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Lau and Ran-Mao from Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler). usually the term "dependency" would be used to describe Lau's lackadaisical reliance upon opium to remain in a Zhuangzhi-inspired dreamworld far above the pains and cares of reality....but sometimes, I wonder, does Lau depend as much on his "little sister" (a euphemistic term; they are NOT blood-related) whom he has known from a very young age, also his assassin, to be constantly near him? It's not always she who does the following, if you look closely. This is not merely a pimp-daddy/favored whore relationship. It's a lot more interesting, complicated, and at times humorous. I really think if Ran-Mao left Lau or died, he'd totally fall apart. She is BITCHIN' .

Funny thing is, I'm a diehard feminist. The first time I saw Lau and he was stoned with a thousand women in too-short cheongsams surrounding him, I bristled. I immediately decided he was objectifying these women as sex toys. But then I watched all of the first season of Kuroshitsuji, and slowly my opinion changed. Lau didn't use these women, he provided them a shelter (albeit one destined, because of opium regulations, to be on the wrong side of the law), and according to a surprised Ciel Phantomhive, he even took them on outings and bought them expensive gifts. Promiscuity reigns in such an environment, but Lau is evidently not the sort of man to abuse, mistreat, or subordinate the women around him. Instead, he pampers them almost worshipfully.

Ran-Mao is a human security blanket. She is not arm candy; she is an active presence--in fact she is STRONGER than Lau. He can wield a dao sword to some extent, but she has incredible skill with these two ornamented club things and with martial arts.

It's almost like they're two sides of one character and one psyche, rather than discrete characters. What fascinates me is Ran-Mao is actually all the traditionally "manly" parts. He is soft, she is hard. He is friendliness and manners and talk, she is silence and brusqueness and action. He is territory, she is territorial.

I cannot bring myself to indict them as a player and a wanton slut. I just cannot. They are simply not that easy to describe. And they are just too likable for me to morally condemn. I just do not have the heart to do it!

As a feminist, then, I actually ended up finding these two a fascinating exception to my usual mold of "good" vs. "bad" gender stereotypes. Love it.

(Lau: "Aya, what an articulate explanation, Miss Amber! " )

Description
Lau and Ran-Mao from Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler). usually the term "dependency" would be used to describe Lau's lackadaisical reliance upon opium to remain in a Zhuangzhi-inspired dreamworld far above the pains and cares of reality....but sometimes, I wonder, does Lau depend as much on his "little sister" (a euphemistic term; they are NOT blood-related) whom he has known from a very young age, also his assassin, to be constantly near him? It's not always she who does the following, if you look closely. This is not merely a pimp-daddy/favored whore relationship. It's a lot more interesting, complicated, and at times humorous. I really think if Ran-Mao left Lau or died, he'd totally fall apart. She is BITCHIN' .

Funny thing is, I'm a diehard feminist. The first time I saw Lau and he was stoned with a thousand women in too-short cheongsams surrounding him, I bristled. I immediately decided he was objectifying these women as sex toys. But then I watched all of the first season of Kuroshitsuji, and slowly my opinion changed. Lau didn't use these women, he provided them a shelter (albeit one destined, because of opium regulations, to be on the wrong side of the law), and according to a surprised Ciel Phantomhive, he even took them on outings and bought them expensive gifts. Promiscuity reigns in such an environment, but Lau is evidently not the sort of man to abuse, mistreat, or subordinate the women around him. Instead, he pampers them almost worshipfully.

Ran-Mao is a human security blanket. She is not arm candy; she is an active presence--in fact she is STRONGER than Lau. He can wield a dao sword to some extent, but she has incredible skill with these two ornamented club things and with martial arts.

It's almost like they're two sides of one character and one psyche, rather than discrete characters. What fascinates me is Ran-Mao is actually all the traditionally "manly" parts. He is soft, she is hard. He is friendliness and manners and talk, she is silence and brusqueness and action. He is territory, she is territorial.

I cannot bring myself to indict them as a player and a wanton slut. I just cannot. They are simply not that easy to describe. And they are just too likable for me to morally condemn. I just do not have the heart to do it!

As a feminist, then, I actually ended up finding these two a fascinating exception to my usual mold of "good" vs. "bad" gender stereotypes. Love it.

(Lau: "Aya, what an articulate explanation, Miss Amber! " )