dangermousie: (LC 2 by autumn_yaar)
[personal profile] dangermousie
I had a really long, hard weekend (I worked straight through it, finishing around 5am last night) so when I tell you that despite complete lack of sleep, I am totally looking forward to finally watching more of Beautiful Life in the evening, you know how much I love it.

LOVE.



I love the sense of joy that Shuji and Kyoko have together. Even before they fall in love, they interact the way good friends with: they build a friendship. I love the repeated bit with him running with her wheelchair, turning her disability into something that is ‘cool’ that is sort of special in a good way as it makes her go faster, makes them both have fun. (Though of course, throughout we get voice overs a sure sign of doom. Not to mention the fact that she has to take meds. Dooooomed).

I really really love Kyoko who is both strong and vulnerable, prickly and open. That discussion she has with her friend about not falling in love because she doesn’t want to be hurt is so her in a nutshell. She is afraid to dream but she wants to. She is wistful but not self-pitying.

But huh! We all know it. She is going to fall in love with Shuji. In fact, she already has. I love Shuji so so much. And no, not just for the fact that when he smiles, his whole face transforms (though Kimura, please stop smoking. You are too awesome to die young). He has his own demons, doesn’t he? And just like Kyoko he suppresses them. They are so suited to each other: both not really into social niceties, but straightforward and quirky. I really love the scene in the cafeteria, where they are both grumpy but companionable (when he helps her with her order because a cart is blocking her way with a ‘who left it there’ but then doesn’t really look up when she sits next to him). I actually like the fact that he is somewhat unsocial (though this is what dooms him in his professional life) because it means that when he does things for Kyoko, it is not automatic meaningless politeness but because he really views her as normal, and being with her as good, and helping her as right.

But yeah, his problems? (And I am not talking about the evil other stylist who steals his design). I love that scene in the library, with his mother (what is it with Kimura and bad mothers?) where she hasn’t seen him for years but she doesn’t even hug him or anything but expresses her disappointment over his choice of job. And Kyoko overhears it because she brought his folder back (and I wonder if she thinks of the fact that she is handicapped but has a loving family, so there are tradeoffs for everything). And he sees she saw and walks out. With a family like that, I wonder how he is so open? And then I wonder if he is only really open to Kyoko because somehow they just click.

I love the scene at the ramen place at night, where she and her friend are eating and he happens to be there (and her awesome matchmaker friend just leaves). Kyoko, full of ‘awkward,’ pays and leaves and Shuji is ignoring her, but then..all of a sudden, Shuji is right there (he must have really gulped his food), pushing her wheelchair and she says she can do it herself and he says “yeah, but it's easier when someone helps.” OMG. That's my view on relationships in nutshell and I really do think this is generally more than about wheelchairs. I died a little from squee at the pushing.

I really love the scene that follows: he asks if they can go rest and she misinterprets (heeee), but it's just in the park for him to smoke and them talk and i love how he reveals about his family and the disappointment they have in him not being a doctor like the rest of the family. I wonder if they click, why they are drawn to each other is because they are lonely, rather reserved people (behind the façade they are good at keeping things to themselves) who somehow have no barriers with each other. I love how earlier, she stops and looks at the display of these really impractical red shoes.

The RED SHOES. When she admits to him she covets those red shoes (so impractical, so normal girl!), but she can't go in because she's not brave enough to go into a shoe store in her wheelchair. And it's something she can't even tell her best friend (when she sees those have been moved or sold or whatever). She hides her disappointment and interest even from her. But not from Shuji. I just love how they have no masks on at all, with each other, or defenses (as see above, when he tells her about how disappointed his doctor family is in him. You know, he really is too nice for his cut-throat job, he is rather still in possession of his innocence and impracticality).

Oh, did I mention that she talks to him about being handicapped and how she never could date normal guys because of it. Because everything is and obstacle and it might not bug guy but it bugs her. I just love their vibe of deep friendship there.

And I also love that the drama does not drag out issues or what not. I love the scene where she unexpectedly drops by his apartment in the morning only to see his ex-gf who he had a one-night-stand with leave with him (and OMG, the camera focuses on ex-gf’s legs). And she tries to get back into the car, and her food (that she brought for them) falls in a sad little heap and he notices her and OMG…the look on his face. It is worth to see the drama just for the look on his face, which holds so many emotions, I have no idea how to describe them, where to start. And he completely disregards the ex and they have a surreal conversation about how it’s still OK to eat the food as some of it’s not ruined and why there is no raw egg there. Gosh, he is such a kid.

And I love how later she wants to help him (because she sees him so exhausted, working, and OMG the adorableness of her watching him, unknown to him, with his morning coffee, yawning, until other cars honk at her) and she and her friend spend their day off buying magazines and recording bits of movies and making a folder with pics of people on the street. And she comes to give it to him and his jealous ex throws a fit and says that she shouldn’t use wheelchair to get attention (die!) and OMG OMG OMG. Shuji slaps her. YES. But then Kyoko tells him to go after the ex who ran out and he does (after a pause) because they were friends, besides the sex. And they have a low key conversation which just makes me think all over again about how much I like the drama because the ex is not an evil k-drama other girl, but someone who might be lashing out but is understandable. And Shuji muses out loud that he isn’t in love with Kyoko but we all know it’s wrong. And that is where I left off.

In other news, to reward self for being productive, I bought a bunch of manga today, including the first two volumes of Fruits Basket (what is it with the name??? It put me off for years.) So far I am about a third of the first volume in and I love it. I’ve only met Tohru (who I’d want to be like when I grow up only I am grown up. She is rather like Miaka in her cheerfulness, only with better cooking abilities, and rather more self-sufficient :D) and Yuki, who I really really like, and Yuki’s dark haired older cousin who he lives with, whose name I am blanking on, who is sex-on-a-stick looking. But, [livejournal.com profile] meganbmoore, no Kyo yet.

And I finished vol. 13 of Ayashi No Ceres (semi-shirtless intense Toya on the cover? droooool). It was a Toya-less volume and went into necessary but not too 'I am into it' story of Ceres and the Progenitor. But OMG! Toya is back at the end. And I am a girly girl but I cried when Shuro died. Or when Aya missed Toya. Yeah. I was in public, too.

oh SHIGERU.

Date: 2007-02-26 10:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] calledinvain.livejournal.com
Shigeru, is the baka older cousin/guardian we all wished we could have. He's sort of the proverbial dirty old man character, but he's so HILARIOUS, that it comes off more clueless instead of being perverted.

Fruits Basket has a very sweet story behind the name, actually.

Re: oh SHIGERU.

Date: 2007-02-26 11:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dangermousie.livejournal.com
LOL. I dunno if I'd want him for a guardian. I think he is kinda hot. /demented.

I really like it so far.

Furuba FTW!!!

Date: 2007-02-26 11:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lydzi.livejournal.com
I'm so glad you're beginning Fruit Basket! You'll se ehow perfect and enjoyable is this shojo!! How everything is perfect in it!

Re: Furuba FTW!!!

Date: 2007-02-26 11:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dangermousie.livejournal.com
I held out against it for the longest time because the name made me think of a gardening magazine, but OMG. So cute. And funny and awesome.

Date: 2007-02-26 11:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] stardreemer.livejournal.com
I love Fruits Basket! The name really threw me at first, but it's actually really cute why it is named that. I love Kyo! He is awesome. The series just gets better and better.

Date: 2007-02-26 11:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dangermousie.livejournal.com
Haven't met Kyo yet but I know [livejournal.com profile] meganbmoore is a fan and she has yummy taste :)

OMG! Your icon is entirely too hot.

Date: 2007-02-26 11:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meganbmoore.livejournal.com
When it comes to FB, I LIVE for Kyo...and then Haru.

Date: 2007-02-27 12:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dangermousie.livejournal.com
Haru? I like the name (it's the name of the main male character in Pride, afer all).

Date: 2007-02-27 12:07 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meganbmoore.livejournal.com
I thought that was Halu? Or something...

Haru is short for Hatsuharu...there's White Haru, who's nice and caring and considerate but with a sarcastic streak, and then there's Black Haru, who's loud, violent, borderline sadistic and can only be "controlled" by picking fights with Kyo(about the only one who can keep up with him) or subdued by Yuki(who he idolizes and has a mild asexual crush on) Though I think Tohru would have the same affect on him as Yuki, in recent books.

There is one scene where he has to prove his hair color that is awesome beyond words. Hmm...someone posted scans from the scene...I can find them if you want.

Date: 2007-02-27 12:24 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dangermousie.livejournal.com
I don't think the Japanese have the letter 'l' or 'r' but in between so I think Halu=Haru. But hey, whatever :)

Ooooh, ooooh, pics!

Date: 2007-02-27 12:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meganbmoore.livejournal.com
*goes hunting*

Date: 2007-02-26 11:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meganbmoore.livejournal.com
The name put me off when FB was recced to me, too. There's actually a good rason for the name, though...I think it gets explained in the first few volumes. *pencils in FB reread before basara reread, since you got it first*

Don't worry, NO ONE ever remembers the older cousin's name, even if he's their favorite character...he's just the hot cousin with the schoolgirl fetish who writes and wears kimonos.

Kyo won't show up until towards the end of vol 1. The first few books, it looks like it's more likely to be Yuki/Tohru than Tohru/Kyo, which frustrated me because I was Tohru/Kyo from the start. I'm not sure if the mangaka originally meant for it to be Yuki/Tohru or didnt decide for a bit, but it's definately Tohru/Kyo. But fear not, Yuki gets his own OTP eventually, and even though it looks like it, there's no heartbreak for him...he sees her more as a mother than a potential girlfriend.

Date: 2007-02-27 12:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dangermousie.livejournal.com
Yeah, the name is so odd. Glad to hear there is an explanation. It's funny, because I went googling, and I know Kyo/Tohru ends up being the OTP, so I was rather amused at her saying (on first meeting Yuki + hot cousin) that the cat is her favorite in the zodiac. Heee. Glad to hear Yuki gets an OTP though because I do like him a lot. He is not drawn as 'hot' (too boyish for me) but he is a neat character.

Date: 2007-02-27 12:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meganbmoore.livejournal.com
Yeah...I clung to that line like a madwoman in the early books, before I felt secure in my OTP. Yuki actually took me a bit of time to warm up to, but I'm rather fond of him. His OTP won't show up for a good while, though.

As far as Yuki's looks...have you met his fanclub? He also has classmates who live to get him to crossdress.

Date: 2007-02-27 12:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dangermousie.livejournal.com
So far I've been very lucky with the OTPs in manga/drama/anime. All the ones I like work out (well, sometimes by work out it means 'and they freeze to death together, isn't it sweet' but hey, you take what you can get). Yeah, I met the fanclub. He's too girly for me look-wise but I do like him :D

Date: 2007-02-27 12:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meganbmoore.livejournal.com
*stares @ the empty comment*

Date: 2007-02-27 12:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dangermousie.livejournal.com
LOL. You rendered me speechless? :D Nah, LJ acted up funny. I reposted it.

Date: 2007-02-27 12:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meganbmoore.livejournal.com
Yeah, I USUALLY pick the right one...it's rare when I don't.

And i know what you mean about the dying. (Have I mentioned that even a happy ending spoiler hasn't kept me from being terrified of the final volumes of Basara?)

Looking for the Haru pages now.

Date: 2007-02-27 12:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dangermousie.livejournal.com
So far I've been very lucky with the OTPs in manga/drama/anime. All the ones I like work out (well, sometimes by work out it means 'and they freeze to death together, isn't it sweet' but hey, you take what you can get). Yeah, I met the fanclub. He's too girly for me look-wise but I do like him :D

Haru pages

Date: 2007-02-27 12:38 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meganbmoore.livejournal.com
And heeeeeeere we go for Haru pages:

http://community.livejournal.com/scans_daily/2911895.html#cutid1

PLUS! Shigure(hot cousin) Ayame(Yuki's awesome brother) their Keeper Hatori(another hot cousin) Incidentally, Shigure and Ayame are both straight, but live to pretend otherwise...mostly to disconcert Yuki and attempt to phase Hatori.

http://community.livejournal.com/scans_daily/2841494.html#cutid1

Re: Haru pages

Date: 2007-02-27 05:51 am (UTC)

Date: 2007-02-27 01:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] miss-dian.livejournal.com
Heeeeeeeeee. I loved your meta :)

though Kimura, please stop smoking. You are too awesome to die young
I so agree. I think this is the only thing that bothers me about Kimura. I've never seen a dorama of his in which he doesn't smoke. Eeek.

Date: 2007-02-27 05:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dangermousie.livejournal.com
I am addicted to BL.

Kimura must be a chain smoker. Yikes.

Date: 2007-02-27 04:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tatterpunk.livejournal.com
GODDAMMIT YOU ARE MAKING ME WANT TO WATCH THIS AGAIN.

AND FINISH IT THIS TIME.

I DO NOT KNOW IF I COULD HANDLE THAT.

*cries*

Date: 2007-02-27 05:53 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dangermousie.livejournal.com
It is soooo good. *tempts* But I don't know how I'll be able to bear the angst.

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