Rant about one of Blood's endings.
Although Anniversary has been out for quite a while, I've been slowly chipping away at it. Since I completed Heart, my motivation just isn't as high. So every so often I play one of the no-stay routes. In my last round, I decided to go for Blood. He's not one of my favorites, but I was just in the mood, and his character seemed to improve in Joker.
I am done with his route now, and I've come here to vent because I'm rather pissed off. I'm not just angry with Blood, but Alice too. In the beginning Blood seemed rather cute, although there were some possessive undertones that would make most sane people concerned(but otome games don't use this logic anyway, so it is possible to ignore).
I think things started going sour when he realized Alice had been giving him those hot stares because of his similarity to her ex(I felt bad for him at this point). Then he assaults her. I can somewhat understand that frustration given the situation, but there is still no excuse. Then after Alice runs off, she actually surprises Blood and me by coming back later! Sure the route wasn't over, but I thought that she'd be more sane than that, and Blood would have to come to her for the route to continue. Now all hope is lost because Blood decides he owns her.
There are a few crazy, possessive events before the ball, but they aren't beyond my expectations for Blood. Then since Alice was staying at the Clock Tower during this route, she came to the ball with Julius and Ace. Julius and Alice get drunk as usual, and Ace...I don't know what Ace is. But Blood comes along in the classic no-stay route fashion and sweeps her away to the castle maze garden. He swaps the dress Julius gave her for something...well...better(sorry Julius, I can't deny this) and they have a good time. At this point I was feeling like maybe Blood isn't so bad. Then in his last events he is behaving like a complete jerk again. I realize this is subjective, but I wouldn't like someone telling me I belonged to them all the time. It kills the romance for me.
In the end Alice tries to be nice and tell him that she is going home(why she would tell a crazy, possessive person about this, I do not know). He then forces her down onto his sofa(familiar territory for us Alice veterans) and bites her tongue and her neck really hard. There isn't a hint of sexual pleasure in this. Alice is bleeding and in pain. He just goes on to tell her that he won't allow her to go home, and tricks her into thinking she can't go by stealing her bottle and drinking it's contents. When she gives up, the bottle cracks. Now I won't blame all of this on Blood because I think that deep down Alice wanted to be stopped. She just didn't want the responsibility of directly making that decision.
After she decides to stay, Blood won't let her go back to the Clock Tower or anywhere, and anytime she tries to leave, one of Blood's employees stops her. The more time that passes, the more cabin fever she experiences. At some point she snaps at Elliot who is busy detaining her from leaving. She grabs his ears and starts yanking them around, trying desperately to get him to let her go. He's loyal to Blood first though, and takes the pain while trying to settle her down. Eventually she gives up on him and comes across some faceless employees. They reveal to her that Blood really won't let her out because people will aim to use her against him, and her life could be in danger. She settles down a little once she understands that Blood has a reason other than imprisoning her. And later she is able to meet up with Blood and have a conversation/fight with him about how she'd like to be able to go out sometimes. She would especially like to see Julius to thank him for letting her stay at the Tower. Blood and Alice have a stare down over whether she can go or not. In the end Blood relents and allows her to go to the Tower.
When Alice meets with Julius again, she tells him all about why she hasn't been back in such a long time. Julius tells her she's crazy for choosing to stay with Blood(I agreed). They say their farewells and Julius gives Alice one of his books to keep. Then Julius spots Blood waiting outside(because of the huge hat...lol) and sends Alice off to her doom. It ends with Blood and Alice holding hands, walking back to the Hatter Mansion where she will live with a creep for the rest of her life.
I won't say that I hated the route, because I didn't. It just wasn't the romance I seek from an otome game. On the other hand, I liked the dark feel of it. I was reminded why Blood is the mafia boss. And the fact that it could invoke such red hot anger in me, made it a good route. But oh my goodness, Alice, "You are insane!". I'm completely with Julius on this point. Blood assaults her, she comes back. He starts calling her "his woman", and she puts up with it. And finally he abuses her and locks her away, and the moment she gets a taste of freedom, she doesn't head for the hills or get help. What the hell?!
How is this the canon pairing?
I like it better when these two are friends. They have a few things in common, and they play well off of each other. I just don't see the romantic chemistry.
I am done with his route now, and I've come here to vent because I'm rather pissed off. I'm not just angry with Blood, but Alice too. In the beginning Blood seemed rather cute, although there were some possessive undertones that would make most sane people concerned(but otome games don't use this logic anyway, so it is possible to ignore).
I think things started going sour when he realized Alice had been giving him those hot stares because of his similarity to her ex(I felt bad for him at this point). Then he assaults her. I can somewhat understand that frustration given the situation, but there is still no excuse. Then after Alice runs off, she actually surprises Blood and me by coming back later! Sure the route wasn't over, but I thought that she'd be more sane than that, and Blood would have to come to her for the route to continue. Now all hope is lost because Blood decides he owns her.
There are a few crazy, possessive events before the ball, but they aren't beyond my expectations for Blood. Then since Alice was staying at the Clock Tower during this route, she came to the ball with Julius and Ace. Julius and Alice get drunk as usual, and Ace...I don't know what Ace is. But Blood comes along in the classic no-stay route fashion and sweeps her away to the castle maze garden. He swaps the dress Julius gave her for something...well...better(sorry Julius, I can't deny this) and they have a good time. At this point I was feeling like maybe Blood isn't so bad. Then in his last events he is behaving like a complete jerk again. I realize this is subjective, but I wouldn't like someone telling me I belonged to them all the time. It kills the romance for me.
In the end Alice tries to be nice and tell him that she is going home(why she would tell a crazy, possessive person about this, I do not know). He then forces her down onto his sofa(familiar territory for us Alice veterans) and bites her tongue and her neck really hard. There isn't a hint of sexual pleasure in this. Alice is bleeding and in pain. He just goes on to tell her that he won't allow her to go home, and tricks her into thinking she can't go by stealing her bottle and drinking it's contents. When she gives up, the bottle cracks. Now I won't blame all of this on Blood because I think that deep down Alice wanted to be stopped. She just didn't want the responsibility of directly making that decision.
After she decides to stay, Blood won't let her go back to the Clock Tower or anywhere, and anytime she tries to leave, one of Blood's employees stops her. The more time that passes, the more cabin fever she experiences. At some point she snaps at Elliot who is busy detaining her from leaving. She grabs his ears and starts yanking them around, trying desperately to get him to let her go. He's loyal to Blood first though, and takes the pain while trying to settle her down. Eventually she gives up on him and comes across some faceless employees. They reveal to her that Blood really won't let her out because people will aim to use her against him, and her life could be in danger. She settles down a little once she understands that Blood has a reason other than imprisoning her. And later she is able to meet up with Blood and have a conversation/fight with him about how she'd like to be able to go out sometimes. She would especially like to see Julius to thank him for letting her stay at the Tower. Blood and Alice have a stare down over whether she can go or not. In the end Blood relents and allows her to go to the Tower.
When Alice meets with Julius again, she tells him all about why she hasn't been back in such a long time. Julius tells her she's crazy for choosing to stay with Blood(I agreed). They say their farewells and Julius gives Alice one of his books to keep. Then Julius spots Blood waiting outside(because of the huge hat...lol) and sends Alice off to her doom. It ends with Blood and Alice holding hands, walking back to the Hatter Mansion where she will live with a creep for the rest of her life.
I won't say that I hated the route, because I didn't. It just wasn't the romance I seek from an otome game. On the other hand, I liked the dark feel of it. I was reminded why Blood is the mafia boss. And the fact that it could invoke such red hot anger in me, made it a good route. But oh my goodness, Alice, "You are insane!". I'm completely with Julius on this point. Blood assaults her, she comes back. He starts calling her "his woman", and she puts up with it. And finally he abuses her and locks her away, and the moment she gets a taste of freedom, she doesn't head for the hills or get help. What the hell?!
How is this the canon pairing?
I like it better when these two are friends. They have a few things in common, and they play well off of each other. I just don't see the romantic chemistry.