#s: takatoshi and tsukasa

[adelle-ein]

sketching favorite sentinels

[suraht]

Time for more 13 Sentinels Updates:

Iori Fuyusaka goes to school in 1985, can summon and pilot a Sentinel, and has been having strange dreams involving mecha and kaijus. It could just be mere coincidence that the two of them both are going through the same things, but I really doubt it.

Iori's prologue finished, it's time to move on to the next character. We still don't have any choices to make in terms of what we're looking at next, but once we get through the initial prologue stages(and there are a few of them), the game will open up more.

Takatoshi Hijiyama's story could either be the simplest or the most convoluted, and I don't think there's a chance of it being anything inbetween. A military student in 1944, his attempt to catch Tsukasa Okino ended up with him stranded, homeless, in the 1980's.

[grraveryl]

Critical Health | Takatoshi Hijiyama

[unit-zero-two]

Queer Representation in 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim

13 Sentinels was a game I picked up because the trailer looked neat. I had no clue what the gameplay was even like, I just felt adventurous. And I was rewarded with a fantastic game that constantly surprised me in the best possible ways. One of the ways I was surprised was in the actual textual existence of queer characters. Plural. And with a queer relationship developed and promoted prominently on screen between main characters.

Now, with the increase in queer media around the board, this alone isn’t worthy of praise. My enjoyment, and I suspect that of a lot of people, comes from the fact that there was no expectations or promises made, and yet the game still delivered. It was just there, causally, in a AAA game published by a decently well known studio. It’s a good example of what we’re asking for when asking for queer rep. It being allowed to casually exist and flavor games that aren’t just dedicated to telling these stories.

Like a lot of media if you go in expecting flawless queer representation suffusing every aspect of the game, you will be disappointed. This is a game with 15 main characters and most of the cast ends up in straight relationships. But not all of them. And past those relationships, there is still a queerness that is allowed to exist and be shown throughout this game that constantly impressed me.

I will work through the textual, on screen examples of queer representation one by one. There will be spoilers for this game in the post, so if that is something that you care about, please finish the game first before continuing. Due to the non-linear storytelling and gameplay nature of 13 Sentinels I can’t really set timestamps or anything. If you’re not done yet, but still curious to read, I personally feel like nothing I say here will ruin the experience for you. Through it’s strange nature, this is arguably a spoiler proof game and knowing what is to come can help you view the events in a different, but still enjoyable, light.

Textual Queer Representation in 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim

The place for us to begin will be with one of the 13 playable characters, Takatoshi Hijiyama. Hijiyama is very much a young man defined by when he was raised in the story. 1945 Japan in the middle of WW2. He is nationalistic and proud of Japan, it’s culture and tries to stand for it’s values. While training to be a Sentinel pilot, he falls for the demure Kiriko Douji, daughter of the professor in charge of the project. His prologue begins with him following Kiriko and finding her operating a time travel system. Kiriko reveals three things: 1) she’s the real scientist behind the project, 2) her real name is Tsukasa Okino and 3) she is a he. Okino leaves 1945 and Hijiyama chases after him. What then follows is a very clear romance storyline as Hijiyama works though self-discovery of his sexuality, his internalized biases and some good old jealousy.

Throughout his story, Hijiyama shows attraction to Okino both dressed as a woman and as a man. It’s made clear that the clothes and gender presentation aren’t the main defining factor for his attraction to Okino. He also shows attraction to some of the girls, implying a sort of bisexuality. But in the end, Okino is the one he directs his attention and dedication. The pair even share a robot in the final battle.

Next we have Takatoshi Hijiyama...of 2188. Through a data log Hijiyama finds during his story he finds out that his self of 2188 was in a committed, queer relationship with Tsukasa Okino of 2188. The two openly express their love for each other in the logs, and Hijiyama 2188′s final words are to mourn the death of his lover. The game makes it very clear what their relationship is. And watching this is a turning point for Hijiyama and how he views Okino. Seeing the death of Okino 2188 shakes him, and hardens his resolve and love.

Tsukasa Okino is an interesting character for many reason. We see him first dressed as a woman. When asked about it, he comments “Let’s just say some binaries work for me, and others don’t.”. Throughout the story, Okino alternates between being dressed as a man and a woman. He’s a very practical person and expresses several times his thoughts on both forms of dress and the pros and cons he finds in wearing them. But he never says, “I’m actually a man/woman or I prefer to wear men’s/women’s clothing.” To him, both forms are equal and he switches between them as he feels like through the story. There is also a point in the epilogue where Okino reveals that he can hack into the simulation and change his gender if he wishes. He then offers to turn into a woman and to sleep with Hijiyama. This is a very confident offer made by someone secure in their identity and sexuality. Hijiyama is understandably flustered at the teasing.

Okino openly shows sexual attraction to Hijiyama, mostly presented as teasing jabs at him. As with 2188 Hijiyama, 2188 Okino is explicitly in a Queer relationship and openly affectionate in the data logs. For the most part, present day Okino is busy during the narrative trying to save everyone from the Kaiju, but still finds time to flirt with Hijiyama.

Hijiyama and Okino are the clearest in text examples, but there’s one other stand out example. Iori Fuyusaka. For the most part she spends her story being boy crazy and confused by strange dreams, but there are two interesting moments with her. The first is during the battle section. One of the scripted after battle sections plays and it’s Iori tripping and she scrapes her hand. Yuki Takamiya helps her up and puts a bandage on her hand. It is a very slow, very tender and very deliberate scene. After Yuki leaves, Iori blushes and comments, “Whoa, what the...why is my heart racing right now? Wait, does that mean...? But I didn’t think I was...I mean, what if...” This scene makes it very clear what Iori is feeling and what she is discovering about herself.

In another scene near the beginning of the game in Iori’s story, she’s looking for a cat. She comes across Juro and Shu talking to each other in secretive whispers and embarrassed blushes.

Shu: Just listen. This is a first for me too. You feel it, right?

Juro: ...

Shu: I want to pursue this with you. Please!

Juro: I dunno...it's just...

The edges of the background softens and the camera shifts to center them, soft music plays, and Iori blushes. While the scene itself is a pretty standard confused for gay joke, it’s interesting to see it from Iori’s point of view. When caught, she says:

"I, uh...umm...I think as long as you love each other...it's okay..."

Juro is embarrassed and corrects things. Shu just laughs and is amused by the idea of dating Juro.

Juro: Do you believe us [about our dreams]?

Iori: Well, actually...I'm more surprised to hear that's all it was. Cause, I thought...

She blushes and is interrupted by the bell ringing and class starting.

And in light of the scene with Yuki, it becomes interesting in reflection that her thoughts would go there so quickly. Whether she was conscious of it or not, Iori is very aware of the possibility of same sex attraction. Whether that’s clever foreshadowing or just a neat coincidence is mostly irrelevant.

Uh...that of course brings us to Yuki Takemiya. So...Yuki will get her own post. Because there’s a lot there. Most of which I would argue is heavy subtext. I love the character and her plotline, but it it would be stretching to say that she is textual queer representation. But there’s still a lot to talk about.

13 Sentinels is a game that deals in all variations of relationships; familiar, platonic and romantic, and it’s great that it included queer representation into the text like it did. Hijiyama and Okino gave us a romantic queer relationship, twice, and Iori gives us a Bi-Sexual character who while not in a relationship with a woman is still queer. And that’s always good representation.

[berrifuu]

so i just found something to obsess over again and yes i will talk about because this needs to be released from my puny body or else i am going to burn down someone’s house 🤠

//SPOILERS FOR 13 SENTINELS: AEGIS RIM\\

ok fist off i gotta just gush over the visual aesthetic of the game overall. ITS SO WELL MADE??? LIKE HOW??? EVERYTHING IS SO DAMN DETAILED BUT IT WORKS??? THIS IS PROBABLY THE MOST VISUALLY PLEASING PIECE OF MEDIA I’VE EVER COME ACROSS! and the ligHTING?? gorgeous. this whole game is just 🤌🤌🤌

anywho, next is getting the plot outta the way. now i’m not fully done with this game (i’m following NicoB’s play through since i don’t have a PS4 :,( ) and i’m currently halfway done with episode 16. i’ve been binging this ish non stop yet i absolutely cannot make sense of what the fuck is going on. like there’s time travel but it might not be time travel and also mecha’s and alien robots who aren’t really aliens and who in the fuck is the bad guy here why is there like 10 different Iori’s and whAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING SHIBA??? all i know is that this game is one giant ass mind fuck and i love it.

next is the characters (literally the best aspect of this game) and since there’s a lot of them i’m just gonna-

Juro Kurabe: NOT Juro Izumi, uhh so far i just feel bad for this dude. like give my mans a break he just wants a normal ass life 😭🤚. also he reminds me of Hajime Hinata from SDR2 so i have a personal liking for him 😳

Megumi Yakushiji: get away?? from?? juro please?? like gurl leave the poor guy alone 😭. also what’s with her whole Madoka Magica aesthetic?

Natsuno Minami: she’s so cute and for what? i just wanna be friends with her tbh

Ei Sekigahara: i absolutely ADORE him and i have no clue why. i think it’s just that his design is definitely one of the best ones in the game, but he’s also pretty interesting ngl

Keitaro Miura: tbh i thought him and Sekigahara were siblings when i fist saw them but they’re not which makes me kinda sad cause their friendship is cute. i haven’t seen much of this guy so i don’t have that many opinions on him

Shu Amiguchi: this dude is literally so chill and i love it. lowkey reminds me of Oikawa from Haikyuu so you know i’d love him. also i love is hairstyle

Yuki Takamiya: *deep inhale* i’m so fucking gay for her

BJ: he’s cute, especially whenever he pops his head out of Natsuno’s gym bag

Renya Gouto: dude appears like once and when he does he’s shot by Megumi, definitely needs a break and some coffee. nice voice tho 😳😳

Iori Fuyusaka: i like her design but she’s too much of a “Pick Me” girl so idk. and she literally simps for anyone and it’s staring to kinda get on my nerves

Tomi Kisaragi: she’s so sassy and i love it. also i love how whenever she’s walking you can see her braids just flowing in the air

Nenji Ogata: reminds me of Josuke from JJBA 🙈🙈. his relationship with Kisaragi is SO GODDAMN CUTE??? I LOVE THEM SM!

Ryoko Shinonome: BEST DESIGN IN THE WHOLE GAME!! but not the greatest personality unfortunately. idk it’s just creepy to think that she simps for a guy in his 30’s

Takatoshi Hijiyama: poor guy, mans just wants to enjoy some Yakisoba Pan and not be embarrassed by the fact that he fell for a trap😭🤚

Tsukasa Okino: literally the best charcter in the whole ass game, and i am so salty that he’s not a playable charcter. this dude literally has the balls to put on a skirt play dress up and fuck around with not one, not two, not three, but four (maybe even more) guys’ hearts and then just dip out. i adore this man

Miwako: literally too cute to put into words pleASE MARRY ME-

and that’s really all the charcters i can remember and/or care about. i’m tired so gn 💗

[urbangarde]

🎅病気の皆さん、メリークリスマス🎄 アーバンギャルド新曲にして初のクリスマスソング #サンタクロースビジネス MV公開 📼https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWDGV3NN2w8 🎧 https://lnk.to/SantaClausBusiness 🐤rt企画実施中！拡散お願い致します https://twitter.com/urbangarde/status/1599012572828663809?s=46&t=p1f-CZNrrUXtKQMsp7iFIA Cast: URBANGARDE Temma Matsunaga #松永天馬 Yoko Hamasaki #浜崎容子 Kei Ohkubo #おおくぼけい AME #夢野飴 Risa Miyake 三宅里沙 Director: #ALi(anttkc) Shooting Staff: Makoto Numakura Yasuhiro Orii AOKI LUCAS Koki Marutani Art Department: Ryohei Ueno / chomi Hair & Make-up: junco kobayashi(artz) Production: Zeneitoshi Still Photographer：MIWA special thanks: Takatoshi Naoi TSUKASA KOBAYASHI（missiD/KODANSHA） 作詞作曲:松永天馬 編曲:アーバンギャルド Guitar:西村健 Mix:大島久明 アーバンギャルド： 浜崎容子 松永天馬 おおくぼけい #urbangarde #アーバンギャルド #santaclausBusiness https://www.instagram.com/p/CltTqpRSmHD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ataraxiamfrp]

hiii, paul here requesting an amendment to takatoshi's app to add this item! "Takatoshi also possesses a phaser - A futuristic gun given to Takatoshi when he went to rescue Tsukasa. It shoots electricity at varying strengths, usually only to stun or incapacitate - however, with enough energy it can shoot to kill."

paul here again, this time to drop rukia kuchiki from bleach - i just couldn't find her voice 😔 she was in chalet 1!

hello paul!

takatoshi’s app was updated, and rukia was dropped for you!

☆ mod cadenza