Mameiha's Topics (609)

Not that incest bothers me in the least. I only take issue with hetero incest, because of the children, and incest where the younger party is being emotionally manipulated or abused, for obvious reasons. Otherwise, you can't help who you fall for. Anyway, this always felt more like an unrequited love story to me. Or maybe a "missed opportunity" type of story. Their meeting and falling in love was so bizarre, it isn't like that could ever actually happen in real life. Though I think the driving theme, that what others think of your love is irrelevant as long as you both are happy, holds true for many types of unconventional relationships. Whether it is a homosexual relationship, a large age gap (provided both parties are consenting adults), interracial relationships (where that us still an issue), or even an incestuous relationship, what others think should never determine your happiness. Strangers, friends and even family can't live your life for you, nor should you live your life for them. If being a filial child and abiding by your parents' wishes brings you peace and happiness, do it. But if that filial duty prevents your happiness, stop right there. There isn't a decent parent living who would want their child to live miserably. It is not your duty to be miserable. The same applies to society. You are not duty or honour bound to be miserable just because society doesn't understand you. Find or make your own happiness and to hell with what anyone else thinks (provided you're not hurting yourself or others - and disappointment doesn't count as hurting anyone). I guess that is why I love this story so much. That theme doesn't just apply to time traveling fathers and sons or even gay men. It applies to us all.

Yes, it's rape and gang rape at that - a vile act in real life, no doubt - but the victim is taught a valuable lesson about the people he keeps around him and about himself, as well. His "friends" left him there. He was willing to submit to such unspeakable acts to protect them. Yet, they lacked the courage to step in to protect him or even drag him away when everything was over. Was it guilt that drove them away or was it revulsion? In either case, they mattered more to him than he did to them. He learned that by surrounding yourself with those weaker than yourself, your ego is boosted by being seen as a hero, but when the chips are really down, there is no one there to be your hero. Strength isn't just a physical attribute. Courage is a form of strength too. The courage to speak up, the courage to look at horrific things without turning away, the courage to accept a person or situation that may initially seem repulsive. His "friends" lacked even the courage to stand by him and remain by his side after all the horrors he'd faced. They wanted to be saved, but couldn't stomach what he had to do to save them. Nor could they stomach what they would have to do to save him. What the megane guy did was vile, truly, but what the victim's "friends" did was equally so. A true friend would have tried to fight even if it meant a beating or, if that was impossible, at the very least stick around and make sure the victim knew you appreciated all they had sacrificed for your sake. That, even this, would not change your opinion of them... They were still your hero. That isn't something you can do the day after you witness something like this. You have to see them through it, right to the very end. Did the kid who got a blowjob say, "Thanks for saving my sister."? Nope. Even the girl, who knew the guy who was called would be outnumbered, still only cared about her own safety. Crying, "Help me. Save me." Rather than saying, "Don't come, there are too many of them." They weren't friends, they were hangers on looking for protection.Their friendship only extended as far as what he could do for them. What they could do for him never entered into the equation. That's a valuable lesson.

Guys, for professionals in the AV/AE industry, having sex for work is no different than having to make fries for the fry cook at a burger joint. It's a job. Every move is staged, choreographed and directed. It takes hours to film a 30 minute video. I worked in that industry for 20 years. And believe me when I tell you, it is no where near what you think it is. It is actually like every other "straight" job I have ever had. You go to work, you get your job assignments, you prepare your materials, then you do your job. At the end of the day, you go home. The only difference is in the product created. You all are putting WAY TOO MUCH glamour and romance in to what is really just another job like every other. Half the time, no, actually more than half, the guys have to have "assistance" just to maintain an erection and/or orgasm. Even then, most "money shots" are faked or caused by stimulation that has nothing to do with the person they are filming with. Not to mention, you are having sex while there are 10 to 20 other people in the room scrutinizing your every move and some are even telling you what to do and how to sound. Talk about distracting! Honestly, the job is tough on the body. Kinda like being a stuntman only naked. There are also very stringent rules and standards to be involved in this industry. Health check ups and tests are done before every job, which include STD and drug testing. Relationships between actors is frowned upon and even drinking too much will get you a reprimand... just like at any other job.

As for monogamy and promiscuity... professionals take their private lives very seriously. Their body is their money maker. If an actor or actress sleeps around outside of work, it shows a lack of respect for their body. In AV/AE we have to trust our bodies to our colleagues. If you can't respect your own body, how can I trust you to respect mine? Promiscuity is a career killer. No one will work with you.

The sex you see in professional porn is all fake. The sensual, loving looks (if there are any at all) are all an act. You don't watch an action film and think that the car stunts are all unscripted, do you? So, why is it that when sex is involved, the scene is automatically real and true? That is ridiculous and naive.

I could go on and on, but I will end with this... If you ever got to see what really goes on behind the scenes in professional porn, you'd laugh your ass off. There is not one sexy or sensual thing about it.

Quick, hot and sweet. I'll probably read it again and again. The character contrast between the protagonists was perfect to me and the lack of personality drama was refreshing.

Who was the first light haired character to Ed, other than a food source? How did they meet? Is he human or vampire? The time jump was disappointing, Phil was not only *not* a vampire, he was kind of plain and uninteresting for a character. I thought, for a moment, we were seeing Ed's past relationship with the "food source" until he called him Phil. I was also under the impression that Ed had turned Phil when he offered him his blood. Only later is it revealed that this manga does not follow the typical vampire folklore and drinking the blood of a vampire does not turn one and vampires are not burned to ash by the sun. In a medium as short as a manga, these details should not be left hidden until the last chapter. It causes confusion when the reader understands the story based on known folklore only to have the known folklore ignored. The reader gets to the end understanding the story and then in the last chapter they are told, "That isn't how things work, but I won't be telling you how they do work. Sorry." Then, there is the question of the librarian. Is she a meal, a friend, a love interest, or an attempt to make Ed jealous? Again, no answers. If I wanted to write endings for the stories I read, I would simply write my own stories from the beginning, rather than just the ending to someone else's. For me, personally, I find authors who leave too many major questions unanswered either lazy or unimaginative. Things like, "do they live happily ever after", is not what I mean. I am referring to the dynamics of the plot, development of the characters and reasons behind a characters choices. These are details that can not be ignored in order for a story to feel complete. This was the first manga by this mangaka. So, although it has its own flaws, it also serves as an indicator of growth when compared to their other, later, works. If for no other purpose than to highlight this mangaka's evolution, this story is worth reading.

Both the art and dialogue were simple and straightforward. I have seen simplicity done poorly, where the story is lost due to a lack of information, but this manga did it right. The reader could still grasp the emotion of the story and characters without excess dialogue. I also loved the "manga geek" girl in the second story. She was smart, likeable and cute. Which is, sadly, too rare in yaoi and BL. Females are often described in BL as being sharp or perceptive or even "scary". Yet, it is rare that they use that sharpness to help the protagonists discover themselves. This was a welcome and refreshing change.

I was more impressed by this story the second time around. Yes, the pacing is excessively fast and the plot is super condensed, but the themes are beautiful. Life is short and precious, taking what if offers is normal, but don't pass up happiness for security in misery.

I adored this manga for as long as I can remember, but now, this storyline is too much for me. That, coupled with the interminablly long times between updates, my poor heart can't take the ache. It's too bad. Oh, well. I guess this is why I avoid reading manga that are incomplete.

Kuroda was a bottom before be met his bae! Damn, that is just too hot for words! Mmmm mmmm mmmm mmmm mmmm!

The uke was not a reckless, twisted personality who saw the danger in front of him and chose to chase it anyway. He was a water headed idiot and it amazed me that he had survived long enough to make it to high school. I'll take a dark, twisted soul who manipulates a shitty world over a drooling moron eight days a week. There was no appeal in this protagonist for me. The seme was equally bad because he was so terribly one dimensional. The silent brooding type are only interesting when you can get a peek into who they really are inside. This aspect of the seme was entirely omitted. I've read this once, now I won't be back.