Mod post, Chapter 318, fanart recs, How to be a Fail!Shipper in 8 Easy Steps

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

MODERATOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT: PLEASE do not post hate lists or "reasons why I can't stand this character" posts in this community. Keep those to your own LJs. If your hate lists have particular artistic, humorous or literary merit, someone may end up linking them here eventually, but just don't chance that random bitching is going to be appreciated. I'm all for character-bashing (truly I am! Call Ishida a fag and see if I care!) The only thing that will earn you a ban from this community is if you bash a person by name, but please use common sense when posting and try not to stir up stuff with random character hate posts. Jokes and outrageous comments are fine as long you're not --well, obviously picking a fight with someone. I'll bother you about it if you are.

Also, don't hotlink from Japanese websites. Recently pictures from an IshiHime website were posted. You can see the pictures at BYPASS.


Chapter 318 "Five Pillars, Four Corners" up here now at onemanga.
U.S. scans of chapter 318 are out and you can get them at Bleach Asylum's chapter thread.
The chapter should be posted soon.

Still no action. Like I said on BA, Kubo's been play arpeggios for chapters now and dinging his chimes but we haven't heard the tune yet. It works. It's exciting. More characters show up. It's going to be a doozy to see how he manages all the action, but apparently he's going to have to use bait and switch for the fights which means a fast pace and battles happening off-panel---weeeeeeeeee!

Kubo is having some fun.  First, the Ulquiorra and Ichigo reunion is something to see. Lots of EYEBALL!SMEX. On the shipping front, I believe this sinks IchiOri. Some were expecting an enraged Ichigo spouting stuff to Ulqui in defense of Orihime like he did to Byakuya in defense of Rukia; instead we've got Ichigo all eager to fighty-fight and smiling and asking if Ulqui considers it an honor to fight him. May as well ask the Espada to dance.

PRIMERA ESPADA--WHO IS HE?  Ever since Ukitake and Shunsui wondered a couple chapters ago, I know Kubo's been giggling over teasing us. I'm betting that Barragan is a red herring with his stately chair and crown and bossy ways. Stark is the one, baby. Not that I care what rank he is as long as I get more Stark panel time. He's so adorable.

HISAGI! KIRA! IKKAKU! YUMI! FANSERVICE!

Bring it on, Kubo!

I'll just wait patiently on my my Quincy.

ETA: NEHA! And I call myself an Ishida fan!  I totally didn't get that those five towers could be Ishida arriving on the scene to interrupt the little UlquiIchi Eyeball!smex scene!  For some reason I associated it with the KKT scene but it was never explained...

OF COURSE ISHIDA IS THERE. HE'S NUMBER FIVE. WHERE THE HEART LIES. XD

Meanwhile, WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME THAT devosama    draws such fantastic RenIshi art? Well, someone (thank you LAURA!) finally did and omg, will you just look at this:

There really needs to be more RenIshi art in the world. I only know of one doujin. T__T. Kaya, who is a wonderful doujin artist, has promised me one but it's on her long list. Oh btw, Kaya drew a sexy Ichigo for his birthday and you can see him here (Ichigo by bananakaya    )

Oh, and it's been a shitstorm for Bleach shippers this week. I'll admit it. I'm a fail!shipper. We all are sometimes. We should try to be fun!shippers and avoid the pitfalls but alas, fail!shipping is as much a part of shipping as doubt is a part of faith and hate is a part of love.
Amen.

Perspective. It’s a blessing in fandom. I didn’t have it a few years ago and shed a lot of tears. This year RL woes and seriously ill friends and family members put the fandom snipes against me in perspective. Oh, you hate my fanart and noticed that I drew two elbows on Rukia's one arm and that made you shit bricks laughing? That hurts but it’s not like you injected me with AIDS. After a few years of being targeted by some serious little evil girl hate campaigns, the comments made by PMSing shippers who don’t agree with my fangirl ravings about this or that don’t even ping anymore.


How to Be a Fail!Shipper in 8 Easy Steps

1. Remember that line about how the lowbrow talk about other people and the highbrow talk about ideas? Fail!Shippers talk about other shippers, and fun!shippers talk about the manga. (Okay, well, lowbrow fun!shippers talk about manga people and there’s where ALL the fun is, obviously, heh heh).

2. Pretend to never be disappointed--even when a rival ship scores an obvious coup like a filler hand-holding scene or some actual manga panel time. Really, too much denial is creepy.

3. Cut and paste and manipulate pictures of your pairing in icons and banners to approximate actual canon poses of your rival pairing.

4. Tell other shippers aboard your own ship to stop whining and fearing the rival ship. Keep newbies in line. Pass around badges and party hats and brown shirts.

5. Avoid debate. Say “I could easily defeat you in a debate but I’m above debating.” Write long incoherent essay-length posts that nonetheless debate posts made by rival shippers.

6. When in doubt, attempt sarcasm.

7. Consult astrologers, numerologists, alchemists and your hair-dresser who LIVED IN JAPAN ONCE AND KNOWS THE CULTURE for affirmation of your interpretation of manga panels.

8. Use sparkle text whenever typing your pairing’s nick.

Friends, don’t fail!ship. Be merry and gay. Write fanfic and draw and icon and laugh and remember: you make Kubo-sensei a very rich man but he’s no happier than you are. We’re all just people who love our pet ferrets or goldfish or cats and annoy our neighbors and breathe the same air and see the same moon at night. Blessings on all you crazy people.

Comments

[07janina07.livejournal.com]

*sighs* Shippers lately have been on bitch mode all this past week. It is vicious. I hope though that I am doing fun!shipping and not fail!shipping. Though to be honest both scared me because to be a shipper a certain amount of crazy is needed.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

I fail!ship on a regular basis. Just remember to have fun doing it and you got your bases covered! XD

[incandescens]

(mutters) But where is Nanao?

Theory: someone had to be at each end ultimately to organise the spatial relocation, and then the pillars hold it in place. Tessai's at one end. Nanao's at the other.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

I really don't want Nanao to be stuck with Momo babysitting duty. I want a surprise with Momo... I really do. I may be asking for too much. I expect a Tsubaki from Hime but.... is it too much to ask for Momo getting mentally healthier?

[desudesu-love.livejournal.com]

I'll stop bitching (FOR NOW), because the new Bleach ending theme has ICHIGO AND RUKIA ALONE. (I think I can die happily. Not now. I don't want to miss the IchiRuki movie.)

That RenIshi art is so awesome. Godly drawing skills, godly I say! XD

Maybe instead os stealing art form JP websites, I'll just make picspam.(Because I can.) And no, the picspam will not have immature Ichihime hating. (God, you will never know how much I love that!)

And to debbiechan!

I'm really sorry for not being more mature! D:

It's just that...On Crunchyroll...

This person called divaroxy said THIS.


Rukia because her is worthless and ugly. Anybody hate Orihime is just jealous of her.

I SNAPPED. Instead of saying YOU'RE WORTHLESS AND UGLY...I said...

And you have very bad grammar. D: Rukia is worthless? SHE GAVE ICHIGO HER SHINIGAMI POWERS, YOU FOOL. If she hadn't done that, Ichigo could've DIED. Ichihime IS WORTHLESS AND UGLY.

I hope you understand debbiechan. D: I'm really sorry! ;_;

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

It's okay, honey... just learn to count to ten... or to one hundred before you type. I sit on my hands a lot. And Crunchyroll isn't one of the best places to read comments--LOL, well, not like Anime Suki is any better lately and that's one of my favorite haunts. XD

[rays-of-eos.livejournal.com]

The comments on Crunchyroll are of the same quality as those on Youtube, about of posters 9o% morons with perhaps a second grade grasp of spelling and grammar. It's not worth getting upset over.

[gully-moe.livejournal.com]

I kept seeing UlquiHime in this chapter. I couldn't help but think that Ulquiorra is protecting Orihime FROM Ichigo. So I guess he doesn't want to kill her, but he would if Aizen ordered to D=. And having Ulquiorra take out his sword = hot. And I liked how we could see a little belly there. XD

But yeah, there was nothing special in this chapter for IchiHime. I couldn't tell if Ichigo was even looking at Orihime. It was such a blank stare... this tells me that Ichigo just sees her as nakama, nothing more. He wants to get his fight over with so that he can save her, just like he would any nakama.

My money is still on Barragan being number 1. I feel it in my bones. Stark can be 2.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

I felt the UlquiHime too. He looked like he was standing in front of her to protect her but she's going to have to be gotten out of the way if the boys fight.

BELLYBUTTON! Ulqui was so hot drawing his weapon! *swoons* The fangirls had so much fun yesterday when the pix came out. Spacey was laughing at us all.

[darkcountessb.livejournal.com]

It was great, the bellybutton was great, the sword was great. lol It's funny Kubo's reading my mind because two weeks ago I drew Ulqui with his belly button showing. XD Kubo's been reading my mind lately. O.o

Most Ichihime fans I know were stark raving mad about this chapter but what did they expect? Lately the manga has been lacking a lot of Ichihime-ness sadly.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

I hope Ulqui loses some more clothes soon.

[silverharmony.livejournal.com]

*Creeps in with interest*

Oh, and it's been a shitstorm for Bleach shippers this week.

Really? I've missed out on all shitstorminess O_O Where and how did the antishipping occur?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

Stay innocent, my friend!

[eurys.livejournal.com]

#1 and #6 are so me D:
And I just can't help mocking people who practice #2 and #7 XD
Imo, it's only a shitstorm at our usual place, though. But I think we got one of the highest concentrations of active shippers there, so no surprising.

Oh and izzat some "steampunk" Ishida&Renji? It's awesome.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

I NEED MOAR RENISHI.

Most fail!shippers who are made fun of really asked for it. I put myself on the line all the time and if the worst people can say about me is "omg, she has multiple degrees in manga interpretation" then meh, I'm so hurt. XD

[schweinsty.livejournal.com]

asdlkdjf That RenIshi is amazing.

I'm finally seeing the UlquiHime, though I don't like it much. And Stark is definitely the number 1 - why else would Baragan be asking him if it was all right if he gave the orders?

Also - Kira is finally kicking some ass, and Hisagi and the others are yummy XD.

[nehalenia.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on the Stark thing. I think that's why Lilinette kicked him. I'm thinking he must have some hellacious kick-ass power to be so laid back. Considering he teleported Orihime, I'm wondering if it's some sort of "play with time/space" thing.

[nehalenia.livejournal.com]

Wow, that chapter ended way too fast. And I'll bet I know what those five pillars of light that suddenly appeared were! :-D And I'll bet there will be some big-time Quincy-hating on certain ship channels, because *they* know what it means, too, but I'll bet you they won't admit it. ;-) Gawd, it almost makes me want to go watch, just to see what excuses/explanations will be flying.

And speaking of ships, my slash senses were tingling in that chapter. The eyeball smex! The innuendo! The "This time... I'll use my sword." Methinks it's time that Ichigo pwned Ulquiorra in a very special way. Hahahahaaa! ;-)

Edit: Oh, and the Ulquihime was deliciously palpable in this. Nom.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

I swear there was some fail!shipper who can't count insisting that Ichigo stood for five (as in "five is where the heart lies" in Orihime's poem) the other day. Ichigo is Japanese for fifteen. QUINCY MEANS EFFING FIVE!

*just patiently waiting here*

[all-my-colours.livejournal.com]

There really needs to be more steampunk Bleach. =)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

I love that fanart in your icon.

[fanartist.livejournal.com]

Lately I've been slacking off at work lurking in BA, and...

At first I thought "how cute, they're so into ichiruki ^w^"

Now... it's not as cute .__.;

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

Well, to be fair, recent weeks haven't been flattering to shippers. It's been a superboal level of crazy! EXPECT MORE TO COME!!!!!!

[norrowa.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm... you know, I kind of think this chapter adds credence to the "Stark is primera" theory because of the way Lilynet is all "WHY ARE YOU TAKING ORDERS FROM HIM?!". It kind of makes me think that Stark is the higher-ranked one who should be in charge, you know?

Also. SHUUHEI. KIRA. YES ♥ Have to admit I'm not that big a fan of Yumi and Ikkaku but still :D

I'm so looking forward to the Ulquiorra-Ichigo fight -- maybe we'll finally get to see Ulqui's release and please let Orihime kick some ass ASAP. Honestly I'm very chill about shipping because hey, these chapters are about the fighting. I don't think we're going to get anything conclusive on ships while Ichigo and Ulquiorra are busy duking it out which means it's all still theory, interpretation and subtext which is... highly inconclusive and I think I'll save myself the headache of arguing. Or try to, at least. Heaven knows I succumb to the temptation often enough despite any resolutions to the contrary, whoops XD;

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

yeah, my money's on Stark. There are so many goodies waiting to happen though that I'm even distracted from looking for my Quincy to appear.

Shikai from Hisagi would be kinda cool.

[kari-izumi.livejournal.com]

Some were expecting an enraged Ichigo spouting stuff to Ulqui in defense of Orihime like he did to Byakuya in defense of Rukia;
That's a bit of an apples/oranges comparison on their part, IMO. Ichigo got livid at Byakuya because, as an older brother himself, he couldn't see why he'd just sit back and let his own sister get killed, and actively prevent anyone else from saving her (IE, Renji).

Ulqui's just the guy that kidnapped Orihime; he owes her nothing, but it is a brother's place to protect his sisters.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

I thought the same thing, but maybe they were expecting stuff along the lines of "unhand her!" and lots of rage from Ichigo because Ulquiorra was about poke Orihime between her breasts. Instead Ichigo seemed sort of controlled and even chipper about the fight.

Ulqui is the one of the guys who started it all; I would think that Ichigo thinks he deserves an ass-whoopin. At the very least for scaring Hime if not killing her. Maybe they wanted to see some more of that. It was implicit if it was there.

[spartydragon.livejournal.com]

I HAD A THOUGHT!!! :D

The pillars are going to be destroyed. But that's okay, because The Vaizards + Urahara, Isshin and Ryuuken (and maybe Tatsuki, Mizurio and Keigo) are just chillin' out over Karakura waiting for the end to come.

The ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny shall be over Karakura itself, I'm almost sure of it. XD

But will Aizen be surprised at the presence of the Vaizard? Does he know Isshin? Will he twitch rather specatcular as Isshin squeals "Hi Souske-kuuun!" And waves merrily as only Isshin can do it? EGAD I hope so! XD

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

I was fancying just such a scenario before the old man announced that he had moved the town.

I mean, we have to see Urahara's new protegees don't we? Man, I want to see Tatsuki fight! Keigo! Mizuiro! Can't you picture it!

[metaphore-art.livejournal.com]

LOL, I guess I also fail!ship. XDDDDDD

I'm definitely guilty of no. 1 at times; given the environment, it's really quite impossible not to be, I think. I'm also semi-guilty of no. 2. I say semi because it's not pretense but the fact that I honestly don't see what they see, or frankly, anything pointing towards IchiOri at all in the manga. Sorry. I have no qualms or compunctions whatsoever. My attitude is more of being utterly and completely blasé about it, I guess, because I feel no threat whatsoever. I suppose, given that and the obvious distress the situation is apparently causing them, I could be a little more lenient. And I probably would be if they didn't act in the manner that they do.

As for sarcasm...lol, I'm an expert. ;)

Anyway...this chapter just made me laugh. I'm just so entertained right now. XDDDDDD

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

I'm mightily entertained myself, Jenni.

And you're way too cool to ever be a fail!shipper. ***hugs***

[r0ck3tsci3ntist.livejournal.com]

May as well ask the Espada to dance.

GLEE!!!! YOU ARE SO RIGHT!

AND HOLY OILSMOKE BATMAN! STEEMPUNK IDHIDA!!!!!

I'm in love!

[escarboucle.livejournal.com]

I am a somewhat fail!shipper too sometimes I guess, but for various reasons not listed :D

1. Remember that line about how the lowbrow talk about other people and the highbrow talk about ideas? Fail!Shippers talk about other shippers, and fun!shippers talk about the manga. (Okay, well, lowbrow fun!shippers talk about manga people and there’s where ALL the fun is, obviously, heh heh).
I talk about both. But that's because I'm evil. You know me Debbie :D

2. Pretend to never be disappointed--even when a rival ship scores an obvious coup like a filler hand-holding scene or some actual manga panel time. Really, too much denial is creepy.
Haha well... I've been disappointed in Bleach, but not over pairings. Pace and plot have been. Lack of interactions of my favourite ship too.
However, filler!moments in the anime, although I don't mind the squee (but can't understand why one would take it as a true sign of OMG canon! for their ship) don't bother me.
The GJIchi fight did annoy me, but not because of the IchiOri (or so called moments). I've been smug about IchiRuki for a long time now, so you know those never affected me. Like Jenni, I was like... "meh, this is nothing and LOL, FAIL! XD" What truly annoyed me was how subpar the fight was *yawns* and so long and draggy too... >____> (refer to question 1 about the pace).

3. Cut and paste and manipulate pictures of your pairing in icons and banners to approximate actual canon poses of your rival pairing.
Ha... no. Never needed to do that, since IchiRuki is already Kubo's OTP :D

4. Tell other shippers aboard your own ship to stop whining and fearing the rival ship. Keep newbies in line. Pass around badges and party hats and brown shirts.
oO
While I do try to reassure people, it's ok for everyone to fear. I've been there too, a long time ago :D

5. Avoid debate. Say “I could easily defeat you in a debate but I’m above debating.” Write long incoherent essay-length posts that nonetheless debate posts made by rival shippers.
I used to debate a LOT, but I've quit. Mainly because of some people's bad faith, two standards and deny of any aknowledgement of moments of IchiRuki, while I did at first make a lot of efforts to aknowledge the IchiOri interactions. Now, I just say what's in my mind and it's not pretty for IchiOri. XD
Because I'm smug like that :cool

6. When in doubt, attempt sarcasm.
Not even in doubt, I do sarcasms. But I think most people don't get it. If you see what I mean :flirt

7. Consult astrologers, numerologists, alchemists and your hair-dresser who LIVED IN JAPAN ONCE AND KNOWS THE CULTURE for affirmation of your interpretation of manga panels.
EHH? EW XD
Sorry, I just laughed so much right now XD

8. Use sparkle text whenever typing your pairing’s nick.
Use WHAT?

Friends, don’t fail!ship. Be merry and gay. Write fanfic and draw and icon and laugh and remember: you make Kubo-sensei a very rich man but he’s no happier than you are. We’re all just people who love our pet ferrets or goldfish or cats and annoy our neighbors and breathe the same air and see the same moon at night. Blessings on all you crazy people.
Fail!shipping can be fun sometimes I guess? XD

[escarboucle.livejournal.com]

Also, because I was so enthralled in this little questions, I forgot all about the chapter :D

All I have to say is: ULQ!!! STOP SEDUCING ICHIGO!!! THAT'S NOT RIGHT!!!!! His heart already belong to someone else!!!

Also, waiting for more now. I must say, having Kira as an experienced fighter is kind of lol factor, but hopefully I will be proved wrong :D If Kira wins this fight, he'll have the same number of victories as Renji, except in less fights :DDD Same foes for Shuuhei too :D

[aya-adri.livejournal.com]

I don't know why, but when I saw the 'elite', I felt like I was watching bankai live show again XD
"Kira, Hisagi and Ikkaku? lol Is it Mou Hitotsu no Chijou?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_debbiechan_/]

LOL, I thought of the Bankai Live show too.... really, that's forever ingrained in my mind now with Kira's personality.

Kira looked fierce here! GO KIRA!

[missberlitz.livejournal.com]

I actually thought the same thing about the panel with the five towers (pillars? I don't know, I'm not paying attention) after the Ichi/Ulqui staring contest, that people would think that's Ishida, lol! XD I'm still not decided on whether or not he'll come and save the day, I guess we'll just wait and see.

Weird how Ulquiorra says he won't kill Orihime, after he said all of that stuff to her. (though I'm happy about that, I want Orihime to live) He just wanted to chat. xDD

[mezzo-marinaio.livejournal.com]

I actually sort of... don't think the five pillars represent Ishida in particular? ;_; Sorry! But I'm sure we'll eventually get our fair share of Heroic!Ishida fanservice once he finally reappears! ^____^

Agreed on the Stark part, though... he's the less serious of the three, and thus has the highest probability of being Primera. Kubo works like that. *nods*

P.S. I'm personally waiting for Momo to get over her current insanity and WTFPWN Aizen. Seriously. But I suppose I'll have to be content with something LESS to show she's gotten better... *cough*