Instead of tallying the votes, I have a plan. You see this fic has been going on for two months and with my fragile concentration it's almost a miracle it lasted this long. But alas, all good things must come to an end. Thankfully this isn't that last chapter. Here's the plan:
Chapter 08 = all the characters you voted for and I haven't interviewed yet.
Chapter 09 = all the character I've interviewed come together in sort of a reunion. (One of my reviewers had this idea but I seem to have somehow lost or just couldn't find the review. If I was you tell me and I'll give you credit!)
Anyway, so here is the long awaited Anzu/Tea interview. (Please forgive the lateness.)
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Under The Wraps
Entry 07: Anzu Mazaki
(Must I go through this routine again? Well, if you insist, "Under the Wraps" is again spreading its wings and flying through the domain of fandom. We've seen villains in sorrow, heroes in despair, and ((thankfully)) sidekicks with smiles… but now, the last and most awaited interview is before us. The most bashed and most, as it would seem, hated Anzu Mazaki is our subject today.)
(We are in an arcade this time. Dim, flashing colors, and vibrant sounds illuminate the rooms. Children and adults fill the building laughing and shouting – again, only here for filler.)
(Turning a corner, it stands before us. The stage set, pulsating lights of all colors, with one word flashing above the crowd: DANCE! But Anzu isn't on the stage, but she's here. We stand in back of the crowd, watching the dancers before one of us decides to speak.)
Anzu (A): So you're the author doing the interview, right?
Q: Correct. It's nice to finally meet one of fanfiction's most hated characters, no offense of course.
A: Don't worry about it; I've heard it all. So…? Are we going to start?
Q: Sure, I'll start with the basic question: what do you think of fanfiction?
A: That's a pretty hard question. I mean can I really hate it? I've been killed thousands of times in horrible twisted ways, but if I hated it, it would be like hated my own life… or existence.
Q: I'm thinking your stuck in the middle, a hate/love situation?
A: You could say that. But I've always been an optimist; I just find it better to believe something good will happen in the end. No matter what, I'll be able to get through it, you know?
Q: I prefer to keep my person opinions out of interviews but I can understand your view. I just can get over how you survived all those bashing fics and still smile the next day. How do you do that?
A: Like I said before: optimism. Just remember, this is just a fic, sooner or later (preferably sooner, though) the fic will end.
Q: Not to slam the dub, but you and Tea seem to have different sides. Tea and you have the same interests: dancing, friendship's importance… anything you don't share?
A: Dancing skills? I've seen the dub me, and I have to say I think I was better. Not to brag or anything, Tea's not bad, she means well. But, I have enough guts to tell Kaiba what a jerk he is to his face, no rant away about friendship. As important as it is, Kaiba disserved a good talking to.
Q: Can't argue there, but let's try to get past this dub issue. The portrayal of "Tea" ruined your image, we know that –
A: You see there you authors go again. You blame Tea for ruining me, without realizing I am Tea. As much I hate to admit it I'm the same person… of just supposed to be. Thus there's no point in bashing her to help me because you just end up doing what you tried to stop, get it?
Q: Right, point taken. So if you're Tea and she's you… wait how can that be? You're two different to be the same even the animation is different. Tea has blue eyes while you have brown. This doesn't make sense.
A: Don't you get it? Tea is like my alter ego, just the American alter ego of me. We are pretty much the same, our character was just screwed up 'cause of the dub. My name is just the original and first, that's pretty much all.
Q: Ok, back to the bashing subject – since that seems to be what the reviewers want to hear to most. As painful as this probably is, what is it like?
A: What is getting beat up like? What is dieing like? I don't even understand myself why I'm hated so much (aside from the Tea-rants-to-much or the Anzu/Tea-not-supporting-yaoi-couples excuses.) I mean I know I'm pushy, but I try my best to be nice. I've never hurt anyone for no apparent reason.
And I'm not defenseless. I can stick up for others and myself when I have to. The image of me as Tea – who probably could defend herself, but is totally nonviolent - just kills the whole concept.
Q: You'd think Yami no Bakura or Malik would be bashed the way those two act. But it just sees to me that the people today idolize the vigilante/tough guy/bad boy image. You have an opinion on that?
A: Well as every body probably knows I like Yami no Yugi… whom I guess could be a "bad boy".
Q: That doesn't answer the question. Why do you like Yami no Yugi –bad boy- over Yugi –good boy?
A: Um, sex appeal? No seriously, it just might be me but the dark mysterious guys are way cooler than, well, the others… not to bash Yugi! He's my best friend and I've known him almost forever!
Q: I realize as much as you're bashed you have pro-fics. I even saw a defense association for you [1]; some people understand your pain. How about those types of fics? And the pairings – *yuri or not?
A: You mean like Mai and me? Eew. I don't want to think about that. I mean I'm with almost everyone, not that I want to…
Seto because we're opposites and we "attract". Ryou and Yami Bakura because… well I really don't understand that…
Then there's Jou, Yugi, or Honda, but they're my friends, so I guess that kind of leads people on to think we'll get together in the end.
Who else? There's Malik… which is really weird but not as weird as me and Miho. Thank Kami-sama it's never been done.
Q: I noticed you failed to mention the Yami no Yugi pairings. Care to fill me in?
A: Couldn't resist, huh? Well… there are a lot of them. I guess it's okay… atleast with me it is. I'm not too sure about him, he's so passive it's hard to tell what going on in that spiky head of his.
Q: Yami has a lot of male pairings, are you be angry or jealous at/of him?
A: I want to say, no, I mean why would I be? Yugi and he are some of my closest friends if they decided that was right for them I'm totally okay with it… although I don't know if I'd actually turn gay with them.
Come to think of it, most yaoi fics have four outcomes: one, I'm totally okay with it and support them like I said I would. Two, I'm gay/bi also and are with Mai or Shizuka. Three, I'm totally against it and try to thwart their relationships… which usually means I'm the villain. And four, I don't exist – which really stinks, 'cause voids are not fun to hang around in.
Q: Alright Anzu, we've run through my whole list of question and even gone a little more in-depth. Thanks for your time, nything you'd like the readers to know?
A: Just keep in mind I've caused a man to loose three teeth by whacking him over the head with a globe [2]. That should keep the bashers back for a while.
(With a smile and friendly wink Anzu turns away pushing through the crowd toward the stage. Blinding lights, deafening shouts all of it seems to melt away. And Anzu Mazaki danced for all she was worth.)
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[1] The ADA (Anzu Defense Authors) by S. A. Bonasi, information found in S. A.'s bio. Check it out!
[2] I believe an associate of Yugi's grandfather's tried to steal the Puzzle by Anzu stopped him by, well, like she said, bashing him over the head with a globe. You go girl!
* Yuri = the female equivalent of yaoi - shoujo-ai/Female + Female
A/N: Well I hope I kept Anzu in character. This was pretty hard coz I really don't read much Anzu centered fics. Thank you again for the wonderful reviews, you guys and gal are the best!
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