#maybe it was like murakami's family

[angry-glasses]

hey so if Ram was already Sophia's butler when she met Rokudo, doesn't that mean they were already monitoring her before she actually became/awakened as "the Togabito of Night"? or was Ram meant to keep an eye on the Valentine family as a whole, and not her specifically?

[codenamesazanka]

I've been looking at some old Japanese villain fan tweets about Toga from Chapter 395, and most of them seem pretty okay with Toga's ending - her dying on her own terms. Which is 😕 to me but.

The overwhelming conclusion from both japanese hero and villain fans alike that no matter what, the League will be getting the death penalty. Maybe life in prison, but most agree it's the death penalty for Shigaraki, Toga, Dabi had he been less burned. Even Spinner and Compress, the less notorious members, might be getting it, because they were part of the terrorist cell. Not immediately that we would see in the epilogue, but eventually.

From the book The Culture of Capital Punishment in Japan:

...Murakami noted that “as a general argument, I adopt a stance of opposition toward the death penalty” but then said “I cannot publicly state, as far as this case is concerned, ‘I am opposed to the death penalty’,” because he had acquired “a painful awareness of the feelings of some bereaved families.”

By arguing that he opposes capital punishment but not in this case, Murakami is articulating a sensibility—the death penalty is “unavoidable” (yamu o enai)—that is ubiquitous in Japan’s culture of capital punishment. [...] Japan’s government uses it to ask citizens whether they support capital punishment (a typical survey question asks “Do you agree that the death penalty is unavoidable in some cases?”). The “unavoidable” expression simultaneously suggests that the death penalty “cannot be helped” and that the speaker is ambivalent about this purportedly “inescapable” outcome. The reservations wrapped in the expression suggest that Japanese capital punishment continues to operate because agents of the state (prosecutors, judges, politicians) and citizen-onlookers represent themselves, to themselves and others, as cogs in a machine over which they have little control.

This punishment simply is. Even in this fictional world. Even though a lot of the League were victims. Even if the villains we saw locked up in Tartarus are never put to execution, and the death penalty is only offhandedly mentioned.

And if this is inevitable in the League's future, then why not go out on your own terms? If death is certain, you might as well die by your own hand (Toga), or go out in battle (Shigaraki). (Never mind that Toga's death was preventable, and Shigaraki was possessed and all he got to do was help punch-kill AFO.) Japanese villain fans are upset about Dabi's fate, but from what I saw, it's mostly because he's meeting such a quiet end.

Another thought: perhaps it's because the Villains were saved, they also had to die. If you stay a unrepentant mofo, like Muscular, then you don't have the decency to recognize your sins and allow yourself to die. But if you were saved and recognize your sins, you have no choice but to die for all the deaths you caused.

(Again, I don't think that works quite for the League, who stay pretty unrepentant about the upheaval they caused??? especially Toga, who states that she was gonna skeddadle; but in a way, she recognized that she hurt Ochako, so she gave up her blood.)

(also. to say nothing of Enji and Hawks being alive. or even Nagant. But some japanese fans are at least upset that Enji and Hawks aren't going to receive any in-universe official punishment for what they did.)

[facecollapsedthroughentropy]

104 Degrees (M.H)

Summary: Meet-cute with Matty, loosely based on "104 Degrees" by Slaughter Beach, Dog.

Word Count: 667

Warnings: This is disgustingly cute, my teeth are rooting from the sheer amount of sweetness.

Author's note: I haven't written in a long time, so bear with me. If you have any requests for blurbs or imagines, send an ask! I would love to write more for Matty. :)

It was the first day of summer in London. The midday sun was blazing down, distinct shadows of each tree cast down upon the bustling streets.

Matty was sweating, the sun beating down and the lack of water didn't help in any way. Maybe a trip to the bookstore in this unbearable summer heat wasn't a smart choice in hindsight, atleast so he thought.

He stepped out of the small boutique, a bag filled with books in his hand. Beads of sweat were forming on his hairline and even in his linen shirt, he felt clammy. Looking through the crowd, he observed each and every one of the passersby.

Families with their children, sticky ice-cream-covered hands gripping at their parents'.

Groups of teens going on shopping sprees, clad in the hippest clothes and iced coffees in their clasp.

Oh.

His eyes suddenly landed on something, or rather someone. There she was, sitting alone on a bench just outside of his go-to café. The swarm of people simply blending into one mixture behind her, leaving only her figure in focus.

A book in hand, which he promptly recognized to be Murakami's "Kafka on the Shore", and a pair of deeply tinted shades sat on her nose.

He knew it sounded cheesy, even cringing at his own internal thoughts at that second, but he was taken, completely and utterly enthralled.

He watched as her hands reached up to tie her hair, how the sweat stuck to each strand at the back of her neck.

He didn't know how long he had been standing there, but he was abruptly pulled out of his trance when her gaze lifted to look at him. His unbelieving stare reflected in her dark set of sunglasses.

She smiled at him.

His brain short-circuited. Good God, what was he doing! Smile back, you idiot!

He grinned, after an embarassingly long second, and lifted his hand up to wave at the woman. The next thing he heard was a crash.

Oh no...

His books went tumbling down onto the pavement and right at that moment, he wanted to be swallowed whole. Change his name and forever disappear, preferably to somewhere a bit colder.

He quickly reached down to collect his clumsy mess, hastily shoving it into his totebag in hopes of her not having seen his little accident.

He reached to grab ahold of his last book, ironically another work of Murakami's: The Wind-Up Bird. His hand instantaneously covered by a foreign one, trying to help him by picking up the last piece.

"Thank you..." he spoke softly to the stranger and smiled looking up. He was met with his own reflection yet again, which slowly disappeared as the stranger lifted up her shades, revealing her glimmering eyes.

"You're welome," she said in an amused tone, clearly having seen his antics.

Matty's face turned beet-red. This couldn't get any worse, could it?

"Uhm," he started trying to piece together a coherent sentence. Why was he like this! His usual, overly-confident self was gone, off on holiday and never to be seen again.

"Nice choice," she stopped his blubbering and handed him the book.

"Yeah... One of my friends recommended it to me," he spoke out nervously, reaching up to adjust his curls.

"Thanks again, for helping me and all," he chuckled out softly.

She hummed in response, grinning up at him and opening her mouth to respond, just to be cut off by the overly-eager man.

"Do you want to get something to drink? So I can pay you back for your kindness y'know," Matty offered hastily, beaming at the woman he had yet to know the name of.

Overtaken by his sudden confidence, the woman beamed back at him. Internally, she was going crazy. The minute she saw him step out of her favourite bookstore, she knew she was done for. The way his curls feel onto his forehead, how the light linen shirt contrasted his dark tattoos.

Oh God. She was entranced.

"I would love to."

[melonchanverse]

KHR OC QUESTION [MURAKAMI SIBLINGS]

i did it! i really liked the questions in this post, so decided to do the same with my characters. it's insanely fun to answer them, always come up with something new sometimes too 😭🫶🏻

@einsatzzz @social-muffin tagging you cause you asked!

General Questions:

1. What is their name? Their pronouns? Age? Gender identity? Sexuality? (if any of that matters lmao)

Name: Murakami Ichiro

Pronouns: He/him

Age: 15

Gender: Male

Sexuality: regular couple? yaoi couple? yuri couple? i see no difference love is love

Name: Murakami Nadeko (Nadeshiko)

Pronouns: She/her

Age: 14

Gender: Female

Sexuality: i may not show it but being attracted to hibari men really be giving me brain damage

Name: Murakami Itsuki

Pronouns: He/him

Age: 12

Gender: Male

Sexuality: no

2. Are they somehow related to another khr character? In what way?

Murakami family is one of the few Yakuza families that Tsuna has encountered in the mafia world. Unlike many other families, Murakami do not have a clear connection to Italian mafia, which means that having their young bosses meet could be beneficial for both sides, as predicted by Reborn. Murakami serve as additional characters that help Tsuna expand his understanding of the mafia world beyond what he already knows and add variety to his already unpredictable daily life.

3. What does your oc look like? Do you have any art of them? Picrew also welcomed! Ai art... Not preferred >:/

picrew for Ichiro, Nadeko and Itsuki!

Also I have this horrible messy sketch with three of them. I need to draw them properly… no idea how Ichiro’s hair works 💀💀💀💀

4. What are their relationships to other khr characters? Pairings you like with your oc? Adopted siblings and parents maybe?

Ichiro: It is evident that Ichiro shares a close relationship with Tsuna and frequently spends time with his inner circle. Ichiro's sociable and communicative nature is well-known to many at school and this includes Tsuna who sees him as a supportive and experienced senior who gives him guidance on life within the mafia (which makes his life more chaotic at times). Additionally, Ichiro has a good relationship with Yamamoto as he frequently assists various clubs in their activities.

Nadeko: Like Ichiro, she is a popular student in school because of her image as a perfect and impeccable student. She interacts frequently with the main cast, although she doesn't necessarily enjoy it. Nadeko appeals to younger children like Lambo and I-Pin because she is kind to them, and she also faces Hibari, who is one of the few people who can see beyond her facade as a diligent student. It's as if she is a predator masquerading as a herbivore.

Itsuki: Itsuki regularly interacts with the main cast primarily due to his relationship with Ichiro and Nadeko. He occupies a middle ground because he typically does not openly initiate communication and has difficulty expressing himself compared to the other siblings. While he doesn't have much interaction with Tsuna, he has formed a bond with Haru, first meeting her through Tsuna. Itsuki shows a knack for interacting with children, particularly Futa, and he likely engages with them more than with others.

5. Actually what's the family situation of your oc? Do they have siblings that's a background character perhaps? (example: sometimes I give Kusakabe Tetsuya a brother)

From their last name, it is clear that the three of them are siblings who share a less than ideal family situation. Raised by babysitters, tutors, and occasionally by their grandfather, their parents are either deceased or disinterested in their well-being. Among all their caretakers, Ryo, their current caretaker and literally everything else, in Namimori, is the most normal. Their grandfather did a fine job as a Boss, but as a parent, he is horrible. The only commendable thing he did was sending them to Namimori to experience a relatively normal life. Unfortunately, this didn't quite work out as intended.

6. Does your oc have a mental illness? Neurodivergencies? Other disabilities? At what age did they get these disabilities if they weren't born with them?

....Yes.... they have..... hahahahahaha.... Let's move on to the next question, otherwise if i take this one apart it's going to take a bunch of time

7. If they had a super power what would it be?

Tough question, there are a lot of superpowers I could give them..... Well, let's say:

Ichiro: Magma Manipulation

Nadeko: Flower Petal Manipulation

Itsuki: Telepathy

KHR Specific Questions

1. What's their flames? And how many flames do they have? One? More? None?

Ichiro: Sky Flame

Nadeko: Storm Flame (predominant); Sky Flame

Itsuki: Mist Flame

2. How do they use their flames? If they have one.

Ichiro and Nadeko infuse it into their weapons, but Itsuki lacked any conventional weaponry. In the future, he would rely more heavily on illusions. He may not be a professional illusionist, but the potential for growth is there.

3. If they don't have a flame, how do they fight? Do they fight at all?

Ichiro: He is proficient with the naginata and can swiftly adapt to using any available long stick as a substitute. However, his skills are not limited to weapons alone; he also excels in hand-to-hand combat, delivering painful blows with precision and force.

Nadeko: Although she is skilled in self-defense techniques, Nadeko's preference is to wield her cherished katana as her primary choice of weapon.

Itsuki: Among his siblings, Itsuki is the least combat-oriented. He only possesses basic self-defense skills, and lacks conventional weapons. In a critical situation, he may have to rely on his quick-wittedness in hopes of evading danger until help arrives.

4. If they can't fight for any reason, what's their preferred method of self defense?

Ichiro: Fight till the bitter end! He embraces the art of never giving up, and is willing to risk himself, even down to the last drop of blood. For him, giving up is not an option!

Nadeko: If she recognizes that her chances of winning are slim, she will attempt to extricate herself from the conflict with any means necessary. Winning is also an option if the situation allows. In the end, it all depends on the circumstances at play.

Itsuki: Prior to developing his illusion-based abilities, Itsuki is generally not inclined towards conflict and will typically avoid engaging in fights whenever possible. However, if the situation truly requires it, he may stand his ground and make use of his wits in an attempt to gain the upper hand.

KHR Character Questions:

1. How much does Tsuna want to protect your oc upon first meeting them? After knowing them a minute, is Tsuna now scared of them or worried about them?

Upon first meeting these three, Tsuna would likely exhibit a desire to shield them from the dark side of the mafia due to their unfortunate circumstances. Following a brief interaction, however, his perception of them would swiftly evolve. He would come to trust and respect Ichiro as a reliable senior, albeit someone who occasionally loses restraint. Nadeko would invoke both awe and fear in Tsuna sometimes, while Itsuki would be seen more as a calm and friendly individual.

2. Does Reborn think they're pathetic or does he have a slight respect for them? If he suddenly appeared out of a wall-hole, how would your oc react?

Ichiro: He has all the qualities that a good boss needs, and is able to help Tsuna grow. However, he still has room to grow and learn.

Nadeko: Takes on more than she can handle. A little pathetic.

Itsuki: Has a lot of opportunities for development and growth. Could become an important figure in the mafia world if he wanted to.

3. Would Hibari Kyoya be able to stand being in a room with them for five minutes? How long do they last in a fight against him?

Ichiro: He’s a pretty outgoing guy, but very aware of which people he shouldn't touch. But he'd love to get into a fight with Hibari. Unfortunately for the rest.

Nadeko: It's Nadeko, not Hibari, who probably couldn't stand it. He sees right through her, which annoys Nadeko quite a bit and he tries his best to provoke her into a fight. Nadeko holds out, but very poorly.

Itsuki: They just sit in silence.

4. Would your oc go off rambling about crytids with Gokudera? If yes, which is their fave cryptid?

Ichiro: Knows about cryptids from Miyako. Has no idea what it is, but would love to hear about it! Again.

Nadeko: No, Nadeko isn't really interested in that, and she and Gokudera have a... Strained relationship.

Itsuki: Not only due to his connection to Miyako, but also because of his personal interest, Itsuki proves to be quite adept at discussing and understanding cryptids and urban legends. Though his primary interest lies within Japanese urban lore, he is still eager to engage in conversations about the supernatural and mysterious topics.

5. Would Skull try to flirt with them? Would he score a date? Pity date or genuine interest?

With a date and flirt i think the answer is clear for three of them and it’s no 😭😭😭

6. How loud does your oc cheer when Yamamoto hits a home run? What if the ball hit them?

Ichiro: His overwhelming support for his friends and family could often make others feel awkward due to its enthusiastic and unabashed nature. Whenever Yamamoto took center stage, Ichiro would be right there in the first row, shouting encouragement with fervor and holding up cheering placards. Will the ball hit him? It's okay! He'll catch.

Nadeko: Her approach to supporting her friends, such as Yamamoto, is somewhat more reserved and composed. She prefers to offer her regards and well wishes beforehand and may only engage in mild cheers during the actual event.

Itsuki: Like his sister, Itsuki tends to take a more peaceful approach to supporting others and, in this case, would simply offer his well wishes and observe the game attentively. Loud cheering isn't part of Itsuki's repertoire, and he doesn't always enjoy such events altogether.

7. Would your oc be able to last an hour watching over Lambo, I-pin and Fuuta? What if they all had sugar beforehand?

Ichiro: Of course! Ichiro, being the cheerful and fun-loving individual he is, would happily offer to babysit the little ones. However, the safety and well-being of the children under his care during such an endeavor is another matter.

Nadeko: The kids generally adore Nadeko, but her approach is a bit more disciplined compared to Ichiro. She's less likely to let them do whatever they wish, and Futa and I-Pin can usually be made to listen to her directions. However, Lambo can sometimes be a bit of a wild card, causing some difficulties when it comes to keeping him under control.

Itsuki: Indeed, Itsuki would also take part in entertaining and engaging with the children, with Futa especially taking a particular liking to him. He has a knack for finding activities to keep them occupied, even managing to engage the excitable Lambo in something other than causing mischief.

8. What food would Sawada Nana cook for your oc? What's their favourite food? Drink?

Ichiro: His relationship with spice is quite remarkable — he enjoys food that's so fiery it challenges even the strongest stomach. If you find your meal for him isn't spicy enough, don't worry! He carries his beloved hot sauce everywhere, ready to add an extra kick to any dish. Interestingly, the only exception is sweets — those Ichiro leaves unadorned with his spicy condiment. So yeah. Poor Tsuna

Nadeko: She harbors a deep affection for traditional Japanese sweets, particularly mochi, dango, and taiyaki. However, she isn't limited to just those options and would happily indulge in sweet cakes or cookies accompanied by a comforting cup of tea.

Itsuki: His true love lies in noodles — he enjoys udon especially, but would also happily consume soba or ramen. His taste isn't restricted to only one type of noodle. Itsuki doesn't have a particularly strong sweet tooth, yet he won't turn down a slice of apple pie. He also loves honey

That's it! I hope it was interesting. Next up will be Kaguya, Miyako, and Kei!

[theheirofthesharingan]

What do you think about naruita/sasunaru? Some people say it’s illegal because of the age gap but isn’t fugaku and mikoto’s age difference is also 5-6 years?

Cont..

I meant sasuita in the last ask sorry

I wrote my thoughts on NaruIta/ItaNaru in the previous ask and I don't think age gap in FICTION should be anyone's concern. Real people aren't getting hurt.

Onto Sasuita/Itasasu because I have a lot of thoughts on them. I think age-gap is the least concerning thing from a moral and legal standpoint in this ship. KisaIta, Kakaita have age gap too, even more than Itasasu, but it's not considered illegal. Even Shisui is quite older than Itachi. Itachi was 11-12 when Shisui died and Shisui looked older. Maybe he was 15-16. None of these ships are illegal.

One of the major factors this ship is problematic is because it's incest. And usually always age-gaps (when family members are concerned) cause severe power imbalance in the dynamic of the said characters which is directly attributed to grooming and manipulation and sexual exploitation, and all of this is criminal.

I haven't explored the shipping side of Sasuke and Itachi, so I don't know how they're portrayed in the fics and how the relevant non-platonic aspects of their relationship are handled. I did see arts, but those aren't very telling in this regard as well. Over all, I've only explored a handful of fics with Itachi and Sasuke as a main focus and I don't like their characterization in most of them.

Anyway, even if it is illegal because of incest and age gap what are antis going to do? Throw the writers and artists in jail? Make the world go against them so the artists stop creating those arts? They could just mind their own business and outrage over the things that need their attention instead of bullying the artists. We're living in 2024, not 1800s where writers were jailed because some puritans got offended.

Problematic themes have always existed in fiction and as long as no one acts upon them it's alright to explore. Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews also deals with incest. Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore also has implied incest and age gap. Love in the Time of Cholera is the story of a stalker who becomes a fuckboy because the woman he used to stalk refuses to marry him. And he's also groomed a 14 year old kid at the age of 70 or something. Lolita is about a child predator who abuses and threatens a little girl.

Mainstream media has always dealt with these things. I don't understand the point of going after the artists who do their work in free time and moral policing them.

[ihateuno]

I’ve always seen the Togabito from Nanbaka kinda like Mutants from the X-men series in multiple ways including (possibly) being a metaphor.

To start off in X-men the Mutants are a pretty obvious metaphor for outsiders and minorities. Of course we already know that Togabito are supposed to be outsiders due to their abilities. But I’m talking social outsiders due to differences.

I feel the way Murakami family treats him could be paralleled to how a family could treat a child for coming out or a child have a disability! (Also are we gonna talk about the borderline eugenics?) Even his sentencing to Nanba could be compared to how minorities in the real world are sentenced to prison despite being innocent.

Another character I feel we could compare to minority issues is Musashi. He was seen as a monster for his ability despite the fact he had no control over it! Especially with his prison scentence being without really any proof - just speculation.

I didn’t word this one as well as I wanted to - I may come back to this lol as it’s been in the back of my head for a while - also what EXACTLY qualifies as a Togabito? I mean… Noriko should fit right? Or Samon, or even Taura. Maybe the laws of nature.

(I’m writing this in class so please excuse my mistakes)

[hoodedchishiya]

♦️Biography. Chishiya Shuntarō♦️

Most of this is made up by the mun— do not steal or reblog as I’ve put a lot of thought into this. Also do not copy this layout.

Basic info:

Full name: Chishiya Shuntarō.

Birthday/Age: Born April 2nd. 24 years old.

Zodiac sign: Aries.

Gender: Male.

Sexuality: Refuses to label himself. Interested in both men and women.

Nationality: Japanese.

Born in: Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan.

Currently residing in: Shibuya City, Tokyo Japan.

Morality: Morally grey.

Occupation: Doctor/Pediatric Heart Surgeon.

Speciality/Game preference: Diamond ♦️

♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️

Appearance:

Height: 168cm (5’6”)

Weight: 57 kg/8.9 stone.

Hair: Platinum Blond (Dyed)

Eyes: Brown/Onyx.

Tattoos: None. He isn’t interested in getting any either.

Piercings: Two ear piercings, plain black his choice of earring. He refuses to wear earrings in Borderland though, as they could easily get snagged on something during games.

Scars: A horizontal scar on his back between his shoulder blades which he obtained during his first ever Spades game— a part of the reason he hates those types of games. The scar is also part of the reason he constantly wears his hoodie at the Beach despite the hot weather to conceal it away from other players who may see it as a potential weakness. Chishiya likes to be seen as untouchable after all.

Other: Has a small gap between his two front teeth and a beauty spot under his left eye. Often wears eyeliner too.

Faceclaim: Nijiro Murakami.

♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️

Family/Friends:

Mother: Chishiya Yui.

Status: Alive.

Relationship— Nonexistent. Chishiya’s mother is often absent from his life, only showing up on the occasional weekend to check in— the checking in being ignoring him half the time she’s there. Due to the fact that she never cared to explain her disappearance or where she was going to either him or her husband, Chishiya learned to stop asking and accepted that maybe she never wanted to be a mother or a wife to begin with.

Father: Chishiya Minato.

Status: Alive.

Relationship— Their relationship has always been rocky— an understatement if you ask Chishiya. Father-like- son, Chishiya’s father is a proud and stubborn man. They didn’t get much time to bond given his father was always at work, working 12 hours at the hospital almost every day with little time to acknowledge Chishiya and cold shouldering him when getting the chance. They often clashed whenever speaking and after his consistent pushing for Chishiya to follow in his footsteps as a doctor and his constant chiding for him to do better even with the perfect grades at school, Chishiya finally snapped and decided to cut off all contact. Both of his parents’ neglect is why he is the way he is and doesn’t understand the basic concept of love— whether it be platonic or romantic. It’s also why he strives to be better than everyone else thanks to his father drumming it over and over into his head on a daily basis.

Siblings: Only child.

Spouse: N/A. Rarely engages in relationships or sex for that matter, only the occasional hook-up. (Depends on the verse. Shipping can be discussed, but I won’t allow force shipping.)

Pets: N/A. His parents never allowed them in the house, and when growing up he lost interest in getting any pets.

Kids: N/A. (Again, depends on the verse.)

Friends: Chishiya doesn’t have any friends in the real world by choice— he simply doesn’t feel the need to have them, nor did he ever feel any connection to the people around him while he was growing up. After Borderland though, he became quite close to Kuina, Arisu and Usagi.

♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️

Other:

Personality/Traits: Sarcastic, Witty, Highly intelligent, Selfish, Uncaring, Nonchalant, Calm, Collected, Introverted, Anti-social, Manipulative, Cold-Hearted, Cynical, Logical, Realist, Enigmatic, Confident, Merciless, Proud, Stubborn, Apathetic, Stoic.

MBTI Type: INTJ— INTJ type is Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, and Judging, which means they are energized by time alone, focused on big picture ideas and concepts, led by logic and reason, and organized. This combination of personality preferences produces people who are analytical, innovative, and strategic.

Any mental illness: Depression. Antisocial personality disorder— Often takes anti-depressants to keep his depression at bay but considering he doesn’t have them in Borderland, he goes off the rails and let’s the intrusive thoughts start to seep in. This often leads to him acting out as a means to find new ways to distract himself from the hurt and past traumas that are usually numbed by the pills. Chishiya loathes to feel anything. He’d much rather be emotionless and numb while getting off on other people’s pain. He’s a bit of a sociopath.

Weapons: Makeshift taser, makeshift flamethrower, switchblade and makeshift bombs. Basically anything he can get his hands on, he’ll try and craft it into a weapon.

♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️♦️

Backstory:

Born to two doctors, Chishiya comes from a rich family— but quickly learned the hard way that money doesn’t buy happiness. From a young age, Chishiya learned how to be independent due to his parents never being there for him. He learned how to cook, clean and look after himself. Pretty much the result of both his parents being pressured by society to start a family, Chishiya was the product of what his parents hoped would get people off their backs once and for all.

Neglected and forgotten about half the time, Chishiya grew bitter to the world around him believing that humanity is inheritently selfish and that love doesn’t exist.

Forced into med school by his father by the time he was eighteen, Chishiya accepted his fate and tried to see the positive of joining the profession thinking that perhaps if he could help people then he could find the meaning of life and prove to himself that humanity wasn’t all that bad after all.. unfortunately it only lead him further down the path of bitterness to the world around him.

Never returning home after graduating and with a degree now under his belt, Chishiya opted to completely cut off all contact with his parents and changed his phone number to start anew. Soon after, he sealed a position at Sakurazawa University Hospital, starting out as a medical intern. At first all was well and he could actually see a decent future for himself there. Things were looking up and he was finally helping people and healing a part of himself in the process.. that was until the letters started to roll in and he was forced to prioritise the treatment of richer patients, the less fortunate often dying due to much needed treatment and surgeries that got delayed. 9/10 times, they were kids that died..

Depression quickly set in and Chishiya fell into despair, completely growing numb to everything and the last of his hope for humanity, and to find his calling in life diminished. Death didn’t bother him anymore. Nothing did, and he learned to stop caring about anything and everyone including himself.

It’s why he treats Borderland as a playground and has little concern for his own life, using sarcasm as a shield to hide behind. His mindset is: Now he gets to choose who lives and who dies. Oh how the tables have turned.

**More to be added.**

[twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat]

Can we get some book recommendations by any chance? 🎤

OF COURSE!!!!! i made a little book rec post a while back, but i …. can’t find it :’) so. i’m just gonna mention a few of those same books again <333

if i had to narrow my list down, i’d say my favorite books atm are beartown, eureka street and kafka on the shore ….. i say that very hesitantly though because 1) my memory is very bad and it’s been a while since i read them 2) i have many books on my tbr that i think will shoot up the rankings…………..

but yeah!!!! beartown is … probably my favorite book of all time and i will recommend it to the ends of the earth. it’s very heavy though!!!! content wise. and it’s long. but like, really easy to read because you just get sucked up into it. it’s about a small town that stays alive through its hockey team!!! but it’s not really about hockey . more about culture in general. family, friends, sports — etcetc!! i would absolutely look up the cws for this one though because it did give me a crisis 😭 it’s a really devastating book. but it means the world to me. backman’s writing is sooo pretty and i applaud him for carrying swedish literature on his back because god knows most of it sucks 🙏🙏

eureka street is, at its core, a love story <3 with a lot of humour sprinkled in. but it takes place right at the end of the irish troubles, with bombings and death all around, and it paints … a very vivid picture of those troubles. right in the middle of the book it switches genre for a chapter and is like……. devastatingly detailed & grim. only to switch back immediately after. it gave me chills bc the book just. does suchhh a good job of showing how desensitized you get to war and conflict after a while . but again, it really is mostly a story about love!!! and wilson’s writing is soooooo gorgeous i was fuming with anger while reading because i was so jealous 💀

kafka on the shore is another looong one and it’s also super weird, murakami is a freak, i don’t like him, unfortunately his writing is also gorgeous . i could give you tws for this one but we’d be here for a while. cat beheadings, sexual assault (almost)(in a dream), fantasy incest? (maybe?)(maybe not?)(it’s up for interpretation), etc. it’s so weird. but that’s exactly why it makes for such a wonderful coming of age story……. murakami likes to play around with the line between fantasy and reality and i think he does it sooooo so well . if you enjoy magic realism you’ll probably enjoy this book. the vibes are also very tasty in general……. the writing 😔…………… (<- is jealous)

…… also . this is a poetry collection not a novel but i need to recommend war of the foxes at any given opportunity………. richard siken you are the love of my life…. his crush collection is suuuuuper good too but i think i prefer wotf just a teeny tiny bit

[drawnaghht]

Yuichi Usagi is [SURNAME] [given name]

lol I've written abt it before going into more specifics & making theories, but this post is just to clear it up again as a general ref for newer fans reading old or new posts abt it and finding themself confused... edit3(15.1): rightfully so! if you've ever watched more than 5 anime or just read some manga, you might recognize that Yuichi is most commonly a given name in Japan. Even viewers familiar with japanese would have made the same assumption. But the show itself uses it as a first name, so it becomes confusing. After jan 6th we found the behind-the-scenes lore for that too.

- clearest tell in the show itself that Usagi is his first name - his auntie calls him Usagi. What auntie calls their sole nephew or close family member by their family name? ... which would have to be her own family name then too...???

Secondly. He introduces himself as Usagi the more he's in the city. First as Yuichi Usagi, but then after a few chases, he gives up and introduces himself to Kitsune as "Usagi"in the 1st episode. boy wants to be known as Usagi haha.

edit 2 (8.1.2024): as of 6.01 we have official confirmation that this is fact + a little backstory! Yuichi is the boy's surname

the whole show, all the other characters use japanese naming convention - e.g. Gen introduces himself as Murakami Gennosuke to the Bat Squadron. it seems the other younger characters call each other by given name basis because they're either all around the same age or don't feel like using family names for each other. Often characters don't have family names because they're orphans (Chizu, Kitsune, Hana). Or it's the only name they go by in general (Tetsujin, Lady Fuwa).

it's that simple! you can headcanon whatever but at least know the show itself has named him this way.

I've already written about this b4 too but Yuichi can very rarely be a family name (apparently). there might be other reasons the show crew gave him Yuichi as a family name, but if that doesn't cut it, you can always adopt my theory that he has a rare two given names.

But yeah, the show makes it clear that Usagi is his first name. It's a spinoff based on Usagi Yojimbo and some of its stories and ideas, and made by fans of the comic and Stan's work. They decided to give him this name, for whatever reasons, and it's his name used in the show. There's too much much work in the show itself for them to give him a random name either, "just because they're ignorant" or even just bc they didn't research. They clearly did or the show wouldn't have some surprising elements to it as a spinoff or as a past+future combo of japanese aesthetics.

Him and the comics' original Usagi, Miyamoto Usagi can share a first name. I know it looks confusing coming from other shows where evryone has specific names. I know it's just generally confusing as a tmnt fan... but their names and tags can co-exist as-is. maybe i don't get out enough into other shows but I've never seen a fanbase stretch themselves so into a pretzel over characters sharing their first name. also Miyamoto Usagi is based on a famous historical samurai, more precisely - Miyamoto Musashi. His movie depiction was what inspired Stan Sakai in the 80s... ppl in real life share first and last names very often so it just doesn't bother me personally that they share one name, but not their family name. So I don't get anymore why ppl are upset that his name is a combo of two first names... I believe there's also a irl children's book author named Usagi Yuichi (maybe pseudonyms being animal names is more common in japan?idk) so I wonder if the crew knew about that 🤔

clearing this up again bc every time I see someone say smth about this show and it's some misunderstanding on top of a misconception, I just wanna make a simple chart to explain things lol. but i don't know if ppl would care even. I know ppl sorta dislike this show or don't care abt it anyways. but then... why talk about it? why share info like a fan who knows or cares about it... and then it's false info... so idk, if they're not a fan, don't take them at face value, but even if they're a fan, it's easy to share info without a source and have others think it's real. Be ready for info to change or your first impressions to break. I've mostly only theorised or drawn from the show itself so far, but even things I say might change if other evidence is provided. So... lol lets all just read into this show calmly I guess.

edit (7.1.2024): lol another thing to add that I didn't think about: there's a 1000 years between the generations of Miyamoto Usagi and Yuichi Usagi. so them not having the same surname would be considered quite normal (and so far, no evidence to conclusively say that M! Usagi is a grandpa... the scene between Usagi and his auntie in the evening in ep 1 also seems to allude that there are many generations between the og era and the future era and that Usagi's auntie is speaking of her own direct great grandfather and Miyamoto Usagi separately...

Anyway. That's all! Hope this is helpful to newer fans.

[theangrybooknook]

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop

Do you ever find yourself with *finally* enough time to read, but then you don't? Do you ever settle for the evening with the determination that you're going to read, but you end up scrolling through Instagram instead, AGAIN?

I have a lot of free time these days. Ever since my last contract ended in July 2023 and my trip to Hokkaido from September-December, I have been looking for a job. The market is tough these days, and the publishing industry in my country seems to be rather reluctant in hiring new people - let alone women in their late 20s/early 30s who might pop out a kid in the near future. And although I have zero ambition to have children anytime soon, they naturally throw me into one pot with other women and decide they'd rather hire a man or no one.

So that is where I am at the moment. Living with my parents, with enough time on my hands, writing job applications, trying to not go insane. You see, I have a lot of spare time on my hands these days.

Then why do I not use it to read through the pile of shame that I have amassed?

My attention span has become ridiculously short and fanfiction is always a safe bet. I know the characters, I know what I am getting into, I know the deal. This is why I also love writing fanfiction so much. But besides reading fanfiction, I should read more of the books I actually spent (a lot of) money on. For some reason, some reading energy came over me, and here we are. I remembered this blog and thought I should just do it. Give it a try. Write about the things that I read and maybe write some reviews, perhaps that will inspire me to read on and on and on.

So here we are with Satoshi Yagisawa's "Days at the Morisaki Bookshop".

Synopsis: The story follows Takako, a young woman living in Tokyo, heartbroken after her boyfriend tells her he is going to marry someone else. Depressed and overwhelmed, she quits her job, and her uncle Satoru calls her from the family's bookshop, asking if she didn't want to stay with him for a while and work at the shop for a bit. At first, Takako is not a fan - she is not a reader, she does not know what the fuss is all about and why people love a second-hand-bookshop of all places. Slowly, she begins to embark on her own reading journey and finds a new footing and new interests, until all of a sudden, her aunt Momoko comes back into her and her uncle's lives.

My experience with Japanese literature is very limited. I tried to read Haruki Murakami a few years ago and threw the book against the wall because I found it too exhausting. I also tried Banana Yoshimoto a few years ago but I cannot remember if I finished it. I have read far more manga, translated into English or German. While I was living in Japan, one of my housemates turned out to be a fellow graduate of literary studies and she had written her thesis about some pieces of Japanese literature. She loved it so much that I was determined to also give it a try, and she told me what to watch out for. I am not sure if I caught all the things that are to discover in "Days at the Morisaki Bookshop", but what I caught was very delightful.

One does not need to know Japanese culture or have been to Japan in order to read/understand Yagisawa's novel. In fact, I find it an incredibly easy way to look into Japanese society for people who have never been there; it is like a window that welcomes everyone to stand in front of it and look through. When one imagines Tokyo, there's usually Shibuya Crossing and lots of people, lots of lights and billboards, lots of noise. The Tokyo that Yagisawa presents to the reader is a surprisingly quiet one: Jimbōchō. I have never been to this part of Tokyo, but after reading the novel, I imagine this book-town of Tokyo as very similar to the other narrow streets and lanes that I have wandered down during my time in Japan. It is the magic that you can find in every large city in Japan: bustling life, lots of noise, a sensory overload; but as soon as you turn around the corner into another lane, the sound of the city disappears, and you are in a quiet sphere. This is the atmosphere that Yagisawa masterfully creates in this novel, allowing the reader to step off the train together with Takako, entering the quiet and musty world of books.

For any book lover, the mere description of the Morisaki Bookshop is a delight. When Takako first enters the shop, she describes the smell as "musty", which slightly embarrasses her uncle. Her naiveté in this utterance is charming as it is almost ridiculous to any book worm: we all know what kind of smell she is referring to, and we would never call it musty. We would simply call it the smell of a book shop or, more precisely, the smell of old books. Although Takako is, in the beginning, "not one of us", she does not make herself unlikeable by pointing out what annoys her about the bookshop. They are fair observations, such as a packed room full of books that is supposed to be her bedroom, or the fact that she can't really find anything in the bookshop. She does not feel superior all of a sudden when she eventually picks up one of the many books and starts reading, and she is not ashamed of admitting that she has now added reading to her hobbies. It expands her world and gives her, as she puts it, the kick in the butt that she needs. She finds a new life, and new love, but most importantly, she keeps going for her own sake. She does not have the perfect happy ending - if the book has a happy end at all. It ends in a rather abrupt way.

I was not sure what to think of the Momoko subplot. Takako's aunt, who has left her uncle Satoru years ago and suddenly returns in an almost dramatic way that screams "tadaahh!!!", seems like a strange intrusion in the second part of the novel that is simply titled "Momoko Returns". Takako pretty much mirrored me, the reader, when Momoko suddenly showed up - she does not know what to do with the woman that is suddenly there and takes over the little life that Satoru and Takako have crafted for themselves, and neither of them are brave enough to ask. Later, Momoko invites Takako to a girl's trip to a place she used to work at, and during their trip, she opens up briefly towards Takako about her reasons for returning. Her reasons make sense but also appear selfish to the reader, which Takako agrees on. She tears the note that Momoko leaves for her after running away again into shreds, then tells her uncle to run after her this time, or it will be too late. She kicks both uncle and aunt in the butt this way, no longer willing to be the intermediary between them (agreed tbh).

The novel often makes it seem as if Takako is merely living for other people. In the beginning, this is most definitely true. She is living for her shitty boyfriend Hideaki, then for her uncle, then for her friends Takano and Tomo, setting them up as a couple. As soon as she receives her own kick in the butt to get her own life back on track, Takako starts living for herself again - slowly, with hesitation, but much less afraid than before. When she finally meets Wada, a customer, fellow bookworm, and nursing a broken heart similarly to Takako in the beginning, she is not sure whether or not to allow herself to think about him. She is not even sure if she has actual feelings for him or if she is just pretending, which is an incredibly refreshing take in literature. Love and romance, and feelings in general, are not always clear-cut, and the novel reflects this. Not even Wada seems to be sure what to think of her, and the way they find together, through some minor misunderstanding, is lovely to witness. Personally, I would have liked to read more of their love story, but that is not the point of the novel.

Takako is an interesting main character as she seems to follow the reader in their experience. I was often taken aback and shocked, only to find that two lines down, Takako expresses the same feelings. At the same time, it does not feel as if the reader is taken by the hand by the narrative to come to certain emotional conclusions. If anything, it shows that feelings and emotions are valid, even if it takes a while to understand them, like Takako does. It takes her several chapters to finally realise how angry she is with Hideaki and the way he treated her, and she allows her anger to come through fully when Momoko runs away yet again. It was interesting to check on myself during the reading process: "What does this scene do with me? Alright. I feel anger. Let's read on and see how Takako thinks about it." Personally, I don't think I have experienced something like that before in reading.

The world in the novel, and the society in it, is a Japanese one. I am somewhat familiar with the culture due to my stay in Sapporo, and due to my (albeit limited) understanding of the language. It enhances the experience of reading this little gem of a novel, but it is absolutely not necessary. If anything, the novel takes the reader to a Japan that is not the one we always see represented in Western media. The Japan that Satoshi Yagisawa presents us is quiet, calm, peaceful, with a musty smell, a strong sense of community, women who don't give a shit about what old people think of them, and an incredible serenity in the form of Uncle Satoru that makes the reader want an uncle like him to talk about books with.

[heartpicks]

                               𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄   &   𝐍𝐏𝐂 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍:

                               THE   MURAKAMI   TWINS   /   KOJI   AND   KENJI

family.    the  murakami  family  has  a  lot  of  wealth.  they  own  a  record  label  "KAMI  records"  and  manufacture,  distribute,  and  promote  the  recordings  of  affiliated  musicians.  that's  not  all  though,  they  run  a  media  conglomerate,  a  well-known  family  business  which  was  founded  years  ago,  it  basically  means  they  own  numerous  companies  involved  in  mass  media  enterprises,  such  as  music,  television,  radio,  publishing,  motion  pictures,  theme  parks,  or  the  internet  (think  disney,  netflix  or  sony).  they're  more  focused  on  music  though  and  active  in  its  industry,  meaning:  they  create,  perform,  record,  promote,  and  manage  anything  concerning  music.  the  current  ceo  of  the  murakami  corporation  is  murakami  genkei,  his  wife  sakura  manages  KAMI  records.  also,  they  own  the  record  shop  where  rei  works  at & work closely with instrument manufacturers and other related companies.

twins.    koji  (left)  and  kenji  (right)  were  born  on  the  same  day,  just  a  few  minutes  apart.  technically,  this  makes  kenji  the  oldest  of  the  two.  not  only  was  he  the  first  to  be  born  but  he  was  also  the  best  in  anything,  he  was  a  true  golden  child.  koji  on  the  other  hand  always  found  himself  standing  in  his  brother's  shadow.  be  more  like  kenji,  they  said.  why  can't  you  be  smart  like  your  twin?  they  said.  it  was  only  a  matter  of  time  until  koji  began  to  hate  his  twin  brother.  no  matter  how  much  he  tried  to  catch  up  to  the  other,  kenji  was  just  better  than  him,  faster  than  him,  smarter  than  him.  their  parents  treated  the  two  equally  ...  to  some  degree.  nobody  said  it  out  loud  but  koji  knew  that  kenji  was  everyone's  favorite.  he  made  friends  quickly,  didn't  have  to  study  as  much,  and  in  general  luck  seemed  to  be  on  his  side.  maybe  he  truly was  blessed  since  birth.  koji  on  the  other  hand?  he  was  more  or  less  the  black  sheep,  the  trouble  maker.  if  he  couldn't  be  amazing  like  his  twin,  then  he'd  draw  another  kind  of  attention  his  way,  the  negative  kind.  while  the  world  around  him  made  it  seem  like  he  was  less  worth  than  kenji,  his  twin  brother  never  judged  him,  he  never  thought  less  of  him.  this  only  annoyed  koji  more.  kenji  followed  a  path  of  greatness  and  fortune,  while  koji  ended  up  in  juvie  after  committing  arson.  despite  being  twins,  the  two  were  clearly  different.  kenji  couldn't  do  anything  to  support  his  brother,  since  he  kept  pushing  him  away  and  shut  him  out,  thus  he  could  only  watch.  genkei  and  sakura  were  very  disappointed  in  koji's  behavior,  and  even  after  juvie  he  didn't  change.  instead,  he  formed  a  metal  band  where  he  played  the  bass,  started  smoking,  got  piercings,  watched  underground  street  racings  and  even  hung  out  with  the  racers.  out  there  he  felt  free,  like  he  belonged  somewhere. 

black sheep.    koji  kept  his  true  identity  a  secret  for  a  very  long  time  because  he  thought  that  nobody  would  want  to  be  friends  with  him  if  they  knew  he  was  a  rich  kid,  or  if  they  found  out  he'd  be  surrounded  by  fake  people,  he  didn't  want  either  to  happen.  after  graduating  high  school,  koji  started  working  at  the  family's  record  shop  where  his  parents  offered  him  the  position  as  manager  (that's  when  he  meets  rei).  a  second  chance  to  prove  he  was  capable  and  responsible  despite  his  past  mistakes.  surprisingly,  koji  was  doing  amazing.  not  only  was  he  employed  but  he  also  performed  concerts  with  his  band  at  small  venues,  things  really  couldn't  be  any  better.  that  is,  until  his  band  members,  his  friends,  found  out  about  his  identity.  not  only  was  he  the  son  of  one  of  the  wealthiest  families,  he  also  lied  to  their  faces.  they  felt  betrayed  and  they  began  to  question  whether  they  ever  knew  the  real  koji  to  begin  with.  koji  couldn't  justify  himself  even  if  he  tried.  before  he  knew  it,  they  kicked  him  out  of  his  own  band.  this  truly  destroyed  him.  he  couldn't  control  his  anger  and  frustration  and  ended  up  causing  a  ruckus  inside  the  record  shop.  (note: depending  on  the  verse,  rei  already  left  the  country  and  was  not  around  to  help  her  friend. even if she was there, the end result remains the same.)  koji  threw  records  around  and  kicked  over  shelves,  he  caused  damage  to  the  shop  which  showed  his  parents  that,  even  though  he  was  over  twenty,  he  was  not  mature  at  all  and  couldn't  be  trusted.  he  lost  his  job  and  soon  after  his  family  more  or  less  disowned  him.  in  their  eyes  he  was  a  hopeless  case,  ruining  the  family  reputation.  with  nowhere  else  to  go,  koji  ended  up  joining  the  street  race  scene,  which was both  illegal  and  dangerous.  but  at  this  point,  who  cares?  well,  his  twin  kenji  did.  the  only  person  who  still  checks  up  on  him  whether  he  likes  it  or  not.

[nyyhkis]

thanks for tagging @corianten (kiitti!), forgot to answer these earlier

--

Last song: Saara Törmä - Kääretorttu (a lot of Finns probably have heard this in the last few days)

Been a little lazy to find new music in general and 2024 was kinda bad for my music listening :( At least there was the Justice album (with Tame Impala in some songs!) I guess

Favourite colour: Creamy natural off-white, pastel light blue, deep indigo purple-blue and British racing green

Last book I finished: Might have been Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. It was alright and pretty compact so I was able to focus.

Started reading A Wild Sheep Chase from Haruki Murakami now. Trying to go for light-ish reading to get back to the habit of reading, which has suffered after university :(

Last movie: Actually just watched Princess Mononoke for the first time on a whim and it was way better than I thought.

Finnish national broadcasting company Yle also has The Father (with Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman) in their public streaming site now, but been scared to watch it because dementia has hit hard in my family earlier.

Last tv show: Watching Severance season 2 now as more episodes air and I like the writing and the setting a lot. Other than that my tv show watching has been in bit of a slump after Succession (wish I could find something else to watch)

Sweet/spicy/savoury: I usually like savoury umami foods the most but can appreciate a balanced sweet pastry. My Finnish palate is extremely bad at spicy foods though

Last thing I searched for online: Checked if Civilization 6 has cross-play multiplayer PC-Playstation if could play with some online friends (but it doesn't if the first result was right)

Current obsession: Nothing maybe :( But drinking water is something that has me hooked

Something I’m looking forward to: Summer really. Nothing specific to look forward in it, but I just want more light and warmth (and hopefully interactions in real life with people)

--

Too scared to tag anyone but please do this if you want and tag me so I can read

(I really want to read these 👀)

[themuse-if]

20 (or so) questions with Silas Walker

Let's get to know your new go to guy, your RA, Silas! How close will he let us get today?

Interviewer: Silas, the enigmatic Resident Advisor with a taste for songwriting. Let's dive in, shall we? When's your birthday?

Silas: November 7th, Scorpio through and through.

Interviewer: Scorpio vibes. Any nickname you go by?

Silas: Not particularly, most people just stick to Silas.

Interviewer: Fair enough. Tell us about some of your good traits.

Silas: I'm a good listener, patient, and I've been told I have a calming presence.

Interviewer: Excellent qualities for an RA. And what about traits that might not be seen as positive?

Silas: I can be overly secretive at times. Maybe a bit too evasive for my own good. I have my reasons though.

Interviewer: A mysterious man indeed. Do you have any hobbies that you enjoy?

Silas: Apart from songwriting, I like to paint and I love a good book.

Interviewer: Nothing more detailed you'd like to share? *Silas smirks and shakes his head* Not giving anything away, I see. What would you say is your greatest strength?

Silas: My ability to stay composed under pressure, it comes in handy.

Interviewer: Valuable trait indeed. And your biggest weakness?

Silas: Sometimes I might be too responsible. I feel like occasionally I'm missing out.

Interviewer: A challenge, no doubt. How would you describe yourself in one word?

Silas: Complex.

Interviewer: Interesting choice. How do you think others see you in one word?

Silas: Helpful. Mysterious? *shrugs*

Interviewer: The plot thickens. Moving on, what would you say is your greatest fear?

Silas: At the moment, maybe just pushing people away. I want my advisees to know that they can come to me, but I just can't get too close. I don't want them to get the wrong idea and misunderstand my intentions.

Interviewer: A deep-seated fear. Considering your current priorities, what tops the list?

Silas: Balancing academic pursuits with maintaining creative pursuits. Striking the right chord, you could say.

Interviewer: A harmonious goal. Tell me about your family.

Silas: Small, close-knit. I have my parents, and a younger sister who's in high school.

Interviewer: That's it? Not willing to divulge your family dynamics?

Silas: Maybe once we're better acquainted *sly grin* I don't open up to just anyone.

Interviewer: *deep sigh* Alright, I understand. Ok so, looking into the future, what are your goals?

Silas: To find success in my songwriting, maybe leave a mark in the industry. Personally, to continue growing, exploring, and staying true to myself.

Interviewer: Ambitious aspirations. On a lighter note, how would you spend a rainy day?

Silas: Most likely, I'd be curled up with a good book. If I'm feeling ambitious I'll plan a cozy little get together for my advisees.

Interviewer: A perfect time for a cozy game or movie night. Any favorite book that you hold dear?

Silas: Murakami's "Norwegian Wood" has a special place. There's a quiet beauty in his storytelling.

Interviewer: A profound choice. And your favorite movie?

Silas: I genuinely don't have one. I actually prefer to binge a good show.

Interviewer: Care to name anything?

Silas: Uh sure, "Abbott Elementary," "The Bear," Atlanta," Uh did you need like a whole list or...

Interviewer: No, that'll do. Any dark secrets you're willing to share?

Silas: Everyone has secrets. Nothing I'm willing to share, not yet. *small smile*

Interviewer: Yeah I had a feeling you'd say something like that. Ok let's move on. What would you say is your best physical feature?

Silas: Probably my eyes. I think the color is pretty unique.

Interviewer: That it is. And what about your least favorite feature?

Silas: My ears really stick out, so I don't love that. I don't hate it either.

Interviewer: I think they're kind of cute. *clears throat* Lastly, how would you describe being in love?

Silas: Unpredictable, complex, and utterly captivating. *leans forward as his face turns serious* It's hard to tell the difference between being in love and being infatuated. Both give you that feeling of being on cloud nine. I think it can only be considered true love if you are seeing everything with a clear perspective. The pink hue of infatuation can make things out to seem better than they really are. If you look at your person, at your love, as they truly are and you feel grounded in what you see then that is truly being in love.

Interviewer: Very wise words. Sounds like your speaking from experience. Though I doubt you'll admit whether it was love or infatuation. *leans forward with a curious smile*

Silas: In due time. I'm not one to let my emotions slip so easily. *smiles in return*

Interviewer: Thanks for sharing just a bit more about your life with me Silas. I’m excited to see your journey continue to unfold. Maybe you'll open up a bit more with time.

[0809sysblings]

seeing Milgram OC and sona stuff on The Dash has given me the courage to share/work on my own...

I had come up with his general concept like a few weeks ago now actually.. but seeing others share has given me new found motivation to continue working on My Boy.

his name is Murakami Masashi (村頭 政志), but that could change idk.

村 = village, town 頭 = head 政 = government, politics 志 = plan, aspiration, ambition, goal (etc)

I recreated the chart thing for him that's at the bottom of all the official character profiles.

(Gender: Male; Age: 24; Height: 177cm; Blood type: O; Birthday: December 19)

his assigned color is a dark grey with a slight blue-ish hue. no exact hex code for now.

now time to dump random stuff for him ig!

T1 Character Voice (Static):

"I... hope you'll be a bit luckier in your next life."

T1 Voice Drama lines:

"Murakami Masashi, 24 years old. It's nice to meet you."

"It's quite nice here, I have to say. It's like a giant puzzle. Though I do miss having the freedom to go outside..."

"Ahh, so you're pretty inexperienced in this, huh?"

"Hmm, just how much am I willing to share, I wonder... Hey, don't look at me like that. Fine, I'll try to humor you. To answer your question, law enforcement aren't the only people who conduct interrogations. ...You're giving me the same look."

T1 Interrogation questions:

I tried to create my own little interrogation question cards. if my Japanese has mistakes (which it certainly does), no it doesn't <3. enjoy the beautiful placeholder portrait and also my janky-ass Japanese handwriting!

Q1: What's your current occupation? A: Oh very funny!

Q3: Family? A: Just my father and I.

Q5: What do you think about your family? A: I have no opinion. Well... I guess my father can be a bit troublesome.

Q8: What's something that's more painful than death? (thanks Shidou/Mahiru for this one) A: Aren't there a lot of things? It'd be impossible to write them all down.

Q14: Hobbies? A: Logic puzzles and origami maybe...?

misc stuff:

he speaks very formally and uses the first-person pronoun "watashi" (私). watashi is gender neutral, but it can sound a bit stiff or feminine when used my men in non-formal settings.

he'd get a pretty heavy guilty verdict in trial 1 due to a lot of misinterpretation of what was even going on lol. most of the innocent votes for him in trial 1 would probably be for stuff like "he's hot though", "but hes funny", "ok but his song fucks", etc.

for trial 2... an innocent verdict but it'd be very close.

his trial 1 cover would be We The Hostages maybe?? then his trial 2 cover would be Aimai Elegy.

ok i will now post this before the social anxiety comes in with the steel chair

[ahiddenpath]

Recently, I've been thinking about reading for pleasure and reading for challenge and I remembered your answer to that ask game where you mentioned your friend's list of literature. If you feel comfortable, could you share the list?

Sure thing! This is going to get really long so... List beneath the cut.

So my friend split these into two groups: authors you must read for a masters in literature (that you will actually enjoy bc they kick ass) and books you will enjoy that kick ass. Her recs were centered on fantasy and magical realism, at my request.

Magical realism you’d be forced to read in a masters program that’s also good actually (tm) Salman Rushdie

Morrison obviously

Louise Erdrich (tho she’d prolly object to being called magical realism)

Haruki Murakami

Stuff that is Not School Stuff but Actually Good (tm):

The Witcher novels

These are the Witcher novels in order:

blood of elves time of contempt baptism of fire the tower of the swallow lady of the lake

There are also two short stories.

Kingkiller chronicles (unfinished but worth it anyway)

The entire hainish cycle by Leguin

Michal moorecock’s elric saga (as or maybe more influential than Tolkien in pop culture fantasy, why D&D exists) read this before the Witcher books maybe

Pratchett obviously

Kelly Link’s stories (all over the genre map)

Gene Wolfe shadow and claw collection

Books to Grow By

This is a combination of recs from my friend and stuff I found myself, apologies for linking out but typing it again seems redundant.

-List 1

-More on the biographies of women mentioned at the bottom of the post linked above

-More on The Left Hand of Darkness, LeGuin

-More on Beloved, Morrison and how it impacted the writing I was doing at the time, although it's embarrassing to say that bc Beloved is an absolute master class in the novel and is incomparable and I feel almost blasphemous even talking about it, except that it might inspire other people to read it, so I will talk about it!!!! In the hopes that people read it!!!! Please read it.

I haven't spoken about it yet, but I really want to add Ducks, Kate Beaton to the list. It's an autobio graphic novel about Kate, a woman from Nova Scotia who took a job on the oil sands to pay off her history degree. It gets dark fast, I would check out trigger warnings first.

This book is so packed with... So many things that I... I hate that they exist, but I really want people to see them, to know about them. I grew up in a lower middle class family on the east coast of the USA. My parents spoke about money problems constantly, so I legit thought we were poor. We were not, although my parents struggled with money their whole lives and will likely never retire and will pass away in debt.

When I was in college, I made friends with my literature pal above online. We've been friends for... God, probably about 12 years now, chatting daily online. I don't want to get into her life too much on Tumblr.com, but she actually grew up in poverty, and graciously taught me what poverty actually is. That might sound sarcastic, but it isn't at all. Sharing your life experience like that takes a lot of trust, time, and emotional energy, and it isn't something we can just... expect to be given for the sake of our own growth (ick, right??).

Like Beaton, lots of people are born in places where comfortable and lucrative jobs are not readily available. Also like Beaton, many folks earn a college degree that will almost certainly not pay for itself in terms of securing gainful employment. People in those circumstances often end up in jobs that destroy their body, their mental health, and their dignity. Class status isn't only dependent on income; it's also dependent on the type of work a family unit does. Jobs that wreck your body can pay well, but at what price?

There are a million themes and glimpses of humanity and horror in this book, I wish everyone would read it. The book was a huge success, and most libraries carry it, so try to check it out!

[samuell2]

No Regrets for Our Youth

I thought this movie was excellent in some parts, and pretty boring in others.

I was really excited when I realized this was a movie about leftist student protests, because I find that subject pretty fascinating. After reading about the Anpo protests in Haruki Murakami's novels, I read quite a bit about Zengakuren, the coalition of student self-government organizations at the center of university protests both post and pre war. It was interesting to see a film depiction of one of the faculty removal incidents that came to define Zengakuren and their quest for academic freedom.

The opening scene in this movie is beautiful-- an almost comically idealistic portrayal of youth and freedom as Yukie and co. literally frolic in the fields, contrasted by an ominous burst of gunfire in the hills, which symbolizes the threat of militarism and facism for the group we are following.

Noge and Itokawa are fascinating characters. Like many young activists, they come to a point where they must choose to stand by their ideals and put their futures in jeopardy, or give them up and accept the promising careers their prestigious degrees promise. Kitokawa is able to accept the economic consequences of his ideals, but his mother ultimately persuades him to give them up and become a prosecutor. (Family is crucial for Kitokawa. Later he jokes that he only married for his mother's sake). Noge, of course chooses the latter path.

My beef with this movie is that, instead of focusing on these two characters, it focuses on Yukie. I understand that Yukie's romantic choice of Noge is intended to reflect the attraction of idealism and danger, but still. Call me sexist, but she's kind of boring compared to the other characters. I would rather see Noge engage in slick covert operations than watch Yukie give him a big hug when he gets home. Respect to Yukie, she goes hard in the rice fields, and I think she certainly comes into her own by the end of the movie, developing her own political passions. But the section in the country is basically just a farming montage, and it didn't keep me engaged.

Maybe I'm just TikTok action movie brained, but I felt like this movie never game me the scenes I wanted. Like, show me some protests scenes. Why can't I watch the farmers come in and destroy Yukie's rice fields? Why do I have to see the aftermath? It seemed like Yukie's father in law having his stupor broken by the destroyed rice fields and crying out in rage is supposed to be a powerful moment, but I didn't really care about him, so it just sort of fell flat.

Still good tho.