#look ma no parentheses

[theshenami]

So, about the English localization of FF7 Rebirth's sector 5 scenes

Sorry, this is going to be a long one, but I had recently seen on Reddit that several people mentioned the English localization for several chapter 14 scenes can be rather misleading. I decided to play through the opening cutscenes again in Spanish, since several people noted that it matches the original Japanese script very closely, and I neither speak nor read Japanese. My objective going into to this was to better understand several of the conversations that left me scratching my head.

For example, when Sephiroth comments on Cloud having a functional piece of white materia in the forest, the English line "Very poor form" left many of us scratching our heads. However, in Spanish he says "he de castigarte por ello", which can be interpreted as "I have to punish you for that". The English script creates a HUGE misunderstanding, and completely obscures the clear foreshadowing in the Spanish dialogue. Also, in Aerith's house she says to a very confused Cloud: "we could call it a homecoming" vs "hemos vuelto al planeta" (we have returned to the planet). The latter strongly implies that they are in the Lifestream, which they seemed to have fallen into at the end of Chapter 13.

The "date scene" also has some key differences between English vs Spanish. Notably, when the photographer says "you don't look like you're on a date, more like at a funeral. just have fun while you can, huh", in Spanish he says "no crees que haceis mala pareja? tu novia esta a punto de llorar. No teneis quimica, y punto" (don't you think you make a bad couple? your girlfriend is about to cry. you don't have chemistry, period). I mean, come on, he's WAY more savage in the Spanish version, and a lot clearer about why they lost the contest! I think the other party members would agree with that last point if they had to compare Cloud x Tifa vs Cloud x Aerith interactions throughout the game, with the former having chemistry that jumps off the screen.

Finally, several points of the conversation in the church scene between Cloud and Aerith seem to be clearer in Spanish, which honestly had me confused several times in the English version. I break down the entire English vs Spanish exchange below, structured as English/Spanish (with English interpretation in parentheses). I also put in both Cloud's low and high affection responses for reference.

Cloud: This is it right, our spot? / Aqui es donde querias venir? (Is this where you wanted to come?)

Aerith: Bingo / Has acertado (You got it)

Cloud: That was easy / Era obvio (It was obvious)

Aerith: I told you it was obvious / Eso es porque tenemos pocos recuerdos juntos (That's because we have too few memories)

Cloud: Well, you'll have to give me a harder one next time / Con el tiempo tendremos mas (We can make some more in the future)

Aerith: Oh, next time? / Eso es lo que quieres (Is that what you want?)

Cloud, low affection: Yeah, why not / Eso hacen los amigos, no (that's what friends do, right)

Cloud, high affection: Yeah, next time / Si, sin duda (Yes, definitely)

Aerith: At least I know now, where you and I stand, I mean. Thing is Cloud, I really like you. / Es un alivio saber lo que sientes (I'm relieved to know how you feel). Yo... te quiero (I... love you).

Aerith: But then, "like" can mean a lot of different things, can't it. Cause there's liking, and there's "liking. / Pero hay muchas formas de quere a alguien (But there are many ways to love someone). A cual crees que me refiero (Which one do you think I mean)?

Cloud: Seriously, what's going on? You've been weird all day. / Aeris, estas muy rara (Aeris, you are acting strange). Llevas todo el dia rara (You've been weird all day).

Aerith: I'm sorry / Permiteme un capricho ("Allow me to have a treat" is the literal translation, but it likely means "grant my strange/unusual wish" in this context).

Aerith: Whatever happens, don't blame yourself / Basta de sentirse culpable (Stop feeling guilty).

Aerith: Cloud, thank you / Cloud, ayudame (I need your help).

Aerith: Sorry, I'll be okay / Olvidalo, no he dicho nada (Forget I said anything).

She hands him the white materia, Cloud seems confused, and then:

Aerith: This isn't about me though, it's about saving the world, and you / Estoy segura de que esta materia salvara el mundo (I'm sure this materia will save the world).

Cloud then gets pushed into the rainbow light and, scene.

Much of the dialogue is the same between languages, but several points are clearer in Spanish: asking for Cloud to grant her wish before hugging him instead of abruptly apologizing first; telling him to stop feeling guilty (which alludes to his internal story arc); and telling him she needs his help before handing him the White materia vs "thank you" in the English script.

It is worth noting that the whole "te quiero" (i.e. I love you) part can be a bit misleading. In Spanish there are actually two ways to say "I love you": te quiero and te amo. The former is typically used in a more casual way such as for close friends or members of your extended family, and in some contexts can be interpreted as "I like you", which matches the English script. The latter "te amo" is typically meant to express "I'm in love with you" for romantic partners or deep love for close family members (such as your parents, siblings or children). So the Spanish dialogue seems to suggest that Aerith doesn't have overtly romantic feelings for Cloud. Side note, in Gongaga when Cloud asks if she still loves Zack, she simply replies "Si, aun le quiero" (yes, I still love him) in Spanish vs "Maybe, he's never given me a reason not to" in English. Again, the Spanish is so much clearer!

The differences that I thought changed the meaning of their dialogue the most are the English parts that mention "our spot", and the saving the world bits. For "our spot", in Spanish Cloud merely states the church is where she wanted to come, and does not refer to it as "our place" (nuestro sitio) like Aerith does prior to the church scene, which removes some of the confusion I had since it is not technically "their spot" (they first met on the Sector 8 plate, which she even reminds him of in Junon), but rather hers and Zack's. The change in the saving the world part also changes the subtext quite a bit, since the English version led some to believe that she was implying she could fill Tifa's role in the Lifestream sequence (i.e. be heroine of the inner plot), whereas the Spanish version places her focus entirely on being the heroine of the outer plot.

This analysis really makes me see these scenes in a whole new light (especially that photographer one, it's priceless in Spanish), as it makes them both clearer and more tragic. Now I really want to replay the entire game in Spanish, to see whether any other instances exist where the English is just too ambiguous compared to the Spanish, and hence the Japanese by association.

[frostironfudge]

Labyrinth - Bucky Barnes - Chapter III

Summary: labyrinth (noun), a complicated set of paths and passages, through which it is difficult to find your way. Bucky and You would do anything for Steve and Wanda, your respective best friends. In an attempt to avoid a tradition Steve and Wanda come up with a lie involving their best friends.  A lie, that involves building a labyrinth. Bucky and You begin to build but will you two find your way out or be caught in it?

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female!Reader, (Modern AU)

Word Count: 9.2k || Dividers: @firefly-graphics

Warnings: fluff, angst, swearing, a lil drama, sorta steamy moments, reader's boss is a meanie, a look into the past of the reader and bucky, romanian words have translations written in parentheses.

Main Masterlist || AO3 || Fic Masterlist

Bucky’s leg bouncing out of nervousness. Winnie is staring at them pointedly. Becca is trying to not laugh. Steve wants to run away, he really does. 

“So you got him fake engaged.” Winnie states, Steve nods. 

“So that you don’t have to follow tradition.” She states again. Steve nods again. 

Becca laughs again. Bucky shoots her a glare. 

“James Barnes, you do not glare at your sister.” She snaps, glaring at him. 

“Sorry Ma.” Bucky looks back at his hands, the ring in place. 

“Do you like this girl?” She questions. 

Becca represses her laughter again, knowing the ins and outs of the issue at hand. Steve groans, burying his head in his hands. 

“I don’t like her, she’s Wanda’s best friend so it worked out that way.” Bucky explains again. 

“Did you ask her to come over?” She raises a brow. He nods. 

“She should be here any minute.” Bucky gazes outside just as your car turns onto the driveway. Alpine perks up from her sleeping spot near the window, sunlight illuminating her white fur. 

Everyone’s eyes are on your approaching form, you’re holding a box. Bucky rolls his eyes. 

Alpine scratches at the window in recognition, you smile seeing her. 

The little pathway is lined by solar lamps with tiny butterflies made on them. You take a few deep breaths before ringing the doorbell. 

Bucky opens the door. 

“Hi.” You smile, he opens the door further to allow you inside. 

“You can take off your shoes here and wear those.” He points at the home slippers. You nod, manoeuvring the box and switching footwear. 

You falter a little, Bucky’s hand moves around the small of your back to steady you. You’re flush against his chest. Your skin heats at the proximity. 

Your gaze moves to the cut and bruise, “Did you ice it again?”

He’s about to respond, Winnie clears her throat from the archway leading to the living room, Bucky steps away from you. 

“Thank you for inviting me to your home, Mrs. Barnes, I got these for you.” You move forward and elevate the box lightly. “It’s made with sugar free ingredients. Bucky mentioned his dad has diabetes, so even he can have it.” 

Winnie smiles, “That’s generous of you.” 

“Wait, I know that logo, that's Confection Confession!” Becca gleams, taking the box away from you, “I had their stuff at a friend’s party and followed them on instagram literally the best desserts, damn I want to order another cake right now.” 

“You did?” You ask surprised. 

“They have the best desserts that I’ve eaten in so long, mum you remember those party favour cookies?” Becca turns to Winnie. 

“Oh my, those just melted in the mouth.” Winnie sighs dreamily. 

You grin happiness coursing through you, Bucky rolls his eyes. 

“Y/N actually is the person behind Confection Confession.” Steve adds, the mother daughter duo look between each other then at Bucky. Then at you. 

“Well have a seat I’m sure we have a lot to discuss.” Winnie motions for you to follow. 

“I’m slicing up these mini cakes.” Becca grins bounding over to the kitchen. 

“Steve, go help Becca.” Winnie requests, he makes his way over giving Bucky and you a thumbs up.  

You wonder if Wanda was here would you be more at ease. 

Bucky moves to the opposite side, leaving you to face his mother and him. Alone. You fiddle with your bag, Alpine lunges at you. 

“Alpine!” You coo, she rubs her face against your stomach, purring and settling onto your lap. 

“I see she’s met Alpine but not me.” Winnie raises a brow at her son, you look at him, Bucky for the first time in your life seems nervous. 

“Ma…”

She gestures for him to keep quiet, her questions begin, general questions getting to know you. College, hobbies, degrees, and work. You ask her questions as well, Bucky’s hard gaze is fixed upon you. Waiting for you to fuck up.

“So, what have you thought about telling others?” Winnie questions after a silence envelopes for a few moments. 

“Others?” You question, your eyes shift to Bucky then back to his mother. 

“Your family dear, I’m sure they would have been as baffled as I was.” She explains with a soft smile.

Bucky watches as you try to keep the smile on your face, your hand clutches the sofa, the other stays on Alpine. 

“My family and I aren’t on speaking terms.” You tell her. 

“I see, well, family is family, sometimes they don’t understand, sometimes we don’t, but if it gets too much and too bad, distance will help heal wounds.” She advises and you nod. 

“Thank you.” you say, not knowing what else can be said.

“Right,” She glares at him, “now, Y/N, Bucky tells me that you both have agreed to this fake engagement.” She turns to face you again. 

You nod, “Wanda and Steve don’t believe in the tradition, and if they follow the tradition to the finest of rules, then the couple who are shortlisted are rude, obnoxious and judgemental towards both of them and others.” 

“Sharon and Brock Rumlow?” She looks towards Bucky, her eyes lingering on his jaw. 

“Yes, he, James got hurt defending me against Brock.” You explain. 

“You don’t call him Bucky?” She wonders, “May I ask why?”

“We aren’t that close in general, and he’s never corrected me.” You shrug, petting Alpine. Bucky scoffs. You narrow your eyes at him. 

“Do you have any ulterior motive?” She questions, Bucky’s eyes widen.

“Ma, what the hell?” His voice raises, Steve and Becca walk in reverse back to the kitchen. 

“I don’t, I’m doing this for my best friend. I don’t have any interest, romantic or otherwise. I have no motive other than having my best friend be happy.” You explain. 

“I worry about him, it's been so long since he ever brought anyone home and now this for a minute I thought it was true and I was upset.” She gives you a warm smile. 

“I can understand, I’d be worried and protective about my child as well.” You add, she nods. 

“So how can I help?” She claps her hands. 

“You have to do nothing.” Bucky tells her to stand up. 

“I’m the mother in law, I need to know my daughter in law.” She says it as if it is simple. 

“No, you don’t need to bond with her. We’re not interacting beyond the required events. Now if your curiosity is quelled can she go?” He gestures to you, you look down at Alpine. 

“Sweetheart, don’t mind him. You can stay as long as you’d prefer, I’m sure Becca would love to ask you more questions regarding baking.” She requests, you shake your head to dismiss her concern. 

“I, it’s fine, this is difficult to deal with and he isn’t wrong, the more minimum we keep it, it's easier to keep track of the lie.” You explain, carefully shifting Alpine as your phone rings. 

“Excuse me.” You shift slightly checking the notification. 

Unknown Number: hi, just wanted to place in my order for the day after is that possible? - Zeenath N

Y/N: hey yes, you can just let me know what your order constitutes and I’ll revert with the amount and payment link and pick up details, I don’t offer delivery. 

Zeenath N Delivery 25th: 1 box of 12 chocolate chip, 1 box of red velvet, 1 box of peanut butter and chocolate chip, 1 box of raspberry and 1 assorted brownie gift box

Another message comes in,

Marianne: hi i’m on my way back, can I pick up the order earlier? If it’s inconvenient let me know.

Your eyes move up to Bucky, he glares at you as if checking your phone is a sin, you give Winnie an apologetic look. She smiles as if to brush it off.

“I have an order that is being picked up earlier, I need to leave, I’m so sorry to cut this short. Becca can always contact me anytime, I’d be happy to speak with her more.” You stand. 

Winnie smiles yet again, “Thank you for agreeing to meet us.” 

“The pleasure was mine, James, he spoke very highly of you, as has everyone I’ve met who knows you. Today I know why.” You beam, she chuckles. 

You move towards the door, catching Steve and Becca eating the cakes. They wave at you with their mouthfuls. You laugh. 

Winnie nudges Bucky to see you off. Begrudgingly he gets up, following you. He says nothing watching you. You look up at him wearing your shoes. 

You smile at him while leaving. 

“Thank you, for coming over on short notice.” He nods, while watching you move to the door. 

“She’s a sweet person, I figured it might happen given what happened yesterday.” You shrug. 

He hums. You turn walking to your car, pulling out of the driveway. 

When Bucky returns inside everyone is in the kitchen devouring the dessert. 

“She reminds me of something.” Winnie observes, as Bucky retrieves a glass of juice for himself. 

“lumina soarelui (sunlight).” He answers back in Romanian absentmindedly. His shoulders tense when he realises. 

“ai dreptate (you are right).” His mother replies, not trying to make a fuss. 

Bucky heads out of the kitchen towards his old room. 

Becca and Winnie share a look and a smile. Steve tilts his head looking amongst the three Barneses. Becca points at the sky and draws an outline of the sun on the kitchen table. 

Steve’s eyes widen, he looks on after Bucky he’d heard those words before everything went to shit. 

Six Years Ago. 

The gathering at Steve’s is in full swing, parents out of town and the need for a weekend party to let loose. Wanda grins at him, his heartbeat picks up. Music is thumping and the bass is deliciously enticing.

She grabs your hand excitedly to finally catch his eye, unknowing that all this time she’s all Steve sees, you laugh, holding on to the box you carried. Steve invited you as well and Wanda said the two of you would bring dessert.

Which meant she over whisked the batter while dreaming about Steve’s arms and you had to take over and restart it while she kept daydreaming. Another tug on your arm has you into her bright eyes.

“What?” You ask, the feeling of being watched takes over your side, you know when you lift your gaze to your right you will see him. 

“Bucky is staring at you.” She whispers, your skin heats. 

You look up sure enough he’s next to Steve but his eyes are on you. You smile at him, his lips quirk up in the slightest before Brock touches his arm to divert his attention.

It's always this way, you always find each other even in the most crowded of rooms. The way something within you would urge you to look and there you would find Bucky. 

“Imagine if we date best friends being best friends?” Wanda squeals excitedly, breaking you out of your pining.

“If he even likes me, I’m the one harbouring a crush.” You shake your head dismissing the thought.

“You need to give yourself more credit, Y/N.” Wanda sighs as you both finally make it into the kitchen, you open the box that harbours the sweet treats and hand Wanda two pieces to take to Steve. 

Bucky enters the kitchen then, Wanda grins at you, wiggling her brows and giving you a thumbs up. You fumble with the corner of the box.

“Would you, would you like to try one?” You nervously ask him, his eyes move from you to the box of brownies.

“What kind are they?” he moves closer, the scent of chocolate and caramel greet his senses.

“Chocolate and Caramel with a little sprinkle of sea salt.” you grab a tissue and hand him a piece. 

You don’t want to creepily watch him take a bite, but you also want to know his reaction. Bucky eyes the sweet treat, it does smell heavenly and you gave him a corner piece, he loves those pieces.

Brock enters the kitchen, 

“Hey Y/N.” he greets and goes towards the brownie box, “You made these?” 

You nod, “Yeah, have one.” you push the box towards him.

Bucky glares at Brock for interrupting. Though there was not a conversation occurring it still felt as if it was a moment only for the two of you.

“Sharon’s searching for you.” Brock says, Bucky makes a displeased sound. 

Brock eyes him, your eyes fall to the brownie but Bucky hasn’t eaten it.

“Okay, um I’ll go find her, enjoy the brownies.” You look at Bucky, smiling at him again before leaving. 

Sharon pulls on your arm dragging you towards a group of people, “Here she is!” she beams. You give a nervous laugh.

“Y/N this is Quinten Beck, he’s a colleague of Brock and Quinten this is the Y/N you have been asking about.” She acquaints the two of you. You to him, he’s smiling at you.

“Hi, I must admit, I’ve asked Brock about you more than I ask him about work related things.” Quinten laughs, you smile.

“I hope I don’t cause too much trouble.” You rub the back of your neck.

“On the contrary you make the trouble worth it.” He gives you a charming grin.

Your eyes dart towards the kitchen, Bucky stands there looking at the two of you. A scowl etched on his face. Your brows furrowed, were the brownies not good? 

Quentin taps your shoulder and you look back at him. 

“So tell me what does someone like you do apart from baking really good cookies?” Quentin chuckles, leaning closer as you explain your current life, completing your degree and an internship. 

You make a note to watch the clock, five more minutes and you would find Bucky. You would tell him how you feel. 

Maybe ask him out on a date? You had a cake batter ready at home to either cry with or celebrate.

You hoped it was the latter.

Present. 

You don’t understand why your mind brings forth the six year old incident again. Maybe because you finally registered the date. 

Quentin decided to promise you with a promise ring that he intends to replace it with a diamond one within two years, which would be today. 

Five years ago, one year after meeting Quentin had asked you out. 

You fell headfirst, when the man upon whom your heart was harbouring a huge turned into a heartbreaking revelation.

With Quentin you saw your entire future but then the rose tinted glasses began getting scratched and the grey reality seeped in, the only thing that he gave was heartbreak. 

You shut the pandora’s box, the break up was over two years old, you had moved on yet things ached. 

Now you had a fake engagement ring. 

You want to laugh. 

You realise how abrupt everything was at the Barnes household, you partly wonder if they know what he said to you. That they enjoy food items he doesn’t eat even a bite of with a passion. 

You often wonder what would have happened if you didn’t meet Quentin, what would happen if you said no to the date. Would you still have intimately known heartbreak?

Breaking out of the reverie you smile at the little girl accompanying her mom, Marianne for the cookie package pick up. She grins up at you, her pigtails bouncing. You give her an extra M&M cookie, the one you packed when you heard her sweetly asking her mother when they would pick up the desserts over the phone.

They thank you before making their way out. 

Heading back up to your apartment, you sigh, reaching for your phone to call up Wanda. 

She picks up on the third ring. 

“Hey how was it with his mom and sister?” She questions. 

“It was okay, my brain decided to recall I was supposed to be engaged to Quentin now.” You sigh. 

“I didn’t realise how difficult this would get for you.” Her voice is full of concern. 

“It isn’t, it’s just, I don’t know how to explain it. It doesn’t hurt anymore, it’s more like why was the hurt there?” You exhale. 

“You want me to come over with take out and we watch movies?” She suggests as you smile. 

“No, I know you have date night, maybe this weekend?” You counter the offer. 

“Y/N… you know I will forgo date night, Steve will understand.” Wanda’s brows furrow, Steve gestures to know what’s wrong. 

Wanda mouths ‘Quentin’. Steve’s jaw tightens, both of them hated him for what he put you through, your revelation that the antics were not a one time occurrence left a sour taste in their mouths. 

Guilt also swarmed, of not being there. Steve and Wanda were too enamoured with one another and when you decided to tell her you would like more time spent with her, she mistook what you meant which led to the rift while you were already drowning.

“I know he would but I’d rather go be surrounded by books today. I need a fictional boyfriend to take care of me.” You laugh, Wanda chuckles. 

“Maybe a brooding, grumpy to everyone but you kind?” She adds fuel to the fire. 

“God yes, pretty eyes and taller than me, just crushes me to his beefy chest.” You add, your brain instantly has Bucky conjured up. 

“And the hug turns into something hot and smutty?” Your best friend giggles but your brain oh your brain reminds you of how Bucky’s scent cascaded over you. 

The way those droplets of water traversed over his chest, the way his lips felt against yours, warm calloused hands teasing your flesh. 

How would that feel?

“O-oh,” You breathe.

“Are you getting off right now?!” Wanda screeches. 

“What no, my brain was just, just thinking of, of, Damon Salvatore.” You defend. 

“Right.” She says in a tone of disbelief. 

“What is the tone for?” You open the bottle of water. 

“We both know you aren’t thinking of Damon Salvatore.” She teases. Your skin floods with warmth. 

“Are you thinking of Damon’s arms wrapped around you or a certain brooding man who cooked you dinner and made sure you were taken care of?” She adds, grinning smugly. 

“Stop grinning smugly, I can hear it all the way here.” You warn. 

“Hmm, go to the bookstore also Steve says he knows a nicer independent one if you want to go somewhere new.” She suggests and Steve's eyes narrow. 

“Yeah sure, send it to me?” The timer dings, “I’ll speak to you later and have fun on date night.” You bid each other goodbye. 

Steve watches his fiancé have that little scheming look on her face. 

“What are you scheming?” He questions pulling her into his lap. 

“Who said I’m scheming?” Wanda feigns innocence. 

“You have that same look as the time you got me brownies six years ago and then we ended up making out.” He brushes his lips over her jaw. 

“Well, send me that bookstore’s address Bucky frequents.” She requests as his lips move along her neck. 

“You little genius, you noticed too.” He grins, retrieving his phone. 

“Of course I am, they just need to be locked in a room and bang it out.” She shrugs. 

“A bookstore isn't an appropriate place to bang—,” he pauses when she raises a brow, “For others, we’ve done it doesn’t mean everyone should.” He completes. 

“Well see, they just need a nudge. We’re simply nudging.” Wanda grins forwarding the address. 

Steve then diverts her lips back upon his own. 

Bucky finds solace among the scent of paperback books, the looming walls of books provide contentment. It had been a hard week after the pathetic weekend of lying. And then the admission of truth to his mother. Thoughts of you plagued him less often as his mind was preoccupied with important things. Yet his mind brought him back to you. 

He’s away from that honeyed scent of yours, it's somehow even more addicting than when you carried the scent of dark chocolate with a lingering caramel.  

His brows furrowed as he reread the back cover of the book he held, the scent of honey engulfed him again. 

“I’m dreaming.” He mutters, trying to focus on the summary. 

A book falls at the end of the aisle, he glances towards the source you’re placing the book back. 

“It’s worse, I’m in a nightmare.” He places the book back wanting to get out of the aisle. 

“Excuse me, Sir, Mister? Hey, you left your bag—, Oh, James… Hey…” he notes that you sound surprised, you recognised him from the arm ink matching it with his height. He’s in a short sleeved black t-shirt that clings to the body you’ve come here to forget. 

A week full of thoughts plagued by him and his stupid face and his even stupider body that won’t leave your brain. Or rather your brain won’t leave the images. 

He turns, taking the bag and going to the reading section not acknowledging your presence. 

You bite the inside of your cheek, if he wanted to act like strangers then fine so be it. You turn to the shelves trying to find the books from your to be read pile. Specifically something that had physical intimacy and not just sex but maybe sex and smut would do. 

This entire week tested you in every way possible. The conversation with Wanda and her sending you the address almost had you out the door. Then there was a panicked call from your Boss. That entire ordeal took the entire week to sort through. Therefore, you would not let James Barnes ruin your new book night. No, he would not ruin you finding a book boyfriend to fawn over and maybe cry over in case there was angst. 

Picking up the titles you make your way over to the reading area. Which is unfortunately packed. You sigh, so much for reading through some of the books to decide which one you wanted to take home. You walk around with a pile of six books, trying to find even a single chair. 

Bucky watches you from his corner seat trying to find a place in the crowded area. He spies at least six books in your hands. He scoffs. There is an empty chair opposite to him available, your gaze finds him, your lips press into a thin line. You don’t notice the empty chair yet.

You glance down at the titles, maybe you should not have gone overboard in search of your next book boyfriend. You sigh. There was no space here to sit and read and possibly have a coffee from the attached café. 

Bucky watches as you gaze down at your books and then he watches you turn away. Setting the books on the shelf near you, taking out your phone and taking a picture of the spines. You contemplate putting them back or finding another corner to sit in to read. Maybe sitting in the aisles?

Another once over has you pause, you notice the empty seat near him. Your eyes narrow at him. Bucky gazes back down into his own book, finding where he left off. You make your way over, maybe the back area has more seats.

A shadow crosses over Bucky, “No you cannot sit there–,” 

“Son?” An elderly voice seems taken aback, he pauses looking up at the old lady.

“I’m so sorry I thought you were someone else, please, sit.” He shifts his things from the table making space for her.

Your laughter finds his ears, he turns to you, sitting to his left. 

“Dear?” The old woman looks at Bucky, “My husband would be joining me soon. Will you join that young woman, she has an empty seat?” 

“I don’t think she would–,”

“Excuse me, young lady?” She cuts him off by looking towards you. .

You look at the old woman waving her hand to catch your attention. 

“Yes?” You ask, looking at her with a smile.

“My husband will be joining me, and I can’t move too much once I sit, would it be alright for this young gentleman to join you?” She requests, you look at Bucky with a shit eating grin.

“Of course.” You say a tad too cheerily. 

Bucky rolls his eyes, getting up and taking the seat opposite to yours.

“Thank you.” The lady smiles and then her husband joins her, kissing her forehead before sitting down and handing her a book.

Bucky’s gaze shifts to you as you pick a book from your pile, then he frowns noticing your ring is gone. You peek from the top of your book at him, finding his gaze fixated on your left hand.

“It’s in a necklace,” You show him the chain that harbours the ring, “Kneading dough batches so..” Your gaze falls to his empty hand.

He reveals the same necklace fix he did, “Gym.” is his one-word reason.

Silence takes over the two of you again and Bucky reads, you look back into your book. The main male character is talk, slightly grumpy and blue eyed, nope.

You switch the books, okay this one has green eyes okay, sleeve tattoo. Nope. 

Bucky watches you bemused huffing and switching books after ten to fifteen minutes of reading. When you look up he looks back down at his own book. 

He hears you huff in frustration, you switch your book again. 

This book better have a guy who does not remind you of James Barnes or so help you god. You begin reading satisfied that the guy is the opposite of Bucky in physical reminders. 

Brown eyes, taller than the female lead, no tattoos, no hair that is sort of long and frames his face in a way that is both groomed well or looks effortlessly messy but good. You peek up, Bucky’s bicep bulges as he runs a hand through his hair, licking his bottom lip as he reads. 

What was the male lead doing in your book? 

You look back down, then the words ‘pulled her into the shower’ cloud your vision. The next scene in the book has you shift around in your seat, the way they move, the way the male lead speaks to her, with such need but control, praise and husky whispers. 

On the brink of him losing into her, you clear your parched throat. 

Shifting again, skin heating as the scene progresses.  

Bucky looks back up at you, you’re constantly shifting in his peripheral vision. It is getting annoying but then his eyes study you. 

Your breathing rate is elevated, your lips bitten, oh, your knee bumps against his own as your thighs clench. 

He smirks, then takes his phone out to search for the book. You don’t even notice his absence as he returns with the very same book. 

You don’t notice as he reads it with so much intrigue. You exhale finally as the two chapter sex scene ends and the book is still in the first five chapters. You’re in for a ride. 

“So did you like the move he made on page thirty five?” Bucky’s voice is like ice cold water to your heated skin. 

“What?” You look up and catch sight of the book in his hands,“Why are you reading—,” 

“I found the summary appealing.” He shrugs, cutting you off, “Now did you like that or what was it that had you squirming in your seat?” He turns through the pages, long, thick digits, featherlike over the page you almost envy the book. 

“I don’t think you need to know.” You snatch the book out of his hands, “Why don’t you read the other book, Mr. Fiance.” 

He chuckles, “So easy to get under your skin, Ms. Fiancé.” picking his original read again. 

He has to bite his own tongue, the female lead in his book now moves closer to the male lead. His brain recalls the way your skin feels, the way your scent drowned him and he didn’t want to reach for the surface. 

Bucky finds his blood rushing somewhere other than his brain, because all his brain can think of is the feel of your fingers on his jaw, how you would look perched on his lap, face to face with him and how it would be to have your lips within reach. 

He shuts the book, placing it with a thud on the table. You look up then shrug looking back down. 

Bucky clenches his jaw. What the fuck was wrong with his brain?  

He is not supposed to harbour these old thoughts, they stopped six years ago.

Six Years Ago.

Bucky finds himself drawn to you. In any room he can find you, and when he does your gaze finds him. It might be creepy the way he searches for you. It might sound ridiculous but he feels as though the two of you are drawn to each other like magnets. 

You sneak a glance at him, he watches that pretty grin of yours take over your face. Wanda says something to you and you meet his eyes with your mesmerising ones. 

Then you smile, Bucky’s own lips lift in the slightest and then Brock opens his mouth and taps his shoulder. 

“Yo Barnes, who are you gonna tap tonight?” Rumlow sniggers. 

“Act a little mature aren’t you a company owner now?” Bucky shakes his head, taking a sip of his drink. 

“Oh come on, I know Quentin already has his sights set on a girl, tell me who is it for you? Steve’s a lovesick puppy for Wanda so it ain’t your best friend’s girl.” Brock turns watching the area for anyone he could guess would be Bucky’s interest. 

The man being questioned watches you head to the kitchen, his feet move, pulling him towards you. Today, today, he would finally ask you out. Enough mirror practices, enough asking Steve about you. 

You’re giving Wanda two pieces of whatever you’ve baked. He can feel the comforting aroma of chocolate wrap around him. 

Wanda leaves, giving him a knowing grin and she gives you another glance. 

Then you ask him with nervousness if he’d like a piece. You give him his favourite corner piece.

Then, Brock enters, breaking the damn moment. 

Then, Sharon wants you. 

He clicks his tongue irritated. 

He watches you leave then takes a bite of the brownies, he moans at the melting taste. 

“Geez control yourself, it's not that great.” Brock rolls his eyes, then himself takes a bite and hums in delight. 

“Right, control yourself Brock.” Bucky quips mouth full with another piece. Holy fuck he wants to kiss your hands and your forehead. 

“I think I’m going to ask her.” Bucky mutters out loud, his taste buds humming in delight. 

“Ask her for the recipe?” Brock wonders, watching him. 

Bucky shakes his head, “Man I can’t bake for shit, I wouldn’t even want to, I want to ask her out. She’s the one that has my attention.” 

“You want to fuck, Y/N?” He asks in disbelief. 

“No, I want to take her out on a date.” Bucky states, “Why do something short term when I want to have long term things?” Bucky thinks it's the brownies making him speak to Rumlow so openly. 

Rumlow nods, “Uh huh.” Then he retreats from the kitchen. 

Bucky eats another piece, winces as the box is almost empty. 

Tough luck for the others. 

As he steps out, he finds Quentin Beck intently conversing with you. Bucky scowls, that man is a second rate human being with zero morals and then you look up at Bucky, as if you will find answers from him. 

He notes that you seem confused, shit he’s scowling, when he looks back at you after looking away. You’re already speaking to Quentin again. 

Bucky heads outside through the back door, needing to gather his thoughts, he would ask you tonight. He’s not going to let the chance go.

Present.

Bucky taps his card against the machine, it whirrs printing the receipt for the croissant and coffee. Why was his mind bringing back old memories he doesn’t understand? However, it reminds him why he shouldn’t daydream or think about your lips. 

That entire night was proof that he was better off without you being his actual partner. It changed his entire perspective about you. The way Wanda and Steve painted you to be this amazing person, this sweet, caring soul? Bullshit. 

Even now you fooled the old lady just to get back at him. With your stupid sunshine smile and your stupid happy all the time attitude and your stupid lips that are so soft he just wants to feel them on his mouth. Or that stupid needy sigh that wants him to be the one to coax all the possible sweet sounds from your mouth.

He really should have a better word than ‘stupid’ to describe his disdain. 

He moves to the pick up counter, shaking his head. Out of sheer stupid curiosity, he wants to check in on you. 

‘You really need a new word, Barnes.’ He mutters.

“Talking to yourself?” You chuckle from beside him, picking the juice bottle from the fridge near him.

“I do enjoy my own company.” He answers, leaning against the counter.

“I never doubted that, you do have a big enough ego.” You pat his arm.

“Really? I felt I didn’t have enough space to accommodate mine with your ego right there, sunshine.” He smirks when your face puckers.

You scoff, choosing to ignore him to look at the food section, only to find it empty. 

“I’m sorry we’re out of food items Ma’am. Sir, your order.” The server walks over with Bucky’s order tray.

“Thank you.” Bucky takes the tray.

“Oh that's okay. I’ll just have this,” You hand over the bottle for it to be scanned. 

Bucky makes his way back to the table, confusion laces him as your things are on the table where the elderly couple were sitting and not opposite to him. He places the tray down, taking a sip of his drink. 

You return with your drink, wordlessly taking a seat, away from him. 

The crowd dwindled now, most of the seats empty. 

“Did you like the scene? When she straddles his lap just after his shower and chases the stray water droplet with her tongue?” Your voice has a sultry edge, Bucky sputters his coffee. 

Wiping his mouth with a tissue he looks up at you. 

“You read my book.” He accuses.

“I got my own copy.” You hold it up. 

“So tell me, the post shower scene or ooh, ‘she sat right next to me, her body heat radiating against mine, if her hand on my thigh moved any higher she would know how even the mere presence of her has me aching, wanton, needy to have her—,’”

“Okay that’s enough.” He snatches the book out of your hands. 

You giggle, taking a sip of your juice. 

Bucky shoves the book into his pile, as he’s eating the croissant you watch for his response to it, you knew it was a chocolate filled one.  

His blue eyes close, he hums slightly setting it down. Your gaze finds the stray smear of chocolate at the corner of his lips. 

Bucky picks his book back up moving through it with his left hand. Continuing to eat his croissant at regular intervals. 

You wonder if that night you waited for his reaction or if it was good you left. You get back to your book as well, the past had already haunted you enough because of Quentin. 

Six Years Ago. 

Quentin listens intently and you hear him go on and on about the project with Brock that was picked up by an investor and now on their way to make their first million. 

Your eyes scan the room for Bucky but you don’t find him. Once the conversation with Quentin dwindles to the five minute mark you excuse yourself to go to the bathroom but you find yourself shutting the door because Wanda and Steve forgot to lock it while making out. 

Heading to the kitchen you find the brownie box almost empty. You smile heading to retrieve a bottle of water. 

“Hey so what do you think of Quentin?” Sharon startles you.

“Oh um, he seems nice… Have you seen Bucky?” You ask and she frowns.

“Why do you want to see him?” she gives you a disapproving look.

“I just wanted to know if he liked the brownies… and, um,” Your cheeks heat again, “I sort of wanted to ask him out.”

“Oh sweetie, he, I don’t even know if I should tell you, Brock was here when he had them and he saw you talking to Quentin…” Sharon reaches out to touch your arm, sympathy laces her tone, “Brock told me, that Bucky said and I quote, ‘Of course she would need to leech off of a rich guy. The baking skills will take her nowhere.’” 

“He-He what?” You can’t believe it, but the scowl on his face combined with this, your heart sinks. 

“I’m sorry babe.” She frowns, rubbing your arm again, “but hey, at-least Quentin thinks you’re amazing.” 

“I, I, think I need some air.” You mutter gently moving her arm away and stepping towards the back porch, away from the noise.

Present. 

Bucky’s done with his little meal, the coffee cup empty, he lifts his gaze to you. You've been staring at the same page for over a minute. He shrugs, he’s not responsible to ask you where your mind is, he sure as hell doesn’t care. 

Checking the time he gathers his things, the books he wants to purchase in one hand and the ones he will place back in the other. 

You bring yourself back to the present, finding yourself on the same page, a small peek towards Bucky; you see him walk away. You don’t feel bad about his lack of interest in speaking to you. It used to hurt initially but now it was just routine.

You look back into the book, finding the male character arranging a sweet date for the female character based on something she mentioned in passing. Yeah, he’s your book boyfriend now, smiling to yourself you continue reading.

Bucky finds his steps feel as though they are going through muck. Slowed down and unwilling to move forward as he walks to his car which is unsurprisingly parked a few spaces from yours, he settles in, looking back at the bookstore as you’re making your way out.

You’re busy texting on your phone, another work emergency was seeping in and you had to rush back home to your work laptop. The goddamn attachment won't open and more texts are coming in on the office group. Mindlessly you trace your path to your car.

Bucky was going to lose his mind, the parking lot is half empty, it's late and you’re distracted. He knew this place is safer and they have security cameras covering the lot but it wouldn’t hurt for you to be alert.

You run a frustrated hand over your hair, unlocking your car and settling inside. The light in the car shows Bucky your head bagging against the steering wheel. Then you hit the steering wheel. 

Then you look up to the roof of the car, the automatic light turns off, not before he notices your tears.

Six Years Ago.

Bucky spies you leaving the area looking almost at the brink of tears. You wipe a stray few away. His hardened gaze moves to Quentin. Before he can find his way to you, a hand blocks him. He follows the arm to Brock.

“What?” He questions.

“Don’t man, I’m looking out for you.” Brock says with concern, Bucky watches him.

“Why not?” 

“She isn’t a girl you want to deal with…” Brock lets the sentence hang.

“I just want to tell her about the brownies.” Something about this doesn’t sit right with Bucky.

“Man, I told her about you loving them so much you ate the entire batch almost. She,” Brock pauses as if to gather himself, “she said she was surprised you knew and understood decadent and rich flavours given your financial upbringing.” Brock’s last sentence rings in Bucky’s ears.

His upbringing was difficult, mother and father working to the bone to provide, he worked hard for his scholarships and worked part time as well to build a better life for all of them, Becca took up tutoring as well. It was not an unknown fact but to think you said that then sought out one of the only other rich men at the party? 

Bucky’s jaw sets, his concerned gaze towards you melts into an iced glare. 

“You okay?” Brock questions him.

“I need to be alone, I’m going into Steve’s room.” He mutters, moving to the staircase.

Watching Quentin open the sliding door to the back and smile at you.

Present. 

Bucky often wonders what would have happened if he confronted you. Told you off about speaking that way about his financial situation. Sometimes he wonders if you got the rich life you wanted with Quentin, judging by what he heard about it being a gruesome break up from Steve. 

You must have sobbed at the loss of a chance at a Black Amex Card. 

Switching the ignition on and moving gears he pulls out of the lot even while you remain there. He shoves down the reminiscing emotion that once wanted you for himself. That sometimes wonders and wishes to know what could have been? 

The thought lingers unfortunately more than the required or stipulated time he allocates for stray thoughts to take over. 

Well into his work day as well, then it comes crashing down. Pathetically. 

“Barnes! You son of a bitch!” John cheers walking into the communal kitchen and eating space. 

Bucky places his lunch in the microwave. 

“Yes, Walker?” Bucky looks at the man.

“You didn’t tell us!” John states, then Bucky notices the other staff members. Lemar, Jimmy Woo, Darcy Lewis and Monica Rambaue all look at him with giggy smiles. 

“I’m confident you all got the memo of the merger proposal this morning?” Bucky glances at all of them. 

“You little sneaky boy, show me the ring!” Darcy surges forward. 

Oh. Oh fuck no. 

“H-how the fuck?” His eyes widened. 

“Lemar saw the two of you calling each other Mr and Ms. Fiancé.” John explains, clapping his hand on Bucky’s back. 

“Also saw them wear their rings like necklaces, great hack man.” Lemar commends. 

“Who is she!” Darcy grabs his hand, the two of them started as junior position holders and make a cut throat team at Kamal. 

“Why is this relevant?” Bucky wishes the microwave would just be done. 

“Oh come on, you got engaged and we don’t even know? I demand a picture.” She insisted again. 

“Don’t push him.” Monica chastises. 

“Where was this enthusiasm when I wanted to show my baby’s pictures?” Jimmy questions. 

“Jimmy, you show us three hundred versions of the same picture of your cute baby, this is Barnes’ girl.” John rolls his eyes. 

“If I show you her picture will you back off?” Bucky reluctantly grabs his phone. 

“Yes; but we want to know when, how, her name, her job.” Darcy counts off on her fingers looking at everyone. 

“Yep, then you get to eat your meal.” Lemar chuckles as Bucky shoots him a glare. 

He opens the folder that had the polaroids scanned. He opens the one that is a selfie. All of them coo and John whistles. 

“Damn Barnes, lucked out.” He commends. 

Bucky holds back an eye roll , “Six months ago,”

“You got engaged six months ago and told none of us? You didn’t tell Yusuf!?” Darcy swats his arm. 

“Well I’m private and—,” 

“And Barnes won’t conjure up a family to get in the Boss’ good graces like someone did.” Jimmy interjects and all eyes shift to John. 

“What? Okay I just wanted an in, all of you thought about it at one point.” John raises his hands in disbelief when no one agrees. 

“More information, Barnes.” Darcy demands. 

“Six months engaged, we fell in love, her name is Y/N, she works in web design but she also bakes.” Bucky tucks his phone back and the microwave beeps, he leaves the area to the solace of his office. 

He hoped nobody would blab to Yusuf. He’d admit to his boss. 

Right. Admit to his family oriented man of a Boss he is in a fake engagement. With a woman he hates more than anything. 

Bucky runs a hand through his hair, the worrying gesture resulting in a few pieces of his hair falling forward. Why the fuck did you have to come to his bookstore?

The stupid ring, he takes it out of the necklace and slips it on. 

The stupid, stupid, stupid—

“Son, when I gave you that advice I didn’t realise you were engaged.” Yusuf’s voice greets him. 

Bucky will end whoever blabbed. 

“Sir, I—,”

“You should have told me.” Yusuf chuckles, “I might have been pushy, I understand.” 

“No, I just, her family isn’t on good terms with her so we didn’t want information going out too much, they don’t really approve of a lot of things.” Can Bucky shut up?

“Oh, that is saddening to hear, I usually don’t pay attention but the kitchen was filled with chatter. I hope you are happy, James.” Yusuf moves a hand forward, Bucky grasps it. 

“Be sure to check your email, the work plus family dinner is this weekend, I insist you bring your fiancé. Oh and it is a sort of potluck, my wife cooks wonderfully but I insist she not worry about feeding several people.” Yusuf grins, Bucky nods. 

“We can take care of dessert. My fiancé, she bakes, I’ll have her pay attention to have it absolutely Halal.” Bucky adds, that's it, he’s going to do cardio at the gym. That is his punishment for not shutting his fucking mouth. 

“That is kind of you, I look forward to meeting the soul who has captured my best investment banker’s heart.” He chuckles, “I’ll leave you to your meal, give my regards to the to be missus.” 

Yusuf steps out Bucky deflates, oh fucking hell. 

“Okay I can have that—-,”

“No, you will not ‘can have’ I want it done now.” Your boss cuts off your team member. 

“Ma’am, please we’re already trying to put out fires, the code isn’t working we need time to rewrite.” You defend. 

“Are all of you incompetent? What the hell do I pay you for? You work from home. Honestly, Y/N stop your stupid baking and focus on the work that actualy pays yours bills.” She scoffs. 

There is a momentary silence engulfing the zoom meeting. 

You grip the edge of your chair. Pressing into the wood. 

“I, we can have a brainstorming session.” You offer, trying to not let the words hurt you. Not like you haven’t heard them before. 

“Finally some fucking work.” Your boss rolls her eyes. 

“You can’t speak that way.” Yelena, the newest recruit, pipes up. 

“Newbie, quiet.” Your team member glares at the webcam. 

“Glaring at the webcam means you’re glaring at everyone, including the boss.” Yelena sniggers, you press your lips into a thin line, trying not to laugh. 

“Oh dear god, are any of you competent?” Your boss is taking a deep breath meaning there is a rant incoming, there is knocking at your door, you frown it’s six thirty PM. 

Shutting off your camera you carry the laptop to the door; setting it on the little table. 

Bucky stands there at your doorstep, “I need to talk to you.” He states. 

“Oh for the love of God, are you doing your stupid fucking baking get on your damn webcam, I want this stupid website fixed today or so help me god I will hire a new team!” Your boss yells, you open the door gesture for Bucky to get inside. 

Quickly making your way back to the couch you re-allow the camera access. Bucky walks in, he keeps his distance sitting away from you on the couch. 

“I lost connectivity so I had to shut the camera, we will work on it I assure you, but we need to speak to the client to understand what is the main problem—,”

“The main problem is the website your team designed is failing.” She groans, rubbing her temples. 

“Okay so we re-work the coding, Maria—,”

“Oh no no you all are writing a new code from scratch.” The boss roars, cutting another team member off. 

You wince, Bucky frowns at your laptop. Your boss is horrible. 

“We cannot come up with one from scratch. It will take us longer to get back to the client.” You pipe up in defence.

“Listen up, I don’t need you to tell me how to do this, I need you to follow and what would you know–,” Her voice gets cut off.

“Oh, oh we can’t hear you.” Yelena looks concerned, “oh no, your mute button isn’t working? Maybe you should restart your device.” She advises.

Your boss is frustrated, she slams her laptop shut, leaving the meeting. 

“Is she always this crazy?” Yelena questions after shutting the record meeting button.

“You have no idea.” Maria rolls her eyes.

“I think we need to go over her head and look at the code.” You press, they all give their agreements.

“Nice going kicking her off.” Maria laughs, the conversation begins to flow to something else, you mute yourself then look up at Bucky. His gaze on you.

“Sorry about that, what did you want to discuss?” You ask, lowering the volume of their chatter.

“Your boss is crappy.” He states, not knowing how to broach this subject.

“Yes.” You agree, waiting for him.

You reach over offering a bottle of water from the side table.

“Look, my colleague saw us last night, at the bookstore.” Bucky begins speaking as he turns the ring over his finger.

“Oh, um, did you want me to clarify it’s nothing?” You ask, maybe this was someone he wanted to date.

“No, the opposite actually.” He meets your eyes.

“I don’t think I follow…” 

“The entire office knows that I am engaged, my Boss is a big family person and invites family oriented people to this sort of potluck dinner every month. He invited us.” He exhales.

“You want to lie to your Boss?” You raise a brow.

“We’re lying per se, this is just another person.” Bucky shrugs.

“Okay.” You look back at the screen, nothing is really going on, everyone is on mute on their phones.

“You’re in agreement?” He sounds baffled.

“This is important for you right?” You look back at him.

“Yes.” He nods as well.

“Then I’ll help.” You shrug, “It’s a potluck right? I presume you want to take a dessert item?”

“They eat only Halal.” He says, you nod.

“Just tell me the number of people I’ll have the mini cakes I made for your family and a list of allergies as well. I don’t use anything Non-halal so I don’t need to alter recipes.” You explain, entering the date into your phone with a reminder.

“I’ll pay you for the cakes.” He says, you shoot him a glare.

“You aren’t paying me for them.” You warn, your boss returns and everyone joins in faces morphing into worry.

You press unmute to hopefully block the rain of fire.

“Don’t be stubborn Y/N, just take the damn money.” Bucky says, your hand pauses over the keyboard.

“Who is that?” Your boss questions.

You close your eyes, trying not to freak out. Bucky runs a hand over his tired face.

“Are you in cahoots with another company? I will fire you.” Your boss warns.

“I am not in cahoots with anyone, that is my fiancé.” You might as well go in the ditch further in which Steve and Wanda threw you.

“I don’t buy it, show me your ring and your fiancé.” Your boss demands.

“He’s camera shy.” You defend, Bucky rolls his eyes moving over next to you.

“Oh my.” Maria fans herself.

“Okay, how did you land him? I want to know.” Yelena scrunches her nose, laughing.

You purse your lips, 

“Well as you can see, I am not camera shy, I was on my way out and disturbed her unfortunately.” Bucky wraps his arm around your waist, pulling you flush against his side.

“James.” Your eyes widen at his antics.

“It’s okay.” He gazes down at you, intently into your eyes.

His tongue peeks out, moving over his bottom lip. Your lips part with a soft exhale.

His eyes move down to your lips, then back up to your eyes.

Your palm wrapped around his wrist, he raises his hand, the strand of hair against your temple pushed back.

“So much better than the shitty movie I saw last night.” Yelena breaks your moment.

Bucky shifts, you move out of his grasp. He stands, his palms forming fists. Get a grip. He warns himself heading into the kitchen.

You clear your throat, “As I was saying, I think we can do the code thing.” 

“Right,” Your boss’ eyes bounce between the two of you, “Let's push this to tomorrow.” 

Everyone wholeheartedly agrees, the meeting ends before you can even process anything.

“Okay. Tip for next time Mr. Fiancé, you don’t need to be all knight in shining armour.” You speak moving to the kitchen, walking towards him, hand grabbing his arm. 

Bucky takes steps towards you. You move back and your back is against the fridge. 

He gazes down at you, his blue eyes darkened as he searches for something within your gaze.

Bucky’s hands hesitantly rest on your waist, your fingers wrap around his wrists. His jaw tightens, he supinates his forearms, your wrists now in his large palms, raised above your head.

Your breath hitches further, his face mere inches from yours, his thigh between your legs. 

You meet his gaze, swallowing, with your heart hammering in your ribcage. You slowly realise a part of you wants to know how his lips feel against yours, once again. His breath fans across your face, hints of mint lingering. 

“De ce devii din nou raza mea de soare? (why are you becoming my ray of sunshine again?)” His deep voice wraps around you, the words unknown but it sounds as though he has asked you a question. His forehead rests against yours but only fleetingly.

Warm hands leave yours, you support yourself against the fridge as Bucky leaves your apartment with a soft click of your door.

Everything from six years ago crashes into you, the watching each other from afar, the being forced to do activities so that Steve and Wanda could hang out. The way you saw his smile for the first time when you cracked a stupid joke to Wanda but she didn’t laugh only he did, the way your heart hoped and hoped for Bucky to look at you as someone worth something more than friends. 

The way he broke your heart without saying anything to your face.  

A.N: please let me know what you think! thank you for reading!!

tagging: @slutforsexyseabass @elle14-blog1 @sxnshinebxcky @sebsgirl71479 @pandaxnienke @stevesmewmew @tfandtws @povlvr @tanyaspartak  @maggiejackson3  @brodymarx @stickyjudgeturtleghost (strikedthrough if unable to be tagged)

taglist open!!

[kazinsblog]

Ohh, actually, I did have things I've been wondering about, so I'm glad there's someone who has just as much fun with translation trivia as I do that I can ask now! I while ago, I did try to look up rain code's chinese title. Needless to say, I quickly found out that "rain code" isn't even really part of the actual title... but the machine did give me 雨碼 as the translation of "rain code", and it seems that it happens to be pronounced like yuma? I couldn't help but notice the coincidence at the time, but I'm not familiar with the 碼 so I couldn't be sure if it was just giving me something strange.

Also, just yesterday, I was writing an analysis for rain code's chapter titles because they are mostly based off of novels. Chapter 4's title is キミのすべてが０（零）になる, (based off of すべてがFになる). I became curious why they would add the 零 in parentheses, because it means zero/nothing and they already wrote the number 0 next to it. I came to find out that the original chinese meaning of this character was something like "steady rain"? I figure its relation to rain must be the intention behind them adding it. (I suppose it makes sense when I look at the radicals used in it...)

I'm glad i have someone to talk about translation stuff too!

Master Detective Archive Rain Code's Localized name in Chinese is 超偵探事件簿 霧雨謎宮 (the literal translation is Super Detective Archives Light Rain Labyrinth). 霧雨 (Wu yu) means light rain/drizzle which does kinda describes Kanai ward in a way, 謎宮 (Mi gong) means maze or labyrinth which explains part of the gameplay. For Rain Codes title translate i think the translation team used a sense for sense translation method to explain the games context a bit for Chinese players.

Also~! Like you mentioned~! Rain Code's literal Chinese translation is 雨碼( Yu ma) . When i translate something i personally like to use a word as a base and search for a synonym. So for 雨 (Rain) it became 霧雨 (Light Rain), the Code part is a bit tricky the Chinese translation went with 謎宮 (Labyrinth) it could be to explain the game play or make a connection with 碼 (Code).

And now that you mention it yeah! 雨碼 (Yu ma) does sound like Yuma XDD. Even the Pinyin spells Yuma, what a coincidence!

And for the CH4 title translations, comparing all three names (Chinese, English, and Japanese) The Chinese translation is more true to the Japanese text compared to English.

I tried to color code the each of the words... i hope it isnt too confusing

你的一切將回歸為零 (Everything You Know Will Return Back to 0 (Zero)

キミのすべてが0(零)になる (Everything You Know Will Return Back to 0 (Zero)

The Imperfect Insider (reference to The Perfect Insider)

I think the 0 (zero) here means that the world that Yuma knew will soon return back to zero like back to where it all started, he doesnt know anything who to trust or what to believe in like how he was in CH 0. another reason why i think the JP title added 零 next to the numeral 0 might be to clarify that 0 means zero. Because without it the 0 might look like an O

キミのすべてが0になる (0)(O)= ? They do look similar XDD

i hope that helped a bit~!

[toiletpotato]

Read some of August Wilson's Pittsburgh Cycle (Century Cycle)

For a long time, the August Wilson Theatre used to be the only theatre on Broadway named after a Black person. Currently, only three out of forty-one theatres on Broadway are named after Black people, two of which were renamed in 2022 (The James Earl Jones Theatre and the Lena Horne Theatre respectively). The August Wilson Theatre was only renamed in 2005, just under two decades ago.

August Wilson was a very notable Black American playwright. One of his most notable series of works continues to be his Century Cycle (sometimes known as the Pittsburgh Cycle). It is a series of plays that focuses on the Black community in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (for nine plays) and Chicago, Illinois (for one of them) over the course of a century. Two of the works you may have heard of are Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Fences as they have received film adaptations.

(Interestingly, James Earl Jones was in the original Broadway cast of Fences. His performance as Troy Maxson is absolutely masterful. You can watch a clip here.)

One of the better ways to experience plays is through watching them live or recorded. However, many plays are published so that they can be read as well! (In order to perform them, rights must be acquired).

These are contemporary plays, so the language is easier to understand than older plays that one might encounter in an English class. I have listed them in chronological order of when they were written. In parentheses, I have listed the year written and the year set.

If you click on a title, it will take you to a PDF.

Jitney (1982/1970s)

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (1984/1920s)

Fences (1985/1950s)

Joe Turner's Come and Gone (1986/1910s)

The Piano Lesson (1987/1930s)

Two Trains Running (1990/1960s)

Seven Guitars (1995/1940s)

King Hedley II (1999/1980s)

Gem of the Ocean (2003/1900s)

Radio Golf (2005/1990s)

I'm still trying to find PDFs for Seven Guitars, King Hedley II, and Gem of the Ocean. If anyone happens to have PDFs on hand I would really appreciate it if you could add them!!

I will leave you all with some quotes that Mr. Wilson told the Paris Review (interview here), that he and Rob Penny "founded the Black Horizons Theater in Pittsburgh with the idea of using the theater to politicize the community or, as we said in those days, to raise the consciousness of the people." (emphasis mine). He also told them that he thinks that "my plays offer (White Americans) a different way to look at Black Americans. For instance, in Fences they see a garbageman, a person they don't really look at, although they see a garbageman every day. By looking at Troy's life, White people find out that the content of this Black garbageman's life is affected by the same things – love, honor, beauty, betrayal, duty. Recognizing that these things are as much part of his life as theirs can affect how they think about and deal with Black people in their lives." (emphasis mine).

Thank you for taking the time to read this post, have a theatrical time of day!

[guns-blazing]

Chujin as Kindness propaganda

assigning any character from any media undertale soul traits makes me hmm and haww. boiling down their complexities to one of seven categories is not an easy thing to do. i struggle to decide where to fit any character!

any character besides chujin.

chujin ketsukane of undertale yellow embodies the soul trait of kindness and i am sure.

only two characters in the game are ever referred to as kind: the first is clover, a lot, and the second is chujin, a LOT. like, "it's got to be deliberate" amount of times. none of the other characters get an adjective thats also a soul trait hammered in like this! uh. except clover i guess.

i really want to focus in on that last one, because that isn't just a casual descriptor like the other three, that is martlet describing chujin's entire philosophy. kindness. in small ways, in teaching and donating, he always tried to be kind.

i think him straying from this is what leads to his downfall. chujin tried and tried to work on something greater, more violent, whether hurting humans through the AXIS project or hurting humans through making boss monsters. these weren't small acts of kindness! these were giant acts of planning to go to war against an entire race! he doesn't get a job, rather he just works himself to death on the serum while his wife works a terrible customer service job to support their family. like, everyone outside the steamworks LOVED chujin! could he really not find somewhere he could pick up another job if they were struggling that bad?

but even while he's working himself to death... he's teaching martlet to woodwork. he's donating that heater to honeydew resort. the terrible crimes he's trying and failing* to achieve are contrasted by him being kind to every monster he meets. even STARLO calls him kind! chujin hates everything starlo stands for and starlo can still look in ceroba's eyes and tell her that her late husband embodied kindness above all else!

*"oh you put an asterisk by failing? is that because its an aside?" NO it is a MAIN POINT im TRANSITIONING WEIRDLY. look at how talented chujin is. he built an enormous mansion and everything inside. he has a ton of thesis papers. he programmed a video game solely for his daughter. he is incredibly, insanely talented. and then he tries to build a killer robot and it takes him 14 tries to make one that doesn't catch fire while all the other steamworks bots are on model 01 or 02 and he spends 3+ years trying to conceive of a "boss monster serum" (something he made up completely) which ultimately fails and probably speeds up his death. this is because. chujin is just really bad at anything that isn't an act of kindness.

no matter how hard he tried, the only success he had in anything besides kindness was killing a single human that wasn't even a threat to his daughter by the time axis got to them. ON ACCIDENT. mr ketsukane is trying sooooo hard but despite everything he is so so bad at violence.

chujin isn't what you normally think of when you picture a kind person. he's bigoted, prideful- god, i didn't even mention his pride but i could go on-, secretive... but that doesn't change the fact that when his friends and family and acquaintances all call him "kind," they are telling the truth.

(bonus: i think red soul = determination = ceroba is really implied in uty. which ma,kes it all the more relevant that! what color is chujin always always always coded as! Thats right! CHUJIN! IS!

GREEEEEN!!!!!

) <- i realized i opened a parentheses without closing it sorry guys

WHAT UNDERTALE HUMAN SOUL WOULD THEY HAVE?

[la-undercover-latina]

This Is Gonna Hurt

A/N: This is a character I’ve had in the works since I watched Pam & Tommy the first time (The same one as Ghost Whisperer). I don’t speak Greek so I just used Google Translate for the parts that are written in Greek. The English translations are in parentheses. I do not own the pictures. I took them from @youlightmeupfinn’s blog.

TW: This contains a character describing bullying as well as minor physical violence mentioned.

Taglist: @youlightmeupfinn​ 

1996

“So are you going to tell us what happened?” The older woman asked, looking down at the 9 year old from her bird like nose. 

Her bloodied knuckles and older boys bleeding in the nurse’s office should be enough, but the principal wanted to hear it from her mouth directly.

“I want to talk to my parents,” She spoke clearly, not meeting the eyes of the old woman. Without anything else to go on, there’s nothing left to do but call the parents anyway.

Mom. No luck.

Dad. No luck.

“Well Miss Lee, both your parents didn’t answer their home phones. Would you like me to call someone else? We have your step mother’s cell phone and grandparents house phone,”

“Try calling my grandparents,” After all, while her dad was on tour, and she wasn’t with him, when it would be his week to have her, she’d be with her grandparents anyway.

“Hello, is this Mr or Mrs. Bass? Hi. This is Amber’s principal. There has been an incident and we would like you or your husband to come down here. We couldn’t get ahold of her parents. Yes, she’s right here. Hold on,” The principal turned the phone to face the girl and handed her the receiver.

“Ámper, ti égine? Eísai kalá?” (Amber, what happened? Are you alright?) Voula asked, worried for the 9 year old. She’s developed a bit of a temper since the divorce. No matter how civil Tommy and Heather were and how careful they were not to let her see them fight or argue, she still internalized the hostile energy between her parents.

“Chtýpisa éna megalýtero agóri sto prósopo. Rótise an ypírche kaséta tis mamás san na ypárchei i Pam. I mamá kai o bampás den apántisan. Boreís esý í o pappoús na katéveis edó? (I punched an older boy in the face. He asked if there was a tape of mom like there is Pam. Mom and Dad didn't answer. Can you or Grandpa come down here?)” Amber asked in Greek. Benefits of spending half of the time with her paternal grandmother that would speak to her in Greek and English.

“Perímene. Ti kaséta? O pappoús kai egó eímaste sto drómo mas. Páre élencho apó ti nosokóma agápi mou. Tha prospathíso na kratíso ti mamá í ton bampá sou, í akóma kai tin Pam.” (Wait. What tape? Grandpa and I are on our way. Get checked out by the nurse my love. I’ll try and get a hold of your mom or dad, or even Pam.)

“Ypárchei kápoia kaséta pou kykloforeí gýro apó ton bampá kai tin Pam. O megalýteros aderfós tou paidioú tou to eípe kai me koróideve. Prospáthisa na ton agnoíso. Allá metá rótise an ypírche kai kaséta tis mamás.” (There’s some tape that’s going around of Dad and Pam. The kid’s older brother told him about it and he was making fun of me. I tried to ignore him. But then he asked if there was a tape of mom too) Amber explained.

“Okay. We’re coming to the school right now,”

It took all of twenty minutes for the principal’s office to have Amber’s mom, dad, godfather, and stepmom there. Tommy’s parents managed to get a hold of them before they left the house. While Voula wanted to make sure Amber was alright, David convinced her that Tommy and Heather would handle it.

“Okay so what happened?” Tommy asked, and Amber took a shaky breath. With Heather rubbing her back, it gave her the courage to speak. 

She knew her stepmother and dad had enough going on with the tape. She didn’t want to add to it. But she couldn’t just let that little asshole talk about her mom like that.

“This kid in my class. He has an older brother that’s in 9th grade. He got his hands on…” Amber trailed off, her eyes moving to her stepmom before clearing her throat.

“They’ve been picking on me for it for the last week. But then that twerp asked me today if there was a tape of mom like there is of Pam,” Amber explained and her eyes drifted to her dad and godfather. Her dad was starting to show her anger, but her Uncle Nikki hid his better.

“Daddy, I tried to ignore him but then he brought up mom, and I snapped. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I hit him,”

“So her actions were justified,” Tommy commented, his eyes drifting over the room. Heather was pissed. Pamela looked guilty, even though there was no reason she should feel guilty.

“I wouldn’t say so Mr. Lee. Amber had no right to put her hands on another student,”

“Like hell she didn’t! The kids were instigating it,” Tommy argued. Heather stood from her spot next to Amber.

“Tommy, can we talk outside for a sec?” She asked, keeping a blank face. Nikki took her spot next to Amber.

“What happened when it started kiddo?” He asked. Kids were assholes when he was growing up in school, and it’s only gotten worse. And with the fodder of the sex tape going on the internet, there’s no telling what happened to make her snap.

“Tommy, you’ve got to get a handle on the sex tape. It’s affecting Amber at school. Is there any way to make it not as accessible?” Heather asked, worried for the little girl that she could see through the glass door talking to Nikki. Especially now that he was clean, she was glad that Tommy insisted that Nikki be her godfather.

“You think I haven’t tried Heather? Pam and I are trying to get the lawyers to figure something out but we keep getting smoke blown up our ass,”

“Tommy, you’re her father. Make it go away,” She demanded. When it came to Amber, Heather would go to war for her.

“Again, you think I’m not trying,” he argued back. As if the sex tape wasn’t causing enough problems, kids were picking on Amber for it.

“What if they try to expel her?” Heather asked. She didn’t have the time nor knowledge enough to home school her.

“Then we homeschool her,” Tommy shrugged as if that was the most obvious solution.

“With what time? I’m busy working, Pam is promoting her new movie and you’ve got the band. Think reasonably here,” 

“They’re not going to expel her for punching a kid,”

“And what if they try to make an example of her? Being a rockstar and famous actress’ kid,” It would be bureaucracy at it’s finest

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

“So now that you’ve heard all that directly from her, is there enough probable cause as to why she reacted the way she did?” Nikki asked the principal, an eyebrow risen.

“I didn’t know what happened at first. I knew dad was stressed about something, but I didn’t know what. But then kids started staring at me. Then finally a couple weeks ago, the kid I punched, he started saying stuff like ‘I wonder how much Pamela got paid for it,’ I thought he meant an ad campaign and then that’s when I found out about the tape. He started moaning like he was having sex. I told him to back off, and he asked if I was just gonna go crying to mom and dad and make them give him hush money.”

“What happened today?” Nikki asked calmly, rubbing circles into her back to keep her relaxed.

“He asked me if there was a video of mom and dad like there was of Pam. I told him to fuck off and shut up before I made him. He didn’t. He kept passing notes to other kids and he kept purposely getting caught by the teachers that are known to read notes out in class,”

The principal twiddled her thumbs, mulling everything over. The story got way more understandable now that Amber actually talked.

“Amber, why didn’t you get a teacher to intervene?” She asked.

“I did. I talked to my English teacher, and she pulled him aside and told him to cut it out. That’s when he started passing notes in class,” Amber answered. A smile twitched Nikki’s lips. His wife Taylor was Amber’s English teacher. 

With Amber, she had Taylor in her life since she was five, and she loved her Aunt Taylor, and Taylor treated her just as she would her own kid. Along with that, it helped having a constant female figure that wasn’t involved in the divorce and then Tommy coming back from a long weekend in Mexico with a new wife and stepmother for Amber.

“Okay, well Miss Lee, I wish you would’ve told me this when I asked you.”

“I wanted my parents present,” She shrugged. Tommy and Heather re-entered then and Nikki stood up for Heather to sit next to her daughter again, but Heather waved it off, standing next to Tommy behind her.

“I’ve made my decision. In light of new information, I have decided to not take extreme action with you. But, you will have lunch detention for the next two weeks and suspended for tomorrow. I’ll let you know on Monday where you’ll be going for lunch detention,” Heather nodded, grasping Tommy’s hand to shut him up before he made anything worse.

“Thank you Ma’am,” Amber said politely.

[nerdyfangirl67]

A Modern Lady - Phantom of the Opera Reader Insert

Pairing: Erik Destler x fem!reader

Warnings: cursing/vulgar language 

Word count: 536

Request by: anonymous

“Hello! Can I please request a fic or HCs where erik is in a relationship with the reader but shes really modern and vulgar for someone living in the 19th century and keeps making him blush? But he really loves it?“

A/N: I love this idea (I connected with this reader just a little bit, TBH)! I wanted to write it right away, so I made it a drabble, I hope that’s okay :) Thank you so much for this request! <3 The words in italics are French curses (or at least the internet says so) and any French is translated to English in the parentheses. (Google translate again, so sorry for any mistakes)

P.S. - I also got your thank you message and thought it was so sweet! Thank you anon!

You stomp your way into your small shoebox of a room, spitting out curses as you go. You had barely shut the door behind you before you were removing the multiple layers of the heavy, restricting costume skirt. 

“How anyone finds these ridiculous things as anything but oppressive is beyond me.” You mutter as you strip down to your bloomers. You don’t hesitate as you dig through your mess of a chest, looking for the pair of pants you kept for moments just this. You quickly pull on the pants, rummaging through your chest in search of the pageboy cap you had had for years. After a few moments of looking, you find it and tuck your hair in underneath it. You head back out into the hallway as you make your way to the small door you use to get into the underground tunnels. 

You pass a few of the dancers, who give you an odd look, as you head to the small, almost concealed door. You slip into the tunnels once the hallway is clear and you practically run through the dimly lit catacombs, following the path you had travelled enough times to have it memorized.

“Erik!” You call as you move up the slick stone steps of the cavernous room, slipping on your way up. “Putain.” You hiss under your breath as you limp up the last step. You shuffle over to the organ bench, sitting down as you rub the sore spot on your shin. You lift the leg of your pants, another curse flying past your lips as you see a bump growing on leg.

“Mon ange?” Erik’s deep voice sounds from somewhere behind you. Your gaze flies up, your eyes meeting his. You feel your face heat up, embarrassed that he had witnessed you speaking such vulgar words. You notice that Erik was sporting a faint blush himself, meaning he had heard you unladylike words.

“Je m'excuse pour ma manière peu élégante (I apologize for my unladylike manner).” You say quietly, your embarrassment growing as you remember you were dressed like a man. You slowly pull the cap off of your head, turning your gaze to the floor and wishing you hadn’t come dressed as you had, no matter how uncomfortable you had been in your dress. 

You hear his footsteps make their way over to where you sat, but you didn’t say anything. You only lift your head when you feel one of his hands trace the line of your jaw. “Mon ange, do not apologize.” His dark eyes are soft as they look into yours. “You are perfect, just as you are.” He slowly takes the cap from your hand, brushing back a lock of hair before putting it back on your head. 

“Vous n'avez jamais besoin de changer. Je t'aime comme tu es. (You never need to change. I love you just as you are).” He says as he presses a soft kiss to the corner of your lips and another on your jawline before finally kissing you solidly on the lips. You kiss him back, a smile growing on your lips as you do. “Et je t'aime (And I love you).” You whisper against his lips.

[princess-of-purple-prose]

[ID copied from alt: A screenshot of tags left by user forgetme-eternally-blissfully: "#NOOOOO YJH LOOKS SO SAD HE NEEDS A HUGGG#op pLEASE follow this up with yjh getting the hug he deserves#I. gonna cry#he looks so excited in the second panel!! he runs and calls out to him!!! I’m so UPSET pls idc who initiates it but PLS SOMEBODY HUG MA BOY" End ID]

[Plain text: Two sets of parentheses are written in orange and blue font. End PT]

Follow up to this post brought to you by @forgetme-eternally-blissfully, in fanfic snippet format because I gave up on drawing the comic (the fanfic was supposed to be a comic draft but I added too many details)

Kim Dokja lays on the ground among the rubble of a ruined building. He twitches a little before his eyes open. The world is blurry. In the distance, he can see a dark blur fluttering around his surroundings. As his vision comes into focus, he can recognize Yoo Joonghyuk searching through the debris.

A sharp pain coming from his side causes Kim Dokja to let out a groan as he struggles to push himself up to a sitting position. The sound catches Yoo Joonghyuk's attention and immediately he starts making a beeline in Kim Dokja's direction.

As Yoo Joonghyuk approaches, Kim Dokja takes note of Yoo Joonghyuk's tattered coat, his bloodstained body, the wounds on his face, hands, legs. None too serious though some deep enough to inevitably leave scars later.

Yoo Joonghyuk is getting closer, kneeling down, reaching his hand out towards Kim Dokja's face, making a move to pull Kim Dokja in when Kim Dokja decides to open his mouth.

"You're not losing your balance and having trouble standing are you? I'm not going to carry you on my back this time."

"Shut up," is all Yoo Joonghyuk says as he wraps his arms around Kim Dokja's shoulders. His grip is tight, one hand on the back of Kim Dokja's head, the other circled around his upper back.

There is a gash in Kim Dokja's side that throbs with pain. Blood loss has his head spinning and his vision blurring again. From where his face is pressed into Yoo Joonghyuk's shoulder, Kim Dokja can smell blood, sweat, smoke. Buildings continue to crumple in the background and the sound of something falling pitters in his ears. His hands tense and untense, relax and remain by his sides.

Kim Dokja lets out a breath and leans into Yoo Joonghyuk, just slightly. Just enough so that Yoo Joonghyuk can tighten his hold by a hair.

----------

Author's notes (what would normally be my image caption):

I said in the referenced post that Kim Dokja has no trouble reciprocating affection once someone else initiates, but I think Yoo Joonghyuk is the exception. Always exceptional, that one. At least during the Scenarios.

Kim Dokja can read his movements, see what Yoo Joonghyuk is aiming to do, can read his mind, dammit. But he can't comprehend his actions. Yoo Joonghyuk acting in a way that Kim Dokja doesn't know about is something that happens more and more often as time goes on, and serves as a reminder of the wall that exists between a protagonist and a reader, but also the wall that exists between two normal people. Because at this moment, Kim Dokja is still struggling to see Yoo Joonghyuk as his own person instead of a protagonist or a 1863x-regressor-to-be. He's blinded by what he knows and has seen in his own past, which he assumes will be Yoo Joonghyuk's future. When he looks at him, does he see those ghosts of the future flickering superimposed over the shape of the man before him? This is the sort of wall that exists between them.

So when Yoo Joonghyuk acts outside of Kim Dokja's expectations, Kim Dokja tries to push them back on course with banter. "Yoo Joonghyuk is getting closer, kneeling down, reaching his hand out towards Kim Dokja's face, making a move to pull Kim Dokja in-" Kim Dokja sees all of this, takes note of all of this, knows what's to come of it. Doesn't understand it one bit. He's not oblivious. It's more like, "Why? Why me? Why would someone feel this way about and want to do these things with me?" He KNOWS the effect he has on people. He intentionally calculates how much he interacts with Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung to ensure their loyalty towards him in the early scenarios (not so much so after like Scenario 5-ish so we're talking early-early scenarios. After that point he more supports them in the direction they want to go (when that direction is the direction he already wanted them to go anyways. something something picking teammates because he knew they were already loyal and righteous by nature, nurturing them so that they would be able to carry out their justice no matter the adversary. He chose them because he knew they were loyal and strong, but they weren't loyal or strong at the time. But they would be in the future. But they wouldn't have been without him. But in another time where he didn't exist they were strong anyways see this is how he is able to have ultimate faith in his party members and know the kind of support he has given them while still being unable to recognize his own value in the grand scheme of things. Because they would have been fine without him, he's SEEN it. This is another wall between him and other people, another future ghost)). So he knows how much influence he has in other peoples' lives. But he values himself so little that he is blind to the emotional, sentimental weight he has to these people. No matter how much he knows he's done for them, he won't see himself as worthy of genuine praise or recognition, affection, love.

So this lack of self recognition extends to his perception of all of his companions, but especially so to Yoo Joonghyuk. Yoo Joonghyuk is probably the person whom Kim Dokja is the most strict about characterization with. Kim Dokja knows him the best, it's true, but he also doesn't know a damn thing about him as a person instead of a character and that makes him feel a certain way. Vulnerable, I think. Lonely. That childish feeling of betrayal when the characters walk off the page without him. There are sides to people and characters that you will never know simply because they weren't observed. And there are sides of people that you have no right to know. It is by becoming a person instead of a reader that you must abide by those rules and give up omniscience. Part of being a person and recognizing another's personhood is to willingly not know everything about them.

Anyways. He's not there yet. Not by Hug Attempt #2. This was supposed to have 3 parts with the last one set after the epilogue but we'll see if I ever get to it.

[powdermelonkeg]

so uh... abt the world building tutorial thing, tips for creating a language, or just a different alphabet? i have this multiverse that has been the work of my life so far, i've been working on it for years but it's still a complete mess of unfiltered creativity. so you have an idea, i created a coding language (like, the programming one, the one ppl use to create games and such) for them but i haven't touched their normal dialect yet, bc i don't know how to approach it

(i'll probably send you a lot of asks like this, but i'll try not to be overwhelming, or ramble too much! also, just to be clear, i call it a multiverse only because calling it a world would be wrong, since it doesn't exist in a physical concept. culture and language are mostly universal, w a few contrasting differences here and there)

So, creating a language and creating a script are actually two very different jobs! It's like making pottery vs painting pottery; they each require different skills and tools.

To make a language, you need to decide on your phonetics first. Those are the sounds you want to be present in everyday speech. Here's a link that lets you click and listen to how they sound.

There's a handful of general rules to follow, but you need to understand how sounds work, first. For example, voiced vs unvoiced; "b" is what happens when you put a voice behind the "p" sound, "d" is a voiced "t," and so on. A pretty solid rule is that a language doesn't have to have the voiced version to have the unvoiced version (a language can have a "t" without a "d"), but if it DOES have the voiced version, it almost certainly has the unvoiced (if it has "d," it's practically guaranteed to have "t").

For that, I recommend @janmisali's conlang critic series. They do a good job of pointing out which sounds are common, and why a language does or doesn't seem natural. I'd also drop the tip of "smaller sound inventory = better language," because it's easier and smoother to make a language out of.

Once you have a solid phonetic inventory, then you need to figure out syllable structure. English is...a very bad example, because English is 9 different languages dunked in vinegar and put on a stage like a prized pumpkin.

For syllables, you have consonant sounds and vowel sounds together, represented as (C) and V. The C is in parentheses because it isn't always necessary for a syllable to be valid, but the V (in 99% of languages) most definitely is.

So let's look at some examples for different syllables.

(C)V is going to be your most basic. This means you can't have consonants right next to each other in your language. Japanese sticks to this kind of structure the most; take "omae wa mou shindeiru"

o-ma-e wa mou shin-de-i-ru

There's one anomaly here in "shin," due to it ending in the "n" sound. The "sh" sound, though, is a single consonant (∫). In the case of N, that's the most consistant anomaly in Japanese, with most words that sound like they have consonant endings actually ending in "u" (ex: "desu" sounding like it should just be "des")

If you use (C)V structure, your language is mostly going to consist of words like potato (po-ta-to), coca cola (ko-ka-ko-la), etc, where your words all end in vowels. It's important to note, though, that a natural language is going to have times where it bends its own rules; Japanese words ending in vowels unless it's "n," for example. It's best to figure that out early on. Make it contradict itself, but make that contradiction consistent.

(C)V(C) is probably the most common, giving you words like "hat," or "baseball" (baes-bal). However, when you put two consonants together, they have to be as part of a new syllable with another vowel. "carnage" is valid (car-naj), but "corn" ((C)V(C)(C), one syllable) is not.

The more consonants you add on, the more freedom of word assembly you have, but also the more complicated your language is going to be to pronounce (for example, angsts—(C)(C)(C)(C)(C)V(C)(C)(C)(C)(C)). I, personally, like to start off very simple, then add on complications as I go.

Probably the best method of figuring out what syllables you want is to find a real world language you like the sound of, then model your syllables after theirs. A language structured like German has a way different sound to it than one structured like Swahili.

Once you have that, you need to mint a handful of very basic words using that structure, and decide on your grammar. That's where it gets complicated; you have to work with subject, verb, and object, and that's my own biggest stumbling point (I was bad at diagramming sentences in school).

English is a SVO language: "She likes him," "she" being the subject, "likes" as the verb, "him" as the object. Here's how each combo would work:

SVO: She likes him

SOV: She him likes

OSV: Him she likes

OVS: Him likes she

VSO: Likes she him

VOS: Likes him she

You can also have what's called "free word order," where it doesn't matter what order your language puts its words in; things like the subject and object can be inferred either through context, or through modifications.

"Him she likes" can be guessed to mean "She likes him," because in English, if the guy is the subject, it would be "he," not "him." Things like that.

But what if you're using names? "Denise likes Martin." Who's the subject here?

Your language would need to contain a clue. You can easily do that through a suffix; let's do -su for subject and -o for object.

"Deniseo likes Martinsu"

Martin is the subject. Therefore, Martin likes Denise.

There's a lot more that goes into constructing a language, but this is your basic starting kit. If you want to go step by step, I recommend Biblaridion's tutorial, and if you want to investigate all the cool things you can DO to a language, I recommend Artifexian's videos.

Now, scripts are a different exercise entirely. Your language is your pottery, and your script is your paint; it's there to make the language pretty and polished.

The first thing you're going to want to do is decide how many letters you have, and that'll be based on your phonetics. You have to pick a system here:

An alphabet is what we're used to in English, where every individual symbol is meant to make an individual sound.

An abugida is where vowels and consonants have individual symbols, and you combine them to get the sounds you want.

A syllabary gives each unique syllable its own character, letting you spell words out in a smaller space.

And then a logography assigns a character to each individual word. Note: These tend to evolve into syllabaries over time, due to the sheer number of characters.

Each language style has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, a syllabary is going to have WAY more characters than an alphabet would, but an alphabet is going to have longer words and more spelling rules (e after cap makes the a sound longer, as in cape; th makes a θ sound, but t and h have their own individual sounds; etc). If you want to play around with spelling rules and change words by adding on another letter, then you should go with an alphabet. If you want to be able to pronounce things at a glance, then go with a syllabary.

The next thing you want to decide is what tool your world started writing these characters with. Latin, for example, was chiseled; much of the Latin letters are straight lines (leading to the Roman numeral system being a lot of X, V, and Is). Chinese, on the other hand, was drawn with a brush, leading to lots of swooping lines with tapered ends.

Figuring out your tool can really contribute to your world's history, too. Is it a braid-and-bead language? Maybe it was used in curtains, or to tell stories with braided hair in a burial ceremony. Is it clay-based, like cuneform? Your people need to live in a clay-heavy area, like along the edge of a river.

Once you've got that, you need to figure out what tool it's written with now. We might have started with Latin letters, but we definitely don't chisel out our homework!

What a language is written with vs how it started modifies how it looks in the end. If it's a language that started in sewing, and is now written in ballpoint pen, you might have a written language of dots and dashes to match knots and stitches. If it started as brush strokes, but it's now digital, different strokes are going to have to fit inside a uniform, square box, which might mean you have to simplify smaller details or squish characters to be narrower.

And then you have the transition to consider. Yes, your language can look exactly as it did centuries ago; many languages do! But you can also have your written language slowly change over time. Look at the English alphabet:

Pretty huge difference, right?

All in all, the change is up to you. If you do wind up using ballpoint pen (or something similar) as your medium in the end, I recommend using your alphabet to write out something, to test how easy vs how annoying a character is to write repeatedly. My favorite way of doing that is the Avatar: The Last Airbender prologue, since it's the longest passage I've got committed fully to memory. It's also a very good way to start memorizing your languages characters!

Hope this helps!

[brian-in-finance]

‘The film is not about blue remembered hills but grey remembered streets’ … Caitríona Balfe as Ma and Jude Hill as Buddy, in Belfast. Photograph: Rob Youngson/© 2021 Focus Features, LLC.

Why Belfast should win the best picture Oscar

Accusations of sentimentality aimed at Kenneth Branagh’s autobiographical film are wide of the mark – it is first and foremost about the tragedy of migration forced by political strife

Kenneth Branagh has ventured bravely into contested territory with this deeply personal film, set at the outbreak of the Troubles in the city of his birth. So divisions are inevitable, with those who deplore it as a travesty of political reality ranged against others who recognise their own stories in it, or simply like it for what it is: a portrait of an ordinary childhood upended by extraordinary communal violence.

There’s no pretence here to offer a political overview. Part of the film’s strength is the way it holds the focus at the level of a small boy’s understanding, so the betrayals seem inexplicable, the threat only ever half seen. As long as nine-year-old Buddy (played by Jude Hill) can go to the cinema with his granny to see thrilling new technicolour releases – which cast a romantic glow over his imagination that resists the sombre palette of the film itself – everything is more or less right in his world.

Belfast writer and director Kenneth Branagh on the set of the film. Photograph: Rob Youngson/© 2021 Focus Features, LLC.

This is how childhood is; it’s how children have always been able to survive the most terrible circumstances. If Jamie Dornan and Caitríona Balfe seem implausibly glamorous, it’s because that’s how Buddy sees them; if Ciarán Hinds’s roguish Pop seems impossibly erudite, it’s because anyone who can do maths homework seems like a genius to a small child who can’t.

Branagh knew he was opening himself up to charges of sentimentality, and reviewers have duly obliged, but it’s a lazy position. The film is not about blue remembered hills but grey remembered streets: in its palette, its pacing and the rigour of its perspective, it earns the emotion it calls from us. It might big up the quaint values of working-class family and community, unfashionably pitting old-fashioned neighbourhood policing against the growing lawlessness of the street in one comic scene of Buddy getting his comeuppance. But there’s a bigger reality, written across the clenched, scored face of Judi Dench’s Granny, or overheard through the parentheses of doors and windows in snippets of adult conversation (“The police won’t protect us. We have to do it ourselves”).

In 98 tightly edited minutes (beautifully shot by Haris Zambarloukos) it reveals a depressed, monochrome city, where the women struggle to put chips on the table, and the men are forced overseas to find work; where a spittle-flecked preacher showers vitriol on the heads of his congregation; where neighbours who look out for a small boy are quick to crab about his mother, and there’s no future for friendship between children from different faiths.

Above all it’s a film about migration: about all that is lost when political circumstances make home impossible. “When we migrate, we murder from our lives those we leave behind,” wrote the Pakistani novelist Mohsin Hamid, of another continent in another era. Buddy and his parents leave Pop in the cemetery and Granny standing alone in the street muttering, “Go, and don’t look back.”

It’s sad, for sure, but through the strength of its performances, its eye for the pratfalls of childhood, its grasp of the tragic absurdity of communal strife, it avoids being simply sentimental. At this new moment of loss and mass displacement, Belfast deserves to be taken very seriously indeed.

The Guardian

Remember… above all it’s a film about migration: about all that is lost when political circumstances make home impossible. — The Guardian

[usnatarchives]

Images:

Top: Lin-Manuel Miranda and Leslie Odom Jr., courtesy of Disney Plus

Middle: Captain Alexander Hamilton of the Provincial Company NY Artillery; 1776 (artwork 1923), National Archives ID 542435

Lower: Portrait of Aaron Burr attributed to Gilbert Stuart

HAMILTON IN OUR RECORDS: Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story?  Song 2: Aaron Burr, Sir

Today’s post, by Miriam Kleiman from the Public Affairs office, is the second in a series using archival records (largely from the National Archives Founders Online) to explore Hamilton’s life and legacy, song by song. Please note: given differing accounts of Hamilton’s birth year, stories use the 1755 date, with the 1757 date in parentheses.

The blockbuster musical’s catchy second number, “Aaron Burr, Sir,” could be the response to an AP US History Exam question:

Compare and contrast (in rap): Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr

The song opens in New York City in 1776, setting the stage for the coming drama by showing the first encounter of “young, scrappy and hungry” Hamilton and “prodigy of Princeton college” Burr, and underscoring the cavernous difference between the two in the following realms.

First impressions 
 From the start, Hamilton’s enthusiasm clashes with Burr’s haughtiness. Burr is evasive when Hamilton asks: “Are you Aaron Burr, Sir?” responding: “That depends, who’s asking?” Beyond thrilled to meet Burr, Hamilton enthusiastically solicits college and career advice: “Sir, I heard your name at Princeton” when “seeking an accelerated course of study.” Like Burr, he wanted to ”graduate in two, then join the revolution” and asks: “So how’d you do it, how’d you graduate so fast?” Burr responds: “It was my parent’s dying wish before they passed.��Burr also offers the following guidance: “Talk less… Smile more…”

Background
 Though both orphans, the men are from vastly different backgrounds. Hamilton, as described by John Adams, was the “bastard brat of a Scotch Pedler” (letter of 1/25/1806) who immigrated from the Caribbean to America in 1772 at age 15 (13) lacking family, wealth, and connections. By contrast, Burr was born into early American aristocracy; his maternal grandfather was “Great Awakening” preacher Jonathan Edwards, his father helped establish the College of New Jersey (Princeton), and his father and grandfather were the second and third presidents of the school.

Education 
Hamilton hoped to study at Princeton and was initially accepted, but was rejected when he sought to follow Burr’s lead and “graduate in two.” He says the bursar “looked at me like I was stupid” and admits he “may have punched him.”* Hamilton enrolled at Kings College (now Columbia) in 1774, but didn’t graduate.

Despite his unparalleled connections to the school, Burr was rejected when he first applied to Princeton (at age 11)! He was admitted two years later (age 13) with sophomore standing, excelled on the debate team, and graduated in two years. After college, he first studied theology and then law.

To the Revolution!
 Hamilton became an activist at Kings College, speaking and writing in support of the Continental Congress and independence. He left school to “join the revolution” in 1775, started a volunteer military company, and was commissioned Captain of the New York Provincial Artillery Company in March 1776.

Following the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Burr put his legal studies on hold and “fast tracked” his military career. In July 1775, he traveled with another well-connected friend, Matthias Ogden, to the fledgling, month-old Continental Army camp in Cambridge, MA. Thanks to their impressive family networks, they personally met with General George Washington and presented themselves and a letter of introduction/recommendation from Continental Congress President John Hancock! General Washington reportedly had no officer appointments available but accepted both men as so called “gentlemen volunteers.“

*FUN FACT!
 Hamilton met with Princeton president (and founding father) John Witherspoon, not a bursar. Also, there’s no record of violence. Miranda justified the need for artistic license: “Chernow blanched a bit at this historical leap-Hamilton wasn’t needlessly violent-but the rhyme [bursar and blur/Burr, sir] was too good to pass up.” Agreed, Mr. Burr, Sir?

ICYMI: Song 1, Alexander Hamilton

Stay tuned for Song 3, My Shot, and discover:

Does Hamilton socially advance or socially distance?

Can he help the new country “handle our financial situation”?

Do he and Burr prove they’re “worth more than anyone bargained for”?

Featured National Archives public program/video:
 Historians on Hamilton: How a Blockbuster Musical is Restaging America’s Past, with opening remarks by Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero.

More online:

Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Founders Online 

Papers of Aaron Burr, Founders Online

Archives Displays Hamilton’s Documents in Exhibit Incorporating Musical’s Lyrics, National Archives News

Conversation with Chernow, Kail, and Miranda at the 2016 Records of Achievement Award Ceremony

From Alexander Hamilton to ‘Hamilton’—at the National Archives

Obscure fun fact: Romano and Kleiman were high school classmates and fellow speech/debate team members!



[citrusella-flugpucker]

Lines to try to get Steven to sign your gem

Jasper: Ifyou autograph this, I’d sell it and make triple on GemBay!

[pupa-cinema]

Happy Go Lucky Heads – 金太の大冒険(The Adventures of Kinta) - Lyrics English Translation

Each of the final lyrics of each verse holds a double entendre, so I'll include those in parentheses under! Kintama means balls, while 金太Kinta is a common male name. Put any appropriate word that begins with ma after Kinta and voila, you have something that rings inappropriate!

ある日金太が歩いていると Once upon a time, Kinta was walking along when he bumped into 美しいお姫様が逃げてきた A beautiful princess who was running away 悪い人に　ネエ　今おわれているの I’m being chased, oh my, by some bad guys お願い　金太　守って Please, Kinta, protect me 金太　守って　金太　守って Kinta, protect me, Kinta, protect me 金太　守って Kinta, protect me

（金太　守って = 金玉持って: Hold his balls in your hand）

しかし金太はけんかが弱く However, Kinta was a weak fighter 友達とやっても　負けてしまう Even when he fought with friends he would lose 腕力に自信のない金太君 Oh poor Kinta-kun with no confidence in his strength けんかはいつも　負けが多い He is always losing fights 金太　負けが多い　金太　負けが多い Kinta is always losing fights, Kinta is always losing fights 金太　負けが多い Kinta is always losing fights

（金太　負けが多い = 金玉毛が多い : Balls with lots of hair）

やがて悪人がやってきた But still the bad guys came along 身の丈2メートルもある大男 A giant with a body 2 meters tall 金太と悪人の大決戦 An epic brawl between Kinta and the bad guy 金太　負けるなとお姫様 Kinta, don’t you lose, the princess cried out 金太　負けるな　金太　負けるな Kinta, don’t you lose, Kinta, don’t you lose 金太　負けるな Kinta, don’t you lose

（金太　負けるな = 金玉蹴るな : Don’t kick his balls）

悪人は金太におそいかかる The bad guy pounced at Kinta 金太は思わず　とびのいた Without second thought Kinta leaped away アー　そこにあったのは大きな木 Ahh, there lied a big tree そのまわりを金太はグルグルまわりだす Kinta spun and spun around it 金太　回った　金太　回った Kinta spun, Kinta spun 金太　回った Kinta spun

（金太　回った = 金玉割った : Slice his balls）

悪人はいつか目をまわし Before long the bad guy's eyes became dizzy そのすきにお姫様と逃げだした He used that chance to dash away with the princess お姫様の美しさに金太君 Before the beauty of the princess, Kinta-kun’s- 目をパチパチまたたいた Eyes were dazzling and twinkling 金太　またたいた　金太　またたいた Kinta was dazzled, Kinta was dazzled 金太　またたいた Kinta was dazzled

（金太　またたいた = 金玉叩いた : Punch his balls）

しばらくゆくと二人は After a while the two realized おなかのすいたのに気がついた That they were starving フト見るとマスカットの木がはえている They caught a glimpse of a muscat tree 金太はナイフで切ったとさ So Kinta sliced them up with a knife 金太　マスカット　ナイフで切る Kinta sliced up the muscats with his knife 金太　マスカット　ナイフで切る Kinta sliced up the muscats with his knife 金太　マスカット　ナイフで切る Kinta sliced up muscats with a knife

（金太　マスカット　ナイフで切る  =  金玉 スカッとナイフで切る: Slice and dice the balls

おなかのふくれた二人は With the two of their stomachs stuffed さらに安全なマカオに行くことにした They decided to go to the even more safe city of Macau 行けども行けども　マカオは見えず They walked on and on, but still Macau wasn't in sight お姫様はイライラして　金太に聞いた The princess grew impatient, and asked Kinta ネエー金太　まだ　ネエー金太　まだ Oh Kintaaa, are we there yet, Kinta are we there yet 金太　まだ Kinta, are we there yet

（金太　まだ = 金玉だ: It's balls）

そうしているうちにも二人は Onward and onward the two went やっとのことでマカオに着いた Until they finally arrived in Macau 金太とお姫様はマカオに着いた Kinta and the princess arrived at Macau やっとのことでマカオに着いた They finally arrived at Macau 金太　マカオに着く　金太　マカオに着く Kinta arrives at Macau, Kinta arrives at Macau 金太　マカオに着く Kinta arrives at Macau

（金太　マカオに着く＝金玉顔に付く: Balls on your face）

マカオに着いた金太君 Now that Kinta-kun has arrived in Macau 知り合いのビルをたずねたとさ He asked around for information on his acquaintance's residence お姫様はそのビルを見て言ったとさ The princess saw his residence and said まあ金太わりとましなビルね Oh my, Kinta, it’s such an upstanding building まあ　金太　ましなビル　金太　ましなビル Oh my, Kinta, it’s such an upstanding building 金太　ましなビル Kinta, it’s such an upstanding building

（金太　ましなビル = 金玉萎びる: Balls shriveled up）

中にはいると誰もいない Upon their entry they found no one 伝言板にただひとこと書いてある Only a message written on a board 神田さんから金太君へのことづけで From Kanda-san to Kinta-kun 「金太　待つ　神田」と書いてある It read “Kinta, I’m waiting for you, Kanda” 金太　待つ　神田　金太　待つ　神田 Kinta, I’m waiting for you, Kanda 金太　待つ　神田 Kinta, I’m waiting for you, Kanda

（金太　待つ　神田＝金玉掴んだ Grab his balls）

御存じ　金太の大冒険 So the story goes, the adventures of Kinta これから先はどうなるか What ever could be lying in store for him ahead またの機会をごひいきに We’ll save that for next time それでは皆さんさようなら For now it’s goodbye everyone

Footnotes: ●  This is actually a cover of Tsuboinorio(つボイノリオ)'s song! Long since called "A representative song of Japan" and "A comic song", it was released in 1975. A bold debut, as that same year was when it made waves with its catchy tune and cursed wordplay! So much so it was banned from radio stations.. And history has now repeated itself 50 years later: not only are fans afraid to play it on the radio, Omedetai themselves even appear to be struggling. Their posts read "Now that our song has been released, our record company has been doing their best to promote us yet, for some reason no media outlets have been willing to hear our say... If you're with the media, please contact us at kintama.sukomi@gmail.com." One day later... "We're still searching for any media outlets that would be willing to do a segment on our song, yet not one has even inquired us ><."

This email address looks.... I wonder what would happen if one were to send something...

●  The music video was directed by Fujii Ryou! Who on twitter said "This is a cover of that famous song. In this time and age. Of all things. I stirred up a horrible video." Then posted a picture of a phallic rocket ship with the caption "The creation process of my worst creation. To lessen the load on myself and the work required for the cool spaceship Kinta takes on his adventures, I had erected this stiff model from pure scratch. Bending toilet paper and ping pong balls to my will.” He even made a pun himself... 大金を投じて normally means to pour a lot of money into something, 大金 literally meaning ‘big gold’ but.. kintama in JP is also literally ‘gold orbs’...

●  https://twitter.com/omedeta_japan/status/1340960220063780864 As any word starting with "Ma", if followed after "Kinta", is wont to be heard as "Kintama", Omedetai have not let opportunities pass them by. They each made playlists dubbed "Kinta-my-list(Kintamairisuto)" (Mylist is the wasei-eigo word for playlist).

Sekihan's included Mariah Carey's famous Christmas song, among other western songs by artists who start with Ma. Each song with a sexual theme. 324's all western as well, but his themes are more emo, suiting his taste. Mito-juu and Mao's have a mix of J-pop and western, yet all songs are sure to have a title or artist who starts with Ma. While Poniki only has Aoi Usagihttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aoi_Usagi. As it's the theme song for 'Kinka of the stars'... Fans are invited to make a playlist of their own, and a chosen winner will win the title of "KintaMeistar"! A pun on the word ‘meistar’.

●  https://twitter.com/omedeta_japan/status/1340513940644610048 The members seen recording backup vocals. Shouting 'Kintama' for the sake of emboldening the brazen.

●  KintaMarathon In promotion of the song they hosted a campaign asking for people to listen to the song for a cumulative 42.195 hours, the same number of miles there is in a marathon. Screenshot and send in your playtime for a chance to win a signed Adventures of Kinta record.

●  https://lineblog.me/omedeta/archives/9435022.html Mito-juu blog post. "We took to this challenge with utmost solemnity. Before the song you see today took form, we had taken the song apart and put it back together countless times until we got it right. The recording phase was nothing to scoff at either. A single concept album. A story told on a single stage. It was truly a challenge to stuff it all into one single song. I think I drummed more than just one or two songs worth for this.

For the music video we managed to scout out the like-minded fellow named Fujii Ryuu. When he presented the drafts, then the blueprints, then the final piece to us... Each time I went "This is it!" as I was practically making a victory pose in my head. It's thanks to Fujii Ryuu that we were able to create something so amazing. I say that with confidence.

I hope those who listen to this song will smile and laugh. I hope those who watch this MV will smile and laugh. I hope it serves as something of a release from stress.

I'm going on a bit now but I do hope it may serve as a fortunate encounter for you. If so, then it was more than worth making.

I hope you can get a good laugh out of it, that would make me more than happy.

[blackpoliglota]

🎶Música/Musique/音樂🎶

A friend of mine went on Instagram a few weeks ago and asked her mutuals for international music suggestions.  Naturally, ya neighborhood Black linguist right here responded immediately... despite seeing the post at about 4am her time in Madrid 😭  After having given my friend the lengthy (... or not-so-lengthy) list of artists I listen to on the daily, I decided to make a post about this!  So without further ado, here is my list of artists I listen to, as well as some of my favorite songs by them!  Album titles are in parentheses after the song titles.  And feel free to click on any song title you’d like to listen to!

SPANISH 🇵🇷🇨🇱🇨🇺

Calle 13 🇵🇷

I first came across Calle 13 through Shakira’s song “Gordita” from her album Sale El Sol waaaaaay back in 2010, but it wouldn’t be until my senior year in college (2019) when I started listening to their stuff.  Now I listen to literally ALL of their songs, but some of my favorites are:

“Latinoamerica” Feat. Totó La Momposina, Maria Rita y Susana baca (Entre Los Que Quieran)

“Digo Lo Que Pienso” (Entre Los Que Quieran)

“Muerte en Hawaii” (Entre Los Que Quieran)

“Todo Se Mueve” Feat. Seun Keti (Entre Los Que Quieran)

“El Aguante” (MultiViral)

“Multi_Viral” Feat. Kamilya Jubran, Tom Morello y Julian Assange (MultiViral)

“Cuando los Pies Besan el Piso” (MultiViral)

“Los Idiotas” (MultiViral)

“Perseguido” Feat. Biga Ranx (MultiViral)

“Que Lloren” (Los De Atrás Vienen Conmigo)

“Gringo Latin Funk” (Los De Atrás Vienen Conmigo)

“La Perla” Feat. Rubén Blades y La Chilinga (Los De Atrás Vienen Conmigo)

“Fiesta de Locos” (Los De Atrás Vienen Conmigo)

Residente 🇵🇷

One half of the act Calle 13, Residente made his solo career debut in 2017 with his self-titled album, the album that actually reintroduced me to Calle 13 in 2019.  Residente also has several released singles here and there, some of which being products of collaborations with Bad Bunny and others.  Here are some of my favorites from him:

“Guerra” (Residente)

“Apocalíptico” (Residente)

“Dagombas en Tamale” (Residente)

“Somos Anormales” (Residente)

“El Futuro Es Nuestro” (Residente)

“Bellacoso” Feat. Bad Bunny (Bellacoso - Single)

“Cántalo” w/ Ricky Martin y Bad Bunny (Cántalo - Single)

“René” (René - Single)

Danay Suárez 🇨🇺

In my last semester at my college I took a class called Afro-Latin History, a class I wish I found out about much sooner than I did.  That class seriously had me questioning my choice in major... IN MY LAST SEMESTER!!!  Seriously, EASILY one of the best classes I’ve taken in my entire life, no exaggeration.  ANYWAY (getting of topic, my bad 😅), in one class we were discussing a book called Negro Soy Yo (= Black I Am)  in which the author (Marc D. Perry) relates how hip-hop and rap are used to explore Cuba’s racial structure alignment and how it shifts along with the state’s change from a revolutionary socialist state to one functioning under capitalism.  Being inspired from such an interesting read, I decided to look for more Afro-Cuban musicians to listen to.  Next thing I know, I have Danay Suárez playing in my ear.  My favorite songs from her are:

”Closer Now” Feat. The Idan Raichel Project (Palabras Manuales)

“Integridad” Feat. Stephen Marley (Palabras Manuales)

“Yo Aprendi” (Polvo De La Humanidad)

“Las Bala” Feat. El B. (Palabras Manuales)

Ana Tijoux 🇨🇱

It’s thanks to 2 of my college friends that I learned about Ana Tijoux.  This Chilean rapera (= rapper) came to Scripps – one of the Claremont colleges; I went to Pomona – to give a talk about how she uses her music to communicate her political views (trash talking capitalism... my kind of political view) and to promote social justice, to keep it short and sweet.  These are my favorites from Ana Tijoux:

“1977” (1977)

“Somos Sur” Feat. Shadia Mansour (Vengo)

“Vengo” (Vengo)

“Antipatriarca” (Vengo)

“Creo en Ti” Feat. Juanito Ayala (Vengo)

“Oulala” (1977)

“Cacerolazo” (Cacerolazo - Single)

“Antifa Dance” (Antifa Dance - Single)

Ibeyi 🇨🇺(🇫🇷)

Now discovering Ibeyi happened completely randomly... through a targeted Facebook video placed on my timeline.  It was their music video of the song “Me Voy” featuring Mala Rodriguez that appeared.  No long story here: I watched it, became intrigued, looked them up to find that they’re *AFRO-CUBAN (and French) artists, became more intrigued, searched for and listened to more of their music, and ultimately fell in love with their sound.  The way their voices are so in sync with each other is ethereal; together they sound celestial!  Some of my favorites from them are:

“Me Voy” Feat. Mala Rodriguez (Ash)

“I Carried This for Years” (Ash)

“Deathless” Feat. Kamasi Washington (Ash)

“River” (Ibeyi)

“Behind the Curtain” (Ibeyi)

French 🇧🇪

Stromae 🇧🇪

I can’t exactly remember how I came across Stromae... I believe it was through a childhood friend of mine??  I know for a fact that she did mention him to me at some point before I started actually listening to his songs, but I’m not sure if it was via those conversations how I became motivated to give his music a try 🤔 Either way, I ended liking his music enough to listen to it constantly!  Here’s what kept me listening to Stromae:

“Papaoutai” (Racine Carrée)

OOOOOOOH I JUST REMEMBERED!!! 😃😃😃 It was through Pentatonix’s arrangement of his song “Papaoutai”!  I found myself loving their version and became curious of where they found this song to arrange.  Okay, back to the list:

“bâtard” (Racine Carrée)

“tous les mêmes” (Racine Carrée)

“carmen” (Racine Carrée)

“avf” (Racine Carrée)

“Dodo” (Cheese)

“Peace or Violence” (Cheese)

“Je Cours” (Cheese)

Portuguese 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

Flavia Coelho 🇧🇷

I can’t thank God (and app developers) enough for an app like Shazam; if it wasn’t for this magical app, I wouldn’t have found out about Flavia Coelho.  By pure circumstance, I heard her song “Na Favela” on the radio while taking an uber to somewhere while back in college (sometime during senior year) in Southern California (MAN do I miss being out there 😭).  Fast forward to right after graduation, where I find myself in New York City: I'm out here for my college’s glee club tour, for which we had evening performances and free time during the day.  One day, I decided to go running in Central Park, and part of my preparation for any run consists of finding the right music to run to.  Normally I go with fast-paced, up-beat, arrogant rap stuff, but decided that I wanted this run to be an easy-going, enjoyable one – a run in which I’m not trying to improve my pace.  “What better music to listen to than Flavia Coelho’s,” I think.  Plus, it gave me an excuse (and plenty of time) to listen to an artist I recently discovered at the time.  Thanks to the run, I found a few favorite songs by her:

“Na favela” (Sonho Real)

“Se ligue” (Sonho Real)

“Paraiso” (Sonho Real)

“Por Cima” (Mundo Meu)

“Quer Vadiar” (Sonho Real)

“Leidi” (Sonho Real)

“Pai de Santo” (Mundo Meu)

I couldn’t find a more aurally-polished version of the song on youtube, so apologies!

“O Dom” (Mundo Meu)

Sergio Mendes 🇧🇷

Ooooh the great Sergio Mendes.  To be completely honest, there’s not much I can say about him except that I know he’s one of Brazil’s greatest and world-renown musicians... and that I came across him through the Wii game Samba de Amigos.  I couldn’t tell y’all how bad I wanted that game when I was 11... GOOD LORDT, WHEN I was ELEVEN!?  GOODNESS, how time passes! 😱 ANYWAY, there was one song I always played on that game called “Magalenha”.  At the time I didn’t know it was a Sergio Mendes song – when I looked it up, the artist that kept coming up was someone named Bellini and Mendoça do Rio.  So what happens next?  Well of course I download the song (FOR FREE and illegally thanks to L*mew*re... rip) and conduct even further research on those two artists I first found.  All of this searching would ultimately lead me down a web hole that led me to Sergio Mendes.  I admittedly have not listened to enough of his stuff, but here are a few that I currently fancy:

“Fanfarra” Feat. Alceu Do Cavaco (Brasileiro)

“Magalenha” (Brasileiro)

“What is This?” (Brasileiro)

“Simbora” Feat. Carlinhos Brown (Magic)

“Samba de Roda” Feat. Aila Menezes & Gracinha Leporace (Magic)

“One Nation” Feat. Carlinhos Brown (Magic)

“Mas Que Nada” (Mas Que Nada)

Carlinhos Brown 🇧🇷

It’s thanks to Sergio that I came across Carlinhos Brown... now how exactly did I find out about Senhor (=Mr.) Brown through Senhor Mendes, I'm not sure; there were so many opportunities for this to have happened!  I mean, if you take a look at all of Sergio’s music, you’ll find LOADS of collaborations between him and Carlinhos Brown.  Also, bruh, I thought I loved Sergio’s stuff when I stumbled upon it... sorry Sergio, but my love for you doesn’t hold a candle to my LOVE for Carlinhos Brown!  Here are some of my favorites that I still listen to (and futilely try to dance the samba to... can someone teach me please??) on a regular basis:

“Afroascendente” (Marabô)

I couldn’t this song on youtube, so if y’all are subscribed to any music streaming services, look it up on there.  Apologies!

“Vidacarnaval” (Marabô)

“Carlito Marron” (Carlinhos Brown E Carlito Marron)

“Fofoqueira” (Mixturada Brasileira)

“Mixturação” Feat. Ivete Sangalo (Mixturada Brasileira)

“Ói Pra Cá” Feat. Filhos de Gandhy (Ói Pra Cá - Single)

“Mulemba Xangóla” in collaboration w/ Bonga & Marisa Monte (Onda Sonora: Red Hot + Lisbon)

“Ô Vida” Feat. Nina de Freitas (Rio 2: Music From The Motion Picture)

“Sapo Cai” Feat. Mikael Mutti (Rio: Music From The Motion Picture)

Emicida 🇧🇷

Another Afro-descended artist doing his thing, Emicida is one of my favorite types of artists: a conscious rapper.  I know this by looking up translations of his songs... cause ya girl ain’t got NO understanding of Portuguese to be listening to songs and be like “oooh that was clever!” like she does with Calle 13... BUT I’’L GET THERE, THIS I SWEAR!!!  Emicida is still fairly new to me; I found his stuff thanks to Ibeyi (from the Spanish section above).  Regardless, I still have few songs from him I listen to often:

“Libre” Feat. Ibeyi (AmarElo)

“Principia” Feat. Pastor Henrique Vieira, Fabiana Cozza & Pastoras do Rosário (AmarElo)

“Eminência Parda” Feat. Jé Santiago, Papillon & Dona Onete (AmarElo)

“AmarElo (Sample: Sujeito de Sorte - Belchior)” Feat. Majur & Pablo Vittar (AmarElo)

“Hacia El Amor” Feat. Ibeyi (Hacia El Amor - Single)

Japanese 🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵

OOP, what’s that I hear?  It’s ANIME TIME!!!  LOL jk... BUT to be fair, I say this because literally all of the Japanese songs that I listen to come from a bunch of anime series I’ve seen throughout the past 10 years.  So yeah, get ready to experience a bit of my weeb years, heh heh.  I’m gonna categorize the songs by anime series title instead of by artist name:

Fullmetal Alchemist 🦾🙏🏾⚡️

“Melissa” by Porno Graffiti (Porno Graffiti’s Best Blues)

“Ready Steady Go!” by L’arc-En-Ciel (Smile)

“Rewrite” by Asian Kung-Fu Generation (Sol-fa)

“Period” by CHEMISTRY (Chemistry 2001-2011)

“Uso” by SID (SID 10th Anniversary BEST)

“Let It Out” by Miho Fukuhara

“Shunkan SENTIMENTAL” by Scandal (Temptation Box)

 Bleach 🗡💀

“*~Asterisk~” by Orange Range (Natural)

“D-tecnoLife” by UVERworld (Neo Sound Best)

“Ichirin no Hana” by High and Mighty Color

“Alones” by Aqua Times (Darekanochijoue)

“After Dark” by Asian Kung-Fu Generation (World World World)

“Chu-Bura” by Kelun (Kelun)

“Shoujo S” by Scandal (Scandal Show)

“Animarossa” by Prono Graffiti (Trigger)

“chAngE” by Miwa

“Ranbu no Melody” by SID (Ranbu No Melody)

“BLUE” by ViViD (INFINITY)

“Harukaze” by Scandal (Scandal)

“Tsumasaki” by ORESKABAND (ORESKABAND)

“Gallop” by Pe’zmoku

“Haruka Kanata” by UNLIMITS 

Soul Eater 💀🎃⛓🗡

“Resonance” by T.M. Revolution

“Papermoon” by Tommy heavely6

“I Wanna Be” by Stance Punks

“Bakusou Yume Uta” by Diggy-MO’ (DX 10th Anniversary All This Time 2008-2018)

“Strength.” by Abingdon Boys School (ABINGDON ROAD)

Kill La Kill 🗡✂️👙

“Sirius” by Eir Aoi

“Ambiguous” by GARNiDELiA (Ambiguous - Single)

“Gomen ne, Iiko ja Irarenai” by Miku Sawai

“Sanbika” by Eir Aoi

Annnnd DONE!  Congrats on making it through this SUPER long post!  Again, this is some of the music in other languages I listen to on a regular basis; you can click on any of the song titles to listen to them in their entirety if you’d like.  Also, if any of y’all have any recommendations on what I should listen to – especially if it’s in Mandarin or French, considering a Mandarin section is nonexistent and the French section is just sad compared to the others 😭 –please reach out!  I’d love to hear what you guys listen to, so let’s start up a little music exchange, yeah?  Cool.  Here’s to finally finishing this post that’s taken me EONS to complete!

乾杯 (gān bēi)! 🥂

[kingofthewilderwest]

Some Incomplete Ramblings on “Liza / Riza Hawkeye”

One thing I’ve always found fascinating about FMA character / location names is that it’s like a game of telephone from European languages --> Japanese --> (in my case) English. As is such, with telephone, information has the potential to get distorted.

I own lots of FMA guidebooks in English and Japanese, and frequently entertain myself with the name variations. Liore / Leole / Reole / etc. is one of the most entertaining spelling conundrums, official sources constantly varying the name, and never honing in on a consensus over the many years’ passings. But while I could yab on about Martel and Ling and Dolcetto and Kimblee and many other names, I’m here to smile about Riza Hawkeye.

Official sources in English and Japanese almost exclusively spell her name as “Riza Hawkeye.” Over and over, it’s Riza Hawkeye. Compared to many characters, her name’s very consistent. But in some of the earliest materials from the franchise, she’s sometimes labeled as “Liza Hawkeye.” For instance, there’s an early Bandai figure with that name - a figure that would have been developed (and its label created) through Japan.

The English version of the Fullmetal Alchemist Trading Card game sometimes calls her Liza, too. Because I’m a linguist who (as my career probably implies) loves Little Language Things... I had to nab a few FMA trading cards with that variant name! I don’t collect cards, but these were irresistible! These cards came in my mail yesterday!!! Tadaaaa!

It’s hard to see in the photograph, but these cards are copyright 2005. I’ve tried to find more information on when in 2005 they were printed (no success yet), but the date 2005 is interesting. This isn’t long after the first anime’s English dub began premiering in the USA starting November 2004. 

These cards may also have preceded the first official English manga  publications. The manga received two official printings in English, one by Viz Media in the USA and one by Chuang Yi in Singapore. Viz Media published Vol. 1′s First Edition in May 2005; Chuang Yi was November 2005. I doubt there’d be any coordination between different companies in different parts of the world creating cards and manga and anime. Different name interpretations were far more likely to happen with FMA being turned into English for the first times. There was no established precedent for how-to-spell-what. As everyone in 2005 was working through their stuff independently or semi-independently, they were giving our girl a different first name.

Now, Riza’s name had been published in the Roman alphabet as “Riza Hawkeye” earlier than when my cards came out. The Japanese company Bandai (that gave us the Liza Hawkeye figure)... also gave us a 2003 card calling her “Riza Hawkeye.” That is, within the same company within a short amount of time, they printed two different spellings of a character’s name. There’s another card set, from 2004, that lists her as “Riza Hawkeye” as well.

After FMA’s nascent years, Hawkeye’s Roman-spelled name quickly became solidified as “Riza.” Almost all “Liza” materials I’ve seen are 2005 or earlier. The latest material I’ve seen listed as “Liza” is a card with a copyright of 2007. 

The English release of the two most important FMA franchise materials - the manga and the anime - would have solidified Hawkeye’s first name as “Riza.” On September 17, 2005, Riza’s full name was stated on screen for the first time in the English airdate... as “First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye.” This was in Ep. 27 “Teacher.”

Viz Media worked alongside all this. Viz Media published both the English anime book materials (like Fullmetal Alchemist Anime Profiles, printed in English in 2006) and the manga itself. I believe the first time Riza’s first name was given in the manga was Chapter 24, when Riza introduced herself to Winry. Viz Media printed Vol. 6 (which contains Ch. 24) in February 2006. By this point, for English-speaking fans (especially in the Western Hemisphere), all major FMA materials would have called her “Riza.”

I imagine that by then, that now-iconic name would have been foolish to change. One of the most popular characters was branded firmly as “Riza” by the start of 2006. Couldn’t change that now. Unlike the earliest merchandise, now everything about Riza - both English and Japanese materials - called her Riza. All my Japanese guidebooks that never got English translations call her “Riza.” (And these are guidebooks that continue to have Roman alphabet spelling variations between other characters - even when all published in the same year). None variation left beef for Riza. I want to buy the Perfect Guidebooks, which are older than all the guidebooks I currently own, and see what they say for her name... but for now... everything I’m holding that’s in Japanese is post-2006 and all say “Riza” when they print her name in Roman letters.

I don’t know what Arakawa intended, especially as the earliest Japanese merchandise gives us both Riza and Liza. If the earliest merchandise all said one name, we could have guessed that Arakawa gave the approval. But that’s not the case. The names vary in early Japanese Bandai merch. Nor can we trust major English translated sources as hints of Arakawa’s intentions. It doesn’t seem like they asked Arakawa for explanation on everyone’s intended names. Viz doesn’t provide a good representation on what Arakawa wanted, given as they messed up majorly on other names and are only correcting them NOW, in 2018 and 2019, in their Fullmetal Edition of the manga (in the trade paperbacks, they called Kyle Halling “Khayal,” spelled Kimblee’s name two different ways, wrote “Isvharlan” in Vol. 2, gave the country’s name as “Ishbal” above drawings from the manga that wrote “Ishval,” misinterpreted Xerxes as “Cselkcess,” and lots of other fun oddities...).

And while some names get written in English in the manga artwork proper, I’ve only seen Hawkeye’s last name.

I know far from everything. There’s still lots I have to check. Don’t take my word as law.

THAT SAID. 

From the information I know... I find it fascinating it’s VERY possible Arakawa’s initial inspiration was “Liza Hawkeye.” NOT Riza. There’s in fact good linguistic reason to suppose this.

For people who aren’t familiar with Japanese typography / orthography, the Japanese writing system is composed of kanji and kana. Kanji are characters with semantic complexity to them; the kanji are usually included in a word for meaning-related reasons, but the pronunciation of the kanji can vary depending upon whether the word it contextually represents is a native Japanese word, a Chinese loan word, the first or second kanji in a compound, etc. Kana, unlike kanji, are basically read the same way every time. Instead of being symbols depicting semantic content, kana depict pronunciation content. Kana are written in a syllabary system. A syllabary is like an alphabet except that every symbol represents a syllable you pronounce (or, in Japanese, a mora). Japanese kana are two sets of syllabaries, the hiragana and katakana. Katakana is used to spell recently adopted loan words.

Because FMA characters’ names are (almost) all taken from European names, their names are written in katakana. But because Japanese is a different language than European languages, it has different sounds in it. This means that, when European loan words get imported into Japanese, pronunciation changes happen. The pronunciations allowed in European languages are altered into acceptable sound structures Japanese allows - its phonetics and phonology and phonotactics.

Now, Arakawa doesn’t always spell European words “typically” for katakana. Japanese has over the last few decades adopted many English loanwords. For instance, there’s a loan word for “mustang,” which is 「 ムスタング 」. Roughly, ム = mu, ス = su, タ = ta, ン = n, and  グ = gu. So, the Japanese word for “mustang” is musutangu. Arakawa actually gives Colonel Mustang a different spelling than that - he’s masutangu 「 マスタング 」.

Perhaps this was because Arakawa saw the name “Mustang” in Roman letters and did her own import into kana. In the process of her changing “Mustang” from Roman letters to katakana, she might have chosen “ma” instead of “mu”. Perhaps this was because she thought this would make his name sound cooler, look unique, or make her metaphoric name more subtle. Or, perhaps this arose in foresight with the eventual “Madame Christmas” wordplay (“Christmas” in Japanese is 「 クリスマス」kurisumasu, which makes her full name kurisu masutangu - get how that works perfectly?). Whatever the reason(s), we know that Arakawa’s katakana spelling of imported European words isn’t always what Japanese’s loan word katakana spelling officially does.

Riza’s name in the Japanese could be another instance of this.

To explain what I mean, let’s take a look at my graphic:

Each line is a name in Roman letters (acceptable in English) with its corresponding Japanese spelling. In parentheses is a rough pronunciation of how that katakana’s pronounced.

First: There are indications that Riza’s full given name is Elizabeth. Some fans say it’s just her code name, akin to how “Jaqueline” is Havoc’s code name. It’s true we hear Roy call her “Elizabeth” in that code name setting. However, it’s also interesting that he calls her “Elizabeth” when he’s visiting Madame Christmas. In his home environment, where he’s dropping his walls and being far more honest and open to family, where he’s even blabbing about being romantically interested in Hawkeye OUT LOUD, he calls her “Elizabeth.” You could argue that it might be another instance of intentional code naming to protect her identity, but it’s still very interesting that this is a second, different, emotionally open, trusting context in which Roy names her “Elizabeth.”

Linguistically, her name seems derived from “Elizabeth,” too. Again: while spellings and pronunciations are slightly altered when Arakawa imports European names into Japanese, she’s still taking those names from a European source. But I don’t know of a common Western European name that’s essentially Riza. Go to baby names websites. You don’t get a long list of female names that are Riza, especially not in Western Europe, where Arakawa took most names. Where’d she get this?

A shortening of “Elizabeth” is likely.

Look at Line #1 of my graphic. I have the word “Elizabeth” in Roman letters alongside the katakana spelling of “Elizabeth.” 

That first line is how “Elizabeth” is usually spelled in Japanese writing. It’s 「エリザベス」. エ = e, リ = ri, ザ = za, ベ = be, and ス = su. So the Japanese version of “Elizabeth” is more or less erizabesu. Note that the same symbol 「リ」is used for both r+i and l+i. This could be a long linguistics explanation in itself, but more or less: Japanese doesn’t have separate “r” and “l” sounds. They have one sound that’s like an “r.” But, it has pronunciation variation based upon dialect, and, within a single dialect, where said “r” is placed in relation to other sounds surrounding it. The “r” can make lots of sounds (allophones), including what English speakers would call an “l.” So when imported words from European languages which have separate r and l sounds (phonemes), these r’s and l’s get reduced in Japanese into one thing, interpreted as that single “r” sound their language has.

Now, let’s go to Line #2. A common nickname for “Elizabeth” is “Liza.” Notice the spelling. Elizabeth contains the actual, unaltered spelling of Liza. However, pronunciation changes occur. The “i” in “Elizabeth” is a different sound than the “i” in “Liza.” The spelling’s the same between full name and nickname; the first vowel just sounds different.

The Japanese katakana spelling of “Liza” is based upon the pronunciation. NOT the spelling! See my visual. The way “Liza” is spelled in Japanese is 「ライザ」- that is, raiza. ラ = ra, イ = i, and ザ = za. As a result, the name “Elizabeth” in katakana does not contain the unaltered spelling of “Liza” inside it.

Note, however, that the name **RIZA** is DIRECTLY spelled inside the Japanese spelling of “Elizabeth.” 「エリザベス」 contains 「リザ」. That is, erizabesu can be truncated to riza without any spelling changes!

That’s what we see in Line #3. Note that, in red, I have highlighted where the spellings stay the same within full name and nickname.

Ergo, “Riza” is directly derived from “Elizabeth” in the katakana spelling of “Elizabeth.” That’s indirect indication that, when Arakawa was giving Riza her name, she was looking at “Elizabeth.”

In which case, “Liza” WOULD be a correct reading for Hawkeye’s first name.

Similar to the Chris Mustang thing I mentioned, making a spelling change for an “Elizabeth” nickname makes sense in Japanese. Japanese readers might not be familiar that “Liza” is a nickname for “Elizabeth.” The fact that raiza for “Liza” is spelled very different in Japanese kana compared to erizabesu for “Elizabeth” ...would make it hard to connect the dots between the two names. But giving the spelling riza makes the connection easier-to-see: for them, in katakana, they can see riza spelled inside erizabesu. Just like, in English, we can see “Liza” directly inside “Elizabeth.”

So, from what I know, I postulate that Arakawa initially envisioned “Liza Hawkeye.” It all makes linguistic sense, and the fact that early FMA merchandise from Japan sometimes uses “Liza” only helps my case. That they sometimes also called her “Riza” is a common phenomenon of Japanese publications not knowing when to make something an R and when to make something an L. I mean, in the Death Note anime, you see someone’s name listed as “Rally” instead of “Larry.” The L/R confusion is common and appears commonly in officially released Japanese materials.

I mentioned at the start of this ramble that translating names multiple times is like a game of telephone. Thus far, it seems like we went from Liza --> リザ. Then, when North American native English speakers got the Japanese 「リザ」, they had to figure out what to do with it. Because the character’s name was spelled 「リザ」 - NOT the standard「ライザ」 Japanese use to spell “Liza” - then translators wouldn’t have thought this was an intended “Elizabeth” nickname. It doesn’t help that Roy doesn’t call Riza “Elizabeth” as code until several volumes after we’re given riza (Ch. 37 Vol. 9, I believe). So, translators were left with a really oddly spelled, indeterminate name... something that could have been spelled “Leeza” or “Reeza” or “Riza” or “Leaza” or who-knows-what. But “Liza” would have, to them, seemed like a phonetically poor choice - English readers would see “Liza” and pronounce it very differently from how the Japanese would pronounce 「リザ」. If Arakawa had intended “Liza,” she would have spelled it markedly differently, right? So “Liza” would have been an unintuitive translation option for Japanese --> English translators. On the other hand, English readers would see “Riza” and pronounce it close to how the character’s name was spelled in Japanese. So even though “Riza” isn’t a normal Western European name, that’s what seemed to make sense. Ergo, “Riza” became the “intuitive” choice for translators, and that’s what they put.

It’s not unfeasible that this “Riza” choice was made independently with several groups of people - the manga translators and the English dub script workers, namely. “Riza” seems the most default “sensible” choice. And once both Viz Media and Funimation Entertainment gave English consumers, consistently, “Riza” - well that was that! It probably influenced Japanese publishers with their next materials. It would have influenced all other English products. Thus, henceforth, Japanese or English origin, we’d only see her name as “Riza”.

Don’t take this as a flawless or conclusive analysis. Opening the Perfect Guidebooks, after I buy them, might tweak or solidify some of my thoughts. There’s many materials, other merchandise, I haven’t seen the packaging to, or seen inside of, or know what year it was made. I might not have accurately remembered / researched the first instances in which names were given across the animes, manga, etc. I don’t know hoards about the Trading Card game. I’m not fluent in Japanese, just a beginner. I’m a linguist but academically I spent little time with Japanese in my studies and research. I definitely can’t mind read Arakawa. Other fans may know more(?). This is meant as a happy ramble of thoughts, not a conclusion. And I wrote this overnight instead of getting sleep. Because this is a wise use of time, right?

I will always call her “Riza.” The name fits her. It’s a unique name. It’s a cool name. I think it sounds better than “Liza Hawkeye.” I grew up with “Riza.” I’m attached to Riza. 

But I find it so fascinating to acknowledge and study the background of when she was labeled “Liza.”

I’m quite happy to be hold cards from 2005 - in my hand - that label her such.

[mskinkyafro]

Meet the Watsons (Aubrey x MC) - Part 1

Summary: After Viola & Aubrey take their relationship to the next level their moment is interrupted by unforeseen forces.

A/N: This will be a mini fic series. It takes place after the diamond scene with Aubrey in the finale and where it will end, I have know idea yet lol. The timeline is something I have yet to truly figure out in this book, but since characters kept referring how great MC was this year, I’m assuming it’s been about possibly 6-9 months max. I don’t see a full year this all happen. With that in mind, Aubrey and Viola’s relationship has been an ongoing one for a long time and I don’t know why but not exclusive just yet. (That’s where I come in with the power of fanfic on my side.) 

The focus of the series is Viola and Aubrey’s  growing relationship and her meeting his lovable yet crazy family. After Aubrey mentioned the Watson Odyssey and the fact this book is a standalone, I thought more and more of Viola meeting his family.  And to the Watson luck, how far from normal it would be lol (In my headcannon, the Watsons are just a hilarious hot mess)  After this fic is up, I will make a seperate post with the headcannons/backgrounds I’ve created for Aubrey and his family and my MC Viola.

Rating: Just to be safe this first part of the series is a 18+ NSFW fic. I wasn’t planning on writing a NSFW, however it just happened.  It’s minor smut. Mainly fondling/caressing but no actual sex. However, if your under 18 or uncomfortable with smut don’t read this fic or scroll past the beginning. If you decide to read, you’re agreeing your 18 and okay with the content.

Note: This series for the most part will be rated PG or PG-13 either due to language or innuendos, however the rating will be bolded and listed nsfw if any future parts contain explicit sexual content. So just be aware to check the rating on the parts of this fic series at all times. I will list the accurate rating according to each part. 

(Thoughts are italicized and in parentheses)

After a night full of passionate lovemaking all over Aubrey’s bachelor pad, the two settle themselves in his bed cuddling as the morning light shines through the bedroom. Viola lays her head on Aubrey’s chest with her eyes closed just listening to his heart beat in time with her own. She sighs in content as his fingers comb through her now frizzy, kinky blonde curls. It was quiet in the room except their gentle breathing and the sound of soft whispering, that only Viola could hear.

(“Just perfect...this moment is perfect.”)

She opens her eyes and is met with two bright blue eyes looking back at her.

“Hi.” she says softly.

“Hi.”

“What are you staring at?”

“Just the most beautiful woman in the world. And somehow she’s naked in my arms. I keep thinking I died and gone to heaven.” he whispers as he moves his hand from her hair to travel down to her waist.

Viola lifts her head up slowly and slides her body up so her face is inches from Aubrey’s and her breasts press down on his chest as her hands rest on the sides of his head.

“You’re working really hard for morning sex aren’t you?” she says smirking at him.

He lets his right arm that was secured around her waist under the covers to slink lower. His hand moves to grip Viola’s ass, making her grind against his growing erection. He grins up at her as she moans loud and her eyelids drift shut.

“Was it that obvious?”

“Maybe…” Viola opens her eyes and moves her her right hand from behind his head to drift down his body to between his legs to gently strokes his cock. She watches as his body stiffens and his eyes roll to the back of his head at his touch.

“...but two can play that game.” 

Viola leans down and presses a sensual long kiss on Aubrey’s lips as she continues to stroke him slowly. As she breaks away from his lips and lets her mouth trail down the nape of his neck, his thoughts ring out loud and clear.

(Oh god...we’ve barely started but I feel like I’m on fire. If this is how mornings are going to be like with her, I want to wake up next to her forever.)

Viola continues to trail down from his neck to his chest down his abs and almost past his waist when the distinct growling of stomachs fill  the room. Viola and Aubrey pause and lock eyes with each other before laughter filled the air. Aubrey is the first to speak through the fits of laughter.

“I suppose after last night we’ve both worked up an appetite.”

“That’s true, but what if I worked up an appetite for some else?” she tells him, her eyes full of desire.

(“God she just loves to tease me, doesn’t she?”)

Before he could respond, Viola’s stomach growls even louder than before.

“Okay, so maybe we should get some food then continue…”

Her hands gesture over the two of them.

“...this later.”

“Sounds like a plan.” He presses a chaste kiss to her forehead.

“Why don’t you take a shower and I’ll start on breakfast?”

“Is this another sneaky plan to see me all wet and soapy?” she says seductively as she crawls off him and out the bed toward his bathroom. 

“Viola...you’re killing me.”

She laughs and winks back at him before entering the bathroom and shutting the door. He can hear the turning of the shower head and water running as he lays in his bed, the sheets covering his bottom half , but barely concealing his erection. 

He couldn’t help the stupid grin that grew on his face. He loved how domestic they were, how right it felt. He was so distracted by his thoughts of Viola that he barely caught the sound of his cell phone chiming. He turns his head to the bedside table and unlocks his phone to see thirty text messages from his mother, ten miss calls. Half of which were from his father. Even a message from his sister Liz and his twin brothers, Forrest and Jasper. And lastly a notification from Snapchat from his niece. 

Confused by the barrel of messages from his family he quickly presses the voicemail. Listening in he hears his mother’s concern over what happened at the debate. Sighing loudly and rub his face in exasperation his phone rings loudly as the FaceTime icon pops up. He clicks and the image of an older woman with a round face, blonde wavy hair styled in a layered bob, and soft blue eyes that resembled Aubrey’s hidden behind black frames appears.

“Oh thank god! You’re alive! My baby is okay!!”

“Ma...of course I am. Why wouldn’t I? And why did you and everyone blow up my phone?”

“Oh Aubrey...you weren’t answering and I was worried!  I called your siblings to check on you and when you weren’t responding I had them come over immediately. What else was I supposed to do?! That vile man punched my baby and I have no idea if you were concussed or god forbid dead due to head trauma.”

Aubrey rolls his eyes at his mother’s overreactions and pulls the phone closer. 

“Don’t you roll your eyes at me! I’m still your mother!”

Aubrey flinches at her tone and sheepishly says.

“Sorry Ma, but you have nothing to-“

Aubrey’s was cut off by his bedroom door slamming open with two men attempting to roll on the ground and pop up into ninja stances and an older man standing in the middle swinging nunchucks moderately fast.

“Get ready to get your ass kicked, punks! Watson Style!

“What the hell?!” Aubrey exclaims. He drops his phone beside him as he pulls his bed sheets around himself tighter. And quickly grabs a pillow to cover his lap.

The two men scramble up from the ground as they speak simultaneously. 

“And backup from double trouble!”

“Aubrey! Honey what’s going on?! Should I call the police?!” his mother yells through the phone. 

The chaos of the last thirty seconds forces him to raise his voice.

“Enough!”

The three men that entered the room freezes as they look at Aubrey. His mother stays silent on the phone. He closes his eyes and punches the bridge of his nose.

“Okay…I’m going to start at the top and provide some answers hoping I’ll get some in return.” he quietly states.

The two men who were identical in every way, from the way they stand to the same expression on their face as their green eyes lit up in confusion, and how they ruffled their brown hair as they waited for Aubrey to speak. While the older man who looked like a more seasoned version of the other two with bit of belly slowly lowered his weapon. Aubrey nods and then picks up his phone and looks at his mother.

“Good. Ma I’m okay. Mr. Burdock may of decked me but I survived.”

He then looks away from the screen and fixes an annoyed gaze toward the men in the room.

“Pop, Jasper, Forest...I have two questions. How did you guys get into my apartment and Pop...why do you have a nunchuck?”

“ Well son, we have some questions before we answer yours, right boys.” his father says looking toward his older sons. 

“Right pop!” they both said at the same time.

“Ugh! You two are getting too old for the twins in sync gimmick. It’s just creepy.”

Jasper crosses his arms over his chest and leans against the dresser next to the wall as Forrest leans his arm to prop himself beside his twin.

“Oh yeah? Well you’re definitely too old to have me and Forrest come save you. We ain’t kids anymore, snobrey.” Jasper retorts.

Nodding along, Forrest speaks.

“Yep! Especially, Pop.”

“Hey, I’m not that old boys. I still got enough spring in my step.”

Frustrated by each second, Aubrey runs his hands aggressively through his hair.

“You guys didn’t answer any of my questions.”

“Aubrey, I sent your father and brother’s with your spare key to go check in on you since you weren’t answering your phone.”

He turns back his attention to his mother on his phone screen.

“Ma...that was for emergencies only! Everything is fine. I’m fine!”

“Oh really? Then why do I see bruises forming at your neck? Were you in another scuffle that wasn’t televised?” His mother asks accusingly.

“And son, why was your plates and kitchen sets tossed to the floor with broken glass?” his father adds.

Jasper leans away from the dresser and stands up straight and stares with Forrest joining in.

“Mind you, snobrey. Your shirt was found ripped and it’s pretty obvious that something…” 

He trails off as he takes a more detailed look at his baby brother. His bare chest is revealed and  flushed red, his hair skewed and the way he keeps one arm over his lap while he manages to hold his phone up. At that moment of Jasper not speaking the only sound being heard was the running of the shower.

“Is your shower on?” Forrest asks breaking the silence.

Watching Aubrey’s eyes flash with worry, it clicked for Jasper.

“Oh my god! Looks like little snobrey here wasn’t in any trouble at all. Actually he seems to have enjoyed the trouble he did get into last night.” Jasper said with a leer.

“Shut. Up.” he says through clenched teeth.

“What do you mean?” his parents asked at the same time.

Forrest eyed his twin and his baby brother before he caught on as well and broke out in a smile that rivaled a Cheshire cat.

“Well, well, well! I can’t believe it, but the evidence is right before our eyes.”

“Stop! Stop talking right now Forrest! Everyone, please get out!”

Before anyone else can speak another word, the shower turns off and shuffling is heard behind the bathroom door. Everyone turns their attention to the bathroom as they hear the door open and Viola exits with a short yellow towel that leaves little to the imagination, showing off her smooth long legs and hugs her curves. Her blonde curls clinging to her head as droplets slide down her body.

She walks out slowly with the towel wrapped securely around her figure and her eyes closed as she combs through her hair with her hand.

“Hey what was all that noise? Were you watching a movie without me? Eh, It’s not important.  I had a fabulous idea right now. Why don’t we pick up where we left off and have a repeat of last night, breakfast edition.”

Viola opens her eyes and freezes instantly. She opens her mouth to scream but nothing comes out. No one in the room made a move or sound. The tension in the room was high and shock was evident on three older men’s face while embarrassment adorn Aubrey’s and Viola’s.

In her head she can hear mixture of multiple voices.

(“Oh my god, Viola will never want to see me again after this.”)

(“Damn. Who knew Aubrey could land such a babe.”)

(“When the hell did this happen?”)

(“I managed to avoid this during all my kids teenage years yet the universe decided that I have to go through the rite of passage of catching my kid in the act eventually.”)

“Who’s that? Is that a girl? Does my baby boy have a girl in his room?!”

Jasper shaking himself from his shock saunters towards Aubrey and grabs his phone away from him and fixes it so that their mother has Viola in her view.

“Right on the nose Ma. And not just any girl. Looks like little baby Aubrey seemed to snag Northbridge’s leading anchor.”

“Umm so this is very, very...um, awkward.” Viola says as she avoids eye contact with everyone in the room.

Aubrey leans to pick up a piece of clothing from the ground beside his side of the bed and slips them on underneath the sheets and gets out of bed and walks towards Viola and pulls her close to him.

“So this is the most embarrassing thing to happen to me and I’m so sorry, Viola. But umm this is my older twin brothers Jasper and Forrest. My Pops, Richard and on my phone my Ma, Sadie. Umm meet the Watsons.”

Viola hiding herself in Aubrey’s embrace in order to shield her lightly concealed body gives them all a shy wave.

“Hello. Umm, I’m Viola Porchia. Umm, I’ve heard lovely things about you all. I never thought in a million years we’d meet like this.”

“Ohhhhh! How exciting!” his mother exclaims through the phone.

Richard collects himself and chuckles as he turns away from the young couple and heads out the bedroom.

“I’m too old for this. Son, next time you’re occupied entertaining your lady friend after getting hurt on national tv, remember to check in with your mother that you’re okay so we don’t have a repeat of today.”

“Umm, yes Pop.”

“Good. We can’t be scaring away the poor girl. You’re lucky a woman like her is even with you. Besides, from what we’ve seen in your apartment you two might be the closest hope of your mother having more grandchildren.” he says with a wink that he throws to the two.

“Oh god! Pop! Please, enough.”

“Oh Aubrey, I was young once too! How did you think you’re mother and I got all you kids.”

Jasper and Forrest are trying to hide their laughter as their father continues to tease their little brother.

“I’m begging,”

“Okay, okay. Viola it’s nice to meet you and sorry for interrupting.You two...carry on. Come on boys. Let’s leave the lovers to it.”

Jasper tosses Aubrey’s phone on the bed as himself, his twin, and father make their leave.

“Sadie, honey we’re on our way back now.”

“Okay, Richard. See you boys in a few.”

The three exit the bedroom and a distinct shutting of the main door of his apartment is heard.

Aubrey and Viola breathe out. 

Aubrey picks up his phone and faces the camera towards him.

“Okay, this has been mortifying. I’m gonna go Ma.”

“Fine, but since everyone is here, bring Viola down to dinner. I haven’t had all my children together for a meal in such a long time. And I want to meet her face to face.”

“Jeez, I don’t know Ma-”

“I won’t take no for an answer. See you two tonight at 6:30pm.” she says before disconnecting the call.

Aubrey sets his phone down and turns back around to pull Viola into a comforting hug.

“I have no words. I’m so so so sorry. I was hoping you’d meet them later on.”

“That will definitely be up there for most embarrassing moments, but it's okay. At least they didn’t walk in on us in action.”

“You always see the bright side of it all, don’t you?”

“I try.”

“You can probably tell now why I only introduced Liz and Shiloh.”

“A little but they seem very sweet. I see it runs in the Watson genes.”

He chuckles and walks backward to sit on the edge of his bed and pulls her so she’s sitting on his lap.

“Perhaps. So you don’t mind coming to dinner with me and meeting my mom? I know this is happening very fast and it’s really really weird-”

Viola cuts him off by placing a finger to his lips.

“Well at this point, I’ve met all the Watsons except for the most important one.” she says with a glowing smile.

“Oh yes, Ma is really gonna love you.”

“Really? You think so?”

“I know so. Besides I already do.”

Viola tenses after those words left his mouth and just stares at Aubrey. He looks at her and flinches slightly at what he said.

“You love me?” she asks in a small voice.

“I...umm..” he begins nervously and trails off.  Aubrey takes a deep breath and closes his eyes before opening them and gazes deep into Viola’s hazel-green eyes.

“I do. I know we haven’t official made us exclusive yet in these past months but there’s been no one else who can compare to you. No one else has turned my head but you. Viola, I’m falling in love with you.”

With her eyes glazing softly with light tears she leans and kisses him softly and firmly.

“I’m falling in love with you too.” 

“Really?”

“Really really”

In one swift movement, Aubrey cradles Viola quickly into bridal position in his arms and swings her around in joy. Her squeals of surprise and laughter fill the room before he sets her down.

“I have a question for you. Will you be my girlfriend?”

“In a heartbeat.”

Aubrey kiss her gently on the lips t a few times before she pulls away.

“One question  for you though.”

“Yes?”

“Why did your dad have nunchucks?”

Aubrey stays silent for a moment or two trying to find a way to answer that question but only one thing came to mind.

“Apparently it’s the Watson style.”

Tagged: @hellomynameisdevi  @cora-nova @jlpplays1 @rain18rain @mrsmckenziesworld 

If anyone else wants to be tagged in future fics with this pairing or for this mini series just let me know!