#sorry if the translation isn't accurate i'm bad at translating

[pan-de-queer]

their story, esp the first part of the post before same sex marriage was legalized in the usa, reminds me of this post by Filipino musican Nica del Rosario, a queer singer who was introducing her newest song

[Image ID: First picture is a screenshot of Twitter user Nica del Rosario with two screenshot images of a message written on a note app.

Second and third pictures are the message itself which reads:

The night before our flight back home to Manila after getting married in Sydney, we had to fill out an online tracing form called One Health Pass (PSA: fill this out in advance if you're traveling home so you don't get stuck in the long line of people at the airport).

As I was going through mine, I stopped at one question: marital status. It stared right back at me, almost mockingly, like it knew that despite our magical, joyful wedding just a couple of days before, I had to begrudgingly mark myself as "single".

It was a small, simple action, but it crushed my heart like a stone. It represented the reality that was waiting for us back in Manila: that the vows we exchanged in Sydney will not be honored in the place we call home. The joy of getting to legally commit ourselves to spending the rest of our lives together is mixed with the bitterness that according to the laws where we reside, that doesn't mean anything.

But to us, it means everything. Remembering that moment in our hotel room, filling out that form, spurred me to write this song. Because despite that small yet sad moment, there's comfort in the fact that we're married in Australia, in the US, in Canada, and several other countries. There's comfort in the fact that we share a love that some people spend lifetimes trying to look for. There's comfort in the life and the family that we built together.

I don't know when our laws here will change; maybe we'll be like those old lady couples in the US rushing to the courthouses on the day that same sex marriage was legalized in all 50 states. Maybe it will come in 10 years. Maybe we won't live to see it. But we have today, and our love and our family. And for now, that is enough.

"*Balang Araw" is for every person in our community who continue to hope and fight for what we stand for: to be treated as human beings, to be given the same rights as everyone else. *Makukuha rin natin ang ating "balang araw", pero sa ngayon, mahalin muna natin ang isa't isa. /.End ID]

Translations:

Balang Araw = someday

Makukuha rin natin ang ating "balang araw", pero sa ngayon, mahalin muna natin ang isa't isa = We'll also get our "someday", but for now, let's first love one another.

everytime I remember that lesbian couple that have a marble statue of the two of them embracing and sleeping on a bed together over where their graves will be because the artists didn’t believe they would be able to be married before they died, so what they couldn’t have in life they could have in death, I fucking breakdown

[pretty-little-mind33]

Kraven The Hunter x fem!reader

Summary: You meet a dangerous stranger in the woods...

Genre: SMUT (nsfm)

Warnings: kinda dark but still tame, cheating (reader), unprotected sex (pls use contraceptives in real life!), oral sex (m receiving), praise kink, degradation kink, rough sex, riding, he spits in reader's mouth 👀, kissing (duh), fingering, light misogyny, ik he has a name but i use Kraven in this, bad russian google translate maybe (I AM SO SORRY I DID MY BEST—if you speak Russian and have any suggestions… please 🙏 ) LISTEN…I'M SORRY LIKE I COULD NOT RESIST WRITING FOR HIM…HAVE YOU SEEN HIM? Probably NOT comic accurate…

SERGEI KRAVINOFF MASTERLIST

You don't know what you hate more at the moment—your boyfriend or the continuous sweat forming on your hairline from the dampness and heat. It's becoming dark outside, which should cool the air and help with the heat but not as much with how pissed you are at Chris. 

With a small squeal, you stumble on the roots of a tree, gasping as your ankle twists awkwardly in your hiking shoes and the buzz of an insect flies around your ear. You swat your hand near your cheekbone. You're holding the branches you'd found in one arm now as the stickiness of the air makes your skin feel heavy. 

Screw you bugs! 

Screw you woods!

And most of all screw you Chris!

You're too immersed in your hatred that you don't realize you've fallen into an animal trap until it's too late. You scream, the branches falling from your arm as your body folds and the net wraps around you, pulling you up into the air. The rope burns your exposed skin as you squirm. This had to be a nightmare, some sick cruel joke Chris is playing on you. You half hope he'll jump out from behind the bushes and laugh in your face. 

You wait in silence for a moment but your boyfriend doesn't show up. 

"Help!" You scream out helplessly, "Is anyone there? Please, I-I'm trapped," you call. 

"Hmm, yes, that is the point of one of those," a deep voice drawls from behind you and you wince. You try to strain your neck to look at the newcomer but you can't move enough to see who it is. It certainly isn't Chris. Chris doesn't sound like that.

"Please, can you help me?" you plead shamelessly now. 

Your heart is beating so hard. You hear the creak of leaves and dirt as whoever stands behind you walks closer to you. You feel them turn the entire net around and soon you're face to face with dark piercing golden eyes. A color you can only describe as supernatural. 

"Now why would I help you? You stumbled into my trap—that makes you my prize."

The man is tall and strong. His shoulders are broad and his hair curls messily across his forehead. He's wearing an open vest made of brown leather and adorned with fur, thick leather bracers, and a necklace where three animal teeth hang.

You concentrate on the sharpness of the teeth for a while, ignoring how very much shirtless the man is against them, but eventually you lose focus as with a swift motion, he uses a knife he'd taken from his belt to cut the net and you crash to the ground. 

Immediately, the dirt sticks to your sweaty skin as you scramble up onto your feet. You brush hair from your face and stumble back, almost falling again until the man's large, calloused hand finds your forearm and he holds you still. "Calm down," he says hoarsely, his eyes narrowing and his grip tightening.

"You don't wanna run from me, gorgeous. Clearly, you don't know your left and right around here but I do. So, stay still for me so I can think about what I'm gonna do with you."

He has a thick accent and you find yourself nodding. He drops your arm and you don't move. You look up at him as he looks around, rubbing his hand over his jaw like he's debating his next moves. You can see his knife, which he has secured into his belt again, glistens with blood and your stomach churns. 

"Please don't hurt me," you whisper.

The man stares at you blankly, his eyebrows crease as he looks you up and down. After a moment, the corners of his lips curl upwards and he moves closer. You squeeze your eyes shut, scared, and you gasp inaudibly as a tear escapes you. 

The man's thumb wipes it away, his hand cupping your cheek and he speaks a language you don't understand—russian you assume—"Я бы никогда не подумал причинить тебе боль, (I would never dream of hurting you)," His tone seems sweeter than how he'd spoken before but all hopes of him translating what he'd said disappear when he asks:

"Why are you out here all alone?"

You recover from his touch as it leaves you and you try and explain, "I'm not alone. My boyfriend," you turn to look behind you but all you see is the trees and hear the rustling of animals in the shadows, "is around here somewhere," you finish.  

"He left you? Alone? Now? It's almost dark," the man accuses as if it had been your choice.

"I- I was supposed to bring branches for the fire," you say quickly, gesturing to the branches that had fallen from your arms. The man looks where you're pointing and chuckles darkly. 

"Oh, милый (darling), those aren't branches. Those aren't even twigs."

You glare at him, not finding it funny at all, "Well, I couldn't carry the heavier ones," you defend and the man interrupts with another chuckle.

"Ah," he smirks, "so why was it you who went out? Can your man not care for you properly?"

You scrunch your nose, "What's that supposed to mean?"

The man's smirk turns into a smile, his teeth showing, and you can't help but feel butterflies in your stomach as he smiles. He's handsome—almost too handsome for someone who looks like they live in the woods.

"I mean," he drawls, leaning in even closer, "what kind of man allows his woman to do all his labor, leaving her on her lonesome and vulnerable to bad men like me?" Your breath hitches and your eyes widen when he finishes, "Your man is a pathetic little boy who doesn't deserve a woman like you."

Your mind races. You want to defend Chris, tell this man that Chirs is an amazing, loving, boyfriend—but another part of you can't deny Chris had basically coerced you onto this hike, on your birthday nonetheless, and then promptly abandoned you to fend for yourself.

However, those details weren't what your mind latched onto. No. As you stare at the handsome stranger, his words ring in your ears; "bad men like me"

The man can tell and he chuckles, "Don't look so scared. I like you. You're the most entertainment I've had in a while. Come," he beckons you over, turning around and gathering his net over his shoulder. When you don't follow instantly he calls out, "I can offer you shelter and food, and a fire," he adds with a glance over his shoulder, "Unless you'd rather find your way back to your boyfriend. Your choice, милый (darling)."

So, you end up in the man's home. The man—who had finally introduced himself as Kraven— lives in a small cabin that's obviously been worn out by time and weather. All the furniture looks barely used—as if there hasn't been life inside this cabin for a long time. 

Kraven's hospitality is coarse and oddly demanding as he pours you some honey tea he made himself and hands you some bread. You don't complain, you're starving. As Kraven makes a fire, he mumbles things in Russian and occasionally he'll look over at you, sending a shiver up your spine. Your hair is wet from the shower you just had and the strands stick to your cheeks.

Your mind wanders to Chris. Is he okay? It is a warmer night—so he really shouldn't freeze to death. You feel guilty for having accepted Kraven's offer but your thoughts are interrupted by the fire starting and Kraven stands. He runs a hand in his curls and drops his vest on the couch near you. You look up, suddenly extra aware of how shirtless and toned he is. 

"Продолжай смотреть на меня так, и у меня не будет другого выбора, кроме как трахнуть тебя прямо здесь и сейчас, милый, (Keep looking at me like that and I'll have no choice but to fuck you right here and now, darling)," Kraven says in a growl and the only word you recognize is the last one since he's used it a few times.

"What does милый mean?" you ask, attempting to pronounce the word but fumbling it. Kraven smirks and tilts his head as he walks closer until he's sitting next to you. 

"It's a term of endearment," he chuckles, "like darling—or honey."

You feel your cheeks burn. It's almost worse to hear him explain the term rather than just using it. You look down at your hands, feeling Kraven's warmth next to you. He smells like pine-wood and ashes and the scent is invading. You feel safer near him then you'd ever felt in Chris's arms. Guilt settles in your stomach again. 

"Ты так сладко пахнешь. (you smell so sweet)," Kraven says again and his hand comes up to move some stray hairs behind your ear. The air shifts and sexual tension settles around you and the feeling dances across your skin with fervor. 

You don't dare turn your head to look at him, afraid of how he's staring. "What does that all mean? The Russian?" you mutter.

"It means I want to kiss you, doll," Kraven chuckles and his hand cups your chin and he turns your head so you're staring at him. Your eyes are round and he chuckles, "what do you say милый (darling)? Will you indulge me? I wanna see if you taste as good as I think you do."

Your heart jumps in your throat and suddenly you feel very small compared to him. Your eyes flicker to his lips and then up to look into his eyes. They sparkle darkly and you wonder if anyone has ever been able to say no to those eyes. You surely won't be the first. You nod. 

Kraven leans in and captures your lips with passion so fierce you're afraid your lips will bruise. Still, they slide across his easily and it's as if you've been molded for one another. Kraven's hands tighten in your hair, bunching up the strands so he can control your head movements. Control. His entire demeanor screams control.

"Good girl," he mutters with a smirk against your lips and his hands move to grip your hips. You're wearing some shorts and a shirt you found in the bedroom when you changed from your shower.

You gasp as he helps you up and you straddle him now. With a humph, he lifts up his hips and slides his knife holster to the side so it isn't digging into your thigh or his. He grins wolfishly, continuing to kiss you. His lips trail up your neck and near your ear. 

It never felt like this with Chris. Sure, it had been fine—it had been good even in the beginning—but this? No, nothing could compare to this. 

Kraven's hands are large and strong against your skin as he kneads your waist and ass. "Ты такая хорошая девушка для меня (You're such a good girl for me)," he whispers, his voice hoarse, and as attractive as it is, you whine and furrow your brows.

"Please, don't talk in Russian anymore. I can't understand you," you pout, pulling him closer as you unconsciously grind your hips into his for more friction. "I wanna understand you," 

Kraven grips your hips harder and rolls them onto him, earning him a soft moan that falls from your lips. "Alright, darling, alright," he smiles and kisses you again. "Tell me, do'you want more from me? Seems like you do," he grinds your hips again, punctuating his words as he teases you mercilessly. 

You are at loss for words. This is wrong. You're cheating on your boyfriend, you try to remind yourself, with a man you met in the woods. But if this is so wrong, why does it feel so good? You moan. You desperately want to slide your shorts and panties down to allow even more friction on your clit. Your cheeks burn with embarrassment and you must look so needy. 

Kraven hooks his fingers in your waistband, running his thumb over your hip, reading your mind, "Is this what you want, darling? You wanna rub yourself on me like a little slut?" 

The insult shouldn't be as hot as it is, but when it's followed by a searing kiss, the word is honey on his tongue. You moan and drop your head in the crook of his neck, grasping onto his shoulders as you lift your hips so he can easily slide your panties and shorts down. "Please," you whisper, nails digging into the muscle of his shoulders. 

Kraven smirks and, as he holds your nape with one hand, he uses the other and finds your pussy. He explores your folds, wanting to make sure you're wet and ready for him. He rubs your clit, earning him smaller, more high pitched sounds from your parted lips as your wetness seeps over his hand. 

Kraven teases you for a little while longer, murmuring praises in your ear until he suddenly spreads his legs and you fall to your knees in front of the couch. You gasp, looking up at him from the ground. 

He looks majestic, sitting there, as if the couch was his throne and he was a King. 

Kraven's smirk widens as he fists one hand in your hair, using his other hand to lick his fingers clean of your arousal and then swiftly unbuckle his belt. He stares at you as he does this and tilts his head. "D'you do this for your boyfriend, gorgeous?" Kraven seems amused by the word boyfriend, as if it's some game to him. 

You nod, sinking onto your heels as you watch Kraven pull out his cock. He's big and hard and your eyes widen. "D'you like doing this?" he asks, his voice low. You catch his eye and shake your head honestly. You didn't like giving Chris head—but Chris's dick didn't look like this. Your eyes snap up to Kraven's cock. 

"You'll like it with me," he adds, smirking, and guides your head to his cock. You let him, having no complaints as you take him in your mouth. You're nervous at first, unsure of what to do, but soon you gain more confidence as you try and take him even deeper. 

You gag a little and Kraven just tightens his hand in your hair. 

"You can take it. I know you can, doll. There," he coos, clearly enjoying your work as you adjust your mouth around him. "There, yeah. That's my good girl." Kraven grunts out the word "my" and warmth pools in your stomach. You moan around his cock, sucking faster as if to respond yes, I am yours.

With a pop, he pulls your head away and tilts your chin. He helps you up to straddle him again, keeping you eye level as he positions his cock at your entrance. He squeezes your cheeks, opening your lips, and then spits into your mouth before claiming your lips again. Your eyes flutter shut as you feel him against you and he sinks you down onto him. 

"Can you feel me, милый (darling)?" he grunts, moving you on his cock slowly, torturing you. He chuckles darkly when you whine. 

"Mmh," is the only sound you make as he fills you up. It feels so good. 

"You feel full, hm?" Kraven taunts, moving your hips a little faster as his hands grip your hips hard enough to bruise. He pulls one away a moment and rips your shirt, attaching his lips to your hardened nipples as you squeal. 

"Yes, oh, I feel so full," you whimper, bouncing up on him, helping him so you can go even faster and deeper. "Shit, you're so big."

"Шлюха (slut)," he groans, the word slipping past his lips in ecstasy as he kisses and sucks across your chest. You whine, wanting him to tell you what the word means so you can understand him but Kraven smirks. He kisses your collarbone and then, using his strength, he easily flips you over so you're laying on the couch and he's on top of you now. 

Kraven sinks his cock back into you as he snaps his hips hard. You gasp, wrapping your arms around him and your nails slide up and down his back, and he groans with pleasure at the sting. 

"Fuck, fuck, fuck please," you plead, eyes rolling as your body shivers.

"You're so tight around me. As if you were made just for me," he says as he continues to fuck into you. "Does your boyfriend fuck you this good?" Kraven asks, his accent thicker as he loses himself in the pleasure. His hand comes to wrap around your jaw as he holds you in place under him. 

You shake your head. 

"Слова (Words)," he growls but then curses and says, "Words, darling. Tell me."

"N-no. He doesn't fuck me this good," you whisper as Kraven's cock slides into you. You're so wet and he's so hard and this is so so wrong. 

"Yeah? You gonna run back to him now, bunny?" he snarls and nips as your earlobe. He thrusts harder and smirks at the pet name. "Hmm. run little bunny, back to your poor excuse of a boyfriend? No," Kraven grunts, as if he's made a decision, "I'm keeping you, doll. I can take care of you better than he can."

You moan at this and nod, "Please," you whisper, feeling your thighs clench around him as you can feel your orgasm approaching. 

Kraven feels it too. "You're squeezing around me, Шлюха (slut), do you wanna come?" Kraven teases and his thrusts slow. You whine and look at him, your eyes becoming teary from need. You nod.

He laughs and kisses your lips with a grin, "Alright, you can come. Go on, let yourself come all over my cock," he smirks against your skin as his sharp teeth nip at your neck. 

 You whine, letting your body finally relax as you come. You gasp, your eyes rolling from pleasure as your legs feel like jello. Kraven finishes inside you with a grunt and you whimper at the feeling.

He smiles as you sink into the cushions and your eyes flutter. His large hand comes to hold behind your head as he pulls you up and leans you against his chest. 

While Kraven's touch is comforting, it's also possessive and claiming. His thumb strokes over your hair and his lips kiss your head. He's holding you so close you're almost afraid he'll never let you go. You sigh when he slides out and picks you up in his arms as he stands.

"Good girl," he mutters as he walks you to the bathroom and adds, "You did so well for me." You let yourself relax in his arms as he promises he'll be here from now on. You're his now. 

You're so blissed out from your orgasm that your mind doesn't understand what that truly means. Instead, you shut your eyes and let him take care of you and, with a small smile, you think,

Happy. Fucking. Birthday. To. Me.

[1moreff-creator]

Corrigendum - Literature Girl Insane Analysis

Updates After CH2 PT2

More than a year ago, the entire DRDT fandom was thrown on its head when the Literature Girl Insane David MV dropped. And with the help of DRDT Tumblr for mystery finding and interpretations, about a year ago I made “A Full Vivisection of the David MV,” a two and a half hour video going over everything I could. While I still think the video mostly holds up even after CH2 PT2, there’s quite a few things that require an update. Let’s go over them, shall we?

(Is this a correct use of the word "corrigendum"? I don't know, but it's close enough for me to use given the connection to the book theme we got going on :v)

As a warning, though, this post will more or less assume that you’ve watched Vivisection, as some sections might be complete gibberish without the context of my previous interpretations of this thing.

Spoilers up to CH2. CW: Suicide, murder, hanging, CH2 execution, gun violence, blood

I’ll go through the recontextualizations in order of appearance in the MV, though first: 

Footnote 14 Solution, Tally 5 Correction

So these two things aren’t related to Part 2, but instead codes already in LGI. Since Vivisection came out, the footnote 14/Roman numeral I code got solved, and I’ve been informed that the solution for tally 5 I hinted at in the video was, while not wrong in the sense that you could arrive at the code using it, not the actually intended solution. Basically I said to pay attention to line breaks, when you’re actually supposed to ignore them, and that meant that one character had to be ignored when in reality the real solution works perfectly fine without ignoring it. Sorry, the line break thing was just commonly repeated advice given on Tumblr at the time and I don’t know why I never double checked how accurate it was :v

The proper solutions can be found in my Secrets Masterpost, so I won’t repeat them here. The Roman numeral I code, attached to Xander via crosswords, returned “I have always looked up to you,” which is perfectly in line with both the things David states in 2-12 and the conclusions drawn about how he feels towards Xander from the MV. As for tally 5, that will be addressed later. 

Yoidore Shirazu Lyrics

Another thing that happened was the release of the Elliot MV, Yoidore Shirazu. While the MV itself is not particularly for our purposes, I'm bringing it up to double check a thing with the lyrics.

You might remember that a big chunk of Vivisection was informed by "Language Theory," the idea that some lyrics' translations were specifically changed to fit better with David. This was supported by footnote 5, "As the translation has been intentionally botched in many parts, it should not be considered accurate," as well as the fact that Coleena Wu was listed in the credits, meaning her translation was used as a base for the David MV even though there were many differences between the David MV's lyrics and her version.

Thus, when I saw that Yoidore Shirazu credited Magenetra for the English lyrics, I figured I'd check if it happened again. And yes, there are a few lines here and there where the Elliot version is slightly different from the original translation. While I won't get into all of them in this post, a particularly notable change is "my muddy, obstructed and broken vision of the future, it's not half bad" in the original changing to "my muddy, obstructed, broken future, it's not half bad" in the Elliot MV, for example.

What does this tell us about the David MV? Well, I would argue that if dev decided to change a few lyrics in an MV where word placement isn't as important as in LGI, presumably just to make them fit better with Elliot or because dev just prefers certain wording (I don't see any other reasons the translation would be different), then it's very possible that they also consciously changed a few LGI lines to fit better with David. Maybe. In other words, I believe this is an extra argument to the validity of Language Theory, though I could also see it as an argument against ("maybe dev just doesn't care about sticking so close to the translations they use") :v

Now let’s actually go from the start of the MV to the end, shall we?

Color Connection Theory: Orange

In Vivisection, I said (words more words less) that while in a vacuum orange would probably go to Ace, the context of some of the lines seemed to fit Xander better, with the argument that the trailer for the series assigns orange as the color of the first letter of Xander’s name in a hypothetical class trial. The main argument was that Orange “that guy” appeared next to Green “this guy” (Hu/Teruko, leaning Hu) and Black “you” (possibly Mai), and lumping Ace in with characters who seemed much more important than him at the time seemed… strange.

Since then, Ace has gained a notable amount of importance to this particular part of the story, given the whole blackened thing. As a result, I would argue his inclusion as Orange is now more likely than Xander’s. Take a look at the start of the first chorus, for example, and you’ll see that putting Xander as red (which would be redundant if he’s also orange) makes for a nice, neat reading in the context of this trial.

[Literature Girl Insane] Even if you cry, make noise, shout, go mad the world won’t change!

Arei: “Even if you cry about hurting Eden, you’ll still always be a horrible person.”

Hu: “Even if you make noise to make yourself useful, you’re still the same hopeless child who attempted suicide three times.”

Ace: “Even if you shout, you’ll always be a coward.”

Xander: “Even if you go mad, you’ll always be a good person at heart.”

“No matter what, you people (the world) won’t change.”

What a lovely worldview David has! 

There’s also this instance, "let's play!":

[Literature Girl Insane] With anonymous hopes let's play!

Which makes sense given Ace is “playing the killing game” by… killing in the game. Foreshadowing or am I insane? These are not mutually exclusive. 

Hand Holding

dev why /affectionate

So, yeah. Arei holds David’s hand the same way Ideal Country Woman does. At least we’ve got near 100% confirmation that the weird line of white pixels is not a glove or anything, but rather a bend of the wrist as expected. 

Now we have to ask what Arei’s connection to this mess is. Thankfully, I can at least draw a connection between Arei and the surrounding context of the scene, so we’re not going in completely blind. As a reminder, here’s the interpretation I arrived at for the ���tunnel scene” that directly precedes Miss Hand Holding’s appearance.

[Extract from Vivisection] David gives Xander the order to "escape the tunnel," so open himself up to love others. However, "but," loving David is a bad idea, because he's a monster who's better off dead. His opinion, right? So he asks himself, where should Xander escape? "Where to?" In other words, who should Xander like and be friends with?

The connection to Arei should be more or less clear, provided you replace Xander's name with her. There’s two ways to take it. Arei opened herself up to David, “escaped the tunnel on his direction” per say. And given what happened directly after, you could say it led to a “disastrous scene.” Alternatively, if David genuinely wanted to accept Arei’s proposal to be “less shitty together,” if he “escaped the tunnel in Arei’s direction,” that too could be considered a “disastrous scene” because Arei died. That one’s admittedly a pretty big if, butconsidering some of the stuff David says…

David [2-10]: Unless, of course, you were Arei. That girl wanted desperately to prove herself as a "friend" to Eden. And yet she completely lacked any experience with what "friends" were actually like. [...] What could she know about "friendship," after all? Someone like her, who had not once experienced kindness in her entire life up until now? [...] [Breaking down] It's... It's so... Ahaha. It's just so foolish. For someone to take advantage of Arei like that... It's absolutely unforgivable. All she wanted was to change. What a reprehensible person this killer is. I look forward to seeing their painful execution.

Yeah he might have cared. 

So, okay, Arei can be connected to the surrounding context so this isn’t completely out of left field, but we still have the possibility of a further connection to the Mystery Girl. As you might recall, this girl is either Diana Chiem (based on certain similarities with David and because revealing Ms Naegi like this would be weird) or Ms Naegi (because Diana isn’t in the Cast List, while Naegi is). I don’t see any immediate connections to Naegi, so we’re left with Diana, who also has little connection.

Of course, the number one takeaway is that Arei reminds David of Diana (or Ms Naegi) in some way, so we can infer Mystery Girl might have supported David despite knowing about his manipulative nature, especially possible since she's positioned in the MV in a way where she's the "(so-called) ideal country." I'm about to ramble a whole lot more about other possibilities, but this is probably what we're meant to get from this.

If we’re allowing a small amount of unhingedness, another connection that could be drawn is between Arei’s family situation and David’s. Arei also had sisters, but they treated her horribly until Arei ruined their lives. Translated to Diana, this could mean that David treated her badly, that she did something to harm him, or both. If their relationship turned bad during Hope’s Peak time, it could explain why Footnote David, presumed to be David before losing his memories, claims she doesn’t exist, when Killing Game David speaks about her openly. Did he try to cut ties with her or something, and tries to pretend she doesn’t exist? Again, unhinged and probably not what the takeaway is meant to be, but we know less than zero about Diana, so it's not impossible.

Alternatively, though, it's worth noting that Mystery Girl and Arei tilt their heads in opposite directions, which could symbolize they're opposites in a way. Taken with the previous interpretations, this could mean either Mystery Girl supported David without knowing about his motive secret (opposite of interpretation 1), or that Arei's family situation is opposite Diana's, aka David had a good relationship with his sister (opposite of interpretation 2).

But speaking of insane, would you believe me if I told you that this visual similarity could, alternatively, be evidence for literally the most unhinged theory in the entire Vivisection? That is, the ridiculous deduction which is arrived at by analyzing the objects in the “suspicious gaps” attached to footnote 11, “I admit to lying. There is no one named OOOOO OOOOO. I am, and always have been, an only child," as well as the Catch-22 quote that comes directly after. Full explanation in Vivisection, but here’s the theory. 

[Extract from Vivisection]  So, first, I think the footnote is a double lie. David's lying about lying. He does actually have a sister but, for some reason, he's trying to deny it. He's pulling an Arturo: something happened with his sister, and he's trying to distance himself from it. That's where the snake with the blood and the safe come in, with the rope possibly implying a suicide. Remember the family history of depression? [...] So, it's possible Diana died. [...] It's also possible that whatever happened to Diana would have been hinted at in David's motive video. [...] Yeah, that's my explanation for the TV. But, why would this bad thing which happened to Diana be in David's motive video? That would imply David doesn't remember it. That's what the Snowden line could mean. [...]

Yeah remember that insane thing? Well, Arei died by hanging, so it’s possible Diana also died by hanging, aka suicide. This connection doesn’t make the theory any less unhinged, but it’s there. 

I hate the things I love, and I love the things I hate

As a refresher, this screen is about Xander, indicated mainly by the references to electrocution literally framing the scene. Nothing’s actually changed here, mind you, I just wanted to point out that it’s interesting that so far, we’ve only seen David talk about Xander with love, and we haven’t really seen the whole “I hate” part yet. Curious to see how that will develop later.

suspicious gaps

Still zero clue, I’m just putting it here because it’s still killing me.

V. Right now, why do you go insane? [Ace's numeral]

We should’ve known, guys… Ace’s numeral is literally right next to Arei’s (IV), not just in song position, but numerically. Incidentally, that means both killers so far have been in multiples of five (Min with X, Ace with V), so, uh, Whit (XV), anything you wanna tell us about CH3?

(I don’t think he’ll be the CH3 killer I’m just being silly :p)

Anyways, the big update here is related to the background text, “a cat has 9 additional lives.” This was already pointed out by treescanfly, and that is that Thanatophobia, Ace’s execution, featured 9 different execution methods (scythe - illness - fire - falling - murder - drowning - lightning - firing squad (execution)). Looks like horseboy really was a catboy all along!

XIII. or [not to be?] [Teruko's numeral]

The interpretation of the quote itself, that it’s a reference to Teruko’s suicidal tendencies, hasn’t changed. It’s only gotten more explicit.

Teruko [2-16]: Killed? I doubt it. As if something so kind could happen to me.

:(

Not much else here, though it seems Teruko might start rejecting the suffering associated with being the Omelas child given her talk with DefaultTV, so that’s fun.

Footnote 6, “[Prayer]”

So what I’m about to say is technically a connection that existed since LGI’s realease, but was just a bit too insane for me to even think about back then. 

Basically, you know how Mai is referred to as a “God” in this video, because of her numeral and the arrow? Well… what if that’s connected to this footnote? And, I don’t know, Min is praying to Mai?

Again, unhinged even for my standards, but with the confirmation that XF-Ture Tech is in some form behind the killing game… anything that puts Min in a weirdly plot relevant position (such as inexplicably having a Mai connection beyond what we saw in Bonus Episode 1) should be at least written down for posterity, if nothing else. 

That's my way of saying- Please write about Min, guys. I miss her :(

Footnote 12

“Majority rule” is known to be the fairest method of making decisions for a group. That's why murderers never complained when we voted for them to die.

In Vivisection, I primarily argued the meaning of this footnote through the lens that David may have genuinely believed he had driven Arei to suicide, and thus believed he was the blackened. This turned out to be horribly wrong, so we course correct. 

Instead, this simply seems to be what David was hoping would happen when he pulled out the magical girl transformation, albeit stylized with an impossible 16 people vote. The screen that flashes after just seems to reflect what David thinks would actually happen if a blackened won, or just what will happen by the end of the killing game no matter what: “Everyone will be executed.” That’s based on this line:

David [2-12]: 15 lives. Some of them are very dear to you. And your own life as well. Is there anything at all that could be more important to you than those 16 human lives?

Where David talks about sacrificing the full 16 lives of the participants, seemingly without taking into account that the blackened wouldn’t actually die in his plan. Because of that, it’s inferred that David doesn’t actually think the blackened would survive even if they won the trial. 

Other than that, the footnote seems to just be a direct reference to what Teruko says in the trial:

Teruko [2-15]: We determine who lives and who dies by a majority vote. In other words, the opinion of everyone who *isn't* you.

Which, uh... makes things easier, so I'm not gonna read into it much further :v

“What is the most important thing?” / Mistaken alphabet

Still no idea what these two things are about, that’s why I’m bringing them up :v

Original

[Extract from Vivisection] So, what I think is the best idea is that all the characters [referring to Color Theory] got the word. [...] I think it makes more sense to relate them to the meaning of "original style" under my interpretation, where "original style" means a change of heart.

The interpretation from Vivisection seems to hold strong, as MonoTV did actually have a “change of heart” of sorts, albeit brief. Hey we take the Ws where we can get them >:D

Two Eyed Xander

The theory discussed in Vivisection that David might hold memories from Hope’s Peak times was seemingly debunked by a tweet from the dev, even if the thread referenced in the link was later deleted. I did say in Vivisection that I didn’t believe the theory even if it was cool, so… we’re chilling. 

Of course, though, we did get confirmation that David knew about Xander before Hope's Peak, so the appearance of Xander with two eyes was meaningful! Cool!

Correct/Incorrect (Tally 5)

This is going to discuss the unlisted video linked in the footnotes of Vivisection, which I am well aware most of you probably didn’t watch given the view count. In any case, the thing I said there, which I also said in my Mai post, was that tally 5 could imply David had been involved in the weird revolution against Hope’s Peak that Xander and Mai had going on. While this is still certainly possible, given what was said in 2-12, it seems more plausible that tally 5 actually references David taking on Xander’s dream during the killing game.

David [2-12]: I don't care how low I'll sink, or how despicable I'll have to become. I'll do anything to carry on Xander's ideals by ending this killing game, even if it means I have to dirty my hands.

Yeah, the dream of killing everyone, that one. I say this not only because we know David “threw away his humanity” for it, but also because the image itself shows David holding Xander’s jacket, which would imply this is being said after Xander’s death. Thus, during the killing game. 

Numeral IX - Look, aside from that, give me the usual medicine [Levi's numeral]

Well, he sure needs medicine alright! Yeah that’s the best answer I currently have about what in the hell this numeral means, so we’re going with this. 

That said, points to Vivisection me, because the “Levi is Jupiter protecting Earth from asteroids” interpretation ended up being pretty solid. 

Clock Fork

You know, the theory that Eden was the one to rip out Xander’s eye based on the clock in LGI existed before I made Vivisection, I just… didn’t invlude it. The one unhinged theory I don’t mention ends up being true, huh? Well, there’s that. Not much else to say, if you're deep into DRDT lore you already know the implications of a bloody fork.

-

And… that’s about that! Although I had quite a few comments to make and things to add, actual corrections were few and far between, which I’m happy about! Mind you, there's probably a few Vivisection statements here and there I'm forgetting about, but still. Hope you enjoyed this little corrigendum, and if you made it this far, you deserve your own Jupiter-Levi to defend you in your time of need! See you later!

[pharawee]

I've been meaning to make a list of spooky (Thai - because negl that's 99% of what I watch) BL series and movies and what better time to post this than in October?

Spooky BL are my favourite flavour of BL. Turns out, there's actually a lot of them (maybe because Thailand does horror so well). These are only the ones I've watched (and enjoyed) so this list isn't complete.

*On another note: horror doesn't faze me at all so I can't really accurately say how scary some of these are. If you have squicks or triggers like jump scares, gore or bad endings please feel free to ask and I will do my best to give you a heads-up.

**This has been updated in October 2024 to include new shows and movies.

✨Spooky Thai BL✨

7 Days Before Valentine | This BL is a lot more introspective and heavy than other BLs on this list. It's beautifully filmed and very dark, however, which makes it the perfect watch for a spooky October evening.

1000 Years Old | Was it really all that spooky? Probably not. But sometimes spooky is a quirky vampire with an umbrella for every occasion and his clueless alien-loving boyfriend.

🎞️After Sundown | A period ghost movie slash love story with ZeeNuNew. Make sure to watch the uncut version if you can find it because it adds additional context and atmosphere.

Dead Friend Forever | This show has its spooky moments but at its core it's more of a psychological thriller with a few slasher tropes on the side. If you're in the mood for some suspense and not put off by heavy themes then this is definitely one of the highlights on this list.

🎞️Death Is All Around | Saint Suppapong coming through with another spooky production - this one about death and the afterlife. It also has Seng Wichai, Bas Suradej and Dun Romchumpa (presumably as a couple) but has yet to be released internationally.

Dear Doctor I'm Coming For Soul | This one has reapers and ghosts and lots of bittersweetness. It's not that creepy since the supernatural elements are very matter-of-fact. It will make you cry though, sorry. :(

Ghost Host, Ghost House | Spooky with incredible chemistry between the leads and a cast of characters that you will immediately fall in love with.

He She It | A three-episode miniseries with a haunting soundtrack and a nice plot twist. This will make you miss JeffGameplay. :(

He's Coming To Me | Probably one of the first series everyone will think of. Not that spooky but a solid ghost (love) story with a murder mystery at its core.

Hidden Love | This is a budget show filmed under serious constraints during the worst of the covid pandemic. It's clichéd. It's over the top. But it's also got its charms. It comes with a tragic ghost (love) story that completely overshadows everything else with its many flashbacks and plot twists. If you manage to get over the camp. I warned you.

The Hidden Moon | The story of this BL is a lot better than its editing (it is after all by the same author as I Feel You Linger in the Air) but it's definitely worth the watch for its spooky vibes and the ongoing and very intriguing mystery of the ghost story.

Low Frequency | Not spooky at all, and a bit slow and empty at times, but it has ghosts (in a way) and a sweet enough couple.

Make a Wish | Unfortunately, this has never had an inter release. There's inofficial subs floating around on grey sites but as of yet the series hasn't been fully translated. Which is a pity because it's a cute show about angels and spirit possession and (some) murder mystery.

Midnight Museum | I'm stubbornly putting this under BL. This show has everything and everyone. It's genuinely spooky at times but mostly draws on folklore, the mystical and an absolutely stellar cast.

OMG! Vampire | Well, it has vampires - which by definition should make it spooky but actually it's neither spooky nor particularly good - unless you miss LongFrank (which is a valid excuse).

🎞️Red Wine in the Dark Night | The oldest entry in this list. Admittedly, not very spooky (and instead rather surreal and sad), but it has one (1) vampire and Fluke Natouch in a role that's more grounded than we're used to nowadays.

Something in my Room | A spooky show with ghosts, mystery and romance that hides a lot of commentary behind metaphors and allegory. Criminally underrated because it didn't have a wide enough release. If you want to binge something fun and spooky for Halloween then this is the series to go for. Prepare tissues.

The Spell | A vertically filmed indie horror BL that was recently recommended to me. It comes with a serious SA warning so be aware of that if you decide to give it a try.

The Whisperer | Whatever happened here, it's not worth it. It could have been (maybe) if the production company didn't hold the last episode hostage until this day, but without a finale to maybe redeem some of the characters it's really not worth the watch unless you like the actors.

✨Not spooky but we're here for the vibe! ✨

4 Minutes | This show has mystery, style and time loops. So many time loops. Bring a whiteboard and marker for theories.

Every You, Every Me | This show is only just releasing in October 2024 but will apparently heavily lean into the fated soulmates and parallel realities trope.

Century of Love | Another gorgeous and suspenseful high-budget show about soulmates with plenty of fantasy tropes to choose from.

I Feel You Linger in the Air | Everything about this show is simply beautiful. It comes with a few supernatural elements that draw heavily on atmosphere and cinematography - but make sure to keep some tissues ready.

I Saw You in My Dream | The vibe of this show is both cozy and mysterious so it's perfect for an October binge-watch.

La Pluie | La Pluie draws from its fantastic premise and then it just goes from there. It offers amazing character development and a deep-dive into what it actually means to be soulmates.

Lover Merman | Exactly what it says in the title. Sadly it's not been released yet and it's currently MIA.

The Luminous Solution | Mysteries, a magical coffee shop, plot twists and a whole lot of confusion. Personally, I really liked it but it's definitely flawed.

Memory in the Letter | Time travel AND interdimensional mirrors. This is beautiful, almost like a fairy tale - if you can overlook the abrupt and slightly shocking ending.

On Cloud Nine | Short and beautiful. An indie production that's more ethereal than genuinely spooky.

The Sign | This show went all out. If you like crime mysteries, action sequences, fated lovers and folklore, then this is THE show for you.

Triage | A fantasy thriller set in Sammon's Manner of Death universe. No spooky vibes but plenty of suspense and an ongoing time loop.

Two Worlds | Parallel universes but make it gritty and grounded with plenty of angst and whump (and amazing love scenes). You're welcome. :)

✨Not a BL but hey, I know that actor!✨

Enigma | Win Metawin (and surprise guest!) in an incredibly well done 4-episode series about the occult with interesting worldbuilding and the promise of a second season.

🎞️Ghost Lab | Tor Thanapob and Ice Paris in a genuinely gruesome, shocking and scary horror movie. You've been warned.

Girl From Nowhere | One of the best things tv has to offer, and genuinely dark as well. Up Poompat, Pepo Nutchapan and James Teeradon feature in some of the loosely-connected episodes.

Haunted Universities 2 & 3 | James Teeradon (pt2) and Mark Siwat (pt3) in a horror anthology series set in and around campus.

🎞️Hoon Payon | Phuwin Tangsakyuen, Up Poompat and Bank Nuttawat in a classic spiritual ghost story. More shocking than scary.

🎞️Inhuman Kiss | Oab Oabnithi and Great Sapol (sadly, not as a couple) in a sad and romantic take on a classic Thai legend.

🎞️Inhuman Kiss: The Last Breath | JJ Krissanapoom in a thematically loose continuation of the first movie.

Let's Fight Ghost | A Thai remake of a fun and somewhat spooky kdrama with spiritual themes. And Saint Suppapong.

Peaceful Property | The verdict's still out on whether this is or isn't a BL (as of October 2024 the show is still running) but it offers plenty of spooky vibes, a stellar gmmtv ensemble cast and, yes, some queer rep too.

🎞️Pee Nak 1, 2, 3 and 4 | I'm biased because I really like this movie series. It's spooky but in a fun way. It has queer characters (as comedic relief - but not in a degrading way) and can get surprisingly deep. Watch this if you want to see (baby!) Tar Atiwat grow up on screen (because he's in all four movies). The third movie rewards you with some surprisingly sweet MeanPlan that continues into the fourth movie.

🎞️Operation Undead | A proper historical zombie movie with Nonkul Chanon (and Boss Thawatchanin if you can spot him). This movie has yet to release internationally but once it does we're definitely in for a treat.

School Tales | A Thai horror anthology centred around students at various schools. This series has Fiat Patchata, Kay Lertsittichai, Pepo Nutchapan, Mark Siwat and, most prominently, Saint Suppapong and Chimon Wachirawit in well-paced 50-minute episodes.

Shadow | Personally, I love everything about this show and I'm still hoping against all hope that it'll get a second season. It has queer characters (without being a BL - which disappointed a lot of people due to the fact that it was advertised as such), amazing cinematography, storyteling and acting and more dark and spooky themes than I can count on both hands.

The Stranded | One of my favourite series ever. If you watched LOST then you know what to expect. This has 3 QL couples (Perth Tanapon & Mark Siwat, Win Pawin & Tanthai Tatchapol, Ticha Wongtipkanon & Chaleeda Gilbert) but don't expect any of them to get a happy ending. Sadly, this series ended on a cliffhanger and won't get a second season due to the lead actor's tragic passing and Nadao's dissolution.

The Tenant | This was marketed as a horror BL but there's nothing left of that in the actual trailer. It stars Pepo Nutchapan and Boss Pornpipat (House of Stars) alongside Tan Kittinan (Love Puzzle) and I can't wait to watch this once it's released internationally.

✨Upcoming Spooky BL✨

Happy Ending | The pilot trailer for this was full of opulent dark fantasy thriller vibes.

The Hell Guard | Chains of Heart but make it spooky. Oh, I am so excited for this!

Goddess Bless You From Death | A horror murder mystery with a familiar cast and amazing visuals.

I Love/Kill You | A psychological thriller that might have plenty of horror to go with it, from the same author as 7 Days Before Valentine.

Khemjira | Past lives and curses and dark folklore - if you go by the (very well-written) novel, this BL will have it all.

My Golden Blood | GMMTV does vampires, part 1. I hope this is every bit as glorious as the pilot trailer suggests.

My Imaginary Boyfriend | Based on another one of Pat Rangsimant's novels (my favourite, actually). This one is more grounded, and spooky in a more psychological sense.

Mystique in the Mirror | Another of Pat Rangsimant's novels (and psychological horror too by the looks of it). This one started filming in 2023 and since then... nothing. :(

The Red Envelope | A Thai remake of Marry My Dead Body starring PP Krit and Billkin Putthipong.

Revamp - The Undead Story | GMMTV does vampires, part 2 - but this was originally a BounPrem project (and it still is, rest assured) by Studio Wabi Sabi.

Spare Me Your Mercy | A dark crime thriller set in Sammon's Manner of Death universe with an amazing cast and a very prolific director.

Vamp | Very likely not a BL but with many familiar faces. And vampires. One can never have too many vampires (unless you're in Paris and it's just after WW2).

Zomvivor | The only zombie series on this list has entered pre-production and is slated to be released in 2024 (but hopefully before the end of the year). Will it have BL? I don't know, but it stars pretty much all of domundi's acting couples (and more).

[eldritch-nightmare]

Mk, so, how about Liu, and any other characters of your choice with an S/O who has selective-mutism, but one day they just randomly decide to say something, but it’s in a completely different language. Idk where I got the idea from.

a/n: i saw liu's name and i couldn't restrain myself. i'm monolingual so i had to use various translation sites so if these are incorrect then i am so sorry. nd i opted to just have the reader randomly say 'i love you' because that seemed like an easy phrase to not butcher. except for liu. with what i wrote, i did have to give a full phrase other than 'i love you' and i put it through multiple translation sites so uhm fingers crossed that it's accurate uhm if you speak danish and it isn't then first off i am so sorry and second off can you please tell me what the actual translation is anyways this is a long note sorry fdhjfh hope you enjoy!!

with a selectively mute s/o that speaks in a different language.

includes: homicidal liu, the doll maker, nurse ann, and clockwork.

warnings: gn reader, it's honestly mostly just sappy, liu downplays a stab wound but that's really it.

HOMICIDAL LIU.

Liu doesn't really think about your selective mutism. You'll talk to him whenever you're comfortable, and if that's never then that's fine with him. All he cares about is your comfort.

Besides, if you ask him, he does enough talking for the both of you. At least... he thinks he talks a lot. It definitely feels like it. And who knows, he probably just teaches you morse code so you two can communicate like that.

And little did either of you know, today was the day you'd speak to him for the first time. And not for good reason, sadly. You see, Liu... isn't necessarily a careful person when it comes to his own safety.

So he may or may not have gotten hurt. But it's not like it's a life-threatening injury or anything like that! Besides, he's taught himself how to treat minor wounds like this. Really, it isn't that big of a deal.

You think otherwise, because, uh, he was fucking stabbed. Who the hell considers a stab wound a 'minor' injury?!

So when you saw him cleaning and stitching up a stab wound, this obviously led to some bickering between the two of you. Liu is telling you that he's okay, while you're aggressively telling him via morse code that he's been stabbed and that he needs to get professional medical attention. But Liu was fine. He's gone through way worse than this, so you really don't have to worry.

But him saying that just leads to you throwing up your hands in frustration as you say, "Dammit, kan du ikke se, at jeg er bekymret, fordi jeg elsker dig?!"

And... well... Liu doesn't really know what you just said but he feels really bad knowing that this is what made you speak to him for the first time.

He'll sigh and apologize for not taking his injuries seriously, and he promises to get professional help rather than just treating it himself. He... is legally classified as dead, so he can't go to a hospital but... I mean... he knows a guy who was studying medicine. And a very suspicious doctor.

THE DOLL MAKER.

Vine's native tongue is Russian, so more often than not he'll mutter to himself in his mother tongue rather than any other language.

He doesn't really care if you speak or not, mostly because he feels more comfortable in the silence. He's not the best at holding conversations.

He was busy making a doll with non-human parts this time around. And you were roaming around his little workshop, inspecting all his half-finished projects and sketches of future dolls he planned on making.

Vine trusts you to be around his work, so he's not worried about you accidentally making a mess or breaking anything but he does find himself feeling a little nervous.

Dollmaking is his passion, it's something he loves doing. And he loves you as well and values your opinion more than anyone else's. What if you think he's not doing a good job? What if you think he could make something better?

You've never given him the impression that you dislike dolls or find his creations and passion to be 'childish' but it's still a thought that lingers in his mind nonetheless. Thoughts like this constantly plague his mind.

But when he glances away from the doll he's working on to see you gently straightening out the dress of another one that's on display, a small smile gracing your lips as you admire his creation...

"Я тебя люблю." The words just sorta slipped out of his mouth, and it took him a moment before he went to repeat what he said in English but you spoke before he could even open his mouth.

"Я тебя тоже люблю." And oh. That's the first time he's ever heard you speak, he thinks.

NURSE ANN.

She too is selectively mute, though she doesn't speak because it physically hurts to more often than not, and also... she sees no real reason to talk, to be honest.

You two probably communicate via sign language or writing, though she'll quietly whisper to you if she has to.

Ann doesn't care if you talk or not. She gets it, even if you two have vastly different reasons for your selective mutism.

She's not going to have that big a reaction when you do talk, though she will tilt her head to the side a bit when you speak in an entirely different language.

It'll probably happen while the two of you are spending time together in silence, Ann doing her own thing while you're sitting nearby.

She was caught up in her own little task, mind empty. She was vaguely aware of your gaze on her, but she only really came back to reality when she heard you sigh and softly murmur to yourself.

"Ich liebe dich."

She blinks, taking a moment to process your words. She... doesn't understand German, but the way you softly spoke the words, and the way you were looking at her with such fondness... well, she had a vague idea of what you said.

And very quietly, she whispers back, "Love you too."

CLOCKWORK.

Natalie seems like the type of person who wants to learn a new language, and even begins starting to, but her motivation for it just evaporates two days after starting and she stops trying to learn. And it's just a cycle that rinses, washes, and repeats itself.

Anyways, she overthinks a lot and needs constant reassurance more than she would like, so at the beginning of your relationship, communication was probably a little rocky.

But you guys manage to come up with other ways to communicate rather than vocally.

She'll catch herself wondering what your voice sounds like, and she'll sometimes wonder if you'll ever feel comfortable enough around her to speak but she doesn't push you to talk.

She understands, trust me.

But she's definitely surprised when you wake her up from her nap just to look her in the eye and bluntly say, "Anh yêu em." and you don't even give her a chance to process it before you walk away.

She's just baffled and confused. What the hell did you just say to her? You just spoke. What the hell did you say? Is she dreaming? She feels awake. She's definitely awake.

Natalie has to dig around for her phone to try and search for the translation of what you said, and it takes her a few tries before she finally manages to type it out correctly. She definitely buries her face in a pillow when she reads the translation. And she ends up falling back asleep.

It's only when she wakes up again that she'll go and find you. She'll wrap her arms around your waist and rest her forehead on your shoulder before placing a gentle kiss there and tiredly murmuring, "I love you too."

[descendant-of-truth]

A Rudimentary Translation of: The Dark Mage, Schezo

(The video here is not mine, it's from the channel "The Madou Puyo Archivist." It's just here so you can follow along the translation with audio)

So, I was already considering doing something like this, since so many of these Puyo Drama CDs remain untranslated as far as I could find. But upon seeing this post from @douglasanondr, I ended up checking out this particular CD, and after deciding that it seemed doable, I got to work.

I'm definitely not fluent in Japanese yet, so some parts are missing with a summary of the general gist, and the phrasing isn't always the most accurate, but! This fandom needs all the translators it can get, so even if I'm not the "best" person for the job, I still wanted to contribute. I also included translator notes when applicable.

With the preamble out of the way, I hope you all enjoy it!

-The Dark Mage, Schezo-

Schezo: S-stop it! Don't lay a hand on him!

Witch: Aaaand… got it!

Schezo: Please, Witch! Stop!!

Witch: Now then, here we go! *cheerful effort sound*

Onion Pixie: *despair noises*

---

Witch: *giggles* I've gotten the magic skins from this big ol' onion!

Onion Pixie: *sad onion noises*

Schezo: O-Onion's skin…! YOU DEMON! VILLAINESS!!

Witch: What's the problem? I only took a single piece of it, it's fine!

Schezo: But he's so cute, don't you feel bad for him?!

Witch: …You…

Schezo: What?!

Witch: Somehow, it feels like you've grown soft.

Schezo: Huh?

Witch: Like, it feels as though even you're expression's gotten softer than before.

Schezo: Hmph! What nonsense are you speaking? I am the Dark Mage, Schezo. To say I'm soft--

Witch: Yeah, yeah. Well, it might just be a misunderstanding on my part. Now then, have a nice day!

---

Schezo: I've gotten soft, she says? Hmph! That can't be… but then again, it might be possible that I've been influenced by this place called Primp in some ways, lately. After all, it's peaceful and quiet here--

Amitie: Ah! It's Mr. Pervert! Heyoo~!

Sig: Pervert--!

Lidelle: H-hello!

Schezo: Who. are you. calling. A PERVERT?!

Amitie: Hahaha! Sorry, sorry! [something I can't make out] But honestly, what does "pervert" mean, anyway?

Sig: "Pervert…"

Sig: I'll explain! It is the process of a bug changing its shape, with the purpose of developing from a pupa into a proper insect.

Lidelle: So that's what it means…

Sig: Uh-huh.

Amitie: Impressive!

Schezo: Who are you talking about?!

Amitie: Hey, Mr. Pervert, when will you transform into one?

Schezo: I WON'T!

[Side note: this might be a play on the words "hentai" (pervert) and "henshin" (transform). Perhaps Sig got the second half of the words mixed up?]

Lidelle: Aah! I-I'm scared…

Amitie: Whoops, I guess we got him angry?

Schezo: Hmph! Do as you please! Farewell!

---

Schezo: The children here sure are carefree, and stupid, and full of it! [another thing I can't make out, he might be proclaiming himself a "stoic"] If I've gotten soft, then it's their fault! I need to look for a way back…!

*sounds of Raffina training*

Raffina: Not done yet! RAFFINA SPECIAL!

*boom!*

Schezo: Hey, you.

Raffina: KYAA!

Schezo: What are you doing?

Raffina: I-interrupting a lady's training, that's awfully rude of you!

Schezo: I see. Training, huh?

Raffina: Yes, pay attention! …If you would!

Schezo: But if you're training to be a mage, you shouldn't be practicing martial arts, but spells… hm?

Raffina: Shut up, if you please! That's my choice, isn't it?!

Schezo: I see, you're similar to Rulue, then.

Raffina: Huh?

Schezo: You're not very good at spells, so you use martial arts, isn't that right?

Raffina: H-how… how do you know about that?

Schezo: I understand power when I see it.

Raffina: Ah, is that so? Well, that's enough. Get going along to somewhere else. I need to continue my training. …Hey, wait!

Schezo: Hgk! What with this?! It's quite heavy…

Raffina: Don't just randomly try to pick up one of my dumbbells!

Schezo: Well, I'm somewhat interested in it. However, I think it's a little too heavy for a "lady"--

Raffina: It's not "a little too" anything! If I'm going to aim for the top of my school, then I'm going to need strong muscles!

Schezo: Hmm.

Raffina: Wh-what?

Schezo: Why do you work so hard for that?

Raffina: Huh?

Schezo: This "Primp" place is quiet and peaceful. You don't need to be strong to live here. Even the magic school's students are peaceful simpletons. I don't think it's necessary for you to go to so much trouble for it.

Raffina: I don't understand what you're babbling about!

Schezo: Like I said…

Raffina: I'm doing all of this to reach my ideal self. Whether it's peaceful or not, I don't care in the slightest! O~hohohoho!

Schezo: Ahh! I see… Heh. I get it now.

Raffina: Huh?

Schezo: It's nothing. I just think you have the right idea.

Raffina: Well, I'm not really sure what you mean, but alright. That aside, you mentioned the other students from the magic school earlier, right?

Schezo: That I did.

Raffina: They're… t-they're, they're sort of my friends, so I would rather you didn't make fun of them.

Schezo: Hm?

Raffina: It's true that they're awfully carefree, but at the same time… well, at least to some extent, they're working hard, too.

Schezo: Oh?

Raffina: That's why, I've decided that I'm going to shine the most out of all of them!

Schezo: Hm.

Raffina: So��� um, so that's… hm? AAAH, I FOUND HIM!

Schezo: AAH, what's this, all of a sudden?!

Raffina: It's him, it's him! It's that guy I've been seeing that guy a lot around here lately!

Schezo: Hm? That's… Satan?!

Raffina: [can't quite make out what she says here, but basically she plans to challenge him to a Puyo Battle]

Schezo: Wait, no, he's--!

Raffina: Hold it! You there!

Satan: Hm? And the reason this person is interrupting the Demon King's lovely stroll would be…?

Raffina: You're pretty strong, aren't you? [Another thing I can't quite make out, she's making an offer of some kind but it doesn't immediately sound like it has the word "battle" in it]

Satan: Hmph. How interesting… to approach the great Satan, you must be strong yourself, no?

Raffina: *giggles*

Satan: I won't treat anyone who comes at me differently, even if they're a girl. Let's go!

Schezo: W-wait!

Raffina: O~hohoho! That's exactly how I want it!

*puyos go bloop bloop*

Satan: Ohh? It seems you're actually pretty good. However, it's too bad; nobody else can match the great Satan! Let's go, Catastrophe!

Raffina: H-he's fast! There's no way I can keep up! My chain isn't enough, it's going to collapse!

[I couldn't make out if she actually said "collapse" or not but it was the closest thing that made sense]

Schezo: Hm! Dunamis!

Raffina: Eh? I've… been protected?

Schezo: This battle… is on me.

Raffina: Don't underestimate me! Even without your help, I--!

Schezo: Don't get the wrong idea. This geezer is still too much for you.

Schezo: Besides…

Satan: Oh? The Dark Mage, huh? What's wrong? You've got a good expression on your face today.

Schezo: Besides! For some reason, I've suddenly felt like competing in battle.

Satan: HAHAHAHAHA! It's been a while since we've had a serious competition. Come at me, Schezo!

Schezo: I was thinking the same thing! Let's go, Satan!

Raffina: Urrgh, even though this was MY battle…!

Schezo: Just as Witch said, I may have gotten a little softer. But no matter where I go, no matter who I meet, it doesn't matter. I strive for my ideal, regardless of where I am. I'm the most spectacular Dark Mage, Schezo!

-The End-

[distort-opia]

Hello! So I recently got into batman, and I’ve been slowly climbing my way up my reading list while also browsing through tumblr in search for metas about him, which is how I found your blog, and I really enjoy your metas!

I have a question though that won’t leave my mind, yet I also don’t want to stop my current reading list to jump into another series (JL), so I hope you don’t mind me asking this question to you instead 🙏

Basically, I’ve been wondering whether Bruce has opinions about Clark in relation to his self—Bruce’s self? So far from what I’ve read, Dick is (excuse me if the wording isnt exactly accurate, but just as a sums up) “the one that brings the light to Bruce’s darkness & the ideal self—the best of him”, whereas Joker is “the mirror to his self—the him that ‘what could have been’, the him who took different route”, and I wonder if there is a similar thinking/opinion about this self thing from him @ Clark too (like some sort of parallels)? I’m sorry if it sounds confusing 😅 Thank you!

Welcome to the fandom! Thank you for the kind words, glad you've enjoyed what meta I've put out. Hope you're having a fun time with Batman comics.

Oh Bruce definitely has opinions on Clark and Superman in general, in relation to himself. Though I have to make the note that in no way was Superman intended or built as a narrative foil for Batman's character, a "mirror self". Dick and Joker are characters who populated Batman's world from early on and were always meant to say something about the protagonist. Superman is a protagonist onto himself; he was created before Batman, and his popularity was actually a big factor contributing to Batman's creation. But that doesn't mean these two characters haven't grown together and influenced each other in a myriad of ways.

On a surface level, you've got the... grumpy one/sunshine one dichotomy. Superman is brightly colored and more emotional and fights in the light to bring people hope. Batman is enshrouded in darkness and stoically represses his emotions and fights in the night for justice and vengeance. One in the light, one in the shadows, one alien, one human, the "boy scout" and the "bad boy"... Even though they work together and are both on the side of good, these contrasts between Bruce and Clark are easily noticed by both others and themselves, and have led to conflicts on more than one occasion. But the way this translates in Bruce's head, to approach it from the angle you mentioned, is probably best summed up by the following pages... which I'm putting under a cut since this gets a bit long. Spoilers too I guess, for the Rebirth Batman run (if you haven't gotten to it yet).

Batman (2016) #36

"He's a better man than I am. [...] Who am I, compared to him?" And this is no way a new sentiment for Bruce:

Batman: Hush

Bruce doesn't see himself as a good person. He's capable of risking people's lives, of blackmail, lying, torture and manipulation, of unbelievable brutality and violence in the service of what he believes is his Mission. But he sees Clark as an inherently good person; as an ideal that he himself is not capable of ever reaching, of ever being. If I were to summarize only the projection aspect when it comes to Batman and Superman's dynamic, I'd say it's this one-- Superman is the hero Batman wishes he could be, but not one he'd ever try to become, because he believes himself fundamentally incapable of it. If as you said Dick is someone Bruce relates to and sees parts of himself in, but better (in trying to help Dick he retrospectively tries to help his child self), Clark isn't that. Superman is less of a mirror Bruce actively acts on, and more of a... negative. Clark is technically an alien, and yet in many ways he's more "human" than Bruce, having grown up with a loving family that Bruce wishes he had. Where Bruce tries to rise above the humanity he sometimes sees as weakness, both in emotional and physical terms, Clark is someone who's already "above" humanity, and yet yearns to be part of it. Moreso, Bruce envies Clark's sheer god-like power, but he knows that he doesn't have Clark's good character; that if he had this kind of unstoppable power, his need for complete control would drive him mad. Which actually happened one time, in Superman/Batman (2003) #53-56.

That being said, as is noticeable even in the pages above, this can result in Bruce putting Clark up on a pedestal, and idealizing him a bit too much, to the point of forgetting that Clark is a person too, with flaws and weaknesses. And not just that... the more ruthless and calculated side of Bruce never truly stops seeing Clark's power, both as something he can wield and something that can be turned against him (hence the hoarding of kryptonite and the contingency plans, in case Superman went bad). Perhaps Bruce's attitude more generally is illustrated best in this very recent moment:

Batman (2016) #128

Superman as Earth's greatest hero, and its greatest weapon. And Bruce is willing to risk his life to preserve that, because by comparison, he isn't these things. (And because Clark is his friend.)

[german-garbage]

Randomly remembered that the german translation of Edge of Spider-Geddon (2018) made Parksborn unmistakenly canon (on Earth-44145 atleast, the dimension where Norman Osborn became Spider-Man) and I'm still absolutely baffled as to how they got away with that.

So this is the panel I'll be talking about:

This is a photo of my german copy of the comic next to the original ((sorry for the bad quality, took the picture in the middle of the night)):

It's actually a VERY small detail, you see, the translation is absolutely accurate EXCEPT. For the last THREE WORDS. They took the platonic "Love you, man" and turned it into a LITERAL "I <3 you". LISTEN, THAT'S NO WHERE NEAR BROMANCE, THAT IS STRAIGHT ROMANCE WITHOUT THE B. ESPECIALLY combined with the sentence before. "If there is an afterlife, I will do my best to tell you somehow... I love you." That is so raw, that is so emotional, istg if you don't know german, you probably don't understand how insane this is. "Ich liebe dich" isn't used for your bros, that's reserved for romantic partners and maybe MAYBE rlly close family but that's a BIG maybe bc most rather use "Ich hab dich lieb" as a variant of ily for family members. And then the little red heart. Like wtf man. I mean I'm still not over this 5 years later, it's that amazing.

[judesmoonbeauty]

The Past Records: Ellis & Jude Chapter 2

Fan translation only. Not 100% accurate. Please expect grammatical errors. Cybird owns everything. Feel free to re-blog, but please do NOT post my translations elsewhere. Also, feel free to ignore my random commentary.

Translation notes are marked with ***

Jude: …..

Business Partner: I'm so glad you took the time to come visit us! These are all first class products, so please, feel free to inspect them...!

Jude: There are lots that aren't out here.

Business Partner: Yes?

Jude: Yes? No. Show me the lot, don't you understand?

Business Partner: Hm....Well, it's in a warehouse a little ways from here, so it'll take me a while to bring it to you.

Ellis: I thought you might say that, so I brought you this. This is it, right?

Business Partner: What? When did you go to....?

Jude: Isn't the quality different as what was sent to headquarters for inspection?

Jude: It's not like anything you see here.

Ellis: I don't understand. I think they all look the same.

Jude: Shut up, rotten eyes.

Ellis: OK.

Jude: So, what's this all about?

Business Partner: …..you know, uhhhh, uh, uh.....

Jude: Mistake. You tried to disguise a bad product and sell it at the price of superior quality, but that was a mistake.

Business Partner:........uh.

Jude: Well, I'll let you off the hook this time. (Me: Uh-huh.)

Jude: It was your first time, and isn't it my fault that I was mistaken as someone you could deceive with your shallow wit?

Business Partner: Eh, what? Oh.....

Jude: But at least now you know that I'm not easily fooled.

Jude: If you try anything stupid again, I'll sink your whole boat, remember?

Business Partner: Heeeee....! Yes, I understand! Sorry, thank you very much.

Alfons: Wow, did you see that El? That evil face. That's the most blackmailing thing I've ever seen.

Elbert: It's not nice to cheat people, so I guess you can see......Jude's point.

Alfons: Yes, yes, a textbook reply.

Alfons: But wouldn't that make the report more interesting, so let's dramatize it a bit.

Alfons: “Torturing and humiliating innocent citizens, Jude smiles cruelly....”

Elbert: Al, lying is not good. (Precious bbg.)

Ellis: Oh....and.

Business Partner: Hyeup! (That is a hiccup noise....I tried.)

Ellis: There seems to be some disturbing people going in and out of the warehouse you're renting these days....Do you know about it?

Business Partner: Eh!

Ellis: Oh, it's fine if you don't know. I just want to make sure you're not violating any contracts.

The business partner looks at the warehouse district for a moment, shivering with a pale face, as if he were frightened.

He immediately returned his gaze to the front and shook his head sideways like a broken toy.

Ellis: ...............

Jude: That's fine then. (Bruh done messed up.)

Jude: You know what happens of you violate the contract.

Ellis: There is a trading company that buys these defective lots at a low price for shoddy products, so you can take them there.

Ellis: Here's the contact information for the rep. Good luck.

Alfons: ….Ellis is even taking care of the of the people who deceived them by disposing of their inventory....

Alfons: A good deed unworthy of the Crown who “conquers evil with evil.”

Alfons: I'm going to have to write this down in my report to the best of my vocabulary, El?

Alfons looked back and saw that Elbert was -

A Young Lady: That young man seems to be new here....I like him...Please, just tell me your name.

A Bewitching Lady: I have a certain status in my country. Why don't you say goodbye to your troublesome mundane life and let me take care of you...

A Suspicious Painter: You're a miracle.....will you please come visit my atelier?

He was surrounded by passengers who had just disembarked from a luxury cruise ship that had just arrived in port.

Elbert: I've got something to do over there.

The wave of people coming by one after another pushed Elbert further and further away.

Alfons: Ahhh, just like bread crumbs being picked up by ducks –

Alfons: Let's cut the crap and get back to it, shall we?

Alfons: I hope they haven't noticed us tailing them.

Jude: Ellis, that thing, you're aware of it.

Ellis: Yea...what are we going to do? Catch it right away?

Jude: No.

Jude: If we're going to take care of it.....let's put it all together.

Liam: I wonder if the Al & El's tailing went well?

William: Well, what do you think?

Liam: Oh, they just got back! Welcome back......?

Alfons:............

William: You have a dark expression on your face. What's wrong?

Liam: Maybe he was a spy or something after all...?

Alfons: I have to tell you a horrifying fact.

Elbert: What is it?

Alfons: Surprisingly, those two have been working.....the entire time!!

Liam: What?! How diligent!

Elbert: It's not like it's a horrible fact.....

Harrison: Huh...is that so?

Alfons: They were working so hard there was nothing to report except that. Aren't they crazy?

Elbert: Although Jude was feared, Ellis seemed to be liked.

William: What are your views on whether Jude and Ellis can be trusted?

Alfons & Elbert:

To be frank, I really don't care. I don't know yet.

Harrison: Will this ever pay off?

Liam: Haha, it's a long road ahead.

William: Speaking of which....this reminded me of something just now.

Harrison: ….?

William: Roger was acquainted with both Jude and Ellis before they joined Crown.

Harrison: What?

William: Perhaps a little perspective might be helpful to see if they are someone we can use?

Harrison: It's....You just remembered that. That's a lie.

William: Well, I wonder.

Roger: So, what is it you want to ask me about?

Harrison: Can you tell me anything you know about Jude and Ellis before they came here?

[Previous] [Next]

[Master list]

[olderthannetfic]

This recent talk about authors has me curious: Do you have favourite authors? Or favourite books that you'd recommend (as in not specifically recommend to a person looking to read a specific genre etc. but rather a book you loved reading and would love to shove into absolutely everybody's faces if you could)? Do you only read in English or do you also like to read in other languages? What book or books are you currently reading?

And just so these aren't one-way-street-like snoopily curious questions: my favourite authors are Emma Donoghue and Hannah Kent; my favourite books are "Slammerkin" by Emma Donoghue, "Burial Rites" by Hannah Kent, "Christmas Eve Kittens" by Wilma Counts, Cathleen Clare and Debbie Raleigh, "Every day" by David Levithan, "Der Kristallpalast" (The Crystal Palace) by Oliver Plaschka, Alexander Flory and Matthias Mösch; I'm currently reading "Time of the Magicians" by Wolfram Eilenberger and anxiously awaiting Hannah Kent's most recent book "Devotion" to be translated to my native language.

I am very bad at accurately sorting books into genres, but I'd guess most of the books I've read may be classified as YA, though I personally don't know what classifies a book as YA apart from "is written with young adults as the target group," but that's too broad a description to be useful to anyone in my opinion, heh. Some things I've read I'd sort into (also way too broadly classified) stuff like romance (Christmas Eve Kittens), crime or detective fiction [Krimi in german combines both] (for kids The Three Investigators and The Famous Five, and arguably for adults Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot though I've only seen Poirot films not yet read Poirot books, shame on me!), horror (Fear Street series as horror for kids and Lovecraft for adults), historical fiction (books by Hannah Kent and Emma Donoghue, Lilac Girls), historical nonfiction (Time of the Magicians and The Visionaries by Wolfram Eilenberger), steampunk (Der Kristallpalast, World Shaker, Steamed, Magierdämmerung), nonfiction (Zoo Station: The Story of Christiane F.), poetry (Heinrich Heine and Edgar Allan Poe) among other things like light-hearted children's books (St. Clare's series).

Some of the aforementioned books are classified as YA, and in my opinion reasonably so, though I do believe that classifying YA as a genre itself is quite useless since it only describes the target group but barely describes what a book is about, if that makes sense.

If I had to write down some classifiers for YA, I'd say it's maybe books that are written in a way that's accessible to a person who is no longer a child but still may be likely to not have experienced much of the adult world yet and may not necessarily be very well-read or knowledgeable about more "mature" topics on a deeper level. I'd guess that for example a book that's about topics that people may have come into contact with during their adolescence in some way may be YA like drugs (Blue Highway by Diane Tullson) and emotional rollercoasters and bullying (Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Easy Meat by Maureen Stewart) and stalking (Unheimliche Nähe by Patricia Schröder) and mental illnesses like eating disorders (Jeansgröße 0 by Brigitte Blobel) or depression and physical ilnesses (Before I Die by Jenny Downham, Skellig by David Almond though it's mainly about fantasy and arthritis isn't the focal point if I'm not misremembering) etc. (all of the examples are YA I've read and would also classify as such) or maybe a book that contains entry-level knowledge about philosophy that you may have learned in school or that you may yourself have come across in some way unrelated to school but that doesn't require deeper knowledge on that topic or on specific philosophers or philosophy schools for its target audience to understand well...

Now that I've forgotten whatever point I wanted to make: sorry for rambling, I've been sitting in your askbox trying to remember the titles and looking up their translations and the authors' names for the past hour or so instead of doing the household chores I had planned to do today lol. Off to eat bread for lunch because now I'm too hungry to cook, oops.

Have a nice day!

--

I'm currently reading Invitation to a Banquet: The Story of Chinese Food by Fuchsia Dunlop.

I don't have any books I want to thrust upon everyone. I think that's a good way to breed haters for things I love.

In general, favorite authors of mine are... hmm... Agatha Christie, Tamara Allen, Loretta Chase, Georgette Heyer, Mary Elizabeth Braddon... IDK. It's hard to think of people off the top of my head. I like the current indie "m/m romance" scene in English, but it feels like it's still early days for that industry, and I can't think of a lot of authors I love who have multiple series and who aren't going through a career slump. (Like I love Jordan L. Hawk in general, but his latest stuff isn't making me rush to read more even if I'm still backing his Patreon. KJ Charles not only irritated me with dumb posts but started writing suckier books till I no longer buy her at all.)

I've read a lot of Golden Age detective fiction and some hard boiled US stuff (think 1930s and 40s). I've probably reread those sorts of books more than any others. While I certainly have authors I like, I only very, very rarely reread anything, and a lot of what I read is by non-prolific or long-dead people, so I don't have a bunch of names I go to the bookstore for currently.

My grandmother owned a fuckton of Three Investigators books, so I devoured those as a kid, though I think most Americans my age don't care about them.

I read in Spanish too. The only thing I've gotten through a lot of that springs to mind is the capitan Alatriste series. In general, if I travel somewhere Spanish speaking, I'll try to pick up some books, but I usually end up with things that are too highfallutin and literary for my taste or that are real downers. (Plus I'm a slow reader in Spanish, so the more literary stuff is a slog.) I like fun trash, and most of the fun trash I've seen on bookshelves is translated American romance novels and that kind of thing. I'll read in translation, but not if it's from English.

I do read manga in Japanese, but I'm not anywhere near good enough to read novels at this point.

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

Francis Drake: Destiny in Motion

Not 100% accurate.

Translation under the cut.

Fate always moves before you know it, and by the time you realize it's too late, the waves have already swallowed you up.

Mitsuki: "Historical Figures Who Shaped the World. I didn't know there was a book like this."

Sebastian and I were sorting through the bookshelves in the library when I found a history book.

Mitsuki: "Napoleon's great achievements are featured here."

Sebastian: "Napoleon is a hero among great men."

(Sebastian, you're such a fanboy when it comes to Napoleon.)

Smiling and flipping through the pages, I found a list of soldiers, musicians, painters, scholars, and other historical figures, but among them一

Mitsuki: "The Pirate who moved the world?"

When I saw a guy with an unusual nickname, I tilted my head, and Sebastian peeked at the book.

Sebastian: "Oh, you mean Francis Drake of England."

Mitsuki: "So he was a pirate. Did he do something amazing to be called a great man?"

Sebastian: "Yes. Drake was a 16th-century pirate-turned-naval admiral in the service of Queen Elizabeth I."

Sebastian: "While sailing around the world, he discovered the Drake Passage and brought back looted goods to enrich the nation's finances."

Sebastian: "He also defeated the invincible Spanish Armada, seized control of the seas, and made England a powerful nation.”

Mitsuki: "Does that mean the country and the pirates were in cahoots!?"

I'm genuinely surprised.

Sebastian: "History isn't always pretty, and I'm sure this was a historic milestone."

Sebastian: "One pirate changed the balance of power in the world."

That afternoon一

As I went shopping, I recalled my conversation with Sebastian.

(I guess not all heroes like Napoleon run the world.)

(Pirates have a rough and scary image.)

???: "Yo, missy."

(Yup, yup, like this one一huh?)

I looked up and saw a large red-faced drunk man standing in front of me.

Drunk Guy: "Are you a foreigner? You're pretty cute. Why don't you pour me a drink?"

Mitsuki: "Sorry, but I'm still working."

I tried to walk past him, but he grabbed my wrist tightly.

Mitsuki: "Let me go!"

Drunk Guy: "Just come with me."

(I can't shake him off. Somebody!)

I called out for help in my heart, and then一

???: "It's ungentlemanly to force yourself on a lady."

(Huh?)

I turned at the sound of the voice and saw a man with a half-up hairstyle and a hat standing there smiling.

Man with half-up hairstyle: "Miss, if you're in trouble, I can help you."

(I don't know who he is, but一)

Mitsuki: "Please help me! This guy is bothering me!"

Man with half-up hairstyle: "Yes. As you say, Your Majesty."

Drunk Guy: "What the hell are you doing? Don't just butt in here all of a sudden!"

The drunk guy pushed me and punched the guy with the hat, but he dodged his fist and tripped him up, knocking him down.

(Wow.)

Man with half-up hairstyle: "Can you run?"

Mitsuki: "Y-Yes!"

Man with half-up hairstyle: "Okay, this way then!"

He took my hand, and we ran out of the place.

Man with half-up hairstyle: "I don't see him. It looks like we lost him."

Mitsuki: "Haa... Thank God."

I let out a deep breath, and the man with the hat bent over to look into my face.

Man with half-up hairstyle: "You okay? You're shaking like a deer."

(I didn't notice it.)

Mitsuki: "Don't worry! I'll calm down in a bit."

I felt bad worrying the stranger, so I managed to smile and hide my trembling hands.

Then he squinted his eyes with his gaze locked on me.

Man with half-up hairstyle: "There, there. It's fine now. Take it easy, little fawn."

(.............)

My heart beat loudly as he patted me on the head.

(He's treating me like a child, but that's actually helping.)

(His smile makes me feel at ease.)

I felt relieved for a short time.

Drunk Guy: "I finally found you. How dare you!"

Man with half-up hairstyle: "Wow, you're a persistent old man."

Man with half-up hairstyle: "Sorry about this, little fawn."

Mitsuki: "Huh? Kyaah!"

Before I could answer, he suddenly lifted me and got into a boat parked on the Seine.

(What is he doing? I mean, can we just ride on it without permission!?)

Lots of things were running through my mind, but then he suddenly put his hat on my head and said一

Man with half-up hairstyle: "I'm going to fly this thing for a bit, so take care of it. Hold on tight, okay?"

As soon as he chuckled, he started rowing the boat.

The drunken man ran after us along the riverside for a while, but eventually, he disappeared, and we escaped.

But then一

Mitsuki: "Um, where are we!?"

Man with half-up hairstyle: "Haha, I wonder where?"

I had no idea where we were, but this place was so peaceful.

Man with half-up hairstyle: "Sorry, I guess I got carried away and rowed too far."

(I think he rowed a bit too energetically because he was having fun along the way.)

He laughed so openly that I was taken aback, but I started laughing too.

Mitsuki: "Pfft一ahahaha!"

Man with half-up hairstyle: "What's wrong?"

Mitsuki: "I didn't expect this kind of escapade, so I was a little bit excited."

Mitsuki: "But thanks for your help."

As I bowed my head, he smiled again.

Man with half-up hairstyle: "No need to be so stiff. What's your name?"

Mitsuki: "My name is Mitsuki."

Man with half-up hairstyle: "Mitsuki, the trembling fawn."

Mitsuki: "I'm not shaking anymore, and I'm not a fawn, Monsieur."

Man with half-up hairstyle: "No honorifics, please."

Mitsuki: "Oh, um, I'm not a fawn."

Man with half-up hairstyle: "Hahaha! You’re so honest, cute, and sweet."

I was a little embarrassed by his carefree words, but it looked like his easygoing tone conveyed his personality.

Mitsuki: "Can you tell me your name too?"

Drake: "Me? I'm Drake."

Drake: "I've been working on a sightseeing boat on the Seine River lately. Fuwaah..."

He yawned and lay down on the boat.

Drake: "The weather is so nice. The boat is rocking nicely, so I'll take a nap."

Mitsuki: "Really? Here?"

Drake: "Yup, here."

Drake: "I'm the kind of guy who doesn't hold back on his desires, even if the world could end at any moment."

Drake: "I'll get you home before dark, I promise."

I just shrugged my shoulders as he fell asleep.

(I'm getting caught up in his pace, but strangely, I don't mind it.)

Perhaps it was his easygoing attitude that made me think so.

Suddenly, the wind ruffled Drake's hair.

(Huh? Wait a minute.)

(Drake is the same name as the pirate I saw in the book.)

As I was thinking about this, I also laid my body down on the boat and was lulled to sleep.

There was a roaring, swirling sound of waves.

(Where am I?)

My blurry vision gradually became more vivid, and the view of the rough sea and large boats appeared before me.

(Why am I here? Is this a dream?)

Feeling like I was in a movie, a man's voice suddenly reached my ears.

Crew: "He's a monster! Sir Drake's a monster!"

Crew: "Bloodthirsty vamp一guh!"

Moments later, a knife flashed, and with a grunt, the person fell.

The person who wielded the knife wiped off the blood and slowly looked up.

???: "Even though I hunted, and hunted..."

???: "Hahaha! Yeah, a place where it's a do-or-die suits me."

???: "Nobles, pirates, humans, and vampires. They're all just a bunch of selfish, greedy bastards when you take their skin off."

???: "It's in the nature of all creatures to kill and destroy each other."

(That guy...)

!!!

Mitsuki: "Hm? Huh?"

Drake: "Oh. Are you awake?"

I opened my eyes and saw the sky, the familiar Parisian landscape, and Drake's face peering at me from above.

Mitsuki: "S-Sorry, I fell asleep, too! Wait, we're back in town?"

Drake: "Well, yeah, just in case."

I got up in a hurry and returned the hat I was holding.

(I can't remember exactly, but I think I had a weird dream.)

(There was this guy wearing this hat, who looked like a pirate, and he was yelling.)

Drake: "Mitsuki, what's wrong?"

Mitsuki: "Nothing! Thanks again for today, Drake. See you."

(Will I see him again?)

I swallowed the words, and Drake, who had received the hat, spoke.

Drake: "Let's play when we see each other again, little fawn."

I said goodbye to Drake and started to head back to the mansion, hoping to get home before nightfall.

(Drake is very carefree.)

I looked back on a bumpy day and smiled.

The rescue, the boat getaway, his pace, and the strange dream I had when we parted...

(Pirate "Francis Drake" and Drake the Sailor)

(It's just a coincidence, right?)

Convincing myself of this, I quietly put my encounter with him away in the treasure chest of my heart.

Drake: "If we ever see each other again, huh?"

Gazing at Mitsuki's back as she walked away, Drake chuckled to himself.

Drake: "Only if your and my fate will ever overlap."

Drake: "Oh man. If only I had my boat, I would have snatched her away."

He muttered a regret for the fine treasure he had found and put his hat back on.

The smell of the seeping tide grazed Drake's nose and melted into the Parisian sky.

Unaware of each other, Francis Drake and Mitsuki met over time.

Fate eventually hits them both like an irresistible wave, but that is another story.

-

[history-detective]

BlackStar ~Theater Starless translation

Season 1 – Episode 9 (Last Chapter):

Chapter 1 - (A) Side Story = True hope is far away

(Taiga, MC)

Taiga: Wait a minute, this is a lie. It's too serious.

Unei: Even if you say that~! This is the only computer I have.

Taiga: The way it is used is lame, awesome. It doesn't match the specs. Boo, failed-!

Unei: Unnn :(

MC: Um, Taiga, you don't have to say that much.....

Taiga: Ah, soz, it just got heated. It was so crazy that I couldn't contain it, so here it is.

Taiga: As an apology, could I customise to make it easier to use Unei?

Unei: Ye...Yes! Of course!

Taiga: Thx. Geheh.

**Taiga fiddles with the PC off screen**

Taiga: Let's delete the bad apps and change the parts. It's cute, I'll raise it the way I like it....

Unei: Spooky. It's kind of scary.....

MC: (It's hard to comment.....).

Unei: ......Oh, I have a job sorting goods.

MC: Shall I help you?

Unei: Is that okay? Please! I'd like to check on the penlight's inventory.

Unei: Ah, this is the box. Please count the stock.

MC: I understand.

Unei: Actually, I would like to increase the variety of goods, but considering costs and inventory management, that's not possible.

Unei: Well this is the newly ordered one for Zakuro, and that one is for Mizuki....

Unei: .....Ha.

MC: What's wrong? You sighed.

Unei: The other day, Mizuki and Maica got into an argument in the hallway.

Unei: Also, Kokuyou and Rindou seem to be on edge.....

Unei: The cast of Starless are so excited that I'm a little scared.

Taiga: Ah- I saw it too-. Isn't it a failure when the team falls apart?

Unei: I kind of think so too.

Unei: It's true that we've had some trouble before, but I don't think it's been this tense.

Unei: Also, the president has a tendency to get angry and yells all the time......

MC: Unei..........it's tough.

Unei: I'm worried that the customers will see it. Wouldn't it be bad if someone saw us having a serious argument?

Unei: When you come, I feel like everyone will refrain from being so nervous.

MC: (When I'm not around, they get along quite well....).

MC: I hope the customers don't see it. Some people may feel sad.

**Taiga appears again**

Taiga: But- first when you say customers, isn't MC also a customer?

Unei: Ah! .........that's.....I'm sorry.

Unei: Oh. I'm really stupid. I have to do better.

Unei: First of all, I have to make sure I don't show you anything that isn't appealing to you.

MC: But, I know the situation. It's better to complain if you can.

Unei: I was really complaining, but I was able to let it out, which made it easier.

Unei: There are things I can even do to not make you sad.

Unei: MC, I'll do my best!

**claps from Taiga**

Taiga: Wah~ that's what youth is, right-.

Unei: Hey, please stop attacking me like you aren't interested~.

To be continued.....

DISCLAIMER – This is not an accurate translation! Please do not steal. Please let me know of any corrections and what I translated wrong- I may have just written what I think works best, but if you think otherwise, let me know. :)

[solradguy]

I know Aria and Frederick weren’t married, so I don’t like calling her his wife, but at the same time I don’t like calling her his girlfriend because it sounds like they weren’t as serious as they were (to my ear).

Is fiancé right? Did Aria say yes to Frederick?? I thought you might know.

(I call Jack-O’ and Sol partners, because it’s not specifically romantic and more denotes their attachment)

Begin uses 恋人 to refer to their relationship, which just means like "partner [romantic]." I ended up translating it as "girlfriend" in the context it was used in^1, but I think maybe I should have used "partner" instead, since that more accurately matches the vagueness of 恋人, which can be used to mean anything from "girl/boyfriend" to "wife/husband."

The scene in Strive where Frederick proposes to Aria with the ring hologram cuts off before we hear Aria's answer^2:

[It's Aria's birthday and Frederick had asked her to meet him somewhere. He's working on a holo-screen and Aria picks on him for writing something in old machine code and accidentally spoils the surprise, so Frederick just shows her what it was supposed to be] Aria: ...A ring. Frederick: Well... Yeah. Aria: A digital one. Frederick: Yeah, sorry. The real one wasn't quite ready in time. [She looks away.] Did I... screw things up? Aria: [shakes her head] ...Frederick. If I were to vanish from this world, what could I leave behind for you? Frederick: What? Hey, don't talk like that. It's bad luck. Aria: I promise you, no matter what happens, I'm never going to forget this day. ...But I want to leave you something to remember, too. Frederick: All right, then. Let's see... How about your hat? Aria: My hat? Frederick: Yeah. The forecast said it was gonna be overcast the whole day. [points at the sky] You gotta be some kinda eccentric to wear a hat on a day like today. Aria: ...Wow, way to kill the mood. Frederick: ... Aria: But, sure. If it can help you remember this moment; you and me, together under the cloudy sky... Then my hat is all yours. And maybe that way... I can always be by your side. Frederick: ...

The cutscene doesn't show a date and we don't know Aria's birthday, but she doesn't seem haggard like she does in all the stuff we've gotten that takes place when the stuff in Begin happens (late-ish 2016^1). Xrd Sign confirms Aria had something going on in 2015, too^3. In 2014, when the Gear Project was started, Frederick accidentally hurts Aria's feelings by not saying he'd spend time with someone he loved if the world was going to explode^4:

[November 13, 2014 Research Lab -- Courtyard; Asuka was grilling Fred on his personal philosophies after dropping in on Fred's conversation with Aria about a similar topic] ???: Let me rephrase, then... If the world was going to disappear tomorrow... What would you do today? Frederick: What kind of a question is that? Stop whatever's ending the world or die trying. Aria: ...You mean "spend it with someone you love"? Frederick: ... Aria: All right, break's over. I'm going back, and you two should too. Just because Vince gave the order doesn't mean you get to be late. ??? [Asuka]: ... Well, you definitely made HER feel lonely. You really do like to get lost in your own little world, don't you? Frederick: Yeah, yeah, I picked the wrong answer. Rub it in. ???: That's not what I mean, Frederick. She's worried about you. Frederick: What? Why would she do that? ???: Well... Frederick: Well what? ???: Your world is very small, and whatever you do, you do it alone. Even in the laboratory, all you have are enemies. Frederick: What, so I should be kissing ass so I can play with the cool kids? I've got you and Aria. That isn't enough?

It feels like Frederick hadn't yet proposed or realized that Aria had feelings for him yet here, and that Asuka's hinting that Fred had a chance to put the moves on with her and blew it.

According to Asuka, Aria wanted the Gear stuff to happen with her and Sol so they could stay together for as long as possible, too.^5

That Man: You already knew...Aria's disease was incurable. And like you, I suggested we cryo-freeze her until technology could catch up. There might have been a cure in the future...I would've searched for it myself! But she refused... Why? So she could spend as much time as possible with you, Frederick. Sol: ... That Man: Aria was stubborn, and no amount of persuasion would convince her. But, I refused to accept that nothing could be done. That we had to watch her die... And I found the answer... The one way she would accept treatment. That she would be able to see you again. No matter how long she may sleep. For that to happen...you needed to become indestructable.

It would be really weird if Aria had said no when Frederick proposed to her because, if it was between November 2014 and even as early as January 2015, that still leaves about a year before Begin happens and there definitely weren't any weird feelings between them in that time.

So, yeah. I think she probably said yes to his proposal even if the term used in Begin to describe their romantic relationship wasn't something as firm as "fiancée" (婚約者 or フィアンセ). The English version of Strive's GG World also just vaguely says "romantically involved."^6

"Partner" would fit the best for their relationship until they say otherwise in the canon somewhere, but I do think they were probably actually engaged.

The fun questions here now are: Since Frederick had some pretty clear beef with the Christian God even before he got turned into a Gear, did they have a wedding? Did they just go to a courthouse to legalize it? What's the concept of marriage even like in a post-Dawn of Revival world? Why does Frederick hate god so much? There are no answers and even less hints about any of this.

Sources:

GGBegin page 05 (first page of the prologue chapter)

Strive (00:43:46 if the timestamp link doesn't work): https://youtu.be/Gxx_XxjM8kE?si=UIH443o_xFG0ggaB&t=2616

Xrd Sign "Struggle A": https://guiltygear.fandom.com/wiki/Guilty_Gear_Xrd_-Sign-_script#Struggle_A

Xrd Sign "Devastation A"; November 13, 2014 Research Lab -- Courtyard: https://guiltygear.fandom.com/wiki/Guilty_Gear_Xrd_-Sign-_script#Devastation_A

Xrd Revelator "Cause A": https://guiltygear.fandom.com/wiki/Guilty_Gear_Xrd_-Revelator-_script#Cause_A

"Aria" entry.

[coffinsister]

Hi there!

I just wanted to let you know that I'd never heard of Saya no Uta until I saw you talking about it on my dash and I was like hey I'll look into that!! I had no idea what I was getting myself into, and it was definitely an experience. I've only played the route of choosing Saya and choosing to call Ryoko, so I still have to make the other choices to view all of the game's content, but I just wanted to come say thank you for giving me the second controversial piece of media I've been able to consume without my ocd throwing a bitchfit, because the whole story is fascinating from a psychological standpoint and that definitely drew me in.

I just wish the story was a little more 3D, I guess? Like the writing is overly descriptive of things it doesn't need to be descriptive of and underwhelming with the actual voiced dialogue. It's an extremely bizarre contrast. And from what little Japanese I've learn over the years out of SpInterest there are some translation points that aren't entirely accurate.

A big one is the fact that Saya speaks in third person which is a common cutesy mannerism for small children in Japanese media. In fact, she speaks super similarly to Maria Ushiromiya from Umineko ( complete with using 'uu!' for emphasis too ) which caused me to attach quickly to her for it. While it's true that this doesn't translate well into English, it does lose in translation just how young Saya really sounds while speaking. Because in Japanese she's saying things like 'Saya did this for Fuminori because Saya wants to be with Fuminori forever!' and it's getting translated as like 'I did this to make you happy. So you'll stay with me forever, right, Fuminori?' and those are two completely different tones. In fact, it's so overlooked from the English translation that this trope of hers isn't even mentioned on the The Song of Saya tvtropes page and that's wild to me.

Sorry, I didn't meant to turn this into a rant in your inbox asjklhd. Thank you for bringing this intriguing piece of media to my attention. 💖

Hiii, I'm so sorry for taking so long to reply to this ask but it was lovely getting it, so please don't apologize! We love getting long asks, and talking about our interests <3 And I'm really happy me basically screaming into the void about it, got you into it! That's great, that's exactly why I post about the things I like.

This was very interesting to read so thank you for sending it.

Side Thought: TV Troupes actually really really sucks for this kinda thing, it is widely innacurate with big media, and incredibly lacking for small media. So personally, I would not chuck TV Tropes lacking this as much to the (very bad, like super bad) official translation, as much as I would to the site just kinda sucking.

I'm sorry if I sound harsh, the website is fun, like any other wiki is, I just have personal beef against it, do not mind me, old man yells at cloud.

The first route I finished was also the one with Ryouko, and tbh, in my opinion that's the best one, but obviously seeing the other endings gives a lot of extra information, and character depth, so I hope you play through them and enjoy them too.

And yeah, I feel you, I wish it was more 3D and that I could have cared more about the characters, the writing definetly feels too much like purple prose, and way too descriptive about meaningless things sometimes, while also compeltley glazing over others.

Also big big same about the translation, I already posted my long rant about it, but it's really such a shame, because Nitro+ is actually so good at conveying character through dialogue, like actually reading some of the VNs in Japanese is a whole new experience on its own

And exactly as you said, it would have been far easier to understand Saya is a literally preubecent child if the translation had shown how childishly she actually speaks, or another big one, we would have gotten to see more of just how badly Fuminori wants to show off in front of Saya and Yoh, if the translation had actually shown him avoiding being fully honest with Saya.

Like there's so so many moments in Japanese of him just going, Well, about that, you know... to Saya when she's asking him about their plans together, and he's very reluctant to ask her for help, even when he really needs it, until she blatantly offers it, and he takes it.

In the Official English version he literally just goes "Well, the thing, Saya is that I failed to kill Koji, any ideas about that?"

So much character missed there, I feel like also missing the honorifics isn't helpful or good, like Yoh calling Oumi, Oumi-chan makes them feel way way closer, than just college friends who hang out between classes. And it gives you a better sense that they care for each other.

My hot take about translations is that they shouldn't just accomodate to what's most familiar to the target audience, in this case USA people, it should just make the media more accesible. It isn't a failure of art if it is a bit of a struggle to engage with it, it's good to make an effort to try to understand foreign art, even when the way the text is presented, isn't super familiar or relatable to you.

This is basically what everybody who isn't from an English speaking country already does lol

[queen-dahlia]

𝐆𝐢𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐯𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧

𝗠𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟯 + 𝗟𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰

I didn't proofread this, might edit it later, maybe

Letter under the divider

Note: Translation is not 100% accurate. Expect grammatical errors.

// : alternate translation | ⫘⫘ : flashback | 4:4 answer

Gilbert: "… Do you love me that much?"

Cold palms cupped my cheeks, and his red eye peered into my face.

It was so close that I couldn't even look away.

(No...) **

(Because you've done nothing but terrible things to me.)

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

Gilbert: "I was curious to see how the most beautiful heart in all of Rhodolite would turn out."

Gilbert: "So, my friend. Isn't being your friend the fastest way to be close to you?"

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

(… It's a relationship that started with blackmail in the first place.)

(If it weren't for Lord Gilbert, the castle of Rhodolite would be a comfortable place for me.)

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

Noblewoman: "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there."

Noblewoman: "It's bad manners, you know, to sit on the floor of the court."

Noblewoman: "It's good that you can't keep your manners. I wonder what kind of face you have to be in this court."   //   "You have no manners, you have no shame. Who do you think you are to be at this palace?"

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

(Since we became "friends," nothing good has happened.)

(I received a lot of harassment, and my heart was falling to pieces.)

(My peaceful daily life was trampled on and taken away by Lord Gilbert.)

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

Gilbert: "… Everything I love betrays me."

Gilbert: "So I changed my mind. I thought, "Why don't I just control everything I like?"

Gilbert: "The more important things are, the more you trample them and take them into your hands."

Gilbert: "Don't betray me, stay by my side for the rest of my life."   //   "I hope you won't betray me and that you'll stay by my side for the rest of my life."

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

(ーAs he said, I am now in the palm of Lord Gilbert's hand...)

To say "I love you" to Lord Gilbert is like drinking out of a cup full of deadly poison.

(I have feelings for him to the point that I don't want him to die, but I don't want to say I "love" him.) **

(Even though I know it all in my head.)

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

Gilbert: "Big sister, you have to turn around and count to 60 seconds, okay?"

Emma: "Oh, waitー"

Gilbert: "I'm hiding too, so good luck with that, okay?"

Emma: "… You stopped me because you saw this coming and you didn't want to be the one chasing after them..."

Gilbert: ". . . . . ."

Emma: "Prince Gilbert!"

══════════════════

Gilbert: "You could have died because of your own carelessness."

Gilbert: "Well, that's just unpleasant. If you died because of me..."

Gilbert: "… I'll never be able to face it."

══════���═══════════

Gilbert: "Crying means you are still human."

Gilbert: "You should take such good care of yourself."

Gilbert: "Hey, do you want me to comfort you?"

Emma: "N-No…"

Gilbert: "Where do you want to be bitten?"

Emma: "What kind of comfort is that!?"

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

(If you say you're a big villain, I wish you wouldn't have shown me good intentions.)

(No matter how malicious they may be...)

(Because it's natural to feel good when someone treats you kindly.)

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

Gilbert: "You must have the guts to take back what you gave me, don't you?"

Emma: "… So, do you want it?"

Gilbert: "Of course. I was just getting hungry."

══════════════════

Gilbert: "I want to go on a date with you."

Emma: "Okay."

Emma: "No, a date?"

Gilbert: "Yes, a date."

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

(... I wish you had let me hate you.)

(I'm sure that's part of the "trampling.")

Gilbert: "Little Bunny."

Lord Gilbert's fingertip traces my lips as if to hurry for an answer.

Emotions pouring down like rain seep into my heart like ink and dye it black.

Emma: "I'd rather not know."   //   "I want to remain unaware."

Gilbert: "You don't think that's possible?"   //   "I don't think you can do that, huh?"

Emma: "Why is that?"

Gilbert: "Because it's all over your face."

Gilbert: "You can't hide it anymore. …It's not the first time."

(I didn't... want to know about that.)

Emma: "What is "love"?"   //   "What do you mean by 'like'?"

I lightly shake off Lord Gilbert's hand and keep my eyes down.

Gilbert: "It's easy."

The great villain laughed refreshingly, as if my question wasn't a big deal.

Gilbert: "Isn't that what you want me to live for?"

Emma: ". . . . . ."

Gilbert: "… You wanted me to live."

(It's true…)

("Love" is easy to understand.)

(... I can't deceive you.)

A cold hand slides down to my shoulder and holds me close.

I still couldn't feel the human warmth, but I could clearly feel his heartbeats.

(I think Lord Gilbert means "love" as in "affectionate love.")

Emma: "You love... me." **

Emma: "… It's the worst."

Gilbert: "Yes, falling in love with someone is the worst. I think it's the same as self-harm."

Gilbert: "So I don't want to love anyone."

Gilbert: "If you do not love, you will not be betrayed, and your heart will not ache from killing."

Gilbert: "My life full of pain suddenly became a lot easier."

(… You don't even know what you look like when you say that.)

(But when did that start...)

(The eyes of Lord Gilbert, which do not reflect a person, began to waver sadly.)

Gilbert: "Why don't you give it a try?"

Emma: "… I don’t think I can do something even Lord Gilbert can’t do."

Gilbert: "Well, can you do it?" **

Emma: "No. Because, after all… you are alive right now."

Gilbert: ". . . . . ."

Emma: "It would definitely be more convenient to kill you... Lord Gilbert..."

Emma: "Didn't you think, 'I want you to live'?"   //   "Don't you think, 'I want you to live'?"

I am sure I am not the only one who is bleeding with emotions that I should never have originally harbored.

Gilbert: "… You hit me where it hurts."

(I didn't know what Lord Gilbert was thinking this whole time.)

(I was afraid of the heart that I couldn't see, and I always suspected malice.)

It is difficult to recognize a heart dyed black in the darkness, but I think I can finally see its outline.

But it is something that neither I nor Lord Gilbert should see.

Gilbert: "It would be better for you if I died, but you want me to live, right?"

Gilbert: "And yet you can kill me."

Lord Gilbert cruelly whispers in my ear.

Emma: "I love you, so I can kill you."

Gilbert: "I wouldn't call that love."

Emma: "No… Killing is necessary to keep you alive."

(If I am not prepared to kill, I cannot convince Lord Gilbert.)

I know this is a stopgap word, but if I only had more time, I should find other ways.

Emma: "Besides, is it okay for Lord Gilbert to die now?"

Emma: "I will definitely stop your plans."

Emma: "Even if you supply bullets, it doesn't matter if people lose the will to pick up the weapons."

Emma: "If you let your guard down just because I’m a little rabbit, Lord Gilbert may be the one who suffers in the end."

Gilbert: "Ahaha, I'm scared."

(It's not resonating at all.)

(… Isn’t it supposed to resonate?)

For an Ever-Victorious General, I am too vulnerable to be called a threat.

If I really want to be a threat, I need to go back to Rhodolite now and get results.

Even if that choice means the possibility of never seeing Lord Gilbert again...

(… I want you to live so badly.)

When I raise my head, my gaze is entwined with Lord Gilbert's.   //   When I look up, my gaze meets Lord Gilbert's up close.

His refreshing smile is the same as when we first met, but only his single red eye is flickering.

(Please...)

I close my tear-stained, swollen eyelids and lean my face against his cold lips.

I touched him lightly and moved away, and he put his hands behind my head to block my escape route…

A sigh was taken so deeply that it couldn't be compared to a teasing kiss.   //   I was deeply deprived of breath, much more deeply than a playful kiss.

Each time we put our lips on top of each other, his cold lips became warmer, and tears began to form at the corners of my eyes.

(This is the first time I have felt human-like warmth from Lord Gilbert.)

When Lord Gilbert moves, I will follow him…

As we were repeating the endless exchange, I suddenly felt his teeth on my lips.

(Ouch...)

I don't feel any bleeding, but I quickly cover it with my hand.

Emma: "… Why do you always bite me?"

Gilbert: "Haven't I told you many times? I want to leave a mark on things I like."

Emma: "Normally, you should cherish what you like, but..."

Gilbert: "I'll take good care of you, okay?"

Lord Gilbert gently pokes the area that is aching from the bite with his finger.

Gilbert: "Painful and memorable, isn't it?"

Gilbert: "… I just want you to stay."

(… Uh…)

Gilbert: "I'm sure there will be many people who will be kind to you in the future..."

Gilbert: "There will never be a man like me, a terrible man who leaves nothing but pain."

Gilbert: "Hehe… I don't think you could forget it even if you wanted to."

Emma: "... I guess so."

Emma: "… It's not fair..."

Gilbert: "Because I'm the big villain."

Lord Gilbert reaches out his hand to my thigh while patting my trembling back.

He seemed to be checking the belt where the gun should have been.

(I didn't carry it with me... he noticed.)

Give: "If you're going to kill me, you're going to have to carry it with you, okay?"

Emma: ". . . . . ."

Gilbert: "What's your response?"

Emma: "If I put a gun in this belt... would you consider living?"

Gilbert: "Well..."

Gilbert: "I don't lie."

Emma: ". . . . . ."

Gilbert: "Therefore... all right?"

Gilbert: "Don't worry. I'll make sure I'll be there for the signing ceremony."

(Maybe it's a good thing for Rhodolite and the rest of the world, but...)

I was desperately trying to hold back my sobs, and I could no longer look at Lord Gilbert's face.

Gilbert: "Bye, Little Bunny."    //   "See you later, Little Bunny."

══════════════════

ーー...The doors of the chapel deep in the woods of the Rhodolite castle open.

The unreserved sound of shoes broke the sacred air, bringing with it a sharp, murderous tension.

Luke: "… Why did you summon me here, Chevalier?"

Chevalier: ". . . . . ."

The moonlight shines evenly on the two, who keep their distance and face each other.

Luke: "It would have been nice to be in the office."

Chevalier: "It's troublesome if it gets dirty with blood."

Luke: ". . . . . ."

Without changing a single expression, Chevalier draws his sword.

The sharpened edge of the blade was pointed at Luke, who had his hand on the great sword.

Luke: "... Hmm, recently I felt like I was being sniffed around."

Luke: "You figured out I'm connected to Gilbert, didn't you? You can't deceive me."

Chevalier: "You did a good job. I commend you for your skill in fooling the people in the court."

Luke: "I'm not happy about it, but whatever."

Chevalier: "I have had your background reviewed, and there are a number of things that are suspicious to me."

Chevalier: "First of all, you died ten years ago during the Blood-Stained Rose Day invasion."

Chevalier: "The fact that the death notification was accepted means that it was not possible to confirm that you are still alive."

Chevalier: "You come from the Espoir area, where the invasion was at its most advanced... and where there were many deaths."

Chevalier: "The credibility of death reports is extremely low in that we don't have the time to check every single corpse."

Luke: "Then it's not particularly suspicious."

Chevalier: "The documents themselves. But a year later, you are employed by Rhodolite as a security guard."

Chevalier: "I'm talking about where you've been and what you've been doing for the past year."

Luke: ". . . . . ."

Chevalier: "You were a young child at the time; there was no way you could survive for a year without anyone finding you."

Chevalier: "The fact that a death certificate was issued does not mean that our military was protecting it."   //   "The fact that you were reported dead does not mean that you were under the protection of our military."

Chevalier: "It is reasonable to assume that you were protected by the other force on the battlefield—the Obsidian Army."

Luke: "… Well, that's true. But, you know, Gilbert wasn't on the battlefield, was he?"

Luke: "What makes you think I'm connected to that guy?"

Chevalier: "Obsidian at the time adopted a policy of genocidal slaughter of women and children."

Chevalier: "If the military finds you, you must have been killed. But you are alive."

Chevalier: "There is only one person who could go against the Supreme Commander's orders, right?"

Luke: "...... Yeah right."

The beast, cornered and unable to escape, finally raised his hands.

Luke: "Yeah, it was Gilbert who picked me up when I was dying on the battlefield."

Luke: "He saved my life by protecting me after I lost everything."

Chevalier: "Then you are the "gift" from Eyepatch?"

Luke: "… What is that?"

Chevalier: "No... I would have cared less if you were just connected to Eyepatch."

A moment after snickering, the icy, killing air of absolute zero crawls across the floor and entangles him.

Luke's face contorted in pain as it slowly stole his breath away.

Chevalier: "Another thing the background check turned up."

Luke: "Is that your real deal?"

Chevalier: "Yes. The people have come to distrust the royal family in the wake of the tragedy of ten years ago."

Chevalier: "It's a call to question the continued value of the royal family's existence, which has failed to avoid a conflict with Obsidian."

Chevalier: "They did not initially emerge as coherent individual ideas..."

Chevalier: "A few years ago, we started to see organized activity."

Chevalier: "One small spark can become a huge pillar of fire that burns the country to the ground."

Chevalier: "Only then will the "inciter" know that he can become a threat to the royal family."

Luke: ". . . . . ."

Chevalier: "Did Eyepatch put you up to this?"

Chevalier: "The method of painting people's thoughts black and putting them under his control is a common practice of a trampling beast."

Chevalier raises the corners of his mouth to the closed-mouthed "rebel" without lowering his sword.

Chevalier: "Based on the report of the investigation relating to your friendships—"

Chevalier: "You are the real leader of the anti-monarchy faction, Jumbo."

Luke: ". . . . . ."

The nighttime stillness envelops the chapel.

After a long, long silence, stagnation arose in the young, leaf-colored eyes.

Like throwing a stone into a clear river, where the mud muddies everything up, all emotions have been lost.

Luke: "You don't think killing me is going to solve everything, do you?"

Chevalier: "It would be a lot easier if that kind of short-sighted thinking worked."

Chevalier: "From what Eyepatch said, you've already made your preparations. There is no point in killing you now."

Luke: "What's with the sword then?"

Chevalier: "Kill those who are harmful to the country. That's it."

Chevalier: "The scale of damage is likely to increase if you are in command."

Luke: "I've been slacking off."

Chevalier: "Don't think you can hide it. I'm the one they call genius."

Chevalier: "It would not be an exaggeration to say that it is the largest force in the anti-monarchy organization."

Luke: ". . . . . ."

Chevalier: "Do you think there's a reason to let you live?"

Luke: "All I see is a reason to kill me."

Luke: "But you know they'll object if you call them out here like this, right?"

Chevalier: "Yes. That's my own decision."

Chevalier: "If you lead the anti-monarchy faction, the damage will be enormous."

Chevalier: "However, if you formally question the guilt, it will result in increasing distrust among the people and a scandal for the royal family."

Chevalier: "I decided that the most appropriate method was to dispose of it secretly."

Luke: "I see."

Breathing deeply, Luke draws his greatsword.

Luke: "ー...Those with status have the right to do as they please with those below them."

Luke: "This is something like Gilbert's favorite phrase..."

Luke: "Maybe it's guys like you who represent authoritarianism."

Chevalier: ". . . . . ."

Luke: "Unfortunately, I'm not going to die until I avenge her."

Chevalier: "Oh? Well then, let's see how far you can go."

They glare at each other and point their swords at each other.

The sacred chapel turns into a battlefield swirling with murderous intentー

The next moment, the door opened with momentum that kicked away the immediate tension, and a wind that could not read the atmosphere blew in.

Clavis: "Brother, what are you doing summoning me to a place like thisー…"

Clavis: "... No, wait. What are you guys doing!?"

Clavis, who quickly grasped the situation, changed his expression and intervened between the two.

Clavis: "What's this, a fight? Sibling fights should be fist fights."

Chevalier & Luke: "Get out of the way."

Clavis: "Okay. Calm down. It's him, isn't it? Of course it's Chevalier who's at fault."

Luke: "… He said he's going to kill those harmful to the country."

Clavis: "Hmm... I have no idea what you're talking about, haha!"

Clavis, with his usual shady smile, finally confronts Chevalier.

Clavis: "Run, Luke. Our brother's eyes are serious."

Luke: ". . . . . ."

Clavis: "Don't worry. I'll discipline Chevalier for you, okay?"

Luke: ". . . . . . . . . . . ."

Sheathing his great sword, Luke leaves the chapel without a word.

As the figure disappeared, the drifting cold air also dissipated.

Clavis: "So, are you going to do it?"

Chevalier: "I've achieved my objective."   //   "It served its purpose."

Chevalier, too, puts down his sword and sits languidly in a chair.

The appearance of his unrestrained appearance mixed with bitterness in his shady smile.

Clavis: "... If you wanted to remove him from the court to prevent information leaks, you could have thought of a different approach."

Chevalier: "Are you ready for the operation?"

Clavis: "You just ignored me."

With a huge sigh, Clavis sat down on the seat across the aisle.

Clavis: "Cyril is in the process of forming a military force to participate in the operation."

Clavis: "The advance recon team is reporting exactly what you expected."

Clavis: "If we launch a surprise attack, we can probably control them before the signing ceremony."

Clavis: "But the opponent is likely to use weapons supplied by Obsidian."

Clavis: "If the initial move fails... No, even if the initial move succeeds, there will still be casualties."

Chevalier: "I don't care. As long as there is no hope of communication, suppression by force is the proper thing to do."

Clavis: "I'm... not sure I want to do this."

Chevalier: "Then will you go to the enemy and preach to them?"

Clavis: ". . . . . ."

Chevalier: "If you have time to complain, move quickly."

Clavis: "That's why some beasts have abandoned their hearts..."

Chevalier: "ーWhat happened?"

Chevalier throws his voice into the darkness while Clavis, who has lost his usual smile, frowns with all his might.

In a space where only two people were supposed to be, a man with long hair tied up in a bun appeared without a sound.

Clavis: "Oh, Lucian. I haven't seen you for a long time. Weren't you at Obsidian?"

Lucian: "I just got back."

Chevalier: "The fact that you're here... seems to indicate that the little rabbit will be back sooner than expected?"

Lucian: "Yes. She will be returning with the three who went to Obsidian."

Clavis: "Whoa, I didn't think he'd actually let her come back."

Lucian: "However..."

Lucian: ". . . . . ."

Clavis: "What's wrong? It's unusual for you to be so vague."   //   "What's wrong? It's rare for you to muddy your words."

Lucian: "An unexpected situation has occurred."

Clavis: "Haha, nothing would surprise me more than Emma heading to Obsidian."

Lucian: "No..."

Lucian: "Lady Emma is coming back as Her Majesty the Empress."

Chevalier & Clavis: ". . . . . ."

Chevalier & Clavis: ". . . . . . . . . . . ."

Chevalier: "… What?" Clavis: "What did you say?"

══════════════════

ーーThick clouds cover the moon, drowning out the lights in the room.

Roderich: "ーWhat now…"

Gilbert: "That’s an order."

Gilbert, standing by the window, walks up to Roderich, who is standing still.

Behind the deep hood, the red eyes were dyed with painful emotions.

Roderich: "But...!"

Gilbert: "Oh, didn't you hear me?"

Roderich: ". . . . . ."

Gilbert: "You know as well as I do that my body is already at its limits."

Gilbert: "So your turn has finally come."

Roderich: "I know... but..."

Gilbert: "Don't worry, you'll do fine."

Gilbert: "Besides, I promised the little rabbit that I would witness the signing ceremony."

Roderich: "… That's not right."

Roderich: "This... this is not what I call "witnessing"!"

Gilbert: "Don't make me say the same thing over and over again, okay?"

The pressure to say yes or no is met with an unwilling silence.

Gilbert: "You were ready for this. That's what I raised you for."

Roderich: "… Lord Gilbert."

Gilbert smiles and brushes off his hood.

With black hair as shiny as obsidian and red eyes ー the young man who appears from under the hood is truly...

Gilbert: "Take care of the rest."

𝗟𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿:

Dear Runaway Little Rabbit:

You didn't notice the letter in your dress pocket, did you? By the time you realize this, will it be after you've escaped from the castle? You are a bad little bunny. You can't run away from me, I would have shot you in the leg and locked you up in my room.

But now that you've run away, there's nothing I can do about it. The truth is that you know so many secrets that I have to hunt you down and kill you right now, but I'll just keep a close watch on you. Apparently, I want you to live, too. You seemed to be thinking of dangerous things, but you shouldn't die recklessly. I'm the only one who can kill you.

Oh, by the way, you don't need to reply to this letter. But cherish it for the rest of your life. Don't forget about me forever, okay?   //   Don't you ever forget about me, okay?

Gilbert von Obsidian

[g0nta-g0kuhara]

Hey I'm really confused about this and thought maybe you'd have the answer?

In the relationship charts Gonta says—Quote—"I didn't want to!" To Maki of all people

The two hardly interact and his wording implies he did something bad that someone influenced or made him do to her(And it's in first person,,,)

His words to/about everyone else is about what he thinks of them(Or in few cases, Defending himself; Like to Tenko he reminds her that he's a gentleman)

Any clue what this means since you seem to know alot about Gonta?

Okay, I looked into this because I honestly have not looked at the artbook relationship charts too much

As far as I'm aware, there aren't any official translations of the artbook. I lost it now, but I found the version of Maki's relationship chart that you were looking at (with Gonta saying this), and some of the other's reactions were also kind of weirdly translated. I managed to find a different one which I saved:

(Sorry that the image quality so low! In case you can't read it, Gonta's says "Gonta didn't do anything!")

This translation seems more accurate to me, and I even asked my friend who has a copy of the artbook to send me a picture of it in Japanese:

Now my Japanese isn't Good but I do recognize the verb and did some quick googling vis a vis verb conjugations and I don't think it could translate to "I didn't want to!" So I think the translation of "Gonta didn't do anything!" is probably more accurate

In that case, I think what Gonta means here is that Maki is kinda cold to him, and he can't figure out why. Of course, she's just kind of that way with almost everyone in the part of the game that Gonta's around (Definitely on first impressions) but Gonta might have thought he did something wrong to make her act that way with him.

Those are just my thoughts anyway haha hope this helps!!