Ulquiorra fanart, a fanrant, and a discussion question

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

I'm loving the burst of fandom response to my fave Espada--the good and the bad. It's fun to see people stirred up about Bleach again. While there were plenty "meh, he's wearing a dress" comments on the forums I visited, I still feel this zing like okay, we're here, THIS is battle that's going to revive the plot. It's not a pissing contest or grudge match like the GJ fight was(although yey for those who like that sort of thing and plenty of my friends were totally into Grimmy's glam rock looks--I prefer the androgynous boys! Ulqui is sexier than Grimm in my book). This is a battle raining with mythos and there's this anticipation for Shirosaki and weeee! You Ulquiorra-bashers can't bring me down!

My favorite rant from one of the fanclubs:

<rant>It's not a woman's dress! Just because it isn't a pair of trousers, doesn't make it women's clothing. Stop getting your western stereotypes all over my manga!

I'm sure those same people wouldn't say that men wearing yukatas were wearing dresses or that men with kilts are wearing skirts.

Kubo has a reason for putting Ulquiorra in the outfit he has. And it's not to make him a crossdresser! It's some sort of robe-maybe a cassock like some people have suggested. Said robe is sleeveless because it's probably shaped similarly in the back-to be practical for his wings.

The outfit makes sense in a lot of ways.

And, hell, for all we know he could be wearing trousers/hakama under the robe.</rant>

As for the criticism that all Kubo did was what any 13-year-old would do to his beloved Gary Stu and paste some wings on him for a transformation, I say why YES, that's one of the many reasons Ulquiorra's release is so perfect.

( Cut for swooning, fangirling, Kubo is dreamy, I want to marry him )

And the fanart responses have been enormously fun. Here are just three of my favorites.

( Ulquiorra fanart )

And an interesting question I got from secila80 on an old entry that I didn't know how to answer so I thought I'd bring it here. The idea that Aizen cut a deal with the Vastrolordes really interests me:

Subject: Is Aizen paying the boatman?
Okay, this is fantastic stuff -- I am delighted to have come across a forum where people are having discussions like this. Thank you so much.

I'm a new Bleach fan and a little late in this conversation, but after reading the above entry I must ask a question . . .

Taking off from the Charon-Ulquiorra comparison, does it follow that Aizen has or has agreed to compensate Ulquiorra for his services? It would explain Ulquiorra's unusual devotion to Aizen's whims and Aizen's seemingly complete trust in him. Maybe Aizen particularly wanted Ulquiorra's abilities? Maybe Aizen had a hard time convincing vasto lordes to join and needed a primer? No idea.

But the possibility of Aizen 'paying' Ulquiorra brings up some fun questions (well, I think they're fun): What did Aizen offer? What did Ulquiorra ask for?!!!

Any thoughts on this?