omg a real day off!
Jul. 3rd, 2005 03:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
insanenekoI love not having to do anything. ^____^ I need more days like this.
In any case, more Mirage rambling. This time it truly ended up being a ramble. :P I don't feel like organizing so I'm just posting as is. I've been writing it on and off for the last couple of days but haven't had the time to post. :P
Heh, I feel much better now. Naoe did get some of what he deserved, wonderfully dished up by Kagetora. Naoe and Kagetora get into a scuffle with some young samurai, which is only resolved when Kagetora, angry, basically shames and scares off the samurai with the power of his charisma. Afterwards, Naoe is full of confusion and doubt. He had always thought that Kagetora was simply a pampered princling, without any true merit, but he had just been shown a man of great presence. The samurai weren't scared off by Kagetora's rank (as they don't even know it's him), nor overwhelmed by his physical beauty (as his current body is nowhere as stunningly gorgeous as his original one), but by his charisma and presence. Naoe realizes that though he prided himself for his ability to see through people, he had allowed his prejudices and preconceptions to cloud his view of Kagetora. Then he gets another rude awakening when Kagetora shows that he has seen through Naoe's weakness of character. He states that Naoe's words have no heart behind them. Naoe simply follows the "form" in his words and actions without true feeling. Kagetora states that Naoe is like a doll, and that he can't trust a man who doesn't speak from his heart. Naoe has flashbacks to some words a woman (probably his wife?) had said to him, that he has no heart and that it was like she was being held (made love to) by a doll and she couldn't feel anything. And Naoe, filled with morfication and anger, thinks how he can't forgive Kagetora for seeing through him, for not submitting even in defeat, for staring unwavering at him (Yes, anger! Anger leads to passion leads to obession leads to psychosis! Go down the merry road of insanity, it's better than what you have now!)
Of course, Kagetora later realizes that he had never true opened his heart to anyone either, and had simply played the part of Kenshin's son. He wonders if that was why those who had been his allies had left him. What a bitter pill to swallow. :P
In any case, after that my fierce annoyance for Naoe calmed down and I was able to read the novels without the constant desire to spork him. But then Kagetora's incessant jabs at Naoe about how he hasn't forgiven him or Kagekatsu started getting old. The problem with them right now is that they are still way too hung up on their previous lives. It grates on my nerves somewhat. So when especially Kagetora is shown how much his existence in and of itself was pretty meaningless to a lot of people, I feel both really bad for him and glad that he's being shaken out of his stupid tunnel vision. To the average person it doesn't matter who's in charge as long as they aren't exceptionally good or bad, and in the Sengoku period, whether they are strong enough to prevent invasion. The details are insignificant to one who is struggling to survive. That message gets slammed into Kagetora over and over and over again. Naoe isn't as affected by it, except when he is resentful of the fact that life has moved on without him and he can't help but feel jealous at the living.
A couple of things tickled me: Haruie revealed as the "big bad guy" behind the nefarious plot behind the scheme our intrepid heros are trying to thwart in part 2. I didn't realize that Naoe had ordered Haruie's assassination when the Otate no Ran started. The hatred was surprising but kind of cool. I'm too used to Haruie's Ayako personality, much more bubbly. Okay, I'll confess that it's just odd with Haruie as a man. But it was kind of cool that he was willing to betray Kenshin in order to topple Kagekatsu and have Kagetora rule. Go evil Haruie! Too bad (?) Naoe kicked his ass. :P
Also, Kagetora serving a fake "Kagetora" as a body servant. He and Naoe infiltrate an organization headed by a "Kagetora" who hadn't died but had burned his face and escaped. "Kagetora" takes a liking to him and has him serve. Kagetora is taken aback when "Kagetora" comments that he must have served a high-ranking family since he knew how to do things correcly--he had simply been doing the things that had been done for him his entire life. I like the "I suck" moment when Kagetora is trying to do laundry and realizes he doesn't know how because he had never done it. ^_^ What I wanted to know was why Naoe, who later sees his pathetic state and takes over doing the laundry, knows how. Isn't he high-ranking as well (if not as high-ranking)?
One annoying thing is how often it's mentioned that Kagetora was drop dead gorgeous in life. I actually didn't realize he was that celebrated a beauty, but how often that is mentioned are just so damn excessive. :P The first time it was mentioned, in book 1, it was actually kind of funny. It was back when Kagetora was still a vengeful spirit and wrecking havoc among the living. Apparently he was showing up and killing Kagekatsu's retainers. Everyone was scared, but this blind dude who was recounting the terrible events comments that women would want him to show up in their bedrooms since he was supposed to have been stunning.
The odd thing is that I can't imagine a Kagetora who was refined and elegant and stunningly beautiful. I mean, my impression was that Kagetora tends to be called "beautiful" because of the force of his personality, the air around him, not necessarily that he was physically overwhelmingly beautiful. And he does't come across as refined and elegant in a courtly manner as opposed to the more country demeanor of the Echigo samurai...certainly "noble" in his bearing, but...I can't quite express what I want to say. In any case, after 400 years Kagetora seems to have become quite a bit down to earth in his manners. I would assume the Yashashu mostly possessed bodies of low ranking people as those are the ones that can move around freely.
It's fascinating seeing how raw and unhealed they are following their deaths. It's only natural, yes, but I'm used to a Yashashu a bit more detached from their roots. They are so angry over their deaths (well, at least Naoe, Kagetora and Haruie are--Irobe seems to have gotten over any anger he may have had and haven't seen Nagahide yet--speaking of which, I wonder what kind of personality does the Nagahide of 400 years has...). One nice thing is that they speak in modern Japanese in the main series, while in the prequels they speak lovely older style Japanese. ^__^
I'm sad that since I don't have part 3 of the prequels I have to stop reading now. ;_; Gads, I'm a fool.
In any case, more Mirage rambling. This time it truly ended up being a ramble. :P I don't feel like organizing so I'm just posting as is. I've been writing it on and off for the last couple of days but haven't had the time to post. :P
Heh, I feel much better now. Naoe did get some of what he deserved, wonderfully dished up by Kagetora. Naoe and Kagetora get into a scuffle with some young samurai, which is only resolved when Kagetora, angry, basically shames and scares off the samurai with the power of his charisma. Afterwards, Naoe is full of confusion and doubt. He had always thought that Kagetora was simply a pampered princling, without any true merit, but he had just been shown a man of great presence. The samurai weren't scared off by Kagetora's rank (as they don't even know it's him), nor overwhelmed by his physical beauty (as his current body is nowhere as stunningly gorgeous as his original one), but by his charisma and presence. Naoe realizes that though he prided himself for his ability to see through people, he had allowed his prejudices and preconceptions to cloud his view of Kagetora. Then he gets another rude awakening when Kagetora shows that he has seen through Naoe's weakness of character. He states that Naoe's words have no heart behind them. Naoe simply follows the "form" in his words and actions without true feeling. Kagetora states that Naoe is like a doll, and that he can't trust a man who doesn't speak from his heart. Naoe has flashbacks to some words a woman (probably his wife?) had said to him, that he has no heart and that it was like she was being held (made love to) by a doll and she couldn't feel anything. And Naoe, filled with morfication and anger, thinks how he can't forgive Kagetora for seeing through him, for not submitting even in defeat, for staring unwavering at him (Yes, anger! Anger leads to passion leads to obession leads to psychosis! Go down the merry road of insanity, it's better than what you have now!)
Of course, Kagetora later realizes that he had never true opened his heart to anyone either, and had simply played the part of Kenshin's son. He wonders if that was why those who had been his allies had left him. What a bitter pill to swallow. :P
In any case, after that my fierce annoyance for Naoe calmed down and I was able to read the novels without the constant desire to spork him. But then Kagetora's incessant jabs at Naoe about how he hasn't forgiven him or Kagekatsu started getting old. The problem with them right now is that they are still way too hung up on their previous lives. It grates on my nerves somewhat. So when especially Kagetora is shown how much his existence in and of itself was pretty meaningless to a lot of people, I feel both really bad for him and glad that he's being shaken out of his stupid tunnel vision. To the average person it doesn't matter who's in charge as long as they aren't exceptionally good or bad, and in the Sengoku period, whether they are strong enough to prevent invasion. The details are insignificant to one who is struggling to survive. That message gets slammed into Kagetora over and over and over again. Naoe isn't as affected by it, except when he is resentful of the fact that life has moved on without him and he can't help but feel jealous at the living.
A couple of things tickled me: Haruie revealed as the "big bad guy" behind the nefarious plot behind the scheme our intrepid heros are trying to thwart in part 2. I didn't realize that Naoe had ordered Haruie's assassination when the Otate no Ran started. The hatred was surprising but kind of cool. I'm too used to Haruie's Ayako personality, much more bubbly. Okay, I'll confess that it's just odd with Haruie as a man. But it was kind of cool that he was willing to betray Kenshin in order to topple Kagekatsu and have Kagetora rule. Go evil Haruie! Too bad (?) Naoe kicked his ass. :P
Also, Kagetora serving a fake "Kagetora" as a body servant. He and Naoe infiltrate an organization headed by a "Kagetora" who hadn't died but had burned his face and escaped. "Kagetora" takes a liking to him and has him serve. Kagetora is taken aback when "Kagetora" comments that he must have served a high-ranking family since he knew how to do things correcly--he had simply been doing the things that had been done for him his entire life. I like the "I suck" moment when Kagetora is trying to do laundry and realizes he doesn't know how because he had never done it. ^_^ What I wanted to know was why Naoe, who later sees his pathetic state and takes over doing the laundry, knows how. Isn't he high-ranking as well (if not as high-ranking)?
One annoying thing is how often it's mentioned that Kagetora was drop dead gorgeous in life. I actually didn't realize he was that celebrated a beauty, but how often that is mentioned are just so damn excessive. :P The first time it was mentioned, in book 1, it was actually kind of funny. It was back when Kagetora was still a vengeful spirit and wrecking havoc among the living. Apparently he was showing up and killing Kagekatsu's retainers. Everyone was scared, but this blind dude who was recounting the terrible events comments that women would want him to show up in their bedrooms since he was supposed to have been stunning.
The odd thing is that I can't imagine a Kagetora who was refined and elegant and stunningly beautiful. I mean, my impression was that Kagetora tends to be called "beautiful" because of the force of his personality, the air around him, not necessarily that he was physically overwhelmingly beautiful. And he does't come across as refined and elegant in a courtly manner as opposed to the more country demeanor of the Echigo samurai...certainly "noble" in his bearing, but...I can't quite express what I want to say. In any case, after 400 years Kagetora seems to have become quite a bit down to earth in his manners. I would assume the Yashashu mostly possessed bodies of low ranking people as those are the ones that can move around freely.
It's fascinating seeing how raw and unhealed they are following their deaths. It's only natural, yes, but I'm used to a Yashashu a bit more detached from their roots. They are so angry over their deaths (well, at least Naoe, Kagetora and Haruie are--Irobe seems to have gotten over any anger he may have had and haven't seen Nagahide yet--speaking of which, I wonder what kind of personality does the Nagahide of 400 years has...). One nice thing is that they speak in modern Japanese in the main series, while in the prequels they speak lovely older style Japanese. ^__^
I'm sad that since I don't have part 3 of the prequels I have to stop reading now. ;_; Gads, I'm a fool.