#also lol all the composite tweets i could find are like

[mcbitchtits]

so i was keeping an eye out for anyone discussing the carbon fiber since structurally that seems like such a bad decision (but i am not a boat engineer). (i should make it clear, my impression from the one composites class i took is if you don't have an EXTREMELY SPECIFIC AND GOOD reason to be using carbon fiber, it's probably just an Expensive Material Rich Buyer Tax.) found this thread with a little more info about why the hull was composites:

what happened? well when carbon fiber fails it doesn't graciously deform, it just goes straight critical failure. why you would ever think there would be time to ascend AT ALL at ANY SORT OF SUPERHUMAN DEPTH WHATSOEVER is beyond me. (because he kept firing his engineers who disagreed with him, is the real answer. but.) (not that, like, a deformable material wouldn't also immediately cut right into critical failure at that depth; but you might have a little more time to go from sensing a potential problem to death by implosion. or possibly more reusability, idk.)

anyway, from that composites article about it:

yeah dude. sure. you'll have time to recover and avoid failure. you definitely don't need all that safety factor you call "waste"

do read the composites article if you're interested. it's like a horror story itself tbh

[vaingloriosa]

Ok yes. I saw a random tweet that led me down a rabbit hole and now I’m here. I’ve been looking for a sane part of the internet of Dechartgames that isn’t shrouded in worship. I just went through some of your old posts and omg. Also a woc who didn’t feel QUITE comfortable in the fandom by the time late 2018 rolled around. Ugh I really wanted to dive into all of those links about the negative impact B + A’s community has had in the fandom but they’re gone now :-( Also I wanted to point out how Neil seems to be a better ally and who has also moved on from DBH even though he also streams on twitch.

Someone else pointed out how B+A only care about subs and money which yes. Twitch subs and their merch appears to be their bread and butter at the moment, BUT there’s this one particular fan of theirs that seems to go overboard with the donations and gift subs, sometimes dropping more than a half a grand worth of gift subs and stickers in one stream. I think to date they’ve gifted 4000 subs (which Twitch weirdly announced). If it were me I would be a bit concerned because of the signs of para social relationships and not wanting someone to go broke over a free to watch platform. But nope they smile and move on lol.

So curious as to what off camera interactions you’ve witnessed because as we know social media and what is essentially their weekly tv show is not 100% real. Again comforting to see some of this shared suspicion and feelings. This has turned into a long rant but yes also their constant praise of DBH even during all of the bad PR David Cage was getting back in 2018-2019 is gross. They don’t have to burn bridges, but these anniversary streams and such omg let it go. Idk how you can be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community and still speak positively about a guy who allegedly did a nude composite of Elliot Page and displayed it at a party.

omg hiiiiii i would luvvv to know what tweet u saw that led your way to me......... also, yeah i've changed urls on this acct waaay teww many times that most links to my lectures don't work </3 though i appreciate that you were interested in them! most are real long rambles that are an endless stream of consciousness. it's always the same stuff i say so dw you're not missing out on much loll. neil <333 nothing but love and respect to neil. most of the cast came out of that game unscathed pero alas we have causalities SAD! well, there are better actors out there.

idk how twitch works however damnnnn that sounds like a lot of money being blown on people that do not deserve it. like yeah, you can spend your money as you like though whenever i think how people can use that money in more meaningful ways, it just upsets me. i remember years ago, i had reached out to somebody on twt who had some really terrible experiences in the dechartgames community and let me in on some insight and it's sooooooo bizarre how more ppl haven't spoken out about it then again, it isn't THAT weird given the cult-like environment they've cultivated.

not me personally but again, the ppl that have messaged me in the past during the height of the dechartgamism where i was talking extensively about them. yeah, idk how these ppl who obviously own a laptop and computer who could easily search up david cage online and find out the gross and vile shit he has done and still advocate for him and his games. respect but i do think they should really move on from dbh like everyone else and explore the world around them. to me, you cannot be an ally and associate yourself with bigots and bigoted media. it really goes hand in hand and if they cared, they would close up the dbh shop for good

[marshmallowgoop]

Kill la Kill Books!

Got a small haul of Kill la Kill books the other day!

SUSHIO CLUB LOVE LOVE KLKL has been a glaring omission from my collection, so when I saw a listing of the book for 3,600 yen—which usually goes for 10,000+ these days—I bought it right away.

And I figured I might as well pick up a few more things while I was at it, right? To make the shipping more cost effective?

That’s definitely the only reason.

But anyway, my growing mass of Kill la Kill books and magazines has now reached 36 items.

And I’ve talked about some of this merch before; you can find my post about the Febri volume 21 issue here, my post about Fractal 10 here, my post about the Talking About Composite books, The Complete Script Book, and The Art of KLK Vol. 3 here (and I have a whole tag for the script book, #klk-script-book), and I yammer on about the nine Blu-ray key art collection and artboard books here. I also have several essays discussing the official manga adaptation: 

Kill la Kill Manga Chapter 7

Kill la Kill Manga Volume 3, Chapters 8-17: Thoughts and Impressions

Kill la Kill Manga Volume 3: Translation Notes, Anime Differences

Kill la Kill Manga Volume 3: Worth it?

Manga Differences

And now, I wanna briefly (lol) yap about the six new additions to my collection.

Because I have a lot of love in my heart for this ridiculous, ridiculous anime.

SUSHIO CLUB LOVE LOVE KLKL

So, I got this book for cheap because it was allegedly in poor shape and “not suitable for collection.”

(My reaction to “not suitable for collection” is always, “It’s suitable for my garbage collection! I’ll give your ‘ugly’ copies a loving home!”)

But, like? There are a couple of dents and folded corners, but the condition is really not bad at all. The art is completely intact and beautiful.

Sushio—who is the character designer for Kill la Kill—has shared much of this book on his Twitter, and I would definitely recommend fans of the series to scroll through his photos and have a look. There’s such a cute, sweet charm to Sushio’s work, and along with the polished, colored pages from LOVE LOVE that he shares online, he also shares sketches of his own fanart for the series, too.

(Okay, maybe this isn’t exactly the best demonstration of Sushio’s absolutely precious artwork, but. It’s one of my favorites from the book. Ryuko resorting to such wild extremes to be with Senketsu again is just. My heart. Kill la Kill is actually adorable.)

In any case, I don’t think any of the content in LOVE LOVE was new to me, but there’s just really something about having the book in my hands. I know there’s such a strong desire for digital media these days, but call me old-fashioned—there’s nothing quite like holding this art and really seeing every stroke and line in person.

Being able to physically flip through the pages also makes me notice things I didn’t before. For instance, I found myself charmed by the little detail of Barazo, Mako’s father, loving and adoring Sukuyo, Mako’s mother.

I mean, aw? It’s stuff like this that really makes me wish Kill la Kill were a kids’ show (as Sushio himself seemed to want!) Barazo is so much more likeable when there aren’t any signs of his less-than-pleasant behavior and he’s a loving, supportive husband and father.

Seriously!

Another thing I notice from having the book now is the order in which the pages are organized. Like, I couldn’t help but be amused about how Ryuko gets her own page here...

(Smiling for her Starketsu in the sky, right? Just like he asks her to in “Till I Die”?)

...and then the next pages have Satsuki beside Nonon and Mako (and Mataro) beside Ira...

...which strikes me as a bit funny because this isn’t exactly how Sushio organized his Tweets of these images. There, Satsuki was next to Ryuko, Nonon was next to no one, Mako and Mataro were next to Ira, and Uzu was next to Houka:

So, in LOVE LOVE, is Sushio deliberately trying to say something with the changed placement? Especially when it comes to the direction of the ladies’ eyes? 

Yeah???

I kid, I kid.

(But really, it looks much better to give Ryuko her own page and not have Nonon standing next to nobody.)

Also, one of the first things that popped out to me about LOVE LOVE is how Senketsu’s pages are right next to Ryuko’s pages. As they should be.

They belong together, okay?!

And speaking of Senketsu and Ryuko, I remember a comment years back that said you could probably find pics of your OTP with matching expressions in this book.

But, uh. Just compare Senketsu posing to Ryuko posing...

They’re kind of different types of people, lol.

But hey, they do both make cute sneezy faces.

As a final note about my copy of LOVE LOVE, I will say that my only disappointment is that I received the version with print errors. As such, this page of Nui...

...was accidentally printed twice, and I miss out on this page of Nui as a result:

There are also some minor goofs, like Mako’s arm getting cut off by the background here:

But considering I got this beautiful thing for only 3,600 yen, I really can’t complain!

Now I just need Sushiotan 2 to complete my Sushio Kill la Kill doujin collection....

Takepro

This charming little volume is a collection of animator fanart for the show (and other shows). The book includes a short profile for each featured artist, and their big Kill la Kill pieces are—like all titles in Kill la Kill—named after classic Japanese pop songs. You can read and see more about Takepro here.

It’s hard to pick favorites from this doujin because there is so much adorable and wonderful artwork, but I especially love Naoki Takeda’s “ここに幸あ���,” or “Here is My Happiness,” named after the song by Yoshitsu Ootsu.

The picture features Ryuko, Mako, and Satsuki sitting together, all having a good time, and there’s just something so sweet about seeing happy Satsuki.

I also found an English translation of the song’s lyrics, courtesy of beast-senior 810:

The storm breaks and the rain falls Thorny as the women's path might be I would still keep on living with you And my happiness is here in the blue sky 

I could not tell anybody of my scars A bird of love that resided in my chest If only I wander about crying and evading A sorrowful night wind will blow through the streets 

I call out your name from the bottom of my heart Who will be awaiting me at the end of the echoes? Snuggle up to you and cheerfully look up to your face And my happiness is here in the white clouds 

Aw. This song is so Satsuki.

And speaking of Satsuki, I can’t get over how cute she and Ryuko look on the cover of this book. Like??

Aw! 

I also am quite fond of a small piece by Syuichi Iseki, which is in a super-deformed style and features Satsuki comforting Nonon after her uniform is destroyed during the Naturals Election. Nonon cries, and Satsuki pats her head. In the background, Ira looks distressed at the display, Houka seems to be deciphering it, and Mako smiles. It’s really, really cute.

Yoshie Endo’s “僕笑っちゃいます,” or “I’m Laughing,” named for the song by Shingo Kazami, is also real cute. It depicts Mataro holding up Guts, who licks his face. It’s another one of those, “I-so-wish-Kill-la-Kill-were-a-kids’-show” kinda pieces....

Hiroyuki Imaishi’s Doujin

Admittedly, I don’t actually know the title of this one, but it’s a very small doujin by Kill la Kill director Hiroyuki Imaishi. There isn’t too much Kill la Kill content, but there are two pages of Ryuko and Satsuki in their respective Kamui, accompanied by some text.

I thought the text might be something about the show, but it seems like it’s actually about Imaishi’s experience working on the show. And... it’s rather sad? He talks about how he’s able to accomplish more now, but he also has to consider a lot more as well, and he doesn’t have the time and energy that he used to. It’s a lot about aging and growing old.

At least, I think that’s what’s being communicated. Here’s a transcription, though:

なんだろう。

初会社役員とか。

昔よりやれることは増えたが考えなきゃいけないことも増えて時間と体力は足りなくなっていく。

年相応とも言える。

だけどいつまでも大人気なく生きていきたいものだ。

One last interesting thing about this doujin is the material it’s made from; it’s different than any other book in my collection. I’m not an artist, so forgive me if I sound totally ignorant here, but the paper reminds me watercolor paper. It definitely took me by surprise!

SL Sketch 3

SL Sketch 3 is a small fan doujin by Buzin. You can find most of the art in this book on their Tumblr!

Sketch 3 is a really fun collection of sketches, and I especially love the cover. I’m so desperate for art where Senketsu is acknowledged as an actual person that I’m just all heart eyes over Ryuko smiling at him here.

March 2014 Newtype

Okay, so this one’s really a magazine, not a book, but wow. I was taken aback by what’s inside!

I’ll definitely have to look at this issue in more depth because there are a bunch of Kill la Kill goodies in here that I didn’t even expect. And I don’t think most of it has been translated at all!

I also realized that I’ve been mixing up my Newtypes and will have to fix my resources page. But on the bright side, there is so much to love about this issue.

Like, the Elite Four Light Novel got reprinted in the Kamui Bansho, but it’s way better here because it has pictures!

I also love how Nonon, out of all the Elite Four, is the only one who stands beside Satsuki in these illustrations.

And I don’t even know what this is (VR or something with Ami Koshimizu, Ryuko’s VA?), but it’s cute and got me smiling:

And Ryo Akizuki, the mangaka for the official Kill la Kill manga, made a small comic about his experience working on the project. I like the little title panel with Ryuko, Senketsu, and Mako a lot:

Plus, there’s a shiny ad for the manga’s second volume, too:

One of the things that most caught my interest, though, is an article about the second opening song for Kill la Kill, GARNiDELiA’s “ambiguous”:

I got so curious about this bit because I’ve heard varying, conflicting information regarding the meaning behind the song’s lyrics. On the one hand, I’ve heard that half of the song is from Ryuko to Senketsu, and the other half is from Satsuki to Ryuko. On the other hand, I’ve heard that the whole song is from Satsuki to Ryuko. But I’ve never found any concrete sources for either of these claims!

So, I was hoping the Newtype article would help, but it’ll take a lot more digging into. Still, briefly looking over the page, I did find this bit: 

そんな私の思いと歌詞が一致しました。 『キルラキル』でいう流子ちゃんと神衣・鮮血の関係に近いかもしれませんね。 

Roughly, it says, “As such, my thoughts about the song agreed with its lyrics. You might say it’s like the relationship between Ryuko and Kamui Senketsu in Kill la Kill.”

I’m not totally sure about the context here—and I admittedly don’t even know the author’s involvement in the making of "ambiguous”—but this article might explain where the Ryuko-and-Senketsu reading of the song came from. It’s definitely something I’d like to delve into more.

Because I really love the Ryuko-and-Senketsu reading of the song, okay, and I’d love some actually official backup for it!

Finally, another favorite part of the Newtype is simply all the art. Takafumi Hori’s spread is particularly great:

(You can find a cleaner image here.)

Just... dang. I wish I got a little poster of this instead of the ones actually included in the Newtype! The artwork is just stunning.

And one of the cutest things about the Newtype is all the fanart from its readers! I particularly love the little Valentine’s Day special; there’s an illustration of Ryuko giving Senketsu chocolate, and there’s also a Ryumako piece, too!

Kill la Kill Storyboard Ep. 01

Finally, one of my favorites from this haul is the Kill la Kill Storyboard Ep. 01. The book was included as a shop bonus for the original Japanese Blu-ray/DVD release, though I was able to win it by itself in an auction. I do think I overpaid a bit, but gosh, it’s a lovely addition to my collection. It’s just really neat to see the production process of an anime in action. I wish there were storyboard books for every episode in the show!

Hiroyuki Imaishi’s storyboards are also just super amusing. Here is a small sampling of some of my faves (because there is so much gold in here, my goodness):

And that’s all for now!

...I guess this really wasn’t so brief at all, huh?

Shocker.

[mononoke-no-ko]

Writer Okouchi “Geass Memories”: on writing early R2 script

Okouchi's look back on writing Code Geass 10 years ago. You can find the translation for his previous tweets here. I can’t find #43 - #48 on his twitter for some reason. The # that he skipped are supposedly included in the movies BD Box. These ones I got directly from his twitter account. 

[Geass Memory #49] After writing the 25th episode of “Code Geass”, I wrote the first episode of the sequel by myself, surrounded by the last episode’s animators who were doing their best. It’s a first episode that appears to be a direct continuation of the confrontation between Lelouch and Suzaku (you can get this script from the Blu-ray BOX).

TN: translation of said script https://rainfall.dreamwidth.org/107694.html

[Geass Memory #50] After I finished writing and putting together the composition of the first episode, I was informed about the time slot change by the producers. It's a move from late night slot to evening slot―the “Sat 6 p.m.” slot that was popular at that time.

[Geass Memory #51] Though as I tweeted earlier, at first “Geass” was brought to this “Sat 6 p.m” slot but was rejected, I didn’t have thoughts like “Serve them right. This time, Sat 6 p.m. have lowered their head!”.

[Geass Memory #52] Rather I thought “Eh, even though I just had written an interesting first episode. Besides, in evening slot, there will be many restrictions in various area. How reluctant.”

[Geass Memory #53] However when I saw it through myself, what I was afraid of didn’t happen at all, and Geass was able to be written like how it was up until then. Thank you, MBS! Speaking of which, MBS was that kind of station.

[Geass Memory #54] Even so, the first episode that had already been composed and written ended up getting rewritten from scratch. Change in time slot means there will be many new viewers. Then, “let’s make it as if it’s a new program!”

[Geass Memory #55] That being said, writing a first episode that not only connects to the last episode, but also takes the new viewers into account as a new program, was difficult. Various ideas came and went.

[Geass Memory #56] Speaking of developments for the first episode that came and went as ideas at that time... Idea #1. Lelouch lost in Black Rebellion and was held in prison. However, he succeeded in deceiving the guards and sneaking out of the prison every night. He secretly plans for the reassembling of Black Knights (to be continued)

[Geass Memory #57] (continued) and then, the presidential election in Area 11 begins. However, this is actually a conciliatory ploy. With democracy being practiced in name only, it’s already decided from the start that Schneizel will become the president. But someone files his run for candidacy against Schneizel. He’s the masked man who was supposed to be dead; Zero!

[Geass Memory #58] Idea #2. Black Knights won in Black Rebellion. A boy named Lelouch enlists to Yamato, the flagship of the new generation Japanese army (with Zero as the captain). Tamaki who put on patronizing air and pushed cleaning duty to Lelouch, got scolded by Zero who somehow knew about it (laugh). 

[Geass Memory #59] Idea #3. A girl whose appearance is a splitting image of Lelouch transferred to Ashford Academy. Her name is Lilycha Gottwald. Due to whim of fate, Lilycha will act as Lelouch’s body double...

[Geass Memory #60] Lelouch who changed places with Lilycha, got left behind in the girls’ dormitory, and the situation developed into heart-pounding love comedy... there was such idea lol. By the way, as you can see from her last name, she is Jeremiah’s younger sister. I felt like I could write joyously in that direction, but... rejected. 

[Geass Memory #61] Idea #4. Japan won in Black Rebellion. Japan that regained its name and pride, began to lynch the Honorary Britannians. In a situation where he lost his ideal, got stoned by people even when he just walked around the city, Suzaku escaped to refrain, living like a garbage on a street corner (to be continued)

[Geass Memory #62] (continued) even as he lashes out at Japanese people who derogate Euphy, his body is already tattered. The Suzaku who ends up getting beaten to pulp by funny thugs. In front of such worn out Suzaku, Lloyd who was disguised in shabby appearance showed up. Exciting! But, rejected.

[moonlit-manifesto]

Heartbreak Red’s Takeover

It’s April 1st, so you know what that means - it’s April Fools’ Day!

Because it’s Uduki Arata’s Hearbreak Red’s month, he’s taken over the Tsukiuta Twitter (@tsukiuta1) and Tsukino Productions website as you’ve probably already seen. I’ll translate some select Heartbreak Red tweets from the throughout the day and put them on this post under the cut. This post will be continually updated throughout the day, so check back at the end of the day to see all of them!

☆Today Begins April☆

Haru: “I would like to give formal thanks to the month of March. Until next year♪”

Arata: “Thanks for your hard work, Haru-san!  Don’t worry! I’ll definitely make April an exciting month just like you did!”

Haru: “Ahh, good. I can feel your enthusiasm from those sunglasses and that red scarf.”

Arata: “Yep!”

#Please treat us well, April

Arata: “Now then, it’s time to hand it over to a hero.”

☆It’s April 1st! Everyone Gather ‘Round! It’s a Heartbreak Red Fest☆

Red: “Hey, everyone! It was pretty hard to make updates everywhere with just one person! [referring to the site takeovers] I worked extremely suddenly! So guys, will you join me~ ?”

Red: “Your heart will beat...” [This is part of his catchphrase but doesn’t sound good translated literally lol. The full phrase is “ハートがキュンと来て... ドッコイショ!” (HAATO ga kyun to kite... dokkisho!)

[T/N: In this tweet, he’s supposed to be reading through some requests/mail sent in. As part of the April Fools’ Day campaign, people could actually tweet things to Heartbreak Red, and he’d reply to some of them.]

Red: “There’s ‘heartbreak’ stuff in here. Well, any subject is fine. ‘Go call on Aoi-kun~’ is in Requests (I’ll go catch him when he comes back to the dorms). ‘Anxiety from becoming an official adult in April’ warrants some more serious advice so I’ll throw away my carefree-ness for that one. The carefree-ness will make a return though.”

☆It’s noon! Let’s have some fun!☆

Red: Is everyone enjoying April Fools’ Day~? I admire, and also laugh at, the official staff’s common sense once it became time for their lunch break. Now’s my time to shine! I’m Heartbreak Red. So with this first greeting, let’s try and continue energetically!“

Red: "Your heart will beat…” [everyone’s supposed to respond with ‘ドッコイショ!’/'ba-dump!’]

[The tweets below are some of the requests/messages/etc. that were submitted along with Heartbreak Red’s replies. I’m mainly translating the funny ones since they’re more interesting ^^ ]

[REQUEST]: I want to see a drawing of Hajime-san by Heartbreak Red.

Red: Bam:

[ADVICE]: Red!!! My boyfriend is incapable!!! What should I do to make him more exciting??

Red: "How about me instead!!!”

[REQUEST]: Please call Chisa-chan over

Red: “CHISA-CHI---------------!!!”

Chisa: “I’ve arrived from your call, ta-daaaaa! ‘Your heart will beat - ba-dump-----!!!’ Bye now!!!!!”

Red: “That great energy she gives off is the best!!!!!”

[ADVICE]: My room is really disorganized. How can I make it pretty (´;ω;｀)?

Red: “Take a picture of it with your phone, and look at it and say ‘Wow... it’s better in my imagingation... possibly...’ is what I would recommend (speaking from experience).”

[OTHER]: Arata-kun, how are your nose and throat? [because it’s allergy season]

Red: I’m not Arata, but in regards to hay fever, I seem to be fine for the time being.”

[REQUEST]: Pick a fight with You-kun ◝(●˙꒳˙●)◜

Red: “Hey Cure Curry---!!!!” [reference to Precure, see Tsukiuta’s other prank this year where they turned some characters into magical girls]

You: “Who’re you calling ‘Cure Curry’!! I’ll force-feed you curry!! *angry*”

Red: “He’s a tsundere.”

[later on, he quote-RTed this with a correction]:

Red: “Sorry, sorry, it’s Pure Curry [not Cure Curry].”

You: “Either way, I’m neither of them.”

Red: “Well I’m not Arata either, you know?”

You: “Don’t group me with you *angry*”

[ADVICE]: I’m starting a new chapter in my life, but I’m always bad at self-introductions. Please tell me if there’s something I can do to have a good grasp of it!!

Red: “Try the standard ‘syllabary composition*!’ So for me, it would be ‘shi’: I’m a happy [shiawase] person... ‘tsu’: I have an indifferent [tsurenai] attitude... ‘re’: I cook things using the microwave [renji]... ‘n’: nnn~hmmm and I’m a genial person.”

*[T/N: take a sound/syllable in JP and come up with a word that starts with that sound to describe yourself (in English, it’d be like coming up with a word for each letter of the alphabet). Heartbreak Red kind of cheated on his last one - the ‘n’ sound lol]

[MESSAGE]: Heartbreak Red!! I love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!

Red: “Thank youuuuuuuuuuuuu I love you tooooooooooooooooooooo!!!”

[REQUEST]: Please give me a supportive message to help me save money in order to move to a different residence 🙋

Red: “With this 10,000 yen, your next place will be 10m^2 in area.. *saying it like an incantation*”

[REQUEST]: Call Koi-kun over~

Red: “Ay, Pink.”

Koi: “So rude~~~~!!! Could you call for me in a nicer way!!!??? I’m on stand-by!!!

Koi: “I’m everyone’s hardworking cheerleader: Kisaragi Koi! Call me Koi-kuuuuun!”

Red: “Alright, thanks. Everyone, send him off with your loudest applause.”

[ADVICE]: I’m nervous and I don’t want to go to tomorrow’s company welcome ceremony and orientation. What should I do?

Red: “I understand, I totally understand. But you should go because there’s bound to be a lot of unexpected, surprising things anyways! During difficult times, just remember me because I’m cheering for you a whole lot. Keep fighting ☆

[REQUEST]: I love Kai-kun! I become a working adult tomorrow, so could he say a few words for me? ♡

Red: “Kai-sannn!”

Kai: “Congrats on becoming a full-fledged adult! I hope you find joy in your work and that it’s something worth pursuing. I think it’s bad to dwell on just the mistakes made in life, so make sure to take a breather without working too hard during the tough times!

[REQUEST]: Dear Heartbreak Red, I want you to call on Issei and Ichiru from QUELL! I want to hear the twins’ thoughts on “unrequited love!”

Red: “Pure Hokkaido guys~~!”

Ichiru: “That’s not us!!”

Red: “Yeah, yeah. This is random, but what do you think of unrequited love?”

Issei: “Erm... Love, umm... *shy* Ichiru, what do you think?”

Ichiru: “Ehhhhh!? Um, I-!!!?? I-I still don’t.... know about stuff like love that well...”

Issei: “Me neither... I think it would be nice to experience something like unrequited love, that’s the kind of love I want to try.”

Ichiru: “Same.”

Red: “A priceless answer. Thanks, guys.”

[T/N: all of the “love” talked about here, including the “love” in unrequited love is “koi,” not “ai”]

[REQUEST]: Heartbreak Red~!!!! Call Kakerun over~~!!!!!

Red: “Kakerun - I’ll give you ice cream if you come over here.”

Kakeru: “Good evening~!! How’s everyone doing~? I’m in good spirits since I got to eat ice cream. Tomorrow is a new you! I’ll take on Angra**, so let’s keep smiling!”

**written as アンラ, I’m assuming this refers to Angra Mainyu which is a boss from Final Fantasy X-2

[OTHER] I want to know what everyone’s favorite kanji is ( *´꒳`* )

Red: “Strawberry” (苺) [of course lol]

Kakeru: “Gold” (金) [also obvious]

Red: “Oh, this has a once-in-a-lifetime meaning!!!”

Kakeru: “Ah, it matches our image color meanings too!!!!”

Koi: “You guys do know the whole business is based on our images, right? Have you been paying attention at all?”

[REQUEST]: Heartbreak Red, as well as whoever’s near you: tell us the color of your underwear!

Red: “You guys like underwear, huh. Mine are the red of victory... Well that’s what I pretend the plain grey is.”

Kakeru: “Dang, what bad timing! Mine are gold! That was a lie! Uhh~ they’re black!”

Koi: “Such a question at a time like this........Mine are red.”

[T/N: Koi’s first sentence was actually the same as Kakeru’s but idk if I got the nuanced meaning correct in Kakeru’s part so I didn’t want to copy the same thing]

[REQUEST]: What kind of lie did Rui-kun tell today on April Fools’ Day?? Please tell us!!!

Red: “Rui-rui~”

Rui: “Were you referring to Minaduki Rui (水無月涙)? I’m actually Minaduki Rui (水無月類). There’s a lot of Minaduki’s around...”

Red: “That joke’s hard to understand based on sound alone, Rui-rui.”

[T/N: Rui just changed the kanji in his first name from 涙 to 類, but both have the same pronunciation so you can’t tell unless you see it written lmao]

[REQUEST]: Please summon Heartbreak Purple and Heartbreak Green!!

Red: “Please heed my request!!! Mainly Green!!”

Green: “I dragged Purple with me ♪”

Purple: “...”

Red: “With that really reluctant face, it must be the right time to do that mean prank I was talking about earlier.”

Purple: *clench*

Green: “If you have something to say, just say it. Come on, Purple!”

Red: “Yeah come on, Purple.”

Purple: “This all started from that one magazine’s survey results, and the fact that this ‘unrequited love army’ has continued to exist worries me.”

Red & Green: “Sounds fair.”

[REQUEST]: No matter what Heartbreak Purple is doing right now, call him over and say your catchphrase together!!

Red: “Yessir!”

Green: “Yessir!”

Purple: “I learned that hesitance gives way to shame, so I’ll say the catchphase.”

Red: “All right! Lol”

Green: “Ok! Lol”

Purple: “Your heart will bea.... You guys, quit laughing *angry*. Will beat.... Ba-dump.”

[REQUEST]: Please call on Yoru-kun! I start work at a new place tomorrow, and my anxiety is unbearable - please say some encouraging words!

Red: “There’s a lot of serious concerns about the anxiety of starting a new chapter in life on April 1st, aren’t there...! Yoruru~n!”

Yoru: “Y-yes! Don’t push yourself too hard, eat properly, rest properly... Keep fighting!”

[This one wasn’t particularly interesting, but I’m a big softie for the yellow softie, Yoru lol]

[REQUEST]: Make a quick one-liner jab at Sakuraba Ryota with all your strength!

Red: “Sakurabaaaan!!!” (he did some “bam” pose) [like something triumphant]

Ryota: “... (expecting something)”

Red: “That dead-cold glare of yours... I could get used to it.”

Ryota: “Please dont.”

[I’m also a big softie for the pink tsun, Ryota. Thanks @syphiria for correcting me on this translation and also noticing all my late-night typos!!]

[REQUEST]: Spread some love to everyone!

Red: “Thanks for all your messages, everyone---!!! It’s almost time for me to go, but it’ll be great if we could meat again next year! When you’re not feeling well, just remember: I’m here, so cheer up~”

Anddd that’s all! These are actually the majority of the tweets since I skipped the more serious ones. The life advice Red gave was mostly the same for those anyways. There were a lot of requests to interact with other characters, but I loved all the cameos haha.

[obsidianarchives]

Black Woman Creator: Afiya Augustine

Hailing from the tropical isle of Trinidad, Afiya Augustine is a writer, freelancer, podcaster, and creator of Pretty Poet Ink, an online handcrafted accessories boutique. Afiya finds tons of inspiration for her work from her love of pop culture, nostalgia, history, science fiction and fantasy. When she is not crafting, she spends time listening to music, tweeting, writing poetry and prose, posting photos of her family, catching a flick, or learning something new. We spoke to Afiya about being a creator, balancing creating with a nine to five, and who some of her favorite Black women creators are.

Black Girls Create: What do you create?

I create quite a few things, actually. First and foremost, I am a writer. I’ve been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since I was twelve and have been a professional entertainment writer/editor for well over five years.

Next, I am the creator and founder of Pretty Poet INK — an online boutique of handcrafted wonders. I both design and create a plethora of things, which (at the moment) includes wearable and useable art otherwise known as jewelry and accessories. With my jewelry,  I often use actual semi-precious stones, crystals, glass and wood beads, in addition to plated and precious metals. My accessories are mostly fabric-based items like bow ties, hair bows, and I’m slowly venturing into things like wallets and pouches. In addition to pieces that are of my own design, I also do custom pieces for others, usually for special occasions like weddings.

Lastly, I host a podcast, called ‘Adult-ish’, which is tackles the everyday trials and tribulations of transitioning into adulthood and all the responsibilities that comes with it no one ever really tells you about.

BGC: Why do you create?

I started creating because quite honestly, I liked it. I’ve always been a person interested in creating. I like to express the way I’m feeling through my various crafts. I use my writings to express my emotions, thoughts, daydreams, and wishes. I used my jewelry to convey a feeling, a connection to a certain aesthetic, imagery. I love the idea of bringing something from my imagination to life. It’s very calming and it's also a feeling of accomplishment to see something start as just a few beads or a thought and watch it come together as a necklace or a poem.

The same kind of goes for my podcast. I record to connect; to share my experiences with others who may have gone through the same things I have.

BGC: Who is your audience?

I create for an audience of like-minded individuals, which at times is a very small group. As it pertains to anything I write or record, I’m reaching out to an open-minded audience, individuals who aren’t afraid to push their boundaries or ask silly questions. With regard to my jewelry, a lot of my pieces are for those who are OK and accepting of something “different,” who can find a deeper meaning in the baubles and connect to them on the level from their inspiration.

For instance, I really love historical content so biographical films or movies set in different decades fascinate me and can be reflected in my work. I also love MCU and DCEU films and books, so you’ll find pieces dedicated to that. Science-fiction and fantasy are genres I’ve been reading since I was a child, so some of my pieces are emblematic of those worlds as well as countries and cultures I’ve never seen but wanted to.

Overall, everything I create is for the nerds, the historians, the world traveler, and those who can find themselves lost in fantasy and wonder.

BGC: Who or what inspired you to do what you do? Who or what continues to inspire you?

I can’t recall when I was first inspired to write. I just remember picking up a pencil and making a story. I can remember when I was about seven or eight years old, I was with my mom visiting my aunt in the hospital. She was dying of cancer and so my mom was there with her speaking to the doctors. I was moving around a lot, so my mom fashioned a little book out of medical tape and napkins. She gave me a pencil and so I wrote a little story with illustrations. I remember my aunt even peaking, asking my mom, “What is she doing?” and I just kept making my little story. Since then, I’ve just kept a pen and a piece of paper on my person at all times.

I was inspired to start making jewelry when I worked in the bead shop of a craft store. It was one of my first jobs out of college back when trying to get a job in editorial was a long shot thanks to the recession. I would glance in magazines like Beadstyle or Stringing and see all these beautiful pieces and think, “how can I inject a bit of myself into this?” I loved the color compositions, the textures, and I wanted to make them expressive of who I was and what I could do. It was about bringing something to life… even though it’s an inanimate object, proving to myself that yet again, there was something I could do. And I’m continually inspired by the idea of being able to make something new. Putting a new object into the world. A sense of pride and accomplishment washes over me with each piece. So much so that I often find it hard to sell them! It’s me saying to myself, “Yes. I made that. I can make it and I did make this.”

The podcast came out of a conversation with a friend who thought our random, off-the-wall chats would be fun to listen to and so, after meeting with a few people interested in our chatter about turning into adults, a podcast was born.

BGC: Why is it important as a black person to create?

It’s important for Black people and especially for Black women to create because there aren't many of us who can have our voices heard. It’s very endearing to hear or see another Black person creating, whether it’s a book, a comic, a clothing line. I feel like we, as a community, have a super strong purchasing power and are always hungry to consume new things and as such, we should be investing in one another. Why not lift up those who can relate to you? Who can create items for you — that not only speak to who you are, but what you are? As a Black female entrepreneur, I’m trying to reach other Black people with similar interests to let them know 1. You are not alone and 2. Here’s a way that allows you to express yourself.

For me, I feel it’s important for us to create to connect to individuals like ourselves and to do so with our creations.

BGC: How do you balance creating with the rest of your life?

Terribly. LOL. I work a full-time job that requires me to travel upwards of 4 hours a day (and 5 hours on a bad day). But I do my best to think of creating. During my commute, I might jot down an idea for a design, write down combinations of colors and shapes that I like, or brainstorm ideas on how to sell or pitch a product. I’ll spend my downtime at work scrolling through websites for ideas, tips, supplies, etc. Maybe put some in a shopping cart and save it for later.

In the past, I used to commit to writing at least one new piece of prose a week, usually about something I observed on my commute home. But that’s when I used to get a seat on the trains. Now, if I have a thought for a story or a line for a poem, I may either jot it down in the Notes section of my phone or post it on Twitter.

On the weekends, I try to record an episode with a co-host one day and craft the next day. The only thing that sucks is that I have to limit my time when the ball starts rolling because I can find myself creating well into the midnight hour. And Lord knows I need all the sleep I can get to have the energy for work.

BGC: How do you balance creating when you feel drained or exhausted?

It’s very trying to balance creating when I’m drained or exhausted because when I’m in that mood, I really want to do nothing but relax and recharge. Sometimes, I will give in, but when I realize I’ve done for too long, I will put music on and sit in front of my table. Often times, touching my supplies, organizing materials, and going through my bins with all the little goodies, brings me back.

BGC: Do you have advice for young creators or ones just starting?

The first bit of advice — learn more about your craft. Next, take your time getting into it. Find a good teacher or mentors who can help you through it. Take a class here and there and see if you really like it or not. It’s OK if you realize it’s not for you.

In the very beginning, I was so excited about jewelry crafting that I spent a ton of money on beads and didn’t know what to do with them. I was also self-taught and found myself constantly looking for tutorials on the web to guide me through. Several years in, I’m still asking the pros questions and learning new techniques as well as understanding there are just some aspects of crafting that aren’t for me.

My writing is OK, but it can always be better. To improve that, I do my best to read one of the many books I haven’t cracked open yet on my bookcase. In seeing some of the different styles, vocabulary, structure, etc. I can better find my own voice.

BGC: Who are some other Black Women creators you admire?

Well, one is definitely my mom. She’s a seamstress and has been working a sewing machine for as long as I can remember. She’s also pretty handy with a glue gun when she’s ready, though I’ve probably surpassed her in that area. Other women I know include Tandeka Fable of Fabl Design and Shirley Blanc of SincerelyMe Sweets, both of whom are crushing it with their startups.

Women I admire from afar include Lorraine West of Lorraine West Jewelry, a handmade luxury brand based in NYC, as well as actor/writer/director Issa Rae because she’s hella dope. I’ve been admiring this woman since Awkward Black Girl on YouTube, and she even gave the OK for me to send her some of my jewelry pieces! Who doesn’t love her, like seriously?!  (Holla at me if you want more pieces, Issa!)

BGC: What are your future projects?

My future projects include expanding Pretty Poet Ink into several brands. As I previously mentioned, I do custom work for special occasions and am looking to bridge that into a bridal brand where I will be making custom bridal pieces and accessories — veils, bouquets, brooms etc.  In the not-so-distant future, I’d like to venture into home decor. It’s my dream to have people not only wearing but living with Pretty Poet Ink around them.

Also, I would ultimately love to finish and publish at least one novel, and a chapbook of poetry. And when it comes to podcasting, I’m hoping to land a spot on HBO or Showtime like some other famous podcasts out there. If not that, at the very least a live recording at a little bar with our few faithful fans.

You can shop Pretty Poet Ink here and subscribe to the brand on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well as find all her editorial work on her blog. You can also listen to the Adult-ish podcast on Google Play, iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, and Spreaker. Check out Adultish on Twitter as well.  

[theseventhhex]

Nedelle Torrisi Interview

Nedelle Torrisi

Los Angeles-based Nedelle Torrisi has been a musician since the day she was born. Her 100 percent Sicilian parents were a jazz drummer and a classical pianist. She began studying classical violin at six, singing at seven, and eventually went on to study jazz voice at Berklee College of Music, finishing her degree at San Francisco State University with an emphasis in jazz music history. While Torrisi’s roots lie in the jazz world her musical career - from her previous solo albums to now, her work has always contained more of a 90s-R&B sensibility. That appreciation carries over to her new LP, ‘Only For You’. Torrisi’s newest solo LP, was conceived while she was living in the Bay Area but came to fruition during a somewhat impulsive move to back to Los Angeles where she had been living. The goal was to study again - learn new things, have her worldview challenged, and try out a different life… We talk to Nedelle about having cleaner production, avoiding social media and TV shows…

TSH: How would you personally sum up the intent that was coming into play for your latest record, ‘Only For You’?

Nedelle: The intent was simple - I wanted it to be my most “pop” album so far. To write concise pop songs with hooks.

TSH: It’s been noted that the production is cleaner on this release, was this intentional for certain reasons?

Nedelle: Yes! My fiancé Billy Uomo and I co-produced the album, and tried to make it as clean as possible to match my intention of writing poppier songs. Kenny Gilmore (Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti) who recorded my last album produced a couple songs, too. And the band Inc. worked on one. David Greenbaum (Beck) and Gilmore mixed the album.

TSH: Do you embrace the improvised nature when forming new songs?

Nedelle: I think every song starts with improvising, whether you’re working with a melody, lyrics, or just messing around with an instrument. It’s all about catching something that you find interesting, and then exploring it.

TSH: Moreover, with this album, did you tamper with many unconventional and experimental approaches?

Nedelle: I didn’t use unconventional approaches, but there were many different approaches. Like, I would manipulate samples and then write a song using them as a base. I had people send me tracks from other cities. I made multiple versions of some songs to get the tone right. Sometimes I would make demos and build the final recording out from them.

TSH: How key is it for there to be some sort of cohesiveness when you write your songs?

Nedelle: Cohesiveness is important so you can easily communicate to the listener. In the past, I’ve written some songs that have more cryptic lyrics, or weird parts that might not seem cohesive. But with this album I wanted to laser beam all aspects from my brain to your ears!

TSH: Tell us more about the sentiment behind the track ‘Rich Kids World’ …

Nedelle: The song speaks to the fact that we are sold this capitalist idea of “achieving your dreams” in this country. That if we all try hard enough our dreams will come true. But there are also inequalities and obstacles that are important to acknowledge.

TSH: Also, what sort of energy were you looking to imply with the track entitled 'Candy'?

Nedelle: The chorus is mostly lifted from a Cameo song. Except for a line sandwiched in between the two chorus lines. It’s a sick song from a great band. I re-wrote the verses to make my version of the song about a man who can’t resist the temptations of a woman. Cameo’s lyrics are, “It’s like Candy” and I say, “I’m like Candy, and now you want a piece of me. You never knew it tasted so good.” It’s just a sexy, fun song.

TSH: For yourself, what’s the most liberating aspect in forming new music?

Nedelle: Any moment in which something clicks is the best moment in life. (Until the next moment like that.)

TSH: You’ve previously stated that your compositions involve musical theatre, how does this often come into play?

Nedelle: I’m just really into musicals. There are no super-strict parallels between my music and musicals. Maybe a bit of innocent, wide-eyed vibes lyrically, and my voice sounds a bit Broadway, too.

TSH: On a daily basis in life, what sort of distractions do you wish to avoid?

Nedelle: I’m trying to cut down on social media, and ideally I wouldn’t even have a computer, lol. I find the internet and social media to be very destructive, distracting, and it's making people more stupid. I really think this era of content overload is making people feel isolated and depressed, but if we just put down our phones and computers more often, we’ll feel more relaxed and happy.

TSH: What’s been the most difficult of questions to answer on your ‘Advice from Paradise’ blog?

Nedelle: A lot of questions are about unrequited love. Does he / she like me? What should I do? I wish I could help people get over unrequited crushes and move on, but that impetus ultimately has to come from them. There have been many doozies over the years. My archives are as long as War and Peace at this point.

TSH: What was it about possibly being a social worker that intrigued you?

Nedelle: Both of my parents worked at a prison – dad taught English so prisoners could get their GED’s. Mom taught prisoners a skill so they could get jobs when they’re released. My aunt and uncle were social workers too. There was always a strong sense of civic duty, and a general sense of empathy and kindness among my family members. In the end, though, the idea of going back to school was too unbearable, ha!

TSH: You viewed the Tarantula TV series recently, what did you like most about it? Also, what else have you been viewing in recent times?

Nedelle: Haha, are you stalking me? I LOVE Carson Mell - everything he writes and touches is solid gold. It didn’t get picked up for a second season because TBS, sigh. But it’s sure to be a cult classic. I like Wyatt Cenac’s Problem Areas, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, and Real Time with Bill Maher. My favourite shows of all time are Sex and the City, Dexter, The Wire, and recently I loved The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

TSH: What lead to the following tweet to be posted ‘Whoever discovered the artichoke was really hungry…’

Nedelle: I was just thinking of how there’s really not so much food to be derived from the artichoke. Like someone found that uninviting, prickly vegetable and said, “How can I eat you?” Speaks to the creative and enterprising nature of humans.

TSH: Finally, do you feel there are defining traits that you will bear in mind with future musical releases?

Nedelle: I’d like to record myself and not rely on anyone else. It was super-fun working with my true love Billy Uomo, of course, but it’s just easier to make stuff on my own. It’ll be more lo-fi, but I’m fine with that.

Nedelle Torrisi - “Rich Kids World”

Only For You