#( and feel free to reblog so we can expand the convo! )

[soulprompts]

hello my loves! i've been having this conversation on my main rp blog for a few days now, and so i decided to bring it here and have it with you guys too. before we go any further, please respect one another in the comments, this is just a little conversation about our thoughts and opinions!

so i've been on tumblr since 2015, meaning i've seen a lot of different eras in the rpc here! and it occurred to me that even back in 2018/2019, things in the rpc felt a LOT easier! we had dash events, group verses, people seemed to find it much easier to interact with their mutuals, we were a lot more relaxed about out absences and just generally seemed a lot happier and more of a community!

my question is this: do you think the rpc was better in the past? and if so, what do you miss specifically? what do you think needs to change for the rpc to be more of a community?

[ilusionis]

THE MEGA RP PLOTTING SHEET / MEME.

First and foremost, recall that no one is perfect, we all have witnessed some plotting once which did not went too well, be it because of us or our partner. So here have this, which may help for future plotting. It’s a lot! Yes, but perhaps give your partners some insight? Anyway BOLD what fully applies, italicize if only somewhat.

Mun Name: vinn (or ila, for close friends)     Age: 22       Contact: IM, discord

Character(s) I rp: aizen sosuke on here, askin nakk ke vaar (@ levaer) and lille barro (@ firstritter, sideblog) Which muse(s) inspires you the most atm?(for MM): all of them actually. Current Fandom(s): bleach. Fandom(s) you have an AU for:  none. i’ve been debating about making a modern au but i wouldn’t be sure what to explore in it. within the context of bleach, though, i’m very interested in developing a bunch of AUs. My language(s): i’m only confident in writing in italian or english.  Themes I’m interested in for rp:   Fantasy / Science fiction / Horror / Western / Romance / Thriller / Mystery / Dystopia / Adventure / Modern / Erotic / Crime / Mythology / Classic / History / Renaissance / Medieval / Ancient / War / Family / Politics / Religion / School / Adulthood / Childhood / Apocalyptic / Gods / Sport / Music / Science / Fights / Angst / Smut / Drama / etc. Themes/Genres you have an AU for: none.

Preferred Thread length: one-liner / 1 para / 2 para / 3+ / novella. Asks can be send by: Mutuals / Non-Mutuals / Personals / Anons. Can Asks be continued?:   YES / NO   only by Mutuals?:  YES / NO. Preferred thread type: crack / casual nothing too deep / serious / deep as heck. Is realism / research important for you in certain themes?:   YES / NO. Are you atm open for new plots?:  YES / NO / DEPENDS. Do you handle your draft / ask - count well?:  YES / NO / SOMEWHAT. How long do you usually take to reply?:  24h / 1 week / 2 weeks / 3+ / months / years. I’m okay with interacting: original characters / a relative of my character (an oc) / duplicates / my fandom / crossovers / multi-muses / self-inserts / people with no AU verse for my fandom / canon-divergent portrayals / au-versions (as main or only verse). Do you post more ic or occ?:  IC / OOC. Are you selective with following others?:  YES / NO / DEPENDS.  

Best ways to approach you for rp/plotting:  if you want to plot, it would be best to send me an IM and ask me, then we can definitely move to discord if you’d rather. it’s possible to approach me for rp without plotting first, best way would be to send me a meme when i reblog them or simply an ic ask, which i will answer, while memes might get lost. ic asks are good ice-breakers, we can continue plotting from there.

What expectations do you hold towards your plotting partner:  i need my partners to be as interested in our plot as i am. it would be great if you already have an idea, but it’s still good if you don’t, i get that coming up with ideas can be hard sometimes; mostly, i require honesty. you can definitely tell me that you got no ideas and i will do my best to help, ask questions, try to spark something. i do require the feeling of having that commitment reciprocated.

When you notice the plotting is rather one-sided, what do you do?:  i tend to straight up drop the conversation lmao. no hard feelings, but if i get the feeling you’re not interested, i will take my distance - i won’t waste my energy on a plot if my partner doesn’t share my enthusiasm. still, you can always approach me again, if you’re feeling up to it / have new ideas / whatever. nice thing of online convos is that they don’t have an expiration date lol.

How do you usually plot with others, do you give input or leave most work towards your partner?:  i always ask if they got any ideas to begin with. if my partner already knows, more or less, what kind of dynamic they wanna build with my character(s), that makes it infinitely easier to build something meaningful. it’s still fine if they don’t, i will usually ask a lot of questions regarding their muse’s opinions / feelings / etc., and try to navigate from there. a question i usually ask is: is there any aspect of your muse you’d like to explore? i think that’s a pivotal point in any interaction. 

When a partner drops the thread, do you wish to know?:   YES / NO / DEPENDS. - And why?: if they feel like telling me, why not. but usually, i don’t warn when i drop a thread, so it’s not expected of my partners ever. - What should your partner do when dropping a thread?:  nothing in particular tbh. they can tell me or approach me to start a new thread if they wish to, but it’s not required.

What could possibly lead you to drop a thread?:  i might lose interest in a thread, especially if i feel like it’s going nowhere or if the inspiration for it simply doesn’t come. it’s never happened so far that i had to drop a thread because it was making me uncomfortable, but that could still be a reason for me to. in general, though, i would approach my partner in that case. - Will you tell your partner?:   YES / NO / DEPENDS.

Is communication in the rpc important to you?   YES / NO. - And why?:  absolutely. i’d rather avoid awkward situations or misunderstandings of any kind; if something’s up, tell me. i also like to communicate with my writing partners (be it in the tags of our threads or in IMs), makes me feel like the enthusiasm is not one-sided and i find it generally pleasant.  - Are you okay with absolute honesty, even if it may means hearing something negative about you and/or portrayal?:  sure. we gotta stay polite, but honest. - Do you think you can handle such situation in a mature way?  YES / NO.

Why do you rp again, is there a goal?:  to have fun, to cultivate my writing skills and my english, and to explore my favorite characters. 

Wishlist, be it plots or scenarios:  i want to develop aizen’s wandenreich verse, because i’m deep in quincy hell and i think his dynamics with quincy muses could be super interesting. anything involving the intricacies of bleach politics is super interesting to me, be it with aizen or with my two quincy muses - who, btw, are also good to explore dynamics between quincies / their culture / relationships etc.

Themes I won’t ever rp / explore:  i won’t write anything pertaining to sexual assault. 

What Type of Starters do you prefer / dislike, can’t work with?: it’s gotten difficult to work with starters such as “you summoned me / do you need anything / did you call for me” etc. i used to receive that kind of starters all the time with aizen, and i can’t come up with something new every damn time. i also have a hard time working with starters / replies that already feel like a closed conversation and don’t give me anything to reply to.

What type of characters catch your interest the most?:  i’m not sure i have a type. aizen is pretty much an exception, the only example of an already well-built character i write, since i tend to gravitate around minor ones that don’t have much material and that i can work on and expand without being affected by the fandom’s opinion or whatever. somehow i always tend to rp tall guys-

What type of characters catch your interest the least?:  children and teenagers don’t interest me for the most part. characters who don’t have a shred of an opinion or can’t offer any interesting conflicts. overly friendly, mushy, affectionate and flowery characters are really not my cup of tea either. 

What are your strong aspects as rp partner?:  oh god i have no idea. i’m very laid-back, i guess. i’ll never pressure my partners for replies, i don’t think i’m owed a reply in the first place because we all have lives offline,  so i’ll never take it to heart if a partner drops a thread. if i really feel like our roleplaying styles don’t mesh, it will be at my own discretion to do something about it. another strong aspect i have ....... i think i have a decent grasp on all my muses? especially aizen. of course ur free to disagree lol. also, lately i’ve been p active, so that’s it. 

What are your weak aspects as rp partner?: i’m really slow. i might speed up for my closest friends, with whom i plot / rp regularly, but usually i take quite some time to reply to random unplotted threads. i probably have a thousand other flaws as a rper, but this is the biggest one that comes to my mind rn. 

Do you rp smut?:  YES / NO. Do you prefer to go into detail?:  YES / NO / DEPENDS. Are you okay with black curtain?:  YES / NO. - When do you rp smut? More out of fun or character development?:  i don’t write detailed sex scenes. sorry lmao they’re just not interesting to me. however, i’m super-ok with writing anything around it, like intimate scenes etc. in fact i find it somewhat soothing.  - Anything you would not want to rp there?:  the nitty-gritty part is already a no, but i guess also sexual violence and shit like that. it’s a no.

Are ships important to you?:   YES / NO. Would you say your blog is ship-focused?:   YES / NO. Do you use read more?:  YES / NO / SOMETIMES. Are you: Multi-Ship / Single-Ship / Dual-Ship  —  Multiverse / Singleverse. - What do you love to explore the most in your ships?:  all my ships are with snow 8′) and ur never bored with her. in general, i love being able to explore the muses’ relationships, their conflicts and their peaceful moments, especially in relation to canon events! - What is your smut tag?: nsfw / ........ my n*sfw posts are rare anyway.

Are you okay with pre-established relationships?: YES / NO. - And what kind of ones?: to an extent, i prefer pre-est relationships to first meetings - which they can get a bit dull after some time. i’m ok with mostly anything, and only more selective when it comes to relationships that might severely alter my muse’s canon / past / overall character. 

► SECTION ABOUT YOUR MUSE.

- What could possibly make your Muse interesting towards others, why should they rp with this particular character of yours now, what possible plots do they offer?:  not to stroke my own feathers but aizen offers a perfect chance at character development to any and all bleach characters. he’s the main villain, he holds some wild opinions, and whether you agree or disagree with him, he leaves no one indifferent. aizen is the main cornerstone of bleach, and if you want your muse to questions themselves and the system / world around them, interacting with him is the best way to start. also, aizen interacted with a fuckton of people, knows practically everything there is to know, is responsible for significant amount of canon events, so you see ... whatever character you write, aizen has the full potential to be extremely relevant in the course of their development.

- With what type of Muses do you usually struggle to rp with?:   children, ordinary low-ranked shinigami (i find it hard when it’s out of the blue, even in aizen’s captain and lieutenant verses ... because interactions would likely be only work-related, and won’t go far), characters whose personalities really have nothing to do with aizen. unfortunately, he’s not my easiest muse, and i don’t want to force interactions with him.  - With what type of Muses do they usually work well with?:  characters who have opinions, some political involvement, in general characters with whom aizen had a dynamic in canon. 

- What interests your Muse(s) in general:  reading, calligraphy, philosophy (especially in-world philosophy), science (again, mostly related to the specificity of the bleach universe), the very careful crafting of his plan- - What do they desire, is their goal?:  kill the soul king and take its place, destroy the institutions of soul society, subdue them. and then rule, as the soul king never did before. - What catches their interest first when meeting someone new?:  the idiosyncracies in their behavior, the particularities, their possible weaknesses.  - What do they value in a person?:    very little, usually. he may appreciate a resolute personality, strength, and intelligence. - What themes do they like talking about?:  speaking mostly of mundane talks, he likes conversing about his interests. it takes a lot for him to share any personal information, though. - Which themes bore them?:  anything about the greater good, friendship, love, very human topics.

- Did they ever went through something traumatic?:  seeing the soul king, in all things like a ghost stalking his dreams, and well ... spending his early life in rukongai as a whole. being forced to consume other souls in order to survive. the first times his reiatsu killed anyone who tried to get near him.  - What could possibly trigger them?:  it’s rare that he will outwardly show signs of distress, i’d say almost impossible. the few times the soul king still appears in his mind, greatly upsets him though. - What could set them off, enrage them?:  the soul king gets him particularly heated. urahara, as we witnessed. after his defeat, ichigo, to an extent. - What could lead to an instant kill?:  kubo was a coward who didn’t dare let him kill any relevant character, but actually aizen kills very liberally.

- Is there someone /-thing they hate?:  the soul king, urahara. he has a strong disdain for yamamoto, and that joke of C46. - Is there someone /-thing they love?:    himself. tousen

Is your Muse easy to approach?: YES / NO. - Best ways to approach them?:  he’s only really easy to approach for bleach characters, who, depending on who they are, have different eligible verses to further facilitate the interaction. humans / powerless bleach characters can’t really interact with him tho. - Where are they usually to find?:  soul society or hueco mundo. i have a verse set in the wandenreich.

Something you may still want to point out about your muse?:  aizen is not a particularly easy muse, but it’s part of his overall mosaic to be somewhat unapproachable and distant. i’m not out to make him someone he is not, so forgive me in advance if plotting with me turns out to be difficult in a way or another. he’s very dear to me, and i try my best to do him justice! while my main headcanons may not affect our interactions specifically, i still ask my partners to look them up (they’re linked in my about page) because they’re essential to my portrayal and it makes me happy to have them acknowledged. i think that’s all lmao. come visit me over at my quincy boys too.

CONGRATS!!! You managed it, now tag your mutuals! ♥

Tagged by:  @skyvar​ I DID IT AT LAST. Tagging:  i don’t know who has been tagged so, you know what to do.

[kanasmusings]

[Translation] VAZZROCK Tokuten CD - VAZZRAJI: ROCK DOWN Chapter

VAZZROCK special drama track is always lit LOL. If you remember VAZZY’s version, I’m sure that ROCK DOWN’s will crack you up more XD They talk of nicknames once more so please be prepared to see a lot of translator’s notes www Oh, also, Ruka mentions so many nicknames so fast that I’m pretty sure I got some of them wrong so please, feel free to tell me about it ^^

Thank you once again to Deea for the files~! Please don’t ask her as per her request, thank you ^^ 

After this are the Starry Sky drama CDs~! 

※ Please don’t re-post these translations without permission. Instead of reposting, please just like/reblog instead ^^

Under the cut, enjoy~!

VAZZRAJI: ROCK DOWN Chapter

[0:00]

  SHO: Now then, is everyone ready?

ALL: Yes~!/Yeah.

SHO: Shall we begin? VAZZROCK Radio, a.k.a. VazzRaji is~

ALL: Starting!

  SHO: Alright, it’s started. It’s VazzRaji: ROCK DOWN Chapter.

SHO: It’s the TsukiPro famous live broadcast radio to get to know everyone better. Today’s main hosts will be me, ROCK DOWN’s leader Onoda Sho and~

RUKA: ROCK DOWN’s MC meaning~ It’s me, Nadumi Ruka will be delivering it to you~!

RUKA: We’re in your care, okay~? Alright, everyone, let’s get this party started! Applause~

(everyone starts clapping)

SHO: Then, let’s start with the self-introductions. Let me see…

SHO: Shall we go clockwise starting with Haruto?

HARUTO: Got it.

RUKA: Ah, a little explanation for those who don’t understand. Right now, the members are sitting at a very round tea table. (1)

REIJI: Why is it at a tea table though? Is it because there are a lot of people?

REIJI: Plus, isn’t it kinda mean to have six grown dudes sitting in a low tea table like this?

AYUMU: If the problem is with the number of people, wouldn’t a long rectangular table be fine, too?

REIJI: Right?

GAKU: I heard from the staff that it’s a tea table from tradition.

GAKU: It seems like a lot of dramas have been born on this very tea table.

REIJI: Wait, wait, wait! What kind of dramas are born in a radio broadcast in the first place?!

GAKU: Other times it’s a serious betting game, other times it’s a serious game of life. And sometimes, it’s a “hey, look over there” kind of competition.

GAKU: It seems like a lot of very personal and famous competitions have happened here.

HARUTO: I-it seems like they were just playing around…

GAKU: Well, that’s ‘cause it’s that kind of radio broadcast.

RUKA: Alright guys, stop~! You’re getting too heated about a tea table.

RUKA: We still haven’t introduced ourselves yet. To the listeners, we just sound like a bunch of dudes who suddenly got excited about a tea table’s history.

SHO: Even Haruto who was all ready to do a self-introduction looks as if he stopped wanting to talk midway.

GAKU: Oh yeah, that was right. Haruto, we’re sorry.

AYUMU: We’re sorry. Please continue.

REIJI: Alright, Haruto~ It’s your turn. Speak as much as you want!

REIJI: This is your chance to be playful and show your quirky side!

[02:40]

  HARUTO: I’m ROCK DOWN’s Kujikawa Haruto. It’s nice to meet you.

REIJI: U-uh… That wasn’t playful at all, huh…

HARUTO: I had planned on being very playful though…!

REIJI: …

AYUMU: At what part…?

HARUTO: I made a weird face right at the end.

ROCK DOWN: Ah…

RUKA: Ah, that’s too bad!! It’s totally too unfortunate!

RUKA: Haru-kun, this is a radio broadcast. Just the sound’s being broadcast. They can’t see your face.

HARUTO: Oh goodness…!

REIJI: I feel like these jokes won’t end so I’m going next!

REIJI: (clears throat) I’m Amaha Reiji, ROCK DOWN’s sexiest man. It’s nice to meet you~

AYUMU: You’ll describe yourself like that…?

AYUMU: I’m ROCK DOWN’s Tachibana Ayumu. I’m not used to radio broadcasts so, I’m a little nervous.

AYUMU: I will be in your care.

GAKU: I’m Oguro Gaku. Please call me Gaku, or Gakkun, or whatever you like.

GAKU: Please enjoy yourselves as we slowly unravel our hearts to you.

RUKA: Welp, Haru-kun’s was a bit of a fail but the rest went on smoothly~

SHO: (chuckles) Let’s continue on with this kind of atmosphere then.

RUKA: You’re right!

SHO: This VazzRaji is for the fans to be able to get to know us better. It’s a radio where we’re all supposed to have fun~

RUKA: We can do convos like a while ago but, that’s normally how we’re like backstage or back at the dorms.

SHO: It’s our usual conversation, huh?

RUKA: Exactly! Let’s do it just like that, with a style that’s not trying too hard~

SHO: Maybe there will be people who’d be surprised and say, “Oh, so that’s what he’s like,” huh~?

SHO: Speaking as the leader, I know that everyone has their own cool and cute side. They all have their own appeal so, I hope that the listeners will be able to see that as well.

REIJI: Sho should show his cute side more, then.

SHO: (chuckles) I hope I meet their expectations.

HARUTO: I know all about Sho's cute sides so I'll present them all later.

HARUTO: I’ll try to do my best to show all my cute sides, too!

GAKU: Haruto’s got a “little brother” atmosphere so I think you’re already cute without trying.

HARUTO: Gaku-san…! What do you plan to do by making my heart throb like that?

GAKU: I wasn’t expecting anything.

HARUTO: Reiji-san, you’re making a shocked face over there. Please, don’t hesitate to spoil me, too. I don’t mind.

REIJI: Uwah… If we’re talking about wanting little brothers, I’d prefer Ayumu.

AYUMU: Don’t suddenly drag me into this.

AYUMU: Plus, I’d prefer being an older brother.

GAKU: What kinda conversation is this?!

RUKA: Alright, everyone~! It’s good that you’re getting along but, the conversation’s going nowhere.

RUKA: Let’s get started with the real deal then~ Today is VazzRaji: ROCK DOWN Chapter’s beginning so~

RUKA: We gotta have a talk of course! Here’s the theme~

(Ruka pulls out a signboard and shows it to everyone)

RUKA: “Please tell us all the nicknames you’ve had until today~!”

[05:51]

  AYUMU: Nicknames, huh…

HARUTO: Do we just have to write it on the sketchbooks given to us before recording?

RUKA: Yep, that’s it~! But, since the listeners can’t see, you have to read it aloud.

RUKA: Then, everyone will go wild with responding over it~

AYUMU: I see…

AYUMU: To be honest, I don’t think I have a nickname that’s really interesting enough for everyone to talk about.

SHO: Actually, this was the same topic that VAZZY had.

SHO: They had someone there that didn’t have a nickname, too, so it’s going to be okay ♪

SHO: That in itself would make for a good talk.

REIJI: Sho didn’t say any names but, I can only think of one guy who doesn’t have a nickname (in VAZZY)!

GAKU: (chuckles)

RUKA: Alright, the time limit is one minute so write all you can~!

RUKA: After that, everyone will show theirs on the count of three, got it~?

RUKA: Alright, start!

(everyone gets flustered as they begin to write)

GAKU: That was sudden…

REIJI: Oh, for real?!

(everyone starts writing)

HARUTO: (muttering) There’s that… and that, too…

AYUMU: (muttering) Oh, there was that as well…

SHO: Alrighty ♪

HARUTO: That was fast…!

SHO: I had a lot of nicknames that I got from when I was performing overseas so it was all written in katakana.

REIJI: Damn…! Isn’t one minute too short?!

REIJI: Ah, there’s still—Uh…

RUKA: I started the countdown myself but this is bad…!

RUKA: Um, there’s that… and that… ah, and that, too…!

GAKU: I’m done.

AYUMU: Me, too.

AYUMU: Mine’s really normal so, I’m counting on everyone to please expand the talk.

GAKU: That’s kinda gallant of you to say.

GAKU: It’s gonna be okay~ There’s six of us so even if we talk about the weather, we can talk about it for 30 minutes.

AYUMU: I see. Thank you.

RUKA: How many more seconds left? 10 seconds?!

REIJI: Alright, I’m done!

RUKA: AH!

(bell dings)

SHO: Alright, time’s up~

RUKA: (panting) That was bad for my heart…

GAKU: Ruu has a lot of nicknames after all. You get a new nickname every time you go to a theatre.

AYUMU: That’s amazing.

RUKA: Well, being in the theatre is kinda like being in a school club.

AYUMU: Is that so…?

AYUMU: Though, it’s true that it did kind of feel like that during our KisoSekai performance.

AYUMU: It was fun.

GAKU: I think Ayumu would do well in a play, too!

SHO: Now then, now then~ Shall we announce what we wrote?

RUKA: Everyone, here we go! 1, 2, 3, go~!

(they all show their sketchbooks to each other)

ROCK DOWN: Woah…!

[08:33]

  SHO: Should I read mine first?

SHO: Let’s see…

SHO: “Oono, Shoui, Snow, Ninja” These were nicknames that I got during my overseas violin recitals.

SHO: I don’t have much nicknames here in Japan. I’m usually just called ‘Sho’ here.

HARUTO: This is my first time hearing that Sho was a ninja…!

SHO: Of course I’m not ♪ Surprisingly, there are still a lot of foreigners who think that Japanese people equal ninja.

SHO: It wasn’t said to me specifically but, I’ve heard some Japanese people being given the nicknames “geisha” and even a kaijuu’s name.

HARUTO: I see.

AYUMU: Apparently, there are a lot of foreigners who find pronouncing Japanese names difficult.

SHO: Exactly. In my case, since my name is ‘Sho’ they felt that it sounded a bit short.

SHO: Though, there were a lot who just called me by my name.

REIJI: Here, here~! What does ‘Snow’ mean then? Or is it directly just that?

SHO: It is. Apparently, it was because of my appearance.

RUKA: It’s true! Sho-kun’s very pale~ You’re also thin and look frail so ‘Snow’ fits you perfectly~!

SHO: Though, I may not be frail as you imagine. That’s all for my nicknames ♪

SHO: Next one is Haruto. Go ahead~

HARUTO: Got it.

HARUTO: “Haru, Kujikawa Bomb, Warrior #2” Lately, I’ve been called “Sunshine Kujikawa” too.

HARUTO: Though, I’m happy that my nicknames have increased thanks to ROCK DOWN’s activities.

RUKA: Aside from the first ‘Haru’, the others sound so intense and powerful!

RUKA: Yep~ It’s proof that Haru-kun’s doing so well in ROCK DOWN!

REIJI: Ruka~ I really admire that positive thinking of yours sometimes.

REIJI: Rather than calling it a nickname, isn’t it more appropriate to call it some weird parts of Haruto?

HARUTO: (with an energetic voice) Let’s do this!

REIJI: Shut up!

SHO: Even though I’ve known Haruto the longest, there are still times when I’m surprised every time I see a new side of him.

SHO: That’s why every day feels so fresh~

SHO: Seeing him play along every now and then makes me happy as a leader ♪

AYUMU: I won’t deny that he’s been playing along. It might mean that… he’s becoming more amazing.

REIJI: Ayumu~ I’ll share my awesomeness with you so why don’t you release your awesome self~?

AYUMU: You’re right… There are times when I think that.

REIJI: Aren’t you… being too soft today?

AYUMU: Am I? (sighs) Maybe I am.

AYUMU: I might unexpectedly like this kind of calm talks.

RUKA: I’m glad that Ayumu-kun’s enjoying VazzRadio~!

RUKA: Alright~ Up next is Reiji-kun! Release your dark past~!

REIJI: Don’t just decide whether someone’s nickname is dark or not!

GAKU: But, isn’t there something awesome written there~?

REIJI: Well, I won’t deny that! I’ll explain it later so I’ll read it for now.

REIJI: Alright…

REIJI: “Amahane, Tenshi, Amaji, Reijii, Autto, Amahacchi, Tenbane, Host, Number 1, Pindon” Guess that’s about it.

REIJI: Alright, feel free to react!

GAKU: You’re kinda chill about this.

GAKU: Man~ I really like your professional attitude where you face anything head-on without trying to hide anything.

REIJI: Being able to read the atmosphere stops people from making fun of you in this industry.

RUKA: See~? Your professionalism is something else~  

RUKA: Okay, can we ask you to explain now~?

REIJI: Roger.

REIJI: Well, “Amahane” is another way of reading my last name.

REIJI: “Tenshi” is, y’know? Take the “ten” character from “Amaha” and combine it with the “tsukasa” character in “Reiji”. That’s how it’s read.

REIJI: Then “Amaji” is really just another way to read my combined name.

REIJI: “Reijii” is just a longer way of pronouncing my name. Then “Autto” is from “outrage”. For some reason, only the first part remained. (2)

REIJI: It was just a nickname from when I was a teenager but, I wasn’t really that wild, y’know?!

SHO: Really? I feel like I’ve heard a lot about Reiji’s naughtiness even before I joined the agency.

REIJI: Ah… For real…?

SHO: For real~

AYUMU: By the way, that was around the time he met me.

GAKU: I see now. “Outrageous” Reiji and the serious Ayumu.

GAKU: No wonder you’re natural enemies.

REIJI: Wait a sec! Like I said, I wasn’t that naughty!

RUKA: Reiji’s fans from long ago might be laughing at that sarcastically now, huh~?

RUKA: Reiji-kun, Reiji-kun, continue explaining~

REIJI: (groans) You all better back me up after this.

REIJI: What’s left? Well, “Amahacchi” is self-explanatory.

REIJI: “Tenbane” is part of the ‘other reading’ series.

REIJI: “Host, Number 1, and Pindon” are also easy to understand.

REIJI: I was told that I act like a host sometimes so they gave me that nickname.

AYUMU: What’s “Pindon”…?

REIJI: It’s that really classy rosé champagne brand, “Dom Perignon”. It’s a pink champagne so “pink” plus “don”. Pindon.

REIJI: It’s a really expensive champagne that’s drunk at host clubs so I was given the image that I drink a lot of classy wines.

AYUMU: I see.

AYUMU: “You’re a man who splurges on classy wines,” is what it means, huh?

REIJI: I’ll tell you this, okay? It’s only an image and a misunderstanding, got it?

REIJI: I’m the type who’s actually pretty common and uses stuff until I can’t use them anymore.

ROCK DOWN: We know.

SHO: Reiji has his own perverse side but he really loves taking care of people after all~

HARUTO: He’s a kind senpai who taught me a lot, isn’t he?

GAKU: You’re a very doting man after all, huh?

REIJI: … Hearing it all from you directly is kinda annoying…

RUKA: Then, let’s go to Ayumu-kun next~

[14:56]

  GAKU: We’re ready to expand the talk for you.

RUKA: Perfectly ready~!

AYUMU: You make my heart feel at ease. Thank you.

AYUMU: Mine is, “TachiHana, TachiAyu, Ayumin, Warrior No. 1” that’s all. (3)

HARUTO: I thought that they would be all normal but it seems like there’s something more to them.

RUKA: I don’t think you have the right to be saying that, Haru-kun~

GAKU: Well, ‘Warrior No. 1’ is exclusive to us so, putting that aside for now, TachiHana, TachiAyu, and Ayumin all seem to come from your name but—

GAKU: ‘Ayumin’ is kind of a cute nickname.

REIJI: Ah… (laughs)

AYUMU: Mr. Outrage here gave me that nickname.

AYUMU: He harassed me when I was feeling so nauseous from nervousness during filming one time…!

RUKA: He seems to remember it quite well~

REIJI: Ah… That was— (chuckles) Y’know? I was trying to calm your nerves!

GAKU: And so, you two became natural enemies.

HARUTO: My condolences!

SHO: Though, I can totally imagine it.

RUKA: Bullying is bad, Reiji-kun~

REIJI: It was in the past, okay?! It’s all in the past!

REIJI: Plus, I wasn’t planning on bullying him! Really, I’m telling the truth!

AYUMU: Well… if you told me that now… I might believe you.

HARUTO: You’re barely safe. Isn’t that great, Reiji-san?

REIJI: Shut it!

SHO: Back then it was difficult for the both of you but, ever since becoming a part of ROCK DOWN, your misunderstandings have all gone away~

SHO: (chuckles) Isn’t that great?

GAKU: Going off-topic, here are my nicknames. Ta-da.

(Gaku shows his sketchbook)

GAKU: “Gakkun, Daikoku, Gakunosuke, Kuro, Daigaku, Okan” That’s about it, I guess. (4)

RUKA: Oh~! I feel like I’ve seen most of those!

SHO: Out of all the nicknames where they’re all a variation of ‘Oguro Gaku’, “Okan” stands out the most.

GAKU: Right? Plus, I feel like I hear that all the time here and there.

GAKU: Am I really motherly?

AYUMU: I guess I can equate it to you being tolerant.

HARUTO: Though there are times when you really are like a mom.

GAKU: What’s with that~?

HARUTO: You don’t mind us being all wild outside and you always tell us, “Come on now, you boys, it’s time to go~” and stuff like that.

AYUMU: True.

GAKU: Your image of me is… quite something…

SHO: It means that you’re very reliable.

[17:22]

  RUKA: Alright, I’m last~

RUKA: “Rukacchi, Ruu-Ruu, Nacchan, Nadumi Luke, Run-Run, Runba, Taruzumi, Borude no Mouchan, Nabebugyou, Kujaku, Sanba, Hikaru, Hakusai, Ruu-nyan, Ruu Nadumi, Shinkansen, Taraba, Imasokari, Mikhail, VazzRu, Ruemon, Pasta, Guinomi, Hachiko, Yoshitsune” were all I could write before time ran out~!

RUKA: I couldn’t write everything down and I think there are some I forgot.

REIJI: No… Isn’t that too much?

HARUTO: What an amazing amount of nicknames…!

HARUTO: Please share some with me!

AYUMU: I want one or two as well…

GAKU: That’s a new kind of joke… (chuckles nervously)

GAKU: Ruu loves nicknames, huh.

RUKA: Yup, yup~ Doesn’t a nickname convey a sense of familiarity so, isn’t it good~?

SHO: True. You do say so during events, too. “You can call me anything you like,” you said.

RUKA: Exactly! Calling me whatever is totally okay~

RUKA: Like, “A Ruka just for you~” or something.

RUKA: I seriously think that.

RUKA: I’m a stage actor after all. When I’m on stage, I live as many people and have lived many kinds of lives but, if I’m given a nickname for acting as that person, I feel like he really did live, you know?

RUKA: Kinda like a title, see~? I’m happy whenever they increase! I’m proud of it.

REIJI: The reason’s quite deeper than I thought it’d be. You’re kinda an unfair guy, huh.

REIJI: You took the most satisfying part.

HARUTO: Looks like his fighting spirit wasn’t to be taken lightly.

HARUTO: That way of thinking has been a good lesson for me.

AYUMU: Ruka’s amazing…

RUKA: (laughs) Thank you~

SHO: I’m so glad that we could talk a lot about your nicknames, Ruka.

SHO: It has been fun but we’ve run out of time.

RUKA: Thank you for sticking with us until the end, listeners~ Did this make you more interested in ROCK DOWN, I wonder~?

AYUMU: Did I… appeal well to you…?

HARUTO: Ayumu-san managed to show his soft side with his cool exterior so I think it went okay.

GAKU: Oh, that’s nice phrasing there, Haruto! It’s okay, Ayumu. I think it went well, too!

AYUMU: I see. I’m glad.

AYUMU: Radio is fun, huh? Since they can’t see us, we can relax and move ahead without being too nervous.

AYUMU: It might be fitting for me.

REIJI: Sho and Ruka’s great at making the conversation move, too.

HARUTO: True. Thank you, Sho. And Ruka-san, too.

SHO: Oh my, I got praised~ I’m thankful for the wonderful time, too.

RUKA: Please look forward to the next VazzRaji, too! But, we have to close this one properly first.

RUKA: We shall part for today in order to meet again~!

SHO: Let’s meet at the next VazzRaji, okay?

RUKA: Alright, then!

ROCK DOWN: Thank you very much!

==END==

Translator’s Notes:

 (1) A traditional chabudai (tea table) typically looks like this:

Hence the characters’ reactions XD

(2) Amaha Reiji is written like this in kanji: [天羽 玲司]

His nicknames are:

Amahane: [天] can be read as [ten/ame/ama/amatsu] and [羽] can be read as [bane/hane/ha/wa/u] hence when you combine them, it can be read as“Amahane” instead of the usual “Amaha”.

Tenshi: [天] can be read as [ten] (as mentioned above) and [司] can be read as [tsukasa/tsukasadoru/shi] thus, “Tenshi”.

Amaji: [Amaha] + [Reiji] = Amaji

Autto: “outrage” in Japanese is written as [アウトレイジ/autoreiji] so, “autto”.

Tenbane: Going with the ‘other reading’ series like Reiji said, [天/ten] + [羽/bane] = “Tenbane”

(3) Nothing really needs to be explained since TachiAyu, Ayumin, and Warrior No. 1 are self-explanatory but, Tachihana might need some explaining ^^

Ayumu’s name in kanji is: [立花 歩] When together, [立花] is normally read as “Tachibana” but the [花] part can be read as [hana] as well hence, Tachihana.

(4) Oguro Gaku in kanji is: [大黒 岳]

His nicknames are:

Daikoku: [大] can be read as [oo/ookii/ooini/dai/tai] and [黒] can be read as [kuro/koku] hence “Daikoku”.

Daigaku: [大/dai] + [岳/gaku] = Daigaku

Okan: [御母] is simply another way to say ‘mother’ XD

※ Please don’t re-post the English translations without permission.

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