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#She loves Madoka so much. She just wants her to be happy. And if that means disrespecting her wish
stimmy--cryptid · 2 years
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homura akemi (madoka magica) stimboard!
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ushiromiya · 8 months
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(madoka magica / rebellion spoilers below. TW: suicide and controlling behavior)
I don't know the direction in which walpurgisnacht rising will take homura's character but I can say with confidence that from at least where rebellion left off that I truly believe that homura made the decision that she felt was the most correct one even if it meant she had to become a monster in the eyes of every person that loved her. she felt that if things were left in the way the law of the cycle was currently running things that it was inevitable that kyubey would eventually capture madoka in her goddess form, study her, and use her to as a source for mass amounts of energy at the suffering of herself, the others within the law of the cycle, and magical girls at large again. this is something he explains very clearly when talking to homura before her transformation into homulilly.
I get so exhausted when I see people try characterize homura as an actually evil person with completely selfish desires and no regard for others. all of her actions, while not explicitly explained outright, when looked at closely always indicate that she does things out of her care for the other girls but feels like she bears the burden of having to do it alone because she believes she's the only one who doesn't let her emotions get in the way of protecting madoka and the others from kyubey and sometimes each other.
I will always use the scenes of her interactions with mami and sayaka in rebellion as huge examples of this. she has no reason not to kill them if she's a completely selfish and unemphatic person that only cares about madoka and no one else when given many opportunities to do so. I also don't personally think she keeps them around JUST because of madoka's happiness either. she very easily could have suppressed their roles in madoka's life with the world rewrite and clearly choose not to. I believe her mocking sayaka and acting in a clearly "evil" manner is deliberate acting on her part to frame herself as a villain. she might believe this would her actions more palatable and will create distance between herself and everyone else to protect them as well as allow her to assert more control in this situation. it is further emphasized how she truly feels with imagery displayed in homura's new world around herself (shoes abandoned on the side of a building to potentially indicate suicidal ideation, a half moon alluding to homura feeling unfulfilled and unhappy with this decision, her dancing around happily before stopping and slowly falling off the cliff side with a similar implication as the shoes).
homura's relationship with the others is incredibly complicated but she cares for them deeply too as they are also people she considers friends, she just had a particularly strong attachment to madoka. we don't get to see as many instances of her interacting with them as we do them interacting with each other as we are unfortunately only really privy to homura's life after she began looping for the most part but we can see it in the way she has expresses concern and distress for them in moments where she believes they are in real, tangible danger of being hurt (she's winces and tries to turn away when aiming for mami's leg and screams out when she believes mami is about to be truly harmed after their gun fight, which neither ever had the real intention of hitting one another with any of those bullets in the first place). her entire witch's labyrinth is one where everyone is happy and gets the lives they desire. why would her labyrinth, which is meant to reflect in-part her inner feelings and desires, appear that way if she didn't truly want that for everyone?
rebellion is so compelling to me for all of this and so much more!! (I could write a whole other post on the way it presents it's freedom with danger vs control with safety question at the end of the film) she is a girl who has repeatedly suffered incredibly traumatizing events and longs for a world where the person she loves and the friends she considers dear are safe. homura is not really the devil, but she wants to appear to be because being the devil would be easier than being a human being in these circumstances.
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bones4thecats · 5 months
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Heyy hii hellooo , hruuu and what's your fav cat breed , btw can i req a leonidas , Nikola Tesla , hades , and Hercules x fem!homura akemi!reader
I hope you watch Madoka Magica , i just want a simple long ahh angst and then fluff
So basically the reader is like the goddess of time (for the gods part) and a time traveler(for the humans part) the reader basically repeat the same month that Ragnarok has taken place for over 1200 years just to save them from their fate which was turning into a green weed snort dust in because the charas are who she hold dear so much since they are her husband , each time she failed and failed and that affect the universe since she bend the time around the charas making them stronger but each timeline they just die , and i want them to confront the reader Abt it and then the reader is like having a meltdown or something and then tell em all the stuff she have been doing to the point she almost gone insane with all the timeline of watching them die
And after that can you just put on like a huge comfort scene where the charas finally survive and comfort the reader after all the pain she gone through
I hope you don't mind , sorry if it too muchhh srryyyyyy
A/N: Okay, my favorite cat breed is the Birman, it's just so fluffy and cute!! It also reminds me of a Siamese. This is one of the saddest things I have ever written, so expect to cry a few tears and then feel like your heart’s gonna explode! This is kinda themed after the song Haunted by Taylor Swift because I was listening to it while writing. Enjoy~~
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🚬 You had tried so many times, yet you always fail… why?
🚬 Why wasn’t it fair then, why wasn’t it fair now? Why did he have to die, why couldn’t that selfish and impish God Apollo die?!
🚬 1,200 years you have tried, over 103,782 attempts have been made in counting, maybe this would be the one to work!
🚬 But it was too much for one person to watch their one and only, their husband, die over and over and over by the same cause
🚬 You watched as he trained, and you couldn’t stop crying each time
🚬 Leonidas looked over at you and grinned his signature grin saying, ready for battle
🚬 When he hugged you that night you started to cry and not stop, which caused him to look at you with shock
🚬 You never cried
🚬 He kneeled down and tilted your head towards his face, his eyes asking the same question over and over again
“ Are you okay, my love? “
🚬 That was when you let loose, spilling everything, the endless death and depression you had gone through just to see him win, it made his heart ache
🚬 You went through all of this to see him come out on top, to see him alive again
🚬 Leonidas held you and shushed you, while you mumbled how it wasn’t fair since no matter how much you tried it never worked
“ You cannot escape fate, love. But, no matter what happens, believe me, I will always, always be by your side. No matter what. “ “ Promise? “ “ I promise. “
🚬 And he did. He won. He beat that snobbish bastard, Humanity cheered for the win while you smiled and cried happy tears for another reason
🚬 You finally did it, he lived…
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🧪 This stupid myth wasn’t coming to fruition, it said every time you traveled, he’d grow stronger! Just how much more strength did he need?!
🧪 Time after time again he died from that depleaded and god-awful immortal Beelzebub, why did he have to live?!
🧪 He hurt a child for crying out loud, causing him to turn into a blood-thirsty monster for the heck of it! He didn’t deserve life! He showed no remorse for what he had done, even Thor showed some of it to Lü Bu!
🧪 While thriving on the past, you were watching Nikola work on a problem for his armor for Ragnarok and you smiled when he got the fact right, it was better than last time, maybe this was it?
🧪 He did the same thing as last time, but he added more weaponry and more strength to it per your request, now maybe it could work!
🧪 You sat by Hlökk and Jack while the fight ensued, and you were praying that he would win, that your husband could finally come home safe and sound
🧪 And he did it… he- he beat Beelzebub!
🧪 Nikola was healing as you jumped onto him, he chuckled and kissed your forehead, and that was when you let it loose
🧪 You spilled the tea, all of it, the 1,200 years of torment that you faced watching him die, the same fate over and over and over again, not being able to stop it hurt
“ Darling, I am sorry for failing you so many times. “ “ It’s not your fault, you’re here now… and I’m thankful. “ “ I am thankful as well, Y/N… “
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💀 No, no, no, no!
💀 Every god-forsaken time, the same damn thing!
💀 Oh that human will pay for his insolence, killing the King that you loved was a crime only punishable by death at the hands of his victim!
💀 Every single time that Hades proclaimed his wish to fight, you were with him, helping him train to beat that puny being
💀 But every time it wasn’t enough, and it hurt so much…
💀 And the way that human smiled and had every human there cheering for him made you sick, many lost an ally, Zeus, Hermes, Ares, and Adamas all lost a brother and uncle, one that cared for them oh so much, and you…
💀 You lost your one and only love…
💀 But maybe this time it would work! It said that they grew stronger every time you traveled, so maybe now it would be right!
💀 Hades looked up at you and smiled as he prepared for battle, and every cut and bruise only gave you the biggest PTSD stain in history
💀 He couldn’t die, he just couldn’t!
💀 And when the cry of Zeus’ cry entered your ears, you started to doubt everything
💀 It worked, it finally fucking worked!
💀 You had never sprinted that hard before into the arms of your love, dragging him to the infirmary after sharing the best kiss known to the Gods
💀 Hades saw how sad yet happy your eyes were while he healed, and when he looked at you and asked why you were so down, you tole him everything, sobbing the process
" My dear, you've seen that happen all those times? For that long? " *Sigh* " I apologize for not being able to change that for so long, but, now we can start the life we've always wanted, by each others sides for eternity. "
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💪 He was the kindest soul you had ever met, why would fate just screw him over like this?!
💪 You understood he knew Jack far better than you, but watching the human just kill your lover blinded all of your judgement, no matter what
💪 Heracles had died so many times in front of you that you felt like crying tears of joy and sadness from both seeing him alive and from knowing what was bound to happen
💪 This time he had been talking to his adoptive brother, Ares, when you traveled back to see him and try getting him to survive, and seeing him with the only other person who wept and understood how much the lose of him affected you just hurt
💪 He called out to you and hugged you in his arms while calling his goodbyes to Ares, in which the God of War just smiled and waved back
💪 Your husband was the one person you didn't want to lie to anymore, and you hopes that after 1,200 years, this may be the final time you'd have to travel to save him
💪 You grabbed his hand which caused Heracles to turned around and give you a curious look, and that was when you told him
" 1,200 years for me? Angel, you... you didn't have to do all of this for me! "
💪 Heracles looked at you with shock, he figured nobody would drain themselves physically or mentally to the point of near insanity just for him...
💪 He hugged you even closer and he swore the same thing you heard over the last thousand years;
" I'll be safe, and when this is all over, we'll rest together just like before... I promise. "
💪 Your husband laid the most gentle kiss on your lips ever as you nodded, believing the words more than you ever did before
💪 Before Round 4 of Ragnarok started, you strolled over to the Humans side to speak to their fighter, Jack the Ripper, so you could get something clear
" In these last 1,200 years, I have been trying to get my husband back... as whenever he fought against you, he lost... died at your hands. And while I respect you and everything you have done for your people, I am just asking you one thing; Is this really what you want to be known for? Pure murder? "
💪 When Jack was about to kill Heracles, he remembered your words and smiled humbly before lowering his hands to the ground and laying on his knees, causing Heracles to stop and stare at the male
" I do not wish to kill you, God. " " Heracles. And Jack, I do not wish to kill you. This match stays at a draw! "
💪 All Gods and Humans were obviously pissed, but you got your husband back, and one of your previously close friends. Win-Win for you!
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himehomu · 5 months
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Homura did nothing wrong. And I stand by that. Because, she didn't do anything wrong towards anyone nor did she do anything with malicious intent. The only thing she did wrong is entirely in regards to herself. Rather than basing Homura's entire character around an act she made out of love or reduce her character to an evildoer with no morals nor love in her heart like some people still do to this day under the poor facade of “valid criticism,” I'm going to explain what Homura actually did wrong in Rebellion and her what her act of selfishness actually was.
What Homura did wrong was condemn herself to suffering as an immortal deity, the Devil whom acts as a rebellion against God, The Law of Cycles, strict laws of the original universe, which included Madoka Kaname not existing. That is what she did wrong, but not in the black and white, Good-vs-Evil way most people interpret this as. Yes, they are meant to be enemies one day, but because God favors rules and always doing the right thing, whereas the Devil favors her desire to stay in a world where Madoka is happy, where her friends are happy, where they are safe and have a chance at a life. A desire for happiness vs maintaining order of a broken world for the greater good, even if maintaining order means making sacrifices and making hard choices that directly rebel against that desire and yearning for happiness.
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But, here is why Homura is wrong in dooming herself to her fate as the Devil. It's very subtle, but seconds before the Flower Field scene, as they are walking, Madoka turns and tells Homura that it really hurts her seeing her in so much pain and not being able to do anything about it. This may seem like a simple thing a friend would say, but remember that Madoka lost her memories as a goddess. And, as a goddess, she was stuck alone in Heaven having to watch life go by, Homura's life go by, and wasn't able to interfere. Think about that for a second. Think about being Madokami.
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Think about when she could finally understand just how much Homura did for her, just how much Homura fought for her in all those time loops; the moment she's able to reciprocate her feelings, she fades from existence as the consequence. Wanting so badly to comfort Homura as she bears the psychological burden of being the only person to remember her, to know her, to miss her, to grieve and mourn her. Thinking the only time she’ll ever be able to see let alone talk to Homura again is when she’s essentially dying from all the grief, the pain, the guilt, the sadness of not being able to save her from her fate of being a goddess trapped in isolation. Think about that, then look at what she says here again. Of course it hurts Madoka seeing Homura hurting so badly and feeling powerless to do anything about it. Because that's what she's been doing as The Law of Cycles. Much like how she said she'd never make the decision to become a Goddess in the first place a few seconds later, she says this because this is the real Madoka who loves and cherishes Homura, who hates to see her hurt.
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Take that into consideration when looking at what Homura turns herself into at the end of Rebellion, how she's suffering and you can see the exhaustion on her face and in her eyes, how you can see the immortality essentially sucking the humanity out of her to the point where she herself believes she is evil. This was never about Good vs. Evil. This is about Homura hating herself so much not only for being unable to save Madoka, but possibly even for loving her in the first place considering her love is what made her powerful enough to condemn herself to her fate as a Goddess trapped in Heaven with her wish. This is about Madoka hating herself so much to where she only deems herself worthy so long as she's helping others, her self-loathing making her reduce herself to a sacrificial lamb and throwing away her life for the better of everyone else, caring so little for herself and being unable to even fathom that she'd be mourned or grieved if she were to die, thus sacrificing herself over and over, seeing herself as a means to an end if it means freedom for everyone she loves. Madoka has always been there to comfort Homura and protect her since the first timeline. How can she do that if her memories and powers to do so are locked away? She can't. Because Homura doesn't believe she deserves Madoka's love.
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Homura doesn't believe she's worth Madoka's sacrifice in becoming a God and Madoka doesn't believe she's worth Homura's sacrifice in becoming the Devil. Madoka cannot understand that she is so so much more than what she can give to other people whilst Homura is the only one that does. Homura can't understand that dooming herself to immortality pains and hurts Madoka because she can't do anything about it thus she can't save her from her suffering like how Homura ceased her suffering. It's a cycle. A snake eating it's own tail. A pumpkin that spins round and round and round. They're both selfish and they're both selfless. Homura is selfish in the sense that she's not taking into consideration how Madoka would feel if she knew how much she were suffering as the Devil for her sake yet she is being selfless because she's only suffering as the Devil for Madoka and her family and their friends to have a happy life. Madoka is selfish in the same sense that she's not taking into consideration just how psychologically damaging it is for Homura to not only have to watch her die over and over again throughout 100 timelines but to then erase herself from existence with Homura being the only one to remember her and she is selfless by of course only sacrificing herself so much because she cares for everyone and all Magical Girls, Homura especially included. They both love each other enough to sacrifice themselves for the other but they both hate themselves so much to where they believe they are undeserving of the other's love hence they keep dooming themselves to suffering in isolation and in turn dooming each other.
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its-gettin-weird · 8 days
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"I want to be an admirable person. Like Mother Fortuna, who’s my role model. Or Geuse, who’s so kind and strong. Like Archi, who kept smiling until the very end, just so I wouldn’t be scared. Or Puck, who always protected me and never left me alone. Like Ram, who wished to do the one thing that would be the most helpful for someone who’s truly precious to her. Like Otto, who does his very best for his friends. Or Garfiel, who never once uttered a word of complaint. Like Subaru, who says he loves me, and does reckless things even when he’s wounded and hurting. I want to earn the respect of each of them. From now on, I want to be the one reaching out to help someone.”
It’s Emilia!
I don’t really have much to say about her in regards to what her powers or wish would be in relation to her design since in my au she hasn’t made a contract (yet… ;) and talking about it here would be spoilers lol), but what I can say is that I wanted her outfit to be very reminiscent of Madoka’s magical girl form (you know, for the Homura x Madoka / Subaru x Emilia parallel) (also some Satella elements like the roses because, you know :) ). I also took note of the spin-off magical girl event in the game Lost in memories where they have magical girl designs for some of the characters, and they happened to have one for Emilia, so I took a lot of inspiration from her outfit used there. Since the majority of y’all voted for her to have the main color in her outfit be white, I went with that for her top and boots and made most everything else a different shade of purple.
A quick aside, I really want to thank all of you who voted on the poll and gave positive comments/ feedback on not just the designs that I’ve made so far but on the art that I’ve been posting here since last year. I know saying this is cliché (and even saying it’s cliché is too) but it really does mean a lot seeing so many people like my art and my ideas. I have been posting art for a while now (on Instagram but I’m pretty new here so bear with me 😂) but I have never really seen as much engagement with my stuff as I have on other platforms and I’m really happy about that :) I have a hell of a lot more to make and show you not only about this au but in general, and I am so glad all of you will be able to see it and I hope you like it to. Thank you for everything so far!
Now with the sappy shit out of the way, I’ll go over a few last thoughts I had about Emilia’s weapon and soul gem.
I didn’t know what to give her for a weapon since in canon she makes a lot of her weapons out of ice, so I just decided to give her a typical magical girl wand/staff since I thought it would fit her and it’s what she wields in the Lost in Memories spin-off. I made the staff look similar to Madoka’s bow (again, parallels) with elements of the concept art for the magical girl rings in pmmm and of Madoka’s soul gem at the bottom. The crystal star shape on top of the wand is also a Madoka reference because it’s the same star on her grief seed and Law of cycles symbol / witch kiss. I also made it crystal sort of call back to Puck’s crystal.
Now for Emilia’s soul gem I made it look like a certain key that appeared in season two… It was based on the comment by a certain someone that said something along the lines of “imagine you are the key.”… This character is very important to this au not just in the world of Lugunica… :)
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thequietkid-moonie · 2 months
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Request: Usagi, Makoto, and Minako with an S/O that is from the world of Madoka Magica, and has become jaded on the idea of Magical Girls ever having a happy ending, saying they've seen to many die to think it's possible. (Reader has no powers. They just worked with a lot of Magical Girls) (Hope this fits what want)
Reader is surprised by the Sailor Scouts
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[ CROSSOVER - reader comes from Puella Magi Madoka Magica ]
[ Minako, Makoto ]
[ Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon / Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon ]
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As much as I totally loved this prompt I have now a writers block and I had to left Usagi, sorry, I hope you like what I wrote
Also, i just rewatched Madoka Magica and I just remembered why I love so much that anime waaaaaahhhh
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This wasn't your world, it looked like it but you were sure this wasn't your world, you have wandered the streets of your world thousands of time, following your friend when searching for the witches, just hoping to don't be a burden
Walking around for a bit try to search anything of help, anything that could help you out, your friends, Kubey, even a witch, at least that would explain where you are or what is happening
But no matter what you do you don't find nothing you know, just a calm and peaceful city that you didn't knew if you could trust
Even when you end up involved in an attack and get saved by magical girls, this was far from what you had ever saw before, there was no witch, no labyrinth, even the magical girls were far diferent from the ones you know, their fighting style is something you had never seen before and they were even working together
You didn't know if it was a dream, an hallucination or maybe just another trick of the witches or even Kubey, wanting to trick you into become a magical girl again, whatever it was it is strange, but also fascinsting
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Minako Aino
Minako is really focused on the fighting and her surroundings when she is on duty as the leader of the Sailor Scouts, so when she noticed that you were being the victim of one of the enemies she tries to be quick while trying to avoid putting you in more danger that you already were, once the threaten is over she imediatly came to your side to make sure you were alright
Minako imediatly notice how shocked you seem, but asume that is just because of what happened, trying to come up with an excuse to don't involve a civil on her problems as a magical girl, although she doesn't come with a too good excuse (specially if you seem anxious or even scare)
Minako may have a weird feeling about you but for your shocked state decide to ignore it and try to just help you. Honestly, Minako wanted to just make sure you are alright and go away as far as posible, not wanting to put you at any other risk but is more likely that you are the one asking her what were happening, even if she was far diferent from the ones you know she still was a magical girl, she may be able to help
At the end she probably just take you with the other Sailor Scouts in hopes to find out what were happening to you, but even with the others she feels more responsible of you, not only she was the one who found you but also she is the leader of the sailor scouts, she should be capable to handle the problems (and if you decide to stay close to her that will just make her feel closer to you and lead her to actually take care of you)
It won't be too dificult to get to know you are from another world, what make Minako just feel even more responsible of you, so from that moment until all of you are able to find a way to send you back she will be the one to take care of you, and honestly she will grow to care for you and start to treat you as an little sibling (but will wait until you feel more comfortable)
Minako tries to ask you about your world since the start in hopes that would help you feel more comfortable or let you cope with everything that is happening, but if you prefer to don't say anything then is alright too, she will undestand by your expression that you aren't comfortable with it, so instead she start to talk about you and treat you as a friend
Knowing that there are magical girls in your world too would be surprising for her, the sailor scouts are warriors that fight for her princess and own planets, so at first she will assumed you are talking about the magical girls that fight as representatives and warriors of your planet, but the moment you feel comfortable to open up to her about the whole problem with the magical girls and witches of your planet she is shocked and devastated, the magic of your planet isn't used to protect for love but to manipulate, this isn't something she want at all (and is actually what she is fighting, most of her enemies uses magic to manipulate others, but is definetly not the same)
Minako feel like she should say something to try to comfort you, but she can't thing in anything, she just doesn't know how to react, so she will just let you continue talking as much as you need, assuring you that now you have her and the rest of the sailor scouts by your side, even if you come back to your world they will be always cheering for your happiness and safety
The Sailor Scouts fight together, they fight for love and not for survival as you were used to, it would be normal for you to see it as strange, and for that Minako will open up too and say that not everything is fun as it seems, maybe you think is easy for what you had been throught but the reality is that they had fight with their lifes, have lost a lot in the past and now are fighting to don't lose it again, maybe your stories have diferent developments but she does understand you, and she makes sure to let you know that you aren't alone, as well as how brave you are for enduring all of that
When getting to know Kubey's trick and how you still haven't get a contracts with him Minako will actually feel relieved that you don't have to deal with it, at least for a while, and she makes sure you know you don't have the pressure of having to be stronge or become a magical girl, while you are here they will be the ones protecting you
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Makoto Kino
Makoto has always been a protective person, if you get involved in the battlefield there is no doubt that she will imediatly get to you side and try to protect you, even may even shield you before taking care of the enermy, claiming that there is no need to involve civilians or how unfair it is to bring troubles to innocent people
Makoto wants to make sure you are alright once the fight is over but seeing you shocked or even scare will make her even more worried, she tries to help you calm down and concentrate (in hopes to make her focus too) before even trying to explain what have just happened, she doesn't has much troubles with explaining that she is a sailor scout but only if it would be helpful, and will try to don't give more details of the necesary, not wanting to bring you any kind of troubles
Is probably that her own honesty is what lead you to say that you know some magical girls too, but ones that are far different from her or her friends, explaining the whole thing with the magical girls of your world and kubey is your choise, in any case Makoto won't be pushy with you telling her all the details imediatly, even when she think it would be the best she won't force you when she can tell for your expression that this isn't easy for you
Makoto will decide to trust you and take you with the other sailor scouts to search for a way to try and help you find a way back to your world, or at least undestand their world since it seems that you aren't used to their world. If you want (or even prefer it) she can stay by your side at all the times, being the one taking care of you, in that case she will end up taking it rather seriously, giving you a room on her house and taking care of you as well as making sure you adapt to all of this and always asking you if you have any question or need another explanation to the things that are new for you
Makoto is really caring towards you but tries to don't treat you like a kid, she treats you more like a friend (but actually waits until you feel comfortable and trust her before getting closer)
The moment you finally open up to her and start to tell her about your world and the trick that being a magical girl is for you, it doesn't matter if you decide to tell only her or to all the sailor scouts, doesn't even matter if you decided to tell her everything at once or go slowly, she will respect your rythm, still she will feel totally heart broken for what you tell her, she and her friends fight for love and see each other as family, Makoto felt lost for so long until she found her friends, so the idea of the magical girls having to fight no just with witches but also against each other in order to survive makes her mad (not at the magical girls but to the one who is the culprit)
Makoto won't be able to hold back her tears and express how horrible this situation this is, but, also, it won't take her much time before she tries to comfort you, assuring you that this situation is completely unfair and that the fact that you had to go throught all of that doesn't mean you don't deserve some peace, your friends had been tricked by someone evil and egoist, all of you deserve a better treatment and a happy ending, and she say it with so much confidence and determinantion that is almost flatering
From that day Makoto doesn't treat you too diferent but is obvious how much she want to include you in simple things, her friends doesn't have it easier but at least have some times to just be teenagers, and Makoto is always inviting you over in those times
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one-idea · 3 months
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Tbh I'm with Zoro re:Nika v Luffy. Luffy is full of love for the world and adventure, almost as much as he loves his friends. Nika willingly staying separate from the world Luffy adores so much is a HUGE red flag that It's No Longer Luffy In The Driver's Seat. They're probably very, very similar, but would it be enough for the Straw Hats? I imagine it would be for some of them, but besides King of Hell over there I think Jimbei and maybe Brook would notice the difference and care.
I’m assuming this is for the madoka magica au. (My beloved)
And you’re completely right.
Luffy under normal circumstances would never leave the crew. He loves them and the world and adventure, why would he ever leave? He doesn’t remember the situation that lead to him fully becoming Nika in the first place so he doesn’t understand Nika’s incessant calling to leave this world behind.
As for the rest of the crew….
When Zoro fully became Asura and rewrote the universe, he also took the crew’s memories of the world without Luffy.
They have no clue the current reality is different. There are moments where awareness slips in. Where they go “something here isn’t right?” But they are all together and happy so it’s not that big of a deal. The moments are easy enough to sweep under the rug.
I think if any of the crew did remember the reality without Luffy they would agree with Zoro’s decision. They don’t know that Nika had made a plain of existence just for them. That they would reunite with Nika after death. For them Luffy was gone and he was eternally alone. They would agree with Zoro’s decision because of the information they had.
Jimbei and Brook probably have more “this isn’t right” moments than the others because they have been around longer. Their age and experience tipping them off more. Robin probably realizes it as well but I wouldn’t put it past her to put all the pieces together and agree with Zoro’s actions. The crew was willing to fight the world government for her, she to would rip apart reality for her captain.
No the problem is Ace
Ace who remembers it all. Zoro tries to block it out but Ace was in Nika’s divine realm. He was privy to information the Strawhats didn’t have. He knew that they would all be together for eternity. And Zoro separating Luffy from Nika could have major consequences.
Ace pulls Zoro a side to tell him this. But it’s Ace and Zoro and they aren’t the best at communicating.
And Ace is also so conflicted because on the one hand Zoro not only divided Luffy’s soul but he also took Luffy’s freedom. It’s a beautiful cage but a gilded cage is still a cage. It was Luffy’s choice to merge with Nika. Zoro is disregarding Luffy’s choice and freedom.
But at the same time how can he be mad. He has both of his brothers back and they are all free, as far as the other two know. Because Luffy has no clue he’s in a cage. He’s completely free to do whatever he wants in this plain of existence. Is it truly freedom if he can’t leave? But is he truly trapped if he doesn’t know about the cage?
Ace’s head hurts. Philosophy was never his thing and he desperately wishes Sabo, Deuce, or Marco were in his place because while Sabo is here he doesn’t remember the old reality either.
So Ace confronts Zoro about it. About how this is going against Luffy’s will. About how this could have consequences they don’t even understand yet.
And Zoro just smirks at him and asks if it’s not a demons job to go against their god?
Ace is immediately on the defensive wanting to know if Zoro will completely disregard Luffy’s wants and decisions from here on out.
Zoro responds with “of course not. He is my captain and I his first mate.” He would do anything Luffy asked him for. But Luffy would never ask him to release him. How could he when Zoro stand between Luffy and anything that could ever make him want to leave again.
Ace threatens to tell Luffy the truth. To which Zoro tells him if he does then that would make them enemies. But he’s not to worried because he knows Ace is having trouble remembering things. He might have failed to fully block Ace’s memories in the first place but the more time Ace spends in this world the more natural it will be. After all this is a new chance for Ace to be human. To be with his brothers. He wouldn’t want to mess that up, would he?
Ace knows all these things. Can feel the memories of before getting hazier. He knows his brothers are happy here and there is no reality where he would try to take their happiness from them. But Luffy’s freedom was taken from him and that he can’t forgive “even if I forget everything else I will always remember that you, Roronoa Zoro, are a demon.”
Zoro just smiles at him and starts to walk back to the others. As he passes Ace he pauses and leaves the freckled man with one final thought. “We should pretend to be on good terms. If you’re always attacking me, Luffy could end up hating you.”
It’s an empty threat, Zoro knows. Knows that Luffy could never hate Ace. But seeing the two of them fighting nonstop would upset Luffy. Zoro has no desire to fight Ace, as long as he stays in line. And he knows exactly what will keep Ace in line.
Because Ace is having a full meltdown down. Could Luffy hate him? He’s in the right! Zoro took Luffy’s freedom. Zoro cut Luffy’s soul in half. Is it wrong for Ace to want to restore Luffy’s soul? To bring back the divine plain? But Luffy loves his crew and adventure. Is his brother better off in this world where he can go on adventures forever with his loved ones. Where he’s not the only one responsible for the safety of the world? Would Luffy hate him for breaking this reality? For fighting with Zoro?
Could Ace survive without Luffy’s love?
It’s a moot point. Luffy will always love Ace. But Ace’s self hate has never been able to understand that.
Here’s the original scene from Madoka Magica for reference
Note. They are both right in their own way. They have different points of view and information the other doesn’t.
Zoro wants Luffy to be with the crew because Luffy hates being alone more than anything. And the crew loves him. Zoro loves him
Ace has knowledge of Nika’s true plan. Knows that Luffy wasn’t going to be alone forever. It would just take time. But he’s horrible at sharing this information.
Ace going to the literal devil who just rewrote the universe to have his way and standing in front of him like “you I have a problem with you and I’m going to fight you.” Like poor boy has a split devil fruit (now shared with Sabo) that’s not even awakened and is staring down the King of hell with no plan or back up. Keep bitting off more then you can chew Ace. Never change.
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smelly-hyena · 10 days
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have you ever thought about madohomu from madoka's perspective though
like what if you spent your whole life feeling unworthy of love but craving it and then one day you learn that there's a girl who loves you so much she endured over a decade of horrific trauma in a futile attempt to save you from your fate without ever once doubting whether throwing her life away and suffering so much for you was worth it. even though to you she was just some weird and sometimes scary girl you just met but to her you were the only thing she had to live for
and then when you finally remember who she is and everything she did for you and have the ability to appreciate what she's done and reciprocate her feelings and enjoy the love you've been craving so long (except this love is exceptionally greater than anything you've dared to dream someone could ever have for a useless and plain girl like you) you lose the ability to actually be with her as a direct consequence
and what if you sacrificed your very humanity just to take all of the pain she suffered for you away but then you had no choice but to watch her living in a world without you so lonely and sad and slowly losing her mind because she isn't sure whether or not you ever truly existed and there was nothing you could do to comfort her and this is all because of Your wish that You made
and then the day finally comes when you can give her the peaceful rest she deserves but then she sabotages it by pulling you into her dream world just so she can have a chance to see you and speak with you one more time because even after all the suffering you and your wish have caused her she still loves you more than anything else
but in that dream world you accidentally confess to her that you were lonely and unhappy in the void so instead of letting you save her she attempts to take your godhood onto herself and suffer in your place and she makes this perfect world just for you to live in and be happy with your friends and family even though it means she'll never be able to be with you and has to suffer the burden of godhood all alone just like you did and you might hate her for creating a world that's different from the one you wanted but she's willing to suffer anything as long as it means you're happy and safe
have you ever thought about what it would feel like to be Loved. to watch someone's Love for you slowly destroy them. to be powerless to save them because nothing you could do would ever make them stop Loving you.
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wazzuppy · 1 year
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i think its so interesting how ordinary homura's magical girl outfit is compared to the other girls. not that its boring or anything, i love her design a lot, but i think it's comparatively tame appearance is a very interesting way to reflect her wish. because, really, homura's wish kind of comes down to wanting to have a normal life with madoka and her friends. she wants to go to school with them and hang out after classes and go out on weekends together and just be safe and happy. i think thats why her outfit looks so much like a school uniform. because it represents the normalcy she wants in her and her friends lives.
additionally, homura doesn't have a family. she lived alternating between a catholic orphanage and the hospital for what seems like most of her life, and school is possibly the only place she has friends. she could very deeply value her time spent at school because its the only place where shes with people she loves.
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amberpriceenthusiast · 5 months
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I loved Madoka Magica.
Homura decided to risk her life to save a girl she’d known only a month. She never gave up, she kept going because she wanted to save Madoka, but by doing so she was only making madokas already unavoidable fate worse. She loved that girl so much, and it only destroyed both of them. It made Madoka more powerful, but at the same time it destroyed her.
Madoka sacrificed herself, not just her life, her existence, to save everyone and make them happy. No one remembers her, but Homura does. Homura could never forget Madoka.
Okay actually I’m so tired and idk how to say all of this, but I love them. It never could’ve ended another way. They were always doomed. I love them so much
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stardustizuku · 11 months
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Part 2: The Alter Ego Of A Heroine And It’s Relationship To The Protagonist
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You can’t have a good Love Square, if you don’t have likable protagonists.
It’s very easy that when emotions play a role, for hearts to be swayed one way or the other. So you have to have very concrete and powerful characters that you will not hate – even if they mess up.
If you don’t have them, much like any Love Triangle, you will begin to hate one of the options. Then, trying to insinuate, whoever is left of the couple as ending with this less-liked-character will just end up pissing everyone off. This delicate balance is even more imperative in the Love Square.
Therefore, we need not only a lovable protagonist, but one we really want to root for – and Marinette has been suffering in that department for quite a while now.
So, we have to talk about her. Unfortunately, despite her being central for the show to work, she’s probably the second most character that suffer from the terrible writing of this show (and we all know who’s the one who suffered the most).
So, to understand what went wrong with her character, we first need to clear the bases and talk about Alter Egos.
An alter ego is the “alternative version” of someone. The Superman to Clark Kent, the Spider-Man to Peter Parker, the Batman to Bruce Wayne. They represent the hero version, the other self, the better version if you will, of protagonist were supposed to root for.
In magical girls, these better versions are key to understanding our Main Character. While, yes, there’s many magical girl like Sugar Sugar Rune or Sakura Card Captor that don’t place emphasis on the Alter Ego, MLB definitely does.
You see, the Alter Ego is better. Brighter, happier, have a sense of justice and are able to confront the world. While our Main Character doesn’t have these characteristics, or at least not as external. The alter ego represents everything they wish to be, while the real them hides underneath.
And it’s this push and pull between two of them that becomes a core, of sorts, for the story. For two main reasons. One, it explains the character. And two, it represents the theme.
A very good example of this – is Madoka. What makes a magical girl, a magical girl, in this universe?
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You make a wish. Something you want more than anything. And that wish is what fuels your hearts to fight against the ghosts of the peers that came before. And if you lose sight of what that wish originally was – your soul gem cracks.
When Ayaka realizes that saving everyone is useless, her soul gem cracks, because proving that Mami was right and Homura was wrong was what drove her to be a magical girl.  She became a Magical Girl to prove Homura wrong, that she could be happy being selfless.
When Homura’s goal to save Madoka is over, and she despairs over how she didn’t save her (only doomed her to an eternity of fighting), her soul gem cracks. She becomes a demon. She became a Magical Girl to save Madoka, so it makes sense she would become something worse when it turns out she didn’t.
Magical girls, are just that. A wish. Usually fighting the “failed versions” of themselves. Rue, who couldn’t have Mythos heart. Utau who hid half of her personality to please others. Sara, who couldn’t find love.
Magical Girls are a wish. While they become magical girls to save the planet, there’s something behind it that they guard deeply and wish to protect even more. And conflicts with their “true” self.
Other examples, are…
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Princess Tutu is the representation of Ahiru’s love for Mytho. Ahiru wanted to save him, so it only stands to reason that her Alter ego is one that collects his heart shards, desperate to make him whole again. That’s what she fights for - For Mytho's, and eventually her own, happiness.
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Sailor Moon is the representation of Usagi’s past as Princess Serenity. It’s her bonds that transcend space, it’s her duty to protect the earth like she couldn’t protect the Moon Kingdom. While this doesn’t happen in the first seasons, by the end of the series, it’s her deep connections and love for the rest of the sailor scouts that drives her to bear the weight of saving the world. These connections and bonds to her past, are what make her step forward and become a ruler again, and the reason she keeps fighting for Earth. In the future, we even see that Usagi, becomes Princess Serenity – her past. By becoming the queen of Neo Tokyo.    
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Amulet Heart is the representation of Amu’s “I want to be” self. Her desire to be sporty and happy, easy to mix with people. She has many others and through them all she aims to find herself. Who she really is, and where she fits in a school that idolizes a fake version of herself. Because in truth, the “real” amu doesn’t have a personality. She constantly feels like she copies others, but never truly finds who “she” is. But her Shugo Charas help her do exactly that. Break out of her shell, become someone very uniquely her. To the point that she eventually (in the manga) develops entirely new shugo charas. Because her ”I want to be self” has changed, and by defector, her. She became a Magical Girl to finds herself.
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Pink Pearl Voice is representation of Lucia’s duty as a princess. She has seen her people be in distress and knows the weight her actions have on her nation. Her purpose is to fight those who want to hurt her kingdom. To return peace to the seven seas. While her true self, Lucia, just wants to be happy, free. Fall in love with a human – even though its forbidden by her kin. So, who should she be? Fall in love, or follow her duty? Again, in the manga, she becomes Agua Regina, the ruler of the seven seas, pointing to the fact that falling in love and ruling, aren’t as opposed to each other as she once believed.
So, with all this as context, what exactly is ladybug’s purpose? What does she represent? Why did Marinette decide to become Ladybug?
Again, it’s not “Just to save the world” or “because they’re forced to”. And the ones whose premise is that, are the most dark and disturbing magical girls there are (princess tutu, madoka, and utena)
So, Marinette has something, right? Something she fights for? To protect her friends? Her country? Her school? Her family? Is it pressure from her parents? Or is it herself? Why pressure herself, and to this extend?
What exactly would have been her wish when she became Ladybug? Why would she have accepted a deal where herself is in jeorpardy, and continue to accept it as more and more burdens pile up on her?
What’s stopping (in season 1-3) from ditching everything and asking Master Fu to find a new ladybug? Realistically.
Aaaaand, you probably have an answer.
But here’s the thing.
It's either an answer that came post-season 4, which again it’s too damn late. Or, outright not an actual reason given by the show.
Because the reason a lot of Aus, fanfics, and fancomics work  are because they answer this question. Reality is, canon really doesn’t have much of an answer – except a very vague “sense of justice” Marinette has. There’s no clear answer. According to previous actions, we can speculate why. But we don’t have a real reason.
Is it because she was bullied? Is it because she got made fun of? Or is it simply her good nature? When has she expressed this outright or even sat down to talk about it with anyone?
We don’t know what Ladybug represents.
We don’t know why she keeps fighting evil. Why she takes on this mantle that’s slowly eating her away. And without knowing this, we really don’t know Marinnette herself.  
And this is a Marinette-exclusive problem, may I add.  
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In the case of Chat Noir, it’s easy to find his reason to fight, and very early on - Season 1 early on.
He wants to be free, wants to be able to escape his home that feels like a prison, but still craves a place that will welcome him as he is: a mischievous trickster who messes up sometimes. Represented by a cat with a bell, meaning a cat with a home. A mischievous person who craves a place to belong
And that place is Ladybug. She offers that, while Chat Noir lends him the means to show that “true self” he can’t allow to others. He would never give up his miraculous because it would mean losing all that.
But Marinette doesn’t have that.
The closes thing we get to a “ideal self” is the fact that as Ladybug she gets to be the leader and the confident girl she always wanted to be, because she’s clumsy…But I have to say, that doesn’t really make sense. Its implied, in the first season, when they run for president, that she’s a naturally born leader. And if it weren’t for Adrien making her nervous, she’d be much more capable that she is right now.
Which makes the Marinette we have as of now, an amalgamation of many different MC tropes all stitched together with the world’s flimsiest needle. It’s a poke away from entirely crumbling.
We have:
I have a crush on my idol classmate
I am clumsy and ditzy
You can’t bully people! That’s wrong and you’re a meanie!
But also I’m kind hearted and will offer a helping to hand to those ostracized by society
Except if they’re the villain or the villain’s minions, they’re bad
I am a natural born leader and inspire others
But also I have no self steem and constantly doubt myself
I am soo shyyy
But also I will be weird abt my crush
And while these definitely can work together and form something coherent. They didn’t. They tried, and a very big emphasis on TRIED here, to give some of these aspects a backstory – like the stupid Kim Backstory about obsessive behaviour – but again, too little too late.
And even if, big if, it never really gets explored beyond this surface level. Did she talk about it with Chat Noir? Did she talk about it with Adrien? Did she ever stop to think or reflect on it?
It seems to me more like an effort from the writers to shrug off Marinette’s creepy behaviour by trying to justify it via trauma, rather than confront it and have a serious conversation about what it might entail.
But probably the most frustrating part - is that it could absolutely still have worked. If anyone gave a crap about admitting they f-ed up and working to fix it.
*Sighs*
 I liked the Marinette from the PV. She reminded me a lot of Ahiru. A kind and cheery girl, with a golden heart, who secretly crushes on her idol prince. Probably someone who would be kind to a fault, trying to brefriending even the ultimate boss.
But Marinette right now wouldn’t. Or at least I think she wouldn’t. I mean, she hates Chloe and Lila, and would never offer to help them. Never has opened up and has an antagonistic rship with them.
But she did help Ivan that first time. And we see her forgive people who aren’t explicitly villains.
But she WAS really nasty towards Kagami when they didn’t even know all that much about her.
And this is not a sailor moon/fish eye situation where Adrien and Marinette are dating, or a lost memory thing that happened in the first part of sailor moon R. She’s just – mean bcs this girl has a crush on the boy she likes.
“It makes her a complex character-!”
It makes her confusing. You can’t know how she’ll act, so you can’t understand her and her actions. It alienates her.
Not really Magical Girl, but a good example of an extremely weird girl, who we understand is Rozemyne from Ascendance of a Bookworm. She has wild and unpredictable reactions – but we understand her internal logic. We know she’ll offer help when she can, but draws a hard line between friends and acquaintances. She wouldn’t jeopardized her loved ones for people she barely knows.
Something like that is missing from Marinette.
Unfortunately, at this point we only have one defining characteristic of her.
The one thing you’re sure won’t change, the one thing you can trust her to be no matter the circumstances. Her defining characteristic:
Adrien
Her feelings for Adrien are the only true constant.
We can’t trust her to be kind, bcs maybe the girl is crushing on Adrien and we’ve seen how she treat those girls. We can’t trust her to put art before anything, bcs we rarely see her design. We can’t trust her to be smart, clumsy, a good leader, a crybaby or happy.
The only thing we can trust about her, is Adrien
Which could work. Many other magical girls base their character around their love interest. It’s not an automatic recipe for disaster. An MC with heavy focus on romance can work.
Ichigo Monomiya, for example, is someone whose crush is a big part of her character AND motivation. She wants to protect Earth (as in nature) because it means so much to Aoyama and her main conflict comes from how she doesn’t want him finding out about her being a Mew. Her story revolves around how much she wants to spend time with him - but is unable to.
And Ahiru’s entire wish is for Mytho to be happy at the cost of her own. For a while the only motivation she seemed to have was Mytho and we knew little abt her aside from that.
Marinette basing her entire identity around Adrien may not be a bad thing (writing wise) if the writers acknowledged that’s what they’re doing. If they allowed conflict to build upon it.
Maybe a explore who she is without Adrien, and how he affects the perception Marinette has on herself. Who does she become without him and more importantly,
Why can’t she get together with him?
Real, why can’t Marinette get Adrien?
Well, the show  has told us many times why. Awful consequences, the end of the world, etc etc.
But what I’m asking is why Marinette can’t get closer to Adrien? Even as a friend?
What’s stopping her from confessing? Or giving the first step? Being ladybug? Her own nervousness?
There’s usually a reason why these things can’t progress. Nervousness, after four seasons, shouldn’t have been one.
I mean, it worked on the first few episodes and even seasons. But at some point, her nervousness just became unrealistic, and it falls to the point of annoyance and even blatant fetishization by Thomas’ part – for a girl obsessed over a boy.
Again, Ichigo took steps to get closer to Aoyama since day one. The only reason why she can’t confess, isn’t because she gets nervous or can’t seem to talk to him. It’s because she’s scared that when Aoyama finds out she’s half-cat, he’ll be grossed out and won’t want to date her.
And if we talk about shyness and clumsiness, Ahiru comes to mind. Someone who also messes up when her crush is involved.
However, Ahiru gets competent the more time she spends with Mytho. By the end of it, even if she’s scared or nervous, she jumps headfirst into danger to protect him. She’s able to have conversations with him, and even gets close to his friends. She breaks out of her crush so much, that she’s willing to accept that Mytho is not meant for her.
So, no. Shyness and clumsiness when writing a character, isn’t a good answer.
What about her being Ladybug and the responsibility it comes with it, impeding her from finding love?
Well THAT plot point doesn’t get explored. At least, not with Adrien.
It only ever gets explored until season 4 and with MAY I REMIND YOU Luka. That she’ll always be distant or unable to connect with someone because of how much she has to keep from him. And it’s also kinda weird, when you juxtapose Luka and Aoyama.
Aoyama is the main love interest in the anime Tokyo Mew Mew. He was often sad and disappointed that Ichigo couldn’t put priority on him.
In one particular episode, he asked her out to go to the movies and was waiting for Ichigo, but a fight broke out and she was unable to go meet him. Mid-fight she does try to contact him but a jealous alien breaks her phone, making her unable to tell him she’s going to be late.
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The iconic scene where she comes late to her date, and Aoyama is still waiting in the rain, will always be ingrained in my mind. The music, the writing, it all builds up to this point. You can see how much they long to be together, but there’s this impossible barrier for them. Caused entirely by circumstance. If Ichigo were normal, if she weren’t a hero, if she were just like other girls, she would be with the man she loves.
But she can’t. So she has to hide. Hide parts of herself, and her life. Even as she confesses that she loves him, she’s hiding her tail and ears. Worried that he’ll hate her but still trying to reach out.
And Aoyama forgives her. He says “I love you too”
It truly showed how they can’t be 100% together. That there’s a gap they can never truly fill.
But Aoyama /tries/. He doesn’t break up with her, doesn’t get angry, he hears how truly sorry she is and sees how anxious she’s getting - and accepts it. He forgives her. Because there’s things, they still don’t know about each other, and neither are ready to share.
That’s why Luka’s reaction Is weird. Wanting the whole truth from your gf is strange. And yes, Marinette is an asshole for still crushing on Adrien - but Luka knew! And he still accepted her. But he draws the line at Marinette having a secret he won’t tell her 2-month boyfriend and not even her closest friends KNOW?? And, it gets even worse, when you know that the secret of her “being ladybug” is something he’s known for a long a time. (And so has Aoyama by the way)
So a fundamental part of Marinette’s struggles were shoved into a padded 30 min episode. Where the blame is placed entirely on her.
I know they’re trying to fix it in season 5, an attempt to make her more proactive and give her a backstory and the like.
But this is your protagonist.
You shouldn’t be trying to fix her five goddamned seasons in. This should have been something addressed in – at LATEST – the second season. The villains also have this problem, but this is much more saveable in their case. We’re not supposed to care much for them to begin with.
And as I said, both the protagonist Alter Ego, and the Theme of a story are extremely linked together. If anything, they should have been able to fall back on their theme. What were they trying to say?
If, say for the sake of argument, Ichigo is an unlikable protagonist, maybe by just leaning into the Nature and Ecology theme of the show, you can build a new personality.
This is what star vs did – they gave Star character development as they developed the theme of intergenerational conflict and colonization.
So, SURELY, if Marinnette is a bad protagonist with no real reason for her Alter ego –
The writers can fall back on their theme to write a cohesive protagonist for the overall story of theme they’re trying to talk about
Right?
Spoiler. No.
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flightfoot · 2 months
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ML Fanfic Recs for 2023: 80K - 125K Words
So I’ve been going through and adding particularly good fics I’ve read throughout the year. Only Complete fics, of course. Enjoy!
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Tell Me Why You Love Me by @linnieluna
“Anyway, that piece of paper contains the name of this texting app. It’s completely anonymous, so you can download it, make your account with no attachments to your personal life, and communicate with me outside our suits. I included my username on the paper, too, so you can add me once you’re done."
Her partner skimmed through the words on the paper and nodded his head. “Brilliant as always, M’lady. I’m surprised we didn’t figure this out sooner within our superhero careers.”
“Yeah, it would’ve been nice to have this before, but hey, better late than never. Make sure not to have your phone screen on the messages if you’re going to leave it somewhere. We don’t want anyone reading our texts. Also, this is for emergencies only. No jokes or puns. I can only deal with you for so long.”
“I don’t know if I can agree to that last one,” he said.
Now 22 and working full-time, Marinette and Adrien seem to be getting busier and busier, which means fewer opportunities to keep track of akumas and show up on time. With the idea of using a messaging app to communicate with each other without revealing their identities, their lives immediately grew to be easier... until it wasn't.
This starts off as a mostly slice-of-life fluff fic, but about halfway through things turn dramatic when Monarch learns some things he really shouldn’t and takes action. I had a lot of fun with it as it was coming out, it’s worth a read.
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Kwami Magi Homura Magica by Crossoverpairinglover
After eighty-four loops in time, Homura Akemi takes a new path to Paris to save her friends.
The sixty-third loop after that, Homura arrived at the Agreste Mansion.
After clash after clash with the heroes of Paris and its greatest menace, events have reached a tipping point.
Ladybug faces someone verging on a second wish, a wish that endangers space and time to save a friend.
This was an absolutely AMAZING story that crossoverpairinglover dropped out of NOWHERE. Seriously, if you like Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Miraculous Ladybug, this is a real treat - but be prepared to sit down and binge, because it’s over 100,000 words and only has three chapters. 
Anyway, I adore the care that’s taken with going through Homura’s mindset here, she gets a lot of character focus. And the lore! There’s some good explanations here for the history behind kwamis and Incubators’ interactions, and the Order of the Guardians normally treats Magical Girls, and why the Incubators are wrong in their assessment of the universe needing more energy to stave off entropy (hint: it involves Plagg), and just... there was a lot of love put into this.
And the action! Most Miraculous fics don’t have much in the way of fight scenes, and what they do have is mostly just functional. This is one of the rare exceptions. There’s some really long, detailed fight scenes in this (roughly the entire second half of the second chapter has one between Ladybug and Homura), which are a treat to read! 
We also get some glimpses into a variety of other universes here, other timelines, alternate ways things could have gone down - I’m especially partial to the rather detailed view we get of one where Homura sent a message asking for help to the Ladyblog on her third time loop, and how things progressed from there. 
The ending I also thought was really good, a happy ending that generally made sense and dealt with the issue of the Incubators. 
If you can’t tell I’m really happy with this fic, it was incredible and unexpected. The length of the individual chapters can be daunting, but if you’re up for the task, I highly recommend giving it a shot!
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If I Let Myself Love You by @uptoolateart
It’s hard to be a normal girl with a normal life when your mother has terminal cancer. And when fashion model Adrien Agreste moves back to Paris and wants to be Marinette’s friend – or maybe even more – her life is turned upside down again.
How can she risk opening her heart to love when her whole world is falling apart? Especially when Adrien is hiding a dark secret of his own….
- COMPLETE FIC – updates on Sundays
*** No kwamis AU - 100% Adrinette. About half of it is fluffy and half heavy. Please read tags for trigger warnings. ***
This fic can be rough, definitely pay attention to the tags. There’s no villains in this story, it mostly centers around themes of dealing with illness - both being sick and having a loved one who’s terminally ill - and death, grieving someone who’s lost, and how difficult that can be. It can get pretty gut-wrenching at times, especially as you slowly discover more layers of what’s really going on, what both Adrien and Marinette are hiding, both from others and from themselves in order to help cope with their circumstances. But they still move forwards together, regardless.
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Eventually by @lucid-ao3
Adrien’s life has been dictated by rules, monitored, and controlled for years. He has learned to compartmentalize. It’s not that bad. It always gets better, eventually. Doesn’t it?
Recovery can be an unexpected obstacle when you didn’t realize you were being hurt in the first place.
OR: How Adrien lives and copes with the emotional abuse inflicted on him over the years, and how he ultimately could overcome it.
If you want a good “Adrien doesn’t realize how abusive his father is but slowly buckles more and more under his tyranny, until things come to a head, and he actually gets the HELP HE NEEDS” fic, this is a good one!
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Between the Heavens and the Embers by @readersmoon
Everyone in Paris remembers the fateful night of January 16, when the city was attacked by the most powerful and destructive akuma ever created. The assault, which lasted for hours, resulted in the death of 439 people.
Marinette Dupain-Cheng was among the casualties.
Years later, Adrien hasn't been able to move on, haunted by the memories of her broken body. So, when the opportunity to leave Paris for a while presents itself, he doesn't hesitate. But this trip might end up giving him more than he ever dreamt of.
This is a fantastic fic, though a serious and a dark one - make sure to mind the tags, and it’s M-rated for a reason. Vee - or rather, Marinette - is going through a horror story here. Imagine finding out that your life is a lie, that everyone you thought you could trust was manipulating you, that you were just being continually gaslit for years. 
As for Adrien, Alya, and Nino... well, none of them took Marinette’s “death” all that well, especially Adrien. Finding out that she’s been alive all this time, in these horrible circumstances, and they had no clue... it’s hard on them as well.
I love how this fic goes into how much trauma everyone has even after the immediate danger’s dealt with, you don’t just walk off this kind of experience, especially with how many years this lasted.
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So the Madoka Magica movie is coming out and there's a lot of speculation about how it's going to end (or rather, be the start of a new series of movies/a show? Idk, it was extremely vague.)
And while I love the idea of Homura and Madoka ending up together because they both deserve some happiness, I can't help but feel like the best ending for Homura at this point is letting Madoka go so she can become a healthy adult (which, let's be real, that's not possible in this world.)
And by "letting go," I don't mean cutting contact or abandoning her, I mean they can still be friends while Homura can become a person who sees herself worthy of living with or without Madoka. Because as much as I love my favorite tragic lesbians, Homura isn't her own person in the relationship with Madoka.
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Like, Madoka has a loving family, loving friends, and people cheering her on. And even if she doesn't believe she's good enough to do anything, she still objectively has things going for her, a safety net if you will. And she still has a goal in mind that doesn't involve one specific person, but rather she wants to become someone that people can depend on/wants to help other people (regardless if this is at the cost of herself.) I'm not saying it's a good or even a healthy goal but with some tweaks, I could see the goal becoming something she could work toward as a means of personal growth and not just because she thinks she's useless.
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Meanwhile, Homura doesn't even have parents as far as we're concerned.
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The only ties she has that we're told about are the catholic school she attended and the hospital she pretty much lives in. No friends, no family, and no aspirations of her own. And because of her circumstances, she really wouldn't be able to. It's no fault of her own. I get why, then, she attaches herself to someone like Madoka. I'm sure ANYONE would attach themselves to Madoka if they were in the position Homura was in.
And then that starts the obsession. A long, tiring journey in which this poor girl sacrifices her mental health, her youth, countless years spent trying to save this doom girl and her doomed friends while she herself is also doomed. She's pretty much made herself Madoka's sole protector while also not allowing herself to even do or enjoy the one thing she wanted in the first place; being Madoka's friend.
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It's all but confirmed that Homura hates everything about herself as seen in her backstory and rebellion when she was destroying her labyrinth. Her saving Madoka is the one good thing she thinks she's associated with, so much so that she's OK with dying either to protect Madoka or in a world without her.
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Like, the concept of one person being the only reason you continue existing is so unhealthy (note that I'm not saying their relationship itself is, it's just her mindset.) I completely understand wanting to help your friend you know...not die a terrible death, but Homura doesn't think she has anything going for her outside of protecting someone else and that's such a sad thought to me. She thinks of all her past friends as enemies now, and she alienated herself from everyone. She thinks, now, that it's her versus Kyubey, the other magical girls, and Madoka herself. The girl is borderline, if not entirely, suicidal.
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I'm hoping so badly that in the next movie, this is the start of healing for Homura (though it probably won't be because Mr. Uro loves his sad/bitter-sweet endings.) I hope this is the start where she's able to piece together who she is outside of wanting Madoka, who she could've been had Kyubey not manipulated her and the other girls into making contracts, had her parents not died, had her body not been as fragile as it was, had her confidence been strong, had she felt she was good enough to befriend and get close to other people without fearing her hurting them or them hurting her.
Sayaka was able to let the bitterness of not being with Kyosuke go, accepting that even though she wanted him, she couldn't be with him and even if she was, she never would've been happy. She was able to realize the flaws in her "ideal magical girl" concept and accept the fact that she's just one person and even though she's not perfect and didn't get the thing she wanted, she's still able to be a hero in her own right in the company of people who actually love and support her because she's Sayaka Miki, not because she's a heroic magical girl.
Mami was able to be honest with herself, similar to Sayaka, that she's not a perfect person, that the perfect magical girl illusion was never her. She's able to admit to herself that she was inherently selfish that all she wanted was friends and family, and that there's nothing wrong with that. She doesn't have to keep up the pressures of being perfect and mature and all-knowing because, at the end of the day, she is still that little girl who almost died in a car crash that claimed her parents' lives, and she has to live with the fact that she didn't and wasn't able to save them even when she had the chance to. And she's able to come to terms with the fact that though she was alone, she didn't have to be lonely. She's able to realize that it's not too late for her and she can make her own family that will stick around with her, flaws and all. And she can be a good role model for her little sister surrogate and also orphan Nagisa, but this time, she can be a realistic big sister rather than an idealistic one.
Kyoko can move past the pain of her family's demise, and unlike Mami, feels as though she is directly responsible for it. She was a naive kid who only wanted the best for her family and yet, by doing the "right thing" her father goes on a massive suicide-homicide rampage and she's left to think that her naivety, that her wanting to do the right thing, was what killed them. But no, it wasn't. It's ok to have hope and to have the desire to help others and do the right thing. While the actions of the wish were undesirable, it didn't change the fact that Kyoko's heart was in the right place and that she could continue to try to help others without fear of it coming back to haunt her. She can let the tense guard she's had up since her family's death and enjoy the little things in life she never got to when she was too poor; food, drink, comfort, and having others around that care about you. While she thought that it was her wish and her misunderstanding of what her father wanted that ultimately killed her family, it's the same desire and intentions that push her to save Sayaka and befriend her and the other girls later on.
Now Madoka is an interesting case because she, like Homura, is sort of trapped in being who they were before they gained powers.
Now that Madoka is essentially back to where she started (unlike everyone else who at least has something/someone in their lives now in Rebellion compared to the OG series where they were missing those intimate connections) again,
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she's left to feel like she's missing a key part of herself (only in the OG series, she was missing the confidence she had the in OG timeline as a magical girl whereas, in Rebellion, she's literally the missing part of the Law of Cycles) and you're left to wonder if she'll be satisfied, or will she challenge this new world that seems too good to be true, a world that was made just for her and only her?
And Homura?
Poor Homura.
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Being an orphan and having no one, not even doctors or nurses it looks like, be close to you? Being unable to live comfortably due to a physical condition you had no say in? Having to be behind because of said physical condition and then having an inferiority complex WHILE teachers belittle you for things out of your control? So then you consider yourself a burden and truly believe only death and loneliness await you? AND YOU’RE ONLY 14???
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And then you think you've met this amazing person, this girl who thinks you're interesting and cool with no ulterior notices, a girl with amazing powers that are as wonderful as her only to have the rug pulled under you and realize that the cost of those powers and your protection is her's and others like her inevitable demise.
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So then you attempt to right that wrong because even further than your want to save your friends, you know the system that they're in is objectively terrible and needs to be torn down.
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But then you try to warn said friends about the system and all they do is belittle you and admit they're comfortable in something that's designed to kill them before they turn twenty, and when (or even if) they're finally aware of the system and the terrible reality of it, they STILL blame you for not telling them sooner even though you tried your damn hardest? Or even worse, try to KILL you after they find out for themselves?
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And then top that off with an oppressive alien race trying to control you and pretty much end your life prematurely or turn you into an immortal Lovecraftian Paper mache creature that looks like it was created by five-year-olds should you fall into despair at the hands of this default depressive system and you'll have to remain like that, killing and trapping people while you have no memories of your life as a human and have to live as an animal of pure instinct and evilnesses until some unknowing other magical girl puts you out of your misery, and the cycle will rise and repeat eternally.
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Then not to mention other magical girls who try to "game the system" (which only leads to them dying/witching out even earlier, indirectly harming the girl you're trying to protect) or even worse, the girls see you as competition because they're insecure/power hungry instead of joining you in taking down the system set up so where death is an inevitable thing regardless, indirectly siding with the species that are literally killing them slowly but surely (and yet you're somehow still the problem in their eyes.) And then to add the shit sprinkles to this shit show of life, you have to battle this biblically accurate German clown of a witch that's a bunch of witched-out magical girls mashed together like a Cthulu-esque Ren and Stimpy-type creation (that's also pretty much invincible to everything that you and all of the nukes and missiles you store in a tiny, rinky-dink space-time shield you were pretty much cursed with while everyone else gets a built-in weapon.)
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Not to mention the PTSD of having everyone and everything around you die and crumple to bits for 12 years over and over again, failing at every turn to complete the only goal you have for yourself (which isn't even for you, it's just saving another person because you believe you're extensible at that point) and at every twist and turn, you're beaten, bruised, belittled, scared, tired, pushed to the brink and all alone with no one to depend on because you're the ONLY one who can and will remember anything once you have to go back in time.
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And then you learn the more you go back in time, the more fate and karma you're attaching to this girl which makes the aliens target her even more because of the level of potential she has. And even worse, you find out that the girl you've been fighting so hard to protect is now an entirely different person, lacking the confidence and outgoingness that made you fall in love in the first place, her desire to become a confident magical girl being unfulfilled because of you.
But you have to play the smaller evil. You have to deter her from making a wish, even if it means inadvertently scaring her away from the idea, even if it means being cold and calculated and harsh because she won't listen otherwise.
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You have to crush that confidence because that desire will only lead to her death, but she can't know that because well, you still want her to trust you.
But because you've been trying so hard to scare her away from the idea of becoming a magical girl, she ends up becoming scared anyway and distancing herself from you, meaning you don't even have the comfort of knowing you two are friends anymore.
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And even still, all of the other magical girls, including her, always end up dead or turning into witches no matter what you do, leaving you to fight the final boss witch alone and failing every single time because it's just too powerful.
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But you can't stop. No matter what, you can't stop. Because stopping means death for you, the girl you love, and the entire world, whether it be because of Walpurgis or Madoka's witch which is only so powerful because of you and your time-traveling shenanigans.
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So you do another timeline, and things go wrong like they have for the past 100 timelines so you're just numb to it now, and while you're fighting the boss witch, you get critically injured. And now armed with the knowledge that you'd just be putting an even bigger target on your friend's back, you resolve that your efforts were all in vain and useless and decide to just let yourself witch out because you have no other choice.
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Only, you're interrupted by your friend, who's finally ready to put her fears aside and make a wish.
Your biggest fear is coming true and you're powerless to stop it.
So she makes her wish and becomes a magical girl Jesus pretty much and restores hope to every magical girl.
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Every magical girl except for you.
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She says your efforts are the reason why she was able to make such a powerful wish and thanks you for your service, as if you're an old veteran about to retire, and then she ejects you to a remade world, a world without her.
And you're doomed to fight in this world, the world she gave her life to protect, a world in which only you remember her. You don't let yourself become too close to the other magical girls for fear of losing that connection once the Law of Cycles takes them away.
So you're doomed, essentially. The one thing you've fought to protect is gone forever and there's no one but you left to grieve for her, and you start an endless fight against the new evil creatures in place of witches until you're about to disappear yourself.
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But you don't even have the comfort of peaceful passing on because AHA!, that evil alien race wants to you use as a sadistic experiment to inflict suffering on you and the other magical girls while controlling the one saving grace you all had, to restart the terrible system you were trying to run away from in the original world.
So they place you in this fake simulation of happiness and fun and magical girl transformations all for the sake of controlling you and the girl you fought for and thought was safe.
So you take matters into your own hands and resign to destroy the labyrinth, even if it means your death, hoping the other magical girls put you out of your misery once and for all.
But if you die, then who would be left to protect that girl you love so much?
So you take matters into your own hands and override her power, creating an idealized world in which everyone can be happy at the cost of making all of your past friends your enemies later.
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Even the girl you love and gave your life for time and time again.
All for the sake of keeping her safe once more from not only herself since you pulled a piece of her from the Law of Cycles, but also those terrible aliens who can only think about themselves and their sick curiosity.
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I so badly want a happy ending for Homura, and I'm so hoping that that happy ending is one without magic or Karmaic fate or the weight of 26 years of repeated time travel or having to save her girlfriend from a terrible demise or dooming herself to magical Jesus type limbo for eternity all while she's the only one who can remember.
Outside of Madoka, what does Homura enjoy now in Rebellion? What were her dreams, if she had any? Her aspirations? What was her childhood like (even though we know it was lonely) was there anything in her life that even remotely made her feel that living was worth it?
If and when she becomes an adult, what will she be like? What career what she want to pursue? What interests her? What does she want the most for herself? Power? Fame? Company? Comfort?
And will it even be possible for her to enjoy anything outside of Madoka so long as she attaches her self worth to this one, ordinary girl?
Will she succeed in protecting her at the cost of herself? At the cost of anyone else excluding the kyubey?
Will she give up ultimate control over the world, or will she double down; ok with challenging her friends-turned-enemies all for the sake of her love?
And if so, will she succeed as Madoka's sole, eternal protector forevermore, or she be dethroned and killed, left to rot in a labyrinth of her self-hatred and mistakes? (God, I hope not.)
Or...will she finally be saved and released from the shackles of fate, time, and space so she can live her life as a normal girl, a life she wasn't granted even before she made her wish?
My excitement for this movie is beyond real.
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yuzukahibiscus · 6 months
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Flower Troupe Top Star Yuzuka Rei-san Retirement Conference
(Source from Humming 83.5 FM 宝塚)
This is Tarui Miho.
On August 15 (Tue), Flower Troupe Top Star Yuzuka Rei-san and Flower Troupe Top Musumeyaku Hoshikaze Madoka-san announced their retirement on May 26, 2024.
2 days before their announcement, they had the closing performance in the Takarazuka Grand Theatre on August 13 (Sun). In "Singing Lovebirds", we felt happiness from Yuzuka-san's Reisaburou and Hoshikaze-san's Oharu's smile; in "GRAND MIRAGE!", we saw how compatible the two were in their elegant and beautiful duet dance.
As the performances for the Takarazuka Revue 110th Anniversary were announced for next year, and when I thought that she would show us more dreams in this world from now on, she announced retirement.
The next day after the announcement on August 16 (Wed), she attended the retirement press conference in the Hankyu International Hotel.
Yuzuka-san became the Top Star in November 2019. Her Grand Theatre [Top Star] debut performance was delayed after 4 months and there were days that they had to adapt to the coronavirus. In these difficult circumstances, Yuzuka-san always wanted to deliver us those heart-fluttering times. She always has such a gentle gaze, and kindly approached our hearts.
In front of the golden panel in the press conference arena, what's placed in front of the table were white and Flower Troupe-coloured pink flowers signifying retirement.
Seeing Yuzuka-san appear at that moment, it was breathtaking to see her beauty! She came in with white pants, white suit, white inner shirt and had a great golden accessory [necklace] and white boots. It's a simple white pants and suit attire, but from the lines of her shoulders and chest and even the pocket, you can feel the delicate design and angle of this outfit. White outfits give a bright colour with a pretty cleansed feel to it, so doesn't everyone usually wear white a lot? But when Yuzuka-san wears white, you don't just see how beautiful Yuzuka-san is in white, but Yuzuka-san can also show how beautiful and sparkling the colour of white is✨
Yuzuka-san gives a calming smile that showcases such mild aura. Also, she has such a composed demanour that you almost can't feel too much weight from her presence.
Attending this press conference is Takarazuka Revue Chairman Takeshi Kiba and Yuzuka Rei-san. Chairman Takeshi began in the press conference by speaking about Yuzuka-san:
"Yuzuka had her debut performance in the 2009 Cosmos Troupe performance "Amour, it's something about..." as a 95th student and was assigned to Flower Troupe. She became the Flower Troupe Top Star in 2019. But after that, coronavirus occured, and her Grand Theatre [Top Star] debut performance "Haikara-san ga Tooru" was delayed for 4 months. Then later, amongst the difficult circumstances that performances suspended and there were even performances with no audience, she led the troupe as the Flower Troupe Top Star and fulfilled her important duty. From underclassmen times, she was acclaimed for her dance, and she delved deeper into the roles by singing and acting and showcased vibrant and intricate conviction in her performance on stage every time."
Yuzuka-san had been hearing what the chairman was saying, and nodding as she recalled the days of those difficult circumstances.
Then Yuzuka-san gave her warm words and began speaking:
"Everyone, I'm sincerely thankful that you are all assembled here despite the impact of the typhoon that may have caused great destructions. I am Yuzuka Rei of Flower Troupe of Takarazuka Revue. I'm truly grateful that everyone are gathered here in my retirement conference. Knowing that this time has come has felt once again real to me, that I am nervous. I am aware that there are things I may yet be able to deliver (due to my retirement), but I ask for your kind support from now on."
Yuzuka-san decided on retirement in February this year.
"I was raised well in the Revue, and I received love from so many people. Also since I've known only about Takarazuka Revue, and I am not only thankful, but also hope to stay that way [to know only about Takarazuka], yet I want to meet myself from the outer world that I haven't known, and that is how I decided on retirement."
It seemed like the thought occurred to her at an instance.
For everyone in Flower Troupe, she told them about the retirement the day before the closing performance in the Takarazuka Grand Theare performance of "Singing Lovebirds"/"GRAND MIRAGE!". And I could feel her love [to the members] from her words.
"From the expressions and gaze of every member of the Flower Troupe, their various views and thoughts reverberated and remained in my heart. I once again was so grateful that I was able to workw with these members. It was like having a one-on-one conversation when I announced that I would be graduating."
Yuzuka-san told her partner, Top Musumeyaku Hoshikaze Madoka-san of her graduation in late March around a month after she thought of retirement.
"This was during the rehearsals for "A Battlefield for the Two of Us". After rehearsaing for my parts, I told Hoshikaze about my graduation. Hoshikaze said, "If Yuzuka-san is going to graduate, please let me graduate along with you." So we decided to graduate together."
During this conference, Yuzuka-san doesn't make it look like she's answering questions, but as if she wants to converse with everyone, and you could feel her sincerity that she wants to talk about how she feels. That she isn't thinking a lot beforehand, but she's speaking whatever is on her mind in her honest feelings and words. And you could feel how she cares for everyone that has attended this press conference! Even towards reporters that sit at the way back, Yuzuka-san would try to lean closer and meet with the eyes of the ones asking, and responding elegantly and kindly with her small replies of "yes, yes" to the questions asked. I also felt how she has this amazing strength and inclusive energy that doesn't make people nervous. In this press conference, Yuzuka-san is probably too kind and graceful, that it felt like I was invited to Yuzuka-san's house for an after tea [party] that I had the chance to talk to her.
When asked about memorable performances and roles, Yuzuka-san said, "it's difficult!" with a smile and thought, "Every performance and every role is full of memories that I worked diligently and worked through every rehearsal for it, that each role exist like duplicates of myself. It's really difficult...hm...." That "hm" from her was really adorable💕
"What should I do...really for every performance, I cherished every scene in every musical and show, that they feel like my duplicates, but if I should give my answer..."Haikara-san ga Tooru", "Years of Pilgrimage", and also um.... ah "Top Hat" too haha.....AH "Boys Over Flowers" too...yes.....it's so difficult....to give an answer. But these are all dearly important performances for me. Sorry about that (LOL)."
Yuzuka-san held the mic with both of her hands and thought of the performances while looking into the ceiling. The expression is totally kyun-!💘 Also her eyelashes are long! Even if she's frowning a bit, her appearance of holding the mic with her long and beautiful fingers is nice✨
And about turning points:
"There are so many moments that I'm grateful for, so there are many turning points. Even though I feel so....hm....em....yes....uh... (LOL) There's so many memories so this is going to take a while (LOL)."
Then she mentioned the turning points in 3 performances. "The first is the 2015 Taiwan performance. When thinking about how the audience was watching us on stage, I thought about how I should present myself to let the audience feel the same. When I stood on stage, the Taiwan performance was one that changed my perspective of the distance performers have with the audience. Before, I used to think that I must only do things correctly or do them more correctly, but as I stood on stage for the Taiwan performance, those feelings were really memorable that I thought more of how I should create the stage to make it enjoyable for the audience, and how I want the audience to watch it, how I could make the audience smile more, so I'd say the first turning point is the Taiwan performance. The second performance is the leading performance of "Boys Over Flowers" in 2019. Even though this is also a work that I originally like, this felt different because as a musical, it's not just how to breath freely on stage in the performance that it's not a fixed step-by-step performance, it's also a production about enjoying those interactions for every single day, and hoping to embody myself in the role on stage.
You can see the beauty in Yuzuka-san's description that even the words she chose are so pretty! Sometimes, she'd put her hands to her cheeks or chest and using her hand to express what she wanted.
"Then the third one is the 2020 Grand Theatre Top [Star] debut performance "Haikara-san ga Tooru". "Haikara-san ga Tooru" is my second time performing it and either of them is a very significant performance, but my position changed since this was my Top [Star] debut performance in 2020, and the coronavirus also changed many things. If I have to talk about "Haikara-san ga Tooru".... haha...it's going to take 2-3 hours I think (LOL). As a performance, this was one that united our Flower Troupe members together, and also I time that I learnt and felt a lot, thus being an important performance. The debut performance was delayed for 4 months. When the novel coronavirus happened, the world is also in a confusing situation to udnerstand, and it's a situation where it's difficult to determine what's right or not. For theatre, this was also the first time the entertainment industry has faced this in such worry."
The host wanted to continue with "The next question is from..." but suddenly! Yuzuka-san said with an apologetic face like she's about to cry, "Ah, sorry, er...Fascination, Fascination is also a turning point....."
"This is not good! When I talk about it, many different things come to my mind. Because I really learnt so many things and was taught so many things, and was supported by many people. It feels like we should go for lunch [to talk more] right now? (LOL)."
People began laughing and the venue was filled with everyone smiling and laughing.
For me, I raised my hand mentally and thought, Let's go for lunch, Let's go!! 🤩✋💗
"The Fascination!" is a performance that Flower Troupe members learnt a lot. This is the debut performance with Hoshikaze Madoka-san [as the new Top Combi] and an important performance that we embarked on a new step. Phew...this is actually a really difficult question... (LOL)."
Even though Yuzuka-san is calm when recalling these memories, it seems that it is filled with many memories. Yuzuka-san speaks of these memories vividly as if they happened yesterday. As all of these happenings accumulate, these help hone her skills and mentality.
What is the otokoyaku that Yuzuka-san wants to pursue from now on?
"The strongest thing I want to continue pursuing is the male and personality that the directors envisioned that I could be able to embody such role."
Since Yuzuka-san has always played as a man on stage, she has always emphasized various methods of making people's hearts flutter and how to interact with others, creating a framework without gaps and enhances the persuasion, conduct, perspective and feeling of the role. And depending on the change of occupation, era, and the relationship with her partner, she has focused greatly on how to convey the persuasion of the role's presence on stage.
When answering, as if reacting to the word "otokoyaku", her voice became lower as she spoke.
What are Yuzuka-san's memories for Flower Troupe, she who has not been transferred to any troupe but has been part of Flower Troupe for 14 years ever since she was assigned in May 2009?
"Because I know nothing apart from Flower Troupe, my feelings for Flower Troupe are fonder than anyone! Knowing that I could be a part of the Flower Troupe 100th anniversary performance, I hope that the audience and to those who have built on Flower Troupe till this time, that they would all feel proud of this troupe called Flower Troupe. There were many times that I feel proud of Flower Troupe traditions passed down for many generations, and also inheriting the character and style of Flower Troupe. It is a great treasure that I could stay in Flower Trope. So I feel even more determined not to bring disgrace upon being a Flower Troupe member."
Seeing how Yuzuka-san says this calmly, I can feel that she is someone honestly facing the situations she is in and the mission she is given with.
During the coronavirus, Yuzuka-san has seen different situations than before, so I asked this question. With all these performances and things you've seen, are there any especially memorable things that stayed with you?
"After all I think most about the audience's faces right now. Also, I think about their faces and their various smiling expressions too. In that space that I could almost feel their words from the appaluse, even from the masks that I could feel their thoughts penetrate my heart straight and directly towards me with their shining eyes, I am really thankful for the audience's bonds with us, and I love that more than anything as I recall it now and it makes my heart throb."
Yuzuka-san and other Takarasiennes stood on stage and gave us hope and dreams in difficult circumstances. If you want to meet with the Takarasiennes, you can support them by going to the theatre. I feel that that's how we could clearly convey our feelings and they could understand us as such. I am grateful for Yuzuka-san's words.
Is there anything Yuzuka-san would like to say to herself who just entered the revue? to which Yuzuka-san smiled cheekily.
"Hahaha...You are going to be meeting amazing people You are going to meet many wonderful people, they are going to teach you a lot. And you are going to live with love" she replied with a smile.
When asking Yuzuka-san what Takarazuka means to her:
"Now, [Takarazuka] is my everything, and it is my youth. All this time has passed, and I was really taught a lot of things..." she paused and the corners of her eyes drop. "I have slanted eyes, but when I think about it, the corners of my eyes naturally droop and my cheeks rise. I realise the irreplaceable, lovely, important I have spent here. And I feel that this wonderful time will remain with me forever."
Then comes the conventional question... whether she has any plans for marriage:
"You really want to hear about that, don't you? If you don't listen to me, it'll be bad luck~ (LOL)."
She touched her left ring finger...
"There's nothing here today and I can't return with an answer, but for a moment I thought about wearing a rubber band (LOL). But I don't have the courage to try that. So yes, of course now I'm available." she replied cutely with a smile.
After responding to the questions, it's the phototaking time.
Usually it's just 2 simple poses for standing up and waving your hands, but this time we have 4 poses!
Apart from the simple standing up and waving hands pose, a male reporter said, "You mentioned "Haikara-san ga Tooru" just now" and Yuzuka-san quickly responded with a salute! "Ah~ You mean this♪" to which the male reporter felt satisfied, "That's great!" And you could hear so much camera shutter sounds📸
I felt that this was a dream and also pressed the shutter with my trembling hands...!
As if saying "thank you!" with her eyes, the venue started laughing again 😆
Yuzuka-san also enjoyed the phototaking time. Yuzuka-san's too-amazing salute pose made us enter the "Haikara-san ga Tooru" world again✨ As if you can see a cool and cute Ijuuuin Shoui right in front of you😍
Then, another male reporter requested, "Could you do a Flower Troupe...?"
It's probably because Yuzuka-san doesn't make anyone nervous, that there were these fun requests!
Answering to the request, Yuzuka-san became serious and asked, "Do you mind if I unbutton my jacket a little to do that?"🥰
I was so moved to see a Flower Troupe pose in front of my eyes! We tend to focus on the hands for the Flower Troupe pose , but she starts posing from how she stands on her feet! We have an outstanding, cool Flower Troupe pose from Yuzuka-san😍 Attending to the requests with her gaze, Yuzuka-san also checked and adjusted the angle of her feet and body, and she also changed her gaze at times.
When requested to do a cool pose, Yuzuka-san said, "I don't know how to do a cool pose (LOL)". What is Yuzuka-san talking about! She already captivated so many hearts here💘💘💘
The reporters in the venue gave her a great round of applause and Yuzuka-san left the venue.
As Yuzuka-san left, I could see that everyone was smiling like the blooming flowers 😄 In a 30-minute press conference, I feel like everyone in the press was captivated by Yuzuka-san.
I asked to Yuzuka-san again, for she often expresses her gratitude to the fans when given the opportunity, to leave a message she wanted to deliver to all the fans.
So she gives this final message.
"My gratitude is greater than anything else you can imagine now. More than anything, everyone's words, your presence and your applause, and anything that I have received in that space [of the theatre]…This is truly pale in comparison when I put it to words. I hope I could repay my gratitude to everyone on the stage little by little, that I will cherish and treasure this time to do my best. Before the day of graduation, I want to convey to the audience that I will devote myself to Takarazuka."
Here is the upcoming schedule for Yuzuka Rei-san.
Yuzuka Rei Special Concert "BE SHINING!–Glamorous Time–"
November 28 (Tue) ~ December 3 (Sun) Showa Girls' University
December 10 (Sunday) ~ Decmeber 13 (Wed) Kobe International House Kokusai Hall
"Takarazuka Specials 2023 Open the Future ~ To the future~"
Decemer 21 (Thu) ~ December 22 (Fri) Umeda Main Harts Hall
The graduation performance is "Arc en Ciel ~The Rainbow over Paris~"
February 9, 2024 (Fri) ~ March 24, 2024 (Sun) Takarazuka Grand Theatre
April 13 (Sat) ~ May 25 (Sun) Tokyo Takarazuka Theatre
Flower Troupe Top Star Yuzuka Rei will graduate from the Takarazuka Revue on May 26, 2024.
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poisonousroxstar · 9 months
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Imagine:
Platonic Yandere Madoka Kaname
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Plot Summery: Platonic headcanons for Madoka Kaname from Madoka Magia This Contains: ❣️ MAJOR SPOILERS FOR MADOKA MAGICA ❣️ Angst (character death), unhealthy themes & depictions of relationships (yandere stuff), not proofread. Note(s): so....I love Madoka and needed to pump this out. Thank you for your time!
Madoka is, without a doubt, one of the best yanderes to have out there, especially for a platonic darling. She's absolutely doting and caring, but also very clingy. And very delusional.
You're her world, the most amazing person she's ever met. She wants to always be around you, and never be apart. You just need to exist in the same space together, and she'll be content. Happy. And she wants you to be happy too.
She goes out of her way to do everything and anything she can for you. If you're hungry, she'll give you her lunch -- heck, she might even make extra just for you. If you're cold, she'll hold you close. If you're sad, she's determined to make you happy! Madoka is very self-sacrificial, to a dangerous degree. She throws herself into anything and everything for you, even if it'll hurt her in the end. As long as you're happy and safe, she's happy too.
Everyone can tell that you're special to Madoka. Her family and friends especially. I think some of them might get jealous, such as Sayaka, but seeing Madoka so joyful and happy around someone makes them all shut up about it. I think her family easily welcome you. Her mom thinks you're adorable, and her dad thinks the same. Tatsuya (her little brother) may end up adopting a similar clinginess to his sister, always wanting to be around you and thinking you're the coolest person ever. They think you're a good influence on Madoka, so they turn a blind eye to her abnormal behavior.
If you're a magical person yourself, then Madoka is even more protective, even if she isn't a magical girl yet. She wants to save everyone, but if left with an ultimatum, she'll always pick you above everyone else. You're her only real friend, above everyone else. As such, you'll always be her top priority. If Madoka is a magical girl, you definitely create a signature move together, it's a must!
She wants to see what you can do, and what you two can do together! If she's a magical girl, you both fight and work as an unstoppable duo, defeating witches and saving the innocent! Madoka lives in this sort of fairytale afterwards, where you and her fight for the greater good and defeat the foes of evil. Having you by her side makes her content and feel safe and strong. With you by her side, she feels like she can do anything.
If you ever died or become a witch, the grief and despair would be too much for Madoka to handle. If you've died, Madoka is staring silently at first. Then, she cradles your lifeless body and tries to wake you up, crying your name with increasing volume. She can't stop the years, and she can't stop her heart from breaking. And she can't accept this reality. If she hasn't made her wish yet, then she'll definitely use it to bring you back to live.
If not, the despair she feels makes her witch out, becoming Kriemhild Gretchen. As she feels the waves of regret and pain flow through her, Gretchen decides to destroy the world of any similar grievances. There is only brief happiness as she consumes the world for all its misfortune.
If you're becoming a witch, though still holding on. Madoka panics and does everything she can to try and safe you. Begging any of the girls something, anything to save you! If you asked her to mercy kill you before you become a witch, she outright refuses... at first. But the more you beg, the more you tell her just how much pain you're in and how you don't want to become a monster, she relents. As she shatters your Soul Gem, she does so through tears. And, again. She witches out, unable to bear the guilt.
Madoka also has a very high chance at dying by your own hand as you become a witch. It's not that she can't defeat you, it's that she doesn't want to. She can't, it's too much for her. She welcomes her doom as you kill her... maybe, when the other defeat you... you can both be reunited.
When Madoka does make her wish and becomes Madokami, she promises you that she'll always look out for you. She'll always be there for you, and whenever you feel alone, know that you never truly -- because she's there with you. If you're a witch, she takes away your Grief and replaces it with hope. And then, she takes you with her, joining you in her Law of Cycles.
Even when you forget who she is, Madokami never forgets you, her love for you too strong. Even as she becomes but a concept in the end, she holds true to her word, never letting you go.
In the end, she loves you too much for her own good. But as long as you live a long, fulfilling life, then Madokami can live all of existence knowing that you are and were happy. Even if she couldn't be in it anymore.
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jumpingonrainbows · 4 months
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To my fellow lesbian drama fans, am I the only one noticing parallels between the character's arcs of Gideon and Harrowhark (The Locked Tomb) and Madoka and Homura (Madoka Magica)?
Spoiler warning for both media in the text below, of course. And please, if you interact with this post, keep in mind I'm still reading Nona (although I'm almost at the end, about 1/4 left)
And thank you, my lovely @grosutina, for letting me scream to you about all this and for introducing me to the tlt series
This all started because I've read before how people jokingly call Gideon "lesbian Jesus" and I instantly thought of how Madoka is called "lesbian God". But that wasn't all. The more I thought about it, the more parallels I kept finding.
I just read the part where Gideon wakes up in Nona (or, reveals she was awake the whole time) and it initially shocked me how ANGRY she was. She was angry and like Nona pointed out, she was also extremely sad. But the more I thought about it, the more I understood why she was like that. She gave herself away to Harrow and sacrificed her whole self, but Harrow, in an attempt to save Gideon, mostly out of love, went as far as to lobotomize herself to prevent herself from fully absorbing Gideon! I write "mostly out of love" since this also has a tang of selfishness, she couldn't imagine a life without Gideon for herself. And I am not judging her at all. There's the whole thing about Harrow already feeling like a blob of corpses, but that's an analysis that other people can do better than me. But to Gideon, that just screams rejection on Harrow's part. It doesn't help that they haven't talked much about things and are just doing what each thinks is best for the other.
Can you see the connections already? Homura does exactly the same to Madoka. Homura rejects Madoka's sacrifice and takes it upon herself to redo it and "force" Madoka to be "saved" so she can have a normal, happy life. This completely overrides Madoka's sense of agency. She made the decision for herself, but the person who loves her the most went behind her back, did not understand her true wishes, and forced a reality on Madoka that Madoka didn't really want. This is all out of love and care from both parties. I actually really like this specific post about the flower scene in Rebellion that explores this further https://www.tumblr.com/faelapis/728119853949534208/pmmm-rebellion-the-flower-scene?source=share
Another parallel I noticed is the way that both Homura and Harrow cope with the losses of their loved ones by creating alternate universes. And they both do this by sacrificing something: Harrow modifies her own brain, and Homura transforms into a witch.
Lastly, just the whole parallels with Gideon and Madoka being religious icons.
Of course, the stories themselves are not that similar, but I find it very interesting how both main couples of the series are incredibly identical. It all comes down to how these characters love each other and the extraordinary outside circumstances that force them not to communicate with each other.
In the end, I wish I could draw Gideon/Madoka and Harrow/Homura outfit swaps.
PS: writing all this makes me even more hyped for the new Madoka movie. How will Madoka react to what Homura did? Will she be as angry as Gideon was when she woke up? Seeing Madoka angry is something I didn't know I wanted to see but now I really hope they do it.
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