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kalims · 1 year

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⊹ sworn secrecy

premise. there has been an increasingly concerning amount of random notes you encounter quite literally everywhere, everyday. of which you can't seem to find who exactly keeps posting these.

when there's little wholesome messages for you wouldn’t you be curious as to who it's from?

after asking around, why does everyone saying different names..

content. gender neutral reader, fluff

characters. dorm leaders

cw. none

note. happy birthday to kween vil

"the first note I ever saw was right outside my locker,"

"oh by the hallway to turn right for the cafeteria? it sounds crazy but riddle rosehearts has been there early, always. maybe you should see if it's him?"

riddle rosehearts

first thought was that the statement of that person was absolutely wrong. you don't care if they've seen riddle around your locker early in school, (of which is actually perfect time to sneak in notes) nope. nu-uh. for the sake of your sanity you refuse to believe it.

if there was a person asking you who'd you'd think it was riddle was last on your list. you're pretty sure the guy literally hates you. why would he even bother to take out the time in his tight schedule to leave a 'you look enchanting today' , 'you're doing great' , or a 'if you're not too fond of these just say so, I don't know how else to express my affection' note in your locker that's just.. bizarre.

with the knowledge that riddle is possibly the same person you're looking for makes your interactions all the more awkward. at this point everyone's noticed the agonizingly dry, and tense silence. did you seriously just ask how the weather is doing?

clearly no one likes you because the teacher somehow got the highest thriving student in academic means to tutor you (who was admittedly failing class lately) so what do we have? more pain!

well that's what you honestly thought.

despite you thinking the sessions are just gonna be 95% anger and impatience it was surprisingly.. calm.

riddle was patient and polite enough to intake sharp breaths to contain a burst that could have possibly pop but you think he held back for your sake.

"my bad.."

"it's fine just. listen," he exhales.

then he just closes his eyes and takes several breaths. like he was calming himself and next thing you know he's going over what he said, slowly, carefully and more simple for you go understand.

after weeks of meeting with him for studying you just decide to ask one afternoon.

"those notes are not from me," riddle says. holding a stony face devoid of anger but a meaningful voice. "but I cherish the time we spend together,"

rarely do you ever see riddle adorn such a gentle face with even softer eyes. so safe to say you're completely stoned after registering the genuineness.

oh wow great. riddle isn't the person giving the notes, but he just hinted that he likes you? or.. well on his way to be cause there's no way the strictest guy in the world would casually say that.

"hey did you see anyone stick a note to my backpack?"

"note? where—oh by that bag, right. sorry I didn't I was picking out herbs for potionology. if it helps the only person around here other than me and you is the savanaclaw dorm leader,"

leona kingscholar

okay this is just crazy. riddle being one of the names being mentioned during your 'investigations' was shocking already to say the least but to hear the name of leona kingscholar get thrown around like that is just bizarre.

seriously? that guy looks like he does not know you even exist. heck, you're pretty sure you're one of those people that he sees, and then forgets. a backround character of some type, him being the one behind the notes is beyond you.

you're not even gonna attempt questioning him about it cause you're sure that all you're gonna get is a dead stare, and possibly, a load of mean words.

so you made up your mind.

leona kingscholar is out of question. therefore you're going to avoid him. surely it's just coincidence that his napping spot is near where you hang out after class, right?

isn't he apart of the magishift club? so why in the hell is he doing in your club room? playing with one of your members and actually beating them?

when you see his bored gaze skim around the room and land on you.. you just blank and wish you never joined the club.

"care for a match? you seem like you've got a smart little brain there," he drawls out, giving the student on the opposite seat a stare and they immediately rush away.

you swore your eye just twitch and he noticed because he just smirked. when you realize he's talking to you, you fumble. "uh—no thank you," your lips twitch into smile before dropping the next second.

his green eyes bore into you. "i wasn't asking,"

in the end you managed to beat him in a close match. clearly, that was your mistake cause now you're in a match with him nearly every time of the day since he's so adamant on beating you now.

one thing you learn is that he doesn't really like to lose. especially, in something he's confident he excels in.

the question lingers in your mind. maybe the timing in the botanical garden was coincidental but how can you think that way now that your encounter in the club room just really proved that theory wrong?

"so it isn't you?"

"no," leona says after a while. "I'd never do that,"

well what now? that's two wrong possible suspects. you thought he was done but no apparently. "I have.. other ways in showing my affection," he narrows his eyes. "take you for example,"

you snap your head to him. "excuse me?"

"oh hey! we met before didn't we?"

"yeah. you asked me about the note but I figured you'd want to know that azul's been.. kind of sketchy lately,"

azul ashengrotto

you know azul very well, contrary to your.. previous encounters. seeing as both of you are in the same club, it's privy to see each other daily and you can say that you're both in good in good, friendly terms but you can say that even asking the question you've asked the other two might just shatter that friendship.

also it's just weird to imply that seeing as azul is one of the people you've told about a note to, just one though and it would be embarrassing if he's actually the sender—and.. you just ranted to him about his notes.

well that's just another theory so!

out of everyone in the club he's probably the greatest. if you managed to beat leona you've no doubt that he can too (well. atleast if he puts his mind to it.)

it would be hard to hide your true intentions from azul. he himself has admitted that he's great at reading people and proved that point to you when he just points out the habits you do during games.

it just so happens you both play regularly hence how he notices.

"I know you're bluffing when your face is oddly serious because I know you're just pretending to be 'unreadable' to mask the results you're faced with,"

and he was completely right because you do shift your face into something stony so he wouldn’t be able to get a read on it but that completely had gone to waste..

it can't be azul, has he admired you all this time?

it can't be azul because he's like a daydream. like a cloud. when you'd go out for a walk, look up and try to grasp it but you can't because it's too far away. too perfect to hold in your hands and cherish so you'd just settle for admiring it from afar.

"I don't subject myself to feelings a lot. I'm a professional and I wanted to keep it that way," azul's face burns at the thought that flashes in his mind and the very next words he's about to say. "but I can't seem to do that with you," he admits.

it feels like he's going insane from every time he tries to not let you win, staying silent when there's a key point you're giving out from your face or when you beam at him.

you stare dumbly feeling your cheeks warm. an indirect confession?! another one?!

"don't you think dorm leader kalim might be the one behind it? I mean, out of everyone in NRC we're a little too prideful for something like that.. well him? isn't he perfect for it?"

"I'm starting to get suspicious with what everyone says,,"

kalim al asim

you know kalim al asim but you're not sure that he knows, knows you. he's like an angel to practically everyone, including you. and he can't exactly remember everyone he spares his kindness to so why should he remember you when all he did was share his 'secret spot' in the library?

you didn't exactly expect kalim to be interested in books, but he just says that he doesn't use it for reading but rather a quiet place to simply relax and bask the silence in.

wow. you suppose even guys like kalim get tired and indulge in a little escape.

you did not want to use his spot cause it's called his for a reason! and it feels like you're literally trespassing but godbless kalim because he really didn't mind and that offer was way too attractive to ignore.

sometimes you question how you even missed that heavenly corner in the library.

you yourself didn't particularly expect to end up in the library yourself but exams were coming up and you didn't want riddle's effort in tutoring you ultimately end up in waste. (also the amount of times he didn't snap at you.)

but—

"hi there! I see you're enjoying the spot I've given you," kalim jokes. inclining you to tear your eyes away from the sentence you've been re-reading far too many times.

kalim is sitting on the other chair which normally you'd be bothered with but this is technically his spot so you don't mind. the fact that he remembers is the least of your worries. "hello. yes, thank you. this place is heaven on earth," you smile.

"right? it's perfect," he shines down a bright smile at you. though blinded by it you still agree. it's right by a window with a great view of the campus, nearly no one is near it so it's really quiet, and. surrounded by cute little plants!

you bid kalim goodbye after he says that he just wanted to check if you've really been using it. seeing as he's got a class upcoming (which he actually almost forgot but good thing you asked if he just got out of one.)

in the end he drops by and chats with you everytime he can. sometimes you're the one running into him at the same spot, and he just so happened to arrive earlier.

you can say that you've gotten to be good friends.

to the point where his friend jamil comes and has to drag him away because apparently he's been skipping a lot of stuff just to come and talk to you and you've no doubt he's being serious when he yells that he'll come back as he's being hauled away by jamil and then reprimanded by the staff of the library.

"I've come back," he huffs proudly. kalim smiles brightly at you. "also sorry, I accidentally read a note that was stuck on your umbrella,"

... that one was, 'i really like you' wasn't it? if kalim's saying that then doesn't it mean he isn't the sending them?

then he laughs, "I'd have to agree with them! I do like you a lot too!"

your jaw drops. how can he say that so casually?!

"what do you mean?"

"maybe you're looking at the wrong places? maybe all these people being there are actually just coincidence. they're obvious guesses, no? if you asked me I'd look for people that usually have zero presence. they're the most sneakiest,"

idia shroud

huh.

okay you admit that was one of the smartest thing they've ever said even though they made.. like what? 2 wrong guesses on whoever? at most you don't really know a lot of people that could count as zero presence cause..

nearly everyone you know has some type of charm that attracts attention to them, be it intentional or not they have certain aspects that demand not to be ignored.

though in terms of reputation only one person comes into your mind.

... getting into ignihyde is one thing, coaxing the dorm leader to actually come talk to you, socialize is a whole 'nother story.

so you just settle for asking ortho for his game ID in a game you do play. you've only talked with idia a few times buy enough for you to say that you're atleast acquaintances.

most of the time you meet with him is pure coincidental. since both of your classes align to end and the others next one is the one the previous was in (to make it short you'd basically just switch rooms) so you'd stumble upon the other on the way there.

well not literally idia but just his floating tablet. you're nice enough to spare him a greeting and a little small talk even though most of the time it's you speaking.

to be fair he did stop to listen to you I that counts for anything at all.

ortho was nice enough to let him know about the pending request. probably because idia would have just ignored it. so for that you've officially succeeded in becoming friends with the.. top 1 player world wide with thousand of hours in the game.

you don't mention it when you join him for coop mode but the only thing that pops in your mind is;

"how do you get that crown?"

the chat bubble appears, then disappears before a message pops up. "srsly? this was literally a free item a few years ago *sighs* you only needed to log in to get it,"

you grumble. "I wasn't playing the game at it's release," no life. you twitch to add.

you've joined idia so many times that even he is comfortable enough to pop into your world and start picking out the flaws in your realm. he was all; "who even uses green and red together?"

you protested with great offense. "it was christmas back then!!"

he robs you of the materials you need which you regret telling him at all and leaves the one you don't need. (you don't know if it's all good or not because he let you rob his in turn and gave you 10x the amount you need saying this was from robbing other players)

you've never really envisioned getting so close to a person before. well, atleast you feel close to idia but you're not sure if he feels the same or would even like you admitting that.

which you won't! for the sake of your sanity and relationship.

he takes about a full two minutes to write a reply. deleting, re-writing it several times before he decides on one. "I knew someone as rare as you would get a lot of fans," it read. "I'm a fan of you too. I'm the biggest fan!" coupled with an angry emoji.

and there's the very same crown you liked the day you met in his world.

(the rarest item currently)

you don't wanna assume but the pack of sticky notes that tall, horned person just stuffed in their pocket is really familiar. almost like it's the one you receive everyday, only difference is that theirs is blank, and yours are filled with messages.

"hey! you—yes you! could I uh.. you're my friend now,"

malleus draconia

usually you're more level-headed than adopting random strangers in the halls and claiming them as your friend but after all the guys that were apparently not the perpetrator? you're pretty desperate at this point.

it was.. not like you at all, that you'd admit but it just stuck out to you (haha stuck-stick) so much that it was hard to ignore seeing as it was the same size.

(and no, the sticky notes for you aren't the bland, square ones but some type of luxury brand you're not sure yourself. also.. since when did sticky notes even have a fancy variant?)

this guy seemed like he's shocked by your audacity or just.. shocked in general because he stared at you so hard for about a minute straight before slowly saying;

"are you jesting?"

"no," you answer in a heartbeat.

oh well. you do need a new friend to bother and this guy will do.

(social anxiety is scared of this MC fr)

even though the initial shock wore off he smiled pleasantly at you but the surprised look on his face instantly came back when you introduced yourself and asked for his name.

something mischievous flashes in his eyes and you only realize that he's trailing after you without question. "you really don't know who I am?" wait should you?

you deadpan. "uh.. not really. that's why I asked you,"

he just hums.

his dog was really scary. you think his name was sebek but you don't wanna bother remembering when the first thing he gave you was a disturbed look.

tsunotaro (temporary) was a mysterious person by nature. you're by no means slow and is starting to pick the pieces together. was the reason he looked surprised by your sudden claim on him as a friend was because no one would talk to him?

heck. when you invited him to sit next to you in lunch your friends shared a collective glance and gave you some kind of excuse to leave.

the unbothered look on tsunotaro's face makes you question how many times exactly this has happened for him to be so casual about it.

"I'm sad for you," you slump and tsunotaro raises a brow at you.

"are you upset?"

"no—you don't seem to be upset by them blatantly showing that they wanna be around you," honesty! least they could do was be discreet about it. you wouldn't have questioned it if it hasn't been 5 times straight that they've left.

tsunotaro smiles at your look. "do not waste time pondering about it. I'm already used to it so it's alright,"

that's the thing he's supposed to be upset about it.

you shake your head. "since you don't wanna be offended I'll be offended on your behalf and be sad on your behalf,"

you miss the look on his face.

the heart feels so if you're feeling for him aren't you his heart?

eventually you found out that the sticky notes wasn't even malleus' but something a 'friend' of his requested. so he does know people other than you..

you didn't really want to let go of this thing you established so you didn’t, you held onto it in a vice-grip. sure. it might have started even though your intention was just the sticky notes but now that you had gotten to know him why would you let him go?

you're not sure just how exactly you got into this predicament.

he looks at you firmly. "my name is malleus draconia—" he pauses. "and i would like to be yours,"

... you're counting six people that were not sticky note person and somehow now like you too.

"ugh. you again, you're wrong again! I'm never listening to you. nope. my ears are sealed right now so don't even try,"

"oh? my bad then. I have some interesting news to share to you. I've seen vil around your locker lately, and not just lingering! he's actually staring at the notes! suspicious, right?"

end notes

vil schoenheit

okay so the others were clearly proven to be false and you've lost all hope now so you aren't even gonna try investigating this one cause you already know that it's false.

the vil schoenheit is not the sticky notes person.

maybe you're in denial but out of everyone he's the most prominent person. he did not just use his time to write sweet messages for you to read in his spare time does he? if he does he must have a lot of spare time.

WHICH HE DOESN'T.

compared to him you're like a lone star next to a moon. he shines the brightest and will continue to soak up the eyes of everyone else. you're just something people would look at for a second and forget.

meanwhile the beauty of the moon will remain and be admired.

you like to say that you were just being curious when you wake up extra early to linger in a corner where you could peek to see into the hallway where your locker way.

to your surprise he was really there. standing beautifully and staring at the sticky notes in a certain way you can't comprehend.

longing perhaps? a voice in your head suggests but you shake it off. why would he be longing?

you don't know what to do when he turns and meets eyes with you.. and you're.. currently peeking out the corner like you're stalking him.

maybe you hallucinated the flash of amusement in his eyes. "it seems as though I have a fan, won't you come out?" he abandons the locker completely and takes a look at you.

quietly you shuffle over a considerable distance in front of vil.

"oh,"

vil's face flickers in surprise. you feel like you just caught him red-handed.

"I know you,"

"... you do?" he does? you nervously point at yourself. is that even good or bad?

vil pursues his lips and looks down. he looks oddly soft. "we were casted into a movie together," he explains shortly. smiling thinly at the faint memories.

memories of you.

but you don't remember that at all, but it doesn't really give you an explanation as to why he'd gain a sudden interest. you were just a mere co-worker.

"you said you liked me back then,"

what.

he ignores the flabbergasted look on your face. "normally I would have not cared much, I get told that everyday. but you were persistent in your efforts, as annoying as it was,"

okay should you be freaked out right now or horrified? you did not want to hear that because it just made you seem.. obsessed. and you don't wanna get interpreted as that!

especially by someone as amazing as vil.

"you told me you liked me for me, and now I like you for you,"

"so.. you're the person that's been using the sticky notes?" you widen your eyes when he nods.

gods. of course out of all people it just had to be the person you were in denial about.

you furrow your brows. "but that's not enough for you to suddenly reciprocate. it was years ago,"

vil blinks and casually tears off a sticky note stuck in your locker. "I told you already. I don't like the memories of you. I like you,"

vil's lips quirk up into an easy smile, one you could call that you'd be enchanted with. alluring and beautiful in itself. he pulls out a piece of a sticky note, writes in it before sticking it in your chest.

you're too frozen to register the implication.

that he was the sticky notes person.

slowly you pick it off and he watches you. 'this will be the end of this' presumably referring to the notes. 'because there's no need for it when I can express my like for you freely now'

he tilts his head at you. "my, this takes me back. why don't we catch up over a cup of tea?"

you just let him usher you away.

now that you think about it you're just glad that it was way too early in the morning or else another person would have witnessed that.

*rook in the trees rn*: right

uhh... vil was always the og sticky notes guy I was gonna do but I wanted to switch to idia then remembered it's vils birthday rn so ion wanna betray him LMAO

I know it's weird that vil's the sticky note person but I just thought it was sweet that he could do something simple like that

maybe it's the most he can express it? no one would bat an eye on a sticky note besides the person that receives it so it's perfect.

I don't rlly like vil's part it has lot holes IMAO BUT IDK

there's open interpretation. you can always pretend that vil isn't the sticky notes person and another character is LOL.

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withacapitalp · 1 year

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Hidden Gem Friday

Hi guys!!! Okay so today is the first Hidden Gem Friday!!! I'm super pumped to be able to do this, I think it's gonna be so much fun. I have like 30 prompts already, so I'm going to try and do a little bit of a variety in these? Anyways!! I'm super psyched about this and I hope you guys leave comments for these writers when you read their stuff!!! Also let the writer know how you found them bc I always wonder when I get a random uptick in hits/comments/kudos! Anyways here's the actual rec list

Shoot by alligator_writes recced by me written by @riality-check! 1.2k words (Complete)- Jancy

Summary:

Jonathan shoots to capture. Nancy shoots to kill. OR A character study of the two of them and their relationship.

My Thoughts:

WOW Honestly that's my thought with everything Ria writes, but this one is so overlooked!!! It's so short but every word packs an incredibly punch and it's the epitome of quality over quantity. The characterization is perfect, the parallels are so well written. Ah I just love this one

always surprised by what i do for love by birthdaycandles recced by @andrea-csenge 6.3k words (Complete)- Gen

Summary:

“He’s dressed like Steve.” Dustin says plainly, monotone in that way he gets when he’s genuinely upset and not just worked up for show. “Why?” Mike is asking because he still hasn’t processed the ugly fact of the matter, reasonably so considering how bizarre it is to witness someone be so braindead in public, but Lucas would like an answer that addresses the other type of why. Like, why is Conner Marrigan such a fucking asshole? “Clearly, uh, Marrigan wanted to have a costume no one else would think of.” Eddie chimes in. For once he sounds almost nervous, though Lucas has no idea why. “I figured I’d let you know, considering your allegiance to Harrington and also the general fact that it’s a pretty fucked up thing to do.”

My thoughts:

I love this one so much!!!! It's really well written first of all, and secondly the characterization of Lucas here is so unique!! This is my kind of Lucas, and the thought behind the premise is really interesting. Plus the Jason here is accurate to real Jason and I like that a lot (So many people just make irredeemable monster Jason when like before he went cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs he was just your regular small town jock asshole)

It has been a beautiful fight. (it still is.) by througheden aka the amazing @thefreakandthehair !!!!! Recced by Lex technically, but also by me bc wowwww 3.3k words (Complete) - Steddie

Summary:

Steve wasn’t sure how the fuck he ended up at The Hideout on a Tuesday night. Okay, that wasn’t true— Eddie invited him, he was loath to admit that he was still harboring an unexpected and ill-fated crush, and he’d agreed to go before his brain could catch up with his mouth. That's how he ended up at The Hideout on a Tuesday night.

My thoughts

Augh I just love the way you write. Something about it is so flowy, like a river or a silk dress. Anyways this is such a sweet little one shot, I always get so eeeeeee over a first kiss, and this was perfect!!!! I have a v similar idea for a story ending that is taking place soon, so great minds lolol but yes amazing show stopping wonderful etc. etc.

Words caught in my throat (who talks first?) by fragilecapric0rn recced by @flashyysins 12.2k (Complete)- Steddie

Summary:

Steve and Eddie get snowed in together. Emotional constipation and all the things left unsaid are also in attendance.

My Thoughts:

Okay so I said to myself I would put at least one WIP on this, but then I just read this one and Was going to skim it, but I literally couldn't put it down. It's so fucking good and I got choked up more than once I loved all the characterizations they felt so in synch. There are some spicy bits in this so fair warning, but there's also dad hopper and Wayne and stobin soulmate moments and just AUGH this is amazing it really honestly Is everyone should go read this and the fact that it only has 886 hits is a fucking travesty. I could easily see this as one of the seminal steddie fics tbh.

#hidden gem friday #fic rec #steddie fic recs #steddie fic #stranger things fic rec #Steve harrington #Eddie munson #steddie #Lucas sinclair #Jonathan byers #Nancy wheeler #jancy #Jancy fic rec #I loooooved all of these sm!!!#Should I include some of my own in this list ever?#Anyways you're always free to send me more!!!#Liam speaks up

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shonenkun309 · 1 month

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𝐾𝑜𝑔𝑎'𝑠 𝑃𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑆𝑢𝑟𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒

𝙺𝙾𝙶𝙰 𝙺𝙸𝚃𝙰𝙼𝙸𝙺𝙰𝙳𝙾 𝚇 𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳𝙴𝚁

A/N : couldn't resist the urge to write abt this 🤭❤️

Pairing : Koga Kitamikado x Reader

Word count : 1.8K

Based from: ARR April fool

You stroll down the capital's streets with French language books in hand, your struggle with the language making you feel stuck. You need assistance, but who can guide you? Last time, you turned to one person in particular- he had helped you out before, so you knew he wouldn't mind doing so again. It was a smart move to warn him of your arrival beforehand via a familiar, saving him the trouble of being caught off guard.

You finally made it to the house, but the peacefulness of the surroundings threw you off guard. It was unusual for Kuya to be absent, and usually he'd greet you with a monotonous "Oh, it's you." This time, however, he was missing, and so were the other inhabitants. You called out their names but got no response. Feeling awkward about breaking into their home, you chose to respect their privacy and leave the premises.

*Rustle rustle*

Upon taking a few steps away from the house, you were startled by rustling sounds emanating from nearby bushes. Curiosity getting the best of you, you turned to investigate, spotting the bushes in constant motion. At first, you mistook it for a lost feline, extending your hand in an attempt to summon them, "Here, kitty, kitty." As you approached, however, the sound of purring caused you to freeze in shock.

The purring sound was nothing like that of a domestic feline. As an owner of a cat, you were familiar with their characteristics. Nevertheless, your curiosity impelled your forward approach, leading to a terrifying moment. Suddenly, a large creature leaped from the bushes- one that bore no resemblance to a cat. You let out a frightful scream, the entity landing on top of you with enough force to knock you to the ground. Fearing the worst, you dared not open your eyes. The same purring sound repeated, causing you to finally gather enough courage to peer at what lay before you.

"T- tiger?" You breathed in disbelief, blinking your eyes several times as if attempting to convince yourself that what you were witnessing was indeed reality. The magnificent feline appeared before you in full glory- a tiger with captivating red fur and dark stripes, complete with crimson eyes. The creature was more vibrant than any of the tigers you had seen during the Lorenzi Circus performances. It was a creature of great beauty, yet it seemed oddly docile, lacking the ferocity typically associated with this species. With this in mind, you started to doubt the notion that tigers were inherently aggressive beasts. Perhaps this tiger before you was the exception to the rule?

As the gravity of your situation sinks in, the magnificent tiger decides to take a step back, settling comfortably into a sitting position, its tail swaying back and forth. The silence weighs on you, making you think about the unexpected and unusual circumstances that brought you here. "What is a tiger doing in Koga's house?" you ask, your confusion growing as you ponder the beast's presence. The tiger meets your gaze, giving you no clear answer. Instead, you're left to stare at each other in awkward silence.

As the beautiful creature before you begins to rise from its seated position, your heart races, but you make a conscience effort to remain calm. A sense of awe begins to overcome you as the tiger approaches you, slowly and deliberately. It's clear that it has no intention of attacking you as you meet it halfway. To your surprise, when you offer your hand, the tiger nuzzles it in a gentle, but firm motion. In awe, you reach out to touch the animal's stunning coat, amazed that something with such a fearsome reputation can be so friendly. The tiger doesn't seem to mind your touch, and a smile spreads across your face as you pet it.

As you ponder the bizarre sensation that's overcome you, a strange thought pops into your head, "I've seen you somewhere before." The tiger, surprisingly, seems to react to your words, circling you and nudging your back, urging you to stand. A mix of emotions wash over you, confusion mingling with curiosity and a vague sense of familiarity. "What is it, what's happening?" you ask the tiger, unsure of what he wants. Yet, despite your questions going unanswered, a sense of clarity washes over you. The tiger wants to show you something, something important.

Feeling your pulse quicken, you finally push yourself up and watch as the magnificent tiger disappears inside the house. "Wait!" you cry, panic rising in your throat. "Don't go in there!" In your rush of adrenaline, you quickly realize that you've invaded someone's property without permission, and the possibility of Koga's home being ransacked flashes into your mind. But the overwhelming draw of solving the mystery behind the tiger is too great to pass up, and you decide to enter the house regardless, intending to apologize to Koga later if any harm has been done.

Despite your hesitations, you cautiously make your way into the living room, where the tiger waits for you. His back turned, you witness as he frantically scratches his paw against the door, prompting you to remember that the room in his sights belonged to Koga. You ask, "What are you doing?" Although you're aware that the tiger will probably not understand you, you continue to question him. Yet, when the magnificent creature rushes to you and gently grabs your clothes with its mouth, you finally realize his intentions. "What do you want me to do with the door?" you inquire, realizing that the solution to this peculiar puzzle lies behind the closed door of Koga's room.

"No way," you state adamantly, still unsure about the consequences. "This is enough trouble already, I won't open it." But the tiger, refusing to be deterred, resumes his frantic scratching at the door. Your curiosity piqued, you concede, deciding that the tiger's persistent behavior indicates the door's importance. "I hope Koga won't mind," you mutter to yourself as you slide the door open. The tiger rushes into the room, eagerly exploring the space, as your fascination grows. The realization that your journey has taken an unexpected turn sinks in as you watch the tiger in silent awe.

A mixture of bewilderment, awe, and panic washes over you when the tiger finally stops pacing the room, its crimson gaze locking onto yours as if it's trying to say something to you. Your heart races at the intensity of its stare as you continue approaching, overcome by the sense that you've known each other for years. Suddenly, the tiger rushes towards the table, knocking everything onto the floor in an instant. Your jaw drops as you watch in horror as it makes a mess of Koga's belongings. "Oh no, what a disaster!" you mutter, facepalming as you drop down to start cleaning the mess. Just as your hands touch the first book, you feel a soft, gentle pat on your head, forcing you to look up, where you meet the tiger's piercing gaze once more.

Your eyes are fixed on the tiger's paw, mesmerized by the repetitive motion as the magnificent creature rests it above your head. The soft touch of its fur against your skin sends a wave of contentment through you, and you can't help but to feel intrigued by its seemingly playful gesture. The silence between you seems to last for an eternity, but suddenly the tiger begins to move its paw up and down, rubbing your head in a gesture that's not too different from a human giving you a headpat. This time, you feel even closer to the beast, and the sense of familiarity has turned into a deep connection unlike any you've ever experienced before. Hesitantly, you bring your face closer to the tiger's and meet its piercing eyes again, the intense gaze of the tiger making you feel like it's peering directly into your soul.

Your mind races as you ponder the significance of his gestures and the uncanny familiarity that has filled your thoughts. The tiger's warmth, friendship, and attractive features, along with its consistent choice to enter Koga's room and the mysterious headpats, all come together in a staggering realization. The shocking truth that dawns on you is almost too incomprehensible to believe; yet, deep inside, you know it to be the truth. You stand there, frozen in a state of confusion and awe, your eyes fixed on the majestic tiger in front of you.

The truth of the matter finally sinks in and you feel your breath catching in your throat. With a shaky voice, you manage to mutter the question you've been fearing to ask. "K-Koga...? Are you Koga?" The tiger immediately jumps down from the table, approaching you excitedly, and begins nuzzling your face enthusiastically. "Ahaha, Stop! That tickles!" you exclaim with laughter, despite feeling overwhelmed with wonder at the realization that your guess was right. You cupping his furry cheeks with your hands, your gaze turning contemplative as you try to make sense of the situation. "So you're really Koga, but...why are you a tiger? And how did this happen?" Koga's response is, as you already expected, another head tilt, indicating that he knows just as little as you do. With a growing sense of panic, you ask, "Where is Kuya? Does he know what happened to you?" The tiger tilts his head sideways, communicating to you that Kuya is also remains in the dark about the situation, further intensifying your feelings of concern.

The realization that Koga was standing right before you as a majestic tiger, although surprising, filled you with a sense of warmth and amazement. It wasn't hard to imagine the creature's soft, fluffy body wrapped in Koga's traditional red kimono. The lines on its body were reminiscent of his dark hair, while the pattern on its chest was a mirror image of his Oni form's. It seemed like everything about this tiger just screamed Koga's name, leaving no room for doubt that it was, indeed, him. Despite the strange situation, you couldn't help but smile at him, finding him adorable in his unusual form. “Aw, what a problem you are.” you mumbled under your breath, a mixture of emotions running through you as you continued to stare at the tiger that you had come to admire.

As you ponder whether there's a solution to turn Koga back to his human form, the tiger nuzzles your body, and you can't help but let out a light, affectionate laugh. "Don't worry, little tiger, I'll find a way to return you to the Koga we know," you say to him. His tail wags excitedly, indicating that he trusts you to make it happen. Despite the gravity of the situation, you can't help but let out a content sigh as you stroke Koga's furry body; right now, he's too comfy being petted, so finding a solution will have to wait.

~ End ~

#koga my beloved #Koga my giant meow meow 😩✨#ayakashi romance reborn #ayakashi koi meguri #ayakashi koga #ayakoi #koga kitamikado #ayakashi fanfic #arr #ayakashi kuya #arr ginnojo #ayakashi toichiro #ayakashi shizuki #ayakashi rr

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the-rewatch-rewind · 11 months

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This movie is very weird, but I love it so much.

Script below the break

Hello and welcome back to The Rewatch Rewind! My name is Jane and this is the podcast where I count down my top 40 most frequently rewatched movies in a 20-year period. Today I will be discussing number 23 on my list: Paramount Pictures’ 1942 comedy The Major and the Minor, directed by Billy Wilder, written by Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder, suggested by a play by Edward Childs Carpenter from a story by Fanny Kilbourne, and starring Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland.

Fed up after a year in New York, approximately 30-year-old Susan Applegate (Ginger Rogers) decides to return home to Stevenson, Iowa. Unfortunately, train fare has increased significantly since she arrived in New York, and she doesn’t have enough saved for a ticket home. Desperate, she disguises herself as a child (turning 12 next week) so she can get a half-fare ticket. After she’s on the train, the conductors get suspicious, so she hides in the drawing room of military academy instructor Major Phillip Kirby (Ray Milland), who completely believes that she’s a child in trouble and lets her stay in his compartment overnight. In the morning, the train has been stopped due to flooding near Phillip’s station, so his fiancée Pamela Hill (Rita Johnson) drives to the train to pick him up. Finding a woman in his compartment, Pamela assumes that Phillip has cheated on her and storms away before he has a chance to explain. So Susan (or “Sue-Sue” as she decides it would be more childlike to go by) accompanies Phillip to his school to clear up the misunderstanding, and gets caught up in more drama there.

This was the very first movie I wrote down in 2003 when I decided to start keeping track of the movies I watched. I’m pretty sure I had seen it before because I remember getting it from the library very early in my foray into Old Hollywood, and it had quickly become one of my favorites. I saw it 3 times in 2003, once in 2004, twice in 2005, once in 2006, once in each year from 2008 through 2011, twice in 2012, then once each in 2013, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022. Given that I was around Sue-Sue’s age the first time I watched it, and I’m now older than Ginger Rogers was when she filmed it, my perception of this movie has understandably evolved. As an actual 12-year-old, I mostly watched it just to make fun of the adults who clearly had no memory of what it was like to be 12, and to remind myself to stay in touch with my child self so I would never get to that point. I’m pretty sure I’ve succeeded in that. As I got slightly older, I started recognizing and appreciating how well-developed the characters are for such a silly movie. I remember as an older teen really wanting a sequel or a series or some other way to just keep hanging out with these characters. And as an adult, I’m still discovering new layers to the story and message. So I don’t think I will ever get tired of rewatching it.

As I’m sure you’ve already concluded from my synopsis, this movie has one of the most bizarre plots ever, and absolutely would not be made today. I promise it is way better than it sounds, but parts of it are very disturbing if you think about them too hard. In particular, there’s a scene when Phillip walks into a faculty meeting (which Pamela is also attending, along with her father who is the head of the academy) as he’s about to be fired in disgrace and reveals that the “woman” that Pamela found in his compartment is a 12-year-old girl. Everybody is so relieved because clearly that implies that nothing improper happened, which is very much what should be implied, and is accurate in this case. Still, I feel like hearing, “Yes, darling, I spent the night with another woman, but don’t worry, it’s okay because she’s only 12” would not actually be very reassuring. It's also incredibly strange that not a single adult in this film – with the possible exception of the conductors – has any concept of what 12-year-olds act like. When she’s playing Sue-Sue, Susan tends to adopt the voice and vocabulary of a toddler or kindergartener, and most other people just kind of accept that as normal. When Phillip first meets her, he asks if she knows the alphabet – like, come on! She’s 12, not 2! The movie itself does address this, though, through the character of Lucy Hill (played by Diana Lynn), Pamela’s younger sister who is actually around 12 (the actress was really 15 but close enough) and sees through “Sue-Sue” instantly. When they’re alone together for the first time, Susan tries to keep up her charade by admiring Lucy’s goldfish: “Lookit the ones with the flopsy-wopsy tails, and the one sticking his nose up, he wants his din-din” until Lucy can’t take it anymore and says, “Stop your baby talk. You’re not 12 just because you’re acting like 6” and it’s like THANK YOU! FINALLY someone said it. It kind of feels to me like this movie is trying to show how quickly many adults forget what it’s really like to be young, and that it’s supposed to be ridiculous that anybody believes that Susan is a child. I’m not sure if that was the actual intention of the filmmakers, but if you watch it through that lens the movie makes a lot more sense.

Even though she doesn’t look or act anything like an almost-12-year-old, Ginger Rogers’s performance is hands-down my favorite aspect of this movie. As I’ve mentioned before, she’s one of my faves, so I’ve seen and loved her in a ton of movies, and this is, in my opinion, her best performance. In some ways, it’s similar to her role in Monkey Business in that she pretends to be younger than she is part of the time, but the difference is her Monkey Business character is under the influence of a formula that makes her truly believe she is young, whereas Susan Applegate knows she’s pretending. As ridiculous as she seems to us, we can tell that she feels even more ridiculous. Susan doesn’t want to act like a child; she just wants to get home, and Rogers conveys Susan’s exasperation through Sue-Sue’s smiles so well. Part of why she wanted to make this film, and perhaps part of why she’s so convincing in this role, was because before she had become rich and famous, she had in fact lied about her age when traveling by train with her mother because they could only afford half fare. She probably wasn’t quite as silly about it in real life, but it seems like her experience helped her find the truth amid the silliness. There’s also the romantic aspect, which overall I don’t think works particularly well – more on that in a bit – but I do think Ginger Rogers does an excellent job of portraying how much Susan cares for Phillip and also how conflicted she feels about it, both because he’s engaged to someone else and because she needs him to believe that she’s way too young for him. The plot may be absurd, but the character of Susan is surprisingly layered and complex, and Ginger brings her to life in the best possible way, nailing every moment of her performance and making this movie far more enjoyable than it has any right to be.

Of course, this was greatly aided by the script and directing, but that’s partly thanks to Ginger Rogers as well. Billy Wilder had previously co-directed one film in France and had written quite a few screenplays – several in collaboration with Charles Brackett – but he had never directed a Hollywood film before. Rogers was a huge star at the time, and had just won an Oscar, so she had the power to choose her directors, and after meeting with Wilder and hearing the pitch she agreed that he was the right director for this project, and thus began his extremely successful Hollywood directorial career. This is obviously one of his lesser-known films, but I feel like both the directing and writing are just as good as one would expect from a Billy Wilder film. While some of the storylines are very odd, most of the dialogue is excellent. Wilder and Brackett wrote the script with my main fave Cary Grant in mind for the role of Phillip Kirby, but one evening Billy Wilder found himself stopped at a red light next to Ray Milland and asked him if he’d like to be in the new picture he was making, and Milland said, “Sure,” so Wilder sent him the script and he liked it, so he was cast instead. I would of course have loved to see Cary Grant in this film, but Milland did a great job, for the most part. There’s a scene between him and Rogers when Phillip is trying to explain the birds and the bees – or the lightbulbs and the moths – to Sue-Sue, and it is incredibly awkward, and based on the words they’re saying should be painful to watch, but both actors absolutely sell that cringe comedy and it’s one of my favorite scenes.

But although the leads have excellent comedic chemistry, their romantic chemistry is basically non-existent. It kind of has to be, since for most of the movie he thinks she’s a child and it would be really creepy if he showed romantic interest in her. I know that as an aromantic I’m unusual in that I would like most movies better if they had less romance, but for this one in particular, I feel like it’s reasonable to not want Phillip and Susan to end up together that way. I do appreciate that his fiancée Pamela is a villain not merely because she stands in the way of the main characters getting together, as so often happens with love triangles, but because she’s actively trying to sabotage Phillip’s military career behind his back. Notably, this movie takes place in May of 1941, so after the start of World War II, but before Pearl Harbor, so there’s lots of debate amongst the characters about whether the US is going to enter the war. (Of course, by the time it was filmed in early 1942, everybody knew the answer.) Major Kirby wants to be part of the action if that happens, and the reason he’s on the train when Susan meets him is because he’s gone to Washington to try to get transferred away from the school to active duty. But Pamela doesn’t want her man to go off to war, which is reasonable, but instead of talking to him about it, she writes letters behind his back to people in high places telling them how valuable he is in the job he doesn’t like. So clearly it’s not a very healthy relationship. Pamela’s sister Lucy enlists Susan to help thwart Pamela’s plans, which she does, and Phillip gets the transfer he was hoping for. And that’s great and all, but Susan didn’t have to be in love with him to help him out. But apparently she is, and Pamela figures that out before she gets a chance to tell Phillip, so Pamela forces Susan to leave, threatening to ruin Phillip if she doesn’t. The confrontation scene between the two woman is pretty great – both Ginger Rogers and Rita Johnson give excellent performances, and they seem like actual rational humans instead of breaking down into hysterical cattiness as too many movies would have forced them to do. At that point I guess we do want Susan to end up with Phillip if only to spite Pamela. And I do love the scene when Phillip shows up in Iowa on his way to report for duty on the west coast. After trying and failing to explain the situation to her mother (played by Ginger Rogers’s actual mother Lela Rogers), Susan decides to pretend to be Sue-Sue’s mother herself. It’s a very funny scene, especially when Phillip remarks on the astonishing resemblance between her and her daughter, and she earnestly states, “Sue-Sue has her father’s nose.” Then Phillip reveals that Pamela has married someone else, which prompts Susan to show up on the train platform, dressed in age-appropriate clothes and using her normal voice, and let him know without using so many words that Sue-Sue was her the whole time. And then they go off to elope to Nevada. So like…I guess that’s okay, but it’s still very weird.

It's also very weird how all the cadets at the school are constantly hitting on Sue-Sue. Most of them seem to be around 14-16 years old, so if she was actually 12 that would be incredibly inappropriate, although I guess nobody ever announces how old she’s supposed to be, and she very much looks older than 12, so it’s not entirely unreasonable for them to assume that she’s about their age. But of course she’s actually around 30, and finds it highly unpleasant to be hit on by teenagers. So calling this aspect weird is not a criticism of the movie; it’s definitely aware of the weirdness. And to a certain extent, it feels like this movie is deliberately calling out male entitlement. The reason Susan decides to leave New York is because in the opening scene, she’s trying to give a man a scalp massage and he will not stop hitting on her until she literally spreads raw egg all over his face. And then he’s going to report her for being unprofessional, after he was literally trying to sleep with her. Later when she’s pretending to be a child at the train station, she offers a man 50 cents to pretend to be her father and buy her ticket, but he takes $3 from her and also tries to hit on her (she kicks him in the shin). Once she’s at the academy, as she’s eating lunch she learns that the boys at her table have made a schedule so they each get to spend an hour with her, without giving her any say in the matter. Then the first one tricks her into a position so he can kiss her without her consent. The other boys are upset that she knows better than to let them do the same, and later the one who kissed her even has the audacity to be mad at her for running away without letting him kiss her again. Then there’s a school dance when several of the students cross boundaries that she has to push back against. And even when she gets home to Stevenson, the man who wants to marry her throws a tantrum because she’s clearly not into him anymore. When Phillip calls to say he’s in town, she assumes it’s that guy, and as she goes to answer the phone she’s practicing apologizing, even though he was the one who threw a rock to break her porch light. It’s like, no wonder she’s interested in Phillip; he’s literally the only man who has ever respected her! Although in the awkward sex talk scene, Phillip does say that attractive girls are like lightbulbs and boys are like moths drawn to them, implying that they just can’t help themselves and this is the way things are, which is rather irritating. So the sexual harassment could definitely have been more explicitly condemned, but for a movie written by men in 1942, The Major and the Minor does a remarkable job of portraying the crap that so many women are forced to regularly deal with because men think they’re entitled to their bodies.

This movie also does a surprisingly good job of portraying female friendship. Despite their significant age gap, Susan and Lucy quickly develop a very sweet bond. Lucy is a great character to begin with – she’s observant and feisty and obsessed with biology, and I feel like she would make an excellent protagonist in some sort of junior mystery series. She’s also quite jaded for someone so young – perhaps from growing up surrounded by teenaged boys – and hates her sister, so she gets along perfectly with Susan. Since Lucy immediately sees through Sue-Sue, Susan has one person she can be herself around, which is helpful both to her and to the audience. They also make an excellent team when they come up with a plan to help Phillip get his transfer. And then when Susan is forced to leave, Lucy tries desperately to find a way to help, saying “You’re much more my sister than Pamela.” Later, the reason Phillip visits Susan in Stevenson is because Lucy made him promise to drop off a present from her to Sue-Sue, so she does find a way to help after all. I like to think that Lucy and Susan stay in touch after the events of the movie, and maybe Lucy even goes to live with Susan (and Phillip, assuming he survives the war) to get away from her toxic sister.

This movie is particularly fun to watch for Ginger Rogers fans not only because she gives such an excellent performance, and because we get to see her mother’s only on-screen appearance, but also because there are several jokes in the script that are only funny because Ginger Rogers is playing Susan. At this point, Rogers had made nine movies in which she danced with Fred Astaire, and although she had made many other films and had just won an Oscar for a non-dancing drama, dancing was, is, and shall always be what she’s best known for. Which makes it very funny when Phillip asks Sue-Sue if she can dance and she responds with “a little”, and when she’s showing off dance steps to a cadet and he replies with, “Adequate.” These jokes remind me of my first introduction to Ginger Rogers, as a child watching the 1965 Rodgers and Hammerstein Cinderella, in which she plays the queen, on VHS at my grandparents’ house. I distinctly remember one of the many times I watched it, when the king asked, “May I have this dance?” and the queen replied, “I was wondering when you were ever going to ask me,” my mom explained that that actress was a famous dancer and that’s why she said that. I didn’t fully understand at the time, but now that I’ve seen all of her films with Fred, I get it. As fun as these jokes are, however, it is a little sad to me that even when she got to play a kickass protagonist like Susan Applegate, she knew she’d always be thought of as “Fred Astaire’s partner”. At least now people acknowledge that “she did everything he did but backwards and in high heels” – thanks to a frequently-quoted Frank and Ernest cartoon from 1982.

Anyway, I’ll talk more about Fred and Ginger in a future episode. As for The Major and the Minor, if you can get past the strangeness of the premise, it’s an incredibly entertaining watch, with some decent and unfortunately still relevant commentary on how frustrating it can be to just exist with a female body in a patriarchal society.

Thank you for listening to me discuss another of my most-rewatched movies, and also Happy Pride Month! Remember to follow or subscribe for more episodes, and also remember that people on the aromantic and/or asexual spectrum belong at Pride; the A does not stand for Ally. I’ve got some fun guests lined up for the podcast later this month, but first I’ll be talking on my own about another old film that isn’t nearly as obscure as this one. As always, I will leave you with a quote from that next movie: “I was born on the side of a hill.”

#the major and the minor #ginger rogers #ray milland #billy wilder #the rewatch rewind

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eyedelater · 2 years

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i have been reading some of the mangas i was recommended after seeking recs a little while ago (those being mangas that are life-changingly good and/or starkly bizarre). here is a little update. if you have more such recommendations, i will gladly accept them in reply to this post!

i will talk about 3 mangas in this post. there are only spoilers in this post for the third manga, which starts in the third paragraph.

i got the most recommendations for dungeon meshi. i read from the beginning and caught up with it and really enjoyed it. it is excellent. there is truly something special about dungeon meshi. i will note that "delicious in dungeon" is a stupid title translation when either "dungeon dining" or "dungeon dinner" would be smoother and more accurate. unless kui-sensei decided on that herself. but no, even then i think it's dumb. anyway the comic is really good. i don't especially have a lot to say about it, though. i'm going to reread it soon and then maybe i will compile some thoughts.

i only got one recommendation for witch hat atelier, but some of my mutuals have posted a lot about it in the recent past, so i went for that one next. this manga also has something very special about it, and it is quite good. it's just that it's a little saccharine for my taste. i really appreciate the striking main conflict of the story's world (i.e., that there are human-imposed restrictions not only on who can perform magic, but on which magic can be performed, and there are disagreements on which restrictions, if any, are actually necessary), which is both thought-provoking and not easily solvable. the worldbuilding is the strong point of the story, in my view. the magic system is intriguing and charming. but i guess i would just say… that this manga… doesn't pass the C.O.C.K. test. (3 out of 4 points; it is not Completely unhinged). but it's good! it's wonderful. and the art is amazing, of course. i can't believe shirahama-sensei signed herself up to draw those outfits over and over and over and over. speaking of which, shirahama kamome has to be a pseudonym, right? there's no way someone would actually directly be named "white beach" (shirahama) "seagull" (kamome). i'm pretty sure. also i really hate olruggio's nasty little beard and i can't get over it. sorry olruggio. also there's no good way to transliterate his name...

i got several recommendations for golden kamuy. i don't remember why i decided to take the plunge with this one, but it's worth noting that i did not remember (though i was once told) that it was historical fiction about a military guy searching for gold in hokkaido. i think i might need to start every manga without knowing a thing about it, because if i had properly understood the premise before i started reading, then i might have been turned off by my own internal prejudices. for example, i am not necessarily inclined to read historical fiction. military historical fiction in particular is actually something i actively would not care to read because i am so absolutely uninterested. and military historical fiction that doesn't have anything weird about it (like time travel or something), military historical fiction that ostensibly takes place in our real world, would strike me as the least interesting subset of the already not very appealing historical fiction genre. and realistic military historical fiction where the main character is motivated by MONEY sounds even worse to me! but because i started the comic having forgotten all that (though i knew it once), i was able to give it the benefit of the doubt. and i was greatly rewarded! because this is the life-changingly good AND starkly bizarre manga i've been looking for!!!

you see… the genre doesn't matter here… all that matters is how Completely unhinged it is!!!!! any genre can be great if it's insane enough!!!!!!! all you have to do is make everyone really messed up in different ways and have weird and stupid shit happen! i love it! and it's not just shenanigans! there's beautiful stuff and heavy stuff and strong character building and painstakingly researched everything mixed in. it's a 10 in too many categories. there's so much to take in and think about. the comic relief is so rewarding. everyone jumps when they get to the beach because that's what you do for the beach episode. i LOVE erstwhile enemies to tentative allies. i LOVE frenzied action pulling you rapidly toward a truth you're not sure you want. i LOVE alliance of opportunity growing into real friendship. i LOVE unnecessarily sexy bath scene where everyone is posing for the camera. i went into a frenzy of bewildered rage and delight when ogata did the flehmen response. what could have prepared me for that?! THERE'S TOO MUCH GOOD STUFF!!! do i have any complaints?! NO!!!!t right now. i mean i guess i can complain that i still don't care about military history. but it all always comes down to "war is hell" in the end, so you can say that i got the message. and some jokes… were taken about 25% too far. but i can overlook that as a mercy on my part.

i watched as much of the golden kamuy anime as there is, and they sure cut out a lot of stuff (usually justified). i only realized about an hour ago that a lot of the cut out parts were made into OVAs, which i'll have to watch next. the voice actors are all great for their roles (especially ogata) uhh except maybe for some of the protracted russian speech, which is not very acted. i do have to say that the OPs and EDs are very milquetoast. it's like they were designed to be skipped (and maybe they were?). if it's not clear, i think the wackiness of golden kamuy is a great strength. yet the OPs and EDs played everything completely straight and kind of framed the series as if it were first and foremost a drama. but even if it were just a drama, the openings could have been better. i can't help but compare to jujutsu kaisen, where the OPs and EDs were pretty much stellar; they were full of energy and bright and exciting and the songs were good. i was often compelled to NOT skip them. they more than did justice to JJK's story and its weak characters. [this has been my obligatory shitting on jujutsu kaisen.] for golden kamuy, it's the opposite situation. maybe it's mostly that i didn't like the songs? perfectly generic anime OP limp rock music. liiimp.

anyway i also have to give golden kamuy props for delivering me the happy ending i was DESPERATELY hoping for. my default treatment for an unknown manga is utmost distrust with respect to character death (i hate character death), and that's how i treated golden kamuy right up to the end, despite tonal indications that there would be a happy ending. it's especially worrying when there are two protagonists! i can't allow myself to vulnerably believe in my heart that they'll BOTH survive, because maybe the plot armor will only cover one of them! but noda-sensei brought me just what i wanted, and i'm so happy. golden kamuy was so good that i've decided to instantly reread it, with a closer reading this time, given that i now know how certain characters will develop (and what kind of glow-up they'll get, like with ogata. please ignore how many times i've mentioned ogata in this post.) also, i read the whole thing without really fully actually understanding how popular it has been… particularly among the fujoshi. the pixiv ship tags are heaping with bounty… though as i was reading, i'll admit i didn't have shipping on the brain too much. the momentum was pulling me along too much for me to focus on anything but canon. but, you know, the ships... i'll consider some of them.

anyway, in conclusion, the golden kamuy manga gets an A+ from me. though i don't know who i might recommend it to in my personal life because i don't know if anyone around me has the appropriate appetite for stupid dick jokes specifically. and i don't know if anyone around me has the appropriate appetite for this amount of Strange Men. golden kamuy is truly a bumper crop of Strange and Exciting Weird Horrible Men. Something is Really Wrong with All These Men.

i also want to note (this is still about golden kamuy) that Everyday Heroes scans did a fantastic job (insofar as i can tell without having seen the raws) with their scanlation and especially with their truly indispensible glossary/translation notes at the end of most chapters. i would have been absolutely shit out of luck if not for their careful explanations of cultural and ecological and historical notes carefully compiled for us clueless readers. i mean, i think they said that they got a lot of the content of the notes from reddit, but what matters is putting it together and putting it with the chapter where i can't miss it. i bet the official translation has no such notes and leaves readers as clueless as ever. and the scanlation itself was always very clean, consistent, natural, and respectful. good job EH Scans.

maybe i'll make more posts about golden kamuy in the future.

#the three mangas i talk about in this post are dungeon meshi witch hat atelier and golden kamuy. complete spoilers for golden kamuy

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disappearingmuse · 7 months

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(Spicy Eizen/Rokurou where they navigate asexuality. No warnings apply.)

Under the cut, I talk about my process for writing this little guy because I'm a nerd for that kind of stuff! There are spoilers in it, so I suggest reading the fic first before diving into it.

Wet, Crooked Colt: Using Form and Language to Convey Tone

I thought WCC would be the best test subject to get deeper into this topic since the form and language are very distinct! This is one of the weirdest things I've ever written- not because of the premise, but because of the way the story is told.

Form as a vessel for conveying tone

I think the most effective experimental styles are the ones that enhance certain aspects of the story, whether that be a theme, a character’s mindset, etc. The form I chose for WCC- formatting the dialogue like a script- ties in thematically with Rokurou (and as Rokurou soon discovers, Eizen) following a script for foreplay. The script format also has the effect of starkly separating the dialogue from the action, which exemplifies how Rokurou feels a disconnect between his words and his thoughts. Finally, it gives the story a cheeky, playful, rough-around-the edges feel, like the back-and-forth whip of sitcom dialogue.

I wasn’t completely consciously aware of these things while drafting. I stumbled on the form by accident. I originally wrote WCC with normal-looking dialogue, but the story wasn’t working. It was time to get funky.

At the time, I was reading Big Swiss by Jen Beagin, which is told partially through transcripts. Beagin executes this style expertly.

I thought, what can I do with that? How can I adapt that to WCC?

I tried it out and never looked back. I Big-Swissified Eizen and Rokurou.

I didn’t have much of a better explanation for my bizarre choice other than “this feels right for the story and I can’t imagine it any other way.” While editing, I was much more intentional with applying it so that it benefitted the story.

Apart from the dialogue, one thing that sets the form apart is the stream-of-consciousness description. (Please forgive my gratuitous sins against comma usage.) I think it works because, for the most part, Rokurou is very much in his own head instead of in the moment.

It also meant I didn't have to edit the idiosyncrasies of the drafting process out. The way I wrote the story was very stream-of-conscious; I wrote everything completely out of order. If I wanted a line, I threw it in, regardless of whether it made sense in context. Mass chaos. Fingers were going in places they didn't belong. It was one of the most freeing, lovely drafting processes I've ever had.

Language as a vessel for conveying tone

The atmosphere of WCC is awkward, off-kilter, and a little bit nasty, so I wanted to use words and descriptions that sound that way. The best example of this, I think, is the title. Finding the right title kicked my ass because nothing sounded like it fit the piece. While brainstorming, the phrase “Wet, Crooked Colt” popped in my head (the title is so obscure that you would think it came from a line, but no, it was the other way around.) I tried to resist, because it was just so weird! Who the fuck names a story that??

Me. I do.

The title’s symbolism was immediately apparent to me: they’re still figuring each other out, and they’re figuring their relationships to sex out, and things are disjointed like a newborn horse with its wacky new legs covered in afterbirth. (Fun fact that I realized while writing this: this isn’t the first time I’ve used afterbirth/birth imagery with Eizen and Rokurou. See my other work “Liminality.” This was NOT intentional, and no, I don’t know what my subconscious is doing.)

Here are some more lines and moments that aid the tone (whether they're awkward, off-kilter, nasty, or all of the above):

“They clasped hands as if shaking on a dull business contract.”

“...pour the words down Rokurou’s throat so they turned into more digestible bits, got ground into formless bile.”

There’s a motif of putting clothes back on, which reflects a reluctance towards sex. Eizen tightens the drawstring on Rokurou’s pants instead of taking them off, and in the end, they put each other’s clothes back on.

I can nerd out on this stuff for ages, but I’ll close off here. TL;DR read Soggy Pony

#writing process #tales of berseria #eiroku #amwriting

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pinketine · 1 year

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Kiki my darling dear can you please explain to me the premise of. Whatever the fruity men with wild ass names is because I am going insane /silly lighthearted.

The premise of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure?

Oh boy

The explanation is going under this cut because of how long winded this will be

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is an anime series focused on a family, and their bizarre adventures, shocker. There are 9 parts, each focusing on a different member of the family, all of whom can be referred to by the nickname of JoJo. Part 9, JoJolands, has very recently just released its first chapter.

JoJo is welll known for being over the top, especially in the anime with the constant colour palette changes, ridiculous character designs and poses. And yeah, it does end up being extremely gay. This is evident in the often homoerotic dynamics the JoJo has with their "JoBro"

There's also a LOT of musical references, especially with Part 4 onwards.

Parts 1-6 follow one universe, with part 6 being reset by its main villain, causing a new universe. CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, this new reset universe is not parts 7-9. They are 2 separate stories about two separate Joestar families. The first 6 parts are this:

Part 1, Phantom Blood, is Jonathan Joestar, a young man in early 1900s England, who is the adopted brother of Dio Brando. Dio is evil as shit as a child, seemingly mellows out, until the pair of them are both about 19 or so, when it's revealed that Dio is still a power and money hungry little shit. He turns into a vampire and the part then becomes about killing him.

Part 2, Battle Tendency, is Joseph Joestar, Jonathan's 19 year old Looney Toon character (not even a joke, he deadass quotes Looney Toons) grandson, and starts in 1940s America before moving to Italy. He and his friend/JoBro Caesar Zeppeli are tasked with having to fight ancient Aztec Gods, the Pillar Men (yes, really).

Part 3, Stardust Crusaders, is Jotaro Kujo, Joseph's 17 year old deliquent grandson, as he, Joseph, Noriaki Kakyoin (the JoBro!), Jean Pierre Polnareff and Muhammed Avdol go on a 50 day cross contiental trip to Egypt to fight Dio in the late 80s. Yes, the same Dio. He's a vampire, ya know?

Part 4, Diamond is Unbreakable, is Josuke Higashikata (the kanji for the suke in his name can also be read as jo), Joseph's illegtimate 16 year old son in the summer of 1999 in Japan. He and his friends track down their local town serial killer, Yoshikage Kira, 33 years old, lives in the North East section where all the villas are-

Part 5, Vento Aureo, is Giorno Giovanna (Yes it's pronounced JoJo), the illegtimate son of Dio and Jonathan Joestar (it's GENUINELY not what it sounds like.) in 2001 Italy. He and his band of friends all named after Italian foods go on an adventure to kill the leader of the Italian mafia, Diavolo/Doppio Vinegar, in order to stop drugs being sold to kids.

Part 6, Stone Ocean, is Jolyne Kujo, the 19 year old deliquent daughter of Jotaro, and takes place in 2011 Florida. She and her friends break out of prison, save Jotaro and stop Pucci, a priest and follower of Dio, YES THIS GUY AGAIN, from resetting the world.

Those are the first 6 parts, and the first 6 JoJos. We then leave this universe, and join a completely new one. Important side note: Stands are only introduce in Part 3, with Parts 1-2 having this type of magical breathing named Hamon!

Part 7, Steel Ball Run, is Johnny Joestar, who is this universe's Jonathan, in 1890s USA. In order to regain mobility, he partners up with JoBro Gyro Zeppeli in order to win the Steel Ball Run horse race to learn the Spin and collect the corpse parts of Jesus Christ. He ends up having to kill the US President, Funny Valentine.

Part 8, JoJolion, is Josuke Higashikata, nicknamed Gappy, who is clearly this universe's Josuke in 2011 Japan. I never read JoJolion, so I'm not too familiar with the plot, but I do know that Gappy is actually two men. Like. He's a Steven Universe fusion of Yoshikage Kira and Josefumi Kujo. I'm not shitting you.

And now, we have the newly released Part 9, JoJolion! This is 15 year old Jodio Joestar, and we don't know much of the plot yet due to us having only one chapter. He seems to be this universe's Giorno, but maybe not a son of Diego Brando was ran over by a train. Apparently, it's the story of how he got rich. Right now, he's a drug dealer who was born in New Jersey and now lives in Hawaii in the present day with his sister (IDON'TCAREWHATARAKISAYSSHEISATRANSWOMAN) Dragona Joestar and his mother.

Something interesting to note is that the 7-9 JoJos are very much unlike their counterparts. Jonathan is a gentlemen, Johnny is a pretty selfish cold blooded killer. Josuke is a sweet kid, Gappy kills without remorse. Giorno resents drug dealers, Jodio is one.

So that's the premise for each part! I could go even more indepth, but I think this gets the point across. JoJo's premise is that it's a bunch of bizarre stories 2 families go through.

Anyways, part 3 is my favourite and my favourite character is Kakyoin ^-^ but my favourite JoJo is Johnny

#YOU ASKED FOR IT #winterly!!!#505 radio #also fun fact!#kika is my actual nickname #but i thought it'd be too hard to say right for english speakers #and i was inspired by jojo to anglicise it to kiki!#jjba

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dreamnotnapss · 1 year

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i need a long and time-consuming dnn fic, any recs?

oh absolutely anon! buckle up, there's a few

on the mountain trail is one of my favorite fics. it's 34k words of a trucker au where truckers Dream and Sapnap take up George and i KNOW it sounds bizarre but the characterizations and conflicts are so beautifully crafted and described. i love it sm

George is a Brat, ouch is a series amounting to 111k words. it's VERY not sfw, but, like the last one, the conflicts are so beautifully crafted. also the smut is delicious so take that as you will lol

Feelings bouquet is such a cute and wholesome fic. it's 43k words of a college au where the three are assigned as roommates and meet each other for the first time :') it's so cute

Ideal Illusion is another not sfw work. it's not completed and i'm not sure it will be (began november 2020, last updated february 2022), but it's 56k words and i remember enjoying what it had. the premise is that Dream found he enjoyed reading not sfw fics about him, George, and Sapnap a little too much, and now he doesn't know if his desires are strictly fictional

Concept of Joy is a very lovely magic/royalty au with prince!George, knight!Dream, and knight!Sapnap. it's also not completed, but i VERY MUCH enjoyed what it had to offer, and it might be updated again? (last updated august 2022). until then, there's 51k words of lovely content to consume :]

Familiarity Breeds Contempt is a fic i haven't read, but i've heard it's really good! it isn't completed but it's currently being worked on (last updated december 2022) with 42k words already. the premise is that established relationship Sapnap and George hate each other as much as they love each other, and Dream gets roped into their mess. it's not sfw

Home is a fic i haven't read yet, but i have it tagged as "to read" and "interesting" in my fic tracker so i'm very intrigued with what it has to offer :) it's a 59k word magic au where lonely George stumbles upon Dream and Sapnap's magic shop

Jigsaw Puzzle is another fic i haven't read yet, but i also have tagged as "to read" and "interesting" in my fic tracker hehe. it's a 40k word fic about George coming to florida and Sapnap being convinced that George and Dream are gonna start dating and leave him in the dust :]

#dnn #hope those match what you're looking for!#order up #🍟

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agwic · 2 years

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I bingewatched centaurworld instead of doing my finals a couple days ago because I'd heard it mentioned a few times and thought it sounded bizarre enough to be ineteresting, but it really isn't, and I'm going to put that lack of interest into words now because I finally figured out how. and like, I now have a place to shout opinions into the world, so I guess I'm gonna shout this opinion here.

so, firstly, while it isn't nearly as interesting as it feels like it should be, I didn't dislike centaurworld, and I don't regret watching it(well I do regret watching it instead of doing my finals but that's more due to wishing I had done my finals), it just felt oddly underwhelming given the premise. but like, if I had to give it a score, it would be like 7.5/10, so it isn't like I'm saying it's terrible. also the music is good and I have no complaints on that front.

so, I think the root of my issues with centaurworld is that it's trying to be three different things, all of which it half-asses. the most obvious of these, and what I think is the intended purpose of the show, is to juxtapose the incredibly childish centaurworld with an incredibly serious fantasy plotline and characters for comedy and horror. the second thing it tries to be is a typical colorful child-friendly show trying to teach important lessons about life with simple zany characters. this is separate from the whole juxtaposition thing, since there are a number of times where the show plays the characters from centaurworld(besides wammawink, she's an honorary humanworld character) completely straight, which never works and just wastes large amounts of time. zulius, ched, glendale, and derpleton are not actually that interesting playing off each other and wammawink. and yet, the show insists on trying to treat these dynamics like they're important and interesting. but like, that isn't compatible with the fact that zulius and glendale are completely joke characters, which if played seriously either come across as awful people, make no sense, or both. so any episode that tries to treat them as anything but background characters or antagonists will just be weak. ched, meanwhile, doesn't even manage to be a joke character correctly, considering that his only trait is "is racist against horse" and then on at least five separate occasions the show has him learn not to be racist against horse, none of which stick, because he has literally no reason to exist if he isn't racist against horse. also like him being racist against horse isn't a particularly funny joke, and the issue isn't that racism isn't funny, it's that "character 1 is mean to character 2 for no reason" is simply not funny. lastly there's derpleton, who doesn't have a character in season 1, and then inexplicably becomes vaguely acceptable as a mirror to wammawink in season 2, which wasn't necessary because I'm not here to learn about family or whatever, I'm here to watch the juxtaposition of the centaurworld characters and the serious fantasy stuff. speaking of the serious fantasy stuff, centaurworld tries to play that straight too. which, in my opinion, is more excusable since if you didn't try to play it straight, it wouldn't feel all that serious, so the juxtaposition wouldn't be that interesting. however, the show somehow puts the fantasy plotline above the juxtaposition. like, for example, they don't cut down on the childish comedy in the serious fantasy sections, there's still jokes and stuff, which does help the scenes flow better, but that's the opposite of what you want! you want it to be jarring! that's like the entire point! like, they put a lot of effort into making sure the fantasy plotline flows into centaurworld, forgetting that it shouldn't flow smoothly, it should be jarring! this is also why wammawink is an issue! in theory, a good character is a good thing. however, what they seem to be trying to go for is that everyone in centaurworld is kinda a joke character, but wammawink is just a complete character that wouldn't feel out of place in the human world if she weren't a pink llama centaur. and this would be good if centaurworld was primarily a show about character drama, which it sometimes feels like it's supposed to be, since that's the part it does best, but that's not what I'm here for! so many shows do character drama better! I'm here for the juxtaposition.

okay lemme use a metaphor. centaur world is like juxtaposing contrasting colors. when doing so, you typically want to have a sharp dividing line between them to make the contrast nicer. and centaurworld is like if for some reason you made a gradient between purple and yellow to make it flow better, actually making the juxtaposition worse.

this rant feels half-incoherent but I already wrote it so out into the world it goes I guess.

#centaurworld

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cassandrajoybellbittner · 2 months

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Taken - Blue Moon Series - Chapter 7b

*Warning Adult Content*

Lakota Bateman

"How about lunch, are you hungry?"

As we sat down Connor handed me the menu.

"Pick whatever you want," I took the plastic paper in my hands but I just stared at it.

We sat silently for a moment when suddenly there was a scrap of chairs at our table.

Looking up I saw Gale and Cyrus making themselves comfortable.

"How did you find us...?" Connor started to say but Cyrus interrupted.

"Just followed my mates scent," Cyrus said stiffly gazing into my eyes intently.

I blushed looking back down at the menu.

"My brother over heard that the two of you were taking him. I'm surprised you two didn't inform us that you were going to take him for the day."

He motioned behind him where his brother Nicholas standing outside, his back against the window.

"Well I didn't know we had to," Connor bite back.

"I don't know how you wolves are with your mates but a vampire would like to know where our other half is when they are taken off the premises without a word."

"You sound like an old time movie," Cyrus scoffed lounging back in his chair.

Gale only gave him a slight glance before focusing back on Connor.

"We are his family... we have every right to take him with us."

"I don't mind him being with family... I just would have liked to know that he was leaving the house, is all."

"I agree," Cyrus voiced suddenly.

I saw a small smirk rise on Gale's face before it was gone.

Sighing I looked back at the menu.

Connor frowned at me tilting his head and Teagan just sat with a straight face acting completely indifferent towards what was going on around him.

"What is it?" Connor asked.

"Would you like for them to leave you alone today?"

"What would you suggest?" I muttered placing the menu down on the table.

"Huh?" he frowned.

"For lunch?" I asked.

"Oh, uh... maybe the chicken fettuccini Alfredo... it sounds pretty good," Connor said looking up from his menu.

"Okay... I'll have that then."

I pushed the plastic menu away from me when someone came up to our table.

"What can I get you this evening?" the waiter asked looking at all of us.

Connor sprouted off a bunch of things as the person wrote it all down.

"Water," Cyrus said while Gale shook his head.

"Very good. I'll be back with your waters in just a moment."

The waiter said before he left.

It was then when I noticed an interesting scent... it was almost like a spring rain falling on a bed of flowers.

It engulfed the whole room and completely intoxicated my senses and I found myself feeling light headed as I leant towards the smell.

"Lakota?" I heard Gale say causing my eyes to snap open.

I was leaning over the table in their direction... Cyrus was giving me a penetrating stare... his bright blue eyes intense.

While Gale's brown eyes watched me with a frown.

"Are you okay?" Cyrus asked.

"Y-yeah," I cleared my throat sitting back up straight.

"Here's your water," the waiter came back placing water on the table.

"I'll be back with your food shortly."

The moment the food arrived it gave us all a reason not to talk.

I knew that I was acting weird around both of them but today was supposed to be a break from all this, a day to forget and maybe get a new look on the whole thing but with them here it was an ever pressing situation that demanded an answer.

I knew I would accept them... it was impossible not to but it was the process of them accepting each other.

I've said it before that it was not normal for a wolf to have more than one mate and to have two was bizarre but with another species altogether... So it was all up to me to decide without any help or advice from others with experience.

I placed another fork full of delicious creamy noodles up to my mouth when someone's cell-phone rang.

Glancing up I saw Cyrus reaching into his jacket.

The creamy cheesy taste of the sauce exploded on my tongue and I had to prevent myself from moaning out loud.

"Okay," Cyrus's deep voice sounded at the table.

"We have to go back," he said suddenly looking towards me and Gale.

"Wait, Lakota is with us today."

Connor frowned placing his utensil down.

"I get it but that was the Head Elder," Cyrus said tilting his phone in his hands and Connor closed his mouth unable to argue.

"Right, well. Let's go then," Gale said standing up and reaching a hand over towards me.

I frowned with my fork sticking out of my mouth.

He took hold of my hand... pulling me to my feet but all I could do was look at my plate longingly as he hauled me away.

Cyrus quickly swooped up my food and walked out of the restaurant.

Sitting in the car next to me Cyrus handed me the plate back.

"Here I know you're hungry."

Blushing I took the fork out of my mouth and stuck it in my pasta.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"It's about time I saw you put something in that mouth of yours," Gale spoke from the front seat of his car.

"Excuse me?" Cyrus questioned as dark look crossed his face.

"It's just, when he was at my home he refused to eat anything. I was afraid he was trying to starve himself."

I closed my eyes in dread as I could just feel Cyrus's eyes on me.

"Is this true?"

I started to swirl my fork around and around refusing to look up at him.

"Lakota?"

"Yes, it's true," I murmured.

The feel of his rough warm hand found its way in my hair, caressing the strands caused me to look up.

"Why would you do that to yourself? Did you not think I would find you?" there was hurt in his voice.

I shook my head.

"It had nothing to do with that. It was just that I am tired of captivity. I would have rather died then be imprisoned ever again."

"Oh Lakota."

He wrapped his arm around my head and pulled me close to lean against his chest.

The car was silent as we drove back to the pack house.

Gale sat very still and Nicholas who sat in the passenger's seat just quietly looked out the window.

********

We pulled up to the pack house to see the Head Elder standing with the Sky Ravens Alpha, Jim and Elijah on the porch.

"What's wrong?" Cyrus asked helping me out of the car as I held my plate close to me.

"We may have a way to find your parent's pack," Heath said looked from me to Teagan, who was standing a few feet away from me.

"And why are you telling us and not finding them yourself?" Gale voice staring at his dad.

"Because it has to be done by your mate and his brother."

"What's that mean?" Connor asked frowning.

Alpha Avery stepped forward towards his son.

"There is a creature that can find anything and anyone."

"That's great," Gale exclaimed.

"Yeah but it has its drawbacks."

"Like?" Cyrus asked.

"Well we can't go because you have to have the blood or DNA of those who you wish to find," Heath added.

I felt the groups behind me freeze.

"That would mean that the only ones who can go are Teagan and Lakota," Connor said.

"Correct, they are the only ones who can deal with them," Jim added.

"So does that mean we have to stay behind?" Cyrus growled behind me as he closed the small gap between us.

His heat surrounded me all of a sudden.

"No, the three of us have to stay because we cannot afford to leave our positions at this time. We just declared war on a rogue pack. The word will spread and we could be under attack in a short time but we need you six to go," Elijah voiced his opinion.

"If you think that they will come to attack what's the point in finding this mysterious person," Gale said.

"Because who knows how long it will take for the word to spread that far and for them to take action," Heath responded.

"So where can we find this person?" he asked.

"We will give you all the information tonight."

"Because that's when you're leaving," Alpha Avery announced.

Murmurs of agreement swept the group, it seemed everyone was okay with going out on a mysterious trip to who knows where to find who knows what...

"Who or what are we tracking if you don't mind me asking?" I asked voicing my thoughts.

There was a paused before Heath finally spoke.

"The Seer," his voice dripping in disgusted.

There was a collective gasped behind me and two subtle growl to follow.

Which left Connor, Teagan and I all frowning in confusion.

What the hell was a Seer?

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