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italian-pastry · 3 years

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Rambling about the Family Tree

Here’s the Family Tree!

And under the cut is all my rambling about designs or whatever! (this ended up not being about designs too much. Hm)

OK WE NEED TO BE ORGANIZED HERE I’ll be going generation by generation, from left to right. Everyone will be here, just for organization sake. Of course, some people are more important than others, so be warned for long rambles (in generation 2 especially) OK LET’S GO

Generation 1: Iida Parents: Idk man. They don’t even have designs. They’re probably cool Enji: He doesn’t deserve to be drawn well :) That and he doesn’t deserve to meet his grandkids :)) Rei: She deserves to be pretty and be a cool grandma. Her grandkids adore her. Hisashi: This mans is kinda wildin’ in my universe. Whatever he’s up to, it’s not being Inko’s husband. Inko: Soft grandma!!!!! We love her and she loves her grandkids and husband. Toshinori: He deserves to retire and settle down and be happy with his family and be adored by his gandkids. Emiko’s Father: He and Yukie got married (and Yukie got pregnant with Emiko) almost right out of highschool. He expected Yukie to give up her career to care for Emiko, but that didn’t gel with Yukie, so she divorced him when Emiko was little. Idk where he is now. Yukie: We love her. I love her. She’s super sweet and super cool and super short and that’s all you need to know. She also looks a lot like Eijirou (or, at least I tried to make them look similar) Crimson Riot: I subscribe to the Dad-Crimson theory, so here we are. After Emiko started elementary school, Yukie tried to get her career back together, but after meeting and having a thing with Crimson Riot and getting pregnant with Eijirou, she gave it up to be able to care for her kids. Nadie: An American journalist who moved to Japan for work! She and Yukie met and got married when Eijirou was 9-10. She has 3 kids from her previous marriage (that ended in disaster). Christopher Skyline: (Yes, THE Christopher “Captain Celebrity” Skyline. We’re just ignoring the Vigilantes canon over here.) Nadie’s ex-husband and the father of Hanae, Etsuko, and Suzume. He was a serial cheater, and the kids was a desperate attempt made by Nadie to try to make him stick around. Sperm Donor: Just a sperm donor. Mitsuki: Still looks SUPER young. She doesn’t like it when her grandkids call her “Grandma” or anything like that because it makes her feel old. Masaru: Loves being called “Grandpa” or whatever by his grandkids. He loves them, and likes to visit them a lot. Mika: Still quiet and chill. We love her. Kyotoku: Still loud and fun. He’s a cool dude, and he got them smile lines Beru: Her head is weird. I’m sorry queen, but it freaked me out. Ganma: He freaked me out even more. He was my least favorite to draw. Sorry bro. Uraraka’s Parents: Her dad reminds me of my dad (vaguely). They don’t have names, but they’re cool. Also, Ochako was able to get them a nice house, so good for them. Shouta: Just go look at @nartothelar‘s Silver Fox AU that was my main inspiration. He a grumpy old man who only likes his kids and grandkids and family. Hizashi: Same thing as Shouto. I like to think that all of his hair has grayed, so his hair is like Platinum Blond now.

Ok! Gen 1 done, and it was mostly me rambling about Eijirou’s parents. Maybe one day I’ll dedicate a post to them.

Generation 2: Tenya: I had him grow his hair out because 1.) I thought it was cute and 2.) it represents him loosening up a lil’ after school. He wears contacts during Hero Work, but wears his glasses casually. Tensei: Literally just the same dude. He’s Tensei and he’s chill and he’s cool. Dabi: I gave him an eyebrow piercing and a fun new cut. (Fun fact: That’s his Fantasy AU fairstyle) Fuyumi: I hope her hair looks very Teacher-y and Motherly. I think she looks super cute. Natsuo: A simple dude. He finds a cut that works and sticks with it. Although I did give him sideburns and a lil’ touch of beard. Shouta: Instead of shaving his red side, he combs the white side over it. Also, I hc that in his left eye, he’s half blind. Izuku: Yikes. He got the wound early in his hero career. He went blind in his right eye, so he and Shouta together are like 1 and 1/4 blind. Emiko: Eijirou’s older half sister. I would say she’s Girlboss and Natsuo is Malewife, and I think that’s accurate - even if only a little. She’s a social service worker, and met Natsuo in college. I had an old design before, but I like this one A LOT more Eijirou: I am a simp for long hair Eijirou, so here we are. ALSO freckles!!!! I love freckley eijirou. Also stubly beard and cool new scar. He is very dad. Hanae: The chill little sister. Probably a lawyer or professor or something smart like that. Etsuko: The crazy sister. She works in the hero field! If as hero support or as an actual pro, idk yet! Suzume: The ex-crybaby sister. She’s prolly doing something fun and artsy. Also, HUGE demigirl vibes Kane: The energetic little brother! He has most certainly gone pro, since he’s like very early 20s now. Fun Fact!: He was 6 when Mieko was born, so a lot of people thought they were siblings. It only got worse when Akio rolled around. Katsuki: hehe Undercut Bakugou. Also, hearing aids! I put his eyebrow scar there so he and his hubby are matchy matchy. Actually, both of their scars are pretty matchy matchy.... huh. Also, I’m totally not saying he was invloved in the fight that gave Izuku his scar, definitely not. Mashirao: STOP SAYING HE’S PLAIN AND ORDINARY. HE’S BEAUTIFUL DAMMIT. Every time I draw him I think about how darn pretty he is and that he could be like a KPop star or smth Tooru: It’s tooru! Super fun lil’ lady. What a queen. Mina: Look at that kick-ass scar I gave her. It’s what she deserves. Although, that eye may be a lil fucked up. Ah well, at least it looks cool. Yuuga: LOOK AT HIS HAIR. I am so happy with how it turned out! He so pretty. He and Mina are DEFINATELY Girlboss and Malewife. Hado: Also a simple lady. Prolly also needed to stick to her brand of long hair. She still super pretty tho. Lowkey disappointed I didn’t give her the stereotypical Anime-Protag’s-Mom hairstyle Haya: Completely shaved her head, and got more piercings! Like, 100% more Punk Rock. Itsuka: FRECKLES FRECKLES FRECKLES. And short hair!!!!!! Sigh, I love her. Tetsutetsu: I tried to make him look like Ejirou, even if just the face structure. I like how his hair and scar turned out tho. What a lad. Mezo: What a cool dude! Got a sick nasty scar, but covers it with his hair. I think, even with a majority of his face covered, he is still very handsome Miya: She has a name now!!!!!! What an icon. She’s a Hero Costume Designer, and she has a spider mutation. Wolf Spider, specifically (I think). She is so adorable and spunky I love her. Momo: Short hair!!!!!!1!1!1!11! God, what a goddess. We love her so so so much. Also, she gets to have a cool scar, too Kyouka: While she’s in UA, she straightens her hair, but after she graduates, she doesn’t care abt it. Momo rlly likes it curly. She also has that thing going on where you shave all of ur head except for ur bangs (and the side thingies). Oh! And eyebrow piercing! Satsuki: Pretty! Also, I made sure that all the girls who would’ve been 6-7 during the current time all had ponytails now (Satsuki, Etsuko, and Eri) Samidare: He’s super cool, and I decided to give him long hair to make him cooler. Also, Demiboy vibes, anyone? Tsuyu: A queen!!!!!! I love her so much!!!!!!! When her hair is down, it reaches to her shoulder blades. Ochako: SHE LOOKS SO BADASS I AM SO HAPPY. Look at her, with those cool scars, and that cool hair! What a queen! Mirio: Classic Mirio! Tbh, idk if I’ll give Mirio his quirk back. Like a lot of the stuff in the recent arc I’ve ignored, soooo......... Tamaki: He has SO MUCH HAIR. It ridiculous. Since growing it out, he uses it to hide behind if it’s left down. So Mirio likes to do stuff with his hair and make it look cute. Nikko helps, too! Eri: A queen!!!!!!!!!! Idk if she’ll be a Pro Hero or doctor that specializes with pro heroes, but I want her to be happy and help people! Hitoshi: Hanta and Denki weaves flowers into his hair a la Rapunzel all the time. The braid is really loose and shitty a lot of the time tho. Ah well. Denki: Because I moved his black stripe to down the center of his hair, my little sister keeps calling Denki and Race Car. And I agree. He got those scars because he was able to train himself to really not fry his brain anymore, but that means if he overloads, his electricity escapes some other way, so through his ears and into his face. Hanta: That scar was very strategically places because I am a firm believe that Sero will uncannily resemble Shouta when he gets older. I hadn’t done a really good job at that tho....... hm.

Gen 2 is done!!!!!! It was my fave generation to draw UwU. I’m not sure what to say with Gen 3, since I’ve already talked about them a lot. Jeez, idk. I’ll think about something to ramble about later.

@questionableholidayreally Tozen rlly said “I am literally just vibing ;)”

#Long post #bnha #bnha fankids #bnha next gen #I still cannot get over the fact that I drew 84 faces #like #damn #If u have any questions or just wanna yell at me just slide on into those asks! I'm happy to answer!#Born And Raised #Mha Born And Raised

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szivtalan · 4 years

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In honor of Aokise day coming up, let's hear your opinions on them, yeah??

OH YEAH I THINK THAT’S AN EXCELLENT IDEA thank u!!!! I’m not sure if you’re asking me to go thru the entire ask list but I’m gonna and u can’t stop me ehe <3 (If ur asking just my general opinion they’re neat and I wuv them)

1. Who likes to sit in the other’s lap? Kise loves to sit in Aomine’s lap, even when they’re out with friends. You know he’s done it even in their Teiko days, but that was less flirty and more playful. Aomine mostly just puts his head in Kise’s lap and gets him to stroke his hair until he falls asleep on their quieter days.

2. On a cold day, who likes to snuggle up to the other? Aomine runs extremely hot so it’s usually Kise who snuggles up to him when he’s cold. Sometimes he’d attempt to crawl into his sweaters along w/ him and it’s the sweetest thing ever.

3. Who cooks the food and who does the dishes? Aomine can’t cook to save his life and Kise can easily master any kind of recipe (also, he’s taken lessons from Kagami, too) so it’s Kise cooking, but they always do the dishes together. Probably because if it’s only on Aomine, he’ll just forget it and Kise will fight him about it haha

4. How would they describe each other to loved ones who haven’t met their partner yet? Aomine rarely needs to give a full introduction because Kise is just hella famous for a teenager haha, but when he does it alternates between “He’s an annoying little shit, you shouldn’t even bother” and “He’s the most beautiful fucker you’ll ever see and if you ever so much as look at him wrong I’m breaking your fingers”. Kise will flash an enigmatic smile and say “How do I say it... He’s probably the best basketball player in the country, and he’s sweet and hot and funny and you can’t help loving him”. And then they meet Aomine and they’re like.... sweet where?

5. Who is more likely to kiss their partner on their forehead? Aomine. For one, he’s taller. For two, it’s a good way to shut Kise up, and for three, he just likes how flushed and soft his expression turns at that, every time.

6. Who makes a scrapbook of all their memories to give to their partner for a special event? Ex- anniversary, birthday, etc. Oh man, Kise would probably pull a stunt like that for Aomine’s birthday. There’s tons of Teiko pictures, mostly of the two of them, sometimes with Kuroko, and then sometimes with Midorima and the rest of the GoM. There’s a few photographs of the Touou team together, some of Aomine and Momoi when they were little, and most recently all the photos Kise’s taken of the two of them since they started dating. Aomine definitely doesn’t cry. It’s just that his eyes are sweating.

7. Where would they go to get away from everyone else and just be alone? When Kise gets his driver’s license and buys himself a car, the first thing he does is take Aomine for a weekend and drive him down to the nearest seaside resort. They go to the beach and spend two days in each other’s company, and get very friendly with the queen size bed in their reserved room.

8. Who would want to take cute pictures for Instagram? Kise definitely!!! If they’re out he’ll just flood his friends’ feed with pictures of them kissing and holding hands, if they aren’t he’ll just post a lot of blurry pics of Aomine as he was trying not to get photographed lol!

9. Who would most likely call their partner, dude, babe and idiot, all in the same sentence? Aomine it’s not even up for debate

10. How do they let their loved ones know they are dating? Aomine doesn’t. He might mention it to Satsuki, but everyone else just finds out when Kise starts yelling it from the rooftops. Figuratively. Or is it

11. Who breaks out in a dance when they hear their favourite song and who joins their partner dancing no matter what they are currently doing? Kise will be the one to initiate dancing but it usually takes a bit of nudging and singing loudly at him for Aomine to join. When he does, it’s more just groping Kise up and down and less moving with him anyway, but he’d never heard Kise complain about it.

12. If they each went to go buy an outfit for one another, what would they get? Kise would probably buy Aomine a leather jacket with some slim-fitted pants that may or may not be fretted and/or deliberately torn or slashed at the knees. He’d also get him a dark-colored dress shirt, probably burgundy or midnight blue, because he has impeccable fashion taste and he likes to make his partner look good beside him too. Aomine in turn would probably get him something more comfortable and casual; he’ll think about a sweater because Kise keeps borrowing his but he’s reminded (either by company or sheer memory) that Kise only likes to wear his sweaters, so he’ll settle for jeans, a tank top with a ridiculously low neck (you know, the kind that also has enormous holes on the sides), and a denim jacket. He most definitely doesn’t buy him lacy lingerie too.

13. Who still blushes when their partner compliments them? Kise, definitely. It’s rare that he can make Aomine blush. Kise, on the other hand, even though he’s being bombarded with compliments 24/7 wherever he goes, just can’t handle the way Aomine really means it.

14. What memories do they share together that will stay with them forever? Playing at Teiko, playing against each other, the first weekend they spend at the beach, their first meeting... Being affected by Kuroko’s way of playing basketball, Seirin’s win against Rakuzan. And then, there’s many other memories they will hope to make together.

15. Who would dedicate a song to their partner at a karaoke night? Bonus - what song would it be and why? Kise, because he’s a cheesy brat and he likes to embarrass his boyfriend. I’m eyeing my AoKise playlist for inspo but I know it would be super romantic and mushy. Probably something from MIKA because Kise considers him a gay icon, or Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream? But I could totally see him going at Walk The Moon’s Shut Up And Dance, too lol!!!

#knb #anime #aokise #kise ryouta #aomine daiki #ask and i shall answer #geometricalien #knb headcanons #this was SO much fun i really adore this ship <3 #thank you!!!!!!#vmine #I absolutely do NOT dare editing this but please consider: kise singing 'sugar' by maroon 5 to aomine on karaoke night #pls and thank u

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the-curious-butterfly · 5 years

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The Rainy Season Hero

Relationships: Tsuchako (slight Momjirou)

Summary: Rainy days were always her favorite.

(My contribution for BNHA fluff week, sorry that it’s late.)

10 years old

Today was a rainy day and those were her favorite. No matter what was going on they never failed to soothe and comfort her. Which is why the usually studious and well-behaved Asui was currently staring out the window, from her desk at the very back, instead of paying attention to the lesson. It’s one she already knew anyway, most of the time it was, not that she made a habit of tooting her own horn but she was rather smart. Though she supposes it be okay if she did considering all the work she puts into her studies.

It’s while lost in thought that something small manages to catch her eye. There, on the windowsill, was a small frog as if looking in at her. “Kero?” she whispered softly as she places a finger on her chin and tilts her head. The small creature tilted it’s head as well causing Tsuyu to smile slightly. The young girl loves frogs, though she figures much of it has to do with the fact she’s a frog herself. However she likes to think she’d love them even if she wasn’t. They’re so small and cute. Tsuyu was small but not exactly cute, at least not to her classmates. It doesn’t really bother her this is merely stating a fact. However perhaps one day maybe someone will call her cute. A very small and easy to miss blush finds it’s way on her face.

13 years old

Tsuyu made a friend today. A weird and awkward friend but still a friend. She doesn’t exactly have any so who was she to talk. Though she didn’t mind not having any, her studies and her younger siblings took up too much of her time. But even when she did have time she never felt lonely, in fact she was very happy in her life. Still it felt nice to have a friend and she had a feeling Habuko-chan was gonna prove to be a great one indeed. She wonders if maybe in high school she’ll make more great friends. At least just one more. She didn’t need much to be content.

15 years old

Though she was already aware before, high school is way different from anything previous. Or maybe it was just this particular school. Since the start of the hero course Tsuyu found herself constantly surrounded by others, and not just because she was in the area but because they genuinely wanted to know her and be friend’s with her. It wasn’t long till the girls were basically a pack but considering there were only six of them it makes sense to stick together. However, there was one who sought her out constantly and gave Tsuyu the kind of attention she was definitely not use to getting. It was really nice and made her very happy. Satsuki and Samidare would mention how she’s constantly making happy “keros” when she’s cooking and they would ask her about it. Though she decides this would be the one time she doesn’t say whats on her mind. This special thing was just for her and if others knew about it they’d put a name on it. Tsuyu wasn’t sure she was ready for that just yet.

Then training camp comes around. Momo smiles shyly while she holds Jirou’s hand as they wait for their turn during the test of courage. Ochako holds both of her large hands and is bouncing up and down with excitement and Tsuyu can’t help but blush ever so slightly and look away, managing to catch Jirou shooting her a knowing smile and a thumbs up. The blush darkens just a little more and she turns away again this time managing to catch Mina sending her a pleading look as she’s dragged away. “Kero, you’ll be fine, these lessons are good for you.” she tells the pink girl who responds with a pout but then she sees her hands in Ochako’s and she brightens considerably. The froggy girl pretends she doesn’t know what the other is thinking as she looks back to Ochako but freezes in place as soon as she does so. Ochako is looking at her with these wide soft eyes and Tsuyu has caught her with the look before but never this up close, never this intense. It makes Tsuyu gulp, “K-kero, Ochako-chan?”

Ochako shakes herself out of her daze and looks at Tsuyu with her face flushed, “oh uh, h-hai Tsuyu-chan?”

“Why do you keep looking at me like that, kero?” Though she suspect she knows the answer she just wants to hear it from the other.

“L-like what, Tsuyu-chan, ehehehe?” Ochako lets go of one of her hands to nervously rub the back of her head.

“Like…all soft and happy like as if you’re…” Even though she can usually say everything and anything that comes to mind she finds herself unable to at this moment. Maybe it’s because she still doesn’t think she’s ready for it. Maybe she just wants Ochako to fill in the blanks so she doesn’t feel pressured. Maybe it’s a bit of both. Maybe-

“As if I like you?” Ochako is as red as Kirishima’s hair as soon as the words are out and she quickly lets go of Tsuyu completely. “I-I-I’m sorry if that’s weird and it’s okay if you don’t like me, honestly I don’t know what came over me.” She’s talking a mile a minute in that frantic way that makes the corners of Tusyu’s lips come up slightly in a froggy smile, she brings a finger up to her chin as she considers what Ochako said.

“It’s not weird, kero, unexpected but not weird.” Is her calm response.

“Oh? Do you.. like me too?”

Her face blank as she thinks for a moment and just before Ochako is about to sigh in defeat she answers with: “I think I do, kero.”

“You think you do?” Ochako smiles sheepishly, wondering what that means.

“I’m not sure, Kero, but I’d like to find out.”

The smile she was met with was blinding, Tsuyu likes the rain but in this moment she decides she also loves the sun.

20 years old

Barely out of high school and already she’s seen enough to last a lifetime. Of both the good and the bad. But no matter what, coming home to her and Ochako’s shared apartment and seeing her girlfriend ready to greet her with a warm hug and a smile manages to wash it all away. Waking up next to the sun makes everything feel new again.

25 years old

Tsuyu smiles proudly as the engagement of the number 6 hero, Froppy, and the number 9 hero, Uravity, is announced. Everywhere people are cheering her, cheering her name. If it wasn’t about her excellent hero work it was about her enagement to Uravity. Though some believe it to be a stunt, when the two found themselves bumped up to number 8 and 5, many more were in support. Soon enough she was an icon to the LGBT community and proud of it. Though each day consisted of putting her life on the line, Froppy couldn’t be happier.

27 years old

Or that is what she thought until the day of their daughter’s birth came around. Froppy was leaping buildings just to make it and sure Ochako was already yelling at her while she climbs through the window. But as Tsuyu reaches for her wife’s hand and kisses the top of her head. As Ochako screams and squeezes Tsuyu’s hand until the frog girl is sure she’s gonna feel that cramp for the next week yet never winces once. As Ochako holds their baby, Kurumi, who already has the wide eyes and froggy smile of her mama, along with the round face and cute nose of her mother. As Tsuyu holds their baby while Ochako naps, cause she really deserves one, she thinks there couldn’t be a day more perfect than this. But she’s been wrong before, she thinks as the tears fall from her eyes as Kurumi reaches a small hand (that might become a little too big for her down the road) up and Tsuyu lets her tongue roll out of her mouth to touch the tip of her fingers with. This would probably look weird to anyone else who saw but right now it was just the two of them and the sleeping beauty in the hospital bed. And while Tsuyu looks at said beauty, whose sleeping habits never changed since they were in high school and the drool is definitely noticeable. She thinks yeah she’s been wrong before, but this will definitely be a hard one to top. Outside the window the sound of rain beginning to fall can be heard as a small frog sits on the windowsill looking in.

#bnha-fluff-week-2019 #time/seasons #tsuyu asui #uraraka ochako #tsuchako

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formlesscopycat · 5 years

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Meet Me at the Red Bridge

A Kuroko no Basuke fanfic.

Pairing: Aomine x Kise

Summary: Kuroko Tetsuya means well, he really does. So he takes matters into his own hands and goes into a mission to get his dumb friends, Aomine and Kise, together.

Read on AO3

He’s already fifteen minutes late to their meeting but Daiki doesn’t give a fuck, after all, it’s just his best friends, Tetsu and Satsuki, asking him to hang out with them on their stupid Valentine’s date.

He’s got nothing better to do than mope at home tonight, and honestly, Tetsu and Satsuki are infinitely more tolerable than watching his folks get lovey-dovey with each other. At least with his friends, they just hold hands and blush a lot like fuck, it only makes Daiki gag just a little bit. Add to it the ultimate deal breaker, Tetsu and Satsuki promised him free food, all the burgers and milkshakes that his appetite can hold, no holds barred, all Daiki gets to do is to show up on time.

Tetsu said they’ll wait for Daiki by the arched wooden red bridge overlooking the river, the one they always passed by on their way to and from Teiko.

5pm, sharp! Satsuki had reiterated. But to hell with punctuality, Tetsu and Satsuki should’ve accepted the fact that he, Aomine Daiki, Teiko Ace and future NBA star, had no sense of urgency in his bones.

Past the clearing, Daiki approaches the red bridge with careless, unhurried steps and braces himself for Satsuki’s inevitable tantrum. But instead of teal and pink heads, a splash of gold breaks into Daiki’s vision, the smoothest, softest-looking blond locks he’ll never mistake for anybody else no matter the distance. The other teen has kept his back turned towards Daiki, his lean, athletic frame half-bent against the red-painted railing, seemingly too engrossed with the rushing waters under the bridge that he fails to sense Daiki’s presence drawing near.

“Kise?”

There’s also an obvious mark of astonishment on the blond’s face, that of which on an equal level with Daiki’s, as soon as Kise pivots to face the Teiko Ace. For a moment, Daiki gets lost in his thoughts as he takes in Kise’s appearance, and he wonders how the hell Kise pulls off a look like that, casual yet quite dashing in camel-colored trench coat, layered over a knitted-gray turtleneck and dark skinny jeans.

“A-Aominecchi?” Kise stammers, his amber eyes blown wide like saucers.

“What are you doing here?” Daiki and Kise both ask at the same time. Daiki reflexively looks away out of embarrassment, and from the corners of his eyes, he’d noticed Kise do the same, almost furtively, and Daiki feels his cheeks heat up despite the February chill hanging in the air.

Predictably, it’s Kise who speaks first.

“I’m waiting for Kurokocchi, said he needs to tell me something important.” Kise clears his throat before adding, “I didn’t know you’re coming, too.”

Daiki likes to think that he didn’t just imagine the blush that briefly colored Kise’s cheeks just now.

But still, there’s something quite puzzling in their situation that Daiki can’t put a finger on.

“Huh? But I’m supposed to meet him and Satsuki, no mention of you, either!” Aomine exclaims.

“What?” Kise gets caught up in the confusion, as well. “Wait, you’re like, third-wheeling with Kurokocchi and Momoicchi?”

“Only for free food, yeah.”

“Aominecchi, it’s Valentine’s Day!”

“So?”

“So you ought to give the love birds some privacy!”

“This wasn’t my idea, Tetsu insisted that I tag along! And where the hell are those idiots, anyway?”

“Weird… ain’t likely for Kurokocchi and Momoicchi to run late like this.” With his thumb stroking his chin, Kise looks upwards into the afternoon skies already bathed in purples and oranges.

Daiki nods. Satsuki, at least, should’ve been here already. She hates being late. Daiki squints his eyes and searches around for Tetsu, but there are no traces of the Phantom Sixth Man anywhere. And how come nobody said that Kise’s coming along, too? It’s not likely that they’d just forget to mention this.

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Daiki pulls out his phone from his jacket pocket and immediately dials Tetsu’s number. After six rings, Tetsu finally picks up the call.

“Tetsu, where the hell are you and Satsuki?!” Aomine jabbers on the phone.

“Are you with Kise-kun?” Tetsu asks in his usual calm monotone.

“Yes, he’s here! Why didn’t you say he’s coming?”

“Put me on loudspeaker, Aomine-kun. I’d like to speak with you both.”

Still utterly clueless about what Tetsu could be up to, Daiki catches Kise’s eyes first, the latter meeting his gaze with an equally baffled look, before he taps the loudspeaker icon on his phone.

“Kurokocchi, where are you, is everything alright?” Kise inquires worriedly, sliding closer to Daiki as he holds out his phone.

“Listen,” Tetsu’s voice cackles through the phone’s speaker. “You two are huge dumbasses so I decided to make things easier for you both. I’m so fed up with the two of you mooning over each other all the time and not doing anything about it. Aomine-kun, you’re crushing hard on Kise-kun since the first time you saw him, aren’t you? You always like to poke fun at Kise-kun if just to hold his attention all the time. And don’t you dare deny, you secretly collect his photobooks, I knew because I saw the stash under your bed when the Miracles had a sleep over at your house!”

“What the--the fuck are you saying, Tetsu?!” Daiki shouts, already feeling an angry vein bulge and throb on his forehead. Holy shit, did Tetsu actually exposed him like that? He never expected to be pushed off the cliff of humiliation in this manner, his well-kept secrets divulged in the open, right in front of Kise, whose eyes are blown wider than Daiki has ever seen, the blond’s gloved hands are both clapped over his mouth. Daiki swears, he’ll definitely gut Tetsu when he sees him.

“Don’t interrupt, I’m not done yet,” Tetsu continues, with barely a hint of emotion in his voice, which makes it more scathing, somehow. “And you, Kise-kun. You’ve always admired Aomine-kun, too, right? And we’re not talking about his basketball skills. Too many stolen glances don’t escape me during practice.”

At this, Kise gasps and buries his face in both of his hands.

“Always… admired?” Daiki repeats, his mind barely keeping up with the information Tetsu has just revealed. This is certainly new, and Tetsu better not making this shit up or Daiki will hunt him down and kill him again.

“...And you can’t stop talking about ‘Aominecchi this, Aominecchi that’, I’m betting my milkshakes, you keep talking about him in your sleep.”

“Kurokocchi!” Kise lets out a muffled squeak, Daiki assumes the mortification gets too much for him to handle, too.

However, Tetsu, the little shit, is unstoppable. “...But you thought Aomine-kun only likes big-chested girls. Well, you’re wrong, he likes you. A lot. So there, enjoy your date. You can thank me later, bye.”

The line goes silent, as simple as that.

Dead air weighs around the two teens, stifling and awkward.

Daiki’s throat goes dry, he can’t look at Kise, running away and hiding forever in his bedroom seems like the most convenient option and yet, he freezes on the spot, his legs feeling like a ton.

He is going to fucking murder Kuroko Tetsuya.

“Is it--is it true, Aominecchi likes me?” Kise suddenly blurts out, snapping Daiki out of his homicidal thoughts.

“I don’t know what made Tetsu spout that crap. After all the help I gave, this is how he repaid me. What kind of friend is that?”

“Uh, okay.” Kise looks down, as if his boots are the most interesting things to look at in the world.

“Don’t mind him, Tetsu’s probably having a bad case of being a huge-ass prick,” Daiki puts in, waving his hand in the air dismissively.

Pressing his lips together in a tight line, Kise just nods and turns around to go.

“Hey, Kise, where are you going?”

“There’s no point of me being here, Aominecchi. You should go home, too.” Then Kise begins to run, the rows of wood slightly creaking against his steps.

Kise’s reaction makes Daiki’s thoughts swirl and churn into a messy heap but before he figures what to make out of the situation, Daiki’s reflex had pushed him to chase after Kise. As soon as he gains ground, he seizes the blond by the wrist in a tight clasp, the effort makes Kise wince.

Kise whirls around, enabling Daiki to get a good view of his face. He sees the slight trembling of the blond’s lips as he fights the urge to cry and Daiki doesn’t quite understand why, but the sight wrenches his heart painfully.

“Please let go, Aominecchi.”

There are a million things Daiki wants to say but how and where to begin, he has no freaking idea. And there are a million possible ways for things to go downhill from here, but he knows, he knows…

It’s worth a try.

Daiki swallows the lump lodged in his throat, tries to ignore the fluttering of a hundred butterflies in his stomach.

Now or never. Daiki pushes himself to take the leap of faith.

“I never said Tetsu was lying,” Daiki begins. He doesn’t know where his speech will lead him but he’ll say it, anyway. “Yeah, I like you… not as a friend, that is. And maybe I like you a lot, I think about you all the time. That’s a lot, right?”

It all sounds so lame, so absurdly lame, and Daiki had really wished he knew how to properly articulate the flurry of sentiments he’s kept to himself for so long, all coming down to these stupid impulses, how much he likes to look at Kise, and to be around Kise everyday, and how much he thinks about Kise when they’re not together.

The soft rustle of water beneath the red bridge seems to mark the moments slipping away as Daiki waits for Kise’s reaction, fretful and breathless, the silence that chased after Daiki’s words intensifying the roar of his own heartbeat.

Kise blinks, then a smile blooms from his lips. Daiki lets go of his hand.

“Aominecchi really likes me.”

Daiki shrugs his shoulders. It feels strangely pleasant coming from Kise. “‘kay. But what about you?”

“Same.”

“Same, what? Speak clearly, you idiot!”

“You can’t be mean to the person you like, Aominecchi!”

This is so unfair. He wants to hear it from Kise himself. Did Kise make him admit his feelings so he can poke fun at him?

A staring contest commences between them before Kise says quietly, “I always like you, Aominecchi. As in more-than-a-friend like.”

Daiki lets that sink in while steadily holding Kise’s gaze, he lets himself and Kise bask in the quiet comfort of finally letting the truth out.

“So uh, what do we do now?” Daiki is still clueless as to where the revelation will take the two of them, exactly.

“Would you, um, like to go out with me?” Kise asks, amber eyes shining with expectation.

“You mean, date? The two of us?”

“Yes, that.”

“Yeah, sure. I like that, Kise.” Daiki grins as he scratches the back of his head, disbelieving how ridiculously simple things are. They just agreed to date and that had been it. The prospect of going out with Kise starts to toy with his teenage fantasies and for a fleeting moment, an image crosses his mind, of Kise and himself kissing behind the lockers after practice. For sure, he’s earnestly looking forward to that. “We can start right now.”

Kise’s smile grows bigger. “And where would you like to go?”

Daiki thinks for a moment. “How about we hit the movies?” he suggests, vaguely remembering that couples always go to cinemas in those drama series that his mother enjoys. “But I didn’t bring money with me so you’ll have to pay for everything.”

“Eh? How can you leave the house without bringing money?” Kise scowls.

“I told you, Tetsu and Satsuki promised me free food, not a… a boyfriend. Anyway, I’ll let you choose the movie. If you want the latest chick flick, fine.”

“Alright, let’s do this! Be my, um, Valentine?”

Daiki isn’t sure how to respond to that, it’s all happening too fast.

And Kise doesn’t wait for his words, either, he just takes the initiative to entwine his and Daiki’s arms together. For a tad longer, Daiki takes it all in, he lets his eyes linger on the blond because Kise at that moment, is a picture of complete bliss and the ray of sunshine that is his smile brings so much warmth into Daiki’s heart.

-x-

Daiki, admittedly, has no first-hand experience on dating and it annoys him to an extent, that he keeps on second-guessing himself, so he still blames Tetsu for putting him in a tight spot.

In the cinemas, there’s nothing much to choose from except a handful of chick flicks, Daiki thinks he’ll just sleep through it. But the fact that Kise’s right beside him, their elbows touching, the two of them actually sharing the biggest bucket of honey-butter flavored popcorn, keeps Daiki awake and hyper-conscious of even the tiniest of Kise’s gasps all throughout the duration of the film.

After Daiki cleans his fingers with tissue, he debates whether he’ll hold Kise’s hand or put his arm around Kise’s shoulder. Both are equally nice, he thinks, and it’s not an easy choice. Just yesterday, Kise and himself are mere classmates, teammates, one-on-one buddies, yet today, they’ve gone through the friends-to-lovers phase quite fast, it’s a mixture of terrifying, confusing and incredibly wonderful feelings Daiki has to find a name for.

A moment later, Daiki feels Kise shift a little from his seat, gingerly sliding closer to lean his head on Daiki’s shoulder.

“I hope this is okay, Aominecchi,” Kise whispers. In response, Daiki slides his arm around Kise’s shoulders, making more room for the blond to get closer, his head now comfortably rested on the crook of Daiki’s neck. Daiki then puts his chin on top of Kise’s head, he sniffs on Kise’s hair and catches the scent of his shampoo. The freshest strawberries. Daiki likes it so much.

“This is more than okay,” Daiki drawls. He and Kise can stay forever like that.

-x-

It’s dark outside when they left the cinemas. Daiki barely understood the plot of the movie, he hadn’t really paid a lot of attention, but he did quite enjoy the feeling of having Kise’s body pressed against his, the warm, velvet smoothness of Kise’s hand on his skin. He remembers, though, that there are lots of kissing scenes, and now, he wonders if Kise would want to be kissed later and when would be the perfect time execute his plan (though he’s very worried too, that he might not be able to do it properly).

“What’re you thinking, Aominecchi?” Kise peers up at him, curious, honeyed eyes focused on Daiki’s features.

“Nothing,” Daiki replies, looking away.

“Are you thinking of me just now, hmm?” Kise teases with a slight tilt of his head to the side. There’s this mischievous smile playing on the corners of Kise’s lips and fuck, it’s doing these things to his heart again.

Daiki’s hand moves on its own, it has given Kise’s cheek a hard pinch.

“Ouch!” The blond yelps, gently stroking the tender spot on his face.

“That’s what you get for being so cheeky. I was thinking about what to eat.” Daiki feigns a little annoyance, then he pulls Kise’s arm. “C’mon, let’s go to Maji!”

But then Kise easily pouts, refusing to move from his spot. “No way, that’s not even a good place for dates. I’ve got a better idea!”

-x-

Daiki lets himself be dragged through several train stations, no questions asked, since he knows that his new model boyfriend is adept and more experienced at these kind of things for completely obvious reasons.

When they reached their destination, it’s not really what he has in mind so Daiki turns to Kise with raised eyebrows and asks, “What do we do here, exactly?”

“Oh, I’d be perfectly happy walking around and holding hands!” Kise chimes.

They arrived at Hanegi Park at half past seven in the evening, and of course, it’s bursting with people who came to admire the delicate plum blossoms in full bloom at this time of the year. The wide pathway leading towards the lake at the center of the park is lit by hundreds of hanging paper lanterns that gently flutter with the night breeze, bathing everything else under a soft yellow glow. With their hands intertwined, Kise leads Daiki past the countless stalls selling street food, flowers, toys and other trinkets, stopping at intervals to stuff themselves with whatever snack that rouses Daiki’s appetite. Daiki makes Kise buy mozzarella cheese dog, yakitori and several bowls of heart-shaped Umaki while Kise insists on getting taiyaki, on the belief that they bring great happiness, and though Daiki’s really not that fond of the sticky red bean filling, he chooses to humor Kise in the end, who whines and keeps making these cute, stupid faces until Daiki caves in.

-x-

They stroll past the plum orchard, treading through the bushes until they hear the loud pounding of a drum from somewhere. Curious and excited, Kise pulls Daiki to the direction of the drumbeat, making their way across the sea of people while being careful not to step on anybody’s foot. Their quest leads them to a crowded open field, and when Kise realizes what the drum is for, he gets even more restless.

“Calling all couples to come join the game!” A woman in megaphone announces before she swings and pounds on to the large, makeshift percussion before her. “First couple in piggyback to round up a hundred-meter dash across the field wins this little guy over here!” She points to a short girl with dark braided hair, her assistant, carrying a giant stuffed bunny.

And the look on Kise’s face, even before the blond utters a single word, tells Daiki where this leads to, so he makes his case and declares adamantly, “Don’t give me that look, I’m not gonna do that!”

“But Aominecchi, please?” There he goes again, wielding his silly little pout and stupid puppy eyes— rounder, softer under the glow of paper lanterns above their heads—and Daiki is certain that Kise knows the extent of his charms and just how much Daiki is powerless over them.

In defense, Daiki shakes his head and deliberately looks away. “No way, I’m not carrying you around!”

“Oh, but you don’t have to. I’ll carry you!”

“No, never!”

“Pretty, pretty please, Aominecchi, do you really love me?”

“Shut up, Kise!”

“But I want the bunny! I can carry you, I’m fast, we can totally win this!”

Daiki gives Kise a sharp, warning glare but the blond is relentless on his pursuit to play. He gives Daiki a shock, jaws unceremoniously dropping in awe just as Kise crouches in front of him, an imploring demand for Daiki to hop onto his back already.

“C’mon, Aominecchi!”

“You idiot! Get up!” His nostrils flaring, Daiki grumbles and yanks Kise’s upper arm, forcing the blond to stand on his feet despite vehement protests.

“Aominecchi, please I--”

“Shut up, I’ll carry you, I’m so much faster!” He bends his knees and swoops low before Kise.

“Huh?”

“What are you waiting for?” Daiki growls, “get on before I change my mind!”

After Kise throws his arms around Daiki’s shoulders, Daiki gets to his feet, hauling Kise high on his back by grabbing under the blond’s knees before he marches closer to the row of other couples preparing for the relay.

“On your mark!” The gamemaster yells.

“Ah, this is so nice, being carried off by Aominecchi like this,” he hears Kise murmur over his ear.

“This isn’t. You’re heavy, my spine’s about to snap.”

“Get set…”

Kise retaliates by hugging him tighter, nuzzling his face on Daiki’s nape, sending in waves upon waves of warm current to the tips of Daiki’s toes.

“Stop that, do you want us to win or not?”

A round of silvery laughter coming from Kise fills the air while Daiki feigns annoyance as much as he can, blanketing his words under a growl, to save face, because he won’t be caught dead admitting out loud just how much he loves the way Kise is making him feel, Kise’s arm draped around his shoulders, feather-light breath ghosting over the back of his neck, the soft thud of Kise’s heartbeat against his back.

The gamemaster’s whistle goes off, and Daiki’s legs break into a sprint, soon he’s soaring, soaring, towards the finish line, to the edge of his emotions, the wind against his face, Kise laughing behind him, chanting his name over and over, and then nothing else matters in the world except the two of them, earning a piece of heaven tonight, the beginning of many nights and days of making memories together, him and Kise.

-x-

He’s pretty sure it’s Satsuki who tells him that first kisses are like a thunderclap, a kind of explosion that resonates inside you, the crashing of waves against the shore. Tonight, Daiki has found out otherwise--his first kiss is much comparable to the break of dawn, warm sunlight that filters through the leaves of trees, the calm of the morning before everything else stirs to wakefulness. His first kiss hadn’t turned his world upside-down in an exhilarating fanfare as he initially pictured it to be, rather, it quiets everything in him, slowing all senses, all thoughts, to a standstill.

Much to Daiki’s delight, Kise lets himself be kissed more than once, as they sit together on the front step of the Kise house, the huge stuffed bunny perched raggedly beside Kise almost a foot away. And Daiki’s lack of experience poses no problems at all, because Kise has made it so easy, so effortless, as they slot their lips together and the sensation overwhelms Daiki just as he savors everything at once: soft lips pressed on his, shifting ever so carefully with each bated breath, fingers threading through his hair, Kise’s warmth washing over him, vibrant and comforting.

“Aominecchi, we should really thank Kurokocchi for this. I want to hug him and give him all the milkshakes in the world.” Kise tells Daiki when they pulled apart to catch their breath.

“Thank him however you want. But those hugs, they’re all mine from now on. And the kisses.”

“Okay, deal.”

Daiki leans in to kiss his boyfriend again, however, the momentum gets shattered when the front door suddenly bursts open.

“Ryou-chan, it’s cold out here, why don’t you and your boyfriend go inside?” A petite, blond woman in her pyjamas, the splitting image of Kise, peeks through the door and throws the two of them an impish gaze.

The intrusion startles them and both teens stood up at once. “Onee-chan, why are you still awake?”

“Good evening, Onee-san,” Daiki curtsies, bowing his head.

“Aomine-kun’s finally your boyfriend, huh? I’m so glad! I mean, it took you forever to confess!” Kise’s sister gushes, pressing both hands to her cheeks.

“Onee-chan—!”

Yet his sister ignores Kise, commenting, “and is that Aomine-kun’s gift to you? That’s so cute!” She wheezes as she inspects the enormous stuffed animal. Then she steps back, making way for her brother and Daiki to come in. “Get inside, love birds.”

“No, Aominecchi’s already leaving, he needs to catch the last train!”

“Are you sure? We can always set up the extra futon in your room, your boyfriend’s welcome to stay the night!” She teases with a sweet smile that’s almost identical to Kise’s but not quite. Daiki thinks that the smile he comes to love is far more radiant, somehow.

“Shoo, stop embarrassing me in front of my…” Kise awkwardly pauses, and he visibly stiffens. “Aominecchi!”

“Whatever you say, lil bro!” She singsongs, biting back a fierce laugh before she disappears behind the door.

Out of embarrassment, Kise sidles over to Daiki, nestling his forehead into Daiki’s chest to conceal his face. “I’m sorry, Aominecchi, my sister wants me miserable.”

“It’s okay, she’s only worried we’ll both catch a cold.” Daiki’s arms move on its own accord, wrapping Kise in a protective embrace. “You should get inside.”

“Aominecchi is such a sweet boyfriend,” Kise remarks, lifting his flushed face towards Daiki. “Had I known you’re like this, I wouldn’t have waited—“

Daiki shuts him up by closing the distance between their lips.

When Daiki pulls back, Kise still has both of his eyes shut.

“Kurokocchi’s mission is a huge success,” Kise quips, rather dreamily.

“Wow. Thinking of some other guy while kissing me.”

Kise’s eyes snap open. “It isn’t like that! Aominecchi is the only one who has my heart!” And then, “Oh!”

Too abashed by his own words, Kise gasps, clapping both hands over his mouth. An even deeper shade of crimson overtakes his face, Daiki notices with pure amusement, despite the scant amount of light slipping through one of the windows.

“God, that’s too much sap in one night.” Daiki palms his face with a slight shake of his head, a feeble attempt to hide the blush crawling on his own cheeks. “I’m leaving.”

“Alright, just go home.”

“But you were my home.”

“Oh my god, Aominecchi!”

Daiki lets go of Kise, and he runs away as fast as he can, out into the street, his heart drumming so hard it’s swelling with bliss, with inexplicable contentment.

Fuck. He thinks. He’s gone from a brick wall to a disgusting cheeseball in a span of one night.

But Daiki has no regrets.

#aokise #my fanfiction #valentines day #aokise discord #fluff

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paulisweeabootrash · 2 years

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First Impression Review: Ghost Stories

Okay. Sometimes, a piece of media is so notorious that you have to check it out for yourself. I've been hearing about this show for years.

Ghost Stories (originally 2000, English dub version 2005)

Episodes watched: 4

Platform: Crunchyroll

Satsuki and her younger brother Keiichiro are the new kids in town. There is an old abandoned school next to the one they are set to attend, and when they (and their new classmates Hajime, Leo, and Momoko) go in looking for their cat, they quickly discover it is extremely haunted. With the help of a conveniently-placed journal written by Satsuki's and Keiichiro's late mother Kayako (who attended that school as a child), they manage to escape, and in the process, they banish Amanojaku, a powerful entity that feeds off of fear, into the cat. Amanojaku (or should I say "the amanojaku"? it's treated like a name, but that's kind of like having a demon named Demon) then tags along in subsequent episodes, possessing the cat and acting as a combination guide and heckler who whines, snarks, and threatens the kids. Just think of Amanojaku as a combination of Beetlejuice Betelgeuse and Salem Saberhagen.

Anyway, this first misadventure also set up the main format and goal of the show: containing various supernatural entities haunting the area. The ghosts, centered around the old school but sometimes appearing elsewhere, were released from the place they were formerly locked away by some construction. In very monster-of-the-week fashion, the core group of these five kids use Kayako's journal -- and apparently the advice of Kayako herself, channeled in surprising and unwilling moments by Momoko -- to contain the various hauntings in the town by re-banishing the ghosts. As is typical for shows of this format, the truth of the hauntings stays effortlessly a secret among the main group, even after evidence of them is seen by others at school. Like a teacher getting dragged into a toilet by a yо̄kai, or Leo spontaneously bleeding from his fingers and literally flying on stage in clear sight of a stage crew that is fully aware they're not responsible for these effects. Nor does anybody even seem particularly concerned by the mundane dangers of repeatedly shifting other school activities into the abandoned building. It's entertaining despite those idiot plot tendencies, though, because at least the different hauntings are different. This is also a particular type of show I have a soft spot for, I guess; I am, after all, a Sailor Moon and Buffy fan.

But none of that is why I've heard of this, and it's probably not why you have, either. You may not even have any idea what the plot was. (I sure didn't.) No, it's probably because of the extreme liberties given to the English dub's staff. In fact, based on the clips floating around, I'd always gotten the impression that the English staff completely abandoned the original story and made up a whole new one, but it's too coherent for that. Really, what's clear after watching a few episodes is that they kept to the general outline of the story but substituted in lines topical to their audience. This is not an unusual practice in and of itself; it's part of the tradeoff of localization that all shows have to make. What's different and infamous about Ghost Stories is that, in the process, they turned a serious show into another of the edgy animated comedies of the 2000s.

Although not as extreme as the standards of that genre like South Park, it has the same sensibilities, especially with the over-the-top rewriting of Momoko into a Born-Again caricature and its injection of wildly-age-inappropriate topics into the kids' conversations. If that's not the kind of thing you want to watch, you can skip this show with little fear that you're missing out on some iconic piece of pop culture. If it is the kind of thing you want to watch, though, this show may be unironically entertaining. And if you're me, you will also increasingly wonder what the original was like. I'd like to not only finish this dub but also rewatch it with a more faithful translation to see how it lands when taking itself seriously. Especially since Ghost Stories in its original format was popular and remains fairly positively-reviewed in Japan, contrary to popular belief. And especially since there's a lot more dub to go with a lot more top to go over, if other out-of-context clips I've seen are any indication.

-----

W/A/S: 3 / 4 / decline to rate / ?!

Weeb: Some familiarity with yо̄kai might help, but they're described explicitly in the show within a monster-of-the-week format. So it's not really any more foreign to Americans than something that mashes up mythologies like Supernatural or Buffy. For the most part, the dub fills the show with localized and no-longer-topical American references, so difficulties understanding it will more likely be due to time than place.

Ass: Lowbrow Japanese sex comedy meets lowbrow American sex comedy, at least where Hajime is concerned. Not fancervicey but also not family-friendly.

Shit (writing): How do I fairly rate something on this scale when it's intentionally cringey, at least in this adaptation? Well, I can point out that it's mixed in how well it achieves that. At its best, this show is irreverent and points out problems with its own source material. At its worst, it has some uncomfortable jokes that land on the lighter end of actual bigotry. Or just baffling.

Shit (other): This show is better-drawn than I expected, since it came to me with a reputation for being awful, and man, I specifically love the painted backgrounds of the pre-digital-everything era of anime. However, it's still not good. There are rushed-looking shots and off-looking faces, most of the elements that are presumably supposed to scary are just baffling or silly instead, and the occasional use of pointless and distractingly-bad CG (I'm looking at you, "dramatically turning a corner" shot in ep. 1) does not help.

Content: Like I said, it's 2000s "edgy" comedy. It probably won't be genuinely triggering or disgusting, which is generally what I reserve content notes for, but it does definitely say some things just to shock you.

-----

Stray thoughts quotes:

- "Monsters only get evil people like Republicans, and we're not old enough to vote."

- "All human are idiots, and human children are even worse."

- "If you hear it, you die. Like The Ring and that tape. Or something else from Japan."

#weeaboo trash #first impression review #ghost stories

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lozshop · 5 years

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Top 5 best stuffed animals for Christmas

New Post has been published on https://lozshop.com/top-5-best-stuffed-animals-for-christmas/

Top 5 best stuffed animals for Christmas

My Neighbor Totoro is probably the film with the most iconic Ghibli character. Totoro is one of the main characters of My Neighbor Totoro and is considered a symbol of Studio Ghibli. It can be said that Totoro is attached to the childhood of each of us, it is a favorite character of children all over the world.

And when you are a child, there are a few things that make you feel as comfortable and safe as your favorite stuffed animals. Nothing can beat the rush of holding your dearest plush toy when you run into your parents’ room in the morning and jump on their bed. That’s why choosing the right stuffed toy for your toddler or toddler is essential to giving them the same feeling as you when you are their age. In this article, we introduce the Top 5 Best Totoro Stuffed Animal For Christmas.

1. Gray Totoro Plush

This is one of the most popular Totoro stuffed animals. This stuffed animal is inspired by the big Totoro: has grey fur and beige belly with grey arrows on his chest. When it comes to children, cuddling is the best, and Gray Totoro Plush is one of the softest stuffed animals to love. Available as a boy or girl, this adorable and hugely friendly animal is safe for children without buttons or beads falling or swallowing. If you’re a cute Totoro fan then you’ll definitely like this stuffed animal. Or you can buy it for your child, or give it to a friend.

Stuffed animals have different sizes for you to choose from: 30 – 40 – 50cm

2. Gray Totoro Plush With Lotus Leaf

This stuffed animal was inspired by one of the most adorable scenes in My Neighbor Totoro: One rainy night, the girls are waiting for Tatsuo’s bus and Totoro appears beside them, allowing Satsuki to see him for the first time. He has only a leaf on his head for protection against the rain, so Satsuki offers him the umbrella she had taken along for her father. Totoro is delighted at both the shelter and the sounds made upon it by falling raindrops. This soft and cuddly stuffed animal will provide hours of fun and it is ideal for hugging and makes a good nighttime companion.

See more One Punch Man Plush 2019 : https://onepunchman.store/plush

3. Cute Totoro Plushes 3 color 15 cm

Made of plush, your kid will love hugging this Totoro plush. Moreover, there are three choices for you: Big Totoro, Medium Totoro and Small Totoro corresponding to 3 different colors: gray, blue and white. Incredibly soft plush material makes these cute plushies extra huggable. It is machine-washable, so when it gets dirty you can just toss it into the washing machine without a worry. If you are a true Totoro fan, this item will be a great choice for you.

This Stuffed Totoro will make the perfect companion for a boy or a girl.

4. Grey Totoro Plush Neck Protect Pillow U-shaped

You will definitely like this Totoro neck pillow. It has a very special, creative and eye-catching design. This super cute baby stuffed animal is not only a fun toy for your little one, but also doubles as an ultra soft pillow. The feel of plush on their skin can be very soothing and will instantly make it a favorite sleeping companion. It is great that this Totoro is machine-washable so you don’t have to fuss when cleaning it.

5. Totoro Fluffy Cat Bus Plush

Cat bus is also one of the most popular characters in My Neighbor Totoro. The lovely cat bus always appears to help Satsuki and Mei with Totoro. It is ideal for hugging and makes a good nighttime companion. If you want to be like Satsuki and Mei, go everywhere with a cat bus, don’t hesitate to add this stuffed animal to your Ghibli items collection right away.

It has sizes of 30 – 40 – 50 cm for you to choose from.

Abow is Top 5 Totoro Plush for kid which we have suggested for you. But these are just a few cute Totoro stuffed animals. And that’s certainly not enough. If you want to discover more, you can see more Studio Ghibli Merchandise at Ghibli Shop .

#Uncategorized #loz #lozblocks #nanoblocks #diamondblocks #miniblocks #ministreet #blocks

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dweemeister · 7 years

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My Neighbor Totoro (1988, Japan)

Studio Ghibli was off to a flying start with Castle in the Sky (1986). But like Walt Disney Animation Studios in its formative years, Ghibli would also encounter early troubles. For Ghibli’s second feature film, producers Toru Hara and Toshio Suzuki – Suzuki would become Studio Ghibli’s primary producer after Hara’s departure – thought they could easily convince executives at Toho Company to finance a children’s film including woodland creatures in post-War Japan. Toho executives thought the project was too risky and initially rejected the pitch; the post-War period was still associated with poverty and nationwide suffering. Soon after, Hara and Suzuki would return to Toho to propose a double bill: Totoro alongside an adaptation of the semiautobiograhpical novel, Grave of the Fireflies. They believed that Grave of the Fireflies would draw a wider general audience due to the novel’s popularity as assigned reading in schools, but then Toho executives blasted the idea: “We really didn’t want to make a film about monsters! So now you want to make a film about graves?”

Hara and Suzuki perhaps should have realized that Japanese wartime films had fallen out of favor decades ago among Japanese audiences enjoying their nation’s post-War economic recovery. Numerous wartime films and post-War films reflecting on Japan’s role in WWII – typically repentant, deeply introspective, and unfortunately unknown to most Westerners – had been released in the 1950s and 60s, but Masaki Kobayashi’s punishing Human Condition trilogy (1959-1961) might have been the breaking point. After Hara and Suzuki’s second rejection, things looked hopeless for Studio Ghibli. But the publishing house of Grave of the Fireflies, Shinchosha, and Akiyuki Nosaka (author of Grave of the Fireflies) provided Ghibli enough financial support to have both films produced simultaneously. Neither film would exist without the other. Hayao Miyazaki would direct Totoro; Isao Takahata would direct Fireflies. Where it would take almost two decades for Grave of the Fireflies to be fully appreciated by Western and Japanese audiences (the latter begrudgingly so), My Neighbor Totoro would be an instant phenomenon. Though Miyazaki’s film exists within safe confines, it is a wildly entertaining, fantastical romp through the woods, and deserves its status as an icon of Japanese animation.

It is a summer in the mid-1950s. University professor Tatsuo Kusakabe and his two young daughters – Satsuki (the elder daughter) and Mei (four years old) – have moved to a rural house surrounded by a lush forest. Satsuki and Mei’s mother is in a regional hospital, recovering from what is implied to be tuberculosis; her absence is a source of sadness underneath the girls’ frolicsome personalities. Minutes after arriving at their new house for the first time, the girls encounter hundreds of dark dust-like mites with eyes. On another day, Mei runs into two leporine creatures that lead her inside an enormous tree where she finds “Totoro” – pictured above, and is described by Miyazaki as, “not a spirit,” but, “only an animal... [that] lives on acorns”. Totoro – this name is derived from Mei’s mispronunciation of “torôru” (”troll” in Japanese) – takes Mei and, later, Satsuki on a variety of wild adventures. A few of these adventures include Catbus – a form of transportation bound to give some riders a nasty allergic reaction (when the great Akira Kurosawa met with Hayao Miyazaki and expressed how much he adored Catbus, Miyazaki was speechless to hear that from one of his cinematic heroes). Among their new human friends includes Kanta, who is Satsuki’s age, and Kanta’s grandmother, “Granny”.

Miyazaki’s previous two films, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) and Castle in the Sky (1986), established a mode of storytelling that the director would carry into many of his later films: a headstrong, morally unimpeachable girl that possesses or accesses magical forces befriending a boy that never really develops as a character but is there as support. Totoro is, along with Porco Rosso (1992), the only early Miyazaki Ghibli film that approaches the narrative in a different direction. Instead, this film concentrates on the sisterhood between Satsuki and Mei. With no villains threatening to tear up the countryside or post-apocalyptic monsters on a rampage, Miyazaki allows these two girls the freedom to express their youthful curiosity and sense of fun. That lack of conflict extends to Mei’s first meeting with Totoro. Instead of recoiling in fear from the heaving mass of whiskered gray and white with lengthy claws snoring in a tree’s hollow, Mei squeals with delight, climbing onto Totoro’s body, and beaming at her newfound sleepyhead friend-who-doesn’t-know-he’s-about-to-make-a-new-friend. Watching that scene, whatever cynicism I carried with me into my first viewing of the film ceased to be. You just know that, no matter what kind of sticky situations these girls mind be in, Totoro and company will be there to make things right. This is a rare children’s animated film without villains, malice. Few films are as reassuring as Totoro is.

A scene waiting a bus stop illustrates some of that delight. Satsuki and Mei are waiting for their father at a bus stop in the woods on a rainy day – the trees block out a considerable amount of light during the daytime, and dusk is soon turning into night (pictured above). Their father is late, and there is a single light around. Totoro drops in quietly, with a single leaf on his head – ostensibly, to stay dry. It’s an absurd, comical moment, dispelling with any simple equations of darkness with danger. For first-time and hundredth-time viewers, the feelings here are not of dread for their father’s tardiness and the children’s loneliness, but of comfort.

However, that does not mean My Neighbor Totoro is without pain. The real world calls Satsuki and Mei home through the health of their mother. With no macro-themes to depict, no humanistic messages to espouse, the pain that Satsuki, Mei, and their father go through is largely beyond their control, and is deeply personal. Perhaps there is no greater fear a child might have than to lose a parent or guardian. That fear is a backdrop, a faint current that remains even in the most joyful scenes. Not that this fear of potential loss distracts from Satsuki and Mei’s play, but it informs both girls’ desire to escape and be themselves where adults might not be able to.

What both Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies accomplish in very different ways is their ability to adopt a child’s perspective and stay there. Some children’s films where children are central characters initially adopt a child’s perspective but, by design, must later incorporate adult sensibilities (2006′s Akeelah and the Bee, 2011′s Hugo). Other children’s films probably could benefit if they remained exclusively from a child’s perspective (1964′s Mary Poppins, still fantastic nevertheless). But Totoro, like The Learning Tree (1969) and Children of Heaven (1997, Iran), is one of very few films that keep with Satsuki and Mei’s views of the world surrounding them. How they interpret new people, places, things, and animals is what Miyazaki is interested in. When they speak of their curious experiences with Totoro to their father or Granny, the adults smile and question Satsuki and Mei about their adventures – never condescending, mocking. They accept these stories as true, even if the girls’ father never witnesses Totoro’s dramatic seed-growing ceremony out in his own front yard late at night (here, I gesticulated at the screen, whisper-shouting, “Dad! Look outside!” There is a magic there long lost on adults, but those adults are never discouraging of those views (sparing viewers from a tiresome “my dad doesn’t think so-and-so is real, so I have to prove him wrong” subplot). Totoro is no innovator in its depiction of children – even when just counting animated films – but the formula it uses for those depictions is just right.

The earliest Studio Ghibli films – from Nausicaä to parts of Only Yesterday (1991) – boasted watercolor backgrounds that invited viewers into each film’s artistry, and My Neighbor Totoro is no different. Kazuo Oga served as art director for his first of many Ghibli films – whether as art director or a background artist – and uses softer colors, as well as pastel-like browns for thicker foliage in the foreground. This colorful softness gradually disappeared from successive Ghibli films, as this would have clashed with the violence seen in Princess Mononoke (1997) and with the advent of computer animation and digital paint – which was not advanced enough at the time to replicate the watercolor backgrounds of the earlier Ghibli films. For the animators working under Oga, many were staffers that were pulling double shifts for Grave of the Fireflies and Totoro – at work, many of these animators found themselves confused about which movie they were working on that day. That only serves to speak for the superior animation found in both works.

Influenced by Japanese pop and the electronic music emerging from Japan in the 1970s and early ‘80s, composer Joe Hisaishi’s first three Ghibli film scores are synthesizer-heavy (Nausicaä, Castle in the Sky, Totoro). That fusion of electronic and Western classical music sources is most apparent in Totoro, which is the last Hisaishi-scored film with a heavy electronic presence. Though the title song, sung by Azumi Inoue, is a delightful, earworm-developing listen, one of the most dated parts of the movie is its music. Numerous electronic-heavy film scores from the 1970s and 80s have aged poorly (see most anything composed by Vangelis; among Ghibli films, Nausicaä’s experimental electronics are distracting), and the film’s setting of the mid-1950s does not help matters. But the motif established in the title song helps a largely episodic plotline, and Hisaishi knows exactly when to use Totoro’s theme in his score for the first time after the opening credits.

In North America, My Neighbor Totoro had a troubled distributive history. For Miyazaki – who has always maintained a distance from Western film distributors – various cuts made to Nausicaä’s Western release saw the Ghibli co-founder adopt a hard-knuckle approach to Totoro’s North American distribution. The issue stemmed from a scene where Satsuki, Mei, and their father are all bathing together – a Japanese cultural norm. For 20th Century Fox, 50th Street Films, and the now-defunct Streamline Pictures, this would not do. Totoro would not be distributed in North America until 1993 and, as far as I could find, may or may not have been screened without cuts. If American studios thought Nausicaä and Totoro were controversial and offended the morality police, this is not even beginning to delve into Isao Takahata’s films.

But in Japan, with the box office failure of the Totoro-Fireflies double bill, Ghibli needed a box office hit to stay afloat. Financial salvation came the year after, as Miyazaki’s Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) outgrossed all previous Studio Ghibli movies combined and was the top draw at the Japanese box office that year. Takahata’s Only Yesterday would cement Ghibli’s existence as it also became the highest-grossing Japanese film of its year. Like Walt Disney Animation Studios before it (the costs of Fantasia and Pinocchio and the loss of the European box office to WWII nearly bankrupted Disney, with Dumbo and The Reluctant Dragon to the rescue), a difficult infancy was overcome, with even more beauty yet to come.

No other Studio Ghibli movie, arguably, has had a greater impact on popular culture than My Neighbor Totoro. Its appeal to children and adults is self-evident. And though this is not a work that pushes any cinematic boundaries (Totoro is meant for animation – would you want to see Totoro in a live-action remake?), this is as comforting and entertaining as movies get.

My rating: 8.5/10

^ Based on my personal imdb rating. Half-points are always rounded down. My interpretation of that ratings system can be found here.

#My Neighbor Totoro #Hayao Miyazaki #Studio Ghibli #Joe Hisaishi #Toru Hara #Toshio Suzuki #Kazuo Oga #My Movie Odyssey

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