rosani

@rosaniruby 's tokyo revengers sideblog | 20 | she/her

[revrosani]

Thanks for answering! Shinichiro and Mikey's relationship dynamics in the final timeline interest me a lot.

Yeah, I don't think it's something that only one conversation would resolve, it's too heavy and complicated for that. I think Mikey would be grappling with guilt, gratitude, love, sadness, probably some anger too. I'm curious about any thoughts you have about it

oh god i have unanswered box messages on this account too🥹🥹🥹🥹 so sorry guys its been literally a year and the funny thing is i already had the reply ready?😭 well nevermind i'll just send it now:

hi!!! tysm for asking me that!

Totally!! I think that, mikey being confronted with a version of shinichiro that is so at odds with the idealized image everyone holds dear, would just further the total shock upon learning his big brother murdered someone for him.

*For him* right? I think Mikey would most likely be in denial, but there's no way he wouldn't feel guilty. So I imagine at first he would be mad at himself for 'forcing his brother into such a position'.

Next, whether Mikey resented him, is the interesting concept. Because you see, sometimes there seems to be no ends to Mikey's forgiveness when it comes to his family, but what mikey could get angry about isn't necessarily killing a person, it is the fact he had sacrified (both directly and indirectly) other people's life for Mikey. The one who, in his perspective, was the least deserving of it.

if there is any part of mikey that fights for himself, wouldn't he feel resentful both towards shinichiro and himself? Knowing well the damage his existence had caused. (objectively that's not true btw, we see the difference between life without mikey and with mikey, and even though mamy of his loved ones died young, they had still lived lives worth cherishing and filled with purpose and love). How should a person feel, knowing that because someone had loved them and subsequently made cruel decisions based upon it, they both carry a cross made up of a whole lot of corpses and ancient curses. We are glad Shinichiro saved Mikey, and in the end they could keep fixing the future,, but i know I would get angry in not even getting the choice in something so important. Despite it not being Shinichiro's intention, Mikey also had to carry the blame. This just confirmed all of Mikey's suspicious (misconceptions) about him being the cause of all pain. And he didn't even have a choice in that. Where's any agency in that?

How are you supposed to live the rest of your life without questioning 'Was it actually worth it?'

Mikey definitely would still love Shinichiro no questions asked. He would probably supress all of his negative feelings if possible, but if they ever truly and honestly talked, maybe they could become closer than ever. Though i'm sure shinichiro would have a lot of fixing to do on his part.

[revrosani]

ive been gone for so long...... are there any news about new tokrev season?

[just-sp-in-inginthevoid]

[just-sp-in-inginthevoid]

I don't think we, as a fandom, exploit Kisaki and Mikey's dynamic enough. Not only did Kisaki - each time he lived long enough - pulled off growing so close to Mikey he influenced his every decision; Mikey let him. Kisaki took Draken's place as 'voice of reason' (fuck, would that mean he took the place of, so on quote, 'Mikey's heart'?) he also took the place closest to Mikey. And it's not like Mikey didn't allow him unwillingly. Manipulation was put into play, that much cannot be denied, but Mikey (more in some timelines than others) could see it straight in the face. He knew where Kisaki wanted to lead him. He willingly allowed Kisaki in knowing what it'd lead to – not knowing how, but still knowing what. No matter how those next years were going to go, Mikey would have succumbed to the darkness. He felt it, he knew it, he saw it coming. Kisaki directed that darkness. Prevented Mikey from exploding left and right. They actively made each other worse: Kisaki by pushing Mikey further and further down, Mikey by being Kisaki's access to power.

[revrosani]

I think that people overlook just how much Mikey's relationship with his mother influenced him. At a young age, parents create the image of love and relationships their children carry on later in life. And in Mikey's case he chased the connection that seemed to be the 'goal', without really understanding it.

He obviously looked up to his mother a lot, seemed very eager to direct her attention at himself, listened to everything she was saying. But every one conversation turned into a talk about his, now dead, dad, who she spoke oh-so-fondly about. If you think about it, Mikey had to know about what his father did, even from the existence of emma. So on one hand he had a proof of what his father did and on the other hand he had his mom who painted the dad as a person most worthy of her love.

If you think about it, he saw his mom still strongly loving her husband even after he cheated on her while she's sick. A devoted love like that must have seemed beautiful. So he decided 'Wow. This is exactly how I want to love others.'

And then he couldn't escape the shadow of his father. His mom redirected every conversation with him to make it about his dad. While rarely paying attention to what Mikey was doing..."I'm gonna be like dad!" - he decided he needs to be loved just like his father was and to achieve that Mikey had to start acting like him. (He didn't do any of the bad stuff, but he started acting like a 'grown man who pretends to be tough and supports others').

So he lives his life trying to give the sort of self-sacrifical and all-forgiving love his mother had. He truly acts like it! I mean, he's willing to forgive anything, Izana murdering Emma, Kazutora murdering Shinichiro, Draken beating him up after Emma's death etc etc. And we know he also loved more deeply than anyone. There are many scenes where you can see the parallels between Mikey and his mother.

Similtanuosly he's desperately trying to copy his father so he could have the highest chance of being loved in a way he deems the most beautiful. The end goal. His mother tells him how great his father is? He starts beating kids up. She tells him how he never cried? Mikey stops crying ALTOGETHER. Later on pretending to be someone other people need him to be, someone who is gone - became a habit. Him becoming shinichiro like izana wanted him to be, but even earlier on he took on shinichiro's place that needed to be filled. And all the other identity fuckery.

I don't think he did it consciously, and it's definitely not the only reason for his self-sacrifices and identity issues but... i just noticed the pattern.

[revrosani]

Heyy, you mentioned that you think Mikey might have ended up telling Shinichiro about the timetravelling and everything. I have always thought so too, just because it's such a huge thing to leave forever unaddressed (although that might be possible too).

I mean, it must have an immense shock for Mikey to find out about his brother being a timeleaper, killing the homeless guy, doing everything to save Mikey and dooming both himself and Mikey in the process... then leaping back into the final timeline and miraculously seeing Shinichiro alive & living with him again. *I* personally couldn't keep such a secret, lol. Such an interesting concept for me.

Yeah exactly! I can’t imagine he could have kept the secret away from Shinichiro, especially since Mikey traveled back to the time when he was a child. So shinichiro would pay a lot of attention to his behavior, mikey himself would be influenced by his child's brain and couldn't possibly keep all his emotions at bay all the time (i doubt that after everything he would be capable of doing it anyway), and it's not like he could keep doing things in secret (a plan to save everyone) without shinichiro worrying immensely, i mean he wouldn't even be able to go out at night or do many other things. The plan to save others seems only feasible if Shinichiro would know the truth and agree to help Mikey and Takemitchy.

And there's a problem where I don't think Mikey could look at Shinichiro the same way after knowing the truth. I imagine there would be endlessly complicated feelings between them too. And leaving Mikey unable to reconcile or adress them his whole life is just too cruel.

I even like to hc Shinichiro remembered some things about the original timeline.

[revrosani]

I actually can’t get over how similar Takashi (king) and Mikey are. Even a lot of plot points are the same. And I'm talking both about the original novels and the TV show. Once I finish reading takashi's backstory side story I will make a thread. Literally even both have a religious statue made of them.

[revrosani]

I always felt sorry for Emma, she always felt like an afterthought by everyone she cares about: Shinichiro(although I understand, he was focusing on Mikey so he had a lot on his plate, but the neglect being so bad she ran away after Mikeys death is just 💔I feel like they should've at least shown him attempting to find Emma) Draken who chooses Mikey over her cuz that's his best friend, which I understand to a certain extent cuz they were kids and all, but I could never get behind them as a couple. And Izana having her killed just so he could ruin Mikey and make him into Shinichiro 😵‍💫 Its like everyone in her life always chose Mikey over her😕

I'm sorry for replying so late, life was busy!

I wouldn't be suprised if Shinichiro sent someone to find emma but made no move himself - being so busy with mikey. And Emma running around Draken trying to make him jealous, make him care etc. yet he chooses to play the part of not even paying attention to her... That annoyed me so much.

You're right, even Izana chooses Mikey over her, I didn't realise. I made a thread in the drafts that talks about Izana's jealousy at the fact that everyone chooses Mikey over others, but it seems emma is in a similar position to izana. This is genius, they could really understand each other (and the fact emma choose mikey over izana too, and izana did the same to her in the end). I'm even pretty sure Grandpa Sano had some biases because he is So uninvolved and yet the only time we see him compliment his grandkids is when he's boasting about mikey being great at martial art and having the strength after him. (the compliment which mikey clearly chased after by coming to the dojo)

I think the difference between Izana and her is that for her, Mikey will do anything. And it doesn't matter so much if people choose Mikey over her if Mikey himself will choose her over others. He exchanged his own identity to fit in with Emma, to make her feel less lonely and abandoned. So no wonder that without Mikey giving her this support, her link with sano family breaks and she has to run away. They're all so mentally ill oh my god. No wonder emma tries to get attention by hooking up with takemitchy and trying to seem more grown up, no one seems willing to pay attention to her.

[revrosani]

okay im back to tokyo revengers grind🔥 i wish i could post about iwgp too but idk if there are many fans on tumblr... maybe ill do some comparison

[revrosani]

im So serious if you're a tokyo revengers fan you NEED to watch Ikebukuro west gate park (the 2000s series not the anime) trust me

[revrosani]

i hc mikey to have rose gold/strawberry blonde hair 💕

[revrosani]

Theorizing about the day when mikey fell down the stairs and everything that happened back then is genuinely soo interesting. There is so much that just doesn't add up (I think wakui more or less meant for it to be this way but he was also rushed). Why would Mikey just fell down the stairs? And why didn't he in the next timeline? (i might just forget things but like?? idk maybe shin kept an eye on him.) And the fact that the same day (im talking about the later timeline) was shown from two perspectives yet the wording is a bit different - mikey saying sanzu vs haruchiyo (ofc that could be symbolic but thats why this day gives the vibe of 'the lines between timelines blur/two realities influencing each other), why would mikey even told him to 'laugh', was he projecting his need to smile instead of crying? Why have we never seen the actual most important moments of this day in any timeline? I would die to get especially Baji or Mikey's pov of the day. In any timeline, really. To see the fall, to see the immediate aftermath, to see mikey's DI rage setting in and Baji's reaction.

And I love how Mikey walks out with a guilty expression from Sanzu's hospital bed, probably going to only break down in solitude, I wish we saw that in his backstory but ig he would rather repress it. And also the way Shinichiro asked Mikey why had he done something like that and when mikey truthfully answered 'i have no idea' shin went 'oki dokie' as if loud sirens shouldnt went off in his head immediately, i get he cares about mikey being alive more than sanzu being hurt, but for the sake of Mikey, he shouldve gotten help for him. But i guess it's easier to repress any worries of mikey possibly not being Okay again.

[revrosani]

im writing a fic and i wish i could give mikey some stable parental figure but there's literally no one😭💀

[revrosani]

emma's life in the original timeline is literally a horror story oh god

[revrosani]

omg😭 it annoys me when tr fandom takes mikey's 'im just weak' at face value. because yes, hes severely mentally ill but that's not being weak,, it's just being at a disadvantage. and that just shows his poor self-esteem. like sorry but this boy is Not weak i would have KILLED Myself after one day in his body and he survived several timelines.🙏

[revrosani]

just figured out how to turn on the asks so if anyone wants to send tokrev asks i would be happy😭🩷

[revrosani]

actually i?? really rlly wonder about past takemitchy. how havent we seen him even once (the teenage takemitchy) and his own thoughts and motivation are in some parts still unclear to us even tho thats an original ver of our main character? And it would be great to get to know him because hes several times described as being cold etc. to hina and mikey. No wonder about mikey, past takemitchy barely knows him (tho i still need to know what he thought of him). And why would he start being cold to Hina as if he wanted to break up and then cheated on her? How did he met Emma? And does everyone just assumes takemitchy has an amnesia or what because he would just remember nothing when future takemitchy finally leaves him be?

Actually yk that's terrifying that the timeleaper can just erase his past self's existence whenever he wants to and basically steal months/years of their life. If Mikey and Takemitchy went back in time after saving everyone did that means they took over some 5 years old's bodies and gave them back when they were teenagers/adults? With only a few memories in between? Those people wouldn't be able to function. And in the end they would disappear permamently too after some years. What the fuck.