unnecessary kindness

[incandescens]

Performed vital part of holiday schedule; bought presents for parents, and food for coworkers in office. Actually managed to find a present which I hope my father may actually like -- some packets of vegetable seeds. (This is the father who has been known to leave chocolate for over a year before remembering it exists, let alone sampling it, ergo sweets are not the best gift.) I would have considered buying him interesting sauces or similar, but I have nightmares about jars in my luggage breaking, and the results thereof.

Finished watching GetBackers with Beth, then made her reread a couple of my fics, now that she would recognise the characters in them. She's still recovering from her coughing/laughing fit. Mmmm.

Incidentally, was oddly moved by a particular event in the last few episodes of the series. (And yes, I know it's filler anime rather than canon manga, and yes, I love the manga, how can you ask?) It was a totally unexpected act of charity, rather than the obvious see-it-coming acts of sacrifice and friendship and courage, and I found it more moving than any of them. Probably because it was a surprise, and so unexpected and even unnecessary. But it was there.

(For reference; Fudou's death, and Ban's associated actions. If you saw it, you know what I mean; if not, I haven't really spoilered you.)

Comments

[archangelbeth]

And as my coughing fit subsided, I wrote a bit of fic of my own, which (while not as hysterical as the referenced one), seems to have found some amount of favor as amusing.

Yay!

[incandescens]

Oh dear, yes. ;) Snake Bite!

[solaas.livejournal.com]

Re: Fudo's death. Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. Rest of comment whited out to avoid spoilers. It's really touching how Ban goes out of his way to make his enemies last moments happy. I don't know if you're familiar with Peer Gynt, a play by Henrik Ibsen. But in there, the notorious liar Peer is faced with his mother dying. He manages to pull her into a session of make-believe, thus making her final moments the adventure of a lifetime. I'm seeing parallels here. :)

[incandescens]

I didn't know that, but I can see parallels, yes. Interesting. (We've already seen that the mangaka have some knowledge of art from other cultures -- it'd be cool if the anime writers did, too.)

(Er, that arc of the anime is anime-only, written as filler to wrap up the anime, and not manga-based or manga-canon. But you probably knew that.)

[solaas.livejournal.com]

Mind you, the only parallel is the make-believe bit to make the end a better one. Peer loved his mom, but I doubt Ban held any warm feelings for Fudo. :P The death of Mother Aase is one of the most famous death scenes in classical theater, I believe, so who knows? Perhaps they did get some inspiration there? :)

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

(Hi, saw your post through mallen's flist.)

It was a totally unexpected act of charity, rather than the obvious see-it-coming acts of sacrifice and friendship and courage, and I found it more moving than any of them.

Totally agreed. I've watched many anime series before and after GetBackers, but that scene has always stayed with me.

Probably because it was a surprise, and so unexpected and even unnecessary.

For me, the unnecessary-ness of it was what struck me so hard. That Fudou was both an enemy and dying... Ban could have just walked away, but he chose not to. (It's been months since I saw the scene, but the emotions of it still feel so fresh and raw.)

[incandescens]

Yes. It sticks in the mind quite as much as the Toshiki/Kazuki/Juubei stuff, even though it's a comparatively short moment by comparison.