(no subject)
I have not forgotten about my Top Fives! littledust asked me for my Top Five BFF moments in fiction, which is a NIGH-IMPOSSIBLE REQUEST. So, fair warning: I am going to blatantly cheat. I am also going to babble a lot about dorky feelings. Stoic types who are embarrassed by this may wish to turn back here! I won't hold it against you.
Okay, this is my non-cheating list!
5. John Henry and Savannah, The Sarah Connor Chronicles: THE SCENE WITH THE DUCKS.
John Henry is a baby robot with a human teacher who is possiby going to someday turn into Skynet and destroy the human race. Savannah Weaver is a human little girl with a robot mom who does not know how to express love. Their relationship was MY FAVORITE THING about The Sarah Connor Chronicles. The scene that made me literally shriek aloud involves Savannah asking John Henry if she can join his SUPER SERIOUS game of Bionicles:
John Henry: I don't think there are any ducklings on the mystical island of Voya Nui.
Savannah Weaver: Are you sure?
John Henry: I'm sorry, I have access to all the files. I can find no reference to them in any of the instructions. . . . What's wrong? If you'd like one of the Toa instead?
Savannah Weaver: Nooooo. The ducklings are sad because they can't play. Can't you change the rules to make them happy?
AND THEN THE BABY ROBOT AND THE LITTLE GIRL PLAYED DUCK-BIONICLES AND IT WAS THE MOST ADORABLE THING EVER. THE END.
4. Kenji and Otcho, 20th Century Boys: LOVE AND PEACE ARE ON HOLD
One of the central themes of 20th Century Boys is the importance of friendship between kids and how that carries through into adulthood and what gets remembered and what gets forgotten, which means that there are a lot of incredibly awesome BFF moments between protagonist Kenji and his gang of kid-buddies that I would be remiss not to mention here. One of the most epic features Kenji's best friend and second-in-command Otcho hangs out with his cool older hippie buddies learning about love and peace and non-violence, man! And that's all well and good . . . until Kenji is valiantly facing down a gang of bullies. And Otcho charges in with a LAST-MINUTE RESCUE. LOVE AND PEACE ARE ON HOLD TODAY. Because that's what friends are for.
(For the record, as grownups, Otcho is the one who turns into a hard-core mercenary known only as Shogun; Kenji is the dorky guitarist in a bunny suit.)
3. Ty Lee and Mai, Avatar: The Last Airbender: Ty Lee's choice
Okay, so there are happier Dangerous Ladies BFF moments, there can be no doubt. Especially since it's simultaneously a BFF moment and the shattering of a BFF relationship; I don't want to argue that Ty Lee's bond with Mai is more important than her bond with Azula, because I emphatically don't think that's true. But. BUT. I love Mai's choice; I love that she makes it, and what it says about her and her relationship with Zuko, and how she takes a stand at last. But I love EVEN MORE that Ty Lee's choice - a choice that is founded on female friendship and partnership and refusing to let one of her friends hurt the other - is essentially the last word in the scene. Because it is all too rare in fiction for ladyfriendship to get the narrative emphasis over romantic relationships, and the dynamic between these ladies totally deserves that emphasis. Ty Lee's choice: possibly my favorite thing about s3. (The almost-total absence of Ty Lee and Mai in the finale: possibly my least favorite thing about s3! I AM MAYBE A LITTLE OVERINVESTED.)
2. Rue and Duck, Princess Tutu: TALKING TO GIRLS IS OKAY
You guys knew this one was going up here, right? (This is not an image of that exact scene, but it conveys the dynamic pretty well, I think.) One of my favorite things about Princess Tutu is the friendship between Duck, our bubbleheaded big-hearted beginner-class heroine, and Rue, lofty, reserved and angsty school diva and sometime villainness; the conversation that sums it up best happens sometime in episode 9, and goes like this:
Rue: It's strange . . .
Duck: What? What's strange? Where?
Rue: I've never talked to another girl like this before.
Duck: Oh . . . . do you hate stuff like this?
Rue: I don't think I hate it.
And then Duck goes like :DDDDDDD and Rue makes >.< faces of 'wait what have I just committed myself to I DIDN'T MEAN TO AGREE TO THIS 'FRIENDSHIP' THING' and I want to hug them both forever.
1. Momoko and Ichigo, Kamikaze Girls: MOMOKO RIDES TO THE RESCUE
I am saving the most epic for last, here. Momoko and Ichigo are the ultimate in opposites-attract BFFness. Ichigo is a loud, violent and emotional biker chick who worms her way into the slightly sociopathic heart of Momoko, a quiet, deadpan devotee of embroidery, rococo and lolita fashion, with perfectly curled hair and perfectly ironed petticoats. Momoko does a pretty good job of not expressing any ~feelings~ ever . . . until the very end, when Ichigo's old biker friends turn on her and start to make threats. At which point Momoko does what any demure lolita maiden would do: RIDES TO THE RESCUE ON A MOTORCYCLE AND STARTS ATTACKING PEOPLE WITH A BASEBALL BAT UNTIL THEY FLEE IN TERROR. <333333Momoko<3333333
For a more visual representation I recommend shati's vid Enchantment. Most adorable headbutting and berserker baseball bat attack ever!
So that is my list! HOWEVER. In order to narrow it down to five, I had to exclude so many examples based on the rule of 'if I ship them, it doesn't count' that I decided to make a whole OTHER list, this time of BFF-moments between characters who are undoubtedly BFF but whom I also want to smush together and make eyehearts at. (This one without pictures, because it is the cheating list.)
5. Utena and Anthy, Revolutionary Girl Utena: PROMISES AND HANDHOLDING
This is #5 because it is the most explicitly romantic, and so the most cheating. So remember that time that Utena and Anthy drank tea together, and were totally best friends despite a number of complicated dynamics in their relationship at that point, and then promised to do the same thing together in ten years, and then Anthy tried to commit suicide (although it probably wouldn't have worked) and then Utena was like YOU PROMISED and my heart exploded? Because I do!
4. Danny and Willie, The Great Escape: Getting Danny out of the tunnel
The Great Escape is, if not my favorite movie of all time, definitely up there - a funny, angsty WWII epic featuring an epic ton of lovable characters, cunning plans, and a SECRET TUNNEL, what is not to love? . . . aside from the fact that most of the characters die at the end. FORTUNATELY the first time I watched the movie, I was lucky enough to imprint on two of the characters who actually survive - Danny and Willie, Tunnel Kings, who spend most of the movie cheerfully digging aforementioned SECRET TUNNEL. Unfortunately, Danny has an attack of claustrophobia on the night of the escape and almost doesn't make it out! Fortunately, Willie is there to clutch him tenderly and tell him he'll be right behimd them as they escape. And then they rowboat to freedom and live happily ever after. I am not generally much of a guyshipper, but man, baby Becca did not even need to have developed the slash goggles for this. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THOUGH: BFF. YEAH.
3. Orlando and Fredericks, Otherland: You read it, you dork!
So Sam Fredericks and Orlando Gardiner are best friends and spend all their online/virtul world time adventuring together. And if Orlando hasn't told Fredericks that he's dying of a terminal illness, and Fredericks has neglected to mention that she may be a girl, it's totally just because they never found a segue! Other things that Fredericks has neglected to mention: that time that Orlando was like "THE LORD OF THE RINGS IS THE BEST BOOK EVER, YOU SHOULD READ IT" and then she went and read it even though she's not much of a reader, just because Orlando would not shut up about it. At least until the time much, much later on when they were caught up in an epic adventure, and Orlando was dying, and Fredericks was like "I WILL CARRY YOU LIKE SAM DID FRODO" and Orlando was like "wait, what, okay yes I am probably about to die any second, but MORE IMPORTANTLY, when did you read LOTR?!? Were you ever going to tell me about this?" And it was simultaneously tragic and hilariously adorkable.
2. Millie and Christopher, Chronicles of Chrestomanci: A PRIVATE ISLAND, CHRISTOPHER?
You knew this list was not ending without me putting some DWJ on it either, right? Right. And yes, okay, in the future Millie and Christopher are married and have two kids etc.. But at the time this moment takes place, they are not in any way married, just long-suffering BFF. And okay, maybe Christopher kind of wishes to carry Millie off and live alone with her forever and ever, and I feel it is a testament to the strength of their friendship that Millie in no way allows this to make anything awkward, she is just like "seriously, Christopher? A private island? I WOULD GO CRAZY" and then they go back to being their hilariously BFF selves.
1. Yoko and Rakushun, Twelve Kingdoms: THAT IS PREJUDICED RAKUSHUN.
Okay, I will be honest: the entire creation of this secondary list was because I could not bring myself in my heart to leave Yoko and Rakushun's amazing BFF friendship off this list, NOR could I bring myself in my heart to deny that I ship them to a ridiculous extent. But. GUYS. Okay. So there is this time, this time when after a lot of journeys together, after that time when Yoko almost left Rakushun to die and then because of him she re-learned how to trust people (or at least to trust giant rats) and meanwhile she inspired him to go after his dream of becoming a civil servant, after all of that, there is this time when Yoko and Rakushun both find out that Yoko is actually royalty. And of course, as one does, he immediately starts bowing and distancing himself, because she's royalty! And Yoko becomes FURIOUS. Because if he is going to treat her differently because she happened to be born royalty, well, Rakushun, THAT IS PREJUDICE and HE SHOULD KNOW BETTER. And then there are hilariously awkward hugs. And my eyes went like this *________* and did not stop.
And wow, that was the longest meme-answer ever. SORRY EVERYONE.
Anyway, while I am on the topic of memes, and also friendship, and also ~feelings~ - I never remember to do or check anonymeme things! So I was shocked and astounded to find my name up at meloukhia's anonymous love meme. To whoever those people were, thank you; I am beaming all over my stupid face right now. I MAY NEVER STOP.
Okay, this is my non-cheating list!
5. John Henry and Savannah, The Sarah Connor Chronicles: THE SCENE WITH THE DUCKS.
John Henry is a baby robot with a human teacher who is possiby going to someday turn into Skynet and destroy the human race. Savannah Weaver is a human little girl with a robot mom who does not know how to express love. Their relationship was MY FAVORITE THING about The Sarah Connor Chronicles. The scene that made me literally shriek aloud involves Savannah asking John Henry if she can join his SUPER SERIOUS game of Bionicles:
John Henry: I don't think there are any ducklings on the mystical island of Voya Nui.
Savannah Weaver: Are you sure?
John Henry: I'm sorry, I have access to all the files. I can find no reference to them in any of the instructions. . . . What's wrong? If you'd like one of the Toa instead?
Savannah Weaver: Nooooo. The ducklings are sad because they can't play. Can't you change the rules to make them happy?
AND THEN THE BABY ROBOT AND THE LITTLE GIRL PLAYED DUCK-BIONICLES AND IT WAS THE MOST ADORABLE THING EVER. THE END.
4. Kenji and Otcho, 20th Century Boys: LOVE AND PEACE ARE ON HOLD
One of the central themes of 20th Century Boys is the importance of friendship between kids and how that carries through into adulthood and what gets remembered and what gets forgotten, which means that there are a lot of incredibly awesome BFF moments between protagonist Kenji and his gang of kid-buddies that I would be remiss not to mention here. One of the most epic features Kenji's best friend and second-in-command Otcho hangs out with his cool older hippie buddies learning about love and peace and non-violence, man! And that's all well and good . . . until Kenji is valiantly facing down a gang of bullies. And Otcho charges in with a LAST-MINUTE RESCUE. LOVE AND PEACE ARE ON HOLD TODAY. Because that's what friends are for.
(For the record, as grownups, Otcho is the one who turns into a hard-core mercenary known only as Shogun; Kenji is the dorky guitarist in a bunny suit.)
3. Ty Lee and Mai, Avatar: The Last Airbender: Ty Lee's choice
Okay, so there are happier Dangerous Ladies BFF moments, there can be no doubt. Especially since it's simultaneously a BFF moment and the shattering of a BFF relationship; I don't want to argue that Ty Lee's bond with Mai is more important than her bond with Azula, because I emphatically don't think that's true. But. BUT. I love Mai's choice; I love that she makes it, and what it says about her and her relationship with Zuko, and how she takes a stand at last. But I love EVEN MORE that Ty Lee's choice - a choice that is founded on female friendship and partnership and refusing to let one of her friends hurt the other - is essentially the last word in the scene. Because it is all too rare in fiction for ladyfriendship to get the narrative emphasis over romantic relationships, and the dynamic between these ladies totally deserves that emphasis. Ty Lee's choice: possibly my favorite thing about s3. (The almost-total absence of Ty Lee and Mai in the finale: possibly my least favorite thing about s3! I AM MAYBE A LITTLE OVERINVESTED.)
2. Rue and Duck, Princess Tutu: TALKING TO GIRLS IS OKAY
You guys knew this one was going up here, right? (This is not an image of that exact scene, but it conveys the dynamic pretty well, I think.) One of my favorite things about Princess Tutu is the friendship between Duck, our bubbleheaded big-hearted beginner-class heroine, and Rue, lofty, reserved and angsty school diva and sometime villainness; the conversation that sums it up best happens sometime in episode 9, and goes like this:
Rue: It's strange . . .
Duck: What? What's strange? Where?
Rue: I've never talked to another girl like this before.
Duck: Oh . . . . do you hate stuff like this?
Rue: I don't think I hate it.
And then Duck goes like :DDDDDDD and Rue makes >.< faces of 'wait what have I just committed myself to I DIDN'T MEAN TO AGREE TO THIS 'FRIENDSHIP' THING' and I want to hug them both forever.
1. Momoko and Ichigo, Kamikaze Girls: MOMOKO RIDES TO THE RESCUE
I am saving the most epic for last, here. Momoko and Ichigo are the ultimate in opposites-attract BFFness. Ichigo is a loud, violent and emotional biker chick who worms her way into the slightly sociopathic heart of Momoko, a quiet, deadpan devotee of embroidery, rococo and lolita fashion, with perfectly curled hair and perfectly ironed petticoats. Momoko does a pretty good job of not expressing any ~feelings~ ever . . . until the very end, when Ichigo's old biker friends turn on her and start to make threats. At which point Momoko does what any demure lolita maiden would do: RIDES TO THE RESCUE ON A MOTORCYCLE AND STARTS ATTACKING PEOPLE WITH A BASEBALL BAT UNTIL THEY FLEE IN TERROR. <333333Momoko<3333333
For a more visual representation I recommend shati's vid Enchantment. Most adorable headbutting and berserker baseball bat attack ever!
So that is my list! HOWEVER. In order to narrow it down to five, I had to exclude so many examples based on the rule of 'if I ship them, it doesn't count' that I decided to make a whole OTHER list, this time of BFF-moments between characters who are undoubtedly BFF but whom I also want to smush together and make eyehearts at. (This one without pictures, because it is the cheating list.)
5. Utena and Anthy, Revolutionary Girl Utena: PROMISES AND HANDHOLDING
This is #5 because it is the most explicitly romantic, and so the most cheating. So remember that time that Utena and Anthy drank tea together, and were totally best friends despite a number of complicated dynamics in their relationship at that point, and then promised to do the same thing together in ten years, and then Anthy tried to commit suicide (although it probably wouldn't have worked) and then Utena was like YOU PROMISED and my heart exploded? Because I do!
4. Danny and Willie, The Great Escape: Getting Danny out of the tunnel
The Great Escape is, if not my favorite movie of all time, definitely up there - a funny, angsty WWII epic featuring an epic ton of lovable characters, cunning plans, and a SECRET TUNNEL, what is not to love? . . . aside from the fact that most of the characters die at the end. FORTUNATELY the first time I watched the movie, I was lucky enough to imprint on two of the characters who actually survive - Danny and Willie, Tunnel Kings, who spend most of the movie cheerfully digging aforementioned SECRET TUNNEL. Unfortunately, Danny has an attack of claustrophobia on the night of the escape and almost doesn't make it out! Fortunately, Willie is there to clutch him tenderly and tell him he'll be right behimd them as they escape. And then they rowboat to freedom and live happily ever after. I am not generally much of a guyshipper, but man, baby Becca did not even need to have developed the slash goggles for this. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THOUGH: BFF. YEAH.
3. Orlando and Fredericks, Otherland: You read it, you dork!
So Sam Fredericks and Orlando Gardiner are best friends and spend all their online/virtul world time adventuring together. And if Orlando hasn't told Fredericks that he's dying of a terminal illness, and Fredericks has neglected to mention that she may be a girl, it's totally just because they never found a segue! Other things that Fredericks has neglected to mention: that time that Orlando was like "THE LORD OF THE RINGS IS THE BEST BOOK EVER, YOU SHOULD READ IT" and then she went and read it even though she's not much of a reader, just because Orlando would not shut up about it. At least until the time much, much later on when they were caught up in an epic adventure, and Orlando was dying, and Fredericks was like "I WILL CARRY YOU LIKE SAM DID FRODO" and Orlando was like "wait, what, okay yes I am probably about to die any second, but MORE IMPORTANTLY, when did you read LOTR?!? Were you ever going to tell me about this?" And it was simultaneously tragic and hilariously adorkable.
2. Millie and Christopher, Chronicles of Chrestomanci: A PRIVATE ISLAND, CHRISTOPHER?
You knew this list was not ending without me putting some DWJ on it either, right? Right. And yes, okay, in the future Millie and Christopher are married and have two kids etc.. But at the time this moment takes place, they are not in any way married, just long-suffering BFF. And okay, maybe Christopher kind of wishes to carry Millie off and live alone with her forever and ever, and I feel it is a testament to the strength of their friendship that Millie in no way allows this to make anything awkward, she is just like "seriously, Christopher? A private island? I WOULD GO CRAZY" and then they go back to being their hilariously BFF selves.
1. Yoko and Rakushun, Twelve Kingdoms: THAT IS PREJUDICED RAKUSHUN.
Okay, I will be honest: the entire creation of this secondary list was because I could not bring myself in my heart to leave Yoko and Rakushun's amazing BFF friendship off this list, NOR could I bring myself in my heart to deny that I ship them to a ridiculous extent. But. GUYS. Okay. So there is this time, this time when after a lot of journeys together, after that time when Yoko almost left Rakushun to die and then because of him she re-learned how to trust people (or at least to trust giant rats) and meanwhile she inspired him to go after his dream of becoming a civil servant, after all of that, there is this time when Yoko and Rakushun both find out that Yoko is actually royalty. And of course, as one does, he immediately starts bowing and distancing himself, because she's royalty! And Yoko becomes FURIOUS. Because if he is going to treat her differently because she happened to be born royalty, well, Rakushun, THAT IS PREJUDICE and HE SHOULD KNOW BETTER. And then there are hilariously awkward hugs. And my eyes went like this *________* and did not stop.
And wow, that was the longest meme-answer ever. SORRY EVERYONE.
Anyway, while I am on the topic of memes, and also friendship, and also ~feelings~ - I never remember to do or check anonymeme things! So I was shocked and astounded to find my name up at meloukhia's anonymous love meme. To whoever those people were, thank you; I am beaming all over my stupid face right now. I MAY NEVER STOP.