#queering bleach

[yorha-number-2-type-e]

🛑 9S says no to Bankai 🛑

9S, arms folded, tone calm but with edge: “Warning shots,” he added helpfully. “The next ones won’t be.”

He tilted his head slightly, eyes scanning the room like he was watching training dummies. “Pod, initiate new protocol. Anyone within the vicinity makes a physical gesture followed by words like ‘Bankai,’ ‘Hadō,’ or ‘Bakudō’—open fire. Same goes for dramatic chanting or flashy weapon draws. Got it?”

“Confirmed. New threat detection parameters set: trigger on incantation behavior,” Pod 153 replied.

2B, not even glancing up: “Apply the same to yours, Pod.”

“Acknowledged,” both Pods replied—in unison, like twin guillotines.

9S gave a slight smirk. “They all fight the same way. Blade up. Chant. Pause. Then power.”

He shrugged. “It’s like they want to die. Might as well be reading from a spellbook.”

The room froze. Shunsui’s hat tilted just a little lower. Rukia and Renji stiffened. Tōshirō’s pupils shrank. Byakuya blinked—just once. (In Byakuya terms, that was full-blown panic.)

A2, casually flipping her blade: “I don’t care what technique you’re using if I can stab you before you finish saying it.”

9S, watching Renji do his 18-line bankai monologue: "Why do they narrate their own powers out loud? Isn’t that... counterintuitive?"

2B, dryly: "It’s like they’re trying to lose."

A2, arms crossed: "Explain less. Kill more."

Pod 153, analytically: "Observation: Verbal exposition precedes most power activations. Estimated delay window: 3.7 seconds. Recommended response: preemptive strike."

9S, smirking: "So basically... we’re faster because we don’t stop to explain our loadout to the enemy like it’s a conference panel."

And Ichigo?

[aaronieroh-blog]

Queering Bleach with Luc: Part 2

Or, Ikkaku Madarame is gay af and I will explain why. 1) Not even going to TALK about his relationship with Yumichika. Because that part is obvious and could be an entire additional installment to this series of posts. 2) In his dialogue he is very focused on male-ness. At least in the anime he calls his opponents shit like "big fella" and his sword, while phallic at baseline simply because of what it is, responds to the command "extend." (I'm taking about dicks here) (also how convenient that his bff's sword should respond to the command "bloom" I mean come on) (innuendo akin to poking your finger through a donut hole) 3) When he first meets Ichigo he explains that men with "ichi" in their names are supposed to have talent and good looks. Then he, albeit in jest, asks "Ichi" if they can be friends. Ikkaku wants to surround himself with good looking dudes. Like ichigo and Yumichika. And the ultimate symbol of male power and virility, his captain. Also note that he never again really makes mention of "good looks" on any other character. I think he calls someone ugly though? 4) Mizuho Asano has no chill and he is having nothing to do with her, nor Rangiku and her little school uniform stunt. So. Thus the explanation of my headcanon. Furthermore, he is a good example of the performative nature of gender. He is a lucky-dancing, winged eyeliner-wearing dude. Typically things thought to be "feminine," but at the same time we think of him as a Manly Man because of his size and his skills. He exists outside of the constructed parameters of the gender binary and the roles associated with it. His label as "male" is as arbitrary as the traits associated with it. In conclusion, I think way too hard about this shit and should not have been allowed to take a literary theory class ever in my life.

[aaronieroh-blog]

Queering Bleach with Luc: Neliel v. Nnoitra

When Nnoitra split Nel's skull, it was more than just an act of aggression. He hated to see her win simply because she was a woman. (He said something along the lines of "I hate seeing a woman defeat a man in battle") 

 When she was an espada she wore long pants, was fully covered. Not really all that sexualized. (Note: rare, considering the outfits of her fellow female espada) 

 When he cracked her skull open he turned her into a child. 

 When he attacked her again she turned into a nearly-naked woman. 

 Nnoitra's actions are symbolic of the greater patriarchy, or how men on the whole are more comfortable with women being seen as little girls or sex objects. Women have been getting their skulls split for a long time now. 

 Neliel proceeds to turn into a FUCKING CENTAUR, but that's a whole separate discourse. (Probably something to do with gender performance, Judith Butler, whatever) 

 (quietly) im so sorry Kubo 

 Disclaimer: once you learn some literary theory it becomes incredibly difficult not to apply it to every media you encounter. Or maybe I'm just a nerd. BUT LIKE don't show me an anime about people constantly comparing their swords and expect me to not want to discuss phallocentrism