This is a lot of talking about Sailor Moon.
► MANGA, ANIME:
→ I'm still working on the ship meme answers, but I'm taking a break to do a Sailor Moon post, which I'm going to tack on my answers for, since I was asked about Usagi/Mamoru, Mamoru + Ami broship, Haruka/Michiru, and I've been wanting to talk about Mamoru + Makoto in the manga.
Yeah, I overthink this series. I know. ....shut up!
Mamoru/Usagi: [for littledust] UGH, I JUST WANT TO VOMIT OUT MY FEELINGS ABOUT THEM. I always knew I was kind of obsessed with them, but it's been through tumblr and reading the manga that I'm starting to realize just how strongly my fannish tendencies for Sailor Moon are. There's pretty much not a day that goes by that I'm not doing something in the fandom, even if it's just looking for fanart.
I love all the characters. I love the friendships between the girls. I could talk about those things all day long! But my heart with this fandom? Is the Usagi/Mamoru relationship. I love both characters individually, but their relationship is the thing that will keep me coming back forever. I love both the big and the small aspects of it--I love the little details and I love the over arching themes! I love that, no matter what they go through, neither of them want anyone else in their heart where the other person belongs. It's not about their past lives, the connection between them. That's where it started, but when they met again, it was about Usagi and Mamoru. Even when they become Serenity and Endymion again, it's still the same person inside being in love with the other person who is still the same inside.
I love the reversed gender dynamics with Sailor Moon, that Mamoru is more of a defensive type, that he's the one with the psychic powers and prophetic dreams, I love that Usagi is the one with the immense power (even if they both have special crystals), that she is the one who fights because she's the warrior between them. I do get a little tired of fandom dismissing Mamoru's character and his powers, because he does have them and he holds his own in a fight--just because he's not a senshi, that doesn't mean he doesn't have powers of his own. I get a little tired of fandom borderline mocking the character (supposedly out of love, but it often times feels like lip service) because there's a reason Usagi is so in love with this guy. Seriously, fandom, Mamoru is amazeballs!
But, oh, Usagi. You also see why Mamoru is just as deeply in love with her as she is with him. Once he gets to know her, there's just nobody else for him. He loves her exactly the way she is, even if she is rather immature at times. He loves the strength of her emotions, he loves how much she cares about people, he loves how silly she can be, he loves how alive she is, he loves how strong she is, both emotionally and physically. He worries about not having enough power to protect her, but he also admires her for being able to protect people, himself included. He wants to be able to protect her, he feels frustrated that he doesn't have more power, but he never resents her for having hers. He loves that about her.
I love that nothing can break them apart. Not distance, not other people trying to lure them apart, not misunderstandings, not other people coming into their lives and demanding their attention. It can be something as simple as Mamoru putting his arms around her or something as epic as lending her some extra power when she's fighting against the enemy. It's little things like Endymion watching over Serenity encased in crystal and you realize this is probably the thousandth time he's done so, missing the person he loves so much. It's the kissing her handkerchief or kissing his pocketwatch. It's sneaking up behind him to kiss him on the temple. It's the way I fully believe that Mamoru is kind of a troll to Usagi in the anime because he's kind of a cheerful dick sometimes and he enjoys messing with her. It's the moon rod that they made together because they're stronger together than apart. It's that both of them would do anything to rescue the other.
It's that moment in the Stars anime when Mamoru's star seed finally makes it back to Usagi after the fight with Galaxia, when the tears finally spill over in Usagi's eyes and she flies to him, having so desperately missed him. It's the way she holds tightly to his arm and asks how much he loves her at the end because there was this emptiness without him there. Because this is the guy she loves with all her heart and this is the girl he loves with all his heart.
Sometimes I get the feeling that they're dismissed as cardboard cut out fairy tale stereotypes, when there's actually a lot to them if you stop to really consider them. They define "epic OTP", the scope of so many of their moments is mind-boggling at times, but they also have the little things. They have to deal with jealousy and being separated and being unsure. But they always put those things to rest because, at the end of the day, they love each other so, so much.
AHHH I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ONLY A TENTH OF WHAT I WANTED TO SAY ABOUT THEM BUT EVERY TIME I TRY TO GET SOME COHERENCY GOING I JUST START FLAILING AGAIN. (And then I went over the limit. Of course I did. orz)
Haruka/Michiru: [for littledelusion] I've seen criticisms of this relationship that point out how "stereotypical" they are, but I always think that that's really missing the point, especially with Haruka's character. She likes traditionally masculine things, she's comfortable dressing in men's clothing, she's often mistaken for a man, and yet... she's always described as gorgeous, in a way that's praising her. She's never looked down on for having traditionally masculine traits. And then she spends half of her time in the series in a really short skirt, showing that she is very clearly a woman! Sure, she has traditionally masculine interests, but her relationship with Michiru is what it is. There's not a big deal made about it, it doesn't really fall into stereotypes of Haruka always having to be the one to rescue Michiru or sweep her off her feet, or whatever else usually defines those relationships. Which, for the record? I fucking love those traditional relationships, just as much as I fucking love the non-traditional ones. My point is that I don't think the dismissal/criticism of Haruka and Michiru is a fair one.
And that's one of the things I really love about them--that they're like so much of what was going on in Sailor Moon, that it wasn't about providing some sort of example. They weren't meant to be the defining lesbian couples for all lesbians for all time, they were just meant to be Haruka and Michiru. And they were comfortable with who they were! I love that aspect about them even more than how they were willing to die together, how a world without the other isn't a world worth living in. I love that they could be ground-breaking in their own ways, but that wasn't really the story with them. Instead, it was about two girls meeting, having this tremendously heavy duty placed on them, it was about both of them struggling to balance idealism with practicality, it was about trying to protect people and yet forcing themselves to be willing to sacrifice whatever was necessary to get the job done. It was a story that could have been about a tragic love, but wasn't. They got to have their happy ending, too. And it wasn't a big deal (within the narrative itself)! It was just part of the story. I love that.
Which isn't to say that I didn't have that they were an epic OTP with each other, as well, because they certainly were and it was swoon-worthy. I love that they each flirted with other people, I love that I could have almost shipped them with other people, but the thought of them being with anyone else for real gave me hives, much like I did with Usagi and Mamoru. Ironic, then, that those are the two I would have shipped with them--Haruka/Usagi and Mamoru/Michiru. Except, no, I could never do so seriously. I love that they had important relationships with other people, I love that they fell in love with Usagi just as everyone else did, I love that they were protective of Hotaru and treated Chibi-Usa like a princess, I love that there was an understanding between them and Mamoru, because they all knew what it was like to clash against the Inner Senshi, not knowing if you were friend or enemy to them, even though you had no grudge. I love that they got their own story even within Usagi's larger story.
Plus, Michiru would tease Haruka all the time! Ratting her out to Setsuna! Understanding her well enough to be able to snitch on her and giggle while she did it! I loved the elegant, refined aura about both of them and yet there were people under there, who teased and sometimes got jealous and angry and upset and all those emotions. That is what draws me into a ship.
Mamoru + Ami bro!ship: [for littledelusion] I am delighted to be asked this one, because Mamoru and Ami's (potential?) friendship is one that I've given thought to before as well! They don't get a lot of interaction, as far as I remember. And what they do get is often very brief and not meant to be that important. But it was enough to intrigue me, especially in the episode where Ami feels like she's defined by her studying, that that's all people ever want out of her, that nobody sees anything more to her than that. Mamoru comes across her and they have a conversation that doesn't fix the problem, but it at least gets her thinking. During this conversation, rather than talking about his own potential medical career to bolster her up (which isn't hardcore canon, but it's sort of inferred in the anime and Mamoru says he wants to be a doctor in one of the musicals, so--close enough!), he says that it's too bad she's thinking of quitting, because he was looking forward to getting a shot from a cute doctor like her.
Another time, the girls are studying at his apartment and Usagi has to interupt their conversation because they're talking about something she doesn't understand and she's envious of the time they're spending together. Ami also notes that Mamoru has several high-level books in his apartment. (One of which was advanced genetics, I want to say? Something along those lines.) It's enough to form a friendship between them and I like the idea a lot. They both seem to really enjoy learning and they're both super smart smartypants characters and I love the idea of them discussing medical journals or tackling complex computer problems together or debating about ancient philosophers.
I love the idea of them helping each other during med school, I love that both of them would probably understand the most why they had to get their "mudane" dreams in as quickly as possible, because they're the two people who would understand the most how closely Crystal Tokyo looms, how they need to prepare for it, yet still find time for their original dreams. But even afterwards! That library in the Crystal Palace! I love the idea that, every so often, Endymion and Mercury bump into each other, smile, and trade a book recommendation.
Mamoru + Makoto friendship: This one wasn't asked on the meme, but I wanted to talk about it, since it sort of fit a theme. (Whatever, you guys, I've always been focused on Mamoru's character. I can do this if I want to!) In the anime, they don't really interact much. In the manga, up to the point I'm at, they don't interact much, either, but... Makoto has slightly different motivations than she does in the anime. She lost her parents at a young age, so she's really protective of people (like Asanuma), and she wants to start a family young because of that. She also wears rose earrings and one of her attacks is Jupiter Oak Evolution. It was enough to make me think of Mamoru pretty quickly.
The visual things like roses and trees (which are nature-themed, which would tie to Mamoru's connection to the earth--the roses are self-explanatory) got me thinking about it, but it's really that Mamoru and Makoto would understand each other in a way that the others couldn't quite. To lose your family so young, it creates this huge emptiness in you, one that you can't really fill until you grow up and find new people to love and connect with. For Mamoru, that's Usagi. For Makoto... maybe it's Asanuma, maybe it's someone else. But I think, in the meantime, I really want to read one conversation between them where she knows she's not alone in what she's going through. Not that Makoto isn't handling it really well, she's steady and solid and full of love and genuine happiness, but I still want that one conversation.
And then maybe they can go visit an orphanage to read to little kids together, because I totally see Makoto doing that and it's a little tough for Mamoru to see kids like that again, but he goes and feels good about it afterwards and they have this moment where, as Usagi comes running up to join them afterwards, they realize that they do have a family now, both of them. And, also, the kids drag them into, idk, helping plant a rosebed because I want my symbolism, goddammit.
Also, they are both faintly secret trolls (or at least I think Makoto is in the manga) and their unholy union would be glorious. ....actually, ditto for Ami and Mamoru in the anime. It would be amazing to get Ami to relax enough to troll Usagi, like she did when she teased her about going after Tuxedo Kamen!
→ And then spoilers for chapters 17-18. I'm slow, I know. Shut up!
» This is still in the middle of the Black Moon family arc, which goes into a lot more detail with the mythology behind the series (versus what the anime did) and yet I'm still kind of confused on some points. (Which is why I want the Kodansha versions to hurry the hell up, so I can have another version to compare it against!) Dimande says that Mars and Mercury appear to be the same as the Queen--they never age past the age of maturity because of the Silver Crystal. I kind of give Dimande the o_O look here because... they're fifteen when he kidnaps them and says that? I guess it's... he kidnaps them when they from the 20th century, so he sees them so far back in the past and yet knows they're still around in the 30th century as semi-young adults, so that's what triggered the thought in his mind?
» Mamoru actually tells Usagi about the vision he has when he touches Chibi-Usa and they discuss how maybe she's not their enemy then. I got so used to the anime dumbing things down that I always get a pleasant surprise when the characters talk to each other and figure their shit out as best they can. Also, I love their relationship so much. Even when they're still just learning how to be a couple and they have this new person coming around and causing jealous feelings between them and they're both a little stressed, they still sit down and actually discuss what they should do. Together.
» Even if they don't necessarily come to the right conclusions when they talk, at least they do talk. In fact, I kind of love the misdirect? They think that Crystal Tokyo (from Mamoru's visions, IIRC?) might be the enemy headquarters! It's interesting to read this and think of how the truth hasn't been revealed to the readers yet and I've noticed that Naoko does that occasionally. I think she did something similar in the Dark Kingdom arc before the truth was revealed, too?
» Makoto got sick in this chapter and it made her more electrically charged? Also, I am really enjoying her interactions with both Asanuma and Motoki in the manga. I... I can't lie, I'm kind of shipping Motoki/Makoto now. Also, her place is filled with plants! ♥ (I totally want fic where, like, after they read to kids at the orphanage, she talks Mamoru--and probably Usagi as well--into coming back to her place and they're marvelling at all the plants there, while the leaves seem to practically curl around Mamoru's fingers as they both reach out to brush the leaves. And Makoto is like, wow, they really like you! And then there's one plant that just can't quite seem to get going, no matter how many dead leaves she trims away and how carefully she waters it, which Usagi and Mamoru touch at the same time, and there's a faint glow, surprising everyone, and then they swear the plant looks cheerier, while Mamoru says, no, it definitely feels better now, so Makoto beams at them for their help and says, okay, you two are staying for dinner as thanks then! and they have to agree. I WANT IT SOOOO MUUUUUUCH.)
» The manga really does kind of further hammer home Makoto's love of roses--there are her earrings, but she also offers Asanuma rose tea when he visits, which is her favorite. (GIVE ME FIC, FANDOM.)
» Asanuma really is the greatest thing. When he stalks Usagi and Mamoru earlier, saying he saw an actual talking cat and Mamoru's powers and the cat said Ami and Rei were taking somewhere and Makoto is more electrically charged then most people... you're really not human, are you guys? I love the manga dealing with people stumbling over these things and figuring shit out. I was always sad the anime never went into Usagi's family finding out about her being Sailor Moon or her friends figuring things out (well, we have an implication that Naru knows she's Sailor Moon, but a maybe-she-knows-maybe-she-doesn't isn't very satisfying) because the whole point of having secret identities is that it's super fun when someone figures them out!
» Makoto explaining that Mamoru's power is called psychometry and, on top of that, he can emit an aura power from his fingertips, and he can heal people OR give them a shock. Eh? How does she know that? Up to that point, I'm not sure we saw Mamoru give anyone a shock? I'd have to reread to find out. (.....I'm going to wind up doing that, aren't I?)
» Asanuma wishing that he had the power to protect Makoto, then kissing her forehead, was super, super sweet. I'm not sure I'm entirely convinced to ship it yet, but I wouldn't flip a table if it happened, either.
» The manga also provides some different motivations for the Black Moon family--who don't appear to be royalty at all here?--which you get a glimpse of when Petz sends out a bunch of Droids to replace people and create their own Black Moon Society!
» When Artemis sends over a containment unit for the earring Petz left behind (and, man, the Ayakashi Sisters certainly didn't last long! I know that the anime made a lot of shit up, that they took a lot of the coherency out of the plot in order to stretch things out, but I have to admit that I miss the character depth they occasionally lucked into), Luna's eyes definitely go all +_+ for a moment as it pops into existence (or when she moves it to the container? I wasn't quite clear on that). I find myself curious about Luna and her powers, too.
» Another thing the anime changed, re: the Black Moon family, is that Dimande and Saphir are nowhere near as close as they were in the anime. Or nowhere near as gay. :<
» I was also surprised to see that there wasn't even a hint of Rubeus/Koan in the manga, but instead Rubeus kisses Calaveras' shoulder? I'm not sure if they were in a relationship or if they were just flirting or if he was trying to manipulate her or what.
» Calaveras going on tv and doing channelling! Saying that they were there to help Earthlings! I have a couple of thoughts about this: Given how public the Black Moon family were, I have to assume that the Outers hadn't awoken yet? Also, I wonder why they didn't go this route in the anime--they really seemed to dislike having anyone acknowledge Sailor Moon in public as well as getting into the girls' secret identities being figured out at all.
» I knew Mamoru kept the stones of his Generals and could summon their spirits to talk to, but it was really interesting to read it here! He asked them about the Black Moon earring that has space/time distortions around it, but they don't know. They advise Mamoru to save his powers to protect the princess, but he feels like he has none in this era. Why was he even reborn without powers?
I think that sells Mamoru short, because we've seen him display several powers since the manga started and we haven't even gotten into everything, it's just that he's not a Sailor Senshi like the girls are. It kind of reminds me of a point of contention that I'm developing with fandom, re: Mamoru's abilities. Just because he's not a Senshi, that doesn't mean he's powerless. We've seen several times that he's able to defend against powerful enemies and, in the manga, he's often lending Sailor Moon strength to help create new weapons that she couldn't make on her own or helping her take down enemies like Metallia when they join powers.
I can believe that Mamoru himself doesn't feel like he has any power (or any strength), that the things he can do are useless, but I don't think that's actually true. I think fandom likes to push his character down into uselessness because of the years and years and years of stories where the lead female character was helpless and now it's funny to see a guy in that role. And, yes, part of the really interesting thing about Sailor Moon is that Mamoru ends up in the role where he feels like he doesn't have any power, where he's the one who gets rescued half of the time, but sometimes I feel it goes overboard. Mamoru does have power. Just like a lot of female leads in (for example) shounen manga have real power and shouldn't be marginalized.
I'm especially looking at, say, Naruto fandom where Sakura's role in the story shouldn't be made into comedic fodder or marginalized because she feels like she's not on Naruto or Sakura's level. (I'm looking at fandom as much as I'm looking at Kishimoto.) Nami's role in One Piece shouldn't be marginalized just because she's more of an intellectual fighter than a physical fighter--she's smart as hell and her weather-based attacks can do a lot of damage. Orihime and Rukia's roles in Bleach shouldn't be made fun of, because they needed to be rescued. They are powerful fighters (or have the potential to be powerful fighters) who can stand on their own.
Sailor Moon is skewed towards female fighters and I love it for that, I wouldn't change a thing about it. But that doesn't mean that men don't have a role in the story as well, because this is still shoujo manga and Mamoru has a lot of power.
/butthurt Mamoru fangirl
(SHUT UP, I KNOW, OKAY.)
» The other reason Naoko wrote Mamoru as feeling like he had no power in chapter 18 here is because he needed that feeling to spur him into desperation to protect Usagi somehow and developing Tuxedo La Smoking Bomber to hit Rubeus with when protecting Usagi. And it was strong enough to put out Rubeus' fire attack! :O Seriously, given how hard it's been to put out the attacks on the Ayakashi Sisters (which kill each of them, but don't stop their attacks), that's apparently pretty powerful. I mean, in the same chapter, it took Moon Princess Halation to free Venus from Calaveras' attack here.
» Also, Mamoru heard a voice coaxing him into the Tuxedo La Smoking Bomber attack and I wondered if that was Endymion calling out to his past self? But I can't remember if the chapters after that ever addressed that point....
» OKAY, THAT WAS THE END OF CHAPTER 18. I AM STOPPING NOW BEFORE PEOPLE START PELTING ME WITH ROTTEN FRUIT FOR BEING SO MAMORU-FOCUSED IN A MANGA ABOUT GIRLS. orz
→ I'm still working on the ship meme answers, but I'm taking a break to do a Sailor Moon post, which I'm going to tack on my answers for, since I was asked about Usagi/Mamoru, Mamoru + Ami broship, Haruka/Michiru, and I've been wanting to talk about Mamoru + Makoto in the manga.
Yeah, I overthink this series. I know. ....shut up!
Mamoru/Usagi: [for littledust] UGH, I JUST WANT TO VOMIT OUT MY FEELINGS ABOUT THEM. I always knew I was kind of obsessed with them, but it's been through tumblr and reading the manga that I'm starting to realize just how strongly my fannish tendencies for Sailor Moon are. There's pretty much not a day that goes by that I'm not doing something in the fandom, even if it's just looking for fanart.
I love all the characters. I love the friendships between the girls. I could talk about those things all day long! But my heart with this fandom? Is the Usagi/Mamoru relationship. I love both characters individually, but their relationship is the thing that will keep me coming back forever. I love both the big and the small aspects of it--I love the little details and I love the over arching themes! I love that, no matter what they go through, neither of them want anyone else in their heart where the other person belongs. It's not about their past lives, the connection between them. That's where it started, but when they met again, it was about Usagi and Mamoru. Even when they become Serenity and Endymion again, it's still the same person inside being in love with the other person who is still the same inside.
I love the reversed gender dynamics with Sailor Moon, that Mamoru is more of a defensive type, that he's the one with the psychic powers and prophetic dreams, I love that Usagi is the one with the immense power (even if they both have special crystals), that she is the one who fights because she's the warrior between them. I do get a little tired of fandom dismissing Mamoru's character and his powers, because he does have them and he holds his own in a fight--just because he's not a senshi, that doesn't mean he doesn't have powers of his own. I get a little tired of fandom borderline mocking the character (supposedly out of love, but it often times feels like lip service) because there's a reason Usagi is so in love with this guy. Seriously, fandom, Mamoru is amazeballs!
But, oh, Usagi. You also see why Mamoru is just as deeply in love with her as she is with him. Once he gets to know her, there's just nobody else for him. He loves her exactly the way she is, even if she is rather immature at times. He loves the strength of her emotions, he loves how much she cares about people, he loves how silly she can be, he loves how alive she is, he loves how strong she is, both emotionally and physically. He worries about not having enough power to protect her, but he also admires her for being able to protect people, himself included. He wants to be able to protect her, he feels frustrated that he doesn't have more power, but he never resents her for having hers. He loves that about her.
I love that nothing can break them apart. Not distance, not other people trying to lure them apart, not misunderstandings, not other people coming into their lives and demanding their attention. It can be something as simple as Mamoru putting his arms around her or something as epic as lending her some extra power when she's fighting against the enemy. It's little things like Endymion watching over Serenity encased in crystal and you realize this is probably the thousandth time he's done so, missing the person he loves so much. It's the kissing her handkerchief or kissing his pocketwatch. It's sneaking up behind him to kiss him on the temple. It's the way I fully believe that Mamoru is kind of a troll to Usagi in the anime because he's kind of a cheerful dick sometimes and he enjoys messing with her. It's the moon rod that they made together because they're stronger together than apart. It's that both of them would do anything to rescue the other.
It's that moment in the Stars anime when Mamoru's star seed finally makes it back to Usagi after the fight with Galaxia, when the tears finally spill over in Usagi's eyes and she flies to him, having so desperately missed him. It's the way she holds tightly to his arm and asks how much he loves her at the end because there was this emptiness without him there. Because this is the guy she loves with all her heart and this is the girl he loves with all his heart.
Sometimes I get the feeling that they're dismissed as cardboard cut out fairy tale stereotypes, when there's actually a lot to them if you stop to really consider them. They define "epic OTP", the scope of so many of their moments is mind-boggling at times, but they also have the little things. They have to deal with jealousy and being separated and being unsure. But they always put those things to rest because, at the end of the day, they love each other so, so much.
AHHH I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ONLY A TENTH OF WHAT I WANTED TO SAY ABOUT THEM BUT EVERY TIME I TRY TO GET SOME COHERENCY GOING I JUST START FLAILING AGAIN. (And then I went over the limit. Of course I did. orz)
Haruka/Michiru: [for littledelusion] I've seen criticisms of this relationship that point out how "stereotypical" they are, but I always think that that's really missing the point, especially with Haruka's character. She likes traditionally masculine things, she's comfortable dressing in men's clothing, she's often mistaken for a man, and yet... she's always described as gorgeous, in a way that's praising her. She's never looked down on for having traditionally masculine traits. And then she spends half of her time in the series in a really short skirt, showing that she is very clearly a woman! Sure, she has traditionally masculine interests, but her relationship with Michiru is what it is. There's not a big deal made about it, it doesn't really fall into stereotypes of Haruka always having to be the one to rescue Michiru or sweep her off her feet, or whatever else usually defines those relationships. Which, for the record? I fucking love those traditional relationships, just as much as I fucking love the non-traditional ones. My point is that I don't think the dismissal/criticism of Haruka and Michiru is a fair one.
And that's one of the things I really love about them--that they're like so much of what was going on in Sailor Moon, that it wasn't about providing some sort of example. They weren't meant to be the defining lesbian couples for all lesbians for all time, they were just meant to be Haruka and Michiru. And they were comfortable with who they were! I love that aspect about them even more than how they were willing to die together, how a world without the other isn't a world worth living in. I love that they could be ground-breaking in their own ways, but that wasn't really the story with them. Instead, it was about two girls meeting, having this tremendously heavy duty placed on them, it was about both of them struggling to balance idealism with practicality, it was about trying to protect people and yet forcing themselves to be willing to sacrifice whatever was necessary to get the job done. It was a story that could have been about a tragic love, but wasn't. They got to have their happy ending, too. And it wasn't a big deal (within the narrative itself)! It was just part of the story. I love that.
Which isn't to say that I didn't have that they were an epic OTP with each other, as well, because they certainly were and it was swoon-worthy. I love that they each flirted with other people, I love that I could have almost shipped them with other people, but the thought of them being with anyone else for real gave me hives, much like I did with Usagi and Mamoru. Ironic, then, that those are the two I would have shipped with them--Haruka/Usagi and Mamoru/Michiru. Except, no, I could never do so seriously. I love that they had important relationships with other people, I love that they fell in love with Usagi just as everyone else did, I love that they were protective of Hotaru and treated Chibi-Usa like a princess, I love that there was an understanding between them and Mamoru, because they all knew what it was like to clash against the Inner Senshi, not knowing if you were friend or enemy to them, even though you had no grudge. I love that they got their own story even within Usagi's larger story.
Plus, Michiru would tease Haruka all the time! Ratting her out to Setsuna! Understanding her well enough to be able to snitch on her and giggle while she did it! I loved the elegant, refined aura about both of them and yet there were people under there, who teased and sometimes got jealous and angry and upset and all those emotions. That is what draws me into a ship.
Mamoru + Ami bro!ship: [for littledelusion] I am delighted to be asked this one, because Mamoru and Ami's (potential?) friendship is one that I've given thought to before as well! They don't get a lot of interaction, as far as I remember. And what they do get is often very brief and not meant to be that important. But it was enough to intrigue me, especially in the episode where Ami feels like she's defined by her studying, that that's all people ever want out of her, that nobody sees anything more to her than that. Mamoru comes across her and they have a conversation that doesn't fix the problem, but it at least gets her thinking. During this conversation, rather than talking about his own potential medical career to bolster her up (which isn't hardcore canon, but it's sort of inferred in the anime and Mamoru says he wants to be a doctor in one of the musicals, so--close enough!), he says that it's too bad she's thinking of quitting, because he was looking forward to getting a shot from a cute doctor like her.
Another time, the girls are studying at his apartment and Usagi has to interupt their conversation because they're talking about something she doesn't understand and she's envious of the time they're spending together. Ami also notes that Mamoru has several high-level books in his apartment. (One of which was advanced genetics, I want to say? Something along those lines.) It's enough to form a friendship between them and I like the idea a lot. They both seem to really enjoy learning and they're both super smart smartypants characters and I love the idea of them discussing medical journals or tackling complex computer problems together or debating about ancient philosophers.
I love the idea of them helping each other during med school, I love that both of them would probably understand the most why they had to get their "mudane" dreams in as quickly as possible, because they're the two people who would understand the most how closely Crystal Tokyo looms, how they need to prepare for it, yet still find time for their original dreams. But even afterwards! That library in the Crystal Palace! I love the idea that, every so often, Endymion and Mercury bump into each other, smile, and trade a book recommendation.
Mamoru + Makoto friendship: This one wasn't asked on the meme, but I wanted to talk about it, since it sort of fit a theme. (Whatever, you guys, I've always been focused on Mamoru's character. I can do this if I want to!) In the anime, they don't really interact much. In the manga, up to the point I'm at, they don't interact much, either, but... Makoto has slightly different motivations than she does in the anime. She lost her parents at a young age, so she's really protective of people (like Asanuma), and she wants to start a family young because of that. She also wears rose earrings and one of her attacks is Jupiter Oak Evolution. It was enough to make me think of Mamoru pretty quickly.
The visual things like roses and trees (which are nature-themed, which would tie to Mamoru's connection to the earth--the roses are self-explanatory) got me thinking about it, but it's really that Mamoru and Makoto would understand each other in a way that the others couldn't quite. To lose your family so young, it creates this huge emptiness in you, one that you can't really fill until you grow up and find new people to love and connect with. For Mamoru, that's Usagi. For Makoto... maybe it's Asanuma, maybe it's someone else. But I think, in the meantime, I really want to read one conversation between them where she knows she's not alone in what she's going through. Not that Makoto isn't handling it really well, she's steady and solid and full of love and genuine happiness, but I still want that one conversation.
And then maybe they can go visit an orphanage to read to little kids together, because I totally see Makoto doing that and it's a little tough for Mamoru to see kids like that again, but he goes and feels good about it afterwards and they have this moment where, as Usagi comes running up to join them afterwards, they realize that they do have a family now, both of them. And, also, the kids drag them into, idk, helping plant a rosebed because I want my symbolism, goddammit.
Also, they are both faintly secret trolls (or at least I think Makoto is in the manga) and their unholy union would be glorious. ....actually, ditto for Ami and Mamoru in the anime. It would be amazing to get Ami to relax enough to troll Usagi, like she did when she teased her about going after Tuxedo Kamen!
→ And then spoilers for chapters 17-18. I'm slow, I know. Shut up!
» This is still in the middle of the Black Moon family arc, which goes into a lot more detail with the mythology behind the series (versus what the anime did) and yet I'm still kind of confused on some points. (Which is why I want the Kodansha versions to hurry the hell up, so I can have another version to compare it against!) Dimande says that Mars and Mercury appear to be the same as the Queen--they never age past the age of maturity because of the Silver Crystal. I kind of give Dimande the o_O look here because... they're fifteen when he kidnaps them and says that? I guess it's... he kidnaps them when they from the 20th century, so he sees them so far back in the past and yet knows they're still around in the 30th century as semi-young adults, so that's what triggered the thought in his mind?
» Mamoru actually tells Usagi about the vision he has when he touches Chibi-Usa and they discuss how maybe she's not their enemy then. I got so used to the anime dumbing things down that I always get a pleasant surprise when the characters talk to each other and figure their shit out as best they can. Also, I love their relationship so much. Even when they're still just learning how to be a couple and they have this new person coming around and causing jealous feelings between them and they're both a little stressed, they still sit down and actually discuss what they should do. Together.
» Even if they don't necessarily come to the right conclusions when they talk, at least they do talk. In fact, I kind of love the misdirect? They think that Crystal Tokyo (from Mamoru's visions, IIRC?) might be the enemy headquarters! It's interesting to read this and think of how the truth hasn't been revealed to the readers yet and I've noticed that Naoko does that occasionally. I think she did something similar in the Dark Kingdom arc before the truth was revealed, too?
» Makoto got sick in this chapter and it made her more electrically charged? Also, I am really enjoying her interactions with both Asanuma and Motoki in the manga. I... I can't lie, I'm kind of shipping Motoki/Makoto now. Also, her place is filled with plants! ♥ (I totally want fic where, like, after they read to kids at the orphanage, she talks Mamoru--and probably Usagi as well--into coming back to her place and they're marvelling at all the plants there, while the leaves seem to practically curl around Mamoru's fingers as they both reach out to brush the leaves. And Makoto is like, wow, they really like you! And then there's one plant that just can't quite seem to get going, no matter how many dead leaves she trims away and how carefully she waters it, which Usagi and Mamoru touch at the same time, and there's a faint glow, surprising everyone, and then they swear the plant looks cheerier, while Mamoru says, no, it definitely feels better now, so Makoto beams at them for their help and says, okay, you two are staying for dinner as thanks then! and they have to agree. I WANT IT SOOOO MUUUUUUCH.)
» The manga really does kind of further hammer home Makoto's love of roses--there are her earrings, but she also offers Asanuma rose tea when he visits, which is her favorite. (GIVE ME FIC, FANDOM.)
» Asanuma really is the greatest thing. When he stalks Usagi and Mamoru earlier, saying he saw an actual talking cat and Mamoru's powers and the cat said Ami and Rei were taking somewhere and Makoto is more electrically charged then most people... you're really not human, are you guys? I love the manga dealing with people stumbling over these things and figuring shit out. I was always sad the anime never went into Usagi's family finding out about her being Sailor Moon or her friends figuring things out (well, we have an implication that Naru knows she's Sailor Moon, but a maybe-she-knows-maybe-she-doesn't isn't very satisfying) because the whole point of having secret identities is that it's super fun when someone figures them out!
» Makoto explaining that Mamoru's power is called psychometry and, on top of that, he can emit an aura power from his fingertips, and he can heal people OR give them a shock. Eh? How does she know that? Up to that point, I'm not sure we saw Mamoru give anyone a shock? I'd have to reread to find out. (.....I'm going to wind up doing that, aren't I?)
» Asanuma wishing that he had the power to protect Makoto, then kissing her forehead, was super, super sweet. I'm not sure I'm entirely convinced to ship it yet, but I wouldn't flip a table if it happened, either.
» The manga also provides some different motivations for the Black Moon family--who don't appear to be royalty at all here?--which you get a glimpse of when Petz sends out a bunch of Droids to replace people and create their own Black Moon Society!
» When Artemis sends over a containment unit for the earring Petz left behind (and, man, the Ayakashi Sisters certainly didn't last long! I know that the anime made a lot of shit up, that they took a lot of the coherency out of the plot in order to stretch things out, but I have to admit that I miss the character depth they occasionally lucked into), Luna's eyes definitely go all +_+ for a moment as it pops into existence (or when she moves it to the container? I wasn't quite clear on that). I find myself curious about Luna and her powers, too.
» Another thing the anime changed, re: the Black Moon family, is that Dimande and Saphir are nowhere near as close as they were in the anime. Or nowhere near as gay. :<
» I was also surprised to see that there wasn't even a hint of Rubeus/Koan in the manga, but instead Rubeus kisses Calaveras' shoulder? I'm not sure if they were in a relationship or if they were just flirting or if he was trying to manipulate her or what.
» Calaveras going on tv and doing channelling! Saying that they were there to help Earthlings! I have a couple of thoughts about this: Given how public the Black Moon family were, I have to assume that the Outers hadn't awoken yet? Also, I wonder why they didn't go this route in the anime--they really seemed to dislike having anyone acknowledge Sailor Moon in public as well as getting into the girls' secret identities being figured out at all.
» I knew Mamoru kept the stones of his Generals and could summon their spirits to talk to, but it was really interesting to read it here! He asked them about the Black Moon earring that has space/time distortions around it, but they don't know. They advise Mamoru to save his powers to protect the princess, but he feels like he has none in this era. Why was he even reborn without powers?
I think that sells Mamoru short, because we've seen him display several powers since the manga started and we haven't even gotten into everything, it's just that he's not a Sailor Senshi like the girls are. It kind of reminds me of a point of contention that I'm developing with fandom, re: Mamoru's abilities. Just because he's not a Senshi, that doesn't mean he's powerless. We've seen several times that he's able to defend against powerful enemies and, in the manga, he's often lending Sailor Moon strength to help create new weapons that she couldn't make on her own or helping her take down enemies like Metallia when they join powers.
I can believe that Mamoru himself doesn't feel like he has any power (or any strength), that the things he can do are useless, but I don't think that's actually true. I think fandom likes to push his character down into uselessness because of the years and years and years of stories where the lead female character was helpless and now it's funny to see a guy in that role. And, yes, part of the really interesting thing about Sailor Moon is that Mamoru ends up in the role where he feels like he doesn't have any power, where he's the one who gets rescued half of the time, but sometimes I feel it goes overboard. Mamoru does have power. Just like a lot of female leads in (for example) shounen manga have real power and shouldn't be marginalized.
I'm especially looking at, say, Naruto fandom where Sakura's role in the story shouldn't be made into comedic fodder or marginalized because she feels like she's not on Naruto or Sakura's level. (I'm looking at fandom as much as I'm looking at Kishimoto.) Nami's role in One Piece shouldn't be marginalized just because she's more of an intellectual fighter than a physical fighter--she's smart as hell and her weather-based attacks can do a lot of damage. Orihime and Rukia's roles in Bleach shouldn't be made fun of, because they needed to be rescued. They are powerful fighters (or have the potential to be powerful fighters) who can stand on their own.
Sailor Moon is skewed towards female fighters and I love it for that, I wouldn't change a thing about it. But that doesn't mean that men don't have a role in the story as well, because this is still shoujo manga and Mamoru has a lot of power.
/butthurt Mamoru fangirl
(SHUT UP, I KNOW, OKAY.)
» The other reason Naoko wrote Mamoru as feeling like he had no power in chapter 18 here is because he needed that feeling to spur him into desperation to protect Usagi somehow and developing Tuxedo La Smoking Bomber to hit Rubeus with when protecting Usagi. And it was strong enough to put out Rubeus' fire attack! :O Seriously, given how hard it's been to put out the attacks on the Ayakashi Sisters (which kill each of them, but don't stop their attacks), that's apparently pretty powerful. I mean, in the same chapter, it took Moon Princess Halation to free Venus from Calaveras' attack here.
» Also, Mamoru heard a voice coaxing him into the Tuxedo La Smoking Bomber attack and I wondered if that was Endymion calling out to his past self? But I can't remember if the chapters after that ever addressed that point....
» OKAY, THAT WAS THE END OF CHAPTER 18. I AM STOPPING NOW BEFORE PEOPLE START PELTING ME WITH ROTTEN FRUIT FOR BEING SO MAMORU-FOCUSED IN A MANGA ABOUT GIRLS. orz