#japanese dieties

[the-meme-mutatoer-tmm]

"The One About Amaterasu and the Waffle House," 4/18/23

[gomacave]

Real Critical k/km talk under cut aka me thingking too much about a stupid series aired 20 years ago

My fucking god shin/ou needs to DIEEE GOD not because i hate him but like.

He is not haunting the narrative. He is not dead. Hes an active participant. He has a will and an intention and a method to communicate it. He is conjoined with the narrative. He is an overbearing mother to the narrative. He needs to die. Shounen mom style. We need to kill him. Hes a strangler fig to the k/km potential in my head.

[niikosia]

; y/n became a pornstar because of suna rintarou.

synopsis: y/n's and her brother lost a poker match against the japanese volleyball players and now she got ganged up by kageyama tobio, tsukishima kei, and suna rintarou while getting filmed.

warning: foursome, gang bang, finger-fucking, anal fucking, throat fucking, tits play, nipple play, vaginal penetration, throat goat, finger penetration, live sex, film sex, voyeurism, humiliation, dirty talks, calling names such as: slut, whore, bitch.

I shut my eyes tightly while instinctively biting my lower lip, overwhelmed by the sensation that surged through me when Kageyama Tobio's adept tongue gently fondled my gauzy clit. As his tongue explored the sensitive region, an electrifying tingling began to spread through my entire body, leaving me quivering with a luscious weakness. My breath hitched, and a soft moan escaped me, barely audible, every time his warm tongue made contact with my throbbing clit, causing me to arch my back in delectation.

However, amidst the intense pleasure, Kageyama's hands firmly pressed against me, urging me to remain still. His muffled voice breathed out a command as he continued to expertly pleasure my swollen clit, "Don't move." And with those words hanging in the air, he skillfully slid his tongue into my already dripping wet slit.

I uttered his name, "Tobio", in a soft moan, expressing a mixture of pleasure and longing. My fingers tightened their hold on his navy blue bedsheet, feeling its soft fabric caress my palms.

I felt my thighs shaking uncontrollably as his tongue delicately ventured within me, savoring the sensation like it was the most exquisite treat. Simultaneously, his hands slithered up towards my chest, caressing it with a sensuality that sent shivers down my spine. He tenderly squeezed my breast, causing me to instinctively roll my eyes back in pleasure, all while I could feel the weakening effect his touch had on my entire body.

As I sensually pressed my feet against his t-shirt, an indescribable pleasure overwhelmed me, causing unruly moans to escape my lips. The sensation intensified as my toes instinctively curled, responding to Kageyama's actions. In a moment of passion, he shook his head and assertively squeezed my nipples, sending waves of ecstasy through my body. The intense pleasure caused my back to arch, undulating with each motion, while I could sense his intense gaze fixed upon me as he deftly pleasured me with his tongue.

It was an implausible celestial and transcendental encounter, as I found myself gazing skyward in sheer ecstasy. The ardor of his oral exploration left me utterly pleased, and my pleasure consumed me as I could not resist exclaiming his name amidst the breathtaking celestial sights. The stars twinkled above, the galaxy stretched out before me, and the ethereal beauty of the Milky Way entwined with the heavenly presence of the diety. synchronous, my tits danced delightfully as Kageyama artfully indulged in fondling and caressing them.

I let out a startled cry, my voice filled with a mixture of astonish and satisfaction, as Kageyama's tongue began to move in a swirling motion inside my already wet and aroused core. The intense sensation caused me to instinctively grasp onto his hair, my fingers tightly entwined in his locks, as I attempted to communicate my desire for him to pause. However, in that very moment, Kageyama understood, without any verbal exchange, that I did not want him to cease his actions.

I must say, this crazy sensation I'm currently experiencing surpasses any other I've ever encountered during my entire stay in Japan thus far. As I delicately arched my back, an astonishing surprise awaited me, causing my eyes to widen in startled: a pair of fingers began sensually caressing and stimulating my clitoris, leaving me breathless with pleasure, while simultaneously being accompanied by the heat of his saliva as it intimately touched my sensitive area.

"Tsukishima move!" Kageyama emitted a low, guttural growl as Tsukishima Kei hastened the speed at which he intertwined his fingers

"Fuck you tellin' me? You're literally sipping all the juices that's coming out from her all because I was playing with this little thing." As Tsukishima's fingers grazed my clitoris, a surge of pleasure engulfed me, evoking a gentle moan to escape my lips, while simultaneously, my nipples became erect and sensitive under his skillful touch. Meanwhile, Kageyama attentively attended to my nipples, neatly massaging and squeezing them with his nimble fingers, heightening the sensations coursing through my body.

As my head was gently tilted by a hand, I couldn't help but notice Tsukishima, wearing a mischievous smirk, observing my reaction. His fingers were teasingly toying with my tongue, while Tobio was passionately pleasuring me. Consequently, my breasts were being sensually squeezed by his hands. All the while, I found myself unable to tear my gaze away from Tsukishima, who was also captivated by our intimate encounter.

"Hey slut," Tsukishima called out for me. "You like getting toyed by your brother's friends?" With a mischievous tone, he inquired before moving closer towards my face and playfully deposited his saliva onto my lips, which he subsequently spread using his fingers.

My body felt an overwhelming surge of sensations as Tsukishima placed his fingers vigorously in my mouth, causing me to choke, and my eyes coerced rolled back in response. Meanwhile, Kageyama proceeded to slip two of his fingers inside my pussy, evoking a sudden mixture of pleasure. Simultaneously, he deftly inserted a single finger into my rear, sending shivers of delight and excitement through my body. This intense combination of stimuli resulted in my body trembling uncontrollably, overwhelmed by the unexpected rush of pleasure.

With tears streaming down my face, I wept out, "S-stop." Tsukishima gazed at me with a docile expression and asked, "Wouldn't a slut like you wants to get finger fuck your three holes?"

As their fingers explored every inch of my body, a wave of tension surged through me, causing my muscles to tighten involuntarily. Overwhelmed by the intense sensations, tears welled up in my eyes as Kei ventured deeper with his fingers, penetrating my throat, while Kageyama skillfully extended his tongue inside me. The combination of Tsukishima's rhythmic pumping and Kageyama's tantalizing movements sent waves of pleasure coursing through my core, leaving me in a state of blissful surrender.

My entire body was gripped by rhythmic movements, causing me to uncontrollably tremble, as I experienced the intrusion of another set of fingers penetrating my pussy, forcefully expanding its walls. In my state of vulnerability, I instinctively called out "K-kageyama!" unable to defend myself against these two assholes who smiled timidly, voyeuristically observing me as I lay on the bed, merely a plaything in their hands.

Tsukishima sat on the other side of me, and Kageyama got up and sat next to me. They began sticking their fingers inside of me, making me cry with pleasure. "Fuck, use that useless hands, whore!" The king, Kageyama, angrily exclaimed, pumping his fingers in and out of me, while Tsukishima simply grinned at the way I was treated.

As I sensually ran my hands along their erect members, a soft whimper escaped their lips, enhancing the intensity of the moment. With a seductive bite on my lower lip, I skillfully caressed their throbbing shafts, gently gliding my fingers up and down their lengths. The sensation intensifying, their hands responded with a newfound urgency, desperately attempting to maintain control over my fervent grip.

"Tsu- Tob- aagghh!"

Tsukishima laughed as Suna said while filming me getting fingered by these two Karasuno boys "Look, the slut of Karasuno doesn't even know which name she's gonna moan."

I cursed in frustration as their gaze widened and their pleasure intensified when I firmly grasped their manhood, and one of them unintentionally discovered the exact spot I had been longing for. As their four fingers penetrated me, I felt my self-control slipping away. In a moment of ecstasy, I involuntarily shook my head, and Tsukishima found amusement in my unrestrained response as I playfully teased the tip of his cock. He gleefully taunted me by extending both his middle and index fingers to stimulate my G-spot.

I felt my throat tightening again as Tsukishima removed his finger from my mouth and replaced it with something much larger – a massive cock belonging to Suna Rintaro. Suna, unexpectedly, positioned himself above my head and forcefully began thrusting his manhood into my mouth. It was as if he was treating my mouth as a rubber pussy, and the sensation caused me to gag and drool uncontrollably. To make matters more intense, Suna was even filming the explicit act, capturing the moment his cock reached the depths of my throat.

He's sticking his big ass dick in my throat and fucking me on camera while the three of them were chuckling like how they like seeing me in this state.

Suna's lips curled into an amused smile as he witnessed the reaction unfolding before him. My eyes instinctively rolled back, overwhelmed by the intense sensations surging through my body as his member occupied my throat. A mixture of pain and pleasure, tears welled up in my eyes, silently streaming down my cheeks. Meanwhile, Kageyama's teeth grazed against my sensitive nipple, teasingly nibbling on it, while Tsukishima skillfully lavished attention on my other nipple, sending waves of bliss coursing through every fiber of my being. The combination of their ministrations rendered me ecstatically delirious, every touch pushing me further into a transcendent state of pleasure.

My hands made rhythmic taps on different surfaces. Suddenly, I experienced a sensation as a scorching tongue delicately grazed my intimate area, prompting an immediate and intense release of pleasure that resulted in a spontaneous squirting. This unexpected occurrence abruptly halted our actions and captured the attention of Miya Atsumu, whose face bore witness to this intimate moment. Tsukishima, attempting to stifle his laughter, struggled to maintain composure, but soon the both of them' expressions turned serious as Atsumu confidently rose to his feet, positioning himself right between my trembling thighs.

"What a fucking disrespectful bitch you are." Atsumu forcefully pushed my legs apart and began masturbating himself, before vigorously thrusting his large member deep inside me. The pain from his penetration was excruciating, but I had no choice but to endure it. Meanwhile, the other three in the room carried on with whatever the fuck they are doing with my body, seemingly unaffected by my presence. The entire ordeal was being recorded, capturing every explicit detail of me being penetrated by these volleyball players. It was a humiliating situation that I found myself in, all because I lost a poker match that we had played earlier.

As Rintarou filmed me getting lewd with him and his friends, I'm going to be the popular girl in Japan again.

don't repost my work to any platform. thank you!

© 2023 niikosia. all rights reserved.

[thoughtspresso]

Oshi No Ko was about Arima Kana all along.

And I think there’s a real possibility she may die at the end.

Or be placed in the way of grave danger.

I was reading some AquKane shippers say something about how they don’t understand AquaKana, and why the writers and directors keep clearly pushing Kana towards Aqua when they barely share any chemistry. Whereas, in their belief, his relationship with Akane is more honest, deeper, whatever. I’m not here to argue about that. But I get where they’re coming from. And the simple explanation is this:

It’s because this whole story was written for Arima Kana.

I’ve seen some Youtubers talk about how this whole story was meant to be fulfillment for Ruby/Sarina’s dream to become the next great Idol, something about Amaterasu favoring her.

And that’s near what I thought of it. But I really think if the God of Entertainment wanted to bless a child with cancer a second life as the world’s great idol, they’d also give her a great singing voice, y’know?

Spoilers for the manga, of course as we go along on this explanation. So anime onlies, get caught up before you start reading me ramble.

Here we go:

1. Arima Kana is the embodiment of Amaterasu, not Ruby.

Or at least, Amaterasu’s appointed representative, or her favorite daughter.

To give you a run-down of some of the core Shinto/Japanese Mythology that is important for the story, the Creator God Izanaki had three children:

Amaterasu, Goddess of the Sun.

Tsukuyomi, the Moon.

Susanoo, the Storm.

The story goes that Amaterasu and Susanoo had a competition about who could create better gods. So Amaterasu took Susanoo’s Totsuka-no-Tsurugi* (longsword) and split it into three, from which she birthed the three Munakata goddesses.

And woncha knowit, there are three great actresses born in that year?

*A reminder that Kana plays the character Tsurugi, which literally just means Sword. And Akane’s character Saya-hime just literally means Sheath or Scabbard Princess.

In this bet, Amaterasu got clever with the rules and won on a technicality. Susanoo went on a rampage, destroyed Amaterasu’s ricefield, and flayed Amaterasu’s favorite divine horse*, and then threw its body at her loom.

*The name Arima is spelled with the Kanji of Horse & Exist/Live. 

Amaterasu, in her grief, flees into a cave, believed to be Amano Iwato cave, right in the town of Takachiho, Amamiya Gorou’s hometown, and the death place of  Tendouji Sarina.

The being that draws Amaterasu out of there was the Goddess of the Dawn, known also as the Goddess of the Revelry & Arts, a being that Aqua says he knows well, and believes there’s a grain of truth to:

And how does Ame-no-Uzume draw Amaterasu out of her grief?

By throwing an absolute rager, and dancing really wildly that it catches her attention and makes all the gods around them laugh so hard. Just like:

Ame-no-Uzume will later on marry a diety who tried to block her passage before, Sarutohiko, who in Ise is worshipped as the god who illuminates the world.

That’s some divinity-level AquaKana shipping right there.

Just like how Aka Akasaka wrote the story of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War about two lovers who couldn’t be together just like in the myth of Kaguya, but having his characters overcome all odds to defy divine fate, I do believe that apart from the parallels to the mythology like he did in Kaguya-sama, there is very literal divine intervention this time in Oshi No Ko.

I think what’s happening is that the gods, particularly Amaterasu and Susanoo are quarelling again about who could create better gods, just like before, but now more of whose favored child will shine the brightest and be worshipped by the most humans. But just like last time, Susanoo may have been enraged, especially at the sexual assault of his chosen Hikaru Kamiki, that he possessed him with a corrupting force that urges him to destroy shining stars before they reach their peak, hence the murders of Himekawa Airi, Hoshino Ai**, and Katayose Yura.

Which by the way, the name Hikaru means Radiant Light!

And Hoshino means Field of Stars!

Whether it’s because Amaterasu is angry that every daughter she sends to earth is slaughtered by Susanoo’s chosen, or just because she wants to win their competition, she appoints Ame-no-Uzume to assist in safeguarding her new favored one from Kamiki’s clutches. Her new favored one being Arima Kana.

And therefore, Ame-no-Uzume takes the souls of two motherless humans who had passed before they could shine and sent them to become Hoshino Ai’s twin children. It was all anyway happening in her territory of Takachiho at the most opportune time.

Ame-no-Uzume is also known as The Goddess of Dance, as well as The Great Pursuader. And wouldn’t you know, that’s exactly the gifts that the Hoshino Twins received.

An energetic performer who takes the stage with dance:

And a deceptive, persuasive, extremely believable actor, who:

fooled his own sister into believing she had been rejected from an audition

pretended to scout an idol from a competing agency to research them

get Director Gotanda to raise him and train him

make Akane not just date him, but follow him down a destructive path

convince Kana and Mem to join IchigoPro

impersonate Pieyon for several days straight

Anyway, I truly, truly believe that unbeknownst to Aqua, his true mission is just to keep drawing Kana out of her darkness until she shines the brightest. Which is what he keeps doing anyway:

2. The Timing of the whole Oshi No Ko plot is aligned with Arima Kana’s rise to unprecedented stardom.

The story of Ai Hoshino’s pregnancy and meeting of Gorou Amamiya in a quaint hospital occurs at the beginning of Arima Kana’s life, just after she is born.

She meets Aqua Hoshino around age 4, already talented, and already extremely arrogant which could have easily been the demise of her career. But meeting Aqua and seeing his acting was a necessary wake-up call for her, that it brings her to tears. She never forgets this experience that she brought that lesson with her to her adulthood: that she can’t be satisfied and keep working harder, and to be a better communicator with her colleagues. At their first point of contact, Aqua already becomes the reason why Arima Kana’s acting career survives the slump.

They meet again in high school, when Arima Kana has one acting job in a lackluster production of Sweet Today. The ratings had plummeted, if not for the fact that Aqua came onto the set to draw out the best acting Arima Kana could deliver. After this, Arima receives much more respect and recognition from her colleagues in the industry beyond just being cast to bring some legitimacy to their production.

It’s because of Aqua and Ruby that Kana joins IchigoPro’s Idol Division, and her career is reborn anew. Such that, even after quitting B-Komachi, Arima states she never regretted the decision to join, because otherwise the career of Arima Kana would have been already over. 

It’s because of Aqua’s presence that Arima trains to become better and better as an idol. Aqua kept drawing out the light from Kana’s eyes, to the point that it catches the attention of the crowd who previously had no interest in her.

It’s because of her experience as an idol that she regains the confidence and sense of greed necessary to grab the attention of the audience when on stage, such that even Akane recognizes this change in her when Arima takes the stage as Tsurugi for the 2.5 Adadptation of Tokyo Blade.

And it’s because of all of these that she captures the attention of award-winning Director Masanori Shima, who lines up some roles for her when her acting schedule had dried up. It’s once again because of Kana’s dedication towards Aqua that Shima D finds her so interesting that he was most willing to promise her the best role possible.

It was as if Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto appointed Aqua and Ruby to come draw Arima Kana out of her Cave, and bring the Sun out again, just like how the deity drew out Amaterasu.

If you think about the title of the show, Oshi No Ko, it literally means The Favorite Child. God’s favored child. Arima Kana had been born chosen by Amaterasu from the very beginning. And Ame-no-Uzume is sending Aqua and Ruby to aid on this quest.

Which explains why it seems like there had been a mission communicated to Aqua from the very beginning. And why Ai was never going to be reincarnated at all.

You would think that if The Crow Girl, which we assume is the divine guide Yatagarasu, was communicating with Aqua about his revenge plan or helping him find Kamiki, that Aqua would hold a more favorable relationship with The Crow whenever it appears to give advice, no?

But it’s exactly the opposite. Because The Crow is guiding him into something that is different from his personal goal that Aqua doesn’t understand.

And this is where I think Arima Kana could be put in danger.

3. Arima Kana is Hikaru Kamiki’s next target.

There were earlier theories that thought Kurokawa Akane was the one to die next, because of what people have now learned of Kamiki’s serial murderer profile targeting big celebrities before their peak, and because Akane had received a bouquet of white roses from him when she won an award.

The chapter when it was expected to happen was a fake-out from Aka Akasaka, and some people think it’s still possible that she’s the target. In fact, I keep seeing recent theory videos who discount Kana and say she’s “the safest”. Hah! If only!

The scenes with Shima D weren’t just a mere plot point to bring scandal to Arima’s name, and threaten her career and life enough that it pushes Aqua to reveal his mother’s secret in exchange. But it’s there because this is the upward path for Arima Kana. So far, the only people who have witnessed her dazzling star power have been fans of the Sweet Today manga, idol otakus, and people who attended Tokyo Blade. That’s not really masterpiece-of-the-century, performing-at-the-dome level. None of these gigs have placed her center stage in what could be Film of the Year, and a Best Actress spot. Now, the chance is here, and it’s real:

I think, The 15-Year-Lie will attempt to draw out Hikaru Kamiki, or that Aqua intends to reveal himself in the movie looking like him, and reveal the identity of his father.

But I also think what would happen is that they would be unsuccessful at taking him down completely. Instead, from the movie, he would be interested in Arima Kana, and target her through the course of her Shima D movie, and plan to kill her before an important awards night.

Alternatively, now that Kana is changing her focus to film, she may consider moving agencies, and ask Frill Shiranui about her agent. And if we’re right, she is likely represented by Kamiki Productions.

Either way, Kamiki will pay attention to her and try to kill her just before she reaches her highest.

But I don’t think Arima Kana will die. I think instead of being saved by Aqua, it’ll be Kana who takes Kamiki down. Echoing back to her getting mad at Aqua for thinking that avoiding her was protecting her, and Aqua believing that Kana doesn’t need help since she’s strong enough to take care of herself.

And then maybe, it’s Arima Kana who draws Aqua out of the darkness too.

And, just like with Kaguya and Shirogane Miyuki, Aka Akasaka is once again writing a story about two people who will defy a fate of divine tragedy, and come out of it being more truthful with each other than they’ve been with themselves all along.

[its-dari]

The Loving Hands of God

Creator AU - Where the reader is treated like a diety by the characters of Genshin Impact

Pairing(s): None || PLATONIC: Son! Wanderer & Parental! Gender Neutral! Creator! Reader Summary: He is reminded everyday that you chose him. But some days are harder than others; and he's grateful to have you sweep the cloudy skies away.

A/N: I don't really play Genshin but here we are, I'm just getting out my ideas - don't mind me.

This Wanderer is named "Kaito(神愛)", with the characters written for "god" and "love". I thought it could be cute to kind of give a call back to his origin but something also to remind him of how far he's come. He also calls the reader "Oya", which is the best thing I could get to a gender neutral Japanese term for mother or father.

I won't be taking requests! This is most likely a one time thing. This is also inspired by "this lovely piece" by @dropletpetals

(Extra Miscellaneous HCs: "The Son of Graces")

Warning(s): Wanderer backstory spoilers! Some revenge. This was written on my phone so forgive any errors.

Over grassy, rolling knolls - filled to the brim with blooming flowers in his favorite colors and breeds. Even under the loving warmth of sun on his cheeks and clouds turning themselves into the childish shapes of his desire. Even as the song on the winds speak his new name into his ears, the bonfires below burning it up so it reached the heavens. to the voices of acolytes proclaiming it so...

He was worried.

Worried and waiting for the other shoe to drop.

He was unwanted everywhere else.

By his mother, who made him a puppet - who left him with no identity or name

By the Fatui, who deemed him unworthy.

So when it came to be; the Creator's return to the mortal plane...

When he'd come to demand answers, angry about simply existing.

Your voice so gentle and warm, apologizing that you were not there to help him when he called to your name in begs and prayers. When the world you made and hurt him so much and how sorry you were that it treated him so cruelly... He felt the sincerity pouring through every pore, it washed over him - like a blanket.

You understood his pain.

He found that you had long since been asleep, since the dawn of the Archonic creation. Even the small bit of divinity used to create each drained your body, already tired from forming Teyvat with your hands. So you could not know of the acts being committed in your name, what those of your own blood were doing.

"If I had known one of mine created their own, I would have cherished them like I did them." You said with a softness only rivaled by your hands.

He had fallen to his knees, unable to stand after the crushing weight of pain fell upon him. You were not completely blameless...

But you did not lie to him.

Did not abandon him.

You stayed until the tears dried up, stroking his sore eyes.

"So now that I know she did not love you like you deserve... You are mine now." He nearly fell again, but your embrace held him up. "You will be my son... And I will give you everything."

How it was so warm and loving, arms cradling him as if he were nothing more than a babe. His hands white-knuckling at your divine robes as he just sniveled into your chest, no doubt covering them in his snot and tears... But you didn't care, cooing sweetly to the boy about how he's already made you proud. How you already loved him.

He nearly cried again when you gave him his name.

"You will be my son, so your name will have our title."

You pondered about it for a while before having a servant fetched ink and parchment. It was a bit unusual, seeing you hold the calligraphy brush. Seeing the ink touching the edges if your sleeves and staining them, but you just smile so brightly when it is finished.

「神愛」

He longed for a place to belong, for an identity... For someone or something to give him worth.

You have given him all these things.

He was uncomfortable at first having it, as it was blatantly a reminder of his lineage. of the woman who abandoned him... Of beelzebul.

But you only smiled.

"It is to remind everyone where you started," your hands come to guide him "and how far you've come."

"The character for god, so you always remember me and so I am always with you." You hummed a lullby as the strokes appeared across the parchment. "And the character for love so you know how much I have for you."

He smudges ink on his robes too, unable to stop smiling as his whispered his name to himself.

Kaito was the name on the tongues of the acolytes once his adoption was raised outside your walls domain. Call of festivals was announced to welcome him into the fold, into the public, as the beloved son of Teyvat's dear Creator soon to be celebrated as well.

For if he was worthy in the eyes of the Creator; he should also be worshipped.

He laughed at Beelzebul's frantic correspondence sent to you; of which descended into begging for at least a letter to be sent... You had found yourself simply unable to deal with her after finding out what she'd done to him, decidedly icing her out on his behalf.

It was a wonderful feeling being loved, as sweet as it would be showing her what had become of her puppet.

He allowed an invitation to his coronation be sent to her, despite your worries about his mental health.

"Are you sure you want to see her, dear? it'd be so dreadful if she ruined your special day." You asked him gently, your concern making his cold heart swell.

"I will be fine," he insisted as you settle another crown to test on his head, amused "it will show her what she missed and how much it cost her."

You laughed at the cruelty but don't otherwise protest.

You didn't find a crown suited to him that day, though you thanked the providers. The items were returned and shop-keeps were able to keep them as they were considered beautiful pieces by the creator.

The day came and he still did not have a crown.

But he trusted you to find one, as you insisted it would be only appropriate as he was your son.

The day had come quicker than he would have liked, how he was primped and cleansed - donning the celestial robes of the creator.

Of you, his darling guardian.

They were deep violet, small pearlescent spots likes stars crawling up the gold trimmed edges. His under clothes blacker than the abyss, the servants in awe of his beauty. Leaving him bashfully flushing and modestly brushing off their assorted compliments. He dripped in opulence, gold pieces to accent his looks as the crackle of blessing came from the Gnosis you made personally for him.

As he finally was ready, he wondered if he was worthy.

Your eyes sparkled like gems when you saw him, taking him in your open arms and bursting in joy. Happy to see him looking so handsome and playfully crooning about his future partner in a manner that made him absolutely red in embarrassment.

You only laughed and softly spoke, "Come baby, there is a whole world to show that you are worthy of worship."

His hand was clasped in your's, the walk slow and almost agonizing. The chattering of people growing less distant with the passing moments, his hands shake and he needed a second as you stepped onto the balcony first.

The cheers of Teyvat boomed like a sonic roar, your hymns and prayers called to the wind as the ground and skies bellowed your name. He is terrified....

But he is ready.

You lifted your hands for silence, still smiling as bright and as warm as the sun. The hush that came was nearly instant, eager faces peering up in utter reverence. Archons on high waiting to hear your lovely voice.

"My dear creations, Teyvat.... As you have heard, I have found a son." The cheers from below just made you smile wider "It is much more than just finding someone worthy to hold my place and succeed me, it is because I love this boy... Love him so dearly that I wanted him as my own, he deserves your worship. Deserves to be loved as much as I. He'd gone through much pain and it broke my heart to know that this world that I made treats its kind people with such cruelty."

Your eyes watered when the people join together, holding hands and each other.

"If I could take all the suffering, I would... But feeling and understanding pain is what shows we are alive, that we are stronger for persevering." your voice shook, "And my poor boy had been through so much."

Your hands wipe your eyes and they watch, captivated at your grace and beauty - even in your sorrow. But then you give them a smile again and step aside, calling to the masses in pride that is so reminiscent of a parent.

"I, the All-Creator, Jewel of Celestia, have the greatest pleasure to present to you; your prince and my son..." The curtains pull back and he walked onto the balcony, beams of light shining off his hair and deep eyes. "Young lord Kaito of Teyvat!!!"

The screams would be deafening if you both weren't so high up, the chants of his new name louder than he can even think. The shouts of praise nearly make him shrink, but he stood tall. Especially as your hand touched his back, as your smiling face came into his peripheral. With his head up, he looked at them dead on and waved.

He smiled.

Especially as his sharp eyes caught Beelzebul's pale, shocked face. but the fuzzy warmth in his chest only grew as your fingers touched the top of his head.

From your touch, your grace washed over him. The weight of a diadem formed on his head. The Gnosis on his chest buzzed to life and his body rolled in a brightness rivaled only by the stars, from his skin to his blood - it was if he was charged with energy. A power that was unlike anything else he'd ever had.

"Divinity suits you, Kaito." You hummed, taking his hand.

Kaito smiled shyly and just squeezed your hand and whispered, "Only because I take after you, Oya."

At your side, he finally has a place.

He finally has his rightful godly status.

As he looked to see pride in your glittering tears and smile nearly blinding... A peace like no other settled within him.

He belongs.

He is worthy.

[megyulmi]

➠ Sukuna, the ‘shunned’ child and the demonisation and worship of ‘unwanted’ children in Japanese folklore:

[long read. trigger warning: referenced folktales and practices depict themes of infanticide, religious rituals and child exorcism, demonisation and worship of children, ableism, suicide, implied sa, and period-typical outdated social views. they are not a representation of my personal beliefs. please read with caution.]

New revelations of Sukuna’s past in Chapter 257 made me look deeper into some of the tales and customs from Japanese folklore about children deemed ‘abominable’ in the eyes of society that I had previously noted down and I decided to share as I think they could offer a better insight into Sukuna as a character and what might have inspired Akutami Gege’s depiction of him.

It would be better to start with a bit of the social background of Japanese folklore. I will use the Emishi (an ancient ethnic group of people who lived in parts of Honshū, especially in the Tōhoku region) as an example, the oral tales of whom later blended with Shintō and Buddhist religious concepts and heavily influenced Japanese folklore. It is believed that many of their tales were shaped by the region’s difficult history of natural disasters, famines, and geographic isolation. In the Tōhoku region, infanticide was sometimes used as a form of ‘birth control’ due to repeated famines. The bodies of ‘unwanted children’ were often disposed of in rivers or lakes.

Another important source of such folklore is the city of Tōno in Iwate prefecture, known particularly for Kappa, tales of which could offer a good basis for the beginning of my intended analysis.

Kappa, a green, amphibious, child-like creature with a yellow beak for a mouth and a turtle shell on its back is one of the most popular Yōkai from Japanese folklore. Some researchers say that the darker aspects of Kappa tales in Tōhoku may be an echo of the region’s tragic history of famines and the high rates of infant mortality caused by a harsh climate, natural disasters, and the tax system that was paid in rice. Similarly, many people in Tōno (which is part of the Tōhoku region) believe that tragic history is one of the origins of the stories of Kappa. The Kappa of Tōno specifically are said to be red in colour rather than green, which may allude to the Japanese word for infant - akachan, which derives from aka, the word for red. From this perspective, Kappa are creatures born out of social challenges and disasters. They may not seem all too relevant to Sukuna, but the need to mention them will come up in the later part.

Moving on, at the beginning I mentioned that ‘unwanted children’ were often disposed of in the rivers and lakes, which is also found in the Japanese creation myth. I discussed the variations of the myth in this post about Sukuna previously (you do not need to read it for the moment, but please note that it has many variations), but somehow I did not mention their first ‘inadequate’ child. According to the myth, before they had Kagutsuchi, Izanagi and Izanami had a child as a result of their first attempt at a union, but the child, known as Hiruko (‘Leech Child’), was born deformed. The mistake was attributed to a ritual error on the part of Izanami, who, as a woman, should never have spoken first (i.e. initiated the union). Considering the child inadequate for a diety, they set him adrift in a boat in hopes he would die at the sea. This myth reflects how women and children who were born ‘different’ or seen unable to serve their ‘purpose’ were treated.

Continuing from the myth, Chapter 257 made me think of the tale of Katako, in which the protagonist is born half-human and half-oni. What is Sukuna’s true nature we cannot know for certain. We know he was a human once, but we do not know enough of his past to assume if there was more to him (how and why he as a human might have come to be called the King of Curses will be explained in the later part), but the tale still has the potential to give us insight into Sukuna and his mother’s relationship. The tale has various versions with different endings, but it generally could be summarised as follows:

[A long time ago, a man encountered a man-eating ogre (from here on referred to as oni) while working in the field. He told the oni how much he loved mochi (rice cake), jokingly adding that he could even trade his wife for it. Taking his casual banter seriously, the oni treated him to mochi. The man ate his favourite food to his fill and happily went home only to find that the oni had taken his wife in exchange for the treat. The man searched everywhere and finally found his wife on the island where the oni lived. The man and his wife managed to come back home with Katako (meaning ‘Half-Child’), a child born of his wife and the oni on the island. However, Katako was always ostracised by his human peers (in another version, it is said that he had an insatiable appetite for eating humans). At ten years old, tired of being ridiculed, he asked his mother ‘to cut the oni part of him into pieces’ when he died, and then committed suicide.]

In the tale, Katako’s relationship with his mother seems to be of trust. He is cast out of society by humans and despite his mother being one as well, he does not harbour hate for her, he trusts her enough to leave his final wish upon her. We do not know much about Sukuna’s relationship with his mother, but the manner he referred to her in the last chapter makes it seem that he also harbours no hostility toward her. This tale also shows how children deemed ‘different’ were treated.

In past ages, children, being considered closer to the gods and the Other World, also played the part of intermediary between humans and the gods in Japanese society. This task of mediation between two separate worlds fell to them because they were regarded as incomplete persons (until the age of seven it was considered uncertain whether they would live or return to the Other World: a belief related to the challenges indicated at the beginning). While considered sacred beings different in nature from adults, they were at the same time looked down upon and referred to as kodomo (where ~domo has a negative/belittling connotation), gaki (hungry ghost or demon; brat), or jari (lit. gravel).

Back in the day, people referred to the killing off of ‘unwanted children’ (mabiki or ‘culling’, a common old slang for infanticide) as ‘sending a child back’, and a dead child was given a special non-Buddhist funeral. The various rituals surrounding birth and the child’s upbringing were intended, through communication with the Other World, to transform the child into an earthly being. This aspect of the ritual made me think of Sukuna’s mask and how that part of his face resembles a burn scar (note: i am aware the nature of his ‘mask’ is still not clear and whether it is really one) in some of the official illustrations. It is known that rituals of purification included fire and water magic. Exorcism of demons, aversion of disasters, and other rituals for the removal of pollution were frequent. A katashiro (paper cut in the shape of a man) symbolising the disaster would be burned or floated down the river as well. Personally, I see the possibility of Sukuna’s scar (if it really happens to be one) being from one of such rituals. At the same time, it resembles a fragment of a wooden mask used in ceremonial rituals associated with Shintoism, where it represented a ‘spirit of a head,’ which was believed to be a god in the shape of a human. In this case, it can be a remnant of such ceremonial ritual gone wrong.

Continuing, there is a term - Goryō used to refer to the spirits of those who had died violently (e.g. by murder or execution) and have become gods. It also included those who had died untimely deaths and therefore had been unable to fulfil their purpose in this world. Some notable gods such as Hachiman, Tenjin, and Tenno were once considered powerful Goryō. Great natural disasters and social unrest were attributed to them; rituals designed to appease them were performed, and a cult of such worship evolved. It was (usually) as a result of belief in Goryō that particular individuals came to be worshipped as gods. At times when public unrest threatened the social order, elements estranged or excluded from the ‘normal system/order’ were assigned the status of Goryō and worshipped as such. The cult was intended to purify and renew society. Manga has given us a similar glimpse of Sukuna’s past, where despite being feared (and despised), people were ready to serve him (and pray in his name) for their own well-being. I think Akutami intended to echo this very aspect of society through the scene.

I mentioned that children were considered closer to the gods and the Other World, but not all children were treated equally. One version of the origin of Kamadogami (additional post on the parallels between Sukuna and Kamadogami after Chapter 258) in the Tōhoku region is that he was an ‘ugly child’ from the Dragon Palace who had been killed and was thereafter worshipped at household hearths. Zashikiwarashi, who often inhabits old houses and is said to bring good fortune while he remains, is another household god in the shape of a child or, in another version, the spirit of an unwanted child who, having been killed off, became the guardian god of houses. I mentioned Hiruko at the beginning as well, who was set afloat on the boat in the sea. Despite that, he is in some Shintō shrines identified with Ebisu, the patron of fishermen and tradesmen. Their worship was for the purposes indicated in the previous abstract, to avoid their wrath. Sukuna has not been ‘killed off’ like these children were, but such worship shows us the general psyche of the public.

The ‘ugly child’ who appears in the story of the origin of Kamadogami has parallels in Yokenai, Untoku, Hyotoku, and Hanatarekozo, children who brought good fortune and prosperity to the house in return for offerings to the Watery World of kadomatsu (pine-branch gate decorations for the New Year) and firewood. But despite that, their ‘ugliness’ and names were used as an indication that these children did not belong to this world. It is important to note that socially inferior and rebellious beings were treated in the same manner (here is where the point connects to Sukuna, continued from the next part in depth). Such children were often associated with the colour red. For example, Zashikiwarashi is described as red-haired and red-faced. Kintaro, Shutendoji, and other children born in unusual circumstances (but may not have been considered an ‘ugly child’) and brought up in the mountain wilderness are also said to have had red bodies and were endowed with superhuman strength. I also mentioned that Kappa from Tōno were depicted as red. We see Sukuna often associated with the colour red, particularly, his eyes are red. I believe the above-mentioned could be the reason for that.

I indicated that socially inferior and rebellious beings were treated similarly in the previous part. The character Dō of Dōji (童子, meaning child) once meant ‘slave’, tattooed on the forehead, and was closely linked to notions of personal status. It signified one who was not a complete person and also one who had not yet been initiated, in other words, one who did not belong to the order of this world, one who was in this world but not of it. They were despised, feared, and avoided by ordinary people for their strange appearance and magical powers. In some cases they even formed separate ‘child’ villages (dōji mura), calling themselves ‘descendants of oni (demons)’. Since they played the role of demons during the rituals, they were shunned by the nobility as if they were real demons. Could this somehow connect to Sukuna’s title? I do believe there is a possibility this could have inspired his being as the King of Curses.

Personally, what we know of Sukuna and his past seems to echo these folktales and practices as the foundation of his character. He was a ‘Demon’ for being an ‘abominable’ child, but he was worshipped for this same reason as well. Whether he was born that way after eating his twin in the womb or something happened to him later in life cannot be known yet, but it is clear his ‘abominable’ appearance could have warranted the same treatment from society. It could also explain Kenjaku’s ‘fascination’ with him as a being. We do not know what relationship they had or how exactly they came to know each other, but there is clearly a reason why a being such as Sukuna would ‘work’ with them. We do not know much about Kenjaku either, but it could be possible that they (Kenjaku) once were either (1) one of those ‘priests’ who performed exorcism to purify ‘demon’ children or (2) someone who offered such children refuge (perhaps and more likely, for their own personal gain). It would also relate to the variations of Ryomen Sukuna’s story that inspired Akutami Gege.

[Disclaimer: This post does not intend to demonise Shintoism or Buddhism, but to tell folklore and practices for analytical purposes. Additionally, English is not my native language and this is only a personal interpretation as just another reader that I am sharing in case someone finds it interesting or can use the information for better analysis.]

[imagineee-123]

⟡₊⊹Introduction Post⊹₊⟡

Hello! I never do posts like this on any of my socials even though I mean to, so I'm gonna finally give this a shot! This might be really long Imao

About my blog:

This blog is currently mostly about my practices as a newer hellenic polytheist and a Hades devotee. But I also post about visual kei and whatever else on this account. (Although I am thinking about separating this content to different blogs)

About me:

I'm Imagineee, but you can call me Lucian (Lu-see-in) or Ciel. Or even Luci for short. My pronouns are he/they! I turned 17 this summer.

I'm on the aroace spectrum (demiromantic and demisexual) as well as being pansexual and a gender non-conforming transmasc. I don't really identify as anything specific when it comes to gender, but I'm definitely not a girl! (Don't she/her me... Pls. ╥﹏╥)

I'm really into vkei and, as stated earlier, a newer hellenic polytheist. I've only been practicing for about a year (when I have the energy), so I still have a lot to learn.

My interests/hobbies:

visual kei and j-fashion

reading up about bandmen I like

Japanese music

music in general

anime

Genshin Impact*

Project Sekai*

Honkai: Star Rail

Twisted Wonderland*

Wuthering Waves

Stardew Valley

art and painting

vocaloid

photography

storing things in my memory boxes

Howl's Moving Castle (book and movie)

collecting manga/figures of things I like

reading about dieties and others' practices

going to graveyards

watching YouTube

(* means I've lost a lot of interest over time but still enjoy these things)

Favorite vkei bands:

It's so hard to pick... I think Plastic Tree, Ninth in Pluto, Fukuro, and Madmans Esprit are some of my favorites.

Favorite music (not vkei):

I listen to pretty much everything. But some of my favorite musicians/groups outside of vkei are Eve, Re:nG, takayan, Gesu No Kiwami Otome, Linkin Park, kikuo, MCR, Cage the Elephant, and Eyedress. I have too many favorites, but it's so hard to cut down because I listen to such a variety of music, and I love it all. Ahhhh

Favorite song atm:

Likes:

Rain

The beach

Fire

Graveyards

The moon

Sweets

Hades ofc

Sleeping in

Renaissance oil paintings

Bees

Crows (birds in general tbh)

Laying in the grass

Other:

My MBTI is INFP-T. My star sign is leo. I use emoticons sometimes. I use :3 and >:3 unironically whenever I'm really happy or excited about something. I own four budgies and two dogs. I also have PTSD and really bad social anxiety. I really want to go to Japan and see a vkei band live one day.

݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ And that is (finally) my intro! I hope we can be friends! ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁

[laylawatermelon]

The Tennis Throuple Is A Triangle

(a slightly unstable one but one nonetheless)

Spoilers below (first watch)

Tashi is the top at the center.

She is the love of their lives. In a way both of them end up for her.

Art exists for serving her (as seen as he wasn't on her level in the bed scene).

Patrick exists for challenging her. She hates him for viewing himself as her peer (when you get two dominant personality types...) but respects and lusts after him nonetheless.

Art is loved by both of them.

As Art is more of a submissive kind of personality type (granted very manipulative he is still a wealthy white boy) it displays in different ways.

Patrick's love is fine and soft, due to their shared history. His dynamic is similar to Art and Tashi's.

In return Art is then soft for both of them due to his nature. He is also incredibly selfish at times but then again he's human🤷🏾‍♀️.

Tashi allows herself to be vulnerable with Art unlike Patrick because she feels safe/comfortable with him because he isn't a challenger.

He usually does what she wants and worships her.

(ah yes this is reminiscent of Japanese shows about love and obsession... My beautiful man I'm looking at you another toxic ish worship dynamic)

This is evident of him acknowledging her as Jesus. He literally views her as his diety that he's lucky enough to obtain (god this really resembles that dynamic in my beautiful man).

Meanwhile the two more dominant personality types clean constantly.

It's say Patrick's dominance towards him it's more caring and soft like you can rely on me, while Tashi's is you better really on yourself but I do love you. Sometimes (🤣)

I love her she's a savage.

Tashi and Patrick reflect each other in the best and worst ways. They understand each other as passionate to get what you want and keep moving forward.

Art had always persued love, shown in his focus on Tashi and Patrick on the championship she'd won.

It was kind of obvious who'd end up with what in the end.

Patrick will fight with fried teeth until the end to get what he wants. Fire.

Art will do anything for the one he loves. Ice.

And Tashi will do both.

She will achieve the best in both love and work as that's what she's always wanted.

Tennis is the most important thing to her yes, but she also has the capacity to use it as a communication tool.

She even said it herself that it's a relationship that everything falls away. In the last match she feel in love with made them special in the first place.

Fire and Ice working in harmony.

I honestly smiled at the end as they got into the relationship and she got into the the game.

She was interested in both at the beginning as she recognized them as they were able to give her a good game of tennis.

Now I'm the present that they're all together they now have the same dynamic as the beginning.

She enjoys a good match (heehee voyeuristic Queen love that for you) that she sets up and seeing a game play out in front of her eyes.

Patrick wants to connect (and dominate) and Challenge Art like they used to.

And Art just wants to be Loved. He wants to love and be loved. He'll follow them both to the ends of the earth because he believes in them.

And in return they believe in him. Both on different levels/avenues on life but their relationship is unstable without three of them present.

They've been constant in each other's conversations, both metaphorically and literally.

They're obsessed with each other and that's why they work.

They're messy but at least they challenge each other to be better.

Whichever form that takes.

[worldismyne]

But speaking of headcanons, have you seen any, that you like, despite them conflicting with your own?

That's a good question, unfortunately my memory's not the greatest. So stuff that I like, but never plan to write myself gets lost to short term memory.

I've yet to see an Eibon interpretation I've disliked.

I've bumped into a few different conflicting headcanons abt the Thompson's mom that all worked in their own way.

Soul being Welsh. (I've seen him as from a ritzy part of England)

Black Star's mom being secretly alive.

Black Star ever living with Sid (I think he was fostered by the staff as a whole rather than outright adopted).

I don't mind other shinigami OCs that aren't related to Kid. I think there's a lot of space to play in there given how shinigami were written changed overtime in Japanese folk lore.

Most HC for why Blair has magic are solid too.

Other people's 8 war lord or pillar/diety expansions are always neat to see.

[mewmewpercy]

The fact that Hoyo has blatantly responded to feedback about shitty representation by saying it's fantasy is my last straw. The fact that their mission statement says they wanna display diversity and they say all the time they do their research then give us this shit is so stupid.

The fact that Mihoyo will boast about being diverse but then go back and say that nothing is inspired by reality is crazy. So here's someone I'd love to bring up. We all know Yun Jin of course? That one 4 star they put insane effort into? That one 4 star based on real Chinese Opera? That one that they boasted about doing to research and effort for? That character? Because what it sounds like is that they'll put in a bunch of effort to make a Chinese Opera singing character and boast about that effort. Because it sounds like they'll try to make her design resemble her profession. Because it sounds like they say they do the research for other characters and their cultures but don't put nearly as much effort in. Because it SOUNDS LIKE when it's something they know and fits their colorist ideals they'll go the full mile but when its people of colours fucking DIETIES it's okay to whitewash them because it's just a fantasy game and it isn't based in reality.

They'll go crazy on Chinese culture and even some Japanese culture(I say some because we all know the issues with the traditional clothes being ruined in Inazuma) but when it's Arab or Latin American or African culture the most they can do is steal names of historical figures and dieties and put em on white folks. Suddenly they can just half ass representation even when they pride themselves on diversity.

[bunjywunjy]

Basically imagine one of those ethereal-looking goldfish that looks like its design was heavily inspired by ancient Japanese art. Giant ethereal goldfish diety.

Except instead of giving people curses or blessings or words of divine wisdom, it just has a tiny computer that it uses to post things on tumbles.

blessings of Knowledge

[princedetectives]

P4G Persona Mythos

DISCLAIMER: i started writing this post forever ago and kinda abandoned it halfway through, but i figured i'd post what i did write. so enjoy this unfinished summary!

hi! i'm doing a small dive on the stories all the party members' personas in persona 4 golden; most of them are based on japanese mythology; i'm reading Medea, which reminds me of chidori p3 and peaked my interest in this kind of stuff drastically. because these figures were chosen for each character for a reason! they all link back in different ways.

this will not be extremely detailed. just a bunch of surface-level facts im putting together for fun, and trimming a lot that isnt as related to the characters. look into it if youre interested!! i also highly recommend Hiding in Private's detailed analysis that i actually haven't watched yet but the rest of their p4 content is good so i definitely plan on it

each of the big 3 persona games have an overarching theme to their main characters' initial personas; p3 is greek mythology, p4 is japanese mythology, and p5 is popular historical/fictional figures (usually thieves).

as a rule of thumb, the name suffix no-okami means Great God. it'll pop up a few times! as another rule of thumb, a character's first persona will typically be a less important figure, awakening into one better-known.

since a lot of these myths are linked, sometimes other characters' personas pop up in relation to another! as such, i'll color code these names when this happens.

yosuke - chie - yukiko - naoto - [protag]

Yu Narukami (Protagonist)

Izanagi (Initial) - izanagi is an extremely important figure in japanese mythology, being its creator figure. he and izanami (yes that one!) married. in some sources it's said that they raise the japanese islands from the sea and in others it's said izanami gave birth to them. either way, they brought life to earth, having many diety children. one of their children, the flame god, kills izanami and sends izanagi into despair.

to bring her back, he goes into the land of the dead. he finds her and izanami makes him promise not to look at her, concealing herself in darkness. she explains that she cannot return; annoyed, izanagi breaks the promise and lights a fire (some sources say that his comb is lit here - you may remember a bamboo comb if you ever did marie's social link. yes, this is what it refers to!) and finds the truth. izanami is nothing but a rotting corpse. we see this reflected in the phases of her boss fight in-game.

enraged, izanami chases him off. in other sources, this is where he uses his comb; he turns it into grapes and bamboo shoots that his pursuers eat. he locks her in the underworld, knowing she'd destroy the world if let free. here, izanami curses him, promising to kill a 1,000 people each day; izanagi shoots back by promising 1,500 people would be born each day. she becomes Yomotsugami, the goddess of Yomi (this land of the dead).

to cleanse himself from his visit, he bathes; as he does so, very important deities are born, called the Three Precious Children. these are Amaterasu from his left eye and Susano-o from his nose. (Tsukuyomi is also born from his right eye but he holds no relevance to persona.) the world is split between them, each child given the heavens, the seas, and the night respectively. in other versions, the three of them are born when izanagi looks into a bronze mirror; Amaterasu from the mirror in his right hand, Tsukoyomi from the mirror in his left, and Susano-o when he tilts his head to the side. for convenience's sake i'll only refer to the first, more popular explanation.

this will probably be the longest description in this post (i hope). he is just that important to the mythology. very fitting for the protagonist! and it puts a whole new light to the final boss fight.

Izanagi-no-Mikoto (Ultimate) - another way to refer to izanagi, with more respect. not much to say about this one.

Yosuke Hanamura

Jiraiya (Initial) - protagonist of a japanese folk tale. it's a ten-book series so i won't go too far into detail here; you can read the whole plot summary on its wikipedia page. very basically, he's a cunning samurai and bandit that manages to achieve great feats like escaping from jail, assisting revenge plots, and killing a giant snake.

jiraiya befriends the immortal Toad Ascetic (which is probably where the theming of his shadow boss originates!) thanks to its admiration of jiraiya's loyalty, despite his history as a criminal.

Susano-o (Awakened) - the powerful diety of storms, seas, harvest, and love, and one of the Three Precious Children, son of [Izanagi] and younger brother of Amaterasu, born when the former washed his nose. his name literally translating to Impetuous Male, he was appointed to rule the seas and was promptly banished from the heavens by [Izanagi] because he just would not stop whining about how much he missed his mother* and did not do his job, causing the waters to dry up. personally, i draw a link to yosuke here based on his moving to inaba.

*(i honestly can't figure out who she is? izanami didn't help with the Three Precious Children, idk. in some versions of the story she did, so it's most likely her.)

before he left the heavens, he went to wish his sister farewell. untrusting of him, she dresses as a man in armor to see him, and he challenges her to prove his trustworthiness. they both create dieties by chewing up and spitting out an items the other possesses; Amaterasu creates three, and Susano-o creates five. Amaterasu, though, argues that since it was her item he used, the five deities were hers, dubbing herself the victor. enraged by this, Susano-o throws a fit, destroying her fields, flaying a heavenly horse, and killing a weaving maiden. this causes him to be banished again while a distraught Amaterasu hides away, coating the world in darkness temporarily.

now actually banished from the heavens, he finds an elderly couple that tells him their woes about how seven out of eight of their kids had been eaten by the serpent Yamata no Orochi (a persona in the games, by the way! you may remember it as a miniboss in p5's ship palace) and he agrees to help out, but only if he can marry their last daughter, Kushinadahime. he succeeds, slaying it by turning kushinadahime into a comb to protect her and getting yamato no orochi drunk. from its corpse, he uncovered the powerful sword Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, which is eventually passed down to Yamato Takeru.

there is much much more about him, he's very important, but i'd like to keep this from being a complete essay if possible - read more if youre interested!

Takehaya Susano-o (Ultimate) - another name for Susano-o. not much to say here!

Chie Satonaka

Tomoe (Initial) - most likely based on Tomoe Gonzen (wherein Gonzen is an honorific), a samurai in japanese history, esteemed for winning many battles, being very skilled with many weapons and horses, beheading several. she once led 300 warriors against an enemy's 2,000 and came out victorious. her gender increased fear of her, most fleeing to avoid the humiliation of being defeated by a woman.

most actual facts about her are unknown. as such, she's more of a legendary figure than a historical one.

Suzuka Gongen (Awakened) - another figure in folklore with many unknown traits, suzuka gongen is presented as many things, including a thief, a divine being, or an oni. i, um. expected to write more here but there genuinely isn't much information about her. chie's personas are the mysterious type, i guess? if anyone can find information about her please let me know i'm so interested

Haraedo-no-Okami (Ultimate) - same case as above. from what i can tell, this term refers to many gods, the Three Precious Children specifically (Susano-o, Amaterasu). a harae is a ritual of purification, and a haraedo is where those take place. chie seems to be a weird case just in general.

Naoto Shirogane

Sukuna-Hikona (Initial) - a diety of healing, sake, magic, etc. he's notable for being so small he fell out of his mothers fingers. so probably a few inches. (which is pretty fitting LOL) it's often not believed that he is such an important diety because of how small he is. also notable for being said to create cures to a lot of illnesses despite the fact naoto learns no healing spells. he's often paired with the diety Ōkuninushi, who is also a persona but never relevant in-game.

Yamato-Takeru (Awakened) - a japanese legendary prince(!) who killed his twin brother and was exiled by his father, the king, out of fear. he went to his aunt for help; she is Yamatohime-no-Mikoto, priestess of Amaterasu, and she lent him a holy sword which Susano-o won in battle, which helped him in many sticky situations - it could control the wind. one of his battles was won by cross-dressing as a maid (you can see how this links back). he died thanks to hubris, not taking his sword with him into battle, and it is said his soul turned into a white bird/plover and flew away/disappeared. this, along with his ability to control wind, might be the reason he's depicted as flying in Persona. read more

(completely unrelated, but i think it's a very neat coincidence that yamato-takeru's persona design is remniscent of akechi's phantom thief outfit. i like to think this is intentional)

Yamato Sumeragi (Ultimate) - this isn't actually an individual diety. sumeragi is a epithet indicating royalty. so, this basically means "the royal yamato". fitting!

--- OTHERS

under the cut, i'll continue this post for non-party members, with a LOT of endgame spoilers, including golden content, and a spoiler for persona 4 arena. beware!

Marie

Kusumi-no-Okami (True Identity) - honestly? researching this one really stumped me. there's no english-translated direct link to kusumi-no-okami. (which was kinda annoying, because for literally every single other god there was. consistency, persona 4, please!!) maybe it was just translated differently; her untranslated name is 熊野久須毘命, which does directly correlate:

kusumi-no-okami is almost definitely based on the god kumano-kusubi. kumano-kusubi was born from the diety-creating contest Susano-o and Amaterasu had, the latter creating him. other than that, there isn't much info on him that i can find. it's a bit unsatisfying of a link, being so minor and male (which is strange - the genders typically line up), but there's nobody else it could be. i considered the god Kushinadahime, Susano-o's wife, but the only link there is the fact that she's turned into a comb, which is already linked to [Izanagi's] comb, so it doesn't make much sense. oh well!

this is another design i love, by the way. it feels directly linked to izanami, and by extension, [Izanagi]. i want to take a second to appreciate all three, their shared motifs showing they're clearly linked. in this case, specifically with izanami's boss forms, because WOW, they share a LOT. the transition from white robes hiding red (izanami phase 1 -> phase 2, marie pre-fight -> kusumi-no-okami), the cross hanging below the waist, to name a couple examples. it's so cool!! these are some of my favorite designs in the game.

but to conclude: she isn't as directly linked to the mythos like the others. what's really important is that bamboo comb, and the in-game explanation of her being a part of izanami.

speaking of...

Izanami

i already explained her main story during the [Izanagi] section, so i'll try to keep this short (and probably fail - she's very important.)

her palace in-game, Yomotsu Hirasaka, is the stretch directly between the land of the dead (Yomi) and the living world in japanese mythology. this fits her, considering it's where [Izanagi] imprisoned her and where she became the goddess of the land of the dead.

"General Teddie" (P4A)

Hinokagatsuchi (True Identity) - i have not played any of the P4 spinoffs so this will definitely be brief, but i discovered it while looking into Izanami and thought it was extremely cool. hinokagatsuchi is the flame god son of izanami that killed her by burning her, throwing her and [Izanagi's] whole "divorce" into motion. [Izanagi] responded by immediately cutting his body into 8 pieces out of grief, becoming 8 volcanoes. his birth marked the beginning of death. briefly scanning his SMT wiki page, it looks like his goal is to end the world or something, which fits. IDK it's up to you here to link him to the game LOL

[monarch-afterdark]

Titan History: The Awakened Gods

Welcome once again to Monarch: After Dark, the digital gateway between you and the organisation dedicated to understanding and navigating this troubled new world we live in.

For today's communication, we embark on the undertaking of rounding off the remaining handful of Titans known to have been awakened by Monster Zero in 2019. Currently, the Monarch database does not hold enough information on each Titan to warrant giving them their own entries, whether due to digital sabotage, loss of data amid containment breaches, or some other cause.

If more data does resurface, we will act accordingly and revisit these Titans as is relevant, but for now, let us round off the remaining Awakened Gods.

(Pictured above: Part of a global Titan map, containing the locations of outposts and the name of the Titan they are studying)

This list will be compiled based on numerical order of Monarch outposts.

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Titanus Leviathan

(Pictured above: Infamous 1933 photo of the Loch Ness Monster, possibly the first notable sighting of Leviathan)

Formerly contained within Outpost 49, Leviathan was found within Loch Ness, Scotland by Monarch. This Titan gets its name from the aquatic counterpart to Titanus Behemoth from the Hebrew Bible.

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Titanus Quetzalcoatl

(Pictured above: A stone carving of Quetzalcoatl, found on a temple in Teotihuacan, Mexico)

Formerly contained within Outpost 57, Quetzalcoatl was found within Machu Piccu, Peru. This Titan gets it name from a feathered Aztec serpent god.

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Titanus Sekhmet

(Pictured above: Depiction of Sekhmet in ancient Egyptian artwork)

Formerly contained in Outpost 65, Sekhmet was found in Cairo, Egypt. This Titan gets its name from the Egyptian goddess of medicine.

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Titanus Baphomet

(Pictured above: A statue of Baphomet flanked by two children, unveiled at the Satanic Temple in 2015)

Formerly contained in Outpost 68, Baphomet was found in Volubilis, Morocco. This Titan got its name from a perversion of the name of the prophet Mohammed, later associated with a goat-like diety in the 19th Century with ties to Satan.

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Titanus Mokele-Mbembe

(Pictured above: Recovered footage from Outpost 75, showing Mokele-Mbembe's escape obscured by smoke, circa. 2019)

Titanus Mokele-Mbembe, formerly contained in Outpost 75, in Jebel Barkal, Sudan, got its name from a water-dwelling diety in the Congo River Basin, later becoming popularly depicted as a sauropod-like cryptid in the 20th Century.

In reality, the Titan is a massive quadrupedal beast with a snake-like tail, a head much like a hairless elephant, with jaws that open like a crocodile's, a horn atop its head that glows a faded green, and downward-facing tusks.

When Monster Zero awoke the world's Titans, the director of Outpost 75, Dr. Kearns, refused to kill the Titan under the belief that the military just wanted an excuse to kill the Titans. Mokele-Mbembe killed most of the outpost's staff upon its escape, pulling some into its mouth with its trunk. Upon reaching the surface, Mokele-Mbembe battled Monarch forces and the Egyptian military before being pacified by the ORCA.

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Titanus Abbadon

(Pictured above: Artistic depiction of Abbadon battling Christian, from The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan)

Formerly contained in Outpost 77, Abbadon was found in the Devil's Tower, Wyoming. This Titan got its name from a place of destruction, the 'sister location' to Hell (Sheol), a name later used for an angel who commanded an army of locusts in the Book of Revelations.

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Titanus Yamata no Orochi

(Pictured above: A woodblock print of the storm god Susanoo slaying Yamata no Orochi, by Toyohara Chikanobou)

Formerly contained within Outpost 91, Yamata no Orochi was found by Monarch in Mount Fuji, Japan. This Titan gets its name from an 8-headed serpent from Japanese mythology.

While the only current footage relating to Yamata no Orochi shows its outpost collapsing from the Titan's escape, it is known that the Titan had attacked a cruise ship in Japanese waters before being pacified by the ORCA. The Titan has been reported by one account to also have multiple heads.

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Titanus Typhon

(Pictured above: Depiction of Zeus aiming a thunderbolt at Typhon, upon a black-figured hydria, circa. 540-530 BC)

Formerly contained within Outpost 92, Typhon was found within Angkor Watt, Cambodia. This Titan gets its name from a serpentine giant from Greek mythology, the father of monsters.

A member of Monarch's primary mythology department, Greg Keyes, had lost vital information regarding Typhon during the Titan's awakening in 2019. To this day, he still working to retrieve this data from a corrupted database.

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Titanus Bunyip

(Pictured above: Artistic depiction of Bunyip in 1935, by Gerald Markham Lewis)

Formerly contained in Outpost 99, Bunyip was found by Monarch within Uluru (Ayer's Rock), Australia. This Titan gets its name from a swamp-dwelling creature in South Australian aboriginal folklore.

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And there you go! We apologise for being unable to provide much more information on these Titans, but rest assured we are hard at work scouring our databases and working to recover what we can so that we can provide more detailed accounts in future.

Until next time,

Monarch: After Dark

[blanketorghost]

Hello! Me again! I've come to announce that I have organized your Yuu into my timeline and would like to check with you for approval of the new backstory. Here goes:

There are a total of three universes that are relevant to the Yuusonas:

Pokemon: Yurie Hinoki! A pokemon trainer with a special book that allows her to summon any pokemon she's ever seen/caught (up to 6 at a time).

JJBA: Yuuya Malasartes! A nipo-japanese son of a Brazilian crime lord. Struck by the stand arrow, Coisinha do Pai takes the form of a small humming bird capable of growing flowers from blood by injecting nectar into it.

Faith: This is where your Yuu is from.

In short, this Earth is actually a bunch of earths from different timelines coexisting as one Earth. Each timeline corresponds to a different religion, making all gods and mythologies real. Because of the complex nature of the timelines, a diety is only able to interfere when they have an anchor aka a follower. A god's strength is dictated by 3 things: what they're the god of, how long have they been worshiped, and how many followers they currently have. One special type of follower is a Necessary Evil: priests exempt from the sin of murder in order to kill demons + evil humans involved with said demons. NEs are granted boons from their respective deities and are given more leeway so they can find happiness to cope with the trauma (ex: catholic priests can marry, Buddhists aren't entirely banned from earthly pleasures, etc).

Backstory time: Yuu is a half-kitsune. His father was a Necessary Evil working as a shinto priest for the god Inari. He suffered an injury that disabled him, making him retire and takeover the family kabuki business. Yuu's mother is a kitsune who worked in the same temple. At 15, Yuu is transported to TWST and manages to hide his otherworldliness. As a half kitsune, he does have magic and manages to adapt the spells he's taught to match his own magic. It took a year, but through several intense dances and offerings, Yuu finally contacts Inari. Inari asks a favor from the Christian God and opens a portal so that Yuu can get home and back as he pleases (note: Inari's domain doesn't include space & dimensions, so they turn to the Christian God since he actually does have control over that and there's Christians in Japan). Choosing to stick around, Yuu does several offerings and dances to keep the portal open while still exploring NRC as a "background character".

Sidenote: for Yuu's kitsune magic, please look to Kusuriuri from Mononoke as a reference.

Cut to year 3: In comes Yurie, Yuuya, and Grim. Noticing these youngsters are like him, Yuu takes pity and kinda guides them during the prologue. Yuu contacts a hindu NE (another oc of mine) to see if they can have Vishnu or Brahma use their cosmic powers to track down their homes. They do but find that whenever Yuuya and Yurie try to leave permanently, they both instantly get teleported back to TWST. However, so long as they come back, they can freely travel between dimensions (good for grocery shopping and making sure the parents don't loose their minds). So they enchant a mirror to serve as an interdimensional gateway. By this point Yuu is attached and by the beginning of Book 1 he's already transferred from Octavinelle to Ramshackle as the new official dorm head.

Bonus scenario: Azul having a "love at first sight" moment with Yuu when he comes across one of their dance offerings to Inari.

Hmmm, I think the best way to give my feedback is to do a bullet list so lemme organize my thoughts.

I am ok with the inclusion of Inari and shintoist traditions! Yuu's family worships both Inari and Ame No Uzume (goddess of dance and entertainment amongst others). The Fujisaki clan also has traces of kitsune blood from a Kitsune ancestor that married into the family centuries ago (hence the relation to Inari) so to keep that canon compliant, I'd switch Yuu's parent's species.

It is important to note that Yuu has an inherited bad luck curse due to another century-long transgression against the shichi fukujin. The juzu bracelet he uses constantly in his left hand is a ward to protect him.

Due to this Juzu bracelet being a gift from a buddhist monk and exorcist that helped the family, I'd rather be more comfortable with the inclussion of a buddhist god instead of the christian god. (Though true christianism exists un japan, its far less common than either buddhism and shintoism)

Now, onto the most important thing: Ataru (Yuu's dad) would never ever willingly take over the family's Kabuki troupe. He ran away from home when he was 17 due to the borderline abusive training he had to go through in order to be elegible to become the clan head. The only reason why Yuu is in contact with his dad's side of the family is because Ataru got laid off before Yuu was born and Hana couldn't find any work (Japan has very misoginistic views) so they couldn't support another child without help of Yuu's wealthy grandpa, who is the current family head. Due to this, Ataru is no longer in line to be head. It is Yuu's grandpa (Nagisa) > Yuu's uncle (Kamui)> Yuu > Yuu's cousin (Nagihiko). The only reason why Yuu is even considered in the first place was because Yuu's uncle was unmarried at the time and Ataru is the first-born, so in all technicality Yuu was the sole heir at that point. Yuu's family feud and generational trauma is a core part of his character and needs to be included in every iteration.

I think you capture what I imagine Yuu's magic would be :^) Yuu in my canon is magicless, but the earth he comes feom does have magic and a magic system I created myself based on the 6 elements :^) if given the hypothetical of what magic would Yuu have if he was a witch (name for magic user in my canon) He would be an air aligned witch and his artifact would be a fan, which fit with what I've seen to be Kuzuriuri's abilities

I think that's all for now! Though I would also like to point out as an extra fun fact that if Yuu ever got sorted into a dorm, he'd be sorted into Pomefiore, but later transfer into Octavinelle :^)

[risingshine]

Muse as a Diety

Rules:Think carefully about your character and their development through their journey (canon or OC) within their story. Fill out the chart and tag whoever you want! Multi-muses, feel free to pick any of your characters-just a few, or all of them. Please repost, so the dash isn't clogged with reblogs.

Chiasa-no-kami (Taiyōinu-no-kami)

Kami of: Sundogs (sky lights that flank the sun), Dogs, Summer, nature tamed by man

Associated with: Man-made fires, cracks of sunlight, Warm hides, dog days of summer, sun-baked windows,

Sacred plants: japanese red maple, Orange Osmanthus, cereal grains

Sacred stones/gems: gold

Sacred animals: Dogs (Especially Akita Inu), domesticated animals, bears

Colors: red, purple, orange, gold

Food: Alcohols, Fire-roasted meats

Scents: Fur, woodfires, roasted barley, smoked meats

Accepted offerings/ways to honor: Handcrafted gifts, kindness shown to others and oneself, tending to fires in homes, caring for strays.

tagged by: @ama-tcra-su

tagging: @piltover-sharpshooter @ira-sturm @asheepinhellsclothing @awanderingbountyhunter @halfkuma @songofsilentechoes @the-expatriate and you!

[usotsuki-no-sora]

For some reason…I can see Time from LU maybe being voiced by Matt Mercer or Liam O’Brien maybe…I have no clue why…oh maybe Gackt?

For like Wind maybe Todd Haberkorn or VALSHE?(example:Hayato from FE:IF and nico nico doga singer)

Legend…Legend gives me Vic Mignogna? (example: Edward Elric and Suoh Tamaki)No clue why…

Twilight? That is hard…maybe Yuri Lowenthall(Example plw:Uchiha Sasuke)or Troy Baker? (Yuri Lowell ToV)

Warrior though totally gives off J Michael Tatum vibe to me…if it was Japanese totally Daisuke Ono

Hyrule? Totally Eric Vale maybe? Jay Baruchel?(Hiccup)

Oh man Four…where would I start? Hnng…so hard to think of someone for him in English but weirdly Takeshita Sakurai if Japanese (Example: Hibaro Kyoya (KHR) or Akasuna No Sasori (Naruto))….but that’s just me or wait Akira Ishida or Yuya matsushita.

Sky? Oh boy…for Sky can see Sam Rigel or mamoru Miyano.

Wild? Suguru Inoue…maybe Mitsuki Saiga? Kuroneko/96Neko?

Mind you, I am not talking about the grunts and yelps we hear in the games—but say if there was a voices series or they spoke to us. Imagination is the key or simp brain…

But what I mean is what we (individually) envision them to sound like in say our heads or in linked universe like when Four asks how Wild broke the sword and he said on a rock…that face Four made man. Dude may have an aneurism if he ever saw totk!wild’s inventions I think…makes imagining the voices more amusing in my mind and everyone else’s reactions.

My brain is weird….anyone got any thoughts or,opinions on this? Trying to go by how they seem via @linkeduniverse amazing comic as well as how to precise them a bit cannon and oh fuck I forgot about First and Fierce Diety…

I blame @trippygalaxy for the Out in the Woods little ficlet for this brain spiral…cuz fuck Time and that sexy voice he totally would have. *whispers* also them Forearms …and those back muscles…that tight black shirt aaaad spiraling i am. Dam rabbit hole.

Pics are from zerochan.net and/or pixiv or just google search as well as official comic. Minus one picture comic panel from @ovegakart adorable comic panel.

If you actually know who the artist is just say so/tell me, and/or link them (plz? Maybe?) Be nice to know actually since their work is amazing. More so if the pictures are really old as well and can only be found if you go down a rabbit hole.

I can’t even draw stick figures…I think? Would they even count as stick figures?