Furuba musings (hey, it's better than folding laundry)...

[wordinista]

My cold is being stubborn in its retreat. The crazy fever is gone, the cough is more or less gone, but now my sinuses are rebelling. I have never sneezed so much in one day. Oy. My peppermint coffee seems to be holding things at bay (or maybe I've conned myself into believing in a placebo, I don't know). I haven't worn contacts in days because I've been too lazy to put them in. Bleh. No energy to do much of anything.

Hee -- that kind of explains the basket of unfolded laundry to my left, doesn't it? ;)

Anyway, I've been lurking on a couple of different Furuba ML's, and I'm learning something.


I don't think I really want to get into the Fruits Basket fandom proper. Don't misunderstand me -- I adore Furuba. Adore it.

(*sneezes again and swears vehemently*)

Where was I? Ah. Furuba. I love the anime, and I love the manga. I actually prefer the manga to the anime, if only because it offers more detail in the characters' personalities. Though I think the anime is a lot more conducive to fanfiction, because it does gloss over certain characters' traits, so a fanwriter could take more liberties and play around a bit more. As a fanwriter, that's actually quite appealing. Particularly since I don't follow the fan-translations. I'm horrible and dull and boring, and I'm reading the manga as it's released in the States. So while I know about a few spoilers, by and large I'm ignorant of the fine details. And I'm okay with that, really. I'm okay with the story being revealed to me gradually. I'm actually a very patient person. (It drives George insane, particularly when Christmastime or my birthday rolls around.)

(*pauses to fold a little laundry*)

But as I lurked on the ML's and poked around a bit, I began to find myself growing a bit... apprehensive. There are some seriously hard-core Furuba fangirls out there who are positively nazi-like in their views. Not since Buffy the Vampire Slayer have I seen so many staunch believers in their OTP's. (With BtVS, we had the Buffy/Angel 'shippers knocking heads with the Angel/Cordelia 'shippers, and the former also taking offense to Buffy/Spike 'shippers. While I'm a card-carrying A/C fangirl, I always wanted to see Buffy and Xander together -- I know, I'm weird. Someday I may make a public plea for a Buffy/Xander giftfic, because I'm sad.)

In Furuba, we've got the Kyou/Tohru fangirls versus the Yuki/Tohru fangirls, and then varying factions of Tohru/Anyone Else. And, my god, I'm actually afraid to admit that I'm a Kyou/Tohru fangrrl in much the same way I'm hesitant to admit in mixed company that I'm a registered Republican. I'm also finding that non-yaoi pairings are somewhat sneered at.

Way to foster a friendly, non-intimidating fandom, kids! Yeah! *rolls eyes*

So this is the way I see it -- Furuba appears to be overrun with fangirl-nazis who will:

A. Flay without blinking if you violate their OTP

Or...

B. Write in the anime as opposed to the manga.

Now, I can see the manga purists' perspective, but they're still scary. And scary manga purists are somewhat off-putting to fanfiction authors. I know whereof I speak, being a fanauthor and all. I'm actually AFRAID to share my FB writings, because the fandom seems so tetchy. I'd half expect to find annotated flames in my inbox citing manga volumes, chapters, frame numbers, and dialogue as to why my interpretation of Shigure is OMG WRONNNNNNG~ OMG OMG OMG!!!

See, I'm working on a fic with everstar3 -- it's a joint thing. And while we both prefer the manga for the character depth, there are a few things that don't happen in the manga and do happen in the anime that we need for the 'fic to work. So, we decided to tweak things a little so that the fic had the depth of the manga, up until Volume 5, but was mostly set in the world of the anime. So... kind of a hybrid universe, I guess.

Oh, my GOD, the more I look at these ML's, the more I'm convinced we'll be burned at the STAKE.

A Shigure-centric, Kyou/Tohru 'fic, set in a hybrid "anime/manga" universe.

Oh, and it's Shigure/OC. (After having so much fun with Teles and Sesshoumaru, I couldn't resist seeing if lightning could strike twice. Yes, I know about Miyu. But the 'fic idea came before I learned about her. And while I considered rethinking it to be either Shigure/Miyu or Shigure/Mii-chan, it just doesn't WORK the same way.)

Oh! And it hypothesizes on an end to the curse. (The curse's end has nothing at all whatsoever to do with the OC, so stop looking at me like that.)

...

They're going to lynch us. *covers head with arms and sobs*

*sigh*

It just seems to me that we've got a fandom that's ruled by scary fangirl-nazis that ALSO happens to have OMG some of the very worst fanfiction I've ever, ever, ever had the bad luck to read. HOLY JESUS, IT'S SO BAD. REALLY REALLY REALLY OMG BAD.

So they're not scaring off the 'tweens who write bad self-insertions about the American exchange student who comes to stay at Shigure-san's house. They're scaring off... me. And if they're scaring me off, they're probably scaring off other fanwriters who know the difference between a comma and a semicolon, or who realize that Japanese students actually DO have class on Saturday mornings, and they DON'T drive to school, and they DON'T change classrooms, and they don't do any other number of things that American students do.

Maybe I need to learn to be less skittish. Or perhaps I need to learn not to CARE about the psycho fangirls. I'm not entirely sure, frankly. But I do know that the more I learn about all the scary manga purists in the fandom, the less I find myself in the mood to work on "A Bump in the Road."

Comments

[ankoku-jin.livejournal.com]

Eh, fuck 'em if they can't take a joke. Or a literate fanfic. XD

Seriously, WHO CARES what a bunch of frustrated teenage virgins with far too much free time and a clinical-level obsession with their stupid 'ship think of your fic? I personally would have a hard time sustaining trauma from a flame which contains any "OMG"s whatsoever. (Unless perhaps the trauma were associated with the "reviewer's" atrocious grammar and tendency to write in Standard Revised Internet Fuckwit (SRIF) rather than Standard English.)

Don't mind me, I slept poorly and am full of vitriol as a result. ^^;;

Anyway, don't let them intimidate you, no-one died and made them The Lawful Gods of Furuba(tm). ^~

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

*snickers* Ahh, Jen-Jen, daily you remind me why I love you so. SRIF. I love that. A new acronym, AND you used the word "vitriol" in conversation. *snuggles*

I guess teh bunneh is just squishier and more sensitive than she lets on at times. ^^

I know, I know -- who would believe it?

[mscongeniality.livejournal.com]

I am filled with masses of love for Furuba and heaps of indifference for the fandom in general. I lurk on a few lists, which I make liberal use of for scans and translations but the proliferation of squealing 12 year olds and rampant intolerance towards anybody who views the fandom differently pretty much guarantee that I will never do anything MORE than lurk (err...nevermind the graphics contests or play by email).

Honestly, I'm reminded of the line from 1776: "Only this last is understandable, as there is an incredible reek of stupdity among the officers." I'd have to say that there is an incredible reek of stupidity in that fandom in general.

I wouldn't worry about writing your fic. For one thing, anything you contribute will almost certainly raise the bar in a fandom that could desperately use it. Also, I've noticed that there are still many, many fics that base primarily on anime continuity and don't draw from the manga at all, let alone from the chapters that haven't been printed in English. I say continue writing, make a note of which continutity you're drawing from in an author's note and post it as soon as possible so those of us who love FB and love good fic have something that we can look forward to.

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

...but the proliferation of squealing 12 year olds and rampant intolerance towards anybody who views the fandom differently pretty much guarantee that I will never do anything MORE than lurk...

Yeah, that's pretty much in line with what I found in my lurkings. I just joined FruityGroup, and I've been on Fruits Basket Fanfiction for a while (which has turned into a place where no one reviews, and I tend not to like any of the fics posted anyway). And people whine about not getting reviews, which... okay, people DON'T review on FBFF, but for crying out loud, don't cry about it!

I say continue writing, make a note of which continutity you're drawing from in an author's note and post it as soon as possible so those of us who love FB and love good fic have something that we can look forward to.

I'll have to get on Evvie's back, then. (Evvie, if you're reading this, I apologize in advance for the nagging and you know I love you.) We have about 11 chapters more or less finished. We HAD wanted to finish the story completely before posting it at all, but I don't know if either of us see that happening anymore.

The up-side is that we have the entire thing outlined. :D It's just a matter of filling in the blanks. (Chapters have not been written... entirely in order, you see.)

[mscongeniality.livejournal.com]

I just joined FruityGroup

Gah! I can only deal with that list in digested form. There are occasional gems but it's not worth subjecting myself to dozens of 'i liek furuba!!11! do u hav scanlations?' messages cluttering my mailbox in exchange for them.

I'll have to get on Evvie's back, then.

I'm not sure whether to 'yay!' at the continuing or apologize for being the cause of nagging. If it helps smooth the writing process, I'll bet that I can convince therhoda to go in with me on providing tea and/or chocolate as bribes. A good investment if I ever heard of one!

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

LOL -- I set FG to "no email" once I saw how spammy it was. If I'm curious, I'll go look at it on the site.

As for whether my nagging Evvie is good or bad... well, you'd have to ask her. But tea and/or chocolate? Dude, you totally know how to hit us right where we live. ;)

[mscongeniality.livejournal.com]

What good is a bribe if you don't know what to use?

You think I was kidding about that? Just wait until the package from Old Town Coffee, Tea & Spice shows up. ;-p

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

...

Dude, do not even TEASE me like that. Old Town Coffee, Tea, and Spice was like my second home for a while. I used to chat up the owner ALL the time. Dammit, I used to know his name, too.

*tears through desk, looking for the OTCTS card stowed somewhere in drawer*

*Niamh finds takeout menu for Bugsy's Pizza and giggles fondly*

*Niamh finds Metro pocket guide and realizes that she never planned on living away from DC for this long*

Well, hell. I can't find it. But it's here somewhere. Seriously -- I loved that place. It's what I miss most about Alexandria.

[mscongeniality.livejournal.com]

It's not teasing if I actually send it. Just tell me what blend(s) you want, I'm running low on green myself anyway. :-p

**grabs the magnet off her fridge**
215 S. Union St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703)683-0856

Heh. Bugsy's.

I actually used to work on S. Union Street so I'm pretty damned familiar with just about every bar/restaurant/takeout joint within walking distance there. That, and I think I know every sneaky parking trick there is. ;-)

[therhoda.livejournal.com]

Just on a side note, how much Would I owe you lystra on this bribe? Because for a Nimah co written, FB fic I think i could dig in the treasury a little bit. Of course knowing you guys, the tea could break my poor little piggy. Although I am almost sure it would be worth it.

Yes. Listen to lystra.

[white-death.livejournal.com]

Please.
This fandom NEEDS good fics. It also NEEDS intelligent people. Dear gods, does it ever.

My LJ is so chock full of rants about FB fandom and FruityGroup in particular, it's not even funny. Apparently, random stalkers of my LJ (I don't understand this either - I'm not interesting) 'reported' me to the Nazi mods at FG, and I was torn a new asshole and almost kicked from the group as a result. Because of that, all of my FG rants are under custom friends-lock these days. Which is...just fucking SAD, I must say.

One day, I'm going to have the spare cash to get a HtY subscription of my very own. On that day, I will tell the FG Nazis once and for all what I think of them, and suggest what they do with this information. On that day, I will lose my mind and start my OWN FB ML which will stand as an alternative to FG for manga updates and REAL information and discussion which is NOT filtered for yaoi content and other pet peeves of the FG moderators.

And, by gum, it will be a glorious day indeed.
But.
Until that happens, I am still at the mercy of FG. And, being so, must vent on a regular basis to get out all of my frustrations.

Now I will stop talking at you and actually reply to your post. =D
♥

Peppermint coffee?! XD For real?
Glad to hear you're almost sort of getting better.

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Please.
This fandom NEEDS good fics. It also NEEDS intelligent people. Dear gods, does it ever.

My LJ is so chock full of rants about FB fandom and FruityGroup in particular, it's not even funny. Apparently, random stalkers of my LJ (I don't understand this either - I'm not interesting) 'reported' me to the Nazi mods at FG, and I was torn a new asshole and almost kicked from the group as a result. Because of that, all of my FG rants are under custom friends-lock these days. Which is...just fucking SAD, I must say.

One day, I'm going to have the spare cash to get a HtY subscription of my very own. On that day, I will tell the FG Nazis once and for all what I think of them, and suggest what they do with this information. On that day, I will lose my mind and start my OWN FB ML which will stand as an alternative to FG for manga updates and REAL information and discussion which is NOT filtered for yaoi content and other pet peeves of the FG moderators.

And, by gum, it will be a glorious day indeed.
But.
Until that happens, I am still at the mercy of FG. And, being so, must vent on a regular basis to get out all of my frustrations.

Now I will stop talking at you and actually reply to your post. =D
&hearts;

Peppermint coffee?! XD For real?
Glad to hear you're almost sort of getting better. <_<

<i>I don't think I really want to get into the Fruits Basket fandom proper.</i>

I don't blame you. None of us mature, intelligent fans do. Because it's overrun with fucking idiots. Pardon my French.
But it's like a horrible Catch 22. None of the intelligent fans speak up or participate in the fandom because it currently sucks. And, until we do, or create some forums where we CAN have fun, we're all stuck lurking.
A friend and I opened up <lj site="livejournal.com" comm="cogitoergofruba"> a while back with this aim, but it has yet to take off.

<i>I actually prefer the manga to the anime, if only because it offers more detail in the characters' personalities.</i>

And because, you know. ;) The original author wrote it, unlike the anime - which did a great job of preserving the spirit of the first few volumes of manga, considering.

<i>Though I think the anime is a lot more conducive to fanfiction, because it does gloss over certain characters' traits, so a fanwriter could take more liberties and play around a bit more.</i>

Interesting point. Hadn't really thought of it that way before...

<i>I'm okay with the story being revealed to me gradually. I'm actually a very patient person.</i>

XD I'm NOT.
I learned what Japanese I know because I saw <i>Petshop of Horrors</i> and HAD to have more. RIGHT now. And that was three years before it was even picked up by TokyoPop.

<i>There are some seriously hard-core Furuba fangirls out there who are positively nazi-like in their views.</i>

I'm a Nazi, but I'm not an inherently retarded Nazi. I'm also elitist, so I have no problems mocking the stupid fangirls and feeling utterly superior to them in every way. ^_~v

<i>Not since Buffy the Vampire Slayer have I seen so many staunch believers in their OTP's.</i>

Yes, it's...juvenile.
Given, there are some pairings which I am so strongly against, I can become physically ill at the thought. But that's really different - and stems from sex abuse/psychological issues.
I used to be pretty strict AyaTori, but I currently RP with an Aya who has a cross-over pairing for the Snake and love it. I'm very flexible as long as immediate family member incest is not involved in a pairing.

<i>I always wanted to see Buffy and Xander together -- I know, I'm weird.</i>

^^ I like the wish-fulfillment pairings. When the character who's been crushing on another who 'doesn't think of them that way' finally gets their chance. &hearts; It's sweet.

<i>Someday I may make a public plea for a Buffy/Xander giftfic, because I'm sad.</i>

=( Sad? or like <=p sad?
XD

<i>In Furuba, we've got the Kyou/Tohru fangirls versus the Yuki/Tohru fangirls, and then varying factions of Tohru/Anyone Else.</i>

And can I just say I am fucking sick of Tohru/Juunishi? Seriously. I think it's just because she makes such a great Mary Sue avatar for the kiddies.

I went over. <_<;;

[white-death.livejournal.com]

I do this, sometimes.
>_>;;

And, my god, I'm actually afraid to admit that I'm a Kyou/Tohru fangrrl in much the same way I'm hesitant to admit in mixed company that I'm a registered Republican.

No comments on the Republican bit, but Kyou/Tohru is pretty much not-mocked, seeing as it looks to be Takaya-sensei's preference.

I'm also finding that non-yaoi pairings are somewhat sneered at.

OH yes. There are a few 'elite' fucktards who I personally blame for propogating this sad phenomenon within the fandom. But it's something which REALLY irks me about it. Especially since there are so many yaoi fangirls drawn to FB.
Bloody heterosexist conspiracy it is.

Way to foster a friendly, non-intimidating fandom, kids! Yeah! *rolls eyes*

And that's the thing. The FG Nazis are responsible for a LOT of this. And. There needs to be a revolution. BADly.

A. Flay without blinking if you violate their OTP

Oh yes. You can't even gently suggest otherwise.

B. Write in the anime as opposed to the manga.

Now THAT I haven't seen. Because so few fans are up on translations, the majority write more anime than not, in fanfic.
However, the big break is over whether or not Akito is female. Male Akito writers are being slaughtered these days, and I can tell you exactly who's leading the charge of retards on that brigade.

Now, I can see the manga purists' perspective, but they're still scary.

I think you're giving them too much credit.
For one thing, they're sitting on pedestals with weak foundations. All of the so-called purists who rant the loudest are relying on fan-translations (because they can't read Japanese for themselves) for later chapters, many of which are skewed to support certain OTP and fan-theory.
Their 'purism' is little but a bunch of hot air.

And scary manga purists are somewhat off-putting to fanfiction authors.

I'd ignore them, personally. There's no pleasing them, no matter what you do.

I'm actually AFRAID to share my FB writings, because the fandom seems so tetchy.

Considering how FBFF went totally fucking BONKers the one time I was sharing drabbles JUST because some of the pairings were m/m and a few idiots found that objectionable and complained...I don't blame you.

I'd half expect to find annotated flames in my inbox citing manga volumes, chapters, frame numbers, and dialogue as to why my interpretation of Shigure is OMG WRONNNNNNG~ OMG OMG OMG!!!

That's something /I/ would do. Because I can (but I don't, because I don't care to waste the time, and I understand that fanfiction is fanfiction. I have a brain). Again, you're giving them too much credit. They DON'T know the material that well. That's one of the things that's so funny about it all.

there are a few things that don't happen in the manga and do happen in the anime that we need for the 'fic to work

*nod* There are some fun extras in the anime.

So... kind of a hybrid universe, I guess.

And that's what's getting written more and more often in the fanfic.

Oh, my GOD, the more I look at these ML's, the more I'm convinced we'll be burned at the STAKE.

Don't fear them. They're just children.
Illiterate ones.

Oh, and it's Shigure/OC.

Which would've been welcomed with open arms before this chapter 101 nonsense. *sigh* (so long as the OC was female, that is)

Yes, I know about Miyu.

Mayuko?

And while I considered rethinking it to be either Shigure/Miyu or Shigure/Mii-chan, it just doesn't WORK the same way.)

Gure/Mit-chan is just wrong. >_<
I mean. Okay. It could happen. If done well, hey. Super. I'm not a fan of it. She's not worthy of him. If Mit-chan HAS to be slashed with a Juunishi, I'd prefer Rit-chan (and I don't really care for that, either. XD *picky*).

Oh! And it hypothesizes on an end to the curse.

*thumbs-up*

They're going to lynch us. *covers head with arms and sobs*

It really depends on where you post it.
If it's anywhere Mona can see, yes. She and her fanpoodles will lynch you.

I went over a LOT...

[white-death.livejournal.com]

^^;;;

It just seems to me that we've got a fandom that's ruled by scary fangirl-nazis that ALSO happens to have OMG some of the very worst fanfiction I've ever, ever, ever had the bad luck to read. HOLY JESUS, IT'S SO BAD. REALLY REALLY REALLY OMG BAD.

Holy YES.
And these two things are intimately related, I feel.

So they're not scaring off the 'tweens who write bad self-insertions about the American exchange student who comes to stay at Shigure-san's house. They're scaring off... me.

*pats* And all of the other intelligent folks out there. *sigh*

And if they're scaring me off, they're probably scaring off other fanwriters who know the difference between a comma and a semicolon

THANK you!

or who realize that Japanese students actually DO have class on Saturday mornings

They generally don't anymore. But they USED to. *nods*

and they don't do any other number of things that American students do.

XD But you don't expect them to actually RESEARCH a foreign CULTURE, do you?! *snickers*

Maybe I need to learn to be less skittish.

I say you just brandish the mighty Fist of Death™ and charge right in. I'll get your back. ;)

Or perhaps I need to learn not to CARE about the psycho fangirls.

Honestly? You HAVE to in this fandom. Or you will lose your everloving mind.

But I do know that the more I learn about all the scary manga purists in the fandom, the less I find myself in the mood to work on "A Bump in the Road."

I've been observing them since October, and there are many things I've noticed about the "purists" since. The truth is, they're a very small but vocal group, slowly gathering followers from the ignorant. They're really nothing to be intimidated by. But GODS are they irritating. +<_< Okay, I'll finally shut up, now. =D Sorry, Niamh. &hearts;

Re: I went over. <_<;;

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

No comments on the Republican bit, but Kyou/Tohru is pretty much not-mocked, seeing as it looks to be Takaya-sensei's preference.

Most people don't comment. I do have an amusing anecdote I like to tell about an ex-room-mate who thought all Republicans were agents of Satan. By and large, people who know me will tell you I'm remarkably open-minded for an elephant. ;) (We're not all narrow-minded, Bible-brandishing loudmouths.)

I've found that Tohru/Yuki seems to be the fan-preference. Maybe that's changing.

And that's the thing. The FG Nazis are responsible for a LOT of this. And. There needs to be a revolution. BADly.

VIVE LA REVOLUTION! XD

Now THAT I haven't seen. Because so few fans are up on translations, the majority write more anime than not, in fanfic.

Hmm. I only notice because with "Shaken Not Stirred," someone on the Yuletide LJ someone made some remark about it being an anime-based fic, rather than manga, ergo making it less desirable. (I didn't have either the manga OR the anime in mind when I wrote it, so that bemused me.) I've also had people ask me if the Shigure in "Justification for a Lie" is anime or manga based. Again, I don't really know -- it's just Shigure.

Considering how FBFF went totally fucking BONKers the one time I was sharing drabbles JUST because some of the pairings were m/m and a few idiots found that objectionable and complained...I don't blame you.

... I think I remember that. Funny -- one list freaks out about yaoi, and another freaks out if it's NOT yaoi. Lovely. Can we have ONE SANE LIST?!?!!

That's something /I/ would do. Because I can (but I don't, because I don't care to waste the time, and I understand that fanfiction is fanfiction. I have a brain).

Yeah, but you've read SnS -- and if you liked the characterizations there, that's... pretty much how I write the Mabudachi boys. Keeping characters In Character is important to me -- it's just that in the fandom, there seems to be a wider interpretation on what does and does not constitute OOC'ness.

Which would've been welcomed with open arms before this chapter 101 nonsense. *sigh* (so long as the OC was female, that is)

See, I don't know what the chapter 101 nonsense is that you're referring to (and, yes, I meant Mayuko -- I couldn't recall the spelling for a second there, and my volumes were in the next room... blame my laziness as a result of this blasted cold), and yeah, the OC is female.

It really depends on where you post it.
If it's anywhere Mona can see, yes. She and her fanpoodles will lynch you.

...Pretty much the typical places: FFN, MMO. I don't go in for the specialty archives so much. I don't think Evvie really does, either.

*sigh*

We need to discuss this more. Are you on AIM at all, ever?

THIS fandom ISN'T well-read. XD That's the sad part...

[white-death.livejournal.com]

Most people don't comment.

*laugh* Well.
I do have a very good friend who's a liberal Republican. If there is such a beast. But I live in the Midwest, so I tend to fear getting threatened with legally concealed weapons by the average Republican here.

I do have an amusing anecdote I like to tell about an ex-room-mate who thought all Republicans were agents of Satan.

I discriminate against conservatives more than particular party-affiliates.

By and large, people who know me will tell you I'm remarkably open-minded for an elephant. ;)

I wouldn't be talking to you in the first place if you fit that 'evil' stereotype, so. ^^ It's all good.

I've found that Tohru/Yuki seems to be the fan-preference.

REALly. It must be the forums you frequent.
FG is the mother(fucker) of all FB forums, and they pat the Yukiru fans on the head and tell them to go play, because it ain't happenin' in canon anymore.

Maybe that's changing.

It will, once they're caught up on the manga. *nod*

VIVE LA REVOLUTION! XD

No one expects the Inquisition!
...
wait. Wrong quote. XD

Hmm. I only notice because with "Shaken Not Stirred," someone on the Yuletide LJ someone made some remark about it being an anime-based fic, rather than manga

There is absolutely NO way they could know that, given that you set it in the past. We know next to zip about the Trio's child/teenhoods. If anything, we know that they probably forked around, from Takaya-sensei's OWN side-comment about "however, when they were younger..."
But other than that?
This is exactly what I mean. These people haven't a leg to stand on but their own obtuseness. I'm OCD for detail, and I can TELL you what it does and doesn't say in reference a, b, or c. These people just pull stuff out of their asses and expect you to bow to them.
Grrrr

ergo making it less desirable.

To THEM, maybe. *snort*
Loser.
Did they even sign this comment?

(I didn't have either the manga OR the anime in mind when I wrote it, so that bemused me.)

Exactly. It flows just fine with BOTH.
The only thing that may have tipped off anime influence...and I don't recall. What did you have Ayame call Hatori?

I've also had people ask me if the Shigure in "Justification for a Lie" is anime or manga based. Again, I don't really know -- it's just Shigure.

Exactly. Like it bloody matters.
People are getting too wrapped up in the recent chapters. They're forgetting that Shigure can be playful and childlike, AS WELL AS being the son of Satan. He's a complex character. That's why he RULES. But they don't get this. It has to be either/or, or their tiny minds can't conceive of it.

As far as I'm concerned, anime Gure is Gure with his darkness well-hidden. It's still 100% Gure.

And, apart from that, the muse for a character as it exists in the writer's mind is inevitably different from the original writer's concept. That's why it's called FANfiction.

My Gure muse scares the bejeezus out of people, because he could give Hannibal Lecter AND the Marquis de Sade a run for their money. Does that make my fanfic or character portrayal illegitimate? No. I'm me, not Takaya-sensei. And I can back up every character trait he has - something the teenie-bop fanwriters haven't even thought to do in their characterization.

... I think I remember that.

-_-;; Whaaaat a bloody disaster.
I'm so in no hurry to post there since then. Though at least the mod came to my rescue. Eventually.

Funny -- one list freaks out about yaoi, and another freaks out if it's NOT yaoi.

The fandom is SO split and specialized. Stupid.

Lovely. Can we have ONE SANE LIST?!?!!

That would be nice.

It's really sad when you go over going...over...

[white-death.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but you've read SnS -- and if you liked the characterizations there, that's... pretty much how I write the Mabudachi boys.

I like your characterizations, because that's how they ARE. Period.
But even if you'd taken creative license with them - and you didn't - I would've been won over because you write well. That's the important part.
I don't care if it's not exact to canon, SELL it to me. You're the writer, make me believe it.
These kids don't get that. And, given, most of them AREN'T writers. Which I should have some kind of sympathy for or something, but I just don't. I don't fly airplanes for fun, don't you write if you're not a writer. *grump*

Keeping characters In Character is important to me

Ditto! ♥ ^^

-- it's just that in the fandom, there seems to be a wider interpretation on what does and does not constitute OOC'ness.

And it's utterly subjective. Moreso than it should be.
Ugh, the stories I could tell about being beaten with the accusation of OOC... -_-

See, I don't know what the chapter 101 nonsense is that you're referring to

Chapter 101 was the fuel for the raging bonfire of Akkii/Gure OTP that's currently run rampant. Nevermind that if you take the time to translate it PROPERLY, it's hardly as skewed in that direction as some fangirls would like to believe...

(and, yes, I meant Mayuko

^^ I figured. Didn't mean to nitpick at you; I just wanted to make sure you weren't talking about an OC.

and yeah, the OC is female.

*nod* I thought she would be, given OGAM.
^^ Nothing wrong with that.
As amused as I've become by smutty Tori/Gure lately, I will be the first to say that Gure prefers women. A lot.

...Pretty much the typical places: FFN, MMO.

Well, if you don't post it to any of the forums, I think you'll be okay. I mean, I don't know about you, but random retarded reviewers don't bother me. People who want to read it will generally find it and like it in those places.

*sigh*

We need to discuss this more.

^^ Okay!

Are you on AIM at all, ever?

Almost every night from 9 to 1am Eastern. Usually earlier (and later than that, too). <_< sn: furubafruitcake

As to sign-on time...

[white-death.livejournal.com]

OH yeah. My half-assed math failed miserably on this, yesterday. XD
I blame being in a rush.
And time zones.

I'm on every night from 10pm-12am, Central.
Which is 11pm-1am, Eastern.

*wins the dumbas award*

Hey, I'm an English major.
I don't have to take this crap.
XD

Re: Yes. Listen to lystra.

[w0rdinista.livejournal.com]

My LJ is so chock full of rants about FB fandom and FruityGroup in particular, it's not even funny. Apparently, random stalkers of my LJ (I don't understand this either - I'm not interesting) 'reported' me to the Nazi mods at FG, and I was torn a new asshole and almost kicked from the group as a result. Because of that, all of my FG rants are under custom friends-lock these days. Which is...just fucking SAD, I must say.

...Dude, sad is not the word for that. "Pathetic." That's a much better word. Good grief, you're KIDDING. People have that much free time?

Peppermint coffee?! XD For real?

Yes'm. For real. It's lovely, glorious stuff that is only available seasonally, which makes me sad. But it's sooooo gooooooood.

None of us mature, intelligent fans do. Because it's overrun with fucking idiots. Pardon my French. But it's like a horrible Catch 22. None of the intelligent fans speak up or participate in the fandom because it currently sucks. And, until we do, or create some forums where we CAN have fun, we're all stuck lurking.

You know, that's a damned shame, because it's such a wonderful series, and there's such a VOID out there when it comes to decent Furuba fansites. I mean, SO MANY of them are SO BAD. And it's possible that's because it's still fairly obscure (compared to, say, Inuyasha, for example). But if there ARE intelligent fans lurking out there, then there SHOULD be a place for all of us to get together without fear of teh st00pid.

I'm a Nazi, but I'm not an inherently retarded Nazi. I'm also elitist, so I have no problems mocking the stupid fangirls and feeling utterly superior to them in every way. ^_~v

Well, by Nazi, I mean... the inherently retarded ones who'll pitch a diva fit if my OTP doesn't mesh with their OTP. Or if my characterization doesn't mesh with their characterization.

I used to be pretty strict AyaTori, but I currently RP with an Aya who has a cross-over pairing for the Snake and love it. I'm very flexible as long as immediate family member incest is not involved in a pairing.

Well, that's the great thing about the series -- I can see Aya/Tori (though... bumpy at first), but I myself prefer Hatori/Kana, because I'm a big sap like that. (Oh, and "sad" in reference to the BtVS thing? It's not the :( kind of sad. It's the other kind of sad.) But the series has a lot of room to play around in -- IF PEOPLE WILL LET YOU PLAY.

...

And I see that you went over, so I'm going to read those and reply thusly. ;)

Coffee Talk - Today's Topic: Stupidity

[white-death.livejournal.com]

...Dude, sad is not the word for that.

No, you're right. I just can't insult them too much without insulting myself for enabling their behaviour. If I were a real man, I'd've quit, then. ...but I didn't. *hangs head*

Good grief, you're KIDDING.

I WISH I were. I WISH.

People have that much free time?

These rabid Nazi fans do, yes.
Did you know that EVERY post that goes up at FG has to be approved? The replies don't; but there are a TONNE of members on moderated status (like myself), thanks to the Nazi regime, and ALL of their posts and replies must be approved.

The reason I was eaten alive wasn't (just) because I'd insulted Mona. It was also because I'd accused them (in my OWN LJ) of deleting one of my posts because it contained yaoi references.
Yet, suspiciously, yaoi-related posts hardly EVER make it to this highly-moderated ML. Hmmm...

Yes'm. For real. It's lovely, glorious stuff that is only available seasonally, which makes me sad. But it's sooooo gooooooood.

XD I'm not a coffee drinker (*gasp!*), but I'm tres amused.

You know, that's a damned shame, because it's such a wonderful series, and there's such a VOID out there when it comes to decent Furuba fansites.

-_- Yes.

I mean, SO MANY of them are SO BAD.

Oh yes.

And it's possible that's because it's still fairly obscure

That's the thing, though. It's not at all obscure anymore. FB is the #1 best-selling manga in the U.S., currently. And I work at a bookstore part time. I KNOW how much manga sells across the board.

But if there ARE intelligent fans lurking out there, then there SHOULD be a place for all of us to get together without fear of teh st00pid.

There should be, I just. Am not sure what to do about it. Even if I had a HtY subscription, I don't have the free time like I used to to do translations. And I'm a web design dunce. XD

the inherently retarded ones who'll pitch a diva fit if my OTP doesn't mesh with their OTP.

Ah yes. They frighten me. Some of the thwarted Yukiru fans are downright scary. "I'd rather see Tohru die than end up with someone other than Yuki."
O_o
Holy Nanjou Kouji, Batman.

Or if my characterization doesn't mesh with their characterization.

That I've seen less of.
Probably a good thing, because I can get annoyed enough to tear people to shreds over stupid flames like that.

Well, that's the great thing about the series -- I can see Aya/Tori (though... bumpy at first)

Oh, VERy. The angst factor is half the fun.

but I myself prefer Hatori/Kana, because I'm a big sap like that.

I don't blame you. ^^ I was Hatori/Kana when I first read vol. 2.
I DON'T like him with Mayu. I'll tell you that much.

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<i>...Dude, sad is not the word for that.</i>

No, you're right. I just can't insult them too much without insulting myself for enabling their behaviour. If I were a real man, I'd've quit, then. ...but I didn't. *hangs head*

<i>Good grief, you're KIDDING.</i>

I WISH I were. I WISH.

<i>People have that much free time? </i>

These rabid Nazi fans do, yes.
Did you know that EVERY post that goes up at FG has to be approved? The replies don't; but there are a TONNE of members on moderated status (like myself), thanks to the Nazi regime, and ALL of their posts and replies must be approved.

The reason I was eaten alive wasn't (just) because I'd insulted Mona. It was also because I'd accused them (in my OWN LJ) of deleting one of my posts because it contained yaoi references.
Yet, suspiciously, yaoi-related posts hardly EVER make it to this highly-moderated ML. Hmmm...

<i>Yes'm. For real. It's lovely, glorious stuff that is only available seasonally, which makes me sad. But it's sooooo gooooooood.</i>

XD I'm not a coffee drinker (*gasp!*), but I'm tres amused.

<i>You know, that's a damned shame, because it's such a wonderful series, and there's such a VOID out there when it comes to decent Furuba fansites.</i>

-_- Yes.

<i>I mean, SO MANY of them are SO BAD.</i>

Oh yes.

<i>And it's possible that's because it's still fairly obscure</i>

That's the thing, though. It's not at all obscure anymore. FB is the #1 best-selling manga in the U.S., currently. And I work at a bookstore part time. I KNOW how much manga sells across the board.

<i>But if there ARE intelligent fans lurking out there, then there SHOULD be a place for all of us to get together without fear of teh st00pid.</i>

There should be, I just. Am not sure what to do about it. Even if I had a HtY subscription, I don't have the free time like I used to to do translations. And I'm a web design dunce. XD

<i>the inherently retarded ones who'll pitch a diva fit if my OTP doesn't mesh with their OTP.</i>

Ah yes. They frighten me. Some of the thwarted Yukiru fans are downright scary. "I'd rather see Tohru die than end up with someone other than Yuki."
O_o
Holy Nanjou Kouji, Batman.

<i>Or if my characterization doesn't mesh with their characterization.</i>

That I've seen less of.
Probably a good thing, because I can get annoyed enough to tear people to shreds over stupid flames like that.

<i>Well, that's the great thing about the series -- I can see Aya/Tori (though... bumpy at first)</i>

Oh, VERy. The angst factor is half the fun.

<i>but I myself prefer Hatori/Kana, because I'm a big sap like that.</i>

I don't blame you. ^^ I was Hatori/Kana when I first read vol. 2.
I DON'T like him with Mayu. I'll tell you that much. <_<

<i>(Oh, and "sad" in reference to the BtVS thing? It's not the :( kind of sad.</i>

XD YAY!
I'm "sad", too!
*hi-five*
Not about Buffy, though (anymore).

<i>But the series has a lot of room to play around in -- IF PEOPLE WILL LET YOU PLAY.</i>

Yes. Honestly. *sigh*

<i>And I see that you went over, so I'm going to read those and reply thusly. ;)</i>

XD Yay!
*dances*

Re: Coffee Talk - Today's Topic: Stupidity

[mscongeniality.livejournal.com]

I've read all the way through your comments and rather than spam Niamh's journal with more of all of us being in agreement, I'm going to cut out the middleman and just add you to my friendslist.

;-)

Wow.

[white-death.livejournal.com]

All the way through? XD
You must be a glutton for punishment.
*shakes your hand*

rather than spam Niamh's journal with more of all of us being in agreement

Awww.
XD

I'm going to cut out the middleman and just add you to my friendslist.

^^ Wow, thanks.
I'll add you back.
If nothing else, because you're the one who mentioned curling up with Archer's Goon last week. ;)

*♥♥♥ Diana Wynne Jones*

Bring it on

[everstar3.livejournal.com]

*cracks her neck* Yo.

Hee. Just kidding. Seriously, though, I am not afraid. What're they gonna do? Call me names? Ooh. I'm afraid! I'm afraid of the undersexed tweeners who can't spell, can't write, and can't read! They're going to call! Me! Names! And maybe not read my fic! Horrors! Because I really wanted my fic to be read by illiterate prating morons who are so locked into their own views of What Fruits Basket Is that they'll probably commit seppuku when Takaya-sensei puts Kyou with Tohru, which she's going to do, thank you, because she's been hinting at it since the FIRST FREAKING VOLUME. (*scribbles note: dear Takaya-sensei, hurry up and make them do that, will you? It'll solve a lot of our problems. kisses, evvie*) Or, you know, whatever. Maybe she'll put Yuki with what's her face (student council girl). Maybe she'll put Shigure with Mayu. I don't care. So what if Akito's a... well, you know. Maybe he's a hermaphrodite! Maybe he's a fish! Maybe we don't know yet and we'll find out when we get there!

As to the yaoi, I don't ship yaoi because I don't care for it, except in Aya's case, because it's so hard not to. (I don't ship 'Tori-san/Aya because poor 'Tori-san doesn't need that kind of stress.) But some people like it, and frankly, it's hard NOT to see it in the Mabudachi Trio because... Aya. But, Jesus, I've peeked into the GW fandom, where they'll ship Heero with everything from Relena to his Gundam. (No, really. No, really.) So I am not afraid. I have a killfile, and I'll use it. I'm not writing for them. I'm writing for me.

Um. When I write. *staggers under the weight of the nagging* Hopefully I'll be able to get back to it this semester since I'm only halftime. I'm pretty sure there are IY fans waiting to lynch me for not updating Pieces. But I will write for Fruits Basket because I love Fruits Basket, and the delicacy and care that Takaya-sensei has put into it. I can't be manga-pure because I haven't read all the manga. So I'll do the best that I can and be as true as I can to the characters I love, and if people don't appreciate it, they can go sob over their badly drawn doujinshi of The Time Someone Put Ecstasy In The Juunishi Banquet.

[evilpuppy.livejournal.com]

*tsks* You should make it Akito/Tohru. According to manga truths. *wicked grin* If you want to make 'em scream, really make 'em scream! Mwah ha! Mwah hah hah!!!

Kyou/Ayame, Hatori/Yuki, Uo/Momiji! We'll roll out the OTPs with such force their pathetic little fangirl souls will weep blood!

[kittyarcade.livejournal.com]

"And, my god, I'm actually afraid to admit that I'm a Kyou/Tohru fangrrl in much the same way I'm hesitant to admit in mixed company that I'm a registered Republican."

...what. omg, that's it, I'm totally de-friending you now! XP

*runs off to write a self-insert fic featuring Kyou and a Weenie*

...ok, that just sounded wrong :6

I think you're going to find hardcore fangirls (and guys, let's not be biased here ;P ) in every fandom. Let's not forget the ever-present Inu/Kikyo vs Inu/Kagome war that is raging right as we speak (so many lives lost... *sniff*). And who cares if the masses (or the minority) don't like your fic, you've got hardcore fans of your own that'll read your stuff (I'm so hardcore, I tattooed a heart with "Teles" on my bum XD ).

[dawnsama.livejournal.com]

Is the situation as bad, less bad, or worse than the Inuyasha fandom scene? Are there more tweener fangirls, less, or about the same?

Seriously, I'd like an answer to those questions.

I'm kind of afraid to go into the Furuba fandom, having only read up the USA domestic release and only seen random episodes of the anime. I'm afraid of spoilers, see. I was planning on taking a peek into the fandom after I've read a few more volumes of the manga... except now I'm even more frightened of it. Out of curiosity, has anyone ever jumped a person who used the name "Fruits Basket" instead of "Furuba?"

See, I'm working on a fic with [info]everstar3 -- it's a joint thing. And while we both prefer the manga for the character depth, there are a few things that don't happen in the manga and do happen in the anime that we need for the 'fic to work. So, we decided to tweak things a little so that the fic had the depth of the manga, up until Volume 5, but was mostly set in the world of the anime. So... kind of a hybrid universe, I guess.

Whether or not you guys decide to post this fic, I am very interested in reading it. Post it on Green Tea at least? (Not the forums of course.)

What I'm thinking is, screw the fangirls and screw their loudness and screw their ability to attack in numbers and screw their naive, mainstream-driven opinions and all the fallacies they use to support their arguments! I'm sure there are intellgient, mature people in the fandom who would appreciate a good fic. And worse come to worse, you could do what evilpuppy suggested and add in a little Akito/tohru action. Take that fangirl flatworms!

In other words, don't bother with the immature and stubbornly ignorant. Post what you will, and learn which comments to take and which to flush down the toilet, and I know you already have this ability.

[dqbunny.livejournal.com]

Ironically, I was about to rant in my LJ about how many Inuyasha rabid fangirls are complete idiots. Substitue the IY fandom for Fruba and I think you've hit the nail on the head with IY as well.

[thatnanda.livejournal.com]

Yay! Kyou/Tohru! *giggles* He needs it more!

[everstar3.livejournal.com]

God help me, I'm actually working on a theory about why, dramatically speaking, it has to be Kyou or there's been no character development. Don't get me wrong, I love Yuki too, but... well. Theory.

[thatnanda.livejournal.com]

No, no, believe me, I think you're right. ^_~