Reflections on Ruru

[branchandroot]

So, having read 33 and 34, I think I have a better handle on Ruru.

She's complex, which pleases me greatly. She's pretty self-centered, witness her readiness to get Nanaya in trouble they all know may be fatal, and yet she also has a strong sense of duty, given her recent words about the reason shin and rei exist. She's certainly independent, given her trip to see Shirogane, in which she cheerfully bows out of any conflict, and yet she holds to her place very firmly witness how ready she is to kill Aya when ordered to do so. When she does come for Aya, she mentions wanting to kill Aya because she's the most annoying one, and yet she seems to actually have nothing personal against Aya and says she doesn't attack personally because it would feel like bullying. She's apparently one of the older shin and yet she clearly has a grand old time acting like a little girl. She fights very seriously, when she fights, and expects it to be to the death, but she respects Aya's expectation that both sides will honor a win or a loss and that's enough.

She does seem to like and be drawn to power and strength, but I also note that the moment when she says she's drawn to Aya is when Aya has just stated her self-determination. This suggests that it isn't simple force that Ruru likes the most but spiritual strength.

(I am totally slashing the two of them, oh yes.)

This makes me less inclined that before to think she might have a double agenda in switching sides. It really does look as though she was galvanized by Aya's example to remember her purpose and make a choice of her own, even if it takes her away from and, indeed, sets her against her own king.

And this makes it all the easier to fit her into the Fine Print arc, yay!

In closing, I would just like to mention again that Elsevita rocks my world. *bounces off, pleased*