One-shots, two-shots, red shots, blue shots
The Challenge
I challenge you ... to name your top five (ten, if you want to be ambitious) BL manga short stories. Please include the title of the volume it's collected in (if collected) and the name of the artist.
The RulesA short story should be complete in one chapter. If it stretches to two, you should note that in your comments (and I'm ( Read more... )
I challenge you ... to name your top five (ten, if you want to be ambitious) BL manga short stories. Please include the title of the volume it's collected in (if collected) and the name of the artist.
The RulesA short story should be complete in one chapter. If it stretches to two, you should note that in your comments (and I'm ( Read more... )
As fangirls, we have to believe there was some sort of attraction. (Because we know Katsumi wouldn't just go off ホイホイ with any man that asked him.) So what was it that attracted him? The scene fades out before we see anything other than Nagao saying hello, but we can assume they didn't have some deep, meaningful conversation at the bar because A) Nagao wouldn't do that and B) They didn't even know each other's names.
Ruling out love at first sight, this means it was a purely physical attraction. (If we don't want to rule out love at first sight, because we are hopeless romantics, then we will have to say that it was love at first sight that Katsumi mistook for physical attraction, because I'm sure he doesn't believe in love at first sight and would never act on it.) Even given the genre, there's no "I'm not interested in men, only you" when it's just a physical attraction. That means Katsumi must be gay, or at least bi. (Perhaps he's gay, and that's why things didn't work out with his wife. Whoops, that's just my 好み.) Did Katsumi know he was gay/bi? Was he in denial for years? Did he get curious? Did he think, "This is my chance to find out if I'm gay or not?"
In conclusion, I personally believe that it was actually many factors (alcohol [lack of inhibition] + depression over recent divorce + am I gay after all? + hey, that guys's kind of hot...? + ...and he just asked me out!), the combination of which, at that exact moment = DESTINY.
I've just realized that this meme is completely wrecking my resolution to spend less and save more money. Dammit! Obviously I need to buy less food or something.
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I do know your excellent analysis is wasted in my comments page, where only 3-4 people will ever see it. You should set it free.
So what was it that attracted him?
It's very easy for me to see what would initially attract anyone -- particularly someone a little depressed, like Katsumi-san -- to Nagao. He's stylish and charismatic and (usually) very self-confident. And his features are all nicely symmetrical. Yum. (Of course, I'm not so shallow. What attracts me to Nagao is that he fell in love with Katsumi-san. Those tightly-wound salaryman types drive me crazy, too.)
Love at first sight? Nah. I'm a fictional romantic, but Katsumi definitely isn't. Nagao might have been cupid-struck, though. I do wonder what would have happened if Nagao hadn't pursued the relationship after that first night. Would Katsumi-san have gone off after a one-night stand without any regrets or desire to see Nagao again?
Perhaps he's gay, and that's why things didn't work out with his wife. Whoops, that's just my 好み.
The text seems to imply this scenario as well, with those repeated suggestions that Katsumi was ukeppoi in his marriage, which is why I hope we learn more about the divorce in future chapters.
Did he think, "This is my chance to find out if I'm gay or not?"
The only thing that makes me reluctant to embrace this part of the proposed equation is that Katsumi-san doesn't really think about this issue afterward (except for the blackmail threat), and the revelation would be a major epiphany that might have some relevance to the "I thought we were just sex friends" discussion. My equation looks more like alcohol + (loneliness * depression over recent divorce) + hey, this hot young guy just asked me out! = DESTINY. But who knows? Those future chapters (riots!!) may include some reflection on Katsumi-san's shifting sexuality.
Speaking of the sex friends discussion: セフレ? GAH! Why, Japan, why?
And, finally, is there a lovely internet resource where I can research the onomatopoetic Japanese terms? (ホイホイ)
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T_T I HATE that.
I do know your excellent analysis is wasted in my comments page, where only 3-4 people will ever see it. You should set it free.
Eh. I'm more interested in discussing it with you than announcing it to the world at large.
What attracts me to Nagao is that he fell in love with Katsumi-san.
Heh. I love him because (Sara, you'd better not be reading this!) .................... he cried in the elevator. Well, maybe not because of that, exactly, but that was when I fell in love? Or something.
Would Katsumi-san have gone off after a one-night stand without any regrets or desire to see Nagao again?
Ooh, that's an interesting question. I certainly don't think he would have made a move on his own, but it's hard to say how much he would have felt for Nagao. I don't think he fell nearly as fast as Nagao did.
The text seems to imply this scenario as well
Ah, but it's only Nagao that implies this. He also implies that Katsumi would go off with any guy who invites him, which I don't think is true. We really don't know what happened between him and his wife...for all we know Katsumi was just too much of a workaholic and she got bored.
The only thing that makes me reluctant to embrace this part of the proposed equation is that Katsumi-san doesn't really think about this issue afterward (except for the blackmail threat), and the revelation would be a major epiphany that might have some relevance to the "I thought we were just sex friends" discussion.
But, on the other hand, he never really questions the fact that he's sleeping with a guy. I can see it in the first chapter, when he's only doing it because he's being "blackmailed," but later? That seems awfully accepting for someone who's always thought he was 100% straight.
= DESTINY
Well, we agree on the important part. *laugh*
セフレ? GAH! Why, Japan, why?
Haha! I feel your pain. (Also, I almost made a post with that exact same subject line (the "Why Japan, why?" part) today, only it was because my coworker blamed catching a cold on the the dry air in the plane instead of getting it from another passenger. *headdesk*)
And, finally, is there a lovely internet resource where I can research the onomatopoetic Japanese terms?
I wish! ('Cause I'd love one, too.) Sadly, I can't give you a good resource at all--my grasp of onomatopoeia is almost totally based on what I've picked up from manga.
P.S. I forgot to ask--how many of these were the original five you had picked out?
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4 out 5. The Megumu Minami was the only one I added, and I let it bump a Bohra Naono short because choosing just one Bohra Naono story out of 5 nominees seemed silly. However, I really had no intention of doing the two-shots until I started systematically working through my manga, so maybe the huge delay was worth it?
I'm more interested in discussing it with you than announcing it to the world at large.
There are little cartoon hearts flying all around my head right now.
................... he cried in the elevator.
An irresistible moment. First, the angsty single tear rolling down his beautiful face. Then the toddler face as he starts to bawl, followed by the cuff dragged across his eyes and the clinging! But I was totally owned when he clutched Katsumi-san's cuff on the way back to his apartment.
That seems awfully accepting for someone who's always thought he was 100% straight.
I guess that's my point. If Katsumi's sexuality had been a point of concern on the first night they met, I have a hard time understanding how he could avoid a "WTF! I'm dating a guy!" moment after that. (Are we splitting hairs or did I just agree with you agreeing with me?)
In my headfic -- the one where Nagao inexplicably lets Katsumi-san get away without learning his name and "blackmailing" him into sex (maybe Katsumi showered and escaped before Nagao woke up?) -- Katsumi-san can't stop thinking about their night together and berating himself for being too fearful to initiate a real relationship with the cute boy he slept with. So, of course, he eventually goes back to the bar where they met, but Nagao's not there. (Nagao had been planted there every single night until then. This is the first night his friends persuaded him to "go out drinking, have some fun, and forget about that old guy.")
Drat. I have to wake up for work in 3 hours. Hypothetical story summary to be continued.
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Well, I think so.
Yes! Yes, all that. *pause while I stop typing to re-read story* Also, I love the "Don't leave me!" and "I don't want a just physical relationship" lines. Uh-oh, I'm about ready to riot right now. More, I need more!
Are we splitting hairs or did I just agree with you agreeing with me?
Oh! Um, I guess I didn't get what you mean at first, but I see now. But (since I happened to just re-read the thing), when, at the end, Katsumi lists all the things wrong with Nagao, the fact that he's a man is one of them. So maybe we're wrong about him being gay.
Hypothetical story summary to be continued.
Ack! You're leaving me hanging with that?? It's only AU headfic and it's breaking my heart! T_T
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(Though reading this thread kinda reminds me of reading one of my manga that has a higher than usual number of kanji I don't recognize. Like:
Uke: "You're so cruel! Blah blah blah kanji I thought, but then kanji, and I was sooo depressed, because kanji, but I really love you! Kanji kanji!"
Seme: "You're just kanji, and I hate that because kanji kanji kanji. Back when kanji happened, you said you loved me, but then I saw you kanji kanji with that other guy. That really means that kanji, doesn't it?"
Uke: Kanji kanji kanji! OMG tears and angst! But he doesn't know about my angsty past, in which I was deeply traumatized by kanji, and I tried to kanji. He'll surely be sorry when he learns kanji.
Me: AUGGHHHHHGHGH! *headdesk* X infinity (Because somebody in this scenario should be happily paired up.)
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You'll have forgotten thisssss possssst by then! Sssssee them now! Spoilersssss aren't bad for you.
*headdesk* X infinity (Because somebody in this scenario should be happily paired up.)
Thank you. wednesday_10_00 was fibbing when she said ∞ isn't a supportive boyfriend. She's trying to break them up!
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Stop that, you! Don't look, sara_tanaquil! You want to experience the plot twist for yourself!
She's trying to break them up!
It's true. I want *headdesk* for myself. ._.
[This post moved out of its proper position in the thread so Sara will be sure to see it and resist the spoilers.]
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