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greed-the-dorkalicious · 11 months

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All the discussion around AI lately got me thinking about an incident recently in which a guy got his ass sorely beat by the vocal synth community

For those of you not familiar, “vocal synths” in the electronic music sense typically refers to programs like Vocaloid, SynthV, UTAU, Alter/Ego, DeepVocal, etc., digital instruments that allow composers to create, as the name implies, synthesized vocal tracks. The way they work is that they draw from libraries (referred to as “voicebanks” or VB for short) of special studio recorded* vocal samples from singers singing different syllables at a consistent pitch. The program then splices these together and adjusts the pitch to match whatever notes you put in- You want to do All Star, it’s gonna string together “[suh][m] [buh][di] [wuh][n][s] [tO][ld] [mi]” or something like that. Basically it’s an extremely complicated sampler.

(*unless you’re using UTAU or another build-your-own-vocal program in which the “studio” is only metaphorical, and is sometimes somebody’s basement with a Rockband mic plugged into a laptop.)

Now, there is no threat of vocal synths putting actual singers out of a job. Even the best vocal synths always have a bit of a robotic sound to them, and the voicebanks take hundreds of hours of recording time from you know, actual singers. Any piece made with vocal synths has to be worked by a human hand in a process called “tuning” in order to sound any good, whether you’re trying to make it sound human or leaning into the robotic sound. This isn’t something that’s being done on a corporate scale to cut costs- This is something pretty much exclusively being done by small scale indie music hobbyists because we fucking love Hatsune Miku and her weird buddies. Most folks are less interested in doing something that sounds 1:1 like a human voice and more in going beyond what humans can do to make shit like this

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One of the leading vocal synths right now is Synthesizer V (SynthV), created by a company called Dreamtonics. SynthV offers fancier versions of some of its voicebanks, which are called “AI” voicebanks. These use machine learning trained on, again, professionally recorded and legally licensed vocal samples to help make songs sound a little bit more smooth, a little bit more in line with whatever singing style you’re aiming for. Everything else previously mentioned still applies: They’re still painstakingly recorded and programmed, you still need to tweak it yourself to get it to sound just right, and it’s still never going to sound 100% like a human. And that’s fine!

For this next bit y’all are gonna have to trust me because the tweets all got deleted, though if anyone wants I’m happy to pull up screencaps of talking shit about it with other vocal synth folks when it happened lmfao

So basically. Since ChatGPT type grifters have convinced people that “AI” means “magic plagiarism button”, back in April some dipshit NFT guy on Twitter started complaining on an official SynthV update post that SynthV (which he apparently believed to be called “Dreamtonics”, the name of the company that makes it) should allow people to make voicebanks from “their own voice”, insisting that it would be easy and PROFITABLE!™ to do so. He also clearly did not actually mean “their own voice” but rather “the voices of celebrity singers shamelessly lifted without their consent”, which was made extra obvious from a tweet on his own page that was like “Teehee people in monitored Twitter spaces don’t realize their voices are being recorded and fed into AI!” which he then deleted after I linked it on the thread about SynthV. lol.

Dude proceeded to get whupped by actual vocal synth people basically saying shit along the lines of “Yeah we can all tell you just want to commit cheap plagiarism, jackass” and “Dude why are you here when you clearly don’t understand the very very basics of what this software even is” and “Go make an UTAU voicebank if it’s so easy then”. (UTAU being a Japanese freeware program that hasn’t been updated since 2013. Creating an UTAU voicebank is complicated and takes a lot of time and technical knowledge.) He still refused to learn the basics of how vocal synths work, and proceeded to ask if “UTAU or Diff is most compatible with Dreamtonics”, a question absolutely no one could make any sense of? Lol.

Anyway, I don’t have anywhere in particular I’m going with this, I just think AI grifters are morons, and it’s obnoxious how the vague and misleading term “AI” has gotten nigh-mythologized by shady tech companies to the point that people can’t tell the difference between perfectly reasonable assistive technology and magic plagiarism.

Btw, fun fact for anyone who’s wondering, there do in fact exist legally/morally questionable UTAU voicebanks spliced from outside vocals. These are called “jinriki” voicebanks and not only do they take the same amount (if not more) of hard work as any other voicebank, they’re far from the insta-Beyoncé this dude was aiming for, and instead they sound um. like this

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yunwnya · 3 months

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so... i don't know where to start or what to call this, but let this be my small thoughts about kouta from tsumigram by @74n5n

i don't promise that there will be some smart thoughts and brilliant theories, because i can't consider myself a theorist, i'm dumb for theories. just some random and messy thoughts because... i like kouta.

it also turned out to be a bit long and not very structured...

so, i'm gonna start with my overall impression on him. kouta gives the impression of a very quiet, non talkative and closed person. he doesn't seem anxious to me, he's just distant.

his poses in the drawings are closed, tense, perhaps weak like he's exhausted. his facial expression is often thoughtful, sad, also tense. sometimes neutral, but there is always some shade of melancholy. he doesn't seem so stressed, he seems very exhausted. as if there's no energy left in him.

that's... all i can say about him at a glance. he's just... a depressed guy who doesn't talk much.

I appreciate your concern, but I don't… want to talk very much. It's not about you, really, you're actually a nice person. Just— just my own problems.

he's not the kind of person you can tell a lot about just by looking at them. he doesn't have a lot of energy and he doesn't draw a lot of attention to himself.

I don't have a lot of friends, I don't get approached too often.

kouta isn't the kind of person who takes responsibility. he doesn't make decisions for himself, he's used to others making decisions for him.

Huh… so you're going to decide on our fates. Well, it can't surprise me.

It’s not surprising that my fate is going to be decided by someone else who I don't even know. So, no questions.

maybe other people just put pressure on him without giving him that opportunity? something like "oh no, i'll do x for you so you can have proper x" or something like that. he's used to having his life controlled by something outside of him, but not by himself. and did he once have that will? if so, whose fault is it that it disappeared? random thought.

i also think that kouta really has depression. he seems very weak, has little energy, death is often mentioned next to him (i'll talk about that later), which may remind of suicidal thoughts, his prisoner color is gray, which may indicate a low mood, he is quite indifferent to everything. he also mentioned in a dialogue with miku that he wakes up every hour (at least that's how it feels like to him).

Miku: Hmph. What are you doing here? Kouta: Have been waking up every hour… Ah, I mean, “every hour” is just what it feels like. I don't quite understand how time passes in this place…

and in the drawings i see bruises under his eyes? it resembles insomnia, sleep problems, which can also be a symptom of depression.

hm… i don't know what else to add. let this be a small intro. and let's move on to his memory reports.

Record no.1 ▆▆ going to be a decent person today, ▆▆ leaving as usual. Do that, don't do that; it's pretty annoying, what's so scary? Pain is not scary. ▆▆ not afraid of anything that doesn't involve talking to others — otherwise, ▆▆ freezing in place and feeling like ▆▆ already gone. In the end, ▆ can't find enough strength to make a difference. The attempts ▆▆ gathered so far went in vain; ▆ would like to finish it for all, so that ▆ don't hate anymore, anyone. It's fine, ▆ will wake up soon.

i'm wondering… who is kouta talking about? i already have a couple thoughts on this, but for that i want to look at the record no.2

— What do you want? Not sure, I guess she was pouting. Of course, what else would she be doing. — I don't like that girl. Don't talk to her. — She's the one talking to me. Can't help it. — Do you not care about me? As if it's me who doesn't care! You constantly complain about each other to me. — I'm taking a nap. — It's dangerous to sleep in the train. I might be in a bad mood and not wake you up in time. I'm in a bad mood today, by the way. — Don't care. — Good luck at Kisaragi station. — Thank you very much.

i see some pretty toxic friendships here. definitely jealousy in a friendship isn't something that can be called healthy.

and i see it this way: kouta's friend (girl A) took offense to him for talking to a certain girl (girl B) they both know and she (girl A) doesn't really like.

You constantly complain about each other to me.

↑ says that girl A knows girl B and they both knows kouta. three-way friendship?

and again what i'm seeing here is that they're trying to make a decision for kouta. "don't talk to this girl, i don't like her and i don't care what you think".

and in the phrase "Good luck at Kisaragi station" i see an implicit death wish. in the kusaragi station legend, the woman most likely died in the end.

and first of all, the theme of death again, and secondly, death wishes in a friendship… really, as kouta himself says, it's not the kind of friendship you see in stories on the screen:

I guess it's the closest to friendship I've experienced; though I don't know how they viewed that, and it certainly didn't resemble the friendship seen in stories on the screen.

kouta himself is in no hurry to call it friendship, though. it's the closest to friendship, as he puts it.

A screeching sound and I grip her hand by instinct, maybe getting scared or trying to save her or both; black out, I think the train crashed.

but still, kouta tries to save this friendship? but it seems too late now because "the train crashed". or he's used to this friendship, despite all the toxicity, so he's scared of losing it, so he saves it to keep his comfort zone. this has no particular foundation, just a thought.

so. back to the record no.1… i think he's talking about girl A. but he may also be talking about himself?

"The attempts ▆▆ gathered so far went in vain; ▆ would like to finish it for all, so that ▆ don't hate anymore, anyone."

↑ just reminded me of kouta. i'm not sure this is specifically about him. leaning towards that this is about another person.

that reminded me of him because he said something similar, but here it's more clear that he's talking about himself ↓

I promise, I'll kill either myself or someone else when I get fed up with it.

this part is from record no.3 and for some reason it seems to me that record no.1 and record no.3 are similar. it's like in them kouta is talking about one person but at the same time talking about himself. maybe he's talking about himself but putting it to another person he thinks he's similar?

It's fine. It's fine. We're similar yet different, how to put it.

maybe he's really talking about his friend and himself? but maybe... about three people at once? about the girl A, girl B and kouta himself? but it seems to me that this is all connected with girl A and kouta. i... still need to think, so it's a raw thought.

voice drama. i'm not going to say that kouta is very taciturn, it's obvious. he's pretty hard to talk to, isn't he? but still, i saw a couple things that i found interesting.

Kouta: Not funny… It's a joke to you, but life is seriously unfair… Ego: …I was joking, but I get it. About life being unfair. I mean, ironically, I wouldn't be able to act so leisurely if I still cared. Mhm. You get constantly told, the world is huge and full of fun, there's always something. Though it's all meaningless when you simply can't feel enjoyment as a person. The easiest solution is to keep yourself up with instant pleasures, but, obviously, they fade away in an instant. It becomes worse and worse as you're growing up, too.

kouta says nothing in response. perhaps he agrees with ego's words? he probably does, since he's asking the next question, continues the dialogue. it's unspoken agreement, maybe?

Kouta: Did you have a good childhood? Warden. Kouta: Do you feel like there's something you can come back to? Kouta: Uh, such as… You feel at a loss in university and then remember your childhood dreams. They might be frozen now, but they're still here. Or, you come back to nice memories and find comfort in them again. Kouta: There are also people who didn't have anything from the very start. This kind of unfairness. Not having anything, ever. Kouta: If you had a decent childhood, you can't get it.

perhaps, kouta wants at least some source of positive emotions in his life. he sees memories as something that can soothe and bring joy. he wants to have memories in which he can find solace, since he cannot find solace now. but he has nothing.

perhaps he really was constantly told that life is full of great opportunities — just look around. but he can't feel the pleasure of life. and he doesn't even have any memories that he can grab onto and drink the last juices of positive emotions from them.

maybe it has something to do with the fact that he's not trying to solve something on his own. and it seems to me that his crime looks like something that brought him joy, but began to crumble before his eyes through someone's/his fault. and when he found the strength to fix something on his own, it was too late. his own decision brought nothing but loss, death. but it's just a thought. it's still hard for me to put together what he's talking about and his memories.

it's also interesting how kouta doesn't speak directly about himself, but uses such figures of speech as "there are also people". but it's painfully obvious that he means himself. he really doesn't like to talk about himself, does he?

Kouta: …You remind me of my classmate. Ego: Really? Kouta: No, uh… I don't really remember her, but it was my classmate. Ego: Is she related to your crime? Kouta: … Ego: Your stare is not telling me anything. Kouta: I don't know what “crime” you're talking about.

it seems that kouta's silence is another agreement, because he has already shown such behavior here, right? but he quickly denies it, as before. kouta is quite... protective of himself?

Ego: Now I feel sort of bad for teasing you. Kouta: For sure. People like you only stop when the object of your bullying starts crying. Ego: I'm not a bully! Kouta: Bullying me is the first thing you did once coming to this room.

Kouta: …You remind me of my classmate.

and also the fact that he says that ego bullies him (i'm not sure if he's joking/being sarcastic or not, but kouta doesn't look like someone who will joke about this), and then talks about the similarity with his classmate — this suggests that a certain kouta's classmate also bullied him? or their attitude towards him was perceived as bullying. maybe it was girl A.

i can't be sure that kouta's theme is bullying, so i'm leaning towards the fact that he just felt her attitude towards him as bullying. but who knows? it's still only trial 1. we will see more in the future.

and if the girl A from kouta's memories is his classmate, then perhaps she is really related to his crime.

Kouta: You remind me of someone… Ego: Am I? Kouta: Ah, no… who… Ego: Eh? Kouta: I've just got a weird feeling. Ego: What? Kouta: I don't quite remember who.

it's also interesting that at the beginning of the interrogation, kouta mentions that ego reminded him of someone, and after the bell rings, he says that ego reminds him of his classmate. he really remembered, didn't he? or did he not want to talk at first and pretended that he didn't remember? kouta doesn't want to remember a certain classmate? but maybe he really didn't remember at first. and then remembered. strange to me.

Kouta: I've just got a weird feeling. Ego: What? Kouta: I don't quite remember who. Ego: Is that so. Kouta: …Is this because of MILGRAM? Ego: What? Kouta: The problems with our memories. Ego: Hm-m, maybe. It seems to be the case with most of you. In a different amount, though, everyone has scattered memories. Hotaru-san mentioned the feeling of an obstacle in their head that doesn't let them remember more. Kouta: It gives me a headache, trying to remember… How troublesome.

by the way, it's interesting that kouta doesn't remember, he has a weird feeling, it gives him a headache, trying to remember, and hotaru mentions the feeling of an obstacle in their head that doesn't let them remember more. all prisoners don't remember something in different ways, it causes them different feelings. this is an interesting thing that i noticed, but it doesn't really relate to the topic.

interactions with other prisoners. i'm not going to talk here about how exactly he interacts with others, i just want to point out some things i've noticed.

U-uh, don't scare me like this.

Not that I remember… Please don't shake me.

Duh! Can you people stop suddenly approaching me from behind?!

Ack… No… Uh, please don't shake me.

Just, please don't be too loud when you do…

…Please stop getting so close to me.

P-please don't hit me on my back…

kouta doesn't like physical contact and loud noises? most likely. could he have moments of sensory overload, maybe? i think so. random thought, but let it be.

ah, i've also noticed that kouta is often shaken by others… when we want to wake a sleeping person, we shake them. (eternal) sleep is death. a theme that surrounds kouta. kouta doesn't like to be shaken. kouta doesn't want to wake up? kouta doesn't want to be alive? ah, i guess i'm overthinking this.

i noticed that the theme of death surrounds kouta. even in his dialog with remi:

A lot of people receive nothing but “they were kind to everyone and we never knew they were suffering so much” at their funeral.

funeral. it's interesting that even there are references to death.

in the dialogue with chise, kouta notices that she falls asleep with jacka in her arms. and he doesn't take responsibility, he's just going to tell ego about it, leaving it for her. like, "hey, something happened here, but i really don't want to deal with it, so i'll leave it for you."

She's hugging the rabbit… Hm? Hello there. Uh, but it's bad if Kawai-san keeps on sleeping on a cold floor… Um-m… I could ask someone to bring her to her cell… But she's not on good terms with anyone who could be strong enough. Ahh. I’ll just go ask Warden and leave her to deal with this.

but it's also cute that he cares about chise ^^

let's take a quick look at the illustrations.

his birthday illustration (so cute). it scares the hell out of me that his school photo with a mourning ribbon (moshou) is hanging behind him.

by the way, the same one hangs behind miku in his birthday illustration. i wonder if this is a general concept of birthdays illustrations or if it applies only to these two? we'll see more in the future, i guess. but even if we judge about this as an individual thing, then again… death. it really haunts him.

shameplant: delicate feelings, sensitivity

kouta doesn't seem like someone sensitive at first glance, does he? he's indifferent, most likely.

amaryllis: pride, brilliant beauty, chatter

chatter, huh? kouta isn't chatty at all.

carolina jasmine: sweet whisper, long life

i think i remember from kouta's memories the phrase that "he was only yelled at." and death again… hmm, interesting. i mean, all these oppositions.

as for this illustration there's already very good analysis. i'm not gonna repeat it, but i'll just make a general conclusion: it all has a common concept of death and the shortness of life, what we have already seen in kouta. even the colors in the illustration aren't bright. they're grayish, gloomy.

answers to questions. i'll try to be short... and it seems that new answers to the questions are waiting for us, so… maybe i'll make another post.

perhaps kouta's parents were overprotective. it's not surprising to him that someone else makes decisions for him, that his fate is decided by someone else. maybe it's because of his parents.

it also reminds me of this from record no.2:

— I don't like that girl. Don't talk to her.

controlling thing, you know.

also, because of his parents, he may not like physical contact. it is possible that kouta was physically abused, hmm? but to be honest, i don't see anything that could talk about it, other than his reaction to when others touch him.

but still, his childhood was hardly a good, "decent" thing.

so, as i said, kouta is used to having someone decide something for him. he's an art student, so he can draw, right? just a little.

but when he was asked to draw himself, he just crossed out the drawing. as if he considers his art to be something not good? this make me think that kouta was... forced to go to art college/university? maybe it wasn't solely his decision? even if they didn't force him, they just advised him? like, "hey, you seem to be good at drawing, why don't you go to art college?" and kouta, "hmm, okay…"

but it seems i'm overthinking again... never mind me. it seems that kouta is just not very confident in himself and his drawing abilities, so he decided to cross out the drawing.

hmm, but considering that, maybe kouta really doesn't like to show his feelings. he crossed out the drawing of himself and evasively answered the question of what he thinks about ego.

some people can consider their art to be a reflection of their feelings, and kouta could consider even such a small sketch of himself as something personal, so he crossed it out, as if not wanting to show "himself" to others. and he also didn't want to talk about what he thinks about ego — because she reminds him of his classmate, and this is personal.

i also think that in kouta's life the feeling of control is quite important? this answer of his gave me this idea ↓

he cannot predict the behavior of animals, which means he doesn't know how to behave in accordance with their behavior. it's easier if you know what's going to happen. you know how to react, how to behave, even how you might feel at such a moment. it seems that for kouta, this sense of control is important? at least that's what i thought. well, maybe not that important, but it does matter, i guess...

and last, a little bit of silly and small thoughts (because i want to analyze him from top to bottom):

the 下 (down, below) used in his name reminds me of his behavior. he is "low", he is quiet, he is silent. could possibly refer to his possible relationship with someone — he is "below" someone.

it's been mentioned that if kouta was a macaroon, he would taste like candle wax... i know it's very silly, but still. candle. the candle burns but eventually goes out. it's like the process of life and death, right? again, i see the theme of death even here. candle wax is what's left of the candle after it goes out.

kouta as sanrio character is gudetama, according to this post. "Their name is a play on "gude gude"; used to describe someone with no energy or strength and possibly tama from tamago (egg). Gudetama is hard to motivate and has a negative, defeatist attitude. On its official Twitter account's profile comment, it says that it goes through trouble and murmur every day and that it only does its (tweets?) because "great people" told it to. It believes that some day it will be eaten." this reminds me of kouta's generally tired behavior, as well as the fact that he is used to having decisions made for him.

so…. what can i say in the end?

you watch something crumble, break, but when you find the strength to save it, it's too late, it breaks down to the end. you find joy only in fleeting pleasures that quickly disappear like a burst bubble. you get used to the fact that your life is under someone else's control and you don't try to do something on your own - either because you've never tried, or because you don't have the strength left to live at all.

i can't be sure that i can say anything specific about kouta's crime… but, again, i have the general and pretty raw idea in my head.

i hope it didn't turn out to be completely stupid… and i'm sorry if i was wrong somewhere. but it was very interesting to analyze such a character who doesn't talk much about himself. i'm looking forward to more information about kouta...

#yunatalks #tsumigram #phew i finally did it #i still want to analyze a couple more things #but not today #so that's all i have on my mind so far

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weather-cluddy · 6 months

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My Mikoto playlist, for all your waiting for Double needs.

A Sleepwalker On This Mortal Shore/A Sleepwalker Gazing on Nirvana, by Hello Tanita-san/Tatsuya Kitani. (Self-cover)

Fun fact, the animation for this one was made by Mana Inoue, same person who did the PV for Weakness, How To Be in Love With You and Bring it On! You can definitely see the similarities with the first two, with the use of photographs 'glued' to 2D drawings. This one pushes the body horror a fair bit further, though. Be prepared for writhing brains made of realistic human fingers and such. (Also, the vocaloid version's CC subs has a mistake at 2:23)

OP by Hachiya Nanashi

Flight Instinct by Last Note

Run! by Polysics

Opening from Cells at Work Black, in which your average overworked salaryman's body is depicted as a 'black company' in miniature where their cells must struggle not so much to fix things as to just postpone the inevitable for another day, growing increasingly desperate and despondent all the while. IIRC, things got bad enough that the English version of the last few manga volumes shipped with suicide hotline numbers in the back.

Somehow still the cheeriest song in here.

Disordered Self-restraint Girl by otetsu (Note: flashing lights)

There's Supposed to be a Cheat Code for Happiness by UtataP

Ceremony Day and Manhole by Polyphonic Branch

Walk Tall and Die by TadanoCo/4o

You might know this one from the Eve cover, which has more views than the original. I really enjoyed the lyrics, both individual lines and as a whole. It's quite nice how they go from harsh and frustrated to softer as the song goes on.

There Was No Savior by YASUHIRO (Translation)

Disqualified Town by Yonaka

Fun fact: I picked this song before Mikoto's T2 cover got announced, so the fact that MV shows Miku wearing a gas mask is 100% a coincidence.

On An Empty Morning by kemu (Utaite ver.) (Translation)

I really like this song because the tone changes a lot depending on your interpretation. Does the calm tune represent the singer at long last achieving peace after terrible pain, leading a life that's mundane and sometimes difficult but ultimately worthwhile? Or have they just sunk into apathy, emotionlessly sacrificing other people just to continue their empty lifestyle, having so little concept of happiness that they actually think they're fulfilled by this?

Both options are pretty interesting. And well, in the context of Mikoto's crime, "I take someone’s fleeting future and use it as a stepping stone" takes on a new meaning.

I Hear the Sound of Someone Else's Business by Ame no MurakumoP (Translation)

I linked to a fan PV that honestly deserves more attention (less than 30 views, seriously!?). The PV uses a lot of white and dark blue, but I don't think it switches fast enough to require a flashing lights warning? The official upload uses a still image, if it helps.

Synesthesia Ghost by Nekobolo/sasanomaly

La Mersonnalité by Misato Kurematsu

Don’t Carry Our Memories Away by rinri (EMA ver.) (Translation)

The EMA cover isn't official or anything, but it's my favorite version so I'm gonna link it too. The original does have the advantage of having Mikoto Meika singing it, though.

It's kind of interesting how different the illustrations for the original and the cover feel: in the original we see the boy smiling desperately wide as he faces towards the shore, like he's reassuring somebody watching. Meanwhile in the cover he looks indifferent or perhaps annoyed, but for the last chorus he turns around fully and splashes around as if inviting you to follow him.

Childhood by MushiP

The Good Child and the Fox by Kikou

Silver Warp by YUUKI MIYAKE/Napoli-P (Utaite ver.) (Translation)

I was going to write about how Ore would be the brother that gets caught when escaping and is implied to stab his parents, while Boku is the one that gets away... and then I noticed the funerary portrait at the end. Just pretend it isn't there, I guess Or take it metaphorically.

The Full-Throttle Abscondence. by Pekoro

Delusion Girl by Touyu

This playlist is mostly based on Boku, but I see this song as being about both alters. The whole "crushing despair of normalcy" part being obviously Boku, and the desire to save somebody to justify your own existence being Ore. I think that if Fuuta were a bit older this song would fit him pretty well too.

Hide and Seek -reprise- by BuzzG (Translation)

Magician In Love by Koyori

Imposter Advisory by 150p (Utaite ver.) (Alternate translation) (Note: flashing lights)

Perfect Crime Love Letter by 150p (Utaite ver. + alternate translation) (Note: flashing lights)

Red is Scary by Iyowa (Translation)

Cyber Thunder Cider by EZFG

It Takes 3 Minutes to Listen to a 3 Minute Song by Owata-P

There's No One Who's Bad at Art by Suttaka

Love, Me Normally by Will Wood (Lyrics)

Dense Forest of Morals by OPA (Translation)

I'm Controversial by Ado (Note: flashing lights)

Fraulein=Biblioteca by nyanyannya

I'm imagining this one being sung by Es, or at least Mikoto's impression of Es (kind of like the shadow Es from Backdraft). I think in a way it fits all the guilty prisoners, but the lines about sleep talk and "I'll make you remember your sins" make it even better for Mikoto especifically.

No.4 THE EMPEROR by Owata-P (Translation)

I Can't (Mar)read the Situation by CosMo

This one is more of a "How Mikoto views the world" song than one strictly about Mikoto. Don't neglect your social skills in favor of your true self or you will be doomed to a life of envy, regret and isolation. Also the Earth will explode. Truly a sobering reminder.

A Lethargic Coup d'état by Last Note

The Taste of Cockroach by Maretu

Most people would probably think of this one as a Fuuta or Muu song, and I do agree (more Muu than Fuuta imo). But honestly, while Mikoto would never start a bullying campaign, I can totally see him as a bystander, the kind of person who insist that everyone should just talk it out and then everything will be fine. Of course, we still don't know what caused his murder, only that apparently being kidnapped was an improvement. So you could also view him as the victim, which gives new meaning to those weird lines in the middle of the song that really don't sound like they're from the same person as the rest...

But mostly, I added this song for the "shadows lurking under the light/denial" angle, which is theme for the last section of the playlist. I don't really know enough about music to sort it by genre/sound similarities, so I organized it by themes! Or at least I tried to put similar songs together so they'd "flow" into each other.

Everything is an Illusion by Pongini (Translation in the replies of the pinned comment)

I Look Up as I Deliver by POLYSICS (Alternate translation)

The ending for Cells at Work Black. Fun fact, this song's name is most likely based on I Look Up as I Walk AKA Sukiyaki.

#milgram #mikoto kayano

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revelry-in-severity · 4 months

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I did some minor updating to the designs for everyone. And then proceeded to ramble about them because why not

Lingering in Remnants:

First of all, Miku kills it in the new outfit. Slay girl. Second of all, Ena totally gets on Akito's case about having so many colors in his hair even if she was the one to do for him. With Nene being the only one to not have more than one color in her hair, An has been trying to convince her to do something about it.

Somehow, everyone always ends up at their concerts. They don't know how it happens, it just does. Shiho does not approve even if it secretly pleases her to be selling out so many tickets. She and Akito get each other fired up so much for practice, poor Nene

Astral☆Imagery:

Mizuki is adorable. Look at them. With Mizuki's and Airi's expertise in in being online and in front of others, they attract a bit more of a crowd this time around. They also have the opportunity for some nicely filmed videos of their shows.

Just Airi hanging out with her kids

Chronic/Ally:

Now there is a large amount of potential here that I didn't realize before. I sort of mentioned it in some of the previous posts, but then I really thought about it. Honami and Touya. They are opposites. Touya is a pretty honest character and not much actually troubles him but put the honesty that can make others unhappy against someone who hides what she feels to make others happy? Or the fact that Haruka would be on with Touya emotionally most of the time? While Kanade would be with Honami. This is some great stuff right here

Also, Honami and Haruka are more athletic than the other two. I just want to see Kanade and Touya collapse around them by attempting something small.

Euphoric Echoes:

You just know there is so much guilt surrounding Tsukasa and Ichika. If they had been anyone else then it might not have been there, but the older brother and childhood friend hanging out when the sister who connected them can't? Oh yeah, there's definitely a 'is this replacing Saki' mentality.

But also Tsukasa and Mafuyu share the similarity of acting happy to make others happy- Mafuyu obviously doing it more than him. The difference between them and Shizuku however is that they act around people they know. They can guess how to act as needed. Shizuku doesn't get to know her many fans. She doesn't get to guess around, but she needs to have these interactions go over smoothly. With Tsukasa as a blueprint, she definitely has a higher chance of just knowing when someone is acting around her

I also don't have a WxS Miku for a reason, I was gonna combine her with the n25 Miku. Like have her have WxS Miku's speech patterns

Playhouse Collective:

Kohane takes her photography a bit more seriously but always ends up sending photos of things for Ena to draw because she thinks they look neat. But also, let's face it, Kohane and Minori are both more mentally stable than the other two. Rui and Ena won't know what hit them

It's also become a game of hide-n-seek between Rui and the Miya girls to see who can find the drones he sends after them first. The goal to get them before a teacher does

#project sekai #prsk #unit shuffle au #lingering in remnants #astral imagery #chronic/ally #euphoric echoes #playhouse collective

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all-soul-crossover-comic · 11 months

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IT IS TIME. FOR THE CRINGE FEST.

This is back when instead of "bitch" I said "bish" and didn't have a damn clue. To begin, here is snufkin with a gummy snake. He was going to have a pet gummy snake named regina.

He looked so menacing and white

I would not trust him with my finances. Beyond the "keep reading" thing, there is actual pages. It's been two years. It is time to reflect on my dark past.

The original run was only three pages. I gave up after not many people paid attention to it. Probably because it was trash. But still.

RIP Blueberry Muffin...

Also, a nine year old says the word damn. I was 12 when I made this lol.

Oh so I just skipped to when they already settled in? Oh. Ok. I remember making a version that had snufkin saying "Jerk" instead of "Douche" because the amino I was posting it in had a rule against cursing.

The worst page. Never want to look at it again. I was hoping to to make it an ask thing, but like...I was three pages in and nobody was paying attention-

The original ask prompt pages are all lost to time. Or probably somewhere on my main blog idk I don't wanna go through all that shit, it's like diving into the Mariana trench. I'm too lazy. I just know I deleted the ask prompt pages in shame from certain sites.

Even now, with a little more support than before, I don't get asks. Wish I could go back and tell myself not to rush it out. To make it actually worthy of attention from others. But yk, can't change the past.

Time for more miscellaneous stuff. Slightly creepy stuff.

This was back when ages weren't established, but no matter what it's creepy.

Like how else are people supposed to take this lmfao

Also it says she's married because of the guy that married a miku hologram (and apparently divorced it????)

Anyway that stuff quickly left.

This is 80% snufkin. I loved snufkin. Still do. Don't draw him this much anymore tho-

The image with blood coming from his mouth (he bit his tongue) is what i consider a sort of in-between from the transition from sfc to All Soul. He's gaining some of the personality he has now. Blood is becoming a theme.

I also have some colored traditional drawings from around this time. I'll share them when I find them, and same with the digital pieces.

I didn't really think of winx club when I started it. I only really got into winx after the absolute garbage fire that was fate. Still hate it. Trying to be better than it. Probably gonna end up like it anyway, everything I write is like a soap opera.

Anyway, prepare for the sprinkling of cringe in the coming weeks as I find old all Soul related artwork. Maybe I could even show off my 2016 artwork.

#crossover #fan comic #moomin #snufkin #barbie #sonic the hedgehog #barbie doll #sonic #hatsune miku #vocaloid #all soul crossover comic #winx #winx club

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centuriantalevevo · 2 years

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Introduction

I have a carrd that gives more detail that's actively being updated! It also has a link to my OTHER carrd specifically FOR COMMISSIONS- It includes English and several other languages, more will be added eventually. Currently there's Japanese, Spanish, and Portuguese (used DeepL, I'll ask some friends who know the languages to go over it and see how understandable it is)

So the basics, I guess- but I do recommend going through the Carrd cuz I worked so fucking hard on that bro-

I'm Halo! I also go by Centurian online, so either name works! As you can tell I have an eye bleed color scheme of red and teal as those are my favorite colors with some yellow- why yellow? No fucking clue cuz it's not even a color I have a particular opinion towards- I blame Venturian Tale

I go by They/Them, nothing more nothing less and if I see one person try to refer to me as something else I will be cutting people into tiny pieces, just so you know-

I'm a whole ass American and I actually dislike it- (I live in America and born and raised American, AMA lmao-) I'm currently suffering-

I'm nonbinary(obviously), and bisexual!

I am in love with fictional characters especially Albexiaomouche, it's a genuine problem send help-

I have ADHD (hence the hyperfixations) and Depression, so if you request something like a fanfic or want to do a commission, that might take a while, please be patient. I'll be very pumped and hyped for it with so many ideas but once I start doing it, I start to lose interest and it takes a bit to actually get back to doing so since I'm a really bad procrastinator. Please be patient, I PROMISE whatever you asked for will come out eventually.

I'm 17 years old, and if anyone is wondering about Minors DNI (ik I'm a minor but for when I turn 18), that's all on my Carrd.

I typically don't really give a shit cuz like... minors be horny too. It's not like I can actively control what you do because minors always find a way, they can simply not interact and just read it, save the link, etc to avoid being blocked and all that shit.

For me, 16+ is good. If you're old enough to drive without an adult, you're fine to interact here. 15 gets iffy BUT I'm not gonna care much. I'm not gonna block anyone for being a minor or ageless blog because... you'll find a way around it anyways, so if you're under the age of 16 either just don't like the NSFW stuff or wait until your 16 or over. I get its hard to wait, and it's GRUELING to wait because it seems like that day is so far away but trust me, I've been in your shoes and it's closer than you think. You're allowed to follow me if you're under 16 cuz I don't ONLY post NSFW but for the NSFW stuff, 16+ is recommended.

Again, I can't control you BUT it is the right thing to do to just respect people's wishes.

That's all I can think of for now but have this drawing I did of Ike Eveland cosplaying as Miku kinda lmao

Hatsune Ike

Also my cat Felippe

He questions why the turns tabled

MY TAGS LMAO

#Halo; Random Shit - exactly what it says. Pretty much every post

#Halo; Honry - NSFW

#Halo; Simping Hours - me Simping casually and respectfully lmao- (jk it's feral)

#Halo; Genshin Impact - Genshin posts

#Halo; VTubers - any posts related to vtubers especially ones I watch

#Halo; VTubing - tag specific for ME vtubing and my vtubing adventure, experience, and plans. No I I debuted yet, I'm supposed to be debuting with my little sister

#Halo; Felippe - about my cat Felippe

#Halo; Family - posts about my family

#Halo; Asks - asks. Lmao-

#Halo; Danganronpa - Danganronpa posts

#Halo; Reblog - reblogged posts

#Halo; mmd - posts about MikuMikuDance, typically including pictures or videos

#Halo; The Sims - posts about the sims, TS4 specifically-

#Halo; movies&shows - me talking about movies and shows I'm watching, usually at that moment of posting

#halo; random shit #introduction shit for a pinned post yeet

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thirdhandidiot · 3 years

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HELLO LGBTs

DONT YOU THINK ITS TIME FOR A REVOLUTION?

NONE OF THE OBEY ME CHARACTERS ARE CIS BECAUSE I SAID SO, ITS TIME WE START PROJECTING ONTO THEM

•i want to see non binary Satan who couldn’t understand why talking to people was making them angry and started lashing out for seemingly no reason, having to go to Lucifer in a fit of angry tears, desperate for help because it hurts so much, why does it hurt?

•I want to see Beel, who passed so easily, worried his twin would grow to despise him because he never had the same ease transitioning socially, getting called the girly one of the two, always being smaller, weaker next to Beel, and Beel hates it so much, he feels guilty

•I want to see Miku Binder Levi projecting onto fictional characters to avoid thinking about his own problems, wearing baggy clothes and locking himself away, jealous of the other brothers, scared of rejection

•I want gender fluid Asmo, proud of their ability to seemlessly shift between presentations, calling mammon in tears, begging him to come pick her up from this guys house because he’s yelling slurs at asmo, who is sobbing please don’t call me that and they won’t stop

•I want to see the great mammon, who is so confident one day, but the next can’t stand the sight of his body, especially when he shifts and you can see his scars, barley hidden by his jacket, who always feels like his screams are just a little bit too high pitched

•Lucifer, so proud, hurt by memories of before, presenting hyper masc at times, afraid to show any emotions because even though he knows it’s not true, he can’t help but think people will see his as more feminine, and he can’t do that, not again

•I want Belphie, who pretends it doesn’t bother them. ‘Why should I care what some lesser demon thinks of me?’ but is kept awake at night, when everyone else is asleep, no one to help as they spiral in insecurities, their voice echoing in their head, the cruel words twisting, stabbing–

•Lord diavolo, whose parents had been so relieved because ‘that means you can be king– we were so disappointed when you were born female’ and it never sat right with him, even though he’d been lucky enough to transition young

•Maybe even Luke, who only Simeon knows is trans, getting upset when he’s called chihuahua because my voice isn’t that high, is it? But determined to stay closeted and so never being able to tell them why they should stop, and he’s not that small, he’s an average height for boys his age he’s checked, so many times

–But I also want to see sleepovers between the brothers (they agreed it was simpler to keep calling themselves that and that it was better than letting Mammon or Levi pick a new name) where they, just for one night, put aside the bickering and tormenting eachother just to make sure the others are ok, because they all know that they’re struggling in their own ways, and for one night they all sleep in the living room, eating food, watching comfort movies and following whatever self care routine it is that asmo is on currently, everyone gets a face mask, no you can’t opt out lucifer, you’re working too hard again, you’ll get wrinkles and that just won’t do, let us take care of you– and Levi! When was the last time you washed your hair?! That won’t do, come with me, let me do it for you I have these amazing bath salts I just know you’ll love

–I want Diavolo, helping them all transition as quickly and as secretively as possible after he finds out. He wants to be there for them, ever since that night lucifer came out to him, sobbing, pride forgotten because he doesn’t want to be that person anymore. He can’t, he spent too long living that lie for his father, he just wants to be free. Simeon telling him he’s changed and being so proud of him, you look so much more relaxed. Diavolo being so happy to know that lucifer is happier because he struggles to talk about it because Lucifer still believes he‘s wrong or broken in someway, pride too much to overcome, but when it’s just him and diavolo, sometimes he can talk about it, lift a weight off his chest

–I want to see them big eachother up in the way that only siblings can, oi that jacket looks good on ya, can I steal it? I’m gonna get junk food because I deserve it, what do you want? I want them to support eachother on bad days, just silently making them tea when they’ve started into space just a little too long, ruffling their hair on the way out. I want a deal between them to let the others know if something is showing in public, whilst in the house being comfortable enough and trusting eachother enough not to judge because really, they’re all in the same boat here

I can’t be the only one here guys. C’mon. Let make this happen. Tag me. ANYTHING YOU POST I want to see it, I want to see your vent art, I want to hurt with you as you project your troubles, just so that your not alone. @7fckingidiots made a Post Abt the Brothers amd it was my final snapping point, Ive got so many little sketches of Satan, they’ve become my muse for any practice drawings, amd I wanted to say something before but yea, check out their post guys I’ll try Link it. But I mean it, tag me, I want to reblog everything you do, make our own supportive family

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bibiana112 · 3 years

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"tbh I've got SO many more songs on zero escape" PLEASE SHARE THE ZE PROJECTION SONGS... I REQUIRE THEM

Oh shIT did NOT expect this xD BUT AIGHT *rubs hands together*

I'm gonna limit myself to 9 recommendations, okay? Both so I don't expose myself too much and so we're not here all day, also like a good part of them are Kurashiki sibs centric but if you came to me for this that's probably to be expected lmao

🕰️Chronexia and the Eight Seals Opening - Rewind Sooo if you don't know the deal with this one, it's from an anime directed by a youtuber that Absolutely Bombed and got trashed as soon as it's only episode came out, but the song is genuinely good. So, call that recycling when I heard the lyrics and gave it a super deep meaning by associating the vague time travel bs with Junpei as he's going through 999. Yo, it literally has a line that is "Till I find the right road. Once more, for Love and for Hope, for fate not known" like aww, it's like, half the leaf words :3

⚰️Marina - Pandora's Box Marina songs are always top notch, can't recommend her enough, and I often think her songs have Akane vibes. Though this one in particular feels like a Junepei song more so from Junpei's perspective, the bridge "I don't wanna be the bearer of pain just so we can survive" and so many other bits that are sung softly while being a clear jab remind me how much he wanted Akane to acknowledge the emotional pain she put him through All while praying that not all hope is lost for them to be together in the end

🎭 Splendiferachie- Reversible Campaign Certified Akane song, Hatsune Miku is even wearing a gas mask on it. This cover is so good and the lyrics very much have Junepei vibes too. It has a bit of a stageplay motif at times and many bits have SUCH Akane realizing it's another wrong path energy like "Oh... is this the end? Of course it's Not! Can't take it anymore-". Also like, the ending bit I don't even want to spoil because the lyrics break my heart within the context of, specifically, vlr Akane thinking about Junpei because at that point she would Really rather not have her feelings getting in the way :'3

⛓️Chicago - Cell Block Tango It's a bit of a meme song, and I definitely recommend the No Talking edit, but I LOVE IT. Vengeful but Justified ™ Kurashikis my beloveds. The bit "If you had been there, if you had HEARD IT. I bet that you would have done the same!" Makes me directly think about Light because yeah he was there, yeah he heard what went down, and yeah, if it was his sister he probably would have... Yeah. Man I could keep going with the lyrics on this one but it's very on the nose, no need of me spelling it all out lol

🎟️ JubyPhonic - Dramaturgy Kurashiki vibes because the song goes SO Hard with the whole stage play motif. Like, this one I could pick apart to draw parallels, like, Eeverywheere, gosh. I mean that, but for the sake of brevity I'll just say there are bits that sound like they'd fit Akane's perspective better, bits that'd fit Aoi's better, and even bits where I imagine them having an exchange! The briefest example I can muster is all the bits of "Well, take a breath 'cause you'll need it, so c'mon." or "Take a deep breath, you know how this will all end." as they're like getting ready and psyching themselves up to Do the Things. Aaahh there are like SO Many other good bits hhh this is one of my faves x3

🌹BlackBriar - Snow White and Rose Red This one is honestly just one of my favorite songs in general and i wanna recommend it, Friend shared it and let me know that the story is about two sisters after I thought they were wives at first because the singers are so gorgeous had no idea but, yeah, Rose Red is just apparently a way less known fairytale than her sister Snow White :v I don't care much for the chorus with the context of the Kurashikis, but the bits where they introduce themselves makes me think about how they saw each other before everything went to hell. And the whole story about them being forcefully separated... it honestly makes me emotional to listen near the ending when they're crying out for the other with these two in mind :'<

🌌 The Walking Dead Game - Don't be Afraid/The night will be over soon I almost didn't wanna mention this one since I can't quite pin down a specific version, there's a few depending on which characters sing and how far it goes, but I feel very strongly about it so here. The ominous short version used in the official ps4 trailer is one that makes me think about the endings leading up to vlr because it goes up to "Nevermind the blood red moon, the night will be over soon" HOWEVER the full version that is a duet by different characters is much more soft and hopeful and makes me think of the aftermath of every game Other than vlr, funny how that clicks together. Like, I can think of almost every character having the smallest bit of peace at next morning light after such terrible experiences, since the lyrics go up to "Beyond the dark comes something new. The Sun will be rising soon." All the kids after being saved, Lotus with her daughters, Clover and Light resting, Kurashikis relieved to have pulled it off, Akane and Junpei engaged, D-Team hugging, just.... all the fluffy feels man

🖱️Penelope Scott - Rät Phi vibes from this one just from the like how much bite the singer puts into this one? Like the attitude is So Phi and it has some bits that make me think about Sigma is some way too? I don't really have a consistent interpretation of how this would fit their situation but the vibes are So Strong. Like "I come from scientists, and atheists and white men who killed god. They made technology, high quality, complex, physiological. Experiments, and sacrilege, in the name of public good." and "When I said take me to the moon, i never meant take me alone. I thought if mankind toured the sky it meant that all of us could go." for example

☕ Penelope Scott - Lukewarm Again, not much of a consistent interpretation and has quite a few non family-friendly and/or intense bits that can be upsetting if themes of suicide are a big trigger for you (so uh headphones on, at the very least) it just makes me think of shifting as the concept is presented in general with stuff like "Slit your throat and die and wake up the next day" and other things on that vein, the way the songs goes it's about there being a repeated bad thing™ that starts to get numb "Oh what I would give to care enough to scream." so yeah, very close to what a bunch of characters go through so it depends, mostly I think of Phi, Sigma even ztd Junpei while listening to it

And that's it! Hope you enjoy giving these a listen Anon! This was fun and I STILL have many others if anyone wants to know Shout-out to all the songs I left out cause I'm making art based on them, fingers crossed for me actually finishing all of that!

#oh damn i just read through this again and realized how many times I went :3 #I dunno what to tell you but that's what best represents the emotion i get from sharing this so Thanks for the ask :3 #goddamn i love zero escape #a tag for asks #zero escape

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bluepenguinstories · 3 years

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Happiness Overload Epilogue III

After a while, we finally won. It took more effort than we were told, but about as much effort as we expected. There was still much ground to cover even after the conflict died down. Like, I hated to admit it, but for a while I would just watch the fragmented remains of the world I once resided on. Meaning, there was a long gestation period where no new timeline was created. There was a lot of weight, y’know, and it was hard to remember the person I started that journey as, and whether I was different now that that journey had just about come to an end.

Beside me, at the front, was my girlfriend, my lover. Sometimes she’d shower me in kisses, but other times she would get annoyed with my antics. Couldn’t say that I blamed her, as it’s not like my growth meant I had to let go of my humor.

As for how we defeated the organization once and for all...we had some help. Some people went back to their time willingly. Some were less friendly. I didn’t really care to remember all those fancy little details. Only a few really stood out to me. Like after we booted Dr. Humble and Dr. Modest into some odd timeline in the year 1907 with just the clothing on their backs. Why 1907? Maybe that’s the time they thought they could pick up the pieces from and start fresh from the ashes, but when they told us that’s the time they were from, we just went with it. At least we gave them nothing.

Then, Coriander and I ran, firing away at guards along the way. There was a bit of a mess to clean up eventually, but that was neither here nor there.

Down some long sets of halls, we regrouped with Juniper, and were surprised to find she had made some new friends. With one in particular seeming rather close to her.

“Juniper! Thank goodness you’re okay!” I cried out in relief.

“Guys! I’m so glad to see you!” Juniper also looked overjoyed.

“Who’s this?” I asked.

“Hi, I’m Dr. Hepburn,” the taller figure answered. She extended her hand. I shook it. “I’m from the HR Department. Or was! It’s pretty cool that I can use past tense now!”

“Huh. What was your job, exactly?” Coriander asked.

“I mostly suggested things to departments. Though they usually got twisted and the way they got interpreted was a little out of my hands.”

“Really? How so?”

“Like, I thought we should have a Morale Department because I couldn’t help but notice our members had some pretty low morale. So I brought it up like, ‘hey, right now everyone’s kind of bummed out and demotivated, but I think if we had some kind of mascot, our company morale would be so much better. For example, Hatsune Miku is really popular and it’s a scientific fact that no one’s unhappy when Miku is around. So maybe if we got an AI to encourage us, we’d benefit. The same could be applied to humanity as a whole!’ Then later I guess they added a dash of evil to the proposed AI, but by then I was already suggesting things to other departments.”

“Dang,” I groaned. “Sucks when intentions get misrepresented like that.”

“Yeah, well this place is big so it can be like a giant game of telephone around here. I don’t blame anyone, really! Besides, at least they gave me credit on the project.”

“They did?” I was confused. I never heard of any Hepburn being factored into the plans.

“Well, I was actually named after the Mt. Etna in Italy. I later changed my name when I became a doctor, of course!” She informed me. That sounded like a potential shocker for information, but I didn’t know how.

“There’s a lot to dissect there, but I’m no scientist, so let’s put that aside for now. We still have much work to do!”

Coriander meanwhile, trying to show off her attitude as ever, grunted.

“So are you and her like a thing now?” She asked Juniper.

Juniper rolled her eyes. “Come on, guys! I’m not thinking about that stuff right now! I’m just glad to have made friends! Really!”

“All right. Can’t blame you. We can’t declare victory just yet.”

Indeed. Our reunion had to be cut short so we could round up more people. Thanks to the collective effort, though, at least it didn’t take ages, like many would have thought. I took it upon myself to destroy all time travel devices after someone left. Every little time cube in the room full of time cubes and then some.

All but one.

The same one I had pocketed. On the off chance that Coriander and I could ever leave that ship (or whatever it could be called), I wanted to hold on to it. For a while, we lived out our days on the ship, but we didn’t really seem to age. Not really, anyway. Maybe if we made it back to Earth, some version of it, we would find ourselves aged many years over. Or be just as young as we were before we entered The Flashbulb’s headquarters.

Before long, it was just a few of us. Coriander, Juniper, Dr. Hepburn, Dr. Katsushika (she said she’d leave eventually, it was just hard for her to leave all her art supplies behind), and I. Everyone else parted ways with us in some capacity or another. Many we grew to be friends with, but had to leave them behind all the same. That was fine with me, as a good few people always made me more comfortable than a whole crowd. Even with the company, it really was a lonely existence. Enough to drive anyone mad.

But we kept searching.

I would look around on a screen which displayed a nigh-endless supply of timelines. I narrowed it down to the year we lived in before we left home. Then, I looked for a place where Coriander and I didn’t already exist. At long last one day, I found such a place.

“Oh my god! Spicy! Meatball!”

“For the last time, don’t call me spicy meatball!” Coriander retorted. Yeah, yeah, so not all of my nicknames for her stuck, but I was excited enough to try.

“We can go back home!” I cheered.

Coriander leaned in close. “What?! Really?!”

It was decided long ago that if we ever decided to go back to Earth, it would have to be in a timeline where we didn’t already exist. I didn’t quite like the idea of killing myself off just to live on. I don’t know how it would have worked for Coriander, but she agreed that was for the best. What pained me was thinking that when this new timeline from the ashes of our destroyed world came about, was the uncertainty of not knowing what the version of Blanc would be like. If the version of me in that world would ever meet them or not. I think I would be content even if that Velvet didn’t meet that Blanc, but would I be content with the possibility that the Blanc of the new timeline wouldn’t be happy?

I didn’t want to focus on that. I really didn’t. I had my life, and my journey, and as painful as it was, I had to let such a possibility occur. It was better than no possibility at all.

“Hey Juniper!” I called over through the microphone. “I think I found a way to get home!”

If I had to guess, it was like an hour later when Juniper came through the doors, but time within those confines wasn’t something we really kept track of, as much as I wished we would. She was out of breath, having ran, but she was just as cute as a button as ever.

“Really? Guys?” She huffed, hunched over her knees. Jeez, I really should have told her to take her time.

Time...that was a strange word to use. But one that seemed unavoidable.

“There’s just one problem,” Coriander pointed out. “Apparently Juniper already exists on that version of Earth.”

“What?!” I balked. “That’s not fair!”

Popsigirl/Dr. Katsushika fell down from a ceiling vent and landed doing a cartwheel.

“That’s the way things go! You’re going to have to make a compromise to get your happy ending!” She snapped her fingers and grinned.

“Argh! I hate compromises, and I hate this ‘no perfect ending’ bullshit!” I turned to Juniper. “I wanted you to come along with us wherever we ended up.”

That was enough to get me to sulk. But Juniper just smiled.

“Aw, it’s okay, guys. I think it’s more important that you two get to go. Don’t worry about me!”

“But I’ll feel bad just leaving you behind like that.”

She shook her head. “Don’t think like that! I’m really glad to have met you guys, really. It’s not that I don’t want to return to Earth one day, it’s just that I’m fine with waiting. I always knew we would probably have to split, anyway.”

“What about you, though?”

“Honestly,” she looked away, still smiling, but she looked a little more nervous. “I’m not sure how my journey will continue, and I really will miss you guys, too, but I still consider you guys my friends and I’m more now that one day, I’ll have something of an idea. For now, I’m happy just having gone on this journey.”

“You say that, but I’m still worried about you being safe…”

“Please have a little more faith in me than that.”

I let out a long sigh. There was a handful of emotions attached, but when I drew in a new breath, I managed a smile.

“All right, then,” I said at last.

“So it’s decided, then? You guys are gonna go?” I could feel Dr. Katsushika’s excitement on her breath as she leaned in close to me. I wanted to shove her aside, especially when Coriander still couldn’t stand her presence, not that I blamed her for that, either.

“Not just yet,” I grimaced. “I want to make sure you’ll go home first.”

She flashed a grin, then wrested control of the monitor from me and with fervent motions, searched away until she found a time and place.

“I understand that I can’t really be forgiven for the stuff I’ve put you two through, but I think I’m going to enjoy being with nature again! Maybe I’ll be a sage or something, or take a vow of silence, or become a hermit who feeds ducks?”

“I’m sure you could pick up art again, too,” Juniper suggested. “You just gotta take it easy, is all.”

That got Popsigirl worked up into a storm of laughter.

“Hun, ‘art’ and ‘taking it easy’ don’t belong in the same sentence. But...I’d like to draw and paint, yes. And maybe I’ll get it right in time.”

I used the time travel device to open up a portal to the timeline Dr. Katsushika selected. I wasn’t sure which name she would choose in her timeline. Maybe she’d drop the doctor. Maybe she’d drop having a name entirely. There was a fondness I felt thinking about the possibilities, even if I couldn’t really forgive her.

When five became four (Dr. Hepburn, Juniper, Coriander, and I) I waited for Dr. Hepburn to enter the room, then I bade Juniper and her our final goodbyes.

“Hey, I can’t promise a perfect ending either, but for what it’s worth, I hope you the best,” Coriander told Juniper.

“I second that,” I added. If Coriander didn’t say it, chances are I would have. It was becoming more and more difficult to find the right words, so I was just glad Coriander could sometimes fill in the blanks for me.

“I would like to inform you that I had a board meeting with myself and it was unanimous that whatever happens, we’ll have fun,” Dr. Hepburn assured. I refrained from asking. Really, when you got down to it, she was a last minute character.

Juniper reached into her pocket and handed me something.

“Here, I made it. It’s a little invention of mine.” I looked at the object in my hand, a small metallic sculpture of a beetle.

“I call it a june bug! It can light up in the dark, but only in the month of June! That way you won’t really have to worry about leaving me behind too much.”

I laughed, though it almost came out like a cry. I had to wipe my face, even though it was more humorous than anything.

“That’s so dumb...I love it,” I told her.

I set the time travel device on the desk I had been sitting at. Coriander was the first to walk through the portal. I was sure I’d see her in just a little bit. But before I would, I turned to Juniper and Dr. Hepburn once again.

“If you guys do find a timeline you wished to go to and decide to leave, please destroy that for me. Or, if you decide to stay here...destroy it, too.”

Was it really necessary to do so? I mean, I could trust them, and all access to the headquarters from outside had been blocked off. Still, maybe it was the paranoia in me that told me it was better to be safe than sorry.

Wherever Coriander and I may end up next, with a good, a bad, somewhere in the middle as an ending awaiting us, I was just glad I would be brave enough to face it. No, that wasn’t just it. It meant even more to me to be able to spend the rest of my days, however that looked, not being alone.

#happiness overload #writing #after the end #epilogue #second to last epilogue #four will be the last one #then thats it #no more happiness #its time to calm down #fiction #whatever this story turned out to be #velvet #coriander #story

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l0velyang3l · 4 years

Text

Yowane Haku x Reader “A Wonderful Night With You”

here’s my first fanfic in over two years! I’m not really a god writer so pls be kind to me ;m;

The eerie buzz of fluorescent lights permeated the desolate atmosphere of the 7-11; after all 2am isn’t necessarily rush hour. But, as a massive otaku and night owl; you required some refueling. This new season won’t watch itself now will it? Absentmindedly you plopped your mediocre feast into the basket. Super spicy ramen, canned coffee, a matcha bun, konpeito, and dried squid weren’t necessarily healthy, but they were delicious in their own right. Your eyes drifted towards the alcohol section. You shrugged, mumbling “fuck it” as you strode over.

In your all nighter stupor however you failed to not bump into the other occupant of the section. The woman stumbled back, nearly dropping the massive bottle of sake she clutched. “Ah crap! I’m sorry miss, you okay?” You bowed, looking down in embarrassment.

“Eh, to be honest if you didn’t bump into me I would’ve knocked you to the ground! Don’t sweat it.” The woman chuckled, smiling sweetly. You glanced up, feeling relieved. But suddenly this woman looked a bit… Familiar. That cool calm smile, beautiful crimson eyes, that suave voice.. Oh my god it’s Yowane Haku!

“Holy hell you’re Yowane Haku!” Haku chuckled again, twiddling with her long strands of white hair.

“I am! I take it you’ve heard me sing on Nico Nico?” You nodded vehemently.

“I really like your work actually! It stands out so much in the vast sea of utau and vocaloid idols out there, its so sophisticated!”

“Eh you really think so? You’re far too sweet, I’m not used to the fanfare. I have to ask, what’s your name?”

“(y/n)! Although it’s not too important haha!”

“It definitely is.”She looked down at your basket, pointing curiously. “Are you one of those people who live streams eating?” You puffed up defiantly.

“No I am not into mukbangs! This is just how I refuel during the night when I..” Your face turned beet red, you nearly just told your favorite singer that you’re an otaku! “Hang out.” “That was a close one.” You thought to yourself.

“Ah it’s okay, I’m just teasing! I do the same thing when I binge anime.” You nearly choked.

“YOU’RE AN OTAKU??” You blurted excitedly. She nodded proudly.

“Yup! Neru chan teases me for it but there’s just something that draws me in about it. Maybe it's escapism?”

“You and Neru chan are friends?” Haku nodded, the look in her eyes growing softer. That made your heart practically explode. She was even more breathtaking in person.

“Yes, for a long time now actually! She was big on Nico Nico before I really got serious about it, she’s one of my ‘biggest fans’ I suppose. We actually went drinking recently together, she really is something special..” Haku seemed to slip out of reality for a second, her expression faltered. An eerie loneliness struck you.

“She’s this famous upcoming idol, why do I feel like I’ve uncovered a secret sadness?” You snapped out of your thoughts. “Haku san, forgive me if this is too forward.. But what are you up to tonight?” She wiggled the gargantuan bottle of sake, grinning mischievously.

“Finishing this big thing! And.. Probably watching some shoujo anime until dawn.”

“Want company? It just so happens that my tv is pretty large and is super nice, plus I’ll buy you snacks!” Her eyes widened, pink dusting her cheeks. “I-If that’s too weird, I totally understand!” She shook her head, grabbing a basket.

“Eh?! N-Not at all, drinking’s better with company right?” You nodded, grabbing a couple cans of Sapporo from the cooler.

“You’re absolutely right.”

The sudden reality of your situation slammed down full force, your heart rate nearly tripling once you two entered your living room. Yowane Haku, a singer you’ve admired since her debut, is drinking with you. Not just at a bar, but in the comfort of your own home. She was so much more gorgeous and charming than you could imagine. The second you tow walked in, Haku screwed off the cap on her sake. You looked at her in awe as she took a long swig. She exhaled, clanking the bottle on the coffee table. “Ah!~ If I’d known better I would’ve gotten two bottles ehehe..” She glanced over at you, quickly becoming embarrassed. “Ah I’m so sorry, are.. You sure you want to hang out? I kind of drink a lot.. Is that bad?”

You smiled, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Of course I want to hang out! There’s nothing I’d rather be doing right now.” You were taken aback by your own words, biting your lip nervously. “The only bad thing about you drinking a bunch is the hangover you’ll have tomorrow.” You chuckled, plopping the snacks on the table, careful to avoid disturbing the ⅙ scale figure displayed on it. Haku seemed surprised by your actions, her eyes seemed to glimmer with relief.

“Thank you (y/n)..” She watched your actions closely, seeming to enjoy your company more and more. An indescribable calm washed over her, not entirely due to the sake. You flipped through AnimeHoudai, landing on Akkun to Kanojo.

“You ever seen this show?” Haku sipped some sake, shaking her head no.

“No, what’s it about?” She mumbled,in between sips. God could she get any cuter? This was such a relaxed, casual side of Haku that you never imagined seeing. Every second felt golden with her.

“W-well it’s about this couple right? The guy’s a total tsundere and bullies his girlfriend who’s this innocent angel. It’s super cute and really funny, it’s unique seeing such a brutally tsundere guy in a shoujo series honestly.” Haku giggled, wiping a droplet of booze off her bottom lip.

“The guy sounds like Neru, I’ve noticed anytime she gets.. Flirty with a girl she’s a total tsundere, too bad she scares them off after relentlessly bullying them!” You cracked open your sapporo, sitting beside her on the couch.

“Not gonna lie, I could totally see Neru being a tsundere.” Haku snickered.

“I wonder why~” Haku gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. “Ah I didn’t mean that in a mean way I promise! She’s very kind and gentle, please don’t get a bad impression of her!” You patted her back.

“Haku, you’re literally one of the least malicious people I’ve met; you’re totally fine! I promise.” She looked up at you, your reassurance truly meant a lot to her. You met her gaze, her soft doe eyes entrancing you. Your heart pounded, the sudden intimacy of the situation becoming palpable.

“Hey, (y/n) kun?” She whispered. You gulped. She inched closer to you, your faces mere centimeters apart.

“Yes Haku san?”

“I know this is probably a silly question.. But, why do you like my songs? I mean, all the other utaus are so impressive, especially when compared to vocaloids.. Why do you prefer mine?”

“Because they aren’t run of the mill sappy pop songs, they’re full of so much emotion! There’s so much passion put into each one! They connect to me on a level other utaus and vocaloids just… don’t. Sure Miku is cool and I won’t lie to you and say I’m not a fan of other singers, but none of them compare to yours. They’re ballads of raw emotion, that’s why your songs are so close to my heart.” You placed a shaky hand on her cheek, setting your nervousness aside. “I’m really happy I met you Haku san, not just because you’re a great musician, but I think you’re a great person too.” Her mouth fell agape, she couldn’t even begin to process what you had just said to her. It was as if an angel descended from heaven, cleansing her of any worries. She placed her hand over yours, closing her eyes. Your touch was intoxicating.

“(y/n) kun, I’m happy I met you too.. More than you can imagine really.” She grabbed your wrist, pulling your arm around her waist. She snuggled against your chest, your heartbeat drumming loudly into her ear. A chill ran up your spine, awkwardly you wrapped both arms around her. In response, she tucked an arm behind your back, drawing you closer. “But, I think Akkun to Kanojo sounds fun.”

“Y-yeah I think so too!” You pressed play, then grabbed your sapporo. Cracking it open, you took a couple sips. The earthy brew warmed you up, making you even more cozy. The two of you began bingng the series, grazing on snacks and copiously drinking. Two beers quickly disappeared, along with a bottle of sake. It became apparent over time that drunkenly watching anime with the girl of your dreams was literally the best thing ever.

“Ah, (y/n) kun you have something on your lip! Lemme get that for youuu~” Without warning Haku kissed you, the taste of sake staining her lips. No matter how much alcohol you consumed, this caught you completely off guard. She wrapped her arms around your neck, pulling you closer. Her large bust pressed against you, making your mind grow foggy. You kissed back, wrapping your arms around her waist. The kiss deepened, instinctively you nibbled on her lip. She squeaked in surprise, her drunken confidence slipping away. She crawled up into your lap, your hands raking over her petite back. She pulled her lips away, her face flushed. You placed your hands on her hips, looking up at her lovingly.

“(y/n) kun?”

“Yes Haku san?” She paused, tilting up your chin. She inched her lips closer to yours once again.

“Is this what love feels like? This pounding feeling in my chest, the warmth and happiness… Do you feel it too?” You nodded.

“I feel it too Haku san.. I felt this way even before I met you.” She kissed your forehead.

“I’m so happy (y/n) kun, I’ve never had this with someone before. Isn’t that embarrassing?” She looked at you, clearly ashamed.

“No, not at all. It only makes this more special.”

“Is it too soon to.. You know..”

“I love you too Haku san.” She smiled, hugging you tightly.

“I love you, (y/n) kun.” Wordlessly the two of you drifted into a peaceful slumber. The warmth of being in each other’s arms was indescribably comforting, Yowane Haku’s soft skin against yours, her flowing hair draped across you two, her gentle breathing, every last bit of it was bliss. This was definitely the start of something wonderful.

#fanfic #fanfiction #self insert #x reader #vocaloid x reader #utau x reader #utauloid #yowane haku #this is how haku and i met eek #i love her sm #fictional other #f/o #anime #manga #anime fanfiction

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feebledetective · 5 years

Note

☀☀☀☀☀☀☀☀- SoaringPilot-and-LittleWing

|| Flowers Are Nice || No longer Accepting ! ||

[ Oh wORM OKAY THAT’S A LOT BUT!! I’ll do my best to try to keep this as short as I can if I have to, and we’ll start with you, Icy! ]

@soaringpilot-and-littlewing

[ Icyy, you’re as cool as ice!

My pal, my dude- I love you! I honestly think your OC’s are amazing, especially with the backstory you told me through our DM’s. I didn’t think Shoichi’s backstory could be so. Angsty but- I honestly appreciate him more now that I know more about his backstory. Tomoyo too! I like how she gets along with people like Tanaka and Komaeda, possibly even Seiji in an AU of somesort but she’s p cute!!

I have seen a bit of your art and I wanna say it’s cute! It’s old-school, and nostalgic to me, which is really neato! Keep up the great work okay! I enjoy chatting with you whenever I get the energy and time to, you’re really nice and fun to chat with. The antics the siblings can go through with Shuichi is always a nice thing to talk about! You’re a great person, and you deserve a lot of good things to happen to you!

I want to thank you for understanding my situation when I wasn’t feeling too well about a ship. I appreciate that you listened to me and you were really considerate of it, not a lot of people actually do that and I honestly admire that of you.

I know your situation isn’t going well, but I hope for the best, I’m proud you made it this far and don’t give up okay! I’m here for you and I’ll do my best to support you if needed. Thanks for being part of my life, Icy! ]

@subserviiient

[ MCDONALD’S SNAKE- FOUND THIS ONE IN MY HAPPY MEAL!

Snake, I know we haven’t done a lot just yet, but you’ve?? Been so kind to me?? Listen you’re!! Really easy to approach, and you’re really funny honestly ! I’d love to get to know you more because you really do seem like a nice and fun pal! A grimace stan too!

I can never ever stop my McDonalds joke with you and I’m really sorry in advance if it gets old- I can stop if you want kjHNMK

I may not know a lot about Ensemble Stars, but I really like your portrayal of her. Let her mom Shuichi because he needs a mom…Whether it’s in his normal verse of Idol AU- I love the things you write about her too and she does make me laugh from time to time!

Honestly, you make me laugh, I’m so glad that we got to talk at some point and I’d love to get to know you more! So far you made me combust from the sweet things you said and I’ll die one day.

Keep up the great work and thanks for everything, Snake! We got Grimace to thank for our friendship~ ]

@pressmyluck

[ Okay, I know you’re likely not going to see this now but I hope one day you’ll see this. I know your situation right now is probably not good, especially since I haven’t heard from you in a while but I am hoping you’re safe and okay because you really do deserve it!

You’re a sweet angel, you’ve supported me throughout the summer and so forth, and you made me learn a few things about myself? Honestly, I think my summer would have been a bit boring without you. I know I met lots of people but you!! You made it fun for me! We made lots of memes together, we supported each other, we talked about Seiji and Ko and just- Fun stuff! I love you!!

Your writing is amazing, this goes for all of your muses. Whether it’s Ko, Hinata, Yoosung…It’s clear that you care for them a lot! I want you to remember that roleplaying is a hobby, if people don’t like your portrayal, they’re a lost for cause. Don’t push yourself a lot, you’re good okay!!

I swear to God if I could I would have given you the biggest hug because you deserve it! Please don’t be hard on yourself for not talking to me, I promise you’re good!! I fully understand your situation and I don’t want to drain you.

Thank you so much for everything, you precious cinnamon roll, I really hope things are going to be okay on your end and I can’t wait to hear from you again! Take care and stay safe~ ]

@rollingsnowsmasher

[ Who is this cinnamon roll.

Becky, please have a seat. You’re?? So nice?? Excuse mE- But for real, you have really helped my mood at some point and seeing your art is really cute. I love it! They really inspire me to try to draw, even if they’re just sketches! I may not know a whole lot of your muse’s fandom but I…I love the child…SHU-BRO IS NICE A AA,,,

Also, I know we only just started talking about this but. Do you wanna know the lvl of excitement I felt when I found out you like/know of one of my special interests- lISTEN YOU AND I ARE GONNA HAVE LOTS OF SILENT HILL TALKS OKAY…I GOT SO HAPPY WHEN I FOUND OUT YOU ALSO ROLEPLAY AS HEATHER!! A AAA YOU ARE A BLESSING TO THIS EARTH- You also know of LISA the Painful I think and I’m just. Combustion. You are a veteran if you played that game, you have my utmost respects-

You’re such a sweetheart though, for real, you are so nice and I don’t know how or what I did to have someone like you come to my life?? lISTEN I MELTED WHEN YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO HUG ME,,,,SWEETHEART,,,, I’ll send you lots of hugs okay!!

Beck, you’re wonderful and you are loved plus a huge blessing in planet earth, I don’t want you to ever forget that. It’s a huge pleasure to have you in my life and I’d love to get to know you more and do more with you! ]

@fvkasc

[ hello new phone, who’s this stinku?

kJHBNSJ I KID I KID BUT- FUKASHAY!! FUKASHE!! I LOVE YOOU, YA MOOF!! This is where I don’t know if I should be serious or be fooling around but I’ll be doing both for the sake of this meme child.

I LOVE WRITING WITH YOU….IT’S NICE….Honestly I can’t wait to write with you again and you’re getting me midly motivated to try out Hatsune Miku/Calne Ca but I’m too much of a wuss to make a blog for them so they’re exclusively private but ah.

You’re such a sweetheart though, you made me laugh numerous times and all of the jokes we have together are honestly wild and I LOVE….. You’re a great pal, and I’m really happy to have you around! Love you so much, you egg! ]

@omghoshii

[ Hey hey, you you, wanna ship 10 boxes at my home-

Bepsi, Bepis, Bep- You’re great! Like, holy hell I feel bad for being dead silent again because I genuinely appreciate your support and your kindness, and I want to apologize about that first. Secondly, have I ever told you that I love your Ryoma?

It’s nice to finally find someone who also loves and appreciates Ryoma…He’S A GOOD BOI AND DESERVES SO MUCH!! Seeing him happy/feeling okay in our threads are so nice and sweet like you don’t even know how many times I smiled whenever I see him having a nice time!! He deserves a lot!! I can hear his voice in my head when readin the dialogs and you’re doing an excellent job roleplaying him. I love reading your stuff and your writing is- :insert okay hand emoji: :insert 100 emoji:

As mentioned above, I love your support and kindness. I enjoyed chatting with you and I stated this 1000000 times now but I love your hUMOR KAJSHD– I also love your art too!! It’s really cute and unique!! Would love to do more with you and I hope you’re having a proper sleeping schedule. Because I swear sometimes you would sleep when it’s 1-3PM or 11PM I– I think once I saw you went to bed at 10AM??? I COULD BE WRONG THO DON’T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT BUT- SLEEP……

I love ya, dude! ]

@liersymphcny

[ Ichiii you’re gR8-!

We don’t have lots of threads going on and we haven’t spoke a whole lot as of recently but you’re great and I appreciate you! I love the dedication you put with your muses like- god damn that’s a lot of them how do you manage man– They’re all really good, and don’t think for a moment that your portrayal isn’t good because it iS!! IT IS AND THAT’S WHY I WANNA ROLEPLAY WITH YOU!

Your edits are also rEAL gud!! I love seeing them so keep up the excellent work okay!! You’re a really sweet and fun friend too, I enjoy chatting with you and I hope you’re doing well, hang in there, pal! It’s real nice having you around and thank you so much for everything, Ich! ]

@its-all-in-the-cards

[ scree lENA!! MY CHILD!!

We haven’t done a lot yet, but listen, your interpretation of Celeste and Junko are spot-on!! I love how well you write them, and sorry in advance that we don’t have lots of threads going on-?? I’d love to have our muses interact more even if I’m clueless when it comes to ideas but it’s always nice to see you!!

Talking to you is also really nice, you’re thoughtful, you’re caring and you’re just a lovely person okay!! I saw your cosplays and I LOVE….15/10 LISTEN I- YOU’RE DOING A FASCINATING JOB KEEP IT UP OKAY!!

I appreciate you, Lena! Thank you so much for the nice things you say and take care! It’s Love On Lena! ]

#[ me: i'm gonna make this short. ]#[ does this even look short to you???? ]#[ i literally spent nearly 4 hours on this kjBNAK ]#[ BREAK TIME.... I'LL FINISH THE OTHER ASKS SOON THO- ]#[ thank you sm for sending them tho!! I really appreciate it Icy! <33 ]#| pda ? // |#soaringpilotandlittlewing #| Asks |#| OutOfClues |

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imdoingathingmom · 6 years

Text

Oh So Subtle! (Part 3)

Pairing: Loki x Fem!Reader Word Count: 1440 Warnings: Language! Betrayal?? Fluff?? Summary: Loki has a crush on the reader but of course, with her being a Midgardian and all, he hardly lets it show. The only one who knows about his crush is Thor. Loki wants to admit his feelings but he doesn't know how. He decides to drop some "subtle hints." A/n: this'll probably be this last part I hope you guys liked this series. Unless for some odd reason I decide to add more but as of now this is the end! Thank you to everyone who liked and commented! This was originally a one-parter but I got so much love and encouragement that I had to write more! It really means a lot. I didn’t expect many people to like it. Y’all make my lil’ heart sing with joy! Feedback is appreciated... Recap: Loki rubs his temples and huffs out a breath, he certainly wasn't expecting an adolescent boy to be the first person he had to interact with when he woke up, "Peter!" In this moment Loki was glad he didn't have kids. Peter's eyes became the size of saucers and he choked on his breath. "I have not an idea what you are talking about. I had no intentions of scolding you. I simply have questions about y/n. Now-" Loki gestures to his room as his words dawn on Peter. Peter eyes Loki for a minute before a smile stretches across his face.

Feet apart, knees bent, hands up. Breath shallow, chest heaving. The chains holding up the punching bag rattled with each hit as thuds echoed around the room. A swift kick to the side and a hard jab to the front. Rattle, rattle, thud. Y/n continued like this for awhile, sweat streaming down her neck and brow, stray curls springing from her messy bun. Her blows were quick and calculated and the adrenaline buzzed throughout her limbs. Peter watched for a bit, she was upset and he knew why. Peter cleared his throat loudly and you stop punching the bag, grabbing hold of it to still it. You straighten up and walk over to the nearby bench as you shoot a glance over your shoulder, "are you finally talking to me again?" You grab your towel and dab your damp skin as Peter walks over to you. "I was never not talking to you." He sits next to you on the bench and looks over at you with a small smile. You throw your towel around your neck and pick up your water bottle, uncscrewing the cap, taking a long drink. "You could've fooled me, Pete. We haven't talked in like two weeks, not even a text, and every time I asked about you I was told you were with Loki." You raise your eyebrows in disbelief. "Y/n-" Your throat grew dry and you took another swig of water, "look you don't have to explain anything. You're allowed to have other friends. I'm just surprised you're suddenly rubbing elbows with someone you used to talk shit about." Peter internally groaned, "y/n-" "But it's kinda hard not to be upset-" you let out a huff of breath as you nervously fidget with your water, ripping the wrapper around the bottle "-when it seems like you traded my friendship for his." You drew a shaky breath into your lungs and looked at Peter with glossy eyes.

This was ridiculous and you knew it. You weren't a teen anymore, you shouldn't be crying over something like this, but Peter was your closest friend as silly as it seemed. Sure you were a few years older than him, but you were sorta immature for your age, so naturally you guys clicked when you joined the team. He's the only one who truly got you. For weeks he's been spending time with Loki, huddled up in corners, whispering and laughing. You missed his companionship and were absolutely confused about how they even ended up talking in the first place!

"Y/n, I would never throw away your friendship like that," He threw an arm around your shoulder and pulled you into an awkward half hug. "You're my best friend and I'm sorry I made you feel that way." You let out a breath you hadn't even realized you'd been holding and hugged him back as you smiled. "Thanks," you pulled back and dabbed your eyes with the back of your hand, "I needed that." Peter smiles wide and stands up, holding his hand out to you. "Come on," Peter pulls you up and covers your eyes with his hands. "What are you doing?" You start to pull his hands away. "Do you trust me, y/n?" "Of course I do." That's all the he needs to hear. Peter covers your eyes again and starts leading you through the compound. He stops and presses a button, there's a ding and then he pulls you into the elevator, and after a couple of minutes it dings again and he's pulling you out. You guys walk for a couple of minutes and Peter abruptly stops, pulling his hands away from your face. You blink a couple of times and notice that your standing in front of the door that leads to the roof. Confused you turn and look at Peter with a raised eyebrow. He just watches you, his small smile widening by the minutes. "Are you gonna tell me what we're doing here?" "Just go outside." "But why?" You place a hand on your hip and watch him with narrowed eyes. "Y/n-" Peter scratches the back of his neck "-can you just go?" Your eyes stay trained on his before you let out a breath and turn around, grabbing the door handle. "Fine, but if you lock me out here I'm kicking your ass," you threaten him over your shoulder and turn the knob. For a minute your blinded by the sunlight when you step outside. You blink a bit before your eyes adjust and there on the roof is the last person you expected to see. The God of Mischief himself, Loki. He's dressed comfortably; wearing a pair of grey sweat pants, a long sleeved navy shirt, and what appear to be a pair of black house slippers. You never knew he could pull of the casual look so well. But what you really notice is the fact that he's standing next to an outdoor swing seat and a projector. The outdoor swing is made of black metal, with a cream color shade on top that matches the cushioned seats. On the seats are a bunch of your favorite snacks. You draw your attention back to Loki and frown as it all clicks into place, the gears in your head turning in overdrive. You cross your arms and for the first time in weeks you speak to him. "I'm going to kill Peter, right after I kill you."

"Let's not do anything drastic dear," Loki's mouth quirks up into a smile, but you notice it fails to reach his eyes, where a tornado of emotions swirl. "Don't call me that," you take a few steps, stopping once you're an arms length away from him and ask, "what do you want? What is this?" Loki swallows a bit audibly and brings his arms from behind his back. In his hands is a bouquet of your favorite flowers, tied together with a neat ribbon. You're still staring at them when he begins to speak, "I know I've been...quite rude lately but-" he clears his throat "-I was only trying to gain your affection. I didn't mean to upset you." Loki trails off when you look up at him and he clears his throat again before looking away. "I deeply apologize and would love if you would join me for a movie." You peer at him, analyzing his face, as a wave of emotions crashes against you. Anger, longing, and happiness. You do the first thing you can think of and that's punching. You punch Loki on his arm hard. "I can't believe that's what all of this was about!" You anger starts to subside and you smile up at him. "You're such a dumbass Loki!" He looks down at you with a startled expression, while you pull the bouquet of flowers out of his hands and deeply inhale their scent. It's not until your walk over to the swing, pushing the variety of snacks over, and sit down that he moves again. "I'm assuming that was a yes?" "You're not completely off the hook but yes Loki, now sit." You pat the seat next to you and smile. Loki smiles and this time it reaches his eyes as all the uncertainty that was lingering in his mind evaporates. He sets up the movie, which is conviently one of your favorites, and sits down next you. Maybe you won't kill Peter, you think to yourself as you open up some cookies and snuggle up against Loki. Bonus: Thor and Peter quietly chuckle as they watch you punch Loki in the arm. When you sit on the swing Thor pushes Peter to the side and closes the door. "Hey! What'd you do that for?" Peter looks up at Thor with his cheeks puffed out in annoyance. Thor chuckles at the sight and slings his thick arm around Peter's shoulders , "for privacy young one." "You sure didn't care about privacy when I texted you to let you know what was happening," Peter mumbles quietly as the God of Thunder leads him away from the roof. "How about you show me how to play that zombie game instead of sulking?" Peter beams and quickens his step, "I'd love to." OSS! Taglist: @iloverhersofuckingmuch @ciniluv @malanix @hiyaitsjayy @unseelie1963 @kayleighfreeman @the-lady-mischief @book-dragon-13 @simmerkaydeebug @authorpocketcow @myeternalsin @isuirin @hiddle-hoe @markusstraya @ptersparkers @hailqueenconquer @callmeelliemarie @lousymusician @suchannoir @miku-michealis @only-kneel-before-loki @jensensjaredsandmishaslover The names that are crossed out I was not able to tag.

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cutepresea · 4 years

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Memoria: Close Contact

(I’m getting a bit spammy with these again, oops)

If you want to blacklist these, you can use either the tag #xdu memoria scripts or #xdu scripts

Reminder that these are copied straight from XD Unlimited itself, so any grammatical weirdness, mistranslations, and/or mischaracterizations are not my doing.

In-game Summary: “It's time for a sleepover with the whole gang! At the mercy of their friends, what will Hibiki and Chris be dared to do?”

Hibiki Tachibana: "Don't forget about your promise, Chris-chan!"

Chris Yukine: "Yeah, yeah, I know!"

Miku Kohinata: "Are you sure, Chris?"

Chris Yukine: "It's all good. My place is big enough, so it's no problem, really."

Kirika Akatsuki: "I'm really looking forward to this!"

Shirabe Tsukuyomi: "Yeah."

Chris Yukine: "...You know what? Me too."

Hibiki Tachibana: "Yeah, that's the spirit, Chris-chan!"

Miku Kohinata: "Okay, so we'll had home quickly and meet up with you later, then."

Kirika Akatsuki: "I'm gonna run home and back as fast as I can!"

Shirabe Tsukuyomi: "There's no need for that. It's not like Chris-senpai is going to change her mind. We'll head out later."

Chris Yukine: "Yeah, I'm stuck with you guys tonight, I guess. See you later, then!"

Hibiki Tachibana: "I'm heeere!"

Kirika Akatsuki: "Me too, me too, me too!"

Miku Kohinata: "Hey, Hibiki, don't leave your shoes in a heap."

Shirabe Tsukuyomi: "You too, Kiri-chan."

Chris Yukine: "Ah, you're all here."

Kuriyo Ando: "Your place really is great for things like this, Kinekuri-senpai."

Shiori Terashima: "Yeah, it's pretty spacious."

Yumi Itaba: "Living alone in a place like this makes you seem like an anime character."

Chris Yukine: "Yeah, uh... Make yourselves at home, I guess..."

Chris Yukine: "So, now that we've eaten, what should we do?"

Hibiki Tachibana: "Let's play a game, Chris-chan!"

Kuriyo Ando: "What sort of game? Did you have anything ready?"

Hibiki Tachibana: "Well, nothing in particular..."

Kirika Akatsuki: "Hey, how about this? There's this game I saw on TV once that I've always wanted to try!"

Miku Kohinata: "What sort of game?"

Kirika Akatsuki: "It's the king of games-- The king of party games, that is!"

Kirika Akatsuki: "You might know it as... King for a Day!"

Shirabe Tsukuyomi: "Kiri-chan is very easily influenced."

Chris Yukine: "Huh? I don't know that one."

Shiori Terashima: "It's usually played as a fun way for people to get to know each other, but it could be interesting."

Kuriyo Ando: "King for a Day, huh? I've heard a lot about it, but I've never actually played. Is it fun?"

Hibiki Tachibana: "Let's give it a shot and see. I'll make lots of cards for us to draw!"

Miku Kohinata: "I'll help you, Hibiki."

Chris Yukine: "I'm not entirely sure what's going on, but sure."

Kirika Akatsuki: "You're gonna have so much fun! This is super easy to prep for, too."

Shirabe Tsukuyomi: "All right, looks like we're ready."

Hibiki Tachibana: "We've made the cards. Whoever draws the one with the crown on it gets to be King."

Miku Kohinata: "Let's have everyone reach in and grab one at the same time. Readyyy--!"

Kirika Akatsuki: "Oh boy, who's it gonna be? Who's the King? This is already fun!"

Shiori Terashima: "Oh, hey, I'm the King!"

Yumi Itaba: "Okay, Your Majesty! First, pick two numbers!"

Shiori Terashima: "Let's see... How about three and six?"

Miku Kohinata: "Now, what will you order them to do?"

Shiori Terashima: "Hmmm... That's a toughie!"

Hibiki Tachibana: "Yes, Master! The Alca-Noise? Understood. We'll head out right away!"

Kirika Akatsuki: "Aw, we were just getting started! Stupid, clueless Alca-Noise!"

Chris Yukine: "It is what it is. You guys wait here. We'll be right back."

Yumi Itaba: "Okay!"

Kuriyo Ando: "We'll pick this up when you get back!"

Miku Kohinata: "Good luck, Hibiki!"

Hibiki Tachibana: "Thanks!"

Hibiki Tachiana: "Hoaaah!"

Kirika Akatsuki: "I'll slice you up!"

Shirabe Tsukuyomi: "Yaaah!"

Chris Yukine: "Raaaaagh! Come get some!"

Chris Yukine: "There go about half of them... Let's finish this off quick!"

Hibiki Tachibana: "Once we're finished, we can all stay up late and have some fun!"

Kirika Akatsuki: "N-Now I suddenly feel like I've been jinxed..."

Shirabe Tsukuyomi: "You mean like a curse?"

Hibiki Tachibana: "S-Stuff like that doesn't exist, you guys!"

Chris Yukine: "Why are you worrying over this level of Noise? We're gonna be fine!"

Kirika Akatsuki: "Right! Let's end this quick so we can stay up late!"

Shirabe Tsukuyomi: "I can't wait to stay up late with everyone."

Chris Yukine: "All right! Let's finish this up nice and quick!"

Hibiki Tachibana: "I'm home!"

Chris Yukine: "Hey, it's my home. Anyways, we managed to get back pretty early."

Miku Kohinata: "Welcome back, everyone."

Kirika Akatsuki: "I want to take a bath to get refreshed really quick."

Shirabe Tsukuyomi: "The owner of the house goes first, remember?"

Kuriyo Ando: "Well, we've changed and now we're ready to stay up all night."

Yumi Itaba: "If we could have your orders, your majesty!"

Shiori Terashima: "Ahem. Well then, No. 3 and No. 6... You'll be playing a little game with this pretzel stick!"

Kirika Akatsuki: "Woohoo!"

Shirabe Tsukuyomi: "Yeah!"

Hibiki Tachibana: "It's a bit embarrassing, but we can't disobey the queen, Chris-chan!"

Chris Yukine: "Hey, wait! I'm not in the right state of mind for this... Hey! Didn't you hear me?!"

Kirika Akatsuki: "Uh oh... Is this what I think it is?!"

Shirabe Tsukuyomi: "I think so."

Shiori Terashima: "I'm glad you're all enjoying this."

Hibiki Tachibana: "Mmm salty..."

Chris Yukine: "Nmm!"

Yumi Itaba: "Come on baby, let there be a risqué accident!"

Kuriyo Ando: "You watch way too much anime."

Miku Kohinata: "H-Hibiki!"

Hibiki Tachibana: "Chris-chan... You're so cute..."

Chris Yukine: "Idiot! D-Don't call me cute... Just don't..."

Hibiki Tachibana: "That's it, Chris-chan! Just a little more!"

Chris Yukine: "Hey, cut it out, dumbass! Whoa... Hey... Hey!"

Kirika Akatsuki: "Wooow, so this is what the world of adults looks like."

Shirabe Tsukuyomi: "Ummm..."

Hibiki Tachibana: "Chris-chan..."

Chris Yukine: "N-No more... Oh no!"

Miku Kohinata: "Enoooooough!"

Hibiki Tachibana: "Bahahaha! That was fun! Right, Chris-chan?"

Chris Yukine: "Haah... Haah... I-I'm saved!"

Yumi Itaba: "Did you touch lips? Huh? Did you?"

Miku Kohinata: "No, they didn't!"

Kuriyo Ando: "Calm down. What's gotten into you all of a sudden, Hina?"

Shiori Terashima: "I'm really glad you all had so much fun."

#senki zesshou symphogear xd unlimited #symphogear xd unlimited #senki zesshou symphogear #symphogear #xdu memoria scripts #xdu scripts

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pixelatedlenses · 6 years

Photo

2017 was... a year.

It was a really big year of growth that came with growing pains. I’ve started the hard road of coping with a lot of the hurt that swelled up, and I’ve been learning how to trust in love again with my girlfriend and my friends. I won’t say it’s been easy, but I will say that I feel renewed today: for the first time in months, I woke up feeling optimistic instead of ambivalent, a really strong change as I work through things bit by bit.

(I suspect that perhaps in another five years, I’ll feel it again at 30 because 25 felt so big, perhaps because for the first time, I could be critical with my life, and ws starting to leg go of living ambivilently.)

While I came out for the better, there’s a lot of folks who didn’t make it to the end, or made it in rough condition. I’m sure many of us will carry their unfinished hopes, dreams, and concerns into 2018 to make a better place worldwide.

Still, the end of the year has come, and now, a fresh chance has arrived. I’m declaring that 2018 will be my Year of Self Care: it’s going to be me doing for me, and me recommitting to myself. It’ll be me taking all of 2017′s crap and changing it into good. I’ve already seen that in the way that communities have rallied to say, “Hey, now that we see, this isn’t good, and we don’t want this kind of hate in our lives.” There’s assurance in knowing that even America -where 25% of people strongly support our current President and the hate that he so eagerly spreads- that the other 75% and growing are trying to undo prejudice, fight tyranny, and make America the home of many instead of a place for a selected few.

Hope was something I struggled to hold onto this year, but no more: I’m going into 2018 with light in my heart. I’m also going into the year to take better care of myself. I slacked on that a lot, and didn’t really realize until the end of the year how far I’ve let myself go.

So, here’s some of my core goals for 2018.

Read on below the cut to see what yours truly is up to.

1. Learn 手話/Shuwa or Japanese Sign Language

I work with an immense amount of students, and a good amount of them are selectively mute, or deaf. While many teachers in Japan are encouraged to just leave these students alone in public schools, I think that this is a time for me to step up and step in to be the middleman in my English lessons.

A lot of learning is going to be digital: this is a case where being in Tokyo might benefit me because as far as I know from my searching this year, there’s not any schools in Fukushima City. Thankfully, Youtube will come through on this for me: I already know hiragana and katakana, so if I dedicate my time to learning those, I can form a foundation. I’ll also be looking into 手話サークル, or Sign Circles in Fukushi, and also into the internet in general.

Part of my role as a teacher is being a Teaching for Everyone. JSL will allow me to expand how I can communicate. Certainly, it won’t be easy: I’ll probably end up flubbing a lot for a while because I’ve never used sign, and because honestly, I’ve had little exposure.

2. Learn how to play ukulele

A bit less connected to work, but something that will make it easier to work: picking up ukulele with my own uke, Nikko.

I bought Nikko this year during Winter as a purchase made under duress: it was cold, I was tired, had the spare money and too much stress. Unfortunately, that resulted in me not playing Nikko much: I can tune him, but I haven’t learned much past the technique for chords. I really want to pick him back up and start using him more often, and eventually, get to playing him 2 times a week, even if it’s just practice.

I would like to play Nikko at next year’s Bonenkai, or at some of my visit schools: I’ve even found a channel on Youtube where Hatsune Miku teaches you different J-Pop sons on ukulele. I’m certain that with her, I can learn a few songs once I get my basics down.

(I figure if I could partially self-teach myself, under the excellent tutulage of my teacher, Takahashi-sensei, how to play shamisen and koto, then... I can do ukulele. I’ll just never learn how to sing with a good voice.)

3. Take and pass the JLPT N2 or N3

Now I know there’s a big difference between N3 and N2: a huge one if I’m being honest. But, N2 will be the bare minimum I need to do what I want with working in America and Japan.

I have about two weeks to piddle on this one: it’ll mean getting back to work and taking some of the same tests to see what place I should be testing at and go from there. I have a few things for N3, and they definitely would be helpful if I decide to switch up a level. N1 still is something that I’ll tackle in my 4th/5th year at the earliest: I’m really just trying to focus on the now.

I put it in my work goals for this year, and I really, really wanna stick to it. I dropped on N3 this year, but next year, I want to start working towards making my future possible, and not just pay lip service to possibility.

4. Learn how to code games using Choice of Games ChoiceScript engine

This is super not connected to my job and is 100% for fun, but I really want to learn how to make CYOA games. I love text games, and after playing Sukeban Game’s Va-11 Hall-a, I’m more in love with text games and visual novel than I ever could have imagined.

While it’s a really big goal, Choice of Games -a favored site of mine- has a really simple to use engine that outputs quality titles, even if you’ve never made a game. I’ve got a few plots rolling around my head, including my Monster Girl college series where you get to go to a and have over 30 female-identified persons you can befriend, date, and get to know.

(I really like viznovs with romance. I also like queer text games, and I feel that I definitely could contribute to that market.)

I’ll see what I decide on at the beginning of the year, and just take it slowly. This will definitely be a weekend project for the times when I need to rest and want to stay at home, and can help me combat some of my problems with sitting still and not working.

5. Keep a regular sketchbook

Another super work unrelated thing, but something I’m really interested in doing and want to do to better my skills.

Drawing has quickly become something that I really love doing, and I’ve already seen improvement since I started keeping a steady notebook. I want to really commit to working on a set or two of characters and draw them consistently. I really want to redevelop my own style

This will also improve when I pluck up my Ipad Pro 12.9 and can finally start working digitally on the go. While I don’t know if this will mean I’ll have a sideblog for drawing in the future, I do know that being able to draw and connect to students will be a boon. A lot of my brightest and most interested students are in the Design Department, and being able to reach them would mean the world to me.

(Maybe this goal isn’t super work unrelated.)

Bigger than anything, I want to do this for me, which really, is all of my goals. My future is precious, as is my time, and I’m reclaiming my time and my happiness. 2017 sucked big time, but 2018?

It’s gonna be able giving back care in the face of hurt.

Happy New Year to everyone who’s about to tip past 11:59:59. To the rest of y’all, catch you in a few hours in 2018. Let’s make the best of 2018 and give hope, love, and care when and where we can?

#goals #final post of 2k17 #2k18 #here we come!

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murasaki-murasame · 7 years

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Thoughts on Dreamin’ Sun v3

This took a bit longer to get to than I would have liked, but here we go. I’m still not entirely sure if I’ll keep up with this series in the long run, at least in terms of continuing to write about it on my blog, especially since apparently after about v5 we’re gonna be getting new volumes every three or so months rather than every two months, but I’m still really liking it for the time being, as a general tl;dr for my feelings on this volume.

Before I put the rest of this post under a cut, I want to take the time to recommend Ao no Flag to anyone that enjoys the themes of unrequited love and dreams for the future that are present in this manga, but want to see it done in a more serious, bittersweet way, and with a cast that has some gay characters in it. Even though Ao no Flag is done in a shonen magazine, and has some emphasis placed on a sports sub-plot happening in the mid-ground, it’s written in a way that I think would still appeal to people who like shoujo manga. So if you like this manga and want to see the same sorts of ideas handled in a different sort of way, please check it out. [I imagine that most people following me right now are already reading it, but still].

Anyway I’ll just put the rest of this under a cut, like always.

I guess I’ll just start with the bad stuff first and work my way up to the good stuff, just to get the negatives out the way.

I’m just gonna cut right to the chase and say that I hope the manga isn’t seriously setting up a Shimana/Taiga romance. I don’t know at this point whether or not that’s how this will end, but I hope it’s not. I don’t think it’d make me outright drop the series, but still. I just don’t like the idea of it. I’m fine with the basic concept of her developing a crush on him since that’s understandable, but it’s the idea of them hypothetically ending up in an actual relationship that grosses me out. I mean, on top of the age gap, there’s the fact that Taiga is Shimana’s landlord, and even if she could easily move back in with her parents if she needed to, that’s still a level of power imbalance that really doesn’t sit right with me. And then there’s the fact that the story puts a fair bit of focus on how he has a fatherly sort of relationship with her at the moment, so that kinda puts me even further off this whole idea. I’m holding back my reservations for now since we’re only a few volumes in and this might be a short-lived subplot and not an endgame thing, but I’m still keeping an eye on it. Though on the one hand, I guess that at the very least, continuing my trend of mentally comparing Taiga to Shigure from Fruits Basket, I’d technically be less angry at this potential outcome than I was about who that guy ended up with.

[Also just to be clear, me talking about my fears about how this might pan out aren’t an invitation for spoilers. I know this manga’s been finished for several years but I don’t know how it ends and I’d rather not be spoiled if I could avoid it]

On the topic of negatives, I don’t really mean this as a serious complaint, but the relative lack of Asahi screentime and complete lack of Miku screentime was kinda sad. I want to see more of those two.

I’m really not sure how I feel about Ken as of now. I feel like I got a bit of a wrong impression of him based on the bonus pages at the end of v1, so his actual personality really threw me off. I don’t think he’s a horrible person or anything, but I at least dislike his creepy attitude toward Shimana. It’s just kinda gross and unnecessary. I appreciate that he isn’t as bad of a brother to Zen as he seemed at first, mostly in that he’s trying to push him away in order to keep him from throwing his life away for his sake, rather than because he just hates Zen’s goals in life, but it’s not really enough for me to like him all that much. I hope he’ll grow on me. I’m curious to see how the whole subplot with him getting back into boxing and fighting his old friend turns out, but it kinda started right at the end of the volume so there’s not much to say about it.

Getting into the stuff that I really, truly liked about this volume, the rest of the content of this volume was basically just Zen 24/7 which I was kinda afraid of, going in, but this volume really made me love him, even more than I already did. I still have ambivalent feelings on him as a love interest for Shimana, but as an individual character he’s adorable and I love him. As soon as I saw him in the rain with his hair flattened down I was like ‘oh no he’s cute’, and basically it just went from there.

He’s just a complete tsundere dork in all the ways I love in a character. He can be kinda genuinely shitty at times, but there was a fair bit less of that in this volume. Most of it was spent with him being flustered and/or crying and/or angry at his brother, all of which I enjoyed seeing.

I knew that he had some sort of an unrevealed dream in life, but I wasn’t expecting him to want to be a manga artist. On the one hand it doesn’t quite fit his boyish, sporty attitude, but at the same time he’s drawing sports manga so it kinda balances out. It’s pretty cute, but also kinda sad, that he’s obviously basing his boxing manga idea off of his brother. In general, I hope he can eventually come to embrace and pursue his interest in it.

Which kinda tangentially gets me into the whole romance development [sort of] that happens between him and Shimana in this volume. I really like how, even if it didn’t really play out like Zen wanted, Shimana still wants to be there to support him in pursuing his dream. I just like that even after the events of this volume they’re still friends. I expected the whole kiss by the river to lead to more drama and avoidance between them, but it played out in an almost weirdly casual way. I still really do love how much the characters in this communicate their feelings to each other, as I’ve said before, but the two of them seemed to be a bit unrealistically transparent with each other in that whole scene.

Also on the note of positive communication between characters, I like that Shimana apologized to her friends about her outburst at them earlier, and I really like that they all apologized back to her and acknowledged that they were being pushy and rude. Even if it did lead into one of the many, many ‘characters assume that Shimana and Taiga are dating’ jokes in this volume, which was . . . certainly a thing that happened several times.

Back on the note of Zen, I find it weirdly amusing that he’s really skinny, considering that he seems to enjoy exercising. It’s endearing in a way that I can’t quite explain.

I have a feeling that even though he and Shimana came to a pretty clear ‘let’s just be friends’ agreement at the end of the volume, he’s probably going to keep trying to win her over, which I have mixed feelings about. I kinda just want him to move on, especially since I still think he’s the least likely of the main three guys to actually end up with her, and so him continuing to be framed as a love interest/rival would feel a bit pointless. We’ll see.

I hope that the story hasn’t completely dropped Asahi as a potential love interest. I get that they also came to a similar sort of understanding that they won’t end up together, but still. I’m just kinda biased because he’s my favourite guy, in terms of them as love interests. So it’d be kinda sad if that just sorta got dropped after two volumes. And even more so if he got dropped in favour of setting up an uncomfortable age gap romance, if that’s where this is going.

I’m curious to see where the whole background plot with the whole legal case is going to go, since that’s still a thing that’s happening. Hopefully they can successfully challenge the ruling.

I don’t think I have much to say about Taiga in this volume other than everything I’ve said about the idea of him being framed as a love interest. But I like that we’re slowly learning more about him, and seeing some more of his old friends. There’s clearly meant to still be lingering mysteries about what his deal is, though I’m still not entirely sure what to expect from that.

I’m also kinda worried that the whole subplot of sorts about him ‘having a fear of women’ is gonna be resolved in a really boring and generic way, and that a large part of his backstory and ‘mystery’ might just be tied up in him having some kind of angst over, like, an ex-girlfriend that made him get all scorned and bitter about women in general when she left. I’m kinda bracing myself for something like that. And that it’ll probably be resolved by him ‘finding the right girl’, and/or maybe getting some sort of petty revenge on the hypothetical girl who hypothetically hurt him. Who knows. It won’t really bug me much one way or another, but I feel like I’ve seen this sort of subplot a thousand times before and so I feel like I can see it all in advance. It’s not an inherently bad thing, it just feels a bit predictable and lame.

I feel like this post ended up more negative in tone than I expected, but oh well. I did really enjoy most of this volume. Mostly all of the adorable scenes with Zen.

For the most part this manga still feels like a more diluted and light-hearted version of other stuff I’ve read, but that’s not really a bad thing. I tend to gravitate toward things that are kinda heavy and depressing, so it’s nice to have things like this that are just cute and fun. I have a big soft spot for fluffy shoujo rom-coms like this, and so this is kinda exactly what I wanted from it.

But yes I’m going to reiterate my Ao no Flag recommendation for anyone who wants to see more of a serious and heavy take on ideas like unrequited love between teenagers. I mean I’m not gonna deny that for the most part I just want as many people as possible to read that series in general since it’s great, but you get what I mean.

In terms of things that are more similar in genre and tone to this, Fruits Basket is still basically the quintessential shoujo rom-com, but it’s such a long-standing and well-known part of the genre/demographic that it feels almost pointless to recommend it to anyone. It’s still worth reading though, if you want something like this series that’s more lengthy, more emotional, more supernatural, and with a larger cast than this series, while still being a shoujo rom-com through and through.

Hopefully I enjoy v4 when that comes out. Which I guess won’t be too far from now since it took me a while to get the time to read this one.

#murasaki rambles #dreamin' sun

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