#olbr crossover

I've made these drawings referencing the Revolutionary Girl Utena opening and the second transformation sequence for my Utena fusion, which places Totoko and Nyaa right into the clutches of Ohtori Academy. There's also the full page:

On her Lips Blooms the Revolution

It's been such a fun time, finishing up this story and coloring my drawings to accompany its posting! I can't believe the day's finally here. I know that as a crossover it may be a bit niche, but I've written it to be read even without knowledge of Utena's setting, as the story itself details all that one needs to know to follow along.

For chapter 15 of my Totonyaa fic. I haven't uploaded the next chapter yet because I had to post this first, and I couldn't find time to write the description, let alone edit chapter 16, but it's on the way 💕

Sword: Rapier

Card: The Devil Reversed

Reading: Overcoming a bad situation, becoming aware of one's own trappings, motivation to change the circumstances

The Devil Reversed, contrary to what its imagery suggests, is a positive card signaling good luck. If Osomatsu, The Fool Reversed, was blindly wandering, unable to reconsider his path, Todomatsu's Reversed Devil signifues the opposite: he has been bestowed the opportunity to do so. This card represents that the universe has allowed Todomatsu to avoid a bad situation and correct course without negative consequences (through Atsushi). Spiritually, it means turning away from darkness (Akio, the dueling system) and going back to the light (another chance in the messy but real world).

For chapter 11 of my totonyaa multi chaptered fic, Soi (Self) !

Sword: Longsword

Card: The Fool Reversed

Reading: Recklessness, lack of commitment or direction, living in the moment, no future plans

Sword: Basket-hilted sword

Card: The Sun Reversed

Meaning: Overconfidence to the point of egotistical behavior, loss of clarity

Normally, the Sun Reversed means a loss of a positive outlook. But it also has other readings, like the meanings I've decided to emphasize when choosing this card for Karamatsu in chapter 6 of OLBR.

In his handling of the fight this card corresponds to, Adoration, Karamatsu is flamboyant and overly assertive combat style; taking Nyaa by the waist and pulling her closer as he points his sword at her rose, relishing in his incoming victory, and, as she liberates herself and comes undone, offering her an opportunity for her to forfeit the duel. He's not being consciously malicious, but living out his fantasy of what a victorious champion and a knight in white armour should be like, which is exactly how he sees himself here. The prince winning the princess' hand, the hero extending a dignified surrender to his opponent. And when Nyaa faints, he approaches Totoko with an offer to help, his concern is sincere. He's so earnest, yet so lost in his own performance, and that's exactly what blinds him to his own folly and doom. It's a constant theme for the sextuplets, the hopeless longing for worth that is always defined by external markers. He's deluded, like Choromatsu, but he doesn't only follow the script, he goes all out to embody it.

And it makes him look condescending in a chauvinistic kind of way, but it's not even intentional. This guy is too up there in his head, and he can't see his actions for what they truly are underneath the glittery costumes and knightly strikes, especially when under the influence of a system that promises to reward him for it.

For the third chapter of my Totonyaa Utena fusion fic, OLBR, I've drawn Ichimatsu as The Moon card.

Reading: Illusion, Self-deception, Uncertainty, Longing

This is a chapter that showcases the theme of Raison (Reason). Reason for partaking in this dueling system, reason for staying and fighting, and Raison d'être.

It's been a while! I wrote Choromatsu as the next duelist in my utena totonyaa fusion fic, for Chapter 5: Amour.

Sword: Estoc

Card: Reverse Judgment

Reading: clinging to external roles, avoiding self-examination, failure to learn from past mistakes and hold oneself accountable

This chapter encapsulates Nyaa's love. At the same time, it is contrasted with Choromatsu's self-righteous, yet blind, judgment of the situation. He thinks he's living his Upright Judgment moment; responding to a calling with clarity and purpose, redeeming himself from his role as a NEET by embodying the role of the dueling system's archetypical Prince.

Of course, this being Choromatsu, that's delusion. Just because he's wielding a sword and fighting for Totoko's hand, it doesn't make him more of a noble figure than he was when cheering over for her during her performances. If anything, it's the opposite of redemption or rebirth; he's digging deeper into the illusion of worthy masculinity he so desperately wants to replicate, and burying his actual chances of being valued and being helpful to others in it. He's doubling down on his old patterns, with a facade of control and righteousness. If only feeling worthy was as easy as embodying the roles set for us...

He's unable to see Nyaa and Totoko as people beyond their involvement in his personal drama. He can't see how the duels he's upholding, and their roles within it, hurt them all, including him. In a way, he's someone trapped in a fantasy tale's idea of order, duty, and nobility. He's a sad, lonely man that has effectively been trapped in a role where he's promised he can assert power, and that with it, he can be happy and cherished. And I feel for him, personally. Because his desperation, and Ichimatsu's, in his own duel, are already canonically present to such an unhealthy degree. Of course the patriarchy Akio preys on that.