After reading Reality Bites' post about how the only two to call Asami by his first name are Michail and Kuroda, I re-read the boat parts of the story and tried to make sense of Michail. I call Michail by his first name because it seems right. I maybe very American, but I would think a Russian would go by his first name. (I shorten "Aki" because it is easier to type and I have huge, fat fingers, but that isn't related to the manga). So, I think Michail repeatedly calls Aki "Tabaka-kun" when Michail is trying to goad Asami. He made Asami mad enough that Asami killed Michail's messenger--and we rarely actually see Asami kill. Michail offers to light Asami's cigarette, much as Sodouh did later. It seems sort of oddly obsequious, given that Michail is holding Aki. When the three bosses are gathered, Fei calls Aki "Akihito" and also demands Aki's return--and Fei calls Michail "Michail".
Do you think it's because Michail is a boss, or a foreigner, or trying to piss everyone off? This is different than when Kuroda uses first names, because Asami doesn't seem angry with Kuroda and Asami seems to treat Kuroda as an ally (at the very least). Michail is not an ally, but Michail does seem to be an equal of sorts. So is Michail being rude, following his own customs, or showing his status?
I like the mistranslated signs too. Another Internet meme I love is the "Dalek shower": http://usvsth3m.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/f0PXozV.jpg Using universal symbols is supposed to minimize translation iss... Anoni Grrl
After reading Reality Bites' post about how the only two to call Asami by his first name are Michail and Kuroda, I re-read the boat parts of the story and tried to make sense of Michail. I call Michail by his first name because it seems right. I maybe very American, but I would think a Russian would go by his first name. (I shorten "Aki" because it is easier to type and I have huge, fat fingers, but that isn't related to the manga). So, I think Michail repeatedly calls Aki "Tabaka-kun" when Michail is trying to goad Asami. He made Asami mad enough that Asami killed Michail's messenger--and we rarely actually see Asami kill. Michail offers to light Asami's cigarette, much as Sodouh did later. It seems sort of oddly obsequious, given that Michail is holding Aki. When the three bosses are gathered, Fei calls Aki "Akihito" and also demands Aki's return--and Fei calls Michail "Michail".
Do you think it's because Michail is a boss, or a foreigner, or trying to piss everyone off? This is different than when Kuroda uses first names, because Asami doesn't seem angry with Kuroda and Asami seems to treat Kuroda as an ally (at the very least). Michail is not an ally, but Michail does seem to be an equal of sorts. So is Michail being rude, following his own customs, or showing his status?