#Fuubutsushi

[dikiyvter]

@fuubutsushi said:

i'd cry! 

       Now are these tears of JOY or tears of ANGUISH --

[culturedarm]

Fuubutsushi's new album Meridians was recorded by distance and reflects the disparity in time zones, with the four sides of the record given the labels ‘Pacific’, ‘Mountain’, ‘Central’ and Eastern’ which broadly approximate their moods and themes. The close-miked nature of their missives gives Meridians both an intimacy and the sort of separation between instruments which evokes that iconic ECM sound, while their decision to self-produce and publish exclusively via Sage��s own Cached.Media imprint, which pulled itself off Bandcamp around the turn of the year, emphasises both a punkish do-it-yourself ethos and what they characterise as a ‘farm-to-table, grassroots approach’.

https://culturedarm.com/fuubutsushi-meridians/

[wolfkcst]

                   ❝Me and the Devil, walking side by side.❞      Yes, they are willing to scare those soldiers.  lyric sc. @fuubutsushi​

[rockheadcd]

@fuubutsushi​ said:  A quick clear of his throat, and then he holds out his arms to present what he's holding. "I believe this is supposed to be with you." And what is it he's offering? A furball covered in dirt and dust, still holding a sizeable cut of fish in his little mouth. He may be a little apologetic over being caught, but not enough to even think for a second to drop the fish. / inbox call.

"Mh?! Ah! You spooked me—" It's impossible to keep track of Kazuha, even in plain sight, unused to the free flowing wandering and the equally deceptive habits that kept him from being caught by just about anyone. Geez, what would he do without the Crux Fleet... "Thank you very much!" 

Of course, the little devil himself couldn't hide from anyone from his own homeland—he even got himself a snack and must've forgotten all else. At the very least, though, Roark is visibly relieved, carefully taking the furball from Kazuha and holding him in one arm and trying to dust off some of the dirt from his head and ears to little avail. He doesn't even need to worry about the stolen fish—Volkner would rather perish than let go of fresh tuna. 

"I guess the fresh haul this morning was too irresistible to wait until later, I'll have to find the fishmonger to pay them proper," he sighs, but he's not entirely miffed in the end, he's just glad he's not stuck spending most of the afternoon sticking his head under tables and behind stalls and inside crates. "How'd you find him, anyway?" Well, theoretically he could also ask the furball after a much needed soak and scrub, but the source would be far more entertaining and knowledgeable ( that is, if a floating piece of meat is easy to spot or if there's something specific to kitsune that he should know about ). "That, and—is there at least anything I can do in return? You've given me a whole day back before I even knew it'd be gone!"

[jxngs]

FUUBUTSUSHI | 風物詩 — 1

· . ༄࿔ 𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒: Snow whispers softly, Blind eyes in winter's embrace, Curse king's frozen game.

⤿ or in which a blind girl is forced to play shogi with the king of curses.

Sukuna / Ryomen Sukuna | Original Female Character(s)

Tags: Slow Burn × Size Difference × Heian Period × Romance × Violence × Enemies to Lovers × kind of lol × Canon-Typical Violence × Betrayal × Disabled Character

[Ch.2] | [AO3]

It was cold.

The biting cold wrapped around everything, coating it with a crisp layer that crunched beneath every footstep. It was harsh and relentless; it seeped into everyone's bones and left no one behind. The poor village lacked resources. It lacked the ability to offer its inhabitants warm fabrics that gave a sense of security and comfort. And despite the sun lazily casting warmth over them through the layers of the cold, it wasn't enough. How could it be enough when the frigid air lingered? Lingered in the air, and lingered in their bones. Every time it snapped and turned, the smell of snow and pine stung in their frozen noses. 

And despite the harsh winter and its dead flora, soft laughter came from a distance. The ground rang with small vibrations, echoing the familiar sound of snow being crunched. A young mother was out, yelling at the children to come inside before the weather made them sick. Her voice was full of worry, yet a hint of amusement laced underneath it all.

"But mooom!!"

"No! I'm not hearing anything, so get in!"

With a groan and a grumble, the vibrations through the ground come to a stop.

A blanket of silence hangs over Yukimori—a village that was a week's worth away from Heian-kyō¹, the capital city. A gentle whisper oozes from the bare branches of trees surrounding the village, brushing against their ears. Birds chirp sparingly, their calls muted by the cold, while the soft swish of snow being gently blown from branches kisses their ears once more.

Winter's solstice was coming.

The trees spoke again, moving and dancing with the breeze.

Warning them.

Winter's solstice was coming.

Winter's solstice was coming.

Winter's solstice was...

Screams began to fill the place. Breaking the silence she found solace in. Hushing the rustling trees. Breaking the snow underneath. Hushing... People were screaming.

Her ears picked up on the sounds, as she struggled to grab her cane that she had forgotten about. It was coming from everywhere; the screams. The woman from earlier was sobbing and yelling, panic and fear coursing through her voice. The kids were quiet this time. They were always noisy. Joyful and happy to live. Her wailing bounced off the walls, and the earth shook with vibrations she had never felt before. The smell— God, the smell! Nature no longer flooded her nose. Acrid and metallic. It was all that she could smell.

Emotions flooded her, becoming too much to bear. Her senses were overloaded to compensate for her loss of vision and loss of knowledge. She couldn't understand what was happening. All that was on her mind was finding her walking cane and seeking her dad. 

Where is her dad? 

Her hands were pressed against the tatami mats, and she crawled around to find it. Tears soaked her fabric, overstimulating her senses even more. She crawled and cried. She crawled and cried till her knees burned and her sniffs added to the symphony of screams. Just anything. Let her grab anything to guide herself with. Her knees wobbled with every movement, feet shuffling, and hands stretched outwards.

Where is her dad?

The metallic smell was spreading everywhere, as panic and fear hung and settled in the air. Her heart was thumping loudly against her ribcage; it felt as if it were starting to beat in her ears too. It caused her body to tremble, walking around blindly. She was so shaken that she couldn't focus on a single sense. They were too overstimulated to the point that her body started to shut them out one by one. Her hearing was growing dull, and she couldn't smell anymore. Her instincts were kicking in: find your dad! Her brain was screaming at her to do anything to survive.

"Dad? Where are you?" she called out, shuffling near one of the walls. 

Her body kept bumping into random corners, but she couldn't pay any attention to the sharp pain and forming bruises. Despite knowing the layout of the house, she never knew how to get around that well without her white cane. Her disability made it too hard for her to do most things. Going outside was too dangerous. Cooking led to her getting burned and cut up. Sewing pricked her fingers too much. Hah, she couldn't even read or write! Without her only parent, she was as useful as a vegetable.

The more she walked around in the burning hot house, the more loathsome her thoughts were becoming. Why couldn't I just be born normal? 

At some point, she tripped over something, and she landed on her hands to protect herself from the fall. Her tears were starting to soak the thin fabric that covered her eyes. Trembling and panicking. Full of hatred. Self-loathing resentment.

It's not like she had any friends or proper connections that she'd remember in her last moments. She was alone her whole life. Not only was she blind, but apparently, she looked like a freak too! The poor girl never saw colors to understand their fuss over her appearance, and oftentimes, their comments would leave a bitter taste in her mouth. So ungrateful for being able to see in the first place.

Perhaps whatever was happening would get her out of the prison that was her body.

"—Up! It's your dad!!" 

Snapping her head to wherever the direction of the familiar sound came from, she started to shake again. Her hands ripped the blindfold off her eyes from how uncomfortably wet they were becoming. Her senses became so dull that she didn't realize her father's embrace until he shook her. The look in her eyes was so distant and fear-stricken, and it made her dad shake her more.

"—ina, I'm here [...]"

"Calm down, o—?"

"Breathe."

"In and [...]"

"—ut"

"Breathe."

Breathe.

With her nails sunken into her dad's clothes, her senses began to slowly come back to her. The crisp breeze of winter was washing away that putrid metallic smell. She no longer felt as if she were ten minutes away from her skin blistering and melting off. She could feel her hair sticking to her forehead from the sweat. Her cheeks were stained with fresh tears. People weren't screaming. It was eerily quiet.

"W-What happened...?" she finally asked once she had calmed down.

"There was an attack on our village, but..." Her dad trailed off before continuing, "a kind King was nearby and helped us out."

"Really? That's... that's so nice of him."

"Mhm, but he asked for one thing in return for their favor."

Her eyebrows were furrowed in confusion when she asked, "What was it? I hope our people are willing to do that since he saved us."

"My sweet, kind daughter," he cradled her face in his palms, caressing her cheek with one calloused thumb. "When he heard of you being a shogi master, all he asked for was to play with you until he won at least once."

The blind female only excelled at one thing: Heian shogi². It was as if the stars blessed her with one thing despite all her struggles. She has been challenging older masters with more experience since she was young, and her winning streak has been impressive. Usually, their egos would make them challenge her and wager on something, undermining her disability. Who would expect such a young, naïve girl to be good at such a game? It grated on their pride to know of such an opponent who had no losses under her belt.

It wasn't surprising to hear of the King's request; she always had people ask her for a match. She was more than willing to grant him his request.

"If that's the cost of saving us, you know I wouldn't mind, Father."

Her dad only pulled her into another warm, tight embrace.

"Oh, I'm so glad that you're still alive."

-

The young woman sat down patiently, not moving an inch while her dad neatly wrapped a fabric around her eyes. She was dressed in a white kimono with a light blue snowflake pattern and a matching blue obi, according to her father. Despite being of nobility, the village was too poor for her family to spend money on a jūnihitoe³. The clothes she was wearing were the best she had, and they felt silky and smooth enough to be appropriate. She was preparing to see a King of a town nearby, so of course, she had to pay attention to what she was wearing.

Her long hair fell all the way down to the ground after she gently brushed it out. Her father took out her favorite hair clip and pinned some strands to the back of her head. Finally, she slipped on her tabi socks and grabbed her cane from next to her.

Walking gently around the house, her arm was interlinked with her dad's. She slipped on her geta sandals before they left. It was still very cold, but the sharp smell of pinewood bit at her nose, making her visibly relax. Snow crunched under her feet with every step. The sound of her tapping was muffled by it. They reached a point where she could hear the sound of wood burning and crackling, seeping its smoky smell into the air.

When they reached the horse, he helped her get up on it before settling in front of her. Her hands gently held onto his clothes, and with that, they embarked on a days-long journey to the King's estate.

They took a couple of breaks here and there to eat food. It wasn't that tiring for her considering how it was her favorite season, and she got to happily spend time outside without worrying about getting hurt. At some point, she fell asleep while hugging her dad from behind, her cheek pressed against his back.

By the time she woke up, she could tell that they were on an area that wasn't covered with snow. The gentle rustle of a horse's movement was accompanied by a rhythmic, muffled squelch, which was telling of wet soil being stepped on. Her hair swayed with every step until it slowed down to a stop.

"We're here, my dear."

Her dad's voice snapped her out of her thoughts, and she muttered an "okay." He helped her get off and handed her her cane. She gently held it with her right hand; her left arm hung on his elbow. 

TapTapTapTap

Her kimono moved with every step, as she was being guided by her father to the entrance of the estate. From what she imagined, it seemed to be big. The wooden floors didn't make sounds much like her house, and there were so many stairs she had to climb. The smell of incense wafted through her nose—smoky and inviting. 

Was the King that rich...?

She had visited a lot of rich people before, but their houses never felt as big as this one. She was only at the entrance so far!

Knock

Knock

She shuffled on her feet until she heard the wooden door open with a faint creak from the hinges, a soft, drawn-out groan resonating through the wood.

"We've been expecting you." The person greeted them, swinging the door open. "I'm Uraume, and I'll be guiding her to the King from here on."

She turned around to smile at her dad to bid him farewell. He gave her a tight hug, whispering to her how she should take care of herself and focus on winning. They eventually pulled away, and he started to walk away. The sounds of his footsteps grew quieter and quieter with each step.

Turning to look straight ahead, where she guessed Uraume to be, she gave them a gentle smile and said, "I'll be in your care."

The young shogi master walked through the long, endless corridors while Uraume held onto her arm and guided her. They didn't speak much, and she was too focused on taking in her surroundings. The wooden floors were cooler beneath her sock-clad feet, and as she moved, the soft creaking of the estate's wooden structure blended with the faint whisper of the wind seeping through tiny gaps in the architecture.

TapTapTapTap

It felt oddly serene and pleasant. The sounds and smells were inviting, and in her mind, it was fitting for a King like that. He was kind to grace their village from perishing. It made her excited to play with him, as she mentally hoped that he wouldn't be like most of her male opponents.

When they got deeper into the estate, the floors felt warmer, and the cold winds weren't sneaking into the air. There was a distant smell of wood burning, and it made it all too comfortable and cozy for her. They were finally reaching where she was going to meet the King.

The estate was definitely too big for her to memorize. Not unless she stayed there for months. It felt as if she were in a maze, and at some point, she gave up on trying to understand the directions they were walking in.

TapTap

Tap

They stood in front of a sliding door which Uraume knocked on three times at first. There was silence in return, yet they slid the door open. A faint smell of cooked meat and tea tickled her nose, and she was led inside. When Uraume tugged on her a bit, she went down on her knees in a seiza position. She placed her hands on the floor and bowed down until her forehead nearly touched the floor. After staying there for a few seconds, she raised back up. 

Uraume tugged on her again, indicating that the King had silently motioned for her to come and sit. She took her cane and was guided until she stood in front of the King, a shogi board between them. She sat back down in the same position, placing her cane to the side. Her hands were folded on top of her lap, and she gently smiled at him.

"It's an honor to meet you, Your Majesty." She greeted him, her voice gentle.

It was quiet, and she couldn't tell what the King was thinking about. Her lack of vision made her unable to read into her surroundings, let alone people. Fortunately for her, it felt comfortable to sit in silence with him. She didn't feel pressured to say anything else, nor did she feel awkward and squirm around in her seat. It's been... a long time since she felt this relaxed in someone's presence.

Suddenly, she heard one of the pieces move and be placed on another tile. Her head tilted down as if she were looking at it, her mind deep in thought. Usually, her opponents told her their moves, but she, somehow, got a general idea of what they would be. Anytime she was in front of a board, it felt as if she could sense its energy buzzing in her mind.

In her imaginative eye, the shape of the board was glowing, and the pieces were in different intensities of glow. Anytime a piece moved, it would move in her head, too.

Her slender hand reached out to pick up a piece and placed it down, mimicking his move.

"P-5d."⁴

Since her opponent was someone she had never played against, she decided it would be better to do a basic move first. It'd be interesting to see what kind of player the King was. She never had a set playstyle; she always adapted to her opponent. Adopt their moves and become even better.

Snap!

Another piece had moved in her mind's eye. 'P-7f'

The pawn on one end of the board was moved forward two spaces.

"P-3d."

She did the same on the other side.

Snap!

The King moved his Silver General diagonally. 'S-4h'

Her hands quickly moved to pick up her Silver piece. "S-4b."

The King was obviously trying to gauge her skill too. So far, all their movements weren't offensive or straight to the point. The two were being tactful with each other, and it was obvious. It was rare for her to have an opponent who tried to get a read on her. Their egotistical personalities made them attack her pieces right from the start to dominate the game.

They continued to play. Sounds of the pieces being placed down and her stating her moves filled the room. She had a small smile on her face as they played. It felt so refreshing and nice to have someone take her seriously. She never expected herself to have so much fun. A part of her was worried that she'd be stuck with someone cruel till they got bored of her winning streak. But no, the King of her was kind.

"Thank you," she spoke up after stating her move, 'Nx3e', "for saving my village, Your Majesty."

"..."

He remained silent. She didn't even question it. She only gave him her sincerest smile, her hands folded on her lap. To her, it seemed as if he wasn't able to figure out what move to make next, yet she sat. She sat there patiently with her head tilted towards him rather than the board. It seemed as if she was staring at him, reading into him, but they both knew that she was blind. He verified it earlier.

Even if he sat there, thinking for the rest of the day, she wasn't going to urge him to make any move. King or not, she was simply not the type. Her patience was that of a saint, according to her father.

The glow in her mind shifted to show that one of her pieces had been swiped away. 

"I don't think cheating is allowed, Your Majesty." She giggled.

Silence.

Snap.

Her white piece was back in place now. 

The King was silent again for a moment before he moved a black piece.

"S-4f."

That caught her off guard for a second; it was the first time he had said anything since she had entered the room. 

His voice was a deep, resonant timbre, and it grazed her ears smoothly with a tinge of sharpness. It was... fitting for a King. No wonder why his place is so huge; he sounded like a strong King who had a very commanding aura to him.

"S-4c." Her movements were free of hesitation, as if she had already predicted his move long ago. 

"S-4g."

"P-5e." She retracted her hand into her lap, and she tilted her head back up to look at him. "I haven't had this much fun playing in a while!"

Her voice was higher and more feminine in comparison. It sounded dreamy with childlike wonder and excitement. It was fitting for a blind woman who was naive to her surroundings. Naive to the man sitting in front of her.

His gaze was dark and calculating, his red eyes raking over the woman in front of him. She smiled at him like his presence and cursed energy didn't suffocate everyone else in the temple. Like he wasn't the one who tried to annihilate her village. Like he didn't bare his claws at her neck moments after she stepped in. He couldn't tell if it was because of her disability or because of her gullibility. 

Her long, white hair flowed down her back and onto the floor, while her bangs and side pieces framed her porcelain white face. A tinge of pink covered her cheeks and the tip of her nose from the cold weather, and half of her face was covered with a thin, white fabric.

It felt as if she were a beacon of light in the darkness of his estate—an angelic being visiting. It infuriated him. It disgusted him how she looked so otherworldly, like she had never experienced any sin. Never experienced any of the hatred and anger he felt toward humanity.

If it wasn't for the vow he made with her father, he would've sliced her head off the second she stepped in. Sukuna never expected a blind woman to be this good at some board game. When her father first talked of his offer, he cackled. He cackled and laughed at how absurd it was. It was so amusing to him that he decided to entertain himself; his daughter was going to die today. In this room. Without knowing that her dad set her up for her death.

Yet, with how it was going, he was not going to win the first match.

Her existence was an anomaly for him.

She had zero cursed energy. He couldn't detect her presence till she was in his room. Every human he met, sorcerer or not, had some amount of it in them, yet the girl in white didn't have any.

Even her physical presence was meek and quiet, not demanding anything. Even when he took long to play his turn on purpose, she sat there patiently. Hands folded on her lap, and a soft, upward tug on her lips. 

That was without mentioning her weird ability to know that he took one of her pieces earlier. How could she be blind to everything but the board in front of them?

"+P-5g."

Her soft voice grated on his ears and snapped him out of his thoughts.

She had won.

"I'm sure you'll win next time." She gently encouraged him while picking up all the pieces in one hand. Her tone was free of bragging and condescension. She spoke to him like a mother would cheer up her son after losing. Sincere and... caring.

He hated it.

He hated her.

"How can you play this game when you're blind?" Sukuna asked her, an amused smirk resting on his face.

"O-oh!" she was surprised by the sudden question. "I don't know how to explain it... I can kind of see the board in my mind."

The woman proceeded to tap on the side of her head. She tried to think of how to answer his question. It was rare that people would be curious about her ability; they were often bridled with rage when they'd lose.

"Every time I play a move, I can see all possible combinations to any move my opponent can do to mine. It just flows in my mind, and I can't control it. Every combination is stored, too. Even if I last saw it years ago."

Her explanation had him humming in thought, trying to think of how that was possible. Could it be a Heavenly Restriction?

"You mean that you remember all the moves we did in this game too?" he asked her.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Interesting.

She seemed to be unaware of how that worked or why it did. That doesn't mean that he can't beat her. Sukuna knew that there had to be a way to get around her skills at this game. Eventually, he will find said way to win, and he'll be able to get rid of her at once. 

The two started another match, and she was the first to start. Her move wasn't a basic one like earlier; she had already gotten somewhat of a read on his playstyle. In order to win, she had to think in his way to be able to predict his most probable move after hers. 

So far, she had been moving in a certain rhythm—moving her pieces seconds after him. She looked at him and the board as if she could read their souls bare. Telling her what she needs to do to maintain her pace. All Sukuna had to do was disrupt her pace. He played the same way he did earlier, leaving two of his strong pieces around his King and attacking her with the rest.

However, when she was nearing his King, he suddenly moved his knight and placed it in an unexpected position.

"N-7g."

She froze in her place, her hands tensed up. He didn't have to see her eyes to know that he had caught her off guard. It was visible from the way her gaze was directed towards the board, and her hands were stuck in place.

'You'll be a nice dinner to have today.' He cackled in his mind while he leaned in closer in anticipation. His eyes were wide open, staring at her intently to watch her reach her death at her own hands.

His gaze dropped down to her moving hand, and he grinned widely. She was going to fall into his trap; he was going to win when she'd least expect it.

"+N-6i." She placed her promoted knight down.

He lost.

Again.

His grin transformed into a quiet sneer. He gritted his teeth and glared at the board. How... how did she manage to do that? 

"That's a checkmate." He finally said.

Sukuna began to pick up the pieces instead, his mind running a thousand miles per hour. It annoyed him to realize that he hadn't noticed her promoted piece earlier on. He was so focused on almost winning that he forgot about his most vital piece. His own King.

"Why did you hesitate?" he asked her, his voice not betraying the anger that bubbled in him. 

Snap! Snap! Snap!

He placed the pieces down to rearrange them.

She lifted her head to look at him, and she smiled sweetly like she wasn't the one who tricked him. 

"Because the sequence you did was something I had done before." She began to explain calmly. "Then I had an opponent do it to me before, so I had to find out halfway and change up my strategy without him noticing."

She gripped her kimono and glanced down at the board with a fond look. "It was like reliving that moment again. That's... That's why I hesitated."

Sukuna couldn't stop himself from chuckling at her words. For such a dumb, innocent girl, she played him without him noticing. It was starting to drive him insane; he had to win no matter what. Even if it took up all his time, he was determined to win. All just to fulfill the vow and kill her and her annoying village people. It was them who sent her his way. Who forced her into his sacred place. The second he won, he was going to relish in murdering her and the rest. He'd hang up their heads and organs to warn people to never mess with him again.

And so, they played.

They played and played till night rolled in, and it was nothing but a losing streak for him. Sukuna was visibly looking at her with unbearable bloodlust, yet she still continued to look at him like he was a Saint who saved her people. She treated him with a softness he had never experienced before, and it set him off. He never allowed someone to treat him like that. Matter of fact, no one ever did. He didn't need some weak, pathetic human emotions displayed towards him.

She even had the guts to explain to him what moves he could possibly do when he was actually struggling on what to do. Sukuna thought his options were limited, but hearing her tell him about all the combinations while pointing at the pieces with her index finger opened his eyes to possibilities he had overlooked. The worst part of it all was how genuine she sounded. She was so happy and excited to tell him.

She was truly the weirdest person he had ever met in all the years he had lived.

Sukuna knew that she hadn't gotten to rest properly in over twenty-four hours. They started playing the second she had arrived. However, she didn't show a hint of exhaustion. She didn't ask him to stop out of hunger or tiredness. Instead, she played with him to his heart's content. If it was anyone else forced to be in her position, they'd show it with their body language.

She was just...

He didn't even know how to describe her anymore. It really threw him for a loop.

His gaze lingered on her for a second, and then he said, "What's your name?"

Her lips tugged upward at his question.

"My name is Yukina, Your Majesty."

"Call me King Sukuna."

Yukina was pleased to hear his name, and she gave him a small nod and said, "Yes, King Sukuna."

So docile.

Sukuna leaned back in his place while trying to study her features. Yukina was completely oblivious to everything around her. To him. To how he stared at her intently like she was his prey. It was starting to become entertaining to him by now. He was going to shatter her innocence and expose her father's betrayal to her eventually. He would let her know that it was him, the King of Curses, who set her place on fire and killed a good part of her population.

And he was going to love every second of it.

Notes:

✧ Fuubutsushi: the things—feelings, scents, images—that evoke emories or anticipation of a particular season for a poet.

¹. Heian-kyō: Heian-kyō was one of several former names for the city now known as Kyoto. Emperor Kanmu established it as the capital in 794, moving the Imperial Court there from nearby Nagaoka-kyō and marking the beginning of the Heian period of Japanese history.

². Heian shogi: Heian shōgi is a predecessor of modern shogi. Unfortunately, there is not enough information to actually play the game.

³. Jūnihitoe: The jūnihitoe is a style of formal court dress first worn in the Heian period by noble women and ladies-in-waiting at the Japanese Imperial Court. The jūnihitoe was composed of a number of kimono-like robes, layered on top of each other, with the outer robes cut both larger and thinner to reveal the layered garments underneath.

⁴. P-5d: A typical example is P-8f. The first letter represents the piece moved: P = pawn, L = lance, N = knight, S = silver, G = gold, K = king. Promoted pieces have a + added in front of the letter. e.g., +P for a tokin (promoted pawn). The designation of the piece is followed by a symbol indicating the type of move: - for an ordinary move or x for a capture. For example, Nx7c= indicates a knight capturing on 7c without promoting.

[doomandgloomfromthetomb]

Shiroishi, Prymek, Nguyen - Eventually the River Rises Here Too, Same as it Always Has

Over on Aquarium Drunkard last week, I scribbled some words about Meridians, the new Fuubutsushi record — a record you should own! You should also own this one, which features 2/4 of the 'sushi gang (Patrick Shiroishi and Chaz Prymek) plus drummer Thom Nguyen. Recorded live a few years back at the Columbia Experimental Music Fest, Eventually consists of two lengthy improvs, the trio searching restlessly for the sound. Prymek sets things off with nervous/nervy guitar work, Shiroishi adding deep sax tones, Nguyen skittering along, pushing things forward. There's an almost funereal feel, an elegy for a fallen world — though there are moments of pure ecstatic beauty, too.

[noloveforned]

it's a holiday weekend here in the u.s.a. and i'm 'celebrating freedom' with my typical friday evening freeform radio on wlur. you can tune in from 8pm until midnight for the live fireworks. if you're celebrating elsewhere tonight you can always catch up with last week's show streaming on mixcloud.

no love for ned on wlur – june 28th, 2024 from 8-10pm

artist // track // album // label the double // dawn of the double (excerpt) // dawn of the double // in the red dom sensitive // r&d // leather trim // dinosaur city mope grooves // forever is a long time // box of dark roses // 12xu antietam // shively spleen // antietam // hoemstead surveillance // on my way // less than one, more than zero // celluloid lunch loose lips // here she comes // loose lips cassette // (self-released) laughing // easier said // because it's true // celluloid lunch hot tubs time machine // no thanks, google maps // fifty shades of marcus 7" // spoilsport moss lime // dreamboat // zoo du quebec ep // telephone explosion the pretenders // message of love // pretenders ii // sire birthday girl dc // house of cards // birthday girl ep // army brat oh, rose // that do now see // that do now see (remastered) cassette // antiquated future danny paul grody duo // hawk hill // arc of night // three lobed fuubutsushi // new flora // meridians // cached media kronos quartet and laraaji // daddy's gonna tell you no lie // outer spaceways incorporated- kronos quartet and friends meet sun ra // red hot organization yea big and tatsu aoki // the mind and the heart // the hand and the moon, pt. 1 // for practically everyone william parker, cooper-moore and hamid drake // processional // heart trio // aum fidelity joe henderson // afro-centric // power to the people // milestone rome streetz // what i'm used to // i been thru mad shit // bad influenyce previous industries // white hen // service merchandise // merge homeboy sandman // the place i want to be // rich ii // dirty looks maxo // same hoodie since '05 // smile ep // smile for me yaya bey // chrysanthemums // ten fold // big dada jimmie green // dance // eccentric soul- the shoestring label compilation // numero group the garment district // the island of stability // flowers telegraphed to all parts of the world // happy happy birthday to me advantage lucy // solaris // fanfare // eastworld smile too much // memorial park // ep two cassette // dandy boy lunchbox // heaven only knows // pop and circumstance // slumberland shonen knife // elephant pao pao // burning farm // oglio korea girl // under the sun // korea girl // asian man

[viisiond]

fuubutsushi​:

[autumnalsteahouse]

— WIP LIST —

this is subjected to change of thing pop up or if an idea is heavy on the brain,, these are passion projects for me so I wanna be able to put my whole heart into it :> i break down my writing into 5 steps! that’s how you’ll see the progression of each piece; I will put what step I’m on too keep you guys in the loop!

☆ ; fuubutsushi (n. Japanese) - the things — feeling, scents, images — that evoke memories or anticipation of a particular season

— in where it’s almost been a year with Suguru, the days are getting shorter and the weather is getting colder, and you’re remembering the autumnal traditions you get to uphold… as a couple this time.

in the process of finishing the rough draft… 3/5

☆ ; past present future

— at first it was a job that could help you get through college, a quaint little place that Nanami runs; conveniently in between school and your place. A few years later and you’re Nanami’s favorite worker. what if he wants you to be more than that?

in the process of starting a rough draft … 1/5

☆ ; meet me downstairs?

— in which you befriend your neighbor, yuuta, at the downstairs coffee shop when you attempt to get away from your new flatmate.

in the process of starting a rough draft… 1/5

☆ ; sewn together, stronger and better

— mitsuya takashi, a well known fashion designer has requested you to walk in his show… one of the most celebrated shows of the season. will you accept his invitation?

or up-and-coming model (reader), who’s used to being harassed by men in the fashion business to get farther ahead, gets hand-plucked out of hundreds of thousands by Mitsuya himself.

in the process of being outlined … 0.5/5

[nirikeehan]

Otherwordly Prompts, Part 2

Compiled from http://other-wordly.tumblr.com

Balter (Middle English) - (v.) to dance artlessly, without particular grave or skill but usually with enjoyment.

Palinoia (Greek) - (n.) The obsessive repetition of an act until it is perfect or mastered.

Nefelibata (Spanish) - (n.) lit. “Cloud-walker”; one who lives in the clouds of their own imagination or dreams, or one who does not obey the conventions of society, literature, or art.

Nemophilist (English, origin Greek) - (n.) a haunter of the woods; one who loves the forest and its beauty and solitude.

Meliorism (English, origin Latin) - (n.) the belief that the world gets better; the belief that humans can improve the world. 

Asterismos (English, Greek) - (n.) “marking with stars”; a word that gives weight or draws attention to the words that follow; related to asterism, a constellation or a starlike figure of light. 

Kintsukuroi (Japanese) - (n.) “to repair with gold;” the art of repairing pottery with gold or silver lacquer and understanding that the piece is more beautiful for having been broken.

Annus mirabilis (Latin) - (n.) a remarkable or notable year in history; a year of wonders or miracles, used to speak hopefully of the future.

Volta (Greek) - (n.) A leisurely stroll along the main street or the seashore as the sun is setting, to meet and talk with friends and neighbors. 

Gibigianna (Italian) - The play of light reflected from water or a mirror; a sunlit area; figuratively, a woman who flaunts her charm or who wishes to dazzle you with her elegance. 

Ostranenie (English, Russian) - (n.) Encouraging people to see common things as strange, wild, or unfamiliar; defamiliarizing what is known in order to know it differently or more deeply. 

Sobremesa (Spanish) - (n.) The time spent around the table after lunch or dinner, talking to the people you shared the meal with; time to digest and savor both food and friendship. 

Aswium (Korean) - (n.) The mingled feeling of disappointment, frustration, and regret that results from an unsatisfactory situation. 

Torpe (Tagalog) - (n.) A man who is desperately in love with a woman, but cannot admit his feelings or approach her.

Brumous (English, origin French) - (adj.) Of grey skies and winter days; filled with heavy clouds or fog; relating to winter or cold, sunless weather.

Erlebnisse (German) - (n.) The experiences, positive or negative, that we feel most deeply, and through which we truly live; not mere experiences, but Experiences. 

Mbuki-mvuki (Bantu) - (v.) To shed one’s clothing spontaneously and dance naked in joy.

Smultronställe (Swedish) - (n.) lit. “Place of wild strawberries”; a special place discovered, treasured, restored to for solace and relaxation; a personal idyll free from stress or sadness. 

Vorfreude (German) - (n.) the joyful, intense anticipation that comes from imagining future pleasures. 

Koyaanisqatsi (Hopi) - (n.) Nature out of balance; a way of life so unbalanced that you need a new way.

Fuubutsushi (Japanese) - (n.) The things — feelings, scents, images — that evoke memories or anticipation of a particular season. 

Koi no yoke (Japanese) - (n.) - The sense one has upon meeting another person that they will fall in love.

Karoshi (Japanese) - (n.) Death from being overworked. 

Metanoia (English, origin Greek) - (n.) the journey of changing one’s mind, heart, self, or way of life.

Oniochalasia (English) - (n.) buying or shopping as a method of stress relief or relaxation. 

Gotong-Royong (Malay, Indonesian) - (n.) The joint sharing of burdens; the bearing of the weight of the world together with friends.

Dormiveglia (Italian) - (n.) The space that stretches between sleeping and waking.

Nepenthe (English, origin Greek) - (n.) Something that can make you forget grief or suffering.

Naufragio (Italian) - (n.) lit. “Shipwreck”; colloquially, a lousy party.

Caim (Scottish, Gaelic) - (n.) lit. “Sanctuary”; an invisible circle of protection, drawn around the body with the hand, that reminds you that you are safe and loved, even in the darkest times. 

[dragons-ire]

14 for wrapped!

Fuubutsushi - Chasing Mirrors

Instrumental track for character writing!

(Thank you for the ask!)

[dustedmagazine]

Listed: M. Sage

Colorado musician, artist and educator Matthew Sage produces a unique form of ambient music, one that focuses on personal experience rather than obscure intellectual objectives or new age mysticism. Through both his own sounds and those he curates via his Cached Media imprint his goal is to unearth the beauty within the seemingly mundane. With Paradise Crick, his latest and most fully formed release, he casts his gaze on the great outdoors, envisaging a camping excursion. In his review, Bryon Hayes found that the record was “his most visceral work, as he ornaments his typically ambient palette with an assortment of palpable shapes, colors, and textures.” In addition to making music, Sage also enjoys seeking it out, often from non-traditional sources. For this edition of Listed, he runs down some of the more interesting records that he picked up on recent thrift store diving excursions.

10 recent thrift store finds in no particular order — I hit the flea markets and thrift stores once or twice a month and get weird CDs and cassettes. I like buying stuff that I would otherwise listen to on streaming… or never listen to from these local companies. We have CD players in our vehicles and I listen to CDs a lot driving. Cassettes mainly happen in my office when I am writing or drawing. So… a lot of what I look for is sort of “functional music” that I can do stuff to. I also snag up favorites from bands I love… I found 3 Wilco CDs at one shop last week!

Anyway, here are some recent favs.

Bonnie “Prince” Billy — Master and Everyone

Found in Longmont at the thrift store with the curated CD selection. Long time BPB fan, and I especially like how subdued this one is. Maybe not my all-time fav Oldham out there, but it’s great and the CD is in great shape.

The New American Orchestra — Blade Runner Soundtrack

Found at one of the flea markets in Fort Collins. Maybe the one with the lavender? This is an orchestral adaptation of the original Vangelis score, and it is about as smooth jazz as it gets. Incredible sweeping melodies. This version of “Blade Runner Blues” feels like something hiding on “In a Silent Way.” Ambient jazz for sure.

Chet Baker — Let’s Get Lost

Another one from the Longmont spot. Been obsessed with Chet Baker for a while now in that when I don’t know what I want to listen to, I just throw on any Chet’s greatest hits album and feel content. I love the arrangement on “My Ideal” with the toy piano and Chet’s voice and trumpet.

John Coltrane — The Gentle Side of John Coltrane

Also from the Longmont spot. I, of course, love wailing Coltrane. But I also think his sweet songs are some of his best. “After the Rain” is especially informing some of the arrangement choices I’ve been making on some new Fuubutsushi songs.

Shanghai Film Symphony Orchestra — An Dun (Calming the Emotions)

I buy a lot of random CDs like this, and I can’t remember where exactly this one came from. But yeah, foreign/new age/private press, etc. weird CDs… and most of the time they aren’t great… but this one is very good. When I find something like this that I like I google it later. When I did that with this CD, I found it on YouTube and this is my favorite comment about it: “Whenever I play this on a construction site, at first the guys complain. Then later they thank me for playing it. Saying they've never felt better.” My toddler seems to enjoy it in the car… I do too.

Claude Debussy — Images pour Orchestre. Preludes: La Fille aux Cheveaux de Lin

70 minutes of Debussy from Longmont ARC. Lots of solo piano from Peter Schmalfuss. I like that these recordings feel soft. Sometimes classical piano feels really hard, lots of attack, almost like microscopic. These recordings are more spacious. Chris from Fuubutsushi swears by Ravel, but I am team-Debussy.

Georgia Kelly — Seapeace: Music for Harp

Can’t remember where but found this in Colorado in a stash of pretty heady new age tapes. Later found out it’s a cult classic. It is a self-released one — the album was later reissued on other formats by new age labels — so I love knowing Ms. Kelly herself released this copy into the world and it has since ended up in my possession. The whole thing is on YouTube!

English Meadow: Environments — Environments 1, 4, 12: Slow Ocean, English Meadow, Intonation

I have all the Environments titles on LP and have since started collecting cassettes when I see them in the wild. These 3 are specifically my favorite Environments, so finding them all in one go felt like a thrifting triumph. I feel like English Meadow specifically sounds nice on cassette.

[luuurien]

Lake Mary - Slow Grass

(Ambient Americana, Chamber Jazz, Contemporary Folk)

Spacious and aching, Chaz Prymek's latest release as Lake Mary is a heavenly combination of pastoral field recordings and thoughtful instrumentation, weaving lonely chamber jazz and melancholy folk around generous helpings of birdsong and natural ambiance. Slow Grass' defiance of sorrow allows it to hold close painful memories in the most beautiful ways.

☆☆☆☆☆

Slow Grass is about presence above anything. From the 20-minute runtime of its two pieces to how Chaz Prymek uses that time, the album embraces its ambient influences not just in sound but in its essence, refusing to make every moment a directly engaging one and ensuring there's ample space for the music to just breathe. It's not all too surprising, given Prymek's background in groups like Fuubutsushi and their gentle chamber jazz and The Spinnaker Ensemble's soothing new age/folk combinations, but his work as Lake Mary stands out with its sensitivity and raw emotion, the negative space between every guitar line or string drone given just as strong a meaning as the instrumental elements that shape each piece, Slow Grass not only a masterful piece of ambient folk but one of Prymek's most personal, founded on the relationship with his late dog Favorite the past fourteen years of her life and how their time spent together during her declining health brought him new perspective and unimaginable heartbreak. It's an album not only about loss but how important it is to give love and tenderness a place to grow within that empty space. The first of its two sides and the title track, Slow Grass sounds more like the last droplets from a rainy cloud than any genres the album finds itself around. Pushed forward by recordings of water and birdsong alongside Prymek's lightfooted fingerpicked guitar and Patrick Shiroishi's gentle clarinet melody (Shiroishi also brings saxophone, vocals and percussion), the title track's earliest moments are about patience and grace, Shiroishi's serene singing falling into place among the vibrant natural ambiance surrounding him and Prymek. There's a heightened sense of surprise and wonder to the moments Prymek does let his guitar ring out as long as it needs to, occasionally hammering hard on the strings to pull a harsh metallic punch out of them or playing with vibrato and how it subtly shapes a note as it continues to fade, Slow Grass so acutely aware of everything happening around it that you can start to feel like the music is an ecosystem of its own, capable of change and surviving on its own spirit regardless of if you're around to witness it or not. Considering all this, Slow Grass' final seven minutes becomes both a cathartic release and a testament to Prymek's gorgeous musicianship, noise slowly washing in as he whams down on his guitar like a dulcimer until enough commotion has been made for Paul Dehaven's synths to explode like midnight fireworks and Shiroishi's signature saxophone improvisations to sweep across the piece like a shooting star in slow motion, so much energy and passion and thrill coming out of absolutely nowhere and all the more precious for it. Both sides of Slow Grass are essential to the album's success, but it's this first opening piece that lays the framework for the second half's tenderness and defiance. So Long Favorite, the album's second half and a heartbreaking memorialization of his late dog Favorite, refuses to let sorrow be its leader. It's so soft and lush in ways music about loss rarely is, Prymek's eternal paradise for Favorite built with the help of Shiroishi's aforementioned instrumentation and Chris Jusell's heavenly string arrangements with such pure love and generosity poured into every second. That's not to say any sadness or heartache isn't present throughout So Long Favorite's 19-minute runtime, but it's not the kind of sadness that presses you down into the dirt and keeps you from moving forward, Prymek's sturdy and secure guitar work the sunlight that Jusell's flowery strings and Shiroishi's pastoral woodwinds need to cultivate the space Prymek needs for his late best friend. I would be lying if I didn't say that the loss of my own dogs in the past wasn't a massive reason why So Long Favorite took me places few other pieces of music can even get close to, but even for those who've never had pets there's an inherent vulnerability and ache to it you can't pull away from. It's so simply beautiful and to the point with how much Favorite means to Prymek and how strongly the music embodies her spirit and Prymek's love for her, and nothing more is needed for So Long Favorite to hold me at an emotional breaking point nothing else this year has. Slow Grass is not only heartfelt and tender, but defiantly so, Prymek sheltering the memories and emotions he holds dear and not letting grief overtake him, making music so sentimental and full of warmth to materialize his grief without letting it drown him. His treatment of painful memories and heartbreak with positivity and hope is nothing short of stunning, and Slow Grass only proves itself more beautiful for it, able to handle such difficult feelings with the grace and understanding of the natural world Prymek pulls so much inspiration from. Prymek's music always serves as a conduit for his emotions with nothing to get in the way of it, and Slow Grass does a perfect job containing all the love and tears and mementos Prymek and his dog will forever have with one another. Loss is always a terrible thing, but Slow Grass makes a case for endless joy and remembrance in the face of it.