Tumblr has been really bad for my Sailor Moon obsession. It just WON'T QUIT....
► GENERAL:
→ I'm a little wary about the FFXIII-2 news, with the new character focus not sounding particularly great. Though, I am excited to hear about Serah at least! The gameplay stuff is good news, though--I didn't have a problem with the fights in the first game, but I'm never opposed to an easy mode being put in. Mostly, however, I'm glad to hear Toriyama confirm that there'll be more focus on towns will have a larger role, because I really do think that was one of the biggest things that kept the previous game from being great.
→ Also in FFXIII-2 news, apparently there's going to be multiple endings? I... I don't know how I feel about that.
► FARMVILLE:
→ Black sheep with rainbow stars, FUCK YEAH IT'S MINE NOW. Also, Sherry got me a candy cane striped sheep and a color-changing pig, so I am all WHEEEEE--!! about Farmville right now.
→ I have three of the pretty blue snow cone trees now, which also makes me happy! I haven't gotten the giant ice cream tree yet, but the colors on that one are kind of blah so I don't care as much. Pretty blue snow cone tree! There are so few trees in Farmville that are blue (and it pained me not to get one of the blue chrome apple trees, but I am not spending FV$ on a tree) that I'm really delighted by this one. I'd seen it on the wiki for ages and envied it, but now it's mineeeeeee. I am sad about not being able to get a cotton candy tree, though. They look so cute!
→ I've been browsing the forums again. Holy crap, this island-themed farm is gorgeous and it even manages to work in all the buildings! I see the Craftshop, the Garage, the Horse Stable, the Greenhouse, the Sheep Pen, the Winery, two Cow Barns, a Bakery, and even a Turkey Coop. And yet it all looks really natural! Granted, there are no crops there, but it's such a gorgeous farm omg.
► MANGA:
→ I really probably should just start categorizing this as "SAILOR MOON" stuff instead of still sticking it in the manga section. Whatever, good enough! It's been nearly two weeks since I sat down to write some of this stuff out, so I'm actually through the Black Moon arc and well into Infinity, which I'm enjoying, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the Black Moon arc in the manga. I like the anime more and more as time goes on, but I do think they made a lot of missteps in that arc--and the filler really didn't help.
→ SPOILERS for Sailor Moon 19-21.
→ Also, a fair amount of embedded images, but nothing that should break your computer.
» I really am enjoying Mamoru bonding with Chibi-Usa in this chapter, the way he instantly feels a connection to her, and is so protective of her. I like it for both the aspects of a daddy bonding with his baby girl and for the jealousy it causes between Mamoru and Usagi, which they have to deal with. But also because it gives us scenes like Mamoru tickling Chibi-Usa into bed and saying she can't run away (from the problems she has to face with the Black Moon clan chasing after her, not if she wants to help her parents) and he's glad she didn't tonight and she's a strong person! You can just see how much of an impact that has on Chibi-Usa.
» I also love this part of the story because of Usagi, who has to deal with her feelings of jealousy when she watches the two of them, how she has to reign them back in despite herself and worrying that it doesn't matter to Mamoru that Chibi-Usa is just a little girl, that he still sees her as a woman. I suspect this is a Japanese thing (and it's about the themes of jealousy that Naoko is drawing with this arc, as well as where things are headed with Black Lady) rather than being about age gaps (since Mamoru and Usagi aren't that far apart in the manga) and where this scene is going with these two. Even when Mamoru says she's just a little kid, Usagi has trouble letting go of the worries. It's natural in a new relationship.
She wants to give him a present to reassert her presence in their relationship, she wants to pull him closer, she wants to do something because she feels like so much is slipping away from her. Her friends have been kidnapped and she doesn't know where they are, there's nothing she can do, she has no information or leads. She feels like the boy she loves is focusing his attention on someone else, like maybe he's slipping away, too.
But she talks to him. She doesn't throw a fit, she's just worried and sad. They hold each other close and she says, "Stay with me. Don't ever leave my side. I'll do everything I can to protect you, Mamoru."
He kisses her hand gently. "And I will do the same for you."
Those were his exact thoughts, too. He only wants her. He wants to protect her.
They slide to the kitchen floor, arms wrapped around each other, and it's a gorgeous scene. But what really makes it for me? A few pages later, they go check on the (supposedly) sleeping Chibi-Usa and Usagi's got a loose shirt wrapped around her shoulders that's unbuttoned. A few panels later, you can see she still has her black dress on... but the shirt that was underneath the dress is no longer there and the shirt she has wrapped around her is most definitely not the same one she was wearing before, which has to be Mamoru's shirt.
Meaning, that dress definitely came off.
So... did they just have sex on the kitchen floor?
That.... that was kind of super hot.
It hit pretty much every kink I have with these two. Vowing to protect each other! Hand kissing! An intense emotional scene that's about issues and build-up because of all the shit happening in their lives, but also about this quiet moment where they're drawing strength from each other! So many FEEEEEELINGS!
» Esmeraude offers to present "the beautiful sleeping ruler of the castle as a gift", which definitely has an undercurrent of presenting her for the idea of killing her (or along those lines), but I got the definite impression that, even with the malice still here, this Esmeraude wasn't in love with Dimande, that she wasn't that bothered by his obsession with Serenity.
» I love Setsuna kneeling before Chibi-Usa to apologize for her insolence, calling her princess. And Usagi's like WTF SHE'S A PRINCESS, TOO!? and darling, darling Chibi-Usa puts her hands on her hips and huffs, I HAVEN'T TOLD YOU, BUT I AM A PRINCESS. AND SINCE YOU'RE ALL COMMONERS, YOU REALLY OUGHT TO ADDRESS ME MORE RESPECTFULLY.
Oh, god, I love Chibi-Usa so much. She is so spoiled, but she's so darling about it. Especially when Usagi rages at her attitude and is like WHO THE HELL ARE YOUR PARENTS AND WHY DIDN'T THEY TEACH YOU ANY MANNERS!? Lolling, like, forever. Oh, Naoko, you are the best. The best!
» It's been awhile since I watched the anime, but I think Chibi-Usa was sent back in it? While in the manga she stole the time key and went back herself--which I think I like better? I realize that the anime version was trying to say that she was their only hope, and she IS, like, 900 years old, even if she still looks/acts like a little girl. (One assumes she's that old in the anime, at least. I'm not sure if they specifically say?) While in the manga, they're not sending off a little girl to fight... instead, she chose to do this herself. I came to really love anime Chibi-Usa, but I think I love manga Chibi-Usa even more.
Endymion does say that they always told Chibi-Usa stories about Sailor Moon and that they thought if they sent her back into the past, maybe Sailor Moon could help them. So, it wasn't entirely Chibi-Usa's own idea, but she does seem to have a bit more agency in the manga, which is nice to see.
» The scene of the Senshi walking through the palace corridors is really gorgeous. I know Naoko's art is totally off anatomy-wise, but it's just so stunningly pretty and she knows how to use white space well and she can put in some really gorgeous detail sometimes.
» One thing I'm curious about--is that the Golden Crystal on the end of Endymion's staff? I haven't read ahead to the later chapters yet and I guess it could be the Golden Crystal, but....
» Endymion's real body is in a coma in another room--it makes me curious about his powers. I guess it makes sense, though, since he's pretty psychic-powers driven? Being able to project an astral version of yourself (which I assume it is--he doesn't have a reflection, so I don't think it's a hologram) could be in the same psychic vein. It'd be interesting to explore what other powers he might have gained in the last 1,000 years, too.
» I love how Endymion just info dumps all over everyone. He's all casual about how, oh, yeah, Chibi-Usa is your daughter, Usagi and Mamoru. And Diana here is Luna and Artemis' child, too. And, god bless Mamoru for having some actual observation skills--he asks why none of them seem to have aged. It's a thousand years in the future, how do they look not that much older? And then there's more info dumping.
Endymion says that the average lifespan of those in the Silver Millennium is about a thousand years. Once the age of maturity is reached, they just stop aging altogether. When Neo Queen Serenity turned 22, she ascended to the throne, also giving birth to Chibi-Usa that year. Since then, her figure has remained the same, which is because of the power of the Silver Crystal, which now includes Endymion as well.
One wonders if the Golden Crystal is in play here at all at this point. I tend to subscribe to the theory that they're changing the timeline a bit (which may also partly be Naoko just not having written the things that get changed later), so... I go by what the mythology is here (that they only live 1,000 years, etc.) but I can see some wiggle room if you consider it a separate timeline and that things may change if you add in more elements.
» He also tells what he knows about the Dark Moon family and what happened with Neo Queen Serenity--she stepped outside the palace to go somewhere one day, but a huge attack happened at that moment, and the Silver Crystal just formed around her to encase her in crystal. I wondered if that was what kept her from transforming to Sailor Moon, but later she says that she lost that power when she became queen, which really makes me wonder.
What is it about becoming queen that makes her unable to be Sailor Moon? But, I suspect, it's more to do with Chibi-Usa than it is to do with her becoming Queen. Not that I have enough detail to really fill in that theory yet, I'll consider it more as I go along.
It's interesting that Chibi-Usa had never seen Sailor Moon before--I know Usagi became Queen around the same time Chibi-Usa was born, so I can see where the idea that she lost her Sailor Moon powers because of that could still be in their minds. I briefly wondered, hey, couldn't she use the Silver Crystal as Serenity? I remember the anime often had her fighting in her Princess Serenity outfit, so why would she lose her powers that way? But I went back to read the manga version and I don't think she ever fights as Serenity--that fight against Beryl and Metallia was as Sailor Moon, not as Serenity.
Which was similar to the fight at the end of the R movie (with Mamoru lending her power, etc.), where she fought as Serenity, so I was confused for a moment. But she was definitely Sailor Moon in the manga when that fight happened. So I guess Serenity isn't meant to be a fighter in the manga?
» Endymion says that Nemesis is their solar system's 10th planet, which makes me wonder--why doesn't it have a Senshi? Even if, as Endymion says, until recently, it's existence was only mythical (which I assume means that everyone thought it was a myth), shouldn't it have had a Senshi? Or were there colonies on the other planets, where the princesses/Senshi came from, but Nemesis wasn't colonized, so no Senshi from it? I know I'm thinking about this too much, but whatever.
So, Nemesis. They used it as a giant prison colony, but then forgot about it, and I guess some people were still stuck on it? Great planning, guys.
I mean, I want to assume that it was more like... either all the prisoners died or served their time, so they stopped using it, then abandoned it, after they cleared it out, not realizing that Death Phantom was still there, having been bonded with the planet or whatever. But Endymion says, "However, in the 30th Century, we begain investigating Nemesis again, and discovered that it was under new leadership. Leadership that was interested in taking our world's powers."
So.
Great planning, guys.
I'm going to assume that it wasn't as dumbass as it sounds, that there were extenuating circumstances (especially since Nemesis seems otherwise barren when Wiseman uses it?), but honestly. "Yeah, we dropped a bunch of dangerous prisoners off there and then forgot to check on them lololol.... oops?"
» Usagi starts to turn see-through because two forms can't exist in the same space, but Mamoru doesn't because Endymion is only a projection? It's a neat little detail of Naoko's world. I think the difference is (since Endymion is actually still in the palace, too) is that they're very near Serenity, while Endymion is elsewhere.
Which means they've definitely got to get going back to the past. Endymion is unable to protect Small Lady, so can she take care of herself and help the others with their mission? Which leads Mamoru to say that he'll protect her, he'll protect her with his own life, which makes Usagi's heart pang briefly, as she watches. Even the previous night together isn't enough to drive out all the jealousy she feels over the two of them.
Endymion says it's strange watching himself from so long ago, while Mamoru says that his powers of psychometry are growing stronger, that when he touched Chibi-Usa, he just somehow knew she was his daughter.
» Setsuna's deference to the King in this chapter really kind of pinged at me a lot. When they first interacted, I could kind of see where the Endymion <-- Setsuna fanon came from, a little bit. At first, I just sort of chalked it up to Setsuna's almost sort of hero worship of the whole royal family, she does it a bit with Serenity later, too. Which she doesn't do with Sailor Moon (since she said she'd have to kill her for breaking the laws/whatever), so she must not know that Sailor Moon = Serenity, either.
But one moment kept kind of floating in the back of my mind. Endymion says about Pluto that, "Her judgement and wisdom are better than anyone else's. She is an excellent soldier." Setsuna's face is very wide-eyed at the praise from him as she says, "King..." before going back to being more stoic with the rest of the Senshi. Again, I sort of chalked it up to Pluto's loneliness at the gate of time, that she probably didn't get a lot of interaction with people, so she wasn't used to praise, maybe. And she dotes on Small Lady, so, I kept thinking, well, it's probably about the royal family more than anything then.
» Once they get home, Usagi is upset that Mamoru is taking Chibi-Usa home again, even though he promised to protect her with his life. She knows that it's natural that he's protecting her and, even when there are are so many other things going on, why is she so jealous? She's trying so hard to grow up here, which is deliberatelly paralleled with Chibi-Usa's learning to grow up, too.
This whole arc is about growing up and learning to become a little more mature. Which I think also fits with the sex on the kitchen floor--it's a mature thing, sex. And Usagi is growing up.
» Well, Chibi-Usa is mostly growing up. She still runs away, because she's scared and she senses all the tension surrounding her. So, she runs away to Pluto and asks if she can stay there with her and just. My heartttttt. It can barely take how sweet and lovely their friendship is!
» They go after Chibi-Usa, of course, and Usagi can't use her powers because there are two Silver Crystals so close together and they're basically jamming each others' signals? (When she's fighting against Esmeraude.)
» In chapter 20, Mamoru does use Tuxedo La Smoking Bomber to stop Esmeraude from choking Usagi, but he can't save her from Dimande in 20/21. All which comes on the heels of him supposedly putting Chibi-Usa over her and this all makes more sense than I remember the anime doing. It's really gotta suck for Mamoru, who already feels not good enough.
The more I read of the manga, the more I'm really impressed with the build-up and pacing of the storyline, honestly.
→ I'm also about 20 minutes into Another Story (watching it, rather than doing it myself, because I am laaaazy and I just want the story) but already it is the greatest thing ever. I was sort of wary of it, these tie-in things (especially ones that are as old as this one) are often not that great, even if fandom seemed to love it and it's not like the art is anything to write home about.
I was initially hesitant as well because I couldn't tell who was saying what during the prologue, since there were no on-screen character faces to help me out. But then things switched back to the present day and it got easier to follow and then, well.
» So, during the prologue, there's a conversation between Endymion and Serenity, about the coming disaster or whatever, where there's talk of dream warnings and such, which kind of made me scratch my head. It seemed like Serenity was the one who had the prophetic dream (but there wasn't any way to tell for sure who said what) and it kind of bugged me because Mamoru is the one with the psychic powers, while Usagi has never really shown signs of that. I guess it's one of those generic shoujo heroines who has psychic visions thing, but it kind of made me :/ over it. I kind of choose to believe that maybe it was Endymion who said it instead. You can't stop me from thinking that!
I did enjoy that Chibi-Usa had a vision about it, because I can buy that. I can buy that, despite that she's mostly like her mother, she might have some measure of psychic power from her father. ♥
» I was enjoying it well enough, it's a cute little thing, but then Mamoru has a dream (or something like it) and he's suddenly somewhere else, when a voice calls out, "Master...." My immediate thought was, "OMG Let it be one of the Shitennou--!!" and then Kunzite showed up!
I was totally onboard from that moment on.
» The entire conversation with Kunzite was amazing. I had to screencap it because I loved it so intensely.
Kunzite: "Master... Destiny draws near. An evil comet is approaching from an evil star, to return Destiny to its origins. A horrible comet with the power to return everything... In the future... And in the past... It is giving birth to an existence in which all shall be returned to what has been."
Mamoru: "What!? Returning Destiny... When will this happen?"
Kunzite: "This is from the distant future."
Mamoru: "Do I have something to do with it now?"
Kunzite: "You shall choose which future........."
That's the end of the mysterious vision, Mamoru wakes up and wonders a bit to himself about how the Shitennou stones are glowing, how he'll choose the future.
Now, okay.
Nevermind how Kunzite knows all of this. Being a ghost in a stone maybe gives him special powers. Maybe he's psychic because of his connection to Endymion. I can accept any of these explanations, even when I know the real answer is, "Because the game makers wanted a plot device."
What I love with my whole heart is that entire converation between them. It's the most vague and oblique warning just about ever and yet Mamoru has only about .1 second of WTF reaction to it, then it's just business as usual, la la la~ Mamoru, you are amazing.
I know that the conversation might be because of the translation, these things are often hard to word just right. So far, though, everything else seems pretty normal, grammar-wise? So I like to think that this conversation is just REALLY FUCKING WEIRD because that's what Endymion's Generals have learned from him--to be vague and confusing as fuck. Even to Endymion-sama. Who just rolls with it.
» I love that it was Kunzite who showed up, it had to be him, but part of me was sad that Zoisite didn't show up, too. And then my brain totally exploded with the idea that, well, anime!Zoisite would probably think Endymion-sama was totally hot and it would make Mamoru and Kunzite's life one big headache. It would be AMAZING.
» A bit later, the focus shifts to the Senshi, who are gathering together to discuss the Daimon that Usagi just fought off, and it is TOTAL FUCKING CUTENESS. Ami has a DATE AT THE LIBRARY with Urawa-kun! That is totally not a date!! Never mind that she's blushing a bright red, you guys!
» Ami's in the middle of denying that she's going on a ~*date*~ with Urawa-kun when Yuuichirou comes in, literally saying hi to everyone, walking over to Rei, saying she looks especially beautiful today, she says thanks, and then he leaves. That's it! That is everything of Yuuichirou's actions in that scene!
It is the greatest ever.
After he leaves, Usagi starts teasing Rei, who turns it back on her, like, well, who's YOUR boyfriend then? And Usagi says she and Mamoru are together, they'll be like this forever, he's even KISSED her already! She's bright red and says, kyaa--! she shouldn't have said that! Which I find adorable and hilarious because they were already fucking by this point in the manga, way back in the Black Moon arc! ♥ ♥ ♥
Minako sighs at Usagi and is like, SIGH, even when you act like that, I'm still jealous of you. Makoto says it's true--Usagi-chan is with Mamoru-san, Ami-chan and Urawa-kun are a couple, too. Minako says, "And it doesn't matter what Rei-chan says, she's with Yuuichirou-san."
BLESS YOU, MINAKO. Finally, someone just cuts through Rei's hesitance with Yuuichirou! Which I still totally love as a ship in the anime (and this counts as close enough).
I find it interesting that it's the two boy-crazy girls who haven't really found anyone, but I felt that the anime already touched on that with the episode that focused on just the two of them in... I think it was the R season? Maybe Super?
Mostly, I just love the cuteness of this conversation and HEY, MINAKO AND MAKOTO, I HAVE A SUGGESTION FOR YOU GUYS IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A PARTER.... :D :D :D
» I may not be that far into the story yet, but it is the most delightful blending of anime and manga. I LOVE IT.
→ And, briefly, one more thing. Junjou Romantica 26.5! Which will have Spoilers for this mini-thing and Egoist 15!
I was hoping that Nakamura would do more and this isn't precisely what I was hoping for as follow up, but it is ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL nonetheless. Misaki is dying to know how Usagi-san knows Kamijou-sensei, but Usagi-san is being a bastard and trying to charge for the information, which Misaki is having none of! No matter how curious he is!
Which is all very cute and the art is super gorgeous (especially Akihiko evilly saying Misaki would need to kiss him if he wanted to know more--how so hot, Akihiko??), but I totally burst into wild laughter at the final panel where, later, Akihiko is still wondering what exactly he should say about his "unusual relationship" with Hiroki when Misaki finally caves and asks.
"Say... 'The Kamijou-sensei whom I have an unusual relationship with provides valuable material for my BL stories.' Can I say that to my housemate?"
Hiroki, currently surrounded by heartmarks and blushing, so he is clearly drunk off his ass while Akihiko asks if he could say that, slurs, "What'd joo ftayy?"
Akihiko. Such a bastard! Asking his totally drunk friend if he can say that, oh, yeah, your devil professor is where I get valuable material for my smutty BL novels! That's fine, right, Hiroki?
Beautiful.
→ I'm a little wary about the FFXIII-2 news, with the new character focus not sounding particularly great. Though, I am excited to hear about Serah at least! The gameplay stuff is good news, though--I didn't have a problem with the fights in the first game, but I'm never opposed to an easy mode being put in. Mostly, however, I'm glad to hear Toriyama confirm that there'll be more focus on towns will have a larger role, because I really do think that was one of the biggest things that kept the previous game from being great.
→ Also in FFXIII-2 news, apparently there's going to be multiple endings? I... I don't know how I feel about that.
► FARMVILLE:
→ Black sheep with rainbow stars, FUCK YEAH IT'S MINE NOW. Also, Sherry got me a candy cane striped sheep and a color-changing pig, so I am all WHEEEEE--!! about Farmville right now.
→ I have three of the pretty blue snow cone trees now, which also makes me happy! I haven't gotten the giant ice cream tree yet, but the colors on that one are kind of blah so I don't care as much. Pretty blue snow cone tree! There are so few trees in Farmville that are blue (and it pained me not to get one of the blue chrome apple trees, but I am not spending FV$ on a tree) that I'm really delighted by this one. I'd seen it on the wiki for ages and envied it, but now it's mineeeeeee. I am sad about not being able to get a cotton candy tree, though. They look so cute!
→ I've been browsing the forums again. Holy crap, this island-themed farm is gorgeous and it even manages to work in all the buildings! I see the Craftshop, the Garage, the Horse Stable, the Greenhouse, the Sheep Pen, the Winery, two Cow Barns, a Bakery, and even a Turkey Coop. And yet it all looks really natural! Granted, there are no crops there, but it's such a gorgeous farm omg.
► MANGA:
→ I really probably should just start categorizing this as "SAILOR MOON" stuff instead of still sticking it in the manga section. Whatever, good enough! It's been nearly two weeks since I sat down to write some of this stuff out, so I'm actually through the Black Moon arc and well into Infinity, which I'm enjoying, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the Black Moon arc in the manga. I like the anime more and more as time goes on, but I do think they made a lot of missteps in that arc--and the filler really didn't help.
→ SPOILERS for Sailor Moon 19-21.
→ Also, a fair amount of embedded images, but nothing that should break your computer.
» I really am enjoying Mamoru bonding with Chibi-Usa in this chapter, the way he instantly feels a connection to her, and is so protective of her. I like it for both the aspects of a daddy bonding with his baby girl and for the jealousy it causes between Mamoru and Usagi, which they have to deal with. But also because it gives us scenes like Mamoru tickling Chibi-Usa into bed and saying she can't run away (from the problems she has to face with the Black Moon clan chasing after her, not if she wants to help her parents) and he's glad she didn't tonight and she's a strong person! You can just see how much of an impact that has on Chibi-Usa.
» I also love this part of the story because of Usagi, who has to deal with her feelings of jealousy when she watches the two of them, how she has to reign them back in despite herself and worrying that it doesn't matter to Mamoru that Chibi-Usa is just a little girl, that he still sees her as a woman. I suspect this is a Japanese thing (and it's about the themes of jealousy that Naoko is drawing with this arc, as well as where things are headed with Black Lady) rather than being about age gaps (since Mamoru and Usagi aren't that far apart in the manga) and where this scene is going with these two. Even when Mamoru says she's just a little kid, Usagi has trouble letting go of the worries. It's natural in a new relationship.
She wants to give him a present to reassert her presence in their relationship, she wants to pull him closer, she wants to do something because she feels like so much is slipping away from her. Her friends have been kidnapped and she doesn't know where they are, there's nothing she can do, she has no information or leads. She feels like the boy she loves is focusing his attention on someone else, like maybe he's slipping away, too.
But she talks to him. She doesn't throw a fit, she's just worried and sad. They hold each other close and she says, "Stay with me. Don't ever leave my side. I'll do everything I can to protect you, Mamoru."
He kisses her hand gently. "And I will do the same for you."
Those were his exact thoughts, too. He only wants her. He wants to protect her.
They slide to the kitchen floor, arms wrapped around each other, and it's a gorgeous scene. But what really makes it for me? A few pages later, they go check on the (supposedly) sleeping Chibi-Usa and Usagi's got a loose shirt wrapped around her shoulders that's unbuttoned. A few panels later, you can see she still has her black dress on... but the shirt that was underneath the dress is no longer there and the shirt she has wrapped around her is most definitely not the same one she was wearing before, which has to be Mamoru's shirt.
Meaning, that dress definitely came off.
So... did they just have sex on the kitchen floor?
That.... that was kind of super hot.
It hit pretty much every kink I have with these two. Vowing to protect each other! Hand kissing! An intense emotional scene that's about issues and build-up because of all the shit happening in their lives, but also about this quiet moment where they're drawing strength from each other! So many FEEEEEELINGS!
» Esmeraude offers to present "the beautiful sleeping ruler of the castle as a gift", which definitely has an undercurrent of presenting her for the idea of killing her (or along those lines), but I got the definite impression that, even with the malice still here, this Esmeraude wasn't in love with Dimande, that she wasn't that bothered by his obsession with Serenity.
» I love Setsuna kneeling before Chibi-Usa to apologize for her insolence, calling her princess. And Usagi's like WTF SHE'S A PRINCESS, TOO!? and darling, darling Chibi-Usa puts her hands on her hips and huffs, I HAVEN'T TOLD YOU, BUT I AM A PRINCESS. AND SINCE YOU'RE ALL COMMONERS, YOU REALLY OUGHT TO ADDRESS ME MORE RESPECTFULLY.
Oh, god, I love Chibi-Usa so much. She is so spoiled, but she's so darling about it. Especially when Usagi rages at her attitude and is like WHO THE HELL ARE YOUR PARENTS AND WHY DIDN'T THEY TEACH YOU ANY MANNERS!? Lolling, like, forever. Oh, Naoko, you are the best. The best!
» It's been awhile since I watched the anime, but I think Chibi-Usa was sent back in it? While in the manga she stole the time key and went back herself--which I think I like better? I realize that the anime version was trying to say that she was their only hope, and she IS, like, 900 years old, even if she still looks/acts like a little girl. (One assumes she's that old in the anime, at least. I'm not sure if they specifically say?) While in the manga, they're not sending off a little girl to fight... instead, she chose to do this herself. I came to really love anime Chibi-Usa, but I think I love manga Chibi-Usa even more.
Endymion does say that they always told Chibi-Usa stories about Sailor Moon and that they thought if they sent her back into the past, maybe Sailor Moon could help them. So, it wasn't entirely Chibi-Usa's own idea, but she does seem to have a bit more agency in the manga, which is nice to see.
» The scene of the Senshi walking through the palace corridors is really gorgeous. I know Naoko's art is totally off anatomy-wise, but it's just so stunningly pretty and she knows how to use white space well and she can put in some really gorgeous detail sometimes.
» One thing I'm curious about--is that the Golden Crystal on the end of Endymion's staff? I haven't read ahead to the later chapters yet and I guess it could be the Golden Crystal, but....
» Endymion's real body is in a coma in another room--it makes me curious about his powers. I guess it makes sense, though, since he's pretty psychic-powers driven? Being able to project an astral version of yourself (which I assume it is--he doesn't have a reflection, so I don't think it's a hologram) could be in the same psychic vein. It'd be interesting to explore what other powers he might have gained in the last 1,000 years, too.
» I love how Endymion just info dumps all over everyone. He's all casual about how, oh, yeah, Chibi-Usa is your daughter, Usagi and Mamoru. And Diana here is Luna and Artemis' child, too. And, god bless Mamoru for having some actual observation skills--he asks why none of them seem to have aged. It's a thousand years in the future, how do they look not that much older? And then there's more info dumping.
Endymion says that the average lifespan of those in the Silver Millennium is about a thousand years. Once the age of maturity is reached, they just stop aging altogether. When Neo Queen Serenity turned 22, she ascended to the throne, also giving birth to Chibi-Usa that year. Since then, her figure has remained the same, which is because of the power of the Silver Crystal, which now includes Endymion as well.
One wonders if the Golden Crystal is in play here at all at this point. I tend to subscribe to the theory that they're changing the timeline a bit (which may also partly be Naoko just not having written the things that get changed later), so... I go by what the mythology is here (that they only live 1,000 years, etc.) but I can see some wiggle room if you consider it a separate timeline and that things may change if you add in more elements.
» He also tells what he knows about the Dark Moon family and what happened with Neo Queen Serenity--she stepped outside the palace to go somewhere one day, but a huge attack happened at that moment, and the Silver Crystal just formed around her to encase her in crystal. I wondered if that was what kept her from transforming to Sailor Moon, but later she says that she lost that power when she became queen, which really makes me wonder.
What is it about becoming queen that makes her unable to be Sailor Moon? But, I suspect, it's more to do with Chibi-Usa than it is to do with her becoming Queen. Not that I have enough detail to really fill in that theory yet, I'll consider it more as I go along.
It's interesting that Chibi-Usa had never seen Sailor Moon before--I know Usagi became Queen around the same time Chibi-Usa was born, so I can see where the idea that she lost her Sailor Moon powers because of that could still be in their minds. I briefly wondered, hey, couldn't she use the Silver Crystal as Serenity? I remember the anime often had her fighting in her Princess Serenity outfit, so why would she lose her powers that way? But I went back to read the manga version and I don't think she ever fights as Serenity--that fight against Beryl and Metallia was as Sailor Moon, not as Serenity.
Which was similar to the fight at the end of the R movie (with Mamoru lending her power, etc.), where she fought as Serenity, so I was confused for a moment. But she was definitely Sailor Moon in the manga when that fight happened. So I guess Serenity isn't meant to be a fighter in the manga?
» Endymion says that Nemesis is their solar system's 10th planet, which makes me wonder--why doesn't it have a Senshi? Even if, as Endymion says, until recently, it's existence was only mythical (which I assume means that everyone thought it was a myth), shouldn't it have had a Senshi? Or were there colonies on the other planets, where the princesses/Senshi came from, but Nemesis wasn't colonized, so no Senshi from it? I know I'm thinking about this too much, but whatever.
So, Nemesis. They used it as a giant prison colony, but then forgot about it, and I guess some people were still stuck on it? Great planning, guys.
I mean, I want to assume that it was more like... either all the prisoners died or served their time, so they stopped using it, then abandoned it, after they cleared it out, not realizing that Death Phantom was still there, having been bonded with the planet or whatever. But Endymion says, "However, in the 30th Century, we begain investigating Nemesis again, and discovered that it was under new leadership. Leadership that was interested in taking our world's powers."
So.
Great planning, guys.
I'm going to assume that it wasn't as dumbass as it sounds, that there were extenuating circumstances (especially since Nemesis seems otherwise barren when Wiseman uses it?), but honestly. "Yeah, we dropped a bunch of dangerous prisoners off there and then forgot to check on them lololol.... oops?"
» Usagi starts to turn see-through because two forms can't exist in the same space, but Mamoru doesn't because Endymion is only a projection? It's a neat little detail of Naoko's world. I think the difference is (since Endymion is actually still in the palace, too) is that they're very near Serenity, while Endymion is elsewhere.
Which means they've definitely got to get going back to the past. Endymion is unable to protect Small Lady, so can she take care of herself and help the others with their mission? Which leads Mamoru to say that he'll protect her, he'll protect her with his own life, which makes Usagi's heart pang briefly, as she watches. Even the previous night together isn't enough to drive out all the jealousy she feels over the two of them.
Endymion says it's strange watching himself from so long ago, while Mamoru says that his powers of psychometry are growing stronger, that when he touched Chibi-Usa, he just somehow knew she was his daughter.
» Setsuna's deference to the King in this chapter really kind of pinged at me a lot. When they first interacted, I could kind of see where the Endymion <-- Setsuna fanon came from, a little bit. At first, I just sort of chalked it up to Setsuna's almost sort of hero worship of the whole royal family, she does it a bit with Serenity later, too. Which she doesn't do with Sailor Moon (since she said she'd have to kill her for breaking the laws/whatever), so she must not know that Sailor Moon = Serenity, either.
But one moment kept kind of floating in the back of my mind. Endymion says about Pluto that, "Her judgement and wisdom are better than anyone else's. She is an excellent soldier." Setsuna's face is very wide-eyed at the praise from him as she says, "King..." before going back to being more stoic with the rest of the Senshi. Again, I sort of chalked it up to Pluto's loneliness at the gate of time, that she probably didn't get a lot of interaction with people, so she wasn't used to praise, maybe. And she dotes on Small Lady, so, I kept thinking, well, it's probably about the royal family more than anything then.
» Once they get home, Usagi is upset that Mamoru is taking Chibi-Usa home again, even though he promised to protect her with his life. She knows that it's natural that he's protecting her and, even when there are are so many other things going on, why is she so jealous? She's trying so hard to grow up here, which is deliberatelly paralleled with Chibi-Usa's learning to grow up, too.
This whole arc is about growing up and learning to become a little more mature. Which I think also fits with the sex on the kitchen floor--it's a mature thing, sex. And Usagi is growing up.
» Well, Chibi-Usa is mostly growing up. She still runs away, because she's scared and she senses all the tension surrounding her. So, she runs away to Pluto and asks if she can stay there with her and just. My heartttttt. It can barely take how sweet and lovely their friendship is!
» They go after Chibi-Usa, of course, and Usagi can't use her powers because there are two Silver Crystals so close together and they're basically jamming each others' signals? (When she's fighting against Esmeraude.)
» In chapter 20, Mamoru does use Tuxedo La Smoking Bomber to stop Esmeraude from choking Usagi, but he can't save her from Dimande in 20/21. All which comes on the heels of him supposedly putting Chibi-Usa over her and this all makes more sense than I remember the anime doing. It's really gotta suck for Mamoru, who already feels not good enough.
The more I read of the manga, the more I'm really impressed with the build-up and pacing of the storyline, honestly.
→ I'm also about 20 minutes into Another Story (watching it, rather than doing it myself, because I am laaaazy and I just want the story) but already it is the greatest thing ever. I was sort of wary of it, these tie-in things (especially ones that are as old as this one) are often not that great, even if fandom seemed to love it and it's not like the art is anything to write home about.
I was initially hesitant as well because I couldn't tell who was saying what during the prologue, since there were no on-screen character faces to help me out. But then things switched back to the present day and it got easier to follow and then, well.
» So, during the prologue, there's a conversation between Endymion and Serenity, about the coming disaster or whatever, where there's talk of dream warnings and such, which kind of made me scratch my head. It seemed like Serenity was the one who had the prophetic dream (but there wasn't any way to tell for sure who said what) and it kind of bugged me because Mamoru is the one with the psychic powers, while Usagi has never really shown signs of that. I guess it's one of those generic shoujo heroines who has psychic visions thing, but it kind of made me :/ over it. I kind of choose to believe that maybe it was Endymion who said it instead. You can't stop me from thinking that!
I did enjoy that Chibi-Usa had a vision about it, because I can buy that. I can buy that, despite that she's mostly like her mother, she might have some measure of psychic power from her father. ♥
» I was enjoying it well enough, it's a cute little thing, but then Mamoru has a dream (or something like it) and he's suddenly somewhere else, when a voice calls out, "Master...." My immediate thought was, "OMG Let it be one of the Shitennou--!!" and then Kunzite showed up!
I was totally onboard from that moment on.
» The entire conversation with Kunzite was amazing. I had to screencap it because I loved it so intensely.
Kunzite: "Master... Destiny draws near. An evil comet is approaching from an evil star, to return Destiny to its origins. A horrible comet with the power to return everything... In the future... And in the past... It is giving birth to an existence in which all shall be returned to what has been."
Mamoru: "What!? Returning Destiny... When will this happen?"
Kunzite: "This is from the distant future."
Mamoru: "Do I have something to do with it now?"
Kunzite: "You shall choose which future........."
That's the end of the mysterious vision, Mamoru wakes up and wonders a bit to himself about how the Shitennou stones are glowing, how he'll choose the future.
Now, okay.
Nevermind how Kunzite knows all of this. Being a ghost in a stone maybe gives him special powers. Maybe he's psychic because of his connection to Endymion. I can accept any of these explanations, even when I know the real answer is, "Because the game makers wanted a plot device."
What I love with my whole heart is that entire converation between them. It's the most vague and oblique warning just about ever and yet Mamoru has only about .1 second of WTF reaction to it, then it's just business as usual, la la la~ Mamoru, you are amazing.
I know that the conversation might be because of the translation, these things are often hard to word just right. So far, though, everything else seems pretty normal, grammar-wise? So I like to think that this conversation is just REALLY FUCKING WEIRD because that's what Endymion's Generals have learned from him--to be vague and confusing as fuck. Even to Endymion-sama. Who just rolls with it.
» I love that it was Kunzite who showed up, it had to be him, but part of me was sad that Zoisite didn't show up, too. And then my brain totally exploded with the idea that, well, anime!Zoisite would probably think Endymion-sama was totally hot and it would make Mamoru and Kunzite's life one big headache. It would be AMAZING.
» A bit later, the focus shifts to the Senshi, who are gathering together to discuss the Daimon that Usagi just fought off, and it is TOTAL FUCKING CUTENESS. Ami has a DATE AT THE LIBRARY with Urawa-kun! That is totally not a date!! Never mind that she's blushing a bright red, you guys!
» Ami's in the middle of denying that she's going on a ~*date*~ with Urawa-kun when Yuuichirou comes in, literally saying hi to everyone, walking over to Rei, saying she looks especially beautiful today, she says thanks, and then he leaves. That's it! That is everything of Yuuichirou's actions in that scene!
It is the greatest ever.
After he leaves, Usagi starts teasing Rei, who turns it back on her, like, well, who's YOUR boyfriend then? And Usagi says she and Mamoru are together, they'll be like this forever, he's even KISSED her already! She's bright red and says, kyaa--! she shouldn't have said that! Which I find adorable and hilarious because they were already fucking by this point in the manga, way back in the Black Moon arc! ♥ ♥ ♥
Minako sighs at Usagi and is like, SIGH, even when you act like that, I'm still jealous of you. Makoto says it's true--Usagi-chan is with Mamoru-san, Ami-chan and Urawa-kun are a couple, too. Minako says, "And it doesn't matter what Rei-chan says, she's with Yuuichirou-san."
BLESS YOU, MINAKO. Finally, someone just cuts through Rei's hesitance with Yuuichirou! Which I still totally love as a ship in the anime (and this counts as close enough).
I find it interesting that it's the two boy-crazy girls who haven't really found anyone, but I felt that the anime already touched on that with the episode that focused on just the two of them in... I think it was the R season? Maybe Super?
Mostly, I just love the cuteness of this conversation and HEY, MINAKO AND MAKOTO, I HAVE A SUGGESTION FOR YOU GUYS IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A PARTER.... :D :D :D
» I may not be that far into the story yet, but it is the most delightful blending of anime and manga. I LOVE IT.
→ And, briefly, one more thing. Junjou Romantica 26.5! Which will have Spoilers for this mini-thing and Egoist 15!
I was hoping that Nakamura would do more and this isn't precisely what I was hoping for as follow up, but it is ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL nonetheless. Misaki is dying to know how Usagi-san knows Kamijou-sensei, but Usagi-san is being a bastard and trying to charge for the information, which Misaki is having none of! No matter how curious he is!
Which is all very cute and the art is super gorgeous (especially Akihiko evilly saying Misaki would need to kiss him if he wanted to know more--how so hot, Akihiko??), but I totally burst into wild laughter at the final panel where, later, Akihiko is still wondering what exactly he should say about his "unusual relationship" with Hiroki when Misaki finally caves and asks.
"Say... 'The Kamijou-sensei whom I have an unusual relationship with provides valuable material for my BL stories.' Can I say that to my housemate?"
Hiroki, currently surrounded by heartmarks and blushing, so he is clearly drunk off his ass while Akihiko asks if he could say that, slurs, "What'd joo ftayy?"
Akihiko. Such a bastard! Asking his totally drunk friend if he can say that, oh, yeah, your devil professor is where I get valuable material for my smutty BL novels! That's fine, right, Hiroki?
Beautiful.