Lorena, a Hellsing fangirl (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} sir_hellsing) wrote,@ 2005-11-01 04:07:00 |
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| Current mood: |  accomplished |
| Entry tags: | ep, fanmix, fst, integra, integral hellsing |
Iron Maiden – Integral Faibrook Wingates Hellsing FST
For those who don’t know her, Integral Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing is one of the major characters in the Manga, tv series and soon to be OVA, Hellsing. She’s twenty two years old, descendant of Abraham van Helsing who runs an organization in the United Kingdom to protect the Protestant Church from supernatural threats, the Master of Dracula himself (called Alucard), the ace in her side of the fight. She’s also a knight of the Twelve Conventions, the youngest and only female member, a secret society that controls the former Empire in the shadows.
I tried to be diverse in themes and music for Integral’s different aspects in the Manga and Anime. The follow contains spoilers up to volume 8 of the Manga and all the tv series.
1- The Young Girl - Cinderella by Play.
I can slay, my own dragons // I can dream, my own dreams / My knight in shining armour is me // So I'm gonna set me free // Don't wanna be no no no one else // I'd rather rescue myself.
As a thirteen years old, Integral ventured into the basement in hopes to find a knight in shinning armor to save her from her evil uncle and his men who wanted her dead to take over her organisation. She found an old vampire instead and after beholding the slaughter, she became her own knight – killing Richard herself.
2- The Daughter - Forever Young by Rod Stewart.
And when you finally fly away // I’ll be hoping that I served you well // For all the wisdom of a lifetime // No one can ever tell // But whatever road you choose // I’m right behind you, win or lose // Forever young, forever young // Forever young ,forever young // Forever young, forever young // For, forever young, forever young.
This song applies for her relationship with Walter and her father in the Anime and Penwood and Walter in the Manga (her tie with her father had less emotional impact). Specially her one with Walter know he has been rejuvenated by Millennium, the forever young as a new spookier meaning. Arthur, Walter, Penwood have the same hopes of Integral would lead and fulfill her duty the best she can. No matter of her choices or failures.
3- The Grown Woman - Gotta Knock a Little Harder by Yoko Kanno.
Happiness is just a word to me // And it might have meant a thing or two // If I'd known the difference // Emptiness, a lonely parody // And my life, another smokin' gun // A sign of my indifference // Always keepin' safe inside // Where no one ever had a chance // To penetrate a break in // Let me tell you some have tried // But I would slam the door so tight // That they could never get in // Kept my cool under lock and key // And I never shed a tear // Another sign of my condition.
In the Manga and in the Anime we never see Integral having friends around her age (twenty-three), she relates to a personal level with Walter, her butler, and Alucard (and Seras as well in the Manga), but she gives the impression to be more focused in her job than her pleasure. Also, as an adult inside the comics, she doesn’t cry anymore, it’s like the tragedy she’s forced to behold and the burdens have forced her to repress those humans reactions. In the Anime, she only weeps when no one is looking or is unconscious.
4- The Nostalgic Side - After the Fall by October Project.
In a city of magic // That spins out of time // Where God has no image // And Man finds no grace // Something inside me was seeking itself // As I ran// From a shadow who'd stolen my face // The farther you run // The more you recall // The loss of your innocence // After the fall.
In both Anime and Manga, Integral looks back of how she used to be before she met Alucard, a complete innocent (probably Hellsing most innocent character, breaking point was the meeting). The flashbacks are displayed different but Alucard points out she’s still the same yet she doesn’t seem to agree, she lost something of her old identity with her innocence. One wonders if she feels good or bad about her choices and we will never know the answer because I doubt she herself is aware of her darker cravings.
5- The Hunter - Hunter by Dido.
For the crown you've placed upon my head feels too heavy now // And I don't know what to say to you but I'll smile anyhow // And all the time I'm thinking, thinking // I want to be a hunter again // I want to see the world alone again // to take a chance on life again.
Does Integral yearn for the battlefield? Alucard is her weapon (specially in the Manga), killing is her intent. Her blood boils for her targets destruction. I imagine she’s somehow buried with paperwork and bureaucratic transactions with the army, police and press but her skills in fencing and shooting are incredible, she has prepared herself for a hunt that never comes due to her duty as leader.
6- The Leader - Free by Corrinne May.
You saw the universe // Caught up in desperate dreams // You came and changed the ending // Changed it to save my fate // You led the revolution // You left your legacy // Embraced the struggle // in the face of mortality // I know I'm not alone in this // Help me believe.
Despite lacking close friendships, Integral touches people’s lives, even her enemies, her determination and decision impressed them and inspired them. Most of them were skeptical of her first, insolent but her personality won them over, General Penwood, Anderson, Seras Victoria, her own men, and Alucard himself in the Anime. They are all dependant in her actions. She’s a leader dead set in keeping her duty as a human among monsters in desperate crisis, setting an example to follow.
7- The Knight - Broken English by Schaft.
I could have got through anytime // Cold lonely puritan // What are you fighting for // It's not my security // It's just an old war // Not even a cold war.
Cheating, this is the song for the trailer of Hellsing Ultimate OVA but fits Integral like glove. She’s alone to a point and fighting her way towards the Mansion in her Rolls Royce and armed with a knightly sword. She’s no longer battling for the security of her people, she’s involved in a pointless war that was breeding since fifty years ago.
8- The Countess - End of all Hope by Nightwish.
This is the end of all hope // To lose the child, the faith // To end all the innocence // To be someone like me // This is the birth of all hope // To have what I once had // This life unforgiven // It will end with birth.
In volume 8, Integral releases Alucard’s restrictions completely and orders a gruesome massacre of all the invaders of London (a Forest of the Impaled). Humans and vampires fell to her commands, her wishes, she changed completely from her mission to slay mortals even if was for protecting her country and avenge the fallen citizens. She’s no longer Master or Knight, she’s the Count(ess), bringing despair and hope to the world. Time will tell which one applies.
9- The Failure - Fallen by Sarah McLachlan
Heaven bent to take my hand // And lead me through the fire // Be the long awaited answer // To a long and painful fight // Truth be told I've tried my best // But somewhere along the way // I got caught up in all there was to offer // And the cost was so much more than I could bear // Though I've tried, I've fallen... // I have sunk so low // I have messed up // Better I should know // So don't come round here // And tell me I told you so... // We all begin with good intent // Love was raw and young // We believed that we could change ourselves // The past could be undone // But we carry on our backs the burden // Time always reveals // The lonely light of morning // The wound that would not heal // It's the bitter taste of losing everything // That I have held so dear.
Depends of the outcome of the Manga, this may apply to Integral because London was destroyed despite fighting so hard to protect her city. Also, it relates to her feelings when she had to shoot her own men in volume two because they became ghouls. However, I chose this for Anime Integral in episodes twelve-thirteen (and seven too), where she discovered her organization name has been defamed and blamed for terrorists attacks, she lost her family honor and her trusted Commander. Despite she’s talented and ruthless, she’s inexperienced, idealistic and well intended, that proves her downfall.
10- The Scapegoat - Slaying the Dreamer by Nightwish.
Blame me, it's me // Coward, a good-for-nothing scapegoat // Dumb kid, living a dream // Romantic only on paper // Tell me why you took all that was mine! // Stay as you lay - don't lead me astray! // Wake up, mow the weed // You'd be nothing without me // Take my life if you have the heart to die.
Anime only. Incognito had a Human Master, despite the Judas being silenced in secret, Integral is still in prison, waiting for something and not touching her meal (is she about to be executed as a public scapegoat some wonder). What is she thinking? I picture her as a very dangerous wounded lioness ready to strike down everyone for the insult they made against Hellsing after a decade of her unshakable loyalty, swallowing her rage and frustration until she could lash it out. Even if she was told the incarceration was a measure for her ‘safety’ with the rape experiences and impotence she felt, the fact she’s locked up would increase her resentment and paranoia.
Alucard offered his blood – she smirked. Would she take this opportunity to avenge herself of whoever she thinks have offended her?
11- The Lonely Soul – The Isis Script by My Dying Bride.
I need a friend to lay upon // To be my sun // Oh, lord help me with my pain // I'm dead again // Beliefs have taken me to my end // Beliefs have taken me down again // The words I have followed, took me down again // The lies that I have read over again.
Applies mostly to the Anime, Integral betrayed not just enraged or blaming herself failures but wishing for someone to aid her – anyone. Her job was the end for her. In this context, Alucard appears, offering her company, immortality and freedom. In the Manga applies when she’s alone only with an instable Anderson as ally with Catholics and Nazis armies around her. She’s standing betrayed by Enrico and her Iscariot allies where her duty left her. Only for Seras and Alucard arrived.
Integral finally breaks her bubble and admits she’s a leader, she needs people to lead, without them she’s weaker. But she also seeks more than soldier, a friend maybe more.
Alucard x Integral # 1 - Kiss From a Rose by Seal.
There used to be a greying tower alone on the sea // You became the light on the dark side of me // Love remained a drug that's the high and not the pill // But did you know // That when it snows // My eyes become large and // The light that you shine can be seen // Baby // I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey // Ooh // The more I get of you // Stranger it feels, yeah // And now that your rose is in bloom // A light hits the gloom on the grave // There is so much a man can tell you // So much he can say // You remain // My power, my pleasure, my pain, baby // To me you're like a growing addiction that I can't deny.
In the Manga, Integral and Alucard have a relationship that is mostly based in the utter respect he has her as Master and she the recognition of his role as servant. However, lately, the relationship has been pictured more romantic. Both characters are dependant of each others in all aspects. So Alucard is her pain, her pleasure and power, but she’s the same things to him, their interaction, what they can accomplish together, is fascinating to read about. Light to darkness? Who is the light? Who sparked life to whom?
He’s her dark servant, her dead knight in shinning armor, she’s the Iron Maiden. Both grow powerful through their dynamics.
Alucard x Integral # 2 - Judith by A Perfect Circle.
You're such an inspiration for the ways // That I'll never ever choose to be // Oh so many ways for me to show you // How the savior has abandoned you // Fuck your God // Your Lord and your Christ // He did this // Took all you had and // Left you this way // Still you pray, you never stray // Never taste of the fruit // You never thought to question why // Oh so many many ways for me to show you // How your dogma has abandoned you.
In the Anime, Alucard tests Integral all the time, specially in her weakest moments, he tempts her with his vampirism offer when things gone wrong and she’s wounded, lost and lonely. Their interaction is more love/hate than the Manga (where is more into friendly affection/lust-love) but one of the most complex dynamics in the tv series. Perhaps he wants to baptize her with blood to cover the water from God, there was a curious dream sequence she had in episode nine about a blonde baby being done this. So far his obsession with turning her into a vampire reaches that Alucard changes a policewoman for possessing the color of her eyes.
He’s her tempter, ready to lure her out her beliefs when her determination falters and her world is broken into pieces for those she used to trust – even herself.
Maxwell x Integral - It’s A Sin by Pet Shop Boys.
It's a, it's a, it's a, it's a sin // It's a sin // Everything I've ever done // Everything I ever do // Every place I've ever been // Everywhere I'm going to // It's a sin.
I am not too sure about this song but fits one of the most popular pairings for Integral (at least in the Western side of the globe). Both are bitter enemies, leaders of different organizations, people of God yet sinners by their work. Integral relates to vampires to fulfill her duty, Maxwell is a member of Section XIII – Iscariot, they gloat about being sinners. Their relationship would be a sin but they would never escape the vice anyway, it’s everywhere they go.
Anderson x Integral - Rev: 22:20 by Puscifer.
Pray – shall I go blind? // Pray – cos nobody ever survives // Praying to stay in your arms // Just until I can die a little longer // Saviors and saints // Devils and demons alike // She’ll eat you alive.
One of my favorite pairings inside the Manga. Anderson is the ace of Iscariot, he has morals and is not power hungry (unlike Enrico Maxwell), also he considers her his greatest adversary. Despite of this he never truly harmed her (aside threats), he helped her, saved her, went against the orders of his superior. He didn’t like the idea of having her treated like a prisoner like Maxwell wanted to. That respect could easily be twisted into repressed lust and infatuation. He is the Abraham figure and she’s the Mina one, he’s fated to admire her. Integral is a very domineering person and Anderson is a priest, as insane and powerful he is, I can picture him being meek and shy and her in charge so the lyrics fit.
Integral x Seras – Pills by Perishers.
I hope my smile can distract you // I hope my fists can fight for two // So it never has to show // And you’ll never know // I hope my love can blind you // I hope my arms can bind you // So you’ll never have to see // What we’ve grown to be // One may think we’re alright // But we need pills to sleep at night // We need lies to make it through the day // We’re not ok // One may think we’re doing fine // But if I had to lay it on the line // We’re losing ground with every passing day // We’re not ok.
Finally the most popular femme slash pairing for Integral - Seras Victoria. After the war, both changed, they still protect each other and comfort in their little ways offering protection and explanations but are they the same? Will that semblance of innocence shatter completely? How deep are the wounds? How much of themselves they lost in the chaos?
ETA: Zip file.
Okay that is all! Long, heh. Now to credit.
Cover made by
dawninhell.Backcover made by
fujitsubo.Thanks for suggestions and/or handing songs/mp3s to:
ciarda_rois, dreadnot, noblesseoblige and winkinblinkin. Happy Halloween!
