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←Previous Post -- Next Post Duel 25 -- Their Eternal Apocalypse Or: Akio Literally Compares Himself To Lucifer And Utena Just Doesn’t Get It Before we get into discussing Part Two of the manga (entitled “To Plant”), because we’re also starting the third and final arc of the anime, a reminder to double-check the handy-dandy list of content warnings. Again, I’ll be sure to include the major ones in these posts proper -- for example: the end of this episode contains some questionable consent -- but that doesn’t mean it’s not a resource worth checking out should you need it. Part Two of the manga also has some questionable consent during the study-group section. The last part ended on a cliffhanger, though, so let’s resolve that first. I’ve mentioned before how the manga almost entirely erased Nanami from the story, and how her traits, specifically her obsession with Touga, were instead given to Juri. Chiho Saito has described this decision as wanting to slim down the story to its core characters, though it is still a decision that erases Juri’s lesbianism, which has received negative attention (to put it mildly). It also means that other events have been moved around. I compared Saionji attacking Utena at the end of Part One to Episode Nine where he does the same thing, but the resolution is closer to Episode Ten of the anime -- Touga thrusts himself in front of the blade, injuring himself but also endearing himself to Utena. The removal of Saionji also means that the power of Dios has to manifest during a different duel. Since Juri has inherited Nanami’s traits, it only follows that she would challenge Utena next, so here appears that particular duel. One might also notice that Juri isn’t blaming Anthy for Touga’s actions or injury, she’s blaming Utena. Anthy here is a means to an end and the end, again, is Touga, which now starts to borrow from anime Saionji’s motivation. Replacing obsession over Anthy with an obsession with Utena is also how Miki’s plot unfolds. The beginning is the same, with Miki and Utena bonding over their mutual distaste for the dueling game, and they even do the whole study group thing, but during a break where Utena is taking a nap, Miki goes go kiss Utena and is only stopped by Kozue entering the room. This is a moment that isn’t really commented on in the manga. Miki’s attraction isn’t even why he duels Utena, it’s his attachment to his sister and a desire to rescue her that motivates that. This leads into perhaps the actual theme of the manga: the question “Who are you protecting and why?” In doing so, it comes with an implicit assumption that everybody is either protected or protecting, which is certainly one way to go looking at the world, but at least it is starting to ask if those reasons are truly valid. Touga has been demonstrated to be clearly not in want of Juri’s protection, Miki desires to escape Kozue’s insistence on meddling with his relationships, and Utena, like her show counterpart, occasionally makes assumptions as to what Anthy really wants without asking. Utena is even willing to give Anthy up at one moment partially under the misguided belief that Anthy would still be happy with that. As for Touga, we’ll have to discover that in the next few parts. A hundred years ago in May 2020 there was a brief comment left on one of my statuses regarding this blog. I’ve screenshotted it and reproduced it here: One interpretation of Utena that I happen to like is tied to Carl Jung’s ideas, in fact. I won’t go too in-depth here regarding it, but here is the basic idea (I ask that you forgive me if I’m destructively reductive in my telling of them here): Jung argued that there are three parts of human consciousness: the persona, the shadow, and the self. The persona is the version of us that is presented to the world, the shadow is the repressed aspects that one may or may not be aware of, and the self is a synthesis of the two. If you’ve played or been made aware of Atlus’ Persona series, particularly Persona 4, which was very much about the conflict between Jung’s ideas of persona versus shadow, you might have a decent idea of at least the base concept. Utena has a similar read. Each member of the student council is involved in (at least) three duels, the first representing their persona, and largely has them stating outright what their motivations are, the second is by way of the black rose duelists, who they are in some way related to and start to draw out the baser notions behind their persona, and the final duel is the self -- the true reason. For example, let’s look at this episode’s duelist: Kyouichi Saionji. As we discussed before, Saionji’s initial challenge to Utena -- that is, the one in Episode Two where he is doing the challenging -- is based in a desire for power, both that he already has and that he seeks to attain. Anthy to him is a symbol of both of these things -- by winning the dueling game he demonstrates his power and his prize is even more. His shadow counterpart is Wakaba, who shares his desire to not be left behind. Wakaba’s is a more general sense while Saionji is particularly focused on his relationship with Touga and Touga’s machinations, but they both share that same theme. Possessing/killing Anthy in this case is a demonstration of their worth. The synthesis -- the self -- as this episode demonstrates, is Saionji desiring power over Touga. Saionji wants to do the one thing Touga could not: show the girl in the coffin something eternal, and he believes Anthy can be a conduit to that thing. These are all concepts we’ve talked about before, but here they are coming into full view. Elsewhere, it’s a new arc, which not only means a new rendition of “Absolute Destiny Apocalypse” and accompanying ascension to the dueling arena, but also A-ko and B-ko return from their trip to outer space, there’s a location change as Utena and Anthy move into Akio’s spacious chairman’s quarters, and even a new ending theme. Most significant, though, is the addition of a recurring segment, where Utena and Anthy reflect on the events thus far right as they are about to go to sleep. These serve the same purpose as Utena’s chats with Akio did during the previous arc, and even come with the same feelings of intimacy, just with a different sibling. A large portion of the rest of the show is going to be about this relationship triangle; and we’ll continue to explore it here as we go. -r Next time: You thought The Sunlit Garden was a two-parter, but you were wrong! ←Previous Post -- Link to Episode -- Next Post→

Card B My experience with Yugioh these days is in RPs (so basically nil) but I found Card B easier to grok, I guess? It makes a tuner, can find a tuner, and can synchro more things. While Card A does something similar, combining a lot of the things Agents already do, it doesn't scratch that same Melvin-y (mtg jargon) itch Card B does.

A chicken with lightning magic seemed too far-fetched for Chris, and the additional flair of the “singed eyebrows” description only got him to raise one of his own. He didn’t say anything, though, instead simply raising his glass along with everyone else. “To the future,” he echoed, before getting started on the massive plate set in front of him. Still, he couldn’t help but be a little distracted by the Knights of Froura who had taken a table on the far side of the inn. Maybe it was the hint of recognition he’d caught on Estellise’s face, maybe it was the fact that they were a little out of place in a bar like the Drooling Dragon (no offense to Hector, of course), either way, Chris focused his attention on them almost more than his duck. Some amount of paranoia got Chris wondering if they were there looking for him, and he tried to remember what work he’d done (recently, at least) that might have gotten him on their radar, but, remembering nothing, he resolved to just leave it and let the troublesome interactions come to him. The duck really was amazing, though. That was the sort of future he was fighting for too, the kind where he could have meals like this every day and not worry about how he was going to get them. He’d heard someone describe the outlook as “drinking wine without looking at the price,” which, yeah, Chris could go for some better drink at some point too. Right now, he still had Estellise to thank for that, but it wouldn’t be long now. He could sense it.

i'm too much of a coward to participate but i can provide two thousand (2000) points as a prize for the winner hope this helps

can i put a super crown on mine

Beauty*2 Whoever or whatever had removed Simon from Dia’s inner sanctum had not also removed his attendants, and yet, when Simon disappeared from their sight, they were not exactly concerned. One of them -- their name was Rose -- even remarked, “Ah, that was quick. I did not expect the fight to only last those few moments.” “You think it is over already?” the other, Gil, said. “There are very few ways I can think of for someone to disappear like that without the influence of a god’s will. In fact, I might even be able to guess as to who won.” “I imagine Nuumu’s dog wouldn’t bother with the snatching business. She would just tell us.” Rose nodded. “Mm. Well, I suppose we should try to follow him.” They paid a few brief respects to Dia for allowing them to use her sanctuary before coming back out to a completely empty temple. Even the girl, who had so boldly threatened Simon’s life just moments before had gone. There was a crowd gathering outside the temple, though, and Rose and Gil could just hear Simon giving a sermon. It was not like the ones they had heard him give before, though. “Is he pleading his case?” Gil said. “He could just be stalling for time.” Rose would have said more on the subject, but stopped short, distracted by light glinting off something on the ground. “Oh, look. Is that the sword that girl was using?” “Best return it to her.” Rose raised an eyebrow. “Oh? You do not think she will kill Simon with it?” “I think he will be dead before she gets the chance,” Gil said. “And it is a nice sword. Nobody wants a sword like that getting lost. At the very least, let us take it with us.” Soft Power “I will do my best,” Aiden had told Kitt, and yet, he had never had a high opinion of “his best” with regards to dealing with the religious council. Not recently, anyway. His last few attempts to get through to Levanna had been rebuffed, and his attempts with the other members of the council -- the few times he managed to find them -- had largely gone just as well. Even Elliot, the man Aiden had had the most hope in, had given him nothing more than an “I’m with you, and I’ll be sure to fight for this at the next meeting,” which, given that nothing ever seemed to come from said meetings, actually felt worse in Aiden’s mind. At least Thomas and Mercy simply refused to speak to him. Still, this was a watchdog’s order. Just because he didn’t believe in himself didn’t mean he couldn’t try. The guards outside the room, though, had other ideas. “The council is in session right now, and are not to be disturbed,” they said, a phrase that was already bad enough but they also added, “especially by you,” which, well, was that really necessary? Aiden pressed on. “A watchdog of Taros has requested the council’s presence in the Temple Square,” he said. “I am merely the messenger, come to collect them.” That, at least, got the guard to pause. To waver, even, and soon enough, they were peeking their head through the door, even giving it a slight knock to get the attention of those inside. Aiden heard the chatter of the council cease and his words repeated by the guard into the chamber. “A request?” Aiden could hear Thomas’ voice from within the chamber. “I am not going to move to adjourn our meeting due to a request. If he wants to discuss Simon Weatherson, tell him we were just about to discuss his matter further before this interruption.” “They might kill him!” Aiden shouted back. There was a long pause, but Thomas did eventually respond. “Well, we will certainly factor that into our discussion.” It was the expected answer, even one he was used to, but Aiden found it disappointing all the same. Still, he gave a polite nod to the guard and turned to make his way back. Destroy Everything You Touch Emily felt nothing watching Simon Weatherson collapse dead on the ground. She had wanted him dead, after all. The fact that it was not by her hand stung a little, but it really only affected her personal sense of pride. But it was still performed by a watchdog, which meant that the gods -- or a god, at least -- had still performed the deed in her stead. It was the closest to her doing it, in her eyes, almost as if they were an extension of her in addition to the god they represented. Besides that, the only other feeling Emily experienced was one of reinvigoration. At least, she felt confident enough to try walking again. Which just so happened to be when Nuumu’s watchdog pointed over at her and said, “Bring this girl to Taros’ temple, would you?” There was more, but that was all Emily needed to hear to understand. Now came the consequences. It wasn’t that Emily had been entirely ignorant of the consequences of stealing what was likely a ceremonial sword and using it in her vengeance quest, it was just that she had decided thinking about such things outside of tacit acknowledgment that they existed was detrimental to the actual plan. They’d been distractions, things to brush aside. So yes, only now that they were concrete were they something to be feared, and even then, what regrets did she have? Whatever came next, she could at least know that her parents could rest a little easier. But she did not follow just yet, even as people were gesturing for her to do so. She still had to do things properly, Emily thought, and that meant that she would need the sword with her to return. And again, just as she thought this, she found something cool and metal being pressed against her back. She turned her head and saw a figure she felt she was supposed to recognize, even if she could not quite place from where. In their hands was a sword. The sword, rather. “You had best hold on to this,” they said. “At least, for the time being.” Emily took the sword from them, nodded, and watched as they disappeared back into the crowd, before turning back around and dutifully following behind the man she was supposed to. Fighting In Built Up Areas Simon Weatherson was dead. Aiden did not even need to actually see the body to know that -- he could tell by the way the crowd was slowly and silently dispersing. Still, he pushed through against the current to the gap in the center, desperate to see for himself. He immediately regretted it. Death was not Aiden’s department. The closest it had been was when an acolyte managed to get a rather nasty burn, and even that was not something he preferred thinking about. Even then, there had been little blood, mostly charred flesh (and also the acolyte had survived, albeit minus that arm). Here, the blood was already seeping into the cobblestone. And yet, his first thought was, “We should probably clean this up before the mess gets any worse.” He even said it out loud. With what, though? With the little water they had? But at the same time, Lar was god of the hearth, and what was the Temple Square if not a hearth for all of Galatea? It very well may be his duty to maintain it, Aiden reasoned, even more so than the other temples. He spotted an acolyte of his leaving the crowd, and he called out to them. “Fetch one of our water barrels and a scrub. The body, I imagine, we will have to leave in the care of Nuumu, but the blood we can take care of.” The Last One Standing Rose and Gil looked on, neither moving from their spot at the edge of the crowd. Simon Weatherson was dead, but there was no time to mourn. In fact, they had listened intently as Nuumu’s watchdog continued to plead a case that was decidedly pro-the dead man lying on the ground. “You may have escalated a problem I was trying to fix diplomatically,” she said, which got Gil to nod. “But we are not going to escalate, are we?” Rose said. “Not against watchdogs, certainly.” “I do not think so. But we should definitely do something.” “I have to go see if I can’t find someone else willing to tell me more about the void after this scene Hinder's watchdog made,” the watchdog said. “Ah.” “Yes,” Gil said. “You return the sword and I will start after her. Do try to catch up, though. I might miss you in the meantime.” OOC

beta yoshi is my child and i will not have you disparaging them

Oh, Makoto had won. Peter had to admit to himself that he hadn’t really been paying attention; his most recent distraction had been Hana latching onto Terry, trying to get her to elucidate her opinions on the match more forcefully than Peter thought necessary. Even worse was when Hana leered at him (or as close as Peter had ever seen Hana get to leering), a move that could only lead Peter to assume he was next to be shaken down. He scooched his seat away from them, but only a little. It was probably a useless gesture -- any distance could be assumed to be negligible with Hana involved, really -- but the idea behind the action still mattered to him. He also tried to focus on other things, like Makoto walking back to the rest of the team and David moving to replace her. “Nice job, Makoto” and “Go get ‘em, David,” were things that came out of his mouth in those moments, though his mind was still elsewhere. He tried to follow along, too, when the duel actually started, but he kept making offhand glances over to Hana and Terry on the bench, and he continued to scoot away each time. Peter did pay enough attention to watch David nearly halve his opponent’s life, total, though, and he did clap along for that. “One or two more attacks, just like that, David,” he said.