#daily murasaki

[murasaki-monday]

Murasaki… Tuesday? 3: Christmuras Tree

[dailysmilingnatsume]

[sadthixx]

Murasaki Uta blinking real‼️‼️

[cannedvampirejuice]

hands hurt but my mind is going 100 miles per second. agony

[003soy]

I haven’t drawn anything all day #flopera

[ozzgin]

Yandere! Yokai Harem x Reader (III)

On your travels with the two demon companions, you stumble upon a fortified village plagued by monster attacks. It would be quite unlucky if the grand finale happened just as you step foot inside, right? Worry not, you're saved by a third mysterious yokai that you immediately recognize. The harem grows!

Content: female reader, monsters, violence

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Character Guide]

“Alright, how’s this?”

You do a clumsy pirouette before the two yokai men.

“That’s...are you sure?” Kiritsubo eyes you, mildly confused. “It’s usually what men wear.”

Of course, you already know. After weeks of walking through feudal Japan, you’ve reached the conclusion that modern clothing isn’t the most practical choice. Not to mention the strange looks you always get from other people upon your arrival in any village. You needed something to blend in, and the typical fashion for your gender might not be compatible with your training. You’d rather not swing a sword while covered in multiple layers of kimono.

Thus, you opted for the hakama pants typically worn by men. With your hair tied up and in this baggy attire, one could think you’re a young samurai. If they squint enough. You chuckle at the thought.

“She’ll wear whatever allows her to not be a burden.” Murasaki concludes with crossed arms.

One way to put it, you tell yourself.

“If you’re done discussing fashion, we can leave.” The dark-haired man continues with indifference, standing up and adjusting the swords in the folds of his sash.

Both you and Kiritsubo hurry and follow behind obediently.

“Where are we going this time?” You ask sheepishly.

“South-west. An old residence of his, although we will have to pass through a fortified settlement first. We should reach it before sunset.”

It’s hard to imagine you’re the supposed savior in this equation. Murasaki has been leading you by the hand each step, carefully considering every detail on the map, and extensively planning your travels every evening. All this on top of your daily training. You’ve now mastered the basics with the katana he’s provided you, as well as some common prayers for exorcising small-class demons.

You glance at the daisho pair of swords under his belt. A long, thin blade, and a shorter backup version, both in elaborate matching scabbards meant to showcase the status and wealth of the samurai wearing them. In this case, meant to express his rank as the advisor and right hand of the famed onmyōji. You certainly don’t doubt Nakamaro’s decision to rely on Murasaki.

In comparison, Kiritsubo carries a nagamaki at his waist. A comically long blade in your opinion, used mostly to bring down horses during battle. Any regular sword would’ve been too small for him. Despite his imposing appearance, you’ve learned rather quickly just how different Kiritsubo is from the other yokai. He’s quite clumsy in combat, often anxious about making mistakes, terribly apologetic, and overall has a heart too kind for his own good. If there’s hesitation coming from his side, Murasaki immediately follows with his ruthless, ending blows. As a matter of fact, even you’ve had to do the occasional killing to spare the man of such choices.

The silver-haired demon notices your eyes on him and smiles, excited. He reminds you of a large dog. A horned, fanged dog of monstrous strength, nonetheless the innocence is there. And he does make a great travel companion.

“How much longer?” You grunt, looking up.

“Are you tired? I can carry you for the rest of the way-” Kiritsubo instantly offers but is interrupted by Murasaki’s barked orders.

“She can walk. Don’t spoil her.” He glares at you, then nods ahead. “We’re almost there, so quit your whining.”

True to his word, you can finally discern the outline of a wall at the top of the hill. A few more steps, and you can even spot two guards standing beside the great gate.

“Stop there!”

The soldiers lift their spears threateningly. Before you can react, Murasaki steps in front of you with a hand placed on his sword.

“We’re just passing through.” He states factually.

“We’re no longer allowing visitors.” One of the guards exclaims. “The village has been raided by monsters recently and our Lord has closed all gates until the matter is solved.”

“That means no filthy demons go in.” The other adds in a mocking tone, his gaze lingering on the horns of your companions. His mouth curls in disgust.

You can tell Murasaki is angered by the disrespectful approach. He is not one to let such insults slide and you’d rather avoid him claiming unnecessary victims; therefore, you push past his arm and plant yourself ahead with a polite greeting bow.

“These yokai are with me. I vouch for their good behavior, so please consider letting us through. Perhaps we can even help you with these monsters.”

“You? How would you…”

The man stops abruptly, switching between you and the yokai. Eventually he inspects your scabbard, and he gasps, confusion twisting his features.

“Could it be? No…He’d be dead by now.”

“What are you talking about?” His partner inquires impatiently.

“That’s the family seal belonging to Abe no Nakamaro.” He explains, pointing to the golden finish at the end of your katana handle. “I’ve heard about him from my grandparents. But it’s been decades!”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re saying this kid is a legendary onmyōji?”

“Who else would show up with demons as servants? Everything matches. Perhaps his powers have finally reached immortality”, he concludes solemnly.

The men continue their argument, and you clear your throat, embarrassed. What the hell? You can’t possibly look that manly. Sure, you’ve been skipping the makeup, and the clothes aren’t exactly curve shaping, but to be mistaken for an old man is like a slap to the face.

You’re about to deny their claims, but Murasaki swiftly pinches the back of your neck, and you wince. He lowers himself to your ear and whispers:

“This will be to our advantage. Just go along with it.” “Fine!” You mumble angrily. Then you turn back to the guards.

“V-very well, I see I haven’t been forgotten.” You admit, theatrically. “Lead me to your Lord and we shall discuss the details of your monster attack.”

Thus, you sip on your tea, kneeling at the luxurious table and awaiting the arrival of the feudal Lord. The servants are exchanging words, gossiping fervently next to the wall. “I wonder if he can cure my daughter!” one woman mumbles, visibly emotional.

“Do you think we can finally be saved? He’ll truly exorcise the beasts tormenting our village?” another whispers.

You wipe the sweat from your forehead and glare at Murasaki. You had no idea he’d given you Nakamaro’s old sword. Now you’re stuck pretending to be a pompous, long-dead asshat.

“What if they catch us?” You hiss between your teeth. “I don’t know shit about onmyōdō.”

“Then I’ll just kill them all. Simple as that.” The crimson-eyed man retorts, unconcerned. “Have a little fun, won’t you?”

“W-we’ll help you come up with answers, (Y/N). Don’t worry.” Kiritsubo chimes in, trying to reassure you.

You sigh in frustration and look out the window. The sun must’ve set a long time ago and has since been replaced by a pitch-black sky. What’s keeping the Lord? Surely, he can’t be having important business meetings late at night.

Almost as if your thoughts were read, the door slides open and a servant wobbles in. The rest of the household workers are silent, expecting the entrance of their master, but no one is following behind. You observe the bizarre limp of the woman. Suddenly, she collapses to the floor, revealing her bloodied back torn by deep wounds, caused by some sort of claw. Her body is stiff.

Panic settles in right away, and the servants topple over each other to get away from the fresh cadaver. You struggle to get up among the terrified crowd, but thankfully Murasaki grabs your wrist and pulls you out into a quieter hallway.

“What the hell?” is all you manage to say.

“Rotten.” Kiritsubo furrows his brows, sniffing the air. “Someone in here must be possessed. Could be more of them.”

Murasaki surveys the surroundings and gestures towards his partner.

“We have to see if the Lord is still alive. You go that way. I’ll take the front. Kill everyone suspicious.”

“What about me?” You demand, holding your breath.

“Get out and wait for us. You know how to draw a protection circle, don’t you? I won’t take long.” The dark-haired yokai answers before vanishing.

Judging by the screams and wails coming from all directions, you suspect Kiritsubo is right about multiple attackers. You sprint across the hall, looking for an opening. The self-defense lessons didn’t cover cursed humans with demonic powers. You’ll stay out of this one.

What an absolute mess. You have encountered some demons in your weeks spent here, but nothing to this degree. When the guards mentioned a monster attack, you imagined a ghost with a grudge, or some small fry yokai scaring the workers at night, not a mass curse that ends in a massacre. Of course, it had to happen the moment you arrived at the main house.

You find a room with a door leading to the inner courtyard. Seems isolated enough and it should provide a bit of shelter while you wait for the pair to finish the business. As you rush past the dead bodies, you notice a woman hiding behind a screen divider.

“Ah! It’s you!” she yells, aware of your presence.

From the shadow of her secret spot emerges the small frame of a child. The woman pushes the little human towards you, blocking your path.

“Don’t worry, he’ll protect us.” she gives her child another nudge. “Go on, hold onto him. You’ll be safe.”

What? No, no, no, no, no. Not happening. You’re getting out.

“Ma’am, sorry to break it to you under such circumstances, but I’m not-”

You’re interrupted by a loud growl. One of the possessed creatures must’ve followed your scent, and it’s now sliding into the room on all fours with the bones of the limbs twisting and creaking in unnatural pounces. You purse your lips in a frightened grimace. One advantage of the wide hakama pants – useful to know – is that no one can see your knees shaking cowardly.

Theoretically, you could use the brat as bait and run for your life. It’d make a decent obstacle. Unfortunately for your life span, you’ve been gifted with an idiotic sense of duty instead of survival instincts.

“Keep your distance. If I can’t kill it, get out and don’t look back” you advise, positioning yourself in the learned stance and sliding the sword out of its sheath.

Damn it! Then again, it should be like fighting a zombie, right? Given the pathetic way it drags itself around, it can’t be too difficult to hit. Aim for the head, you repeat in your mind. Your fingers grip around the handle.

The ghoulish beast lowers itself, like a spring about to recoil, and leaps across the room with an ease you did not anticipate. Despite your iron hold, it slaps the blade out of your hands with enormous force. The impact breaks your skin, and you wince. There’s no time to weep, within seconds it could go for your vitals next. While Murasaki hasn’t gotten around to teaching you much hand-to-hand combat, you’ve read your fair share of shounen manga. The first idea that comes to mind is to put the beast in a sumo lock. You bend your knees smoothly and wrap your arms around the monster, feeling for something to hold onto. You grit your teeth and attempt to lift the creature.

A thundering laugh resonates within the walls, and you jolt, startled.

“I never thought I’d see the mighty Abe no Nakamaro wrestling with ankle biters like this. What are you going to do, throw it out of the ring?”

The voice is deep, loud, and unfamiliar. You can’t afford to look back to see the source, but it’s not hard to figure out the possibilities. So far, you’ve only been called by that cursed name by the yokai accomplices. Although now is not the best time to seek revenge.

“Shut up, I panicked”, you snap in frustration. “If you can’t help, keep that trap closed!”

The sudden burst of anger seems to have triggered something within your body, a power you don’t recognize. You watch as your arms effortlessly pick up the monster and swing it across the room, its body demolishing the opposing wall and causing thick clouds of dust to rise and spread everywhere.

The impact must’ve alerted the nearby ghouls, as you can now hear the agitated trample and screeching rapidly approaching. You’re not confident you can pull the same lucky move a second time.

You turn to search for your sword, but it’s already being handed to you by the mysterious yokai who’s been observing your little fight. You have to step aside and tilt your head all the way back in order to fully view the gigantic frame of the man.

Ah, you recognize the features immediately. The same kind of fear you felt when you stumbled upon that old shrine statue is now tugging at your chest.

“You’re Suma, right?”

A proud, wide grin forms on his face, revealing a pair of glistening fangs. His expression is unexpectedly soft and friendly.

“We’re halfway through our introductions then, eh?” You pick up the sword and his fingers stretch out for a handshake. “What is your given name? I’m guessing you don’t willingly go by that…title.”

“I very much prefer (Y/N), yes.” You marvel at the significant difference in size, placing your small hand in his. “Was that your power I just used?”

“Mhhm. You sure surprised me there! It’s not something I did intentionally, but I s’ppose we just resonate that well, huh?”

He laughs again, completely unbothered by the impending danger.

“Alright, you can leave the rest to me. Take the lady outside, it will get a little messy.”

And with that, he casually walks towards the gathering of ghouls. You guide the family to the courtyard and wait for the battle to end.

“Do you think she’ll be fine by herself?” Kiritsubo is resting against the fence, keeping you under a watchful gaze.

“Let the humans sort it out among themselves.” Murasaki responds, somewhat bored.

The morning after the attack, you offered to deal with the survivors: ask them how everything started, if they’d noticed anything suspicious days prior to the event, and if the route to Nakamaro’s old residence was still open. The yokai men had found the feudal Lord in the jaws of a possessed creature and he quickly succumbed to his wounds. Consequently, only the remaining servants could provide them with clues.

A village being targeted like this is highly unusual, and Murasaki can’t shake the feeling it could be related to their master.

“Oh, where are you heading after this?” The silver-haired yokai glances at Suma, sitting lazily next to them.

“Where? After you just told me the whole story? I’m way too invested in this modern reincarnation that just popped out of nowhere, so I’m tagging along!” He announces with a chuckle.

Murasaki frowns.

“We don’t need your help.”

“Don’t be like that.” The giant man pouts dramatically. “Are you upset I saved (Y/N) before you?”

“W-we were on our way!” Kiritsubo retorts, visibly bothered.

“It’s a done deal!” Suma rests his hands under his head and yawns. “Besides, the little human already said he doesn’t mind.”

“He? (Y/N) is a woman.”

The redhead abruptly sits up and gasps.  

“Wait, what?”

“Don’t get funny ideas, man”, the silver-haired demon warns.

[cainpain]

Drawing Yan Sim characters daily

Day 13 and 14, I didn't feel good yesterday or today and I'm taking a break until Saturday but I just wanna post them lolll

Hanako Yamada and Murasaki Nobumoto !!

Hanako unknowingly teasing her greatest insecurity 💔💔

[jariten]

2022 YEAR ROUNDUP: FAVORITE RELEASES OF THE YEAR

Another year has passed, so here’s the much overdue yearly roundup! First is titles that were released in 2022:

Talk To My Back by Yamada Murasaki [Drawn & Quarterly, trans. Ryan Holmberg]

To Strip The Flesh by Oto Toda [Viz Media, trans. Emily Balistrieri]

Came The Mirror & Other Tales by Rumiko Takahashi [Viz Media, trans. Junko Goda]

Witches by Daisuke Igarashi [Seven Seas, trans. Kathryn Henzler]

Box of Light by Seiko Erisawa [Seven Seas, trans. Daniel Komen]

童夢 (Domu: a Child’s Dream, Otomo The Complete Works edition) by Katsuhiro Otomo [Kodansha]

Daily Report About My Witch Senpai by Maka Mochida [Seven Seas, trans. Liya Sultanova]

Orochi by Kazuo Umezz [Viz Media, trans. Jocelyne Allen]

My Brain Is Different: Stories of ADHD and Other Developmental Disorders by Monzusu [Seven Seas, trans. Ben Trethewey]

I cherish every anthology manga that makes it to english and when we got “To Strip the Flesh”, “Came the Mirror”, “Box of Light” “Witches”, and “Orochi” we truly struck gold. I’ve been waiting for Igarashi to get another shot at the english language market, and then Orochi and the announcement of the new Cat-eyed Boy editions confirmed that Umezz’s is back to stay, crossing my fingers for a major title like My Name Is Shingo or Fourteen next.  I will count Box of Light among the anthologies as the stories presented in each chapter stand so well on their own. I will never say no to a fun take on the liminal space between life and death. 

Essay manga I can now say has become a regular part of the licenses American publishers hand us, and I will gladly read every single one of them. This year my favorite was by far “My Brain Is Different”. A painful but much needed collection of personal accounts from adults and their life long struggles living with autism and ADHD.  D&Q has barely missed with their alternative manga picks as well as their korean manhwa licenses. Now it appears they’re ready to showcase more women from this scene and Talk to My Back was an amazing way to follow up The Sky is Blue With a Single Cloud by Kuniko Tsurita. This simple chronicle of a housewife and her family accompanied with an impressive and detailed write-up of Murasaki’s career was a great read that I will absolutely come back to again and again. 

The return of Domu was a grand and long awaited one as this series has been out of print in its native country for quite some time. This XL sized edition contained not just color pages and previously uncompiled chapter covers plus  a look back on the making of the manga, including photos of the real life housing complex the story takes place in. Hoping an english edition of the same caliber will follow suit in the near future! And Witch-Senpai is just a simple romance I found myself feeling very engaged in and was one of the first titles that came to mind when putting this list together. 

[dailypurpled]

DAILY MURASAKI-SAN DAY SANJUU!!(murasaki and sanjuu are purple and thirty in japanese hehe!!) - gomennasai my oomf-chans for posting so late at night ;-; heres murasaki-san if he was in my fav fav anime nyan~ neko sugar girls!! c(* > * c)

kyaaaaaa!! murasaki-san is so sugoi X3 hes my favoritest streamer!! hes so nice to his viewers too :DDDD

[pandaemoniumpancakes]

what kinds of art do you make? what kind of art do you consider yourself best versed in?

1. The art of daily observation, the kind Lady Murasaki champions in her diary. Of passionate living. Though one ought to write them down at some point, if for nothing else than for the company.

2. The art of conversation. A memorable fantasy used to involve being a heteira in Ancient Greece, someone versed in music, poetry, philosophy, and sex, to boot.

[murasaki-monday]

Day 4: wretched creature

[dailysmilingnatsume]

[with-a-martyr-complex]

With A Martyr Complex: Reading List 2023

Adapted from the annual list from @balioc​, a list of books (primarily audiobooks) consumed this year. This list excludes several podcasts, but includes dramatizations and college lecture series from The Great Courses, which I consume like a parrot emotionally dependent on access to lecturers.

The Birth of Tragedy Out Of The Spirit of Music byFriedrich Nietzsche (Translated by Ian Johnston)

Death in Venice by Thomas Mann (Translated by Michael Henry Heim, Introduction by Michael Cunningham)

Financial Literacy: Finding Your Way in the Financial Markets by Connel Fullenkamp, from The Great Courses

The Dispossessed: A Novel by Ursula K. Le Guin

License to Travel: A Cultural History of the Passport by Patrick Bixby

Making History: How Great Historians Interpret the Past by Allen C. Guelzo, from The Great Courses

No Longer Human by Osamu Dazai (Translated by Donald Keene)

Cyteen by C. J. Cherryh

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave by Frederick Douglass

Understanding Japan: A Cultural History by Mark J. Ravina, from The Great Courses

The Mountains of Mourning by Lois McMaster Bujold

What Has Passed Shall In Kinder Light Appear by Baoshu (Translated by Ken Liu)

The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World by Robert Garland from The Great Courses

The Just City by Jo Walton

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

Understanding Imperial China: Dynasties, Life, and Culture by Andrew R. Wilson, from The Great Courses

Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang (Contains: Tower of Babylon, Understand, Division By Zero, Story of Your Life, Seventy-Two Letters, The Evolution of Human Science, Hell is the Absence of God, and Liking What You See.)

Great Minds of the Eastern Intellectual Tradition by Grant Hardy, from The Great Courses

By The Sword: A History of Gladiators, Musketeers, Samurai, Swashbucklers, and Olympic Champions by Richard Cohen

War in Japan: 1467-1615 by Stephen Turnbull

Yūrei: The Japanese Ghost by Zack Davisson

Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny

The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu (Translated by Dennis Washburn)

Buddhism by Malcolm David Eckel, from The Great Courses

The Rise of Modern Japan by Mark Ravina, from The Great Courses

The Shogun's Last Samurai Corps: The Bloody Battles and Intrigues of the Shinsengumi by Romulus Hillsborough

Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, (Translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori)

Spring Snow by Yukio Mishima (Translated by Michael Gallagher)

Child of God by Cormac McCarthy

The Rise of Communism: From Marx to Lenin by Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius, from The Great Courses

Communism in Power: From Stalin to Mao by Vejas Gabriel Liulevicius, from The Great Courses

Common Sense by Thomas Paine

The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo (Translated by Isabel F. Hapgood)

Cycles of American Political Thought by Joseph F. Kobylka, from The Great Courses

Docile by K. M. Szpara

Writing Great Fiction: Storytelling Tips and Techniques by James Hynes, from The Great Courses

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

Hart's Hope by Orson Scott Card

Real Service by Raven Kaldera and Joshua Tenpenny

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alhigieri (Translated by Clive James)

Dante's Divine Comedy by William R. Cook and Ronald B. Herzman from The Great Courses

Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

Secrets of The Occult by Richard B. Spence (From the Great Courses, possibly?)

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

American Monsters by Adam Jortner from The Great Courses

The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik

Praetorian: The Rise and Fall of Rome's Imperial Bodyguard byGuy de la Bédoyère

The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik

Great World Religions: Hinduism by Mark W. Muesse, from The Great Courses

At The Mountains of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward by H. P. Lovecraft

The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath by H. P. Lovecraft

The Dunwich Horror by H. P. Lovecraft

The Shadow Out of Time by H. P. Lovecraft

The Shadow Over Innsmouth by H. P. Lovecraft

The Whisperer in Darkness by H. P. Lovecraft

The Complete Fiction of H. P. Lovecraft by H. P. Lovecraft (Collected by The H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society, contains: The Alchemist, At the Mountains of Madness, Azathoth, The Best in the Cave, Beyond the Wall of Sleep, The Book, The Call of Cthulhu, The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, The Cats of Ulthar, Celephais, The Colour out of Space, Cool Air, Dagon, The Descendent, Discarded Draft of "The Shadow Over Innsmouth," The Doom that Came to Sarnath, The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, The Dreams in the Witch House, The Dunwich Horror, The Evil Clergyman, Ex Oblivione, Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family, The Festival, From Beyond, The Haunter of the Dark, He, Herbert West-Reanimator, History of the Necronomicon, The Horror at Red Hook, TheHound, Hypnos, Ibid, In the Vault, The Little Glass Bottle, The Lurking Fear, Memory, The Moon-Bog, The Music of Erich Zann, The Mysterious Ship (Long and Short Versions), The Mystery of the Grave-Yard, The Nameless City, Nyarlathotep, Old Bugs, The Other Gods, The Outsider, Pickman's Model, The Picture in the House, Polaris, The Quest of Iranon, The Rats in the Walls, A Reminiscence of Dr. Samuel Johnson, The Secret Cave, The Shadow out of Time, The Shadow Over Innsmouth, The Shunned House, The Silver Key, The Statement of Randolph Carter, The Strange High House in the Mist, The Street, Sweet Ermengarde, The Temple, The Terrible Old Man, The Thing on the Doorstep, Through the Gates of the Silver KeyThe Tomb, The Transition of Juan Romero, The Tree, Under the Pyramids, The Unnamable, The Very Old Folk, What the Moon Brings, The Whisperer in Darkness, The White Ship)

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Patton: The Man Behind The Legend, 1885-1945 by Martin Blumenson

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger by Matt Yglesias

Red: A History of the Redhead by Jacky Colliss Harvey

The Man Who Laughs by Victor Hugo (Translated by Isabel Florence Hapgood)

The Rape of the Mind: The Psychology of Thought Control, Menticide, and Brainwashing by Joost A. M. Meerloo

The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth Dickinson

Legacies of Great Economists by Timothy Taylor from The Great Courses

Incomplete books: Trouble on Triton, Comparative Hell: Arts of Asian Underworlds, Dark Archives, The History of the World: Map by Maps, The Iliad (Emily Wilson Translation), Christina Queen of Sweden: The Restless Life of a European Eccentric, The Three Musketeers, The Only Plane in the Sky, Myth in Human History, The Dragon: Fear and Power

---

Great Courses consumed: 17?

Non-Great Courses Nonfiction consumed: 13

---

Works consumed by women: 13

Works consumed by men: 53

Works consumed by men and women: 0

Works that can plausibly be considered of real relevance to foreign policy (including appropriate histories): 7

---

With A Martyr Complex’s Choice Award, fiction division: Convenience Store Woman

>>>> Honorable mention: Hart's Hope, Ancillary Justice, Child of God, No Longer Human, Piranesi, the first 1/3 of Cyteen, What Has Passed Shall in Kinder Light Appear

With A Martyr Complex’s Choice Award, nonfiction division: By The Sword

>>>> Honorable mention: The Shogun's Last Samurai Corps, Praetorian, The Birth of Tragedy most of the Great Courses stuff I got to this year

>>>> Great Courses Division: Buddhism

The Annual “An Essential Work of Surpassing Beauty that Isn’t Fair to Compare To Everything Else” Award: The Divine Comedy

>>>> Honorable mention: Julius Caesar, The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, The Shadow Out of Time, Pride and Prejudice, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Man Who Laughs, The Dispossessed

The “Reading This Book Will Give You Great Insight Into The Way I See The World” Award: What Has Passed Shall In Kinder Light Appear

>>>> Honorable mention: Hell is the Absence of God (from Stories of Your Life and Others)

The "My Mind is Thoroughly Exhausted By Reading Through All This But It Was Worth It In The End" Award: The Tale of Genji

Book Most in Need of A Single Extra Chapter: The Man Who Laughs

Best Dude: Darcy from Pride and Prejudice

---

This is the first year where I didn't struggle to reach my 52 book goal at all, only some of which is thanks to the Lovecraft marathon. I also read a ton of short sci-fi stories early in the year for an online class I took (which is also why there are so many sci-fi novels in the beginning of the year) and feel much more knowledgeable in the genre even though I'm still not very well read in it. I will be taking a fantasy course next year to what I assume will be similar effect.

It's still hard to read non-audiobooks, made worse this year by a promotion at work that means I have much less free time overall but still a fair deal of time for audiobooks while working with my hands. My (I don't post it) movie list suffered similarly, with this being the first year in a while I didn't hit my movie target. Not discussed: I read various comics this year! Standouts: Chainsaw Man Part 1, the first volume of Pluto, Fun Home, the fifth volume of Phoenix, Look Back

Goals for next year: more foreign policy reading, more literary fiction, write something of my own, ohgodthesearethesamegoalsaslastyearpleasetellmeI'mnotstagnating

[003soy]

@daily-murasaki got really sick last week we had to put him down out back with a shotgun

[writer-and-artist27]

Tumblr Short Story: Small Comforts

Written while on a road trip vacation for @partialdignity. Just because I can.

Being in fandom can be draining, yes, (especially FGO with its characterizations in specific places) but that doesn't mean the friends you make are any less worthwhile. So I hope you like this, Carim.

-----------------------------------------

It’s not everyday Vy finds Rem stressed. As much as they were fellow Masters in a Chaldea fighting for the sake of the world, it felt more common to find the blue-haired woman being the first among many to ask if Vy was doing alright, pressing a gentle hand to her forehead in the off-chance she had caught a fever. Heck, it felt odd to not find Rem in front of the crowd of motley Servants checking in once Vy wobbled once or twice. 

For Rem to be the one holding her own forehead, staring at documents (most definitely provided by Murasaki, bless the librarian) scattered about in front of her with what looked to be a growing migraine this time — well. Um. This was awkward.

Maybe it’s a good thing I brought in fruit tea, was the one thought Vy allowed herself in her shock before slowly tiptoeing past Rem’s bent-over form to put down her tray of goodies from Emiya. If the red Archer knew Rem would be in this particular state of mind today, it would explain his insistence in supervising Vy’s brewing of the tea and even placing freshly baked madeline cookies on the teapot’s side (“Cat made too many,” were his exact words) when sending her off. It took some effort to avoid the scattered papers Rem had around her, but Vy tried, tiptoeing the entire time when delivering her tray and rushing over to grab a chair and some blankets.

Rem didn’t even move when Vy carefully draped the blankets she found over her shoulders and the back of her seat, a soft, “Amiga,” being all Vy could hear once she plopped down in her own chair next to her. Past the short blue strands of hair, the lines on her face were palpable and hard to miss, making Vy’s heart ache as she leaned in close. “…You didn’t have to. It’s almost time for your daily nap.”

Vy raised a hand to rest it against Rem’s forearm, shaking her head before plopping it against her palm in the closest to a little bump she could provide to her fellow Master’s shoulder. “I wanted to.” The words, although weak to her own ears, were honest and truthful as she leaned against her fingers to alleviate the weight against Rem’s side. “I can take my daily nap later. Or just sleep early. Either/or works.”

Rem still made a frustrated noise, pressing her palm against her mouth and shaking her head. “I’m just tired, amiga,” and there’s definitely some frustration there, barely concealed by her fingers as she scratches at her chin. “I’ll be okay. You don’t have to stay if you have something else to do.”

“Even so, Chị Rem,” and Vy can feel Rem freeze at the nickname, “I want to stay. Even if I don’t know what’s going on in your head to make you look so frustrated and upset.” Despite feeling pins and needles run through her palm thanks to leaning her full head’s weight against it, Vy persists in the gesture, closing her eyes and exhaling softly. “Just because I don’t have the answers to what’s troubling you, it doesn’t mean I can’t be there for you. And I wanna be there. I mean that.” Something burns at the backs of her eyes, but the confession is just as genuine as the words she used to whisper to her parents before going to bed as she says, “Even if you’re tired and hurt, I still love you, Chị Rem. I always will. So I mean it when I say I wanna stay with you because I wanna help you be okay, even if being okay’s not gonna happen right now.”

“Healthy” doesn’t even matter anymore when “okay” is the least I can try to provide now.

Rem paused, inhaling sharply before her shoulders shake. The air seemed to be getting warmer even past the library’s air conditioning. “...Amiga…” There’s a soft choking noise. Vy chose to politely ignore it in favor of leaning closer into Rem’s side past her own hand. “You’re way too kind for your own good, y’know that?”

“Everyone tells me that,” Vy responds, and a note of vulnerability slips into her voice without meaning to as she shakes her head again. “But it’s just the least I can do because it’s you, Chị Rem. And I do love you, platonically and familially, very very much.” With one more breath, Vy felt her free left hand twitch. “So, um, my arm is starting to lose some circulation, and I hate breaking the moment, so… is it okay if I could hug you? It feels like you need one.”

What answered her was a noise caught between a laugh and a whimper as longer, bigger hands reached out for Vy’s own for extended warmth. “…Okay, hun,” Rem whispers above her hair, pressing her chin into the top of her head. “Hugs are just okay.” 

[edithsotoart]

FUSHIKI

*:..。o○☆○o。..:*゜*:..。o○☆○o。..:*゜*:..。o○☆○o。..:*゜*:..。o○☆○o。..:* 病気 Illness

"Yosano-sensei! President!"

"Shikibu!" exclaimed the doctor, placing her hands on her slender waist. "So, just a simple cold, huh? You look terrible."

Murasaki felt her pride wounded in the vulnerable state she was in. She was wearing a white nightgown, since she hadn't gotten out of bed since morning, with a peach-colored knitted sweater over it, her hair in a long, loose braid, and a white face mask covering her clean, makeup-free face. About 15 minutes earlier, she had left her soft futon to feed her kitten and prepare something for herself when the doorbell rang at her shared apartment in the Agency's residence. Through the peephole, she had barely recognized her friend, but she had no idea that the President was with her. When she opened the door, she wished the earth would swallow her whole.

"I wanted to bring Yosano-kun to check on you," said the tall man, trying to lighten the gloomy atmosphere emanating from his subordinate. "Haruno told me you still hadn't gone to the hospital."

"I-I was waiting to feel a little better before going out," the girl confessed shyly, feeling embarrassed by the seriousness of her boss’s last statement. Almost immediately, she let out a small, sharp sneeze that sounded almost like a *Nya!*

"Adorable" thought Fukuzawa, though his expression never revealed it.

"Well, that's not necessary," he remarked, maintaining his serious demeanor. There were many things he found cute about Murasaki: the way she served him tea when Haruno or Naomi weren't around, her cheerful greetings, the sound of her laughter when she joked with Dazai, her bright green eyes when she saw a pet, and even the way she sought a little attention after daily meetings before starting work. She was too radiant for him... and also very young.

"Come on, darling!" Yosano strode into the apartment, dragging her friend with her. "You need to rest."

"Y-Yosano-sensei!" the taller girl complained a bit as she was pulled along by Dr. Yosano's unstoppable determination.

The President also entered and closed the door behind him. He took a look around the apartment and noticed several things: first, how well-organized the place was. The apartments in the residence weren't very spacious, but they could comfortably house two people. This one was occupied by Murasaki and her kitten, and despite several pieces of furniture—like a small vanity and mirror near the window, a tall dresser, the futon spread out in the middle, and a dining table off to one side—the place was impeccable and full of feminine touches, such as curtains embroidered with flowers and birds. The second thing he noticed was Gumi-chan, right at his feet, purring adorably and asking to be held. He couldn't resist and picked her up, noticing how soft her fur was and how much weight she'd gained. The third thing he observed was an open can on the kitchen counter, likely Gumi-chan's food.

"Y-you brought your bag," Murasaki said nervously, eyeing the shiny leather case while she slipped back into her futon.

"Of course I did!" Yosano exclaimed proudly. "How else was I supposed to examine you?"

Murasaki shivered. If she saw a saw, butcher knife, or axe, she'd run without hesitation. In the four months she'd been working for the Agency, she had received Yosano's treatment three times. Fortunately, she only remembered one vividly, and it hadn’t been pleasant.

"Relax, woman! I just need to check your vitals," Yosano said, smiling proudly at the effect she had on her friend. "No need for my special tools."

The green-eyed girl removed her mask and let out a small sigh of relief as Yosano began pulling out harmless instruments to begin her examination. Just then, the President's voice caught their attention.

"May I?" he asked, standing by the kitchen doorway.

"Sure," Murasaki assumed he was going to feed Gumi-chan, who was happily nestled in his arms.

And so he did. He fully opened the can, still holding the cat, went over to the pet dishes, and used a small spoon to serve the food. Only then did Gumi-chan jump down to eat, as her poor owner had been too unwell to feed her all day, so she devoured her meal. The Lone Wolf added a few more kibble pieces from a nearby bag as an extra. He then returned to the kitchen, where he saw a pot of boiling water on the stove and half-prepped ingredients on the counter: some vegetables, miso, tofu, and salmon. Clearly, Murasaki was in the same state as the little animal, with nothing in her system to function properly.

With near-silent steps, he removed his haori and hung it by the entrance. He rolled up the sleeves of his yukata to avoid them getting in the way and returned to the kitchen. Murasaki watched all of this with only her eyes while Yosano took her temperature. When she heard the sound of chopping, she turned towards the entrance to see the President slicing the ingredients she'd left for her soup.

"President! That's not necessary!"

"No, let me do it. You need to rest and eat well. I can handle it while Yosano-kun checks on you." He never paused or wavered in his task. He was self-sufficient and knew perfectly well how to prepare a meal. Ranpo hadn’t spent all those years with him just devouring sweets.

Thus, while Yosano performed her duties as a doctor, he busied himself cooking a complete meal, ensuring there was enough left for Murasaki to have dinner as well. The apartment soon filled with the smell of roasted salmon and miso soup.

"It’s just a simple cold," Yosano said after several minutes of examination, packing up her equipment. "Nothing to worry about. It’ll pass with rest and taking the medicine I’m leaving."

"I feel awful, Yosano-sensei," Murasaki complained, allowing herself to be a bit dramatic and whiny with her friend. Her morning had been horrible, and all she wanted was a little attention.

"I know," Yosano patted the taller girl's head in comfort. "That’s why I’m leaving you the medicine. Also, drink plenty of fluids."

Gumi meowed, positioning herself between the two girls.

"You're going to take care of Shiki while she sleeps, right?" Yosano asked, stroking the cat's back. There was enough trust between Murasaki and Yosano to call each other by their first names, but Murasaki had the habit of addressing her like everyone else in the agency when Yosano wore her doctor's coat.

They heard the President's light steps approaching the girls, carrying a tray with the meal he had prepared: some rice, roasted salmon, pickled vegetables he found in the fridge, and soup with tofu and vegetables—a very traditional and simple Japanese meal, but nutritious. He placed the tray on the low table and pushed it close enough for Murasaki to eat without getting up.

"It may seem like a lot," he said to the sick girl as he readjusted his yukata sleeves, "but please eat it all. There's more for dinner."

"Yes, thank you, President." Murasaki felt like she was in a dream. She was about to taste something made by this charming man, just for her. Hearts practically floated around her.

"Remember to take the pills only after eating, okay?" Yosano said, standing up with her bag.

Murasaki responded with little nods and "yes, yes" noises.

"This fool and her fantasies," thought the doctor as she walked to the apartment's entrance. She knew her friend's feelings very well, not only because Murasaki had always been obvious with everyone but also because she often confided in her, sharing "creative" stories—almost pornographic, really—where the President was always the main character.

Gumi leapt directly to the President’s feet, asking for more attention.

"Gumi-chan, no!" Murasaki picked up the kitten to prevent her from climbing up the President’s clothes and placed her in her lap, belly up. "Fukuzawa-dono is leaving; you can't keep him like this."

"If only she knew that she could," thought the man, looking down at the scene, not at all bothered by the idea of holding the cat again.

"Better say goodbye." Shiki took Gumi-chan's paw and waved it as a farewell. "Bye-bye!"

Fukuzawa stood frozen, pierced straight in the chest, wondering if they intended to kill him with cuteness. He didn’t know what was more adorable—the kitten lying like that or Murasaki playing with her pet.

Yosano chuckled softly at the scene. Murasaki didn’t need to do much to get closer to the President, yet strangely, she remained unaware of it.

"We’re leaving now." The Lone Wolf finally composed himself and walked over to Yosano to retrieve his haori before heading out. "Please notify Haruno if you need more time to recover. She’ll take care of the necessary arrangements."

"Thank you again, President, Yosano-sensei," Murasaki said from her spot. She had been feeling awful since the day before, and having people care about her well-being, even down to whether she was eating properly, warmed her heart.

Fukuzawa left with Yosano, now at ease seeing that at least Murasaki still had her usual energy and warmth when speaking with them. It would only be a matter of days before she’d recover and he’d see her in the agency halls again, attending to his instructions with cat-like attention, laughing with the secretaries about trivial things, or standing between Kunikida and Dazai, her smile and pleas stopping any chaos in the office. He had missed all of that today.

"It’s delicious and warm!" Murasaki exclaimed, sitting on her futon near the small table, almost in tears. She could still taste and smell a bit, indicating she wasn’t too sick. However, she tended to be overly dramatic and whiny when she felt unwell. She could now enjoy something so comforting, made by the very President of the Armed Detective Agency—the same man with the icy gaze, who could apparently cook something so warm. She hadn’t realized how special the simple taste of a bowl of rice or salmon, prepared with such care, could be. As she continued eating, she thought about bringing a small gift for the President and Yosano once she returned to work.

*:..。o○☆○o。..:*゜*:..。o○☆○o。..:*゜*:..。o○☆○o。..:*゜*:..。o○☆○o。..:* 病気 Enfermedad -¡Yosano-sensei! ¡Presidente! -¡Shikibu!- Exclamó la doctora colocando las manos sobre su fina cintura.- ¿Con qué un simple resfriado, eh? Te ves terrible. Murasaki sintió su orgullo herido en el estado vulnerable en el que se encontraba en ese momento: tenía su camisón blanco para dormir ya que no había salido de la  cama desde la mañana, encima un suéter tejido color durazno, su cabello en una trenza larga y suelta y un cubrebocas blanco sobre su rostro limpio sin maquillaje en los ojos. Hace unos  15 minutos había abandonado su suave futón para darle de comer a su gatita y de paso prepararse algo para ella cuando sonó el timbre de su apartamento en la residencia compartida de la Agencia.  Por la mirilla apenas había distinguido a su amiga pero no tenía idea que el Presidente estaba con ella.  Cuando había abierto la puerta deseó que se le tragara la tierra. -Quise traer a Yosano-kun para que te revisara.- Dijo el hombre alto para despejar la atmósfera lúgubre que emanaba su subordinada.- Haruno me dijo que aún no habías ido al hospital. -E-estaba esperando sentirme un poco mejor para poder salir.- Le confesó la chica algo tímida por la seriedad de su jefe al decir lo último. Casi enseguida dio un peque��o estornudo agudo que sonó casi como un ¡Nya!

“Adorable” Pensó Fukuzawa pero su semblante en ningún momento lo externó. -Pues no va a ser necesario.- Comentó sin romper su actitud seria. Había muchas cosas que le parecían lindas en Murasaki: su forma de servirle en té cuando Haruno o Naomi no estaban para hacerlo, cuando le daba los buenos días, el sonido de su risa cuando se divertía con Dazai o sus brillantes ojos verdes cuando  veía una mascota e incluso cuando le suplicaban algo de atención después de las reuniones diarias antes de iniciar labores. Era demasiado luminosa para él… y joven también. -¡Vamos encanto!- Yosano avanzó en la entrada del departamento llevándose a su amiga consigo.- Necesito que esté en reposo.

-¡Y-yosano-sensei!- se quejó un poco la chica más alta mientras era arrastrada por la increíble determinación de la Dra. Yosano.

El Presidente también entró con ella y cerró la puerta trás de sí. Dió una mirada al departamento, noto varías cosas, primero, lo bien organizado que estaba el lugar. Los departamentos de la residencia no eran muy espaciosos, pero cómodamente podían vivir hasta dos personas, este estaba ocupado por Murasaki y su gatita, y aún teniendo varios muebles como un pequeño tocador y espejo cerca de la ventana,una cajonera alta, el futón extendido en medio, una mesa como comedor a un costado, muy cerca de la pared, una torre para gatos, además espacio para comer y otro más donde había un arenero, el lugar estaba impecable y con detalles muy femeninos como unas cortinas con flores y aves bordadas en las orillas. Lo segundo que vió fue a Gumi-chan, justo a sus pies ronroneando adorablemente y pidiendo ser cargada. No pudo resistirse y la levantó en brazos notando lo suave que ahora era su pelo y como había subido de peso. Lo tercero que notaba es que desde donde él estaba, al fondo del departamento en la entrada de la cocina, había una lata a medio abrir sobre la barra de la cocina. Era el alimento de Gumi-chan -T-trajiste tu maletín.- Dijo Murasaki, temerosa  viendo el objeto de piel brillante mientras ella se metía dentro del futon. -¡Claro que sí!- Exclamó Yosano, orgullosa.- ¿Cómo se supone que te revisara? A Murasaki le recorrió un escalofrío, si llegaba a ver un serrucho, un cuchillo de carnicero o un hacha, correría sin pensarlo. En los 4 meses que llevaba trabajando para la Agencia , 3 eran las veces que había recibido el tratamiento de Yosano. Afortunadamente solo recordaba vívidamente uno de ellos, pero no había sido nada bonito.

-¡Tranquila, mujer! Solo necesito revisar tus signos vitales.- Yosano no dejaba de sonreír orgullosa del efecto que provocaba en su amiga.-No necesito mis utensilios especiales. La chica de ojos verdes se quitó el cubrebocas y soltó un pequeño suspiro de alivio y Yosano comenzó a sacar aparatos inofensivos para poder comenzar su trabajo cuando la voz del Presidente llamó su atención.

-¿Puedo?-Preguntó frente al marco de la cocina antes de entrar.

-Adelante.- Murasaki supuso que alimentaria a Gumi-chan que estaba muy contenta en los brazos del hombre. 

Y el Presidente así lo hizo, abrió la lata por completo aún cargando a la gata, fue a donde estaban los platos de mascota y con una cucharita sirvió el alimento.  Soló en ese momento Gumi-chan bajo para poder comer, la pobrecita no había comido en todo el día por lo indispuesta que estaba su dueña, por lo que devoró por completo su plato. El Lobo Solitario le sirvió unas cuantas croquetas de una bolsa que estaban junto a los platos como un extra. Regresó a la cocina para observar la olla con agua hirviendo sobre la estufa y los ingredientes a medio cortar en la barra: había algunas verduras, miso, tofu y algo de salmón. Entonces Murasaki estaba en las mismas condiciones que el pequeño animal, sin alimento en su sistema para poder funcionar bien. Con pasos que casi no hacían ruido, regresó para quitarse el haori y dejarlo colgando en la entrada. Recogió las mangas de su yukata de modo que no le estorbaran y regresó a la cocina. Murasaki siguió todo esto apenas con la mirada mientras Yosano le tomaba la temperatura. Cuando escuchó el ruido de la tabla de picar se giró a la entrada para ver al Presidente, rebanando todos los ingredientes que había dejado para su sopa.

 -¡Presidente! ¡No es necesario! -No, déjame hacerlo. Necesitas descansar y comer bien. Puedo hacerlo mientras Yosano-kun te revisa.- En ningún momento se apartó o se detuvo en su tarea. Era un hombre autosuficiente y sabía perfectamente cómo preparar una comida. Ranpo no había vivido los años que pasó con él solo devorando dulces.

Así, mientras Yosano hacía su trabajo como doctora, él se dedicó a cocinar una comida completa procurando dejar lo suficiente para que Murasaki también cenara. El departamento comenzó a oler salmón asado y sopa miso.

-Es un simple resfriado.- Dijo Yosano guardando su equipo después de varios minutos de inspección.- Nada de qué preocuparse, pasará solo con descanso y tomando la medicina que te dejo. -Me siento horrible, Yosano-sensei.- Se quejó Murasaki dándose el  permiso de ser caprichosa y llorona con su amiga. La había pasado horrible por la mañana y lo único que deseaba era algo de atención -Lo sé.- Yosano palmeó la cabeza de la más chica alta en forma de consuelo.- Por eso te dejo el medicamento. También toma muchos líquidos. Gumi maulló colocando en medio de las dos chicas. -Tú  vas a cuidar a Shiki mientras duerme, ¿verdad? .- Le dijo Yosano acariciando el lomo de la gata. Entre Murasaki y Yosano había la suficiente confianza como para llamarse por sus nombres, solo que Murasaki tenía la costumbre de hablarle como todos en la agencia cuando Yosano usaba su bata de doctor.

Se oyeron los pasos ligeros del Presidente se acercaban a las chicas, tenía una charola con la comida que había preparado: algo de arroz, salmón asado, verduras encurtidas que encontró en el refri y sopa con tofu y vegetales, una comida muy tradicional japonesa y sencilla, pero muy nutritiva. Puso la charola sobre la mesita baja para comer y la acercó lo suficiente para que Murasaki no tuviera que ponerse de pie. -Puede parecer mucho,- le dijo a la enferma mientras acomodaba de nuevo las mangas de su yukata.- pero comelo completo, por favor. Todavía hay un poco más para que cenes.

-Si. Gracias, Presidente.- Murasaki se sentía fuera de la realidad, iba a probar algo hecho por ese, a sus ojos, encantador hombre, algo que hizo solo pensando en ella. Casi le salían corazones alrededor.

- Recuerda  tomar las pastillas solo después de la comida, ¿ok? .-Yosano se puso de pie tomando su maleta.

Murasaki solo contestó asintiendo y haciendo ruiditos de “Si, si”. “Esta tonta y sus fantasías” Pensó la doctora caminando a la entrada del departamento, conocía muy bien los sentimientos de su amiga no solo porque siempre había sido muy obvia con todos al respecto si no también porque hablaba con ella sobre el tema y se ponía a contarle cosas que calificaría de “creativas” por no decir casi pornograficas donde el protagonista era el Presidente y ella. Gumi saltó directamente a los pies del Presidente pidiendo algo de su atención. -¡Gumi-chan, no!- Murasaki tomó a la gatita para evitar que trepara por la ropa del Presidente y la puso en su regazo con la pancita hacia arriba.- Fukuzawa-dono ya se va, no puedes retenerlo así. “Si supiera que si puede” Pensó el hombre mirando la escena desde arriba, no le molestaba el tener que cargar  a la gata de nuevo. -Mejor despídete .- Shiki tomó la patita de Gumi-chan y la movió a manera de despido.- ¡Bye, Bye!