#like. touga is not a good guy that’s not what i mean

[universalthaumaturge]

ok i get why anthy has creature of delirium now

[bi-hop]

my thoughts on rgu ep 3

we're baaaack! my previous posts are all now under my rgu liveblog tag

lord, here we go with the extended recaps even though it's only episode 3-

it's interesting how memory is being played with here with Utena. such a formative moment is reduced to a strange fairy tale, a piece of gossip with faceless characters. the only proof of it is vague recollections paired with a single physical piece of evidence: the ring. but said ring is also associated with other elements of the world that she is still not fully privy to... just hm

the running gag of Utena being like "you need a friend" and Chu Chu being like "?" and Anthy being like "?" amuses me but also doesn't... can't put my finger on why though so I'm just gonna note it down and circle back to it

the Utena-sama stuff is funny. like, oh, okay, it's fine when girls are admiring you from a distance because you can write it off as a joke, but a girl insisting she's engaged to you and referring to you reverently is when you're finally like "actually I desire men, I totally want to date a boy, the masculinity has nothing to do with being gay, I want a NORMAL BOY" OADJODSJODS OKAY SURE UTENA

Girl, you claim to want to date a guy and then a guy flirts with you and you're immediately like "let's keep it platonic, dude". alright-

^ NOT AT ALL IMPLYING ATTRACTION TO DUDES MEANS YOU'RE RECEPTIVE TO ALL ADVANCES. just kinda funny immediately following a scene where she's like "erm actually I'm totally straight! I am a heterosexual!!!"

"is the prince bi too. did he kiss all of the duelists orrrr..." - riveting commentary from the girlfriend. I have no stance on this, I just think he seems like a creep

communication? in MY anime? it's far less likely than you'd think. (Touga is annoying but what else is new)

the council finally clueing in to the fact that Utena is not in fact in contact with End of the World (whoever THAT is). Saionji is also hiding or something? good fucking riddance

Anyway, I think the use of a prince as the model Utena bases her appearance on and also simultaneously the vague object of her desire is compelling in a compulsory heterosexuality narrative because it's a perfect analogue to how some lesbians I know would simply invent an idealized guy to project feelings onto due to the insistence of heterosexuality as a regime that a girl MUST desire a man. the easiest man to desire is the one you only vaguely remember from your childhood and have no real chance of meeting-

can everyone just leave Anthy alone????

Nanami looks nice, but I've watched too many shows with blonde mean girls to trust that she really has Anthy's best interests at heart...

circling back to the girls and how they treat Anthy (which includes Wakaba of course because Wakaba is meant to be a window into what the other girls are thinking IMO), there's this continual theme of everyone viewing Anthy as like... this seductress almost who is ruining the lives of boys like Saionji over nothing. She's 'shameless', she's a 'creep', whole time she's being abused and treated as an object. the relatable brown woman of color experience, I fear

Touga: I don't care about Utena. I care about a feminized fantasy of her I have in my head, even though my attraction to her started with how she regularly dresses. This is because I can fix her aesthetic-

Anthy and her social anxiety... man... just let her sit in the dorm and play cards with Chu Chu

and sure enough, Nanami sabotages her out of misdirected jealousy. girl, you need to be freed of the idea that girls are competition for your brother's affection. also, you need to kill your brother. you will do this for me and become a feminist-

I'm not surprised that the retaliation against Anthy is called a prank that maaaybe went too far. I'm especially not surprised this commentary is directed towards a moment of sexual violence. ty to Utena for intervening

gay people be dancing on loop... that is all

fun episode! much to chew on! on to the next

[thecoolerliauditore]

Well! This is probably better formatted as an ask than as a reply to your comment, so... tumblr user thecoolerliauditore! Whatre your "#thoughts" on adolesence of utena?🎤

oh boy. mic'd up. okay crazy

(oh my god i wrote fucking a lot im sorry)

So first things first. Enjoyable movie! I liked it and it's high point for me is definitely the art, cinematography and overall spectacle. And I'm always happy for more Utena, so I'm very glad I got to watch it!

But just from that you can probably gather that I. Might not have the highest opinion of the movie otherwise.

Don't get me wrong it's still a very solid and fun watch and I liked it but I just think it's vibe is very. distinctly different from the series? It actually reminds me a lot of what I expected Utena to be before I watched it, if that says anything. Very artsy and symbolism-y, but the characters felt distinctly less human than in the show.

Utena herself I actually think is the biggest downgrade from show to movie, maybe as a consequence of so much of it being mainly from Anthy's POV (not a bad thing Ily Anthy <33) but her motivations felt very. ??????? to me several times in the movie. Especially when it came to her relationship with Anthy and Touga. The car thing is like absolutely my favourite thing to come out of the movie and I rewatch that car wash sequence and chase scene sooooo much but I do think it's funny she Literally turns into a vehicle for Anthy's development.

Anthy is cool I don't have any beef with Anthy and I never will. Her flashback scenes are really awesome, the sound design in this movie especially in those scenes is sooooo‼️‼️‼️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 I personally don't really know what to make of the "sequel" read of this movie but I do think it makes the most sense for how Anthy acts here.

Mixed feelings with Akio. On one hand I think it's very fitting that Anthy-in-recovery would now see through his facade and see him as pathetic instead of menacing, but on the other hand he really just feels like a complete separate entity to show Akio. His scenes are really funny though.

I think my hater tendencies might have a strong basis in the fact that I think it. grits teeth. understandably considering the runtime sidelines my favourite characters from the show -- Wakaba gets reduced to the plot-irrelevant best friend role her Black Rose episode worked to challenge, Nanami is entirely erased and Shiori. Is maybe the one I have the most thoughts about because they essentially gave her an entire new thing to do independent of her plot with Juri and it's??Actually really awesome to me. Like she WOULD is the thing she WOULD do this and I've talked about before how hilarious it is that while she's literally having sex with a guy all she talks about is Juri.

But the plot treats her with this? Idk if I'm just not getting it or what but it feels like she's treated very unfairly and her comphet isn't acknowledged as comphet. It's almost like they needed someone to fill the mean girl role and they knew Nanami wouldn't go down well so they shoved Shiori in there and said good enough.

The shot of her license plate being run over by the remaining black cars is heartbreaking to me but like. Hey Juri hey so your crush is um Fucking Dead yeah uh you should know?

Idk just. very strange treatment of her character that feels very anti-utena to me. Her depth is hinted at but not explored, and what we're left with is kind of. Making me sad.

Speaking of Shiori the sex scene with Touga might be my favourite thing to come out of the movie other than the final car sequence. It's not only gorgeously animated but horrifyingly portrayed, I always read it as Touga forcing himself to focus on the butterflies to avoid having to acknowledge his rape and thus they're shown so significantly in the flashback. Idk if that's. Right but I think it's neat.

Touga himself is. Interesting I guess? Idk it feels again very anti-utena to me to even attempt at redeeming Touga or making him more sympathetic when the message I walked away from the original show was that his actions are horrible but they can't really be judged by me, an audience member, when he too is a victim of the system. No problem with the CSA, I think it makes enough sense in addition to the rest of the character, but turning him into literally an innocent child who died trying to play prince instead of acknowledging that he is 1. an abuser and 2. still a victim of the system who can one day move on from it makes me feel. Again a little sad. Out of all the characters he feels the most detached from the original to me and I honestly wonder what the intention was here, especially if we're looking at this as a sequel to the show.

I think other people might have stronger feelings regarding Touga and Utena's kiss scene than me. Personally I just umm. Good for them but thumbs down hashtag just my opinion

The other student council members are fine, I think. Cuts galore but whatever it's a movie. I do think it's a massive shame that they had Utena just straight up beat Juri when one of my favourite things about their dynamic in the show for me was that she never actually beat her fair and square. But whatever man. Kozue is Also Here.

The film is also like. I don't like using this word because wOw UtENa Is CoNFUsInG but it is genuinely like. Very incoherent? It feels like to me a a list of scattered unused ideas from the show and some semblance of an epilogue for Anthy that got mushed together with some really beautiful visuals.

I don't really get who the target audience is? If I hadn't watched the show I'd be confused and lost. If I have watched the show I'm still confused and lost but for entirely different reasons.

The scene where Utena chokes Anthy the fuck out and then the really beautiful iconic dance sequence embody this to me where these scenes are GORGEOUS on their own and make my brain tick but the first time I watched it I was like. ???? weren't you fucking her ass up a moment ago.

Utena with short hair is cool I like.

I think that's about it holyyyy. Okay awesome I'm sorry man.

[weirdthoughtsandideas]

Could you describe the plot of Utena but compare the characters to DCLA characters? :D

Yes I love comparing DCLA to everything 💜

So the plot is about Utena Tenjou, who if I’d compare her to a DCLA main character she is 100% Luna.

Utena lost her parents at a young age, and as she was grieving, she met a prince. The prince showed her something eternal, that helped her getting out of her grief. He also gave her a rose-engraved ring and told her they would meet again. After this day, she decided to become a prince herself.

Years later, as she is a teenager, she attends a boarding school. She’s in trouble with the school staff because she decides to wear a male school uniform rather than the female. She has a best friend named Wakaba, who is very clingy with her at all times and loves to shower her with love and affection. Wakaba I think is the closest to Jazmin of DCLA characters, with a spoon of Chiara. Wakaba has a crush on a guy named Saionji (who I would say is kind of a mix of Benicio, Matteo and Alex) - now, Utena does not like Saionji because she earlier saw him slap a girl in the face, but when he has publically put up Wakaba’s love letter for everyone to see, humiliating her, Utena decides to challenge him to a duel. Now, she does this because he’s the captain of the dueling team, but Saionji notices the rose-engraved ring she’s wearing, and thus asks her to meet him in the forest.

In the forest, Utena discovers a whole passage up to a dueling arena. Saionji arrives, together with the girl he slapped in the face earlier. This is Anthy Himemiya, who if we’d compare to a DCLA character is a mix of Nina and Naty. She’s often shown as shy and passive, but she can occasionally slip out the most out of pocket comments when you least expect it. Anthy is secretly messing with a lot of people all the time but it’s not clear exactly how until later. She is what is called the rose bride, and anyone who wins the duel becomes ”engaged” to her. The rose bride is believed to carry the power to ”revolutionize the world”. Since Saionji has won the last duel he has participated in, he is the one currently ”engaged” to Anthy. Utena, who originally came here to fight him for Wakaba, now wants to win a sword duel against him to free Anthy. She’s originally not actually interested in any engagement or really to take part in a whole tournament that she ends up participating in in the show, she just wants to get Anthy away from this sexist and abusive man.

This is all from the first episode and things just escalate from it. Utena, spoilers, wins the duel and thus Anthy becomes engaged to her instead. In the upcoming episodes, she duels other characters, a majority from the student council who all have similar rose-graved rings and for different reasons are in this sword tornament. To present them shortly:

We have Miki, who might be the most normal boy in the show basically (more or less at least…). I’d compare him to Maxi, and a bit of Marco. He’s a good lad. Has an obsession with a stopwatch though, and this is one of the metaphors I have a harder time understanding what it exactly means. Also he has a really odd relationship with his twin sister…

Then it’s Juri, who is quite a sporty girl. She keeps a picture of another girl in a pendant around her neck. A girl she never got. Juri I would say reminds me of Lara but also kind of Camila. And a bit of Celeste too.

Then it’s Touga, who is the president of the student council. He is kind of a mix of Rey, Marcos Golden and like… idk maybe a bit of Diego.

Finally we can’t forget about Touga’s little sister Nanami. She starts off as a typical mean girl, which is why I think she’s a mix of Ámbar and Ludmila, but then often than not she just turns into a giant comic relief because she takes herself so seriously and thinks her plans will suceed… and it just very rarely goes her way. She also has an obsession with trying to humiliate Anthy or Utena in some way (mostly Anthy) and just. Something always goes wrong. She turned into a cow once. But she also grows to become one of the most mature characters so she’s such an interesting but weird character.

And of course we have Akio but… I don’t really wanna talk about him. Think every worst DCLA character combined into one, especially every worst male character.

So uh… TLDR Revolutionary girl Utena is basically if Luna was in a sword duel tournament and was engaged to Nina and/or Naty (or a mix of them), and everyone she duels are other random DCLA characters.

[moistvonlipwig]

for the ask game this question - the character who I do not understand - for utena . i'm doubting that there's anyone u don't get though lol

omg i love ur faith in me....there is someone i struggle to get tho! i'm just gonna do all the questions if u don't mind...

The first character I fell in love with: Utena, I was like wow she's just like me fr <3

The character who is my ‘baby’: Utena and Anthy and Miki and Nanami are all so YOUNG like yes the others are teenagers too but they're middle schoolers bro 😭 they're actual Babies

The character who I do not understand: Mikage confounds me...like I think there's some really interesting commentary his character is doing on the social construct of the "genius" and he works very well as a foil to Utena and I think his flashback episodes are very good. But his deal with Tokiko is so ??? what does he want from her??? Also what was up with those 100 boys, did he kill them or not 😳 and the thing is that does make his character really interesting to think about, I kind of like that there's this big part of RGU that I still struggle to comprehend and that can be read in so many ways, it keeps me on my toes. But also it kind of frustrates me because, much like Mikage, I think I am the smartest specialest person ever and so I hate not understanding things on the first try lol.

The character that I think the show ruined: No one because it is a good show :)

The most attractive male and female character: In terms of character design I have to give it to Anthy and Saionji. Both of them have such luscious locks.

The character death that was the worst for me: The death of the idealized childhood past that you can never return to no matter how strongly you desire it

The character that is the most like me: Utena but also Miki tbh.

The character I think the writer(s) love: I think they loved Nanami as is good and proper.

The character that I just want to be happy: Anthy bbgrill I hope you're doing okay. Same for Utena. And Nanami my steak egg alien girl we gotta get you out of Ohtori!!!

My four favorite characters, past or present: Nanami Kiryuu, Utena Tenjou, Anthy Himemiya, Chu-Chu :3

My four least favorite characters, past or present: Souji Mikage because my difficulty understanding him also means I don't really connect with him emotionally at all, Akio Ohtori who I dislike more than Mikage but I refuse to put him first because he is not even special or cool enough to be my least favorite and also baby Dios makes me sad so he gets one (1) point for that, Keiko sorry girl but whyyy do you like that man, and Touga Kiryuu the That Man in question who gets one (1) more point than Keiko for being a confirmed Cat Guy.

[gamesception]

Let's read rgu, chapter 15

Last time Miki & Utena refused to duel, so Touga(?) kidnapped Kozue and threatened to not return her unless Miki challenged Utena and wins, and now he's also saying they can't get Kozue back unless Utena fights for real with the power of Dios.

This is stupid. "I won't give Kozue back unless Miki wins, but you also can't have her back unless Utena wins". Utterly contradictory, completely muddled, and all to set up a duel with theoretically high stakes but also absolutely zero meaning behind it, because there's no real conflict between Utena and Miki to play out in allegorical conflict. This is literally Dawn of Justice tier writing, in that it's literally what happened in BvS Dawn of Justice, and for exactly the same reason - the good guys have to fight because cheap drama, but the writer can't think of any reason why, so I guess the bad guy just kidnaps and threatens a family member so they have to.

I've complained a lot about the manga being /different/ from the anime, not because the manga was bad but because I just liked what the anime did better. But this is different. This is just bad.

So they fight.

And Utena summons the power of dios

and miki loses

And Kozue is rescued.

But shock! It wasn't Touga who kidnapped Kozue, but Anthy! Presumably acting on the previously mentioned letter from EotW.

That's... kind of a twist, I guess. Though it could still be Touga's doing - he did fake just such a letter in the anime.

This doesn't really change my feelings about the entire set up. Whether it was Touga kidnapping Kozue or EotW acting through Anthy, either way there was still no actual reason for Utena and Miki to fight, so the fight itself - even if the art for it was very cool - feels meaningless.

Especially - and I'm sorry to keep doing this - but especially compared to the anime, where Miki's fights were some of the most meaningful in terms of characters and core themes - Miki's idealized fantasy of his sister projected onto Anthy leading up to the first duel foreshadowing Utena's own failure to comprehend how deeply Anthy was committed to being the rose bride, and in the second duel the way miki is distraction when Anthy doesn't explicitly reject Kozue's sexual advances leading to his loss reveals his fundamental failure as a prince & how he could never save Anthy. Just like he looks down on and rejects his sister for failing to live up to his childish princess ideal by being 'sexually impure', he'd fail to stick by anthy when inevitably confronted with her relationship with / abuse by Akio.

That's a lot going on! And not even all of it, like before the first duel, after talking with Utena, Miki parrots exactly her criticisms of the rose duels to the student council, and it comes off as childish since he's just imitating Utena rather than actually understanding the ideals he's professing, but that only highlights how Utena herself is just imitating her prince, and will inevitably have her own convictions tested.

And there's so little going on with manga Miki so far. If the manga had time for two more arcs, maybe we'd eventually fill in some more, actually flesh out and do something more interesting with these versions of the characters to fill up space if nothing else but I'm on chapter 15 out of 27, more than half way through, so I don't have a lot of hope for that.

Unless my source is incomplete, but if that's the case I'm /really/ not sure what I'll do.

Anyway Touga says something cryptic & leaves while Utena yells at him.

Unlike me, the scanlator must have thought all of this was very impressive and dramatic because the whole issue is scanned in double page spreads. It's certainly very well drawn, the panels are good, it would have been a cool fight scene if it meant anything. The art is fantastic.

As much as I actively dislike the scenario for this duel, and don't feel the twist at the end fixed it, at least it's maybe a reason to finally have a real conversation between manga Anthy and Utena? Please?

Changing Chuchu to look a bit more like his anime design. Honestly, I thought the manga design was fine, I liked floofier chuchu.

We are maybe getting that frank conversation though.

It's not much, but this does seem to be the first time manga Anthy is realizing Utena actually thinks of her as a person.

Anyway, Anthy has another EotW letter, this one for Utena, asking her to meet him in the rose garden. Akio reveal?

But no. It's Touga. Now I really am convinced that we're doing the 'fake letters' thing.

But that's where the chapter ends. Sorry for all the complaining and not a lot of other commentary. I didn't much care for the manga Juri or her duel, and while I don't mind Manga miki I liked his duel even less. But the manga has been about Touga the whole time, so I'm actually looking forward to his duel / duels. There's enough going on with him - especially if he faked one or more of the letters - for a fight with Touga to actually mean something.

[maddieautobot273]

Silk & Cologne (22)

A Miguel O’Hara x OC Series - link to AO3 (X)

Chapter 22 - Promotion - previous chapter (X)

Pairing: Miguel O’Hara x Female OC

Words: 3.2K+

Warnings: PG - no major warnings other than sibling banter

Summary: Miguel requests an audience with Lisa

/////////

“I can't find it in myself to just walk away

I can't find it in myself to lose everything~”

My dance crew and I stepped lightly as we walked through a rough routine I had managed to plan out in the spawn of a mere two hours. I stayed up a little longer than I should have, exhausting over taking me after fighting a stone golem to rescue your boss and crush will do that to a person. But after a quick run to Starbucks for a cold brew, I was back on my feet. 

We all turned, forming a circle as Touya, Touga, Hannah and I surrounded Kasey. We all reached our arms out towards her as she crossed her arms over her chest, something similar to the Wakanda Forever salute before flexing her arms down to her sides. As she did that, the rest of us dropped to one knee, kneeling as we bowed our heads to her. 

“Feel everyone's against me, don't want me to be great

Things might look bad, I'm afraid to look death in the face~”

Kasey then propelled herself forward, sliding along the floor. Hannah and I steered clear of her entrance. As we faced in her direction, Toya stepped behind Hannah and Touga stepped behind me, the boys hoisting us up to our feet and became our dance partners. The pair of us did a sweet waltz as Kasey was up front performing her own solo. 

“I'm good now, who's really bad?

I choose me now, what's wrong with that?

Wish you could see me

Now, now, mm, who had my back, baby?

Know no love lost, good always will win~”

As Kasey finished her solo, the boys slowly dipped Hannah and I closer to the floor as the music began to fade. When it was over, they pulled us back up and the group erupted with a series of cheers and applause. 

“That was so good!” Hannah exclaimed, her eyes twinkling with excitement. 

“You guys really liked it?” I sounded hopeful as I looked at their excited faces. “I mean, it’s not done yet, I still have the rest of the song to figure out–!”

I tried to not let my rambling get the better of me. I couldn’t help but as the nerves coursed through me and I began to crack my knuckles out of habit. They all seemed so thrilled, the rush of adrenaline still coursing through their veins. 

“Lisa, that was stunning!” Kasey praised as she clapped her hands together. “I knew making you our team captain was the right call,”

“Got any other sick moves planned?” Toya asked with an accelerating look in his eyes. 

“Yeah, I wanna keep going!” Touga nodded his head eagerly in agreement. 

“Sorry guys, but that was all I could manage to come up with and write down before clocking out for the night,” I rubbed the back of my neck, casting an apologetic look at the boys. 

“Well, I thought it was wonderful!” Hannah smiled sweetly. “Maybe next time don’t do it in the middle of the night and pace yourself?”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” I chuckled with embarrassment. 

“But hey, we’ve got a framework now, so let’s use that when figuring out the rest of the routine,” Kasey grinned with an eager look on her face. 

We all agreed and ran through the routine once more before taking a break. I sat on the floor, leaning against the wall as I rummaged through my bag for the banana bread I had bought during my Starbucks run. As I pulled it out, the screen on my gizmo lit up. 

My face lit up as I tapped on the screen, bringing up the message before taking a bite out of my snack. 

“Just got discharged, wanted to let you know I’m feeling okay.” - Miguel 

“How’s practice going?” - Miguel 

I smiled at the message, sighing in relief that he was alright. I continued to munch on my bread as I typed up my own message. 

“It’s going well! I was just going through a part of the routine I came up with with the others. It was well received!” - Lisa 

“So you finally heard back from the artist, then? Do you like the song?” - Miguel 

“It’s definitely different from most of his other songs that my friends have shown me. I think it’s something you might actually like! I would show you, but I’m under an NDA agreement, lol” - Lisa 

“No interdimensional exceptions?” - Miguel 

“Was that another joke from the great Miguel O’hara?” - Lisa 

“ *eye roll emoji* perhaps” - Miguel 

“Sorry, no exceptions. But I’d be happy to show you when the NDA is lifted after the performance,” - Lisa 

“I’d like that,” - Miguel 

I chuckled at his response, not sure if he was just being nice or was genuinely serious. What was his music preference? Would he like this? 

Maybe I should make a playlist for him for his work outs when I’m not with him. 

“If you’re free after practice today, would you mind stopping by HQ?” - Miguel

“I wanted to talk to you about something,” - Miguel 

My body froze, jaw dropping slightly as I read his latest messages. Did he read the report Gwen made? Does he know about the curse? Does he know I kissed him? 

My mind began to race as I tried to calm myself down, not wanting anyone else to notice me and think I must have looked like a lunatic. 

“Sure thing. Is everything okay?” - Lisa

“Yes, everything is fine. No need to worry. I just wanted to go over some things, that’s all,” - Miguel 

What things? 

“No problem, I’ll be there!” - Lisa 

“What’cha doing, Lisa?” Hannah’s voice caught my ear as she sat down beside me. 

I instantly shut the screen off on my Gizmo and looked over at her. “Oh, nothing! A friend just messaged me, that’s all,” 

“Oh? Is it the famous boyfriend you’ve told us about?” Hannah giggled sweetly as her eyes seemed to sparkle. 

My cheeks flushed at her claim as I chuckled nervously. “Maybe?”

“Oh, and how is he doing?” She asked with a genuine curiosity before handing me a small zip lock bag. “Cookie?”

I couldn’t help but giggle softly as I reached in and grabbed a cookie. “He’s doing good. He was at the doctor’s yesterday and he was just letting me know it went well and he’s feeling okay,”

“That’s good! You must be very relieved,” She smiled sweetly. 

“I am,” I sighed happily as I took a bite out of the cookie. 

“Say hi to him for us the next time you see him, and tell him we’re happy he’s feeling better!” Hannah beamed. “I hope it wasn’t anything serious,” 

Oh, you know, just glitching cause you were stuck in another dimension and your atoms were slowly breaking apart and killing you bit by bit unless you’re wearing a fancy high tech watch. Absolutely not serious at all. 

“Oh, it’s fine, just a normal check up,” I nodded, waving the worry away. 

“Oh, good!” Hannah smiled. “You know, my mom always said that the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Why not try making something to cheer him up?”

“Make him something?” I repeated, raising a brow at Hannah as the idea peaked my interest. 

Would that help make things less awkward for us and get to know him more?

“Yo ladies,” Toya waved off at us as his brother Touga and Kasey were doing some warm ups. “You two ready to keep practicing?”

“Coming, Toya!” I smiled before looking over at Hannah. “Ready?”

“Ready Freddy!” She giggled. 

No use in worrying about what Miguel wanted to talk about right now. I needed to focus on this routine and be here in the moment with my team. 

///////

After practice was done, I ran back home to my apartment and quickly changed into my spider suit. I know for simplicity sake, most Spider-Men wear their suits under their clothes. You never know when a villain is going to show up, but considering my current situation, I thought it wasn’t necessary. 

I jumped through the portal activated from my gizmo and arrived at Spider-Society HQ. Coming through the lobby and entering the main hall, the building was lively as ever as I made my way through the halls and arrived at Miguel’s lab. Walking through the large doors, I stepped out of the brightly lit hallway into the dim lighting of his lab. 

It didn’t feel as scary coming back the second time around. I walked through the entryway and entered the large hall where his platform hovered high in the air. It was beginning a descent as Miguel swiped at some holoscreens. 

“Miguel?” I called out, offering him a wave. 

He turned, looking down towards me after hearing my voice. “Lisa,” he offered me a kind nod. “Thank you for coming,” 

“Hey, you said it was important, so who am I to make you wait?” I smiled in response. 

I stood there for a few moments, watching as the platform continued its slow decline. Its painfully slow decline, I should say. I crossed my arms, patiently waiting as I shifted my weight in between my feet. 

“Um, Miguel?” I spoke up.

“It’s slow, I know,” He shook his head in understanding. “I’ve been meaning to get it fixed, but things keep getting in the way,”

“He won’t fix it,” Lyla pipped in as she appeared on my shoulder. “He likes it that way cause it makes him look so imposing,” 

“Lyla,” Miguel’s voice deeply groaned in warning.

“Am I wrong?” She grinned as she fizzled and reappeared on top of my head. 

Miguel scoffed, shaking his head. “It’s alright, Lisa, you can come up,” 

“Oh,” My eyes widened at the offer, jumping briefly before shaking off the nerves. “Okay, coming up!”

I used my web sling to hoist me up in the air and landed on Miguel’s platform. There were computer consoles and monitors setup along its center, not to mention the multitude of holographic screens that hovered around Miguel. I stepped closer, taking them all in. Some were schematics for machines, others were various security monitors of the building, and anomaly detection scanners. 

“I can certainly see why you’d be busy up here,” I spoke softly as I continued to look around. 

“Someone’s gotta do it, might as well be me,” Miguel shrugged his shoulders. Speaking as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. 

I watched as he reached for a vial and grabbed that strange looking staple gun, injecting the contents of the vial into his shoulder. He grunted slightly, his body twitching with the injection. There was a tingle in his eyes, and before I could ask him about it, a new noise caught my attention. 

Someone giggling. A child giggling. 

I glanced over, my eyes coming to one of the holographic monitors. There was video footage playing of a little girl in a soccer jersey. She ran towards someone as the male figure kneeled down and patted their head. My pupils widened when I realized it was Miguel. 

He was smiling. He looked happy. Genuinely happy. Who was the child that was with them?

“Who’s–?

Miguel coughed suddenly as my cheeks flushed and I stepped away, looking towards him. Miguel lowered his fist from his lips as he motioned his head to the side. “That’s enough work for the day, Lyla, thank you,” 

“Shutting it all down, boss,” Lyla smirked as one by one the holographic monitors powered down, their orange hues disappearing. 

I noticed that the video footage of the child was the first to go. 

“Thank you again for coming on such short notice,” Miguel spoke up as he walked closer towards me. 

I composed myself, clearing my throat. “It’s no problem. What did you want to talk to me about?” 

“I wanted to properly commend you on the mission yesterday. I read Gwen’s report earlier this morning,” He explained. 

My eyes widened at the realization. A sting of fear coursed through me. “You did?”

“Yes,” He nodded and his face relaxed into something more genuine from his stern demeanor. He was proud. “Although I had trouble playing back most of the Gizmo surveillance footage. Lyla says there was some sort of magnetic interference in that sector of Petra’s world.”

My soul nearly left my body in pure relief as I heard that sentence. Lyla was still keeping true to her word and hiding what really happened during that mission. Although I felt awful about lying to Miguel, something kept nagging me in the back of my mind that it was the right thing to do. 

“With that being said; You displayed true bravery, skill, and determination. All good qualities of a Spider,” Miguel offered me a proud nod. 

“Wait, does this mean?” My pupils slowly grow wide as I feel a wave of adrenaline course through me. 

“This doesn’t change anything about our deal,” Miguel quickly elaborated, pointing a gentle finger at me. “However, it made me realize you would do well to earn more hands on experience in the field,” 

“So?” I pressed on, taking a step forward as I crossed my arms behind my back. 

He scoffed with an almost half smile on his face. “So, I’ll allow you to take part in missions, under my choosing. Is that fair?”

I nodded eagerly, even offering him a friendly salute. “Yes, absolutely! I won’t let you down,”

Miguel let his guard down briefly, chuckling as he began to walk to the platform’s edge. “At ease, Spider-Muse,”

I gawked at the man as I stared at his back, watching how his muscles seemed to twitch and move with his arms as he laughed. “Please don’t tell me that’s catching on already,” 

“Oh, believe me, it has,” Miguel smirked with a smug look in his eyes. “For once, I actually agree with Hobie,” 

“You? Agreeing with Hobie?” I stared at him with a stun expression as I took a couple steps towards him. “Who are you and what have you done my Miguel?”

I instantly bit my tongue, taking a step back as Miguel turned to face me. His eyebrows arched in surprise, but I couldn’t tell if he was actually offended by what I had said. “My Miguel?”

“Well, you must be in a really good mood if you’re agreeing with Hobie?” I quickly back tracked, chuckling nervously. 

He seemed to stare at me for a few moments, the silence obliterating me before he hummed softly, “I suppose I am. But enough messing around, follow me,” 

Miguel motioned for me to follow him as the platform finally made its descent to the floor. We exited his lab and made our way through the halls of the Spider-Society and entered a wing of the building I had never been in before. “Where are we?” I asked as I looked around a very messy laboratory. 

“Welcome to my domain!” A voice called out. 

I jumped as a male figure stepped out from the shadows. He had curly brown hair with a pair of orange goggles strapped to his head. Freckles adorned his cheeks and his eyes were a hazel green. He wore a dirty green jumpsuit with a yellow scarf around his neck. The most shocking part of it all was that his face bore a striking resemblance to Miguel. 

“Lisa, I’d like you to meet the Spider-Society’s head engineer,” Miguel motioned a hand towards the man as he stepped forward. “Gabriel O’Hara,” 

“O’Hara?” I repeated, my eyes widening as I exchanged a look between the pair. 

“I’m Miguel’s playful, charming, younger brother,” Gabriel introduced himself with a playful bow before offering his hand. “It’s an honor to finally meet you in the flesh, Miss Lisa,”

“It’s nice to meet you too,” I smiled softly as we shook each other's hands. “How come we never met before?”

“Oh, you know how older brothers get when they introduce a girl to the rest of the family,” Gabriel grinned with a teasing look before he whispered lowly. “Very protective, you know?”

“Gabe,” Miguel shot Gabriel a warning glare, his hands crossed behind his back as if to stop himself from physically laying a hand on him. 

“I’m just teasing big brother,” Gabriel chuckled with a sweet laugh. “Although I can’t understand why he never said how cute you look,”

Gabriel shot me a wink and I found myself blushing at the compliment. “Oh, uh–!”

“¡Oye, eso es suficiente!” Miguel growled, his muscles tensing. - Hey, that’s enough

 “See?” Gabriel raised a brow, nodding his head with a knowing look. “Protective,”

“Need I remind you that’s not why we’re here,” Miguel tried his hardest to calm his tone as he glared at his brother. 

I glanced between the pair and took a step forward, deciding to intervene in the event things got ugly. Although maybe this is normal sibling banter? I wouldn’t know since I’m an only child. 

“Um, so Gabriel, you’re the engineer here?” I asked him with a peak of curiosity. 

“I help out with his gadgets and help Lyla keep things running here at HQ. If you think about it, that would make me his–” Gabriel had a wide, teasing grin on his face. 

“Gabe, don’t you dare say it!” Miguel pointed a lecturing finger at his brother. 

“Guy–” Gabriel started. 

“No-!” Miguel narrowed his eyes. 

“--In the chair,” Gabriel bowed as if he were a showman. 

Miguel sighed heavily as he pinched the bridge of his nose, shaking his head. “No puedo mas, no puedo mas,” - I can’t even 

“Come on! It’s a cute concept,” Gabriel chuckled at his brother’s reaction as he fell back into his chair. 

“Once, I let you come with me to Earth 19999 once,” Miguel huffed, putting his hands on his lips as he paced anxiously in a circle. “I’ll never hear the end of it,” 

“Anyways, I imagine Miguel has given you the news about your promotion now, right?” Gabriel smiled. “I’m gonna be helping you make some upgrades to your suit so you’ll be better equipped while you’re out dimension hopping,” 

“Upgrade my suit?” My eyes lit up as I glanced down at it. “I thought it was working fine,” 

“Just because something already works, doesn’t mean it can’t be improved,” Gabriel softly lectured as he motioned for the two of us to follow him. 

Gabriel activated a console and a machine came to life. A platform glowed as holographic screens surrounded it. 

“After the incident with the mosh, I became concerned that your suit had been compromised,” Miguel spoke up, speaking honestly as he looked over towards Miguel. “I asked Gabriel to help,” 

“Now Miss Lisa, all you need to do is stand up there and get comfy,” Gabriel smiled as he put his goggles on. “We might be here a while,” 

I cautiously walked over towards the platform, stepping on it as its hue glowed brighter when it registered my presence and a blue beam of light began to scan me from the feet up. 

“Lyla, in the meantime, keep trying to repair the frequency of Gwen’s Gizmo,” Miguel spoke as the AI appeared at his shoulder. “I’d like to see the mission play back,”

Lyla exchanged a look with me, her digital eyes pouring into mine before nodding her head. “I’ll keep trying boss,”

//////////

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[amplexadversary]

More Utena, episode 25,

I've been informed ahead of time about the Chuchu theory, and while I didn't feel like I could confidently interpret a lot of the stuff that he's done so far (well, there's been a few), Anthy metaphorically vacuuming down her heart as soon as Wakaba shows up, and then internally having the reaction we see from Chuchu about Wakaba's insisting that they're close (because she wants to room with Anthy's hot brother) make a lot of sense.

Wait, most of the time Chuchu's shown eating. Is that Anthy swallowing her feelings?

---------------

Okay, some of the weirdness in the background of the council meeting scenes has been beyond me, but I think I've caught on to the baseball thing being a metaphor. The group gets a "strike" when Saionji expresses distrust in further letters (after apparently already having one - the expulsion? Being fooled by the fake one?)

This changes to an "out" when Miki claims to have verified the most recent letter. Miki gets a strike when saying he passed through the Rose Gate (not something he was supposed to do?), starts describing something he saw (Strike!) and when he mentions a gondola, "Strike! Batter out!"

And sounds of a crowd cheering when Miki says that it might be meant to take them to "a new stage"

Saionji doubts TEotW again, and another "out" is called, making three.

... I feel like that just outlined the plot of the coming episodes in some way.

-----------------------------

"A star [that Akio's named after] that cannot shine unless the sun sets" said as we see Anthy standing across from him and Utena, with her glasses shining? Somehow, I don't think that means good things for Anthy.

Wait but he says the star is at the sun's side. Is Anthy the "sun" in this analogy or Utena?

Also. Creep.

------------------------------------

Huh, I don't think we've seen Anthy with her hair down yet. And her and Utena's beds are arranged like the girls are in the opening.

That flashback of what appears to be Anthy's memory is a bit concerning.

----------------------------------------------

Okay I feel like there's a theme here, with all of these people taking off their shirts being like, a symbol of them being manipulative. (That's how Touga appeared when he was screwing around with Miki's sister, and these guys all seem pretty shady now, so...)

Akio is at least claiming to be Utena's "prince" as well.

---------------------------------------------------------

Really? Parking the car on the fucking lawn? Also it looks like Akio's got Saionji on board with something

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay the pre-duel sequence starts off in first-person now. What are we hiding? I have played motherfucking VLR I'm not going to be gotten by this again.

Also I'm concerned about what Anthy vanishing in this sequence implies for her.

Oh, she's just changing clothes via teleport... and now a rose bush is growing into her uniform.

Hm, okay. So the sword that Anthy brings to the fight vanished for some reason, but it looks like Anthy can pull a sword out of Utena now? Did she pick that up from the black rose swords? Now that we have reason to think she was made to roleplay "Mamiya" in that.

Well that's a homoerotic conclusion for the lads here at the end of this duel. More Touga and Akio unbuttoning their tops and lounging like the picture of an anime boy on a daki.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay based on warnings I've seen *that* ending scene was more what I expected to see in the previous 10 or so episodes. Not that I wasn't aware Akio was a villain here from the slamming shades.

[palms-upturned]

.

[heartslobbf]

the thing about rgu episodes 35&6 is its just like...... everything is veering towards a car crash but more than usual. and everyone is more aware of how car-crashy things are going to get than usual, but its like. no one is like ‘hey what if we didn’t get into a car crash though’, or if they are, they’re expressing that sentiment in the worst way possible (shoutout anthy and touga). you have so many tiny and horrendously fucked up moments in those episodes like juri saying utena ‘looks like a girl now’ and making miki consider whether or not that’s a ‘good’ thing, or utena falling asleep at the table with her earrings as anthy just Watches, or the scene where touga holds a carrot in various initially amusing and then promptly emotionally devastating ways as both he and the audience make a series of crushing realisations neither of us are totally comfortable accepting

its like. throughout all of this acknowledgement of ‘hm. this is bad’ everyone is filled with inaction. we are all trapped in our coffins!!! people are prosing but that’s about it. all of the student council know who end of the world is, and they don’t tell utena. im not blaming them for this because its masterful, compelling writing that serves to elevate the show and its themes, but i am pointing it out because what’s endlessly relevant in utena analysis is recognising when characters make choices that ohtori frames as a natural progression or event that is immutable. anthy and touga voice wow i cant believe at least one person has to die at the end of this duelling game, which we like have to do btw. yeah. what do you mean this is all constructed and therefore can be dismantled. oh my god im going to kill you what the fuck. i dont want to kill you. i dont know how else to get you out of this situation. guess ill try and remove you from the system, thereby proving it is a structure that can be left behind and undermining my fragile worldview ive believed to have kept me ‘safe’ all this time. why are you guys talking about coffins so much omgggggggg shut up shut up shut up

[wlwkiryuu]

What do you think about Touga and Saionji and do you think Touga ever really cared about Saionji? - Space Anon

HMM well i'm gonna assume when you ask about "touga and saionji" you mean together? because separately i do think theyre interesting and important characters to the narrative, even if i dont like them as people (though saionji is arguably easier to sympathize with especially as he becomes more genre aware).

i personally do NOT like shipping the two as i feel it goes against the entire point of their dynamic in the series, where touga is clearly the one pulling the strings and manipulating saionji. now, do i think they have Feelings for each other, even if i dislike pairing them…? personally i read it as a one-sided relationship but a really fucked up one. saionji very much reads as a repressed gay guy covering up his sexuality with forceful acts of asserting his masculinity, and its supposed to contrast the way touga's "chivalry" seems to come so naturally. i think the way touga toys with utena and briefly has her conform to femininity as a response to him playing prince early on in the series is a good example to compare with saionji; saionji's expression of masculinity is a crude imitation of touga's, and while touga can actively use his to manipulate others, all saionji can do is tout his over anthy, which is essentially futile because its incapable to manipulate anthy (though we as viewers dont know that yet when we first see saionji which makes the irony of it a looot more interesting on a rewatch).

ANYWAYS ANYWAYS. the inherent power imbalance with touga and saionji's relationship has me believe that while saionji has feelings for touga, touga doesn't reciprocate, BUT he is also well aware of said feelings and uses them to his advantage when manipulating saionji. NOW WHETHER TOUGA EVER CARED ABOUT SAIONJI…really interesting question to think about. i think the most concise way to get my thoughts on that across though, is that: i think he did. but the very structure of relationships at ohtori makes it impossible to ever have a genuine friendship that doesn't rely on exploiting the others fears and weaknesses. even with utena and anthy, the only reason they were able to escape the cycle and acknowledge their relationship as genuine was by admitting they had used and hurt the other. i guess, in a way, touga and saionji are the opposite, and thats why i think the framing of the line "whoever believes in true friendship is a fool" WITH touga and saionji is so important.

theyre a horribly messy, toxic excuse for a friendship but thats kind of the point. they bring out the worst of how ohtori dooms any friendships and genuine relationships you can form within its walls. i think thats what makes it interesting to think about even if they both suck. yeah <3

[number1villainstan]

episode 25. the start of the akio arc. hooooo boy

forgot to watch the previews for this episode last time so i'm watching them now and uh--living in akio's house??? excuse me?????

and it's literally called "their eternal apocalypse" this one's gonna be FUCKED UP

touga is in the car with akio. "care to take the wheel?" "the throb of the engine feels good, doesn't it" i don't like this touga get out of there

"my ohtori academy values the independence of its students" BULLSHIT

wakaba just called akio's smile "angelic". uh. bestie there is nothing good about that man's smile. "think of the romantic possibilities" also think of the abuse possibilities! the privacy invasion possibilities! the BAD possibilities!

i mean though. i got spoilers so i already know akio's an awful person, these guys...probably don't. at least yet. although the audience has got Clues before

...akio doesn't like anthy laughing. mmmm. not good

who the fuck is doing baseball practice around the student council members? it's probably not Actually Happening, just a metaphor.

the dude calling "Strike!" when saionji says he can't trust the letters anymore...yeah. none of them should have ever trusted the letters. and then miki says "i've already verified the letter's contents" and immediately an out happens. and the strikes when miki talks about finding the gondola.

also for a hot second i thought "wait isn't 'strike' bowling lingo" and forgot that it was also baseball lingo for when the batter fails to hit the ball. my childhood memories of playing Wii Sports have failed me

HOLY SHIT SAIONJI'S WALKING AWAY?? does this mean he'll escape? see through the lies and the bullshit?? or is this just his pride talking?? please be actual intelligence and not just pride

nanami calls saionji by his first name (kyouichi). huh.

and the rest of the council members are starting to question--

"that star is clearer today" my man you are projecting the star onto a wall. you control how clear/bright the stars are

venus, huh? called the morning star despite not being a star? named after the roman goddess of love/sex? sus

oh they brought the Satan/Lucifer angle right out. stated in the show. i read some people talking about it but didn't realize it was fucking handed to you like that

the way anthy gets closer every other shot, with ominously glowing glasses hiding her eyes. that's definitely not important or meaningful /sarcasm

so anthy just rescued utena from akio. although maybe her motivations weren't to 'rescue'

anthy almost told her oh my god? or was it just a feint??

saionji cleaning the floor, huh? maybe he really did let go of some of his pride

never mind, saionji's still a prideful ass. and touga's still a manipulative bitch so

did touga unbutton his shirt just for that dramatic pose

another midnight drive ("drive") with akio. sigh.

wait so saionji neither confirms nor denies that he wants "the Rose Bride", which--god i want this kid to be better so bad--

"True friendship doesn't exist in this world" saionji internally: bitch i know you burned my exchange diary

ok but fr there is something so telling about how a character representing, in a sense, the "little man" to touga or akio's "big man", representing masculinity-as-a-prize, masculinity-through-competitiveness, all of the insecurities that come with basing a huge portion of your self-identity off of an unwinnable, undefinable competition, the jealousy and self-hatred that comes with trying to be The Most Man because if you're not The Most Man then you're not enough of a man, being the one to deny the existence of "true" friendship (whatever "true" friendship is). like of course you say true friendship doesn't exist in this world! it doesn't exist in your world! because your world is defined by an endless unwinnable inescapable competition to prove your manliness and therefore your humanity! what was it that bell hooks said, about how women fear men and men also fear men? idk much about japanese masculinity but god, saionji manages to simultaneously embody so much of what's awful about Western/American/white masculinity AND make it clear that it's awful and still be a sympathetic character because we can see why he's like that! touga's right there! and saionji hates him and loves him and envies him and wants his gender all at the same time and it drives him insane because he's an idiot teenager who doesn't know how to process his own emotions outside of the approved outlets provided to him! saionji's own unhealthy thought and emotional processes--and, dare i say, trauma--which are caused/shaped by the system end up working to reinforce that very same system! he is a victim like every other kid in ohtori but he is also a perpetrator! because he genuinely doesn't know any better! and no one is going to teach him! fuck!

revolutionary girl utena ran so the barbie movie could walk in circles--

and then touga is straight up like "okay but you want true friendship. don't you." and tbf he's right, almost certainly. but it's also hilariously ironic because there's no way in hell that touga, as he and saionji are right now, could give saionji "true friendship."

OH SHIT WAIT I JUST REALIZED THIS IS SUPPOSED TO PARALLEL ANTHY AND UTENA IN THEIR BEDROOM AND UTENA ASKING ANTHY TO COME TO HER FIRST WITH HER PROBLEMS CUZ SHE WANTS TO BE "THAT KIND OF FRIEND." that's so fucking obvious how the fuck didn't i realize it sooner--

gonna call that bell hooks misquote about how women fear men and men also fear other men. i've seen some people who present as a man, especially those who transition from presenting as a woman (according to cisheternormative societal standards) to presenting as a man (according to those same standards), talk about how if you're read as masculine (especially unconventionally masculine) you're read as a threat, by both men and women, and there's no automatic camaraderie between men like there is between (cis) women. so it's paralleling opposite-gender experiences with the same thing (friendship), w/ the girls being nice but with anthy still, ultimately, not trusting utena, and w/ the boys being openly mistrustful of each other. although i could be reading all of this totally wrong, this is definitely a western viewpoint and i'm not super familiar with japanese masculinities, conventional or otherwise. but ykno patriarchy/systemic sexism is poison and it sickens everyone it touches regardless of gender

anyways that's my unconventionally-hypermasculine-butch-trans-man ramblings on how patriarchy poisons masculinity. back to the actual show lmao

confirmed that akio was the "prince on a white horse". also when did touga unbutton his jacket. touga if you want to seduce saionji don't do it in the back of a car someone else is driving. and especially don't do it in the back of a car that FUCKING AKIO is driving.

...when did akio unbutton his jacket.

and the flip over the windshield to impress a pair of teenagers. jesus fucking christ akio. i'd make a joke about how he has to go after teenagers with little life experience cuz no adult is stupid enough to touch his dick except for the fact that like. he's canonically at least made out with adults, and with akio it's never just making out. which means he's really really good at manipulating people actually

goddamnit saionji. he's back on his "the rose bride and i" bullshit. that conversation with touga and akio must have dragged him back. the fact that he's leaning on akio's car support this

GODDAMNIT SAIONJI GET OFF OF HER. ANTHY IS A PERSON AND SHE SHOULDN'T "BELONG" TO ANYONE

the shadow girl play is about interpersonal conflict in everyday life and how it's "hard to work as a team." is the team utena and miki? or is it utena and anthy? or is it touga and saionji? i wanna say utena and anthy

another version of zettai unmei mokushiroku, but this time it's rock? the vocals are definitely less at the forefront here

and it's a completely different animated sequence. also anthy fuckin. disappearing when utena gets to the elevator, and leaves behind her clothes--anthy as a normal girl being an illusion? utena not really knowing or reaching anthy?

oh nvm anthy just showed up again

anthy's school uniform full of a pink rose bush, huh

i remember reading some comment saying that utena taking the stairs up vs the black rose duelists taking the elevator down represented like...the hard work to get to a good place/do the right thing vs falling into being a bad person. except now utena is taking an elevator, which is much less effortful

saionji shows up with the car again. akio's car. the symbol of being The Manliest, or of having power.

"The Rose Bride has no will of her own" *EXTREMELY LOUD INCORRECT BUZZER*

"i'm gonna have to beat you to make you understand, huh?" ain't that a shonen trope

ohohoho! anthy's pulling the sword out of utena this time!

"grant US the power to bring the world revolution" OH MY GOD. oh my GOD. the team WAS anthy and utena, and they're actually working as a team!

the duel song singing about a "perpetual motion machine" and how it's just "empty movement," right after the changed line about revolution...yeah i think it's about the hypocrisy and futility of trying to "revolutionize" a system through the system

did saionji get hit by that car? his own ideals of masculinity betrayed him...this is what happens when you swallow the gender ideals/norms of a system that does not care about you

touga and akio being manipulative together (and akio being creepy again)

...damn i focused a lot on saionji didn't i? maybe i should have focused on utena or anthy more. on the other hand as an early-transition and very masculine trans man saionji represents a very real danger for me, like a walking talking lesson in how not to approach masculinity/manhood. and there's no femininity in me at all, except my history (and that was imposed femininity, not natural femininity), so...idk, their experiences seem further from mine? or maybe it's just, you know, my habit of getting attached to unpopular angry antagonistic characters rather than the protagonists. (anakin skywalker, fire lord ozai, mage viren, chisaki kai, bakugo katsuki, flam kish...yeah.) it might be subconscious/internalized misogyny but i really hope it's not that. i also genuinely think it's not that, or if it plays a part it plays only a small part, but

also wait did utena even touch saionji? cuz it looks a lot like the car swerved and hit him itself. utena might not have been the one to actually defeat him even with 'dios' coming down. plus the way utena looked at him afterwards looked basically like pity or sympathy, definitely not triumph.

at least anthy resisted akio somewhat this time

oh shit that's not a blanket. that's a person. made of stars and sky? is that supposed to be akio?

Oh also, along with writing the December 2023 Monthly Short Piece today, I finally watched the first episode of Revolutionary Girl Utena after days of seeing a moot post about it and--

"I am the Rose Bride. From this day forward, I belong to you."

i am going to murder everyone in this damn school for anthy

[anolyso]

Utena thoughts...about 2 weeks later

I've been putting it off for way too long and so most of my thoughts stopped being fresh. On top of watching way too many analysis vids post-watch, but still I do at least want to put my 2cents of Revolutionary Girl Utena out there for the world.

Utena is perhaps one of the most famous "magical girl"/shoujo action shows out there for not only it's transgressive themes of relationship abuse and low-key pretty much being the poster girl for like actual feminist perspective on/in anime...but also just doing it all in both a heavily allegorical and understated, yet super over-the-top stylish fashion

But that's it's reputation preceding itself, is Utena worth while all these years? The answer is Yes, but it also really shows it's age and budget in pacing and repetition, tho as an appreciator for "behind the scenes" compromises in art, it's more showcasing Ikuhara's talent in working around both taboo and long-form budget constraints with just well-thought out and iconic imagery that - while episodic and formulaic - is just very good at filling the 39 eps with feasts for the eyes.

Utena broadly is about tomboy Utena with memories long ago after her parents died being "saved" by a princely figure like a princess...except she's so enthralled by the nostalgia that instead she becomes a full on Prince herself and receives a dueling ring to fight in the Ohtori Acadamy secret duels for "engagement" to Rose Bride Himemiya Anthy.

Utena is divided between 4 arcs, only the first and last being Manga adapted from hearsay:

1: Student Council Saga

2: Black Rose Saga

3: Akio Ohtori Saga

4: Apocalypse

From back to forth I'd say that Akio + Apoc is more just escalation into the finale while Black Rose being anime original comes off as a glorified side-character study which while complementing the secondary cast, feels like one of those Anime movies that has to say "but if you don't watch this part, it's pretty much optional for the main plot" despite it also actually introducing the most important antagonist within it's margins.

More importantly, it's the Student Council (arc and the actual people) that lay the foundation but also a large part of the show's focus which ironically puts Utena in the background until like almost the finale and some in-between developments, so it's less "Utena (and Anthy Himemiya)'s story" until the very end, but more like a showcase of how fucked up the system at large is (pin in that).

By the Council themselves is:

Kyouichi Saionji: The biggest jobber, like actually introduced as the most despicable loser ep 1 and proceeds to be a complete arrogant joke for the rest of the show. Honestly in another shojo "love" story, they'd find some way to redeem him but semi-compellingly they turn him into like an Aqua-lad type pathetic brat with an inferiority complex to the actual Student head

Miki Kaoru: the naive "nice, non-threatening soft boy" that also just never actually listens to the girls around him. Probably adds more complexity to the whole patriarchal idea on analytic reflection since yeah, the whole "nice guy finishes last" plays up better when the kid comes off as that "ally" energy of wanting to save Himemiya from being the Rose Bride but also low-key won't actually not just do the duels and win her cuz he's that sorta wishy-washy hypocrite. Arguably the least hateable guy in the cast (minus mascot Chu-Chu)

Juri Arisugawa: TRAGIC LESBIAN TRIANGLE LOVE. Probably the biggest point to of both "not-explicitly homosexual" but also really freaking obvious since her entire story is her girlfriend stealing her "boy crush" when actually she was crushing on her and being pretty much frustrated throughout her story as pining most of it. It's quaint by today's standards but also like damn girl, get over her she was like the worst back stabbing bitch (literally if Black Rose counts)

Nanami Kiryuu: SPEAKING OF QUEEN BITCH, it's been a long time since I've watched a High School girl bully and honestly it's kinda refreshing. If Miki is "soft-boy uwu" Nanami is a brat that gets her come-uppance often, featured prominently as an anime only with the MOST filler/comedic episodes but also not low-key, being the most out-spoken actual brother complex ironically spins perhaps the biggest twist and ironic relationships of "I love my brother but not-like-that but also like-that" by the end. Mostly comedic relief but I find her inclusion to actually add a lot more to juxtapose...

Touga Kiryuu: Big Student Council Prez himself, the first arc antagonist and also a strong foil to Saionji and later a stepping stone for Akio. Touga is THE image of a Princely Playboy Heart-Throb that in any other Shoujo romance would have the main girl win him over from all those "other girls" despite him being apathetic if not outright manipulative of them. Good thing Utena is better than that and really puts a spotlight on just not-actually-ok his power hunger for "the power to bring the world revolution" that leads him to heavily objectify Anthy, arguably even more than Misogynist Trophy Girlfriend beater Saionji, since he doesn't even see her as more than a means to an end despite professing and looking the Prince part but lacking all the actual virtues.

The Student council matters more since they're characters and subsequent tragic flaws are the ACTUAL meat of the show and on second rumination actual shows more how fucked up the system/gender dynamic/power hierarchy is since - while it blatantly fucks over Juri who can't just outright say who she likes - also show almost it's own sub-text of Masculine failings: Saionji desperately clinging to being TOXIC MASCULINE™ and completely falling short underneath Touga; Miki's "nice boy" act belying him trying to replace his low-key nostalgia for his sister (also a bitch, but apparently was more like Nanami in the manga); and best yet Touga being the quintessential "Prince in all but actual behavior" by emulating a cutthroat and Machiavellian world view but coming up empty because well, he's just an illusion of a prince...but that leads in way more to the big finale piece where I'll reintroduce the actual story's main trio

Utena Tenjou: Tomboy Prince with brain empty except for lesbian thoughts. Honestly probably what every western "STRONG INDEPENDENT WOMAN" archetype wishes they were since while having very tomboyish personality in athletics, blunt speaking and also VERY oblivious to the actual plot for REAL DRAMATIC IRONY, but also never actually demeaning her being feminine partially due to her love of an childhood prince and how she maintains her relationship with both her friend Wakaba and later Anthy. Honestly mostly a plot device after S1 until she gets ACTUAL development by the very end and instead kinda bumbles her way into undoing the entire REVOLUTION OF THE WORLD. I kinda wish she felt either more cognizant or at least felt like she was developing/properly rebuking the rest of the cast's power obsessions but I guess that's for the movie.

Anthy Himemiya: Actual Trophy Wife with a dark secret (darker than ski- wait no that's terrible scratch that). Set-up very much as an immediate princess in distress while also being the most femme Yamato Nadeshiko, Anthy being the Rose Bride as a literal prize who acts and behaves as whom she's "engaged" with desires while otherwise being quiet, wry, mysterious and noticably submissive, by the end it actually plays up into THE BIG REVEALS of just how abused she's been into a hopeless acceptance...like y'know actual abuse victims.

Akio Ohtori: Grade A Antagonist, probably the most insidious I've seen a villain in a while, Akio is notable for, back in 1997, being perhaps the big go-to of actual deconstructing the facade of a whole shoujo genre's "hots for a teacher/sexy man putting the moves" and highlighting how actually exploitative and abusive a person like that really is. Being Himemiya's brother (somewhat justified in the manga by both being a weird Sailor Moon-esque reincarnation of gods/godesses of Dios), despite how much of his motives are runing the background and how the entire back story is  uh...brought up in like barely in the last arc with little lead up (some scenes feel like they'd be a full melodrama season and they just have like 1 scene in the final arc episodes) he manages to one-up Touga (in the plot as well) by instead of "just" objectifying girls, not-just-flat out saying Utena looks best as a princess, but y'know the fact that he is implicitly yet constantly exploiting and victim-blaming Anthy for her own suffering for "the power of Dios/Revolution of the world" turns it on its head

I've spent all this time on characters but in truth a lot of the meat of the show relies again on the Council Members fleshing out the issues of system leading to outright divorcing "being a Prince" (heroic altruistic virtues) and "being a man" (considering like all but maybe the comedic relief have some deliberately misogynistic behavior) and beyond just the plot (or rather character) synopsis, the talent goes far more in how it's framed, the symbolic/allegorical shots, the repetition adding a good episode formula flow to character showcases, probably the most "tasteful" allusion to uh...*ahem* sexual abuse that so many other edgier/prentious shows fumble. Both in how intimidating yet understated it's foreshadowing is until they hard-reveal it despite never explicitly naming it even tho it sends Nanami into hysterics

Really it's both a massive blessing and reason for it's cult beloved status for it's aesthetics but also it's burden, for being a full 39 episodic season by season character development study of everyone BUT the main trio except for snippets and the very end that makes it greatly appreciable as a legitimate work of art.

What I wanted more to say however (long overdue) is that a large part of following is, visibly at least, western feminist critiques and yes while it almost seems like Utena fits the "deconstructing patriarchy" story like a glove...it's weird how almost none of them actually can give a good historical account of actual Japanese female/gender/sexuality norms nor Anime contemporaries actually were. Like Tenchi Muyo and Berserk came out the same year (Cardcaptor Sakura the next) and despite how you can "feel" the influence in lots of modern shows like SHAFT's signature visual imagery cuts or many WESETERN shows having straight scene references to Utena....almost no one has a similar feel to Utena until like Princess Tutu comes out.

Really tho probably should've watched Utena and then Tutu because while it's undeniable that Utena is a major pillar of shoujo re-codification - what with everyone before Utena was saying they thought it'd be like a Rose of Versaille or Lady Knight rip-off...whose laughing now? - it's almost like there's a missing link between it and it's major western fanbase (probably with what few anime did get overseas, this one probably rose to the top), or how very noticeable there IS an influence on it's genre in Japan

Almost none of the big analyst fans actually know A) it's not "a deconstruction of Magical Girls" since despite Ikuhara working on Sailor Moon just before this, almost none of the tropes line up and instead more with Shoujo genre as a whole. or  one of the major inspirations was Takarazuka theater.

And this is not to dismiss how inspirational it is to it's western fandom, but while I am notably cynical towards placing things on pedestals, there's probably something about cultivating the whole pop-culture feminist reading commune with people making weird time-loop theories while kinda most of it is just filling in a mad-lib mostly thanks to Ikuhara just keeping things on the vague and letting the audience take away their own perspective.

Again, most of the show is completely sub-textual or visually/symbolically depicted and never stated nor properly defines it's weird key words (End of the World, Revolutionize the World, Power of Dios, Rose Bride, all things said constantly but never really said what they "mean". But that's also perhaps its charm, in it's allegory and very Death of the Author approach, it has definitely allowed it's fan theorizing and appreciation to flourish so there's something there for that.

Ultimately I'd say Utena the TV series is great more so for what it isn't...or rather I should say it's great for not just subverting Shoujo tropes and archetypes for the Japanese audience but also that despite dealing with some very serious and heavy subjects in obtuse and perhaps understated ways for the time, people have allowed it to be put on it's pedestal because they can easily fit it in themselves.

Honestly though, not that a more "straight forward" approach wouldn't detract from Utena but I will say that the movie, Adolescence of Utena, is very much the best encapsulation of what Utena strives to be (for another big blog post) and while the TV series has plenty of time and flexes it's directorial muscles with budget constraints and season pacing UNrestrained, the movie will trim a lot of the fat

[willowandfog]

TAKING FLIGHT

Complete

Summary: Kagome has been struggling with her disability most of her life but she's never felt anything but normal with Inuyasha always steadily by her side. But when her neurologist approaches her with the chance to recover full use of her leg, she takes it.

A childhood friends to lovers, soulmates AU

Read on AO3 or Below the Cut

Inuyasha was already awake and drinking a cup of strong black coffee when his father arrived. Touga chuckled at the sight of Kouga sleeping on the floor, curled into a ball with his tail wrapped around his waist. Miroku was still obviously unconscious on the couch, lying face down, with mouth open and drool slowly pooling below. 

“You boys had a nice evening then I take it?” Touga asked him as he poured himself some coffee into a mug.

Inuyasha laughed slightly. “Sure. You could say that. We all got drunk, well Miroku got absolutely pissed, and then Kouga tried to fight me.”

Touga raised a brow at that. “For the fun of it or for a specific reason?”

“Cause he still wants Kagome. Told me that if he could beat me that he would be the one to marry Kagome today.”

“I take it that went...well? The furniture all seems to be intact.”

“Oh I was all for the fight, then I just said no and went to bed.” Inuyasha set his now empty mug in the sink before heading back to the living room. “I’m sober and my hangover is almost gone so I imagine Kouga is fine and just sleeping in, lazy bastard. Miroku will be feeling like crap if he’s even sober by now.”

Inuyasha knelt by the couch and gave Miroku a shake. “Miroku, buddy.” Inuyasha shook him again when there was no response. “Miroku, time to wake up.”

Miroku groaned, rolling onto his back “Go way.” He muttered.

“Well you can wake up now and have some coffee and we can hit a drive thru for some greasy food for you and you can still stand by me today as my best man or I’ll ask my dad to stand in your stead. Which would you prefer?”

Miroku’s eyes fluttered open. “There was no option in there for you to kill me so I’m on the fence.”

Inuyasha rolled his eyes, rising. “Kouga. Wake up, either come with us or go home. You’re not staying here.”

Kouga flipped Inuyasha the bird from his place on the floor, but still opened his eyes and ran a hand over his face. Groaning, he sat up. With a heavy sigh he stood before making his way towards the bathroom. “I’m coming, wouldn’t want to disappoint Kagome by not having her favorite youkai in attendance.”

Inuyasha let out a warning growl just before Kouga slammed the door closed. 

“You guys aren’t friends right?” Touga questioned as he handed a fresh mug of coffee over to the now sitting Miroku.

“Nope, I put up with his existence because Kagome has a soft spot for sad lonely wolves.”

“I heard that!” Kouga yelled through the door just before the sound of the toilet flushing came through. 

“Good.” Inuyasha called to him. “I’m gonna go grab some socks and mine and Kagome’s luggage. We can head out after Miroku finishes his coffee.”

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Inuyasha sat in the passenger seat, munching on a hashbrown as his father drove and Miroku and Kouga sat in the back, both chowing down on breakfast sandwiches from the drive thru. 

“Did you have to go home first?” Inuyasha asked his father as he sipped coffee from his paper cup. 

“No, we are stopping by the Higurashi’s; Kagome left her overnight bag there and your mother texted me and asked me to grab something she left there as well.”

Inuyasha nodded, looking out the window and watching the scenery pass by. He thought that he would be feeling nervous by now but found that he was more antsy and anticipatory for the whole event to begin. 

When the car pulled into the short drive and came to a stop, both Inuyasha and Touga climbed out and made their way to the house. Inuyasha used his key to let them inside, he proceeded towards Kagome’s old room while his father went towards the kitchen. He immediately noticed Kagome’s bag, resting on the computer chair in front of the desk. He glanced around the room and peeked into the bathroom to make sure she hadn’t left anything else lying about. After snagging her hairbrush off the bathroom counter and tossing it into her bag, he noticed that one of his shirts was tucked underneath her favorite pajama bottoms. 

Inuyasha pulled the shirt free, bringing it to his nose he inhaled deeply, the sweet scent of Kagome was strong on the fabric but there was a hint of his own as well. The combination of the two scents had Inuyasha’s youkai ‘purring’ as Kagome liked to put it. Upon the realization that she must have worn it to bed during their night apart, he clutched the shirt to his chest and bowed his head over it. While he wished that she didn’t have to deal with having such a hard time being apart, Inuyasha was slightly ashamed to admit that he was also glad that he wasn’t alone in the feelings. Bringing the shirt back to his nose he took one final whiff before tucking the shirt back into the bag and zipping it closed. 

Bag slung over his shoulder, he met his father by the front door.

“Dad, can I ask you something?”

“You know you can.”

“How did you and mom do this? Stay a night apart, I mean. I feel it shouldn’t be this...difficult to sleep away from Kagome for one night. I mean, we are apart for a majority of the day during work.”

“Well, mainly, your mother and I were already bonded before we got married, so that helped. It still wasn’t easy, trying to sleep when your mate isn’t there is extremely challenging. Being full youkai, I don’t think I could’ve handled sleeping apart at your mother’s request if we hadn’t been bonded already. But you made it through and it should get easier here soon, just knowing your mate is in the same vicinity as you, surrounded by family. And just keep in mind that by this time tomorrow you will be a husband, mate, and soul bonded, and your mother and I couldn’t be more proud.” Touga clasped Inuyasha tightly on the shoulder, squeezing lightly in affection. 

Inuyasha gave an almost shy smile. “Thanks dad.”

The pair shared a brief tight hug before heading out. 

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Inuyasha finished buttoning up his dress shirt before reaching for the cufflinks that his father had worn on his wedding day. He turned as he slipped the first one into place, taking in the sight of Miroku sitting on the sofa in the ‘man cave’ as the venue called it. He was nursing another bottle of water, head resting on his open palm.

“So, care to tell me what all the excessive drinking was about last night?”

Miroku rotated his head slightly in the semblance of a head shake. “I… had a date with Sango last week and I fucked it up.”

“How did you manage to fuck it up, haven’t you two been going on dates for months? Haven’t you already had sex?”

“Yes. I did something really stupid, panicked and ran out of there; leaving her with the bill and all alone in the middle of the restaurant. And I haven’t responded to any of her calls or texts and I just don’t want to face her today.”

“What did you do?” Inuyasha chuckled, straightening his sleeves after pinning the second cufflink into place.

“Don’t want to talk about it.”

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. “I’m sure it’ll be ok, you guys have been doing this dance since junior year. Off and on, someone always says something to screw things up, you guys fight or don’t speak. Then one of you apologizes to the other, or you guys get drunk and make up.”

As Miroku opened his mouth to reply, the door to the room creaked open, and Izayoi’s bright smiling face appeared. 

“How’s it coming in here, boys?”

“We’re great, mom. You can come in.”

She slipped into the room, letting the door snik shut behind her. Her eyes quickly took in the room, scanning everything before settling on Miroku. 

Inuyasha looked over his mother as she studied Miroku for a moment. She wore a floor length midnight blue sheath dress that Inuyasha knew perfectly matched the markings that graced his father’s cheeks. The bodice had a layer of flowery lace in the same shade, cinched at the waist before flowing to the floor in a shimmer of satin. 

“Miroku, dear. Would you mind helping Touga outside for a few minutes, please?”

Miroku’s brows met his hairline for a moment as he looked back and forth between Inuyasha and Izayoi. 

“Ummm, yeah, sure.”

“Thank you, dear.” Izayoi gave him a sweet smile as she watched him go. 

Inuyasha turned back to the floor length mirror, picking up his pale golden tie from the side table. Looping it around his neck, he watched his movements in the mirror as he began tying the Windsor knot. He was halfway finished when his large hands were cupped by smaller delicate ones. 

Izayoi took the tie into her hands and resumed Inuyasha’s work as his hands dropped to his sides. 

“Kagome looks lovely.”

Inuyasha gave her one of his rare genuine smiles. “She’s always lovely.”

“Transcendent then.” Izayoi stuck her tongue out at him before giggling and folding down his collar, adjusting his tie into place. 

Izayoi stretched up to her toes and placed a kiss on his cheek. Dropping back onto her heels she made her way over and sat on the sofa Miroku had vacated. Waving him over she pointed to the floor in front of her. 

“Sit.”

Inuyasha stopped in front of her. “Sit on the floor? But I’ll wrinkle my pants.”

She rolled her eyes and smiled. “They’ll be fine for a few minutes, sit please.”

He sat on the floor between her legs, crossing his legs and instantly relaxing. He had always found sitting on the ground, comforting.

Izayoi picked up the hairbrush that was resting on the side table and began to brush Inuyasha’s hair in gentle, slow strokes. 

“I remember,” she said softly, “doing this when you were a little boy. You were always so excited for it. You’d come running to me with the brush and you would instantly climb into my lap when I would sit down. Oh, how it used to lull you to sleep, you would slowly start to slump over more and more until you fell asleep right there in my arms. I would just rock you in your sleep until your father came and scooped you up and carried you to bed.”

Inuyasha smiled fondly at the memory, eyes drifting closed as the sense of peace came over him. “You used to hum too.” He murmured.

She hummed her acknowledgement before beginning to hum a soft lullaby under her breath. When the song was finished she leaned forward and planted a kiss to the back of his head, setting the brush down on the cushion beside her. 

“I love you, mom.”

She ran her fingers through his hair. “I love you too. You know, you have been and always will be my little boy; but you’ve belonged to Kagome just as long. Your father and I are so happy that this day is here and we are so proud of the man you’ve become. You’ve always done whatever you can to take care of and provide for Kagome, and those are amazing things to receive from a mate.” She kissed him again before rising.

Inuyasha stood and turned towards her, quickly moving to wipe her cheeks when he spotted the dampness there. 

Izayoi smiled tenderly at him. “Today is a joyous day. One of the happiest days of my life was marrying your father, tied with the actual mating, and having you of course.” She lovingly stroked his cheek. “Now. Let’s get you in your jacket and outside.”

Inuyasha nodded slightly as he pulled her into his arms, tucking her under his chin and holding her tightly. He held her for several long moments before he released her.

“Ok. I’m ready, let’s do this.”

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Kagome had been pampered, massaged, prodded and poked all morning and she was ready to be done. While the beginnings of the day had felt great, she was ready for the hair pulling, fidgeting, pins poking her head, and the fussing to be over with. All she wanted was to walk down the aisle and tell Inuyasha how much he meant to her and then be whisked away as husband and wife and spend the night in his arms. 

She missed him something fierce, and she felt like she was starting to itch under her skin. She couldn’t quite figure out if that was the bond making her extra antsy and on edge being away from him or if it was just in her head. She could only imagine how Inuyasha was feeling about the separation since he had always felt the effects of the bond much more strongly than she had.

“Your hair turned out so beautifully.” Her mother stood directly behind her, stroking a gentle hand across her shoulder.

Kagome noticed Sango, her friend since freshman year of college, and Ayame, her good friend she was a new start with at work, standing behind her mother in the mirror she was sitting in front of, both nodding their agreement. She hoped to introduce Ayame and Kouga later at the reception, she had a feeling that they would get along and she hoped that they would hit it off pretty well. She had always felt a little guilty that Kouga still carried a torch for her even after finding out that she was Inuyasha’s mate. 

Turning her attention back to the mirror, she turned her head back and forth, taking in her seemingly simpler hairstyle that had cost more than she had been willing to pay. A relaxed french braid started at either temple, forming a crown of sorts around her head and met together in the back to form a low messy bun. Loose tendrils fell from her bun and more were deliberately left out framing her face with slightly wavy strands. A simple gold leaf and pearl hair vine comb was pinned up against the side of her bun. She really did love it but still felt that the style could’ve been achieved without paying the amount that they had but her mothers had insisted that a wedding day was a day to splurge for the finer things, like having someone else to do your hair and makeup. Kagome was happy to have talked them out of insisting that she hire a makeup artist as well, pleading with them that her friends had asked and wanted to participate by being the ones to do her makeup. They had done a great job, her skin looked smooth, and she was shining in all the right places, her eye makeup was noticeable with the winged eyeliner and the shimmering gold shadow but it was all light enough to still look closer to a natural style. 

“Alright, let’s get you into your dress.” Izayoi came over carrying a shoe box that she set on the vanity.

Twenty minutes and eight overly helpful hands later, Kagome was finally tucked into her dress. Izayoi and Sango guided her over to her chair and helped her sit, rucking up her dress as her mother and Ayame knelt on the floor, each bearing a shoe. 

“Guys.” Kagome protested. “I can put my own shoes on.”

“Don’t be silly, darling.” Izayoi spoke by her side. “It’s hard to reach your own feet in a wedding dress, besides we enjoy helping.”

Kagome held back any further comments as each of her feet were worked into her crochet lace pointy toed flats with a sheer organza lace up ribbon. Although she was able to walk without her crutch now and almost always had a smooth gait when she walked, she wasn’t able to get much practice in with heels and had decided that it would be safer to wear flat shoes. But that hadn’t stopped her from taking Sango and trying to find the prettiest flats she could, and she thought the ballerina lace up shoes were to die for. After they finished criss-crossing and wrapping the ribbon around her leg and tying it into a neat little bow at the back of her calf, both Ayame and her mother stood. 

“There.” Her mother beamed. “Now, let me grab my phone before you get your first look in the mirror.”

All four of her helpers reached for their phones at once. There were no blinding flashes throughout the day so far, no intruding presence, the photographer they had hired had been snapping photos throughout the process, occasionally disappearing to where Kagome could only guess was the ‘man cave’ where the boys were getting ready. Even though the photographer, Lacy, Kagome thought her name was, had been amazingly silent and unobtrusive, everyone else was still insistent on taking photos on their phones. 

Kagome had been avoiding her own phone for most of the day, fighting the urge to text Inuyasha. But she came to the conclusion that having some hand taken photos and selfies of her wedding day would be a nice addition as well. Rising, she made her way to the vanity, careful not to look into the mirror. Pulling her phone out of her bag, she opened up the camera and turned to snap a few photos of everyone else digging their phones out of their bags, except Sango who was explaining some app she had to Kagome’s mother. 

“Ready? Will someone take some photos with my phone too?” Kagome unlocked her screen, her lip quivering slightly at the sight of Inuyasha’s grinning face gracing her wallpaper. 

“Yeah I got it, Kagome.” Ayame said as she came up beside her and gently took the phone from her hands, patting her softly on the shoulder. “You’ll see him soon, he’s fine and you’re doing great.”

“Thanks.” Kagome murmured as she sniffled before turning away. 

Shaking herself out of her momentary lapse she slowly made her way over to the floor length mirror in the corner. She gasped when she saw herself. She had loved the dress when she saw it in the catalog but she was amazed that it looked as great as it had before. Knowing she was being ridiculous since she had seen herself during her fitting, this felt different, more final. 

The intricately embellished bold lace bust delicately embroidered with sequins had a deep v-shaped neckline showing off just the right amount of cleavage. The bust flowed into a voluminous silk chiffon circle skirt, ending as it graced the floor. Turning slightly she caught sight of the low open back that ended with a small silken bow. Smiling, she turned to face the mirror again, reaching up to finger the delicate hand-beaded shoulder detailing with strings of thin spider-silk-like beaded strands dangling off her shoulder in drooping half circles. 

Kagome was vaguely aware of exclaimed praises and comments about capturing good photos but it was all background noise. She shook herself from her daze and turned back to face the group, the sooner she was done fawning over herself the sooner she could walk down the aisle. They snapped a few more photos before taking turns taking selfies with her then gathering for group photos. They asked the photographer to also take photos with all their phones of the small group of women. 

Kagome’s mother pulled her aside and hugged her, stroking a tender hand across her shoulder.

“I wish your father was here to see how beautiful and happy you are. I know he’d be so proud of the woman you’ve become.”

Tears filled Kagome’s eyes, her gut clenching as it always did when she remembered the accident that took her father from her. 

“Thanks mom, I love you.”

“I love you too, sweetheart.” She pulled her into another brief tight hug as Izayoi stepped up beside them.

“I’m going to go check on the boys and make sure Inuyasha is ready and get him out there. Take a few minutes to yourself, your mother and Sango will wait for you outside the door.”

Kagome nodded, giving her soon to be mother in law a hug. As the door closed behind the group Kagome let out a sigh of relief at finally being alone for the first time that day. She gathered up the couple items of hers that were strewn about the room and piled them into her bag; sneaking at glance at Inuyasha’s photo on her phone before tucking that too away and zipping the bag closed. Her mother had mentioned coming back to the room after the ceremony to grab her bag for her so Kagome wanted to make it as easy as possible on her.

Walking over to the vanity she sat, taking a few calming breaths. When she stood again she felt her weak leg give a little tremble. Sighing, she went back to her bag and extracted her brace. Sitting down she hastily pulled her skirt up and with difficulty managed to get her shoed foot through the brace and pulled up into place. After a stern glare at the brace, she stood, smoothing her skirt back into place. She gave one last glance into the floor length mirror before making her way to the door. 

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Inuyasha escorted his mother down the aisle, a symbol to their guests that it was time to find their seats as the ceremony would be beginning shortly. Kagome and Inuyasha had opted to not have a long drawn out intro to the ceremony, not wanting to wait what would feel like forever as bridesmaids and groomsmen walked down the aisle. So Sango and Miroku were already in place at the end of the aisle, standing to either side, ready to support and be witness to the union of their friends. In truth, Inuyasha hadn’t wanted anything to draw attention away from Kagome being presented and walking down the aisle.

Inuyasha studied the trees that they had picked to get married under. They were beautiful, far reaching weeping willows, standing slightly apart. Leaving the perfect amount of space for the couple to stand together in front of everyone and declare their love for each other. Kagome and both of their mothers had come out the day before and helped the venue string up fairy lights all along the tree branches. Allowing some to hang down from the branches towards the ground. The effect was almost magical as the sun began to set and the light a little lower, drawing more attention to the lit tree. 

As Inuyasha reached the end of the aisle with his mother he stopped. Izayoi withdrew her arm from his before stretching up and placing a kiss on his cheek. She gave him a tender smile before moving to take the empty seat beside his father.

Moving to take his place beside Miroku, Inuyasha clasped his hands tightly together in front of him. His nerves spiked as his senses were suddenly overwhelmed, finally feeling Kagome’s presence nearby again.

Oh, how he had missed it, the feel of her gentle, loving presence brushing up against his. Her smiling face, her love filled eyes as she looked at him with adoration. He was hard pressed to believe that they had only spent a night apart, it felt like it had been days, weeks, years even. His yearning for her had grown so strong that when she stepped out from the tent flap beside her mother all breath and coherent thought left him. 

She was the most divine creature he had ever laid eyes on. He glanced over her. Yes, the dress was beautiful and her hair was nice but he was more interested in her face. The brightness in her face and the smile that showed her absolute happiness of the moment. It spread to him, her joy, and he felt it reach him deep down into his soul, soothing his youkai.

He noticed the tightening of her hand wrapped around her bouquet, the catch in her breath and the speed of her already rapidly beating heart kick up a notch when she glanced up and met his eye. Hers a warm chocolate from a distance but he knew them intimately. Knew that they held many shades, shades of whiskey and a crystallized honey. Eyes focus solely on him, the bright gleam in her eyes only for him. Eyes that saw everything of him, that pierced through any gruffiness he might have had at the world and saw straight through to him. 

When Kagome and her mother reached him, he stepped forward, placing a kiss on her mother’s cheek before taking Kagome’s hand and leading her the rest of the way to the front. As they stopped in front of Totosai, his father’s long time friend, they turned to face each other. Kagome, still smiling and Inuyasha suspected that he had a goofy grin planted on his face. 

Totosai spoke a few words of welcome to their guests, speaking the meaning of marriage and how happy he was that Kagome and Inuyasha were coming together; but Inuyasha didn’t hear the words, all his attention on Kagome. Inuyasha’s mind finally registered the words that were being spoken when Totosai spoke again.

“Kagome and Inuyasha have asked to incorporate a handfasting into their ceremony. And have asked that Inuyasha’s father, Touga, step forward and honor them in officiating the ritual.”

Inuyasha’s attention was drawn away from Kagome for the first time since she had appeared from underneath the tent to walk down the aisle. He glanced over at his father, who was rising from his seat amongst the front row, surprise clearly written on his face as he straightened his coat. Kagome and himself had decided not to mention including the handfasting into their ceremony to anyone other than Totosai, wanting it to be a surprise and a gift for his father. 

Handfasting was an old tradition, something developed not from their heritage but was adopted early on in youkai society as an additional symbol of a soul bonded match. It was considered a great honor among youkai to be chosen by a bonded couple to perform the ritual. 

As Touga walked around the couple, Totosai pulled him aside. They talked in hushed murmurs for a few moments before separating and Totosai stepped off to the side, standing near Miroku, with a smile on his face. Touga took his place behind the couple, facing them and the gathering, holding three satin cords in one clawed hand. 

Though he had to clear his throat before beginning, Touga spoke loudly and clearly. “Though not originating from the youkai, handfasting was quickly developed into mating and marriage ceremonies as a perfect outward display of a soul bond. It is considered extremely fortuitous and rare to find your soulmate as well as a blessing to witness the joining. I am beyond honored to stand before you all as I guide my son and my new daughter into their union.”

Turning his attention back to the couple, Touga spoke to them. “If you would join right hands, please.”

Kagome turned, handing off her bouquet to Sango before turning back to Inuyasha and offering up her right hand. Inuyasha gently clasped it with his own, his eyes roving her face, taking in every detail.

“With full awareness, know that before this gathering of witnesses you are not only declaring your intent to be bound before your friends and family, but also by joining hands you are representing your willingness in the union, if one of you is unwilling to be bound to the other, please now lower your hand.”

Inuyasha and Kagome both held on tighter, staring into each other’s eyes as they spoke together. “We are both aware and willing.”

Inuyasha turned his attention to their clasped hands as Touga laid one of the satin cords, in a vibrant shade of forest green, across Inuyasha’s wrist. “This cord represents Kagome’s commitment and acceptance of Inuyasha in the union. Kagome, would you like to say a few words to Inuyasha?” 

Kagome glanced at Touga, nodding slightly before turning and looking into the pools of melted honey that were Inuyasha’s eyes. “Inuyasha, we’ve been best friends for twenty-one years and you’ve been the love of my life for a dozen of those. That night when we were eight and you convinced me to sneak out of my house to watch the meteor storm with you, we both made a wish. And I think it’s finally time to share my wish with you; I wished for us to be able to stay together forever. My wish is coming true and that makes me the happiest-” The emotions clogged her throat and she covered her mouth with her free hand for a moment as she took a ragged breath. When Inuyasha squeezed her hand in support and encouragement she cleared her throat and looked back up to him with tear filled eyes. “The happiest person in the world. Inuyasha, I promise to always love and respect you. To support you and cherish you. And I promise to try to be everything to you that you have always been to me.”

Kagome looked to the side as Sango stepped up beside her, offering up Inuyasha’s ring on the palm of her hand. It hadn’t been hard to figure out a way to mix the traditional handfasting with the modern wedding ceremony. Taking the ring in her left hand, she turned back to Inuyasha as he offered his left to her underneath their clasped hands. As she slid the cool platinum band onto his finger he kept his gaze on her face, and when her watery eyes flicked back up and meet his, he mouthed ‘I love you,’ and she beamed, the motion spilling her tears out of the corners of her eyes to track down her cheeks. 

Touga laid the crimson satin cord across Kagome’s wrist. “This cord represents Inuyasha’s commitment and acceptance of Kagome in the union. Inuyasha, a few words?”

Inuyasha took in a deep breath, he had written vows but they seemed a cheap imitation to what he knew his heart wanted to say. The breath he had been holding came out shakily as he slowly released it. He had so much he wanted to say and he was afraid he’d say it wrong. She had said such wonderful things that caused a warmth to bloom in his chest and he was the one that always fumbled for the right thing to say when it mattered most. 

But he knew. He knew. 

That no matter what he said in this moment, Kagome would know. She would know what he was trying to say, what he wanted to convey, what was in his heart. She always knew, she always understood, she knew him better than he knew himself.

“Kagome, you have been my entire focus and ever present constant since I looked out the window twenty years ago and saw a little girl fierce in her determination to make it from the car to the house on her own. I think even then I knew, I sensed something within me reaching out to you, urging me to befriend you, protect you, love you. I’m happy with the man I’ve become and that’s all because of you; because of your gentle hand and your guiding words. The strength and kindness of your heart never ceases to amaze me. I strive to be as good to you as you have always been to me. I promise to be your guiding light in the darkness, a warming comfort in the cold, and a shoulder to lean on when life is too much to bare on your own.” 

Inuyasha looked down as a hand appeared at his side, Kagome’s delicate rose gold band lay on Miroku’s open hand. Inuyasha plucked the ring off his friend’s palm, mindful of his claws. When he turned back to Kagome she had more tears on her cheeks but her smile was dazzling, warm, accepting, and happy. Her offered left hand was already waiting for him, as he slid the ring onto her finger, he felt the youkai within him sturing. The need to throw her over his shoulder and carry her away from prying eyes and finally claim her as his mate washed through him with such force that he had a hard time resisting. But when his father began speaking again, he tried to tamp down even harder on the urge, knowing that later that night, Kagome would be his in every way possible. 

“This cord represents their union, the joining of not only Inuyasha and Kagome but of each side’s family coming together.” Touga draped the gold cord across the top of their joined hands before moving both the other cords up to rest alongside it. “Today on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other forever, you are holding the hand of your best friend. These are the hands that will work alongside yours as together you built your future.”

 He spoke as he held one side of the strands steady in one hand and began to wrap the other side around it. “These are the hands that will love you and cherish you through the years. These are the hands that will celebrate with you when you feel happy and comfort you when you feel sad.” He tucked one side under the other, pulling to form the knot on top of their clasped hands. One end of the cords dangling down on each side of their hands. “These are the hands that will give you strength and support whenever you need it. As your hands are joined together now, so your hearts will always be.”

Inuyasha and Kagome each took hold of one of the ends of cords, making sure to maintain eye contact. Slowly, they slid their clasped hands along each other’s as they separated them, pulling on the cord ends at the same time. When their hands fell free, the cords came together, forming a tight infinity knot. 

Totosai stepped up beside Touga. “By the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

Using the cord as leverage, Inuyasha wasted no time in yanking it, pulling Kagome towards him, wrapping his free arm around her waist and crushing her to him. Still maintaining his hold on their cord he pressed his lips to hers. He’d kissed her countless times before, but the tingle of blissful tranquility that flowed through him felt new in a way he could not describe. He moaned slightly at the feeling, deepening the kiss. Stroking his tongue across her lower lip before dipping it inside her parted lips. 

Only when he let out a low possessive growl did he remember the crowd; pulling away just enough so their lips were still touching.

“I love you.” He whispered against her lips.

“I love you, too.”

It was only then that he heard the crowd, they were all cheering and clapping, some rising from their seats. Inuyasha took Kagome’s end of the cords from her, turning and handing the knot over to his father. 

“Guard this for us till later?”

Touga nodded, accepting the duty.

With a large grin Inuyasha tucked Kagome’s arm in the crook of his elbow, beginning to lead her away from their position at the front and down the aisle. His eyes were fixed on his luminous mate even as she watched the crowd, a shy but ecstatic smile on her face. There were a few clicks and flashes of cameras going off but Inuyasha’s attention never wavered. Flower petals rained down upon them, creating a lovely effect but other than causing Inuyasha to blink more often as sone petals hit his face, he never looked away. 

When they reached the end of the aisle, he scooped Kagome up into his arms and quickly dashed off, looking for a place where they could extract a couple of quiet moments to themselves and bask in the joy they were feeling. 

@ruddcatha @superpixie42 @lavendertwilight89 @clearwillow @dawnrider @mamabearcat @fawn-eyed-girl @smmahamazing @bluejay785 @i-dream-of-soup @liz8080 @zelink-inukag @malditamigs @shinidamachu 

[nikkxb]

WIP Whenever

(Image taken from original post I was tagged in.)

Thank you @mynightshining!

I’m trying that thing where I finish a story before I post updates, which has ended in me having unposted chapters written for multiple stories and not a single one finished. So here’s a bit from all the WIPs I’ve written for, but haven’t posted or shared yet.

Tagging @cakeit0n @commandercrouton @fawn-eyed-girl @pointyobjects @cryysiswritesthings​ and whoever wants to do this!

Inu-spiration 2 Halloween Bang:

Kagome didn’t know why the building was dark. She’d been there countless times after typical work hours ended, hurrying to complete yet another project due the next day, always feeling one step behind thanks to her careless manager. And here she was again, trying to find the right file in the records room to continue her research. One of these days, she really should stop providing the coffee for her small area of the office. Her manager was starting to treat her more and more like a personal assistant than a market specialist.

It was only as she was flipping through the file that she realized the lights in the hall had been turned off. Had she really been in the records room so long the automatic sensors shut off? Very well could have considering the number of drawers she looked for. Waving her arm over her head, Kagome waited for the lights to flick on so she could go right back to leafing for the data she was looking for.

The lights never came on.

Legend of Illethai Mobre:

“Do you think Inuyasha could spare me a sick note to get out of work for the rest of the week?”

“I saw his parents before I went to your house yesterday,” she shared even though she knew it wasn’t a viable option, “so you might be able to go through them to convince him to help.”

He barked a mirthless laugh. “I want help, Kagome, not a guarantee that he’ll never lend me a hand again.”

“You’re not wrong.” The smell was growing and she could hear the pot get closer to filling. Kagome grabbed two cups drying in her sink and then to the fridge for the creamer for her and the half and half she kept specifically for him.

Miroku stood from the table and stretched, following her enough to lean against the counter. “Why did you go to his parents? You didn’t mention anything.”

She weighed the answer, knowing she should tell him. Touga’s secret might not affect Miroku directly and the fiasco with Kagura, but nothing in her liked the idea of keeping quiet. “Touga’s a darjana.”

Pajamas:

“New dorm?” rumbled a low, husky voice against her back.

“Yeah,” she answered, letting him tuck her back against his chest. “They found my dorm unsuitable for occupation, so they’re moving me to a new one.”

He huffed out an adorable, sleepy sound and Kagome settled right in. “Roommate?”

His morning demeanor was far more endearing than it had any right to be. Amused and utterly charmed, Kagome relayed the information to him as he snuggled them both back under the covers. “You are really handsy in the morning, huh?”

“I’m not handsy,” he almost sounded affronted as he nuzzled her hair, “I’m cuddly. Which I warned you about before you invited me to share the bed with you.”

Running Game:

“It was the second kiss of the day, so I think I’m doing pretty good.”

“Second?” Ginta poked his head out from the hallway, his hair wet and trailing his neck. “That coffee date went better than you said.”

“What, you think I’m going to tell you everything?”

“You usually have nothing to tell. How many times has she shot you down so far?”

Kouga took the ribbing in stride, letting the guys get their shots in. Because it was true — he’d been chasing after Kagome for far longer than anyone expected considering how many times she’d neatly side-stepped his advances. “Just means those other times weren’t right,” he tossed out. “She’s accepted twice in a row so far.”

“A world record.”

Kouga chucked a pillow at Inuyasha who had been too busy slurping his smoothie around that unnecessary, sarcastic comment to see it coming. The pillow didn’t make much noise when it hit, but the wheeze that followed as he snorted his drink couldn’t be better.

What Could Have Been:

Moving around the house, her instincts became clearer as the side of the house opened up into a small courtyard, a perfect place for a lord to meet with invited guests. From there she could see where the house expanded into separate suites for guests to stay in all while keeping the lord’s residence private and tucked away from the rest of the house.

There, at the top of the patio opening in the center of the courtyard, sat a glowing, pulsing, dark purple stone.

“We’re the first ones here,” she said to Kouga. “I want to purify it before it attracts something.”

She moved, but his grip on her arm stopped her. Turning, she went to protest, but his attention was fixed on a tucked way corner of the house where a pile of weapons stood.

“Think there might be a bow and arrow in there?” he asked.

Moving toward the weapons, wondering why on earth they were simply sitting her abandoned, Kagome crouched in front of what she saw. And her heart broke.

They were taijiya weapons. All used for demon slaying, all ones she’d seen in the taijiya village. There in the center, almost reverently placed, was a kusarigama.

[gamesception]

Lets read something

You know, as much as I really love the Utena show and movie, I've never read the manga? That's something I could do, I suppose. Actually, I don't know much about the production of Utena at all, let's do 5 minutes of research...

OK, so Utena is Kunihiko Ikuhara's (the anime director's) baby, and the manga was created at around the same time by Shojo artist Chiho Saito. Only Ikuhara was a bit of a pain to work with (or to be more forgiving was super busy with the anime & new studio he created for it), so Saito never got a full summary or answers when she asked questions? So basically we're looking at a different story from a different creator only loosely based on some shared concepts and character designs. Also a lot more focus on Utena and Touga, which isn't a great sign but then again it kind of worked for the movie so I'm not going to dismiss it out of hand.

Anyway, expectations in check, let's jump in.

The introduction with the obnoxious teacher bothering Utena about her uniform and Utena countering that 'the rules don't say a dog can't play basketball' is repeated pretty closely. Makes sense that, however little Saito was given to work with, she'd at least have the opening scene of the opening episode to reference. Though here her uniform shirt is pink with black piping instead of the other way around?

I'm sorry, 'Rose' with black piping.

But it's not just the color, the whole scene immediately veers way off the road from the anime.

Utena has an aunt in the manga? Like a legit adult guardian? I don't think the anime brings up guardians at all except to say that her parents died when she was young. Not bringing in guardians at all is part of how the anime builds the sort of removed otherworldly atmosphere of the school, like it's an isolated fairy world that the students are trapped in and need to escape, which is kind of core to the themes.

Themes which, I'm given to understand, Saito was not privy to in advance when writing this adaptation, so yeah, here we go, very different story right out of the gate.

Also she has some guy friend? Who is this? This isn't Wakaba.

This is a strong page here, does a good job of establishing the dead parents, the relationship with this new aunt character, Utena's compassion and strength of character even from the time of her parents' death, but also the emotional toll and self sacrifice inherent to the princely role she's adopted - it's brave and sad but not even remotely healthy or fair for a child to never cry in front of the adults who are supposed to be caring for them.

So Utena's prince has been sending her letters every year, as opposed to the anime where she just got the ring. Also he saved her from drowning - something the movie would partially borrow? - rather than just from being sad after her parents died?

Although that does mean we probably won't get the show's eventual reveal that what the prince showed young Utena to break her out of her sorrow was Anthy locked away and suffering herself, which recontextualized Utena's backstory and princely affect as having been about saving Anthy the whole time.