#(no rest for you mariko)

[hauntingblue]

Toranaga's son is so funny. Failson 🫵🏻

[spearxwind]

NOT dropping my evil laughs basis on account of the several people mentioning feel good inc as the first song that should be there

1. i really dont like gorillaz and im also not taking suggestions for the playlist

2. the laugh in that song isnt even an evil laugh i feel like if people are actually exposed to legit evil laugh music theyll explode

[saiyanandproud]

"Mariko, your orders are to remain distant from the creature, but shoot your energy towards it. Lord Cooler has gotten word that it's throat and left shoulder may be its weak point." Salza commanded, positioning the other Armored Squadron members and their protege's to surround the beast. Ketch and Plum were attacking alongside Neiz and Dore respectively, while Isa was waiting on standby for the Captain as he explained his orders to the Earthling. "If it approaches, do not engage, understood? Retreat, and only attack if you have no choice. But nothing more. Not until we know more about it."

Kaisdamnit.

"Uh... Aren't 'shoor your energy towards it' and 'do not engage' a bit contradictory?"

"Ah, whatever. Fine, roger. Come to think I just wanted to chill with a good plate of dumplings today."

[untilsfe]

Turtles seeing baby/kid photos of Usagi

Good lord, that's so cute!!!

I adore every time Sakai draw Usagi as a Kid. The reaction of the guys tho. It would be priceless.

Let's see what I can do [Machiavellian laughter]

. °°°

A couple of months later:

Usagi: I still don't understand why you asked me for this photos again, Donatello-san

Donnie: It is for cientific purposes, of course.

[Leo is going through a hard time as a leader, and his brothers make him a collage for motivation]

Leo, crying: I love you guys!

Mikey: We know!

Raph: Don’t mention it

Donnie: Seriously, don't ever mention it

_________________________

Pfff, I enjoyed doing this so much! You have no idea. Also I'm really thankful to get to practice drawing the rest of the boys. I missed my fav boy Raphie a lot!

And should I say, I'm really proud of the photos, I mean, I don't know how I did it, but I'm glad my hands did it

I'll leave you the images here In case you want to see them with better quality. There's even one I didn't get to use because... Out of place, you know?

But hey! Katsuichi looks great, mhm! Love to that old man!! I need to draw him more.

_________________

>First the baby photos, he is a couple of months old here:

>Kid photos because I couldn't resist.

We all have had to put up with a bad haircut once.

>And finally the photos with master and friends. In the spring festival with Mariko when they where 5. And the other two when they were 10

That's all for now. See ya later folks!! ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

[budbuddnbuddy]

Little obey me headcanons (pt4)

(Pt5)

A/N: This probably like the second longest series of writing I’ve done fanfic wise. Lol anyway same stuff is here. Headcaons and world building, maybe once I get everything done with the masterlist I’ll show you guys my MC’s (yes I have 2 MC’s in the same verse) but I’m still not sure. Let me know what y’all think. Happy new year!!!

Everyone is super nosy about your life in the human world, some are more obvious and pushy then others but regardless they still want to know about every detail of your life, what kind of job do you have? What’s your family like? Do you live in acountryside or in City? Where’s your workplace? What’s your address? What’s your full legal name? What’s your blood type? Do you own any pets! Tell them all about it.

The Devildom and the Celestial realm have small populations. Devildom:50 million+ Celestial realm:45 million+ mainly because lots of people would rather not have kids because it would probably get in the way of what they were doing in their lives currently however it’s not uncommon to see families out and about. Nobles are the main ones who have families in the devildom.

Do you think that like a week after Diavolo was born his father did that lion king thing that Royal family does whenever they have another kid? Just basically raising him up for everyone to see? 💀

As I’ve said before Mammon has a great ass, you can’t help but grab it anytime you can, just coming up behind him and grabbing his cheek. It mainly happens in your room, both of y’all are laying in your bed with him on top of you resting his head on your chest and you’ll just unconsciously reach down and give it a squeeze. He used to loudly whine about it but he secretly loves it lmao.

When it comes to relationships and Virginity, I feel like I have a pretty decent grasp on who’s had what and who hasn’t.

Relationship+Experience: Lucifer Mammon Asmodeus Barbatos Solomon

Relationship+Virgin: Beelzebub Satan

No Relationship+ Experience: Belphegor only like twice though cuz I fucking hate him [affectionate]

Neither: Leviathan, Diavolo

Diavolo kin’s Pops from regular show unironically.

If you ever heard about the Mariko Aoki phenomenon good but if not it’s basically the need to take a crap in bookstores however if you leave before you do then the feeling goes away. Whenever you go into Satan’s room you automatically get the urge to take a shit, you haven’t told him about it the confused look on his face is too funny. 💀

Speaking of Poop. If any of the brothers can’t get into the bathrooms available on their floor/rooms they’ll come down to your room and ask if they can use your bathroom which you used to be fine with AT FIRST however you eventually banned them from coming into your bathroom because Beel took a massive shit in your toilet and it stunk up your bathroom for DAYS and Lemme tell ya, handling demon shits from GROWN ASS MEN are not for the weak.

“Phew…Thanks for letting me use your bathroom, MC.”

“No problem Beel I-“ *Turns into fucking dust*

Okay that’s not what happened but you did pass out. Beelzebub did say sorry and bought you a cupcake as compensation so I guess it’s okay for now, still not allowed to use your bathroom though.

[whimsical-lullaby]

Would you write a Toranaga x reader who was traveling with John Blackthorne?

Untethered, floating aimlessly

Standing before the great lord, your head hung low with your eyes trained to the ground and unable to meet his gaze. But your ears bore witness to your surroundings; the howling winds of nightfall, the crimson tent's flap flying in the breeze. Had your feet not been covered, you would have felt sand cling to your toes. For a moment you are thankful you are in this clothing .. but the weight of it hangs on your shoulders.

Just like the weight of his silence, you think inwardly as you waited patiently for whatever words would come out the Lord's mouth.

Biting the inside of your cheek, you finally raised your eyes to see the scene unfold before you. Yoshii Toranaga, holding his infant daughter in his arms .. he looked down at her, his lips upturn in a small but recognisable smile of content. Moving slightly in a motion of rocking the child who rests in her peaceful slumber. You've never seen him this peaceful before, not ever since you met him.

The girl seemed like she was too little to even fit in his arms but she did, perfectly so. An image too good to be true.

Toranaga lifts his had and his eyes rest on yours. "You did well."

You did well. At those three simple words, you gleamed softly.

In your time in Ajiro village, you had taken up the task to learn as much of the Japanese language as you could. Ten words a day, you had requested of your teacher, Lady Mariko. But she adjusted them to five, less you wanted to go to sleep with a headache and forget the pronunciations which was most likely what happened.

"What have you decided to name her?" Toranaga quarries in a hum.

Yes, it is true. You have excelled in learning as much words as your brain could handle. But you were still new to stringing up sentences with said words. Your head turned to Lady Mariko, awaiting his translation.

Swallowing up every anxiety you had in you, your eyes interlocked with his. "I have." Your voice began, leveled. "Mariko will be her name. For she has stood by me like no one else has since my arrival."

Toda Mariko blinked, hesitating her interpretation for her Lord as her heart swells with gratitude. Her eightfold fence rattled but she charged on, guarding it dutifully. She dips her head in a bow. "You honor me greatly, N/N-sama."

Lord Toranaga's eyes narrowed lightly, brows contorted in confusion and they rested as Lady Mariko translates for you. He didn't dare miss the warmth the two women shared and found it endearing that you were finding a footing in his country, a home in the form of one his most trusted people.

A small smile settles on his lips, looking at you. "A fitting name indeed."

The Lord comes over to you, carefully placing Mariko in the safety of your arms. Your heart swells with wonder of her being here .. for a long time she had been but an imagination, a dream. And now you're finding it hard to believe she was actually here.

You had expected so much from Toranaga's arrival. The first image of him that came to your mind when he saw you, was him raging and speaking so quickly in long sentences you didn't even understand. And you just staring at him like a deer, surveying for any predators in the area.

However, you weren't going to lie because you deserved his anger, his lecture. Hiding a pregnancy wasn't a small thing...

Still, you couldn't take your mind off of the day you two parted. You had argued with him on the ship sailing to Ajiro village after the escape at Osaka. Needing to let out your pent up emotions to the sole purpose of your anguish and frustration. Him.

When you were first brought before him along with John Blackthorne, you had been but a stranger to him. A barbarian. At first you had no knowledge as to why he had strike up the deal to set John and his crew free in exchange of you being his concubine.

It seemed like a deal for his own personal gain which you righteously refused. But just as John had a slippery tongue when it comes to vile words, he did so when telling lies. Like the lie he told Toranaga of you being his sister, to ensure that you were close to him whatever the circumstances was.. a lie in which still is hidden til today. And then he goes on to accept the offer on your behalf.

Some brother he was.

Lady Mariko was there to help you in any way she could and you were grateful in that aspect. Yet that still didn't mean it was sunshine and roses from then on.

The escape from Osaka took place.

You had thought, since you were Toranaga's concubine he would protect you, at the very least. But when you climbed on that Portuguese ship at the bay, and the captain said he wanted you and Blackthorne out and back to the shores of Osaka, Toranaga came out of the captain's quarters and relied his words.

Betrayed.

You were no stranger to betrayal. It was the root cause of you coming here in the first place. The son of a lady you were serving had his eyes of for you, one day gifting you his grandmother's ring on Christmas. A little bird tweeted in the kitchens you were working in and you found yourself in front of the Mistress who had her son beside her, questioning him on the jewellery. The bastard denied ever giving it to you.

Branded a thief, you knew sooner than late that you would be sentenced to transportation.

Your nan always told you to be wary of men, they will take advantage of you if you don't.

That's why you descended upon the Portuguese ship in tow behind John, because you were just a pawn in whatever game the Lord of Kanto was playing.

You both narrowly escaped. That was one thing about you that you shared with John. Your drive to live ...

For the few coming hours, you had Mary that drive nor will ..

Unable to face Toranaga after his betrayal, you went to the back of the ship that courses through the waves. Somehow, you ended on the other side of the helm of the ship, the heal of your legs balancing on a protruding beam. Your mind had conjured up a peaceful oblivion, that was enough to make you do that.

As you gaze down at the reflection of the starry littered sea, that's all you wished to be engulfed in. A gleaming heaven, a calm nowhere and everywhere at the same time. Not a raging cold ocean that would drown you the moment you let go.

The moment you let go ..

It never came. Because Toranaga was there.

He stopped you. Obviously it didn't work. You were a stubborn girl from the day you were born.

Your mind was made up. You nothing here in these, you had no one, you were no one.

By the time you reached Ajiro village, no words were shared between you and Lord Toranaga. You stood next to Blackthorne as the formalities went on with Toranaga inspecting his vassal's army.

Then you saw him sailing away on the boat, gracefully raising his fan as the army cheered him on. Nagakado had said he had urgent business and that for the coming months, the gun regiment needed to be trained.

There was only a moment where you interlocked eyes with his as the boat took him away. A foreign feeling tugged at your heart and you ignored it as you wondered beneath all that anguish inside you. Was he ever feeling it too?

Now how were you to bring up being with child in all that whirlwind of pain and betrayal and loneliness?

Thankfully the loneliness was cured.

You found a friend in Usami Fuji. She had orders from Toranaga to be John's consort and you knew a great deal about him spending time on the Erasmus, in that long, excruciating voyage. She was thankful for you immensely.

With time, she helped you adjust to the life growing in your womb as she was once a mother too.

Lady Mariko was there, too.

She was your translator, your closest confidant. You had begun to accept her as the older sister you always wished and dreamed you had. Most of your siblings you had to see go because of famine. You were much accustomed to death around you.

So when a new life came, your heart was heavy with joy. Your eyes shed tears of content for the very first time since you arrived in this island country. In your daughter, you had something that was yours and a purpose to keep moving forward in this godforsaken journey called life.

Life seemed a little brighter with her here now. And that only hope you held, was the reason you stood before Toranaga today, without having to fall to your knees and wallow in self pity and embarrassment.

Toranaga nods toward Lady Mariko and she bows, taking her leave. Your heart sinks as you watched the departure of your interpreter but you do your best not to show it. Now, all you had was your broken Japanese to communicate with him.

There was silence, only the winds whispered, filling the space between them. As if they too were anticipating who would break the silence of suffocation.

"That day .. no goodbye." You tried piecing together the words you could only describe were like million puzzle pieces to create one image, while the clock ticked in your eardrums.

The clock being the unflinching gaze of Toranaga.

Toranaga replies, "I'd assumed you were angry with me."

"I still am." You confirmed, catching onto the last three words he said. The lessons you spent with Mariko giving you hope that even though broken, you could still communicate and reach and understanding.

Your gaze fell on a lamp, finding it interesting all of a sudden. You harboured enough strengths and courage to do a great many things but looking into his eyes was not one of them. He was the most frustrating yet undaunted man you had ever met in your life and you didn't know whether to see that as a blessing of a curse.

"Can .. can I trust you?" Your voice came out in a whisper.

"Trust is a powerful word."

Of course he would say that. I mean, what were you hoping? He was a Lord, for crying out loud. And you .. you are just a girl from a small town that courageously paved her way through life and then royally fucked it up after you trusted someone you claimed to love.

Still not meeting his eyes, yours closed as you let out a shaky breath. You just needed the clarity. "Then, can I lean on you? Until the storm is over?"

He knew exactly what you meant. This war. You wanted clarity on whether he would protect you should anything happen ..

Toranaga nods. "I will you give you a shelter untill this storm is over." His lips upturned and your eyes finally found his, your heart fluttering as the burning on your cheeks stung.

"And perhaps," he continues, "we can start over. From the beginning."

"I'd like that," for the first time, you beamed a smile that reached to your eyes. "I'd like that very much."

[redsamuraiii]

In every fandom, there will always be those that are quick to use the word "misogyny", in this case, some fans calling Toranaga misogynic. Either they have not been really paying attention or do not understand what the word really mean. So allow me to explain.

"Toranaga killed Mariko".

Mariko had always wanted to die since her family was persecuted. Possibly wanting to reunite with her family. And she sure as heck is not going to die for Buntaro or even with him. So Toranaga offered a death that satisfy her, a death for the greater cause which will save thousands, while getting her revenge against Ishido, a trusted vassal of the late Taiko that wiped out her entire family.

She was given a choice which she could refused, but she accepted it. Because she's a Samurai. She accepted her fate and responsibility to save others instead of running away to save herself. (Buntaro look down on Ishido for running away to save himself in Korea). Toranaga never intended to sacrifice her but had to as a last resort when he failed to get the loyalty of the Christian lords.

Crimson Sky cannot take place as he cannot siege Osaka with the enemy behind him (Christian lords from Nagasaki) or he'll be sandwiched between them and Ishido. That's when he resorted to an attack from within, with the help of Mariko. She expose Ishido's true intentions and make a fool out of him by showing everyone that he is no man to hold the women hostage and to even kill a woman.

"Toranaga killed Fuji's family."

Fuji's husband is a Samurai and knows his place, so when spoke out of turn when he shouldn't, the mistake was his. He not only show Ishido that Toranaga could not control his own men but he also show contempt to Ishido who would use it as a pretext to wage war on Toranaga and his supporters, as he's been waiting for an excuse to wipe them all out in a war that will kill thousands.

And to ensure that the child will not grow up to avenge the father's punishment, causing another civil war, the child was ordered to be killed, along with the father. Two lives sacrificed to save thousands, something a Daimyo (Lord) was to supposed to do, protect his people from war, if it can be avoided, which is what Toranaga have been striving for, to end conflicts without a war.

But who is to say, Fuji would not want to avenge the death of her family too? So instead of having her killed, he gave another form of punishment, to be a consort for the barbarian, Anjin-san, for a period of time, after which she is allowed to live but as a nun. Historically, many Samurai were pardoned provided they became a monk, as temples have no political affiliation that would pose a threat.

So it is not something that is exclusive to women, but to men too, which is common in the feudal era, not just Japan, but all over the world. That's why the medieval period is called the "Dark Ages" because things were messed up, that's how feudal system works. The right thing to do may not be the moral thing to do.

"Toranaga is hungry for power."

Well, yes. I mean how else can you end the senseless civil wars that have been going on for years without taking control of the country to unify it? If you do not become Shogun, someone else will. Someone else worse than you. Yes, they're all evil but Toranaga is the lesser of all evil. He does what he can to avoid a war while others like Ishido is constantly looking for excuses to start a war.

The Dictator killed monks, nuns and children. The Taiko invaded Korea, killing many and lost. Toranaga went to war once and he won. That's when he realized the horrors of war and is determined to avoid it. What if it means sacrificing your vassal and his family to save the rest of your followers and the people you're supposed to protect? The Dictator and Taiko took control because of greed.

Toranaga takes control because he wants peace.

The Dictator takes power because of greed, that he sees everyone as a threat that he starts killing innocents and even disrespects his own vassal, Akechi, Mariko's father which cause him to betray the Dictator to stop his madness. The Taiko takes power because of glory, he wants to show others that a peasant like him can achieve greatness to invade Korea and China.

There is a difference between taking power for thrill and glory, and taking power to protect your people from more wars.

[awarmbowlofhomemadesoup]

Stories: Miyamoto Usagi vs. Yuichi Usagi

(made for Leonardo shippers who can't decide between two rabbits)

Both Miyamoto and Yuichi's stories are based on doing what's right -be it honor, justice or kindness.

There is a difference, with the former being for older age groups and the latter being for the younger.

(this is based on my opinion with no energy to put in sources, take it with a grain of salt)

Personalities

Assuming that Miyamoto came of age when he became a samurai during the Edo period, he became a wandering one at 16-17. Yuichi left home when he was 16.

Both Miyamoto and Yuichi share similarities. Despite Miyamoto having a perpetual scowl, they both have a sense of humor. Both are not above doing stupid stuff on rare occasions due to age and arrogance (like the time Miyamoto tried to lord his status over a monk who turned out to be Mirage comics Leo). Both are patient and giving with kids.

In the start of their stories, Miyamoto has more experience with the outside world and fighting than Yuichi as will be explained below. However, it is Yuichi who has closer bonds.

Living Situations and Relationships

Both will have different perspectives due to their living situations. Because Miyamoto is on a pilgrimage for years to find himself, the people he meets only stay with him for weeks at maximum.

He is a good guest to kind families who would take him in. Miyamoto would end up helping with their woes (whether it's exploitative landlords or businessmen stirring conflict between communities).

Miyamoto seems to be closer to his master than his father as most of his backstories on upbringing revolved around his master.

Yuichi in his story is just beginning. He is bound to the city to help with the yokai and to train with his master since he lacks the temperament and experience.

He also has friends to support and accompany him -and being their own people, they have their own conflicts that affect him and the others too.

Yuichi also has closer relations with his family, particularly his aunt, whom he feels undeserving of her love because of his many mistakes of being restless on the farm.

Threats that They Deal With

Miyamoto's life is harsh because of bandits and assassins on the roads he travels. He is a bounty hunter to have money for his travels. Sometimes, he meets malicious spirits.

While Yuichi's aunt has protected and taught him long enough, he has to deal with interstellar threats that are over his head using mystical means.

Usagi Yojimbo

Based from what I've read of Miyamoto Usagi's story in the Usagi Yojimbo comics, most of the comics revolved around honor, the code of the samurai, and how far you take it to be true to the samurai way.

Some of the comic series show the harm it can inflict on others when warriors take duty, obedience, and self-sacrifice too far:

Gen's father who spent the rest of his life looking to avenge his master at the cost of his wife's exhaustion and death, and alienating his son who resented him for it.

Another samurai who was aware of how corrupt his sworn lord was and chose to keep his honor as a samurai by defending him to the death.

But that even if you follow honor over your heart, it's sometimes the most practical and wise -such as Mariko choosing to hide the true identity of her son's father and marrying someone else so that Miyamoto can serve his master instead of running to her to take responsibility. (while I don't agree with her decisions, I can at least understand where she's coming from)

The comics don't really show what's wrong or right. It allows the readers to decide for themselves.

And for Miyamoto, he would do the right thing (duty, obedience and self-sacrifice as a samurai).

And if he can't do the right thing, then he will do what's kind.

And if he can't do what's kind, then he will do what's just.

Like in one of the comics, he was tasked to retrieve the sword of a widower's husband as it is the birthright of her son. (do what's right)

But the village girl who had a relationship with the husband wouldn't let go of the sword -even for money. Miyamoto doesn't want to force her, so she decided to give her time to think about it. (do what's kind)

But the girl's brother accidentally killed her when they fought over the sword. When Miyamoto found out, he avenged her and buried her next to the husband. (do what's just)

Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles

The name Yuichi means "kind." And while Yuichi doesn't seem formally and in-depth trained as his ancestor in being a samurai, it frees him from its complications. He isn't as burdened as his ancestor by the samurai code.

Miyamoto and the other samurais in his time are burdened with obedience, duty, and self-sacrifice. Yuichi is free from those.

Yuichi is more straightforward. He stays in the city and help with the yokai because it is his fault. But soon, he defies what is supposedly his lord (Lord Kogane) to stand up for the yokai who had done no harm and help them find their place in the city.

While being a samurai seems outdated or outlawed in their city, Yuichi has brought balance with it by following the code his auntie has instilled in him: to defend those who cannot defend themselves. And later on, with the yokai and Kagehito: help those who cannot help themselves.

But it doesn't come without consequences. By the end of Season 2, it would be believable if the risks he took would haunt him despite everything becoming alright. He risked his life, his family and friends' lives, and the city in an advanced alien invasion to help another alien. Things might have turned differently if he hadn't learned to connect with the Ki crystal at the last minute.

Conclusion

Comparing the two Usagis is like comparing a ponkan from an orange. Both use kindness as a weapon, but each wields it differently due to experience, situation, and period of living.

They will both carry different regrets. They will have different stories and choices because they have similar but different perspectives. Miyamoto has been doing his pilgrimage for years. Yuichi is still beginning his journey.

But this is just my opinion from having completed Samurai Rabbit S1 and 2, and about 40 series of Usagi Yojimbo before taking a break. Do what you will.

[schrodingerscougar]

Note: Seriously, I have no excuse for the Toranaga fics. Here's a modern day one. Please, enjoy, then kindly point me in the direction of works from others.

..

Toranaga remained silent after Blackthorne finished talking and waited for Mariko to translate for him. You watched him with curious eyes, looking for small changes in his expression that would tell you what he was planning this time. Because you knew many things about him, one of them being the fact that he spoke English quite well.

Once the conversation was over, he asked Mariko to be with their guest for the rest of the day to help him communicate with others and get to know your customs better. After they left, he asked you to go to the roof with him so you could talk in private, away from the people who were dying to find out more about the outsider.

“Please, enlighten me. Why are you making the Englishman believe you don't speak English?” you asked Toranaga once you stepped next to him by the railing of the rooftop.

The man looked at you with a small smile as his fingers played with the small box he held in his hand. What it contained you didn't know, but something told you it was none of your business. “I believe I shouldn't make things easy for him just yet,” he said after a while.

You tried to resist, but your eyes kept falling on the box in his hand. It was a small and simple cardboard box, not something that would seem particularly precious. It was killing you that you had absolutely no clue what it was hiding, and why he had been playing with it ever since you joined him up here.

“You want to know what's inside, don't you?” Toranaga asked with a laugh as he opened his palm and held the box close to you. You shook your head without thinking, even reaching out to close his fingers around it, but he gently pulled your hand away and showed you the object once again. “Take it. It's yours anyway.”

“Mine?” He nodded with that kind smile still visible on his lips. So you took the box and opened it, only to find another box inside. But it wasn't another cardboard box, no. It was a blue jewelry box that had a beautiful white gold ring with a yellow diamond in the middle inside. “I don't understand, what is this?”

“I believe you already know. We've been together for long enough to understand what we want from this relationship. This is what I want,” he explained.

You didn't know what to say. These were trying times for all of you, a proposal wasn't something you could think about. There were people after him, his life was in danger, he had a strange Englishman as a guest, and he was thinking about this? If you didn't know any better, you would have assumed he went mad.

“You have nothing to say?” he asked, bringing you back to the conversation with only these five words.

“Why now in the middle of this mess?”

Toranaga decided to wrap an arm around your body and pull you into a kiss, probably hoping this would make you focus on his proposal instead of your fears regarding the future. His future. He was right as usual, you were terrified those idiots would get him killed.

“I want to hear you say yes before I die, that's all,” came his response as he placed a soft kiss on your cheek. “Don't you want to stay by my side as my wife?”

You flashed a delicate smile at him then put your arms around his neck to pull him against you. “That's all I want,” you whispered to him before burying your face into the crook of his neck.

People had warned you not to let him close, to keep a safe distance from this man who was way more powerful than you could handle. At first you followed the advice, especially because you saw what he could be like, how cold and scheming he was with others.

But then you saw a different side of him. A softer side, one he seemingly reserved for you, and only you. Gentle touches, romantic getaways, generous gifts; he did everything he could to sweep you off your feet. Maybe it was a trap, but maybe he was genuinely interested in you. Either way, you couldn't resist for long.

The two of you joined Blackthorne and Mariko for dinner in the evening, going to an excellent restaurant with a private room to talk a little more. Through the other woman, Toranaga asked a lot of questions about the Englishman's intentions. He assumed he came here looking for something that had been hidden a long time ago, a relic that held value only to a small circle of people.

You remained silent and listened. You weren't allowed to talk to the outsider yet because your fiancé wanted you to stay out of whatever mess he was here to cause. He would have rather thrown Mariko under the bus right now. It was cruel, but he was only protecting you, you knew that.

“Why don't you ask him about the relic? Go on, ask him about what object they've been hiding for a long time,” Blackthorne told Mariko once he had enough of the cross-examination.

She looked confused, hesitant to speak up at first. Knowing Toranaga understood everything made her more cautious and you couldn't blame her. Of course, Blackthorne didn't speak Japanese, so he wouldn't have understood what she said. But despite this, she was carefully choosing each word when she spoke up again.

“Lord Toranaga, the relic he's talking about… Is it real?” she asked.

“It is very much real, I can assure you,” he said before turning to his guest and switching to English. “I believe you are chasing a myth, Mr. Blackthorne. This relic went missing a long time ago.”

His lie made you nervous. What was he plotting this time? But the biggest surprise came from the other man whose jaw dropped upon hearing him speak his language.

“You bastard, you understood everything I said, didn't you?” he asked angrily before turning to you. “I bet you understand everything too.”

“Whether or not she understands you doesn't matter as I asked Mariko to translate, not her.”

Blackthorne laughed at this. “You don't want your lover to be involved? What are you afraid of? That she might realize what a manipulative piece of shit you are?”

Toranaga glanced over at you for a moment, then turned back to the Englishman. “You should learn to choose your words more carefully,” he warned him. “You saved my life, for which I'm grateful, and you are my guest, but I won't hesitate to get rid of you if you make the wrong choice.”

You shivered because of the way he talked to Blackthorne. This was the man people warned you about, the one who was usually nowhere to be found when you were around. He exchanged a few words with Mariko in Japanese, then stood up and extended a hand to help you up too. It was time to leave apparently.

Before you left the room, your eyes met Mariko’s and you couldn't hide your worry. She flashed a small smile at you then nodded to tell you she would be fine. You returned the smile then said goodbye and went after Toranaga. You didn't dare to resist.

[dgct2]

Destiny. We all have a moment that changes us.

When I was a kid my mom and I watched the Shogun miniseries with Richard Chamberlain. She absolutely adored him. I became entranced by the world. The moment changed my life. When Blackthorne learns Japanese from Mariko, that is me learning right along with him. It is because of this series that I eventually studied Japanese and karate.

I remember inhaling Shogun and then the rest of the Asian Saga by James Clavell. Thankfully I grew up in a house where books were celebrated. My parents had a library that covered two 20' long walls top to bottom. Hundreds of books that I could get lost in. It was a dream come true.

Fast forward 40 years and FX has done a remake of Shogun. To say that I was nervous and had high hopes would be an understatement. Just finished watching the first two episodes and all I can say so far is that it has exceeded my expectations. The music. The scenery. The costumes. The details that bring a book to life. This series has it in spades. It is going to be a masterpiece. Go check it out if you get a chance. You can watch the series on FX, Hulu, and Disney+.

[thaliajoy-blog]

I've been watching Shogun these days and I love it and I'm progressively fixated on Toranaga. Analysis & spoilers here❗

He's made into a rather "good" character at first sight, someone we can empathize with and sort of "rely" on and consider the guy we are rooting for against Ishido & the rest of the council of regents. Like he's got a sympathetic background with his father abandoning him into his ennemies' hands & letting him alone to discover by himself the harsh realities of life, how in the present he regrets & rejects that his promising young samurai must commit ritual suicide, how he was the only man the Taiko seemed to have really trusted, his good interaction with the heir...but then the "three hearts" saying comes back to you, and also lady Ochiba arrives. Ochiba really does seem villainous in some sense, but she tells outright that she thinks Toranaga plotted to murder her father. And we know Toranaga is a cunning man. We also know little of him : we spend most time outside of his private life and his immediate entourage & house life while we get to know more about Blackthorne, Mariko, Fujiko or Buntaro. He's really made out to be hard to know when you get to it, there's really a sort of wall around him.

The last two parts of the "three hearts" saying tell you that there is the heart men keep in their chests, which is just for friends, and the heart they keem burried, out of anyone's sight or hands. There's something daunting about the possibility that no one really knows Toranaga, that even the Taiko who was close to him and trusted him with his son knew nothing of his true nature. That maybe despite claiming that he doesn't want power or war (with his mouth, the heart he presents to the world), he actually desires those, has been ready for them for a long time. That he planted the seeds that led to the death of Ochiba's father to one day take power through his many other machinations, and that the heir isn't really safe with him alive still - Ochiba might be right. That life has made it so that he doesn't believe in true friendship, only in using people. Because he once was a young boy put into the hands of his father's ennemies by that same father, and because then he only found safety in his own cunning & in using and manipulating others.

[rozaceous]

<3 love that your jason todd tag is bbygirl btw. just finished going thru tcba again, hope you’re doing well !! <3<3<3 love that ur critical of the village and love how mariko affects her criticisms. I think it’s interesting that she considers herself weak, but nonetheless is very capable at fulcrums, for lack of a better term? applying pressure where effective, as appropriate? that’s a power all its own. <3333 love mariko thx for sharing :)))

Jason Todd is my beloved and has done nothing wrong, ever, in his life.

and you're not the first to bring up that mariko doesn't have very accurate self-perception! so now I'm gonna ramble!

part of this depiction is (my) innate imposter syndrome and fear of failure, but kicked to the max. for mariko, failure has Consequences. perhaps even CONSEQUENCES. she got placed on team7 and from then on, if things got fucked up, it wasn't just that the people she cared abt could get hurt or die. it's that she knows there's the potential for calamitous, world-ending type bs if things go too sideways. so she can't afford anything even smacking of arrogance ever.

and the imposter syndrome... part of this is that she's placing herself on a scale w shounen protags lol. scale is fucked. and she has to keep up, while knowing that she's going to get squashed like a bug if she's not vigilant.

the other part is that she's not sakura. she's filling sakura's role in canon, but sees herself as inferior to sakura in terms of ability/potential. she's kind of literally an imposter.

so on the one hand, this all leads to a fairly accurate understanding of how she measures up against certain opponents, bc not having that evaluative ability is the same as being dead lol. but it also means that she's by turns dismissive of lower-level persons/people she can easily out-maneuver (like the confrontation w danzo, she wasn't worried abt her fighting ability against him, and same against sai, even sasori to an extent), and very negative about her skills bc she always knows someone who is better and she's not wrong. those ppl really do exist!! and she's probably going to have to fight them!!

but this also means she's dismissive of how she is herself skilled and formidable. she's always using that scale against herself right? either they were small fry and not worth worrying abt and that's why she could win, or she's the small fry.

idk, I feel like my readers really want mariko to be the best at stuff, but I only gave her one superlative ability - her chakra control. the rest is mariko scrambling to be enough. not the strongest, but strong enough, smart enough, etc. and part of that is, as you note, learning how to apply leverage, bc that's how you topple someone when you're otherwise outclassed. (same thing goes for physical fights - you don't have to be bigger or stronger for something like a joint lock to work, bc those are all abt leverage.)

I personally think it's funny that what mariko admires konan for - keeping up - is the same thing she refuses to recognize as admirable when she does it.

[zoldyck-pilled]

to be honest the more i think of it i really am a hater of takashi ichinomiya. at first i was thinking “you know it’s nice he seems to care about rei when the rest of her family treats her like shit” but no, his help to rei extends to visiting occasionally and going “you know, smoking is bad for you” and he thinks he’s such a good guy for it and it makes me so mad. and then he gets offended at mariko for hating on men when he literally proves her right because his best friend is a pedophile who dated a girl when she was 15 (and in the manga takashi hits on 16 year old mariko because he sees her misandry as her being feisty n hard to get or whatever). he’s so insufferable, he should have more knowledge of the situation between rei and fukiko than anyone and he does literally nothing to help these two seriously mentally ill girls, and acts like he’s above it all. i hate this guy so much 😭😭

[rockmiyabideusexmachina]

2024 Megaman Valentine's Day/White Day Contest Results!

Hopefully this post won't feel too rushed; it certainly is rare for me to get contest results posted before 2 days have passed. Once again, I thank everyone who drew something for this year's event, as well as those who helped spread the word. Even with a smaller turnout, you guys still made it really hard on me to choose winners. All your art is deserving of praise! I wish I could afford to give you all some prize money! While I am posting this right now a little late into the evening in my time zone, I will be sending all the winners a message about your prize winnings soon enough, later tonight. If you don't see something right away, just know my message is on the way, within the next few hours. After the break, you will see all the pics and this year's winners!

As usual, after each entrant’s name, there will be a link to their entry, too, just in case the inserted images don’t load for you. With a smaller turnout this year, everything has been uploaded into a single imgbox gallery folder. Should be alphabetical by alias for each category, with the first 7 images for Cat. 1, and the last 4 images in Cat. 2.

[Full entry gallery]

CATEGORY 1 (Talent): Black and White Day

For this category, participants were tasked with creating an image celebrating White Day, with the requirement that their art mimic the "rubber hose" art style from around the 1920's. All entries needed to use a black and white or monochrome palette. 1.) HikariLux [Entry] [GB Alternate] $175 Winner!

A cute scene with Rock presenting Alia with a ring that was made even better by adding an alternate original Gameboy palette pixel version of the same art. That added creativity made an adorable pic stand out even more, to give two different retro vibes to your art.

2.) @eulogysinger [Entry] $100 Winner!

As an overall scene, your piece felt the most like it was screencapped straight out of a 20's cartoon, so I give you your props on getting your style to match so well! You can feel the movement with the curve in the Big Snakey's necks as Snake Man slides on down to Toad with his candy bouquet gift.

3.) @sylviidaee [Entry] $75 Winner!

Sure, because of all the Axess storyboard posts I've been doing lately, this trio is probably in my mind more lately. But animating your piece to give it that added life, as the guys bonk each other with their gifts for Mariko, helped boost your entry into the top 3! LOL at the fish crying when Masa gets bonked. And again, style-wise, great job pulling off the rubber hose look.

And the rest of the wonderful entries in alphabetical order by alias: Kaitlin.EXE [Entry]

Y'arr, that Pirate Man be takin' the girl and a pricey pearl wit 'em. But I bet once Diveye the Sailor Man eats his seaweed, that Pirate has a few punches coming to him. Retro Splashy's design is so cute! Totally a fun scene and creative takes on all three.

Komito [Entry]

Like a vintage Norman Rock(man)well painting, the diner scene truly gives off the retro vibes, from the checkboard floor to Big Boy waiter Rock in the background. Love the touch of Splashy's straw curving into a heart shape as she longingly stares at Blues.

@wennastudio [Entry]

I get the vibe of Axl imitating Porky Pig here, saying "That's All Folks!" to end the episode, as he pops out before the fades out. And since you are alphabetically last, it makes your piece even more fitting to close out this category's pics with this cute piece!

CATEGORY 2 (Humor): Showing Some Skins

For this category, entries needed to contain a character wearing an out-of-place holiday-themed skin or outfit that was not Valentine's Day-related, while in a Valentine's Day scene or setting. Being the humor category, the more it makes us laugh, the better! 1.) @aurantia-ignis [Entry] $175 Winner!

🎵Zero the Snowman was a jolly, happy soul...but are YOU happy, Ciel? I love how Zero took White Day this literally to don this amusing snowman outfit. And out of all the entries for this category, you pulled off the absurdly humorous costume the best.

2.) @drewblossom [Entry] $100 Winner!

It might just be a simple party hat, but I mean, Bass isn't wrong. Subtle, but I was amused! The heart shaped speech bubble was a nice touch to help sell the dialogue's punch line as well.

3.) AbilityField [Entry] $75 Winner!

Clever way to show the rush in changing between events, as RiCO is in part Valentine's skin and part Celebration skin dress that are digitally switching. ViA has it much easier throwing on a coat. It's always easier for the guys to get ready, as they say.

4.) Miralie [Entry]

While Zero and Iris are dressed for the day, X's date does sort of have that Halloween vibe to her, as a witch. While Axl is clearly enjoying Singles Awareness Day...or doing his best Stuart Smalley impression by giving his Daily Affirmation that he's good enough, he's smart enough, and doggone it, Reploids like him.

[richincolor]

Exploring Big Cities Via Novels

Exploring large cities can be a lot of fun, but my feet and knees can’t always take all of the running around. Visiting via novels (or graphic novels) makes it a lot easier. It’s clearly not the same experience, but I do enjoy a little tourism via literature. The last few young adult (or new adult) titles I’ve read take place in London, San Francisco, and New York with nods to quite a few of the local landmarks. I enjoyed each of these in different ways and appreciated seeing the cities through other eyes.

London on My Mind is a rom-com with a bit of family drama and a brush with royalty. Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies has all that you might expect with the title including a bit of romance along with a few thrilling moments. Roaming leans more coming-of-age as college freshman wander through the streets of New York.

With all three, it was nice to experience the settings along with the characters. When I saw the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco while on a walk last night it definitely made me think of a specific scene in Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies. I didn’t make it all the way there though since as often happens, my feet were done before the rest of me wanted to give up for the day. I’m thankful for these glimpses of cities from the comfort of my reading chair.

London on My Mind by Clara Alves translated by Nina Perrotta PUSH

Sixteen-year-old Dayana has always dreamed of visiting London — to walk along the Thames, take pictures outside Buckingham Palace, and maybe even get a glimpse of Arthur, Prince of Wales, whose marriage has been all over tabloids. But the trip of her dreams turns into a royal nightmare when her mother passes away. Now, Day must leave Rio de Janeiro to live with her estranged father and his new family in London.

As it turns out, the U.K. isn’t exactly Day’s cup of tea. She struggles to forgive her father for walking out on her and her mom all those years ago; fights with her stepsister constantly; detests her stepmother; and she can’t even see One Direction in concert because they’ve been broken up for ages. All she wants to do is trade the rainy skies of London for the sun and beaches of Rio.

That’s when she runs into the girl of her dreams — literally: The coincidentally named Diana, a witty, funny, redhead who was in the middle of . . . escaping Buckingham Palace? Something isn’t right here, but it makes Diana all the more alluring. As time passes, and the two girls grow closer, Day can’t help but wonder if there is more than a little truth to the rumors surrounding Prince Arthur — and if Diana might be involved somehow. Is it all in her head, or could Day be caught up in a real-life royal scandal?

Kisses, Codes, and Conspiracies by Abigail Hing Wen Feiwel & Friends – Available August 13, 2024 (Thanks to the ALA Convention for the ARC)

Tan Lee finds himself embroiled in an unusual love triangle, all while trying to defuse a heist, unravel a conspiracy, and navigate the most complicated babysitting assignment ever in this YA novel by national bestselling author Abigail Hing Wen.

After a magical kiss at Prom, best friends Tan Lee and Winter Woo agree to cool it off, a plan that goes awry when their parents jointly head off to Hawaii and leave Tan and Winter to babysit Tan’s sister Sana together. If that isn’t complicated enough, Tan’s ex-girlfriend from Shanghai arrives on his doorstep with money stolen from her billionaire father and thugs on her heels.

Tan soon finds himself on the run, trying to out-maneuver international hackers and protect his friends, family and sister – and his own heart.

Roaming by Jillian Tamaki & Mariko Tamaki Drawn & Quarterly

Spring break, 2009. High school best friends Zoe and Dani are now freshman college students, meeting in a place they’ve wanted to visit forever: New York City. Tagging along is Dani’s classmate Fiona, a mercurial art student with an opinion on everything. Together, the three cram in as much of the city as possible, gleefully falling into tourist traps, pondering so-called great works of art, sidestepping creeps, and eating lots and lots of pizza (folded in half, of course). Roaming is a ground-breaking graphic novel from the authors behind New York Times bestseller and Caldecott Honor Book This One Summer.

[askstormscall]

(From @sinnohsiblings Calama to Mariko) "A lovely voice child, I knew someone with a voice like that once though jers was more haunting. You have an air of timidity about you. Why is that when your species is known to be more bold?" The elder Wyrm said with a stringent eye.

“You cannot sing, child. Just remain as you are. A mere wallflower amongst the rest of us.” Those haunting words played in her mind. And she was there. Beneath the scrutiny of others. But it was the golden look of disappointment that stung her the most of all. She could handle the others, they didn't matter to her but the eyes of gold shunned her. 

A look of crippling pain as she breaks her gaze with the Giratina, her jaw tightening as she lowered her head. She refused to recede into the background once again, her heart aching. 

Sister? 

Her head went up, attentive. Wrapped in her emotions, she had forgotten how tethered she was with her sibling. Brother? Teeth bit down on her lower jaw. 

What is happening? I feel your distress. A pause before she felt the surge of his anger through their telepathic link, having found his answer. Why are you thinking of her? She is no longer part of our lives. She felt the distinct sound of jaws snapping, his anger palatable. 

A swift look to the skies and she could see the clouds amassing, becoming dark and ominous, a sign of her brother’s mood… and his vicinity. He was coming and he would be there swiftly.

A panicked look to those who had arrived. “P-Please hide!” She knew her brother’s temper. “He doesn't -”

Lightning forked across the skies, rain pouring from the heavens. Oh no.

Lightning struck in between her and the Giratina, the visage of a Lugia rising from the bolt. 

There he stood, snarling, as he stared down Calama, the entity unwelcomed.

Shielding Mariko from view, the Lugia gave Mariko a look of reprimand before turning his attention on the Giratina. "Why are you badgering my sister?!" His eyes never strayed, showing no fear of the colossus before him. "Your presence is unwanted here. All of you."

@sinnohsiblings

Art by @askvekpa <3