#seasaltmemories

[someawesomeamvs]

Warning: Major spoilers

Title: Her Vision is Mine

Editor: Moonpie AMVs (@moonpie1220)

Dedicated to: Seasaltmemories

Song: Delilah

Artist: Florence + the Machine

Anime: Princess Tutu

Category: Character profile/Drama

[sex-favorable-aces]

Remembered there was a post asking about sex-favorable asexual representation, and so I wanted to share a recent portrayal that has meant a lot to me.

The Popular Mangaka x the Depressed Mangaka is a BL doujin/web series published on Pixiv by Sumi Eno in between her traditionally published work. It follows the story of a severely depressed manga artist whose lost his support network moving in with a much more commercially successful peer who is very invested in helping him recover.

On top of its questions about artistic drive, mental health, and the power dynamics of what it means to depend on others, the titular popular mangaka, Jun Kamizono is revealed to both sexually interested in the main character, Yaharu, but also asexual. Up until he bonded with Yaharu, he hadn't really expressed romantic or sexual interest in others, and he explicitly clarifies the desire for sex comes from wanting to bond with Yaharu rather than attraction. In addition, Jun's shown to have interest in sexual media and a libido separate from his lack of sexual attraction.

We also get to see how Jun's asexuality has shaped him. He's very much prioritized his friendships all his life but still fears being left alone the older he gets and the more they partner up/settle down. Yaharu is initially unable to grasp the idea of someone being interested in sex without sexual attraction and that lack of understanding clearly hurts Jun. There are also several points in their relationship where Yaharu feel intense sexual tension between them and he stresses about implications that Jun simply does not perceive.

The story is very much about the both of them doing the work to understand and listen to their different perspectives without judgement. While both leads have stuff to learn from each other, it is really refreshing to see an asexual lead's complicated relationship with sexuality not be pathologized or demonized.

Wow, this is so awesome!!!! I love these scenes that you've shared, and I'll definitely have to look for these next time I'm shopping for manga! Thank you so much for sharing!

[pendulum-sonata]

Zarcray

Ship It

What made you ship it?

Tima made me do it.

Okay, in all seriousness, I wasn’t all that sold on them as a ship when they were first introduced (in no small part thanks to the fact that I was getting kinda annoyed by the fandom’s obsession with the counterparts...) but because the ship’s popularity exploded almost immediately and the fandom created amazing content with lots of amazing “what if?” scenarios, I couldn’t help myself.

What are your favorite things about the ship?

That Ray is totally the one leading the relationship :’D

Okay, again, bad joke, but I really like the whole situation they both stuck themselves into: both met each other at equal power and wills, and ended up creating what could possibly be called kinda stable time loop, in which Zarc was bound to revive and Ray to always stop him, rewriting reality over and over again as needed.

That requires some guts and stubbornness and I love that.

Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

Mmmmm, I have read many, many, many interpretations for a possible relationship between them and while I may not agree with all of them, is not like there’s anything I have gotten to actually hate... I think? 

I mean, I remember early on, some people thought Zarc was a cool guy being all confident and suave, and I laughed at the idea of any combination of the Yu boys ever being suave, but that’s it :’D

[timahina]

Talk about the fruits for me please

THE FRUITS

remember when we all sat here like utter fools thinking it was gonna be the generic main guy / main girl ship and then they ended up being each other’s whole motivation and drive for the show and constantly calling out each other’s name like they in some gd epic romantic drama (spoiler: they are) and then Yuzu saying “let’s go home together”.

man, remember that

i remember

star crossed childhood friends into lovers, the absolute elegance of these two and their cuteness and they are IN LOVE and together. and the actual aUDACITY of some ppl saying that they a boring ship when they have all the makings of a soap opera romance - i’m sorry y’all boring.

but also, fruits deserve all the love. and porn omfg

[entamewitchlulu]

pendulumshipping

thank youuuu

1. Who would sell their soul to the devil to save the other.

Probably Yuya, Reiji would be a lot more wary and would want to look for other options where has more control over the situation to save Yuya, while Yuya is a little more emotionally charged

2. Who would become a stalker, in the right (wrong) situation.

Fffttt Reiji already kind of was one

3. Who would pine away in silence their entire lives without confessing their love.

REIJI

4. Who would leave their friends, family, and life to move overseas to be with the other one.

Reiji, he has way less emotional attachment to his family and his life since almost all of it ended up being built on a war that no longer exists, and would be more than willing to uproot. Yuya has a firm foundation in his family, friends, and living situation that I think he would be even less willing to leave behind especially post-canon.

5. Who would be the most worried the other might cheat on them.

I don’t necessarily think either of them would worry about this, though Reiji might be more concerned that he’s not worth being with Yuya

6. Who would run into a burning building to save a stranger while the other calls 911.

Yuya 100%, Reiji would only do so if he had exhausted all other possible attempts to get professional help

7. Who would haunt the other after death and chase away other suitors.

I don’t think either of them would, both of them would want the other to be happy if they passed away first. Yuya would probably lurk tho lol

8. Who would stand up at the other’s wedding and say they object.

This feels like a Yuya move lol

9. Who would write long, beautiful poems for the other.

Reiji, but he’s so embarrassed about it dskfjasl

10. Who would love the other no matter how evil the other became.

Honestly I have to say Reiji; he stuck with Yuya even as Yuya got more and more consumed by Zarc, and I don’t think he would ever be willing to give up.  Yuya definitely would want to stick with Reiji, too, but since their relationship started out more antagonistically, if Reiji start to go too far, he might cut things off and confront him

11. Who would be the most likely to become an addict (gambling/drugs/etc.).

Yuya imo, he seems to have a bit more of an addictive personality

12. Who would propose in a grand gesture of some kind.

Yuya, Reiji would probably propose in a super lowkey, quiet private way, but Yuya would want to go big with it

13. Who would go berserk at harm or death befalling the other.

Yuya lol

14. Who would spend too much money on expensive gifts for the other.

Reiji, but mostly because he’s well-off and doesn’t always realize that he has more money than other people slkjfdlas

15. Who would fight an impossible battle to give the other time to escape.

Oh they both would lol...getting one of them to run away would be nearly impossible, they’d end up going down together

16. Who would be able to spend centuries in misery waiting for the other to be reborn.

Reiji lol

[an-aura-about-you]

fakiru

1. Who would sell their soul to the devil to save the other. - Fakir for sure. I mean, he stabbed his hand for her. Duck would probably give her life for Fakir, but Fakir would sign the papers no question.

2. Who would become a stalker, in the right (wrong) situation. - Oh heck. Both? Like, Duck wouldn’t mean to but totally would be a stalker. Fakir would also be a stalker AND mean it but not necessarily fully realize that’s what he’s doing. I’m picturing what he does in the series to Mytho only to Duck.

3. Who would pine away in silence their entire lives without confessing their love. - Fakir. Definitely. He would live his whole life without saying a word if that’s what would make Duck happy.

4. Who would leave their friends, family, and life to move overseas to be with the other one. -  Fakir, but how many friends does he have besides Duck? Let’s be real, Duck would be the one inviting everyone she loves to come with her, including Fakir’s family.

5. Who would be the most worried the other might cheat on them. - This relationship is so built on trust that I’m really not sure who would. I guess the closest would be Fakir, but only because Duck is so sweet to EVERYONE that it’s hard for nearly everyone in Goldkrone to not fall in love with her.

6. Who would run into a burning building to save a stranger while the other calls 911. - Duck would run into the building, Fakir would call 911.

7. Who would haunt the other after death and chase away other suitors. - Fakir, though considering that Duck is a duck, that’d be a blessing.

8. Who would stand up at the other’s wedding and say they object. - Duck, but only if she knew Fakir wouldn’t be happily wed. Fakir would sit and stew.

9. Who would write long, beautiful poems for the other. - Fakir. I mean, if he’s getting in that much writing practice, he might try to get over his love of Duck by writing poetry and then 20 poems later it occurs to him that maybe it’s not working.

10. Who would love the other no matter how evil the other became. - Duck. She’d totally pull the “I know you’re still in there” card on him, Princess Tutu this up. She wouldn’t have any illusions about what he is, but now that she knows that he CAN be good, she would help bring that out.

11. Who would be the most likely to become an addict (gambling/drugs/etc.). - Oh, that’s tough. I’m gonna say Fakir because, while I think Duck would probably be more intense in pursuing vices at first if given a chance to, she’d probably overdo it and burn out so quickly that she vows never again. Fakir, on the other hand, would space it out and the slower burn would make it harder for him to realize he’s hooked.

12. Who would propose in a grand gesture of some kind. - *looks at these characters* Neither? Like, I can see it being big, but not in any way grand. I can picture flailing. But if I have to pick which one’s causing the scene, it’s Duck.

13. Who would go berserk at harm or death befalling the other. - Fakir. I wrote a story about that very thing.

14. Who would spend too much money on expensive gifts for the other. - Fakir, but only because he’s probably the one between the two that actually HAS money. I mean, if they had the same amount of money, he probably still would, but I can see Duck being like, “The people I love deserve nice things!”

15. Who would fight an impossible battle to give the other time to escape. - Fakir, which I’d say he kind of already did at the end of season 1.

16. Who would be able to spend centuries in misery waiting for the other to be reborn. - Fakir. He’d wait forever for sure.

[xivu-arath]

Hibernation ask: how did you discover Kyousougiga and what is your fave aspect of it?

I discovered kyousougiga from an amv actually! I think actually it was this one, and the colours and sheer vibrancy of it made me check out the anime. the tone of the first episode sold me, and I think I got through it in a day or two and then hoarded a bunch of other good amvs for it...

my favourite aspect has to be the themes!! the focus on family and love... but with so much depth for what’s a pretty short and very fast-paced show with a lot of frenetic and creative energy. there’s so much going on all the time but it never loses touch with the story it’s telling

I love that for all that inari and lady koto assuredly love their children, that love isn’t so idealized or put on a pedestal that it keeps them from doing selfish or hurtful actions due to their own problems. everyone acts selfishly out of love, and eventually it’s confronted head-on (that. ended up being a pun lmao)

there’s so many layers to it, but there’s always so much heart and I just think that’s really the best aspect of it, that the themes never fall flat, they’re built up with such... heartfelt sincerity

[gentleoverdrive]

36 + celicalm

36. Starting with eskimo kisses before moving on to soft kisses.

1 year and 8 months ago, at the Johannes Rudolf Hospital’s 3rd Floor.

I’m not familiar with this room. Why am I he—?

Ah, right.

While massaging my forehead, I was able to recall, little by little, how I got here: I would’ve probably died had a certain someone not taken the necessary measures, that much is certain. Wait a sec—where is she?

In my now euphoria-riddled state, I try to search for her whereabouts before the stinging located somewhere inside of my head very unsubtly put a halt to me achieving anything. The sharp pangs of pain suddenly invade me from the top of my head all the way to my ribcage. My eyes feel not unlike two balls of fire. When I use my hands to try and prop myself up, the pain spreads across the rest of my body with a vengeance.

My legs feel like they’re about to go off and detonate; my arms feel like they’re about to fall off if I were to apply any more effort.

Thanks to the pain, I remember everything: The blunt pain on my jaw, the itch from the stitches I got on the left side of my face as my hand travels through it… that ugly bruise from where that religious psycho bit me near my elbow.

How long has it been?

“…m?!”

My ears feel as though I’ve been submerged underwater. I swear that I heard something. What’s happening?

“…lm… c… r me…?!”

Suddenly, a warm sensation envelops my left arm and before long, I come face to face with the one reason I was able to pull through.

Well, in theory at least. Wish my upper body strength was up to snuff at this moment in time so that I could rub the sleep off my eyes.

Ah, her hand. Those blisters and bumps are all too familiar. As were the reprimands and never-ending amount of guff that Faye and Sister Silque gave me when I started teaching her self-defense. I thought I was never going to hear the end of it!

And her name?

“Alm, it’s me”

Wait, no! That’s my name!

“M—m…” By the gods, breathe through your nose, you idiot! “M… Milady?”

I probably look like a complete doofus. I mean, more than usual. Smile, you hopeless daft! Be reassuring.

Oh sheesh, everything hurts right now. Dammit. Am I going to pass out now? From smiling? Pathetic. Just… so utterly pathetic. Some retainer I turned out to be.

Keep breathing through your nose, dammit!

Agh! Wait—! What is happen—? Geh! The fingers! Please watch the fingers, Milady!

When I finally regained all of my cognitive abilities and the blur that had prevailed over my eyesight subsided—thanks to Milady using her prized silk handkerchief—I suddenly realize how close her face is.

Neither the surgical dressing on her left cheek nor the noticeable bags under her eyes do absolutely anything in the way to deter from her gorgeous visage.

It’s her closed-mouth smile, however, the one that outright breaks all the charts currently available that would allow one to be able to objectively rate a person’s beauty.

Dammit, don’t get flustered! How are you supposed to be her equal if you canno—

… Ow.

“You’re stuck in your head yet again, aren’t you?”

After poking the bridge of my nose to garner my attention, it finally landed on me: She really has not changed all that much. Even after almost succumbing to that wretched coven of psychos, she remains the same stubborn, plucky lady.

All that matters is that she—g’ah!

“You’re doing it again”

The moment I feel her gentle touch upon my left cheek right after she flicked my forehead, I cannot help but to lean into her hand. It’s so warm.

“I am so glad that you are safe, Lady Celica”

“My!” It appears that hearing me call her that peculiar name was all that was needed to get her in a good mood almost immediately. “Well, if it weren’t for your timely intervention, that blasted padre’s tracheostomy would’ve more than likely ran to its conclusion” Even with her charming smile, I can’t help but to notice a little unease creeping its way under her skin when she starts running her hand over the nasty wound currently adorning her neck.

I try to not notice her trembling hand and how she has started looking down.

At this brief moment, I am able to conjure enough strength to do what needs to be done. I don’t care if the junkie hears about this and I don’t particularly mind if I am separated from her down the road: Milady needs me right now!

“A-Alm…?”

Is it weird to think about the way her hair smells right about now? Even with her hair being slightly frazzled, the way it smells is nic— waitami— yes, this is weird! She needs my support! Not me being a stupid pervert! Say something, for Mila’s sake! Make this hug count!

“Milady! I promise to protect gyouf—” Agh, don’t eat her hair, you moronic boor! “I promise to protect you and to stand right beside you! Not just as your retainer, b-bet—but as your equal!”

There. I said it. It was a barely-coherent mess but I was able to get it off my chest.

And before anything else transpires, I hear her sniffle.

I hate myself. You can’t even get this right, can you? You borderline braindead, useless, sack of redun—

Wait. Is that… is Milady… giggling? What is happening?

At that moment, she pushes me back to lie down on my back. Ugh, now I feel all weird about facing her after saying all that!

Seeing her teary smile quickly makes me change my tune, however…

“You are just determined to make me feel foolish for not being hopeful about my own future, are you?”

She looks radiant even when wiping the tears off her eyes. That beautiful pair of wet rubies she employs as the windows to her very soul.

“What can I say? I am literally the worst” I try to mask the wince as I chuckle through the pain…

“A first-rate villain if I ever met one”

… it was worth it, every second of it. Her high spirits are almost back in full, from the looks of it! So—

Wait. Milady… URGH, WORDS! USE YOUR WORDS!

“Milady?! Wha—what are you doing?”

“Why, you’d think you’re the only villain here? If that is an actual thought currently inhabiting that pretty head of yours, then it’s safe to say that you are sorely mistaken, Alm Flowers”

With Milady having climbed on top of me, her forehead resting against mine and her hands finding themselves at the back of my head, I am left wondering if I ever performed such a good deed in some past life to earn myself this absolute gift.

Before this fleeting bliss is able to dissipate, my beloved lady decides to pile it even higher by rubbing her nose against mine. At this moment I am not sure if I am about to pass out from the slight pain on my ribs or from the sheer happiness I am currently experiencing by looking at her closed eyes while she performs this affectionate act.

At that moment, I decide to pay her gesture in kind by aiming for a small peck on the bridge of her nose… only to completely botch it up and briefly land my lips on hers.

She suddenly looks at me in complete shock. Ah, I screwed up. Why ruin such a— oh.

Oh dear. How can someone be so utterly adorable? Her flustered expression is just too much.

“Lady Anthi—!”

Before I can make a further ass of myself, she shuts me up by simply placing her middle and ring finger against my lips… before promptly removing them and gently –and all too briefly—brushing her lips against mine.

Her eyes grow sharper while placing her hands on my cheeks.

“I will not allow you any respite for that slight, you cheeky miscreant”

While her words may ring with a certain harshness, her picaresque smile betrays said tone without any delay. As do her lips and playful, succinct smackers afterward.