Antique Bakery, Sex Pistols, and Saiyuki. And health whining.

[cicer]

I have come to the sad conclusion that my immune system has up and died on me. I've has some type of flu/cold every single month since about Christmas, and I'm getting heartily sick of it, no pun intended. Dear World: It's summer. Flu/cold season is supposed to be over now. Agh. Being the hypochondriac that I am, I have of course decided that I have developed some horrible syndrome that has destroyed my immune system and now I'll have to spend the rest of my short life in a plastic bubble. But then, everyone else I know seems to be sick just as frequently as I am, and we're all complaining about how often we've had flus this year. So I don't know. Perhaps I'll postpone the bubble-ordering.

Onto slightly more interesting topics. I've been gleefully reading and rereading a whole bunch of manga lately. Aside from Sex Pistols, which I already mentioned and which is the most fabulous crack I've ever seen, I've finally caught up on Antique Bakery. I read the first bit of the series some time ago, and didn't really get into, but I've tried it again recently, and it's fantastic. Oh my goodness. I love this. *dies* Ono is the most wonderful character ever, but I adore everyone. The only problem is that I get hungry whenever I read it. Now I want cake. Mmm. I read the first two volume scanlations, and now I want to read volume three, but tragically I'm kinda broke right now, so I'll have to wait a few weeks to buy it. Woe.

Speaking of money, I dropped my last few dollars on Saiyuki Reload 4. I adore both the Burial and Even a Worm arcs, so this volume was excellent. There seem to be some slight differences between the translations of the Burial arc scanlations and the TokyoPop version, but I've decided I like the TokyoPop one better. Particularly in the Gojyo and Hakkai bit. It seemed to emphasize their relationship a bit better, and I like the way it showed the sort of people they are. Especially the end bit where Hakkai asks Gojyo why he went if he knew Banri was going to ditch him and Gojyo says he had to, because Banri would be screwed on the off-chance he did come back. That's so very Gojyo. He's really does see the best in people, and can't really give up on them no matter what, and I like how the arc showed that side of him.

Also, I was surprised at the part in the TokyoPop version where Gojyo introduces Hakkai to Banri, and Banri immediately makes a comment about Gojyo 'switching teams'. Well. My my. In the scanlations, Banri just complains about Gojyo finding new friends. As amused as I am by the insinuation in the TokyoPop version, it made me think. Now why would Banri say something like that? Like Gojyo, he seems to be big on the gay innuendo, but I wonder why. One could suggest that is was a sort of harassment, but it doesn't seem that way to me. In several places in the series, Gojyo seems to be outright flirting with various men, and when he makes those sorts of comments, they seem to be teasing. Same with Banri. Hmmm....

Also, speaking of the gay. The epilogue. Ukoku and Koumyou. THEY WERE SO DOING IT. Thank you and goodnight.

PS. Hazel's southern accent makes me giggle. A lot.

Comments

[harukami]

Also, I was surprised at the part in the TokyoPop version where Gojyo introduces Hakkai to Banri, and Banri immediately makes a comment about Gojyo 'switching teams'.

Really? The scanlation I have includes that.

Gojyo: "Ahhh, this guy's Hakkai. Well, he had some issues, so he's currently living here."
Banri: "I see. Don't tell me that while I was gone you started batting for the other team."
Gojyo: "Idiot! Of course not! A lot of things happened while you were gone!"

[kintail.livejournal.com]

Not that I'd ever discourage the slash, but given Banri's crusade for Youkai World Reclamation, it could be simply about the youkai vs. human "teams"...

[cicer.livejournal.com]

Oooo, I didn't think of that! Interesting interpretation.

[harukami]

Hmmmm. While I can see where you're getting that, my impression of the layout (moving to the "LOLZ WHUT" flower background Minekura pulls out sometimes, the casual way he moved into prodding at why Hakkai was there to start with) was that she wasn't pointing to that... I also don't think even Banri would address the issue with Gojyo that directly given the later "Gojyo understands too, especially because he's of mixed blood". Also, I didn't get the impression he was surprised by the limiters later; more that he'd gotten a glimpse of them earlier and was taking a closer look and confirming what he'd seen. But you've got a very valid point and I wonder if I wasn't misreading those... -- ahhh, I wish I had that ch...

...Wait, I MIGHT have that chapter raw. Hang on! [asks ranith!]

Mind, I didn't think of the line as particularly slashy but instead of Banri being one of those dick, asshole friends who is like "You're living with a guy? That's kinda faggy!" I honestly never read that comment as anything other than a kinda dick-ish borderline homophobic comment. XD

[kintail.livejournal.com]

Mmm, where I'm getting that isn't from much context at all, as I haven't yet acquired vol 4 and was too lazy to pull up my scanlations so I was just tossing out a thought as it occurred to me.

I thought Banri was Gojyo's previous roommate, so the homophobic reaction about Gojyo finding a "replacement" (from B's pov) male roommate didn't make as much sense to me. ...Unless Banri's reading slashy vibes off Hakkai and Gojyo. Gaydar!

I need to have another look for myself instead of pulling these things out of my ass, yes...

[harukami]

I just figured he was being a jerk about Gojyo living with a polite well-kept young man who was usually the type he hated. (Gaydar!)

...ahh he switches into katakana for the phrase he uses. [peers at it]

[kintail.livejournal.com]

*nods* I think "Banri being a jerk" needs to be part of any interpretation there. ~_^ (Yes, right, was going to look up that chapter for myself...)

*awaits translation*

[harukami]

Oh Banri. XD

OKAY huge props to ranith for helping me struggle through this, and most of the interpretation is hers):

"Chotto awanai uchi ni kocchi ni kashi kaeshita te ka?" He's stressing the 'Uchi' (putting it in katakana); he's doubly stressing the kocchi by putting it in katakana and putting emphasis dots beside it. So it's sort of, if you look at it very litreally, she suggests,

"Are you saying that in the short time we've not seen each other, you've switched over to that side?"

She notes that the use of the terms he used basically implies that Gojyo's switching sides of the, er, river from the side Banri's currently on. Ranith suggests it's done in a surprisingly non-derogatory, prodding-for-information way, given his phrasing.

She says she definitely thinks it's sexuality, especially given Banri's followup of "If you were lonely, just say so, won't you?" She thinks it really reads as if Banri thinks Gojyo's sleeping with Hakkai. XD


(I add, just tangentally, that the "I see" that was in my translation -- the phrase over the shot of Banri suddenly looking interested -- is actually a 'fuuuuuuuuu~n', an exclamation of "Huuuuuuh, oh really" sort of thing.)

[harukami]

Er, phrased the following badly:

She notes that the use of the terms he used basically implies that Gojyo's switching sides of the, er, river from the side Banri's currently on.

Meant to say, switching FROM the side that Banri's on to the side he's NOT.

[kintail.livejournal.com]

Cool!

I am surprised at the non-derogatory phrasing, too. Especially as I'd just said that "Banri being a jerk" seemed to be the one thing we could count on. Ah, well!

Thanks so much to both you and ranith for the extra insight. ^_^

[cicer.livejournal.com]

Ahahaha! Oh, that's awesome. Thank you so much for doing that.

Oddly, I really didn't pick up on any derogatory-attitude from Banri when I read it myself, despite the fact that it's obvious that Banri is completely capable of being an unrepentant, selfish asshole. Still, I thought it was entirely possible it was supposed to be read that way. It's very amusing to hear that it doesn't seem to be written that way.

She says she definitely thinks it's sexuality, especially given Banri's followup of "If you were lonely, just say so, won't you?"

I totally forgot about that bit, too. *giggles* Oh, Minekura! You tease us with your slashy insinuations!

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

Oooh, interesting.

[cicer.livejournal.com]

I thought Banri was Gojyo's previous roommate, so the homophobic reaction about Gojyo finding a "replacement" (from B's pov) male roommate didn't make as much sense to me. ...Unless Banri's reading slashy vibes off Hakkai and Gojyo. Gaydar!

See, that was what I thought too. I mean, Gojyo lived with Banri after all, and presumably nothing happened (OR DID IT?) so that comment struck me as a bit odd. There seemed to be no reason for him to say that sort of thing, unless he was picking up on something between Gojyo and Hakkai, or they're really was more to his living situation with Gojyo. Or that could just be me and my slash-colored goggles. And I make no apology for that. *dies*

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

presumably nothing happened (OR DID IT?)

Well, I thought it did. I thought the whole Banri x Gojou thing was underlined, italicized, bolded and had asterisks around it.

Kashi means literally a riverbank, but its usual general meaning is a marketplace, and by extension 'the place you do business.' Gojou's changed who he trades with, not literal sides, and to me Banri's remark hinted at slight jealousy.

[cicer.livejournal.com]

Honestly, in my slashy mind, I always thought something happened too. I mean, come on! XD

[cicer.livejournal.com]

Huh! Mine says:

Gojyo: Oh, this is Hakkai. Long story, but he's living here now.
Banri: Hm. I don't see you for a bit and you go finding yourself new friends?
Gojyo: Asshole! It's not like that. A bunch of things happened while you were gone.

I must admit, I like the other translation better! :D (Also, why don't I have a Banri icon? Hmph.)

[harukami]

OKAY SEE ABOVE -- and I'm still waiting for Banri to reappear in Reload sometime. I MEAN HE'S A CHARACTER FROM THE PAST AND HE LIVED. >D

[cicer.livejournal.com]

I'd love that. I have a not-so-secret adoration for Banri, I really do. He's awesome. XD Come back, Banri! Come back!

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

DUDE YES WHERE THE FUCK IS HE.

[kintail.livejournal.com]

I used to get every flu and cold going around, too, right through summer. Then I moved and got a new chiropractor who said that because of the stress on my adrenal glands from the scar tissue in my back, I need to be taking large doses of vitamin C -- as in, 3 grams or more per day, every day. He said that when a body is under stress, the adrenals can consume all the available vitamin C very quicky in the production of adrenaline and cortisol, leaving nothing for the immune system to use. Then the body gets sick, which puts more stress on the body, and it becomes a vicious cycle.

Since taking at least 3 grams of vitamin C per day, though, I've rarely gotten a cold in the past two years, and when I do, I just increase my vitamin C intake to about 6+ grams or what my bowels can handle (tmi: the only side effect of taking "too much" vitamin C is that you'll get, er, "soft stool" /tmi) and it clears up fairly quickly instead of hanging on for a month like before.

[cicer.livejournal.com]

Hm! I might need to try that, then. Thanks for mentioning it. :)

[viridian5.livejournal.com]

I preferred Tokyopop's translation of "Burial -- Gojyo & Hakkai" over the scanlation I had too. Many things were much clearer. (Though I had to cackle at the scan editor's note in the frame of the picture of Gojyo passed out at the table: "This has got to make one worry....") For some reason, Tokyopop's sound effects made it much more obvious to me that Banri's flushing the toilet right before he comes out to talk to Hakkai, which amuses the hell out of me. Make a really good impression on your former fuckbuddy's roommate's new roommate, huh?

Gojyo is so bighearted and loyal that he really needs people who won't take advantage of that.

Yeah, Ukoku and Koumyou so doing it. Another effect I get from some of their chapters is of the sides of our Sanzo talking to each other....