hinder the characters and those around them. These are persistent traits even though both Sora and Vanitas have mellowed. Sora far more than Vanitas. I just do not see this done with R*ku. I rarely (they do exist but in comparison to the likes of Sora, Org XIII, even foretellers, or Roxas [who could be compared to be as “badass” as R*ku], its rarely ever there) I don’t see anyone talking about Riku doing dumb stuff. Being silly or being the butt of a joke or just not, not being good. Example of the latter:  When there was talk about Sora cooking in KH3, rarely did I see that, ‘oh, Sora learns how to cook and becomes very good at it’ and most I see ‘R*ku is already a fabulous cook’.... what about Kairi? What about even Lea? Aqua? There is no mention of these other characters being good at cooking. R*ku is usually A.) always the cooler looking one, or must be made to look cooler and B.) always be the better or best at something. I know that is kinda the thing in KH, that R*ku is talented and gifted as a person. As for the coolness factor, Nomura does this as well. Sora gets a keyblade, R*ku gets an edgier cooler keyblade with more details. Riku gets the powers of both light and darkness. R*ku gets the Keyblade Master title. R*ku gets actual growth in his body. He gets the more competent companion (Mickey). I am not saying these things are detractions or upsetting, they are just there and be defacto, cooler than other characters. He becoming edgier and emo was a good play on Normura because back in early 2005′s people thought that was cool and hot. Silver hair is automatically an attractive trait and western audiences love a person with a muscled body like R*ku’s. I don’t blame fans for being appealed to his character. But I suppose I am getting off-topic. Why do fans keep feeling compelled to make R*ku perfect? When people make fanart of him like say a monster form or pirate outfit, they always make it more detailed, edgier or just cooler than anyone else who would be drawn that way. He always looks more impressive than an original canonical design when other characters are drawn or written in ways that are not as impressive or equally the same to a canonical design/form/power. Has the cool wolf animal companion or the cooler weapon, the more detailed designs etc etc Even Axel who is a badass assassin can be silly or dumb-looking. Heck, they even did that in games. They made Axel failed and acknowledge it.  I see Aqua who is awesome in design and badass moments, be criticized for her flaws that persist and others who wish to see her have more moments of weakness even with what we have seen in 0.2 Xion who has had a great arc in Days (Character arcs don’t always have to be a positive development) doesn’t get the coolness factor. Roxas who is probably the second most popular character still is known as a goofy boy who thought he could fight heartless off with a stick. That’s hilarious. The most notable thing about R*ku recently that wasn’t cool or badass or edgy was his infamous “WHAT?” response to Mickey in Kh3. And that was one thing. Only really that. But how Mickey worded it, anyone would have done the same. And I noticed that people use what Mickey said “Aqua is like Sora’ is a way to poke fun at Sora by implying that Aqua is like a dense 15 year old. (Again these are just observations I have made over a decade worth watching the Kh fandom). In talks with other people who are Sora stans or other stans, there is nothing but a lot of talk about R*ku being really good about things. Being superior to Sora, or Kairi, or Aqua and Terra. Over Roxas.  Giving Axel two keyblades is never done, but people have given two to R*ku.  I get it, people who love characters like to do so much with them. I do the same. I just... never seem to regard the characters I love as perfect as others see R*ku. Also... I just don't see anyone criticizing him (I mean criticism in actual acknowledgment of his character and not hating on said character). Or taking about traits or flaws that are not endearing “He cares too much about his friends” is not really that bad of a flaw in consideration. A lot of people would prefer to have that over say... anger issues. What about the fact he falls back into following the orders of others or doesn’t often decide things for himself?...  What about Minor flaws? I just never see them in regards to these characters. Alright, so these are my observations I have made over... 14+ years of watching this fandom. And I want to ask, why do fans see him as such? Besides the only reason being for them is “I like him.” Has it just become such a normal thing to make R*ku better? Is he really that good of a character than he is so universally loved? Or is the backlash of actually criticizing R*ku and seeing that maybe, making him too perfect is... not doing favors for him? An arc is just that, an arc. Doesn’t mean a character is perfect or done with. Doesn’t mean those flaws that persisted in him, are gone.   Make your favorite character silly, or doing something very dumb (that does not even have to do with shipping), or put forth of what you would like to see improve in this character or express more about their flaws and their struggles. I love pointing out the negative traits in all my characters because I like seeing their struggle and how that makes them interact with new nuances in other characters. Maybe it's a running joke that R*ku is ‘Mr Perfect’ in the Kh fandom and I am just not seeing it. But it's daunting and just kinda rubs me the wrong way that all these characters in Kingdom Hearts have so many nuances to them and the one who has the best character arc so far in KH is regarded as... ‘Perfect’ I would like to know your opinion and if anyone else who is not a R*ku stan notice this, or is it just me and my own personal bias? (anything said above is in no way should ever be used to promote hate against R*ku or even bash him. In no way, I want to make others hate R*ku. I do not blame people who love this character to portray him in a superior way over everyone else. My address is that I just see this all the time. And I was wondering... why is it so widespread? Not even Axel who has a great redemption arc gets this.) (also another things is the whole sexgod R*ku that is also about however that may go into shipping and that I will not poke a stick at)