branchandroot | PoT: Mirror Writing: Ripple

Entry tags:

PoT: Mirror Writing: Ripple

Fic post from my archive.

The day after the events of "Twist", Ryouma tries to sort out his thoughts. Drama With Slight Romance, I-3

Ryouma snorted a laugh. If he ever admitted to Momo that his protective streak made Ryouma feel better, he'd be doomed. Probably for life. Momo would never again believe Ryouma was serious when he grumbled or swatted Momo away.

Threaded | Flat

...

I will *not* get all sniffly at work, damn it. [growls at self]

Thank you for putting very clearly into words why I sometimes despise myself for liking Nanjirou (much like I despise myself for liking Saionji... but that's a whole 'nother can of worms right there). He's such a goofy perv that it's very simple to lose sight of what it is he appears to be doing with Ryouma--which is not being a father to the kid.

[grumbles to self about Nanjirou Echizen]

Oi, have you seen the 00 manga, with Nanjirou-in-America, and toddler-Ryouma?

I hate it that I can't stay mad at Tezuka. I really do. *wilts, then perks up with a grin* "High school girls! High school girls!"

Hm. I wonder if Nanjiroh just doesn't know HOW to be a good dad. Like, you get scenes where he's watching Ryouma play and you can tell, when something interesting happens, that he's pleased with Ryouma, but he never really says, "Yo! Good job!" And when it comes to personal relationships, as with Ryouma and Sakuno, you know he... cares? is interested in? how Ryouma deals with girls, he just never expresses it unless it's in the form of teasing.

...Geez. Nanjiroh shows his affection for his son like a fourth grade boy with a crush on the prettiest girl in the class. You know, hair pulling and name calling and stupid faces. I find his interpretation of a parent amusing in a cartoon, but in real life, I'd probably want to kick a head or two in.

One of these days you and I will have a nice, long chat and sic into each other about characters and motivations. I think it would be FASCINATING, since I agree with you on 90 percent - it's the other 10 percent that gets me going. ^_~

I like Nanjirou. I'll preface this with that. I also like different interpretations.

I believe Nanjirou never grew up. I have the opinion that there's flashes of maturity, and these are when he manages to provide a bit of guidance, but most of Ryoma's structure was probably provided by his mother. Really, I think Ryoma probably views Nanjirou more as an older brother figure.

I do like how you tinted this with Tezuka as a surrogate. That is something I definately see - either as a mentor or as a father figure. Tezuka and Ryoma have a lot in common, and I can more easily see Ryoma going to Tezuka for advice than to Nanjirou (especially if Ryoma is ghei ghei ghei). Tezuka would listen - Nanjirou seems incapable of it.

Nanjirou does have his good points, but I won't get into that with you since it's going to be talking to a wall. ^_~

The second graph struck me right here " First the game with Whatshisname" as excellent Ryoma characterization - Ryoma, unlike Fuji, genuinely would forget. Ryoma has an amazing amount of tunnel vision, and he would erase people from his mind who he deigns unimportant.

You know, this is incredibly cute, and a lovely insight into Ryouma, the fact that Tezuka is substitute father-figure made me feel very sorry for Ryouma.

Nanjiroh is one of those characters that I have major issues with. Not because I don't like him (I do! I do!) but because I see him training this amazingly talented boy into the most talented player ever, yet in the process deciding that the -talent-, the -player- was more important than father and son relationship. That hurt.

The fact that you are making Ryouma actively aware of it is much more painful.

*sniffles* love ya *huggles*

Actually, I keep wondering about Ryoma's relationship with his mother. I still manage to like Nanjiroh as a person (though he makes a lousy father), but I really think that whatever sense of respect for others and responsibility Ryoma has would have to come from his mother. (Also, given the Nanjiroh-in-America thing, while protecting the innocent is something that Nanjiroh will do, I'd bet on Ryoma's getting his sense of justice from his mother too.)

The ending of the flashback, when Ryoma's three, is cute in a rather chilling way - Nanjiroh's challenge to Ryoma could sound like a cute sort of prompting if not for the way he pushes Ryoma in the years that follow. The one problem that I have with Ryoma's mother is that we don't know that she did anything to stop it (though I allow that I doubt she could have, after Ryoma decided to beat Nanjiroh.)

I don't have anything long or intelligent to say like everybody else, I just wanted to say that I love the way you write MomoRyo. :D

Wow, I like fics where Ryouma actually sits down and thinks because most of the time, he's always impatient to simply just go do something.

Nanjiroh loves his kid, but truth be told, he's probably not cut out to be a parent and probably never will be.

ohhhh! T_T yes...that's about it. I go back and forth on how I feel about Nanjiroh...sometimes I kind of like him, but I have no respect for him at all. *huggles Ryoma* Lovely angst there, and he's a damn smart kid as usual. I love that about him. He's more of a man at 14 or 16 or whatever than his father is or, it seems, will ever be. I <3 him. And you. ^^

Emily...you know I'm not reading these MomoRyo fics for the obvious reason, but...I want to know...you are sure it won't prejudice the developing of the Mirror Writings Arc in my mind, right?
I know you've already said it tome, but...I just want to be sure...

i personally think that nanjiroh is a TERRIBLE father. i don't bother pointing it out in fic, but frankly it goes a long way towards getting me to like ryoma and forgive his unbelievable mary-sue tendencies to win, win, win. i think it's only natural that ryoma be really mad at his dad, not only for having given up the game and basically gone into hiding (which to me suggests that he never really did "get it" the way ryoma does, thanks to tezuka), but also for being a real JERK.

your ryoma's a bit less homophobic than most guys, if he lets someone cuddle him in bed, even if it's his best friend and he really, really needs it. ^^ but oh, i do adore the two of them being close. and momo being protective.

Hmmm....having recently been challenged on why, exactly, I like Ryoma as much as I do, I've been thinking about this, and came back to reread this fic. Interestingly enough, there is now a discussion in the comments. ^_^ Some very good points there. And this, I think, really is why I like him as much as I do...that in spite of the fucked up way he was raised, he hasn't let it ruin him. He keeps fighting. People call him a Mary Sue like he has everything easy, and hate the way he always wins, and I see the point, but.

He does work at it. He doesn't take his talent for granted; he's always wanting to be better. He's really a tough kid....I respect that. He wins, not always easily, but he never stops trying and never gives up. He has a goal and he's not going to let anything stop him. *blinks* *groans* Oh my god, another one. *laughs* You should see the latest post in my journal...heh. I should add Ryoma to that list. XD

Mmm...I don't know enough people who feel about Ryoma the way I do...mind if I friend your other journal? I'd love to listen to you go on about characters and motives. ^_~ Do you have AIM of any kind? I'd like to chat with you sometime, if you do.... ^_^

Threaded | Flat

no subject

There goes my good mad...

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject