#so yes making fun of ur audience like that isn't the best

[psychopomping]

.

[the-monkey-ruler]

why is meihouwang 6 ears ur bias?

Bias? Like why he's a favorite?

Well I really enjoy him! I do love Xiao Shihou a bit more in the series cause he has a special place in my heart for me but I really love how they did Liu’Er in the series as well! Not only is his design super interesting and iconic but something about the changing of his looks when how his mental state is just always making me love a character more!

The thing I think Mei Hou Wang made Liu’Er such a well-defined character, giving so much time to build Liu’Er's personality and even his own relations to other characters! Liu’Er clearly was more of a daredevil himself at the start of the series, willing to do outrageous stunts for fun and it's clear that he is close to the Monkey Elders of the troop, already taking missions with them. But most important is how he regards Monkey King Yeye and how has nothing but respect for him. He never wants to question Monkey Yeye and is always seen at his side as a loyal helper (COUGH son COUGH). He has a strong sense of justice, wanting to help others that have helped him, being the first and ONLY person (besides Monkey Yeye) to be on Shihou's side at the start when he was being considered an outsider because he was saved by him, even unintentionally! He is quick with a plan and cautious but he can be too quick to run or too quick to jump in but he his heart is in a good place. They gave him a lot of time to set up his character in the start and it just creates the foundation of what he goes through afterwards!

Kinda spoilers.

What matters is that the series gave him his own agency early at the start when he starts to feel slighted by the attention that Xiao Shihou is getting. He got his first taste of recognition when he brought back the Rishi plant even though he tried to explain that it was Xiao Shihou, he found that he didn't really want to lose that admiration. He loved it! And as time goes on as he sees Xiao Shihou being the one to save people from his increased strength and quick thinking he starts to let those feelings of envy fester. And the audience sees that kinda fall of him feeling both insecure about his place in the troop and starting to take risks himself. He is the one to try to take on Havoc alone and the only one that stood up for HIM was Xiao Shihou! Shihou agrees that it is risky but he fundamentally supports Liu’Er the entire time! He is more than ready to go out and fight Havoc alongside Liu’Er even if the risks are high. And he doesn't hesitate for a second when he hears that Ginseng Fruit and Yutu are in trouble!

And in the end, while it was Liu’Er's idea to go in it was Xiao Shihou that took down Havoc and set fire to the cave. And Liu’Er, while he did want to take down Haovc, still wanted that recognition for being the one to set up the plan. He wanted fame and glory as well. And he wanted to be king. Because to him, being king means that he could finally be the person that everyone looks up to, just like how he looks up to Monkey Yeye. Despite going on mission at such a young age (he is like the only teen there with only little kids and adults) he isn't given the respect he deserves or at least wants.

But he wasn't chosen by his Yeye. Instead, he was passed over to his best friend. The guy that has saved him time and time again and always stood up for him and never doubted him for a second. And yes Monkey Yeye never SAID it was going to be Liu’Er and even SAID that if there was anyone that could save their troop he would make THEM king. There was never a lineage or promise or anything to be had beforehand but like... IT WAS IMPLIED with how much Liu’Er spent at Monkey Yeye's side and always trying to help. He did come off a bit as too much as a yes man, which is why I'm sure that Monkey Yeye thought it was best to go with someone more strong-willed and not afraid to speak his mind for the troop, but he still bit in a lot of work nonetheless. He even was trained with Monkey Yeye's weapon! He trained with him!

More spoilers

At this point the audience understands where Liu’Er is coming from as no one likes being passed over, even if Xiao Shihou was the one to do more work, Liu’Er's feelings of being looked over are still very real. But him starting to show how Xiao Shihou wouldn't be a good king and pointing out his flaws to bring him down is where it hits harder. He is angry and lashes out at the one causing his anger, his best friend. Calls him hot-headed and temperamental when Shihou was the one following HIS plans. The BETRAYAL on Shihou's face and he doesn't UNDERSTAND why his best friend is saying these things. He doesn't know what he did wrong when he was trying to help and he WAS helping, he was the one that made Liu’Er's plan work and they saved their troop. But Liu’Er wanted to be the one to get the credit while Shihou would have to look up to him for once. Despite Shihou also being the one to risk his life again and again like Liu’Er, Liu’Er thinks that he was the one who should be rewarded. And maybe Liu’Er could have had a point about Shihou not being fit to be king as he is more impulsive but at that point he would have to point the finger at himself as well because he also jumps the gun.

Xiao Shihou leaves the island with them still at odds and THEY CUT OUT SCENES of them having a final goodbye because YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE CREDITS! And what I wouldn't have given to know what they said to each other.

And from there the audience SEES his fall when being manipulated by White Deer. He lost his best friend the one to always save him and now it reads as more tragic as more time goes on. He is filled with promises by this stranger that takes advantage of his insecurities and he isolates himself from any support group he could have had. He starts to throw himself into his training for the sake of defeating Shihou in battle and he pushes himself to his limits. He doesn't even know at this point that White Deer wants Wukong dead, just that he is training for when Wukong comes back. At this point, he just wants to get strong to prove himself worthy of admiration like Wukong and prove that he can be more than just dead weight. I think he got a lot of that insecurity from being kidnapped so much and it is always Wukong saving him. he is always being saved by Wukong but he is never the one to be strong enough to save himself.

It gets only worse when he starts to hear the Nine Spirit Lion in his mind, poisoning him even further with promises of power. He denies it at first, trying to block out the whispers of a great demon trying to use him. But in his greatest moment of weakness, when he dares to sit on the throne and imagine what it was like to be king is when he is caught and ridiculed. The Marshalls and Generals that once praised him and his efforts were looking down on him for his dreams and ambitions, pointing out how arrogant he is to think he would be king when he is already doubting his self-worth. I don't think Liu’Er was in the right trying to take the throne but I don't think that the Elders were right to try to reprimand Liu’Er not for his attitude but rather for his boasting. He falls into a state of depression after being laughed at, losing more and more of himself as he doesn't want to feel this pain. How he would rather feel nothing than feel more of this pain and rejection. And he gives in to those promises of taking away the pain. He starts to lose more and more of himself, literally having his emotions cut off by a demon because he couldn't bear to burden the feelings of isolation by himself.

He only gets worse when Wukong comes back, he sees him for the first time and puts on the mask that things are back to normal and everything is okay. Liu’Er tries to attack him but EVEN IN HIS SLEEP, Wukong can just brush off his attacks! Liu’Er is desperate to do something...

But Wukong just OFFERS to teach Liu’Er everything he knows. Just wants to help his friend in what he thought was a bonding moment between the two because he has missed his best friend so much and wants to reconnect with him. But the more he learned the wider he sees the gap is between them. The more his resentment builds.

And then Grandpa Yeye dies.

Wukong tried to go to HELL to get him back and Liu’Er closed off his emotions (Not really healthy on either side) but while Wukong got closure by talking to Monkey Yeye before he was reborn, Liu’Er gave into the demon's promise to cut off ALL his emotions. The demon promise to make the pain go away and Liu’Er gave in. He couldn't handle the grief of losing his ONLY family he considers he has left. How he lost the last person he wanted validation from and comfort and the only person that was on his side.

Liu’Er starts to be monstrous, attacking Wukong and trying to kill him at this point. He says how he knows that in his mind they grew up together and how they were best friends but how Wukong has becomes the source of his suffering and that if Wukong was gone maybe he could bear to feel again. He accepts the Nine Spirits Lion to consume him completely.

It becomes clear that he never wanted to be king for the sake of being the island's protector, but rather so he can finally that validation he was searching for his whole life. Yes, he is the antagonist of the story be we see his rise and fall and how he became those villains from giving in to his negative thoughts to blaming others, to even being taken advantage of by far stronger demons.

It ends with a climactic battle and Wukong is HORRIFIED that his best friend, the one person he thought that was also supporting him, like how Wukong supported him was actually his enemy. The heartbreak he sees when Liu’Er has completely lost himself in vengeance and anger and has lost who he is just for the sake of seeing Wukong fall with him. How Wukong never say it coming because he never doubted Liu’Er for a second. However, then Wukong wished he could have seen the signs, that maybe he could have done something different but Liu’Er was already lost in himself. Feeling like he isn't even himself anymore but just a shadow of who he used to be in order to gain power. Even the demon that consumed him admits he was his second choice, and that he much rather would have Wukong as his prey. Like... dude.

But never does Wukong gives up on him!

Every minute the Nine Spirits Lion says that he has already killed Liu’Er, Wukong is too determined and too stubborn to believe it! Even when Liu’Er pushes him away Wukong knows that his friend is still in there and he isn't going to let some JACKASS take advantage of his friend like that. Wukong never gave up on saving Liu’Er, not then and not now.

And in the end, Liu’Er was able to be freed from the demon's control. He regained his emotions, his thoughts, and his own body and he was ashamed of how he acted, taking the blame that this mess was all his fault. But Wukong was just happy that his friend was alive and freed.

I WISH there was a longer ending scene of the two talking about what happened. About their grief over Monkey Yeye. About what happened after Wukong left and how Liu’Er started to lose himself more and more. While Wukong gained more friends Liu’Er only had people that wanted to use him.

Anyone what I'm trying to say is that not only do I love Wukong and Liu’Er in this series but I love the plot behind it as well! I love the characters and the whole idea and while it isn't perfect, it always has a special place in my heart.

[blamemma]

what you said about maxiel fanfics with endgame lest4ppen, yes, I agree. someone mentioned this before, but maxiel is slowly dying on ao3 while it seems to be thriving more and more on tumblr.

for me it's 50/50 because I don't mind where I'm reading, but here we have more one-shots and pieces of WIPs (which is good because it means authors don't feel the pressure to turn everything into a 50k story, so they can just post their ideas even if it's incomplete), but I personally LOVE longer stories, so I would love to read more and more about every single one of them.

and personally I just don't like lest4ppen at all. I understand the need to tag maxiel because daniel is the bad guy and the "shitty boyfriend" or whatever, but I just don't like seeing those stories 😬

will always preface asks like this by saying people can like what they like and find joy in whatever, i ain't gunna turn my nose up at anyone or anything, lestappen just doesn't make sense to meeee personally, but honestly whatever butters ur bread!!!

as someone who has dabbled here and there in this writing lark, for me there is a distinct difference in ao3 posting and tumblr posting....ao3 to me is formal, ur presenting something perfect, a fully-fledged story, a beginning a middle and an end (not in all cases but i just mean in general). most stuff i read on ao3 is fully-fledged nuanced ideas that the author has obviously spent hours of time crafting and experimenting with.

tumblr fic is inherently fun and blase and easier to throw out there into the ether and forget about really. tumblr fic doesn't need to follow grammatical rules or structure etc etc....it can just be a fun prompt game response or a quick lil fic that you had fun writing and wanna share with ur people?? both have purposes and both are enjoyable to write imo, just depends on what ur feeling and how much u want to expand on said idea??

when it comes to the maxiel of it all....idk how rude or pointed i can get here without getting into shit....so i'll try and word this gently....you have to keep the eco-system alive....i think comments and kudos are GREAT but honestly, if someone reblogs my fic with a fun few tags, i love that more, because in a selfish way, i might get 1 or 2 more readers from that because its going out to an even wider audience?? but its more than that!! engage with ur writers, message them on here and shout at them about their ideas, send them prompts, recommend their fic to ur friends...but i will stand by i think one of the best things you can do, if they make a fun lil post or graphic for their fic...reblog it...ur not only spreading the maxiel gospel, but ur also supporting that writer?? too many times on here i see people's fic graphics flop yet big blogs are leaving them comments on ao3 and look, EACH TO THEIR OWN and also i can sometimes be a bad reblogger dont get me wrong, but LIKE, there are some wildly talented authors on here who just need to be pushed into the limelight a little bit more??? idk if im wording this correctly, but sometimes there are fics that fall through the cracks because no one engages with them, and if ur an author who has put blood sweat and tears into that fic, ur not exactly going to be motivated to post another maxiel fic if u dont think ur going to get engagement from it (again, fic writing isn't necessarily about engagement or response, but let me tell u when i get a fun little comment or someone messages me about a fic i published, it inspires me to write more????)

maxiel is definitely alive and kicking, i follow some stunningly good maxiel authors, but at the same time, its about pushing forward those smaller writers as well and not thinking ur too cool for them???????????????

and so with that, this flufftober, kinktober, spooktober or whatever tober u are a part of, reblog the fic, talk about the fic and enjoy the fic

[cloudcountry]

fuck i literally realized a lot of this is due to how much I relate to him IM SORRRYRYRYRYRY but i just wanna talk about him today (i have no fun insights this is just yapping... URGGBSHGRFYGH I RELATE TO AND LOVE HIM SO MUCH SOBS ON UR DOOR STEP)

im sorry, i believe a little warning for the first paragraph i bring up my own dead sibling cause I wanted to get that out of the way

This is decently specific to me: I have a younger dead sibling and idia is just i can relate just so hard to bc of that one fact, (gets out the idia journal) we were around the same age when our siblings died we think we both got them killed through harmless fun comments and just having someone so close to you as your younger sibling die at a young age kinda fucks with you and stuff idrk whats going on but something is

we both have social anxiety i don't think mine is as bad but if i had the option to just talk through a tablet i would, especially in certain situations where i'll freeze up (aka talking to any waiter ever) I genuinely a lot better when im there for someone else that has so we could have a symbiotic relationship for social situations

+ I NEED TO REASSURE HIM HIS DAMN IMAGINARY AUDIENCE ISN'T ACTUALLY REAL NOT EVERYONE HATES YOU YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACT LIKE IT IM RIGHT HERE I LOVE YOU SM :((

Okay funny silly time: love of cats omg cats i love cats he loves cat give him cat he would be unsure how to treat it exactly bc he never had a childhood cat but he has done so much research on cats that he probably could info dump on the cat on why it so cool and the best thing ever "Awww did you know you get a lot of your water from your food bcuz you're a dessert animal and you avoid still standing water due to your prey possibly contaminating the water" please let him see those stray cat cams in china he would love donating food to them,, he would be spear heading naming everyone and making sure they all get a wiki page

OKAY ENOUGH ABOUT IDIA AND CATS BUT HE WOULD SEE IF HE COULD GET THE FUNDS TO OPEN A CAT SHELTER AND FEED SO MANY STRAY KITTIES MOVING ON

baby noooooo,,,, :(( yes im looking back on his after overblot dialogue as a reference even though i just read it anyways,,, Idia will never be able to have his own life separate from his family, since yk cursed and shroud, it's basically a path that was bricked in for him. its like his life path is a long corridor that leads to the same road no matter what he picks. Especially since his unique magic locks him into working for STYX since he can just open a very vital thing and idk almost take over the world. if the shrouds acc got unique magic i think idia could have actually went on to lead a decently good life whether he was STYX head by choice or something else (game dev)

hes so passionate about the things he enjoys, there is so many examples of this, he's into so many things and loves them all with his whole heart it's so endearing (also uhsn dfbghrg bonding over media is the best, hes probably so fun to talk to about media... but he might lord knowing so much over you >:p ily just let me put my two cents in you can keep info dumping idia) OUGH (ignore me doing the hand thing PLEASE I LOVE IDIA I LOVE ORTHO IM ENJOYING WRITING THIS SM) OKAY ANYWAYS aww okay reading over idia's dialogue like im writing you an argumentative essay or something,, STAR ROGUE! the idia of idia (wtf r u writing edie) HIS SILLY ASS SLANG HRGBHRBGVLRHG "OUR LEGEND, POP OOOFF!" Anyways idia just recounting everything about star rogue without second thought he loves it sm he probably played it sm he knows the opening by heart (IDIA AND ORTHO SAYING THE TAG LINE TOGETHER THIS IS KILLING ME AUBURN)

hes heard so often that he was genius when he was really young it was just hardwired for him to think he was the best in the room especially with the advancements he has made from the ages of 10-12. like building ortho is genuinely a feat and he did it and two years definitely he's going to let that go to his head. ngl i feel that his parents were not too great probably absent most of the time since he can just lock himself in his room and work on something that no one knows about for two years. probably fucked him up developmentally too, he was NOT properly socialized the internet was his parents for the entire time probably

he wants to be FUCK THIS SHIT ACC OMG CRIES IN A CORNER SADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD HE JUST WANTED TO BE A COOL ADVENTURER HERO GUY HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN!!!!! WHAT WENT WRONG IS NOTHING YOU WERE JUST A TOO SMART KID,,, IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT AND NEVER WILL BE YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN OMG. DFGVJKDHJHBCBSHFBSFBSFR

it's like 12:30 right now my mental state is deteriorating this is stupid opinions for the most part i tried my best im sorry if this is bad but YOU SAID GUSH IN YOUR INBOX SO I MADE THAT HAPPEN???

-- with lots of love Edie

EDIEEE MY FAVORITE IDIA KISSER‼ THANK U FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS READING THEM WAS SO INTERESTING!!

first of all holy shit im so sorry about what happened to your sibling. i totally get why you'd find him comforting because of that but Oh my gosh. im so sorry.

i think having social anxiety is something a lot of people can relate to with him, even myself. identity actually brought this up but seeing him being pushed into situations where he is ABSOLUTELY not comfortable makes me want to run in there and help him GET OUT. like i may not like this man that much but nobody should feel pressured or panic over entering a social situation they dont want to be a part of.

AH YES THE CAT CARD

RIGHT YEAH its so SAD how he will never get to live his own life and THATS one of the things that ive thought about a lot concerning him. like it would suck to actually have your fate predetermined no matter what. like he's just going to be stuck there with nobody else except for like ortho and his employees(?) but actually. yk what thats how he spent his school days which is even sadder hello

"the idia of idia" HELLO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN

actually! you bring up a good point about idia always being considered a genius since he was young and how that affects his self esteem and how he interacts with people now. i have literally never thought of it that way but it makes a lot of sense.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS EDIE <3 I LOVED HEARING THEM!!

[dollarstoreartsupplies]

i just wanted to tell you that ur lesbian loser club is genuinely the best thing i've ever seen in my entire life and has brightened my entire week

as a lesbian they are SOSOSO SPECIAL TO ME AND YOU JUST WRITE THEM PERFECTLY AHHHHHH I NEED MORE ITS MY NEW FAV THING EVER

+ it x starkid is the most niche yet perfect combo ever but target audience REACHED

dude this is???? such an honor??? u are my best friend now????

tbh lesbian losers club is like half of my brain forever even when I'm not actively writing them, like they've taken up permanent residency,,, ideal group of lesbians to put in fucked up horror scenarios (and like there are NOT enough lesbian fan content for anything and therefore I feel like it's my personal lesbian duty to MAKE SOME by FORCE jgfhkjl)

hatchetfield and the it lore meld SO well together honestly they're both on such fun levels of cosmic horror (stares at the three paragraphs of a lesbian reddie tgwdlm au from like four years ago that I never really got anywhere with) that honestly im shocked there isn't more crossover fan wise

but yes thank you thank you thank you thank you this ask literally made my day my week my month my year <3<3<3<3<3

[save-the-villainous-cat]

Okay, so sorry ahead in advance for the essay. I don't know if ur audience is really interested in this topic, or if you yourself are but i am tired and my filter is off. So I'm just gonna ramble Abt pas de deux.

Anyways, this is mainly coming off from the fact that I find classical music CRIMINALLY underrated. However, I'm so happy to see Pas Des Deux get appreciated the way it is. There's something ethereal about the song. I firmly believe that music isn't only to be used in entertainment but also to envoke feels that may be otherwise hard to express. Music feels like a universal language, whether or not you know how to play instruments or understand the lyrics. Imo, pas de deux is one song that HITS it on the nail.

There's something about the song which touches on intimate feelings, of yearning and wanting and comfort. The lower string instruments bringing a warmth, where as flutes and the harp bring in an innocence. The way Tchaikovsky layered the instruments to not only build upon eachother but let the story stay woven thru the transferring melodies. Admittedly, I'm very emotional myself, but over music? It's difficult.

Like i said before, music is there to envoke feelings to the audience, to bring joy or comfort. A lot of lyrical songs and pieces do it easily so, and they could be powerful. There's nothing more heartbreaking than to listen to a lover sing about her gray days without her spouse or of children singing about their innocent world. Even with some instrumental pieces, some specific feelings are easy to bring out, and that's honestly my favorite part about music.

What stood out to me for a song like pas Des Deux is the way it brings in so many feelings. Yes, there's a main story the ballet follows. However, even outside of the ballet plot, there's something so unique about the song, in the way that it feels as if it's touching innocence, yearning, the way someone might seek comfort of to their close ones. The listener just doesn't have to interpret it one way. Between the climax, to me, it sounds like separation of family, of heartbreak and loneliness and despair. And as soon as the music gets the angst with the brass instruments, the strings and the woodwinds lift it, like hope or comfort.

The ending is absolutely beautiful too. The song leaves such an otherworldly feeling. I've literally cried at how beautiful it is, it's just one of those things. No matter if you're in the most comfortable place in your life or struggling. The music just.../feels/ like your heart and your head. There's something about the song that just makes me feel human, makes me feel alive. Sometimes, it feels comforting as if it's calling a feeling deep beneath that i can't describe. Other times, it makes me realize how comfortably I live and even helps bring peace. Idk man, just one of my favorite songs.

Anyways, i don't know much about Tchaikovsky s history nor the song's. I just wanted to rambling about music whilst sleep deprived for anyone interested bc this is a topic that's been following me for weeks of not months, the beauty of music <3 and how i find pas des deux one of the BEST songs in the entire existence for myself. There's something about that song just feels insanely human, insanely close to our feelings.

Sorry for the repetition c

I pretty much grew up with classical music because a lot of famous composers are from Germany/Austria, so it was like part of Kindergarten and school to listen to them here and there and go to concerts where an orchestra played those. (One of my teachers fell asleep during one of those concerts and we’ve made fun of that for ages lmao.)

But I have to say, Russian composers hit different. (I think in general Russian media is insane and I personally blame that on Russian history…)

However, my favourite will always be Erik Satie’s Gymnopédie no. 1.

[mejomonster]

Imma be real being bi is intrinsically tied to how I am experiencing the yakuza games and I have No Fucking idea how this feels for straight women or men to play

As a bisexual I feel like it's so self indulgent (either on purpose or accident) and so like I'm having a great fucking time! I go on a date with my lesbian Bestie! I help her with girl trouble, I go on a date with goromi! Goromi kicks my ass! I go on a date with some other hostesses and just hear life stories. Majimas tits are out nonstop and it's glorious. Another hot man just ripped off his shirt and now I'm drowning in eyecandy. Oh there's an erotic photo taking minigame? Well I'm gay. Oh kiryus an erotic photo model? Well I'm gay and I get to make him pose like a tiger. Phenomenal. Oh earth mama loves us, well i love her. Oh nishiki was our dear bro whom I the player loved and now has deep pain? Well I'm in love with the villain. Oh yuki our childhood to adult friend went in hiding, stole 10 billion from the yakuza and a corrupt politician and is about to destroy it? I'm in love with her. Oh we have adopted a child now, and a puppy, wooh.

Like I'm obviously not referring to the drama angst city tragedy portion of the story which appeals to all audiences I think fairly similarly as some action suspense sad drama thriller. But like the other parts like. You are best friends with some host guy hotties. You save his life. You run a cabaret club and think of them as family. I'm guessing maybe ur supposed to crush on Said cabaret girls but you also play dress up with them and make them look super Cool. Now ur befriending them. Oh your head girl definitely has a crush on the cabaret owner lady u work for. Head girl may be bi. Join the club babe it's me and majima and we are having a phenomenal time.

Like? If you're straight I gotta imagine half of this self indulgent shit is?? What bizarre or something? If ur a straight guy then there's just SO much eyecandy. Yakuza pretty much codes who's good ish or not by how hot a man they are, with only a few exceptions. Ryuji Goda is a man u wanna RIDE and ur telling me a straight man sees him and isn't overwhelmed with facing how HOT ur new enemy is? Then there's daigo the typical hot guy of 2006, Again Majima who's just walking nonstop eyecandy flirting with you the player character. Stripping for you even. There's even a hottie for various ages, Kazes energy alone was angling for Attitude and ripping off his shirt, Nishitani is a Lot but part of its magnetism even Majima got charmed by and wanted to copy. If u like men it is a nonstop fest of hotties. Then if you're a straight girl? While like I said there's a parade of hot men, there's also a Lot of cute girls. While kiryu is fairly non romance centric which I find really nice (saying you can go out on a date with a friend without being in a relationship, the entire cabaret minigame with him tending to involve befriending and getting slice of life stories more than anything else, his adamance to reject any romantic proposal generally in sidestories) you're still hanging out with a ton of cute girls. Even if you ignore the cabaret minigames completely (which I like the girls life story plots so :/ you'd have to skip those and the fun dress up games) then there's still the erotic video and photo places which just throw boobs at you to no tomorrow. And some of that's not optional if you wanna do certain sidestories (tho tbh a lot of its funny in a detached way when ur feeling like kiryu and going ??? What do you mean an anteater can eat a human that can't be true?!).

Just like. As a bi person I'm like ah yes gratuitous fanservice everywhere all over the place. But if ur straight wtf is it even like? I Assume it's like... 50 percent fanservice and then 50 percent just kinda pushing thru the sexy bits absolutely not aimed at u. You'd think tje sexy men would be easier to ignore but I cannot overstate how much ALL the main cast is generally hot men, and if u want full enjoyment of the game u let urself pick up on the homoerotic overtones shoveled on there as well as just fully appreciating they made someone as pretty as Tachibana, and just like. Fuck. The way one of the goals is digging into masculinity and how it's defined and questioning it and what it means to who, means even fuckers like Sagawa you're forced to realize what majima may admire about him, Kaze you're forced to admire what kiryu acknowledged as admirable of him to be so tenacious. That odas horrific but kiryu still grew emotionally close to him. That Tachibana was loved as dearly in kiryus way, as makoto was cared about by majima. That the way kiryu loves nishiki and yuki is deep and life long for him. That the way majima cares about his cabaret girl family is likely similar to how he feels about his valued underlings now. That kazamas a fucking monster but he also had a kind of love for all his kids that happened imperfectly but affected everything. How daigos feelings of his dad, of his rivals, affect him now and all of tojo clan. How ryuji used to care so deep for barely friends so his upfront brutality has to have a fucking motive. How even rhe cops I could care less for, the writing itself is trying to dig into who they love, what drives them, what defines every fucking man on screen (and sayama who's in a way parallel to kiryu, nishiki, yuki, and a lot of the orphan with murdered parents the games like to parallel). This game is SO driven by what men love and care for and their feelings, it's the center of the more dramatic heavy story portion. That like idk if you're trying so hard to only interpret it in the least caring way with the shallower of relationships, you're missing so much.

In short like I know majority audiences are probs straight and so these games manage to appeal anyway. Just like being bi and playing it is like nonstop nice story and/or fanservice without much break. And its odd to me that like that amount of indulgence is my experience but who knows for who else. (Then there's also the matter of I don't think it's intentionally made to appeal so much so that's luck almost but also another topic entirely)