Something About Stars And The Curiosity Of Man

used Hoshikawa's art as inspiration for this one.

The betrayal

Rainer Maria Rilke, tr. by A. Poulin Jr., Duino Elegies and The Sonnets to Orpheus

happy new year!!!! (with silly rat man and his boyfriend dear friend)

partner

FIDDLESTAN IS MAKING ME INSANE SOMEONE SAVE ME!!!!!! (HIIII FIDDLESTAN NATION)

it's okay, son

"Please, just... say something, Jayce. Anything"

Akemi's struggles of the feminine gender is role is obvious, while Taigen's explores the struggles of the masculine role is more stuble.

Ok adding onto another person's post about Akemi/Taigen's relationship trapping Akemi into this traditionally hyperfemine position of being Taigen's "prize" for his advancements of his stature; I also personally think it goes the opposite way as well.

Taigen would NEVER have a shot with Akemi if he didn't accumulate this stature and wealth, and his hypermasculine role of a samurai being a symbol of protector of his people (and wife).

For a man to be "worthy" of love in the times day and age, he must be a physically apt protector and provider, as well as hold a high title for his family to live with respect and honor. This is also destructive of his autonomy and worth as a person as much as Akemi's destruction of personhood being a wife. Taigen's worth his measured by his body's ability, just in this case enduring battles instead of sex.

But with Mizu, Taigen holds absolutely 0 worth to them as a protector or a provider. Hes a fucking joke of a dueling opponent to them, even the times he's attempted to serve them physically were thwarted, there is 0 transaction he could possibly make that would be worth anything to Mizu's cause. He tries!!! Time and time again!!! To near SUICIDE ("put my body over yours, theres no sense in both of us dying") attempting to secure his worth as a man, as a protector. The exploration of the horrendous world of patriarchy is explored through Taigen as much as Akemi.

Any worth or affection Mizu holds for Taigen is equally as purely intentioned, untainted by a power or role dynamic. Mizu frees Taigen from the high standards of being a worthy man/husband by the society's standards. Mizu spares and saves him countless times, and just because of his existence, not his service or stature.

happy dazai day everyone ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹