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[spoiler]Ah, a little misunderstanding of why I find that paradox strange. Doesn't matter that if Battler ends up saying "THERE IS NO WITCH" and that being the truth ... it's still a weird situation of trying to disprove the existence of a Witch to a Witch; whether or not she exists at all is irrelevant, it just sounds weird, you know? "I'M PROVING YOU DON'T EXIST" just sounds funny.

Then again, the Devil's Proof works here anyway since Beatrice can be seen as trying to prove her existence as well so her "existing" isn't proof she doesn't "exist" (i.e., just because you see something doesn't mean it's true). God I hate this ... you can stretch Devil's Proof to anything

That said, Beatrice can just be seen as the "anti-mystery" portion of Battler given corporeal form for our benefit. Anything she says that confirms events as a truth can be considered as Battler just seeing the truth and anything "weird" she shows is just Battler leaning towards anti-mystery instead of anti-fantasy (or maybe a reaction to him "getting close" and cocky) so Beatrice corrupts what we see? Hm.

BUT, the hopeless "GOOD END" part of me just cannot accept Beatrice doesn't exist in some form. Without her magic to revive them, that means Battler is dead. The family is dead. The End. There's no resolution for Battler without Beatrice to exist, barring borrowing the kakera from Higurashi and being able to say "Legend of the Golden Witch" world everyone died and ""HAPPY END OF THE GOLDEN WITCH" world has ... well, HAPPY END, much like Higurashi Matsuribayashi-hen and the other kakera being pretty fucking depressing sad.

Beyond that, that would disprove Bern and ΛΔ from existing meaning Higurashi didn't occur (assuming that it's the same Bern and ΛΔ from Higurashi) but that's another story entirely. It's why I can't accept "Witches don't exist" as the ultimate goal but that "Witches did nothing on the island." That's all. I'll stubbornly stick to them existing if only to see a happy end (that and fully believing they don't exist already removes some of the fun, I'd imagine).

Anyway, as for Maria's rose ... she saw what, exactly? Some people making plans? The first murder didn't occur until well after the rose scene so it's not like she witnessed the murders themselves. It is possible it's merely meant to plant Maria there and I've considered it's as simple as that. I think there's something "special" about that rose beyond that but ... I have no explanation as to why. Placing hope on it, I guess.

Probably because Rosa's mother of the year beato is hilarious.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Aww, fuck it... Scy, I started to type out something here but by the time I was done I realized that it didn't make much sense and that I should go to bed and think some theories out some more. More than likely though, i am leaning more towards the fact that it's just a scene to plan Maria there.

One of the big problems I had explaining came up when I then considered teh letter. They went to an aweful lot of preperation just for that letter. And let's consider that wax seal. Gouda is the only one other than Kinzou with access to it BEFORE it was tossed out the window. Could the letters have been made in preparation before hand? Or did someone find the ring after it was lost in the storm (wtf... talk about some major luck... and how did they know Kinzou would toss it out?). A duplicate ring? I mean, stamps with family names and such are made easily in japanese cultures when they need to stamp for packages - how hard is it to just make an seal stamp to imitate what the ring could make?[/spoiler]

meh, whatever... I'm going to bed. >_< I can't think now.

[spoiler]Again, when did Kinzo die? If he was dead before the events even started, Nanjo, Genji, Kanon, and Shannon have access to Kinzo's study at some point in time (Genji has the key, Nanjo is his personal physician, and Kanon and Shannon are the two servants who personally serve him food and tend to his needs). Hell, we're assuming he even throws the ring out the window. The problem with thinking Kinzo is already dead though is the large amount of scenes showing him ... but who knows when these scenes even occur (or if they occur at all). Truthfully, all we know is that Kinzo does not have the ring.

That said, I don't find the creation of the letters that big a deal due to, as you said, there's so many other ways to do it. The letters could be prepared well in advance as the meet is a yearly thing and they've all received/seen the envelope before; it's not like it came as a surprise and there was a scramble to get them made now. This puts the entire head household under some level of scrutiny (and, really, the entire family if you think they've been planning this for awhile).

Incidentally, the VN and manga, upon seeing the letter, immediately doubt the validity of it "just because it is father's envelope and seal doesn't mean it's real" so even there it gets planted that it's possible to have been made otherwise.[/spoiler]

Recently finished:
Haibane Renmei - Ooh, it's pretty And very slice-of-life too. Another Aria is probably too much to hope for, but maybe this'll be close.
Well, for its length it was very good, and beautiful. I'd like it to have lasted longer though.

Key The Metal Idol - Hmm, early 90s art and animation. Modern anime has fewer slow pans and more dialogue I think. The introduction leaves a lot of detail for the viewer to infer. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it takes a while to get into an anime this way. Key's motivation in particular isn't made clear at all. Maybe the subtitles were copied from the dub again. They don't always match what is said. In particular, Key referring to herself in third person sounds a little contrived in English.
Well, that was my first impression. After watching all of it and reading the Wikipedia article, I understand why the quality was rather low in the first 13 eps. and the last two eps. were suddenly much longer. The unusual release tactic does not excuse the extremely bad writing though. Seriously, if this was a novel, you could teach a whole semester worth of 'how to write a novel' using only this anime for bad examples. The first 13 eps. explain almost nothing of the characters' motivation, just walking around in place, telling a story that doesn't go anywhere, with characters that mostly don't develop. Then ep. 14 is one and a half hour of exposition. Some of it is shown, some of it is just talking heads, but it is all one big plot dump. Ep. 15 is the only decent one because then you actually know what is going on. Unfortunately it kills off the most sympathetic main character and brings back several irrelevant characters, then ends in a predictable and not very satisfying way. Yep, this is one anime that didn't live up to its hype at all.

Sketchbook ~Full Colors~ - I hope it'll be as good as Hidamari Sketch.
Yes, it is It's perfect, like Hidamari, with a bit of Pani Poni Dash, and some AzuDai. I totally love it

Ichigo Mashimaro Encore (OVA) - Someone reminded me that I hadn't seen this OVA yet. The art seems a tiny bit different from what I recall. Otherwise it's just more Ichigo Mashimaro. I dunno, watching this anime makes me wonder exactly what audience it is aimed at. I'm not sure would like to meet them.

Grenadier - Kinda like Koihime Musou with guns, only much more ridiculous, and with more men. The only good thing so far is that it will only last 12 eps.
Well, it never really got any better. It's a so-so story drowned in silly fanservice.

Shigofumi - I was expecting a nice and sweet slice-of-life anime, but this looks to be a little darker than that. More like Hell Girl maybe. Not that that's a bad thing; just different.
Okay, it started somewhat Hell Girl-like, but it was mostly happier, and had much more of a plot. Highly recommended to fans of supernatural/drama anime.

Next up:
Moonphase, Kurau: Phantom Memory, Aquarian Age (music by Yuki Kajiura ♡), and to fill out this batch with some shorter stuff, Animation Runner Kuromi 1 and 2, Black Magic M-66, and Kite Liberator

5
[spoiler]"Araragi-san, your hand was pretty tasty."

Hm...cannibal-girl.

0:37: "By the way, Hachikuji. Have you really been to your mom's house like you say you have?"
0:39: "I really have. I'm not lying."
0:40: "I see..."
0:40: "But it's been a while, so I got lost."
0:41: "No, that's not it. Since she met a snail, if it isn't the first place--"
0:42: "No, wait..."
0:42: "Why would Hachikuji meet a snail?"
0:43: "REASON"
0:43: "There was a reason I was assaulted by a vampire. And there was one for Hanekawa and for Senjougahara."
0:44: "Thus--There must be a reason for Hachikuji too."
0:44: "Hey, this is a simple way of putting it, but your goal is to meet your mom, not reach your objective, right?"
"That's a horrible way to say it, but yeah, I guess."
0:44: "So why not have her come visit you? Even if you can't reach Tsunade-san's house, it's not like your mom is stuck in there and can't come out."
0:45: "It's impossible. I can't meet here."
0:45: "Hachikuji answered swiftly."
0:45: "If she could do that, she would."
0:45: "spirit"
0:46: "But she can't. I can't even call her on the phone."
"Hmph."
"I can't do anything but try to visit mommy like this. Even though I know I can absolutely never get there."
0:50: "Red"
0:50: "Episode 5
Mayoi Snail Part 3
Font used in video: HGP Mincho B"

Sheesh, at 0:44 and on it gets ridiculous speed wise but the episode itself is slow, even the Red/Black Frames.

"Araragi-san, I'm one of the better-developed in my class."

...wat. This whole sequence about her chest frightens me.

"You're a virgin, aren't you?"
...
"A virgin touched me! He dirtied me!"
...
"If you're gonna be like this, I'm gonna grope you until you don't care about 'firsts' or 'kisses'!"
...
"There stood a high school boy who, forgetting himself, forcefully sexually harassed an elementary school girl with all his might."

WTF?! WTF?! WTF?!

ARARARARAGI-SAN.

Hey wait a second, there's no OP?

6:12: "FAMIRY"

/facepalm

Haha, is that Hitagi's way of being jealous of Tsubasa? And damn, Araragi didn't get the ability to discern women by their hips. How sad! (haha)

Oh god, Mayoi's backstory for her problem has so much fucking text on screen. This is going to be a nightmare for Frostii (and qIIq) if they do it all. Holy fucking shit that's a lot, though it's just a repeating loop.

...
...
...
...
...

SHE'S DEAD?! HACHIKUJI'S DEAD?! I didn't see that one coming.

"I see ... I'm the one who met a snail."

Hm, more flashbacks to Tsubasa ... AHHH WAIT A SECOND SHE SAW HER TOO. Seems like somehow Tsubasa will be involved with every arc that culminates in the "ultimate" problem?

"Araragi-kun ... I love you." (in English)

Mayoi's completely "bored" response of 'Congratulations" was pretty funny. I don't know why. I think the more confusing part was the complete dropping of the topic as they wander around to bring Mayoi back home.

<3 Koyomi x Hitagi

"You haven't answered me yet. What will you do."
"I think you got the wrong impression. Come on, didn't I say you didn't have to do anything big to pay me back?
"That was just an excuse. I thought I'd get you to confess to me. But don't worry, I don't really feel that indebted to you."
"Eh?"
"After all, Araragi-kun, you'd rescue anyone. But even if you hadn't saved me, and I observed you saving Hanekawa-san or someone instead, I think I'd still have felt you were something special. Oh well, I may be over exaggerating it, but to put it bluntly, I just enjoy talking to you."
"But we haven't even talked that much, have we?"
"I guess. So I want to talk with you more. How do I say it.... I don't know if it's like I'm just trying to make myself like you.
"I see..."
"I don't mind if you think about it like this. Unluckily, you were fallen for by a crazy virgin so starved for love that she'd fall for anyone who showed a little kindness."
"I see."
"Luck wasn't on your side. Curse your usual behavior. ... If you tell me you want to think about it like a coward, I'm gonna despise you, Araragi-kun. You shouldn't make women feel embarrassed."
"I get it, I just don't really quite accept it at the moment. But, Senjougahara, can I set a condition too? ... A condition, or, well, something like a promise."
"A promise? What?"
"Don't ever pretend you can see something you can't, or that you can't see something you can. If our viewpoints are inconsistent, let's talk it over. Promise me."
"Certainly."
...
"All right, let's get going. It's getting pretty dark."
"Can we put it into words?"
"Into words?"
"I don't like that kind of unclear relationship."
"Oh you mean that. ... It'd be great if it came into fashion."
"Huh?"
"Senjougahara fascination."



Started typing it, didn't think the "confession" scene would span like 5 minutes ... but couldn't stop since I had started it.

...

ARAGI-SAN. Haha, Mayoi "graduated" into a wandering spirit (love triangle clearly).

Anyway, glad that that the relationship was started this early in the series. NICE.[/spoiler]

Edit: Menclave picked up Uu~ Uu~ Uu~ seakitties. Oh fucking boy.

triple threatlol I feel sad for being the only posts here recently.

OH WELL. I'd edit but those posts are getting crowded.

6
[spoiler]So we pick off where last episode ended with the ... uh ... right before the Xanatos Gambit FAIL moment? I'm ... what the fuck? No, it's probably after it I guess. That and it wasn't a Xanatos Fail so much as Kraft Mindfuck. Anyway, I like Kraft's random breakdowns as he pictures Horo and Amarty together. hoho

....you know, if this epic fails as a relationship tie and we go back to square 1, I will fucking murder someone. Shit, we even have "But even if Amarty wins, Lawrence still gets paid so win/win! ...no, but then he'll lose Horo" etc. moment so COME ON DON'T BACK TO SQUARE ONE DON'T. RELATIONSHIP RESET AND HOUSES BURN DOWN.

Deanna fail! Gambit fail! AND THE BOY TELLS LAWRENCE TO FUCK OFF FOR ACCEPTING TO LOSE. I LOVE THIS. Wait, why does he shout he loves Horo. I'm confused. That turned a different way than I expected (figured it'd be a "YOU LOVE HER FUCK YOU GIVING UP") but ... the other buyer was probably Horo to come in for the JUST IN TIME SAVE.

lolol Horo the other buyer surprise11!!1! Except not really surprise (lol feathers). Kind of cute but it's such a weird way for the Gambit to recover to be honest. Essentially, Kraft's original plan worked but he "lost" the 400 silver worth of pyrite to Horo (though he figured out her signal eventually), but she came back to him at the end of the trading so ... yeah. And then she returns to him, mocking Amarty and ... yeah. And ... yeah.

And fuck you Kraft for explaining the feathers right after I figured that out. God, stop that. It makes me look less smart Though this all being Horo's own Xanatos Gambit is a bit ... yeah. Also, Deanna's non-human status confirmed, though makes me wonder why she wants all this legends stuff when she's probably lived longer than most of the one's she's told. I guess she's a Pagan God in the sense of Horo as well?



Well alright then.

"If that's how you feel, then I don't mind, but ... Will you be gentle to me?"

Insert sex scene.



Also, this festival is totally a fire hazard.

also, moe fang.

also, end of arc.

also, moe fang.

also, and ... yeah.[/spoiler]

No kitties 7 yet. I'm sad. Also, no Bakemonogatari airing for my birthday. I'm sadder.

I've been letting Spice and Wolf build up before I watch them all. I get tired of waiting, I guess.

I've been waiting for Umineko all day as well. FUCK IT!! WHERE IS IT?!!

Watching Elfen Lied. I'm up to ep 6. Not a bad anime, but so far I'm failing to see why it's considered such a FANTASTIC anime. :\ It must not be hitting a right note with me yet or maybe I need to finish the whole series first.

XD You noticed the bad engrish as well? When that popped up I kinda went o_O; week... maybe it's a pun? but I can't see anything that "week" could be playing off of - especially since this is all in the space of three days at the most. So, it really is, I think, an ENGRISH moment.


[spoiler]Ok, so I knew that this was taking place in October, but I didn't think Halloween would be on Maria's mind since I honestly didn't know if the Japanese even acknowledged the custom? Anyway, if we traveled back to arc 1 this COULD provide a VERY CLEAR way that someone could convince Maria that they are Beatrice - by dressing up and convincing Maria to play along in this manner.

I also feel that it might become important later that Maria views her mother in two different ways: 1) Possessed by Beatrice and 2) Mama. [/spoiler]

*blinks* Scy? Were you drunk when you made that edit post? Either that or you were watching while you were writing or something, 'cause your thoughts are kinda all over the place o_O;

I was sober but I have two monitors so I just wheee type as I watch the episode. And, no, it isn't a pun. The chapter name is supposed to be weak square but DEEN failed English class apparently. It's a Chess term that pretty much means a location no longer guarded by (or can no longer be guarded by) a pawn (i.e., they were killed, though I wager just moving counts). For Umineko, it has a pretty obvious meaning to go with the whole "Chess game" motif.

[spoiler]They don't really celebrate Halloween as far as I know but for a super occult freak like Maria, she very much loves the idea behind it. I think the whole thing for Rosa here was to show her disapproval with Maria's belief in Halloween, not so much that she had to buy her some shitty candy pumpkin. They don't really explain Battler's "OH HALLOWEEN!" knowledge but that's due to his family living in America. Just an fyi if you're wondering about him there.

Like I said before, it's a pretty simple thing to make Maria believe you; she's super trusting and will listen to anything she's told, such as her instant belief of anything Battler tells her ("Jessica turned them [the Umineko] into yakitori!" and the whole "When you get older let me rub your chest!" incident) despite her having just met him then. I'd like to note that both Games so far, however, that Rosa made Maria stay in the garden where the note originates from.

However, I'm absolutely positive she does not view her mother as possessed by Beatrice. If anything, she has to view her as possessed by an "Evil" Witch. She shows actual fear and hatred towards Rosa at times, not something she'd do if Beato was involved (nor would she worship Beato if she was involved). Well, unless you mean Rosa's "nice mother" is her being possessed by Beato. Rosa's nice mother routine is, just that, a routine; the family knows her as the "best natured" of the adults due to that's how she acts in front of the family. As she's shown, though, she physically beats Maria and more or less disturbs her on an emotional level, causing Maria's retreat towards the occult.

I wouldn't be surprised if a later arc goes screwy and Maria gets the "ability" to kill and she uses it to kill Rosa. Combined with Beato's Endless Revival, this would be rather entertaining cycle of endless torture. I'm tempted to see if this happens but I fear the disappointment (or fear the spoilage?).

Also, Goats.[/spoiler]

Thanks for the Chess lesson but I knew it ^_^;

<_< I'm a FUCKING AWEFUL chess player, but I did dabble in it.

Weak Square isn't really anything about a piece being killed. It's just a spot that happens to be "undefendable" at the end of your turn (ie with your next turn no piece could defend it should another take it). There's a few chess moves that you can do (compensation for example - a weak example) that can create weak squares just by doing that particular move - your opponent needn't be involved. Weak squares aren't necessarily what the name implies - but they CAN be if you aren't paying attention to what the fuck you are doing.

But, then again, this is from the mouth of someone who only bothered wtih it when she was thirteen and quickly lost patience with it.

[spoiler]I dunno, unlike you, I just can't get the feel of Maria. I don't like her. There's something about the brat that perturbs me. Her laughing when people are dieing. A normal response would be for the child to be even more panicked and upset than the grown ups - Beatrice or not.

I don't think she's quite as gullible as all that. MAYBE where Beatrice is concerned, but she still strikes me as the type who, if Jessica came up to her dressed as Beatrice without a good excuse, would NOT acknowledge Jessica as Beatrice - and would probably get pretty upset.

@Evil witch possesion: aww, you are right. She didn't call her Beatrice. My mistake.[/spoiler]

Ah, just assumed you didn't know it. Was just a basic "here's weak squares!" thing without getting technical (mostly because I, too, don't play much Chess). I went with the killed part for the Umineko reference.

[spoiler]Since, you know, it's the name of the episode in which the first 8 sacrifices are done--the pawns all die. Well, maybe all 8. I know 6 will die and Asmodeus (most likely Asmodeus) shows up for the 2nd Twilight.

My understanding is it's pretty much just a hard-to-defend spot from your perspective; I think the pawn one is a special case (a hole). You can create weak squares on your own without opponent intervention (and, really, most weak squares come from that until pieces gets captured). Meh, whatever I haven't played Chess in years either.[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Oh, don't get me wrong, there is something seriously wrong with that child. I'm now more leaning on the side that she's that way from abuse based off of Rosa's personality (i.e., never home, always angry at her, etc.) that she escapes into the occult as a way to cope. Why she chose the occult I don't know. I'll blame Bern-chan for now (this is why 9 year olds shouldn't watch Higurashi).

And for her psycho actions, who knows. I have a theory that she believes so hard in Beato during the events due to the belief of a "Happily Ever After" if they reach the Golden Land. She wants that perfect world that she's been unable to have so far in her life and she deals with the deaths by escaping further into her own little world. Remember, her wish for the first Game's end was for the love of her mother that she lost (and George and Jessica wanted their significant others returned).

Or, on the other hand, she's just seriously fucking twisted and is really getting off at the deaths. Which is plausible. I'm just seriously being swayed by the cute Maria artwork (I blame my desktop image).

And, sure, she could be faking it all but even from my limited Game experience, she believes EVERYTHING she's told. Battler points it out that her youthful naivete has her believing things too much. Also, she's 9 years old. And she says uuu a lot. Whatever that adds to this uuuu.

I hope she does end up gaining Witch powers and kills Rosa. Why? Beyond the poetic justice and severe fucked up factor of matricide, I think it'd be funny to have her repeating over and over "UUUU~ UUUU~ UUUU~" as she kills Rosa.[/spoiler]

I'm picturing it now.

[spoiler]"DIE MAMA"
"AGAIN"
"DIE MAMA"
"AGAIN!"
"NO HAPPY HALLOWEEN MAMA?!"
"AGAIN!!"
etc.

(AGAINs being Beato reviving Rosa with her Endless Magic.)

Maybe I'm overthinking this but my whole perspective of Maria and Rosa is summed up pretty well in this episode. Rosa crushes what Maria truly likes deep down and, furthermore, utterly crushes it BECAUSE she gave it to her. Maria, however, doesn't BLAME her mother that did it ... that someone ELSE did it (hence the "Evil Witch" possession thoughts). Rosa, however, then "wakes up" and realizes what she's done and tries to repent.

This cycle then repeats. Maria has endured this her entire life. Poor girl.

Poor crazy fucking girl who L5's every fucking scene.

From some googling, I'm pretty sure "Weak Square" was used in the game as the name of the Twilights for Game 2. Though, it does make sense that them giving in to Beato makes for a pretty good "Weak Square" situation as it gives her a position of power. [/spoiler]