#delicate translations

[delicatemusickingdom]

Book 1 Part 2 Chapter 1.2

Chapter 1.2

A month passed, then half a year, then a year. 

Norein’s lessons continued. Though her students kept changing, there was never a shortage of them. Though rudimentary, being able to read and write gave the residents of the lower quarter a certain sense of pride and self-confidence. There were many of those who were originally uninterested but were influenced by the change they saw in the people around them and joined her classes. 

The plaza’s lectures have become a usual part of the residents’ daily life in the lower quarter. 

“See you tomorrow, Teacher Norein!”

There was no one who didn’t know her name, not even the children. Before that, they had only known her as the golden-haired mother, or ‘Flynn’s mother’ at best, but now they were familiar enough with her to address her as such. ‘Teacher Norein’. Whether they were in class or not, be they children or adults, they all called her that. Even if she was still prone to falling ill, she was their teacher. She had come to be recognised as such. 

Flynn was Flynn, and he played and worked together with the other children. No one called him ‘the blond guy’, much less the ‘newcomer’. To the younger children he was Big Bro Flynn, a gentle and dependable existence. 

He looked happy. His previous trademark passive stubbornness had vanished, replaced by a cheerfulness that befitted his golden hair. Everyone thought that was his true nature, and it looked to be true. 

Both Norein and Flynn treated the residents as their neighbours and friends. They were able to do that. Similarly, the residents treated them as one of their own. After a year, the mother and son had finally become part of the lower quarter. They were no longer foreign strangers. Though occasionally they would reveal their difference in values and practices, people only saw it as one of their quirks. 

Though Flynn could get easily along with anyone no matter who they were, his attitude towards Yuri remained the same. He never stopped fighting with Yuri — not just about their sword, but also over even the most trivial of matters. Yet, for some reason, it had never led to the point where they would truly sever their relationship with each other. No matter how much they swore or cursed at each other, the next day they would act as if nothing had happened and do things with each other again. There were times when they stood shoulder-to-shoulder without exchanging a single word. It was as if they shared a common secret that bound them together, and though the people around them often puzzled over it, for the two of them it just felt natural to be that way. 

After a year of practice, Yuri had somehow managed to reach a certain level of mastery in reading and writing. He still struggled with difficult words, but if it was a book whose contents were simple enough, he could read it without issue. It was a decent result considering he was still a child, but he wasn’t satisfied with it. 

The training manual in Flynn’s possession. Yuri’s goal was to be able to read it with ease. If he asked Flynn, there wouldn’t be anything he wouldn’t be able to understand, but if possible, he wanted to read it on his own, without needing any help. Because it was all so he could surpass Flynn. 

In any case, Yuri and Flynn both learned and worked hard together. Especially regarding their sword skills — by being good rivals for each other, they had made rapid progress despite not having a master to teach them. 

There were some among the adults who didn’t like the idea of such young children swinging around a real sword, even if it was for learning purposes, but Jiri and Hanks didn’t make any particular effort to stop them. 

“Because it seems like they’re thinking about it in their own way.” 

Jiri would say that to anyone who went out of their way to inform her, without even glancing their way. 

“In which case, no matter what happens, they’ll end up learning something out of it.” 

In this way the sight of the black-haired and golden-haired boys swinging their swords ceased to attract any special attention, and became a part of everyday life. 

Jareth and the others didn’t share the passion of the two boys. They didn’t have any swords they could swing around in the first place, and they had learnt to have a little bit of caution in their own way. What remained the same was their tendency to run to Yuri whenever anything happened. Except instead of just Yuri, they now had Flynn as an option too. 

Although they felt like they had improved thanks to their training, neither Yuri nor Flynn dared to actually put it to the test. They didn’t have a particular desire to show off, let alone travel to the ‘outside’ to test their skills. 

They still remembered the day of the ‘River Escapade’. The scolding voice that had rained down upon them in the evening glow of the sunset still echoed clearly in their memories. That voice was both a question, and a warning. Although they didn’t have a clear reason for it, the two of them couldn’t bring themselves to defy that voice. 

So while they were itching to try out their sword on something, they had yet to find a use for it. 

****

“The ‘Dark Wings’ made an appearance again.”

“Them again? I did think we haven’t heard about them in a while.” 

“I wonder if those on the ‘other side of the wall’ are making a huge fuss about it.” 

Hearing the ramblings of the adults as he passed by, Yuri lifted his head.

The topic had already moved on to something else, and the person who had mentioned it didn’t pay it any heed. However, a certain scene started to take shape in Yuri’s mind. It was over a year ago, on a moonlit night. A mysterious shadow, standing on the pitch-black rooftops, with the moon and the light of the barrier rings at their back. 

Even though he had never really been able to remember anything before, the image was incredibly fresh in his mind. 

The thief, the ‘Dark Wings’.

From the children to the adults, there was hardly anyone in the lower quarter who didn’t know that name. It was most likely the same on the ‘other side of the wall’. 

Their identity — obviously — and even their gender were unknown, but this mysterious person had a reputation as an exclusively chivalrous thief. It was said that they would sneak into impregnable and heavily guarded mansions, rob them of all their wealth, and use some mysterious means to deliver them to the poor. 

Yuri had no idea exactly how the riches would be delivered, and he had not heard of anyone actually receiving such charity. In the first place, accepting such stolen goods — especially items that clearly belonged to nobles or things that obviously looked like precious treasures — was practically the same as inviting the knights to bring you in for questioning. 

But the person really existed. Yuri had seen with his own eyes how the knights’ faces had paled, and how they had chased after the figure. So perhaps not all rumours were lies. 

In any case, the ‘Dark Wings’ only targeted the nobles and the rich. Seeing the disgusting people from the ‘other side of the wall’ in a panic, and the normally arrogant knights being thrown into confusion because of this person — felt refreshing. Regardless of who the ‘Dark Wings’ truly were, Yuri had a good impression of them. Most of the people in the lower quarter felt the same way. 

But if the person was not a complete fantasy, then there was bound to be a good deal of repercussions. It happened on the same day Yuri had overheard the rumour of the reappearance of the ‘Dark Wings’. 

****

The commotion came in the form of the Imperial Knights. The knights marched into the lower quarter with weapons in hand and armour clanking noisily. When they reached the plaza, they divided into groups of two or three and started interrogating the residents at random, and broke into their houses as well. Apparently they thought that there was a possibility that the thief in question was hiding in the vicinity. 

Doors were broken down and furniture were overturned. But the residents didn’t raise a single protest, and quietly endured it. They knew that was the best way to weather this storm. Even Jiri remained silent, only watching with fire in her eyes as her dishes were swept from her cupboard and smashed onto the floor. 

The children were hidden behind the adults. Most of them did it out of fear of the knights’ violence, but a large number of them were half-forced to do so to prevent them from doing anything stupid for the sake of trying to act smart. They had been gathered at the plaza, surrounded by a ring of adults and told to stay still. 

Yuri was one of them. At that moment, he was standing behind Hanks, who stood still and imposingly like an impenetrable wall, staring at the doorway through which the knights had disappeared into with a piercing gaze. 

That was not ‘My Home’, where Yuri and the other children lived. It was the house of another lower quarter resident. Though right now, the other knights were most likely raiding ‘My Home’. The scene right in front of him wasn’t something that only happened to one particular house, but to all other houses as well. 

He couldn’t see Flynn, but he had to be at home by his mother’s side. 

Occasionally they would be able to hear sounds of what was happening inside; sounds of something falling to the ground, or at times, sounds of something shattering into pieces. Each time the adults and children would stiffen, but no one dared to speak, and they stood still and continued to wait patiently. 

This was not the first time something like this had happened. Though it wasn’t a common occurrence, it was beyond a doubt a disaster in their eyes. And as Yuri and the other children matured, their resentment only grew stronger. 

“But man, this house really is filthy. How can you even live in a place like this?” 

“Yeah. In a place like this, it’s a waste of time no matter how long we search. Let’s go on to the next one. I want to finish this quickly and head back.” 

The knights came out, brushing the dust off their armour. When he heard their words, Yuri unconsciously took a step forward.  

“Ya better not.” 

A quiet but clear voice stopped him in his tracks. It was Hanks. He was staring straight ahead without looking back, but his words were clearly aimed at Yuri. 

“Listen well. Those knights are only a small portion of a much larger power at play.” 

Hank’s voice sounded like a prayer echoing from a faraway world. Meanwhile, the knights entered the neighbouring house and started doing the same things they had done to the previous house. 

“Sure, if things go well, we might be able to defeat those guys. It’s most likely possible. But once we do that, the next time it will be those people with an even larger power that will be our enemies. And they’re definitely more than we can handle.” 

But — but. Yuri gritted his teeth. Do we have to put up with this forever? This humiliation? 

“We have nowhere else to live but here, so we have to endure it as much as we can, and convince ourselves this is nothing.” 

The last part sounded like he was talking to himself. It was the tone of his voice. Was Hanks suppressing his own anger even as he tried to soothe Yuri and the others? As he tried to sneak a peek at the elderly man’s face, Yuri was suddenly aware of the gazes on him. The other children, who had sensed his threatening aura, were staring at him anxiously. 

Their eyes were filled with fear — fear of more chaos, and more violence. 

Without a sound, Yuri clicked his tongue. Relaxing his body, he dropped to the ground and sat down. The knights came out. They discussed the same things as before, and went into another house. 

Everyone in the plaza watched silently, as if they had all been turned into stone statues. Silently, they all raised their voices, but they never reached the knights’ ears. 

Yuri also cried out, with a silent voice. To the knights, to the people on the ‘other side of the wall’, and to ‘those with an even larger power’. 

I won’t forget. He vowed as he gnashed his teeth. I will never forget. I will never think this is ‘normal’. My anger will never cease to exist. 

****

After going around and wrecking places for a while, the Imperial Knights withdrew. Without giving any explanation to the residents, they reassembled, did a roll call, gave orders, and left in a march that was even more disorder than when they first arrived. 

They left behind the houses that were in disarray, and the residents that had to deal with the aftermath. 

He didn’t know if the knights were seriously searching for the thief or any clues that could lead them to catch the thief, or they were just doing it superficially just to show their superiors they were following orders. Or maybe they were just blowing off steam. This was because not all houses were subject to such thorough inspection, and the criteria for it was exceedingly vague even to an outsider. Of course, for the residents whose houses had been wrecked both inside and outside, there wasn’t such a big difference. 

In any case the knights had been motivated to come here because of the aforementioned ‘Dark Wings’. After this incident, Yuri was put in a dilemma, torn between thinking that the lower quarter had suffered because of that thief, thinking that it was the fault of the knights who had actually performed the deed in violence, and his original sympathy towards the ‘Dark Wings’. Facts and reason clashed with emotions within him such as desire, leaving him unsure as to how to reconcile them. 

The adults’ reactions were varied, with some, like Hanks, seeing it as only a pretext for the knights’ raid, while others openly criticised the ‘Dark Wings’. 

“I don’t like it either.” 

Flynn also said clearly. 

“Of course, I don’t think the Imperial Knights’ method of doing things is right. But that doesn’t mean we should excuse the wrongdoings of thieves, either.” 

Even though Yuri was confused and had his doubts, he couldn’t help but speak up when faced with Flynn’s rebuttal. 

“The ‘Dark Wings’ are stealing to give to the poor. In that case wouldn’t they be our ally?” 

“And because of that my house is now in a mess. I’m sure everyone else’s houses are the same.” 

“It was the knights who wrecked them, not the ‘Dark Wings’.” 

“And that did that because the ‘Dark Wings’ did something. Besides, a thief is a thief. It’s natural for a criminal to be hunted down.” 

“You…!” 

After that, their usual quarrel and break up ensued. But as the scars left behind by the knights were still fresh and on display, it was difficult for Yuri to refute any further. 

“Who exactly is the ‘Dark Wings’...?”

In the end, Yuri knew little beyond the rumours. Although he had seen the real person with his own eyes, it didn’t mean anything special. 

Is there any way to confirm it? How? I want to meet them again. And then, I’ll ask them directly. 

That idea naturally took shape in his mind. Yuri decided he would wait for an opportunity to do so. 

But, with that being said, he had no idea what he wanted to ask them. 

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#Tales of Vesperia #Tales of Vesperia: Genealogy of the Condemned #Danzaisha no Keifu #Genealogy of the Condemned #delicate posts #delicate translations

[plan-3-tmars]

I think it's interesting that Kazui, Mr "My Father wanted me to be a Strong Man" is the only prisoner so far who's Es cover thumbnail is just the different shades of a solid colour.

Yes, blue is the colour of his prison uniform, but I also don't think its a coincidence that they chose the blue = boy colour for our guy over here.

On a similar vein, I think it's interesting how Yuno's two colours are Blue and Pink, especially with their specific placements

The Pink part of Yuno is her Body, which makes sense seeing as that's what her (male) clients are paying for, not Yuno, but the Body and Personality that they enjoy - whether that be for sex or for dates or both.

The Blue part of Yuno is her Brain, aka: where the real Yuno lies. The Yuno that says lines in Teardrop like:

“Poor naive little girl”? So off the mark, what's it to you?"

"INNOCENT? I'm so not that."

It makes me think that the reason why Kazui only has the one colour is because, while the thought of acting different is there - his "dreams" - he feels like they could never be reality, it's not even an option to him, therefore it isn't shown. Only his traditional man facade is there

#does this make sense i hope it makes sense #im playing mister obvious here i think and im aware but look okay i just wanna share my discovery because i rlly like 0207 parallels ... #mars when gender roles in society and the consequences they have on people #i didnt mention but yeah i think the pink = girl colour being yuno's prison colour is also not a coincidence at all #like her name litteraly translates to gentle (and honest) but like!!! thats litteraly why they chose pink as a girl colour in the 1940s #because they viewed pink as a delicate (gentle) colour which suited their “dainty women that need to be protected” idealogy #milgram #kazui mukuhara #yuno kashiki #milgram analysis #i think it counts

[shakaprio]

money is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have - but i have it

#girlblogging #i’m just a girl #lana del rey #real #girl blogger #slay #relatable #fiona apple #lizzy grant #taylor swift #mazzy star #sofia coppola #the virgin suicides #lost in translation #girl interrupted #gone girl #possession movie #black swan #marie antoinette #kirsten dunst #lux lisbon #locally hated #delicate femme #femme fatale #this is a girlblog #this is what makes us girls #girlhood #hell is a teenage girl #rotumblr #literally me

[museenkuss]

[onewordprompts] — Sandelholz

I. shimmering

II. composure

III. shadow

IV. mirror

V. footsteps

VI. coffee

VII. solitude

VIII. enclosed

IX. glove

X. silence

XI. bed frame

XII. hair

XIII. coromandel

XIV. leather

XV. elevated

#Museenkuss #bed frame isn’t cheating because it’s one word in German and this was translated #prompts #writing prompt #creative writing #writeblr #etc etc. #I was very desperate last night because I haven’t written anything in a while #so I wrote up very free and breezy prompts that leave a lot of room to play BUT they’re all delicately interconnected as a whole #so it was an exercise all in itself #and I wrote a completely different one first but it’s more spring like #so let’s start with sandalwood #writing

[scificrows]

the thing about the translation state trio that drives me absolutely screaming-crying-biting-something crazy is that none of them are used to having friends???? like enae mentions some friendship candidates in the past that hir grandmaman did not approve of, but sie is so excited and nervous about caphing's pointless messages and the prospect of a potential friend?? that's not how someone used to stable friendships reacts to the tiniest bit of positive social interaction!! and then qven had people(?) e interacted with but none e ever felt safe around??? that honestly makes me want to punch something!!! and reed... well reed feels like he doesn't fit in with anyone anywhere and seems convinced that he is rather unpleasant to be around, so that speaks for itself i think (and I have THOUGHTS and FEELINGS about this) >:(

but then they all go through their own journeys and they meet and become friends with each other and with other people (spheeeene and caphing for instance and reet's parents (well they pretty much become qven's parents too, regardless of the whole matching situation, but i like to think that they have enae over for coffee regularly or maybe enae invites them to the peony room?))

and it just.... does things..... to my heart... is all

#translation state #imperial radch #like home and family and finding your place are such central themes #and its all done so well and so delicately #but the whole friendship situation just drives me absolutely crazy #and it gave me so many warm feelings in the end #my heart is melting for these 3 (2??) #translation state spoilers #𓄿

[bytebun]

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with enjoying particular types of art more than others, but the knee jerk disdain people have towards modern art is disappointing…

I think u have to be ok with not connecting to everything that u see. That’s just fine. Art is like food and there’s going to be some stuff that just doesn’t work for u regardless of if it’s objectively well done or not. There’s a flavour of anti-intellectualism and inferiority complex that seems to accompany ppls hatred of modern art, this discomfort that they “don’t get it” when that’s like. Actually fine. Some stuff u will appreciate once u learn context and others, regardless… u just won’t! I still hate beans & legumes

That being said I also have friends who would rather order the same mac & cheese at a restaurant every single time than risk getting something they won’t enjoy — or won’t enjoy as much. But art costs u very little to try in comparison, so why not try it?

#the other part is stuff like rothkos just works way better in person than on a screen. True of all art but especially true of these big #pieces with such delicately crafted sensory experiences. Also if art makes u uncomf or disdainful that’s also an elicited reaction. #Why do u feel that way? What cultural reasons might cause u to think of it that way? anyways everybody should read blue period. #I personally don’t think there’s rlly anything different between “low art” or “high art”. Ppl get insecure abt what they rlly like or #something and it bleeds into this ‘us’ vs ‘them’ mentality… it’s true we should ask who’s art is curated and preserved and for what reasons #but like. Humanity is humanity. It’s up to you if you want to listen. I just think it’s a shame to turn away before u give it a chance #That being said I’m still a basic Impressionism bitch. Show me a pretty oil painting landscape and I go nuts. #bytebun rambles #I am just talking. Whatever #U can know art history and read badly translated yaoi webnovels. Multiplicity. #to delete

[culmaer]

as much as I love the Messiah, there are definitely parts which are a bit boring and Händel has just stretched it out for too long and repeats the phrase over and over and idk if this was supposed to be an opportunity for vocalists to demonstrate their virtuosity and add embellishments so typical of the baroque. but it's boring. move on we get the point. and then. then. we get to "...the chastisement, the chastisement of our peace was upon him" and it's simply the most beautiful harmony and the way the voices echo each other and weave together, oh, how wonderful those few bars are ! but Händel just moves past it. we don't get to bask in it, or savour it. it's like the clouds part allowing but for the briefest moment the sun to shine through, and then we're back to wading through numerous repetitions of "and with his stripes we are healèd" urgh

#the cape town baroque orchestra recently did a recreation of the 1742 premier of the Messiah #the first version before händel tinkered with it and added bits and rescored passages and decided to add oboes to the ensemble etc #and performed with a small ensemble. it was such a clear and clean performance #I get that having a huge choir and full symphony orchestra makes it very majestic and glorious #but yeah idk sometimes excess is worse. less is more : more intimate and controlled and delicate #anyway evidently I've been having thoughts about the work again #heaven knows if I can save enough money I'm going back to uni to do a translation of the Messiah that still fits the music

[abybweisse]

Anthology 2, "Red Virgin" (p1)

Here ya go, @delicate-transformation

This mangakka's style looks similar to Yana-san's, to me.

#black butler #kuroshitsuji #anthology 2 #nijishitsuji #red virgin #grell sutcliff #grelle sutcliff #madam red #angelina dalles #angelina durless #rachel phantomhive #vincent phantomhive #translation needed #delicate transformation #delicate-transformation #jun 6 2022 #part 1 #part one

[intyalote]

I lost what I was looking for you know just now? Let me be ruptured and scattered around, it’s fine And if those shards, for instance, hurt, or hurt, or scream It’s fine to use my magic Memories transform into glass

Missing ling 凛として時雨

(full translation under the cut)

探し物を失くした　ねえ　今だけ？ 僕を破裂させて飛び散らしていいよ 例えばその欠片が　痛いとか　痛いとか　叫んだら 僕の魔法を使って良いよ 記憶がガラスに変わっていく I lost what I was looking for you know just now? Let me be broken and scattered around, it’s fine And if those shards, for instance, hurt, or hurt, or scream It’s fine to use my magic Memories transform into glass

初めて君を見つけた　あの日は永遠 冷たい風　色の無い街　意味不明の感じ　違和感 When I first found you that day was eternal A cool wind a town without color a perplexing feeling unease

世界が僕を失くして　見えない　見えない　って叫んでる 浮遊の気配に紛れ込んだ　僕を忘れてしまったかな The world loses me I'm screaming I can't see can't see I'm lost in a drifting sensation Have you perhaps forgotten me

初めて君を見つけた　あの日は永遠 ねえ　今だけ？ When I first found you that day was eternal hey just now?

例えば僕の仕組みが変わって オレンジが息をする冬の匂いに 刺さったり　時を戻せなくなったら 優しく終わりを告げて For instance, if my structure is changed and oranges pierce the smell of winter that we breathe if time can no longer be turned back end it gently

感覚の地図　Saturation Can you freeze me？ The map of sensation Saturation Can you freeze me?

瞼に残された君のイメージを 叫んだり　壊したり　重なり合って 孤独指　視線　耳も記憶呼吸 瞼を開ければ　kiokuless Screaming and breaking the overlapping images you left on my eyelids a solitary finger a glance an ear also breathing memories If I open my eyelids memoryless

例えば僕の仕組みが変わって オレンジが息をする冬の匂いに 刺さったり　時を戻せなくなったら 優しく終わりを告げて For instance, if my structure is changed and oranges pierce the smell of winter that we breathe if time can no longer be turned back end it gently

いつかはこの声も連れ去られて 誰かを満たせる夢が終わるのさ 続きはあの場所と僕の中に the endless Someday this voice will also be taken away it’s the end of a dream that could satisfy someone the continuation is in that place and inside of me the endless

探し物を失くした　ねえ　今だけ？ 僕を破裂させて飛び散らしていいよ ねえ　残ってる I lost what I was looking for you know just now? Let me be ruptured and scattered around, it’s fine you see I remain

#i think it translates well into english yay 🥺 #it was surprisingly easy compared to. well. every other song by them i've done #surprising because these lyrics feel more delicate than usual while still having that classic chilling emotional effect #translation #music #song translation #凛として時雨 #japanese

[delicatemusickingdom]

Book 1 Part 2 Chapter 1.1

Chapter 1: Learning

“Pl… Please… fetch… my… Uh…”

“Book—?” 

“Book for me.” 

The voice stumbled over the words, but gently prompted by the hints given, they managed to finish the sentence without faltering. 

“Okay, good job!”

Yuri sat down, looking not altogether unpleased with the praise he had received. 

They were in a corner of Fountain Alley’s plaza. Around ten people sat on the open ground in front of an old-deserted house. Some sat directly on the ground, while others sat on reasonably-sized buckets or falling-apart wooden chairs that they had brought from somewhere else. 

The people there were as diverse as their seats — there were both men and women, and old and young alike. All of them, however, were sitting facing the wall of the nearby building. Written on the wall were letters in black lines.

A woman stood alone next to the letters. Combined with the thinness of the letter’s lines, she exuded a refined elegance that didn’t suit the lower quarter. Her name was Norein Scifo. Occasionally she would cough weakly, and use the charcoal in her hand to write letters on the wall. 

She was a teacher. All students were welcome. Anyone in the lower quarter could attend her classes if they wanted to. Whenever the residents were interested, had some free time from work, or just simply wanted to kill time, they would take a seat in a corner of the ‘classroom’ and listen in. 

Her lessons mainly taught how to read and write simple words. There were never any schools in the poor lower quarter, and there were few families who could afford sending their children to school in the citizens' quarter on the ‘other side of the wall’. Most of the adults were unable to read or write, and even if they did, they had never thought of teaching it to anyone else. 

Though often influenced by Norein’s condition — and the weather — her classes were usually held every day. While he couldn’t say he’d attended all of them, Yuri was a regular presence at her classes. 

Him, and one more person — Norein’s son, Flynn. Despite not really needing them, he often showed up to her classes, though not as often as Yuri did. Those who came late could usually see the black-haired and golden-haired boys sitting nearly side by side in front of the teacher Norein. 

“Okay, let’s all read it together again.” 

As Norein pointed at the letters, everyone raised their voices in unison. Many of them were uncertain of the words, faltering in places like Yuri had, but even so, there was a certain sort of excitement seen in their expressions. The excitement of being able to touch something that had been inaccessible to them until now. 

While everyone else paid attention to the wall, only Flynn watched his mother, with mixed feelings in his heart. He had already mastered the basics of reading and writing, and at this level of content, he could follow her lessons without much concentration needed. 

Flynn looked at the expression on his mother’s face and acknowledged the gentle smile she now wore. It was something he hadn’t seen ever since they were driven out of the citizens' quarter, or more accurately, ever since the incident that had triggered it. 

Ever since that day, the world had become a cold and cruel place to the mother and son. His mother had wilted like a flower suddenly thrown into winter. Flynn had witnessed it happen but couldn’t do anything to help, and had ended up feeling irritated and frustrated. 

But then, like the sun shining through a gap in the thick clouds and illuminating the earth, a turning point occurred. 

Flynn sneaked a glance at Yuri, who sat beside him reciting in a loud, stuttering voice. Every time he looked at this eccentric — That’s my line, he could almost hear the boy saying — boy, he would always feel a strange sensation wash over him. 

There were still a lot of things Flynn didn’t know about Yuri, and occasionally, Yuri would do seemingly thoughtless things that made it hard to believe the person in question possessed any common sense. 

Even so, Flynn couldn’t deny when they worked together, sometimes, that led to unexpected breakthroughs in situations. Though Flynn could say with absolute certainty that Yuri hadn’t meant to. 

This time too, it was Flynn who had brought it up, but Yuri was the one who had served as the catalyst. 

Who exactly are you? Flynn asked silently. But most likely, the person in question didn’t have an answer to that question either. He was sure of it. The moment he thought that, he couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of gratification. 

Shaking his golden hair slightly, the boy concealed the smile starting to appear on his face. 

****

——Going back to a few weeks ago. 

Ever since that day, Yuri and Flynn, who had unexpectedly ended up co-owning a sword, began dedicating their free time to training. That being said, it wasn’t like they had anyone to teach them. Rather than training, what the two of them did could better be described as self-taught. 

In Yuri’s case, he had to start with the basics, so it was safe to say his teacher was Flynn to some extent. However, this teacher-student relationship was fraught with difficulties from the very beginning. 

“You’re doing it again! The centre of your stance is off! Straighten your back!” 

“I am doing it. It’s like this, right?!”

“That’s not it, your back!” 

“And I’m telling you I know that!”

Determined to improve, he had bowed his head and begged Flynn to teach him, but if he was constantly receiving negative criticisms from someone his age, it’s not like he could remain calm forever. On the other hand, it wasn’t as if Flynn had any particular skill for teaching. Differences in personality and skill aside, at the end of the day, both of them were still children lacking in discipline. 

“It’s over. I give up. I’m done for today.” 

Out of patience, Yuri tossed away his sword. Making no attempt to conceal his irritation, Flynn yelled at him.

“Don’t handle it so roughly! The sword doesn’t only belong to you!” 

The fed-up Yuri looked away without answering. Despite that, when Flynn picked up the sword and began to do practice swings, he slowly started to feel restless, until in the end, he spoke. 

“Give it back. I still want to practise.” 

“I thought you said you were done for the day?”

“I changed my mind, so give it back!”  

Ownership of the sword changes every day. But if the person gives up their rights, the other person can use it on the same day. That was the deal the two of them made. 

Naturally, just because they give up their rights to use the sword on that day doesn’t mean they can use it on the next. If they gave up the rights without using it until they were satisfied, then the next day they’d have to endure feeling pent-up and stifled for the whole day. Yuri had experienced that more than once. Each time, he would swear to himself that he would never again abandon his sword halfway through training, but after listening to Flynn’s nagging, he would repeat the incident all over again. Which led to their current exchange. 

If Flynn had to say, Yuri lacked not only patience but obedience as well — to a devastating extent. 

No matter how much he taught Yuri, for some reason, not only would Yuri not follow his exact teachings, but he would also try to add on his own interpretations. It was only after he had tested enough of this and that, and was satisfied with it, that he would follow the original teachings. It was unavoidable that the process took a lot of time. More than anything, his attitude of questioning every single detail of what their ancestors had built upon and passed down felt irrelevant to Flynn — but despite that, once he was satisfied with it, his speed at absorbing it was something Flynn was forced to admit was remarkable. 

Even though he didn’t say it out aloud, that wasn’t the only problem Flynn had with the sword. He had no qualms about sharing a sword that was once solely his. In fact, he was even grateful for the help in pooling together what little money they had and spending it all for the sake of buying a single sword. 

The problem was having time for his own training. When he didn’t have the rights to use the sword, he had to teach Yuri — at his request — swordsmanship. Though he’d be lying if he said he didn’t feel any regret every time they argued, it couldn’t be helped, because that was the promise he made when they bought the sword. Even when he did have the rights to use the sword, it didn’t mean he could necessarily do as he pleased. 

That was because as soon as Flynn started training, Yuri would immediately come up to him and bombard him with questions like ‘Why did you move like that?’ and ‘Why is your grip like that?’. 

At first, Flynn had been touched by his enthusiasm and answered him, but after a while he found it was getting in the way of his training. 

Those thoughts only grew stronger. Even though he’d finally gotten back his sword, he couldn’t hope to improve if this continued. 

Of course, Yuri had no ulterior motives. He simply wanted to catch up to Flynn as soon as possible. His single-minded pursuit meant that if he saw something he didn’t know or understand, he would greedily strive to master it. 

Flynn knew that Yuri wasn’t doing it out of maliciousness, and thus couldn’t refuse him, and continued to nurture his progress. Of course, if actually doing it was as easy as the rationale behind it, then they wouldn’t be having so much trouble right now. Naturally his words became more and more harsh, and because of that now it was Yuri’s turn to be unamused. He didn’t think he was making any mistakes, and instead was being criticised more harshly than necessary, which made him feel even more dissatisfied. 

They had finally obtained a sword, and in truth, due to their training, they had gotten better than they thought they had. But at this rate, they would be hastening not just the destruction of their sword, but also their relationship and everything in between. 

What changed all that, was thanks to a single book. 

****

On that day, Flynn had ownership of the sword. For once, there was no sign of Yuri, and Flynn could swing his sword to his heart’s content in front of his house. He would reflect upon the instructions he had once been given, and repeat them over and over again, to confirm that his body had really memorised them. 

For him, this was akin to a ritual of sorts, that allowed him to regain the bond he had lost, or perhaps to prevent him from forgetting those memories. 

His mother hadn’t been feeling well lately, and even now was in the house, resting. When he had confessed to her about getting back his sword, Norein had said nothing, only showing an expression that he couldn’t tell was sad or smiling. 

She knew. As he swung his sword, Flynn thought. That there was no way her son could have gotten back the sword on his own. Flynn had only told her that he had properly paid money to buy it back, and his mother had accepted it without prying any further.  

Flynn continued swinging his sword single-mindedly. 

Eventually, when he was convinced that the fundamentals were firmly ingrained within him, Flynn picked up a book from on top of the barrel next to him that served as a makeshift table. 

The simple binding was dirty and worn, but not to the point that the text was unreadable. Rather than being treated poorly, it was the result of many hands having flipped through the pages for a long time. 

Flynn also handled the book with much more care than with his sword. Careful not to let the sweat dripping down his face fall onto the pages, he slowly opened it and searched for the page he was looking for. 

Many of the pages had illustrations drawn on them in addition to text — illustrations of a person in armour holding a sword in different stances. 

Flynn’s finger stopped on a certain page. He traced the words with his fingertips as he read them. He stared at the numerous illustrations on the page until his gaze could almost bore a hole into them. Then, with that page open, he put the book back on the barrel and picked up the sword again. 

He closed his eyes and pictured in his mind the illustration he had just seen. He slowly changed his posture until it overlapped with the image in his mind. If not the same, then as similar as possible. Once he was satisfied, for a while he would stand still in that position, before moving onto the stance shown in the next illustration. 

Try out the stance, memorise it in mind and body, and once satisfied, swiftly repeat them as a series of movements. Over and over again. 

The feedback from his body was good. He could feel the movements becoming ingrained into his body. If he continued this for a few more rounds, he felt like he might be able to grasp something—

“Is that the basis for your swordsmanship?” 

The sudden voice interrupted his thoughts. The light almost within his reach faded away. 

He was so close. He had almost reached it, but it had slipped away at the last moment. The opportunity was lost. Panting and drenched in sweat, Flynn turned and shot Yuri a glare. 

At some point during his training, Yuri had arrived. Completely oblivious to what was going through Flynn’s mind, without even looking at Flynn, the black-haired boy’s gaze was fixed on the book on top of the barrel. 

“……It’s a training manual for swordsmanship.” 

There were so many things he wanted to say, but Flynn only managed to get out that much, shoulders heaving as he gasped for air. 

Yuri got closer and peered at the book. Flynn felt the pit of his stomach grow hot. Though he knew Yuri didn’t mean any harm, even now, he couldn’t quite get used to how the residents of the lower quarter could occasionally act bluntly and tactlessly. 

“That’s important to me.” 

Flynn murmured, and Yuri must have sensed something, because he pulled back his outstretched hand. But his eyes remained glued to the book, refusing to look away, like a hungry beast staring down a feast placed in front of it. 

“Hey, does that mean if I read this, I’ll be able to master swordsmanship like you? And learn even more amazing techniques—”

“It doesn't do something as convenient as that.” 

Feeling as if his pride had been hurt, Flynn couldn’t help but raise his voice and say. 

“Well, I guess that’s true.” 

Yuri readily shrugged his shoulders. 

“Just listening to you talk doesn’t help me at all. But if I practise according to what’s written here, I’ll be able to get by somehow, right?” 

“……At least, that’s what I believe.” 

It might just be possible. Flynn’s voice lowered as he remembered he was on the verge of realising a part of that just a moments ago. 

When he’d lost his previous way of life, he had lost many things, but this book was one of the few possessions he couldn’t bear to part with. It felt painful to let go of the sword, but he told himself that he’d be able to obtain one again someday. But the book was different. This book was the teaching itself. The sword was a vessel. But what was written in the book held a soul that must be kept within. Of the person who gave it to him, and then sacrificed himself. 

If I have this, I can get closer to him. No matter how it looked to others, to Flynn, that was his truth. 

“Hey, let’s make it so I can read this too.” 

Not picking up on Flynn’s thoughts in the slightest, Yuri said. 

He says it so easily. He doesn’t even know how much respect I have for the knowledge written in this book. He doesn’t even know how symbolic this book is to me. Even though he knew it was due to ignorance, Flynn couldn’t hold back his anger. 

First of all, Yuri. He has both a strong interest and a lack of patience. No matter how much he reads, will he be able to continue practising patiently until he masters the techniques?

Recalling the arguments they had during training, and the interruptions during his own sword practice, and all the other numerous exchanges they’ve had until now, Flynn felt like he had been put in an incredibly unfair situation. Mix in the painful memories of the hardships he had gone through before he’d met Yuri, and he felt ready to explode. 

Suddenly, something inside of him seized the reins within him. Like calming a rampaging horse or whispering to a restless spirit, it spoke. Calm down. Calm yourself. Don’t let your emotions get the better of you. That, too, was a lesson Flynn had once been taught, a lesson almost as precious to him as his sword techniques. 

Flynn took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. As if he was expelling his violent emotions with it. His irritation didn’t completely subside, so naturally his voice was filled with barbs as he spoke. 

“You can read it if you want to,” the golden-haired boy said curtly. “But if you damage anything, I will never forgive you.” 

“Um, even if you say that…” 

Yuri said as he scratched the back of his black-haired head. The irritation came back. What? Are you saying that’s not enough for you? 

“……I, can’t read.”

“Ah……”

The unexpected words left Flynn speechless. In the place where he used to live, it was only natural for even commoners to be able to read and write. In fact, if they couldn’t, you could say it would be a terrible hindrance to their daily life. 

But here, in the lower quarter. 

Flynn looked at the training manual just sitting there. Then he thought about the various books and texts he had come into contact with. To think that they couldn’t read any of that. To think that they had been kept from being able to access anything written in there. 

Once again Flynn was shocked at the way of life in the lower quarter. As for Yuri, after seeing Flynn’s reaction, he started to look a little embarrassed. 

Flynn suddenly felt ashamed of himself. 

“But… I’ve never taught anyone to read or write.” 

“You’re teaching me how to use a sword. It’s pretty much the same, right?” 

Yuri said nonchalantly. That easygoing demeanour of his made Flynn feel like he had been rescued. That being said, what should he do? 

“Hey, please?” 

“I can’t do something like that so easily…” 

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind. 

“……Mother.” 

“Mother? Yours?” 

Flynn nodded slowly, as if confirming his own idea. 

“She even teaches me from time to time. My mother might be able to teach you.” 

Now it was Yuri’s turn to wince. It had been a long time since then, but the memory of Flynn’s mother’s attitude towards him on the day he had first confronted Flynn was still fresh in his memory. He still remembered how the atmosphere back then was by no means friendly. 

The training manual on the barrel caught his eye. Hidden in there were the secret techniques for swordsmanship. If I can read it, I can catch up to Flynn that much quicker. If I can read it— 

Yuri turned back to Flynn. 

“I understand. I’ll be counting on you.” 

“Okay, but not today. Mother isn’t feeling well, and right now she’s asleep.”

“Sure. As long as she can teach me, I have no complaints.” 

As if feeling refreshed, Yuri smiled. 

“I’ll go back for today. I hope your mother feels better soon.”

As if he could hurry up and master the contents of the training manual, Yuri waved his hand and left with an incredible lightness in his steps. 

Flynn was left alone again. He looked in the direction of the leaving Yuri, and then in the direction of the house where his mother was. Does Yuri really intend to study? Will Mother accept? He had no idea. 

Did he make a hasty promise without considering the condition his mother was in? His mind was now filled with such concerns. 

He caught sight of the still-open training manual. It was then he realised he had been gripping his sword the whole time. Its blade gleamed brightly, as if protesting that Flynn had forgotten all about its existence.

Flynn shook his head, also shaking off the thoughts swirling inside his heart. Let’s not think about that right now. Just for now. Recalling the illustration drawn in the training manual once again, the boy readied his sword and swung it fiercely, as if to sever away all of his doubts. 

****

Hasty or not, once he gave it, Flynn had no intention of breaking his promise. It had taken a while for Norein to recover, but surprisingly Yuri hadn’t tried to rush him, and Flynn was grateful for that. 

Eventually his mother managed to recover and Flynn asked her about the matter of reading and writing. At first, Norein had listened to him with a somewhat dubious look on her face, but after he was done and was nervously gauging her reaction, she spoke. 

“Alright, let’s give it a try. I don’t know if it will go as well as when I taught you, but this if your first request since we came here. Besides…” 

Norein paused, and smiled gently at her son. 

“This is for the sake of the first friend you made here.” 

Friend. He had thought it to himself, but hearing it so clearly from someone else’s mouth, and it was his mother’s, no less, made him feel embarrassed. Forgetting his surprise at his mother’s quick acceptance of his request, Flynn felt his cheeks grow hot. 

In any case, it looked like he was going to be able to fulfil his promise. Now all Yuri has to do is — wait a minute. Will he be attending school here? On the days when he doesn’t have ownership rights to the sword? In other words, I’ll be seeing him not only during training but also at my house every day? That in itself was something to think about.

However, things unfolded in a manner even more unexpected than Flynn had anticipated. 

A few days after Flynn told Yuri that his mother had agreed, there was a soft knock on his house’s front door, as gentle as a fallen leaf. When he opened it he saw an elderly man standing there alone, with a gentle face along with his hunched back. 

“……Mister Hanks?” 

“Oh, Flynn, you look well. I have something to discuss with your mother, is she free to talk right now?” 

****

“Everyone… I, um…” 

Holding a hand to her chest, Norein said, looking lost in thought. In front of her Hanks stood there, nodding his head.

“There are a lot of people in the lower quarter who can’t read or write, but there aren’t a lot of people who are good enough to teach it. It’d be a great help if you would teach them.” 

Yuri was supposed to be her only student, but in a short period of time the conversation had taken an unexpected turn. Perhaps because Yuri looked unusually happy, or because he seemed so far from his usual composed self — Jiri and the other adults had thought he was up to his usual sinister schemes and grilled him until he confessed. At first Yuri had been evasive tried to avoid answering, but in the end he had cracked and told them everything. 

Now knowing that this had all started because of the sword, Jiri had only frowned slightly and said nothing more. In fact, she was secretly surprised. She had never thought that Yuri of all people would say he wanted to study. 

But Hanks, who had also been listening, had another idea. A teacher had appeared in the lower quarter. Why should she only have one student? 

“Of course, I have no intention of asking you to do it for free. It’s a respected job, after all. I intend to keep that in mind.” 

Thus, Norein became a teacher in the lower quarter, and taught all who desired to learn. She had no textbooks or formal training, but her experience in teaching her son proved to be useful. 

Flynn had objected to it, worried it would worsen her health, but Norein had decided all on her own to step out of her house. The classroom was in a corner of the plaza in the centre of Fountain Alley. In place of a textbook, she would use charcoal to write letters on the building’s wall. After class, the students for the day would clean the walls. Tuition fees were paid in small change and food. 

Most of the students were adults. Like Hanks said, it was rare for anyone in the lower quarter to be able to read and write. Flynn was once again made aware that this place was fundamentally different from the place he had lived before. 

Jareth and the other children were not among the people who came to learn. Most of them showed up out of curiosity, but soon got bored and left, until Yuri was the only one that remained. The only time Yuri was generally only absent when his manual work coincided with the lesson timings.

Of course, even Yuri wasn’t able to maintain his concentration all of the time — just as Flynn had predicted. There were times where he felt like he couldn’t keep up with the lessons, or felt the lessons were becoming too monotonous, and would keep away for a while. But he would always come back to class — for two main reasons. 

He still hadn’t gotten tired of sword training, which meant that whether he liked it or not, he would still see Flynn swinging his sword with the training manual by his side. Each time, a feeling similar to impatience would be revived in him. 

Besides, when all was said and done, the reason Norein had come all the way to the plaza at the risk of her health was originally because of Yuri’s request. He couldn’t forget that and abandon her lessons. 

With Yuri now fully devoted to his lessons,  on the days when Flynn had the sword, he was able to swing his sword undisturbed and to his heart’s content. As he threw himself into his training all alone, more than once, he’d experience a large breakthrough and unthinkingly cry out in joy. 

However, gradually, the thought that this result had only been possible because he had pushed Yuri onto his mother started to occupy his mind. Ever since the incident that had led them to move to the lower quarter, his mother had become incredibly frail in both mind and body. Yet day after day, she would go out to the plaza, saying it was her job. 

Guilty and worried, Flynn headed towards the plaza. 

But when he arrived, his eyes widened. He was his mother standing there, passionately delivering a lecture. She still looked thin and fragile as ever, but he could definitely feel the aura of determination and vigour emanating from her. It wasn’t comparable to before, but still, it was the first time since their move to the lower quarter that he had seen a light in her eyes. 

This was something beyond comprehension to the young Flynn, but Norein’s change was not without reason. 

Before coming to the lower quarter, she had lived a comfortable, not to say wealthy life. Then one day, she had been kicked out and left with almost nothing to her name, and no one around her willing to lend her a helping hand. Norein’s mind and body had suffered a huge blow, and poverty had taken an even bigger toll on her. 

Poverty was only one of the factors. The people of the lower quarter had done all they could to help the mother and son who had nothing on them and no means of making a living. Housing and food became a source of inner conflict, and Norein was tormented by it. To put it simply, she had no choice but to rely on the charity of others around her to survive. Even though she had nothing to offer in return. If she was alone, she would have chosen to starve to death. But even as she argued that this was for her son’s sake, her miserable state remained unchanged, and that tormented her and drove her to illness. 

But right now, even if it was a small thing, the people around her needed her, and even thanked her for it. Even though it was incredibly tiring for her to travel from her house to the plaza every day, she had regained her reason to live. And, a little bit of her pride, too. 

Surprised and touched by his mother’s liveliness, and as if he had been guided to, Flynn joined in on the lessons. He could sense something else present in her lessons — something different from just learning how to read and write. 

Noticing Flynn’s nosy presence, Yuri made space next to him. At first, Flynn had felt uncomfortable sitting right in front of his mother, but after a while he had gotten used to it. 

His mother didn’t make any particular sign that she had noticed him, but she seemed somewhat happy. 

****

And so, Flynn once again became his mother’s student. Since he had already learned most of the basic fundamentals of reading and writing, he rarely had the opportunity to learn anything new. But occasionally he would come to the plaza and read out aloud the words written on the wall with Yuri. Sometimes he would help his mother, writing the letters in  charcoal while everyone watched. 

Although her voice remained soft, his mother continued to conduct her lectures smoothly, and Yuri — for the most part — continued to learn enthusiastically. 

It had been a completely unexpected turn of events, but maybe this was for the best. Thinking in a corner of his mind what kind of training he should do after this, Flynn returned his attention to the lesson in front of him. 

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#Tales of Vesperia #Genealogy of the Condemned #Danzaisha no Keifu #Tales of Vesperia: Genealogy of the Condemned #delicate posts #delicate translations #so fun fact yuri is writing 'yuri lowell' on his slate #idk what norein is writing actually

[oddishblossom]

Girl help i just finished watching this telenovela from 1999 and now i can’t stop listening to this song. Added english lyrics to this video for funsies.

#lucyrambles.txt #ysblf #yo soy betty la fea #betty la fea #armando mendoza #beatriz pinzón solano #translating things is always a delicate balance between ‘should i translate this literally’ and #‘that sounds weird in english. change it to something that gets the point across’ #anyway after 149 episodes of this show i’m a different person now #even if this gets 0 notes i have to make more stuff for this show or my brain will explode ❤️

[shakaprio]

i wish my egg head looked like lily rose depp’s or devon aoki’s

#girlblogging #i’m just a girl #lana del rey #real #girl blogger #slay #relatable #fiona apple #lizzy grant #taylor swift #mazzy star #sofia coppola #the virgin suicides #kristen dunst #lost in translation #lux lisbon #localy hated #delicate femme #this is a girlblog #this is what makes us girls #girlhood #hell is a teenage girl #girl interrupted #lana del ray aka lizzy grant #vintage americana #lily rose depp #paris fashion week #devon aoki

[mgs3dickeater]

ib: why do you talk like a lady garry, trying to find a way to explain being gay and trans: i cant remember

#i cant believe she said that..... shes so funny #ib #sorry i wasnt planning on posting much about this game but this caught me off guard LOL #im sure it was meant to be like. delicate. before translation. but woohee

[todayisafridaynight]

SORRY im a bitch but masumi mever actually apologizes to Ichi. i went through the trouble of finding the raw jp sub just to confirm a suspicion LMAO but it's more like "i troubled you with masato" and ichi immediately goes on defensive saying it's no trouble

NONETHELESS he does not apologize and yet i think your post is still valid........... Anyway sorry i just dislike some of the adaptations made from jp-eng it mischaracterizes some of the characters in a couple of scenes

i cant be mad about a correction LMAO THANK YOU (mfers who should be apologizing are the hooligans outside of my window rn shut up it's 10PM ☠️☠️)

#snap chats #im just a dumb american who only bothers to have access to the localization translations of the japanese and english dubs #so im always grateful for the extra step people take to double check #tho it does make me realize /i/ should probably start to care more too.. it makes me look foolish #though you say the post is valid i feel like deleting it now- i wont tho just so this ask doesnt look bizarre out of context #thats the frustrating part of translation isnt it: its a delicate craft and doing it one way can really botch things #'i troubled you' and 'burdening' someone are in the same vein but the injection of 'sorry' really does change the tone of the statement #i guess it can be implied that he's sorry but that's very different from outright saying it #in any case my ears are burning and i dont like that SO im going to chug this seltzer #no im not i have a tummy ache :( #euuugh i dont want to write about reagonomics.. #ill do it in a minute just gimme a sec..

[sunflowerbloomss]

also the teeny tiny flashbacks to kaz's trauma. well.

#no one cares eli #shadow and bone #i'm actually intrigued to see how they'd translate it onto the screen because in the books it's such a clear holocaust scene #not in the sense of genocide in the sense of an abundance of bodies #i really want to see how they make it appeare in the show because i feel like doing it by the book would be too visually disturbing #like it's such a hard scene to read and when we read we interpret stuff in a way that works for our personal minds #but when it's a show it depends on the interpretation of the crew and this is such a delicate scene to handle #especially in a teen show

[miasmaburnt]

let’s try the official tales of symphonia personality quiz!

tagging : I don't have enough followers on this blog yet to tag anyone who wasn't already tagged by @mathcs & @azotas so...!

"A personality quiz... Let me see."

"Hmph!"

#translating dhaos' internal thoughts: DELICATE AND EASILY HURT? #'AND MITHOS' YGGDRASIL DESIGN WAS BASED ON YOURS TRULY NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.' #'kids these days -grumps-' #I LAUGHED RLLY HARD THANKS FOR TAGGING ME #i was almost compelled to draw him holding a phone and frowning at it with a swiggly line over his head but i have work soon so