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#sorry if I screwed up the Japanese I just have fun practicing
scalpel-mom-mori · 3 years
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Chrome Archlight voicelines
So, because I'm in need of practice and I'm just generally curious, I decided to translate A Chrome's lines. My Chinese isn't very good lol so these are going to be rough but! It'll be a fun time. Please look elsewhere if you want better translations.
If I like it enough, I'll do some more :D
CN Wiki
Sorry for any inconsistencies lmao I did like half of these in the middle of the night. Send me a message if you want to be tagged if/when I do more of these! My notes are in parentheses lol
Google docs ver
Construct joins:
Strike Hawk's team leader Chrome, reporting for duty. Hello, Commandant of Grey Raven, you wouldn't have happened to see my teammate Kamui, would you?
Level up:
It's important to keep improving yourself.
Promote:
Thank you for the promotion.
(Note here, 承蒙was used instead of 謝謝 or 多謝. 承蒙 is an honorific expression of gratitude if I'm not mistaken.)
Evolve:
Strict self-discipline, lead by example, never stop improving.
Skill upgrade:
So this is the Grey Raven's tactical training.
(Bro, I just stuck this in gtranslate ;0; Came out something like "turns out Grey Raven adopted such a tactical exercise method” but I thought that was kind of awkward.)
Equip weapon:
A weapon's strength is determined by its user.
Added to team:
Roger. Strike Hawk's Chrome, reporting for duty.
(Here, Chrome uses the phrase 在此加入, while in his Construct join line, he uses 在此報道. 在此報道 literally means reporting for duty, but tbh "here to join" didn't seem quite right. For "roger," he uses 是 which is comparable to hai in Japanese. Hai, in this context is usually translated as “sir” or “yes sir” but I just went with roger lol. I'm sure there's another phrase that actually is the equivalent to roger or ryokai)
Team leader:
Currently locating its position.
(This one seemed incomplete to me, but Strike Hawk is a recon team I believe, so it does make sense. I just think he'd be more specific than that lol)
Mission complete 1:
Please review the results, Commandant.
General greeting 1:
Strike Hawk usually operates individually, so we have our own communication channels for while we're on missions.
General greeting 2:
After confirming the route, ensure that no one will act rashly. I don't want to get complaints from other teams. Ah, forgive me, Commandant. I was just talking to my team members.
(Ugh this one was so hard ;-; probably screwed something up cri)
General greeting 3:
Commandant, concerning the most recent joint mission, I need to debrief with you as soon as possible. Do you have time now?
(Mmm, I was just guessing at the debrief part. He needs to talk to you about the most recent joint mission but I'm not sure of the exact wording he used.)
General greeting 4:
"Strike Hawk member stationed with Grey Raven Stronghold 101" This is... Kamui's handwriting. Apologies for the trouble, Commandant.
(Not super sure on the note from Kamui but omg lay off him, Chrome. Kamui is best boi)
General greeting 5:
What's wrong Commandant? Is there something that needs to be done? You keep staring at me. My... hair is messed up?
General greeting 6:
What is there to like about normal things? It may be that organized things process more smoothly, which is easier on the ocean ego.
(Ocean ego is a term used by veteran players in their translations, so that's the term I picked. As for the normal/organized thing, think of it like computer processing. Kinda unsure but, it's translated.)
General greeting 7:
Concerning Kamui's temporary deployment application... It's not that I disagree, it's just that if you need assistance, I would also like to help.
(“It’s not that I disagree” is a pretty literal translation. Could also be interpreted as “It’s not that I won’t approve it.”)
General greeting 8:
Regardless of whether it's in combat or in spirit, a team leader must be strictly disciplined and lead by example. The most important thing is to guarantee safety. As long as you understand my meaning.
General greeting 9:
Your private communication channel has been established.
General greeting 10:
If you ever have an emergency, you need to contact me immediately (with our private communication channel). I will be there immediately.
(For this one, I feel like specifying that it's through Chrome and commandant's private channel is unnecessary lol)
General greeting 11:
I want to win every victory for you./ Every victory I win is for you
(Two versions, because the first one is really literal.爲你 is basically “with you in mind” or “for your sake” and the literal translation can be interpreted as he’s doing your work)
General greeting 12:
You have already become my ambition. If you have favorites, I would like to be first among them.
(Okay that second sentence is kind of loosely translated lol. Literally it's "If you have rankings in your heart, I want to be first place" which Idk. I don't particularly like my translation either, but it's less janky.)
Affection increase 1:
Born to excel is… a boring concept, no?
(I think what he’s trying to say is the idea that one is born into greatness is a boring idea lol)
Affection increase 2:
… Many thanks.
Affection increase 3:
Kamui seems to have hit his Inver-device again. Forgive me, I need to go take care of that.
Affection increase 4:
Commandant, please don’t spend money on me.
Affection increase 5:
Perfection is… doing your best, regardless of the odds.
Affection increase 6:
Commandant, do you think honor is more important than safety?
Affection increase 7:
I would like the chance to discuss strategy with the Commandant.
Affection increase 8:
If I may, I would like to know what the Commandant likes.
Affection increase 9:
I want to become your shield, your fortress. I want to become your final answer.
Affection increase 10:
This is the best gift I have ever received.
Affection increase 11:
You are the solution to the world’s ailments.
Affection increase 12:
The gift I’d hoped to receive the most… is already before my eyes.
Idle 1:
Commandant, don’t let your guard down.
(He specifies that it’s during a mission in CN but it’s an idle line so /shrug)
Idle 2:
I look forward to fighting with you, Commandant.
Idle 3:
I am searching for an answer, but the holder of answers… does not say a word.
(I didn’t really know how to translate this one lol. “the holder of answers” is 答案的所有者, which is literally “the owner of answers” but like :p wakaranai.)
Idle 4:
Did something happen? … Nothing, don’t worry. I will be here.
Extended online time 1:
Please remember to rest, Commandant.
Extended online time 2:
Right now is not the time to work, Commandant. As a human, you need plenty of rest to ensure the quality of your work.
Extended online time 3:
Extended time linking minds can cause irreparable psychological damage. Stop overexerting yourself or I will be forced to take disciplinary measures.
Extended online time 4:
Whatever you want me to do, just promise me… you won’t do anything that will harm you, okay?
Connection made 1:
Good day, Commandant.
Connection made 2:
Commandant, you’re here. The new assignment has already been sent. Please give the order.
(This one’s kind of weird. Basically, he’s asking you to approve the assignment he’s sent you.)
Connection made 3:
For now, I’ll assist the Gray Ravens, so please tell me what needs to be done.
(This is a pretty loose translation, but it gets the point across.)
Connection made 4:
It’s good to see you, Commandant.
Connection made 5:
I think I can understand why Kamui is always here.
(ugh okay nerd time, the English just doesn’t convey how much I love this line in CN, but I don’t know how to render it in English without changing it significantly. Literally, it’s like “Why is Kamui always here? I think I can understand his… feelings” but like ugh. You get the point. It’s very much a realization that the Commandant and Grey Raven are people he really enjoys being around and ugh. Am in my feelings about it.)
Connection made 6:
Chrome, online, on standby.
(Not 100% sure of how to translate 聽從指令. Literally, it’s “hearing orders” but I can’t remember the exact phrase in military jargon help ;0;)
Extended offline time 1:
Excellent. I’ve been waiting for you, Commandant.
(So, I think some of Chrome’s lines are missing lol, because the cn wiki only lists one extended time away line, but I’m pretty sure there’s four per unit lol.)
Shake 1:
What is it? A corrupted attack?
Shake 2:
Disorienting…Stay awake, Chrome.
(Mm “Disorienting” was literally dizziness/vertigo. Chrome is really too serious for his own good.)
Shake 3:
Is it… Kamui, or the Commandant? What are they doing?
Quick tap 1:
This… is improper.
(Literally “does not conform to etiquette” but he’s not that stuffy lol)
Quick tap 2:
Is there something wrong?
(Not necessarily in the ‘made a mistake’ sense. I don’t really know how to explain this one. He’s kind of asking “is there somewhere my uniform’s untidy” more than did he do something wrong.)
Quick tap 3:
Please, don’t do that… it’s… a bit… strange…
Activity at max:
Rest is over. Strike Hawk Chrome requesting an envoy mission.
(Not too sure about this one lol. That’s the literal translation but usually activity max lines are reminders to get your rewards lol)
Begin battle:
Pioneers seek victory.
Battle skill 1:
Bring out all your strength
Battle skill 2:
I hope you are satisfied with this
Battle skill 3:
Get behind me
Signature (ultimate):
Go and meet your end
Injured:
Requesting medical assistance
Danger:
Everyone be on guard, change of plans
(Not too sure about this one, but close enough ;-;)
Knocked out:
… I still have more to do
(Literally, “this is a dereliction of duty”)
Assist:
Strike Hawk, team leader Chrome, here to support.
QTE:
Is this all?
Victory:
I promised you I would bring you a victory/ Here is the victory I promised you.
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pearl-blue-musings · 3 years
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Grow as We Go: part 4.5
Part 4.5
Pairing: Shinsou Hitoshi x fem!reader
Warnings: language, drug use, angst
Note: there’s writing in between some of the pictures so be wary! And it’s long so sorry not sorry
Masterlist
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Obviously you weren’t fine but you wanted to let it go. As tired as you were from your flights and semi settling in, you still wanted to see your friends again. You knew it was rare for all of you to be together like this so who were you to miss out on this gathering? So screw being tired! Screw being exhausted! Damnit you were gonna have fun!
That was until you walked in.
Midoriya was overjoyed and surprised to see you that he practically tackled you upon entering the penthouse. Your laughter caught the attention of the other guest as more of your old friends had raised eyebrows and widened eyes upon seeing you. It was overwhelming, but not in a bad way. You had missed them and they missed you. Denki was the first to comment that you had arrived with Kirishima but you and he waved it off as two friends helping each other out. Sero, already high, greeted you with a soft hug not entirely believing you were there.
You tried your best to not feel the intense stare of deep purple eyes on you as you made your rounds. You had known your ex best friend was going to be here but you didn’t want to let that ruin your night; and it seemed like he didn’t either. It was all fine and dandy until Shoto came up, towering over you with a look that could kill. He said no words, just using his intimidating presence at the entry way to try and keep you there? Was anyone else seeing this or was it just you?
“Dude, you’re too close. Back up.”
Heterochromatic eyes matched red ones next to you as Kirishima put a hand on Shoto’s shoulder. Your brows furrowed in confusion, just what the hell is his problem? You see Shoto release a breath and back up, whispering a sorry.
After that, things seemed fine but a nagging feeling at the back of your head prevented you from being sane. When you had made the chat you were just looking for some low key companionship as you didn’t want to interrupt too many people reuniting. But then you found out that there were “friends” who weren’t comfortable with you, and by friends just Shoto and Shinsou, you resorted to drowning the night away in your favorite drink.
Kaminari could sense your outsider syndrome and took you to do shots to ease your nerves. One shot with him turned into three more with Sero and Mina who arrived later, into five shots and betting games.
Needless to say, you quickly found yourself loosening up. In a good way as you were having fun but also emotionally.
You weren’t aware of what was going on around you in the kitchen for the most part, keeping to yourself as a way to appease the host. Head spinning from the amount of liquor you had in a short time, you desperately look for a way out to breathe. Your thoughts are overwhelming you and you need to escape.
Why would Monoma end your relationship like that? Why couldn’t you tell Hitoshi the truth? Is there something wrong with you because you left? Are they suddenly hating the way you look because you’re not Japanese? Fuck you need to get out.
So you head out toward the balcony.
You were alone for the most part, fighting the crazy thoughts in your mind that are yelling louder than all the sound around you.
You don’t hear the door opening a second time or smell the scent of weed dripping off your intruder.
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It takes you while to realize what or rather who has joined you on the balcony. You hadn’t realized tears had fallen from your eyes until you hear it above your ruminating brain. You had taken a seat on one of the comfy chairs that overlooks the city when you turn your attention to your new guest.
He’d gained some more muscle from the last time you had seen him which was new. His hair had gotten a little longer but it was nice to see. He was clearly enjoying himself until his eyes landed on you.
The two of you froze upon realizing that you were both aware of each other. Your heart skipped a beat which had startled you. You see him take a puff from the joint between his fingers and he starts to turn away.
“Could I get a hit?”
You didn’t think he’d share but you see the joint being handed to you and take it in your hands. There’s still a light on the end of it so you quickly inhale to have a different feel invade your body.
The silence is heavy between you two. Years of unearthed words and emotions hang in the air as you continue to pass the joint between you too. You got the courage to move closer to him in order for the passing to be quicker.
“I didn’t think you’d do this kind of thing.”
“Well being overseas and being away can change a person.”
“Yeah no kidding.”
His baritone voice shook you in a way you weren’t familiar with. You think you’re being too comfortable, he needs to be angry with you so why is he sharing?
“Look, Shinsou, I’ll leave so you can-“
“Why the fuck did you leave?”
The both of you said this at the same time and your eyes widen at that. You chuckle slightly to ease the awkwardness a little.
“I’m sorry,” you apologize, “I, I’m not ready to talk about it... not yet.”
He passes you the joint one more time before he leaves you alone on the balcony,
“I don’t know why I’m doing this, but I’ll wait.”
You do your best to hide your smile as he walks away, but your tears end up giving it away. “I’d like that.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was getting long so I’ll have to cut it off for now!
Taglist: @cupcake-rogue @chefakari @angelofdarkness1020 @multifixx @auberykirishima
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petri808 · 3 years
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@thenaluarchive falling/color changing leaves prompt
Nalu AU ficlet
The student exchange program of Kyoto University provided their students with an opportunity to learn English in Hawaii through an immersion process, while bringing students from Hawaii to learn Japanese in the same method. Since it’s not always easy to study abroad, they’re partnered with a local student, and Natsu Dragneel was one of those lucky recipients. From the moment he’d arrived in Japan, he knew this would become the best decision of his life.
“Hello and welcome Dragneel san,” the young blonde woman bowed to him, “my name is Lucy Heartfilia and I will be your mentor during this exchange.”
“It’s nice to meet you Lucy, ehrm, Lucy san,” Natsu bowed nervously. “Sorry,” he scratched his head with a silly smile, “I tried practicing, but it still feels weird to me.”
The young woman chuckled. “There’s nothing to apologize for, it’s why I’m here, to help you adjust and to learn the language and customs. Please follow me.”
She lead them to the station of Narita airport, where they started their 4 hour train ride to Kyoto. Along the way, Lucy gave Natsu an introduction to the university, the surrounding area, and answered any general questions he had. The place he would be residing in was a small apartment contracted by the school, because unlike back home, Kyoto University didn’t have their own dorm buildings.
“Oh, and where do you live?” He questioned.
“Not far from you in my own apartment.”
“Wow! You have your own place?!”
Lucy smiles, “my family lives in Shizuoka, so I dorm just like you.”
“Is it rude of me to ask, why, you know, because you don’t look...”
“Japanese?” She laughs. “I don’t mind answering. “My father was an American military commander at the base in Shizuoka where he met my mother who is half American, half Japanese. Pretty much a product of the Second World War. After he retired, they stayed in Japan. So, I am born and raised here despite not looking like it.”
“You’re so lucky,” Natsu sighs. “I grew up with the Japanese culture in Hawaii so I’ve always dreamt of coming here to live and work one day.”
“Well, in that case,” she smiles sweetly, “this is the beginning of making that dream a reality.”
Fall semester began on October 1st and Natsu adjusted well enough despite his language barrier. It helped that his friendly and outgoing nature won people over quickly. His familiarity with the culture was also a benefit and much of his time was spent ogling all the sites around him. The city was an amazing blend of old and new, urban and natural environments!
His mentor Lucy was really the best part of the whole experience. She went above and beyond to help him both adjust and tutor him in the language. When he’d arrived just two months earlier at the end of September, Natsu only had a basic level of Japanese under his belt and now, he was navigating simple interactions like a pro. Okay, maybe not a pro, but he didn’t feel as awkward anymore. She pushed him hard, often not allowing him to use English as much as possible.
Classes were on hold for the week, for the fall November Festival held each year. It was a fun cultural event that attracted many students and even outside visitors to attend, kicked off by an Eve party with a bonfire and performances. Natsu and Lucy found a spot under one of the few trees in the area. It was a distance from the bonfire, but gave them a wide range to see everything going on. They sat there listening to the music, eating katsudon and sweet glazed dango treats.
“You know what one of my favorite parts of coming here is?” Natsu twirls one of the fallen leaves he’d picked up.
“The food? Lucy teases.
Natsu laughs. “Okay that is one of them, but no. It’s this,” he drops the leaf and lets it float to the ground. “I grew up only seeing pictures of color-changing leaves and I finally get to see it in real life. That’s pretty cool to me.”
Lucy kicks out her feet and braces herself up with her arms. “When I was little, I remember jumping into the piles as my mom or dad swept up the leaves.” She smiles at the memory. “Sometimes my mom would join me, even after her health started to decline. I miss her, but I’ll always have those memories.”
He reached over and placed his hand over hers, squeezing gently. “I’m sorry Lucy.”
“It’s okay,” she smiled. “I think that’s why my dad kept us here, to be closer to her. Everything I do is to make her proud of me.”
“I bet she’s real proud of the amazing person you became.”
“Amazing?” she shaked her head with a chuckle and sat up straight. “I don’t know about that. I’m just doing the best I can.”
Annoyed that Lucy was putting herself down, Natsu leaned closer, turning her cheek to face him. “You are amazing, and sweet, and smart, and beautiful, what’s there not to find amazing?”
Lucy’s cheeks burned from the intensity in Natsu’s eyes. It was such a surprising affirmation from a man who’s only known her a short period of time. He wasn’t like the other local males and really wasn’t afraid to show his emotions openly. Her breathing slows as the seconds ticked by, wondering what would happened next, and in her nervousness, nibbled at the corner of her lip.
His eyes instinctively zeroes in on it. Lucy’s soft pink lips... he reacted without thinking and pressed forward, stealing them.
Her breathing halts for a second and before she’s finished processing the kiss, Natsu pulled away.
“I’m sorry, sorry,” he turns in shame. “That was uncalled for. You’ve been so great to me and here I go and do something so stu—”
Before he can finish the last word, Lucy forces him to face her. She kisses him quickly, then pulls away in embarrassment as well. Even in the dim lighting, Natsu can see the heat in her cheeks.
“Now we’re even,” she responds timidly.
With an excited grin, Natsu sweeps in and kisses her again, cradling her face with his hands.
She squeaks, “p-pda’s are unusual here!”
“Nobody’s looking.”
Despite her statement, Lucy doesn’t pull away and allows Natsu to continue the languid kiss. His hands never leaves her cheek, thumb merely caressing the skin, soft and gentle, allowing her to forget all about cultural differences and simply allow her emotions to take control. Even nature gave its blessing, sending a light breeze and leaves floating down from the tree above.
Natsu places one last kiss on her lips. “You’ve given me so many new memories I’ll always cherish, don’t ever think you’re not special.”
Lucy blushes. “I think you’re really special too, Natsu.”
His eyes soften. This was crazy! What was he thinking falling for a girl in Japan when he’ll have to leave again?! Screw it, he pulls Lucy close to rest her head on his shoulder, and kisses her temple before leaning his head against hers too. There was 8 more months until he’d have to return to Hawaii and if things progress, well... Natsu smiles to himself, there’s always transferring for good.
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Supernatural Novel: Heart of the Dragon
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Welcome to my not-quite review of the fourth Supernatural novel, Heart of the Dragon.
Author: Keith R.A. DeCandido
Timeline: Set after Episode 5.08 Changing Channels
Location: San Francisco, California (Chinatown)
Synopsis: An old foe has come back to terrorize San Francisco, but what is the connection between the Campbells, John Winchester and Sam and Dean? Read to find out!
Warning: Spoilers abound!
Oh, where do I start? Heart of the Dragon has a very different feel to it, one that I'm not entirely on board with. Basically, it's a flashback book that spends the first third on Samuel, Deanna, and Mary Campbell, the second third on John Winchester and the last quarter on Sam and Dean. In fact, out of 28 chapters, Sam and Dean were only featured in about 7 of them. It leaves the book feeling hollow and me, a little meh. But, there are some additional insights into the Winchester family history which I'll try and parse out.
One more thought, I'm glad this is the last book from this particular author. Once again he has utilized a culture/race to tell the story, and not well. When the story is in 1969, he utilizes the world Orientals to explain Japanese and Chinese characters. He might have been trying to use the wording of the day, and that's fine if it's in dialogue, but to use it as a descriptor is problematic, at best. He also plays up multiple stereotypes from the Chinese mob to the Japanese Samurai. I'm hoping this book is the Route 666 of the novels and that they can only get better.
I decided to sort my thoughts within the different timelines, so here we go:
1969: Samuel, Deanna, and Mary Campbell
We open with the family hunting a vampire and Samuel using 15-year-old Mary as willing bait. It turns out to be a nest, but they quickly dispatch them without casualties. Deanna appears to be quite the hunter in her own right (her skill with a Claymore outstanding.) Within this hunt we learn a few things about Mary and the Campbell family.
The Campbells have a strong link to their Scottish heritage.
Samuel hates Christmas
Mary is willful, annoying, and disrespectful, but an amazing hunter who was raised practically from birth to how to hunt and defend herself. (Sam parallels, perhaps?)
Mary learned about monsters at 11 when she saw her parents dispatch an avenging spirit.
Samuel hates the idea of Mary hanging out with any boys, though she has a particular fondness for a John Winchester who works as a local auto-mechanic.
Samuel owns a dry-cleaning business and Deanna substitute teaches to help maintain some kind of income.
Mary often wondered about having a normal life, but would dismiss it knowing she couldn't have that and still know monsters are out there. (Seems like a combination of Sam and Dean here).
Other than that, the hunt they go to San Francisco for seems fairly perfunctory. They do a bunch of research, talk to a few locals. Samuel dons his FBI agent schtick, they locate the source of the problem, and quickly dispatch it. There's nothing too dramatic there, just a lot of backstory.
1989: John Winchester
There's a bit more insight here because now we're getting some insight into Dad John, as well as 6-year-old Sam and 10-year-old Dean. I'll touch on a few points.
Leaving his boys with others: We open with John returning to his kids whom he left at Bobby's while he took care of a hunt. He left them long enough that they were enrolled in school and he planned on keeping them there for the fall semester. He felt bad about using Bobby's hospitality for so long.
Training his boys: "John knew his boys would need to be able to defend themselves against whatever was out there - he'd already started that process with Dean... Dean was a crack shot with John's M1911 and could load the shotgun with iron rounds and fire them off in one smooth motion. Eventually he'd need to train Sammy too. But not yet."
Loving his boys: When he arrives at Bobby's, Sam runs out to meet him and wraps his arms around John's legs as he walks in. Sam also tattles on Dean for eating the last donut.
There are also some fun moments between young Sam and Dean, mostly sibling bickering.
Dean and Sam enjoy playing hide-and-seek among Bobby's car on the weekends and Sam enjoys going to school during the week. Dean, not so much.
Sam proudly shares that he's doing 3rd grade work in 1st grade and then teases Dean about also doing 3rd grade work even though he's in 5th grade (Dean then sticks his tongue out at Sam and says "Screw you, Sammy.") At this John calls them out and both boys are chagrined.
Later on, when John calls Bobby for more information, we find Dean holding a pen out of Sam's reach and teasing him with it.
Of course, that call means we also get this heartbreaking line moment from Dean, who wants to talk to his Dad, but can't before John hangs up. Bobby tries to explain: "'Sorry, Dean, he, uh, was on his way out the door. But he told me to tell you both to behave yourselves and do what I tell you. And that he loves you.' Dean: 'Did he really say that?'"
When Bobby presents the next case, John is torn between wanting to spend time with his kids, but going after something that could cause people to burn spontaneously, in the hopes that it might lead him to the demon who killed Mary. I think the book did a good job of capturing John's struggle between revenge and caring for his boys. He's not the abusive, neglectful father people tend to think he is. He's someone struggling to make things right.
"John didn't answer at first. Instead, he looked over at Sam and Dean in the dining room, playing that oh-so-common game of 'I touched you last.'
Christmas was coming up and he did want to spend it with the boys..."
Finally, when John returns and Bobby and the boys meet him at the airport, we get some additional insight into 10-year-old Dean's thoughts regarding his father and his place in the family.
"Waiting there in the airport, he understood how important it was for Dad to be away so much - more than Sammy ever could. Sammy hadn't really known Mom, since he was just a baby when she died. Dean couldn't imagine that his baby brother would ever truly understand what had happened to her.
If he was honest with himself, he didn't really understand it, either. There were some days - though he'd never admit this to anyone - when he couldn't even remember what she looked like.
Some kind of monster had killed Mom, and Dad wouldn't rest until he found that monster and killed it. Along the way, he'd kill any other monsters who tried to kill other people's moms...
Dad still fought the bad guys and saved people, but he also cared about his sons.
Because Dad was a hero, and that was what heroes did."
2009 - Sam and Dean
There isn't much to write about here, because they weren't featured in the book. I will just add a couple of notes.
Dean recognizes Samuel Campbell in a newspaper article about the killings. (He'd already been sent back in time and met his grandfather).
It's seems reasonable to Sam that Mary and her parents were hunters. What freaks him out is that he and Dean were named after their grandparents and John never told them.
Sam's been a nerd about the American Interstate system since he was 10 and loved poring over maps.
Sam feels more guilt from trusting Ruby over Dean than starting the apocalypse.
Final notes:
This book introduces Castiel who brings the case to the boys attention. We get the same stuff in here that you see on screen, he has issues with personal space, comes and goes at will, and Bobby's still mad at him for not being able to heal his paralysis. He's only there for a few pages, and then disappears again.
Bobby gets a bit more screen time, as a pseudo-dad to young Sam and Dean, and later as their resource when researching the case and it's history. Favorite quote: "As he went into the fridge for butter to spread onto the pan, Bobby decided it was the entire Winchester family that was making him bald."
We briefly get Hurt Sam who is punched repeatedly by a hulk of a man, but with no lasting consequences and very little caring Dean.
We find out at the end that Zachariah orchestrated the whole thing by planting the idea in Castiel's head.
So, like I said at the beginning, not my favorite, but hopefully I was able to share some of the more interesting parts. Read at your own risk!
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discotenny · 4 years
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!Spa Day!
Chuuya, Tachihara, Junichiro, and Twain spending a spa day with their significant other
I suppose there’s an implied fem reader with Chuuyas scenario. Love you too babie ❣️❣️
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|Unedited|
!Requested by @girlwithsoftsound!
Chuuya
SELF. CARE. QWEEN!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Chuuya takes care of himself! And he’ll take care of you!
He’s already been having spa days before meeting you, so the first time you mention needing one he already has a plan laid out
Chuuya’s usual place to chase relaxation is a typical hotel with a spa built into it
The staff know him well enough, and greet the two of you at the door. While he’s a little upset that there’s no co-ed bathhouse, it’s all worth it when you come up to him afterwards and bring his cheek to your lips
You two move onto the massage area, holding hands as you both lay down on the beds
While waiting for the masseuses to arrive, you turned to Chuuya in your relaxed daze
“Thanks for this babe, I uh— had an awful day. I really needed this today.” You smile loosely at him, and you feel his thumb run over your knuckles
He moves up just enough to see your beautiful form, “I’ll do anything for you y/n, don’t forget that”
You both leave the spa with all tension and stress alleviated, and you take a moment to just rest on his bare chest before going to sleep
Chuuya’s snores fill your head as you tap your fingers along his body. Taking a deep breath of the now lavender smelling room, you smile to yourself and nuzzle into him more
Spa days are date nights and whatever you two decide to do, you bet you’ll come out of it relaxed af 
these weren’t really spa day hcs I’m sorry >.>
Tachihara
DIY SPA DAYYYY
You two find a 5 minute crafts video on top life hacks to achieve the perfect spa day
It takes Tachihara a while to get on board, as he wants to set himself up to be a manly man who don’t need no spa day
but everyone needs one at some point in their lives uwu
I’m sorry but it ends up being a fucking disaster
His apartment barely has half of the ingredients necessary to complete the tasks you want to do, so you resort to substituting literally half of them
Your DIY face scrub ends up looking more like cookie dough and some how smells burnt?
His bath tub is barely big enough for one person, and the romantic couple bath you dreamed of is gone
Tachihara laughs his ass off as you attempt to salvage what you created, your failed crafts providing a little too much entertainment to him
However, even he knows boundaries. As he goes to make fun of you again for screwing up your candle mixture, he sees tears stream down your face
Instantly, Tachihara forgets all previous failures and goes to comfort you
“I-I just wanted to spend a nice day with you, you asshole!” You lightly punch his sholder, attempting to bring him away
He can’t stand the sight of you in tears and strikes up an offer
As an apology, Tachihara takes you to a public bathhouse, as well as taking you to a restaurant afterwards :3
Junichiro
Naomi is the one that sets the whole day up
Having received one of those home spa kits that you find at TJ Maxx from Dazai [who didn’t know what to get her at all for Christmas], she decided to plan out a day for her and her brother
Of course, she extended the invitation to you as well. Coincidentally, you also received the same kit from Dazai too [turns out he bought all the women in the office the same gift]
Junichiro is the only one not dressed in a fluffy robe, and he tries to assure you and Naomi that it’s fine if he can’t participate
You pull him back however, begging him to take part in the spa day
With the two most important women in the world to him begging him to stay, how could he possibly refuse?
Naomi helps you and Junichiro put on your masks, and you’re tasked with helping your boyfriend put body cream all over his figure
After Naomi gets out of the bath, you and Junichiro take her place
By then, he’s decked out in an avocado clay face mask, hair tied up and out of his eyes, shoulders covered in body scrub, and he’s smelling like mint. You’re relatively the same way
As you two get in the bath, you assist each other in washing off all the product
He’s feeling great
“Hey Y/n”
You perk up, stopping the scrubbing of his back
“Thanks for today,” and with that, your boyfriend turns around and kisses you, pushing you into the tub
You would squeal if his mouth didn’t cover yours
Though you both would like to continue, Naomi is waiting outside :3
Twain
Okay so a spa day with Twain is sort of like a spa day with Tachihara, except things actually go moderately well???
Don’t get me wrong Twain knows nothing on relaxation, but he’s really into creating his own masks, candles, scrubs, etc.
Due to this, you end up with a lot of extra spa goodies
Most of the fun that day comes out of your little DIY session with your boyfriend
When it comes to the actual ‘spa treatment,’ it’s hard to keep him still
He’ll splash water at you in the bath, complain about the temperature, and attempt to eat the face mask he made
Twain is shoving snacks into his face, getting crumbs all over you and him
It’s really hard to catch relaxation with him around
Eventually he’ll get puckered out and just fall asleep next to you
Then you can finally enjoy all the goodies you two made together uwu
But you should get him out of the bath before he ends up looking like a prune
These are bad I’m sorry babs >.< The only one that could be considered a real spa day were Junichiro and Chuuya’s because they actually got their shit together lol. Also is it Junichiro or Junichirou? I’ve seen both
In any case, Enjoy ~~
Lmao so I tried looking up Japanese spa practices for this request and now my search results are filled with couples getaway locations help
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perfeggso · 4 years
Text
Noir (yutae)
Week III pt. 2
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Tokyo – fall of 1983: Nakamoto Yuta is quickly rising in the ranks of one of Japan’s most notorious yakuza families, and he’s poised to climb even further if he can stop himself from being ruined by the pretty Korean boy who’s shown up out of nowhere.
Chapter 1  |  Chapter 2  |  Chapter 3  |  Chapter 4  |  Chapter 5  |  Chapter 6  |  Chapter 7  |  Chapter 8  | Masterlist  
Glossary of Japanese words
Characters: Yuta x Taeyong + NCT ensemble, Twice J-line (for funsies)
Genres: Gang!AU, angst, smut, fluff, 1980s!AU
Warnings: graphic violence, swearing, minor character death, alcohol use, mentions of drugs, period-typical homophobia, xenophobia, BDSM
Rating: 18+
Length: 9.3k
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If he didn’t think too hard, Yuta was elated.  He’d righted his wrong, put his desires on the line, and gotten the boy he’d been lusting over for two and a half weeks not just to reciprocate, but to come undone in his lap.  As he would say, mission accomplished.  
Still, if he did think about it, he was worried.  As he’d expected, he and Taeyong being an item was distracting to him at work.  All those little moments when Taeyong caught Yuta’s eye and Yuta would suppress his impulses before they had confessed started blossoming into full-on flirting – or worse, makeout sessions in the car or in closets at headquarters.  When Yuta was alone, instead of strategizing for his mission, he would find himself strategizing how to keep everything adequately under wraps for him not to become a liability to the organization or to his men.  He even sometimes worried that he was taking advantage of Taeyong.
This was all in the three days following the party at Johnny’s bar.  By the fourth day and the end of the week, Yuta resolved to go easy on himself.  Taeyong had given every indication of enthusiastic consent, and continued to give it, and Yuta figured once he got used to being with Taeyong, the butterflies would dissipate, and he’d be able to focus again.  
Yuta sat at his desk, legs crossed on the buffed wood, throwing his pen up and practicing catching it while pushing himself side to side in his swivel chair.  Taeyong was in a seat near the window, messing with his nails and making absent-minded ‘beep’ ‘boop’ noises to occupy the time.  
Yuta sighed.  They were at a weird midpoint in their work where they had enough information to have a plan but not to act on it.  Most of the acting would happen in the week and a half leading up to the Mitsubishi meeting.  On top of that, he and Taeyong couldn’t get up to anything because they were expecting a report from Johnny soon.  
“What if she doesn’t bite?” asked Taeyong, ceasing his strange little symphony.  
“Hm?” asked Yuta, not sure what he was referring to.
“Sana.  What if she doesn’t decide to flip when we confront her?  What if she stays with Yamaguchi and they still get into the meeting?”
“That’s not anything you need to worry about, Taeyong,” Yuta tried to explain, setting his pen on the desk with a clack.                                
“But, I mean, I’m involved now,” Taeyong insisted.  “So, wouldn’t it be good for me to have an idea?”
Yuta smiled, acknowledging the merit in Taeyong’s point.  “Okay.  Basically, if she doesn’t side with us, we’re screwed.  We’ll just have to send a large delegation to the meeting and hope we can offer enough perks to get the board of directors to agree to our demands over Yamaguchi’s, and convince them that Yamaguchi’s scheme with Miyazaki’s mistress is real.”
Taeyong rolled his ankles around, looking preoccupied.  
“This is why I didn’t want to say anything, Yong.  I didn’t want you more stressed out than you already are.”
Taeyong leaned forward, elbows on his knees and jaw in his hands.  “No, it’s alright.  I think it’s better for me to know.”
Yuta smiled, appreciative.  “That’s why we’re going to make Sana flip.  We can’t afford not to, and she already hates the Yamaguchi-gumi for screwing up her life, so even if she thinks we’re just as despicable, at least we haven’t proven it yet.”
Taeyong cringed.  “That’s one way to look at it.”  
Yuta checked his watch after a brief silence.  It was 4:40 p.m.; Johnny was supposed to have been there ten minutes ago.  “Where the hell is he?” Yuta grumbled.  
“Johnny?” asked Taeyong.
“Yeah.  Didn’t I tell you that?”
Taeyong shrugged.  “Maybe.”
Yuta thought he saw concern flicker over Taeyong’s face and reasoned there might be a cause for Taeyong’s spaciness that he wasn’t picking up.  
“Taeyong?”
“Yes Shategashira !”
“Come over here for a minute, will you?”
Taeyong hopped to his feet and walked over to the desk, leaning against Yuta’s side of it.  Yuta remarked to himself that the etiquette he had always insisted on regarding his desk was quickly going out the window.
“What is it?” asked Taeyong.  Yuta slipped his hand into the other man’s, squeezing and swinging their arms in a soft rhythm.  
“Is everything alright?” he asked Taeyong.  “People still treating you well?  Are you getting enough rest?  I’m not overwhelming you, am I?”
Taeyong laughed.  “Not at all.  You’re – everything’s really good, and I like all the attention you give me.”
Yuta felt a flash of fondness overcome him.  Lord help him.
“I’m glad.”
“There is one thing I’ve been wondering about though,” said Taeyong, starting again at the nails on his free hand.  
“What’s that?”
“I was just thinking,” Taeyong began, “what is Momo going to do?  Like, I presume that she knows about you but, how does that work for her?  Is she going to hate me?  Is it going to be weird if I have to talk to her any time soon?”
Yuta looked at Taeyong, head cocked to the side like a question.  “Why would it be, if you know she knows?”
“That’s just it – I’m not sure!” Taeyong blurted.  “I just feel like it would be.  Like, it’s kind of a big sacrifice for her, isn’t it?  And here I am, getting to do what she would if – if you were like, wired different or something.”
Yuta dug a nail into Taeyong’s palm, getting his attention.  “Yonggie, none of that is going to happen, alright?  I wanted her to tell you but since you’re worried and bringing it up, you should know that she’s similarly wired .”  Yuta emphasized the last part to mock Taeyong for his awkward use of euphemism.  Taeyong looked confused for a moment, and Yuta watched in amusement as he worked through what he had just learned.  
“Oooh…” Taeyong puzzled.  “Oh!  Well, that’s a coincidence.”
Yuta laughed.  “It’s not a coincidence, Taeyong, it’s the reason for our arranged marriage.”
Taeyong pushed off the desk and started to pace.  “This makes so much sense, now!” he said, making Yuta laugh harder.  “Ooookay.”        
“So, will you calm down?” Yuta asked, and Taeyong nodded, settling back in his chair.
“By the way,” Yuta offered, “how would you feel about going out this weekend?”
“Out?” Taeyong pondered, “like, clubbing?”
“Yeah,” Yuta said, hopeful.  
Taeyong smiled, practically buzzing in anticipation.  “Sounds fun!” he said.
“You can come over to my apartment after, if you want.”
Taeyong wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and Yuta guffawed.  “Oh dear,” he said, shaking his head.  
“This a good time?” came Johnny’s muffled voice from the other side of the door.
Yuta pushed himself into a more decorous sitting position.  “ Douzo .”
Johnny slid open the door and stood in the entryway, saluting and wearing a beige suit and orange shirt with wide lapels.  To Yuta’s surprise, Mark was with him.  
“Phew,” jested Johnny, “I was worried you guys would be going at each other.”
Yuta rolled his eyes “Want to get hit?” he asked, figuring that would shut his friend up.  Out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw Taeyong blush.  
“No, sorry, Shategashira ,” said Johnny, sitting in the chair across from the desk and holding his hands up in mock surrender.  “I’m done.”
Yuta smirked, allowing himself some slight irritation but knowing this was all in good fun.  He addressed Johnny.
“Why is Mark here?”  
Mark, who was still standing, awkwardly not knowing what to do with himself, opened his mouth but was cut off before he could answer.
“He was getting bored and Haechan was there to fill in for him,” Johnny explained, as if that was supposed to be satisfying.  Yuta shook his head incredulously, frustrated by what his men’s lack of discipline represented more than its actual consequences.  In reality, it didn’t matter all that much if it were Mark or Donghyuck at that post – Donghyuck would have likely just been hanging out in construction projects, otherwise.  
“What was Hyuck doing there?” asked Yuta, simultaneously reasoning himself out of being strict.  “Oh, whatever,” he allowed before anyone could answer.  “It’s fine; just try to stay at your posts.”  He turned his attention to Mark.  “Alright?”
“Yes, Shategashira !”
“May I proceed with the report?” Johnny asked, both eyebrows raised and hand poised at the entrance to his jacket pocket.  Yuta nodded and Johnny pulled out a cigarette and lighter, getting himself a smoke before he continued.  
“So,” said Johnny, “I just got off the phone with Kun.  He’s going to be arriving with the Triad delegation this weekend so that they can have plenty of time to strategize, prepare, make sure our priorities align, etc.”
“Perfect,” Yuta remarked.  “Do they need an escort for when they get in?”
“Kun said that would be appreciated,” replied Johnny.  “However, if one is unavailable, his men are trained to defend themselves.”
Yuta rapped his fingers against his desk.  “I’ll contact him and tell him that I’ll do it.  I want to make sure they know they’re valued.  Anything else on that?”
“No, Shategashira .”
“Alright.  What did you find out about Sato?”
“He’s a simple case; got a gambling addiction,” Johnny explained.  
“Sounds like your kind of guy,” said Yuta.  Johnny laughed.  Taeyong yawned in the corner, rolling his wrists around to get rid of the stiffness he was surely feeling.  Yuta’s throat tightened up out of affection.  He couldn’t wait for the weekend.  
“What time is it now?”  
Johnny checked his watch. “4:52, Shategashira ,” he reported.
“I guess now’s as good a time as any to head out,” Yuta figured. “Goro hasn’t sent in anything else that needs to get done, anyhow.”
Johnny stood, still holding his cigarette and pulling a pair of keys from his jacket pocket.  “Can I offer you guys a ride?” he asked.  “I think we all live in the same direction.”
Johnny’s car was an orange 1980 Honda Prelude with five seats that he kept parked in the underground lot below headquarters.  Yuta leaned around to check on the two men sitting in back and almost broke into laughter.  Johnny’s tiny car had five seats only in theory; Taeyong and Mark’s knees were nearly colliding in front of the center seat.  
Johnny lowered – or more accurately, dropped – himself into the car, hand steadied on the steering wheel since it was also a bit short for his 6’1” frame to enter comfortably.  He pulled out the vehicle’s plastic ashtray and stamped out the end of his cigarette.    
“ Yoshi , are we ready to go?” he asked, revving the engine.
Everyone responded affirmatively and all at once, and Yuta found himself wondering, had his been the type of family to go on road trips for vacation, would it have felt a little something like this?  
“Now, Taeyong, you’re going to need to give me a little guidance here,” said Johnny, pulling onto the street. “I don’t know your address.”
“Okay!” came Taeyong’s voice from the back.  He was seated diagonally from Yuta, and Yuta thought he could feel his gaze almost devouring him, but he decided to feign ignorance and not return the look.  He wanted Taeyong frustrated for this weekend.  
Taeyong gave up and averted his eyes out the window, breath fogging the glass’s interior as its exterior beaded with a slow-moving kaleidoscope of raindrops.  
“Johnny,” began Mark.
“Mm?”
“Did Kun say who’d be coming with him?”
Johnny’s brow furrowed as he ticked up the speed of the windshield wiper. “I have it written down, but I can try to remember off the top of my head for now.  Let’s see.  I think Yukhei, Ten, Dejun, Sicheng, Kunhang, and Yangyang are supposed to be his entourage. That could change though – or he could bring more.  I just know he’ll be there, and Yuta’s supposed to meet him at Narita this Saturday.”
“Wow,” said Mark as Yuta thought he felt knees bumping around against the back of his seat as if he were in front of a child on an airplane.  “I haven’t seen those guys in forever; since I was a kid, practically!”
“You’re still a kid,” Johnny deadpanned.    
Yuta watched Mark roll his eyes in the rearview mirror.  “At least I’m not a shatei anymore.”
The sun began to dim as they rolled through the streets of Aoyama, casting the neighborhood in a shimmery palette of greys and yellows.  Wet cement, soaked tree trunks, café windows, umbrellas: grey.  Ginko leaves plastering the sidewalks, neon signs, reflected headlights, and traffic signs: yellow.  Johnny clicked on the radio which was playing “midnight cruisin’” by Kingo Hamada.  
“So,” Taeyong began, “these Triad guys, they’re basically us but in China?”
“I suppose so,” said Yuta.  “They run a similar business to us out of Hong Kong since the mainland Triads got pushed there twenty years ago.  They have even better international connections than us, though.  We’ve been trading between each other forever, but we’ve always run the risk of getting our ships searched and taken in by the authorities.  That’s why they want in on the Mitsubishi deal.  Both the Chinese Navy and the Maritime SDF have been upping patrols in the South China Sea and that means inconvenience for us unless we can piggyback on legitimate business.”
Taeyong looked nervous, his knees pulled together and his thumb nail wedged between his teeth.  “I see,” he said.  Yuta knew that he and Taeyong were well past the stage of pity, but he still couldn’t help the pangs of responsibility he felt every time Taeyong seemed to remember what exactly he’d gotten himself into.  Moments like this made Yuta feel like he was going cold from the inside.  Here they were, sitting three feet away in a car with two other people, not even having properly fucked yet and Yuta was already worried about losing what they had.  Once Taeyong completed his mission he would have the choice to go back to his old life, and even Yuta acknowledged it would probably be in Taeyong’s best interest to do so, but what if leaving Inagawa also meant leaving Yuta?  He had too much firsthand experience with that exact scenario to feel secure.  
They dropped Mark off at his apartment, then Taeyong directed Johnny the rest of the way to his.  Once there, Taeyong slipped out of the idling car into the rain, immediately getting soaked due to his lack of rain gear.  His dark hair flattened, luminous, against his forehead and the black button-up under his oversized denim jacket clung in a way Yuta would not be able to forget any time soon.  
Before Taeyong could scurry too far away, Yuta grabbed the crank on the interior of his car door and rolled down his window, ignoring Johnny’s grumbling that he was going to ruin the upholstery.
“Taeyong,” he called through the screen of raindrops.  Taeyong turned immediately, a warmth in his face which thawed the chill Yuta had sensed before.  
“Yes, Shategashira ?”  
Yuta smiled.  “C’mere,” he instructed, and Taeyong jogged his way back to the car until he was folded at nearly a 90-degree angle to lean into Yuta’s window.  Yuta could see the soft expanse of Taeyong’s torso clearly down his collar.  Fuck .  He placed a finger under Taeyong’s chin and looked into his eyes, which had gone as glassy and round as the puddles in the uneven sidewalk in front of Taeyong’s building.  
“Remember what I said about this weekend?”
Taeyong bit his lip and nodded, searching Yuta’s face.  
“How about tomorrow night?” suggested Yuta.
“Okay!”
Johnny sighed, looking pointedly out the opposite window.  “Let’s hurry this up, lover boys,” he quipped.
“Ignore him,” Yuta told Taeyong when he noticed the other man’s eyes straying in embarrassment.  “You’ll be on patrol tomorrow without me, so I’ll swing by around eleven at night to take you somewhere fun, m’kay?  Just be ready by then.”
“M’kay.”
Yuta pulled Taeyong closer for a chaste kiss, then mercifully let him go to escape the rain.  
“Now, go get yourself into something warm and dry!” he yelled, smiling as Taeyong practically bounded towards the door of his apartment.  
“Aye aye, Shategashira ,” Taeyong responded.
Johnny turned back to face Yuta in mock frustration.  “Will you close the window now?” he asked, and Yuta couldn’t help smiling while cranking it back up.
“You guys are cute,” said Johnny, as if commenting on the heavy rain.  He didn’t seem to have any intention of starting the car.  
“I’m glad you think so,” Yuta responded, cautious.  
“Where are you taking him this weekend?”
“Out,” said Yuta.  “In Yokohama.  A place where no one knows who I am.”
Johnny nodded. “I don’t doubt that you’re being careful,” he said.  “I’m just concerned for him.”
“For Taeyong?”
“Yeah,” Johnny expanded.  “He’s so new at this; does he know what officially joining would even look like?  Someone needs to have that conversation with him.”
“ I’m going to have that conversation with him,” Yuta practically hissed.  This was not the discussion he wanted to be having.
Johnny sighed, shifting into drive, “Okay,” he said.  “I trust you, Shategashira .”
“Good,” said Yuta.  “You shouldn’t have to assure me of that.”
***    
Yuta looked at himself in his full-length mirror, doing a little spin and checking over his shoulder to get as full a view as possible.  He’d sent Taeyong to go on patrol with Donghyuck and Mark for the day while he stayed at headquarters talking to Doyoung about finances.
He’d gotten home, cooked himself some packaged curry, and shut himself in the bathroom on a whim with a tub of black Manic Panic.  Yuta was growing sick of the white hair, and even though he was confident that no one at Copycat knew him or would be a threat, he still felt more comfortable with a less eye-catching hairdo.  It had seemed like a good idea, especially since Yuta’s nerves were still a bit on edge after the assassination attempt.  It had seemed like a good idea, that is, until the chemical fumes in his bathroom were almost enough to make him pass out and he had to scrub the dregs of the dye out of his bathtub once he was done.  
But that was a few hours ago and now, with his hair newly monochrome and slicked back, and the bathroom aired out, Yuta was feeling much better.  He had a cassette of R.E.M.’s “Murmur” blasting from the Hitachi TRK-7020H he kept next to his bed, dancing around to the music and sipping from a tumbler of whiskey as he got ready.  He wanted to take his time picking a good outfit, knowing this would be one of his last opportunities for real fun before the Mitsubishi deal.  Eventually, he settled on a black leather blazer, black pants, white leather boots, a black and blue button-up, and a chain necklace.  
He turned back around to face himself in the mirror, sneaking a sip from his glass and examining the layers of bandage wrap he’d wound around what parts of his chest and lower neck were exposed.  
His watch said it was 10:30. Time to go.    
***
Yuta got to the front door of Taeyong’s building at 11:07.  He buzzed the dial for “Unit 127, Lee,” and after an electronic screech that made Yuta’s eyebrows raise, startled, his date’s voice came through the speaker.  Even through the crackle, he sounded bright, like he was bouncing around on the other end.  
“Yuta!  I just saw you pull up!” Taeyong giggled.  “Be down in a minute.”
Yuta smiled to himself when Taeyong hung up.  In stark contrast to yesterday’s downpour, this was a mild, early November night with a full moon and a soft breeze shuffling the bushes outside the apartment and making Yuta’s skin tingle.  As he waited, Yuta pondered the tile exterior of Taeyong’s building and how desperately it needed washing.  Then, he looked up to the sky where wispy clouds were curling in the moon’s glow like steam over a cup of coffee.  He wondered to himself what that sky would look like out in the countryside, where there was no light pollution and the entire Milky Way would have undoubtedly unfurled overhead for the mortal onlooker.  He wondered what that moon looked like to his family in Osaka.  
The front door opened, pulling Yuta out of his ponderings.  Taeyong smiled and Yuta momentarily forgot to breathe.  His hair had been coaxed lightly off his forehead with some hair gel, and he wore a translucent lavender turtleneck, an oversized houndstooth jacket, black jeans, and sneakers.  Yuta couldn’t have designed a more fantasy-worthy man himself, and Taeyong seemed to notice the reaction he’d caused, because he grinned wickedly.  
“Hi,” he said.
“My god,” said Yuta, regaining his composure and returning the wicked look right back.  “I didn’t think you could get any sexier.”
Taeyong smirked, sticking his chin out so he was looking at Yuta from under hooded eyes.  “I could say the same about you, Shategashira . Especially like the hair.”  
Yuta chuckled, moving in slowly to peck Taeyong on the lips.  He wanted to do more, but even though the street was empty, he didn’t wish for any of Taeyong’s neighbors to see.  Also, he reminded himself, there would be plenty of time for that later.  Yuta watched as Taeyong’s eyes flitted quizzically over his collar.  He lifted a slender finger to trace over the flesh-colored bandages underneath.  
“What’s up with these?” Taeyong asked.
Yuta took Taeyong’s hand in his and guided it back down between them.  
“They’re for covering my tattoos,” he explained, assuming that was obvious.
“I know, but Yutaaa,” Taeyong whined, “your tattoos are so hot.”
Yuta burst out laughing.  “I’m so sorry, baby, but I don’t want to risk it.  Can’t have anyone assuming I’m trouble.”  Yuta narrowed his eyes, trying to look sinister like a yakuza in an anime or something.  Taeyong didn’t seem to buy it.
“Aren’t the bandages suspicious in and of themselves?” he queried.
“Sure,” Yuta said, “but they’re not proof.”  Yuta pulled a dramatically pitiful expression. “I could be recovering from a traumatic car accident.”
Taeyong giggled.  “Yeah,” he said, “recovering at the club.”  
“Listen,” Yuta insisted, “just think how much fun you’ll have peeling them off me tonight.”
Taeyong bit his bottom lip in anticipation and Yuta let go of his hand.  Yuta thought if he was going to survive waiting for Taeyong until they got to his bedroom, he’d need a lot more drinks at Copycat.  Still, the nervous glint in Taeyong’s eyes told Yuta that having patience would make tonight so much more satisfying.  
***
Copycat was a notorious gay club in Yokohama.  Those in the know would recognize it for outlandish parties, drag queens, mysterious drugs, and letting people in strictly based on their looks.  It was a bit out of the way, being in a different city, but Yuta decided the loss of convenience was worth the safety.   They listened to The Violent Femmes’ self-titled album on the forty-minute drive there, as it had recently become one of Yuta’s favorites for amping himself up.  In the car it became clear that Taeyong had pre-gamed because he was much more forward than usual.  He told Yuta he’d missed being with him all day and offered him road head.  As much as Yuta would have liked that, he had to explain that he’d already had a drink too and couldn’t afford to get pulled over.  
The two of them made it past the line easily and slipped their way through the black box of a club.  There were shards of mirrors stuck to the walls which reflected the multicolored lights that flitted about the space.  Go left, and one would be face to face with a wall of caged dancers, go right for the bar.  They went right.    
Yuta decided to order for the two of them.  
“Taeyong,” he half-yelled over the music.  It was “Sex (I’m A…)” by Berlin.  
“Do you want beer, or do you want vodka?”
Vodka was the obvious answer and pretty soon, they were downing a suite of shots one after the other.  
The DJ must have been really into Berlin, because the next song that blared through the speakers was “Pleasure Victim.”
Yuta’s eyes bugged out when he heard it, and he hastily slapped several yen on the bar, pulling Taeyong to the dance floor.  
“I love this song!”
“I can see that,” said Taeyong, tittering as he let Yuta drag him into the center of a mass of bodies, both of them being jostled in a way that would have been dangerous if they were just a little drunker.  The synthesizer in the song complemented the dreamlike aspects of the dance floor (the lights; the glitter), and helped Yuta forget the baser aspects (the grime; the smell).    
Taeyong looked ethereal under the twisting colors and the silver confetti that started to fall, reflecting his gorgeous face ad infinitum.  The thrum of the base in Yuta’s spine and ears made him feel like he was underwater, his movements so slow and heavy in comparison to the music.  
Yuta couldn’t help himself – he was enchanted.  He pulled Taeyong so close that they were writhing against each other more than dancing, and planted a searing kiss to his mouth.  Taeyong tasted harsh, like all the alcohol he’d been drinking.  Yuta felt him pressing against his chest, trying to wriggle out of the kiss and when Yuta pulled back in concern, he was overwhelmed with fondness.  Taeyong panted, offering a sheepish smile.  
“Sorry,” he explained.  “I couldn’t breathe.”
Yuta just laughed and pulled Taeyong close again, and the two opted to grind on each other rather than kiss for the time being.  
Yuta murmured into Taeyong’s ear.  “Do you come to places like this often?”  he asked.
“Every now and then,” answered Taeyong.  “When I wanna find someone to take me home.”
Yuta hummed.  Taeyong’s body against him was making him feel like oil floating in liquid.  “Say we didn’t know each other,” he began as the music switched to Lime’s “Come and Get Your Love.”  “If you saw me from across the dance floor, would you try to get me to take you home?”
Yuta heard Taeyong laugh – felt the vibration of it in his neck.  “I’d do everything I could to make that happen,” Taeyong answered, dropping kisses to the skin just above Yuta’s bandages.  
“I’d come over to dance with you, and you’d no doubt reciprocate, cuz you would’ve had your eyes on me all night.  Am I right?”
“Of course you’re right,” Yuta confirmed, dragging his hands shamelessly over the back of Taeyong’s body.  
Taeyong trailed a smile over Yuta’s skin.  “Then I’d make sure you couldn’t rest until you’d brought me back to yours and taken out all your frustrations on me.”      
Yuta growled as Taeyong pulled away.  His face was flushed.  It looked like the stains left on your hands after eating cherries.  His eyes had gone glassy from intoxication and the edges of his mouth curled in an adorable smile.  Yuta couldn’t believe his self-control that he’d managed to wait this long to fuck him.  God…
Taeyong bit his lip as he swayed his hips to the music.  “But we could…we could make that happen anyway,” he offered, going bashful for a split second before drawing a couple fingers over the skin under Yuta’s bottom button.  “Right, Shategashira ?” he whispered for good measure.  
Yuta grabbed Taeyong’s wrist.  “You’re a menace, you know?”
Taeyong cocked his head and spun around so his back was against Yuta’s chest.  He kept his eyes on Yuta, batting his lashes innocently.  
“It’s just what you do to me,” he explained.
Yuta could only shake his head in disbelief as he wrapped his arms around his dance partner.  
***
The restroom at Copycat was cleaner than Yuta would have expected; at least as far as he could tell under the dark lighting.  The almost surgical white tiles which lined most of the space were shockingly devoid of even marker graffiti.  So was the red of the dividers between stalls and urinals.  
Yuta stared into the mirror as he washed his hands.  The empty bathroom gave him a familiar liminal space feeling as Madonna’s “Lucky Star” echoed from the dance floor, dreamlike, and he had the impression that should he walk back out the door, he would find himself in a dark void rather than a physical, tangible environment.  Maybe it was all the vodka, or simply the temporary damage suffered by his eardrums that made everything sound faraway.  
As Yuta shook his hands dry, a tall man in a shiny black suit with a buzzcut strolled in and made his way to the urinals.  Yuta didn’t think anything of him, until he decided to strike up a conversation.  Yuta watched the man’s back in the mirror.
“Having a good time out there, boss?” asked the man’s back.  
Boss?  
Yuta ignored the quarry, figuring it was just drunken banter, and he didn’t have the nerves for that.  He started towards the door.  
“Hey, it’s an innocent question.” The man’s voice came now from just behind Yuta, insistent.  Apparently this guy wasn’t planning on washing his hands.    
Yuta paused. “Fun!” he repeated, almost mockingly.  “Yes, I’m having fun, thanks.”  Yuta moved to leave but his interlocutor blocked the door.  
“That boy you got with you’s a real nice piece of ass, I gotta say.  You got me jealous.”
Yuta glared, his wits forcing themselves about him as he hoped desperately that he hadn’t left Taeyong in a dangerous position.  He needed to be getting back.  
“I’d prefer you didn’t refer to him like that,” Yuta said coolly, trying to defuse the situation.  
“Oh, you got feelings, I see,” said the guy in mock apology.  “He your boyfriend?”
Yuta reached into his jacket pocket and the man jumped, moving out of the way and opening the door for Yuta to walk past.  Yuta pushed out a clipped breath, glad he hadn’t needed to resort to threats of violence.  Still, how had the man anticipated what Yuta had been reaching for?  It was probably the bandages giving him away.  The man trailed after Yuta once in the hallway outside the restroom.  
“Alright, sorry, sorry.  Listen, so you’re having fun with your boy toy out there.  What if I told you I had something that could make it even more fun?”
Yuta refused to look at the man.  He almost never did drugs stronger than alcohol and nicotine.  Having taken part in illegal drug smuggling and sales, he knew what kind of weird and dangerous ingredients people passed off as “the real stuff.”  Not to mention his oath to Inagawa which forbade it.
“No thank you,” he said plainly.  
This guy would not give up.  
“Oh, come on, you haven’t even heard the whole pitch. I’ve had nothing but stellar reviews and – and it boosts your sex drive like, it’s incredible!  Don’t you wanna check it out?  I just gotta go get it out of a back room; you two can follow me there!”
Alright , thought Yuta, that’s enough .  He grabbed the guy by his collar and pushed him against the wall.  Despite his impressive height, he was thin and Yuta gained confidence when he realized how little this man could actually do to challenge him.  He didn’t have the reflexes of an experienced criminal.  Still, he was likely an inexperienced one.  
“Go push your shit on someone else,” Yuta insisted, an implied threat of harm hanging in the air.  When he was sure the bothersome man was sufficiently flustered, Yuta stormed away and plucked Taeyong from where he’d left him at the bar and where he had thankfully remained.  Taeyong was about to down a Jell-O shot when Yuta arrived.    
“Thank god.  Let’s go.”
“Hm? What about this?” Taeyong asked, referring to the shot.  
Yuta shook his head.  “I’ve had enough of this place,” Yuta asserted.  “Let me take you home.”
Taeyong didn’t argue with that logic, as Yuta knew he wouldn’t, and they weaved through the crowd and slipped out the back door into the cool air.  Yuta hadn’t been aware of how sweaty and disgusting he’d become until he had the breeze there to remind him.  He heard Taeyong let out a whooping noise at his side.  
Taeyong practically sprinted the couple blocks back to the car, still buzzing with booze and dancing, and Yuta had to work to keep up.  Once in the vehicle, Yuta used the car phone to call a designated driver service.  
Yuta hung up.  “They’ll be here in ten minutes,” he relayed.  
Taeyong arched an eyebrow.  “Ten minutes, huh?”
That’s all he could get out before Yuta was cutting him off with a kiss.
***
The driver followed Yuta’s instructions to park around the corner from Yuta’s place.  He lived in an adjoined but separate wing of the Inagawa-kai mansion in Ginza.  The main structure of the building resembled a scaled down Samurai castle painted black.  Yuta had lived there since he came to Tokyo when he was fifteen.  At the time, he was placed in the mansion proper, where he struck up a quick friendship with Oyabun Hirai’s daughter, but also felt constantly surveilled.  Now, as an adult in his own sectioned off wing, he could come and go as he wished, with whomever he wished.  Having lived there for ten years, Yuta sometimes didn’t notice the building’s slightly threatening grandeur.  Yuta was reminded by Taeyong’s shocked expression when they turned the corner to see it.
“You live here?” Taeyong gasped.
“I forgot you’ve never needed to come to the mansion,” Yuta reasoned.  He pointed to the much smaller and plainer structure tacked on to the side of the Oyabun ’s residence.  
“I used to.  Now I live there.”
Taeyong’s eyes scanned the building before him in wonder.  “Still…”
Yuta laughed, grasping Taeyong’s hand.  “Alright enough gawking.  Let me show you inside.”  
Inside was equally stimulating to Taeyong apparently, who began spouting variations on “wahhhh!” the second Yuta had opened the unit’s purple door and let him in.  
Yuta’s apartment had three rooms not counting the bathroom; each with a distinctly different style which worked well alongside the others, nonetheless.  The one into which the front door opened and in which they were standing was the kitchen/dining area.  It was a galley kitchen with a wooden table and chairs and patterned wallpaper with fruits on it.  To the right opened a traditional tatami room where Yuta kept his sofa and TV.  
Yuta laughed at Taeyong as he nearly bounced off the counter space, letting his fingers titter over spice containers, an ashtray, plastic flowers; whatever he could get his hands on.  
“I’m glad you find my apartment so entertaining,” Yuta quipped, a bit confused.  
Taeyong shrugged.  “I really like this,” he explained.  “Getting a little peak at my Shategashira ’s personal space.  It’s not what I expected.”  
What had he expected? Black paint and walls of katana and guns?   Yuta asked as much.
Taeyong laughed breathily.  “Not necessarily.  I’m not sure.  Maybe.”
Yuta’s skin was getting itchy as he eyed the door to his bedroom on the far wall.  
“Okay,” he allowed.  “Follow me.”
Yuta and Taeyong made their way to the door and once on the other side of it, Yuta again observed Taeyong’s reaction.  He drank in the space, black chambray wallpaper, red moldings, and silky purple sheets on the bed all being slowly processed.  Yuta knew his taste sometimes delved into extremely tacky territory, but his bedroom décor made him feel like a badass and he hoped Taeyong would understand the vibe he was going for.  
“This is a little more what I was expecting,” admitted Taeyong, finally.  
Yuta smiled, catlike, and closed the door, caging Taeyong in against it.  Taeyong’s breathing faltered for a moment as his eyes fluttered shut.  Yuta drew in a deep breath, the smells of the club mixing on Taeyong’s skin with his cologne and the natural scent of his body.  Yuta kissed at the hinge of Taeyong’s jaw as Taeyong shucked his jacket.  
“I’ve been hoping for this since we first met,” Yuta admitted, running his hands over Taeyong’s figure for the nth time that night.  Taeyong preened under the touch, beginning to lose himself for the first time with the knowledge of what this was all leading up to.
He sighed, a half-smile gracing his lips.  
“Please, do whatever you imagined, Shategashira ,” he almost panted.  “I want you to show me everything you’ve thought of doing to me.”
Yuta smirked, planting a hard kiss on Taeyong’s lips.  
“That would take a while,” he said slyly when he let up, “but I’ll give you a taste.  We’ll have opportunities to get to the rest later.”
Yuta watched in satisfaction as Taeyong visibly shivered.  He stepped away until the backs of his knees were brushing his bed.
“Can you take your shirt off for me, sweetheart?”    
Taeyong obliged immediately, dropping his shirt to the floor and standing against the door, laughing his way into a nervous smile and crossing and uncrossing his arms.  Yuta bore his gaze into him, and Taeyong quieted his movements in response.  
“Good boy,” Yuta murmured, pleased when he heard Taeyong gulp down a groan in response.  Yeah, he’d had a feeling…
He slipped off his jacket, instructing Taeyong’s to stay put as he folded it in half and set it on a chair in the corner.  Taeyong took it like an order, with a “yes, Shategashira ,” that was so cute it made Yuta’s stomach churn.  He made his way back to the man he’d left by the door, wrapping his now half bare arms around him.  He noticed that Taeyong was chewing his lip hard enough that it looked painful.
“You okay?” he asked, petting his right hand over Taeyong’s hair. Taeyong released his lip, eyes fixed on Yuta’s face only millimeters from his.
“Yeah,” he breathed in confirmation.
“Good.”  Yuta walked backwards towards his bed again, guiding Taeyong forward with him and stopping only when he was sitting and Taeyong was climbing up to straddle him, neither breaking eye contact the entire time.  Yuta placed his hands over Taeyong’s hips.  
“You seem a little nervous, baby,” he ventured.
Taeyong smiled.  There we go.   “You make me nervous, Shategashira .  But, in a good way.”
Yuta smiled back.  “I didn’t seem to make you nervous earlier,” he jested.
“The alcohol is starting to wear off now,” explained Taeyong.  
Yuta sighed, dropping a quick kiss just above Taeyong’s belly button.  “Tell you what: why don’t you tell me what you want right now, darling.  Forget the things I’ve imagined.  I want you to feel comfortable.”
“M’sorry,” said Taeyong, eyes darting off to the side, and Yuta shook his head.  
“Don’t be.  Just name it and I’ll give it to you.”
Taeyong’s eyes returned to Yuta as he drew his lips into the softest smirk.  
“Well first of all,” he began, “I want to undress you and take off your bandages, like you promised me.”  
Yuta was more than happy to oblige.  He let Taeyong surround him, crawling over the bed to different sides of him to get the angles he needed to unbutton his shirt and peel off the wrappings, slowly revealing Yuta’s tattooed skin.  Taeyong hummed to himself as he worked, insisting Yuta relax and stay still, and placing soft kisses to each section of flesh as soon as it became accessible.  Yuta felt like he was floating with Taeyong tittering about and mouthing at him.  At the same time, it was teasing him into impatience.  
When Taeyong finished, he threw the bandages to the ground and placed his hands on Yuta’s shoulders to steady himself as he leaned forward, observing the ink figures that covered Yuta’s entire upper body; dragons, flames, and Oni practically crawling out from the waist of his pants.
“Shit.  That looks so painful.”
Taeyong yelped in surprise as Yuta grabbed his face and pulled him in for an upside-down kiss.  When Yuta pulled away, he took advantage of Taeyong’s disorientation to turn around and chase him back on the bed into the pillows.
“It was,” he confirmed finally, giggling, and pretty soon he had Taeyong laughing too.  
Taeyong regained his composure and worried his lip between his teeth again for a moment before speaking.  Yuta couldn’t help noticing the flush that had taken over Taeyong’s face, neck, and chest.  
“Yuta?”
“Mm?”
“I want to feel you inside me,” Taeyong almost whispered.  “And I want you to take over now.”
Yuta felt his dick twitch at Taeyong’s words.  He settled his expression and let out a deep breath.  
“Okay, baby,” he said.  “Then I need you to take off your pants.”
Taeyong obliged easily as Yuta stood and removed his own, then pulled a bottle of lube from the bedside table.    
Yuta looked quizzically at Taeyong’s sudden nakedness.  He was so beautiful.  
“You weren’t wearing underwear?” he teased and Taeyong demurred.  
“No,” he admitted, and Yuta caught Taeyong’s eyes grazing over the less dense tattoos which continued over Yuta’s lower body.  
Yuta shuffled back onto the bed between Taeyong’s legs.  
“No wonder you were in such a mood earlier,” said Yuta, almost coldly.  “You’re my naughty boy tonight, hm?  Spread your legs.”
Taeyong shuffled his legs wider, his hardening cock wobbling with arousal.  
“Mmmmmm mhm, I am,” Taeyong groaned as Yuta coated his fingers with the lube, smirking to himself.  Taeyong sounded wrecked already from all the intimacy and the light dirty talk, and Yuta hadn’t even properly touched him yet.    
Yuta scooted in closer and circled Taeyong’s entrance with his pointer finger, eliciting a gasp from him.  
“You’re so sweet, it kills me,” Yuta murmured, and with that he looked Taeyong in the eyes and pressed his finger in.  Taeyong keened, panting.  
A few minutes later, Yuta was stretching Taeyong with three fingers, admiring the man beneath him as he rocked himself lightly into Yuta’s thrusts with one bent leg as an anchor.  He had his eyes shut forcefully and chewed on his thumb nail, clipped, muffled moans emanating from the base of his throat.  
Yuta’s cock was straining against his underwear and leaving a wet mark on the fabric.  He was so turned on that he would almost have been satisfied just watching Taeyong ride his hand all night.  Almost.  
“You take my fingers so well, baby,” he teased, brushing over Taeyong’s prostate and causing his eyes and mouth to drop open simultaneously in pleasure.  “You think you’re ready for my cock?”
Taeyong bucked his hips as he dropped his hand from his mouth.  
“Yes, yes, yes…” he repeated as if in a trance.  “Please, Shategashira .”
He mewled as Yuta withdrew his fingers, clenching around air, and then again when Yuta removed his boxer briefs.  Yuta was naked save the chain he’d been wearing all night, reveling in the image of it swinging while they fucked.  
Taeyong shimmied himself down into the bed until he was lying down, his arms bent and framing his head on the purple pillow.  
Yuta lined himself up and pushed slowly inside, groaning when he bottomed out.  He watched Taeyong’s stomach flex as he got used to the stretch and steadied his shallow breathing.  Yuta ground his hips experimentally and Taeyong whimpered.    
“Mmm, you feel so good around me, baby.”
“You feel good too,” Taeyong reciprocated. “I – ah – you fill me up so well.”
Taeyong reached his arms out in a fidgety motion and Yuta obliged him, leaned forward until Taeyong could wrap his arms fully around him.  He took one of Taeyong’s nipples into his mouth, catching him by surprise as he began to thrust and bit down, making him whine.  
Yuta wondered where Taeyong had been all his life.  Sure, it sounds cheesy, but it was true.  Taeyong was so tight and warm, it made him crazy, and he let the most endearing string of curses and breathy moans fall past his lips as Yuta fucked into him with increasing insistence.  
Yuta pulled himself back upright so he could get a better view of the man under him, thumbing over the nipple that was still wet and inflamed from his mouth.  Taeyong’s skin sparkled with sweat as he knit his brow and sent his fingers absentmindedly to his mouth.  Yuta reached down and moved Taeyong’s hand, replacing it with his own, and the look Taeyong gave him when he reopened his eyes made Yuta feel a telltale clench in his gut.  
“Keep your eyes on me,” he instructed.
“Yes Sha – Yes, Shategashira .”  
The slap of flesh on flesh grew louder, mixing with the metallic sound of Yuta’s chain and filling the space as Yuta thrust hard enough it would probably leave Taeyong with bruises.  Taeyong drew in a breath and let it out as a broken sob.  
“I’m so close,” he warned over Yuta’s fingers.  
Yuta wrapped his hand around Taeyong’s cock, which was angry and straining at this point, pumping him in time with his thrusts to the best of his ability.  The movements were slicked by the precome that Taeyong had been dribbling consistently over himself.  
“Ah, thank you, thank you, thank you…” Taeyong repeated as he bucked jerkily into Yuta’s touch, his hands wandering in spastic fits over his own heaving chest.
“You’re going to come when I tell you to.  Okay, darling?” Yuta sing-songed.
Taeyong sobbed again as Yuta dragged his thumb over the head of his cock.  “Yes, Shategashira .”
Yuta shuddered, nearing his own climax. He thrust deep into Taeyong, abusing his prostate as he pressed his thumb into Taeyong’s slit.  
“Now, baby.  Come for me.”
Taeyong wailed as he came a moment later, streaking his stomach in pearly white and huffing from all the energy he’d expended.
Yuta’s thrusts grew more erratic and his voice came out like gravel.  “Fuck, baby,” he said, “you did it just when I told you to.  My good boy.  I wish you could have seen how incredible you looked.”
Taeyong shook his head in embarrassment against the pillow and threw an arm over his face.  He kept spasming now and again from aftershocks and from Yuta still fucking into him.  
“Thank you, Shategashira .  I wanted to be good for you.”
Yuta let out a gut-punched sound at that.  “I’m gonna come now, sweetheart,” he informed.  “Where do you want it?”
Taeyong’s voice was barely there as he answered.  “Inside.  Please.” That alone was enough to push Yuta over the edge.  
He kept grinding his release into Taeyong once he’d come, bringing himself down and pulling a new string of whimpers from the man below.  
“Aah, that was so good, baby,” he said dreamily.  “Let me see you.”  
Taeyong removed his arm from his face, and what Yuta saw sent a residual wave of pleasure all the way to his toes.  Taeyong’s cheeks were red and shiny, not just from sweat but also from the small collection of tears that had welled up at the corners of his eyes and started to spill over.  
“Oh, baby,” Yuta cooed.  “You look so pretty like this, it’s unreal.”
Taeyong spasmed.  “Please…”
It was a bit unfair to Taeyong, who hadn’t been introduced to Yuta’s sadistic side in bed yet, but Yuta couldn’t stop himself from continuing to grind in and out of Taeyong’s entrance just a little longer than was obviously comfortable, egged on by the tears and by the little noises Taeyong kept making.  When Taeyong started begging for real, he finally decided to give him a break and pulled out.
By the end of the night, Yuta was completely whipped, for better or for worse.  Sometime during their post-fuck cuddling, Taeyong had informed Yuta that he liked it when he told him what to do, liked being bitten, and that as much as it had made him sensitive and squirmy, he’d have been okay if Yuta had continued to overstimulate him.  The conversation turned to other things they might like and soon enough, they were both recovered enough to get hard again.  Using some of what he’d just learned about Taeyong to his benefit, Yuta sat the other man on his lap and jerked him off with one hand while wrapping the other around his neck.  Taeyong came over Yuta’s fingers, licked them clean, and returned the favor with a blowjob.  By the time they were done and somewhat cleaned up, both men collapsed in a heap in Yuta’s now slightly sticky bed.  Yuta let Taeyong cuddle into his side, thinking to himself that he was going to need to figure out how to make this work.    
“How long did these take?” Taeyong asked, tracing a finger over the Oni on Yuta’s sternum.  
“I got them over the course of five years, so it’s hard to say.  Maybe, 100 hours?”
Taeyong raised his head in shock and Yuta laughed.  “No way.”  Yuta nodded. “And it really hurt?” Taeyong asked, eyes wide.  
Yuta adjusted his head on the pillow, taking a drag of the cigarette he had perched between his fingers.  
“I mean, it’s not the worst thing ever, but it’s pretty unpleasant.  They’re not normal tattoos, either.”
“How so?”
“You get them done with this sharpened piece of bamboo and no modern equipment.  It’s the traditional way for us.  Someone’s granny does them; I forget who she’s related to.”
Taeyong finished tracing the Oni and moved on to the flaming border next to it.  “Do you think I could ever get one?  Not like, the whole thing – just something small like what Donghyuck has.”
Yuta felt the familiar pang of nervousness he got every time he thought about Taeyong’s future with the Inagawa-kai and, by association, with him.  
“Mm,” Taeyong acknowledged.  “Well then...”
“Have you thought at all about it?” Yuta ventured, immediately wishing he hadn’t when he felt Taeyong tense.  Still, he knew the question would have eaten at him either way.  
“A little bit, but I haven’t come to a decision,” Taeyong explained.  Yuta took another drag and offered his cigarette to Taeyong, who took it, to Yuta’s surprise.  Taeyong tried smoking it and started coughing on the exhale, scrunched his face up in distaste.  
“I don’t know why I try it every time someone offers me one.  I never like it,” he said.  
“Sorry,” said Yuta with a laugh.  “Anyway, mind giving me some insight into your thought process?”
Taeyong settled back into Yuta’s side.  Yuta could feel vibrations in his ribs as Taeyong spoke.
“Well, as I imagine you understand, officially entering a life of crime or whatever is pretty intimidating even if you’ve never operated in the mainstream.  It’s a big commitment.  At the same time, I don’t really have anything waiting for me on the other side.” Taeyong flushed.  “Besides, I’m really enjoying being with you.”
Yuta blew another puff of smoke as some bittersweet feeling kicked around in his stomach.  
“Don’t let me be too much of an influence on your decision,” he advised.  “We can be together anyway.  I mean yakuza don’t usually date other syndicate members anyway for…obvious reasons.”
“Yeah,” Taeyong mumbled.  “That’s true.  But I promise, no matter what I decide, you’ll be the first to know.”
“Thank you.”  
There was a short silence where Yuta reveled in listening to the slightly off rhythm of his and Taeyong’s breathing.
“Yonggie,” he began again.
“Yeah?”
“Want to hear about how I joined the Inagawa-kai?”
Taeyong turned on his stomach and placed his chin on Yuta’s chest.  “Sure.”
“I grew up in Osaka, where my father worked for an Inagawa outpost.  When I was a teenager, he got killed on the job.  I was devastated.  He was the person I admired most in the world.  I didn’t have a rebellious bone in my body because my dad was the center of authority in our house and I thought he was the greatest person who’d ever lived.  Anyway, when he died, I still wanted to be like him and tried to join the Inagawa in Osaka in his memory I guess, but it didn’t work out.”
Yuta paused for another drag.  He continued.
“That was because the rest of my family took their grief in a very different direction.  My mother and sisters blamed the syndicate and wanted to cut all ties to it, so that would rule out me becoming a yakuza, you know.  I figured though, that anything my father would give his life for must be worth something, right?  One of his old friends who knew Goro set me up to move to Tokyo and the rest is history.  I wouldn’t say I got disowned for my decision, but I rarely talk to my family and going home would just be too unpleasant to stomach.  Me being gay didn’t help either.”  Yuta chuckled wryly.  
“I bet,” said Taeyong.  “That’s really rough though.  I’m so sorry about your dad.”  
“It’s all worked itself out, more or less,” said Yuta.  “I still miss him though.  But this is all to say that you’re the person who knows best for you.  The syndicate can be a great place to find community and purpose when you don’t have that anywhere else, I’ll give it that, and that’s how most of us ended up where we are.  But, you have to be okay with the violence; both the threat of it against yourself and those you love and that you will inevitably perpetrate against others.”
Taeyong nodded, his eyes fluttering down to Yuta’s chest.  Yuta figured that was enough heavy talk for one night.  He put out his cigarette in the ashtray next to the bed and grinned, ruffling Taeyong’s hair.  Taeyong smiled back.  
“I’ll shut up now,” Yuta said.  
“S’okay,” replied Taeyong.  “Yuta?”
“Yah?”
“Can – can I stay the night?”
Yuta balked, scratching his nails over Taeyong’s neck.  “Of course!” he said.  “I didn’t think that was even a question.  It’s too dangerous for you to go back to yours alone in the middle of the night, anyway.”
Taeyong looked relieved and he nuzzled up into Yuta’s shoulder.  Yuta hadn’t been exaggerating earlier when he’d said that Taeyong’s sweetness was killing him.  He only worried he might not have the natural disposition for his current line of work.  
“Thanks, Shategashira .”
Yuta spluttered, poking Taeyong’s nose.  “Of course.  Besides, anyone who’s that good a lay deserves to spend the night.”
“Aww,” said Taeyong jokingly, “good cause you owe me anyway, I think.  I hadn’t been fucked for a while and now my ass hurts.”
“I will not apologize for breaking you back in the correct way,” said Yuta, turning out the lamp by his side, and Taeyong swatted his opposite shoulder.  
“Whatever, just cuddle me and I’ll get over it.”
“Get some sleep, baby.  We’ll take my car to the airport tomorrow and we need to leave around eleven.”
“Oh shit, I forgot about the Triads,” admitted Taeyong, voice suddenly breathy with fatigue.  
“You won’t once you’ve met them,” Yuta joked.  “Goodnight.”
“’Night.”  
Yuta struggled to sleep at first, still exhilarated by the night’s events and unable to shake from his mind the memory of how good Taeyong had looked under him – better than he’d even imagined.  The only thing which helped pull him under was the quiet rhythm of Taeyong’s sleepy exhales.  
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okayoonoh · 4 years
Text
TEN’S FAMILY
here’s the guide to ten’s rambunctious family! i have so many ideas for ten’s family it’s hard to settle for just one main one lol
here’s the masterlist to all things nct dad related! a johnny family scenario is coming out soon ;)
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CHITTAPHON LEECHAIYAPORNKUL (TEN)
he has three kids, 2 boys and 1 girl. kasem leechaiyapornkul (kaleb) is the oldest, 3 years later, somchai leechaiyapornkul (shawn) was born, and 5 years after that, amarin leechaiyapornkul (aria) was born.
(when aria was born, kaleb was 8 and shawn was 5)
KASEM LEECHAIYAPORNKUL (KALEB): >> as a baby <<
ooh boy
he was a trouble maker from the start
you guys thought you were ready for parenthood
which you were
but you weren’t ready for kaleb
he was a handful
he broke everything he touched
like he was gifted with a mountain of toys
broke every single on of them
how?
the world may never know.
he was a handful that never gave you guys a break 
but those few moments when he’ll flash you a smile that looks just like his dad’s?
everything was worth it
he honestly just was a lot tho
like if you know return of the superman
he’s a lot like ko seungjae with how crazy he can be
like he was really advanced as a baby too
like the second he learned how to crawl
he was already trying to stand up by himself
he was really good with rhythms at a young age
like most babies just bang on stuff
but if you played music
he would genuinely try to keep in time with everything
and he lowkey does
a musical prodigy tbh
he wasn’t that sensitive
like he wouldn’t cry at the smallest things
he just was full of energy 24/7
like if you didn’t swaddle him while he was sleeping
he would mess up the whole entire bassinet
he also loved to grab your hair like all the time
it was really annoying
it got to the point where either you tied your hair up constantly or you cut it
but he didn’t grab your hair just for the fun of it
he grabbed it because he wanted to bring your face down closer to his so you can give him a big ‘ole kiss
he was full of boundless energy but it’s with good reasons
>> as a child <<
still a trouble maker
he’s the main source of your’s and ten’s headaches
you know how like ten can be annoyingly cute?
that’s kaleb 24/7
loves to boss around his younger siblings
you’ve had to have many conversations with him about that
ten: kaleb, your siblings are not your servants.
kaleb: but i’m the oldest!
ten: that’s true. we take it back
you: nO THAT’S NOT TRUE TEN WHY DID HE SWAY YOU SO EASILY?
ten is so happy that his first child was a son
all of the things he mentioned in that one live about his son
he’s gonna do it
from a young age, kaleb already knew how to speak thai, english, and a little bit of mandarin
he taught him how to dance
he taught him how to play piano
honestly just like
baby ten?
that’s kaleb
ten is really good at handling him
but like if it’s logic that ten can’t argue with
then you’re screwed
for example
kaleb: dad, let’s cover the house with bubbles so it cleans everything and we can play in them
ten: that is a compelling argument son, but i like the way you think. so efficient
kaleb: anD MOM WILL LIKE IT TOO! WE’LL CLEAN THE HOUSE FOR HER!
thank god you were out of soap that day
the two of them feed off of each other’s energies tbh
like, again, return of the superman
ten and kaleb would be running up and down the streets
like you’ll send them on a task to just get some eggs or something
and they’ll return with the eggs!
but also like 500 different kinds of candy
and a cat
he loves animals
he’s really empathetic
he doesn’t deal with any bs tho
like if someone is complaining about something that isn’t a problem
he doesn’t deal with it
he’ll straight up tell them to stop
he’s best friends with johnny’s oldest, noah seo.
they’re honestly just like their dads when they hang out
genetics is weIRD
they relate with each other a lot because they both are the oldest and they both have a little brother and a baby sister
noah calms kaleb down
kaleb brings up noah’s energy
a dynamic duo if i do say so myself
>> as a teen/adult <<
a little better
he’s still pretty bubbly and playful
but when it gets serious
he can be serious
he became a dancer alongside lee youngchul
they work together in their studio
they learned baby don’t stop for their dads and their dads were sO HECKIN PROUD LIKE THEY CRIED
he loves to choreograph stuff for groups
he’s usually the one who choreographs the dance of the year like every year
he has tens nose and lips, but your eyes
he loves to tease people
not so much a prankster
he loves to tease people like vocally
he can sing, but he prefers dancing
everyone wants him to debut lol
he doesn’t really want to
he already kinda does
he’s so wholesome and goofy
but when it gets to dancing
he can be bad cop
youngchul doesn’t have it in him to be bad cop
but kaleb?
it’s all about the dance
he’ll apologize before every practice
like “i’m sorry if i say something that offends you, but you don’t get to your goals by slacking.”
he makes his dancers work HARD
youngchul usually deals with the rookies and the newbies and the younger ones
but kaleb deals with the advanced groups and stuff
and ooh boy
he tells it as it is
like if he can tell that no one practiced
he’ll just end rehearsal right then and there
people still want to learn from him tho
and they know that he’s not doing this with any evil intent
he just respects dance and visual arts so much that he needs to know that people will be as dedicated as him
he’s a genuinely cool person tho
like when it’s not about dancing, he’s one of those guys who you can do anything with
if he sees one of his dancers genuinely struggling, he’ll stay with them after practice as late as they want to work
he’ll order them food too while they work hard
he admires hard work more than talent
honestly, a really good person/teacher who gives off the best results because of it.
SOMCHAI LEECHAIYAPORNKUL (SHAWN): >> as baby <<
an actual sweetheart
it’s like the universe gave you grace bc kaleb was such a meanie
he didn’t really cry that much
he was pretty calm
even when he cried, it wasn’t super loud
like he made the face of a crying baby
but his volume was somewhat quiet
his brother would make him cry a lot (on accident tho)
like kaleb would just want to go and play with him
but then he forgets that babies can’t catch
and the ball hits shawn in the face
and shawn will start crying
but kaleb would go and hug him, just repeating
“don’t tell mom, don’t tell mom, don’t tell mom.”
shawn wouldn’t
shawn can’t even talk yet lmao
anyway
he was just a sweetheart and people pleaser
like his older brother, he started learning languages asap
he was pretty smart too
but he was way more empathetic than anything
like he knew when ten would be gone for tour
and he’d cry if he saw a video or picture of him
same for you too
like if you were gone, he’d cry too
he loves his family so much
he was pretty curious as a little baby tho
like he would always follow kaleb
he would even copy everything kaleb did
like from a young age he looked up to kaleb and wanted to be like him
he wasn’t too much of a hassle
he would play by himself well
he was a little bit of a picky eater
he had a weak stomach :(
if you gave him something that was a little too strong in a certain flavor, he would throw up
but he wouldn’t want you to worry and most times he’d try to hold it in
but his stomach is just too weak :(
it’s okay tho, he’s still a pretty happy baby regardless
>> as a child <<
still calm
adores his older brother
does whatever his older brother says
he thinks kaleb is the coolest person in the world
he looks just like you tbh
he’s really good at taking care of his little sister
he doesn’t boss her around
shawn tries to keep the peace
he doesn’t have the most overwhelming personality like kaleb and aria
he’s just chill
he’s best friends with mark’s oldest, ethan lee, and jaehyun’s oldest, jung lani
they’re honestly the dream team
like their all so smart
they just make such woke decisions
like for example
if you sent the three of them to go get snacks
they would combine their money and get one of those gigantic value bags
seeing the three of them together is so endearing
like the three of them listen so well
if you’re out with them and they walk together, they’ll all hold hands so they don’t lose each other
no one knows where this adorable bond comes from
but it’s just so nice
they’re all supportive of each other too
ug h
just the sweetest
i’ll stop now bc this is about shawn lol
he loves his friends and family
he’s not super sensitive
but if kaleb is mad at him, he’ll cry
he still likes to follow kaleb and do what he does
kaleb tries to mess with him, but shawn just replies with so much love
like kaleb would pull a prank
or say something like “why did you do something like that?”
“because i love you, phi*!”
*the thai version of hyung
kaleb can’t stay mad at him for too long lol
shawn likes to follow you around with whatever you do lol
like if you’re cooking, he wants to watch
if you’re cleaning, he’ll help you
he loves his family so much
he enjoys the sun and outdoors
he also enjoys taking care of the younger ones
he’s such a good older brother to aria
like he can prepare her formula, grab her diapers, etc. 
he’s so helpful and just a joy to have in the house
you’ve only had to scold him once or twice in his entire life lol
kaleb has to be scolded like once or twice a day lololol
honestly, he’s just so wholesome and made your’s and ten’s life easier
>> as a teen/adult <<
became a kindergarten teacher
he loves the simple life
doesn’t really want to be a full time idol, but he loves that his friends and family are
he is SO attractive tho
literally everyone is attracted to him
he does a little modeling on the side
after ethan and lani tricked him into going to an audition
but he prefers his job as a kindergarten teacher
he teaches at like an international school
he’s really good at it too
he teaches in english, but he can also teach in thai, mandarin, korean, japanese, etc.
moms put their kids in his class just so they can see him lol
he loves teaching kids
he loves seeing them get so excited over tiny accomplishments
he also loves being that positive role models in their lives
when it comes to girls tho?
he’s REALLY REALLY REALLY bad with girls
like
really bad
he cannot pick up hints for the life of him
like lani, ethan, and shawn would be out eating lunch
and the waitress would CLEARLY be flirting with hiim
like she even gave him his number on the receipt
and lani would be like “so... the cute waitress seems interested in you, shawn! go add her number!”
and he would turn beat red and be like
“sHE’S INTERESTED IN ME?? I THOUGHT SHE WAS JUST BEING NICE??????”
and lani and ethan both facepalm
and ethan would say something like “dude, she literally said that she’s never had a customer as cute as you.”
and shawn would be like “i thOUGHT SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT LANI!!!! :(((”
and lani would be like, “shawn... she was looking at YOU when she said that.”
poor baby is denser than a brick wall
he gets flustered and freaks out in a relationship
he’s just trying is best!
when he finally gets into a relationship
he’s so flustered like 24/7
ethan and lani would attempt to help him become more smooth and spontaneous
but anytime he does anything spontaneous it goes wrong lol
he’s not a super loud dude either
buT WHEN HE GOES TO HIS SISTER’S CONCERTS?
he’s the loudest in the room
he supports the HECK out of his siblings
he’ll go to all of kaleb’s shows/competitions
and he’ll go to all of aria’s concerts
he is decked out, head to tow, with their merch
it’s like he throws all of his pride out of the window when it comes to family
he’s honestly really good with fashion too
like he does enjoy shopping and keeping up with the trends
he like looks good 24/7
he’s just a wholesome brick wall living his best life
AMARIN LEECHAIYAPORNKUL (ARIA): >> as a baby <<
honestly
basically kaleb
but a girl
she was a little less troublesome
and more needy
kaleb would honestly be like straight up mean at times
but aria was more needy 
she always needed to be with someone
like if she was alone by herself 
she would cry
thank goodness your family was full so someone can always be with her
she loves her older brothers
to be 100% honest, she hated ten at first lol
i think some babies go through a phase where they hate their dads
i for sure did lol
like aria would just not vibe with him at all
anything bad that happened, she would blame ten
ten started getting super sad about it
kaleb and shawn would help their dad tho
and aria started warming up to him
she eventually became clingiest to him
it was just a phase i promise
ten would dress her up in the prettiest things
like there’s a whole closet in your house dedicated to aria’s pretty dresses
ten is a really good girl dad
like he’ll throw away his pride for her
if she wanted to leave the house in her sleeping beauty dress
ten would leave dressed up as the prince
(he would even dress up kaleb and shawn in animal outfits or something lol)
she has been a big eater since the beginning
like the second she could eat solid foods, it was over
she was eating everything that she could eat
her favorite foods were fruits tho rip ten
she was happiest when she was surrounded by her family with food
>> as a child <<
she became the sweetest little princes in the whole world
ten spoiled the HECK out of her 
like he bought her a whole section of toys once bc she couldn’t decide on just one
she fights with kaleb a lot
they don’t physically fight
they argue tho
kaleb tries to tell her to do something
she does it reluctantly
shawn does his best to be an amazing older brother
she listens to shawn more than she listens to kaleb just to spite him lol
she’s best friends with johnny’s youngest, luna seo, and taeyong’s youngest, lee youngmi
the three of them are like the powerpuff girls
aria is like bubbles
she is so sweet and kind and rainbows and butterflies
but the second something goes kinda wrong
she’ll freak out, cry, and/or get super duper ultra mad
no one wants to let anything hurt her bc she’s so cute and sweet
everyone is drawn by her energy lol
she’s always been tiny from the start
and she remains to be tiny
but this girl can EAT
like she can easily eat her entire body weight and then some
she loves to dress up her brothers
shawn will do it, no question
kaleb will do it too, but reluctantly
honestly, everyone in the family is so whipped for aria lol
she’s usually not super shy
but the second she meets a handsome older boy?
she becomes hella shy
she loves to color and draw
she’s also super optimistic
when she’s with luna and youngmi
she becomes so chaotic
she will YELL about how happy she is
aria is honestly a delight to have around :)
>> as a teen/adult <<
honestly
the most happy and bubbly personality
she’s so sweet and giggly like all the time
she’s tiny too
she joins a girl group with luna and youngmi
and she’s the littlest in the group
she’s their main dancer and main vocalist
this girl can BELT out notes
like she’s so little
but her voice is so strong
like her range is amazing
she has perfect pitch
and she can do runs like no tomorrow
she loves her brothers
kaleb and her still fight a little bit
but their fights aren’t serious at all
she loves animals
but she especially loves cats
she also does art as a hobby and she’s honestly really good at it
as an idol, she’s pretty wholesome
she’s really goofy
aria is the groups translator
she’s just as good as her brothers at the different languages
she has a little bit of a british accent 
she the maknae of the group
the most humble person tho
she has a hard time learning dances lol
she just takes a little bit longer than everyone else
kaleb helps her out tho
he doesn’t treat her like he treats his dancers
like he’ll tease her a bit more, but he’ll slow the moves down for her and stuff
when she does learn the moves tho ooh boy
she can be so creative with her freestyles and stuff
she loves all things cute
like her room is full of plushies
she barely throws away the plushies her fans get her because she loves all of them
she’s the type of person to find the beauty and love in everything
she loves to visit shawn’s classes and help him out with the little ones
she’s so thankful for her brothers and her dad and you!
aria makes sure that she visits home as much as possible
she’s really empathetic and will cry if things get too much :,)
honestly, everyone is thankful she became such a positive and nice person
you and ten raised her and your boys well, despite all of the headaches!
---
shawn is honestly a mood lmao
the johnny scenario is done now and will be posted soon :)
i hoped you guys liked it! i’m definitely excited to write my ult’s babies haha
also! requests are open! go ahead and drop by some suggestions about the families or even just a fluff scenario for anyone! i love writing, but sometimes, i just need some prompts to help me out lol. go ahead and drop by and let me know what y’all want!
- amy <3
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angelofthequeers · 4 years
Text
Hold Me By Both Hands: Chapter 34
Disclaimer: I don’t own ML.
Power's back! I lost power about an hour or two after my last update and the worst of the bushfire passed that day. Since it was just yesterday with no power, I figure I'll upload yesterday's and today's chapters together.
Chapter 33 | Chapter 35 | AO3 link
“By the power vested in me, I declare you all my slaves!”
“Well,” Rena Rouge says as the golden bubble that Malediktator is creating starts to expand above his head to terrifying proportions. “We’re screwed if that pops.”
“What’s the plan, Ladybug?” Honeybee says, unslinging her trompo. “I can –”
“No, no, don’t go charging in.” Ladybug throws a hand out to stop Honeybee in her tracks. “This’d be so much easier with Chat Noir and Carapace. I’ll have to…Lucky Charm!” A massive machine gun falls into her hands, and Rena Rouge and Honeybee’s eyes bulge.
“Well, that’s an effective Lucky Charm!” Honeybee splutters. Ladybug just snorts, detaches the laser pointer, then tosses the gun away.
“No way I’d use something like that,” she scoffs.
“Are you sure?” Rena Rouge and Honeybee say in unison, eyeing the discarded gun longingly.
“Yep,” Ladybug says. “Honeybee just needs to take the sting out of Malediktator. Rena, we’ll need you on standby to make sure that Honeybee’s secret identity is safe and that no one suspects who she is.”
Honeybee grins and flips her trompo around her fingers with the string. “Venom!” she says once she’s holding the trompo, and it starts to throb like a beating heart.
“You know, part of me wants to be annoyed that all I ever get to do is hang back and trick people,” Rena Rouge says. “Then I remember how fun it is to mess with them when they don’t know who I am. And how screwed this team would be without me.”
“Just keep telling yourself that, hon,” Honeybee tuts.
“We all know what we’re doing?” Ladybug says before they can start arguing. Rena Rouge and Honeybee nod. “Alright. Let’s go!”
While Rena Rouge ducks away to hide and Honeybee starts to edge around, Ladybug aims the laser pointer at the rooftop with Malediktator and his guards. Just as predicted, Chat Noir lets out a mew at the sight and starts to chase after the laser, and Ladybug can’t help but grin as she guides him around to knock over all the guards like bowling pins.
“What?” Malediktator gasps. Honeybee takes this as her cue to swing out with her pulsating trompo outstretched and jab it into his chest. He lets out a choked cry and freezes in place like a statue, allowing Honeybee to grab the sash and throw it to Ladybug to tear it in half. Ladybug captures and purifies the akuma, then throws the laser into the air.
“Miraculous Ladybug!”
The healing ladybugs deposit everyone back on the ground, and then Malediktator melts away to reveal André Bourgeois once everything’s fixed. Chat Noir and Carapace blink and shake their heads as Malediktator’s brainwashing fades away.
“Dude,” Carapace groans. “What are we doing here?”
“Missing the amazing Ladybug and Honeybee saving the city,” Ladybug grins and holds her fist out to Honeybee, whose eyes light up.
“Pound it!” she cries with Ladybug.
“I really can’t be Queen Bee again, huh?” Chloé emerges from a nearby alleyway with a wistful look on her face as she takes in the sight of Honeybee. For a moment, Ladybug has no clue what’s going on, until she looks around for the missing Rena Rouge and then remembers her instructions to her teammate.
“Sorry, Chloé,” she says, keenly aware of André and Audrey Bourgeois watching from nearby. “But Paris knows your secret identity. I can’t allow you to be Queen Bee again for the safety of you and your family.”
‘Chloé’s’ mouth droops. “I understand, Ladybug. And…I’m sorry about the mess I caused.”
Honeybee shifts on the spot at her illusion self’s words. Ladybug smiles and says, “Apology accepted, Chloé. Thank you for being brave enough to own up to your mistakes.”
“Want me to take her back to the school?” ‘Rena Rouge’ leaps down to land next to ‘Chloé’, in a mimicry of the same trick that had been pulled with the illusion Marinette earlier. “I didn’t have to use my power, so I’m not gonna time out.”
“That’d be awesome, Rena,” Ladybug says. “Thanks. Chat and I will stay here and brief with Honeybee.”
‘Rena Rouge’ scoops ‘Chloé’ up and bounds away, while André and Audrey start to bicker – or, to be more accurate, Audrey starts to tear into André while he cowers.
“Thanks for trusting me to help, Ladybug,” Honeybee says once Carapace has also leapt away. “Here, I’ll duck into this alleyway and take the Miraculous off –”
“No need,” Ladybug says. “You passed the test…Chloé.” She says Chloé’s name in a whisper that only Honeybee and Chat Noir can hear.
“The what?” Honeybee’ eyes bulge, while Chat Noir blinks and turns to look at where ‘Rena Rouge’ had disappeared with ‘Chloé’. After a moment, his face clears at the realisation.
“We test all our newbies to see if they’ll give it back when we ask,” he says. “And I’m guessing milady tested you more to make sure we could trust you with a Miraculous again.”
“Welcome to the team, Honeybee,” Ladybug smiles. “But Chat and I are responsible for you, so if you blow this second chance –”
“I won’t! I won’t!” Honeybee practically leaps ten feet in the air. “Thank you, Ladybug, thank you! See you next time!”
“Huh,” Chat Noir comments as Honeybee jumps away. “She doesn’t make a half-bad hero.”
“Pollen will be a good influence,” Ladybug says, then grimaces when her earrings beep. “Well, that’s my cue. I gotta recharge and hand out the Dragon. I think that’ll be our team for the time being, until Master Fu’s comfortable with handing out more zodiacs than just the Dragon. I know we’ve already pushed it, giving out all the working Wu Xing ones.”
“Good idea,” Chat Noir says. “Message me who gets it tonight, okay?”
“Of course, kitty,” Ladybug says. “Oh, can you drop by Chloé’s and get an email address from her so we can add her to the group chat?”
Chat Noir bows and says, “It would be my purrleasure, milady.” He takes off before Ladybug can scold him, leaving her to sigh loudly and duck into the nearest alleyway to detransform and refuel Tikki. Then she’s once again swinging through Paris, towards the small Tsurugi mansion with a sleek red car parked in front of it; although she’s never actually been to Kagami’s house, she certainly knows where it is, at least, thanks to Adrien. But she doesn’t know which room is Kagami’s, so she’s forced to take a quick peek inside each window until she finally stumbles across Kagami sitting at a desk, clearly deep in her homework. Kagami looks up at the tap on her window, and her eyes widen when she catches sight of the superhero dangling outside.
“Ladybug? Is everything alright?” Kagami says after rushing over to open the window. Ladybug slips inside and stares around at the room, marvelling at how it’s just so…Kagami. The walls and massive king bed are a deep red colour, the carpet is soft and black, the desk is made of rich, dark wood, and there are several decorations such as a Japanese flag on one wall, a few fencing trophies on a dark wooden shelf, and some photos pinned to the wall above her desk. A closer look reveals to Ladybug that these photos are of her – well, Marinette – and Adrien, cut from photoshoots and magazine articles, such as the article that had covered Marinette’s hat at the Agreste fashion show.
Oh. Wow. Kagami must really care about them…
“I know it’s not ideal, only having staged photos of them,” Kagami says as she draws level with Ladybug. “But they’re my friends, so I figure the circumstances behind the photos don’t matter.”
“Maybe you could take photos with them?” Ladybug says.
“I suppose…”
“From what I hear, you’re a very direct person. Why hesitate now?”
“It’s just…” Kagami sighs and looks away. “I’ve never had friends before. I don’t know what’s appropriate and when it’s appropriate. If I make a wrong move, how do I know I won’t lose them? Unlike fencing, I don’t get to come back for a rematch. And unlike fencing…I don’t know how to navigate this.”
“Oh.” Ladybug reaches out to rest a hand on Kagami’s arm. “Can I tell you something? I’m inexperienced when it comes to friends as well.”
“Impossible. You’re Ladybug. You’re sweet and charismatic. Me? I’m just an awkward autistic girl who only knows how to stab people.”
“You’re autistic?” Ladybug gasps. “So am I!”
“What?” Kagami’s head whips around to stare at Ladybug. “You – but you’re –”
“An awkward mess outside the mask,” Ladybug says and squeezes Kagami’s arm. “I mix my words up all the time. I melt down and flip out whenever I’m really stressed or losing control of the situation. I have to plan out what I’m going to say before I talk to people about important stuff, otherwise I turn into a blabbering mess. I have to bounce or fidget or do anything to stim because I can’t sit still. I’m clumsy. I’m obsessed with fas – uh, my special interests. I can never seem to be where I should be because I just can’t manage myself, even before I became Ladybug.”
“Oh.” Kagami tilts her head and ever so slowly reaches out to pat Ladybug on the shoulder stiffly. “You get it. I have to script my conversations as well. And…well, I don’t have meltdowns and I’m very organised, but…mostly because Mother would be extremely disappointed in me.”
“Yeah. Masking,” Ladybug says. “It’s kind of ironic, you know. I’m wearing a mask as Ladybug, but it’s the one time when I’m not masking at all. Like, I have to be the saviour of Paris, the role model for everyone…but I can also just be freely autistic because, well, who can tell me to stop fidgeting? And my main responsibility is fighting the akumas, which I don’t need to plan for in advance or work into a schedule.”
“Wow…” Kagami’s soft smile is genuine. “I can’t believe it. You really get it.”
“Yeah,” Ladybug says. “So, trust me when I say that asking your friends for photos isn’t a wrong move. And if you do mess up, you have to trust that they’ll call you out for it. That’s what friends do. But they won’t leave you because of a mistake.”
“Thank you, Ladybug,” Kagami says. “Just…thank you.” Then she squares her shoulders and slips back into business mode and says, “But why are you here? I doubt that you visited me just to give me advice.”
“You’re right,” Ladybug says. She swipes open her yo-yo and pulls out a little box. Kagami’s eyes widen and her mouth falls open. “We were hoping that you’d join the team and fight alongside us.”
“M-Me? I mean, it’s an honour to be offered the chance to fight alongside you, but why me?”
“Because you’re strong and terrifying with a sword,” Ladybug says. “But you also crave freedom, just like Chat. You’re kind and loyal and helpful and always do your best to do the right thing, even if you struggle to properly interact with people. And those are the qualities that make a hero. So, Kagami Tsurugi, if you’re willing, here is the Miraculous of the Dragon, which will grant you the power over the elements of the storm. You will use it for the greater good, to protect Paris and have your teammates’ backs.”
For a moment, Kagami just stares at the box. But before Ladybug can start to panic, Kagami nods and takes it and snaps it open, then gasps and shuts her eyes against the brilliant red light that pours out of it.
“Greetings, young lady, and good day to you!” says the little red dragon kwami that materialises in front of Kagami. “Fear not! I am Longg, the Dragon kwami.”
“You’re a what?” Kagami says after a moment.
“A kwa-mi,” Longg says. “Allow me to tell you about the many feats a magic being like myself will help you accomplish once the magic words have been spoken!”
“She’s more of a direct learner, Longg,” Ladybug says as Kagami slips on the beaded choker.
“Ah,” Longg says. “A woman of action. Very well, then. All you must say is, “Longg, bring the storm” and you will –”
“Longg, bring the storm!” Kagami says, and Longg is sucked into the choker in a blur as red light envelops her. Kagami’s superhero outfit turns out to be a tight, scaly, dark red suit with black shoulders and upper arms, both of them made of black scaly armour with golden trim spiralling along and down to her elbow-length red gloves with golden trim. Two gold-accented black dragons coil around her legs, with their tails fading into boots and their heads meeting and intertwining around her stomach, and a gold and red dragon’s tail flows out of the back of her suit. A circle divided into swirling thirds sits on her chest, with a little elemental symbol in each third, and she has short red dragon horns with gold and black accents sticking out of her windswept black hair, and a red mask with gold and black lightning bolts extending from the bottom. Her eyes, previously light brown, have turned to dark brown with gold sclerae.
Okay. Bad Ladybug. Stop staring. Stop it.
“I love the armour,” Ladybug says, and Kagami runs a hand over the scales on her shoulder.
“I know that the suits are magic, but I always feel safer when I’ve at least got a little armour on,” Kagami says.
“What should I call you?”
“Hmm…Ryuuko. My name is Ryuuko.”
“Well, Ryuuko…” Ladybug crosses over to the open window and smiles back at Ryuuko. “Let’s go for a little evening stroll.”
.
[10:46 pm] Honeybee has joined miraculass.
catitude: welcome to hell
catitude: i mean
catitude: nice work today thanks for saving us
[10:47 pm] Ryuuko has joined miraculass.
Ryuuko: Hello
ladyBIrd: hey
catitude: sup
Honeybee: ew who named this chat
mess w turt u get hurt: rena
what does the fox say: hey
what does the fox say: it’s a great name
ladyBIrd: …it grows on you
Honeybee: KNFLKDSMNZBXCKCLKSDHFOA;SLD
Honeybee: LADYBUG HI
what does the fox say: pfft
what does the fox say: gtfo with your keysmashing i was here first
Honeybee: fuck off
what does the fox say: wow rude
[10:49 pm] what does the fox say set Honeybee’s name to honeybeetch.
honeybeetch: omg
honeybeetch: i hate you
ladyBIrd: I think it’s kind of funny
honeybeetch: asdfghjkl of course
honeybeetch: it’s perfect
what does the fox say: lol desperate
honeybeetch: the only reason i’m not gonna fuckin deck you
honeybeetch: is bc i’ll lose my miraculous
honeybeetch: that and pollen will give me the look of disapproval
catitude: don’t you mean
mess w turt u get hurt: nO DONT
catitude: beecause?
Ryuuko: I’d like to leave, thanks
honeybeetch: where are u
honeybeetch: i’ve got venom ready n everything
catitude: :)
ladyBIrd: Chat, you’re grounded
catitude: :(
honeybeetch: wait
honeybeetch: laDYBUG IS BI
honeybeetch: AJSDHLDSKJ
what does the fox say: don’t even think about it
what does the fox say: i was here first and i have dibs
honeybeetch: actually fite me
honeybeetch: you think your illusions will do shit when i sting you
ladyBIrd: I’ve got a boyfriend, so
ladyBIrd: and there’s a girl above both of you on my list
what does the fox say: :(
honeybeetch: :(
catitude: :)
mess w turt u get hurt: istg i don’t understand why chat reacts half the time
catitude: 0:)
[10:53 pm] catitude has set Ryuuko’s name to airhead
airhead: Are you asking for death?
airhead: Because I have a sword and I’m intimately familiar with how to wield it
honeybeetch: omg i hate everyone here
honeybeetch: except lb of course
[10:56 pm] direct messages
Chat Noir: so
Chat Noir: ryuuko?
Ladybug: Kagami
Chat Noir: omg yes i love
Chat Noir: but i gotta ask
Chat Noir: why give Chloe another chance?
Chat Noir: not that i want her to fail
Ladybug: she’s proven she really does want to change
Ladybug: she even apologised to Marinette and everything
Ladybug: granted, it was an illusion by Rena
Ladybug: but she still passed the test
Chat Noir: i mean
Chat Noir: i’m glad you gave her this chance
Chat Noir: i guess i just don’t want her to let us down again
Chat Noir: especially with the miraculous
Ladybug: the Bee will be perfect for her
Ladybug: I know it
Chat Noir: true
Chat Noir: bee works best with someone with potential for growth
Chat Noir: sting for the greater good and remain warm without burning out of control and all that
Ladybug: ok, how do you remember that?
Ladybug: that was months ago
Chat Noir: i have a near-purrfect memory
Ladybug: does your autocorrect recognise all your puns?
Chat Noir: actually
Chat Noir: yeah
Chat Noir: don’t @ me
Ladybug: :)
Chat Noir: :(
Chat Noir: wait does that mean rena knows honeybee
Ladybug: it was unavoidable
Ladybug: I needed her Mirage
Chat Noir: oof
Chat Noir: thank god she doesn’t know our ids
Ladybug: haha, yeah
Ladybug: I’m gonna DM Honeybee before I sleep
Ladybug: night, kitty <3
Chat Noir: night bugaboo <3
[11:02 pm] direct messages
Ladybug: Hi, Honeybee
Honeybee: ASKJFDSL;KGLDKFG
Honeybee: HI LADYBUG
Ladybug: you don’t have to freak out
Ladybug: it’s just me
Honeybee: yeah but
Honeybee: i’m in a gc
Honeybee: with LADYBUG
Honeybee: and i’m a SUPERHERO
Honeybee: pollen’s trying to take my phone help
Ladybug: lol
Honeybee: so like
Honeybee: not that i’m ungrateful
Honeybee: but why me
Honeybee: why not marinette
Honeybee: she was right there
Honeybee: and she didn’t mess up and out herself to paris
Ladybug: for one, she told me she’s got a pretty busy schedule
Ladybug: for another
Ladybug: I guess I just remembered our conversation about your mother
Ladybug: and I knew there was potential there if I just teased it out
Ladybug: because you really have been trying, even if you slip up
Honeybee: i just
Honeybee: it’s easier to push ppl away
Honeybee: i have to tell my mother to fuck off tmrw and
Honeybee: i’m kinda losing my shit rn so
Ladybug: you can do it, Chloe
Ladybug: she’s a toxic influence
Ladybug: and she’s stunting your potential for growth
Honeybee: ik ik
Honeybee: pollen said it’s like pruning the weeds to let the flowers bloom?
Ladybug: yep
Ladybug: kwamis are pretty wise
Ladybug: Pollen will help and support you
Ladybug: and you’ve got the group chat
Ladybug: you’re not alone, Chloe
Honeybee: <3
Ladybug: <3
Honeybee: ASLKFHSDLK
26 notes · View notes
ohnohetaliasues · 4 years
Text
Tokyo OC (Setsuna Miyuu)
(Kat)
So, an anon sent me a note about this OC, and I found her almost immediately on Hetalia Fan Characters Wiki. Let’s get into it.
I made a Tokyo OC a while ago, so this should be interesting.
Tokyo (東京 Tokyo) is the capital city of Japan in the series Hetalia: Axis Powers. She is sometimes referred to as Tokyo Metropolis (東京都 Tokyo-to). Her human name is Miyuu Setsuna (刹那 美夢ー Setsuna Miyuu).
Okay, so both Miyuu (more commonly spelled as Miyu) and Setsuna are first names.
Also I read the Kanji for ‘Miyuu’ as ‘Mimu’ so there’s that.
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This looks like a Love Live character.
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Okay, so as cute as this chibi is, I think this character is a bit whitewashed. She looks Caucasian as opposed to Japan, who does look Asian for the most part.
Name: Tokyo Metropolis (東京都) Human Name: Miyuu Setsuna (刹那 美夢ー Setsuna Miyuu) Alternative Spelling(s): N/A Age: 16
No.
Too young.
Tokyo was originally called Edo, and Edo castle was built in 1457, then became the center of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s military government in 1603. She would be a little older than 16.
Gender: Female Birthday: February 10th
This date has nothing to do with Tokyo’s history.  You could try May 1st, which is the day Tokyo was established as a city.
Hair Color: Caramel Brown (manga), Caramel Brown (anime) Eye Color: Maroon (manga), Cherry Red (anime)
Seeing as none of the countries have abnormally colored hair and that they physically cannot dye their hair, this is not normal because Japanese people typically don’t have red hair. They have dark hair.
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Case in point.
Height: 145 cm
Why in fresh hell is she 4′7″? The average height of a Japanese woman is around 5′2″ or so.
Appearance
Tokyo, Japan
She has brown hair that reaches a few inches below her shoulders and a P-shaped curl on the middle of her head.
Does this represent anything?
Her hair is wavy and some of it on the side also curls inward. This was from the effect of having to tie her hair up too often when she was a child.
No. This isn’t how hair works. I tie my hair up plenty and it doesn’t leave a permanent dent, even if my hair is naturally curly.
Despite this, Tokyo's original hair color is actually black.
Like I said, countries cannot dye their hair, so this is not plausible. Leave her hair as black if you wanna stay accurate.
In her first appearance as a character, she wore an above-the-knee black yukata with a reddish-pink sash and a bell at the side. However, when she grew up with Japan, she is seen wearing a seemingly military-type set of clotes with gold linings and black accents.
She would still wear pants and not a skirt because wearing a skirt as a military uniform in combat would be really silly.
Her left boot is noticeably shorter than the right.
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Is there a practical reason for this?
As a child, she wore a white kimono that looked big and loose on her. Her hair was styled like two triangular-shaped buns that looked like riceballs.
A white kimono?
From what I know about kimonos, you don’t wear white kimonos unless you’re getting married. Other than that, white kimonos are only ever worn under the actual kimonos and are called nagajuban.
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Personality and Interests
Though described as determined and strong-willed, Tokyo doesn't know much of other nations. She tends to be rather shy and gentle to strangers, sometimes acting nervous like she would make a mistake.
Tokyo has the best metropolitan economy in the world, so I’d imagine she’d be generally pretty outgoing. She’d talk to others in a business-like manner because of this, possibly. My own Tokyo OC is afraid of explosives because of the bombings that took place in Tokyo and she is also careful with what she spends because of the economy thing.
Despite this, Tokyo shows a more outgoing and cheerful side to the nations or capitals she's already a bit close to.
Tokyo secretly likes making robots but she doesn't usually reveal her inventions to the other nations or capitals, only to Japan.
I mean, Japanese electronics are pretty common, so I find this silly.
She has a verbal mannerism to say 'ryuun' just like the way China says 'aru'.
Is there an actual reason for this?
Tokyo was relatively quiet and timid as a child. There showed one time when she kicked Susanoo square on the face for eating her sushi, showing that she was quite aggresive.
Who in the hell is Susanoo?
Relationships
Japan
When she was a child, Tokyo lived in Japan's house at a separate room and only went outside to eat a snack or use the bathroom. Eventually, she started to open up more when the other nations China, America and England started visiting Japan. This lead to her meeting Washington and London and seeing her childhood friend Beijing again.
Um.
No.
Holland was the first to visit Japan after he closed his boarders for nearly 263 years, and I’m concerned that he’s not mentioned. I mean, sure America arrived around 1853.
Also, why Washington? It isn’t inaccurate since Japan sent cherry trees to plant along the Potomac River in 1910, but that was 57 years after the boarders opened again.
Okay, did this person even do their research?
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China
Main Article: China
China took control of Japan when he was a kid. Before being Japan's capital, she secretly followed him. When China found out about her, she was forced to work as a servant.
N O.
NO.
NO.
Okay no.
China never formally occupied Japan, at least not as far as I know. They were connected politically, but China never actually totally controlled Japan.
However, during WWII Japan did actually occupy some of China’s land.
Do your goddamn research.
Beijing
When Tokyo became China's servant, she met Beijing. Beijing introduced himself as her boss, being China's capital, and often made fun of her and made her work twice as usual.
One time when Beijing asked for Tokyo to cook siopao for him, Tokyo screwed the dish and made Beijing throw up. Since then, he never asked her to cook for him.
This is irrelevant since this was never a thing.
Germany
When Japan became part of the Axis, Tokyo had an opportunity to meet Germany. There is not much known about there relationship, save for the fact that Tokyo dubbed him as a "respectable person".
Uh, okay.
Berlin
Berlin met Tokyo through Germany. They became friends and often shared thoughts, only about war and fighting. Tokyo stated that Berlin was "a person to go to when you're in trouble", contrasting the fact that other nations avoid Germany when they have trouble.
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This is irrelevant.
Paris
When Paris went to a vacation in Japan, she met Tokyo and made friends with her. She thinks that Tokyo is her little sister and loves going shopping with her. Paris likes her a lot and is the reason why Tokyo has a lot of "weird" clothes. Despite this, Tokyo hates shopping and going to places with crowds.
Okay, no. Tokyo is a giant city. She would have to be pretty used to crowds and shopping since Tokyo has many markets and shopping districts.
I might even say she would like things like this.
Italy
Italy met Tokyo when he was running away from Germany. Tokyo introduced herself while Italy forgot about being chased.
???
Italy said that Tokyo was like a kid by the way she looks and sometimes calls her "sorellina".
Um. Okay.
Rome
Rome and Tokyo hang out as much as Italy and Japan. They are shown to have good relations with each other as Rome feels that he can trust Tokyo to tell about his problems. Rome often asks Tokyo for tips on how to woo women but it eventually turns out to a disaster since Tokyo doesn't know much about "wooing".
South Italy (Romano)
Tokyo and Romano don't have a good relationship. When the two met, Tokyo was dressed up as a boy so Romano didn't recognized her as a woman. The two bumped into each other and Romano cursed at her, still not knowing her actual gender.
Tokyo's gender was only revealed to Romano when Tokyo went with Japan to look for Italy. But since then, Romano's harsh attitude still hasn't changed towards her.
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WHY ARE EITHER OF THESE RELEVANT?
London
Yes. This is accurate. London and Tokyo have a partnership agreement. They even have universities which are connected.
Tokyo and London are close friends just as Japan and England are.
But that’s not why they could be friends.
They met from London being introduced by Japan and since then they have been good friends.
No.
London and Tokyo both enjoy having conversations about anime or about who they ship. Due to London being honest with her opininon Tokyo is always able to confide in her.
Don’t trick me into thinking you did your research when you didn’t.
Name
The exact inspiration behind her human name was from the Japanese word "setsuna"
Japanese name, you mean. But yes, also a word.
which means "in a split second" and "miyu" meaning "beauty" or "dream". This in total gives her name a meaning of "beauty in a split second" or "dream in a split second".
And, my dear readers, this has nothing at all to do with the city of Tokyo.
Discussing further, it is known that Tokyo has a hobby of drawing scenes or events that happen in her dreams. She does this first thing in the morning or whenever she wakes up from sleep. It is revealed that she keeps a pencil and a sketchpad underneath her pillow which she calls her "dream board".
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Okay, but this is again, irrelevant. Characters are allowed to have their quirks and hobbies, but with Hetalia OCs, you have to be careful of giving them totally unrelated hobbies.
Character Songs
Marukaite Chikyuu
Hatafutte Parade
Mawaru Chikyuu Rondo
There are no links even on the wiki page, so I guess those are useless.
Trivia
When the Axis celebrated Tokyo's birthday on February 10th by buying her cake, she ate it all without sharing which lead to the fact that Tokyo loves confections. She said sorry after not giving the others the food.
Alright, I guess.
In a comic strip, Beijing mumbled to himself in his room that, "I'm gonna be her boss so we'll finally meet so she can notice me," revealing that Beijing was quite lonely and only wanted Tokyo as a playmate and not actually a servant.
What comic strip? Is this person just pretending Himariya wrote their characters in? I’m confused.
China once called for Tokyo and Japan and looked at them in their eyes. He stated that their eyes looked dull and same but had a different hue.
China just called Japan and Tokyo to look at their eyes? Doesn’t he have better things to do with his time?
Okay, so all that is left is a bunch of art in the gallery, but I don’t know how much of it is stolen and how much of it isn’t, so I’ll just leave it where it is.
Anyway, this OC needs research. Look up information about Tokyo’s history, about Japan’s history. Surprisingly, that video on YouTube, ‘History Of Japan,’ that’s actually a usable source, as silly as it is.
Anyway, I’ll see you guys later. Thanks for recommending this character to me, Anon!
~Kat
13 notes · View notes
zukalations · 4 years
Text
88th Class Ties
This round-robin style talk with all the 92nd class members was published in the May 2017 issue of GRAPH, as part of a series on the more senior classes (those who have been in the company 10 years of more).
In case the tags don’t cooperate, the participants are: Kouzuki Ruu, Asaka Manato, Kagetsu Miyako, Sahana Mako, Kurenai Yuzuru, Hoshou Dai, Yugiri Rai
Kozuki Ruu, Kagetsu Miyako, and Sahana Mako are the only participants still current at time of posting, and Sahana will retire at the conclusion of Snow Troupe’s 2020 show Once Upon A Time In America.
88th Class Ties
Start!
Moon Troupe, Kozuki Ruu
“Alright, I’ll start this off~! Oh, I got Maa-kun (Asaka)!”
Asaka Manato is…
Calm and collected, yet flexible Ever since we were Lower Students she’s been calm and collected, and I’ve never seen her mess up, or seen her cry. But, when we all would get together to goof around, she’d join in, that kind of feeling. In any case, she’s really clever. Also, although she’s the younger one, she has an older-brotherly feeling of ‘Everything will be okay!’, and she’s a really reliable person.
A big eater Although her appearance hasn’t changed at all up to now, I seem to have an image of her eating a lot more in the past… I remember that she wouldn’t be affected by whatever went on around her at all and just steadily kept eating at her own pace… (laughs).
So fast at remembering choreography! Ever since she was a lower student she’s been able to memorize the choreography so quickly! It was the same way in things like Takarazuka Special, and recently when I asked her ‘So how do you learn the choreography?’ she told me ‘I don’t know, I just kind of look at the choreographer and my body moves’, so I wasn’t able to comprehend it at all (laughs). I think she comes by it naturally!
Cosmos Troupe, Asaka Manato
“Ahaha! (laughs) Did I say that about the choreography? I’m terrible, aren’t I! As for being a big eater, I must have been going through my growth spurt back then~ Also, saying I’m clever is going too far! But, Ruu-chan (Kouzuki), thank you!”
Kagetsu Miyako is…
Unchangingly a cute little creature She’s always been just like a little squirrel. Even as her seniority has increased that hasn’t changed at all, so no matter when I look at her I think ‘She’s so cute~’. As for her personality, she’s really laid-back but also has a bit of a mysterious side to her. I want to have a mysterious side, so I’m jealous of that part (laughs).
Sleeps with her eyes open When we were in TMS, she would really sleep a lot. But she wouldn’t close her eyes properly when she slept, so you could never tell if she was asleep or not (laughs). Nacchan (Kagetsu), do you still sleep with your eyes open~?
Suddenly turned into a great actress She’s such a great performer! What an actress! I was so moved by her in Grand Hotel, and her role of the grandmother in Spring Snow was so powerful! I was thinking ‘and that’s Nacchan…?’ I was able to talk to her in the dressing room about performing the other day, and as a senior actress she has such an amazing way of thinking about things, and she has really sharp perception. I’m so happy that the little creature from TMS became able to have such deep conversations! (laughs)
“Nacchan is so cute 💖 ”
Moon Troupe, Kagetsu Miyako
“This is really info you could only get from a classmate (laughs). But...I know I still sleep with my eyes open (laughs). I’ve always had people tell me I’m like a little animal… Maybe it’s because when I get flustered I’ll be like ‘Wa~h!’? (laughs) Being able to talk with Maa-kun after so long, we were each able to learn from each others’ experiences, so that was interesting. Above all, I’m so happy that she became Top Star!
Sahana Mako is…
Able to see things in such an incisive way She’s always been like this, but she sees things in just slightly different ways from other people. Ever since we were in the music school, I picture Kyabii as looking at things from her own point of view and laughing (laughs). Of course it wasn’t in a bad way at all. As we’ve been in the company longer we’ve gotten so close, so as we’re talking about different things, often I’ll realize ‘Oh, she must have been looking at things this way!’ and being surprised. She’s so fun!
Such a skilled actor I love Kyabii’s acting. Perhaps this is related to her unique way of looking at things, but when we were doing the Culture Festival, all she was doing was drinking something and scowling but she had a totally different atmosphere to everyone else. And now that she is bringing that to her current performances, so I really love that sense she has.
Feminine and kind I think she has an image as a really intelligent person, but she is also such a gentle and feminine person. I like that part of her too (laughs). She’s so considerate, like a really reliable older sister, and she’s also so kind, and always sees the good points in people. Basically I just love Kyabii (laughs).
Snow Troupe, Sahana Mako
“I think Natsuko (Kagetsu) is a really unique musumeyaku, so I’m really honored to hear this from her! As our seniority has increased we have gotten into the habit of talking about all kinds of things, and I wish I had something like Natsuko’s totally unique aspects that nobody else can replicate. But that spacey side of her is really healing too. We talk about anything and everything on or offstage, so our relationship has surpassed that of classmates.”
Kurenai Yuzuru is…
She has an odd way of looking at things When we were asked our reasons for deciding to try out for Takarazuka, she said “I want to paint the seats of the Grand Theatre red”. But...they’re red already.
Loves Takarazuka She’s a dyed-in-the-wool traditional Takarazuka fan. Back then [in TMS] she went and wrote in my performance notebook, where I would pour out my passion, that she loved Asazumi Kei-san. But, even though she said she really liked her, she wrote her nickname of Kayoko-san as ‘Kakoyo-san’.
Stoic in her own way Ever since she was a lower student, she would diligently practice the things she was struggling with. But since she was seeing her goal in a slightly different way to other people, it would have the opposite effect, she would end up running away with herself even further. As a result, to come all the way around she would put in even more steady work than anyone else.
Star Troupe, Kurenai Yuzuru
“Actually, at the beginning what I wanted to say was ‘I want to paint the seats scarlet [T/N: ‘kurenai’]’ but she came back at me ‘That means empty seats!’ (laughs). Running away with myself in the opposite direction… (laughs). That’s totally true! I never see what’s close to me. But, I think maybe it’s good that I’m that way (laughs). I’ve been good friends with Sahana Mako ever since we were in TMS. We would pretend we were in Masked Romanesque together and stuff (laughs).”
“Who will I get…”
Hoshou Dai is…
The top dummy of the 88th class! Our classmates always say that me and Dai-chan (Houshou) were about even in terms of being common-sense challenged, but they all say “If we had to choose, Dai-chan was the worst!” so just give up and admit it! (laughs) You’re number one!!
The calm before the storm... This was the day before a holiday, when we were Lower Students. One of the screws in her head must have come loose. She was goofing around on the train station platform, waving her hat around and cheering ‘Ya~y!’ Of course she was promptly spotted in that state by an upper student, and I’ll never forget watching her be scolded like nothing else (laughs).
More of an older sister type in TMS She was talented in Japanese Dance, so she would help you get your kimono on and look after you and such, but once we all entered the company her character totally changed. What’s with that? (laughs)
Snow Troupe, Hoshou Dai
“I don’t want to hear that from Kurenai Yuzuru! We’re equal, aren’t we? Equal! And then, that memory from TMS (laughs). That did happen, didn’t it! Why on earth did I do that, I wonder. Doing a rockette dance while twirling my hat around… Because of me, the commuter students all got horribly scolded...I’m really sorry about that!”
Yuugiri Rai is…
One of the 88th class band of goofballs Ever since we were lower students, Rai-chan (Yuugiri) and Kurenai and I would be the group goofing around (laughs). Although she has a diligent side too, she also has a lot of surprising aspects (laughs). The thing that left the biggest impression with me was when we were taking the entrance exam. During the ‘creative dance’ portion of the exam, she—she was in a volleyball club, you know—next to me she was doing a twirling serve receive (laughs).
So multi-talented! & she loves cute things! She’s so good at drawing, and really skilled at making things. When she was a junior actress she made slippers for a senior actress. She didn’t just put a simple picture on them, but she was so dedicated to making the design! That creative side of her is so cute, and it made me think she had a surprisingly feminine side to her too.
Her voice is the best!!! Ever since we were in TMS she’s had an amazing voice and such good singing skills! She did well in our classical voice class of course, but especially in popular music, her sense of rhythm was really impressive. “So that must be what it’s like to have natural talent~” I thought; it made me jealous.
Flower Troupe, Yuugiri Rai
“I did do that twirling recieve, didn’t I (laughs). Dai-chan, you see me from all different angles, don’t you. Even if you struggle at it, helping other people gives you energy, so I think picturing the other person’s happiness helped me do my best. I’ve always loved singing, so I listened to all different genres of music and learned them by ear. Daichan, do your best! I hope you will continue performing to the end with nothing to regret!!
Kouzuki Ruu is…
A star student! Ever since she was in TMS she had the top grades, and she’s the leader of all of us. Ruu-chan is so reliable, just having her there lets me feel comfortable! No matter what happens, she’ll calmly be able to handle it, and she gives off such a grown-up aura.
She’s just really nice I’ve never seen her being really grumpy or irritable. My strongest image of her is her smiling gently. Ruu-chan is so nice that I’m always ending up relying on her 💖
She loves Takarazuka 💖 She’s always loved Takarazuka, and she knows so much about it, so whenever we asked her about old times she would have an answer—she’s our Professor Takarazuka! I only had superficial knowledge, so she seemed to me like she was really my senior, a powerful individual who even back then had the otokoyaku aesthetics down and a real presence as a Takarasienne (laughs).
Back to Kouzuki Ruu…
Goal!
“I’m not that nice, though~ I have really major emotional swings (laughs). I hated being called a star student ever since I was a junior actress, and I really struggled to break out of that framework… Also, I don’t know about the whole history of Takarazuka (laughs). I probably just said things based on what I knew from when I started watching Takarazuka  (laughs). But, the otokoyaku style and aesthetic hasn’t ever changed! I think Rai-chan’s strongest idea of me is from TMS, so if you looked at me now it might shatter the picture you have of me… (laughs). Thank you for saying I’m grown-up and a star student ✨ Please don’t be disillusioned by the current me either!
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sillyfudgemonkeys · 4 years
Note
so apparently P5R just usurped P4G and is now the best selling Persona remake/remaster/whatever; how do ya feel?
Dunno why I didn’t see this, phone’s not giving me updates it seems. ;w; Anyway.... Short Answer: Meh, I really don’t care, I’m more interested in Scramble/Strikers numbers. Long answer tho....(gonna be long, not a rant just I’ve had A LOT of thoughts about sales numbers since P3/5D’s and PQ2′s releases).
I’m not surprised, I mean it’s a remake on a mainline console, combined the fact that it was popular too (I’ll come back to this when I talk about the other Persona games but for now put a pin in that). But there are two things I’m more interested in, 1) P5R’s lifetime sales, and 2) Scramble/Striker’s numbers.
1) Will possibly show how many newcomers we’ve retained. And I’m interested in that because....P5 sold a few million right? If Atlus can retain that that’d be amazing! We won’t know till the Western releases tho. But if it doesn’t, and sells say.....as much as P4G’s life time sales, then....all P5 did was retain the hardcore original audience, it didn’t win over as many new people as we thought it did. Which isn’t a failure, but it’s.....a crude way to say it (sorry I just woke up words are hard), it’s that P5 isn’t as really as hot shit as we all thought it was (and it probably just sold well due to timing and crazy marketing). 
2) What I REALLY want to know is P5S’ sales tho, even more than P5R’s. Since I think that might indicate P5′s standing if it’s as much as a fan favorite as P5 vanilla′s sales show. And it might be the first time we have a clearish answer without any other possibility being the reason for sales numbers. Lemme explain, P5R might do well because is a mainline game instead of a spinoff (but it could do meh compared to P3P and P4G in terms of lifetime sales due to the new comers not wanting to rebuy the game for whatever reason: Same console [which is a double edge sword, PS4 is popular but also people might not want to buy the same game for the same console twice], not worth the price, not enough new changes in their eyes). P5D did poorly, but is it because it was just bad, was it cause of the shitty DLC practices, was it because it didn’t have a lot of content (aka no real plot like P4D)? We don’t know. PQ2? Was it cause it was bad, was it cause it was released on a dying console (as opposed to PQ1 being released at the peak popularity of that console), was it on a console that P5 was it released on, was it cause it featured P3/4 cast and it was aimed at P5 audiences who have no idea who those people are? We don’t really know (this one is probably the dying console tho, which means could it have done well/better if released on the Switch instead?). Did both do bad cause they weren’t really sequels (both technically take place during P5 so yeah)? But P5S? It’s releasing on two very popular consoles, and it’s set as a sequel, so far doesn’t look like there’s a lot of scummy practices going on, actually looks like it has content (so if there are some scummy DLC practices, at least that’s not the ONLY thing you can think about, like with P3/5D). It has A LOT going for it in terms of a spinoff, that even non hardcore/new fans can get into. And I want to know what kind of impact P5 left on the fanbase as a whole and so far it’s not doing so hot spinoff wise (maybe anime too, when the anime was still in the middle of it’s run it wasn’t doing as hot as P4′s first anime or P3′s movies....at least sales wise I found, but that was in the middle maybe it got better), merch sales are probably doing fine tho (since they keep announcing new things). So to me P5′s......all over the gd place. 
tldr; I think P5S will show us a decent idea on how P5 as a series is doing compared to P3/4, it started off strong with it’s main game but has struggled with it’s spinoffs which might be because of other reasons than people just being “meh” on it. P5R will be a good chance to see how many people stayed. 
Now let’s look at the other games. You should know, considering hurdles P5 didn’t have (except maybe P3P, but on the other hand it probs could’ve excelled more on a home console), the modern day Persona games (Tadashi/Old games got screwed and I’ll explain but it’s probably for the same reason as PQ2, or at least for P2EP) did well despite these hurdles, well both original and remakes but I’mma focus on the remakes (all you need to know about P3 Vanilla and FES and P4 vanilla is that they were both released post PS3 and/or towards the end PS2′s life cycle and still did great).
Now P3P probably had the easiest, released during a very popular time for the PSP, and it ended up selling better than EITHER of it’s two PS2 counterparts Life to date (now if you cheated and combined Vanilla and FES, then yeah P3P sold 80,000 less than those two/all their versions, but that’s 2V1 and it’s still amazing how well it did).There was def an uptick in sales, maybe it was all newcomers or maybe it was half old and half new people, but it still resulted in more people buying it than it’s original (which is why I still wanted to talk about it despite it not having the same hurdles as P4G). 
P4G however, that’s where the biggest hurdle comes in (and why I really bring this up). The Vita. A console that sold peanuts compared to the PSP, PS2, PS3, and PS4. No, less than peanuts. 10/15 Million compared to the 80-150 million the other 4 ranged from. I mean yeah a million is a lot, but now you need to market to those million, no, you need to get people to BUY this console first (it was released roughly when the Vita dropped). You need to convince people to ditch their PSP, for a console that isn’t backwards compatible, for this semi-obscure Japanese title. But god damn it did, it almost got all it’s sales from the PS2 back. Hell it exceeded it’s original run L-t-D if you don’t count “The Best” re-releases (Vanilla’s cheaper re-release sold more than P4G’s cheaper re-release). I don’t know if these are also new people, or all hardcore fans, but it did really damn well! It got people hyped and it got people to buy this game AND console! (tho I wouldn’t be surprised if it was at the sacrifice of poor P2:EP, may you rest in peace ;w;). And that was a BIG hurdle for it to overcome! 
Like P3P and P4G really make me wonder how well they’d do with a real remake on the PS4/PS5. Like a port would probs do well, but imagine if they actually improved the graphics and changed/added new things, I think it’d sell about as well as P5 vanilla. 
P5R’s biggest hurdle is justifying itself as a full price game remake on the same console. But like FES could do that (so I think P5R’s outlook is fine, no real hurdles like P4G had to go through)....and just for fun cause I hate myself (jk I dunno I just wanna see if I can take a guess at JPN’s possible sales based off of numbers of past re-releases). And FES’ first week compared to it’s vanilla is 10% higher than Royal, but Royal has more units sold obvie, FES sold about 80% the total the vanilla did, Royal did 70%, L-t-D for FES was 78% not counting cheaper-re-releases, 82% counting re-releases...but I think that’s because P3 Vanilla didn’t have a re-release cause of FES. If I use that as a base.......P5R’s numbers (going off of the graphs from Personacentral like this one and of course the P5R one, which I think are all Japanese sales). If P5R follows a similar patter to FES’ sales %.... I’ll give P5R 72%-82% of Vanilla’s sales (including the cheaper re-release), and we’re looking at maybe L-t-D sales of Royal ranging from about 334,955 to 381,476 units sold. 
If Royal follows a similar pattern to P4G however (cause P5R is more similar to FES and P4G, I’ll do P4G’s too for fun, but I won’t do P3P’s). So there are two life to date numbers, one before factoring in P4/P4G’s re-releases and one after. Before P4G sold about 111% more than vanilla, after re-releases it sold about 96% of Vanilla’s total units. So a low ball and high ball of Royal with P4G’s % would be.....446,606 to 516,389 units sold. 
So combining those two together, I predict (aka this is a theory that I wanted to do for fun for WHATEVER reason, made by someone that JUST woke up and trying to get my math out as quickly as possible, maybe if I have time next week I’ll go back and check my work....I’m very busy this week sadly ;w;) P5R’s L-t-D (pre- cheaper re-release)sales to be somewhere to be 334,955 to 516,389 for Japan. 
But that’s Japan, Japan it feels like they’re more willing to re-buy games on the same console, the West might not be as inclined tho (if we re-buy something, it’s because it’s on a different console). So while P5R could sell about as well as Vanilla did in Japan, I dunno so much about the west. 
tldr; P5R did about as well as I thought in Japan, but not sure about the West. Some number predictions for P5R. If P5R does poorly in the West it could be because it’s was released on the PS4 instead of a different system. P5S I think will give us a better idea on how P5 is doing as a franchise compared to P4.
(also I should note, I prefer vanilla P4 over P4G, there’s some good stuff in P4G, but 1) I prefer Tracey Rooney as Chie, I prefer her down to earth approach more, and 2) there’s some things in P4G that ruins my enjoyment and outweighs the new positive stuff. I like all the remakes barring the guy who directed P4G/P5R, I haven’t finalized my thoughts on P5R yet tho. I do like Kasumi more than Marie tho just on a personality level, still thinking over how they handled her tho. I will say P5R has a lot of gameplay improvements that fixed a lot of gameplay gripes I had so like that’s all I feel like saying/can say about P5R, gameplays better!). 
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wincestisasincest · 5 years
Text
Murder in the Blue Morgue -- Part 1
YESSS!
LET’S
GET
SOME
2D DADFIC
Okay, so I’ve noticed that, at least in terms of long-form fanfiction, there’s really not much on 2D being a dad or having kids, especially if you take away the addition of a reader-insert or OC significant other. I find this a little odd, because it’s sOrTa canon that 2D has a couple kids here or there (I say sorta because the email could’ve also been a scam, especially considering how little coverage there was on it in the lore, but screw it, I like the idea and it’s not impossible to believe so we’re doin’ this), and this seems to be a vaguely popular genre with Murdoc, so why not?
Also, this one sorta exists in a weird, out of time Gorillaz universe. All the members are the ages that they are now, Murdoc is there, but no Ace, and it takes place at Kong Studios for the first part, because I forgot how settings work and had already written that part. It’s not that important to the story anyway, I promise.
So, without further a due, let’s get started. Y E E T.
*****
It was exactly the kind of place where she expected a long-lost father to live. You’d figure someone who didn’t want to interact with the kids in his life wouldn’t pick a place with a demeanor that was inviting, and lost-fathers in general have a mysterious, albeit deadbeat vibe. And with that, plus the aesthetic of the band that was impossible to avoid all combined in a perfect storm that could even make someone as determined as she was on edge. And perhaps that was the point, she wondered. Fantastic. The logical part of her mind was smacking her upside the head with reminders that she had nothing to be worried about. She was making a perfectly reasonable request, and it’s not like she would be catching him off guard or anything. It would definitely be something that he could afford, and, if he wasn’t convinced, she did have a few persuasion techniques up her sleeve. And, of course, worst case scenario is that she got declined and asked to leave. Nothing to terrible would happen to her, even in a place like this. After all the band did have a public image to uphold. She would be fine. She took a deep breath, and pressed the button near the door that she assumed to be the doorbell. The black and white screen above her buzzed to life, with the visage of a large, dominating black man meeting her. Him being completely bald and lacking pupils did not put her at ease, even if she did know who he was. “Yeah, what are ya here fo’?” Of course, he didn’t mean to be terrifying, and she could understand that, with all the trouble that the band must get, they would need to be a little harsh with who they let enter Kong Studios. “Um… I’m looking for… Stuart Pot?” The name sounded awkward on her tongue, and who she knew to be Russel could definitely sense it as well. Even though she had had to put up with the name for five years now, it wasn’t exactly the kind of thing that was discussed in the house, and, due to his persona, it especially wasn’t discussed in the context of issues that a normal person would have. “What business could you have with Stu?” While she didn’t know if he intended to be rude or not, the judgement practically penetrated the screen. “I, uh… it’s something financial?” “What?” “It’s something financial, he owes some people money, and-“ “Are you sure about that?” “Yeah, I’m very sure, I,” she could see his resolve to abandon this conversation wipe across his face, “Wait, please don’t go, I… I’m his kid.” “I beg your pardon?” At least she had gotten his attention. “I’m, uh, I’m his kid. He pays, or he should be paying, child support to my mom. And I have something I need to discuss with him. I brought proof.” She flashed the paper with the results of the DNA scan in front of the camera. “Okay.” Was all he said before his face blinked from the screen. She could hear steps from within the building. She took another deep breath. First interaction with this foreign group, and here she was, admitting one of the facts that she always tried to dodge in conversations. Of course, she couldn’t expect to hide anything from his band, but she, at least, wanted to try and see Stuart first, before other member interactions came up. “What’s your name, kid?” The door opened to reveal Russel again, looking down at her, the pinnacle of skepticism. “Uh, Josephine. But people call me Jo.” She shuffled her feet, not knowing if this was an invitation to come in, or perhaps more questions to see if she would slip up eventually. “Why isn’t your mom here instead, Jo?” Crap. “She doesn’t really have a lot of free time, and I’m old enough to be out on my own, so,” the gatekeeper raised an eyebrow, “I mean, it’s about me, so yeah. I’m here.” “And you’re SURE that you’ve got the right place?” He was starting to give in. “Absolutely positive.” Possibly the first sentence that she had without sounding like she knew what she was talking about. Russel sighed and held the door opening, allowing her entry into the elusive building. She took a moment to look around, everything oozing the popular image of Gorillaz. Pictures were sparse, but the way that it was decorated, you just couldn’t match it anyone other than a group that makes alternative music and has a penchant for a more abnormal side of life. “He’s not here right now, but he’s supposed to be back in a couple minutes. You can wait in the kitchen.” She followed him down a hallway as he continued to speak to her. It was impossible not to gawk at the odd idiosyncrasies of the house, the likes of which, even in normal rich people housing, she hadn’t come in contact with before. This was going to be an interesting meeting. They finally reached the kitchen, which reeked of college dorm life, despite the fact that most of the band members were in their forties. The sinks were stacked high with dirty dishes, with a smell wafting upward into the dingy light fixtures that had been around way longer than this building had. The fridge had been subject to so much usage that it looked like one of the after pictures in those before and after drugs ad campaigns. The floor and the rug under the rickety kitchen table gave a visual history of what had gone down in the kitchen, with obvious spills and stains, some food and some possibly not, that one had bothered to clean up. And the trash, though it wasn’t visible, sat, a quiet terror, by itself in the corner of the room, with flies hovering around it. “Okay, I’m pretty busy at the moment with something, but I’m not gonna leave you alone or anything. NOODLE!!” He yelled outside the door and up the stairway. Jo could feel her shoulders get less tense, as she knew who Noodle was, and already much preferred her company to Russel’s, even if she had never met. Not that she was that scared of any of the members, except perhaps Murdoc Niccals, whom she was hoping to avoid as much as possible, but Noodle was close to her in age, apparently, and seemed to have a general happy, kind, comforting, and fun-to-be-around disposition. The young Japanese woman entered the room, carrying a sense of ease with her. She scanned the room tentatively, swiftly locking her eyes on the out-of-place person awkwardly hovering near one of the chairs. “Who’s this?” She didn’t break her gaze to look at Russel. “This is Josephine, 2D’s kid, apparently. Look, I’d love to stick around and chat, but I need to finish work on that bear before it completely rots. Good luck, Jo.” “Nice meeting you…” Her voice faded out as he continued to walk down the hall not waiting for an answer. “Oh, that’s Russ. More concerned with taxidermy than with the family lives of the band. Anyway, I’m Noodle, nice to meet you!” She stuck out her hand, which Jo shook, with the same uncomfortableness that she had in all her interactions thus far. “Well, 2D isn’t here yet, but he should be back soon. Take a seat, I’ll get you something to drink,” she peered through the contents of the fridge, “Are you a fan of orange soda?” “Sure.” With noticeable deftness, Noodle placed a bottle of Fanta in front of her, pulling out Japanese soda for herself. “So,” she removed the bottle cap with her bare hands while Jo held in her shock, “You’re D’s kid?” “Uh, yeah,” Jo weakly screwed off the cap to her own drink, feeling a tad more terrified, “My mom is Kathleen Powell.” “How old are you?” She felt a tad like she was being interrogated, but at the same time, she was just glad to be in the house.” “I’m 15. 15 years. I was born in 2003.” “Where are you from?” “Uh, New Jersey. Lived there my whole life. I live pretty close to New York City, though.” “Why ARE you here?” “Um, I need to discuss something financial with Stuart,” Noodle subtly cringed at the use of his proper name, “I know, it’s more of a mom thing, but she doesn’t really have a lot of free time now, and she didn’t get off on the best note with Stuart, so I figured I would try.” “Does she know you’re here?” Jo was almost sure that Noodle was onto her at this point. “Yeah, of course.” Jo swallowed. Lying was hard. Noodle looked unconvinced. “Well, kid, relax!” Her face melted into a smile as she took a swig of her drink. Jo realized that she hadn’t touched her orange soda, and, not wanting to seem ungrateful, copied Noodle. “You seem nervous, but I promise, ‘D is a really nice guy. I’m sure he’ll be glad to talk to you.” Jo didn’t know her well enough to distinguish honesty from optimism, but either option would’ve done nothing to quell her nerves. “Are you sure, I mean,” Crap. She knew she shouldn’t be discussing this with what were essentially strangers, “I dunno, just like, his kid that he’s never seen shows up? Sorry, sorry, I shouldn’t’ve asked that, it’s just-“ “It’s okay. Calm down, kid,” she looked her in the eyes again, this time somewhat less intimidating, even comforting, “As someone who has known him for a long time, you’ll be fine. It might even be nice. And even if it turns out bad,” she smiled again, “I’ll be nice.” “Heh, thanks. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d get this far.” Noodle chuckled. “With Murdoc at the door, maybe not, but Russ would never turn a teenager claiming to be ‘D’s daughter out onto the street. Why did you show up in person, anyway? I’m sure you could’ve emailed.” “Well, mom’s not exactly liberal with his email, and it would’ve been really slow. It’s kinda urgent, I guess, which is why I showed up in person.” “I see.” Noodle took another swig, and Jo once again copied. “Anyway, let’s talk about you. I’m curious what ‘D’s kids are like. Do you listen to Gorillaz?” “Well, I was sort of getting into them when I was little, but my mom told me, who, uh, who my dad was when I was 11, and since then, it was kinda awkward listening to the music, so not really. But I have friends that play it sometimes, and I think it’s good.” “How so?” “Well, I like how it doesn’t really have a genre, ya know? Like maybe you could call it alternative, but honestly, it just does its own thing. And it’s always a really nice retreat from mainstream music, and, if my interpretation is right, it even criticizes mainstream music sometimes. It’s just so different, I guess.” “Hmmm,” Noodle closed her eyes pensively, “I like you already.” Her eyes slowly opened again, and it was the first time that Jo had felt truly relaxed in this strange building. “And who’s this?” The voice came from a lanky man with spiky blue hair, a gap tooth, and black voids where his eyes should be. Or, as Jo called him, her genetic father. Leaning against the doorway, in front of her. So much for being at ease.
*****
And chapter one comes to an overly-dramatic end!
Please comment! I love it when people interact with my writing.
Tune in next time for an actual interaction with blue boy himself!
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cyanwings · 6 years
Note
i'm sorry you aren't feeling good, my bean! 33, 20, 18, 2, and 1
@jimmy-valmer
It’s okay! I mean, it sucks big time cause I feel like a truck ran over me from the body aches but I’ve handled worse. I’m a WARRIOR!!!
ON TO THE MIGHTY MEMESS~!!!
ANIME QUESTIONS MEME - Accepting!
1. best anime you’ve watched
So for the record, I’m excluding “Avatar: The Last Airbender” & (2003) “Teen Titans” shows cause people consider them animes when they’re only anime influenced so they’re out. But, this is SO hard! It’s like picking my children, it just feels impossible to do! Though, if I HAD to pick just one, it would have to be…… ( 2003) Kino’s Journey!
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Why? Well, let’s ride right into the world of “Kino’s Journey” or in it’s original title “Kino no Tabi.”
“ The world is not beautiful, there fore it is.”
Let’s start with the story, which tells of the journey of a traveler named Kino and their motorcycle, Hermes, while they visit a long range of countries as they meet different people along the way. The actual fact is: there isn’t one solid story but 12 short stories that link together not by episode order but by events. And yet the fact that each one of this stories manages to give a deeper meaning than the whole plots from many animes amazes me till no end! Kino finds herself in the midst of these societies - some of which have downright appalling practices. Each episode approaches a theme of society, like censoring, violence, communication problems, right or wrong, the ability some people have to bite the hand that just feds them, and so on. And every time I watch each one, I found myself enjoying this series more than I should have.  
As Kino travels throughout the world and becomes acquainted with the people who inhabit it, it becomes clear that each of her encounters is essentially a separate journey into the labyrinth that is the human psyche to explore one of the many elements that make it up. The issues touched upon in the series ranges from the tendencies of humans to blindly believe in prophecies to the consequences of not having a self-conscious.
There is a wide range of characters as expected from an anime that tells about travels all over the world. While some of them are forgettable, some of them also stay in your mind. Although it is clear that neither Kino nor Hermes is the main focus of the series, together they play an essential role in its series. 
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In terms of being a likeable character, Kino has become my favorite anime character ever! They inspire me in so many ways and I’m always glued to the screen every time their role comes into play. Although they appear apathetic at first, they’re a caring and understanding person. Kino travels through different countries to experience their customs and understand the citizens, but they never stay longer than three days, as they’re afraid of settling down, and would decrease of being a traveler. They’re also intelligent, skillful, extremely wise for someone so young and still as unpredictable as a teen could be. Though not fond of killing, they will do so if necessary without feeling remorse. Especially, towards those who attack them or the innocent. Kino has truly become one of the most unique characters I’ve ever seen.
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Hermes, Kino’s talking motorcycle, acts as the perfect companion to his owner. Not only are his conversations with Kino very enjoyable to listen to due to the his humour, the series also allows for further exploration on his character. I won’t lie that I found it odd that we were suppose to just roll with the fact that he speaks but as the show grows over time, you do learn to accept it and that’s not the most unusual thing you’ll be seeing in the series either. He’s also the closest thing that Kino has to a friend and it just makes their relationship heartwarming a lot of the time. In addition, considering the theme of the series is the nature of humanity, his presence as a non-human makes their discussions even more interesting. You have no idea if he’s truly real or just in Kino’s head. But, whatever the case may be, he’s a fun character to journey with!
The dub is honestly one of the best that I’ve heard and I’m usually REALLY picky when it comes to English audio in anime. It was done at A.D.V films, which are the people responsible for other great dubs like “Princess Tutu”, and they do an AMAZING job!
Kelli Collins voicing Kino was the highlight of the entire dub! Her acting glues you into her role to her character and you’re just amazed of how well she fits the Kino. Especially, giving the young traveler a sense of maturity to such a young teen. It’s a shame she hasn’t been active since then and didn’t return for the reboot of the series. ( Even though it was a disaster so maybe it was for the best. ) Kino’s voice actress succeeds as the perfect person to voice such a outstanding character and how she brings her to life. I honestly can’t even picture anyone else to play the role but her. Hermes on the other hand is a hit or miss with viewers. Cynthia Martinez voicing Hermes comes off with a cartoonish boyish voice who I could definitely see annoying it’s viewers.  But to me? It honestly works! The way Hermes asks certain questions and their responses makes sense that they act childish or ask very out-looking questions of the situations at hand. Not not say he’s immature. He’s actually the voice of reason but, Cynthia shows great promise with the role. And you’ll see why once you go into this series head on.
Overall this series holds a special place in my heart. It doesn’t have that nasty fan service or anything too over the top like a Shōnen show but, it helped me get a better understanding on how humanity works and even thinks at times. In life, we don’t know which path to take but that’s the journey of it. You just get up and travel to find out what’s up ahead for you. To see the world for what it is with all it’s good and bad parts. Kino searches for life’s answers, life’s questions, and the interpretations connected to them. Destination is a state of mind; Drift along for the ride~!
2. worst anime you’ve watched
Oh gawd, this is just torture! Just when I think I can finally be rid of trash like this I have to go back and look in the bin again lmao
Let’s see…. I think I would have to say…. “ Master of Martial Hearts.” Why didn’t I say the famous “School Days?” I could but I wanted to do a different hate this time since this one made me beyond pissed off! “School Days” at least had the main lead get what’s coming to him cause we all know the douche bad deserved what was coming to him so I was fine with the insane out come. But this? HELL NO!
I found this series out by amazing reviewer, JesuOtaku, back when Youtube was starting to get popular and I always agreed with her reviews. I’m SO glad I saw her review first before stumbling upon this nasty series. First, we got under aged girls, and women in general, getting their clothes completely ripped apart as they fight one another cause why not? Screw plot! And it’s just an endless scenes of just wtf??!! I didn’t watch the series but I saw enough of it through her long review. AND…what pissed me off the most is the ending. Dear gawd! THE ENDING! This series only has 5 episodes but once you check out the last one? It deserves two middle fingers straight at it cause F*CK THIS SERIES!! No seriously, don’t even check it cause it’s just horrible. Just awful!! It’s just the worst anime to me and always will be!
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    18. favorite villain
This is gonna sound strange but I instantly KNEW who my favorite villain was gonna be and I couldn’t be more ready! When there’s a great hero there’s also a great villain. Out of the horrible characters did I choose? Johan from (2004) “Monster.”
“ There’s nothing special about being born. Not a thing. Most of the universe is just death, nothing more. In this universe of ours, the birth of a new life on some corner of our planet is nothing but a tiny, insignificant flash. Death is a normal thing. So why live? ”
–Johan
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The story focuses on Kenzo Tenma, a young Japanese doctor working at the Eisler Memorial Hospital during in Germany the 80′s. He is a very skilled highly brain surgeon. However, Tenma grows increasingly dissatisfied with the political bias of the hospital for treating it’s patients, and seizes his chance to change things after a strange massacre brings the twins Johan and Anna Liebert into his hospital.
Johan has a gunshot wound to the head and Anna keeps muttering about killing. Tenma decides to operate on Johan instead of a politician who arrived afterwards. Johan is saved, but the politician dies. After this Tenma loses his social standing, lost his promotion, basically everything, and not soon after that the twins escape. The top heads of the hospital are found dead the same night the twins escape. Tenma is then promoted to chef of surgeon.
After that the story advances to nine years later. A known criminal is found on the street, hit by a car. He comes under the care of Dr. Tenma, who observes him muttering about a “Monster.” Tenma extends his kindness to that criminal, and thus the criminal begins to open up to his doctor.
Following his trail to the construction site of a half finished building near the hospital, Tenma finds the man. The man, who has developed a sort of doctor-patient friendship with Dr. Tenma, warns him against coming closer, and pleads with him to run away. Tenma refuses, however, and the identity of the man holding the gun pointed at the criminal in the abandoned parking garage is revealed to be the boy whose life Tenma had saved nine years ago - Johan Liebert. Johan shoots the criminal, tells Tenma that he could never kill the man who had saved his life, and then walks off into the night while Tenma is still too shocked to stop him. I’m not gonna spoil anymore to the plot cause it’ll ruin the experience but WOW! What a series!
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On the surface, Johan is a well-mannered, charismatic and compassionate young man. He possesses a favorable of traits and can easily overwhelm individuals with his seemingly flawless nature, as others describes him as being not of this world. This makes it easy for him to make new allies and manipulate them into doing various deeds for him. With such skill in creating this facade of perfection and pureness, Johan can hide his true motives with ease.
Johan delivers destruction and suffering to those who happen to fall prey to his schemes. Johan exhibits psychopathic tendencies. For example, most of his murders, both in childhood and adulthood, have been premeditated and calculated.
Johan often shows a complete disregard for life by pointing to his forehead, inviting Dr. Tenma to shoot him.
He also has a tendency to make his victims experience the worst possible loss and suffering rather than actually killing them himself;
Everyone NEEDS to check out “ Monster ” cause it does not disappoint! Even just check out just for it’s villain and the amazing english dub! Trust me, it’ll be one incredible wild ride!
  20. favorite costume/character design:
My girl, Mina Ashido from “My Hero Academia” / “Boku no Hero Academia”!
“The old you’s not going anywhere with that emo look on your face! If you overcome that gloomy self of yours… let me know. Or else I’ll start spreading rumors about high school debut man.”
Mina Ashido
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    33. most underrated anime in your opinion
Since I already talked about “ Kino’s Journey” & “ Monster”, I’ll decide another great underrated anime people need to see and that’s “ Princess Tutu.”
“ May those who follow their fate be granted happiness; may those who defy it be granted glory.“ - Miss Edel
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In a fairy tale come to life, the clumsy, out-going, and gentle Ahiru (“Duck” in the English Dub) seems like an unlikely protagonist. In reality, Ahiru is just as magical as the talking cats and crocodiles that inhabit her town—for Ahiru really is a duck! Transformed by the mysterious Drosselmeyer into a human girl, Ahiru soon learns the reason for her existence. Using her magical egg-shaped pendant, Ahiru can transform into Princess Tutu—a beautiful and talented ballet dancer whose dances relieve people of the turmoil in their hearts. With her newfound ability, Ahiru accepts the challenge of collecting the lost shards of her prince’s heart, for long ago he had shattered it in order to seal an evil raven away for all eternity.
Princess Tutu is a tale of heroes and their struggle against fate. Their beliefs, their feelings, and ultimately their actions will determine whether this fairy tale can reach its "happily ever after.”
The title may seem off putting to a lot since it sounds like some girly anime but don’t judge a book by it’s cover~! This series has so much going for it and it’s honestly just outstanding! It may be predictable at the beginning ( Had the same trouble with the first season of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” ) but, it becomes something you just never expected; A complex and tragedy story.
You honestly feel for every single one of these characters once their parts are given into play. And the fact that they use real classical music that compliments the dance scenes so well done. You feel the dramatic effect once our main leads come into the spotlight. The intense just rises from the music and for the dubbing too. I said back in my “Kino’s Journey” part of the ask that this was dubbed by A.D.V. Films and it’s one of my favorites ever! It’s not just one or two actors that shine, every single person portrays their characters with flying colors. I was just amazed of how incredibly well done they did!
I could go on and on about the characters but they’re all such a surprise that I rather not spoil it. This is genuinely a heartwarming show to experience for yourself. Classical music, beautifully choreographed dances, and memorable characters make for an experience worth having in all of Princess Tutu’s world. A modern fairy tale for the ages.
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