#nemubits

[greighish]

@nemubits replied to your post: “Bang bang, ‘Sweetheart Trigger’ shot me down”:

For me it was the Halloween party at the beginning. A furby? Ok, maybe those are everywhere... Powerpuff Girls? Adventure Time!? I read somewhere that Nyannya was actually mentioned as an "overseas author" in marketing materials but I can't remember where.

Yeah, the party! About being an overseas author I considered that, but I couldn’t find anything to support it. I was further discouraged when I saw that the original dj was in Japanese. Not that that confirms anything, but with that, the odds favored not. Though, it could be that they are Japanese, just not in Japan. Their Pixiv and Twitter are in Japanese. Again, not that that confirms anything. Regardless, though, I just want more of whatever they’re serving.

[greighish]

@nemubits replied to your post: “requierobl said: And yet some authors have still managed to add kids...”:

Not only that, but the moms are often either dead or awful! There was a nice Asada Nemui oneshot recently where the parents actually got along.

Don’t even get me started on how women are written in BL.

Asada. I haven’t seen that oneshot yet. I’m very intrigued by her storytelling. She leaves a lot unspoken, similar to, but not in the same way Yamashita and est em do. Always makes me feel slightly uncomfortable. And makes me want to read more.

[greighish]

@nemubits replied to your post: What Now?

I’ve always love your reviews because it seems like you’re the only one who cares about the sex part of BL as little as I do (though I *am* occasionally wowed by the art in a scene). I’ve been thinking more lately about just what it is I like about BL, and I know one aspect of it is the development of a relationship without the “happy ending” of a pregnancy (and without pregnancy scare plot points, marriage plots etc).

Yeah! The “and baby makes three” default happy ending is tired. More power to the people that want that, but it’s not the only way to “become a family” or show proof of HEA. I suppose I should think about it too. I’m pretty sure the reasons I have now aren’t the reasons I had when I first got into it. But the voiding of the pregnancy as a plot element is definitely one of them. Though possibly for OEL, but since we’re talking about Japan, the typical shoujo marriage plots adapted for BL will be hard to come by. I’m not complaining.

P.S. I’m glad you’re still reading!

[himisbooks]

Ootsuki Miu // Trap

Spoilers

nemubits

nemubits reblogged your photo:

Niina’s still a pretty big question mark. I felt like I was starting to get him, but Sensei’s view of him in the extra was not in line with mine at all (though I guess he could be unreliable narrator). How does he both expect the smoking thing to be planned and also think of Niina as completely innocent? Does Niina just want him to think of high school Niina as innocent to stoke his guilt? I did kind of like that the cigarette situation was never totally explained, but it didn’t quite fit with how neat the rest of the ending was. It seems off that they’re together and not talking about this stuff. I also “liked” getting the PoV of the cruel seme - usually a situation like this is shown from the receiver’s perspective. 

I believe it was about this time last year that we first talked about Trap. You were hoping that it didn't end all cute and happy without addressing the issues in their relationship. While I think it managed to avoid the cute and happy part, it still failed to resolve their issues. If I had to say one way or the other what Niina's deal was, I couldn't because he's the source of what I think is the main contradiction. If it wasn't for him saying to Sensei that he wasn't naive anymore, then I'd be certain that he set it up from the beginning. He claims to have been naive back then, but questions sensei about his character and who would be believed if anything was revealed as if he knew he had the upper hand all along. That single claim sets everything off balance for me. After their reunion, one minute he's acting like painful memories are resurfacing and the next he's manipulating Sensei and making him question everything. I believe his sentiments for the watch were real, but also served a purpose for setting the trap for Sensei at the reunion. The issue of whether or not the cigarettes were a prop remains unconfirmed, but I'm inclined to think that Niina was very much aware of what kind of person Sensei was betting on him blackmailing him. Then, if nothing else, there was the image of Niina over Sensei on a giant spider's web. I don't think there's any question there about who was caught in whose trap, but that's only representative of the latter part of the story. 

The thing is, it would be great--though still not a solid story-- if the confusion was on purpose, but I just think that Ootsuki slipped on her continuity.