new wonderful characters i wanna obsess over
rambles about Mei and Renji from MAO
the one who never experienced any parental love and was literally sold as a child by their parents and the only kindness and tender care they got was from a sibling that suffered a horrific end.
the other grew up with people caring and buliding back lives around them, in a tight loving community with a loving parent only for it to all go up in smokes and only survived by old friends sacrificing themselves up so they can escape (yet they died if not for another character.)
Mei is constantly under attention, she's mixed heritage and her features are exotic enough that everybody thinks she's beautiful. this got her into threats of rape more than once.
her rage and cries for revenge substituted for 'wanting to live' in a crucial moment and she's come to terms with the sides effects ever since. her being outside of law and probably dead once someone excorsises the seed out of her is all right to her.
in her eyes she'll help where she can with what she can, if it means to kill the threat because she's strong enough to, she will, but if it can be solved without much fight, she would prefer that. she's angry but she already resovled her personal vendetta, now all that's left in her mystical life is to do as much good as she can while dealing with evil so be it.
Renji was also a victim of rape (or almost, since he bit the customer and that's all we know) watched his sister be mistreated and killed, harbors a never ending hatered for all who use others. his working philosophy is simple 'get money that i can handle however i want' and his attitude is rather aloof in casual interactions. he came to terms to be an outlaw the minute he set fire to his parents, and since then he doesn't care what his justice will cost for him.
in his eyes children are to be protected against whatever comes. he will be the nameless(?) protector from the shadows, one drenched in blood and sut and holding all the wretched bastards who mistreat his people in a chokehold.
so they work together. at first as instructed but then it quickly shows how similar they are. how achingly similar their reasons and motives can be.
Renji sees another strong yet gentle girl (woman) just like his sister who again and again holds back what they need for what is needed in the situation.
Mei sees a victim who because of her are in a horrible situation. just as her childhood friend died to let her escape, now Renji shares her cursed nature because of the seed she healed him with. yet whenever she offers they leave her behind and think for themselves they deny with the same stubborn face.
and now at chapter 293 i'm sooooooooo happy to see Rumiko sensei thighten the ropes around them - i want them to snap at each other in their own way cause
Mei is once again
in a horrible situation (being watched by Hakubi's steel demons)
is visibly hurt (almost got raped by the cursed sword wielding brute)
is keeping all problems to herself cause she's afraid Hakubi will hurt Kagari if she talks
and Renji is once again
was kicked down and let Mei (as his sister) get kidnapped (i'm playing with perspectives feeding into fears)
thus prooving to himself he's still not enough
had to play seconds to Mei's rescue (the one kicking that bastard was Mao and Renji will bite his tounge before thanking him)
sees someone in pain but cannot convince them he's here to help
now sees that their at-times-ally is only here to watch (the little steel demons) and reinforces that he can only rely on himself (? maybe? we'll see?)
and this is a really delicious situation that can go so many ways.
other rambles in general
my song for their dynamic is
"if i was easy to kill, you would have done it already"
"you're at my feet, we're by the fire, you're a gentle beast and i'm alive"
mostly the gentle tone fits Mei and Renji is mostly glare rarely bite but that's the fun part
it's yet another 'beauty and the beast' but it's also so much more and i love them, they are my little gently blorbos for now, cause my usual toxic love is for whatever is going on between Yurako Hakubi and Daigo.
also shoutout to Mao being the feral loyal dog he is for kinda almost killing whatever threatens to harm Nanoka, love to see them snap .
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