#TOA Interview

[clairatgarregmach]

Clair's Interview for Garreg Mach Officers Academy

What has led you to where you are today?

Clair knits her fingers together as the interviewer trails off and looks her in the eyes. She knows she can stick the landing on this one.

“My own two feet, I suppose - with a little help from some heeled boots here and there.”

She straightens in her seat, partially to bring her posture back to flawlessly elegant after her moment of taut pondering, and partially to stop herself from springing up and doing a little shoe flourish, like she might do for a group of friends in the entrance hall of a manor. She settles for crossing her legs at the ankle - she did choose nice boots today, and the neatly dressed woman interviewing her might appreciate her stylishness, but shoe fashion feels like it might be rather low on the priority list of prestigious, selective academies.

The interviewer just blinks, her lips a tight line.

Alright, Clair thinks, the shoes definitely wouldn’t have swung her. A new approach, perhaps.

She smiles softly. “Your silence and pensive blinking are telling me that you don’t take this for a serious answer. I happen to think it’s quite relevant, if I may elaborate.”

The interviewer nods. “Please do.”

Clair clears her throat. “I was born a noble, yes, and I do rather enjoy it, but I was never one to merely rest on my heels, or let myself float powerlessly down the river of life. That’s no way to get anywhere quickly. Besides, my brother was fashioning himself into something of a military commander by the time he was big enough to hold anything vaguely lance-shaped, and I wasn’t going to let myself be left in his tracks like that. I was, of course, tutored in the highest levels of arts and mathematics, but it was at the rambunctious age of fourteen that I taught myself to fly my pet pegasus - a whirling mess of an incident that Clive rarely hesitates to bring up at dinner parties, but nevertheless the start of something great.”

“Your letter of interest did mention flight training,” the woman says dryly, clearly unimpressed with Clair’s wry anecdotes. Her pointy boots are at least good for lightly kicking herself under the table. Who was she kidding? Garreg Mach probably has a hundred students who could fly a pegasus at a younger age than her.

Focus, Clair. You know how to talk to people.

“I, of course, plan to continue my flying studies in earnest at Garreg Mach - it would be a shame to let such a useful skill slide away - but I must ultimately develop in all aspects that are befitting of a knight and a noble. I’m nothing if not driven, after all - you can expect me to take on a voluminous variety of academic pursuits. Forgive me if I end up swinging a sword around in a literature seminar - I can get somewhat over-eager, maybe a little confused - but my intentions are always good!”

The interviewer nods, and Clair can’t stifle her smile. Perhaps being a little out there is a good thing at Garreg Mach?

What do you believe are your greatest strengths? Your greatest weaknesses?

“Well, you’ve already touched on my flying skills,” Clair remarks.

The interviewer clicks her tongue. “Correct.”

Clair relaxes her shoulders slightly. “It’s quite a rare skill for a Valentian to have - pegasi aren’t native to our land, mine was imported as a pet when I was a petulant teenager, I taught myself to fly it out of sheer spite and bloody-mindedness - but this isn’t anything new to anyone who’s been to a party with me. Of course, it was a double-edged sword: even once I knew how to fly, I just became Clair the pegasus girl. Infuriating! So cruel, life is - my brother, ever the overachiever - love him to pieces, I must clarify, but he was a lot to handle as we were growing up - he got to be a knight and a commander and a scholar and the one everyone wanted, and I was just the pretty girl with the flying horse.”

“How did you overcome that?” the woman asks, furrowing her brows.

Clair chides herself for dodging a question so forcefully she slammed into another one, but recovers.

“Elegance, mostly. I do believe it’s a strength of mine - something learned, not inherent. The way you move and carry yourself, both physically and mentally, can change the way your friends and your foes see you. Some people I’ve met would disagree, obviously, but I do find myself more than capable of playing the hapless damsel - right up until I slide a knife between a man’s ribs.” She makes a couple of decidedly inelegant sound effects and hand gestures to ram the point home.

The interviewer looks faintly perturbed. Perhaps the Fodlanese don’t discuss close-quarters takedown tactics in the first interview.

She coughs into her hand. “And, well, I suppose that’s a weakness of mine right there - I excite so easily. As you can tell, I’m rather eager at times; always determined to give it my all. It doesn’t always sit well with those who expect a demure, deferential noble out of me, but I like it that way! A noblewoman shouldn’t have to be stuffy and dull - where’s the fun in that? There’s so much vibrance and brilliance in the world - can’t a girl just be joyful about all of it?”

The interviewer smiles. “I assure you we have much less deferential nobles at Garreg Mach, Miss Clair.”

Clair smiles back. “It shall be fun to meet them.”

If a story were to be written about your life, what role would you play?

Clair purses her lips. An unexpected question, to be sure, but not one she can’t figure out.

“I suppose I never fully shook the ardent desire to be a hero. Perhaps I was even born with it! My brother, like I mentioned, was very quickly big enough to wave around things vaguely resembling spears. I was not, but that couldn’t deter me - much to the terror of my parents and maids. They all looked at me quite sternly and said that flipping a butter knife end over end at the dinner table was not befitting of a young lady, but one of the advantages of being a noble is that you can press and press and press your parents, and someday you’ll get what you want. The Knights of Zofia were quite amused when I showed up for the first day of training in a dress, but such is the way of being a young girl - I didn’t exactly have much choice in my wardrobe. Not that I’m incapable of fighting in my finery, of course - and I’d say that makes me look like quite the impressive heroine.”

The interviewer nods. “An interesting response. I think you’ve painted a very robust image of yourself, Miss Clair. I’m sure you’ll be hearing from us soon. You may go.”

“Thank you so much,” Clair says, shaking her hand gently. She pushes her chair aside, turns on her heel to walk out of the room, and… shoe flourish. Can’t help herself.

The interviewer stifles a laugh. “You have excellent taste in shoes, if I may say. I think you’ll find Fodlanese styles and our fashion programmes very much to your liking.”

Knew it.

[ladivamagnifica]

The Interview 💋

Urgh, she was going to kill Catherine. Oh joy of joys, to be awoken before the sun had arisen on her one and only day off, still sore and tender from the faculty drinks party the night prior, only to be dragged out of her bedchambers, still wearing last-night’s makeup and her dress stained with mustard and wine, and debriefed that in five minutes’ time she would be meeting with a fake newspaper journalist who was actually part of a thief group intending on scouring the grounds for some sort of lost treasure. It was up to her to stall for time, by any means necessary, and that everyone else of use was nowhere to be found or busy. 

Bullshit.

Luckily she had been left alone for two frantic minutes in the audience chamber before the Archbishop had seen her; enough time to brush the noticeable tangles from her hair, smudge the eyeliner to make it somewhat decent, find the vial of perfume in per pocket to douse herself in it and spot two holes in her pantyhose tights, grumble about them and then reapply her lipstick. Goddess knows what she actually looked like- abyssal and clearly dishevelled, what with the look of disgust Seteth had cast her away, but even so, passing by a mirror on her way to the meeting room revealed that man oh man, she could make anything look good- especially when the stained dress in question was her old songstress dress, blood red with a black lace hem and plunging neckline. The knitted ebony shawl had also seen better days, but to her mind it all reminded her of her La Carlotta performances- hangover and all.

Her mood further lifted when the ‘interviewer’ had walked in, clearly nervous and out of his depth, and oblivious to the trap which had been set. Nevermind the remnants of her headache, or the ache of her bones. She set her shoulders back, assets in full view and watched him stumble to his chair. Since they wanted her to stall for time, perhaps she could have a little fun with him? It had been a while since she’d had this sort of opportunity, after all…

“What has led you to where you are today?”

“Oh, cute! Straight down to business, but clearly distracted.” She thought.

“I suppose that is the polite way of asking why the ‘Divine Songstress’, the Goddess’ incarnation of heavenly song who blessed the Mittelfrank Opera Company with her tenure, decided to leave her glamorous life of encores and roses for the… quieter halls of Fodlan’s monastery?”

Manuela cocked her head in her hands, leaning forwards, towards the interviewer before her.  It was a practised motion which caused the table to pull down the plunging neckline of her dress just a little bit more, and as if on cue, his eyes flitted downwards. 

She smiled. 

“If it wasn’t such an interesting tale, I might have called you impertinent- presume what you will, but the life of a prima donna is a hard one to live, and harder still to maintain: your role doesn’t end when the curtain falls for the final time each evening; nobles will eek out of you performance after performance; you will be the talk of the town and host of every well-to-do dinner party, on the arm of a man each night…”

The tears welling in her eyes were part of the act, of course. How many times had she played this part before? Had not Duke Aegir once kissed her feet desperately to stop these tears? What of Count Hevring, who too was moved to tears and had carried her to his bedchambers not a single teardrop later? What of those standing ovations as her arias of La Rosina and Carlotta carried through into an endless night of rapture, ending with honeyed wine on her tongue and the ghost of a thousand men’s kisses. Those were the days! 

And how marvellous those tears carried the black kohl from her eyes to add emphasis to the guise she was but a vulnerable woman! “Bellas always dream of that moment, stepping into the light and feeling as if the Goddess herself is watching you sing your heart out. They dream of the men that come afterwards, kissing her hands and lavishing her with gifts, roses and perfumes. They think they will beg her to be theirs; of nights far from the opera and singing songs in young mens’ beds but-”

She stopped herself and turned her doe-eyes towards the young man before her. 

“… All this is to say, is that you’re going to have to buy me dinner if you want more. I could even tell you the whole story- of just what happens after the curtain falls for the final time.” She dropped her voice into a whisper. “Of what these men do when they have their divas in their arms and by their throats… What shall we say, on the eighth chime of the clocktower this evening?”

“What do you believe are your greatest strengths? Your greatest weaknesses?”

Phooey. He hadn’t taken the bait like he should… well no matter, as far as she was concerned, she had all the time in the world for this interview. “Weaknesses?” She clicked her tongue. “Ah, ah, ah, a woman never reveals her secrets without something in return.”

Despite her annoyance, she did try to stifle her sighs. She remained outwardly still batting her eyelids at the man before her, whom to no one’s surprise but his own was growing red in the face like a tomato. A boy, more like, barely even old enough to grow a full beard, and certainly while she liked them young and sprightly, this was a tad too young for even her tastes, but the Archbishop had commanded that they needed a great deal of time for the knights look around for his ‘associates’ somewhere in the monastery, no matter how much more interested she was in crawling back underneath the covers of her bed and sleeping like the dead.

The scoundrels had claimed they were part of a newspaper of the Empire, here to ask for an interview from Manuela herself, but the former prima donna would have been able to smell the lie from a mile away. After all, she had been featured on every last newspaper at some point in her life, to date, and still editors would beseech her in scented letters to return for interviews and private shows. Adorable really. And irksome, that lowly thieves would think their simple tricks would work on her of all people.

“Naturally my best features would be my good looks; my voice, which one starstruck suitor said was that of  ‘one thousand songbirds singing in unison, ubiquitous to all of its majesty’, and the fact that I’m not just a deliciously gorgeous- and available- woman of stature. I’m also a physician and an instructor at Garreg Mach’s Officer Academy. That’s right, I guess you could say that I’m living proof that you can have it all…”

The subtle whistling through the doorframe of her quarters went unnoticed by her captive. To anyone else one might have thought it was the wind, for the monastery was incredibly old and awfully prone to wayward breezes, but to her trained ears, Catherine’s signal meant that the knights had apprehended the false journalists and were lying in wait for this last snake before her. Time to wrap things up, she just had to be careful of that knife he had in his jacket. 

From underneath the table she extended her leg slowly, the tip of her heeled shoe finding his shin with ease and tracing it upwards until she felt the soft flesh of his thigh give in under the gentle pressure of her foot. He jolted from the contact, eyes widening and spluttering something incomprehensible. Not that she cared in the slightest, rubbing little circles where her shoe tip rested and smiling a smile that had taken the hearts of many men. 

“Ah,” She sighed and cradled her head in both hands,” It truly is a pity though. When placed on a pedestal such as I, men seem just far too intimidated by me. Truly, it is enough to break this diva’s heart! - and now, look at me: it's been so long that I’ve forgotten what a man’s touch feels like.”

One of her shoulder straps fell, draping alongside her shawl to draw the eye once more to her bosom. Her foot reached higher and she pressed down. 

“What I wouldn’t give to let someone touch me again. To give into that cardinal desire I so crave. To take me in his arms and mark me as his own- oh, if even just for one night!”

He audibly gulped them, and her lips turned wicked, “You don’t know what it's like. I’m so desperate these days, tired of having to swallow these feelings and sick of only my hands for company that I’d give just about anything to feel that way again, back when I was the starlight and moon on the stage!”

The best lies were half-truths barely concealed, and as she turned to shed more tears, letting last night’s makeup run down her cheeks and worrying her lip all puffy, she knew she had him. It was adorable really, how all it took was but a few words and some flesh shown for him to begin panting like a hound; he was doing an excellent job of keeping himself somewhat controlled, but she knew better than anyone that he had been ensnared.

“I-If a, err,  story were to be, um, written about your life, what ro-role would you play?”

Ah, the finale was at hand- or, well, foot. After a few minutes of ‘trying to recompose herself’ in front of him, he was practically salivating and she was euphoric. Nothing like a good performance to raise one’s spirits, and while the knife in his pocket was certainly a worry, that was what coded messages and safewords were for. She was almost done with him- Catherine could stand to let her have a little more fun given she had ruined her post-hangover lazy day.

“Hmm, who else, but to reprise my role as Casagranda Magnifica! Oh, my you really are stupid aren’t you. Don’t worry, Handsome, I’d consider that a compliment.”

If only she could bottle up that pitiful, confused expression and drink it later. How delicious he looked at that moment.

“Hm? ‘What am I saying?’” Even to her own ears her laugh was callous.

“Ah, I apologise, I meant nothing by it. It is quite refreshing to speak to someone who knows nothing of the ways of the theatre.” She withdrew her leg from his person, and swore he almost followed it were it not for the table between them, “Boring old fools like Hanneman might be content to let others tell their story, but for all the highs and lows I have ever experienced; the passing of dearest friends and mentors, lovers long gone and fleeting… I have never, and will NOT ever, be relegated to the sidelines of my life, immortalised in opera or otherwise. When I first took to the stage, my mentor, the prima diva before me, gave me a piece of advice that I shall gladly impart to you now: ‘If you do not sing when the light is upon you, you will never sing at all.’

You see, I have always, and will forever, choose to sing. Be that an aria on the stage or a performance in the classroom… Opera and I, music and my soul; the stage and my heart, we are eternally entwined like lovers.”

Bam! A dozen knights burst in through the door to apprehend the thug, toppling the old table in the process. The look the man had cast her way was blacker than pitch, but where she should have felt fear, she only felt giddy- these days being able to exercise such power over the ‘stronger’ sex was few and far between, so caught up in craving an earnest type of love that she was, but oh Goddess, she felt drunk on it! Catherine herself was bodyblocking and escorting her giggling self away from the arrest; leading them towards the Archbishop’s chambers where Rhea awaited for them both.

“Brava, ‘Voca Divina’.”

She playfully slapped Catherine’s arm. Her smile was infectious and she stumbled. “Oh hush you. Now, I do believe that I have tomorrow off for all my trouble?”

[batryz]

@solangeloweek — reverse tropes (6/25)

(the sun burns out) (but) (the star will always be waiting)

Pushed out a small comic in a few hours to contribute!

Not sure if it fits the theme but the comic is basically a reverse on the 3 day in the infirmary trope. (unique to them ofc!)

Read right to left!!!

[glassamphibians]

u had a whole series about his actual literal dad learning to recognize demigods as realized human beings but u didn’t do it until tsats 😭😭😭😭

[willthespy]

them just spoiling both PJO and HoO while also being character-accurate for 5 minutes and 31 seconds

source: https://youtu.be/xb3j2T_7ZJ4?si=G_ZTeVlZAMM0dIIr

[anime-villian-irl]

Hi 🌟,

I hope you’re doing well. We’ve raised very little so far to support me and my family during these challenging times due to the conflict in Gaza. We’re still working to reach our goal and would greatly appreciate your help. 🙏

If you can’t donate, could you please share or reblog my pinned post? Your support in spreading the word would mean a lot to us. 💪

Pinned post: https://www.tumblr.com/ahmedharara/757031731268386816/weve-been-able-to-raise-only-120-so-far?source=share

Donation link: https://gofund.me/f751a38a

Thank you so much for your kindness and support! ❤️

HI!

So fun fact time if you've recently donated to a Palestinian family there is a chance that you've been refunded because of a glitch or something.

So please please please check y'alls emails see if this has happened to you. No one is doing anything to fix this rn so you have to check yourselves.

[decaffeinatedpartymuggoop]

Bases on this:

I’m an artist guys surprise.

I’m still learning so criticism is welcome just. You know. Don’t be mean.

[jiilll]

I desperately need celebrity au solangelo like imagine the potential of singer will being at the peak of his career facing his worst controversy and then there’s heart throb actor nico who’s pretty much a star from childhood, they met at an event, and boom LETS GO!! fwb, secret sort of relationship, nico helping will get through the public scrutiny, will slowly realising nico’s kinda hot, will having breakdowns about his feelings and writing 8371838 songs about pining and longing, might as well throw a bit of angsty ‘oh so you’re embarrassed to be seen with me’ accusations because im a masochist…. all i know is by the end when will is thriving again with a new album on tour nico will be fawning and dying as will points to him in the crowd singing love songs, not caring that the live camera caught that, and makes out the whole day after as twitter is in shambles because WDYM WILL SOLACE’S LATEST HEART WRENCHING SAPPY YEARNING ALBUM IS ABOUT NICO DI ANGELO FROM DISNEY CHANNEL???!!!

[madzbustinout]

• Account Intro >ᵥ_ᵥ< ㅤ

Didn’t take the time to remake this so i’m doing it now !!

Hello !! I’m maddy, I mostly repost stuff that i like on here so if you’ve made it to my page, your work is beautiful. <3

I am a lesbian woman who uses she/her/hers, and enjoys every type of classical vampire media with the execration of the vampire chronicles. (Written by Anne Rice.)

My page is also simmer friendly, i’ve been playing the games for nearly my entire life at this point so don’t be alarmed if repost anything out of the usual !!

my general aim is to have fun, and push the work of the many talented artist’s on this platform. From things like the afformentioned Vampire Chronicles, to the wonderful world of the riordanverse i consume a wide variety of mainly fantasy literature.

as for as music goes, that’s an entirely different can of worms. : )

• Farewell , for now !! >ᵥ_ᵥ<

Take care of yourself <3

[we-will-all-be-stories]

i haven't watched the 2022 interview with the vampire show yet, but i just need to share. claudia's voice is exactly how I imagine hazel levesque's voice from the heroes of olympus

[toefutaco]

How do I pirate an interview?

this has absolutely nothing to do with one of the very few interviews we get with the cast of Percy jackson that’s coming up soon nopeeeee

please let me find it somewhere for free T-T

[artificidel]

hello! while we’re all having fun getting ready for the event, i finally got around to actually making ephidel’s about page

given that he is a minor character in an older fe game, hopefully this will give a little more context as to who he is, and my thoughts and direction for him in toa

for those curious, i’ll also put his interview below this cut

thank you!

The first thing you can ever recall, the first time golden eyes were opened; there was a blinding light in a black space, and a voice humming affirmations. The light was blotted out by the voice, and hands came to stroke along your face. ‘Beautiful… beautiful…’ He said like a litany, tone wistful, but it was not said to you. For you. You rose, to look upon the voice closer, and his darkened hair and skin were better seen in the even light. He is your master. Your creator. Your god. It was the first thing you knew, and the only thing that matters. A cloak was pulled around your frame, and from his curled lips he uttered a single word.

‘Ephidel.’

Ephidel

‘You shall be called Ephidel. Precious Ephidel.’

It is the only thing you have ever claimed as your own.

***

Helman paces the room, slowly working a rut into his floorboards. Occupied in thoughts as he is, he does not see you until you make yourself known. “Lord Helman,” you announce, and tighten the corners of your mouth into a slight curve. You have found humans are more receptive and pliant when you do, but Helman starts, runs to you and grabs hold, jostling your frame. ‘Lord Ephidel, I have changed my mind! Call it off!’

You cock your head curiously, raising the curtain of your hood to meet his eyes better. “My lord, it has already been done.” He shakes his head, retreats. Mumbles nonsense and wrings his hands. ‘Elbert, what have I done… forgive me… forgive me…’

“You have done nothing, Lord Helman.” You coo, claiming back each step lost. (It was not said in placation. He had done nothing, like the coward he was.) “Everything was our doing.” The Marquess pauses in his drivel, eyes shooting up to meet yours, then darting back down. (He could not hold your gaze. He could never hold your gaze.) “You need only wait to reap the spoils left by war. The spoils never spared for the tiny House of Santaruz.”

Helman continues to wring his hands, but silently–carefully–turns your words over in his mind. He is not happy with the thought, but he is complicit with it, and nods his head. The corners of your mouth tighten again, now of their own accord. This is how you claimed the space beside Lord Nergal. Limstella was a chill, cold enough to snap bone and rend flesh. Sonia’s nails could rip the beating heart from a human’s chest, and still make them ask for forgiveness.

But you. You were the soft caress along a cheek, before that very hand snapped a neck.

***

Fire swells all around you, but despite that, it feels more like lightning that shoots through your chest. It lingers there, and feels more destructive than the dragon at your back. “Stop… You mustn’t come here!!” Everyone flees. Lord Nergal flees. Warps from your side, the side always meant for you. The side you had carved out with your own two hands. “Lord Nergal! Lord Nergal!” He stood from the safety of the far wall, took one last glance back at you, and unmistakably, turned away.  “Please......!!!”

There was that same sort of blinding light again, and golden eyes opened once more. To an empty field. Flora and fauna dancing delicately in the breeze. You feel that lightning, still firmly in your chest and take stock of your body. Inspect it for any defects, but find none. The only thing that seems to have taken any damage is a swath of dark velvet, heaped a short distance from you. Without thinking, your fingers dart to clutch the fabric in a white knuckled grasp. It is the cloak Lord Nergal first wrapped you in, now torn to patches and threads.

Lord Nergal… You glance around. Was this what your Master always sought? Was this the other side of the Dragon’s Gate? Had you succeeded in your goal? You clutch the tattered robe tighter, recalling how he vanished from the dragon’s reach. (From your reach.)

… Would he be proud? Was he hurt?? Was he here??? You had to know, and you pulled the cloak around your shoulders once more.

***

The sun had risen and fallen countless times, and you had walked ceaselessly to every corner of this land until the lightning in your chest began to ebb. You had found that this was not the land of dragons your master had sought, (a place called Fodlan) but it did not stop your need to find him. Without him, there was no direction, no goal, no will, no order to be fulfilled. There was nothing. You were nothing. So you walked, until you came upon a shore, turned and walked until you came upon another. Until finally, the land began to powder and blanket white and you felt a deep familiarity in it. Until the joints in your body began to creak and lock from trudging through the knee high snow. It threatened your search. Your need to find your god, so you resolved to rest. In the harsh wilderness, far from the nearest settlement, there was a lone building on the horizon. Amber light shining through stained glass windows and you entered upon a small congregation. The woman at the altar spoke softly, that ‘Sothis’ cared for all the wayward. The sick and injured, the old and lame, the poor and rotten.

You hovered in the shadows of the ceremony, not believing what she preached, but listening all the same.

***

‘Your reputation from the Western Church precedes you, Lord Ephidel.’ The attendant hums while scanning over the letter from Bishop Sinclair. He places the letter on his desk, hands folded, to regard you properly. ‘Despite being such a new follower, the strides you have made are remarkable, and Garreg Mach is honored to house you for the final phase of your training.’ You smile your tight lipped smile at the admissions officer. Even in this land, humans were still so easily moved. The faithful most of all it seemed. Even if Lord Nergal was not in this land, you would build up the influence for him. He would have an army to command the moment you found him again. He would praise you, like he once did.

‘Just one last question–a formality really!’ The attendant chuckles, taking hold of pen and paper. Only one question left to sing before your position here was cemented. One simple littl- ‘If a story were written about your life, what role would you play?’

That shot of lightning breaks through your chest again, and it is not any more familiar the second time. You slowly look up at the attendant, and see a mirror before you, endless possibilities, but your reflection, blank. You see Lord Nergal standing behind you, his hand comes to clasp upon your shoulder. There are no words on your tongue, but you begin to form them unconsciously.

“A servant.” Lord Nergal smiles, and the vision of him begins to vanish. “A servant, to a long gone god.”

[bokuaosubs]

Gekkan Entame August 2023: Yagi Toa, Sugiura Eren, Hayasaki Suzuki, Yanagihori Karen & Yoshimoto Cocona interviews

The debut of Nogizaka46's official rival!

Nice to meet you, we are Boku ga Mitakatta Aozora.

This group was created as an official rival to Nogizaka46.

That idol group, produced by Akimoto Yasushi, is Boku ga Mitakatta Aozora.

We'll be taking a closer look at the personalities of the five fresh members, whose charms are yet to be discovered.

Yagi Toa: Born on the 1st of May, 2007, from Tokyo. 155cm tall. Blood type A. Her nickname is Toa. Her personal colour is yellowish/yebe spring.

Sugiura Eren: Born on the 19th of June, 2008, from Aichi. 160cm tall. Blood type O. Her nickname is Eren. Her personal colour is yellowish/yebe spring.

Yagi Toa's part:

Q: I understand that you have had a long history of dancing.

Yagi: My mother enrolled me in a dance school back when I was four years old, after seeing me dancing to the ending of Pretty Cure. I'd mainly do hip-hop, but the more I kept dancing, the more I would improve, so I enjoyed it and continued going until recently.

Q: Did you enjoy dancing in front of people, too?

Yagi: I've never been good at being in front of people, ever since I was little・・・・・・ I'd often feel like I did better during rehearsals than during the show itself (laughs).

Q: Why did you decide to become an idol, despite not being good at being in front of people?

Yagi: Around the time I became a junior high school student, I started to like the Sakamichi Groups and gradually, I started to think that I wanted to be an idol too. That's when I found out about the BokuAo audition on TikTok and ended up applying.

Q: What was particularly memorable to you regarding the audition?

Yagi: The singing [part of the] audition. There were many cameras and lots of adults, and I sang while thinking 'I'm being watched so closely', to the point where I couldn't hit any notes properly. I don't even know how I got accepted (laughs). I couldn't believe it for a good while, but when I took part in the training camp, there, too, were a lot of cameras and I talked a lot in front of them, I took dance lessons and voice training lessons and the like. I finally realised that I had really become an idol.

Q: Since starting your activities, when have you found being an idol rewarding?

Yagi: Given how I get to experience new things, such as magazine shoots and music video shoots, every day is fresh. I wasn't very good at singing, but after practicing, I've become more confident, singing-wise, and now I enjoy doing that [singing] with everyone.

Q: So, at this very moment, what are the challenges you are currently facing as an idol?

Yagi: It's facial expressions. I practice in front of the mirror on a regular basis, but whenever the camera is pointed at me, I become all stiff. That's why I admire the members who are good at displaying charming facial expressions. I'm also not very good at talking, so I want to improve my talking skills and my mental strength.

Q: You were chosen as the center for the group's debut single, 'Aozora ni Tsuite Kangaeru'.

Yagi: I didn't expect that... I was surprised, but, most importantly, I want to polish my performance skills, so that many people would feel tempted to listen to our debut single.

Sugiura Eren's part:

Q: Why did you decide to become an idol? 

Sugiura: I have been learning dance since the first grade of primary school, but I didn't really want to be an idol, instead I wanted to become a dancer in theme park productions and make lots of people smile. My mother told me there was an audition, but I didn't want to go for it at the time. But when I was looking around on SNS, the notice about the audition just popped up and I thought it was fate, so I applied in the end.

Q: What genres of dance did you learn? 

Sugiura: I started out with idol dances, then jazz, ballet, theme park-specific dancing, J-pop and many others. The one I did for quite a long time was jazz. It was very difficult and there were many times when I wanted to quit, but I loved the process of creating performances for the annual recital.

Q: Did you show off your dance moves as your appeal point during the auditions? 

Sugiura: I wanted to show myself as I was, so I didn't dare try to appeal. I couldn't sing well and my self-PR was weak, so I thought I'd have no chance of ever getting in. While waiting for the announcement of whether I'd got in or not, I was eating Pocky or talking to my friends on the phone (laughs).

Q: Does your dance experience come in handy in your idol activities? 

Sugiura: Thankfully, I was given a leading dance position, as well as a solo part in the first single. I like to think I'm quick at learning choreography, so I'm really glad that I've kept on dancing.

Q: What other [club] activities have you taken part in, apart from dancing? 

Sugiura: I played percussion in the brass band until I was in the eighth grade, mainly the timpani. [T/L note: Timpani or kettledrums are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum categorised as a hemispherical drum, they consist of a membrane called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper.] I joined the club because I saw an older student playing the drums at a trial demonstration of what the club would be like, and he looked so cool. Given how I used to dance too, it was fun coming up with different rhythms.

Q: What are the current challenges you are facing?

Sugiura: I want to improve my talking skills. I'm someone who talks a lot, but I don't have an extensive vocabulary, so I often can't come up with the exact words that can convey what I want to say (laughs). I would like to one day work as a radio personality, so I will do my best!

Q: I got the impression that you are a very confident person, back during the group's unveiling event.

Sugiura: I wasn't nervous at all. I'm usually someone who's helped by the members, so I'm glad I was able to be a person who could mentally support the others during the unveiling.

Q: What is the goal you are currently aiming for?

Sugiura: Our members come from all over the country, so I'd like us to perform in each of our hometowns!

Hayasaki Suzuki: Born on the 13th of March, 2005, from Tokyo. 161cm tall. Blood type B. Her nickname is Suu. Her personal colour is brevet/blueish summer.

Yanagihori Karen: Born on the 24th of July, 2005, from Tokyo. 163.4cm tall. Blood type B. Her nickname is BoriBori. Her personal colour is yellowish/yebe autumn.

Hayasaki Suzuki's part:

Q: Isn't it unusual to have the name 'Suzuki'? 

Hayasaki: People often tell me that. The 'Suzu' comes from my great-grandmother, whose name was 'Misuzu', but I don't really know where the 'ki' came from (laughs). After I became part of BokuAo, I realised that it was easy for people to remember me, and I started liking it! 

Q: Hayasaki-san, you are particularly good at playing the piano, and you've won prizes in multiple competitions.

Hayasaki: I've studied the piano from the first grade of primary school to the third grade of high school. I also played the violin for five years, so I think my sense of pitch is one of my greatest strengths. However, I wasn't as good when it came to playing in public, and I was quite bad at taking part in competitions.

Q: How did you become interested in idols?

Hayasaki: Back when I was in primary school, I went to a park with my family and happened to see an idol group performing there. I was still young at the time, so even though we didn't have any tickets, we were given special seats, and the idols were so enthusiastic! I fell in love with them and ended up becoming a fan, along with my father, until the day when they broke up. Since then, I've started keeping an eye on all kinds of idols.

Q: Is that when you started thinking about becoming an idol?

Hayasaki: I had had a desire to become an idol for longer than that, but I was convinced that I wouldn't get in anyway. But when I started thinking about what I wanted to do after graduating from high school, I found myself thinking that what I really wanted to do was to become an idol. I decided that this would be the first and last audition I'd ever take part in, so I gave it a go and was surprised when I ended up passing.

Q: It's been about three months since you got in.

Hayasaki: Every single day feels like 'youth'! It's only been a few months since we first met, but we've already become good friends and can talk just about anything. We're great friends and work well as a team, and - all of us are foodies! Whenever lunchboxes are served, we rush to them and everyone eats their respective ones delightedly (laughs).

Q: That's nice. By the way, what's your favourite food?

Hayasaki: Mizu yokan. [T/L note: Mizu yokan, a chilled Japanese red bean jelly with chestnut is a traditional sweet treat in Japan.] You can only find mizu yokan in the shops during the summer. That's why I'm glad that summer is here! I have eight mizu yokan at home right now!

Q: Now, you are going to start your activities as an idol in earnest. Do you think you'll be able to overcome your fear of public appearances?

Hayasaki: I've always been an anxious person, but when it comes to BokuAo's activities, I don't get nervous at all. The people around me tell me, 'It's okay if you make mistakes, you don't have to stress about getting it right [from the get-go]', which makes it really easy and enjoyable. With that in mind, I'm really looking forward to the future!

Yanagihori Karen's part:

Q: First of all, please tell us about your hobbies, your special skills and your character.

Yanagihori: My speciality is the tea ceremony, my hobby is skiing, in particular, and I like to smile. ･･････ I've kept saying that since the audition (laughs). I've been practicing the tea ceremony since I was in the first grade of primary school, and I've actually been doing it for a whole year now. At first, I was invited by a friend to go there for the sweets (laughs). But gradually, I realised how much fun it could be and I started taking it seriously. I also started to like wearing kimonos, and now I can even style myself.

Q: How come skiing is your hobby?

Yanagihori: It used to be my father's hobby, which is why I've started skiing ever since I was five. We go skiing every season.

Q: What about your club activities at school? 

Yanagihori: I'm the head of the tea ceremony club, as well as the manager of the swimming club. It's hard work, but I like the hustle and bustle of it all (laughs).

Q: So, Yanagihori-san, what made you decide to audition? 

Yanagihori: My mother was the one who suggested it to me. I used to be in the dance club, back in junior high school, and I also liked singing, so I used to often go to karaoke. When I was in primary school, I wanted to be a model too. That doesn't mean that I had done anything special, but given how my mother knew that I wanted to be in the show business world, she encouraged me to audition.

Q: The audition mentioned that it was looking for 'Nogizaka46's Official Rival'.

Yanagihori: I used to dance to Nogizaka46-san's songs, such as 'Influencer', in my junior high school dance club and I used to watch them on singing shows too. I thought they were really cute. I didn't think I would be accepted in the official rival audition, so I was very surprised and still feel quite flustered about it.

Q: Before you passed the audition, what career path did you have in mind for the future? 

Yanagihori: I wanted to become a nurse and I was thinking of going to university, to study nursing. I've said just earlier that 'I value smiles', and I really do want to make people smile, as well as the fact that I like doing my best for others. In that sense, I think that nursing and being an idol are both jobs that can benefit someone, and I like to think that there is a connection between the two.

Q: So, what are your dreams for the future?

Yanagihori: I want us to become a group that can bring smiles and courage to many, many people. I also want to improve myself, so that I'll be able to contribute lots to the group. I would also like to try modelling, which has been my dream since I was in primary school, and I'd also be interested in working as a narrator, which I hope to happen someday.

Yoshimoto Cocona: Born on the 5th of December, 2005, from Ishikawa. 156cm tall. Blood type A. Her nickname is Cocona. Her personal colour is brevet/blueish summer.

Yoshimoto Cocona's part:

Q: First of all, please tell us why you auditioned.

Yoshimoto: I didn't know much about idols really, but my mother found the notice for the audition. So she sent in my application all by herself......。 Originally, I wasn't interested in neither going to university nor getting a job, so - if I got accepted - I realized that I wouldn't have to do either・・・・・・・(laughs). After that, as the auditions went on, I became more and more interested in various idols and found myself wanting to get accepted. 

Q: Do you have any memories that stick out from the audition?

Yoshimoto: By the time of the final screening, everyone around me had already become friends, but I was really shy and wasn't able to talk. Once I had passed the audition, the members told me that I looked like a tough girl, but that wasn't the case. I was always told that I had an 'eye-catching face, but that I was modest on the inside' (laughs).

Q: So you've always been the quiet type?

Yoshimoto: I didn't like being in front of people. However, I liked Namie Amuro-san and had this hope that I could be someone like her in the future. Thanks to that admiration, I faintly found myself thinking that 'I want to enter the entertainment industry in the future', so I ended up taking jazz dance and singing lessons.

Q: You're right in the middle when it comes to the group's wide age range. Do you feel any difference in the way you interact with everyone [thanks to your age]? 

Yoshimoto: We all get on well together and I rarely feel the age difference between us. The junior high school students are always teasing me, by saying that 'You may think you're all cool, but you actually have a baby face!' (laughs).

Q: So you don't like being told that you have a baby face?

Yoshimoto: I hate it! I wasn't even aware that I had a baby face until I joined the group. I really admire Imada Mio-san and Araki Yuko-san, and my hairstyle is a bit like theirs too, so I want to be like them.

Q: What are your hobbies, your favourite things to do?

Yoshimoto: I don't really have any of those. I didn't take part in any club activities or had any part-time jobs, so I'd come home right away and spend all my time just lazing around. Apart from that, I think I might have watched dramas or films? I prefer Japanese films and dramas to foreign films, and I would like to act in such works one day.

Q: How does it feel, coming to Tokyo from Ishikawa Prefecture? 

Yoshimoto: It's difficult to get on the right trains and interchange them properly! In Ishikawa, I used to drive most of the time, so I'm still getting used to it.

Handwritten messages:

While aiming for the blue skies hidden beneath the clouds, all 23 of us will do our best!

"I'm going to do my best!!" - Sugiura Eren

"I am anxious, since I am new to all of this, but I will devote my effort to growing more and more.

All the members of BokuAo will do our best. I hope you will warmly watch over us!" - Yanagihori Karen

"I am still lacking in many aspects, but I will not forget [the reason for] my efforts and I'll do my best, so that one day, I'll become an idol who can bring hope and inspiration to someone. Thank you for your support!" - Yagi Toa

"I'm anxious because all of this is new to me, but, as much as I can, I'll do my best!!

All 23 of us are running towards the same dream, so I would be very happy if you could support us." - Hayasaki Suzuki

"I'm shy and need more courage than others to take the first step, but I'll work hard to become an idol who can become a catalyst for someone's dream, and I will do my best, so that many people will want to support me, all while not forgetting to express my gratitude." - Yoshimoto Cocona

[from Gekkan Entame’s August 2023 issue, featuring BokuAo's front row from their first single - 'Aozora ni Tsuite Kangaeru'.]

[TL by: yuzuiro]

[crystaltoa]

My favourite thing about the casting is that he initially auditioned to voice Jaller and Andrew Francis auditioned for Takua. The directors were like “ ok these guys are good but…” and they noticed Andrew was very neat and punctual and professional and Jason was slightly dishevelled, often running late and clutching a tattered mess of a script… and went “Hmmm…”

I cannot emphasize this enough, but I've always loved Jason Michas's voice as Takua. I'm not sure if many agree with me, but I just love how soft his voice is just, nice to listen to when explaining Mata Nui's inhabitants; even as a Toa, it just makes me happy that he still has a bit of a soft tone even if his voice is a bit deeper. Kind of a comforting voice I'm glad he has~

This is always how I will picture Takua/Takanuva's voice TvT

[wjbs-bonkle-au]

Do you think that like. In the more developed areas of the MU (e.g Metru Nui), there were like meet-and-greets with Toa? Like tablet signings and interview panels and interviews with chroniclers and stuff?

Hell, did some of the more public-facing Makuta also do this? Like press-conferences where they showed off their newest Rahi?

[bionicle-ramblings]

I mean this in the most inoffensive way possible, and this is purely my interpretation, looking back now that I've caught up more on the lore and read up on on the books and rewatched the movies:

Vakama is a very anxiety coded character

My evidence is more interpretation that anything else, but let me explain:

We all know how Vakama's story starts: he's an esteemed mask-maker in Ta-Metru, good enough to surpass his teacher and have the Turaga choose him to make the most powerful Kanohi mask of all time(pun intended), he's got friends he enjoys his time with, he has a good thing going for him, even if his city is overrun with Vahki that will attack on sight, there's a homicidal plant that's trying to kill everyone, and Ta-Metru isn't the most livable place to be, all things considered, but Vakama is at his most stable as a Matoran.

I don't have a lot of or any background on his Matoran life to really point out anything that comes across as anxiety, but I will say that Lhikan giving him the Toa stone and Lhikan's capture gave Vakama some kind of survivor's guilt, seeing as how Nidhiki literally threatened to burn Vakama alive if Lhikan didn't hand himself over.

Where we loop back to anxiety territory is the visions Vakama has, or rather what the visions could represent. Anxiety is often referred to as "being afraid of the future," and the future is something Vakama sees due to his visions. The closest I can think of that can be a real life interpretation of the visions(what it could be IRL) are panic attacks or anxiety attacks, nothing severe, but big enough that almost everyone who sees it chalks it up to, "being cross-wired."

Some other things that come off as anxiety coding are when Vakama still makes the Mask of Time, despite still being a Toa, when Vakama tries to feign confidence and gets irritable when he's trying to rescue the rest of the Matoran and is trying to do it as fast as possible, even snapping at and lashing out at his friends. Granted the latter, getting haughty and trying to get the job done quickly, seems to be more the result of Vakama internalizing Lhikan's sacrifice and last words, doing so in a, "he said he was proud to call me his brother, so now I have to keep him proud, even if he's not here to say it," which is a line of thinking that could bring us back to anxiety

In terms of how making the Mask of Time can be seen as something to do with anxiety, this requires a bit of a personal lense to view:

Have you ever been at a point where a big event or thing is coming up and to keep yourself from focusing on it, you try to focus on something else? For instance, if you were stressing about a new semester of school starting or a job interview or a test, have you ever tried to take the focus off of it by doing something like cooking a meal or writing ina journal or drawing? Just a small thing you're used to doing that both challenges you, but is relatively stress-free?

I imagine Vakama is doing mostly the same thing. With no sugar-coating at all, he's stressed the hell out about being a Toa and cannot really express that or back out because he was chosen, so he resorts to making the Kanohi Vahi; he's a skilled mask-maker and his job was to make masks, which he was very successful in. I also imagine it's a bit of a bargaining thing for him, like a sort of, "If I can succeed in making this, I can succeed going forward," thing.

There are smaller things that are also possible pointers or shows of Vakama's implied anxiety, namely how he chooses a weapon most familiar to him from his time as a Matoran(the disk launcher), how his mask power is invisibility, which I've personally felt sometimes when I was having anxiety moments("I don't want to be here right now, I don't want anyone to see me"), and just how quiet Vakama is in general, being someone who possibly wouldn't be noticed as much if he weren't the main protagonist in LoMN; I'm pretty sure if it was Matau or Onewa we were dollowing, Vakama would be an intriguing background character similar to Nuju, only slightly louder, so to speak

This was just a random thought I had, and most of it is just what I interpret, and sorry if it doesn't make a lot of sense😅