#volume 2 chapter 5

[snowfairy12]

Rereading Ao no exorcist, because I finally found the first two volumes at different bookstores, and getting to the part where they're trying to see who has any Tamer abilities is kinda funny in hindsight. Shima really was just lying right from the beginning by claiming it's not working for him/that he has no talent for it. I wonder what Yamantaka was thinking about this. Was he annoyed? Did he just remain silent in the back of Shimas head or did he complain?

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 2, Chapter 5: DRAGON (After many months, I return! I had started this chapter and then life happened, so this was in my drafts. Posting it now cuz I wanna get back into, baby!)

Ah, yes... So, since I couldn’t find the first volume all those years ago, this was the first chapter of this manga I ever, ever read. I had a very interesting introduction to these two, now that I look back..

Oooooh, my god. Q-chan says, “Spot on!” I laughed so hard. xD In the Tokyopop version they just put a little, “Kyu!” like they usual do.

I feel like all the wording here provides a different vibe. Count D also asking about family is a little less of a jab, I think. xD Also, looking at his worried face I feel like he’s kind of annoyed that Leon keeps showing up, even on his day off, but plays it as concern for Leon’s social life, lol. (“Why do you still come here?”) Also I do think that Leon’s reply in Tokyopop’s translation is a little more American. >v> But!! Also!!! Why is he there?? He doesn’t ever answer that. I assume he tells himself he is collecting more intel on D, even while off-duty, but like... It seems he just wants to go there to relax? As evidenced by the next page.

Love how D just... immediately starts serving Leon with hospitality. Kind of overdoing it, actually. Pretty sure he knows that it gets on Leon’s nerves. Scaring him off by telling him to eat bird bones didn’t work, so let’s be overly inviting. xD Looking at the introduction panel, there must be something significant about learning Leon’s first name.. look at those flowers. I wonder if D is analyzing the significance of his name representing a lion. He seems like the type to do that.

[aucasaurus]

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 2, Chapter 5: DRAGON

Y'know, for someone who's suspicious of D, he is really just basing 90% of his actions tonight on the benefit of the doubt of D's words alone. What a guy.

In Tokyopop he says "Fucking A! Goddamn holiday traffic. I hate Christmas, D. I really do. Shit!" Let Leon say Fuck, I guess. Also I think the casual way he addresses D as he complains in that version is cute. XD

He's such a golden retriever! "I MUST BE INVOLVED!"

He is concerned... :3c Also he could totally try arresting D again at this point but he has completely switched gears in thinking the populace is in immediate danger. A one-track mind kinda guy but also easily switches tracks, lol.

Beautiful baby. :) Big baby. o_o

Again, Tokyopop inserts more familiarity that is really cute to me.

And NOW he's in disbelief. XD He was totally in it and wanting to be involved up until he's accused of co-parenting, lmao. In Tokyopop he says, "You're the one wearing a dress!" which high school me thought was a hilarious thing for him to lever his argument with. I think more than anything it makes Leon look more misogynistic, lol. (Did I refer to D as the mother earlier? My bad, it's obviously Leon.) And that's how I met these two! Chapter 5 was chapter 1 for me when I first read this series, and I gotta say, it definitely hooked me. :')

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 2, Chapter 5: DRAGON

Leon, how DID you survive being a cop this long?? He's so goddamn gullible. 😭 Tokyopop took an interesting liberty with the last line and they have D say, "I couldn't grow the beard." dhjdsg. Why? Idk, at this point I am convinced that the translators valued humor over accuracy. Not very professional or fair to English readers, but... it makes this liveblog experience kinda hilarious.

Here's another thing I wish was revisited. He should assault Leon with his claws more often. Also love how Leon suspects this man of drug trafficking and murder but completely underestimates D's ability to resist arrest.

The difference between Leon defending himself and threatening D is so much. XD Ah... many people say that the Tokyopop version makes Leon into much more of an asshole than the original translation and I'm really seeing it. But honestly, I grew up with bastard cop Leon and I love him dearly for it.

Even still, he cannot resist the bishi eyes of our mystical monster egg mother.

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 2, Chapter 5: DRAGON

This is one of my favorite pages of the entire series. "The human habit of trying to understand the world with a limited knowledge of it... Is beyond foolish."

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 2, Chapter 5: DRAGON

'Scuse me, D? Why would you trust this man with your store?? Maybe it's more that he trusts his pets to keep Leon in check while D hunts down the egg... Also the translators note is so funny to me. What does it say? Is it the equivalent of Japanese keyboard-smashing? I could see Leon's headspace having a dragon sound like that. (Also how does Leon know the spoilers in this chapter? 3 heads? 👀)

TO SAY THE LEAST, D! The Tokyopop translation just has him trail off and lets the reader imagine the end of that sentence. Admittedly it packs a bit more of a punch if D isn't even willing to describe what would happen. "...that would be frightening." is a little underwhelming. XD

Remembering this was my introduction chapter to the manga when I read it out of order... Ah, I really hoped this would be a recurring character. 😔Akino, why did you never bring back the dentist dominatrix? And ah yes, threatening to arrest them (I thought you were off-duty?) for the crime of speaking a foreign language. Honestly, Akino must have had some experience with American cops cuz she's got the satire of their attitudes pinned.

I am disagreeing with TP's choice here. Much funnier when he refers to Leon as an actual animal.

Also big disagree here. COMPLETELY different line that makes no sense to put here. Keep making fun of Leon in Chinese, it's better.

I love this page. Why are you asking, Leon? Curious about the Count's relationship status? >v> In any case, D's reaction is interesting to me, too, especially after reading the whole manga. He seems kind of... regretful? Abashed? I wonder if it's part of his insecurity about (spoilers) not feeling like he understands what love is, or that he can't have an intimate relationship with humans because of (spoilers) the nature of his family's work.

FRESHMAN HIGH SCHOOL ME HAD NO IDEA about the implications of this page pffffftftftftf. I was so naive.

Leon thinks his prime serial murder suspect just hooked up with a couple of kinky lovers in the middle of tracking down a purchasing error.

Oh, lord. Tokyopop makes this funnier by implying that... What, Leon? Off-duty officers are exempt from the law? Buddy... XD

[tea-with-count-d]

Petshop of Horrors Volume 2, Chapter 5: DRAGON

Now, in the Tokyopop version Leon says, “You hear that? Is that crying?” which is very interesting. Do baby turtles make sounds like that when they hatch?

And...

“What’s your fucking problem? What’s with the yelling?” is what he says in Tokyopop’s version here. I little bit more vulgar language. ;;>w>

I really like this page because it shows the cultural differences pretty damn well with how they both envision a dragon. Leon’s is obviously very European with a coat of arms and everything. I bet he’s never even read Anne McCaffrey. u_u Count’s dragon is much more Chinese: clutching the stone, more serpentine, none of those leathery wings, even some stylized clouds hanging about it. I feel like even the sound effects accompanying them express how the cultures view dragons differently. European myths often showed dragons as brutish beasts to be vanquished, but from what I know of Chinese mythology, they see dragons as spirits of the sky and storms.