I also want to know your opinion on my and Airlynx's conversation, if you want to add something. I'm also afraid of projecting myself too much on my analysis, admittedly. So whenever you don't agree with something, please give me a cyber poke.
((also, my shipper heart feels sad and feels like 'I'm a no good person for shipping them when it's doing Seishin no good' but my other side is terribly thrilled with all the fun metaing and goes 'I love this wrecked up imperfect relationship haha keep it coming'))
Tbh Toshio/Ritsuko is probably a better option for Toshio too. Thread Reply to this Thread Hide 2 comments Show 2 comments no subject sinnesspiel 2014-11-26 03:22 pm (UTC)(link) I've followed it a bit, but didn't want to jump in too much, since I think I've expressed my take on both characters to both of you pretty extensively, and I like to see where other people go with completely different directions. I do so love the pair and its fucked-uppedness. But since you asked, I don't really think it's "no good" to Seishin--Ozaki's pushy, but he's not running Seishin over with this. He is giving his reasoning and as indecisive as Seishin is, he admits to himself several times that he can't argue it, not because he's too mild or meek but because he has no counter. We'd seen him in fact coldly slap down Ozaki when he thought he was withholding info from the government unprofessionally--he is definitely NOT Ozaki's puppet even if he might be the rest of the village's to some extent. Ozaki is frankly the most honest relationship he has. As pushy as Ozaki is, it's also been established that Ozaki knows and expects Seishin can argue his own damned point if he has one. Whenever he senses hesitation, he even pushes him for it, perhaps not out of care for Seishin but to prove himself right, but we also know that later, as passionate as Ozaki is, he doesn't personally hate Seishin and respects that he came to his stupid assed decision by a logic that makes sense to Seishin.
While the village is afraid to touch him, eccentric, sensitive weirdo he is, Ozaki acknowledges that part of him he doesn't understand, but he will push at it when it needs it. Ozaki is that type of character; he will push where it needs it. Surprisingly, so is Seishin--he'll push with the Ohtsuka's, suddenly, surprisingly, snapping on the importance of following "your own" religion.
I think they're terrible people, but at least in terms of what I consider 'good' for people, at this stage of the story I really think they're good for each other in terms of mutual respect. They're bad for each other in terms of incompatible views, lifestyles, but the way they don't fall into "team us vs. team them" on a personal level even while that's emphasized as such a strong human trait in this story, while that's such a driving factor in so many plot threads, even while they BOTH take that thought process on so many other things really speaks to the strength and nature of their bond.
Sunako on the other hand is convenient for Seishin perhaps more than she is 'good' for him. Such a well timed attack, really; he can't hide from marriage and family or the disappointment of not providing them forever. She's the convenient proof that someone can live outside of the domain of common sense; he believes killing is never justified outside of defense but Sunako's side is NOT just killing out of necessity. Still, humanity might accept them on some level, so they should have the requirement to TRY, just as Seishin holds the human side to that standard of only killing when attacked. Seeing both sides as slaughtering for their own species' convenience, he picks the Shiki because they have 'guilt' about it or because they're victims being in a state to need such a thing? That reeks of the SJW 'prejudice + power' argument. How convenient that he can now "fight the power" with her and the Shiki that he's never been able to justify fighting for his own purposes before. I'll have to keep reading to see if I can grant him the same assumption of really just believing his logic is right that Ozaki does, myself. Right now I think he had an end he wanted (either for himself or for Sunako or both) and let the justification twist itself to get him to that end... but that's an easy thing to think when so diametrically opposed to his thoughts, too. "Nobody could REALLY think that, not if they were honest with themselves."
Nope, I don't think Toshio's able to take care of himself. Out of all the characters, I worry about him the most. He's the most self-sacrificing character, or perhaps self-neglecting is more correct. If I were there, I'd seriously nag him to eat more, catch more sleep... his smoking habit is more personal and I'll probably get too far if I try to nag him about that, but if I can manage to be a good friend I likely will. Thread Reply to this Thread from start Parent