#the hakone pass

[postcard-from-the-past]

Road in the Hakone Pass, Japan

Japanese vintage postcard

[chernobog13]

Godzilla tussles with Baragon at Hakone Pass in Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001).

Image by Nobuhiko Ito (@itonobuhiko/Twitter/X).

[cherryspicest]

Assurance

male reader x Ahn Yujin

Though it was a bad decision to earn a rival's trust, you still tried despite the consequences you may face.

It was a perfect time to bring her car for a downhill mountain ride as the sun sets down into the thick clouds, the majestic sight of Seoul down from the mountain hoping if only the people down there could hear her Lancer IX roar in each pull she makes. A woman like her driving such an iconic JDM car is any guy’s dream woman, but remembering she’s one of Chaewon’s rivals is a reason not to be attached with her too much. Despite her teammates like Wonyoung, who drives a violet Rx8 or Rei who owns a R34 skyline, Yujin’s vibe is entirely a different yet unexplainable level of coolness from theirs.

She would sometimes land a glance at you amid the trip while you enjoy your moment sitting in the passenger seat -inside joke of you being called a Passenger Princess without the double ‘S’. Even with the amount of urge to look back at her wild, yet attractive visuals, you decide to ignore and pretend as if you didn’t care.

“You know you’re too dumb to think you’re safe enough to ride into someone’s car knowing the person right next to you . . . “ she pauses to give you a slow look of  disappointment. “Is someone who pointed a gun at you a while ago?”

You find yourself chuckling in her words. She’s indeed a threat, a look of someone who wouldn’t spare you nor who’d kill you with a barbecue stick possible. But for what? You think that killing you is definitely a waste of time as you don’t even serve any special purpose rather than being a male guy who beats a racer like her.  

“You’ll just waste a bullet at me I guess, plus I really imagined myself sitting inside your car. A Lancer Evo is something that would crumble my heart to be honest.” 

Your words are enough to make her look away, speechless as you sight a small curve forming into the corner of her lips afterwards. You never expect such a small compliment could make a tigress passive once again -or maybe you are just assuming too much. 

“Chaewon must have put enough steroids on your car just to beat me didn’t she?” Yujin says in a plain tone as if it was a regular thing to her. “Your car is the most bullshit thing to see in a Hakone, yet you manage to beat me with it.” After passing several curved roads, she looks at you and takes guesses of what Chaewon had inserted into your GTO. She manages to guess almost everything right -weight reduction? Right she had made a wide and long light as her Evo V, swapped engine? Yes, she made your car scream like a Skyline. Much as you want to agree, you keep yourself shut; you still don’t trust Yujin that much.

“But still, I like your car more.” You say, and she meets your eyes. You feel the car slow down, the engine gets quieter as Yujin pulls the car beside a metal railing where the view of Seoul is clearly seen. Though it may be dangerous to stop a car in the middle of a road, it’s Yujin, she never cares for the rules.

A smile forms into her lips after she chuckles, and it’s way more visible than before. It’s common to see her resting bitch face every time when it turns out that she looks prettier when she brightens up. With the gothic styled shorthair, and a ‘Tomboy’ vibe attitude, who would even expect her to achieve such a smile. You who’s lucky enough to see it, you’re here to keep it

“I never expect that the person whom I wanted to put down, is the first person who would admire my work.” Afterwhile, she hides the smile again. “Most guys would choose my teammate's car, why would you even choose mine who’s evidently plain and boring?”

“Guys have different tastes” You answer confidently. “One likes the ricers one, one likes the simple ones. I could tell that the car design reflects the driver’s personality. For me, the people who're minimalist with their design just simply love racing and keeping up with fellow racers like them while ignoring the attention of the crowd. Someone that never pretends to be a new one just for attention, and rather who’d be herself despite the criticism she may face.”

She keeps her eyes at you, finally the first moment you see her face you for a long time. And with that, a short silence fills the atmosphere before she looks down, and moves herself to face at the front. She rests both of her hands against the top of the steering wheel while she leans herself into it. 

“You okay?” You concern, even with the high urge of placing a tap on her back, you flee it away. Maybe it was your words that made her quiet for a moment, but perhaps it was not. She doesn’t seem to be the type of person who’d feel down for some sweetly dramatic words. 

She murmurs a “mhm” while her face is rested against her arms. You didn’t ask for more, you didn’t want to be the type of person who’d throw more questions because the answer wasn’t enough. Though you weren’t satisfied, her head starts to face you with tired eyes.

“Why are you so kind to me?” she says with a hint of worry. “You must be doing this on purpose. You want me to be with your team? The answer is obvious, kid, you just wasted your time”

Shaking your head in disagreement seems to confuse her more, along with the chuckle you let out. 

“Then why?”

“Because I know you’re different from your team. You’re the only rival I faced who played fairly against me . . . . someone who wouldn't try to cross the line just to beat me.” 

When a smile once again forms into her lips, your unnecessary thoughts get clear out again; the thought of her playing easy on you because she may know you’re just a one piece of a waste of time. 

“Who in their right mind would even be so confident to stay around me?” She pulls the key out from the starter knob, then opens the door. Her eyes glances at you as soon as she steps outside. “I bet you will choose to smell fresh air here rather than staying there.” and she closes the door. 

No choice, not really but she hits the right point. You follow her outside where she sits over the metal railing despite her ass getting beyond the space which she didn’t seem to care about. Her eyes widened when you left a meter of space between you and her after you sat, even with the little hint of ‘sit beside me’ you decided to act like you don’t care. Though playing hard to get didn’t last that long when she motions her head at you to sit right next to her. 

“You know Wonyoung would kill you if she sees you with me.” You remind as you rest your hands against the railing. She starts to jiggle her keys on her index finger, and in surprise she never shows any reaction to your question. 

“She wouldn’t, she’s just a brat who doesn't even have the courage to pull the trigger once you’re there.” She answers while she maintains eyes at the spinning keys. “Yeji made a really bad decision when she gave Wonyoung the control of our group.”

“Why didn’t she pick you?”

She forces a frown while she shrugs at your question. “I don’t know, I’m not even worthy to be the leader of the group. I mean Gaeul is there, she’s the eldest among us. Rei can be because she knows more about Japanese cars. There’s nothing special about me, kid. Don’t force it.”

“I’m not forcing it. I’m asking because that’s what I see about you.” You argue in a calm demeanor. You manage to catch her attention with your answer, looking at you with eyes of curiosity while it maintains the non-friendly vibe. 

“I know you’re the type of person who listens carefully, someone who’s understanding deep inside. I don’t know, I can’t explain but that’s what I see about you. I mean you had the opportunity to shoot me back at your tavern, but you decided to listen to me even if I’m part of the rivalry team.”

“How can you be so confident about it?” Yujin raises an eyebrow at you, for what she assume you can’t answer until you smile and point a finger at her.

“You just listened to my words right now. You understood every word I said.”

You manage to form a pretty smile on her lips afterwards, wider and brighter that seeing it was enough to brighten you as well. She pushes your shoulder, then closes her eyes to make a deep breath. 

“You’re really ridiculous, kid.” She sighs. 

“Believe it or not it’s fine . . .” You give out your courage to place your hand over her shoulder that immediately catches her eyes. Her eyes widens for a second, but shortly accepts it. “Just remember that there’s a person who would understand you.”

The sun has settled down and the sky has begun to turn orange which Yujin watched upon. She turns around to enjoy the beautiful skylines of Seoul a few miles below the mountain, and you accompany her as well. It feels like this was a date, yet it feels illegal as well.

When the skies turned dark, it was time to leave. Even if you wished that moment should’ve been longer, you had to accept that everything comes to an end. You stand up together as she walks first closer to her car, she suddenly turns around and throws you the car’s key which you luckily catch. 

“You like my car, right?” She chuckles and motions her head. “Show me how you can handle it.”

How lucky you are, it was a dream come true. For countless times sitting on the passenger seat, wishing your hands to be on that wheel, finally she gives you the chance to feel it. You didn’t hesitate to accept it. You rush into the driver’s door until you see multiple headlights appear from the distance that seem to head your way. Yujin notices it, and she steps outside the car right away, standing beside you.

“It’s Wonyoung.” she hisses

“Fuck, we need to leave.” Your answer didn’t seem to satisfy her. When you are about to open the door, she pulls your forearm

“That wouldn’t save you from the eyes of my team.” She faces you, and swallows, taking a deep sigh before meeting your eyes. “Make out with me.”

“What?” 

It was too late for assurance and questions when she crashes her lips into yours. Your arm that was lately in the door’s handle, is now in Yujin's grasp. She pushes you hard, the hardness of the window’s visor wasn’t enough to hurt you as you only feel Yujin’s mouth that’s dominating yours. No hesitation, no what and if’s, you accept that this is happening. She dives her tongue inside yours, her hands guiding yours into her hips where you enjoy the curvature she had. And when the approaching cars seem to get louder and closer, she starts to moan between make outs. 

Now that the car has stopped right at both of you, she starts to slow down. The sound of the door opening was the cue for her to stop, looking at your lips for a while before she turns around to face them. It was indeed Wonyoung along with the other members in each car.

“Yah, am I supposed to believe what I’m seeing?” Wonyoung scoffs, a tone of disbelief can be heard in her words. Yujin places her hand against your chest.

“It wasn’t hard to convince this asshole though.” Yujin answers, glancing at you then returning at hers. “Told you everything can be handled if you do what men really wishes for”

“Assholes” Gaeul adds while she slowly starts to lean against her Fairlady Z32’s fender. “They never changed.”

Yujin gives her a smirk. Wonyoung makes a quick peek at you -in a look of disappointment that seems to criticize your whole soul within that second- then returns her eyes to Yujin. You feel your heartbeat racing when you see the gang silent all at once, there is nowhere to escape from them especially from Wonyoung who seemed displeased.

Wonyoung rests her arm over the hood of her Rx8. “Then I’m expecting good news from you, better not waste my time.”

“Chaewon is up for nothing. But she seemed to make more cars to beat the hella out of us.” Yujin answers confidently while Wonyoung returns a loud yet cute giggle.

“Right Chaewon, that girl would do anything just to prove she’s better than everyone else.” Wonyoung rolls her eyes, and starts to open her door. “I don’t care if she’s the Seoul Tempest or what, I’m pretty sure her car would die out in the amount of curves Hanseong pass has.” Just before she enters back into her car, Wonyoung gives you another look. “Hey Y/n, once I knew you snitched on us. Remember that I know where you live, you seem to have a great family with you, hopefully you don’t disappoint them.”

Everything ends with Wonyoung giving a threat to you, and somehow it was the second time of her talking to you again. Her friends start to take their cars as the Rx8 takes the lead, roaring off into the empty road as you watch the group leave the spot- though it may seem a perfect time to finally breathe in relief, not until you realize the words Wonyoung left you before she flew off.

Yujin keeps her back at you, sighing and slowly turning around to face you when she sees her team’s presence is finally gone. From that emotionless woman you had stayed with several hours ago, now seems to disappear from this world when she turns to you with slight worry in her face.

“Sorry.” She speaks out in a mixture of disappointment and relief. “I couldn’t think of any way to save you from them.”

“It’s fine’ You force a smile, and give her a light nod. “At least it worked anyways”

[ywpd-translations]

Ride 796: The strongest cheer!!

Pag 1

4: You're coming soon, huh, Onoda?

Pag 2

1: Beyond the

Pag 3

1: “peak of their limits”!!

Pag 4

1: Here at the point of 300m left until the mountain stage line!! Gaha!!

3: I think I've seen him before, that huge guy there

That's Tadokoro! He was a third year when Sohoku won two years ago!

Ahh... the one who won the green bib!

4: Oh, it's you?

Did you see that?

5: Tadokoro Jin

6: Any time now!! They're almost here, I can feel it on my skin

Pag 5

1: The wave of cheers is getting closer with huge pressure!!

3: The two people in the lead are passing the 500m left point, and Manami is accelerating!! And he's getting a little ahead!!

Pag 6

1: They passed the 400m left mark!!

Gooo Kanagawa!!

Sohoku is being left behind!!

Pag 7

1: Hakogaku's Manami accelerated!!

2: I'm hanging up, Toudou!!

4: This is the most difficult distance

What are you gonna do, Onoda? You're being left behind!!

Come on up

If you don't catch up now, it's over!!

5: It's you, can do it, right, Onoda!?

Pag 8

1: Turn your legs, Onoda!!

Persist, Onoda!!

3: “The right way”....

4: “The right way of life”, where does it lead? I don't know...

Pag 9

1: You're wondering who I came to cheer on this Inter High first day with!? Here in Kyuusu

2: It's Toudou!! The former climber of Hakone Academy1?

3: After graduating from Sohoku, I failed the entrance test for Meisou, so I enrolled in Tsukushiba University

But it didn't have a bicycle racing team

4: As I was going through hell, he appeared right before my eyes

5: It was Toudou!!

Pff, he hanged up, that Tadokoro Jin

6: He was in the same university, and moreover he was already founding the bicycle racing team himself!!

Pag 10

1: Thanks to him I could come back to the world of racing!!

2: And then this year, that Izumida who I raced against at the Inter High when I was a third year, enrolled in the same university as a first year!!

3: I don't get it

4: It's unpredictable!!

Pag 11

1: So you too, line up to Manami, and then pass him!!

2: After all you're the first one who “doesn't know the right way of life”!!

3: Kinjou said it, you're the “element of surprise”!!

The strongest beginner!!

4: You joined the club with Naruko, and you were an humble and little guy

5: I asked Imaizumi after that

Pag 12

1: And apparently you were planning on joining the anime research club!!

What a course of events!!

2: You received your road bike while running in the first years' race

Kinjou pushed your back

3: You caught up to Naruko and Imaizumi and then you surpassed Imaizumi at the mountain's peak

4: Honestly, I thought you would stop soon...

What's with this guy...

What's his driving force when runing

He didn't win, but he didn't lose either

I was interested

5: You became a Inter High member, and on the first day... and you caught up to us after falling from your bike

You pulled the team and supported Makishima during the mountain stage

Pag 13

1: And then, on the second day....

My condition was bad and I couldn't move, and you waited for me

2: I came to help you, Tadokoro-san

We'll definitely catch up

What are you doing

Go back right now

No... I...

3: You took me and ran

Do you mind if we pass that guy?

Well, yeah but... how do we pass him?

Can you please match with me and say “princess”?

Pag 14

1: Princess princess princess!!

You sang a weird song

Because you, you're the princess!

One by one we passed the guys ahead

And then, carrying me with your little body

I'm so grateful to you I can't say it enough

I didn't think I would see those jerseys again with my own eyes

We're back, team Sohoku!!

you brought me back to the team!!

Pag 15

1: And then Onoda....

3: The jersey we entrusted to him, our dream

4: he delivered them to the finish line!!

Pag 16

1: That's why I came here!!

2: Are you going to pass on the first day's mountain stage? Since you're a sprinter. I think Manami and Glasses-kun are going to race

Huh!? Onoda!? Onoda will run!?

Then I'l deeefinitely come!!

Huh, is that so

3: Onoda!!

4: Deliver it!!

6: Since I couldn't do it last year!! I'll give it to you, third year and captain!! I'll give my all so that these loud cheer don't drown me out!!

Pag 17

1: I'll sing!!

Lovely chance pettanko-chan!! ♪

Huh, he's singing!?

What!? He scared me

Pag 18

2: He's suddenly singing an anime song?

Huh

What's that

3: Even with a spell to grow bigger ♪

Onoda

4: Can you hear this song?

If you can hear it

Hn hn hn ♪

5: A princess is a princess ♪

Come up, Onoda!!

Pag 20

1: You're the princess♪

Pag 23

1: Manami and Onoda came and they're neck and neck!!

Onoda is catching up!!

Mountain King..!!

Amazing!!

2: There are 300m left and they're neck and neck again!!

Pag 24

1: A princess is a princess, that's who she is!! ♪

Onodaa!!

3: Ah, Tadokoro-san

4: Princess princess ♪

It's him

Pag 25

1: I thought I heard it wrong

Pag 26

1: Thank you so much!!

2: Onoda...!!

3: The right way is interesting

He really did it!!

4: You're struggling, having a tough time, yet your shape changes as you move forward

Pag 27

1: We're headed to a future I never imagined!!

Give it your all!!

2: Onodaa!!

3: Yes!!

[vorfreudevortex]

4. breathe

a street racer!ino takuma x f!reader fic

redline masterlist // previous: chapter 3 // next: chapter 5

warnings // 6.3k words - swearing, alcohol, smoking, reckless driving (duh), all characters in college or recently graduated, mount hakone's details are not accurate for the sake of the story so pls don't try to clown me for it, descriptions of blood (cut from glass) mdni - small smut scene in a car (towards the end), fingering, handjob, clit stimulation, nipple stimulation, praise, nipple play, dry humping, multiple orgasms, petnames, whiny ino who's kinda obsessed with you lmao

if you can spot the ford vs. ferrari reference, i'll marry you rn

the vibes for chapter four

⋆｡ ﾟ☁︎｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆ ｡ ﾟ☁︎｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆

the next morning you’re pouncing on suguru’s bed, anxious to get him awake and back to the mountain. “go back to sleep,” he groans, burying himself deeper beneath the blankets. his face is barely visible beneath his bedhead, and his morning voice is deep and hoarse.

“please, sugu?” you pull out his childhood nickname in your softest, sweetest voice. he just huffs.

“call toru or ken. i’ll meet you out there later.”

“how much later?”

“dunno…” he’s already drifting back to sleep.

fine, then. after breakfast with your papa, you group facetime the boys. ken answers right away and immediately asks if everything is alright, already awake and dressed. toru answers on the last ring from bed, obviously woken up by his blaring phone. his white hair lays flat against his forehead and eye boogers hang from his long lashes.

“what do you want…” he hisses with a pouty frown. unlike suguru, satoru’s morning voice is light and whiny.

“ew, toru! your eye boogies are huge!” you laugh. you see the corners of kento’s lips twitch up as well.

“i’ve got something even bigger,” satoru’s mind works in mysterious ways.

“oh my god, you pervert—”

“—truly disgusting behavior,” kento adds.

“i was calling to tell you to meet me at mount hakone right away, but i’m rethinking it since i don’t wanna catch chlamydia from potential contact with you.”

“wow— okay, first of all, i don’t have any diseases,” satoru rolls his eyes. “and it’s not like suguru would let me anywhere near you in the first place—”

“—as he should,” kento frowns.

“get out of bed or i’m telling him you said that!”

“tell him what? i didn’t say anything,” satoru scoffs.

“i’ll tell him what you insinuated—”

“—okay, relax,” he interrupts with a huff. “i’m getting dressed right now.”

✰✰✰✰✰

you end up spending the entire day tearing through the pass, anxious to keep shaving down your time and memorize each remaining detail of the roads. it’s completely empty when you first arrive, except for kento leaning against the back fender of his car waiting for you. he very thoroughly checks your motor and brakes for you before agreeing to ride along during your first turn.

“would you like me to keep an eye on the handbrake for you?”

“nah, i got it,” you respond, pulling the helmet over your head. you don’t want to wear it but you know that kento will say something if you don’t. “just time me, please.”

he gives you gentle advice and reminders during the 8.5 miles, you make sure to soak up every word. kento might not race anymore, but he can read a road and engine better than anyone else, aside from your brother. he can still keep up with suguru and satoru if he chooses to.

8:40:22 — just one second slower than inumaki.

satoru rolls in by the time you’re ready for your second turn. he lazily slouches in the passenger seat but reaches up to grip the door handle when you shoot off the starting line.

“where’d you learn to drive so aggressively?” he asks. “there’s no way you picked this up from me.”

“maybe i did,” your voice is slightly muffled beneath the roaring motor and the cushioned helmet. “i’m trying to concentrate, please stop talking.”

you tear your helmet off and kento pulls you out of the car — 8:40:52.

“how did i manage to go slower that time?!” you whine.

“don’t worry too much about it,” kento reassures. he notices your trembling frame, adrenaline pumping viciously through your veins from the drives. “take a break now.”

by the time suguru arrives with gas and lunch, you’re itching to go again. he makes satoru race beside you so you can get more comfortable with another car on the road. on your 5th time back, a few others including okkotsu, inumaki, takuma and his team are parked on the shoulder. he wears his rough demeanor now, shoulders hunched and missing a smile. it’s completely different from the giddy attitude he had with you at the skate park. but his back straightens when he spots you, unable to hide the lively look in his eyes.

“what’s all this?” takuma’s playful voice rings out as he approaches the phantoms with his friends in tow.

“clutch got a new ride,” satoru sings, placing a hand on each of your shoulders as you sheepishly smile. “and it’s twice as fast as yours.”

“i don’t doubt it,” he smiles, and lets his eyes fall on you. you can feel both kento and suguru’s sharp glares in the back of your head.

“damn, these are some nice wheels,” choso comments as he crouches down to get a better look at them.

“this wide body kit was installed well,” todo nods. megumi just stands silently with his hands in his pockets beside takuma, letting his eyes rake over your silvia. he doesn’t have to say anything for you to know he approves.

“what do you need, ino?” your brother asks.

“just came to talk with gojo and run a few before the race tonight,” takuma shrugs.

“then go somewhere else and do it,” suguru waves him off. “my sister runs first.”

“are you’re racing tonight?” takuma’s eyes widen as they land back on you. “who?”

“toge inumaki,” your brother answers you before you can. in suguru’s mind, takuma does not need to be talking to his sister directly. “the one who just pulled up in the s13.”

“ah, he’s not too bad. i’ve seen him around,” he glances across the way at him and okkotsu, who watch your conversation and wait for you from afar. takuma turns back to you with another sweet smile. “good luck tonight, clutch! i know you’ll do—”

“—get the fuck out of here, ino.”

your face is bright red when takuma walks away. suguru angrily mutters something about the the inappropriate use of your nickname before lighting a cigarette, and kento looks away when you meet his gaze. you don’t dare say a word. for an unknown reason, in the depths of your brain, you like when takuma's cheekiness riles up your brother.

“fucking prick,” suguru mumbles through puffs of smoke, before putting the helmet back in your hands. “put this on and go before he comes over here again.”

✰✰✰✰✰

takuma ino: i see why u been busy this past week 

you: i’m so sorry, i’ve barely been on my phone

takuma ino: don’t even worry bout it :) it was worth the wait ur silvia looks sick af takuma ino: ur gonna kick ass tonight too i just know it!!

you: i’m sososososo nervous you: do you think you’ll beat toru tonight?

takuma ino: no doubt about it takuma ino: are u still down to go out tonight after? for ur bday?

you: yes!! i already have my outfit picked out!!

takuma ino: i can’t wait.. i know ur gonna look so pretty takuma ino: u better not bail if u don’t win ur race

you: i won’t!

takuma ino: good i’ve missed u :) good luck tonight pretty

you: good luck kuma!!

✰✰✰✰✰

you sit back on your hands with your knees bent up, letting the cool road attempt to ease the boiling blood in your veins. your toes wiggle in your white converse, and your nails pick at ashphalt. shoko sits beside you, puffing on a cigarette, letting you sneak a hit or two when suguru isn’t looking to help calm your nerves. the chattering crowd and booming subwoofers on the shoulders are nothing more than a murmur in your ears, you’re too anxious to focus on anything except your upcoming race.

“you’ll do great,” shoko smiles. “i heard that people are betting for you.”

“really? betting on me?”

“uh huh. the streets say that there’s no way you’re slower.” even if shoko’s just making it up to make you feel better, it’s working.

you’ve spotted takuma and the shadows a couple times. his face is stern, he doesn’t even look at anyone else. the phantoms are bent over your engine, feet on top of the starting line. kento checks, double checks, triple checks everything while suguru nosily watches over his shoulder, ensuring he doesn’t miss anything. he knows he won’t. satoru yaps about everything and nothing at all. he’s not nervous for his race with ino, he’s raced him a handful of times before. he’s both won and lost, and tonight there’s money on the line. 

suguru helps you to your feet when inumaki’s headlights come over the hill, but you don’t hear any of the words coming out of his mouth. your mind is far away. inumaki parks beside you, the nose of the car placed just before the starting line. he’s right on time.

inumaki doesn’t wear his mask tonight. the floodlights reveal his flushed, tattooed cheeks as he steps out of his car. the boys start talking with okkotsu, and inumaki points to you before holding his palms face down in front of him with a gentle shake.

“am i… nervous?” you question, and he nods.

“uh, yeah… i’m pretty nervous,” your voice shakes. he points to himself, then holds up two fingers. me too. his slender fingers fly gracefully in the air through his dumbed-down version of sign language for you. you will do great!

“you, too!” you smile, and your stomach starts to flip in on itself as the boys finish helping okkotsu check over inumaki’s engine. you’ll be off any minute now. kento closes inumaki’s hood with a loud wham and the boys close in around you.

suguru looks nice tonight, with the top half his hair pulled up in a neat bun, black jeans, and a deep purple oversized hoodie over a plain white shirt. he comes over and picks a piece of lint from the fabric of your top before brushing his fingers through your hair, silently calming your tension with ease.

“ready?” suguru asks.

“ready,” you smile, holding your hand out for inumaki to shake. he graciously accepts it with a wide grin and a polite bow. you settle in the silvia, all four of the group hanging their heads in through the windows.

“we talked to okkotsu,” satoru chirps. “they won’t do anything stupid.”

“relax, girl. you’re gonna do great,” shoko says.

“remember to breathe,” kento reminds. “drive safely.”

“put this on and do not take it off,” suguru pushes the helmet into the car as the others leave. he pecks your cheek before you pull it over your hair. “as long as you do the same thing you’ve been doing, you’ll win.”

“i’m nervous, nii-chan.”

“you have nothing to be nervous about,” he fastens the chin strap, pulling twice to check. “listen to what your gut is telling you, don’t try to fight it.”

“which marker will you be at again?” your shaky fingers fumble with the seatbelt.

“mile 4,” suguru’s voice is smooth and light, the solidity you need right now. your mind whirs as he helps you with the harness, tugging another two times. “ken’s at 2 and toru’s at 3 so we can be here when you get back, don’t worry.”

“what if something goes wrong?” every possible concern you've had is now bubbling out, you can’t quiet it.

“sshhh,” suguru hushes. “that’s what your radio is for. keep it tuned to what ken set it on and use the walkie-talkie in your console if you need help. your phone won’t work well out there. you’re gonna be just fine.”

you nod under the helmet and turn the ignition. you shift uncomfortably in your seat as it comes to life, humming and purring under the hood.

“listen to me,” he turns your head to face him. “you’re gonna do great. you’re faster than inumaki. you’ll win, no doubt about it. drive just like i taught you, okay?”

“okay.”

“i’m proud of you, clutch. drive safe. i love you.”

“i love you, too.”

with a handsome grin, he taps the side of the door and leaves. you look to your left, inumaki smiles at you through his window and holds up a sign. good luck. you return the gesture with a trembling hand. the flag girl takes her place between the cars. your heart pounds relentlessly. you spot takuma and his team, they made sure to park close. takuma waves with a warm smile, and you return it since the boys have disappeared into the mountain, unable to see the forbidden interaction.

the flag girl raises her arms. your sweating hands grip and release around the wheel, over and over again. just feel it. your feet press into the pedals. your tires spin. she throws her arms down. without a hesitation, the brake is released. the silvia lurches forward, finally free to run. your cloudy mind completely clears as you tear through the straight. inumaki is right by your side as your approach the first turn.

downshift. brake. you slow down first. inumaki starts to lead. damn it. breathe. the rear tires lose traction, you feel it.

turn, turn, turn— feather, feather, feather— not too much, not too little.

you both shoot out of the corner, the nose of the car practically touching inumaki’s back fender. breathe. focus. 

“mile 1, inumaki in the lead,” okkotsu’s voice barely registers in your ears. do it again, better this time. you veer beside him.

downshift. brake. inumaki slows first. do you take him over? do you wait? kento’s warning echoes through your hazy thoughts… you’ll wait this time, you’ll be safe.

you slow as well, he’s still ahead. downshift. brake. feel. breathe. both cars’ tires scream into the night, their sounds almost harmonizing.

turn. feather. the gauge violently redlines, trembling on the dash. it’s exactly where it should be. it’s better than last time. breathe.

your roaring silvia and inumaki’s s13 enter a small patch of straight highway. this is your chance. throwing it back into gear, you attempt to push your way ahead of inumaki. he tries to chase you. the third turn, the hairpin, flies towards you. it’s too fast, you feel it. slow it down. brake. breathe.

“mile 2, inumaki in the lead,” kento’s voice calls out through your radio, you barely notice his blurry silhouette as you fly by him.

icy air blasts from the vents. your hair is crammed and damp under the helmet, but your bare arms have a shield of goosebumps. your trembling hand grips the shifter, the leather wet from your sweaty palms. breathe.

hard brake. downshift. brake. it’s coming. it’s coming. not quite… it doesn’t feel right… almost—

now.

you clamp your fist around the handbrake, yanking it towards you in one swift, smooth motion. the familiar feeling of the rear tires locking up surges through the car and into your bones. rubber screeches and the motor sings as it redlines. the back end swings around, almost farther ahead than the nose, but not quite.

just like your contorting body on takuma’s skateboard, the car teeters on the edge of losing control. unlike that balmy evening with your hands clamped to his soft shirt, tonight your hands are clammy around the stiff steering wheel.

and unlike the skateboard, letting the car slip away from your control is simply not an option.

you’re practically weightless, floating through the air like a haunting ghost, and you’re once again addicted to the feeling. breathe, just one more split second of bliss to savor—

“clutch leads into mile 3!” satoru’s giddy voice fills your ears. focus— you didn’t even notice how you had squeezed between the guardrails and inumaki’s wide drift to slip in front.

turn, feather. handbrake down, upshift. breathe.

you glance down at the dashboard and gauges. everything kento and papa taught you about them looks exactly how they should. the silvia craves more, you feel it. you do, too. inumaki is only a few feet behind you, but you’re gradually gaining more and more on him. you're winning, it sends another rush of thrill through your bones.

with one hand, you flip open the center console and snatch the walkie-talkie. a finger fumbles around on the side of your helmet until it finds the button. the visor pops up, letting cool air hit your burning face. your palm is back on the gear shifter with your thumb and pointer holding the ‘talk’ button against it, a beep rings out— everyone will hear your next words.

“suguru!” you call.

“clutch?! what’s wrong?” his voice crackles back to you over the radio.

“nothing’s wrong,” you can’t help but belly laugh, your mind dizzy with adrenaline and happiness.

“what?!”

“watch me, sugu!” you smile. “watch this steeze!”

you know takuma heard you, copying his goofy slang from that blissful night at the skate park, and you can imagine his smooth laugh ringing out around the other listeners so clearly in your mind.

you throw the radio to the floor of the passenger seat and fly into the next hairpin, mimicking your previous actions exactly. you let each rumble and veer of the car lead your timing and intuition. inumaki is a whole car length behind you now, both cars smoking past your brother and out of the drift.

“mile 4, clutch in the lead,” suguru says. “you stress me out, little shithead.”

and for some reason unknown to you, the world suddenly grows quiet. 

your muscles relax, your mind empties. inumaki’s threatening headlights in your rearview mirror no longer lingers in your thoughts. the uncomfortable touch of the sweaty hair stuck to your forehead disappears. the echo of your uneven breaths under the thick helmet turn steady. 

you take a deep breath, tasting the burning rubber and wafts of exhaust as you inhale. the machine around you becomes weightless.

you feel it. 

you are simply just driving now, a body moving through time and space—

it feels so good.

✰✰✰✰✰

you’re not really sure what happened after that. but at the same time, you somehow remember every detail so vividly. since the moment everything clicked after that last hairpin, you’ve been in a drugless, dreaming daze.

you know that you won— 8:29:41— an incredible 11 seconds faster than your most recent pass through hakone. you were 2 full car lengths ahead of inumaki as you passed over the finish line.

you know that suguru was at your door as soon as you yanked the silvia in park, pulling you out and ripping off the helmet, smiling and laughing with utter pride. inumaki’s hands had waved excitedly in front of him before he hugged you with a smile that made his tattoo tightly stretch over his red cheeks.

you know that kento had shown you another rare grin with teeth, and satoru had once again thrown you over his shoulder. you had seen takuma’s huge smile between the faces of the excited crowd around you.

you failed to notice the brooding onlookers that stayed on the shoulder.

you were still catching your breath when satoru and takuma took off into the mountains, and you remember that takuma had won by just a few feet. it left satoru pissed and pouting, and about ¥30,000 poorer than he came. there was no fight this time.

suguru didn’t seem to mind when you told him you were going out again this weekend, he was going to the bar with the boys anyways. so when you got home, you pulled a black, off-the-shoulder mini dress over your buzzing body before fixing your hair and makeup. you knew you’d regret wearing thigh-high stockings and uncomfortable, black platform heels when you took off in your mustang, deciding to leave the silvia to rest in the garage.

the underground felt like it was empty with every bit of your attention focused on takuma. he had literally melted when he saw you, he knew he wouldn’t be able to keep his eyes off you all night. megumi, yuji, choso, and aoi were nowhere to be seen as you danced with takuma, shot after shot and song after song, still reeling from both your victories.

there was never a moment takuma let your body sway against his without a searing touch on your skin— the glaring red eyes from across the room needed to know you were with him and him only.

you know at one point, you were back in the shadows’ booth, utterly drunk and sat between takuma’s thighs. you remember his hand around your waist and a finger just under the hem of your thin black stockings. you remember the way his intoxicated breathe felt in your ear and the way it sent chills down your spine when he had mumbled, “we should go, it’s too loud in here.”

“go where?” you had asked.

“anywhere but here.”

✰✰✰✰✰

the daze is suddenly over as you find yourself underneath takuma ino in the backseat of his car.

you can barely see a thing around you in the dark, empty corner of the parking garage, but you can feel everything as his calloused hands roam your body and thighs, which hook around his waist, as he grasps at the soft fabric of your dress.

you hold his face in your hands, teeth and noses clicking and bumping as you attack each other’s lips. your fingers travel to his soft, brown hair and lightly tug when he meets his tongue with yours. the taste of vodka, tobacco, and your own sweet lip gloss mix between your mouths.

takuma’s hips come down to meet yours, the cool metal of his belt and the rough, black material of his jeans grind against your core so deliciously that you can’t help but let out a small gasp. he grips your thigh as the other hand gently cradles your nape upwards, exposing your neck and jaw for him to plant hot, wet kisses on as your eyes close with a flutter. it’s really not fair how the hard length beneath his jeans continues to roll into you, the pressure of it shooting desperate need through your bones.

"you're so fucking beautiful," takuma pants against your skin. "you know that, right?"

the rising temperature of the car and your melding bodies leaves you both breathless as takuma sits up to tear off his shirt. every coherent thought he has left in his brain vanishes when he finally registers the scene below him— your messy hair and lidded eyes staring at his toned figure, your swollen lips and heaving chest. 

"oh," takuma damn near chokes on his own spit when he sees that your dress has bunched up just above your hips from his groping, legs spread around him to reveal cherry red panties against the straining tent below his belt. he’s completely losing it—

“my shoes…” you finally manage to say.

“what?” he thickly swallows. “o-oh, yeah. your shoes.” he lifts your legs and does his best, tipsy job to fumble open the buckles of your heels. your dress lifts higher, and takuma prays you don’t notice the pink tinge on his cheeks as your shoes fall to the floor of the car. 

“fuck, you’re so pretty,” he breathes, returning his lips to yours. he just can’t stop himself from grinding into you repeatedly as he grows more desperate to ease the ache in his jeans. “is this okay?” one hand finds your breast, the other slides beneath the hem of your dress to the bare skin of your waist.

as soon as you nod he’s back to your mouth while your fingertips roam his shoulders and back. a thumb rolls over your covered nipple right as he rolls into your core, the angle and pressure just right enough to make you gasp again.

“m-more, please?” you ask so sweetly, takuma knows he could never deny you.

“more?” he begins to pull the top of your dress down. “like this?”

“yeah… please?”

takuma squeezes your hardened nipple and the fat of your hip at the same time, earning another sharp gasp from you. he smiles at that, eager as hell to learn every sign and signal of your body. he plants another wet kiss on your collarbone before hovering his lips over your other breast, letting the heat of his breath tease it for just a moment.

“can i—”

“—yes.” you pant, and his tongue is wrapped around your bud immediately. the insistence of his hips against yours combined with pulling tugs and sucking lips on your tits has your fingers tightening in his hair and back arching up, and the first candied moan finally escapes from your throat.

god help him— takuma swears he could cum in his pants just from the sound of it alone. he can’t believe he’s managed to get you here, splayed out so erotically underneath him in the backseat of his car, lucky enough to be the one to make you produce such a beautiful noise. he doesn’t dare stop his movements, savoring the privilege of having his own tongue swirling over your nipples just to hear you sing again.

it only takes a few minutes until takuma is drunk off your gasps and moans, drunker than he was before, and you’re starting to writhe under him. he plays with the band of your panties as your thighs squeeze around his waist.

“kuma, if you keep going,” you pant. “i’ll… oh, i’m gonna…”

“you want me to stop?”

“no, more.”

“more where?” a hand comes to rest on top of your pelvis, a finger dangerously close to where you need it most as he asks for permission. you nod frantically. takuma rests a thumb over your panties at the peak of your aching clit, “here?”

“y-yes, please,” you moan. your back arches and all muscles tense as he presses gentle circles into your bud. he groans around the nipple under his tongue when he finally feels for himself just how wet he’s made your lingerie. 

takuma still can’t control his desperate grinds as he’s hunched over you, the only thing separating his twitching length and your burning cunt being your clothing and his thumb. his teeth softly clamp around the peak of your breast and you call out his name, sending him spiraling.

“oh— kuma!”

“cum for me,” he pleads, dark and needy brown eyes boring straight into yours. “please, pretty? i want to see you cum for me.”

you clench around nothing at his words, making takuma groan as you pull harshly on his hair and clamp your eyes shut. "please please please, just for me," he prattles helplessly.

you suck in a sharp breathe and let your head fall back into the soft seat. it’s silent for a moment as your entire body tightens into the peak of your orgasm. it has to be the most beautiful thing takuma’s ever seen. you start to fall over the edge, crying out in pure pleasure as your legs shake at the lightning that courses through you.

“fuuuck, baby,” takuma moans at the sight of you, not daring to stop his ministrations for a single moment to extend your orgasm as long as he can. he’s utterly addicted, he wants to see it over and over and over again. you wish you could say something, anything, but the burning fire rooting from your clit takes over all your senses. “so pretty, so so so fucking pretty.”

your chest heaves beneath his as you choke and gasp. “breathe, baby,” takuma softly reminds you, moving his lips to your tingling neck. you whimper and pant as you come down, takuma’s slamming his mouth back onto yours. “so beautiful,” he mindlessly mumbles against your lips. “thank you, baby. so good, so pretty.”

a playful giggle is the first thing to leave your mouth when your body settles. “what are you laughing at?” takuma smiles, he can’t help but chuckle along with you. you both feel light and airy, bright red blushes smear across your cheeks.

“i just…” you blink repeatedly with a sheepish smile, clearing through the lustful haze in your eyes to try and look at the boy above you. “i’m not very experienced, and that was, um, kind of… my best?”

“your best?” takuma looks at you with wide eyes. “i can do better.”

“…show me?”

takuma’s face flickers with an unrecognizable look. you playfully shriek when he pulls you up by the waist to straddle over his lap. his muscular thighs are spread apart across the backseat and your sensitive core meets his jeans once again.

“much better,” he grins, kneading the fat of your thighs. he looks down at your stockings with parted lips and darting eyes— his touch feels heavenly. “these are… dangerous.”

“you can take them off, if you want,” you mumble shyly, hooking your arms around his neck and pulling yourself closer into his bare chest. 

“no, no, no. they stay on.” he prefers to be buried with the image of you over him like this, cheeks flushed and enticing eyes.

“okay, kuma,” you laugh. “whatever you want.”

“whatever i want?” his middle finger finds the path back to your soaking clit, gently pressing for permission. “what about what you want?”

“i want…” your eyes dart down his sculpted chest and abs, and over the soft chestnut happy trail that disappears beneath his jeans. you thought you had reined your head back in place, but the thought of that path of hair leading straight to takuma’s throbbing length suddenly has you fumbling mindlessly with his belt buckle. “fingers,” you blurt, remembering he had asked you a question. “i want your fingers.”

takuma doesn’t waste any time attaching his lips to yours, circling your soaking heat once again. you tear open takuma’s button and zipper, revealing just a peek of the angry red tip that hides beneath the waistband of his boxers. he lets out a beautiful, deep groan that reverberates down your throat when you palm him over the fabric.

“i need to,” he tugs at the edge of your underwear, pleading for entrance. "i need it, please?" the second you nod he’s pulling them to the side, both of you whining at the touch of his long fingers spreading the slick up your drooling cunt. you shudder against his chest, the pleasure being tenfold what it was over your lingerie. the sensitivity of your clit leaving you clenching and tense.

“f-fuck,” takuma whines when you reach past his boxers and squeeze your soft fist around his raging cockhead. you’re grinding desperately against the palm of his hand, he pushes a finger past that first ring of resistance and into your gummy walls. you moan and pant as he pumps steadily, relishing how your pussy squeezes and clenches around him.

“kuma!” you squeal as he easily pushes a second finger in your squelching cunt, curling into a spot that has your vision blurring. his head drops to plant wet, open-mouth kisses to your throat. you cradle his head against your chest as you swipe over the slit of his head, making him jerk with a whimper as his gushing precum coats your digits.

you’d be embarrassed that your second peak was already approaching after just minutes of his obsessive attack on your pussy if it didn’t feel so fucking good. the inhibition of your brother finding out about your whereabouts has completely vanished. any hesitation you had of takuma’s rumored wrongdoings is completely forgotten as you fist his long, pretty cock… 

“shit,” he pants, atrociously enamored by a thin streak of your slick that appears from under your dress and trickles down your thigh until it soaks into the material of your stockings. “you’re so so good to me, too good for me, baby.”

the grip around his dick has him going ballistic, he knows he could cum immediately as long as it’s your voice asking him to. if angels are real, he thinks they’d sound like your sloshing cunt around his fingers and your saccharine moans in his ear.

“i’m gonna—” you gasp, snapping takuma out of his trance. “k-kumaaa…”

“you gonna cum again for me, pretty?” his cock twitches in your palm at the thought of it, this time around his nimble fingers. you subconsciously start pumping him faster, your numbed body so desperate for more of him.

“yes, i’m sorry!” you whimper, almost ashamed. takuma clenches his jaw with a sharp groan when you swipe against a particularly sensitive area near his leaking head, his own peak rapidly nearing. the perfume on your bare chest makes him even dizzier, he’s nipping at your breasts without thought. 

“you’re gonna make c-cum, too.” good god, he’s obsessed with you. takuma can’t be bothered to care about how his pathetic whining and stuttering sounds to you. “cum for me. p-please, pretty?”

you’re a fucking mess straddled over takuma, a fistful of his shaggy hair in one hand as you’re veins start to run hot. you tremble as you start to peak once more, messily rolling your hips harder into the palm that he’s been grinding so delectably into your clit. takuma isn’t any better, jutting and jerking his cock farther into your hand. words pour out of his throat, babbling and groaning your name.

“oh, fuck— fuck, you’re so good to me, baby. cum with me, please? please… sh-shit, i—” takuma throws his head back and digs his nails into the fat of your hip as his pretty length spews hot ribbons of white over his clenching stomach. the sounds of his hoarse moans repeating your name, thanking you, and his fingers curled tight against your squelching walls is enough to send you over the edge right after.

you cum with a sharp cry, eyes rolling back into your head as takuma’s whining, drunk voice praises you through your orgasm. “breathe, pretty girl,” he reminds as you’re once again gasping for air. “good girl, that’s it. god, you look so pretty cumming on my fingers like this…”

takuma gifts you with gentle, slow circles over your nub to come down with, holding you close against him as he presses loving kisses over your jaw and neck. completely pussydrunk, he can’t get himself to shut up as he continues to stream out a steady flow of compliments and praises for you. 

it’s when the car is quiet, except for both your panting, when you realize your phone is vibrating incessantly. abandoned at some point on the floor of takuma’s car along with your shoes, suguru’s name lights up the screen.

“shit…” you breathe.

sugu: lmk when you’re otw home please sugu: everything ok? sugu: 1 missed call sugu: text me back soon ok? wanna make sure you’re safe

toru: text ur brother back dumbass. he’s tweaking out in the bar rn lmao

sugu: clutch sugu: 1 missed call

ken: your brother is worried about you, it’s very late. you should give him a call when you see this.

sugu: i’m getting worried, did something happen?? sugu: call me back asap please sugu: 1 missed call

your heart drops. suguru texting or calling you a few times to make sure you’re okay is nothing new, but satoru and kento reaching out worries you.

“kuma, i’m sorry. i need to get home,” you apologize.

“can you stay just a few more minutes, please?” those big brown eyes of his are so hard to say no to.

“i’m so sorry, suguru’s freaking out. i… don’t want him coming to find me,” takuma must see the stress in your expression, because his pleading eyes disappear as his thumbs rub comforting circles around your waist.

“don’t feel bad, i get it,” he smiles. “we’ll get you home safe and sound for him.”

✰✰✰✰✰

you keep the shop lights off as you park your mustang. you’ve already probably woken up the entire neighborhood with your car, you don’t need to blind them as well. the cold linoleum floor of the garage feels nice on your socked feet as you walk with your heels in your hand to the door that leads to the kitchen, barely visible. 

suguru will be waiting for you in your room, but you know he’ll simply help you into bed and tell you to get some sleep instead of reprimanding you, despite his concerning texts. that’s what he always does.

your cheeks still feel hot and your knees weak from your time in takuma’s backseat, but your mind is disoriented and giddy. his handsome smile and sweet moans are still fresh in your mind, you can still feel his warm touch over the skin of your waist and hips. you know you’re a mess right now; eye bags, tousled hair, smeared makeup, and your socks falling halfway down your legs… but you can’t seem to care.

there’s a small crunch, and the sole of your foot screams out in pain. you stumble backwards in the dark as you bite your lip against the searing feeling until you can turn on the flashlight of your phone. the bottom of your foot drips bright red blood onto the clean, ashy grey tiles.

you’re nothing except confused at the smalls shards of glass lodged in your foot. the light of your phone pans to the floor before you, covered in more glittering glass, and up to the driver’s door of the car in front of you.

it’s your silvia. you stare in disbelief as you realize the driver’s side window is completely gone, blue and green shining fragments covering the seat you raced in just hours ago. the passenger window is shattered but intact, with a singular bullet hole through the center. you scramble to the kitchen door, heart beating out of your chest and blood smearing your path. as soon as you grab hold of the knob, it flies open on its own.

“where the hell have you been? it’s 4 in the fucking morning!”

it’s suguru, shirtless and barefoot from being in bed. he looks disheveled with fretful and bloodshot eyes, his ebony hair frizzy and flat. he had obviously just been woken up from the sound of the garage door creaking open through the house.

“what’s going on, clutch?” he demands, grabbing your arm to pull you inside. but you’re unable to form words, tears streaming down your cheeks as you resist him. you fumble desperately at the wall for the shop lights, the fluorescent blinding you both when they snap on. the horrifying sight of your car makes you gasp, clutching onto suguru as you take in the scene.

“oh my fucking god,” suguru has never woken up faster. “get in the house. now.”

⋆｡ ﾟ☁︎｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆ ｡ ﾟ☁︎｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆

redline masterlist // previous: chapter 3 // next: chapter 5

ongoing tag list // @stillnotherapy @rieamena @magiamad0ka @mawhoreagaa

© vorfreudevortex // all rights reserved. do not copy, translate, or repost my work.

[maigeiko]

The look of… IX: Hakone-Yumoto Onsen

History Although it‘s likely that Geisha worked in Hakone since the late 19th century, not much can be found about their history. The current Kenban was built in 1950 [1]. In the early/mid 80's (before the bubble economy), 400-450 Geisha lived in Hakone [2]. The Otosan of Ikedaya Okiya reformed the traditional employment system and introduced benefits like pension plans and financial compensations for cancelled jobs [3].

In 2000 latest, the Hakone Yumoto Kenban launched its own website [4], creating a space for Okiya to advertise and look for new members [5]. In 2001, the Okasan of Wakita became the current head of the Geigi Union. In order to ensure the survival of local Hanamachi culture, the Kenban became open to public in 2008, and the Geisha band Basara (婆娑羅) was founded in 2009. [2]

In the late 2010's, around 150 Geisha from age 18 to 80 lived in 32 Okiya. Lack of work during the Corona pandemic reduced their numbers to 109 in 2021. The amount of Geisha working in Hakone has increased meanwhile, with 140 of them active in January 2024, but still hasn‘t reached its pre-pandemic levels. [2]

The look of Hakone Maiko

Local term: Kirariko きらり妓

※ Hairstyle: own hair, Shimada mage and Hanaogi mage ※ Kanzashi: Kushi, maezashi, non-seasonal hana kanzashi ※ Make up: western make up or light oshiroi, both lips painted from the start ※ Kimono: Furisode mostly without tucks (rarely with sleeve tucks) ※ Eri: white, white with embroidery (red, red/pink) ※ Obi: Koken musubi ※ Obiage: tied and tucked in, red ※ Obijime: red with simple, rectangular Obidome ※ Footwear: white or black Zori

The look of Hakone Geiko

Local term: Geisha

※ Hairstyle: Taka shimada or Tsubushi shimada Katsura ※ Kanzashi: Taka shimada: Kushi, Tama in the back, Kogai in the back, and sometimes in the front too. Tsubushi shimada: Kushi, Tama ※ Make up: Oshiroi ※ Kimono: Mostly Homongi/Tsukesage, sometimes Hikizuri. Kuromontsuki for Tachikata is always a Hikizuri ※ Eri: white, rarely with white or pink embriodery ※ Obi: Yanagi musubi with Kuromontsuki (white/blue Hakata ori), otherwise Otaiko musubi ※ Obiage: always red with Kuromontsuki, otherwise white, pink or light blue. Usually not patterned. ※ Obijime: light-coloured. No Obijime with Yanagi musubi ※ Footwear: Zori, Geta with white or blue Hanao

Casual/Jikata style

※ Hairstyle: Yohatsu ※ Kanzashi: usually none, maki (蒔絵) kanzashi at best ※ Make up: western make up ※ Kimono: Kurotomesode, otherwise Homongi ※ Eri: white ※ Obi: Otaiko musubi ※ Obiage: mostly warm pastel colours, but basically anything goes. Not patterned. ※ Obijime: Sometimes with Obidome ※ Footwear: Zôri

Tachiyaku style

※ Hairstyle: Maeware Katsura ※ Kanzashi: Tama pin in the back ※ Make up: Oshiroi ※ Kimono: Hômongi ※ Eri: white ※ Obi: Koken musubi with mint/light green Kakae Obi (抱え帯) ※ Obiage: red, white, pink or light blue. Obidome not uncommon ※ Obijime: light-coloured

Notes

Arts: The schools taught in Hakone are Nishikawa 西川 (dance), Honjo 本條 (Kouta, Hauta and Min‘yo), Kineya 杵屋 (Nagauta) and Tosha 藤舎 (Hayashi). [6]

Kirariko is a newly coined term in use since 2003 to call junior Geisha in the age group from 18-30. [7] Upon turning 30, Kirariko have to take either a „dancer grade B“ or „dancer grade A“ test. To pass the B test, she has to perform two dances. For the grade A test, she has to perform three female style and three male style dances. [8]

Companions: Okiya recruit and employ companions as well as Geisha. Companions receive a fixed wage, which is usually lower than that of the Geisha, but the customer pays the same price. Companions can be requested to wear either western clothing or Kimono. Western clothing is a business suit provided for free by the Okiya, Kimono can be rented for a set fee by the Okiya as well. [9] Companions receive professional names like Geisha. They don‘t study performing arts and can work part-time. Their job is to serve drinks and food and engage in „pleasant conversation“ with customers at banquets. [10] In my opinion, a good entry-level job in the Karyukai – some companions became Geisha later in their carreer. [11]

Becoming independent: after being Geisha for seven years, you have the opportunity of opening a branch of your debut Okiya. In all cases I know, the new Okiya takes one or two characters from the original Okiya. For example Ikedaya 池田家 → Wakita 和喜田 and Yukieda 雪江田 (田 Kanji is part of the new name). Wakita 和喜田 → Suzuwa すず和 and Yukiwa ゆき和 (和). Kitami 㐂田見 → Kisaya 㐂茶家 (㐂).

Changing Okiya registration: only possible when becoming independent, or when your (biological) mother, sister, or daughter opens a new Okiya.

Sources

[1] https://note.com/meetgeisha/n/n1cc907ffd4c9. [2] https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/301712, [3] https://conex-eco.co.jp/hakonesaisai/71824/ [4] https://web.archive.org/web/20000919171055/http://www.geisha.co.jp:80/ [5] https://web.archive.org/web/20001017234326/http://www.geisha.co.jp/okiya-name.htm,[6] https://geisha.co.jp/kenban/, [7] https://web.archive.org/web/20040408030159/http://www11.plala.or.jp/fukunoya/what_is_kirariko.html,[8] https://konohanasakuya.blogspot.com/2012/03/dance-performance.html,[9] https://yukieda.com/kyuujin_answer/, [10] https://yukieda.com/recruit/companion/,[11] https://web.archive.org/web/20080220191156/http://www.00wakita.com/hyousyou.html

Picture sources: Group picture 2024, Hakone Odori, three Kirariko 2023, Kirariko back view 2023, Geisha dancing, Geisha preparing Tosenkyo set 2019, Sumomo with a dancer 2009, Anzu and Yuho 2023, really nice picture of Yumiko with Kokyu 2022, Chacha dancing 2022, Atsumi and unknown Tachikata 2019, Natsumi 2022, Matsuyoshi new year's picture 2023

[dicktat]

And where do you think you’re going, Hakon?

Hakon with long hair <33. Anyways. Church fight with hunter prey dynamics anyone? 😳😳😳

Lowkey running a fever and on the verge of passing out but we stay on the grind. Love y’all.

[angelsworks]

Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing

Chapter Two

Series Masterlist -> Here

Summary: How you came to be.

Warnings: 18+, ddlg themes, hints of little!reader, death of a family member, graphic descriptions of death, mentions of slavery, etc

Note: This is a description chapter with lots of backstory.

Born a Saxon. Raised a Dane. Now pretending to be a sorceress.

You had your reasons of course. Those reason also being Hakon’s. As to be expected as the clans chieftain. As your chieftain.

You remember little of your childhood. At a young age your settlement was raided by Hakon’s father and you amongst others were taken as Thrall, slaves to the clan.

It was a shield maiden called Frigg who had pity for you. The small snivelling girl, in a dress too thin for their weather. As you grew you heard what people thought of Frigg’s kindness. How they soured it with their own theories. Not too long before you were taken prisoner by the clan did Frigg lose her husband. The stress of which causes her unborn baby to pass on. From that people assumed the sight of a struggling young girl struck a cord with the shield maiden. Playing on her maternal instincts and the recent loss, causing her to take you in.

Whatever her reasons you did not care. She treated you even better than your own family did and you loved her dearly for it. Together you shared a small hut near Hakon and his family.

When Frigg and Hakon’s father would leave on raids you would stay with Hakon and his mother. Both were kind to you. It wasn’t long before the two of you became good friends.

As you grew the two of you would play in the wood and fight with sticks. Pretending to be your parents as you fought your many pretend enemies. All of which took the form of the lanky bark covered trees.

With Friggs help you learnt how to fight. To you she was a god in her own right, she was strong, fast and could use any weapon she got her hands on. Everyone in the clan knew what an asset Frigg was.

Through the many years of training with Frigg and Hakon you became good with a sword and axe. You had dreams of becoming a shield maiden just like Frigg.

On evening a few weeks after your sixteenth birthday you and Frigg went to hunt in the woods. It was a common occurrence for the two of you. It gave the two of you time to practice your archery skills.

While lying in wait for a deer you were ambushed by another group of Dane’s. One Hakon’s Father had raided once or twice. An act which created bad blood between the two of you. With only a bow an arrow between the two of you, you were outnumbered. No match for the four burly men with wrath in their eyes and iron in their hands.

With tears in her eyes Frigg pushed you towards the village, knowing your speed could get your far away and out of danger. She pleaded that you go and get help, to save yourself. But you knew if you left now you wouldn’t see again. With another push you wet running, adrenaline pumping through your body as you forced your legs to keep pounding on the Forrest floor.

When your reached the village you screamed out for help, the sound quickly drawing a crowd. You stutterer and stumbled over the words you wanted to say, your brain working into overdrive as panic ceased your body. Cursing yourself afterwards for not being more direct with your words.

A group of the clans best fighters was assembled and lead by Hakon’s father to the woods. Meanwhile you were sent to Hakon and his mother. The boy held you close as your cried for Frigg. The woman who had been your mother for the majority of your life.

You knew when they returned it wouldn’t be with Frigg alive. Despite the hours thinking about it, it still didn’t prepare you for the sight of her.

You once warm loving mother covered in blood and mud. Her body limp in Hakon’s fathers arms. As they passed you saw her eyes were open and staring at nothing.

The sight did nothing to stop your tears. Instead it only brought bile to your throat, making you bend over and spill your guts. Your body ceased as it was wrapped in rope. Tightly tied to the point you felt you couldn’t breathe.

Only a few days after Friggs death was her funeral. The clan stood around a clearing where a pyre was placed in the centre. On that wooden pyre was Friggs body, now cleaned and dressed and wrapped in white cloth for your benefit. It was your first time seeing a Dane funeral. Before the event Hakon had to explain what happened and what you would have to do.

In Dane tradition it was the next of kin who sent their fallen to Valhalla. Meaning it was down to you to light Friggs body so her spirit could enter the hall of warriors.

You knew this was what she wanted. But when it came down to it, to lighting her on fire, you ceased. Your hand shook as it hold the wooden torch, tears falling down your cheeks. With a final deep breath you held the torch under the pyre until the kindling caught fire.

From then until night you watched the fire grow and her body burn. It burned for days, until a storm put an end to the flames. For those days of fire you sat a distance away and watched. Wanting to watch her go.

After Friggs death you were lost. You didn’t want to eat, to sleep, to train. Previous dreams of being a shield maiden felt like wishes of another life. One where Frigg wasn’t dead and you could feel anything but grief again.

For your friend it was too much to see. The once soon to be shield maiden, taking after her mother figure, now lying in her tears each day and night. He saw that your eyes had become lifeless in the next few weeks after her life. The sight reminded him of Friggs own in his fathers arms. It was like you had become a walking corpse. Barely eating, barely sleeping, barely acknowledging the world around you.

The watching you and feeling helpless to your grief mounted on Hakon’s shoulders. The last straw for him was noticing how your figure had thinned and your once full face seemed hollow. Hollow of fat, hollow of life.

A night no different than all those after the funeral. A night spent crying in your bed, curled in on yourself. A night Hakon chose to confront you.

He practically barged into your hut angry with your behaviour. His words were harsh but they quickly melted into uneven tones and voice cracks as the boy almost cried. Throat tight as the guilt of watching his friend crumble and fade away in front of his eyes caught up with him in that moment. He felt helpless to your state. How could he help you when you didn’t want to help yourself?

Somewhere in the transition from angry to anguish, Hakon sat on your bed. Gingerly you crawled over to him, sitting on his lap and hugging him tightly. He wrapped his arms around you, tightly.

For the rest of the night the two of you didn’t move. Hakon had this affect on you. Being tightly wrapped in his arms made you feel like you weren’t about to fall apart. A contrast to how you’ve felt over the last few weeks.

You thought it would be a one time thing but the next night Hakon appeared in your home again. You sat and spoke sporadically. He held you again and that safe feeling washed over you once more.

It happened each night from then. Hakon holding you, speaking to you softly, making you feel safe, making you feel small. Occasionally, you’d reach a headspace where you wouldn’t talk much or would fiddle with his fingers.

For you it helped you heal heart from the grief that entrapped it. For Hakon he enjoyed only having to focus on one thing for a few hours, on you. It took him away from his duties in the Clan and helped him relax. Just in a different way to you.

Anyone could see that you were getting better. Finally eating, finally sleeping, finally starting to live again. During the day you’d train like you used to. This time without Frigg and with some of the other men and women in the clan. During the night you’d embrace your friend as you fell into a safe, smaller place.

At times you wondered if Hakon wanted to stop. After all he was close to manhood and spending his nights with you wasn’t all that exciting. Thoughts like those were cast aside by the boy. He promised he liked helping you, he told you that he enjoyed caring for you and if anything changed he would tell you.

When he sat with you in your hut he was your protector and you his little maiden.

Your night and day roles started to blur when Hakon’s father passed away. It was years after Friggs passing that the Chief of the clan died.

The shift in power lead to an ever growing need for Hakon in the village. It meant pushing his grief aside and dealing with the new responsibilities as Chief.

You supported him as your friend and as your Chief as well as you could. But it wasn’t enough. Soon Hakon asked for you during the day, during his meetings. You’d sit quietly on his lap like a little doll. To him you were his good luck charm, his stress reliever. You helped him get through the day.

Despite the odd looks at first you quickly got over it and enjoyed getting to be in your safe place more often. Anyone who had a problem with you and your practices had to deal with their new Chief.

It hasn’t been more than six moons when Hakon was truly tested as Chief.

A Fort belonging to an ailing lord was seen by scouts. They reported the holding having more people coming in and out. Merchants, traders and wanderers all travelling in and out of the previously quiet fort.

The new activity was noted by Hakon. It was then that his new idea was born. Or more accurately the new you was born.

He proposed you play a game of pretend. You would pretend to be a witch. You would spout spells and paint your face with runes and markings. All to add to the ruse Hakon wanted to create.

When traders would travel up and down the now active roads, you would appear and start your act. Effectively scaring the traders off with your threats of spells, while Hakon and the others would wait in hiding. When the traders and merchants and wanderers eventually ran from their wares, Hakon would lead the others to take the goods.

For a few weeks you’d stolen plenty and frightened many. So many in fact the tale of an evil witch was spread. Spread to nearby towns, to the traders on route to ironwood holding and most importantly to Ironwood himself.

The ailing Lord had no strength to retaliate, but his son did. The man was ten years your senior. You hadn’t seen him in person before but heard from scouts that the recent raids on traders had left a sour taste in his mouth.

The next few travellers carts were more heavily guarded. It took a few days to plan the next attack. This time you brought a few tricks with you.

This time you stood in the middle for the road. As a guarded cart rolled towards you, you threw a bottle of spirit on the floor. From somehere in the Forrest a flaming arrow set it alight.

As guards started to surround you you threatened that they stay away or else a curse would be placed upon them. They were skeptical, as most were that you came across. You started your chanting as you threw some soil into the fire. Frigg taught you that soil found near copper could change the colour of flames.

The green flames caused the unease in the men around you to rise. They fled from the scene quickly. Hakon and the others descended upon the now unguarded goods.

After returning the Clan celebrated their biggest take yet. A celebration that lasted all day and night. The high mood of the clan ended the next day. Word spread of the Old lords demise, which was being put down to you.

The now new Lord Ironwood had declared you the reason for his fathers dead. He’d put a bounty on your head and hired multiple mercenaries to do the job of bringing you to him.

The price on your head meant you were no longer safe going anywhere on your own. The stres of being hunted only put you in your safe place more often.

Under Hakon’s orders you weren’t to leave the village alone. When you did you had some of his best fighters following you.

No one had yet been successful in delivering you to the new, vengeful Lord. But you had a feeling your spell of evading his forces was about to be up.

Glossary:

Hakon - Meaning high born son

Frigg - Meaning beloved

[whump-lover-and-reader]

In Hand (インハンド) Whump List

Synopsis: Himokura Tetsu is a scientist who specialises in the study of parasites. He loathes people and is very sadistic. He bought a huge botanical garden in Hakone which he converted into his home and lab. He holes up in the conservatory where he researches his favourite parasites. His right arm is fitted with a black robotic hand. However, it is not known how this artificial hand came about. He is an eccentric genius who solves a series of difficult cases with astounding scientific methods.

Genre: Medical, Mystery, Comedy

Whumpee: Himokura Tetsu played by Yamashita Tomohisa

Note: If I had a nickel for every time I watched a drama where the main character is missing a body part, has a shady past and is accused of being a murderer... Lol

(i just really wanted to get that joke out there)

!!Spoilers Below!!

Warning!! A character commits suicide in ep. 8, and also eps. 10 and 11 take place during a lethal infectious decease outbreak and lockdown in a small village, and, considering reality, I figured it could be upsetting for some to watch, so I'm just warning you all.

And another thing: if you're worried if it's phobia-friendly, there's only some insects shown in ep. 1, and no real parasites or insects shown at any point besides that, they're all cartoonishly drawn (it was my main worry since I'm insectophobic, but I could watch it just fine)

Ep. 01: right hand is malfunctioning, pushed, tasered(not shown), lost consciousness, hands tied behind back(with zipties), frees himself by disconnecting his right hand

Ep. 02: grabbed by the front of the shirt, talking about how he lost his arm(lies), his past is talked about, flashbacks, phantom pains, in a lot of pain, someone secretly witnesses it

Ep. 03: chased, fought, saving someone, his right hand malfunctioning, his past is talked about

Ep. 04: someone accidentally triggers his flashbacks, ears ringing, phantom pains, concern for him, lying on the ground, in a lot of pain, his past is talked about, waking up, accused of causing the suicide of his previous assistant (and best friend), phantom pains, concern for him, lying on the ground, flashbacks, unresponsive, reliving traumatic memory, passed out

Ep. 05: waking up from a nightmare, it's revealed to others he has troubles with sleeping and ptsd, talking about his past, phantom pains, falling to his knees, disconnecting his arm, concern for him, pushing a friend away, (flashback: argues with his best friend, chased, trying not to let him fall to his death, his right arm got shot off, his best friend fell and died), crying

Ep. 06-08: none

Ep. 09: someone accidentally disconnected his right hand

Ep. 10: flashbacks, isolated in a village during ebola outbreak

Ep. 11: continues to be on lockdown, his best friend got infected and assumed dead for a moment, crying, fell to his knees

[postcard-from-the-past]

Road in the Hakone Pass, Japan

Japanese vintage postcard

[bornhollow]

she'd been planning it for a while; ever since she first met him [ truly first met him, now that she'd remembered, ] he seemed almost sheepish when it came to celebrating himself, for all the self-confidence he carried—he was loud and excitable and one of the genuinely happiest people she'd ever met … even if she knew part of that was solely for the kids' sakes. he'd let himself be the butt of jokes and the subject of the kids' annoyance if it meant keeping them happy or distracted from the trauma all of them had gone through so young. he would always give his all when it came to celebrating everyone else in his life, which meant when it was his birthday? it was her turn.

once the kids were off to school, she'd told isshin she needed some medication picked up from ryū at the hospital, ( even texting ryū a heads up after she'd kissed isshin's pout and sent him out the door, ) before she carefully tied her locs back in a loose ponytail in order to set about her task. having already taken some painkillers, reiko made her way around the living room, decorating as much as she could until a rather well-timed text from urahara-san asked if she needed help. [ it was rather creepy how he always seemed to know things— ] creepy or not, though, she accepted his offer to help, and tsukabishi-san and sora-san's assistance finishing decorating was deeply appreciated.

with the house finished, she only had to wait for him to return from his tasks—she had to add a few more on in order to keep him away long enough, as much as his crying emojis broke her heart to see—but finally, he was home, and not only was the house complete, but her gift, too. greeting him at the door, she held out the wrapped box, ( rather conspicuously wrapped in green and white striped paper, ) its contents nestled safely inside atop some tissue paper. once opened, the box revealed the present, an old scrapbook … one reiko had since high school.

the pictures inside, some older than others, chronicled the journey of reiko as she left hakone in 1976 to attend school in naruki-shi—pictures of jinja hime ryokan, her family, her friends, and finally—pictures of her with a much younger isshin in a gigai. the scrapbook continued on, the pictures growing crisper, more modern, as pictures of her and haruto came in, then isshin and masaki, and their respective families—and finally, culminating in the families joining, filled with a seemingly endless amount of photos of the kurosaki and kan'onji families combined. birthdays, holidays, school year starts, spending time at the beach, a perfect representation of everything that had brought them both together after all this time.

standing on her toes as best she could, pushing up on her crutches, reiko's lips met his chin as he leaned down to meet her, smiling softly as she murmured, " happy birthday, love. "

when it came down to it, isshin's birthday was better than anything he could have hoped for. but that's how it was every year, at least since his current family came to be.

when he was young, birthdays were an excuse for more and more responsibility to be shoved on him. every year that passed, his father expected more from him, expected him to grow up and be the man issei thought he should be; the head of the shiba clan, the captain of gotei 13's 10th division, someone prepared to become a husband, to sire more shiba kids like issei had- birthdays were pretty miserable back then.

now? now isshin felt like he actually was the man he was supposed to be- not by issei's standards, but by his own. he was married to the woman he loved (and had memories of masaki to look back on to as well), he had his kids, who he adored more than life itself, and he had a home and a community he truly felt apart of.

birthdays reminded him of how lucky he was.

he pouted through his errands that day, but when he got home, he was delightfully surprised to see the house decorated, and reiko was there to greet him, like she did every day.

he couldn't hide his crooked grin as he leaned down low, kissing her head with warm affection. "you didn't have to go to all this trouble, honey-" before he noticed the gift she was offering him.

his grin turned softer, warmer, as he opened the gift, slowly starting to go through the photo within. he went slow, examining each one, watching them grow from old to newer and newer. watched reiko grow older, watched himself mature- watched them together and apart and then together again, their families growing too.

by the time he finished the album, he could barely see through the tears.

a shiver ran through his spine from the soft kiss on his chin, immediately leaning down to meet reiko, catching her lips in a kiss. sniffling a bit (he couldn't help it), he smiled against her lips, something he could never resist doing.

"thank you, honey. and have i ever told you that i'm the luckiest guy in the world?"

[scotianostra]

On April 16th 1117 Earl Magnus of Orkney, later St Magnus, is betayed and murdered by his cousin Håkon on the island of Egilsay in Orkney.

This is a great wee story, most of it gleaned from OrkneyJar, dates differ on other sites and I will post a link at the end going through the alternatives.

Orkney was ruled for most of its history by Norway. It occupied a crucial position off the north coast of Scotland for the Norwegian ships that harried England, Ireland and Wales and indeed Scotland, from the 9th to the 12th Centuries.

Hakon and Magnus grew up in Orkney. Their fathers, brothers Paul and Erlend, were joint Earls of Orkney: each ruling half of the islands. It was a period of peace and prosperity. Hakon developed into a proud fighter and warrior. Magnus preferred books to fighting and turned to the church for his strength.

Upon the death of their fathers, the Earldom passed to Sigurd, the son of King Magnus of Norway. During this time Hakon accompanied the King on various expeditions down the west coast of of the British Isles and lived up to his reputation as a fierce and fearless warrior.

Magnus joined the king on one expedition – a raiding expedition down the west coast of Scotland, travelling as far south as Angelsey. He refused to fight against English noblemen with whom he said he had no quarrel. (Some version say they were Welsh)

Rather than join battle, he sang psalms and prayed. He was no coward, but did not believe in fighting for its own sake. The king’s wrath was incurred so Magnus escaped from the King’s ship one night and swam to shore of Scotland where he had to disappear for several years until the old King was dead.

When the old king died, Sigurd succeeded to the Norwegian throne and Hakon was given the Earldom of Orkney.

Hakon ruled alone for a while, until Magnus arrived from Scotland and claimed possession of his patrimony, with the blessing of the new King. Hakon initially refused to give up any of Orkney, but as the local noblemen wouldn’t fight Magnus, he had to cede half of the islands. They ruled as their fathers had done.

Hakon and Magnus ruled Orkney in harmony for seven years; defending their Earldom from invaders and marauders with success. They appeared to have had a good understanding and Orkney flourished under their joint rule.

It seems that Magnus was the more popular of the cousins. The Orkneyinga Saga tells of a blameless life, a wise man, eloquent, strong-minded, magnanimous, and more beloved than any other man. He was generous to the deserving but severe with robbers and raiders. He punished rich and poor impartially for wrong-doing. His justice was fair and consistent. To cap it all, he was God-fearing. He married a Scots girl and lived with her for ten years without touching her, to honour a bond between him and God. When he was tempted to break his bond, he plunged into a tub of freezing water and prayed for divine guidance.

Hakon became increasingly jealous of Magnus’ popularity, fuelled at least in part by men of evil dispositions, Sigurd and Sighwat Sokki, who spread inflammatory rumours in the courts of both Earls. It resulted in Hakon and Magnus both taking troops to the regular meeting of Orkney noblemen on the Mainland. Battle was only averted by the intervention of noblemen who, as friends of both earls, managed to broker a truce.

To seal the bond of their reconciliation and continued cooperation, Hakon and Magnus arranged to meet on the island of Egilsay. They agreed to take only two ships each and few men. Magnus stuck to this arrangement and was on the island, praying, when Hakon arrived with eight ships and men armed to the teeth. His intent was clear.

It is recorded that Magnus had no concern for his own life, but wanted to save his cousin from the consequences of a shocking crime. He offered to leave on pilgrimage, never to return to Orkney. Hakon refused. He offered to submit to imprisonment in Scotland. Hakon refused. Finally he said “Let me be maimed as you like, or deprived of my eyes, and throw me into a dark dungeon”. Hakon was set to accept this offer, but his noblemen objected, saying that one or other of the Earls had to die that day. Hakon replied he would rather rule than die. Magnus’ fate was sealed.

In one more twist to the story, Hakon ordered his standard bearer to kill Magnus. He refused, knowing that the killer of such a popular man would be an outcast in Orkney. It was to his cook, Lifolf, that Hakon turned, knowing that he would not dare refuse the order. As Lifolf wept, Magnus prayed for him, forgave him, then prayed for the souls of his enemies, Earl Hakon included. Lifolf took up his axe and brought it down on Magnus’ forehead.

The place where Earl Magnus was slain had been rocks and moss, but after his death, grass grew strongly, indicating to the saga-writer that it was the death of a holy and righteous man. Hakon permitted the body to be buried in the church on the Brough of Birsay, which had been built by their Grandfather, Thorfinn. Soon after the burial a holy light was seen above the church and the sick were cured when they prayed at the grave. Pilgrimages started from all over Orkney.

Earl Hakon took over the rule of all of Orkney and extracted huge fines from those who had been loyal to Magnus. After a while, he made a pilgrimage to Rome and perhaps he saw the error of his ways, because against all the odds, he returned to Orkney to become a just and popular ruler, much lamented when he died, many years later.

The cult of Magnus spread well beyond Orkney’s shores. He died on April 16th 1117 and that day is kept as the day of his martyrdom. In the 12th Century saints could be chosen by popular acclaim; the canonisation process did not need a process at Rome. By 1136 he was a saint, authorised by the Bishop of Orkney. In 1137 the building of St Magnus Cathedral, which stands in the centre of Kirkwall today, was started by Earl Rognvald, Magnus’ nephew. It was erected with the express purpose of receiving the relics of St Magnus, which were transferred there when it was ready for use.

There was no firm evidence that the bones of St Magnus really did reside in St Magnus Cathedral until 1919, when extensive cathedral renovation was going on. Some loose stones were removed from a pillar, with the intention of re-mortaring them. Within a cavity behind these stones there was a box containing most of a human skeleton. The state of the skull conformed with the story in the sagas about St Magnus’ death wound to the head. St Magnus’ relics had been found. They were replaced and the stones fixed back in place.

A couple of links here the first is regarding a reconstruction of his face, fascinating stuff! http://www.bbc.co.uk/…/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetla…

The second link explains the dates of his murderhttp://www.orkneyjar.com/history/stmagnus/magnus6.htm

[ywpd-translations]

Ride 794: The culmination race

Pag 1

1: “There are people who you don't meet often, but when you do meet them you get along really well”

2: I heard that from a classmate a long time ago

And I thought “there's no way that there are people like that”

4: There's some strange people

5: It's funny, if they asked me now

Pag 2

1: I'd answer “of course there are”!!

Pag 3

1: “One of them lives in Chiba”, I'd say!!

2: One day, that guy was collapsed on Hakone and I helped him

3: Unexpectedly, he also rode a bike

4: We met again at CSP

5: Like me

6: he's a climber

Pag 4

1: We rarely meet

but when we do meet

2: We laugh

Pag 5

1: at the same silly things

2: Sakamichi-kun!! It's you!!

Pag 6

1: They passed the 1km left point!!

Manami and Mountain King!

Just a few minutes until they reach the mountain line!!

Soon!

Goo Hakogaku!!

Take it, Chiba!!

Pag 7

1: They're still neck and neck!!

Amazing, neither of them is yielding!!

It's a race of willpower!!

2: Until the mountain line

3: 800m left!!

4: My hands

5: are becoming numb

6: But I'll keep doing my best!!

Pag 8

2: Wh-wh-what do I do

My heart is pounding in my chest....

3: They're arriving!!

Huh!? They're arriving!? Wait, my heart isn't ready

Not yet

Not yet!? Not yet!!

4: Why am I so nervous....

Even though I'm not the one running

Pag 9

1: Even though the one who's running and having a hard time is Sangaku...

2: I'll drink this lemon tea the old lady at the ryokan gave me, and I'll calm down

3: Ohh, you're going to cheer at the Inter High?

Oh, and you come from Kanagawa!?

Yes, well

That's amazing

4: It's delicious

5: But

6: I'm stuck on one thing

7: Was it really a good thing that I came here to cheer?

Pag 10

1: One month ago

2: Kanagawa Prefecture, Hakone Academy

3: Ah

4: Class rep

5: Huh? From above!?

Huh, where is this voice coming from!?

The boys' toilets

Ah!?

Pag 11

1: Wait a moment, there's something I wanna ask you

Toi... ah!?

2: Huh!? Wait!? What!? Directly!?

Use the inside stairs... be caref....

2: Hop

Okay I get it, I get it, I'll come there

4: You know the other day... while I was running... a butterfly was flying,. And then I thought “oh, it's gone?”

And then when I went home and took off my jersey, it came out of it fluttering

What- you just came down the second floor so smoothly and started making conversation!!

Pag 12

1: Am I not amazing like a magician!?

Boys are strong...

Ah, yes yes, that's true

2: Is that all you wanted to tell me? I've been asked to go to the audiovisual room to bring these documents

3: Are you coming to the Inter High?

5: Huh

6: “Something he wanted to ask”

This year

Ah

7: “Inter High”

Pag 13

1: You came to the Inter High every year

I didn't know you liked road racing so much, Class rep

I...

2: I always thought

You even passed me a drink on the mountain last year

I thought

3: After last year's Inter High ended

4: I kept thinking about it even on the train home

5: that it was because I went to see him that Sangaku...

6: lost

Pag 14

1: I know it's unrelated... but, at the same place, screaming the same words

This year it'll be in Kyushu thought, so it's far...

2: It's small, it's a small thing, but if it gets in Sangaku's way

Hakogaku is going by plane, so it's easy

3: If he was even just a little distracted because of me and that made a small difference

(Win, Sangaku!!

Win, Sangaku!!)

4: Then I think it's better if I don't go this year

6: Because I want him to win

Pag 15

1: Ah, as expected Kyushu is too over-budget

That's not... ah... uhm

2: …. yeah, sorry

3: Well, I'll tell you the highlights

There'll be a camera, so you can watch videos

4: Watch it

The first day's mountain

“The first day's... mountain”

5: I think Sakamichi-kun will probably there too

“Sakamichi-kun”... the guy with the round glasses

6: We'll probably fight there

I think

Pag 16

1: It will be the culmination race of these three years

2: “Culmination”!!

3: “Of these three years”...!!

4: Such heavy words... this is Sangaku being serious

Culmination....!?

Pag 17

1: We have to fulfill our promise, so I'm sure Sakamichi-kun will come

2: “Sakamichi-kun”... they must be... close friends....

3: I think it'll probably end up being our best race

4: A... are you close friends!? You.. you and that Sakamichi-kun!?

5: Hahaha

Well, I guess

6: Even though we only contact each other two or three times a year

And that's being close friends!?

7: I lost against him during our first year... Hakogaku ended up losing, so I resented him

But I was blaming the wrong thing, because after all it was because of my lack of ability, wasn't it?

8: Now we often talk after races

Is... that so

9: But why don't you send more texts to each other? Is- is he really a close friend!?

Of course!!

Pag 18

1: After all we both “like hills”

Pag 19

2: Come see me if you can save money

Ye... yeah

3: Sangaku's smiling face that day was incredibly persuasive

I really wanted to see you race

4: So I came

to Kyushu!!

5: But

7: I really don't want to move forward, after all

It's enough if I can just see him a little... from behind here

Pag 20

1: What are you doing

2: Hyaa I'm sorry!!

I'm sorry for not paying attention to who was behind me! I'll just lean down a little!

Why don't you move forward?

3: Huh

4: Isn't he

5: a close friend of yours, and you used to always listen to his nonsense?

To... Toudou-san!!

[crazy-grrrl-on-the-computer]

A Rose's Thorns - Girly411 - 美男高校地球防衛部LOVE! | Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu LOVE! [Archive of Our Own]

Pairing: Miss Bara Beach/Hakone Goura

Rating: T (for some suggestive language and innuendo)

Summary: Years had passed since the fallout from the first alien invasion, but their battle wounds had barely begun to heal before news of the second generation had reached them… and that meant it was time for a reunion. Fortunately, that was nothing she couldn’t handle. After all, she was a rose and her thorns were sharp, but perhaps that was what he’d been afraid of.

Read on AO3.

Old Friends prompt for @rarepair-week

[whumpsday]

Whumpmas in July #7

Post a link to your favorite whump fic of all time (or reblog it and/or make a list of them!)

you know me... i love lists, so here my top 10 favorite whump series of all time! limiting myself to 10 was sooo hard but if i didn't i'd be here all night.

🪆 Dollhouse by @whumpshaped - Being obsessed with dolls at a young age isn't anything harmful or concerning. The problems only start to show when that obsession stays, only growing stronger instead of slowly fading away. Grace never quite managed to give up on the dream of her very own dollhouse - with the perfect, living dolls to go along with it. (multiple whumpees, body modification, nonconsensual surgery, drugging, starvation)

🦹 Hazeshift by @whumpwillow - A villain named Haze is rescued after having been held captive by a vigilante, but the heroes that find him aren’t exactly forgiving of his past crimes… (whumper turned whumpee, whumpee turned whumper, villain whumpee, hero caretaker and whumpers, torture, magic/powers whump)

🌓 Magnanimous Moonrise & Savage Sunset by @not-a-space-alien - Valen is a vampire on a mission…one which unfortunately puts him at odds with vampire hunters, who aren't happy about such a creature being so deep within their territory. Alexis and Ariana are partners and vampire hunters, trying to protect as many people as they can from the horrors of a world where vampires see humans as cattle, fair game for being snatched up and taken home as food. (vampire whumpee, lab whump, torture, recovery, contains 18+ content)

⚔️ Of Vampires and Men by @whumpy-writings - For years, the vampire nations of Lucia and Torin have lived in an uneasy peace. That all changed when Lucia annexed the independent city-state of Cesvic. Now, war is looming on the horizon and no one is safe. (vampire whumpers, vampire caretakers, vampire & human whumpees, war, dystopia, contains 18+ content)

🚀 Riot Kings by @befuddled-calico-whump - An overthrown crime lord is finally captured by his enemies--after he’s been thoroughly broken by someone far more dangerous than him. (sci-fi, war, villain whumpee, torture, webcomic)

👑 The Dark Side of the Sun by @quietly-by-myself - (this one didn't have an official summary so i'm writing a fan-summary) Cassius's work as an alchemist comes to an end when he's captured by the king of the tainted, kept to be tortured for his amusement as punishment for his wrongs. Hakon, who now loyally serves the king after being taken in following the brutal torture Cassius put him through in the name of science, has to decide whether he's willing to help his former tormenter now that the tables have turned. (whumper turned whumpee, whumpee turned caretaker, fantasy, magical whump, completed)

🐺 The Monster of Lindborough by @secretwhumplair - A werewolf caught stealing sheep is made to pay by their owners, regardless of the fact he never meant harm. (werewolf whumpee, whumper turned caretaker, found family, overwork, completed)

🧛 Things End | People Change by @whumpcloud - Clary Nikitin has been free for four years. She's doing okay. But she's angry. And when she hears that her kidnapper, vampire Vincent Maddox, has been captured, she isn't going to pass up the chance to see just how pathetic he's become. She didn't expect to take him with her. But what's the point of taking revenge if he's begging her to do it? (vampire whumper/whumpee, whumper turned whumpee, whumpee turned caretaker)

🏡 Tomas and Rowe by @whumpzone - (this one also didn't have an official summary so i am writing a fan-summary) Tomas has his work cut out for him when he takes in a traumatized human pet. As much as he tries, Rowe never stops being afraid. Little does he know, dark things are happening in his house when he leaves. (pet whump, dystopia, secret whumper, recovery, sadistic whumper, completed)

@whumpmasinjuly

[citrusitonit]

Do you like Dr. Stone?

If so, Can you info dump dr.Stone to me? If you want to, of course.

I could look it up myself but i mostly just want to get some of that info dump and that energy that only a fan who is hyperfixating can give often leads me to look into the media and it's fun. Idk

Hearing/seeing people (especially those i know or have interacted with) be happy and geek out about stuff is fun and i often end up wanting to check it out afterwards because of that

No worries if you don't wanna tho

no. no worries at all. in fact. you should worry.

im going to start from the beginning. and then explain each character in sequence.

senku, taiju, and yuzuriha are all best friends. senku is the extreme science guy, taiju is the brawny loud and energetic guy who has a crush on yuzuriha, and yuzuriha is a determined but reserved girl who is into crafts. (senku n taiju met during childhood while taiju met yuzuriha in middle school n introduced her to senku in the same timeframe bc she offered helped in making lightweight objects)

one day, (june 3rd 2019) taiju says to senku that hes finally gonna confess after 5 years. however when he finally meets her, bright green light envelops the whole world, and turns everyone to stone.

however, taiju retains his consciousness out of sheer willpower. Esxactly 3718 years pass, and with humans turned to stone, civilization crumbles. buildings fall down, animals take over, nature overrun cities. (note: the only creatures petrified were humans and swallow birds)

Taiju wakes n breaks from stone, naked, n is surrounded by nature. he finds senku, who was actually awake 6 monthz earlier. The only way they found out 3,718 years had passed was bc senku counted the days, and seconde in his consciousness ever since being petrified.

senku and taiju spend 6 months experimenting with petrified swallows for the revival/miracle fluid (depends on translation). in the end, its a success, but just as theyr about to revive yuzuriha they end up being cornered by lions and revive tsukasa shishio, the worlds strongest primate highschooler.

they work together n have 2 wait again to make the revival fluid. however tsukasa sees senkus abilities, and proposes to him an idea. that they should only revive the 'pure hearted youth', bc in this new world, it should be a paradise not tainted by the old world's philosophies where the greedy elders had the power. However, senku disagrees n it becomes tense between them.

Long story short they revive yuzuriha n after a little scuffle, run away to Hakone, where they can get sulfur for gunpowder to defeat tsukasa. but after accidentally lighting a fire they find out that ther r other ppl asides from them who r alive when they get a smoke signal response to their fire. sadly, tsukasa finds them, n after finding out the revival fluid formula, he kills senku.

taiju n yuzuriha run away wit senkus body n miraculously revive him using the science of the revival fluid. But since senkus known as dead, taiju n yuzuriha seprate from him. senku goes to find who made the smoke signal, while taiju n yuzuriha go to tsukasas new 'empire' as spies.

senku manages to find the mysterious person, who is trapped under a tree after they attempted to fight tsukasa. A girl named kohaku (shes blonde, and as senku finds out later, scarily strong and agile.) he eventually deduces that shes not a revived, but rather, a descendant of a revived. senku demonstrates his use of science by making a pulley and lifting the tree log. kohaku thanks him, and after camping out for the night, brings him to her village. its a primitive village, and there he meets chrome, a guy whos another 'sorcerer' (since they dont know science, they call it 'sorcery').

from then on, this is where the first arc starts.

now for my personal opinions.

i love dr stone so much because the anime is a serious, but not totally serious anime. Theres so many goofy scenes, and there are rare emotional moments. When there are, they arent overly cheesy or monologuey. also because the theme is a sort of fantasy, but its also somewhat relatable in terms of how ppl interact with each other. idk it just feels so real. everyone (EVERYONE) has their own unique personalities and features that differentiate them from each other. (except ahmm 4 some side charctrs)

the story has lots of lighthearted funny moments in every episode, n the humor is nice too. overall i am insane over this and it inspired me so much bc throughout the series senkus whole motto is to try and try and try again. it appeals very much to me bc his problems arent solved by some magical miracle. he works, and individually gathers the tools and ingredients needed for each thing he needs. and not just that, he relies on others, and others rely on him. For me, it teaches a lot of lessons about perseverance. n it feels more impacting even he doesnt do things in a snap. he sometimes finishes things in a week, a month, a day. progress takes time. and any bit of progress, even if its just a little, is still worth it. when conflict happens, he does not aim for the best scenario, but something thats atleast not the worst scenario. aside from that, he also gets nervous, he gets scared, he also gets sentimental, though ull barely notice.

in fact, he inspired me so much ive been getting into astronomy lately. Also, another thing another character taught me in this series is passion. like, pursue what you love, it doesnt have to be some long term passion. even if u feel like u shouldnt, pursue it. lets say uve taken interest in painting, paint as much as you can. never limit the desires of ur heart. tho this character was like, an heir of a huge company, rich asf. but the thing is even when he isnt rich (revived in the stone world. the title of heir means nothing now), he still manages to pursue whatever he wanted. he even says in a q and a, that "everything i did i could do through money. But if you truly love it, youll be able to find a way, even without money!!" and thats true. This type of passion also showed in tsukasas backstory. He trained, for years and years since childhood. he went boxing against full adults as a kid, accepted every interview his way, went to every show. until 18 he did so because he wanted to provide for his hospitalized sister (she was announced clinically braindead). his dad was a unemployed drunkard, and of course he needed money to keep his sister well in the hospital. he wasnt even born strong or anything. he was just an ordinary kid. but from then on he would go to free playground parks at night. hed train and train, and at his age signed himself up for ring fights. hed train hard to win against everyone hes pitted against. Just so he could give his sister gifts, and a nice hospital room.

anyways thats a super big example ramble thats what i think of dr stone yah