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severaltuesdays · 5 months

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Mori and Abuse

I’m making this because the BSD fandom has 2 modes for interpreting Mori and it’s either evil evil child abuser or spineless bastard and I HATE both of them.

Mori is an abuser, yes, but the way he abuses characters is very atypical, and not at all what most people expect. His abuse is almost all psychological, the only character we can say for sure has been physically abused by him is Yosano, and we’re only shown one instance of that.

For simplicity, I’ll be referring to his abuse of Dazai, Chuuya, Koyo and Yosano, but I believe it could be said that Kyuusaku and potentially the Akutagawa’s have suffered because of him.

To understand why Mori has abused certain characters, we must understand a bit about him as a person. This is potentially why Mori’s actions are so wildly skewed by the fandom, because no one wants to observe him too closely (but that’s a whole other post). Simply put, Mori is a military man. He does anything and everything to achieve the “optimal solution”, he has a plan and if he has to get his hands dirty to reach his goal, he will. Emotions and attachments go out the window for him, most of the time at least, because he would sacrifice anything, and anyone, to achieve his goal. Most of the time at least. That’s why he used Yosano, because what’s the life of one girl to the safety of his nation? That’s why he manufactured Oda’s and his orphans deaths, because the prize outweighed the cost.

Mori is logical and reserved, so we must observe all his actions with the lens that he has a reason for what he does, because he (almost) always has a reason.

I’ll start by referring to Mori’s abuse of Dazai, because he’s a bit of a special case and also the one that the fandom overall gets the most wrong. Mori’s abuse of Dazai is usually twisted to be sexual or physical, when there is absolutely no evidence of that. People like to bring up Dazai’s abuse of Akutagawa, or that one throwaway line from The Day I Picked Up Dazai as evidence, but neither of those hold up in my opinion.

Firstly, just because Dazai’s abuse of Akutagawa was partly physical, doesn’t mean he himself underwent physical abuse. Just like Mori, Dazai always has reasons for what he does, and his reason for what he did to Akutagawa was tailored to Akutagawa and his ability, therefore not something that Mori would have done to Dazai. Not to excuse Dazai’s abuse of Akutagawa, of course, but the fact of the matter is that Dazai’s abuse was a test of Akutagawa, and a punishment because Akutagawa didn’t adhere to Dazai’s standards. This abuse is the result of Mori’s own abuse, yes, but it’s not as straightforward as “Mori hit Dazai, ergo Dazai hit Akutagawa”.

The line from TDIPUD is also poor evidence, as all it is is Oda telling Dazai that what he’s doing won’t hurt and Dazai responding that Mori says the same about the needles he gives him. The fact that this is taken as abuse is really weird to me, why is that the assumption here? Mori is a doctor, there are multiple reasons for him to be giving Dazai needles. And the fact that Mori says it’s not going to hurt just sounds like the typical “doctor giving a kid a shot” exchange.

Dazai hates pain, so obviously Mori would lie and say that it isn’t going to hurt. Mori cares for Dazai’s well-being, which is what makes Dazai a bit of an outlier, as Mori shows care for him before he’s found a reason to justify that care. This is evidenced by their exchange in the beginning of Dazai, Chuuya: Fifteen, which is very important as it gives us an insight into Mori’s perspective during that time, where he panics because he hasn’t achieved the “optimal solution” by keeping Dazai alive, but then justifies that action by deciding Dazai is too good an asset to throw away.

And here-in lies the actual abuse that Dazai went through, not being hit or shamed or any of that, but emotional coercion, a slow cultivation of the parts of Dazai that Mori saw as useful, and a creation of the mindset we see Dazai use. This is most prominent with how Mori plants ideas into Dazai’s head. This is referenced in Chapter one of Fifteen as well, establishing that Mori has taken somewhat of an instructor role to Dazai, but that’s something Dazai rebels against.

This exchange is a perfect example of that conditioning, instead of giving Dazai information directly, Mori gets Dazai to deduce his answers using information he already has, something we see Dazai does very often in the current plot. But the main example of this conditioning comes in the form of Dazai’s plan to use the Sheep against Chuuya, a plan that comes DIRECTLY from Mori.

Mori makes sure that Dazai is in the room as he baits Chuuya, uses the weakness of the Sheep against him, and then breaks down EXACTLY what has happened for Dazai. “Just some food for thought” my ass.

Then when discussing his plan with Rimbaud, Dazai brings up a theory taught to him by Mori. 15!Dazai is such a little parrot, it’s all “Mori says, Mori says, Mori says”, just word-vomiting all the thoughts Mori puts in his head, there is a CLEAR influence here.

Just like Mori, Dazai uses the Sheep against Chuuya. Mori shows Dazai how to control people, how to make them listen and how to make them obey. The reason Dazai treats people like pawns, the reason he KNOWS how to manipulate people is because Mori taught him.

Just like so many of the characters, the fandom forgets that when Mori met Dazai, he was a child. He was a broken child who needed a guiding hand and the hand he got was Mori’s. Morí crafted the Dazai that we see, shaped the way that he thinks, THAT was his abuse.

Chuuya as well is a special case. Like Mori, he is a leader, and that is a quality Mori admires in him. In turn, Chuuya looks up to Mori, sees him as an inspiration for what it means to be a leader. This is another example of Mori’s manipulative abuse. To Chuuya, Mori makes himself out to be a saviour, someone who will teach him how to be better, how to protect the people he thinks he has failed. Mori takes Chuuya at his weakest point and gives him a new chance.

And with that, Chuuya is loyal to the mafia and Mori has Soukoku. Never mind that Mori was the brains behind Dazai’s plan that got Chuuya into the mafia in the first place, by getting Dazai to do his dirty work, Mori gets to appear to Chuuya with a halo and wings (I could also talk about Mori’s involvement with Stormbringer and how that locked Chuuya into the mafia, but that’s another tangent).

Mori has done the same with Koyo. She’s loyal to him, but clearly does not LIKE him, so where does that loyalty come from? It is because he has freed her. Koyo suffered under the rule of the Old Boss, she had no freedom, the man who cared for her was executed, she was restrained within the mafia. And then Mori takes over and she ends up an executive. Suddenly she’s got POWER, she can change things, under Mori she’s given the ability to change things and take charge. He sees a girl in chains and loosens them, not enough for her to escape, but enough that she can move. And having been chained up for so long, that feels like freedom. Koyo is loyal to Mori because he’s better than the alternative, because if she can’t be free, at least she can move.

I left Yosano for last, because again, she’s a wild card. Unlike all the other people Mori has coerced, Yosano’s abuse took place during a time where every second was precious. There was no time to do it delicately, the way Mori handled everything else, it was war, win or lose. Mori’s tactics were a lot more brutal, Yosano wants the soldiers to live, so Mori shoots the one she cares about so either she WATCHES her friend die, or she can save him. Unlike with Dazai, with Chuuya, with Koyo, Mori isn’t Yosano’s saviour, he’s her captor, he gives her a choice, but its one where neither option is made to look kind. He makes it clear, she heals them, or they die, whether it’s at his hands, or the hands of the enemy, and he knows she would never let them die.

Mori works through coercion and manipulation, he shapes the way people think of him carefully, moulding his appearance in the eyes of others. To Dazai he’s just an old man that Dazai has under his thumb, who tries and fails to manipulate him. But that’s not the truth. To Chuuya he’s a benevolent leader, someone so gracious as to grant him a place in the mafia. But that’s not the truth. To Koyo he’s the safest option, not someone she wants to follow, but someone she will follow, because at least she’s free. But that’s not the truth. To Yosano he’s evil, cruel and harsh and he takes lives as easily as he breathes with no remorse, he’s the God to her Angel of Death. But thats not the truth. To the audience, he’s a monster, a filthy pervert who is nothing more than a pedophile. Is that the truth?

Mori is like a spider, ensnaring people in his web with carefully constructed lies and appearances, his abuse is not physical or sexual, it’s a psychological coercion, careful at times and brutal at others, his abuse is a targeted attack of an individual’s weaknesses, and a cultivation of the parts he sees as useful.

Every person is his tool, and he likes his blades sharp.

@1seaweedbrain1 for you <3

#crossposted on twitter #because i figured out how to use that hellsite #jk it's pretty chill #mostly #anyway Mori is actually one of my favourite characters to analyse he's such a complex mf #I could rant about him sm he makes me ill /pos #does he go for people when they're weak because it's easy?#or because he wants to give the underdog a chance?#or is it both?#he kills without blinking but volunteers at hospitals #he saves and sacrifices lives in the same breath #he go to lengths to keep Dazai healthy but then doesn't care (or know about?) his living situations #this contradictory motherfucker #bsd mori #mori ogai #bsd mori ogai #dazai osamu #bsd dazai #bungou stray dogs dazai #chuuya nakahara #bsd chuuya #bungou stray dogs chuuya #kouyo ozaki #ozaki kouyou #bsd kouyou #bungou stray dogs kouyou #yosano akiko #bsd yosano #bungou stray dogs yosano #bungou stray dogs

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roaldseth · 2 years

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HOT OLD MEN* of SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI

Mainline Edition

MegaTen isn’t known for its adult cast, but this is a chance to take a look at the hotties that go unlooked.

*this is very subjective. There is age ambiguity, so “old men” is personal perception with some entries.

Stephen (Shin Megami Tensei)

Hotness: ★★★☆☆

His face looks on the young side, but he still makes an entrance by being a silver fox. Dressed to impress, suits are hot. Glasses: also hot. The hair on his right side can either be hot or... not... depending on the art.

Mekata (Shin Megami Tensei II)

Hotness: ★★★★☆

This man knows the importance of being well kept. Not only does he dress well, but keeping his hair in a timeless style for his age is just the icing on the cake. Not to mention grey is gold when it comes to a hot old gentleman.

Tsuzumi (Shin Megami Tensei: NINE)

Hotness: ★★★☆☆

Two things: goatee and cheekbones. The stubble mustache he has makes the facial hair just asymmetrical enough so that it ties together with his mildly messy hair. Those lines near his eyes are also doing him many favors.

Hikawa (Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne)

Hotness: ★☆☆☆☆

Not traditionally what we’d think of as hot with that hairline and trademark M styled bangs, but the man does have style, which carries his attractiveness. Forgetting the size of his forehead for his suit.

Dante (Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne Maniax Edition)

Hotness: ★★★★★

Pushing the idea of being “old” (some consensus being mid 30s in DMC2), but if there was going to be a hot oldie rep for SMT3, it’d be Dante. He knows exactly what he’s doing with that chest out look.

Gore (Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey)

Hotness: ★★☆☆☆

A strong and confident looking man with a solid, angular facial structure. The depth in those eye socks and the high-bridged nose make a man conventionally intimidating. Not much of a fan of baldness however.

Irving (Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey)

Hotness: ★★★☆☆

Though rather average looking with a standard haircut, one can’t help but be charmed. It might be the smirk, or that slight rise in the eyebrows. Who’s to say, but Irving has this sense of being a hottie.

Tyler (Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey)

Hotness: ★★☆☆☆

Another fine cut man with a sturdy jawline that captivates. His baby blues are something to stare at all day, but the proportioning of his face makes it seem a little awkward. The chin is small and his nose is long.

Blair (Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey)

Hotness: ★★★★☆

Having the eyes of many worn years, there’s something to say in a man’s aged eyes. But that’s only the beginning. His beard gives that sophistication of being old. Though his face is rather long, it doesn't distract

Jack (Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey)

Hotness: ★★★★★

This man is certainly a dark horse to the hottie scene. The wizened years outlining his brow, cheeks, and chin, the few tussled strands of swept back hair: poetic cinema. Mustaches aren’t for me, but he pulls it off.

Hope (Shin Megami Tensei IV)

Hotness: ★★★★★

The perfect balance between beard, mustache, and haircut: short and just enough of unkemptness. It just works so well. The drooping lid on top of his steely grays and visible age lets you in on a man that has experienced life.

K (Shin Megami Tensei IV)

Hotness: ★★★★☆

Another fine HELLO SIR type of man. His long, lion’s mane of curled hair of 80s rock star is something to run my fingers through. Although I will say his square jaw is not exactly my taste, but that’s not to say it isn’t great.

Tayama (Shin Megami Tensei IV)

Hotness: ★★☆☆☆

I am usually a fan of the swept back hair, but something about it just isn’t working for me. But, dang, do he dress fine. That two unbuttoned down shirt showing he isn’t afraid. Tayama also really doesn’t show his age too much.

Fujiwara (Shin Megami Tensei IV)

Hotness: ★★★☆☆

A casually dressed looker: Fujiwara is an interesting one. His gray hair and wide chin puts a lot of charm, and yet there's something about that dimple from the slight smile. But, other than that he's mainly average.

Skins (Shin Megami Tensei IV)

Hotness: ★★☆☆☆

Not conventionally attractive, but those eyes are something to look at. They're just so cheery. The fact that his lower lip pouts outward isn't something I go for along with the baldness. But, not that there's anything bad.

Nikkari (Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse)

Hotness: ★★★★★

There’s no bad place to start. He’s peak hot old man. I’m not disappointed that he doesn’t have gray hair because his color is still going and it looks so good on him. I’m sorry, Nikkari, you’re too hot for words.

Boss (Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse)

Hotness: ★★☆☆☆

Boss would be more attractive if his hair wasn't a middle part. There's nothing wrong with it long, but it does look a little bland being equal and choppy cut on both sides. The rest of him however, very, very nice.

Aogami (Shin Megami Tensei V)

Hotness: ★★★★☆

Despite not looking it, old man in my mind. Someone needs to be old in SMTV besides Yakumo. Also it is a mystery to me as to why he’s so good-looking. It’s probably the hair and that fierce look in his eyes.

Hayao Koshimizu (Shin Megami Tensei V)

Hotness: ★★★★★

Like Aogami, I refuse to believe he’s not old. What does mark him different, and higher, than Aogami is his 3-piece suit and his hair being black, not blue. It does things, especially that smirk added to his face.

Shohei Yakumo (Shin Megami Tensei V)

Hotness: ★★★☆☆

Besides his uniform, a lot is not really expanded upon with his face and hair. Short cut hair, high cheeks, and that particular line around his eye and bridge of his nose. The hat does add that seductive mystery though.

#crossposted on twitter #the old men of SMT #my beloveds #my type is showing #putting it on full blast #read more if you can handle the truth #Shin Megami Tensei #SMT

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