#Self-Aware Oda's kids

[selfaware-bungou-stray-dogs]

Oh my God… as soon as I read your post I had a thought… Probably unnecessarily cruel… What if the Children of Oda (46) and Ai (7) end up in Tayvat with the reader… This would make things more difficult for the poor reader. Because In addition to trying to survive, there is also the need to take care of children… And absolutely ordinary children without abilities. And the rest will panic greatly. Especially if the reader herself is a child or a teenager, although the plus is that the reader looks like just a young creator, if this seems too cruel and/or difficult, you can ignore or change my request, thank you very much for your attention, good luck!!!

If you were not alone

Part I

_____

Self-Aware! BSD AU x SAGAU Imposter crossover

Characters:

Self-Aware! Platonic! Aya Koda, Self-Aware! Platonic! Katsumi, Self-Aware! Platonic! Shinji, Self-Aware! Platonic! Kousuke, Self-Aware! Platonic! Sakura, Self-Aware! Platonic! Yuu

Reader: Teen! GN! Reader

Warning: English is my second language

👧🏻 🚸 At first, the situation didn't look too bad. Yes, all of you woke up in the wilderness, and you have no idea, how you get here, or how to return home, but, none of you were injured, and hilichurls looked surprisingly friendly and didn't try to attack you.

However, the emotions in the group weren't even slightly positive.

You were hugging crying Sakura and Shinji. The girl buried her face in your chest, and the boy was clinging to your side. 

Katsumi, Kousuke and Yuu were trying to keep themselves together, trying to act as big boys. But you can see tears in their eyes. Soon, they joined the group hug.

Aya was silent. She was a little bit tougher, then Oda's kids. You will be tough, if your adopted father is Vampire Count Bram Stoker. 

But she also was hugging you. Because now, she was a child. Not a Defender of Justice.

You were whispering reassuring words, promising, that all of you will be safe.

You want to believe that.

When you were more or less calmed down, your small group start moving to the nearest city.

Aya, Katsumi, Kousuke and Yuu were walking before you. You were holding Shinji's and Sakura's hands. You were making sure, that no one will get lost.

As the oldest in this group, you must take care of them.

 👧🏻🚸 Mondstadt was strange. From the game, you got an impression, that Mondstadt were a friendly city. So why... Why everyone were glaring at you?

 The answer came in a form of a statue. A statue made of gold. A statue of an adult version of you, made of gold.

 The statue was terrifying. It wasn't too big. It wasn't scary. But sometimes felt wrong. Something in every little bit of the statue made you feel frozen with fear and disgust.

 And, it seems, that your companions got the same feelings as you.

 You felt glares on you. Mondstadt was quiet. Waiting for something.

 The silence were overwhelming.

Yuu's voice could be mistaken for screams in this silence.

 "[Y/N], don't worry, this monster may look like you, but you will be looked much better, when you grew up."

 And the first of many "Imposter! Dirty Sinner!" came.

 🚸👧🏻 Your lungs were still burning. Sakura and Shinji were holding to you for dear life. All of you were chased away from Mondstadt. But, you were sure, that the people of Mondstadt weren't satisfied with simply chasing you away. No. The anger in their eyes. They wanted blood. Your blood.

 It was a miracle, that you survived. And the miracle had a name.

 Klee managed to hide you all away and get you to the Dragonspine. Right now, you, Oda's kids and Aya were resting in Albedo's lab.

While Klee tried to cheered kids even for a bit, you were talking with Albedo.

🚸👧🏻 The situation were terrible. You and kids are now wanted criminals, you can't trust anyone from Teyvat. Your only chance to get home - meet with Alice. The bad news is that she is forced to travel from nation to nation, not staying on one place for too long. There would be a big chance, that you would miss her.

And you must protect six kids.

You stayed with Albedo for a week. You discussed everything you need to know.

You decide to travel to Sumeru. If Albedo wasn't mistaken, Nahida would help you. Maybe, Irmensul have answers and knowledge on how to get you all home. At least, you could hide you, until Alice arrived.

Albedo gave you clothes, backpacks, supplies, blankets and much more. Everything you need during your journeys. It won't be enough for the whole journey. But, at least for the next few days, you won't worry about food and water.

And he showed you something. Something, that took all members of Hexenzirkel to use their powers to get and stay safe. Something, they stole from "Creator". What was left of a previous person, who looked slightly similar to "Creator".

"I don't want to scare you, [Y/N]. I just want you to see, what would happen, if one day they caught you. Or you decide to go to them on your own free will." Albedo looked sad. He can't go with you. He must protect Sucrose and Klee.

You nodded solemnly. You will try to stay safe.

To keep others safe.

🚸👧🏻 During your journey, you were careful. Refusing to go near people. During your journey, you start stealing. You can't let kids become hungry. You did everything a teen can do to keep children safe. While situation never called for that (you always manage to ran away) you knew, that you will fight for their lives.

When people from other nations came to Sumeru, trying to find you, you and kids were hiding.

But you were fond.

According to Lore, Capitano was a noble warrior 

In Teyvat, only your hold was stopping him from striking Aya.

You were angry. You wanted to protest kids.

Your emotions reached their peak. 

What left of First Creator's powers obeyed your silent wish.

The portal opened under your feet.

______

🐾 In Real World, BSD Cast were restless. Six kids and one kid disappeared without a trace! There is no way for them to stay calm.

Especially for two of them.

🦇 Bram Stoker lost two kids.

🍛Oda Sakunosuke lost six kids.

🍛🦇 Oda and Bram are looking everywhere. Criminal underworld lost huge number of criminals because of that. Ida and Bram going after any possible suspect.

🍛🦇 And when, after weeks of being missing, you seven finally returned, and this giant warrior were trying to kill you, their anger gets out of control.

_______

👧🏻🚸🍛🦇 For the next few weeks, seven of you won't be left alone. Oda and Bram will constantly stay close to you.

👧🏻🚸🍛🦇 No one would ever hurt you. You will never be scared, cold or hungry again. You won't need to steal to get food for Aya and Oda's kids. You don't need to fight for their lives.

👧🏻🚸🍛🦇 Journey to Teyvat was stressful. Thankfully, it was over.

______

Tag list: @withered-blossoms , @myluckymoon @cocodrilofeliz @c4xcocoa @vvyeislazzy @whisperingwinters

[dazais-guardian-angel]

kinda wild to me that one of the most compelling aspects of both Chuuya and Kunikida's characters to me, that I never really see talked about, is how they're heavily set on a doomed crash course towards complete and utter destruction, and how I am so, so worried for them both.....

[anticidic]

Doing my at least bi-annual reread of the manga, and I kinda just glossed over this bit the first time around because it wasn't something that I considered to have much significance until later. But the fact Dazai refers to Chuuya as partner and not ex-partner, or even just Chuuya can be interpreted in a bunch of different ways knowing Dazai and his propensity to kid around, especially with Chuuya. But the panels after where Steinbeck asks what kind of duo they are, and Dazai responds with terrible rivals rather than enemies or the sort makes me lean more toward the fact that even though they're on opposite sides now, nothing's really changed between them. Certainly not for the worse. They were also supposed to only be partners for the night and Chuuya set aside his grudge just this one time, but we know that ends up not being true because of the entirety of Meursault. Sure, Chuuya was likely at least irritated (and rightfully so) by Dazai's sudden disappearance the night he defected and went out with a literal bang by blowing Chuuya's car up, but I think if Dazai sensed any real animosity from Chuuya he wouldn't be so eager to refer to Chuuya as his partner still, even if he was teasing. But also, like, if Chuuya harbored an actual grudge toward Dazai, he would've been more hesitant about using Corruption, and yet he still trusted Dazai. Dazai knows he can be a little shit. He's definitely self-aware that he gets under people's skin. But over the duration of their partnership even he's had limits he wouldn't cross when messing with Chuuya—hasn't brought up the Sheep, the Flags, or rubbed any of the losses or betrayals in Chuuya's face. And vice-versa Chuuya to Dazai with Oda. I fully believe Chuuya knows why Dazai left, and that it was probably an open secret Mori obviously wanted to keep hush-hush about to save face, but Chuuya probably found out regardless. And that's why I think Dazai is still comfortable with Chuuya even after the reunion they had in the dungeon—Chuuya doesn't have to agree with what Dazai did and he has every right to be annoyed that Dazai just upped and betrayed the Port Mafia, but he understands because Dazai was driven off in an almost familiar way as when Chuuya was ostracized from the Sheep.

[ddostoyevskyy]

BSD MEN!

↳ WITH A LOVER WHO ALWAYS GETS HYPER WHEN THEY CONSUME SWEETS AND/OR COFFEE.

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒... nothing much, just fluff and can be read as gn!reader. Mori Ougai.

𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄... slight self-indulge because I get all hyper when I drink coffee, mwahahahaha.

BSD MASTERLIST.

𝐇𝐄’𝐒 𝐓𝐑𝐘𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐌 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍; because he can’t handle your hyper ass. Although, you get too affectionates and he loves your sudden kisses on his cheek and the corner of your lips and the random back and side hugs felt lovely — your hyper awareness is just too much for him especially when you’re prancing around too much and playing harmless pranks like a kid or when your sudden mood changes from giggling to laughing into smallest things; it’s cute — you’re so cute, really and in all honesty, but he’s just too worried that you might hurt yourself or jab your thighs on the edge of a table.

Kunikida Doppo, Fukuzawa Yukichi, Sagakuchi Ango, Mori Ougai (ew), Oda Sakunosuke, Nakajima Atsushi, Nakahara Chuuya, Tachihara Michizō —

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

𝐇𝐄’𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 ��𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐆𝐘; as much as how hyper you are when you consume even little sweets or coffee, he’s running around and prancing with you, pinching your cheeks and biting your skin the same way you always do first.

Dazai Osamu, Edogawa Ranpo, Nikolai Gogol —

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐍 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐏𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐍 𝐃𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐘 𝐎𝐂𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒; especially when you’re feeling a bit down or not in a mood; he always have an extra sweets on his pockets, or he’ll make you a coffee to cheer you up. Especially, if you’re easily drained within the end of the day (or not even, just like me), he occasionally holds your hand which quite confuses you, until you found some candy on your palm which makes you smile as you munch down and he’s now contently staring at you with adornment and fascination when your energy charged full.

Dazai Osamu, Nakahara Chuuya, Edgar Allan Poe, Akutagawa Ryuunosuke, Nakajima Atsushi, Mushitarou Oguri, Suehiro Tetchōu —

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

𝐇𝐄’𝐒 𝐒𝐎 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐔𝐒𝐄𝐃; everytime you consume tons of sweets and coffee in just a day where you get all jumpy and enthusiastic, he’s looking at you like you’re some weird creature he calls his lover as he watches you with horrid eyes while you’re going tippy-tappy on walks and you’re clinging, nuzzling and being too sweet with him. But at the end of the day, he secretly enjoys it despite of how much he tried to gently push you  and how he grimace everytime you shower his face with kisses; he enjoys it, actually.

Akutagawa Ryuunosuke, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Sigma, Tayama Katai, Saigiku Jōno —

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

All Rights Reserved 2023 © ddostoyevskyy. Do not repost without permission or plagiarized.

[chromotps]

uhhh thoughts on alabasta ratman sleep-deprived and weed fueled ace vs peak chad energy fuckboy prime wano ace?? like which one do you prefer, do you have any thoughts if he’d treat/think of luffy any different? in these two periods of his life?

(also ugh I adore both and there’s something special about alabasta ace who went after luffy to drum island, made sure everyone knew he would be waiting for luffy in alabasta, then went and sat there for 10 days with no other purpose but to wait for luffy. bc he just wanted to see him so so much. brocon alabasta ace is uhhhgggghh insane vibes but. there’s also something about wano graciously giving everyone big tits and a healthy layer of fat tissue on top of all that muscle. also the fact that portgas d “i hate when little children follow me around” ace willingly befriended and took care of tama. also promised her the same thing he promised luffy. idkidkidk I just like to think luffy was on ace’s mind 90% of the time, wherever he went, and he often just thought about him bc a lot of thinks reminded him of luffy. like things luffy would like, things he’d like to eat, things he’d find funny etc)

I thought this would be easy to answer but then I had like a whole essay typed up in my head. so. thank you for this ask, I have a lot of feelings about it apparently. 😂😂

they really do feel like 2 different characters, maybe bc Oda was still firming up the details of marineford/wano when Ace first appeared in alabasta? In any case it's always fun seeing which "version" of him fans lean into in fanart/fic/headcanons hahaha. like do they make him more scrungly and sleazy (but maybe also secretly doting)? you got yourself a greasy Ace fan. do they make him all upstanding and softly affectionate and soulful? wano ace wano ace wano ace

(a lot more rambling from here)

I have to admit...... and I'm ashamed to say it............... but I was only half-aware of Ace in Alabasta—like at that point, he was just another "wacky cool shounen guy" to me. It took Marineford breaking my brain down to its component parts and rearranging them for my full Ace brainrot to set in, and at that point he was closer to Ethereal Fridged Wife wano Ace, so I'd probably go with that one? God I do need to rewatch Alabasta tho, I feel like it'd be such a trip of fawning over greasy ratman Ace this time around ahahahah

I think it took until Marineford for me to really latch onto Ace bc it was outwardly like: Alabasta Ace: I'm cool Marineford Ace: I'm cool [ironic][hiding INTENSE self-worth issues]

I agree with everything you said though... I love wrinkly, wrung-out-to-dry Alabasta Ace and his devil-may-care coolness. His vibes of being just a bit more of a rebel than any of the Strawhats even, the thing that makes people cast him as a guitarist or artist in modern AUs. that fuckin,,,,, crouch/perching thing he does,,,, The WAITING... he's so understated with his devotion, like, this panel??

he's trying to be so cool and older brother-y but really he just wants his little brother to visit him sometimes!!! he waited for luffy for 10 days when he's been prioritizing this mission over everything else, even being with his other found-family crew, and I just!!! sigh

"any thoughts if he’d treat/think of luffy any different" I so agree that Wano Ace is pre-Whitebeard Ace, meaning that even though he's presenting himself as independent and a leader/captain, there's a part of him that's still very angry and searching for acceptance. And yesss, bc of that he was probably holding his memories of Luffy so close all the time, seeing his brother who loves him in the innocent, trusting kid he helps, and unable to stop bragging about his brave little brother to the brash, impressive club-weilding guy he runs into.

meanwhile I feel like Alabasta Ace is actually more mellowed-out in his feelings toward Luffy, in a way? like idk, maybe—I might be completely off—but he's more secure in himself and his attachment to Luffy... or at least he tells himself he is. I just feel like that explains why he's shown to be so openly brag-y about Luffy in his Wano days, but seems way more laidback in Alabasta, haha (but the brocon devotion is still there, just better-hidden, lmaoooo) (and it gets ripped to the forefront during Marineford—he's forced to confront all that fear and attachment when he sees Luffy hurtling through the air toward him AH)

god tho. wano ace. wano ace and this gif

the things. the things i want to do to this man. the morals i would abandon. unspeakable.

and this???? him??????????????? sunkissed angel backlit like the once-in-a-lifetime love interest in a twee indie film???

yeah I... in summary, I feel like I have 60/40 preference for Wano Ace over Alabasta Ace, but really it's that mix of all those qualities that I like to bring in when i can.

(my secret third answer is Marineford Ace. the blorbo who started it all, lmao)

[the12thnightproject]

Chapter 46: Divergent:  Katsu and Toshiie reconnect, while Mitsuhide gives Katsu a field promotion.

Mitsuhide x OC; Hideyoshi x MC (Mai)

All Chapters Archived on Ao3 

Logline - With Mai, Hideyoshi, and Aki missing, Mitsuhide and Katsuko reluctantly team up. Disguised as a merchant and his concubine, can they outsmart the man known as the God of Deceit?

As Toshiie continued to level his best glare at Mitsuhide, well… my first impulse had been to laugh. I didn’t laugh, of course, and squashed the giggles before they could reach my mouth. The idea of my clumsy brother picking up a sword to duel the cool elegant Mitsuhide seemed a recipe for self-inflicted injury. When the initial humor faded away, anger jumped in to replace it. “You knew that I was in Sakai… and you didn’t come to find me?”

“If I might offer an explanation –.” Mitsuhide began, before the second half of the realization hit me.

“And you! You knew my brother was here and you didn’t tell me either?” Someone was going to be sleeping alone tonight.

“May I continue, Brat?” At my shrug, Mitsuhide raised a questioning eyebrow at Toshiie, who also seemed to be inclined to let him keep talking. “Might I first point out that you never mentioned your brother’s name?”

I hadn’t? I thought back… I might not have.

“It didn’t occur to me that I had met your brother until after you returned to your original time.” When Toshiie startled at that, Mitsuhide nodded to acknowledge he was aware we were from the future. “Katsu, Toshiie was the healer who treated you when you were in the accident. Why he chose not to disclose the connection and not to return to see you is something that you need to discuss with him.”

When I turned to look at Toshiie, who hung his head, Mitsuhide again took control of the conversation, this time by removing the wig to reveal his natural silvery hair. “Before you two talk though, I must introduce myself to you, Master Toshiie. My name is not Kyubei, its Akechi Mitsuhide. When your sister and I were here earlier this summer, we were pretending to be a merchant and his concubine.” Even though Toshiie bristled like an angry cat, Mitsuhide strolled to my side, picked up my hand and kissed it. “My brilliant fiancée was kind enough to agree to the charade in order to help me locate a kidnapped Oda princess.”

As Toshiie edged down from DEFCON one status, I gave Mitsuhide a look. Ok, he technically hadn’t lied, aside from claiming that we were engaged, but I still was going to have to expand on the story to Toshiie… hang on. I slapped Toshiie’s arm “You didn’t visit me because you thought I was a prostitute?” Way to be sex positive… not.

Toshiie threw his hands up in the air and looked to Mitsuhide, apparently now deciding that hewas the good cop, and I was the hard ass. Mitsuhide simply bowed. “Dear me, it appears that the two of you need some time alone to sort through matters.” He kissed my cheek, and then whisked himself downstairs, where I expected he would probably get a lesson in all kinds of nasty potions.

Who am I kidding? He had probably crept back up the stairs and was listening in. I mean…. I would have.

“I thought he was holding you against your will.” Toshiie glanced toward the stairway. “He seems nice though.”

“He’s not nice… but he is kind. Nice would bore me.” Since Toshiie didn’t respond to that, and had instead fallen into awkward silence, I gestured at the walls. “Is this your building?”

The response to that question was bitter laughter, a sound that seemed out of place coming from my brother. “No, I work for the herbalist in exchange for room and board.” He seemed not to know what to do with his hands, and so, taking pity on him, I asked for tea, even though I was not thirsty.

While he bustled around the irori, I took a closer look around his quarters. His place was small – there was no upper floor above us, so all he had was a cooking area and a main room. A futon was folded neatly in the corner, with two cushions sitting on top of that, but there wasn’t very much in the way of décor.

It was such a huge departure from his room in modern Japan, which had always been full of art posters, brightly colored textiles, and piles (literally piles) of books and graphic novels, that I realized my brother had become a completely new person. One I would have to get to know from scratch. Well… I suppose it was the same with me. I was not the same directionless adrenaline chaser I had been in my adolescence.

Once the tealeaves were steeping, Toshiie grabbed the cushions from the futon and placed them on the floor on either side of a tray table. I knelt across from him and waited for him to begin his story.

…

…

…

When a couple minutes had passed with him doing nothing but stare uncomfortably into his teacup, I finally decided to prompt him with a little bit of interrogation. “Would you rather start at what happened the day we got here? Or fast forward to the day you found me and didn’t stick around for me to wake up.”

“Wow. Harsh… But I guess I deserved that.” He still wouldn’t look at me. “Last fall… I was in a bad way. I um, drank. All the time.”

"The first night I was injured. I don’t recall much, but I do recall hearing a flute. That was you, wasn’t it?"

Mitsuhide inclined his head. "The healer mentioned you might find it soothing."

"Where is this healer now? Did he not come back after the first time?" It was strange to hear about a doctor who popped in once but didn’t come back to check on a patient. Maybe he needed to be sent for.

"From what Shojumaru has told me, the man is brilliant but rarely sober." As if to illustrate the point, Mitsuhide poured himself a cup of tea, rather than breaking out his sake. "As long as you appeared to be incrementally improving, I thought it not necessary to further test his sobriety."

Calling on the spirit of my moderately awesome ninja pal, I kept my face as impassive as possible.

“And I thought I had nothing to offer… that you would hate what I had become. I needed to clean up first.” He clenched his hands so tightly that his knuckles paled in the effort.

“I wouldn’t have cared. I mean… well, I would have worried a lot, but I wouldn’t have ever hated you.” Although I might have done my best to stage an intervention… which probably wouldn’t be possible in a place where the rice wine was sometimes safer to drink than water. “I just wanted my brother back. I’ve been looking for you – that is one of the reasons I became a courier to begin with. To find you.” I paused a moment, then prompted by honesty, I added, “Well, that and I hated being a housemaid.”

“Until I saw you with Kyu- er, with Mitsuhide, I thought you were dead. Eaten by a bear.” His fingers played absently with a rough chip in the side of the teacup.

Eaten by a … what?

“A bear?” There was nothing I could do after hearing that except laugh. “I’m sorry,” I said when I caught his hurt expression. “I know you must have been devastated when you heard that, it’s just… I’ve never gotten close enough to a bear to even be bitten by one, let alone become a bear meal. They don’t eat people. They’re more scared of us than we are of them.”

At that point, there was only one thing to do, and that was to hug him and pat his back and he tensed and shuddered a few times. “I’m sorry. You must have felt so lost.”

Belatedly, I wondered whether Aki’s gruff, slightly distant affection had indeed been exactly what I needed. After my first few weeks of culture shock, and reluctant acceptance that yes, I was stuck 450 years in the past, my entire motivation had been focused on physically and mentally becoming the best scout/ messenger possible. I had thrived on the challenge, more than I ever would have on any challenge I had faced in modern Japan.

“I thought it was my fault. I was the one who suggested we go to the shrine that day, and then when we were attacked, I couldn’t protect you.” His face was still buried in my shoulder, and I could feel his tension through his entire body.

“You wouldn’t have had to suggest it if you weren’t so worried about me, but… it would never have mattered. They would have figured out how to get us here no matter what.” Ok, that last bit was still a theory, but given the whole Aki situation, I think we were both supposed to be here.

He pulled back, and now his expression was one of curiosity. “What do you mean?”

“It’s a long story… but I want to hear about you first.” I figured Toshiie needed to unload and get everything out. Bringing up Aki right now would just derail all that. “All I knew, or at least what I thought I knew, was that you were on a ship of some sort.”

“We’re going to need more tea.” He poured out another serving. “That’s right. I was on a ship. We'd been at sea about six weeks," he made a disgusted face, "when we encountered a rogue wave that damaged the mast. The ship limped into Sakai for repairs and in the confusion, I escaped… and well, I guess they probably didn’t look too much for me. I was an awful sailor. They were getting tired of stepping in my vomit… and when they asked me to clean it up myself… well, I just got sick again.”

Yeah, that tracked. Toshiie always had had terrible motion sickness. “I didn’t have any money though and for a long time I just existed by helping out in a noodle place. Chopping and stuff. Putting those medical skills to good use. And then I actually did put my skills to use when the restaurant owner cut himself and I stitched up the wound… did you know that they’d never heard of sutures here?”

In fact, I was aware of that, having witnessed my share of battles from the sidelines, but I didn’t want to stop his flow so I simply raised my eyebrows to get him to keep going.

“Anyway, every so often I would do some actual medical work and after a while people started coming to me when they were injured or sick. The herbalist downstairs thought it would be a good business decision to have me up here, so it is kind of a trade. However, he takes most of what people give me for the care.” He gestured around the sparse room and at his worn clothing. “Hence.”

Ugh really? And I had smiled politely at the man when we came in? “That’s not fair!”

“It … is though. I might have not spent it wisely anyway.” He left that open for interpretation, but I got the inference. “I haven’t been very proactive about this… career. Or really bothered to do much in the way of advancing my knowledge.” He sighed. “At first the drinking was just to help the sea sickness.”

“And that helped… how?” Wouldn’t that have made it worse?

As if no years had passed, my twin was able to glean my thoughts again. “You’re thinking it might have made it worse… but I already felt so miserably sick, that at least at some point I wanted not to care about it. Besides, you should have seen the quality of the water on board. You do not want to know what I found floating in one of the barrels.”

Ew… I could imagine.

He turned serious again. “Once I was off the ship… it made things seem less awful.” I stretched out my hands to him and he took them. “I didn’t want to live… but after what mom did, I couldn’t kill myself either.” His grip tightened on me. “When I saw you alive, I finally had a reason to change.”

He … should have changed for himself. I didn’t want to be anyone’s reason or purpose (too much pressure), but now wasn’t the time for that. “And … did you… change?”

A rather strained smile crossed his face, and I could see that there were dark unhealthy circles under his eyes, but his next words were from the old Toshiie, my sarcastic twin. “Cold turkey, baby. It… sucked, but having knowledge of herbal teas helped get me through the worst of the symptoms.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here to help.” Because there were no more words to say, I pulled him into a hug, and as he once had done when our mother died, he sobbed on my shoulder. Toshiie always had felt things more deeply and fiercely than… no, maybe that wasn’t true. His way of dealing with pain was different from mine.  His outlet was emotion; mine had always been activity – to push my body until I couldn’t think.

Neither way was better or worse… they… just were.

After his emotional storm passed, he got up and pulled the teakettle off the irori. It had been steaming and spitting for a while now. He’d be lucky if there was any hot water left. While he made yet another pot of tea (well… he was probably still flushing poison from his system) I gave him the highlights of my past seven years, doing my best to get to this summer where I knew I would need to selectively edit information to match up to Mitsuhide’s story. “After Aki disappeared, Mitsuhide and I partnered up – “

“So you weren’t his fiancée?” Toshiie, of course leaped on that inconsistency, seeming (of course) very interested in my relationship with Mitsuhide.

“At the time it was more of a business partnership…”

“Heavens, wherever did you get the idea that I was offering you a partnership? You will be working for me, and you will do exactly as I say.” Before I could tell him where he could put his job offer (such as it was), he continued. “Don’t look so mutinous, Brat. Am I wrong in thinking that this was exactly the scheme you were planning with this man-” he nodded toward Francisco, “-as your conspirator?  And would you agree that I would be far more competent in the role than a man who was not able to appear at the auction in time to rescue you from danger?” In spite of, or more simply to humor, Francisco, Mitsuhide sent a friendly smile in his direction.

Again, yes. Mitsuhide and his mouth full of teeth would be an upgrade in that regard. If I continued with Plan A. However, I could move directly to Plan B – finding and working for this Shojumaru – without taking a partner. Especially one who would-

“I rather think your rejection of me, while somewhat personally hurtful,” he dramatically placed his hand over his heart, and directed an over-the-top lovelorn glance at me, “lies in the fact that unlike your language-deficient friend, I would exert control over your somewhat impetuous behavior.”

“My rejection, as you put it, lies in the fact that I don’t want to work for you. I don’t want to work with you. I don’t want to spend any time in the same room with you.” 

“OW!”

A punch on my arm startled me out of my reminiscence. Toshiie grinned at me. “Look at you, with that goofy smile on your face. You liked him even then. My little sister in love. Never thought I would see the day.”

Ooof. Goofy smile? Mitsuhide probably heard that. Oh boy. I was going to be teased for that for certain. “It was only after I got hurt that the two of us realized how we felt about each other… but Toshiie, I haven’t yet told you… it turns out that Aki is our father… he’s from some time in the future…. I mean the future of our future. If we hadn’t gone through the wormhole then, we might have ended up here at some point anyway.”

There was a long silence while Toshiie digested all that. “Wow. That’s some serious sci-fi stuff. I love it... Our bio dad, huh? What’s he like?”

“Gruff. Distant. But… I always knew he cared about me. Before learning he was our father, I would have said that I loved him as a father figure. My Obi Wan. Now… it’s all mixed up because of the multiverse … on man, I haven’t even explained that part of it yet.” Toshiie was looking at me with four parts fascination and one part incredulity. “We live in a multiverse, and you and I have alternate selves. There is only Aki, but lots of us, and in another timeline, I met my alternate – as well as your children. I met them. Nao and Mayumi. They’re pretty good kids. Nao likes to climb things.”

“Huh. Kids.” He smiled. “I don’t know why that helps. But it does. I feel less cursed.”

Well. That was good… but it made me wonder. My life, and Katsuko’s life and apparently my unmet alternate Okatsu’s life had turned out all right. Maybe the mysterious ninja self was good too.

But… were there timelines where we were not ok? Where things had gone as badly for us as they had for Toshiie in this timeline?

“Brat, I don’t recall you mentioning that you met an alternate version of yourself.” After spending most of the evening at Toshiie’s, Mitsuhide and I had returned to the machiya, eaten a light snack, and were now getting ready for bed. I’d hoped he’d missed that part of the conversation… but Mitsuhide misses nothing.

“Hah. I knew you were listening in.” His re-entry into Toshiie’s rooms had been suspiciously well timed to the end of my conversation with my brother, and his welcome interruption into what had been an awkward conversational lull had diverted the rest of the evening into a getting to know you session between the two most important men in my life. Under Mitsuhide’s acting of a fervent lover (and probably also under the spell of those cheekbones) Toshiie’s stiffness had melted away. By the end of the night, he’d agreed to Mitsuhide’s proposal to move to Azuchi.

“I was, and you would have done the same.”

Ok, that’s fair.

True, I had indeed expected him to listen in… but it had been difficult enough just to pitch my edited tale toward Toshiie. I’d decided I would just deal with the eavesdropper later.

Now, it was later… and I still hadn’t figured out how to handle any potential questions. Divert, divert, divert! I gestured to the parcel he’d brought back from the herbalist. “Did you buy something?”

“A little of this, a little of that.” He set a few paper-sealed packets up on the shelf where he kept the oil and incense. Then he turned around and gave me one of those looks. The look that seared into my soul and set my nerve endings buzzing. That prickly feeling… but now that I knew what it meant it was less frightening. “What aren’t you telling me?”

Ok… maybe a little bit frightening. But in a good way.

I knelt on a cushion, folded my hands piously, and gave him an innocent look.

Eyebrow raise.

Letting my fingers trail across the smooth straw of the tatami mat, I tried to ground myself. “It’s nothing really.”

Grounding would have been more effective if my kitsune hadn’t simply picked me up and tossed me onto the bed. He crawled on top of me and kissed the underside of my chin, his tongue flicking out to caress my throat. “You do remember I have my ways of making you talk… and moan… and scream.”

“I knew I shouldn’t have let you watch those old melodrama – oh!” He was already nibbling his way along my throat, moving leisurely up to my ear. I wiggled in anticipation of what would come next.

“You are avoiding the question.” That wicked smile told me he was having fun questioning me… and that he wouldn’t stop until he got an answer.

And, I suppose, that avoiding it would only make the revelation seem bigger than it actually was. “It’s really not that important. My alternate self is in love with Shingen.” When he frowned at that, I added, “but having met them both, the only way I could manage not to be weird about meeting another me was to think of her as my older sister, and as such, he will always be another brother in my eyes.”

Before he could respond, I hugged him closer. “Thank you for finding my brother. And for having someone watch over him.” I had not missed the nod that Mitsuhide had given to a man sitting across the road from the herbalist’s storefront. “It was the best grand romantic gesture a woman could ever dream of receiving.”

Well, that and travelling through time to find me.

There was silence for a moment, but I wasn’t expecting him to answer. Mitsuhide had as much trouble acknowledging a thank-you as he used to with accepting pleasure. Therefore, I was surprised when he very quietly whispered, “you are very welcome.”

“I’m glad he decided to come back with us. I mean, sure Kyoto isn’t that far from Azuchi, but it will be nice to see him every day…” Hm. That did remind me of one other white lie he had told my brother. “Although he’s going to figure out pretty soon that I’m not your fiancée.”

“He will not, because you are in fact my fiancée.” While I was still processing that matter of fact statement, Mitsuhide took advantage of my silence by kissing me thoroughly that most of my consciousness jumped the track to yes there, move closer, why are we both still dressed.

When my brain cells finally took control again… “I don’t recall there being a marriage proposal-“

“Consider it a permanent extension of our contract.” He propped himself up on one arm and smiled down at me, his fingers drawing little circles on my stomach.

“You know I’ll stay by your side without marriage. I’m more than happy as your lover.” Marriage had never been part of my dreams. “It’s not necessary.”

“You misunderstand. It is very necessary to my continued happiness that you become my wife. Until that blissful moment occurs, I intend to at least use the term ‘my fiancée’ on a daily basis.” He leaned down and placed a slow gentle kiss on my lips, one of reverence, one that said what his words could not. Then, he pulled away, and with that smirk, he added, “After all, do you not want to marry the man who can, to quote your brother, put that goofy smile on your face?”

I knew that was going to come back to haunt me.

@lorei-writes @bestbryn @selenacosmic @tele86 @lyds323 @akitsuneswife

[ashleyh713fanfics]

Dazai X Odasaku!Sister Ch8

Chapter 8: "I'll Be Here To Welcome You"

Summary: Oda's sister finds herself at Dazai's port mafia apartment after he offered to let her stay the night. He tries to get a reaction out of her but fails miserably, or does he? (Part 1 of 2, this one is more fluff and the next part will be very angst.)

Warning: pm! fifteen year old dazai, Dazai self destructing, Odasaku death mentions, Dazai is rough but for a purpose, manipulative behavior from both sides, underage drinking, talks of suicide. I gave Oda's sister a name but you can imagine it as y/n.

(This is chapter eight of my fanfic "Timeless" which is now on A03. It carries on from the three part intro I posted a couple days ago. I'll link it below to fully understand the story. Asagao's ability is to stop time for up to six seconds.)

Three Part Intro Here: (just cause the first chapter is so long)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

A03 Version Here:

Word count: 5k total

As the two kids made their way through the city streets of Yokohama, Dazai’s fingers tightened onto Odasaku’s sister’s wrist in order to drag her to their next destination.

He had tried to walk in front of her but after a couple blocks it was clear that Asagao’s blurry eyesight along with her drunken giggles betrayed her with each step, bumping into nearby strangers and random walls. And though it was quite funny to watch, the boy also didn’t really wanna treat a concussion tonight. 

But Dazai also didn’t really like the connotation that hand holding had either, the touch far too personal and intimate for his liking. So, he settled on her wrist, pulling her behind him like some sort of puppy on a leash. It wasn’t like Asa seemed to mind though. 

No, in fact it was like the girl was in her own world, smiling like an idiot the entire time as they turned another corner only for her to finally speak since their time at the bar. “Hey, Osu. Not that I’m not happy about your offer or anything but now that I think about it, isn’t it gonna seem suspicious for me to go to your house like this?” 

Dazai only shook his head though, pausing his steps for a moment in order to pull his arm towards him so the Asagao would stumble forward and meet him halfway. “Don’t worry your pretty little head about it. I do this all the time.” 

And stumble she did, the girl gasping at the sudden move only to place her hands onto his forearms for support so she didn’t completely fall on her face. “You do?” 

Nodding back, he hummed, not minding the touch as it wasn’t gentle or intimate in any way. “Mhm. Does that make you jealous?” 

Asa only turned her head though, clearly confused by what he was trying to say. “Why would I be jealous of that?” 

Lifting his fingers up, Dazai’s thumb and forefinger moved toward her cheeks before forcing her head forward in order for him to give a low mischievous smirk.  “Because of the things I do with those women.” 

He was messing with her obviously but there was also some truth in his statement, because he did play around with women, he did take them to his port mafia based apartment and then leave them on the street once he was done like nothing had happened. 

Dazai used them, he took the attributes that benefited him and then he threw them away without so much of a thank you or a call afterwards. 

And now he was doing the same thing to Oda’s sister..well in a way.

He was using her for her ties to his best friend, and the only difference was that Asa was fully aware of it. That didn’t make it right though. Even Dazai could understand that much. 

But all that self awareness didn’t stop him from halting his evil ways. What could he say? Bad habits died hard. This was all the boy knew how to do anyways and it was Asa’s fault for ever agreeing to such a toxic relationship to begin with. 

Asagao only frowned though, her icy blue eyes batting in pure innocence between his fingers as she replied softly. “Why would that make me jealous though?” 

Then all at once, she watched the feared port mafia executive gasp in order to reel back before slumping over in a childish pout. “Ah! Asa-chan, you’re so mean! Girlfriends are supposed to be mad and cry and throw things when boyfriends talk about other women! It’s like you don’t care about me at all!” 

The girl only blinked in surprise though, her drunk haze not allowing her to connect the upset in her brain. She thought their relationship was already pretty clear. “But we aren’t really boyfriend and girlfriend though, we are just using each other..” 

Yet that’s when Dazai gasped once more before dramatically falling to his hands and knees in order to look up at her and point to his bandaged face. “That doesn’t matter! It’s the principle of the thing. I am an attractive man so it’s only natural you’d be jealous of my history of sleeping with other women and taking them to my place like I'm doing right now with you.” 

Didn’t she get it, didn’t she understand that he was treating her just like any other slut and whore that crossed his path? She wasn’t special to him, he had basically told her that to her face and she still wasn’t jealous? He thought she said that she fell for him. 

Asa only crouched down to meet him though, her hands wrapping around her knees before giving him that same candy coated sweet smile she always did. “Oh! I couldn’t do that though. What you’ve done in the past and even the present doesn’t bother me. I already know where we stand so you don’t gotta worry about that, Osu!”

Narrowing his eyes in skepticism, Dazai then watched in real time as his insults and mockery dissolved before it hit her face causing the boy to sigh heavily. 

She should’ve been mad at him, it would’ve been so much easier than whatever this was. 

She had already let him get away with so many things. Why couldn’t she be normal for once and threaten him with the disgust like he deserved? Why was she instead always staring at him with the cute innocent little smile, the one that made his heart twist and turn with self disgust?

Lifting his hands up once more, Dazai than pinched the blind happiness from her lips, pushing her cheeks together in a goofy fashion in order to drop his act with a grumble. “Boo, you’re no fun Asa-chan. What kind of reaction is that? I wanted to see your cheeks get all puffy and your face get all red!

Asagao seemed to think about his sentence for a moment before her own fingers moved to her cheeks in order to puff them out in a fake pout to try and simulate what he was looking for only for Dazai to snort and shake his head in exasperation. 

Ah damn it, she was such a cute little drunk. Wasn’t she? Wanting to please him like this even though he was just messing with her. What a loser. 

So much so, Dazai then closed his eyes pushing her head down with his hand, rubbing the top of her hair in a messy fashion before standing back up. “Don’t push yourself, darling. You’re gonna pass out like that and I’m not gonna carry you.  Besides, we are here already.” 

Reaching his hand out, he then reattached his possessive hold around her wrist before pulling her back off the ground in order to walk up to the massive glass building in front of them. 

Asagao felt her head spin at the motion before her blurry eyes couldn’t help but focus on the sight before her. And even with half of the view and alcohol in her system, the girl could tell that the place was intimidating, the building looming over her in silent wait. 

She didn’t have much time to process it though as Dazai’s body pushed her past the entrance and into the lobby only for the two kids to be met by a row of lined up black suited men, their heads immediately bowing to the sight of the executive. “Welcome back, sir.”

Dazai completely ignored them though, his posture stiff and ever watchful as Asa gave them a polite smile and bow of her head in return with a small greeting of her own. “Oh, hello. Nice to meet you. I’m..” 

Yet that’s then the boy simply tugged her arm forward in order to practically push the girl into the nearest elevator as fast as possible, her unsteady legs stumbling into the wall with a squeak of surprise.

It was rough, yes. But this was how he treated all the other girls that he brought back and it couldn't look any different. No, nothing could raise suspicion that this was more than a typical one night stand. Otherwise their escapade would be reported to Mori. 

And that was a headache he didn’t want to deal with, knowing that her existence would cause Mori to dig his claws into the poor innocent Asagao without hesitation.

Hell, she probably shouldn’t have even been here in the first place. Ango would've definitely killed him for it, and not in a fun way.

But living on the edge of danger was an exciting thrill Dazai couldn’t pass up. He knew he could be smarter than Mori. He knew he could fool him, and that enough was reason to test his little theory and win. 

But in order to do that, he had to make this little act believable. That’s why he didn’t bat an eye at his rough demeanor, simply stepping into the elevator only to watch his idiot lackey subordinates try to follow. 

Oh no, he couldn’t have that. Seems like they were already suspicious of his intentions. Asagao wasn’t normally the type of girl he would’ve brought back after all. She was dorky and naive, usually the sluts he picked were stupid but but clearly experienced. 

Turning his head back to the men, Dazai spoke, his voice chilling and final. “That won’t be necessary.” 

And for a moment, the men hesitated, their steps pausing before glancing back to the red haired female and then back to their boss in reply. “But sir..” 

Realizing he needed to prove his intentions, Dazai then turned back to Oda’s sister before closing his eyes with conflict. He had a plan, he knew how to get them off his back but he also knew that Odasaku wouldn’t have approved. 

But desperate times caused for desperate measures. 

And to make matters worse, his silent stare seemed to cause Asagao to sense the tension as well, her head turning in drunken confusion before lifting her hand out in concern. “Osam..”

Yet before she could finish his name, Dazai’s hand grasped onto hers forcefully in order to push his body into hers as Asagao’s back slammed against the wall of the elevator before he shifted his head to obstruct the view of the subordinates. 

Then he slapped his hand over her surprised mouth before pressing his lips roughly to his own hand, the distance practically nonexistent as Dazai’s handmade barrier became the only thing keeping the two from skin to skin contact. 

But from the way his head was turned, the men only saw the executives body and hair in order for them to make the connection in their mind that Dazai had ravaged her lips in a possessive claim of ownership. 

The move only lasted for a second before the executive allowed his hand to drop from her lips in order to place one shushing motion in its place and turn around towards the watchful eyes with cold resolve. “I said, I wanted to be alone. Or do I need to repeat myself?” 

All at once, the men jumped in clear fear before immediately bowing in apology in order to click the elevator button with a gasp. “Sorry sir, please enjoy your night.” 

Then the door closed, leaving Dazai and Asagao alone as the cocky victorious boy turned towards her with a teasing smirk. “Now don’t get carried away, Asa-chan. You know why I did that right?” 

Yet the moment he turned to her, it seemed like Asa was frozen in place, her entire body as still as a statue, almost like she was in some sort of state of shock. “Y-Yeah no. I get it. They were suspicious so you had to…” 

Nodding back in confirmation, Dazai then lowered his eyes before deciding to mock her even more, his hands resting on the wall a couple inches from her head. “Of course, that’s just a little sample. If you wanted, once we get to my place I could remove my hand and we could continue where we left off?” 

Yet a second later, the boy simply freed her from his prison in order to give her a goofy defensive stance. “Just kidding! I know better than to expect that kind of reaction from you.” 

She hadn’t given him anything when he played the jealousy card so Dazai was sure that it would be the same here. It seemed like the girl had no self awareness that he was a man at all. She didn’t see him that way apparently, which was annoying in itself. 

Was he not handsome enough to make her heart race? Surely any other woman would’ve swooned over the chance to kiss him. So why wasn’t she the same?

Giving up completely, Dazai then shrugged his shoulders before the elevator dinged as the boy made his way out without a care. “Ah well, now that’s over, let’s go.” 

Yet the boy got halfway across the floor before turning around in order to realize that Asagao was still standing in the elevator, her body just as stone still as before.

Well, that was weird, even for her. 

Backtracking back to the place, Dazai then turned his head in confusion, “Asa-chan?”

At the sound of her name, Asa seemed to jump back to life, her speech stuttered and small with every approaching step. “O-Oh yeah, sorry. Just give me a second. My legs feel like jelly for some reason.” 

Feeling himself stop right in front of her, Dazai then frowned before poking his finger straight into the forehead only for the girl to immediately collapse like a tower of cards, her legs giving out from underneath her before she giggled pathetically on the floor. “H-Ha ha sorry...I don’t know what’s gotten into me. You can just leave me here, I’ll catch up..” 

The boy only watched in stunned silence though, seeing the seemingly unchanging Oda Asagao crumble to her knees by a simple fake kiss in order for his lips to twist into a smug smile.

So she does see me as a man after all. 

And this time it was Dazai that crouched down to meet her, his lips letting out a small airy chuckle of pure amusement and relief before placing his hands onto his knees in reply. “Aww, Asa-chan. You’re so cute. I didn’t know you could be so flustered by me.” 

Finally finding use of her muscles, Asa then frowned before covering her entire face with her hands as Dazai saw the very bright pink hue of her entire face. “I-It was just a surprise, that’s all. That and the alcohol mixed together are making me weird.” 

The boy knew it was more than that though. Sure, she probably was more aware of him because of the alcohol but that blush on her cheeks was definitely because of their almost kiss. Ah, Asa-chan was always amusing him in the best ways. 

He couldn’t get sick of this even if he tried. 

Because of that, Dazai only rolled his eyes, not taking her words at face value before reaching his arms forward in order to hook them under her armpits. “Sure sure, whatever you wanna call it. Now come on, up you go!” 

Lifting his arms up, Asagao’s body then followed him, hosting her upwards until she was back on her feet before she stumbled into his chest. Wow, he really did a number on her, didn’t he? Poor princess couldn’t pull herself together, 

Dazai laughed in response, placing his hand to the back of her head in order to ground her to reality “So needy, love.” 

The girl only shook her head though, muttering a reply into his jacket. “Smmorry..” 

The words were muttered but he knew she was apologizing in some sort of way. Ah, damn it. Just when he thought Oda’s sister couldn’t get any more adorable she surpassed it. 

Thinking about his spontaneous kiss, Dazai felt his own eyes lower. This was kind of his fault in the first place. He didn’t give her any warning about what he was going to do. And though it was obvious that Asa didn’t hate his plan, she was certainly stunned by it. 

And normally his response would’ve been to step back and let her fall on her face but after their night at Bar Lupin and the blind words of faith he uttered about him, Dazai tried something different. 

This was his fault after all. “Ah well, I guess I’ll take responsibility this once.” 

Then the boy simply reached down before hoisting Asa up by her legs in order to push her over his shoulder, much to her surprise. “O-Osamu, what are you..” 

Dazai only cut her off though, voice smug. “Not another word, love or I’ll drop you.” 

That seemed to be enough to get her to pause before Dazai simply walked around the corner and opened the door to his apartment, not even bothering to flick on the light and throw the poor red haired girl face first onto the sofa and rid himself of the overly out of character act. 

Asagao only groaned at the impact though, feeling the soft cotton assault her face.

Yet that’s when his phone started to sound inside his pocket only for the boy to pull the object and read the text with a frown as Asa looked up from the cushions. “Who is that?” 

Sighing heavily, Dazai then shoved the object back in his jacket before replying shortly. “Mori. He probably wants to know why I missed the scheduled raid today.” 

At that, Asagao turned her head, anxiety in her eyes as she tried to process the sentence in her drunken brain. “What? Why did you miss it? Oh no, it’s not because I fell asleep on you, right? I told you you should’ve pushed me off. I didn’t wanna get you in trouble with your boss.” 

Dazai only shook his head though, unbothered by her stress. “Relax, love. I skip boring things all the time. Besides, it was worth it to hear the anger in my dog's voice! You did me a favor.” 

He then chuckled to himself, still pleased with the trouble he caused Chuuya only for Asa to speak out of his psychotic glee. “You should go smooth things out then.” 

Frowning at her words, Dazai then leaned forward in order to teasingly run a couple fingers through her messy crimson locks. “And leave my favorite girl all alone on our first night together?”

Asagao only shook her head though. “I don’t wanna keep you from your job. Plus it would be bad if they came looking for you, right? I’m not supposed to be here.” 

She was making him see logic, something that Dazai didn’t really want to face. The last thing he wanted to do was go see Mori and listen to his old man nagging, but she was right. If he didn’t show up then the boss would probably come to him, and that’s what he was trying to avoid. 

Looks like he had no choice. Just great. 

Humming in distaste for the truth, Dazai then leaned forward, his voice slightly threatening and low. “Then will you promise me you’ll be a good girl and wait for me here?” 

Asa didn’t seem shaken at all, her eyes playing in confusion under her large framed glasses. “What do you think I’m gonna do?” 

At that, Dazai couldn’t help but smile, telling her the absolute and honest truth. “I don’t know, and that’s the best thing about you, Asa-chan. I can’t predict you. You’re an enigma in the most interesting ways.” 

And she was, she really was. To Dazai, Oda’s sister was the most unpredictable force he had ever met. Sure, there were moments he could guess, there were circumstances where he could control her in the way he wanted, but there were others that left him completely and utterly speechless. 

When she said that he was a good man, when she called him precious, when she confessed that she would’ve joined the port mafia for him, they played on a strange complicated repeat inside his brain, the boy still unable to process them in any sense. She was dangerous in all the best and worst ways possible. 

But the most dangerous part of it all was that Asagao was completely oblivious to it all. She had no idea what kind of impact, what kind of unraveling her seemingly insignificant words had on the port mafia executive. 

And to prove his point, Asagao only smiled in response, the gentle and kind nature in itself absolutely earth shattering as she hummed back. “I’ll be here to welcome you home..” 

Not wanting to get uncomfortable by the proximity of her light, Dazai then quickly took a step back before immediately heading from the door before he changed his mind. 

How foolish of her, the audacity to say such a thing. This place wasn’t his home. 

He didn’t even have one of those. 

Shaking the thought from his mind, Dazai then looked back at the unmoving girl before speaking back threateningly, knowing it wouldn’t shake her in any way. “You better keep to that, love. Breaking a promise with the devil is a fate worse than death..” 

And just like that the mafioso disappeared from the apartment completely. 

------

After a couple minutes, Asagao finally started to gain feeling back in her legs in order to sit up from the darkened sofa with a sigh. What was wrong with her? Why did she have to act so stupid in front of Osamu? Stupid alcohol, usually she was cooler than that. 

And more she thought about it, the more she felt her hands run over her face in an embarrassingly flustered groan. Osu kept having to look after her, first with her mistake of falling asleep on his shoulder and now when he carried her because she couldn’t stand.

Just great, Asagao, you keep inconveniencing him.

And to be honest, the fact that he was still sticking around was a complete mystery to her. Usually people got sick of her by now. It was probably because of their deal, that had been the only reason he was tolerating her this much. 

So much so, Asagao wanted to do something for him. Either for an apology or in some sort of appreciation for him showing her that wonderful bar and dealing with her this long. But what? What could make a scary mafia executive happy? 

Thinking about the idea, the girl then scrambled over to the light switch on the wall in order to flick the object and be greeted by Osamu’s apartment for the first time. 

Then without meaning to, Asagao’s eyes widened at the sight before her. 

And even without her full vision, the girl could feel the cold and empty nature of his place, like no one had ever actually occupied it. The walls were bare simple white, each room massive and yet just as lonely as the last. 

Sure, in theory this place was a dream, a playboy's penthouse, an expensive luxury, dripping with rare future/views of Yokohama, but in actuality it just felt like an empty shell. Did Osamu even sleep here half the time, or did he choose somewhere else?

Because to her, it seemed like the latter. 

Wanting to see if she was right, Asagao then gripped the ends of her glasses before slowly taking them off only for her to quickly slap them back on with a horrified gasp. No, she was right. This place was just as sad as she thought it was. 

It really was a reflection of who he was on the inside, a depressed, struggling, suicidal boy that was crying for help only to be met with ear chilling silence. 

The very sight caused Asagao to dip her head before an idea flashed inside her head. What if he came home to something different this time, what if she could change this empty sad feeling into something else? Would that make him smile? 

Would that give him the same happiness she felt tonight at Bar Lupin?

Quickly thinking back to conversations she overheard back home, Asa's eyes then filled with determination before moving outside of the apartment and down the elevator in order to reach the main lobby they had walked through before. 

Yet her thoughts were quickly stopped when she came face to face with those very same subordinates from earlier, their eyes looking at the girl with cautious confusion as she beamed. “Oh, hello! Remember me? We’ve met before, well kinda...anyways don’t mind me! I’m just gonna..” 

Although that’s when the men seemingly stepped into her path before speaking roughly. “Dazai has ordered that you go back to his apartment and wait for him to return. I suggest you listen before things get bad for you.”

He was threatening her, but Asa hardly cared, the girl was more interested in the first part of his sentence. Ah, Osamu knew she wouldn’t stay put. Smart boy. “Oh, did he? And what were his exact orders?” 

The man’s voice was straightforward. “To not let you out of our sight.” 

Humming in response, Asa then rocked her back on her heels before answering sweetly.  “And if I don’t listen?” 

At that, she watched the port mafia men take another step closer to her, something that didn’t cause her to shift at all. “Then tonight will be the last night you’re alive..” 

His fingers then brushed towards the gun on his side as Asagao resisted the urge to snort at his piss poor attempt of a threat. How unoriginal. “And how would your executive feel about you ending the life of his girl?” 

This time it was the subordinates turn to laugh, their voices laced with venom. “He doesn’t care about some no-named slut. You’re only here for one reason and then you will be disposed of like all the others.” 

Asa only placed a finger to her lips though, thinking about the insult before answering a second later. “Right, but are you really sure about that? Because if you are wrong I can imagine the punishment from Dazai won’t be very pretty, once he finds out you killed his favorite toy after being ordered to keep an eye on me.” 

And then she watched as the man’s muscles started to tense, his next steps hesitant as Asagao resisted the urge to sadistically smirk under her breath. Got him. 

She hated this manipulative part of her but in situations like this it made things quite useful. Besides, these guys had it coming with that insult. 

This was for Osamu after all. Because of that she knew she couldn't let these rude men get in her way. 

Pushing even further, Asagao then guided her hand down towards the gun on his waist before throwing his own threat back into his face. “But if you truly think you’re right then go ahead and shoot me, mister scary subordinate. Just know you might be skinned alive for it later...” 

Then she waited, she waited for her words to sink into his stupid little brain. It was foolish on his part to assume such things about Osamu after all. She knew this guy didn’t have the confidence to put a bullet in her brain without consequence.

It was a huge risk, one that very few would make. 

And a moment later, she watched him cave, the subordinates' stance shrinking back only for Asagao to clap her hands in a victorious fake cutesy laughter. “Ah, I knew we could come to an understanding! Now, chop chop, I could use some extra hands for this and since you need to keep an eye on me anyways this is the perfect opportunity!” 

And just like that, step one for Osamu was complete. 

Don't worry Osu, I'll make you happy for sure.

----

(Like I said, this is more of a part 1 cause the next chapter connects to it. It will have a different tonal shift though and deal a lot with Dazai's character so I split it up. )

( Also don't worry, Dazai and Asa are fifteen currently in this story and though it's implied about his past with women, being in the mafia and all, I'm not gonna write any of those things cause he's a minor. Them staying the night at his place is more of a subversion type thing which will make more sense in the next chapter)

Thanks for the love on this! This is my first bsd story and you've all made me feel so welcome! It hasn't even been a month and we are almost at 500 readers on A03. I'm gonna cry. <3

[dazaiosamusbandages]

ik a lot of peeps said that dazais more than a demon and that he has feelings and that even though he did lots of bad things, he was a kid growing up in a bad environment and yada yada but... doesnt he feel truly demonic sometimes? hes truly a fascinating character to me, but the more i try to understand whats going on in his mind, the more dead ends i hit. its like having a puzzle in front of you and never being able to get the full picture no matter how much you rearrange it. or to put it in a more personal way, his mind feels like an abyss. its dark, cold, vast and chaotic. its very scary to me. maybe its because im around the same age as him when he was in the pm but he really feels inhuman to me. no kid should have this kind of cold and empty energy nor give the impression that they're not real, as if they somehow ended up in this world by mistake. even in the more mellow moments, it always seems like his mind is elsewhere, like three universes ahead, looking for something that's beyond human comprehension. idk, what do you think about this? TuT

sorry for the late response, i have been somewhat busy and thus haven’t had the time really to answer anything

tbh to answer this, i think i’ll try to stray closer to my own personal experiences (as well as some others that i spend time with) to be able to explain that kind of “empty” existence and then connect it back to dazai that way. i think with some parallel to the real world, it might put some of his thought processes into existence

does dazai truly feel demonic sometimes? the realistic answer would be yes—of course the demon of the port mafia would feel demonic. he, himself, doesn’t seem to believe he’s human and everything tends to confirm that. everything including his ability, which also in a way could be interpreted to take away others’ humanity as well.

spending time with a group full of a specific kind of mentally unwell people (jirai, if you’ve ever heard of it) has shown me that a lot of these people tend to dehumanize themselves in the same way you see dazai. they don’t often consider themselves good people, but that self-awareness doesn’t stop them from doing bad things.

dazai does lead a somewhat empty existence, however he does still feel emotion and pain just like anyone else—like when oda died, it was (and is still) very painful to dazai. but even still, emptiness is not a foreign thing. this same feeling of emptiness is what i think leads him to make some of those morally questionable decisions, even despite oda’s final request.

the other thing is, i feel like part of what makes dazai seem so “demonic” in the port mafia is that it gave him an environment where the intrusive thoughts would be allowed to win without an immediate repercussion.

sorry if this didn’t fully answer your question, it was pretty difficult to formulate a good response wwww i still feel like i missed a few things i wanted to talk about too, but they slipped from my mind and i can’t remember at the moment soooo

[petrichorium]

☕️ 🛌 🪐 for the self-ship asks! :D

☕️: What are the most common plots of shipping fics between you and your f/o?

people def like to explore our meeting and the lead-up to me joining the crew!! i think the general consensus by the fans (before my backstory is fully dug into) is that we get together After i join, but theyre going off such little info theres a lot of variation. very fluffy domestic stuff is quite common too, and less shipping but fics where i meet luffy r some of the most common as well.

🛌: What tropes show up in fics involving your ship?

she fell first/he fell harder is common (even tho i personally kinda. hate it sorry). love triangles or poly specifically involving buggy, mihawk, and beckman r also very common. im bad at thinking up tropes i fear,,,, ig we'd be very golden retriever bf/black cat gf too

🪐: What would be your most popular AU and why?

oooo in terms of an "alternate story" kinda au i think there r lots of what-ifs for if i were around for fosha village era, at first surrounding luffy ofc and then later surrounding uta. modern aus r decently common (im often shanks' partner or relegated to friend status) but if i do go with the kid pirates capture me idea theres also aus where i stay w them i think. the occasional marine au (bleh) BUT i also think as a bit of trivia oda mentions im a bit of an intellectual and politically aware, which spawns aus where i join the ra instead of the rhp 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️ ooooo if/when the figarland shanks reveal happens that also spawns some celestial dragon aus for me i think. my whole backstory is largely unsaid for most of the series obvi so ppl will get wild w it

send in some selfship questions!

[selfaware-bungou-stray-dogs]

Lost and found

Self-Aware BSD AU x SAGAU Imposter crossover

Self-Aware! BSD Characters x GN! Reader

Description: You dissapeared a month ago. You finally returned home.

Warning: OOC. Religious fanaticism. Non-descriptive torture. Reader almost get killed. English is my second language.

Normally, the atmosphere in the house was happy. Kids were playing on the playground, Akutagawa siblings often watch movies in the living room, Oda and Kunikida discussed books in the library. Sigma can start a spontaneous poker game. And much, much more.

But, most importantly, there were you.

In one moment, you were reading books with Poe, and Karl was sitting on your lap.

Next moment you were fooling around with Nikolai.

Then you were having a competition, where Tachihara with Teruko on his shoulders were racing against Tetchou with you on his back.

It was fun.

It didn't last.

The day you disappeared became the worst day of their lives.

No more laughing.

No more having fun.

They were searching for you.

Looking under every branch in the forest.

Breaking in every house, where people, that have even smallest disagreement with you.

Sleepless nights.

And constant search.

For their Dear Guiding Light.

______

Different religions have different things, that can be considered blasphemy. Yes, some acts can be called "universal" blasphemy. That everyone, no matter, where they are from and what their beliefs are, would call such acts blasphemy.

But, some religions, have something, that only for them will be viewed as blasphemy.

In Teyvat any resemblance to the All-Creator was the act of blasphemy. The worst sin. The High treason.

And sinners must be punished for the heinous act.

Creator would sit on their ivory throne and command their holy knights to destroy the Corruption.

Because The Embodiment of Divinity can't be wrong. Because The One, who brought life, are doing it for the good of the Teyvat.

So, when the news about another Sinner being spotted in Mondstadt reach Creator, they ordered their Divine Knights to Purge the Sin from Teyvat.

Creator love Teyvat. Creator love humans. Creator destroyed Celestia, an embodiment of Sin, that tried to destroy Creator, the moment they sat on the ivory throne.

Creator were freedom. That's why Barbatos didn't feel bad, commanding wings of Teyvat to feed the fire, that Knights of Favonius set, to burn the small cottage with you inside.

Creator were following their contact, the promise to protect Teyvat. That's why Morax didn't bat an eye, throwing a stone spear at a boat, where you were hiding.

Creator were internal. So Baal didn't regret unleashing the power of lightning on you.

Creator were a fake. It was real knowledge. But Real Sinner have power. Nahida were sorry, that she and Aranara's could give you only a small break.

Creator were Justice. Fontaine people were ready to hung you up. Real Sinner have power. Furina and Melusines were hiding you as long as they can. When you saw the enraged Neuvillette, who was ready to destroy the village, you left by your own accord.

For Creator, they would start a war. In Natlan you were almost caught. By pure luck, Columbina's attack didn't end your life.

Fatui's dream became reality, because of the Creator. Snezhnaya's people were ready to tear you apart.

Instead, they tie you up and drag you to the Ivory Throne.

_______

You didn't like being transported to Teyvat.

Yes, it was beautiful. But, you missed your friends and family. You missed BSD Gang.

Worst of all, you didn't have your phone with you. You can't even try to reach out to your world.

You decide to find Traveler, or Abyss Sibling, or Alice. Maybe, they can send you home?

You wished you stay in the wilderness.

People of Teyvat hated you. Traveler hated you. Abyss Sibling hated you.

Everyone called you a disgrace. Sinner. Corruption, that must be purged.

They try to burn you alive.

They chased you like a wild animal.

They wanted to kill you.

And every person who tried to help you were punished.

You had no idea, what happened to Nahida and Aranaras. And you hopped that Yoimiya, her father, Furina and Melusines were fine.

You were captured a week ago.

Week, full of torture.

Of boiling water, that was poured down your throat.

"Dirty heretic! Accept the cleansing of your soul from impurities!"

Of hot iron on your skin. Of terrible scars on your chest.

"Heretic"

And you were forced on your knees before an Ivory Throne.

Your exact double raise their hand.

And Five archons and one Hydro Sovereign attacked.

Arrows of Anemo. Spear of Geo. Sword of Electro. Wave of Hydro. Claymore of Pyro. Wave of Cryo.

You can't even scream. Boiling water burned your tongue and throat.

You were tried and wished for one thing.

To finally be safe.

The moment, before you were hit, the portal appeared under your legs.

___________________________

It was nighttime.

All of them gather in the living room.

Another day of fruitless search.

And no trace of you.

Suddenly, they heard a noise from the outside. The empty barn was shaking. The wight light was visible through the cracks in the old wood.

Everyone hurried here.

Tetchou got here first and opened the door.

Light faded.

You were there

You were laying on the floor.

Tortured. Branded.

And alive.

Chaos started. No one can stay silent even for a second.

Yosano got near you in a second. Not only because she ran towards you. Tachihara and Akutagawa literally carried her to you. Yosano used her ability without second thought.

Now, healed, you were still laying on the floor. From time to time, you let out a quiet sobs and 'please, I just want to go home'.

Everyone was panicking. Asking if you were alright. If you will be okay.

Fukuchi carried you home.

______

You were unconscious.

They bathed you, change your clothes and try to make you as safe as possible.

You were laying on your bed, covered in every blanket they can find. They brought even their own blankets. Somewhere in there were laying Rimbaud's coat, that he cover you with.

Your room was full of people.

BSD Cast were sitting on the floor, on the windowsill, on the edge of your bed.

Everyone was there. Even kids were allowed to stay up.

They were sitting close to each other. No one could phantom a thought of leaving you even for a second.

The night was sleepless.

_____

You thought, that you were dead in went to the afterlife.

Because, you can feel, that you were warm and laying on something soft.

You don't want to open your eyes. You wanted to stay in a warm, safe place.

More senses were back.

You heard birds singing.

And quiet sobs. Sound of steps.

And whispers.

"Myshonok, you can't leave us. Please, come back..."

"[Y/N], it's okay, take your time. You will soon be better, right? We will have fun pranking Vagabond..."

"The world without you will never be ideal... [Y/N]... Darling... Come back..."

Some voices sound closer.

"[Y/N]... Please, Birdy, woke up... My Dear, I missed you so much, please, come back!"

Someone was holding your hand, squeezing it. You feel, how, that someone's tears fall on your knuckles.

Another voice. This one touch your shoulder. The voice sounded broken.

"[Y/N], my precious Iris Flower... Wake up... I beg you..."

They also were crying...

Birdy... Iris Flower... Could it be?

You opened your eyes.

______

Two pair of eyes, one - dark brown, second - green and grayish came into your line of sigh.

Dazai Osamu and Nikolai Gogol.

Were you seeing things? Or you really were back.

You manage to whisper. You feel, that your tongue and throat weren't burned anymore.

"K-Kolya? Osamu?"

You looked around. Your friends were here.

"G-guys... E-Everyone..."

Before you can finish, you were swarmed by your friends.

Everyone tried to see you, to touch you. Kyuusaku, who manage to get to the front, climbed on your bed and hugged you.

"I knew it! I knew that you will be back! That you will return. B-because I told them all... that you will come back... you will certainly come back" Kyuusaku sobbed. Suddenly, they looked angry. "Where were you?! We were waiting for you... Searching for you... but you... completely, completely disappeared!"

You bit your lip and drew blood. For one moment, angry shouts of "SINNER" filled your ears.

Q cried again and hid their smeared face in your chest.

No. They are your friend. They won't hurt you.

You carefully hugged Q. You didn't feel any pain. You remind yourself to thank Yosano later.

"Good question, where were you, [Y/N]? Who... Hurt you?" spoke Mori. And you flinched.

One of the worst thing during The Imposter Hunt was Zhongli. More specifically, his voice, that sounds so similar to Mori's. During Nightmare-filled nights, that voice was cursing you, threaten you, promising to tear you apart.

In reality, you saw Zhongli saying that words. In your Nightmares, you saw Mori.

Zhongli made you scared of your friend!

Everyone noticed your reaction. Yosano spoke.

"[Y/N]... What happened? You were on a brick of death, when we found you..."

You still couldn't say a word. You were scared. You were terrified of returning to Teyvat.

Fukuzawa spoke next. He carefully picked up Kyuusaku and put them down on the floor. Then Fukuzawa with the same carefulness, propped you up against your pillow.

"We will discuss it later. Right now, [Y/N] need some food. Kitten, are you hungry?"

You slowly nodded. Oda, who was standing near the door, immediately left to get food from the kitchen.

The others stay in your room, looking at you.

This exact moment they made a promise to themselves.

They will destroy everything and everyone, who have hurt you.

And they will make sure, that this people will suffer.

[monkeydluffy19920]

Reasons to love Mugiwaras: Usopp

It’s been ages but here we are again, back with the series  where I share thoughts about why I think a certain (main) character is popular in One Piece.

This series is mainly focused on the canon material but there might be bit about fillers/movies as well to make references on and since it’s impossible to include every single detail here, I try to pinpoint certain things but feel free to add stuff if something is missing :) 

The very first time talked about Sanji and then I wrote about Nami.  This part is inspired by  Luffy vs Usopp amv  (when I realized I  haven’t pondered Luffy vs Usopp much in past).  Now let’s continue the  journey and talk  about  what makes Usopp popular and lovable character (in my opinion).

This  long post might include some unorganized thoughts, repeat and perhaps spoilers, so you’ve been warned!:D

So first thing first about Usopp, in general. He is a great storyteller, a little cowardish but a great friend. Main reason I like in his character is that Usopp is very human. He isn’t the strongest one in the crew, has lots of things he is afraid of but he has a big heart and isn’t afraid to show his emotions.

Like other Straw Hats, he has a sad past too. There isn’t much told but we learnt that Yasopp has been in Shanks’ crew for a long time and Usopp’s  mother died of a illness when he was a kid. Hard to imagine this poor guy had to grow up all alone (basically) and he started lying at a early age.

It’s very heartbreaking to realize that reasons behind his "Pirates are coming”-thing was that deep down the little boy just wanted that his father could return back and he just tried to cheer his sick mom. He could’ve stopped after his mom passed away but maybe it was his way to handle the loss of both parents.

But I think it was really adorable that even though the villagers did seem annoyed by Usopp’s “prank”, then eventually when he didn’t do his daily basis (after beating Kuro) the villagers kept wondering where the sniper was, so this became sort of a “tradition” in his village. It’s great though that his friends a.k.a other members from the Usopp Pirate group decided to keep the traditions alive.

Oda’s way to write characters is amazing and Usopp isn’t an exception. It is clear that Usopp has had a very steady development. Whereas lying and cowardness is partly used as comical reliefs and “running gags” of his, at the same there is much deeper meaning behind his behavior. Lying and storytelling is important part of what makes Usopp who he is and someone would say it’s not healthy but it’s probably where how tends to mask his flaws. We learn later in that deep down Usopp has lack of self-worth and fear of getting abandoned which results that especially before Time Skip he was afraid of unknown and saw himself as a burden due to his physical weakness

Further thoughts are written in “More thoughts about Luffy vs. Usopp-post” but his pride was one of the reason why things escalated with Luffy so badly back then but also the constant fear of not being enough fed all these decisions and he in burst of emotions decided the crew will be better without him. 

Another reason for Luffy vs Usopp fight was his dream.  When entering the Grand Line Usopp told that his dream is to become a  brave sea warrior since he idolizes his father Yasopp a lot. However,  after his real journey on the seas begins so begins his inner crises  because what stands on his way are the limits.  So, before the Time Skip  he wanted to be something he wasn’t.

Usopp knows that brave  warriors are incredibly strong and fearless (like Dorry and Brogy, the  giants from Little Garden who greatly inspire him) and back then he was well aware of the reality (that he isn’t yet ready to be one) and that hurt him and fed his fears and self-esteem problems even more. 

This theme has been going along with Usopp throughout the story. So, although Usopp had learnt slowly to push back his fear and stand up for his nakama in tight situations (for example in Alabasta he was beaten to pulp and still refused to give up and stayed with Nami in Skypiea although Enel was a threat), at the same time they were adventuring, the inner doubts kept stacking, until it exploded badly in Water 7 arc. It’s because he tends to compare himself to the others, especially the Monster Trio (who literally have the monstrous powers).

The robbery of the Skypiea money and the suggestion of replacing Going Merry were definitely the final straws for Usopp and things escalated. Luffy apologized in middle of the bickering but Usopp wasn’t ready to give up on the argument and then challenged him to a 1 vs 1 (perhaps partly to test his strength but mostly because he really wanted to fight for Merry’s future).

Despite being already heavily wounded Usopp didn’t fled from the duel although he could’ve easily trolled them and escape. He still stood up for his policies. Deep down, he didn’t want to back off although he probably knew that Luffy would win eventually. The loss put his remains of self worth into zero point but then on the other hand, later he wanted to help to get Robin back (but was too ashamed to face his captain after the loss and the arguments) so he became an ally as Sogeking

This disguise made him braver but again he was put face to face with his fears and limits when he got almost killed by Jabra. Sanji comes to save him but instead of scolding, the cook motivated him to realize that they need Usopp to trust himself instead of hiding behind the alter ego he created and this is the moment when Usopp started to realize he has unique strengths too.

So, it’s after Enies Lobby that opened Usopp’s eyes for good. After it he starts to see also his strengths (of course sometimes he still gets surprised by his skills but now he is even more skilled). He already proved to be very fast as a battler, very intelligent (good with gadgets, Nami’s weapon is great example of this) and a  very talented sniper. Then after Time Skip Usopp became a source of inspiration in Dressrosa and on top of that he has always been admired by Chopper (who believes his stories). These are some positive influences that has made good for Usopp’s self-esteem. 

That’s not the only character growth though, Usopp has had in my opinion quite steady development throughout the series. First one is in his very own arc. There are more thoughts about it in  Emotional slaps in One Piece-post but shortly said Usopp tries to tell Kaya the truth about her butler but gets an emotional slap instead.  Lying has been a silly entertainment for him but now backfired him, after all it’s hard to be taken seriously if you tell stories all the time and suddenly burst out “the truth”.

Well the slap may have been a “wake up call” so after Syrup Village he gathered his bravery to stand up against Kuro in order to protect his loved ones but then later Usopp’s next big step was in Arlong Park when fools Chuu with his ketchup trick and plans a story how he barely survived and then realizes (when comparing himself to others) that no, he is now a pirate and he needs to do something, literally since his nakamas fight in the frontline too. So he faces his fears, challenges Chuu and wins and this is the first fight he survived all alone! (a great achievement especially when coming to the fact that his equipments were at that time still “rookie level”)¨

Perhaps his interest in building gadgets roots partly from his poor self-esteem. He wants to become stronger too and knows how to build things so why not using the skills for it (let’s not forget that he offered to help Nami to build her a better weapon). 

Another of Usopp’s time was to shine in Thriller Bark when he turned out to be immune to Perona’s ghosts whereas even the Monster Trio (whom he idolizes and compares himself to) couldn’t.  Then when they were separated by Kuma and after Ace died, Usopp became very determined to find a way to help his captain and rejoin and did show lack of fear when meeting scary obstacles. 

After the Time Skip he has changed a lot in a good way. He is now stronger and more confident. He still likes to lie every once in a while but it’s not always to feed his self-esteem, more like force of habit and to entertain (and for comical reliefs). In other words the matured Usopp doesn’t lie just to feel good about himself (now he knows he is a important piece of the Strawhat crew and knows he has abilities to fight off even scary enemies) like he used to.

As a crewmember point of view, Usopp has always been a good handyman in the ship but not only that, he has also been good with mechanics and therefore has had potential even before Enies Lobby.  He can be the responsible adult but also there is this kid-hearted side of his where Usopp puts up with shenanigans.

Luffy and Usopp are definitely best buddies and  and sometimes they have these moments when they share one same braincell *laughs* They also share one common goal: to reunite with Red Hair Pirates crew.  Despite the good and close bond, Usopp took a long time before he started to see Luffy more as his actual captain than a close friend. 

It is mostly because in some ways they are complete opposite: Luffy is physically strong and has an impulsive and carefree nature whereas Usopp tends to hesitate more and has more knowledge and agility instead of muscles. Like written earlier, Usopp had difficulties to keep up with Luffy’s spontaneous and carefree nature.

One of my favorite panels from the whole series is when Usopp takes off his mask and reveals himself to Luffy. He tries to act cool and denies he didn’t come for Luffy’s sake (although he partly did, because he wanted to help too with Robin’s retrieval and didn’t want his captain to give up, since they were so close to their goal). What probably made this whole scenario more powerful was that Usopp  knew how to get Luffy back to the fight and he didn’t hesitate with the motivating, even though they were separated and even offered himself to face Lucci to spare Luffy although he knew he wouldn’t stand a chance. That’s loyalty and bravery, just like when Usopp was beaten into pulp in Alabasta and still stood against Baroque Works once they mocked Luffy. 

What probably makes their nakamaship even more unique is that their arguments lead to the breaking point but they later both understood what to do in order to fix it. 

Zoro and Usopp, when it comes down to this duo, Usopp admires Zoro’s strength and skills (and at the beginning probably is a bit scared of him) and usually seeks protection from the swordsman who seems sometimes to get a little annoyed by this. However, Zoro already showed his loyalty to Usopp in Arlong Park arc where he was ready to slice Nami after hearing she killed Usopp. 

Zoro constantly keeps encouraging Usopp to face his fears and for example doesn’t let him off the hook when they decide by random who is joining Luffy’s shenanigans and also in general probably Usopp sees Zoro as the big brother and the voice of reason too.

Zoro is almost like a mentor to Usopp. Even though the swordsman isn’t that kind of guy who’d show outside the feelings but one can see that he was concerned when Usopp left. Obviously he also wanted the sniper to rejoin but first he demanded a proper apology from the Usopp because of disrespecting their captain (so Usopp could undersrand the consequences of their duel). It sounded ridiculous for some of their crewmates first and even Luffy was ready to welcome Usopp back without bigger fuss but it was very important moment for Usopp to realize this is now the real deal and made him set his pride aside. 

Interesting detail between these two was that Oda made this “role swap” in Sabaody Archipelago. There Usopp (who usually seeks protection from Zoro) is now the one who protects the swordsman and even tried to reason him not to go on the battle (when Zoro was badly wounded), basically it could’ve been anyone who carries Zoro but Oda chose Usopp which is great in my opinion. 

Nami and Usopp get well along together although sometimes the sniper is afraid when the navigator gets angry  but aside of the comical reliefs, Nami is like a big sister to Usopp and they share lot in common: both lost their moms, both are easily afraid of the unknown and both use gadgets in combat.  On the other hand they  both have been great peer support to each other and determined to quit being so dependent on other crewmates and become stronger. 

It is clear that Nami greatly respects Usopp’s skills with mechanics otherwise she wouldn’t have trusted him to build her a weapon so she could battle for Vivi’s sake in Alabasta.  They are often showed as together they are preventing Luffy from doing stupid things by beating him up but on the other hand they are also an efficient duo ending up into various problems in the field (like fighting Enel or when they ended up to explore Thriller Bark with Chopper, “the coward trio” and the latest, when they fought together in Wano against that headbutt-character).  

More importantly, both are very human in their nature (for example when Ace died both were very concerned about how Luffy will cope with an emotional trauma) and for example understand how hard it is to keep up with the rest of the crew.  Both of them also show openly emotions in good and bad. 

Usopp also is aware of Nami’s past (since he and Sanji were the only ones who listened to Nojiko’s story) so for example he got upset to Brook in Mermaid Island arc where Brook dropped unknowingly an insensitive joke about Arlong

So, they do share a special bond and therefore if someone then it’s Nami who understands Usopp’s struggles especially when it comes down to keeping up with the other stronger crewmates and that’s probably why she felt so emotional because of Luffy vs Usopp events (she could definitely feel his pain when he felt the guilt of not being able to protect the money that got robbed by Franky Family but there she proved that money isn’t her priority number 1 and showed much more concern in Usopp’s wellbeing).

Sanji and Usopp, when they first met they ended up arguing (because Usopp didn’t think Sanji treated them equally) but things change in time and they too start to see each others’ good sides.  

Oda makes an interesting way to portray their nakamaship: Usually Sanji acts like he cares only a little for Usopp, but then on the other hand the cook has sacrificed himself in Skypiea for the sniper’s and Nami’s sake and back in Enies Lobby Sanji saved Usopp from Jabra. Sanji was even willing to stand up for his captain and kicked Luffy and told him not to say anything reckless.

Maybe is another running gag it’s seen often that the cook will fearlessly rush into battle while dragging a terrified Usopp with him.  Eventually, in Enies Lobby Sanji was the one to ultimately inspire Usopp to see the value inside himself saying that while he (Sanji) was physically stronger and could do what Usopp could not do, Usopp possessed skill to save Robin and could do what he "couldn't do".

Re-reading Water 7 and Enies Lobby after WCI arc made me understand that Sanji and Usopp have actually much more in common that we thought: both had very isolated childhood without parents, both have had difficulties to keep up with others’ pace (Sanji in past, Usopp in the present).  

Who knows maybe seeing Usopp fighting with his insecurities and especially using in the mask reminded Sanji of his own “iron mask” and the pain behind wearing it. Perhaps this was the reason Oda first made Sanji to convince the others to not to reveal Sogeking’s real identiity (although probably most of them knew who he was) and later choose presicely Sanji to be the one with the speech in Enies Lobby. 

Interesting detail in this setting was that this became a parallel to Arlong Park where Luffy told that he can’t do all things, and now there is Sanji who openly admitted he wasn’t able to win Kalifa (and got bailed out by Nami), only for her and Usopp to be bailed out by Sanji in turn when the wolf man was way too strong for them. It’s just still amazing the way Sanji puts all his trust in Usopp to help them free Robin by telling the sniper: strength comes in many different forms and that even the strongest crewmembers are depending on one another to survive.

Chopper and Usopp also have their special bond and they too adore each other’s skills. Chopper keeps buying Usopp’s tales but also sees him as his hero.  Both of them are openly showing their emotions and are human in that side.

Because Chopper idolizes Usopp, it was hard to him to get rejected by the sniper when Usopp left the crew and Chopper later caught up and tried to talk him back there without good results.  After the Luffy vs Usopp fight Chopper had really hard time because he was forced to choose between his job and friends (when Sanji told him not show pity on a fallen man but later Chopper decided to go with his heart leave Usopp some first aid kit so he eventually chose friendship kindness and what  he thought was right at that moment.  

Sogeking was basically the embodiment of Usopp’s tales and probably he didn’t realize who was behind the mask. Chopper loved Usopp’s alter-ego too though. 

Usopp and Chopper are easily terrified (along with Nami) but even though they are usually scared, the sniper and the doctor make a great fighting team. A great example was that They defeated   Miss Merry Christmas  and Mr. 4 in Alabasta.  

Usopp and Chopper form the “Coward Trio” with Nami and although it’s partly a running gag, there again is some things that combine them and it’s their human nature and (outside chopper) their pretty human strength.

Usopp and Robin needed a little time for their nakamaship to develope. Probably because of Alabasta he was a bit afraid of her and her devil fruit powers (especially when she joked about her speciality to be assasinations). So Enies Lobby arc did also good for their nakamaship. 

Usopp was always willing to help Robin in Water 7 but since the circumstances were a bit difficult he had to do it in a disguise and didn’t even hesitate although he was facing Blueno who is powerful.  By that time Robin wasn’t aware of the crew being split up but despite that Usopp still told her to “have faith in Luffy”.

Just like written earlier, I think it was crucial for Usopp’s character development that Oda made him to be the final piece to the puzzle to help Robin escape from Spandam.  This strengthened their bond for good and it’s not the only time, also in Dressrosa Usopp saved her from being a toy.

What I like the most in their nakamaship is that although Robin loves to tease Usopp with her dark jokes, she also treats him with a big heart, like motherly. It’s headcanonish but I think for example that Robin helps Usopp and the rest of the “Dork Trio” collecting bugs and stuff.

Usopp and Franky had a very  rocky start since the cyborg’s family stole Strawhat Pirates’ money and beat the sniper’s butt. Then Luffy, Zoro, Sanji and Chopper caused a ruckus on Franky House so Franky decided to return the favor by kidnapping Usopp (who at that point had left the group.

Suddenly they started to bond, mostly because they started to talk about ships and it was Franky who managed to make Usopp realize that Going Merry was way beyond repair despite the sniper tried to repair the ship. Despite they didn’t know each other for a long time, Franky was definitely impressed by Usopp’s skills since the cyborg later asked him to join the Franky family.

After Franky joined the Strawhats these two began to bond even more. They both love mechanic stuff (i.e both love to build stuff and Usopp is usually the tester when it comes down to Franky’s inventions) and they enjoy maintaining the Thousand Sunny together and Franky for sure has taught Usopp a lot about shipwrighting since he heard Usopp took mainly care about Going Merry.  

It’s probably just another running gag but Franky compares his bounty towards Usopp’s a lot and frankly spoken he should have at least a bit better bounty in general compared to the fact that he has loads of knowledge (previously held Pluton blueprints) but that’s another story to tell later. 

Brook and Usopp didn’t have it easy too since Usopp was terrified of Brook when they first met. He was openly against the musician to join the crew but once he heard that Brook and Laboon had a connection and after events in Thriller Bark in general, Brook gain Usopp’s trust.

Although they get well along, a couple of times Usopp has become annoyed by Brook’s careless behavior: in Punk Hazard when he was eyeing Nami’s body (when Sanji was swapped into her)  and when Brook accidentally made that joke about Arlong in Mermaid Island.

Jinbe and Usopp, the sniper was understandably hesistant about Jinbe at the first time since Jinbe is not only a former warlord but also was part of Arlong’s Pirate crew. Despite all that the sniper ended up supporting his captain's decision about Jinbe joining their crew and after they’ve known for more, Usopp has  admired Jinbe's attitude and strength and eventually encouraged him to join the crew while calling him Boss Jinbe.

I think from after the Syrup Village and Enies Lobby, one of the most crucial arc for Usopp’s development has been Dressrosa because there he managed to unleash his Kenbunshoku Haki. It was literally a crucial shot because Luffy and Law were in edge of becoming toys. 

Let’s not forget that chapters ago he shot one of the Merry's cannons and perfectly hit his target and the crew managed to escape from Alabasta because he landed a shot on a marine ship which made it crash into another giving them an escape route.  So as said earlier, Usopp has always been very skillful with gadgets and incredible speed. At the first glance slingshot as a weapon doesn’t sound powerful but now to think about it: to land a shot perfectly you needs to be able to lock the position of your target, calculate the exact angle and force and usually you are also put into pressure.  So, Usopp is one of the best examples of underestimated power and indeed deserved all the praise in Dressrosa.

His character history still has room for questions that could have answers such as what disease did Usopp’s mom have? (like could it be cured in future if Chopper’s dream about being able to cure all diseases became true?) or how it will be when Usopp meets his Yasopp for the very first time after a long break? It seems like his dad left when he was very young so probably he mostly knows him based on what his mother Banchina told about him.

Aside from sharpshooting, lying skills and being good at engineering (especially with handheld weapons) Usopp has other talents too such as being a skilled artist and according to sbs he has also is good with hairdressing.  He is also good with gardening because he learnt in that island to cultivate pop greens.

I think one of the funniest running gag is that Usopp is a scaredy cat but one thing he is not afraid is bugs especially spiders. When Nami and Sanji screamed their lungs out because of the tarantellas (while they were looking for South Bird) Usopp casually took that 8 legged thingy to his hands. Hard to say whether his skills in arachnology has come in handy in general but I do like the headcanon that him and Luffy (and Chopper) love to collect bugs together and play with them when they have some spare time. 

All in all, if one should sum up this huge post (that again got carried away *laughs*) it’s that Usopp has made a long journey to the point where he is now standing. He started as a hesistant youngster and has grown now to a strong and (almost) fearless pirate and one day he’ll definitely become the brave warrior of the seas (although he already is one). 

[aidendh]

BSD! OC! Yozo Tsushima | P1

Rework of my RAU! Osamu Dazai and Fei Harris

--

Kanji: 津島 • 要造

Rōmanji: Tsushima Yōzō

Also Known As: Fei Amamiya (Cannon Arc), Inafuku (fox miraculous), Triple Black (former, alongside Kyoushi Verlaine and Gen'emon Tsushima), Twin Demons (former, alongside Gen'emon Tsushima)

Namesake: Yozo Tsushima (Japanese short story writer)

--

-:Personal Information:-

Status: Alive (in hiding)

Gender: Gender Fluid (He/She/They)

Yozo - Male dominant, Fei - Female Dominant

Sexuality: Biromantic

Birthday: 19th June

Age: 43 (Cannon BSD), 41 (Persona 5), 32 (Gifted War), 25 (Haikyuu!! Arc), 24 (Tower/Casino Arc), 23 (Persona Arc), 20 (left the mafia), 18 (Meeting Fyodor), 15 (meeting Kyoushi Verlaine)

Height: 181cm (5'11"), 174cm (5'8.5") [15]

Weight: 67 kg, 54 kg [15]

Blood Type: AB

Likes: Suicide, Kids, Crab, Cats, Juice

Dislikes: Alcohol, Gen'emon Tsushima, Doctors, Spiders

--

-:Professional Information:-

Ability: Selfaware

Reference: Selfaware (自己認識, Jikoninshiki)

Occupation: Detective, Superhero, Mafioso (former)

Affiliation: The Resistance, Tower Detective Agency (former), Port Mafia (former)

--

-:Metaverse Information:-

(Pre → Post-War)

Name: Yozo Tsushima

Location: Tower Detective Agency

→ Life

Distortion: Circus

→ Purgatory

Treasure: Themself

--

-:Relationships:-

Family:

Gen'emon Tsushima (twin brother),

Mizuki Oda (adoptive father),

Fuku Akutagawa (adopted daughter),

Kuragorou Tsushima/Tanizaki (adopted son),

Seki Tanizaki (daughter-in-law),

Akira Kurusu/Amamiya (adopted son),

-

Shinji Tsushima/Osamu Dazai (nephew),

Ryunosuke Akutagawa (grandson),

Gin Akutagawa (granddaughter),

Juni'chiro Tanizaki (grandson),

Naomi Tanizaki (granddaughter),

Ren Amamiya (grandson)

--

-:Appearances:-

Manga Debut: Lost Souls, Tower arc

Anime Debut: Bungou Stray Dogs: Lost Souls, Tower arc

Light Novel Debut: Sorrowful Souls

--

-:Portrayal:-

Japanese Voice: Mamoru Miyano

English Voice: Kaiji Tang

--

"

Yozo Tsushima to the Audience

"This is going to be an interesting story, now isn't it?"

Yozo Tsushima (津島 要造,, Tsushima Yōzō) was a member of the Tower Detective Agency and former mafioso of the Port Mafia. They have the Ability named Selfaware.

Personality: Suicidal, Deceptive, Childish, Clever, Mischievous, Mute(15/Sometimes)

Confidant/Arcana: Death

-:Ability:-

Selfaware (自己認識,, Jikoninshiki) allows Yozo to receive random bursts of information that the audience of Bungou Stray Dogs: Lost Souls would know. They have no control over the information and often receives it out of context (eg, Dazai nullifying the Weretiger when meeting Atsushi Hinata). This also allows them to break the 4th wall. It is later found out that their ability originally made them completely self aware, but they gained a mental block growing up because of the mental strain.

Yozo is also shown to be able to interact with the animation effects, despite being the only one to see them. This makes it look like he can stand on air, interact with people from across the room, be touched by invisible forces and even suddenly appear and disappear. For example, by interacting with another's chibi when in conversation in different rooms, it feels like the recipient is being touched by them.

[Continued in P2]

--

Yozo Tsushima

-

-

-

--

A Mischievous Detective who believes he/she/they can beat death

Ability: Selfaware* Fourth wall awareness

Confidant: Death

--

Yozo Tsushima

-

--

A Mafioso and Twin Demon who has lost sight of themself

Ability: Selfaware* Fourth wall awareness

A member of Triple Black

--

Yozo Tsushima

-

--

An Orphan and Twin Demon who is loosing their morals

Ability: Selfaware* Fourth wall awareness

Teriffied of their ruthless Boss

--

Shadow! Yozo

-

-

--

A Walking Corpse and the Ringmaster of the Tower Circus

E: Wind, Support / Null: Phys

Resist: Psy / W: Fire

Treasure: Himself/Herself

--

Inafuku (Yozo)

-

--

An Elusive Miraculous user fighting in the Gifted War

Power: Mirage* Creates an Illusion

Miraculous: Foxtail Necklace

--

[toastedicarus]

Thinking about Pact/Pale Strawhats, very rough ideas. Spoilers for all probably.

ZORO: Lost Swordsman, emphasis on Lost. Originally just a regular peter-pan-esk Lost Boy on a 'ninja's vs pirates' path where you had to manipulate and set up fights to progress, a group of finders managed to break the path by permanently killing Lost to manipulate the bracket to be smaller so it was easier to get through. Kid Zoro was forced to be the 'greatest swordsman' and then easily defeated by the path runner so many times the path lost enough power to give away boons, collapsing around Zoro who only survived by swearing an Oath to the universe that he would earn his title for real. Haven't decided if Kuina fits in better as a path runner here and Zoro exists as some sort of wolf/mirror/whatever entity made on the path for her as a worthy opponent, or if she would just be another Lost.

NAMI: Former aware turned elementalist? Can't get too much into her deal without getting into the Fishmen question.

USSOP: Blackguard of the group, the liar. Kuro was a practitioner trying to use magic to rise in innocent status, karma used Ussop as a tool to balance things out, and it left him aware. Maintains innocence as he's still scared of whatever regular thing the universe hides magic stuff as. Uses magic items and guns as he can't actually Practice.

SANJI: Bogyman - "Blackleg". Sanji gets forgotten in the basement and without any human connections, gets claimed by the abyss. He latches onto an outdated form of chivalry and romance and the need to feed people as ways to crawl out, turning into a sort of urban legend about a man in black suit that kicks men to death who violate his personal principles: hurting women or wasting food.

CHOPPER: Divine Reindeer. Regular reindeer that ate a bit of divine essence and became a very small, very nervous godling(? similar to Tashlet in Pale) with access to Creation, manifesting in his multiple forms. Originally a familiar to Hiriluk, using the stability of the familiar ritual to stop Chopper from changing constantly form and Hiriluk trying to stave off his fatal illness with Choppers divinity.

ROBIN: Originally I thought Diabolist (Demon child, whole world wants her dead, suffering) but the aesthetics of a Horror fit so much better. Has a similar deal to the Horror gal in Pale, only Robin escaped her family after trying to subtly leak how their practice worked to the world. She obscured her Self from tracking attempts by hiding in Baroque Works. Crocodile is a Collector of people similar to Bristow. Maybe her family used Demons to Destroy the memory of how exactly they pulled off the Horror trick?

FRANKY: Hyde/Technomancer. He is the guy that Essentials warns you about, trying to combine Familiars and Demesnes and Implements into the same thing. Thousand Sunny is a mad max sort of train-bus-camper, which he powered up with every single one of the three main rituals, forcing himself to Hyde into Battle Franky if he wants to get anything done outside of it (Or maybe Hyde back into Cutty Flam, with Frankly bound to the Thousand Sunny?)

BROOK: He's just like that

JINBE: ??? Honestly I don't know how to resonate Oda Fishmen Allegory with Wildbow Others Allegory without pratfalling down a metaphorical set of stairs where every stair is a landmine. Oni?

LUFFY: He's also just like that

[reginaldqueribundus]

Things about One Piece that crack me tf up

not one single character has worn an eyepatch in over 20 years of this 1,000+ chapter pirate manga

there's like… laser guns and cyborgs and CCTV but everyone's still using sailboats to get around (with square sails no less)

there are canonically three different kinds of furries

Luffy hangs around all day with the only person in the world who knows where the Death Star is, but he doesn't give a shit

Eiichiro Oda has spent more than half of his life so far writing and drawing One Piece. at age 22 he created his first ever manga series and it became the bestselling comic book in history and when it finally ends he can probably just retire

Oda planned One Piece would last about five years. This was in 1997

Oda just casually confirming his universe has SECRET ANCIENT MOON CIVILIZATIONS with ROBOT ARMIES and FUCKING SPACE PIRATES, and possibly ACTUAL ALIENS… in a fucking chapter cover story. And then never mentioning it again for 14 actual real-world years

eat a devil fruit. is it the one that makes you a godlike indestructible force of nature, or the one that makes you a rubber band who can't swim? welp

Sengoku is one of the most serious characters in the whole series, he runs the military, but he has a giant stupid afro and a pet goat that follows him everywhere and he can turn into a giant buddha with an even bigger afro

Chopper was just vibing as an animal and then one day he ate a weird fruit and woke up with self-awareness and hopes and dreams and anxiety and now he has a medical degree? the reindeer, he walks like a man

Dr. Hiliruk is basically one of those hippie moms who tries to cure measles with essential oils and shit but he's also one of the most heroic characters in the entire series

it's one of the goofiest wackiest manga out there but when you look closely the setting is actually a morally grey hellworld mostly run by a corrupt government built on secrets and lies which only exists to support cartoonishly evil aristocrats who live on a mountain beating slaves all day, and the rest is either lawless wastelands or controlled by 10 foot tall invincible psychopaths who could easily take over the rest of the world if they didn't all hate each other

the Celestial Dragons commit horrific atrocities every 0.001 seconds but they all dress like fucking idiots and have Dr. Seuss haircuts

there's a guy named Dragon who has dedicated his life to destroying them

Luffy meets people and goes "you're my friend now" and they have like no choice in the matter

Luffy: I'm not a hero! also Luffy: I will not rest until I crush this cruel tyrant who is taking food away from little kids

his grandpa is a world-famous war hero and his dad is trying to overthrow the entire government but Luffy doesn't even care

characters will show up and be like "I'm an 800-year-old time traveler from a lost period of history" and the story is like "that's neat. time for fifty pages of men crying"

Buggy the stupid fucking circus clown with blue hair and a flying penis, who spent his formative years with the literal greatest pirate in the entire world and yet somehow completely sucks shit, has more screen time than the main character's mentor and beloved elder brother combined. love it.

now that Jinbe has joined the crew Robin finally has another person with more than one brain cell to talk to

Brook became a global rockstar while being a skeleton and his fans just rolled with it

the Marines show up at his concert and accuse him of being a random pirate from 50 years ago and he's like "yes I am that pirate and I'm quitting the music gig to go back to being a pirate, also I work for the guy at the top of your shit list!"

[littleholmes]

I sometimes think about the fact that, had Oda survived, Dazai definitely would have taken over the Port Mafia before he turned 19 or at least before he turned 20. (This is another long one, a little sad in parts, so bear with me. tw; for brief canon-typical mentions of violence, suic*de, and trauma).

Dazai likely would have taken Mori out indirectly, either by causing members to take him out, or by arranging something and making it look like an accident—maybe a car accident where Dazai survived but the airbags ‘malfunctioned’ like they did with Ango (without the Guild involved), and Mori died but just happened to chat about him taking over one day…etc.

In any case, although Dazai being Port Mafia head by 19 would happen rather quickly and smoothly after that, because no one would question it, and those who did would disappear because Dazai then (and even Dazai now) is pretty damn scary and not one to cross, the organization under Dazai would be a force that would be unlike anything Yokohama’s ever seen. A force that would likely lead to serious issues for the city and, potentially, send Dazai falling even deeper into an unfeeling void so cavernous that it would lead to him taking his life early (and potentially alone instead of as the double s like his namesake) before he’s even 22.

I also sometimes think about how Mori is aware and recognizes that, should Dazai have remained in the org, Mori likely would have been killed years ago, which is partially why he allowed Dazai to even live these last four years and often offers him his position back. (I also sometimes think he wishes at times that Dazai had just taken over and spared him the responsibility, but that’s a big sometimes). I think Mori could have had Dazai killed plenty of times during his hiding and after, but chose not to—one, because he just didn’t want to detonate the bomb that is Dazai and put that target on himself, or any of his executives, because had that happened they all, or at least quite a few of them, would have died.

And two, because, although Mori is a semi-amiable guy in that he’s willing to let his powerful executives go if they want, (he was willing to let Kouyou leave freely if she wanted, and claims Dazai left freely too—and I’m sure Mori raising him up a bit like a semi-son in the org has something to do with it too, but I digress), Dazai is a whole different breed of Port Mafia puppy. He’s the kind that you let go and don’t go after or, if you do go after him, it’s at least not seriously. He’s the kind that is essentially put on an unspoken keep-alive list, and then asked periodically if he’s gotten things out of his system and wants to come back home. He’s also an heir apparent with the level of cruelty and callousness of a true underground leader, who can get anyone to cooperate, who can outdo the interrogators and the various corners of the organization at their own jobs, and remains relatively unmatched. He’s a unique asset, with incredible tactical abilities, and that doesn’t even count his ability (or the fact that it effectively doubles as an off-switch for another super powerful asset who, thanks to him, stands in their arsenal)…

And Mori knows all of this, respects all of this, and Dazai knows that Mori knows all of this and knows he has, and will always have, an upper hand of sorts at the end of day when it comes to negotiations with Mori and the organization.

But mostly, I also think about how, had Oda survived and Dazai became the Organization head, or even if Dazai just simply remained in the organization, the cycle of Port kids who become lethal teens with deep unaddressed trauma and self-loathing that started with him might not have ended with Kyouka. Mori impacted (harmed) Dazai who molded (tormented) Akutagawa who helped shape (wound) Kyouka and, while I tend to think she still possibly would have left or found a way out, Kyouka remaining would have continued this awfulness for whoever came after her when it came time for her to prepare the next orphan kid for life in the Port.

Again I’m rambling, but I’m mid-way through the manga and kept thinking about Oda and what would have happened had he lived, the dynamic with Mori and Dazai, and the cycle that happens with these orphans taken in by the organization, and Dazai’s ability to shift back into his venomous (ex) Port Mafia puppy self semi-seamlessly while in the Agency, and I was considering how good it was for himself, Atsushi, Kyouka, and even Yokohama that he left, but also how bad it could have been had Dazai remained in

[randomidiocyncrazies]

2.43 ep 10 thoughts

there are some damn good team dynamics on both sides this ep, hell yeah!

exhibit 1: Mimura and Ochi are married and co-parenting the Fukuhou team:

also... Fukuhou’s setter is hilarious??? 

Mimura: give me all the sets

Setter: sure thing boss! *passes to the 2nd year kid instead*

2nd year kid: *scores* let’s win this for Ochi!!

Setter: lol sorry boss, maybe next time

also hilarious: Aoki’s pouty unimpressed expression at the reminder of Oda being swapped out to reserves because of his height disadvantage. look, even Kanno’s laughing! 

also, i say this p much every week, but BRO I LOVE ODA... he’s just really sweet and supportive with his teammates and does his best to soothe their anxiety! a good team captain, 100% dad friend

(”heart of the team” indeed!)

also really loved the resolution to Chika’s question about whether he’s in it for personal glory or the good of the team, and how his leadership style is contrasted with Mimura’s

just... the whole “Fukuhou is Mimura’s team, but Seiin doesn’t have to be my team... if what I have to do for the team lies elsewhere, I have no reason to be self-conscious and I don’t have any regrets” moment is SO GOOD!!! i’ve said before that Oda and Mimura’s leadership styles are wildly different, but both are admirable—since 2.43 emphasizes teamwork (”nobody can play by themselves, no matter how talented”), both captains’ leadership style are different expressions of the team cohesion: Seiin is a “underdog misfit” team, so Oda’s ability to rally the team’s spirits despite their weakness is important; Fukuhou is a strong team, and Mimura a “hero” of the court who brings out the confidence in his players because of how talented he is.

(i also loved the parallel between him and Chika—”I also used to play, totally focused on the court only, but I don’t envy you. There are things I can only do now because I’m carrying so much” is just. chef kiss. i love Chika and he is obviously talented, but his intensity means it’s hard for him to be buddy-buddy with his teammates)

i do appreciate the tension between Chika and the others, though i think the anime sort of flattened it a bit? reading the book i felt like both sides had a point, but imo Kanno was being quite harsh with the “You’ve been pushy, Haijima” line here... i guess it’s because there’s less focus on interior thoughts/emotions so it’s harder to see where they’re coming from...

also, this interaction caught my attention during the mini conflict (i’m a HUGE Odaoki stan)

Oda doesn’t actually say “thanks” here. he says “すまん、青木”, which is less of a thank you and more of an apology. i don’t really consider it a mistranslation because the english translation makes sense in context (he is thankful to Aoki for stepping in), but the apology aspect is really interesting to think about. why is he apologetic? my gut feeling is that Oda is aware that Aoki is ambivalent towards Chika and that Chika is, to some extent, Oda’s star player—he’s the one who insisted on Chika joining the team, so it’s possible that he saw Aoki stepping up for Chika as a favor to himself. on the other hand, Aoki is capable of putting personal feelings aside to do the thing that needs to be done, so i like to think he’d have defended Chika regardless 

it’s also possible that Oda is frustrated with himself for, y’know, not being able to step in on account that he’s a reserve player—he may be the team captain but he’s not the floor captain of this game, and he could only offer encouragement on the sidelines because he hadn’t been playing with them. it feels disingenuous to chastise them when he hadn’t been playing alongside them and hadn’t experienced the hardships they’re facing on the court

speaking of Oda and Aoki, i also love this co-parenting moment between them (even though we learn that they lost the set in the end):

Aoki immediately jumping in to rally the team alongside Oda is just? really cute?? they have a good dynamic

other cute team moments from team Seiin

Chika is trying SO HARD!!! hang in there Chika