But there were still some who would describe this tableau as beautiful, due solely to the presence of the young man in black astride his steed. All the ugliness and brutality of death was erased by D's good looks. Before this young man, would death itself not blush?
- pg 168
All day a horse had been advancing through the wilderness. The continuous stretch of dull tones and identical scenery would drive all emotion from the heart of any rider in the saddle. Anger, joy, and sadness all fused with the ask-gray world leaving a dull weariness in command of the soul. At time like this, travelers might even wish they were dead.
However, this rider was a gorgeous exception. The eyes beneath his wide-brimmed traveler's hat gave off a light that it seemed even the void would fear, and as he rode into an almost imperceptible breeze, the face he had turned forward was so beautiful it could convince anyone that it was not of this world. Men and women alike were paralyzed by it, and even the beasts undoubtedly adored him with one look. However, his beauty was such that all who saw him understood that when his black-gloved hand reached for the hilt of the curved sword peeking over his shoulder, he wouldn't be done until death colored he blade of his weapon.
Both the ashen sky and the ocher plains seemed to exist solely to highlight the rider's magnificence as he and his horse went down the highway. What awaited him at his destination - life or death?
Anyway, this one seems to be different. I'm only on page 20, but it looks like D will be dealing with some of his own issues in this one. I'm actually looking forward to reading it.
And just for fun, here's an over-the-top purple-y description of D. This one introduces him as D after the purple-y fight scene.
"The wind had a fawning glow, for it had blown across the shadowy figure's face. Deep, dark eyes gleaming beneath the wide-brimmed traveler's had, the line of a nose that was sure to send tens of millions of artists into despair, lips that quietly brimmed with a will heavier than anyone would ever know-
The wind had a request. Tell me your name, it said." - from page 10
I'm struggling though the 11th volume of D after more than a year's break (I went to the bookstore and found I was three volume behind and Bryce refused to buy me more unless I continue reading). But I think I know what the problem is. Either the writing or the translation get down right silly.
They had two movies there with The Film Crew rip tracks. I can't wait to watch them! Yea!
We were in the children's corner as Bryce debated getting a really nice complete works of Lewis Carrol when I happened to glance down at a familiar sight. There was a shelf with several 'Vampire Hunter D' books in a row (they look so neat lined up together!). I did I double-take and exclaimed to Bryce that that wasn't right. It was in fact very wrong. The collection had both 'Raiser of Gales,' were the obligatory girl is repeatedly raped by her adopted father and the rest of the town (aside from one nice boy who has nothing to do with anything, really) wants to rape her for being a freakshow, and 'Demon Deathchase' where there are two obligatory girls. Leila is repeatedly gang-raped by all her brothers - including the invalid - and everyone with a dick wanted to rape the vampire's un-named love interest. I threatened to drop the series if the fourth book didn't drastically improve, which it did. I guess the readers in Japan got tired of everyone in the backwoods post-apoctyliptic future being a bunch of assholes, too.
Anyway, I don't know what they were thinking. Maybe someone knew there were animated movies of it, but didn't know they were rated R. Maybe they just decided any book with pictures is a children's book. Who knows.
Then I was waiting 'patiently' as Bryce combed over the poetry section (where he threatened to buy both Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson, but got neither), when someone started screaming 'Stephenie Meyer!' 'Who wrote it?' 'Stephenie Meyer!' So I laughed ruefully and then announced that I laughed ruefully. It amused Bryce at the very least. I personally felt chagrined.
The middle one has a village full of hicks that tried to kill D for no good reason, but it's been so long since that happened that I didn't mind. The first novella actually had a young man who was embarking on a journey of self discovery, which shocked the heck out of me. What also shocked me was how D repeatedly told this young man that he'll grow up to be quite a heartbreaker. :)
Even though the books are much better than the first few, they can still make me laugh.
( From 'An Ode to Imagined Fall'Collapse )
( And from 'Legend of the War Fiends'Collapse )
There has been nothing really laugh out loud funny in the past few books. Just a few subtle reminders that D is so gorgeous he can make straight men swoon and moonbeams bashful. Like when he saves the obligatory girl from the angry town mob.
At last, the people turned and saw the gorgeous young man on the horse. Before him on the saddle sat a boy of about five, while a burly man with gray hairs scattered among the black stood beside the mount.
"Blasko!"
"And that's his boy Cusca up on the horse. What are they doing with..."
"They're here because I had need of a blacksmith," said D.
This was the first time the villagers had ever heard D's voice. The cheeks of every last woman flushed, while the men grew dazed and even enthralled.
AND Bryce bought me the first volume of the VHD manga. It's a retelling of the first book, with is also what the first anime movie is based off of. I was a little disappointed in that, until I realized how fun it is to compare it with everything else. So far it's a retelling of the book and hasn't diverged at all.
Well, first off the book and manga are different from the movie where D and obligatory girl (Doris, in this one) meet. In the movie, D's riding along, looking all stoic, mysterious, and gorgeous. Then he rides up to this random chick who attacks him with a whip. Hate it when that happens. He avoids her attacks with minimal effort and begins to continue on his way. Then she cries out for him to stop. She apologizes for attacking him and offers to hire him to kill the pesky vampire that wants to marry her. She's poor, but can pay him in food and sex. Score!
In both the book and the manga, D rides along and comes up to Doris, who attacks him with her whip (kinky). He avoids her first attack with minimal effort, so she whips off her cloak, which she was running around commando under.
( nekkid Doris illustrationsCollapse )
Doris thinks very highly of herself and thinks that being naked is enough to distract a warrior into losing. It doesn't; D wins and she apologizes, and offers to hire his Vampire Hunting services to kill that pesky vampire in exchange for food and sex. Score!
Well not so much of a score. She offered her body to him and he says "The nobility might prove better company than the likes of me." Way to sell yourself short, D.
So she came at him with some logic I can't begin to understand, but ends with her preferring to whore herself out to D than become a vampire's wife. "Very well," says D. "But if I may make one thing clear..."
I cannot think of D ever saying those words. I revisited the first book to see, and he does tell her upfront there, too. He usually lets his obligatory girl tag-a-long find out in whatever shocking revelation they receive from the villain or other third party. I'm not positive, but I think there are even books where the obligatory girl never even knew he was half vampire. She only knew he had this otherworldly quality thing going on. I mean, running around and announcing that you're half vampire is a good way to get yourself run out of town. I guess D has a thing for girls who come at him with whips. It's probably because Doris actually wants to employ him. I'll have to look into the other books and double check who employs him. I can think of one other girl than Doris, but I think that she's the one who never even knew. But she also didn't have any much romantic interest in him, either. Oh well.
And D looks so sad. Is he sad because he's a dhampir? He's one of those self-hating dhampirs? Is he just afraid that Doris won't sleep with him now? Fortunately, Doris is forward-thinking and this shocking revelation only phases her for one panel. She offers to shake hands with him two panels later.
But now it's bedtime, since I'm working at 8AM tomorrow. Will hopefully get to touch the computer more tomorrow.
- Current Mood:
peaceful
And yay for presents!
I went to church with a cupcake cake and presents for several people. Lisa gave me the Baby's Last Christmas ornament. That freakin' made my Christmas.
We then came home and cleaned, watched Home Alone (don't laugh, it is a good movie when you don't think abou the sequels and other copy-cat movies), and finally unwrapped our presents as we won't have time to tomorrow.
I got Bryce Transformers the Movie and RobotJox on DVD, the novelization of RobotJox (I was just blown away that such a thing exists), Orson Scott Card's First Meetings in the Ender Universe, and a cute little magnetic aquarium with plastic fish for his desk at work.
Bryce got me a Bloodlust shirt, the soundtracks to both Vampire Hunter D and Bloodlust, a filled cake dome, and something fun (which I guessed the first time I saw the package.
Bryce's parents gave me the sewing machine, which is a really nice Singer. I didn't expect anything else, but they got me a new nightgown (which is their tradition every year), a candle / incense set, candles that look like cakes, and some odds and ends for sewing. Bryce's brother, Ed, gave me the new edition of The Little Mermaid. Yay!
Bryce received the most bizarre shirt, though. I assume it's a gag gift. The front has the Cubs C, only it says 'Cursed' and the back says 'Don't Cry Lil' Cubbie. There's Always Next Year!' around the picture of a goat. I thought it was a hoot, so he gave it to me. Four shirts for Christmas! Score!
