/bl/ - General BL

>>3219
>Here are some of the ones that have the problems I'm talking about. It might be more noticable while playing the game.

yeah those ones seem bad but looking at the gallery I mean the art doesn't seem that bad? It's def better than a lot of old BL art. Someone in this thread mentioned old stuff like Kichiku Megane Luckydog and I find the art there very bad for example, peak 2000 yaoi art.

>>3219
>What do you mean? I don't avoid otome and galge because of hetero couples. The flat characters everyone casts away their established character traits to fall in love with and uninteresting scenarios are grating, bl is better because it has less of this and gay sex is hotter. The hetero couple the writers seemed to care more for than their bl couples I mentioned in that quote was insult to injury. Hashihime is the furthest thing from this game.

A game written as BL will always be significantly different than one written as a non BL, you can't just "remove it". It's opinion I see about a lot of BL that focus on the plot which i find annoying. I saw identical posts about Hashihime about it "not having enough BL" and "you coud have removed it and it would have been the same".

>>3220
I give those a pass because they're so old. They're ugly-cute, Yura has achieved icon status. This game is from 2017 and the weirdest thing is Galtia, the game the company made before this, looked fine.

>>3221
>A game written as BL will always be significantly different than one written as a non BL
Not always. Most bl games are plot or at least character driven. Its plot is mediocre by bl standards, it too would be more at home in an otome kek.

>I saw identical posts about Hashihime
Apples and oranges. The games are nothing alike, including where their weak points lie. I don't agree with stupid people who say Tamamori could've been a girl and nothing would change or the bl was unnecessary even if some of the routes were, well,, you know :v

>>3211
Same problem, like I want to include them in my horseboy stuff because they're somewhat related but with very rare exceptions they feel way too furry.

pvp cancer deer twink

Something I really like are eldritch abominations, I love it when designs get really creative and "wtf" tier though it does suck when people take "eldritch" to mean "has a vagina"

>>3195
Glad to see someone else who enjoyed it. There's something special about the type of moe from grown men in suits.

>>3191
I was surprised by this too. Seems like it's something unique to asian omegaverse, because all the omegaverse fic in English I've seen was the opposite. Maybe it has to do with more homophobia in asian countries and wanting there to be a homophobia-analog? I mean, alpha/omega being het lite is what I hate so much about original flavor omegaverse, but making the het-lite m/m ~actually oppressed~ despite the fact they can have kids and an ~extra special het bond leaves an equally bad taste in my mouth.

>>3199
honestly it would have been a better comfier watch with more understandable drama if it wasn't omegaverse, i've tried to get into the genre but honestly it feels like i'm essentially reading het

I got nostalgic today for the period of my life when I played japanese idol boy gacha games via qooapp and I was reminded of how these slutty twins from I-chu got me into twincest. I'm not even calling them slutty for the memes, they sing a lewd song together that's pretty much about sex.

>>3093 God, TennRiku really is the peak of brocon to me. They're clearly only attacted to each other and have been made for each other ever since theyre shared space in the belly.

>>3174
I know, right? They’re literally meant for each other. I love that Riku acts like such a spoiled younger brother but Tenn can’t stop worrying about him so he kinda feeds into their codependency because he feels guilty about the time they spent separated as kids. Their brocon dynamic is just everything to me. I can’t stop listening to Incomplete Ruler because their voices singing in harmony together is so beautiful, like they’re yearning for each other
>>3127
I didn’t play I-chu for very long but damn, these boys are really cute. I should’ve given this game a chance

>>3180
>Bofuurin cont.
And it just has me worried: it's one thing to have the MCs prove SST's mentality wrong and succeed after a bit of clashing but for them to immediately smack down the first group that could be a legit issue for them is just weird. I don't mind Bofu being like they are but not if every altercation defaults toward them from the jump. Having them struggle/lose but ultimately prove that yeah, it's better to care and use your strength to protect instead of w/e nonsense the other gangs get up to would be simple and effective. Even with it being touched on that not just SST, but Togame and Tomiyama both used to be way kinder doesn't make the turn-around feel as good. I know the Bofu has the just and good mentality, but I'm worried that it could fall into the trap of conflict hardly ever lasting because they are just so Wholesome and Right. Really think SST was fumbled, but I'm hoping it was just a misstep and not a sign of things.

I could do a little more about Sakura himself but I do think I'd like to at least read a little more. I don't dislike it, though. Art is nice and the fights are alright. And Kotoha is fun, really like her design. Ofc cute guys too. And neck biting! I feel weird posting this much when I'm not even thirty chapters in, feels unfair toward it, lotta stuff can happen later, but couldn't shake these thoughts.

Sorry if this isn't the place to post this, but which of CLAMP's manga would you all recommend? I've heard they do a lot of fujo-adjacent type work, and I'd like to get into it. I'm also open to suggestions for any other type of manga, book, or light novel with a sort of 'almost BL but not quite' vibe (basically, a lot of boys, emphasis on plot/characterization, decent number of shippers in the fanbase). I like horror, mystery, and psychological stories. I am okay with adventure and fantasy if a lot of characters die, but not if there isn't a bunch of drama or really high stakes.

>>3202
Clamp is what made me a fujo so they very much are fujo-related!

If you want actual BL Tokyo Babylon and Legal Drug are shonen-ai and blatently so. Of the two I like Tokyo Babylon more and its made me fall in love with them.

In terms of more general works xxxholic has the same BL "boys with emotions" feel though the series isn't explicitly gay. Cardcaptor and its sequel series Tsubasa both have canonically gay side characters though the lead pairing in both those series is hetero.

Really the only two I wouldn't rec reading first is X because its unfinished and works better if you've read Tokyo Babylon and Miyuki-chan because its tonally different from the rest of their works. I don't hate anything Clamp has done and I think all their works have strengths.

>>3164
usagi no mori

>>3165
> Korea also seems to be going through its early yaoi stages
Holy shit yes. I'm sure that there's some decentely drawn BL manhwa out there but damned if I'm going to slog through all that bland trash. Honestly, I'd rather wait out its awkward teen phase.

Going to go against the grain a bit and say manhwa/webtoons, even though I like manga just fine too. It makes me a little sad when people wholesale dismiss manhwa art because there's quite a lot of variability in my experience–some is even black and white, like Yona and Chang-il as well as BJ Alex. I can agree that a lot of webtoons are unapologetic slop because the BL space is so oversaturated and relatively new with a low barrier of entry. And the schedules are so tight it doesn't leave any breathing room, so for a lot of releases, there are obvious signs of 3d model usage, sloppy coloring that detracts from the style, and wonky proportioning. I also dislike how much white space a lot of webtoons have. On the flip side, I think it is much easier to read on mobile (where I do most of my reading), and there is just so much content that I never run out of stuff to read. There are webtoons with art styles that I genuinely like a lot, and because the space is so competitive, there are a lot of titles that have interesting plots and dynamics. I still read and enjoy yaoi manga, but I definitely read more BL webtoons and have a lot of fun with them.

There's a multi-part juggernaut of a Black butler Sebaciel fic series I finished recently on AO3 called the flowers of evil by Amanitus and on one hand I don't entirely like Sebastian's characterisation here but at the same time in every other aspect I find the whole thing extremely well done. Feels like the author does a great job with, among other things, building tension and fleshing out the details of the characters' daily lives like the scene on how many pounds the household spends on replacing broken plates and steak knives. The author self-memes about how many literary references there are in the series but I find that it works well in context. Honestly this is the type of thing that some fandoms would give an arm and a leg for and even if I don't agree with the characterisation I think the fandom is blessed to have it. If we're talking about some sebaciel I read recently that does have characterisation I like, martialartist816's works have really appealed to me. Thy fearful symmetry was the first one I read and it pretty much nailed how I envision the Sebaciel dynamic myself.

>>3189
Oh anon, you have no idea what it was like to read Flowers of Evil while it was ongoing! Black Butler fans were starving back then so each update felt like a new chapter of the bible was being published! It's been a while since I read it, so I don't quite remember Sebastian's characterization, but I do remember how slowly and realistically the author had the both of them fall for eachother. That canon push and pull between Sebaciel was definitely there. I've yet to find a recently published fanfic as well-written as FoE, I'll say this much.
I'd like to rec some stuff as well if you don't mind.
>objectlesson's "Stain the Water Clear"
http://archiveofourown.org/works/3667677
A multi-chapter longfic about how sebaciel's relationship has gradually transformed from the beginning of the contract to present day. The writing is very visceral and has gross details but that's what I personally like about it.
>honeythief's "Shapeshifter"
http://archiveofourown.org/works/23597002
This one is also a multi-chapter beast that I recommend if you liked FoE. Though it's written in first person (Sebastian's POV) and takes place in a modern universe, and I know both of these things are huge turn offs for most people, but do not be fooled! The characterization is incredibly on point and the story is very captivating, and I'll be real, I cried at the ending. Also I've seen fans on twitter arguing whether this or FoE should be considered the fandom must-read fic kek.
>teasmudge's "Nelipot"
http://archiveofourown.org/works/25657426
Not smut from what I remember. Just a sexually charged philosophical debate between Sebastian and Ciel. I remember really liking the banter in this one.
>"I adore him so"
http://archiveofourown.org/works/10117352
This one is in first person again but it's very short and sweet. One of my personal favourites. I wish I knew who the author was though.
OPost too long. Click here to view the full text.

>>3196
I thought Amanitus' Sebastian was a bit too rapey compared to how I see him, though at the same time I get that it was meant to emphasise his demonic nature. Admittedly it didn't bother me THAT much considering I actually finished the whole thing. Thanks for the recs, I'll check them out next time I'm in a reading mood. I usually skip human Sebastian fics because Sebastian being a demon is a fundamental reason as to why I like the ship but I'll give it a try for you anyway.

>>3095
That wasn't something related to the school arc. It's something I was considering after having started and caught up with this series as a whole and seeing all the official art that's been released.

>>3096
I'm so behind on the series. The last arc I was on was the ##twin reveal##. I'm hoping to get back in soon but I feel like I need to reread from around the school arc onwards to remember the current main lore regarding the characters. Not too terrible though cause I enjoyed them minus a couple of character deaths that upset me.
I'm super excited about the new series to come out. I loved the shameless fanservice of professor Sebastian and the uniforms in the manga. I also can't wait until they do the idol arc. I honestly remember nothing plotwise from that arc but I remember it was shameless in its fanservice and I loved that side of it at least even if the plot is probably subpar. I was surprised they went the series route instead of continuing to make movies but I'm glad cause it'll give more time with the characters and mystery

>>3099
Current manga readers are hyping up this upcoming Brighton arc cause the resort is known as the historical gay capital of the UK and while it's never a good idea to get swept up in hype I feel like Yana has such a huge opportunity to throw in some more fanservice and cause sheer chaos in the fandom. I just really want to see it happen.

Any SCL project song to be honest, but I want to highlight the time they made a song based on the Loveless anime. I've been avoiding this anime for the longest time and this song was what made me finally watch it. It was amazing, I'm grateful for this song.
I remember when the old Vocaloid song used to say Len was dressed as a girl. Just why when they could've used Rin…?
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnRud24SkGM