Stolen- Bel's ? about Tessa

Jae · Post by **Jae** » Sat Jun 05, 2004 7:09 pm

Question posed in a OT post...
Pile on, ladies!

Belisarius wrote:Why do our Female forum members not like Tessa?

she's not some ditzzy blonde. She designed and commands an aircraft carrier/ballistic missile sub. She didn't use her 'command privlege' to do anything w/ Souske (at least in the first anime).

Personally, I don't dislike Tessa, but I don't really like much of her behavior. She's sympathetic, but not ... worth cheering for.

Why? Actually, she did use her command priv to get something from Sousuke- in that AS duel ep where he trains her and suffers her silliness and flirtiness, most likely because she ordered him to. It wasn't a real order and he probably could have said no if he had had the balls to.

That said, her behavior is quite a bit selfish and manipulative, even in the anime. I can't talk for girls in general, but if my best friend started acting in that soppy, silly, weak girly manner pushing herself on some guy who obviously isn't comfortable or enjoying it, she'd get quite a bitchslap.

I mean, Kaname doesn't even have to be brought into the argument- Tessa simply isn't sensitive at all to the discomfort and akward situations she causes Sousuke. Not the right way to treat a guy you like. Now if he had liked it, that would be a different story, but Tessa can't pick up at all on that he doesn't because she's too determined to get what she wants, regardless of his feelings.

And oh yeah, she can be pretty tough when a guy to help her isn't around. But there's just something about someone almost always needs saving.. or needs a helping hand.. I think that's annoying to alot of girls because some of us don't like that female stereotype. I know some guys just eat it up. Yum Yum, boys, it's okay to have Tessa as a dream girl. really!

(and damn, she is pretty)

Eidolon · Post by **Eidolon** » Sat Jun 05, 2004 7:11 pm

Wow, some pretty interesting things in there Jae, including a bunch of views I hadn't even considered before...

Very interesting read.

^__^

Jae · Post by **Jae** » Sat Jun 05, 2004 7:12 pm

Oh yeah, I forgot to add that I DO like her as a character, and don't with she'd just die or anything. She is personally responsible for alot of the humor in FMP

ZyreX · Post by **ZyreX** » Sat Jun 05, 2004 7:22 pm

Jae wrote:Yum Yum, boys, it's okay to have Tessa as a dream girl. really! (and damn, she is pretty)

Yum Yum Yum

but I prefer Chidori As a dream girl
though I wouldn't mind helping a weak girl in distress

I like being the hero!

Avlor · Post by **Avlor** » Sat Jun 05, 2004 8:09 pm

I don't hate Tessa. Sousuke just doesn't like her as much as Chidori - so I'm always cheering for Chidori. I think the guys like Tessa cause she's the underdog and they can't resist a cute little girl they think is getting the short end of things. It would be the same way if the sexes of the characters were switched. Girls would be wondering why the guys didn't like the underdog...

(I haven't met a guy (in person) that didn't like Tessa).

I always want Tessa to find someone else she can like so all can be happy.

Just my conspiracy theory.

HELLFIRE · Post by **HELLFIRE** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 7:52 am

@ZyreX
Here, Here!!

Personally I interpret Tessa's manipulations as a sign of her highly
competitive nature. Besides, Kaname isn't above this either... shall
we think back to her toying with Sousuke shortly after his arrival at Jindai?

GO TESSA! all the way for me!

besides, designing and commanding the world's premiere submarine, how many girls do you know have THAT on their resume?

Regards

Belisarius · Post by **Belisarius** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 9:51 am

Time for my two cents, since I'm askin the question.

I do have a sore spot for Tessa, but not exactly the underdog reason.

I guess I relate to her as I get the sense she's be bumped around from place to place by her familiy's occupation. I read somewhere her father was some kind of foreign service and went from assignment to assignment in different places. It's really hard to make friends when in a year you will leaving to go somewhere else. I know, because most of my childhood my father was a defence contractor for the USAF and we got bounced around for most of my childhood. Then take into effect the shadow of her older brother on her life, then (for me) the picture is clearer.

To me, Tessa and Kaname are similar to one another, and if Souske put his foot down or leave, the two of them would be lifelong friends.

Post by **Taurec** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 10:05 am

i don't like doormat girls ..... now if they made Tessa act more like in the scenes where she's actually is doing her job as captain, she would be more likeable in my book.

(Doormat exeption: but still Beldany shall be mine but that's because of the connections she has <grin>)

Sgt. Sagara Sousuke · Sun Jun 06, 2004 10:14 am

Avlor wrote:Sousuke just doesn't like her as much as Chidori - so I'm always cheering for Chidori.

Way to go, Avlor.
I knida pity Tessa though. But that doesn't mean I should start supporting Sousuke and Tessa getting together though.

Just my 2 cent

Avlor · Post by **Avlor** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 11:04 am

@Bel

Thou art most insightful wise sage.

HELLFIRE · Post by **HELLFIRE** » Sun Jun 06, 2004 11:15 am

Going to note: Kaname probably was no different from Tessa in the environment
she was raised in -- constantly on the move (Father was a diplomat)
and spent between two different countries with two different cultures
and norms. Kaname's relationship with her parents and sister is never
revealed, but I suspect alot of pressure was placed on them both to
succeed and 'win' at any cost.

I could see these two ladies 20 years down the road blasted out of their
minds pouring out sob stories of their deprived childhoods

Regards

Belisarius · Post by **Belisarius** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 8:00 am

Avlor wrote:@Bel

Thou art most insightful wise sage.

I thank you, Av.

@ HF.
I'm going to slap my self for putting rea life psychology into anime, but there are to major difference between Tessa and Kaname's enviroment.

1) Kaname is first born, while Tessa is second. Most first borns are naturally self-confident. The second sibling is usually devolped a 'hero worship' of the first because of this. *my brains hurting from tryin to remember my psych class.*

2) Kaname wasn't an acknoledge whispered till she was 16 years old, while Tessa was classified before eight. Most child geniuses are some what withdrawn from the interactions of the 'real' world as most of our people skills are formed from about 6 till 14. Tessa probably had adults and other geniuses around, while Kaname was raised in New York. (probably a private school) Kaname had a more normal childhood in that she was around children her own age.

@ Av

*Bel takes out a doubled barrel shotgun.*

This is my boom stick, Av. This is S-mart top of the line hunting shotgun. This 30 cal shotgun was made in the Acme industrial plant.

enough introductions,,

Kitsune season is now in effect.

*Blam*

Jae · Post by **Jae** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 9:00 am

HELLFIRE wrote:Personally I interpret Tessa's manipulations as a sign of her highly
competitive nature. Besides, Kaname isn't above this either... shall
we think back to her toying with Sousuke shortly after his arrival at Jindai?

The Jindai incident you mention is not even nearly close to being similar. Kaname didn't like Sousuke when she did it, and she didn't know he'd acutally believe her. She's clearly shown feeling bad about it when she realized he did. Now, it wasn't admirable in the first place, and of course she didn't seem to make an attempt to fix anything, but after that I can't recall any time she deliberately manipulated him without a really good reason (like messing with his emotions in ep 7).
Not counting with her halisen.

I mean, hey, K's not totally in the clear here, with her aggressive short temper and unwillingness to remember what Sousuke's real life means. But she's off topic to the thread.

But if we're going to compare the two- Tessa is the catty one. She's the one playing silly stupid games, and Kaname can pretty much only be astonished into silence by it. Some people like cattiness, and some don't. That's the heart of my beef with her- she represents most of the female stereotypes I hate. So, like I said, guys who love that, it's fine, but now you know why at least this girl doesn't love Tessa.

BTW Bel, Sousuke has no business 'putting his foot down' between the two girls. The only thing he has any right to do is to deal with each of their behavior and relations to him. He can put his foot down to either girl, and tell her how he would prefer to be treated. But he has no business dictating or controlling their relationship, and if they both want to be friends, they could/would find a way regardless of Sousuke. Don't saddle Sousuke with friend-matchmaker duty, besides not being his responsibility, he isn't well suited for it.

Belisarius · Post by **Belisarius** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 9:29 am

from Jae

BTW Bel, Sousuke has no business 'putting his foot down' between the two girls. The only thing he has any right to do is to deal with each of their behavior and relations to him. He can put his foot down to either girl, and tell her how he would prefer to be treated. But he has no business dictating or controlling their relationship, and if they both want to be friends, they could/would find a way regardless of Sousuke. Don't saddle Sousuke with friend-matchmaker duty, besides not being his responsibility, he isn't well suited for it.

Consider he's the primary focus for thier strained friedship, the he should try to see if he can unruffle some feathers. Especially when his orders are to protect Kaname, he need to be able to depend on his CO not to allow her personal feeling to interfere with the mission.

I also think that he would a great mediator because he is so direct and tactless.

I really don't think that either girl would allow Souske to dictate K/T realationship. They're too pig headed for that. However, Souske would be able thru to them ,in his own way, making sure they both understand what to him is important and that would be the mission.

And for Souske being a matchmaker, as long as he doesn't worry about feelings, he'd be great.

Jae · Post by **Jae** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 10:07 am

Belisarius wrote:Consider he's the primary focus for thier strained friedship, the he should try to see if he can unruffle some feathers. Especially when his orders are to protect Kaname, he need to be able to depend on his CO not to allow her personal feeling to interfere with the mission.

I also think that he would a great mediator because he is so direct and tactless.

But how? He doesn't even have much of an understanding of what is between them, and when they are all three together, they all behave more or less fine. The tensions that exist between Tessa and Kaname exist between the two of them, and even when they are alone together they are civil and even friendly. Everything simmers out of sight, and neither girl would admit to jack even if he were tp say anything.

Sousuke doesn't seem to have any idea why exactly Kaname gets angry/upset when Tessa is around, and he's totally out of sorts when he's in Tessa's presence, particularly in a casual setting. How, really, is he supposed to talk to either of them about something that he doesn't have any idea about? The girls would team up and clock him if he tried to mediate what is truly 'girls' business', and he would deserve it

And again, it's not his place. It's their personal relationship, and in the anime it hasn't yet interfered with his mission. It's no skin off his nose if they decide not to be friends, he just has to trust Tessa to be professional, and we know he does expect it of her.

(woooh, that's another one, hon. Talk about offensive- treating your superior as if you don't trust them to manage their personal feelings apart from their duty.)