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chibivesicle · 6 months

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Steven A. Starphase - master of seduction.

With the most recent chapter of Beat 3 Peat and the chapter Saving Steven Starphase, we have the return of his playboy habits front and center. But this was not the first nor second case of a time when it was clear that Steven had slept with a woman either as a fling or specifically for Libra.

Based on how flexible he is, not only does Steven have the typical tall, dark, and handsome going for him but this man is super flexible. Def good in bed with his noodle like positions.

K.K. is the first character to call him black-hearted, annoyed to be teamed up with him. Though they always make great teammates. I've already covered this at length.

The first glimpse into his personal life is shown in Day In Day Out when he hosts the dinner party at his swanky loft condo. While he's drinking coffee while Veded cleans up the living room, the phone rings and he answers it.

Ellen - ex turned enemy

A woman named Ellen called about what to bring and he teases her about her Empress/Princess lifestyle (depending on the version/translation).

Ellen is one of the first guests to appear at his door as shown here. She's super friendly and he gives her what must be a generic smile as we only see his eyes.

The two of them greet each other with a hug, while Ellen's date holds a bag with wine. Ellen states the food smells good and then she greets Veded, who waves back and then there is the line that her "tentacles look great today". Okay, if Ellen has met Veded previously, she had to have been at Steven's place frequently enough to have bumped into her, likely meaning she's spent the night. I find it hilarious how Ellen introduces Christopher as an afterthought - like, whoops, here's my current squeeze.

This already seems to indicate that Steven dated or was involved with Ellen previously. The final moment is when she's caught by Steven along with the rest of the group when they threaten to kidnap or kill him. He flat out calls her error in wearing more perfume than usual.

If you know another person's habits around perfume and then notice that she didn't apologize if it was "too much" implying previously she was concerned it might have bothered Steven prior. Well, they've gotten up close and personal.

However, even though Ellen turned out to be an enemy of Steven and Libra, it does not look like he got involved with her for that reason. Instead, the story line is how Steven lambasts himself for making the mistakes of getting to know these interesting people and having a life outside of work. Since they all know that whatever his job was - before knowing he was in Libra - it was a demanding one that kept him busy. What she does establish is that Steven is very charming.

Which leads us to the next character whom Steven used his charm on.

Anne - HLPD officer (potentially nameless in original Japanese?)

In the chapter Outlaw of Green, the beginning of the chapter starts out with Steven getting hot an heavy with a woman. We see him holding her chin as he leans in for a kiss while the next panel shows a USB drive in his hands. He kisses her against the wall as his right hand really seems to want to grab that USB while he pushes his right knee between her legs.

The next panel shows her hot and bothered as he kisses her as she is flushed. Suddenly, he pulls away thanking her for things coat already in his arm as she's surprised. He's already putting his jacket back on as he's almost out the hotel door. The next page is the transition where she's left looking hot and bothered as Steven strolls along the sidewalk. Based on how she's holding her blouse, I'd say someone needs to button it up . . .

Steven walks through the crowd with a cold yet neutral expression until walking right by Klaus in a car pulling out the USB and telling him that he 'got it.'

Do we know how long it took for him to get this close to her? No, but they'd clearly messed around if he was able to convince her to hand over classified information.

For the rest of Kekkai Sensen and then Back 2 Back we don't see a lot of "Seduction" Steven. Instead, he gets a lot more moral conflict grey area with the return of his squad to take care of Garrett and trying to figure out how to deal with the human-non-human pot being. The entire Calamity Auction arc doesn't give him a whole lot of time to chat up the ladies, instead adorably loaning an extra shirt and pants to K.K.

Woman who drugged his coffee

With Beat 3 Peat, it appears he's back to his previous habits of going after women who might have information as the first chapter starts out with him being drugged by a woman in either her office or apartment. Hard to tell with the decor really.

The fact that there are only two coffees implies that they are alone and he's collapsed on the floor. She informs him she'll be taking either a USB or some sort of information/monitoring device. Maybe what he was trying to get in the first place. It seems that she's up to no good and tells him (I guess as long as he doesn't die on the floor) he'll find out what happens and it is implied to be some sort of terrorist attack.

Interestingly, she mocks him saying it is a shame she can't hear his whining and swearing implying that she knew him well enough to figure she'd know how he'd react. However, he uses the Needles of Absolute Zero on her and then proceeds to lay on the floor for waaaaay to long before meeting up with the rest of the team. I had wondered after so many chapters of Steven not using his good looks this suddenly happened in the first chapter of Beat 3 Peat. But now, it makes sense as I think Nightow wanted to remind us of Steven's habit of using his body to get what he wants. He has made it clear, he will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals and he doesn't care if he plays dirty. Even though he hesitated in that sunrise conversation with Taihong Huang in Midnight Blue, he's still at the point where he sees his own feelings and morals as less important.

Which then makes sense when we get to the most recent chapter aptly named Saving Steven Starphase (from himself, really).

Birgit the Beyondian eco terrorist

The chapter starts off with Klaus along with Zapp and Zed taking major damage preventing a terrorist attack on the city. Steven drives K.K., Leo and Chain back from the hospital the team down three main members.

K.K. gives him shit about how he got the information to save the city and how he refuses to let others know about his questionable and dangerous methods. Likely also the fact he's sleeping his way to that answer . . . which wouldn't quite agree with the married sniper.

After the car is attacked an totaled, his phone is kicked out of his hands by Birgit, the leader of the eco-terrorists.

She starts off by calling him Carlos (again, what's with the lame fake names Steven!) and she captures him at least leaving the rest behind when he surrenders without a fight. On her helicopter where his feet are sealed in some sort of block, she spends four pages talking about how he used her and that she still has feelings for him, even though she knew he was the one who betrayed her! She's at one point on the verge of tears and blushing as she controls her emotions and he admits he's the type of person to do whatever it takes.

Yet, his smooth talking ways annoy her as he keeps up his sweet talking even when he's in a shoe block and his hands are tied. She decides since her plan failed, they should die together tossed in the the Eternal Hollow in the center of the city, cursed to keep falling until they die and she does it dramatically by kissing him while Chain gets quite upset. This is interesting since it is the reverse of our previous scene with Steven and Anne all the way back in Outlaw of Green.

I love this. She's holding his face with her hand as she gets to call the shots. Honestly, it would appear that this is not how Steven expected things to go. Which means that this might be the first time that he was out smarted by one of the women he used.

I find his internal monologue to be interesting as you can see that his emotions are torn stating that he was starting to feel pity for her but at the same time comes back to the fact that he protected the city and thousands of innocent lives. Steven A. Starphase, man of internal conflict.

What I found most hilarious is that when he thinks he's done for all he can do is see Klaus and the rest of the team apologizing to Klaus. I think it is safe to say that for the entire manga the person that Steven really really really cares about is Klaus. Yes, he cares for the rest of the Libra team and he respects them, but his relationship with Klaus is far deeper. Nightow, you can give us their backstory anytime. I mean, Steven is willing to sleep with women for Klaus among many other things.

Chain comes to his rescue both to save him as a Libra member but also due to her crush on him. Without missing a beat, he's over the moon that she's there to save him and lays on the praise pretty thick. Does he care that much about Chain? Eeeeeh hard to say, Steven is very good at telling people what they want to hear to do things. She's not only able to save him but also Chain saves Birgit as well.

When it is all said and done, Birgit approaches Chain to thank her for saving her life but also to remind her that the dinner with Steven is likely a thank you for saving his life. She already knows his moves which [sighs] means Chain should be a little careful.

As cute as Chain going on a dinner date with Steven is, it is one of those plot points where I hope he continues to be oblivious to her unrequited feelings. Steven is likely not going to turn over a new leaf and stop messing around with other women to get valuable intel.

I love Chain and I love Steven but I'm not a fan of them dating. My biggest issue it around the idea of dating your boss. I mean she's in the Werewolf Bureau; and she's got more than one boss, but behind Klaus, Steven can and does give her direct orders. I don't like the concept of dating your boss and the power imbalance; though Japanese media seems much less concerned about an early 20s woman ending up with a 30-something boss. I just don't get it.

Anyhoo, aside from my rant on why I don't like characters dating their bosses it is clear that Steven is truly Mr. tall, dark, and handsome and will not hesitate to use his body to get what he wants. Does it come at great risk? Yes, it does and this is our first case of it backfiring dramatically. Does he appear to have a thing for blondes? Perhaps. Though I am dying to know what color Birgit is and her hair color as well. We welcome a chaotic bisexual character and as I've already stated, I think we will see more of her as the story moves into the next direction.

I think back to the extra chapters when the DVDs for season one were released and Steven and K.K. have to discuss love and relationships. K.K.'s responses are adorable, very well thought out and honest about her own relationship. Steven - he pretty much says he's terrible for whomever he dates because his purpose is to find the best way to serve Libra and Klaus. A personal life isn't something that fits into his vision. K.K. drags him off to a bar saying that is terrible but really? We'll see if he actually changes his ways. Right now, since KKSS is not a romance and Nightow states he doesn't write romance, I'm gonna say Steven will continue to do Steven things.

#kekkai sensen #kekkai sensen meta #steven a starphase #steven a starphase is a manwhore #kekkai sensen beat 3 peat #kekkai sensen manga

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chibivesicle · 6 months

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Trigun character designs in Kekkai Sensen - mini meta

I keep telling myself I want to do some Beat 3 Peat meta but haven't really been in the mood. I'm quite curious where this third season is going but I don't want to get into hyper detailed analyses like I did with GK on a weekly basis b/c that was burnout inducing. But the most recent chapter Saving Steven Starphase was very much my jam. Steven, Chain, K.K. heavy and finally the appearance of Daniel as well. Though I have some feelings about the Chain crush on Steven but that is for another meta another time. I'm still going on my initial reaction but I was immediately really interested in the Beyondian eco-terrorist chaotic bisexual Birgit.

Her style is so good. The thigh high black boots, two-tone dress and the typical style we'd expect. Birgit has amazing mod/retro style and I felt like she was familiar.

When she approaches Chain to thank her awkwardly for saving her life, she is wearing another mod/1960s style outfit. A coat, mittens and pillbox hat.

And then my brain went 'waaaaiiiiii - pillbox hat. Duh.

Birgit's character design is taken from Trigun. Specifically, Elendira.

All of Elendira's outfits are that mix of retro (1960s) and mod. Their long light colored hair has a similar length and flow.

In this chapter alone, it shows that Birgit is passionate and has a jealous side. Elendira was also jealous of Legato, fighting with him over Knives attention. The fact that Birgit was 1.) saved by Chain 2.) thanked her 3.) has a huge crush on her makes me think that we might be seeing more of her. The possibilities to use any of the points can definitely add to future chapters. There is also the possibility that maybe she's changed her approach to things. Taking the time to show her thanking Chain is interesting storytelling and does remind me that even though Elendira was the toughest of the Gung-ho Guns she did occupy a unique perspective on Knives' side of things.

It is also interesting that the name Birgit (which I assumed was Bridget spelled oddly, and technically it is but the Scandinavian version of it). Apparently, the name means; exulted one, saver, rescuer and she was the one who was 'saved' in addition to the chapter title of Saving Steven Starphase.

#kekkai sensen #kekkai sensen meta #steven a starphase #birgit #kekkai sensen beat 3 peat #elendira the crimsonnail

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