liar.leth

"London?"

Colour Tips by yuming_art

would anyone believe me if i said that I’ve been working on this project (sporadically) since 2024?

again, consistency isn’t my forte but I do like pretty ladies

ANYWAY, HEAVILY INSPIRED BY THIS WORK HERE:

MizuxTaigen > Akemizu

I feel like I’ve seen WAY more content shipping Akami and Mizu than Mizu and Taigen, and even though I don’t hate the idea of them together, I’d hate if it the show made them canon.

1- Mizu and Akemi BARELY interacted with each other— they certainly never passed the status of acquaintances— especially after Mizu allowed the guards to take her after the battle at Madame Kaji’s. Compare them to Mizu and Taigen, who had developed so much more chemistry throughout the season, and were willing to sacrifice themselves for each other (even if they wouldn’t admit it). There was NOTHING to suggest a romantic relationship between Akemi and Mizu.

2- Akemi’s entire arc was her learning to be independent and discovering her desire to be great. My girl DESERVES to develop as her own character, not just as a romantic interest to the main character. Honestly, the only romance I would like to see (as a subplot) for her, is her relationship with the shogun’s son. Their dynamic would be really sweet— helping each other overcome their insecurities and fears, and learning how to rule together. They could actually grow their characters together, and push each other to be better— plus, they’re already married.

Here’s the thing! I’m not sure if I’m right about this but I hope I am: it actually seems like this is a problem being addressed directly in the show’s writing! Mizu DID already have a relationship with a man, one that depended on her sacrificing/compromising on her masculinity, but it didn’t WORK, because that’s not a real happy ending for her! That’s not what she’s meant for!

That’s why I think it’s SO interesting that Taigen is written so clearly in parallel to Mizu’s old husband— rather than pushing her away and being afraid of her masculinity, it seems to be what draws him in.

She is masculine and she is a woman, but never is she allowed to be both at the same time— when she chooses not to hide that she’s a woman, she feels she has to hide her masculinity… and when she chooses not to hide her masculinity, she feels she has to hide that she is a woman.

The seemingly very prevalent belief that only a woman could love Mizu as a masculine woman is SAD. I want to see the man she loves ON SCREEN swoon for her “monstrous, impure” entirety. She deserves that full circle moment after what happened with Mikio.