#btb verse ask

[okamirayne]

Rayne, last episode was awesome!! Just here to remind you that your work is loved by everyone! Shipps in fandom tend to have a person, yk, that internet usser that opens people's eyes and teaches them about a rarepair like its a master class. For me, you are that person. 💗💗 You've done a lot for the shikaneji community, I don't know a single person that ships them and doesn't know about you! You kinda inspired me to learn english years ago because I'd just straight up translate everything with the google translator extension 😂 It's been years since then, and now I read the btb series comfortably in its native language. And there's where I have to ask you something: To celebrate the new HHU's chapter, I'm rereading the whole BtB series. I'm currently in Requiem, but something it's been in my head making noise enough for me to come here and ask you! In Break to Breath, chapter 28, I think they're in Hanegakure and the boys did what hot traumatized boys do... However they're woken up next morning and it is said that Sikamaru tied up his hair with Neji's tie, what Neji did with his hair wasn't mentioned so I always thought that they used each other's ties from then on... Until the very end. Because during the war, Neji isn't using a hairtie, maybe he didn't want to lose it and he save it along Shikamaru's note.

It's never explicitly stated that they got their hairties back, so my favorite headcanon (having people creating headcanons over your fanfic? ur the GOAT) about BtB has allways been that Shikamaru didn't give Neji his hair tie back, and viceversa.

Like when you have a partner in real life and, well, you cannot make a public statement about being together o maybe you cannot see them everyday, so (if you have long hair) you give them your hair tie for them to use in their wrist or properly in their head.

To summarize, what are your thoughts on this? 👀

It's been a while since I last reread the series, so I don't remember this fact being brought up again, at least it wasn't ever mentioned again in Btb nor OtC. Hair ties are mentioned again, but not this. So I live in delulu and imagine them playing with the hairties when they feel lonely/sad. However if it indeed was, then I'm blind and I'm reallyyyy sorry you had to read this 😭

Again, I sincerely love you and the works put online, they're masterpieces and, knowing about the author's block you suffered these years, I hope you're not pressuring yourself on writing! I think we will always wait for you, wheter its BtB universe or your original works 💗

English it's not my first language so I'm sorry if you encouter trouble reading this! xoxo

Sweet Anon 💗💗

Please forgive me if I struggle to find the right words - always a challenge when I am hit so hard by the mega-feels that I'm reduced to a puddle of pure emotion...

There is so much I am thankful for in your beautiful message. The reassurance and kindness of welcoming me back onto the writing stage after such a crippling absence. The sweetness of your incredibly high praise and regard for my work, and the intense combination of humbleness and amazement, learning that you came into the BtB story via Google Translator and took a chance on a fic not in your native language. THANK YOU, for giving my mad story that opportunity, time, investment, and love. I am so touched that the fic gave you traction regarding learning English and that you can enjoy the fic in his native language. Thank you for crossing that language barrier to read my work...again, I'll never not be humbled by that...💗

Thank You for Every Single Word of Kindness and for the monumental love and support your message has contained. I'm so, so touched and so very thankful 💜❤️‍🩹🙏🏼

To celebrate the new HHU's chapter, I'm rereading the whole BtB series.

Aww! I sincerely hope you enjoy the ride once again, sweetie. 🙏🏼

Regarding your question about the hair ties!

[...]...and it is said that Sikamaru tied up his hair with Neji's tie, what Neji did with his hair wasn't mentioned so I always thought that they used each other's ties from then on... Until the very end. Because during the war, Neji isn't using a hairtie, maybe he didn't want to lose it and he save it along Shikamaru's note. [..] It's never explicitly stated that they got their hairties back, so my favorite headcanon (having people creating headcanons over your fanfic? ur the GOAT) about BtB has allways been that Shikamaru didn't give Neji his hair tie back, and viceversa.

Oh I do love where your headcanon has gone.

To summarize, what are your thoughts on this?

I can confidently say, it's a yes. Insofar as Neji allowing Shikamaru to keep his tie when Shikamaru's goes pinging off into the bowels of whatever place they're ravaging each other in...although, I won't lie and say there aren't a few instances where one or the other fight over the last hair tie...

Of course, said fight for the almighty hair tie is always instigated by Shikamaru absolutely refusing to be caught with his hair down, whereas Neji doesn't particularly care, unless he needs it tied back for practical reasons, in which case...may the best genius win. Good luck. 😂

So I live in delulu and imagine them playing with the hairties when they feel lonely/sad. However if it indeed was, then I'm blind and I'm reallyyyy sorry you had to read this 😭

OMG don't apologise! I loved reading this 💗. I'm so happy your mind plays in the BtB madness and again, there's truth to the hair tie sharing (Neji doing the sharing lol and Shikamaru the stealing)

Again, I sincerely love you and the works put online, they're masterpieces and, knowing about the author's block you suffered these years, I hope you're not pressuring yourself on writing! I think we will always wait for you, wheter its BtB universe or your original works 💗

I love and appreciate you in return, dear Anon. BtB would not have happened - would not STILL be happening, if not for the kindness of readers reaching out to share their thoughts, feelings, feedback etc. on the work. You make it possible for me to do it. And for all the words I could ever hope to possess, none of them will ever adequately describe or encompass the enormity of the gratitude, joy, healing, and love I feel hearing from you. 🥰

I honest to gods have no words when it comes to my Original Works and your interest in them...I am just an utterly melted heart, spilling all over the floor of emotion at this point....and I thank you for that beautiful mess and the peace, joy, inspiration, motivation, and reassurance it grants me...bless you, sweetheart. 🫶🏼

Thank you also for your compassion towards my burnout and for the reminder to not pressure myself. Coming with so much sincere love and support, it soothes that awful workaholic and over-thinking streak that has my brain on non-stop and constant insomniac spin. The simultaneous stillness and sky-high floaty feeling I get from your message is a beautiful little cocktail that chills me the hell out when I need it most...and I needed it today, whilst eyeing Chapter 9. 😉😅

English it's not my first language so I'm sorry if you encouter trouble reading this! xoxo

Holy heck, are you kidding me? *bows down in respect* If I tried to write in another language, I would butcher it so hard there'd be no recovering at all. You are fluent, my lovely - coherent and awesome. The only trouble I encountered reading your message was trying to keep my heart from detonating in my chest from the overload of feelings. 💜💜 I thank you for that. It beats the hella insane nerves that eat at me as I return to writing. There's so much heart and healing to be found in this message that I'm sincerely at a loss now....thank you, so, so much.

Huge, HUGE love coming at you from all sides, sweetheart. 🥰

#i'm not crying you are #thank you sweet anon #btb reader kindness #ugh my heart #btb readers #awesome readers are awesome #love and appreciate my readers so damn much #the feels #so much love #btb ask #Shikamaru neji ask #hair tie ask #btb verse ask #anon btb ask

[bgtop]

💀 — " You don't want to do this, you don't want to air jail me. Babygirl, Big Cat, listen ... Listen, listen! " [ his hands are outstretched as if to say something GAME-CHANGING, but ... he has nothing to say. he did the crime. ]

it's too late now, the deed's already been done. if he didn't want air jail, he shouldn't have let steve walk around all day with kissy stamps without telling him !

cesare knows what he did ! and that can only mean …

" aaaand up you go ! " he plucked him from the ground by his collar with ease, holding him inches above the ground like an angry kitten.

#just imagine the btb 'bloop' noise when he picked him up #ASK. #z0mburger #i really gotta make verse tags one day rip #V. IN YOUR HEART !

[teacup-tai]

Tai Recs: Crazy Looong Fics

My best friends used to have a running joke about my fanfic reading habits, saying that "Tai wouldn't touch anything shorter than 50k". Let's say they were not far from wrong. xD #facepalm

I am a sucker for really long stories. How writers provide us with a crazy amount of world building and character's development/study, and all kinds of mix of Slow Burn, Scorching UST, Brilliant Case fics, Political Plots, Adventure, Action, Beautiful Slice of Life & etc!

I devote my whole heart, gratitude and appreciation to all the Monster Writers, for such incredible long rides, for your time, hard work and for sharing this huge gifts with us!

Welcome to the: Crazy Long Fics 'Rec List! (>300k)

Drarry Favourites

TURN by Saras_girl (E, 306k)

One good turn always deserves another. Apparently.

A classic. No one in the Drarry fandom can go without having read, or attempted to read, Turn. The kind of fic that make you question your life and decisions. The kind of fic that don't let you go untouched.

Twist of Fate by Oakstone730 (T, 302k)

Draco asks Harry to help him beat the Imperius curse during 4th year. The lessons turn into more than either expected. A story of redemption and forgiveness.

ToF is another huge Drarry classic. It goes without saying that it will grab you and not let you leave without finishing. The angst is brilliant, the canon rewrite magnificent. A must read.

Foundations !verse (Series) by Saras_girl (E, 364k)

Harry is about to discover that the steepest learning curve comes after Healer training, and that second chances can be found in unexpected places.

This series is composed by 2 main fics (Reparations (87k) and Foundations (236k)) and 11 adjacent oneshots. Healer Harry wasn't something that I knew I needed until I read this. I learned so much with this universe; about being human, about learning from one's patients, about working with people. Reparations is my fave Saras_girl fic.

The Secret Language of Plants (Series) by @llendrinall (373k)

“Just… tell me. Tell me what is going on, Snape.”

What was going on was that Severus Snape had no trouble tracking down one Petunia Evans, now Dursley, to a little town in Surrey where he saw how exactly she was treating her nephew. Which somehow led to last night and Severus knocking on Lupin’s door with a toddler half-asleep in his arms.

This amazing series is composed by 4 parts, and it starts with Snape and Remus stealing and raising Harry, while falling in love with each other. It's bloody amazing how Endrina retells the story with such a nice canon rewrite, and gives us Drarry with such a nice twist <3

Tales From the Special Branch (Series) by @femmequixotic (E, 1.214k)

When Gawain Robards asks him to form Special Branch seven-four-alpha, Harry Potter knows they'll have to work outside the confines of the law--even though they are the law.

This is one of the most intertwined and interesting Drarry plots I've ever read. The amount of world-building in this 5 amazing fics is insane, the backstories to all the characters are impressive, how everything connects in such perfect way is amazing, how the plot thickens is breathtaking and the sex- lol hotter than firewhiskey. A mix of Action-politics-scorching hot smut-Slytherins being aurors-Harry Potter being a hot mess. (warning: WIP. ;_;)

Next in my to-read list:

Hush of War by @lol-zeitgeistic (E, 453k)

Conscience by sordidhumor (E, 1,450k)

Blood Magic by houseofhebrideanblacks & Thestralsofspinnersend (E, 335k)

My Favourites Outside HP fandom

I'm adding 2 non-HP series, bc I honestly think it is such a loss that there are folks in the world who never read it, so here, have at it:

Death Note (L/Light)

Those Who Stand For Nothing Falls For Anything - The Hinterland Doctrine Series by @halfpromise (E, 676k). 4 fics, WIP.

Light is a politician. What could go wrong?

Look at me: this is THE BEST POLITICS AU FIC I'VE EVER READ IN MY WHOLE LIFE. This is crazy long, crazy intense, it has a very very dark sense of humour, a very narcissistic and unreliable first narrator (Light) and it is such a toxic relationship. It's a utter delight to appreciate how Laura put it so well together, this is a literary recommendation for those with a strong stomach. Check the tags. (I've read it twice)

Naruto (Neji/Shikamaru | multiship)

Break to Breathe (Series) by @okamirayne (E, 1.240k). ffnet | AO3

Neji has always been in control. There's just one problem. It's killing him - and only Shikamaru can tell. But sometimes being pulled back from the edge is just as dangerous as being pushed there.

If you like Naruto and deep psychological plots, you should read this masterpiece. BtB is one of the biggest loves of my life. It should be published in a big editing house! xD Ninjas gone deep and real and raw and in love! This is a monsterfuck rollercoaster wrapped up in 4 books (1.240k). Rayne does a really good job in delving her fingers in the characters and making them hers but never making them OOC. Now my favourite Monster Writer is back and giving us a bit more of deep angsty-post-war-vibes <3

#drarry fic rec #drarry rec list #tai recs #drarry #drarry long fics #draco x harry #saras girl #tales from the special branch #turn #twist of fate #break to breathe #okami rayne #those who stand for nothing fall for anything #halfpromise #the secret language of plants #endrina #harry potter #draco malfoy #hyuga neji #nara shikamaru #shikanejishika #nejishika #death nothe #lightlawliet #lawlight #l/light #light x l #yagami light #l lawliet #lawlight fic rec

[spikeymarshmallows]

hello, hi.

I am trapped in a hotel room for two weeks. Yes, I have a lot to do. No, I wanna do this instead.

Here are the rules: post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. send me an ask with the title that most intrigues you and interests you and i’ll post a little snippet of it or tell you something about it!

So. I have ONE OR TWO WIPs............. >.>

the end of the beginning

Shibari Baby

boots ‘verse - Getting a place together

boots ‘verse - Drop

boots ‘verse - Safewording gone wrong

Museum ‘verse - Sex post OD

Museum ‘verse - Klaus Graduates

Museum ‘verse - First Major Job

Museum ‘verse - Vanya’s book

Museum ‘verse - New home

Museum ‘verse - The Wedding

Museum ‘verse - Post-Apocalypse

Museum ‘verse - Five Times Christmas

BTB - Morbid Plot

BTB- Animal Killing

Genderbent AU - Straight Razor

High School AU

Other High School AU

Kluther

Asylum Kliego

Kliego go to past Together

Reuniting in S2

Ace Klaus

Ace Five A/B/O Diego

Extra Ordinary (Klaus ‘version)

Sex worker Klaus

Hogwarts AU

Angels and Demons

#meme #spikey writes #kliego

[minatsuki-on-main]

BTB background info masterpost #2 (RIS-related characters)

As a followup to this post about general lore, I’ll deal with info and trivia on characters from the non-supernatural side of the story here. Note that, again, 1) I’m not making a summary of the plot 2) this is mostly random notes and trivia, there might be more information on the wiki (which, however, I can’t verify, so I won’t mix it in with mine). There are a few characters that we don’t know much about other than a general idea of their personality through their participation in the plot, so some notes here aren’t detailed but I’m open to suggestions if backed up.

Contents:

Info about RIS members and people (more) related to them

Keith Kazama Flick

Investigator at RIS

Nicknamed ‘Genie’ (=genius in German)

Takes on the role of Canopus in regards to the prophecy (a position previously occupied by Heath Kazama Flick)

Deciphered the Jetblack Epitaph at age 12

Well-versed in mathematics, physics, cryptography and biology (more specifically genetics)

Son of Heath Kazama Flick

Has spent a portion of his childhood at Jaula Blanca living with his father

Had an adoptive sister named Erika

Went to university with her and Gilbert

Was already working at RIS when Erika got assassinated (see: post #1)

Abducted Dead Kyle (Erika’s supposed killer) from the hospital and tortured him

Was exiled to the Archives Division of RIS for 7-8 years as punishment for the Dead Kyle incident

Returned to the Coastal Branch afterwards (at the beginning of the anime, on the anniversary of Erika’s death)

Age unspecified but should be around his forties (is inflexible, has bad stamina

Owns a notebook inherited from his father that contains notes about the resurrected gods, some pages of which are in Koku’s possession

Knows basic survival skills like fishing

His hobby is cooking, especially Gumbo with shrimp, which seems to be his favourite dish

Drives dangerously

His favourite singer in university was Kate Bush

Sometimes inattentive to his surroundings (his documents are expired, doesn’t hesitate to ruin a digital blackboard by drawing schemes for the current murder case)

Doesn’t understand the mindset that leads to murder and considers it an illogical act

Has been suspecting Gilbert ever since Erika was killed but didn’t come forward about it to anyone without solid proof (perhaps out of residue affection towards him)

Could have had a pseudo-incestuous relationship with Erika; however, this is only strongly hinted and never explicitly stated

Lily Hoshina

Investigator at RIS

Around 25

Shorter than 160cm (5′3)

Asian

Left-handed

Holds resemblance physically and in character with Erika Flick

Lives with her father, brother and adoptive brother, Koku

Equal intellectual capabilities to Keith’s but more on the intuitive side

Enjoys food a lot, especially pastries and Zeppole di San Giuseppe in particular

Likes techno music (in which she differs from Erika)

Lively and tends to be snappish when indignated

Extremely persistent

Has some knowledge of astronomy (from a high school ‘sweetheart’)

Kaela Yoshinaga

In charge of informatics, programming and security systems at RIS

Very aggressive when angry

Excellent hacker

Likes drinking

Has a taste for cars (especially Hummers)

Wears an earring in one ear

Dislikes people who complain about society

Has a bit of a morbid fascination for RIS’s murder cases and actually likes being involved in them

Mario Luis Zurita

Work is more centered around direct action than brainwork

Holds the police in high regard

Strong sense of justice

Thinks solving cases one at a time is more productive than focusing too much on the big picture

Brian Brandon

Seen doing online research for the cases

Has a bit of an anxious personality (which also makes him perceptive to the RIS being spied)

Well-versed in cryptography (communicated a message to Keith through the watch)

Boris Meyer

Branch leader at RIS

Oldest member

Knows most things about Keith’s past and sometimes tends to spill them (especially to Lily)

Guards Keith’s gun that can shoot blue steel bullets (Keith asks him to bring it before the Heian-Jin fight)

Struggles with technology and texting

Jean Henri Richard

Long-time RIS member since before Erika’s murder

Undercover Market Maker agent

Has been brainwashed by Minatsuki

Generally well-liked among the team

Likely of French origin (uses his name with the French pronunciation)

Eric Toga

Higher position in RIS comparing to the younger ones, also a long-time member

Has a lot of respect for Keith and claims to have learned everything from him

Tends to be strict but has a habit of snapping when particularly angry or drunk

He was the one who had to arrest Keith for the Dead Kyle incident

Had a plan of his own of kidnapping Dead Kyle but Keith anticipated him due to lack of communication; this event made him value teamwork in the future

Seems to have both connections and good knowledge of informatics (he can get satellites moved on request within a few seconds)

Has a nail-biting habit

Gilbert Ross

Forensic doctor at RIS

Has the prophecy role and codename ‘Regulus’

Keith’s close friend since boarding school who he also went to university with

Has Impulse Control Disorder and a possible additional Dissociative Personality Disorder that functions as a coping mechanism for the former (later post on this to be expected)

Serial murderer due to an innate necessity to kill and a lack of control over it

Son of Alberto Puzo, Jaula Blanca CEO, who was his first victim (Gilbert claims his motivation was his father’s ‘softened attitude towards research’)

Used to have romantic feelings for Erika Flick (whether they’ve been in a relationship at one point is unspecified)

Murdered Erika because she ‘fell in love with the wrong man’ in his words

Has always known about the existence of reggies (possibly through his father)

Proposed and led the attack on Jaula Blanca to retrieve Minatsuki

In close cooperation with Market Maker and reggies, coordinating the organization along with Minatsuki whom he has kept under psychological manipulation since childhood

Covered up his murders by swapping places with reggies before being discovered

Has an underground facility where he commits his crimes underneath the RIS’s building which costs around tens of millions to maintain

Preserves his victims’ corpses through embalming

Most of his actions had the goal of setting up a puzzle for Keith and getting him to commit murder by killing him

Utilized Minatsuki’s brainwashing ability for various ends, among which communicating his messages to Keith and conditioning reggies to confess to his murders in his stead (which he also did with Dead Kyle)

Often hallucinates Erika

He considers murder to be the core of his personality to the point where he gets emotionally hurt upon Keith telling him he doesn’t understand it

Most of his victims are young women similar to Erika (which brings him to target Lily)

Enjoys making video recordings of significant events of his life and rewatching them

Has a strict daily routine which makes him an undetectable criminal

His separate personalities were created to cope and erase the guilt after each murder

Heavy smoker and coffee-drinker (possible reference to the comorbidity between ICD and substance abuse)

Tends to have breakdowns and temper tantrums when things don’t go his way

He’s reminded of Erika by the snow

His favourite band was Blue Öyster Cult

Erika Flick

Keith’s adoptive sister

Physically similar to Lily, the main differences being her taste in music, two star-shaped birthmarks on her shoulder, and wearing glasses

Gilbert was in love with her and they might have been in a relationship for a certain period

Insinuated to have had an affair with Keith (which Gilbert references by saying she ‘fell in love with the wrong man’ and ‘couldn’t keep her emotions under control’)

Murdered by Gilbert, probably out of jealousy

Heath Kazama Flick

Keith’s father

Had the role of Canopus before Keith

Of Japanese origin, has lived in Japan

Cellular biologist (also researching genetics)

Was among the scientists who successfully resurrected the 13 winged gods in the new restoration program at Jaula Blanca

Humanitarian approach to research

Liked being around children at JB, is often seen talking to them or bringing them on excursions

Murdered by a young Minatsuki on Gilbert’s command during the Jaula Blanca attack

Might undergo updates. The next post will be about reggies and resurrected gods individually. For corrections and further questions, send me an ask. Again, I’d point you all towards the wiki, where there are plot-related descriptions as well. 

Part one | Part three (soon)

#b the beginning #b: the beginning #btb #meta #b the beginning meta #a lot of this stuff is my personal fanfic reference ftr #thats why theres so many random details #now i realized i WILL make a post about gilberts mental disorders #the topic is really really tempting #esp since the wiki talks about it somewhat erroneously

[newmusicmonthly]

2020

Hello. I hope you and yours are well. As is tradition, below are my selections for albums and songs of the year. As I have yet to receive a reply from you, dear reader, sincerely asking to unsubscribe, you are therefore the proud recipient of the list once more! I’ve altered the format from 5 tracks each month because, as I suspect many of you did, I went into a nostalgic hole for large chunks of this year (for me this consisted of at least two months of nothing but Funkadelic, which does mean my personalised algorithm is now ace), but also when I looked back at when many of these tracks were released it was front heavy for the first half of the year – another body blow to the supposed “monthly” mailer. I even considered not writing my one-liners, but where is the fun in that? Furthermore, trying to keep the long list to 60 tracks in total (equivalent to 5 per month) proved overly frustrating, so I’ve included some extras, especially as this year felt 13 month long. Notwithstanding said excuses, enough preamble, on with the list! Let me know what you think and do send me your own selections. Lots of love xx TOP 10s TOP 10 ALBUMS Baxter Dury – The Night Chancers Mildlife – Automatic SAULT – Untitled (Black Is) Alice Boman – Dream On Kanaan – Odense Sessions Lightning Orchestra – Source And Deliver Yves Tumor – Heaven To A Tortured Mind The Strokes – The New Abnormal Woods – Strange to Explain Erland Cooper – Hether Blether TOP 10 TRACKS Malena Zavala – En la Noche Caribou – You & I Yves Tumor – Kerosene! Puscifer – Apocalyptical Mildlife – Automatic King Hannah – Meal Deal SAULT – Wildfires // Bow [yes, there are two tracks there] Kanaan – Urgent Excursions To the Tundrasphere Frazey Ford – Golden Jessie Ware – What’s Your Pleasure? NEW MUSIC ‘MONTHLY’ MAILER Spotify Link Here Holy Fuck – Near Mint What better way to kick off a retrospective look at 2020 than with ‘Holy Fuck’ Alice Boman – It’s OK, It’s Alright Really love this album and this pick is a real downer, spectral and haunting but also touching Smoke Fairies – Out Of The Woods Jessica and Katherine still delivering a decade on, the chorus guitar riff is tops Nicolas Godin – The Border Air’s Nicolas Godin doing his best detached friendly robot, mais bien sur Moses Boyd – BTB Vibrant, propulsive, energetic, gotta move! The Men – Wading In Dirty Water Avid readers will know I’m a fan of these guys and this one rides a familiar Crazy Horse choogle Tame Impala – Breathe Deeper Funky bass, piano flourishes, solid synths, all groove Kanaan – Urgent Excursions To the Tundrasphere Ok, here it is, there’s always going to be at least one – this is the 14 min space rock jam – skip/enjoy! Frazey Ford – Golden This production is right up my street, soulful vocals swoop around tight rhythm section and hammond keys, an analogue dream Caribou – You and I From the analogue to a digital master, man this beat is catchy Pulled By Magnets – Cold Regime People Die File this under terrifying experimental jazz Jonathan Wilson – Riding The Blinds JW doing that 6/8 minor ballad thang Baxter Dury – Say Nothing Another album I loved this year and could have picked any number of tracks, so here’s a quote from Baxter: “My craft and in a sense a certain style has been perfected and it’s easy… I don’t have to do it again basically. I don’t want to hear another man talking over an orchestral background.” Ha! U.S. Girls – 4 American Dollars Slick funky, soulful, classic strings, building into a brilliant outro with great lyrics Deeper – Lake Song Detached vibe ala Joy Division / The Cure done through a Pavement lens with serious downer lyrics Pretty Lightning – Voo Doo Boo Swampy dirge guitar grooves Tamikrest – Anha Achal Wad Namda Another mailer favourite, Touareg guitar wizards Tony Allen, Hugh Masekela – Never (Lagos Never Gonna Be the Same) Master drummer who sadly passed away earlier this year just after this release, and two years after master trumpeter Masekela’s own passing, this track is a buzzing tribute to Fela Myrkur – House Carpenter Danish black metaller does Scandinavian folk: bright and beautiful Sufjan Stevens, Lowell Brams – The Runaround A weird album, even by Sufjan standards, but I found these electronic ambient sounds strangely comforting R.A.P. Ferreira – ABSOLUTES Rhythm & poetry The Weeknd – Blinding Lights What can I add to the smash of 2020? Catchy af Porridge Radio – Long Indie banger, with a decidedly angry, bitter, playful lyrics Cleo Sol – Her Light If online research is to be believed Cleo is part of the collective in SAULT with producer Inflo, but this album is standalone brilliance without knowing that, this is pure vintage soul vibes Malena Zavala – En la Noche I returned to this track more than any other this year, the rhythm, the vocals, the melody, the production, even if I have to use google translate to fully understand the lyrics Tom Misch, Yussef Dayes – Lift Off Molten guitar, groovy arrangements, and plenty of business from Dayes Yves Tumor – Kerosene! An absolute belter, amazing vocals, groove and crescendo perfection Warm Digits, The Orielles – Shake The Wheels Off (feat. The Orielles) Immediate synth pop, indie dancefloor (with some solid cowbell) EOB – Brasil First solo venture for Ed, acoustic folk gives way to rumbling bass banger, would very much like to experience this in a field Other Lives – Hey Hey I Grand rocking orchestral aural assault with hints of Morricone Elephant Tree – Sails Fulfilling the heavy dirge quota, that hit at 2:33 is a proper head in the speakers moment The Strokes – Why Are Sundays So Depressing This album snuck up on me, and then I found myself listening to it non-stop, this track such an ear worm Houses of Heaven – In Soft Confusion I think the right descriptor is darkwave – insistent drum machine, reverb soaked vocals, industrial production, gloomy pop hooks Joel Sarakula – Don’t Give Up on Me Operating in a dangerous space between homage and pastiche, groove and parody, this is smooth easy yacht rock Donny Benét – Second Dinner Following hot on the heels of pastiche, this time with tongue firmly in cheek, The Don and his 80s reverence lolz Perfume Genius – Whole Life Completely arresting, the lyrics an absolute gut punch, yet still gorgeous Jake Blount – Beyond This Wall From the press release, this album “features fourteen carefully chosen tracks drawn from Blount’s extensive research of Black and Indigenous mountain music. The result is an unprecedented testament to the voices paradoxically obscured yet profoundly ingrained into the Appalachian tradition” – this contemporary instrumental is a superb banjo and fiddle tune Holy Hive – Broom Formed by the drummer from the Dap Tones and inspired by being on tour with Lee Fields, this gentle soul, complete with tremolo guitar and horns, really floats Woods – Where Do You Go When You Dream A welcome return to form, this mellotron infused number is beautifully catchy Erland Cooper – Linga Holm Dramatic piano and strings from an altogether wild and wonderful album Mystery Jets – Screwdriver Loud / quiet dynamic, bombastic riffs, seething verses, the Jets turn it up to eleven to fight with love Jehnny Beth – Flower Another track where hushed verses give way to chorus explosions, serious tension and intensity Hinds – Good Bad Times Love that thudding bass drum, big stomping pop Norah Jones – Were You Watching? Smooth but haunting, with added Celtic flavour Braids – Young Buck Bleeps and bloops, melancholic poppy vocals, and the damnedest catchiest chorus Jessie Ware – What’s Your Pleasure? Is it getting hot in here? No further questions LA Priest – What Moves Quirky strutting electro, sleek yet squelchy SAULT – Wildfires + SAULT, Michael Kiwanuka – Bow Double billing because I couldn’t make a choice (plus when I realised the rhythms flow perfectly into one another it’s like it’s one song) Run The Jewels – a few words for the firing squad (radiation) Again, difficult to choose which track on this album; this is pure fire with sax and all GUM – The Thrill Of Doing It Right Turn this feel good banger up! Such a big hit when the horns drop at the start The Vacant Lots - Fracture Catchy, icy, synths (and Desert Sands label mates by the by) A.A. Williams – Melt Enchanting slow-burning, stirring post-rock, with a wonderful, soaring crescendo Lightning Orchestra – For Those Who Are Yet To Be Born A late discovery, but immediately catapulted to the top, self-described “psychedelic booty-shake” Kamaal Williams – Save Me Almost chose ‘Pigalle’ but the tight push drumming on this won out, hard funky jazz stylings of the Herbie variety Victoria Monét – Dive Lavish and groovy, and as Monét puts it: “They say most humans are about 60% water, but I believe women must be 69% so dive in baby." Secret Machines – Talos’ Corpse Genuinely so happy to see Brandon and Josh back and still with the big sounds All Them Witches – Enemy of My Enemy Relentlessly heavy, all the chops and described by one reviewer as the love child of TOOL, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Kyuss; I love this band Fenne Lily – Birthday Beautiful and bruised Mildlife – Automatic Another new discovery, in the pocket cosmic goodness and much as it pains me to quote from NME I can’t think of a better description than ‘Mobius strip funk’ Puscifer – Apocalyptical Maynard in the video for this track is an indelible image; massive swaggering Intruder-esque drums, angular menacing guitars, Carina’s ethereal edgy vocals, Maynard’s gritted teeth whispers, and apposite apocalyptical lyrics Matt Berninger – Loved So Little Confessional moody acoustic conjuring up Western-esque vistas Goldensuns – Denandra Moore Californian sun-drenched lo-fi groove, for fans of Conan Mockasin and Night Moves Frankie and the Witch Fingers – Cavehead F*cking excellent west coast garage psych melange and the B,D,E ascend at 3:10 is nod central King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – The Hungry Wolf Of Fate Genre bending brilliance once again from down under, this cut a heavy, doomy Sabbath assault King Hannah – Meal Deal Ominous drone opens into an acoustic tale of buying a flat with a spider in the bath, Hannah’s sinister smoky sultry vocals draw you in, before some menacing low frequency dirge guitar and drums kick in at 1:30… By this point on first listen I was already hooked, but then comes a great walloping Angel Olsen ‘Sister’ style crescendo, a glorious find at the end of the year (props to Manuel) HONOURABLE MENTIONS Elephant Stone – I See You Sam Lee, Elizabeth Frazer – The Moon Shines Bright Priscilla Ermel – Martim Pescador Rheinzand – Blind Dogleg – Fox The Flaming Lips, Deap Lips – Home Thru Hell The Heliocentrics – Hanging By A Thread Midwife – 2018 Chicano Batman – Color My life Trace Mountains – Rock & Roll Peach Pit – Shampoo Bottles Buscabulla – Vámono Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Cars In Space Jess Williamson – Wind on Tin Thiago Nassif, Arto Lindsay – Plástico The Vacant Lots – Endless Rain Nubya Garcia – Stand With Each Other (Feat. Ms MAURICE, Cassie Kinoshi, & Richie Seivwright) Juanita Stein – L.O.T.F. Carlton Melton – Waylay Paul McCartney – Long Tailed Winter Bird

[kiarazuri]

A Tuareg man is the face claim of my Aladdin, Alaa (Ala ad-Dīn) (tho Alaa is younger than the man above and has a rounder face, it’s mostly the same.)

Alaa tends to wear his veil (tagelmust) like this:

The Tuareg people are (explanation taken from Wikipedia)

“a large Berber ethnic confederation. They principally inhabit the Sahara desert and are traditionally nomadic pastoralists … The Tuaregs have been called the “blue people” for the indigo-dye colored clothes they traditionally wear which stains their skin. A semi-nomadic Muslim people, they are believed to be descendants of the Berber natives of North Africa. The Tuaregs have been one of the ethnic groups that have been historically influential in the spread of Islam due to their control over several trans-Saharan trade routes.

Tuareg culture is largely matrilineal and Tuareg women have high status compared with their Arab counterparts. In Tuareg society women do not traditionally wear the veil, whereas men do. The most famous Tuareg symbol is the Tagelmust (a veil that is traditionally worn by Tuareg men), after which the Tuareg are also called Kel Tagelmust, meaning “veiled people.” The men’s facial covering originates from the belief that such action wards off evil spirits. It may have related instrumentally from the need for protection from the harsh desert sands as well. It is a firmly established tradition, as is the wearing of amulets containing sacred objects and, recently, verses from the Qur'an. Taking on the veil is associated with the rite of passage to manhood; men begin wearing a veil when they reach maturity. The veil usually conceals their face, excluding their eyes and the top of the nose.”

When I’ve mentioned my Aladdin concept to a few friends they’ve all asked me one resounding question: “Why is Aladdin North African?” Because, of course, they all know the generic “Arabian” Disney version. At least one thought he was Chinese but no one ever thinks about the fact that he could also have been African. Here’s why (description also taken from Wikipedia because I’m too lazy to look up an online copy of Aladdin):

“Aladdin is … recruited by a sorcerer from the Maghreb, who passes himself off as the brother of Aladdin’s late father.” (From the Burton translation of 1885.)

The Maghreb is (according to Google) “a region of north and northwestern Africa between the Atlantic Ocean and Egypt that comprises the coastal plain and Atlas Mountains of Morocco, together with Algeria and Tunisia and sometimes Tripolitania.”

(This is part of the Tuareg peoples homeland, btb)

Not everyone from the Maghreb is dark-skinned, and not everyone is of an African ethnicity either (it is part of the Arab world, after all). But the trope of dark = evil, light = good is a pervasive one and has been used in a lot of Aladdin illustrations and reiterations (that I’ve seen). Here are two:

Both of which show the sorcerer as darker skinned.

The most important question is: why would a Chinese teenager believe a dark-skinned Maghrebi sorcerer was their uncle? I’ve read multiple translations of the tale and this is something that always confused me and I wonder if there are translations that just … change why he trusts the sorcerer? Does the sorcerer pay Aladdin in some versions? Also, why would a Chinese teenager be named Aladdin? Are they Muslim? Are they Hui? (My Aladdin’s best friend might be a Hui girl) If so, why doesn’t anyone mention it? Was it supposed to be inferred from context?

These questions always stuck with me.

Therefore, I decided to make my Aladdin dark-skinned too to match the Maghrebi sorcerer and Aladdin’s presumably Maghrebi father.

#me #mine #my aladdin #i might have missed something in this post but if so im too tired to catch it #aladdin #my aladdin characters #face claims #face claim

[okamirayne]

Heeeeey Rayne *trying to be casual* I always wanted to know how you would include Neji in The Last, because your take on him is the best out there 🥺 I know the BtB universe is canon divergence so have you ever even thought about adding/referencing the Otsutsuki threat to your story? Idk if you have answered this before 😭 really love u <3333

Heeeeey Rayne *trying to be casual*

I see your sweet casual vibe and I raise you a creepster over-confident hello, my lovely.😉

Aw. Thanks for taking the time to drop your ASK!

I always wanted to know how you would include Neji in The Last, because your take on him is the best out there 🥺

Aww hell...*immediately loses all sense of false cool* That's incredibly kind of you, Anon...🫠🥰 I'm so, so happy to know you enjoyed my take on Neji. 🫶🏼💜

The Last. Yes...ah...*squints, trying to remember the full storyline*...forgive me, Anon. I've been on a Shippuden series/movies rewatch to get back into the Narutoverse for BtB and I've yet to rewatch The Last. That said, I recall the major events, so I'm on the same book as you, my luv, just trying to get the pages straight in my demented head. 😅

Well...if following the BtB-verse...that entire movie might look oh so very different...I can't say too much without giving away spoilers for HHU...though I can certainly say that Neji would've been present when Hanabi was taken, so how that kidnapping played out would definitely have involved a showdown with Neji. He'd also have been deployed on the team to recover Hanabi. Again, because I'd be sticking to the BtB-verse there are several things that would've played out differently in the events of The Last. Sorry I can't give a fuller take on this, luv.

I know the BtB universe is canon divergence so have you ever even thought about adding/referencing the Otsutsuki threat to your story?

Great question. Hmn, yes and no. I wasn't a massive fan of how convoluted everything got with the introduction of the Otsutsuki, though I can appreciate certain elements of this narrative especially in relation to Hagoromo (Sage of Six Paths) and the explanation for the Rinnegan/Pein's Six Paths etc. Hagoromo's interference/involvement with Sasuke and Naruto, and the events just post-War is about as far as I'm willing to dive regarding the Otsutsuki, though mentioning their existence wouldn't be beyond the scope.

I wouldn't go too far along the timeline (she says, saying she'd never write Post-War, haha-joke's-on-me 😅)...I'd certainly never touch the Boruto-verse *hisses*, which is where I understand most of the Otsutsuki narrative plays out. That generation is hands-off for my brain, as many of the relationships don't play out due to the canon-divergence of the BtB-verse, also certain characters don't follow the Boruto-verse character arcs...and uh, yeah, certain babies don't get born. 😅😅😅

Idk if you have answered this before 😭 really love u <3333

Aw! No, sweetie, I hadn't answered this before, so thank you for your question surrounding this bigger branch to Kishimoto's canon world tree. I'm so chuffed you'd be interested in my insane take on this. 😘 You're a sweetheart. Big love and appreciation is coming at you for your warmth and kindness. 💜💜

#sweet anons #awesome anons #btb ask #neji ask #btb-verse ask #canon naruto ask #otsutsuki ask #neji btb ask #btb neji ask #canon-divergence

[okamirayne]

Hi Rayne! BtB canon ask if that’s ok? 😅 So in the BtB world, does Genma have any living family? Like blood family? Love his story in your fic-verse ~Curious Kit

Heya Curious Kit!

Aw, sure it’s ok 😊. Oooh, interesting ask. Not that Genma would ever answer that question. Only 6 people (technically only 2 now — as the others are dead) know the answer…which just so happens to be:

Aw thanks! Glad you’ve enjoyed his story in the crazy BtB-verse! 💜

#btb genma #btb genma ask #btb ask #genma shiranui btb #btb shiranui genma

[okamirayne]

Hiiii, so I'm hijacking that super Btb ask from December 2018 about were the others supportive/accepting of ShikaNeji, given their rocky past together? (Like, Kiba, for instance)... Could you maybe, possibly expand a bit on your answer there that his reaction holds big one-shot potential? :D I would love to hear some details and any tidbits you'd be willing to share regarding this! I just love being immersed in your Naruto-verse, as it basically my headcanon now. Wishing you peace and rest! <3

Hey there, @inarvm! 🩷

Hope my response finds you well, luv. Cheers for dropping in on yours truly with this ASK ^_^

Ah yes, the potential reactions from the rest of the shinobi crew to the ShikaNeji ship they didn't even know was sailing.

Could you maybe, possibly expand a bit on your answer there that his [Kiba] reaction holds big one-shot potential? I would love to hear some details and any tidbits you'd be willing to share regarding this!

I can most certainly try...

Well, given Kiba and Neji's whole 'will-they-won't-they' throw-down (and not in the let me love you kinda way) the ShikaNeji reveal makes for an interesting wtf-revelation for our dog-nin. Though it's less of a shock than a dawning realisation for Kiba. He clocks on, shall we say.

He considers Shikamaru his friend, his buddy, his childhood compadre, whereas Neji is mostly relegated to the comrades-I'd-like-to-KO-but-can��t category. I mean sure, Neji gained some serious clout with Kiba for saving Shikamaru's bacon, and the ongoing game of 'defrosting Mr Cold Shoulder' sometimes amuses Kiba, but he usually always clashes with Neji — and that isn't something that really changes, even in the lead up to the Hyuuga's death.

All that considered, you can imagine Kiba’s confusion over Shikamaru choosing to hang his heart on a Hyuuga that isn't Hinata lol. There's also the Temari equation which hasn't been solved for the dog-nin.

So you've got a few things going on here:

Protectiveness towards Shikamaru

Wariness of Neji

Confusion over Temari

His one-sided enemy o' mine drama

...Possibly other crap that hasn't yet been disclosed to me and may come out whilst writing Kiba.

I hope that gives a little bit of insight into Kiba's potential response — always hard to fully say for certain until I'm writing the scene, but these are the strong impressions that come up, given how he feels or thinks about Neji.

I just love being immersed in your Naruto-verse, as it basically my headcanon now. Wishing you peace and rest! <3

That's so kind and supportive of you to say — and it's hugely appreciated. 💜 Thank you, sweetheart 💜

#kiba ask #btb reader kindness #btb kiba ask #reader ask #awesome readers #btb readers #btb ask #btb asks #btb series #shikaneji

[okamirayne]

Let me start off by saying that BtB is my absolute favorite story nothing is ever coming close to it , I am so grateful for you for lifting me up with your words when i needed them . You are truly one of a kind . I wanted to ask if you had any fanfics of the naruto world that you wouldn’t mind reccing to us , i am in dire need of good fics . Anything you suggest is welcome . I also wanted to mention i really love your OC made me feel like i missed an ep and that they really were there . xoxo

Aw. Hey there, dear Anon!

Oh bless you and thank you. I'm so touched to learn that BtB lifted you when you needed it. Knowing the story offered you that, is a beautiful takeaway for me. <3 Thanks for letting me know, sweetie.

I wanted to ask if you had any fanfics of the naruto world that you wouldn’t mind reccing to us , i am in dire need of good fics . Anything you suggest is welcome .

Ah, luv! I have been so terribly out of the loop with Naruto fanfic for the past few years. The fond memories railroad the shit outta my brain and bring on THE PAIN TRAIN of self-deprecating thoughts regarding my creative burnout.

That said! Next time I'm rifling through my files, I will endeavour to dig up my very old bookmarks/favs and compile a list. I had a few on my ffnet favs, though that isn't an exclusive list by any means.

Ugh! Sorry, I'm such a crappy go-to person for this. The problem with me is that whilst writing BtB I read very little Naruto fanfic -- weird I know, but I didn't want to risk getting absorbed into another Naruto-verse, then lose momentum. Did I mention I'm a moonbat-crazy cave-dwelling weirdo like that? While I'll watch or read the canon material whilst writing, I don't tend to read that much fanfic within the fandoms I write for whilst I'm doing the actual writing.

Should I get back into the Naruto fanfic realm, I will absolutely list some favs here, luv. A lovely lady recently gifted me (very sweetly) with a NaruSasu fanfic over on AO3, which I'm looking forward to stealing the time to read!

If this slam-dunks me through the fandom loop, I'll be sure to keep a list of the fics I devour, luv!

Thank you so much again for your amazing support. You're bloody awesome! <3

#btb reader kindness #btb reader ask

[okamirayne]

I was curious if you would ever write something else for NejiShika? I know you wrote a whole series for BTB (while also writing a ton of Original work, which, wow, you're amazing) but if you ever got another idea for NejiShika would you write it? Or is the BTB series a "just kind of happened" one time thing? I think I remember you once said you were inspired to write BTB because of a dream you had of Shikamaru and you found that Neji was just the perfect other half for that version of him and that's the only reason you started writing the pairing. I guess I was just curious if you would ever write something else with the pair since BTB is such an amazing series and I love your characterization of them. Also, is HHU the last one in the series? Or are you planning anything else? Sorry for the rambling, I just wanted to ask 😅

Hey there, Anon! Thank you for dropping by with your ASK, Luv ☺️

I was curious if you would ever write something else for NejiShika? […] if you ever got another idea for NejiShika would you write it? Or is the BTB series a "just kind of happened" one time thing?

Do you mean would I write more about them together in the BtB world? As in, additional stories to add to the BtB series. Or do you mean would I write an entirely different NejiShika/ShikaNeji fic outside the BtB-verse? Because yes to the former, no to the latter.

I think I remember you once said you were inspired to write BTB because of a dream you had of Shikamaru and you found that Neji was just the perfect other half for that version of him and that's the only reason you started writing the pairing.

Correct! I couldn’t see who Shikamaru was chasing in the dream, but when I began to follow the plot bunny consciously all roads led to Neji.

It was such an organic and intuitive thing, as well as a logical one. It was always meant to be.

I guess I was just curious if you would ever write something else with the pair since BTB is such an amazing series and I love your characterization of them.

Oh yes, I believe I would. Aww! Thank you so much! I’m super excited and happy to know their characterisations hit the spot for you. The characters are always my primary concern and I try my best to do justice to them, bearing in mind any creative leeway/divergence from canon with the story/pairings.

Also, is HHU the last one in the series?

Yes, insofar as a post-war conclusion. That said, the BtB story, right the way through from the first instalment to UtS, is meant to be a standalone series regardless of HHU. HHU is pure masochism on my part 🤦🏻‍♀️

Or are you planning anything else?

I never say never. Ideas pop up. It’s just hard to commit for several reasons.

1) Severe bloody Burnout recovery 😭 🔥

2) My brain currently holds 3 separate novel series, all of them big-world stories. Which is a hell of a lot to hold in my brain cavern.

These original characters and their worlds are my heart and my kismet 💜

3) I am clearly challenged when it comes to writing one-shots…I fail so hard…

4) The investment of time/energy vs the payoff of writing fanfic (especially when you’re a masochistic moron like me who writes LONG SHIT). Understandably, and rightly so, fanfic doesn’t pay for the investment put in, so a lot of the payoff for me (and a lot of fanfic writers) is the reader-feedback exchange regarding the story/characters (otherwise I guess we’d just write it for ourselves, you know?) and sadly readers don’t necessarily engage as much anymore even though they may devour the content. Which is why I absolutely adore, admire, and am so grateful to reviewers 💜; to those who did, still do, and who were so outstandingly supportive of me in the past and still are to this day. They are beautiful treasures. That’s why I always aim/aimed to deliver the best I can/could for them and not short-change them. I’d never have finished the BtB series without them. 💜

As for Rambling? No way! Absolutely no need to apologise!! I’m very, very touched you care enough about the series/characters to ask 💜

Thank you! ☺️

#btb shikaneji #btb reader #btb reviewer #shikaneji btb ask #asks btb #btb asks #btb ask #btb series ask #btb series

[okamirayne]

Hi Rayne! truly love your series and cant wait to see what you produce in the future! I loved your oc's especially Hibari, i did have a question, i would love to know your take on gai and neji's relationship in btb-verse, in the series gai clearly cares for neji and im curious about them (apologies if this has been answered). in the naruto series it always felt like while gai cared it wasnt really shown especially since rock lee seemed to be his main focus. thanks!

Hi there, Anon!

Firstly, I apologise for the lateness of my reply to you. Been playing catch-up and am moving at the pace of a crippled snail at this point.

[...] truly love your series and cant wait to see what you produce in the future! I loved your oc's especially Hibari..

Aw! Thank you so much! 💜 Chuffed beyond measure. ^_^

i did have a question, i would love to know your take on gai and neji's relationship in btb-verse, in the series gai clearly cares for neji and im curious about them (apologies if this has been answered). in the naruto series it always felt like while gai cared it wasnt really shown especially since rock lee seemed to be his main focus. thanks!

Oooh, great question, Anon.

I agree with you, we didn't get that much insight into Gai and Neji's relationship -- bar Neji's embarrassment with the uh...theatrics of Gai's personality, gods love him. Gai and Neji have an interesting relationship and it's definitely one of those dynamics I'd like to look deeper into and explore.

Now, insofar as the btb-verse, I can tell you that Neji harbours a deep respect for Gai, given that his sensei has taken him down several pegs throughout his time as Gai's student (again, this isn't something I went into in the BtB storyline, though it's definitely something I'd be willing to explore if I were back in that world) due to arrogance and stubbornness on Neji's part. Gai's polar-opposite and playful disposition was a good fit for Neji and forced him to be a better team-player, despite his constant desire to gravitate towards a more serious and autonomous place.

Neji couldn't challenge Gai in the way he might have done if he'd had someone like Asuma or Kakashi as a sensei; Asuma would have defaulted to dismissal/avoidance and Kakashi would've come down like a lightning bolt to blast the cold steel-plating straight off Neji's ass. Neither of these approaches would've worked well. But Gai employed a completely different approach, using humour, lightness, emotionalism, experience, and strength that hid its claws -- and he diffused and dismantled the high ground constantly beneath his student. So Neji couldn't employ his usual strategies with Gai, as they just bounced off and didn't work.

Gai's emotionalism was, unintentionally, a very good tactic, given it was a weapon Neji didn't know entirely how to defend against when Gai used it with purpose. Also while Gai refused to engage with or entertain Neji's arrogance and rage, he didn't detach from Neji when Neji exhibited it, instead he redirected rather than reacted. It was an excellent match. Because when Gai DID get serious or angry, Neji was in NO DOUBT he'd gone done f*cked up real bad, so to speak.

I hope this explains some of their dynamic, luv! Thanks for the interesting ask. ^_^ It's a nice stroll down the BtB memory-lane.

#btb gai #neji and gai btb #btb ask

[okamirayne]

hello, i really liked the complexity you gave ino's mom (and the fact you gave her a mom) in the BTB series! can you tell us anything more about her?

Hello there, Anon!

Firstly, super sorry for the late reply. *facepalm* It’s taking me some time to get around to my responses. No kidding, right?  Anyway! I hope this message finds you well during these messed up times.

Ino’s mother! Thankfully I did my research at the time to discover she did indeed have a mother ( Naruto Shippūden Episode #281 ). Though I don’t recall her name ever being dropped, hence taking the creative leeway to name her Sayuri. Here’s her pic pulled from Narutopedia.

I thank you for your interest in the BtB-verse character development with Sayuri. Not much is given about her in canon and for BtB purposes, especially with Ino’s behaviours and issues, I felt it was important to give her some kind of dysfunctional backstory even if it didn’t make it fully into the series.

can you tell us anything more about her?

Sure thing. BtB Sayuri...where to start?

Inoichi met her undercover at a geisha tea-house and Okiya where Sayuri worked during her youth.

From a wealthy family originally, she was indentured into service as a teen (her father gambled away their family’s wealth) and spent those formative years in a highly superficial, cattish, competitive and somewhat vindictive environment in the Okiya (the lodging house/drinking establishment to which a maiko or geisha is affiliated with during her career)

The mother of the house (the "okā-san") who mentored and groomed Sayuri was highly critical and insisted upon stringent rules for all the girls; upon which Sayuri developed several dysfunctional relationships with women, food, men etc that later were inevitably projected onto Ino.

Sayuri loves flowers and among her peers she excelled in ikebana; her love of flowers was one of the many things that Inoichi used to woo her upon visiting the tea-house she worked at (and entertained clients)

Inoichi eventually bought her freedom; something she was both grateful and ashamed of.

She changed shortly into their marriage, seizing back some power by pulling an ice queen aura around herself -- a defense mechanism, as well as a means to forget about her past and carry on as if she’d never been ‘sold’ into service by her family.

She does not speak of her family (mother or father) and has no family outside of the Yamanaka clan -- one of the reasons she became so attached to Naoki

She has an ingrained and unshakeable fear that Inoichi will abandon her (as many ‘patrons’ did back when they promised her the moon and stars -- and more importantly, her freedom as a young woman)

In the past she competed for Inoichi’s attention with her daughter -- a tragic projection of her days in the Okiya...she fortunately changed her ways after the events in UtS

Inoichi’s death has been devastating for her and, like Ino, she isn’t handling it in the most healthiest of ways

Sayuri loves to dance and is a very talented musician. It was one of the many things Inoichi loved about her.

Inoichi taught her some basic ninja training, which she took to quite well -- even using it to defend herself against handsy clients before Inoichi took her away from that life and brought her to Konoha

She shuns the company of other women, due to her painful experiences as a teen, using her Ice Queen persona to keep people at arm’s length -- which is tragic, because beneath all that, she has the capacity for great tenderness inside her...which she exhibited especially when Ino was a baby.

Early in their marriage she used to sing to Inoichi often, as well as dance and play the shamisen for him...this changed shortly after, as she tried to distance herself from what she considered a shameful and painful past.

Her attempts to “mould” Ino into a lady and secure her daughter a match were her misguided attempts to ensure Ino never had to worry about her security later in life.

Sayuri loves honey but her disordered eating often had her shunning anything sweet -- which is what led to Inoichi often sneaking out to chow down on desserts....inadvertently leading to Sayuri to accuse him of having affairs....(little did she know these secret loves were forbidden confectionery!)

She does not particularly like the colour pink, though she took great pleasure in dressing Ino up as a child

She disapproves of immodest dressing (hence her clashing with Ino on many occasions)

She regrets many things about how her marriage went and it pains her she won’t have the chance to do things over again

Hope this gives some insight into her characterization in the BtB-verse, luv! Thank you for the interesting question. Always makes me smile to return to these characters. <3 Stay safe and well!

#BtB Asks #btb ask #btbverse #BTB verse #BtB series #okami-rayne #break to breathe shikaneji #break to breathe characterisation #characterisation #ino yamanaka #sayuri yamanaka

[okamirayne]

Hey! Thanks for always answering questions Ive loved btb for years and just want to sincerely say thank you for sharing with us! Rereading BTB's universe I have always wondered more about Guy and if we would ever get more insight from him in HHU or if you ever had more scraps from his perspective about Neji. With him surviving and neji being his student who passed, his behavior and change of heart. Ive always wondered about his feelings about neji and if they were similar to kakashi and sasuke

Hi there, Virginhawks!

Aww, my pleasure to respond, luv.

Ive loved btb for years and just want to sincerely say thank you for sharing with us!

Aww! Thank you for hitting me in the feels with such sweet words and thank you for taking that BtB ride in the first place. I'm so happy it's been close to your heart and that you've revisited it!

Rereading BTB's universe I have always wondered more about Guy and if we would ever get more insight from him in HHU or if you ever had more scraps from his perspective about Neji. With him surviving and neji being his student who passed, his behavior and change of heart.

Yes on both counts, luv. If I ever get my mojo back and resume where I left off, then that will undoubtedly come up.

Ive always wondered about his feelings about neji and if they were similar to kakashi and sasuke.

Yes, that will be an interesting dynamic to explore. I can say that BtB-verse Gai's relationship/feelings towards Neji are very different to Kakashi and Sasuke's relationship/dynamic. Gai tried to connect with Neji in ways Kakashi avoided with Sasuke due to his own issues and lack of wanting those emotional ties...Gai on the other hand, had/has no issue with said emotional ties and wanting to bond.

Thank you for the interesting ASK and for your kind support! Hope this response finds you safe and well ^_^

#btb gai #btb ask #neji and gai btb

[okamirayne]

For the fanfic ask, how about M X and Z 👀

Hey there, my luv! Thanks for the ASKS. Having answered Z in another ASK, I shall hop along to your other two questions.

M: Got any premises on the back burner that you’d care to share?

I guess that would definitely have to be the main storyline for BtB-verse ‘Heaven Hold Us’; which involves the return of our dear Hyūga...and the involvement of an certain Uchiha in this dangerous feat....

...along with me tackling a big-ship pairing I never thought I’d write...

X: A character you enjoy making suffer.

Argh... sooo hard to choose. I don’t think I can.  All are fair game in my ‘open season’ brain. I basically play spin the sadist bottle and then glass the poor unsuspecting character in the sternum. I don’t discriminate. In the words of dear old Shakespeare, “ALL ARE PUNISHED!!”....