#this one is also from ch23!

[hollowed-theory-hall]

There was a post you wrote about Harry and Hermione's ruthlessness and how Ron is more normal compared to them (unfortunately I can't find it or else I would link it). But I feel like there have been several situations where Ron is kinda... merciless? He's more likely to wish ill for people he doesn't like and Hermione is generally horrified by such remarks. So, at times, I see Hermione as the moral compass with Harry and Ron being more ruthless. But then there is truth to that Rita scene analysis. So, I can see him being the moral compass of the trio as well. Who do you think is the real moral compass of the trio then?

So, I don't think moral is exactly the right word. Moral and ruthless aren't opposites, not always. So, it's a little more complicated than that. What I usually say is that Ron is the most hinged in the trio, and Harry and Hermione are more unhinged, which, isn't just about ruthlessness/marcy.

(Past posts about this: Harry can be scary, Harry is willing to kill, Hermione's ruthlessness, Ron's mean streak)

Harry — is very empathetic and forgiving on a personal level when he understands someone but couldn't give less of a shit about the larger systematic issues or people on his shit list. He is empathetic and would go out of his way to save people he considers innocent:

“We were hundreds of feet up! Stan’s not himself and if I stunned him and he’d fallen, he’d have died the same as if I’d used Avada Kedavra!!...”

(DH, Ch5)

But if someone deserves it, if he sees someone as undeserving of mercy, there is none:

well, unless you count Quirrell, and he got what he deserved seeing as he was working with Voldemort.

(HBP, Ch4)

Harry had pinned Mundungus against the wall of the pub by the throat. Holding him fast with one hand, he pulled out his wand. “Harry!” squealed Hermione. [...] “I — no — what — ?” spluttered Mundungus, who was slowly turning purple.

(HBP, Ch12)

Wriggling around he cried, “Stupefy!” and a red bolt of light shot from his own wand, cleaving a gap between the four pursuing Death Eaters as they scattered to avoid it.

(DH, Ch4) - He cast Supify at a DE in the Battle of the 7 Potters, knowing it's like casting an AK. He also cast Confringo and other spells that would kill them.

“Hasn’t changed much, has he?” Harry muttered to Ginny, who grinned. [...] Lockhart’s memory so badly that he had landed here in the first place, though, as Lockhart had been attempting to permanently wipe Harry and Ron’s memories at the time, Harry’s sympathy was limited.

(OotP, Ch23)

As Amycus spun around, Harry shouted, “Crucio!” The Death Eater was lifted off his feet. He writhed through the air like a drowning man, thrashing and howling in pain, and then, with a crunch and a shattering of glass, he smashed into the front of a bookcase and crumpled, insensible, to the floor. “I see what Bellatrix meant,” said Harry, the blood thundering through his brain, “you need to really mean it.”

(DH, Ch30)

What Bellatrix said, as a refresher: “You need to mean them, Potter! You need to really want to cause pain — to enjoy it — righteous anger won’t hurt me for long...”

Harry's sense of justice is based on his loyalty and understanding of people. His loved ones or people he understands deserve forgiveness even if they did awful things, others though? Others who do evil deserve everything coming to them, and Harry would gladly be the one to serve justice if he could and feel satisfied at their misfortune.

Ron — can be mean. He talks a lot about violence and enjoying Malfoy being in pain (when it is easily reversible). He complains about having to save Draco and threatens to punch/curse people more than Harry and Hermione:

Malfoy and some of the other Slytherins cheered. Hermione was dancing on tiptoes. “Do you think he’s all right?” she squealed through her fingers. “Who cares?” said Harry and Ron together.

(CoS, Ch11) - about Lockhart

“I’m here!” came Ron’s muffled voice from behind the rockfall. “I’m okay — this git’s not, though — he got blasted by the wand —”There was a dull thud and a loud “ow!” It sounded as though Ron had just kicked Lockhart in the shins.

(CoS, Ch16)

“She’s an awful woman [Umbridge],” said Hermione in a small voice. “Awful. You know, I was just saying to Ron when you came in . . . we’ve got to do something about her.” “I suggested poison,” said Ron grimly.

(OotP, Ch15)

As Smith strode away in an annoyingly buoyant fashion, Ron glared after him. “Shall I jinx him? I can still get him from here,” he said, raising his wand and taking aim between Smith’s shoulder blades. “Forget it,” said Harry dismally. “It’s what everyone’s going to think, isn’t it? That I’m really stup —”

(OotP, Ch24)

He is the member of the trio to suggest violence the most often and rant angrily, but he doesn't actually go through with his threats as much as Harry and Hermione do. He can be cruel and take joy in the pain of people he dislikes/harmed people he cares for, when he doesn't see it or when it's easily reversible. He is rarely the one actually doing the harming, and when he does, it is way less extreme than the type of things Harry and Hermione pull.

He is very aware of the situation and entertains violence and even killing when he thinks the situation calls for it:

“What are we going to do with them?” Ron whispered to Harry through the dark; then, even more quietly, “Kill them? They’d kill us. They had a good go just now.”

(DH, Ch9)

But he doesn't like it:

“You’re the boss,” said Ron, sounding profoundly relieved. “But I’ve never down a Memory Charm.”

(DH, Ch9)

Even when it's Lockhart, Ron feels guilty about his state:

“Er — how are you, Professor?” said Ron, sounding slightly guilty.

(OotP, Ch23)

His violence is reactionary to protect his friends, and he is the member of the trio that kills/curses the fewest people. He can do it, and would be loud about people deserving it, but he doesn't like people being hurt, even when he doesn't like them, even when he says he's fine with it, he doesn't like seeing it, in contrast with Harry, here, who is unphased by the thought of killing Death Eaters and chooses not to for cold, practical reasons not out of any sense of morality or aprehention about killing:

Harry shook his head. “We just need to wipe their memories,” said Harry. “It’s better like that, it’ll throw them off the scent. If we killed them it’d be obvious we were here.”

(DH, Ch9)

Hermione — is a weird case, because she's a hypocrite. She is horrified at the unforgivable curses, she is terrified at the thought of killing anyone:

“Kill them? They’d kill us. They had a good go just now.” Hermione shuddered and took a step backward.

(DH, Ch9)

She's empathetic to house elves and anyone in a position she considers weaker and in need of help. She calls out Harry and Ron a lot about taking joy in someone's pain or laughing at others' misfortune (even when Draco was turned into a ferret, for example).

And yet... and yet:

1. She keeps a woman in a jar and is proud and overjoyed by it:

“No, you see . . . Rita Skeeter” — Hermione’s voice trembled with quiet triumph — “is an unregistered Animagus. She can turn —” Hermione pulled a small sealed glass jar out of her bag. “— into a beetle.” “You’re kidding,” said Ron. “You haven’t . . . she’s not . . .” “Oh yes she is,” said Hermione happily, brandishing the jar at them. Inside were a few twigs and leaves and one large, fat beetle. “That’s never — you’re kidding —” Ron whispered, lifting the jar to his eyes. [...] Harry looked and saw that she was quite right. He also remembered something. “There was a beetle on the statue the night we heard Hagrid telling Madame Maxime about his mum!”

(GoF, Ch37) - Hermione is elated, Harry doesn't care, and Ron is horrified.

2. She hides an incurable curse in the D.A. partchment and tells no one about it:

and Marietta gave a wail and pulled the neck of her robes right up to her eyes, but not before the whole room had seen that her face was horribly disfigured by a series of close-set purple pustules that had spread across her nose and cheeks to form the word “SNEAK.”

(OotP, Ch27)

Both she and Harry feel justified in what happened to Marietta:

“Ron’s dad works for the Ministry too!” Harry said furiously. “And in case you hadn’t noticed, he hasn’t got ‘sneak’ written across his face —” “That was a really horrible trick of Hermione Granger’s,” said Cho fiercely. “She should have told us she’d jinxed that list —” “I think it was a brilliant idea,” said Harry coldly. Cho flushed, and her eyes grew brighter.

(OotP, Ch28)

And while Ron goes on angry rants about Mariatta, and I don't think he minds she got cursed, I don't think he'd ever have done that himself. Nor is he as satisfied with it as Harry and Hermione. He is thinking that they shouldn't have let her in in the first place, not that she deserves what she got.

3. She tells Harry not to help Ron cheat because it's wrong to do:

“I want a word with you, Harry.” She took a deep breath. “You shouldn’t have done it. You heard Slughorn, it’s illegal.” [...] said Hermione shrilly. “You spiked Ron’s juice with lucky potion at breakfast! Felix Felicis!”

(HBP, Ch14)

When she did the exact same thing, knowing it was cheating:

but Harry caught Hermione’s arm and held her back. “What?” said Hermione defensively “If you ask me,” said Harry quietly, “McLaggen looks like he was Confunded this morning. And he was standing right in front of where you were sitting.” Hermione blushed. “Oh, all right then, I did it,” she whispered. “But you should have heard the way he was talking about Ron and Ginny!...

(HBP, Ch11)

And Harry didn't even help Ron magically cheat; he didn't put the potion in, he just tricked Ron to think he did. Hermione on the other hand...

4. She set a teacher on fire with no moral qualms:

Reaching Snape, she crouched down, pulled out her wand, and whispered a few, well-chosen words. Bright blue flames shot from her wand onto the hem of Snape’s robes.

(PS, Ch11) - though, I'll give her that the fire didn't seem to burn Snape.

5. She led Umbridge to the centaurs on purpose:

“Is it very far in?” Umbridge asked, as her robe ripped on a bramble. “Oh yes,” said Hermione. “Yes, it’s well hidden.” Harry’s misgivings increased. Hermione was not taking the path they had followed to visit Grawp, but the one he had followed three years ago to the lair of the monster Aragog. Hermione had not been with him on that occasion; he doubted she had any idea what danger lay at the end of it. “Er — are you sure this is the right way?” he asked her pointedly. “Oh yes,” she said in a steely voice, crashing through the undergrowth with what he thought was a wholly unnecessary amount of noise. [...] “Please,” said Hermione breathlessly, “please, don’t attack us, we don’t think like her, we aren’t Ministry of Magic employees! We only came in here because we hoped you’d drive her off for us —” [...] “You said you didn’t hurt the innocent!” shouted Hermione

(OotP, Ch33)

Knowing they would hurt her.

6. Unlike Ron and Harry, she actually harms loved ones (the worst Harry and Ron would do is shout and get angry, maybe give the silent treatment; they won't attack a friend in a moment of rage):

“Oppugno!” came a shriek from the doorway. Harry spun around to see Hermione pointing her wand at Ron, her expression wild: The little flock of birds was speeding like a hail of fat golden bullets toward Ron, who yelped and covered his face with his hands, but the birds attacked, pecking and clawing at every bit of flesh they could reach.

(HBP, Ch14)

Hermione is fine causing a lot of harm to people as long as she feels her hands are clean. As long as it isn't dark magic, as long as they are people she considers deserving of it, as long as it's something she can keep emotional distance from. She has a certain moral line that she's terrified of passing because I think she knows she could. She clings to laws and what she knows is right and would loudly reprimand Ron and Harry for their remarks, while doing worse offenses.

Hermione, impolsivly, does some prety unhinged, ruthless shit, but still acts like these things are morally wrong to do. As long as she can justify her actions, claim it was someone else ("I didn't make the centaurs hurt Umbridge"), or say that technically it's legal because of some loophole — she can do some messed up things while still feeling morally superior.

That's why I don't see Hermione as the most moral of the trio and Ron as the most hinged one. They are all capable of violence and ruthlessness; they just have a sense of justice that works differently and have different thoughts on violence.

Harry and Hermione both have a strong sense of justice and tend to take it into their own hands to punish those they see as deserving of it (even if Hermione tells Harry not to when he does these things, she does them herself plenty). They are also more flexible in what is considered just, with Hermione working under her own hypocritical way of: "if I do it, it's fine as long as it's not dark magic, if others do it, it's bad".

Harry's flexibility comes from a place of understanding. If someone did bad things, but Harry understands them (Tom, Draco, for example), they deserve to be offered forgiveness regardless of the damage they did. Harry is the type of person who would justify any of his loved ones murdering someone, because if they do it, it's okay. And if you harm/disrespect people and aren't in Harry's "okay list", you deserve what's coming to you, even torture and death. His justice is influenced by personal attachment and sympathy.

Ron, usually reacts and calls for violence in defence of loved ones or himself, and he is the least forgiving of the trio. His sense of justice also comes from personal loyalty, but in a different way — if you harmed his friends or family once, that's it, you deserve what's coming and he'd talk about it — loudly — even if he would rather not be the one to pull the metaphorical trigger and would feel kind of guilty over you being hurt if he actually witnessed it. His violence also tends to be tamer than the other two.

Ron's violence is saying something mean, a jinx here and there, a punch maybe; he fights like a teenager. Harry strangles, tortures, and is satisfied with how broken Lockhart is; he fights like a soldier. Hermione disfigures, tortures (she kept Rita in a jar!), and takes pride in it; she doesn't like fighting, she hits before the fight. Ron is just so much tamer than the other two. They can all be ruthless, but Ron is who I consider the most balanced member of the trio (and my choice for Minister of Magic).

Basiclly: Ron has a lot of bark and not much bite (he can bite if pushed, but he isn't going to like it), Hermione has basically no bark, but a lot of bite, and Harry has both a bark and a bite (just in a different way than the other two).

[ashleyh713fanfics]

Dazai X Odasaku's Little Sister Ch23

(PSA: This story contains an original character. That being said, it also has relationship building along with real life development and character studies. If that interests you please don’t let that deter you from reading. It’s worth it, I promise)

Chapter 23: "Vulnerability is a Death Sentence"

Summary: As Odasaku's little sister helps out with the Flags mission, and Chuuya has to form an unwillingly partnership with her, where he finds out perhaps she's not exactly heartless like Dazai after all. In fact, they may be more similar then they originally though. But for a boy like Chuuya who has only known betrayal, trusting another would seem impossible.

(This chapter is for the Chuuya stans. I hope I represented you well 🫡)

Warnings: pm!sixteen year old chuuya, manipulation, small bit of stabbing, talks of Odasaku's death, grumpy angry chuuya for real here, chuuya is suffering and we all love it (poor boy), distrustful Chuuya, mentions of killing and assassins, murder, morally grey complex characters, self destruction.

(This is chapter twenty-three of my fanfic "Timeless" which is now on A03. I'll link the master list below so you can get the full story. Asagao's ability is to stop time for up to six seconds.)

Master List Here- To Start from Ch1 <3

A03 Here

Work Count: 10k

Chapter 23:

"Vulnerability is a Death Sentence"

(One Year Ago) 

Chuuya: Age Fifteen 

Soul Searching. 

That’s what Shirase, a member of the Sheep said, that they did some “soul searching” before he plunged a rat poison soaked knife into Chuuya’s side with the intent of murder. The very organization that those kids called their leader, their King, betrayed him without a second thought. 

All because of one job he did with their enemies, the port mafia. 

He managed to get away, clutching his side as he pulled the knife free from his body before leaning his head against the bottom of the cliff in shame and internal pain.

Hearing the faint shouts of a kid he used to trust with his life command to go after him, Chuuya closed his eyes, willing away the reality of the situation. “Go get him right out! He may be weakened by the poison but it won’t be enough to kill him! Finish the job!”

Shirase. He could hear the anger, the disgust in his voice even from here. His own army, his makeshift family he thought he had, treating him like an enemy. 

The deception was still fresh on his tongue, cutting through his soul with his own self shame. Why the hell did he even trust them to begin with? The people that took him in and gave him a makeshift home, they tore it out from under him without a second thought. 

Perhaps he deserved it, perhaps this was always going to be the outcome. Chuuya allowed the toxic idea to play inside his mind and torment him, making the wound to his side hurt more with each self-deprecating thought. 

They saw him as weak, as disposable, and maybe he was. For a boy with no memory before the age of seven, a boy that couldn’t even dream or understand such simple concepts like bread without being taught, a boy that didn’t even know if he was human..

Maybe he deserved this. 

And yet he fought, he screamed and yelled with all his might against the idea because the reality of any of that being true was something that Chuuya could not accept. 

They wanted to dispose of him? Then they’d have a hell of a fight. 

And then, like a nightmare, he appeared. 

Dazai Osamu. 

A devil in sheep's clothing, a demon in the form of man, acting like some sort of savior even though he was the one that set everything up from the beginning. He planted the seeds of doubt into the Sheep, he was the one that caused all of this to turn into motion. 

A joke, a goddamn joke, that’s what he felt like, a pawn in a game he didn’t even know he was playing. He was always a joke, first with The Sheep and now with the Demon Prodigy.

That bastard, he hated him more than anything, but he had no choice, he had to reach out his hand to the boy, for that was his only option, and from the sick grin on his lips, Dazai knew that too. 

Easily manipulated. Easily played. 

Dazai hummed absentmindedly, his eyes sharp like a hawk. “You know, now that the GSS and the Sheep have formed an alliance, we have to shut them down. If I do my job, by noon today they’ll all be dead.” 

Widening his eyes, Chuuya immediately felt his ability activate, the red glow around him an ominous promise. “You’d really hurt all those kids?” 

What a goddamn idiot he thought himself to be. They had just outwardly expressed their desire to murder him and yet the idea of all those kids being massacred by the port mafia’s hands left him with a feeling he couldn’t bear. 

He felt pathetic, utterly pathetic as Dazai shrugged at the idea of killing kids. “Our policy never changes. That said, if someone on my team made that suggestion for me not to go through with it, I would take that under advisement.”

And there it was, like a pit in his stomach, the final piece, the checkmate. 

A hot ball of anger coursed through Chuuya’s throat as it all became clear. So that’s how it is. It was all for this moment. 

So he could be manipulated to join the port mafia. 

Narrowing his eyes at the banaged bastard, Chuuya weighed his options, the ones he knew he didn’t actually have. He wanted so badly to tell Dazai and those port mafia bastards to shove it. He wanted to not play into their hands just for the sole purpose of proving something. 

But somewhere deep down he knew he couldn’t. Although The Sheep had abandoned him, left him for dead, he still didn’t have the heart to turn the other cheek while the port mafia murdered them all. 

He cursed himself for not being as heartless as Dazai, for not allowing himself to just say screw them and die as a giant middle finger to their efforts. 

But whether human or not, whether a blessing or a curse, he couldn’t do it. “Just don’t kill the children.” 

Lifting his head, Chuuya sealed his fate, but with that came a deep rooted distrust that he would hold deep for the rest of his life. 

He would not allow himself to be played in such a way again, he would not let his heart be laid open only for people like the Demon Prodigy to crush it between his fingers. 

That’s right, he would fight and scream and curse but he would never trust again. 

Because who would want to even care for something like him? Surely they would all lie, like Dazai, and like the Sheep.

No, he’d never fall for it again.

That damn son of a bitch, if that’s how you want to play it. I’m in.

-----

(Present Day)

Shoving his hands in his pockets, Chuuya made his way down the dark Yokohama streets as he shook away bad memories he would like to forget. They needed to focus. Someone was murdering port mafia members and it was their job to stop it. That’s all that mattered now. 

He then glanced behind him only to mentally groan at the reminder of Dazai’s girlfriend following behind them, a slight skip to her step like she was going to a colorful kids birthday party and not a possible murder scene. 

That girl, he couldn’t get over her, she was a certified nutcase. He didn’t trust her, not one bit. He had learned better after all, ready for her to stab him in the back at any second of the day. A means to an end, that’s what he has to keep telling himself. 

He’d use her and then he’d never see her again. 

Besides, what the hell was she talking about, wanting to be his friend so badly? There’s no way he’d want someone certifiably insane like her so close. That was a death sentence waiting to happen. She was playing him, she had to be. 

There was no way she was actually serious about such a ridiculous thing. 

Meanwhile, Iceman was having another problem, the man not having broken his eyes from the small auburn haired dorky looking girl since they left the base. There was still something about her he didn’t like, and although she hid it well, he was going to find out soon enough. 

Because if she was a threat to his colleagues then he would do something about it. 

And that was a promise. 

He then paused when Asagao’s voice rang out next to him, a calm smile on her lips. “Iceman, right? I can see why they call you that. I can feel the cold chill from here haha.” 

The man narrows his eyes before replying. “You knew I was watching you..”

Asa shrugs her shoulders. “A bit yeah. Am I really that fascinating?” 

She downplayed it but her response only made him even more suspicious. He was being subtle about profiling her and yet she noticed so quickly. She was smarter than she led on, and that was a dangerous sentiment. 

Iceman frowns at the idea. “You’re hiding something and I’m gonna find out what it is.” 

He watched her reaction, to see him there is any unease there but she simply laughs, like it’s a funny joke. “Ah, well aren’t we all hiding something? I mean you’re an assassin right? I bet you got all sorts of skeletons in your closet, yeah?” 

She wasn’t denying it, How odd. “I suppose.” 

Asagao smiles at that, nodding in step with him. “I knew it! I bet you have a lot of nasty kills under your belt huh?”

Iceman raises an eye at that. “You don’t seem bothered by that..”

Asa laughs in reply. “Why should I be? It’s just your job.”

The man paused at the notion. While yes that’s true, the idea that this sixteen year old kid was just laughing off the idea of murder was not normal. Usually someone would steer away from those kinds of topics but not only was she encouraging it, she was bringing it up. 

Tilting her head, the kid pauses in naive confusion. “Hm? Did I say something wrong?” 

Iceman then took a breath before approaching the topic carefully. “Not many young girls have that kind of mindset, not many people for that matter. You’re not disturbed at all at the idea of me being an assassin?”

Asagao turns silent for a moment, her eyes screwing together in a complex thought like she couldn’t understand his words. “Mm they don’t? How odd. I don’t see why it would disturb them. It’s just orders after all. You get told what target to kill and then you do it? Seems simple to me.” 

Iceman stops walking at that, his eyes widening in shock at what she casually just said. “Just orders? I’m taking people’s lives.” 

She only nods in reply, not understanding the gravity of the situation at all. “Yeah, I know that. But it’s nothing personal. Just orders. An indifference.”

An indifference? Was she serious? Perhaps in simple terms it was that black and white but nothing was that simple. He may be an assassin but the act of ending another person wasn’t anything like she was saying. 

Yes he had orders and yes he carried them out but with each life there was a sort of guilt, the humanity in him, never able to fully detach from the depravity from the action. He did it anyway but to be completely void of emotion when pulling that trigger, that was a kind of heartlessness he wasn’t able to achieve. 

Regardless of who they were or how evil or innocent they were, they were still people and ignoring that felt like a disservice to the trigger he pulled each and every time. Killing was anything but simple, and yet she was speaking about it like she was talking about the weather. 

Just who in the hell was this kid that Chuuya found? 

Iceman then felt his next words form without permission. “You’ve killed before.” 

It was a statement, something he had no proof of and yet somehow wholeheartedly believed. The assassin in him was screaming it from the very depths of his lungs. This little girl had seen darkness, and perhaps had also created it as well. 

Asagao pauses at that, looking back at where Iceman had stopped walking, a look in her eyes under the dorky glasses she wears that is absolutely unreadable. She doesn’t answer his question but she doesn’t need to, the way the air shifts is enough of an answer in itself.

Something hidden behind those glasses, something lurking just under the happy go lucky persona she puts on for everyone else. Iceman could see it, better than anyone else. 

A thinly veiled danger under the surface. 

He opened his mouth to confront it when Chuuya’s phone rings, causing everyone to turn to look only to watch the young ginger boy's face grow pale before hanging up and shouting. “That was Doc, he said to hurry to the wharf, there was an ambush regarding the jewel trade!”

That caused everyone to immediately pick up the pace, forgetting any previous conversation as they rushed to the scene only for Chuuya to see Asagao bumping into random people due to their retreating figures and her unreliable off prescription glasses.

Oh for the love of..

Groaning in annoyance, the boy doubled back before grabbing her hand to pull her along with them. She was such a pain the ass, unable to not be a disaster without his help all the damn time. “We don’t have time for this, let’s go!” 

Asa squeaks as Chuuya pulls her along the streets of Yokohama, trying to keep up with him as she silently thanks the boy for not leaving her to get lost by herself. 

They reach the wharf in record time, as they see Doc is waiting for them outside the large warehouse doors, eying Asa with interest. “Oh? Who’s the new kid?” 

Chuuya brushes the introduction away though. “Not important, what happened?”

Doc then glances inside before leaning against the warehouse doors. “See for yourself, but I’d brace yourself. It isn’t pretty, even for me.” 

Pushing open the warehouse doors, the Flags all freeze at the sight before them. Bodies, dozens of dead bodies face down on the cold cement floor, all of them lower level port mafia members. 

The smell of iron is prevalent, causing Chuuya to clench his fists. No one dares speak, all of them too stunned by the scene to say anything. 

All of them, except Asa that is, the girl not having the same reaction in the silentest as she whistles. “Damn, someone got busy in here.That’s gotta be like two dozen bodies.” 

Everyone blinks in disbelief before turning to Asagao only to find her completely unbothered by the marassace. In fact, she seemed almost, impressed? But that couldn't be. This was a horrible horrific scene, who would be impressed by this?

Asagao seemed to notice the staring, pausing as she looked behind her in confusion before turning back to them. “What? What are you staring at?” 

They all turn to each other again silently. Did she seriously not think anything was wrong with her reaction? Nothing at all? They couldn’t believe it. 

Chuuya groans, walking past the psychotic girl with a mutter. “Ignore her, she’s fucking insane. We have to figure out who did this.”

Shaking out of their thoughts, the Flags nod before stepping inside the warehouse for clues, Iceman watching Asa very carefully as she casually strolls through the bodies like she was taking a walk through a park or something.

It was like she had no reaction to death at all, like she didn’t possess it. How strange. 

Asagao looks down at the bodies carefully, cataloging the manner of their death before she hums. “These kills are personal. Stab wounds, choking, they wanted it to hurt. Hey guys, what kinda enemies do you have around here?” 

The girl then notices something next to the body and slips it into her pocket with a hum.

Lippman only snorts though. “What kind of enemies don’t we have, princess? The list is pretty long.” 

Chuuya nods. “Yeah, saying it was personally against the port mafia doesn’t mean much. We piss a lot of people off.” 

They remain quiet at the idea. It was true, someone attacking the mafia was dumb but not unheard of. Mori screwed over a lot of people and many wanted revenge for their misdeeds, but still, something seemed wrong about this to Chuuya. 

They were targeting the jewel trade now, and that was his division. 

Somehow, this felt personal. 

They all pause when they hear Albatross’ voice. “Hey guys, I think I found something. Come over here!” 

The group follows the call over to a body in the corner only for the man to hold up a piece of paper. “This was in this guy's pocket. It looks to be an address, written hastily like it was in the middle of the attack.” 

Piano Man takes the small piece of paper and sure enough, it was an address, barely legible, with blood around the edges like the man was bleeding out when he wrote it. “You think this guy was giving us a lead?”

Chuuya frowns at the sight though,it seemed too easy. “I don’t trust it. It could be a trap.” 

Asagao then peeks over the boy’s shoulder though, humming in interest. “But that’s part of the fun, isn’t it? A high stakes mission that could be a trap in the end! Oh, my blood’s pumping just thinking about it!” 

Turning around, Chuuya glares in her direction. She was way too happy about possibly walking to their deaths by following this note. “Could you stop being so damn giddy about this? This isn’t a game, it’s serious..” 

She pouts in response as Albatross laughs, resting his arms on Asa’s head. “Oh come on Chu Chu , I agree with her. We should go see what this place is about.” 

Chuuya hisses in response. “I told you to stop calling me that stupid nickname..” 

Piano Man only puts his hand up though to stop the bickering. “I know it’s risky but it’s the only lead we have. I say we follow it, especially if our colleague gave his life to tell us this. It would be a disservice not to at least see what it is.” 

Everyone then turns to the dead body before coming to an agreement. If this low leveled mafioso wrote them this note in his last moments alive then they had to see it through it. 

The group then starts filtering out of the warehouse, Asagao turning around happily to start her first true mafioso mission when she spots Chuuya as he leans down over the dead body of the man that wrote the note before he gently closes the man's eyes so they are peacefully shut. 

Blinking in confusion, Asa steps towards the boy. “Why did you do that?”

Chuuya only scoffs though, looking down at the man before muttering. “Thanking him for his service to the port mafia.” 

But Asagao frowns in response, her brain not connecting the sentiment. “What’s the point? He’s already dead.” 

Glaring in her direction, Chuuya gets up from his knee before walking over to her, disgust in his eyes. How could she be so heartless? “But he was human.” 

Then the boy pauses, seeing the disconnect in her eyes, like she couldn't understand a simple thing like empathy for the dead. 

And she couldn’t. For Asagao, she had been raised as an assassin with an assassin mindset. She pulled the trigger hundreds of times and disconnected the emotions that came with such an action time and time again, so much so her view on death was never quite right. 

But she never noticed it, not until she saw the way Chuuya looked at her like she was crazy, like she was doing something wrong. So much so, she wanted to poke him more about the topic. 

Yet before she could, he had already walked away, leaving her confused and bothered as she looked at the man’s dead body and felt nothing. Absolutely nothing. 

Just like when she tried to think about her brother, it was that same empty feeling. 

That hole inside her soul, like something had been carved out, something was missing from her humanity. Death, was it supposed to feel a certain way? Was something wrong with her?

Whirling around she calls after the boy. “Chuuya..”

He pauses at the sound of her voice, hearing the slight desperate edge of it, something he had never associated with her before. So much so, he thought it was a trick. 

Turning around against his will, the kid waits for her to speak.

Asagao remains silent for a moment, her hands tensing into a ball, unsure how to approach such a sensitive topic for her before she asks. “How..how does death feel?”

And that was something Chuuya certainly didn’t expect, his eyes rising with confusion and slight annoyance as he tried to process her words. “What kind of question is that?” 

His voice was sharp, accusatory, causing Asa to internally recoil a bit before pointing to the dead man with even more uncertainty. “I..I don’t know. I just..you look at this man and you feel something, right?” 

The girl needed to know, she needed to see if she was just imagining it or if there truly was something she was missing. Because if Chuuya felt that same empty hole that she did when she looked at that dead man, then why did he gently close his lifeless eyes and call him human? 

Asagao didn’t understand. 

Chuuya frowns even more at her odd question, glancing at the low leveled grunt before turning back to her. Sure, he didn’t know the guy personally but he had given his life in the name of the port mafia, exactly like he would’ve done. They were unnamed comrades whether he liked it or not. 

So of course he’d care. 

But that had always been who he was, Chuuya closing his eyes for a moment as he recalls sacrificing himself to the port mafia last year in exchange to save the Sheep’s lives even though those kids had actively tried to kill him. 

Pulling the trigger, ending a life, it was still something the mafioso found hard. 

So of course he cared about this unnamed dead man, enough to respect him and his sacrifice for the mafia that is. But didn’t everyone feel that way? 

Scoffing at her question, the boy opened his eyes to look at her again, accusatory. “Yeah. Don’t you?” 

But his words were like a bullet through Asagao’s chest. He said it like it was a matter of fact, that it was second nature to do something so meaningful for the dead, like looking at this dead body was obviously supposed to invoke something inside her. 

And yet, she felt nothing.

Her hellhound assassin training, it had shifted something she didn’t even know.

Not until now. 

A horrible thought then crossed her mind. If Dazai died would she look at his body with this same empty void? Would she look at his corpse and feel absolutely nothing as well? She couldn’t bear the thought, given that he was the most precious thing in her life. 

But then again, the memory of Oda was precious to her as well and she didn’t connect to that either in any capacity. Her heart dropped at the realization that maybe this went further than just not knowing him personally. Maybe there truly was an unbalance.

How cruel of her for not having such an emotion everyone else seemed to possess. 

Closing her fists even tighter to turn white, Asa felt her tongue run dry. She wanted to tell him the truth to tell him that something was wrong with her, that she was broken or defective but the words didn’t come. 

Fear of judgment, fear of being looked at like a monster seeps in before she can even stop it. She wanted him to be her friend but surely he wouldn’t want her if she was an unfeeling monster, unable to process or understand the sentiment of death or killing. 

And even though she was wearing her glasses to blur her vision, she couldn’t help but remember Chuuya’s hatred when she looked at him previously without them. No, that couldn’t happen again, she didn’t want to see it. 

How vulnerable she truly was. 

So instead, Asagao then closed her eyes for a moment before forcing a smile onto her lips to skip past Chuuya and lock down her insecurities. “Whaaa? What kind of question is that? Of course I do. Just wanted to get on the same page. Now, let’s catch up with the others! We got a lead to follow!” 

Then she races out of the warehouse, not looking at the dozens of bodies as she goes, not because she couldn’t bear to see them.. 

But because she didn’t want Chuuya to know how broken she truly was. 

——-

They group arrived at the large unassuming high rise building that had the same location as the note the dead mafioso had in his pocket before they snuck around the back and immediately thought of a plan. 

Having no idea what they were going to walk in on, any solution was going to be risky but this was the best shot they had in order to find out who was really killing port mafia members so brutally. 

Piano Man hums before whispering low. “Alright, first things first, before we do anything we’re gonna have to find a way to disable the security systems so we can walk around a bit more freely.” 

Asa then raises her hand, waving it around like an excited toddler. “Oh, me! Pick me, I can do it!” 

The group turns to her, some skeptical, some amused as Lippman chuckles. “You sure, princess? This is a pretty risky job.” 

She only nods though, eager and ready as she bounces on the heels of her feet. “Yes, I can do it! I promise, I’ll disable those security systems super fast, you can count on me!” 

Chuuya raises an eye in concern before all the other Flags look at him and he sighs. She was crazy but he’s seen how convincing she can be, so he vouches for her. “Yeah, she probably can do it.”

Asagao then claps her hands in joy. “Yay, thank you Chu Chu!” 

But the ginger then raises a hand to stop her from getting too excited. “Don’t thank me,I still don’t trust you. So you’ll be wearing a wire to make sure you don’t do anything dumb.” 

She doesn’t seem to mind though, taking the suggestion in stride. “Oooh a wire? It’s like a real life spy mission! Alright I’m game!” 

Chuuya then groans before gesturing to the others as they fit her with the wire, Asagao humming happily as they do so. 

Albatross can’t help but chuckle. “Hey kid, you seem really excited about this but be careful, yeah? We wouldn’t want you to get stabbed or poisoned or anything haha.” 

The girl gives him a thumbs up in response. “No worries! My body detoxes poison pretty fast anyways so I’m good!” 

Pausing for a moment, the mafioso then bursts out laughing, ruffling her hair with affection. “Oh I like you! You’re so interesting Asa. I never know what you’re gonna say next, it’s great!” 

Asagao laughs as well, beaming at the compliment, which is strange for her since usually people don’t take to her odd mannerisms very well. Well, everyone except Dazai. He was always the expectation. 

Once they are done with the wire, Asa spins around in joy before puffing her cheeks out cutely to hype herself up for the upcoming undercover mission they assigned her on. 

She then takes in a breath before reaching for her clothes and ripping them in various places before she turns to Chuuya with a smile. “Chu Chu, punch me!” 

And the boy freezes, his jaw dropping open in shock. “The hell?” 

Asa nods before pointing to her eye. “You heard me, it’s for the mission. Punch me.” 

But as much as he hated her, punching a girl like her, especially Dazai’s girlfriend, was certainly something that wasn’t on his list. “I’m not punching you.” 

Asa only whines though, taking a step closer. “Come onnn Chu Chu, you know you wanna. I’m giving you a free shot.” 

His eyes can’t help but twitch at the nickname. “Don’t call me that, damn it. I’m not punching you.” 

Humming softly, the auburn girl then pauses before smiling again. “That’s fine, you probably can’t reach my face anyway since you’re so short . Samu would be able to reach, too bad he’s not here.” 

Almost immediately, Chuuya felt his anger spike at being called short. This little bitch was egging him on, how dare she. “Cut it out, it’s not gonna work.” 

Asa doesn’t cut it out though, continuing her condescending tone. “Mmm cut what out? I’m just saying you’re too short to reach my eye. It’s true isn’t it?” 

And hook line and sinker, her words triggered an automatic response in Chuuya, one that was learned by him the day that he met that stupid mackerel Dazai. She wanted him to hit her? Then to hell with it. 

Lifting his fist, Asa then smirks before quickly taking off her glasses and closing her eyes as he punches her in the eye, relatively hard as she stumbles back and the other Flags catch her. 

Seething, the boy then pulls back his hand, taking a breath and waiting for her regret only for Asagao to jump back up, wiping a bit of blood from her nose and she laughs maniacally. “Ah, that’s what I’m talking about! You didn't hold back either, good job Chu Chu!” 

He just eyes her, blinking with disbelief. “You're not normal.” 

Waving the comment away, Asa smiles, putting her glasses back on to her forming black eye. “Ha ha yeah, I get that a lot. Alright, time to disable those security systems, watch me work my magic!” 

Then she disappears from around the building, causing all the Flags to watch her with silent amusement as Lippman chuckles under his breath. “Hey Chuuya, is she always like this?” 

Looking down at his knuckles where he punched her, the boy then groans before closing his eyes, utterly exhausted.

“Unfortunately.”

——

Slipping to the front of the building, Asagao then takes in a breath before mentally preparing herself to get to work. They were all listening to her through the wire, after all. She had to impress them. 

She gives one last look at her torn dress and black eye before racing up to the doors of the building, rushing in as she falls onto the floor with a sob and a panicked breath. She ignores the men reaching for their weapons. 

Show time. 

Looking up with pleading eyes, Asa cries. “H-Help..please help me. I’m being chased. I..they robbed me. I don’t know what to do. I need help. They took my phone.” 

She sniffles pathetically, playing up the “hurt child” angle as the security guard looks down at her with suspicion before asking. “How old are you, kid?” 

Asa whimpers in reply. “I’m...sixteen. Just turned sixteen. Please sir, I’m scared..” 

Grabbing onto his shirt with shaking fingers, she looks up at him, giving her best doe eyes, blinking back tears as the officer looks at her black eye and softens. 

Got him. 

The man then gently takes her hand before helping her off the floor. “Come on. You said you lost your phone right? You can borrow ours. We have one in the security room.” 

Nodding in reply, Asa cries even louder, visually thankful as she reaches forward and hugs the officer with her small shaking arms. “O-Oh thank you thank you thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” 

The officer chuckles at her vulnerable display, softening even more as Asa silently pickpockets his keys and puts them in her pocket before he pulls away, none the wiser. “It’s alright kid, come on. Let’s go call the police and then your parents.” 

She nods and follows the man into the building, silently taking note of all the security cameras and sensors in the area as they enter the small security room with cameras lining the walls. There are a couple men in there, surveying the scene. 

The officer walks over to the phone and puts it up to his ear, ready to dial as Asa speaks again. “Hey mister? I’m really sorry about this. No hard feelings, okay?” 

Lifting his head from the phone, the man then raises an eye before Asa grabs his head and slams it into the security desk as everyone jumps back, another man reaching for a button on a console before she smirks. “I don’t think so.” 

She then uses her time stop ability, the world turns to a standstill as she quickly moves throughout the room, using her five seconds to grab the man’s face and slam it into the desk as well before turning it off and moving to the side. 

The guard just barely sees his friend fall unconscious before Asa does the same, stopping time to kick the man’s legs out from underneath him and putting her hands around his unassuming neck, squeezing just enough so that even when she starts time he falls unconscious as well. 

And then the room is quiet, Asagao humming absentmindedly as she steps over the unconscious men in order to sit in the spinning chair by the desk, grab the donut the security guard was eating before pushing a button and disabling all the security cameras. “Done.”

 Spinning around a couple times in the chair, the girl then casually gets up before glancing at the unconscious guards and taking a bite of the donut with a smirk. 

“Like I said, no hard feelings.” 

——

Chuuya sighs, tapping his foot impatiently as the team waits for her to return. They heard her little act through the wire and though it was quite scary how she could switch up so quickly, they all couldn't help but be impressed. 

Her cries, whimpers and pleas, they all seemed so real. She even willingly got Chuuya to punch her in the eye and ripped her clothes to truly make it look like she was a damsel in distress. 

They then watch in awe as the small red light of the security camera across from their hiding spot turns dark, signaling that the systems were disabled. She did it, Asagao managed to complete the job. In record time too.

It made the Flags wonder just who the real Asagao was if she was able to fool and manipulate the guards that easily. Did that also mean that the happy go lucky childlike personality they saw all night was also fake? Many weren’t sure if they wanted to truly find out. 

Piano Man is the first to speak, glancing to the annoyed ginger. “Hey Chuuya, where did you pick her up again?” 

The Flags all nod, wondering the same thing as Chuuya pinches the tip of his nose in the start of a headache. “It doesn’t matter, she’s a friend of that bandaged bastard Dazai. That’s all.”

Lippman raises an eye at that. “Dazai? Ah, well that explains it. This definitely isn’t the princess' first rodeo then. I’m impressed.”

Albatross laughs. “Yeah, if she really gets those results maybe should keep her, right Iceman?” 

The assassin stays quiet but narrows his eyes at the idea, not liking it when Chuuya cuts him off harshly. “Oh hell no. We are not asking her to join us. If I have to be around her everyday I’m going to lose my mind!”

The group only laughs at the kid’s misfortune as a hot ball of anger courses through him. They were treating this like all some kind of sick joke but the idea of Dazai’s crazy ass girlfriend joining them on more missions was anything but funny. 

She was good, yeah, he didn’t deny that. She was damn good at deceiving people and tearing them apart but she was also unpredictable, without a semblance of a normal thought. The Flags had seen a little taste of her insanity but Chuuya had seen way worse. These guys didn’t know who they were dealing with, that’s for sure. 

But he had first hand experience, remembering how she willingly played damsel in distress just for the sole purpose of playing with him and getting him to agree to the stupid ass “Chu Chu” nickname. 

She was unpredictable, in the worst way possible and he wanted nothing to do with it after tonight, that was for sure.  

That, and Dazai would never allow it either way, considering his ass was super paranoid about her joining the mafia for some reason. But that was besides the point, he didn’t want her anyways.

Albatross only snickers though. “Sounds like Chuuya is intimidated by a little girl.” 

Feeling his shoulders coil tense as the Flags continued to tease him about the girl, Chuuya felt his fists ball in irritation. They had no idea, no fucking idea how easily it would be for Asa to stab them in the back. 

Hell, she probably was planning it already. But unlike last year with the Flags he was smart. He wasn’t going to fall for it. This whole friendship ploy from her, it was all one big joke. He knew it. 

Chuuya would not let her sneak up on him, he would not be that vulnerable again. 

Turning to the group, the boy glared. “Hey, I’m not intimidated! And I mean it! Don’t even think about letting her join. This isn’t some kind of funny joke. I’m not going to let that little brat walk all over me!” 

Yet that’s when they all hear her voice, directly behind Chuuya, appearing out of seemingly nowhere as she giggles, feeling her breath on his neck and the scent of vanilla from her shampoo. “Hii I’m back!” 

Chuuya immediately feels his soul leave his body, jumping back with wide eyes, his heart hammering in his chest as a small shout of fear escapes his lips, Asa scaring the absolute shit out of him. “What the fuck?!”

And there she is, standing innocently behind him with that same small smile on her lips, her hands lifting out in defense as The Flags burst out in a loud boisterous laughter and their half dead friend clinging for breath from her sudden appearance. 

Albatross has to hold his knees to contain his chuckles as he wipes a tear from his eye. “Oh, that was too good! Red, you’re amazing. Poor Chuuya’s soul left his body!” 

But Chuuya’s face only turned bright red in embarrassment, recovering from his panic before feeling it switch to livid anger. “W-What, what the hell is wrong with you?! Where did you come from?!”

Asagao doesn’t react to his anger, seemingly turning her head cutely. “Hm? Oh, I used my ability to get here faster. Sorry Chu Chu, did I scare you? I just got excited hehe!” 

The boy’s eye twitches at that, resisting the urge to strangle her. She was clearly making fun of him, unbelievable. “You and your damn time stop ability, it pisses me off. And no, I wasn’t scared. Shut up.” 

Strolling up to him, Lippman only smirks though, putting an arm around his shoulder. “Come on man, let’s be honest. You totally were scared of this little cutie. Speaking of which, that’s quite a magic trick you got there princess. I’m impressed.” 

Piano Man nods, a small smile on his lips: “He’s right. You even managed to disable all the security systems. Good job, kid.” 

Asagao widened her eyes at that, jumping forward at the praise, like she hadn’t heard it very often for her skill. “Really? I did a good job?” 

Piano Man only laughs though his eyes softening as he gently pats her head. “Yeah kid, you did good. Now we can go into the building undetected. Come on guys, time to figure out who’s behind this.”

They all nod, walking in through the back door as Chuuya slumps behind, still pissed off and embarrassed about the fact that she was able to sneak up on him so easily. If she wanted to she could’ve slit his throat right then and there. 

Asa glances behind her though, noticing his distress and turning around to meet him in order to reach out to grab his hand before the boy immediately recoils, slapping the gesture away and walking past her. “Don’t touch me. Let’s just get this over with so I don’t have to see you again.” 

He didn’t trust her, no way in hell. Especially not after that little stunt of hers. 

It was a defense mechanism, learned from a life of being betrayed, a life of being played and toyed with more times then he could count. This gesture of reassurance, it was also fake. It had to be.  

But the real truth was, Chuuya felt vulnerable right now, given that he was able to be bested so easily. He didn’t like it, it made his defenses go up ten fold. He felt weak, and that was a death sentence in itself. She’d see it and take advantage of it.

So much so, he didn’t even look back to see the effect of his careless words as he simply moved forward to try to forget about her. 

No, he couldn’t be vulnerable with her. She’d stab him in the back. 

If he showed her his heart, surely she’d carve it up. 

——

As the group moved through the building, they pause at a records room, glancing at the door before Asagao takes out the keys she pickpocketed from the security guard earlier to open the door as the others stand in awe. 

Lippman beams, strolling inside the dark room. “Whoa princess, remind me to always have you on our team. You’re a force to be reckoned with.”

But this time, Asa doesn’t answer, seemingly zoned out as Albatross puts a hand to her head to bring her back to reality. “What’s wrong, Red? Why the long face?”

Snapping back, the girl then blinks before forcing a smile to her lips. “Oh,it’s nothing. It’s just..I think Chu Chu hates me.”

The two men then look at each other before Lippman smiles. “Nah princess, he’s always like that. Chuuya’s a guarded guy. Pretty rough around the edges. I’m sure he doesn’t hate a cutie like you.” 

Albatross nods. “Yeah Red, you should just talk to him. He’ll tell you the truth.” 

The two then walk to the other side of the room to start going through the records as Asagao’s eyes shift to Chuuya’s form a couple feet away. Everything about him screamed unapproachable but she never did listen to such cue’s, walking over to him tentatively. 

She settles next to him, starting to look through the files before taking a breath. “Hey Chu Chu? I just wanted to apologize.” 

Chuuya pauses his fingers before continuing to look through the files, a scowl on his face. The last thing he wanted right now was to deal with her. “For what?” 

He hears her pause for a second before speaking softly. “For everything I guess. I keep making you mad. Then again, that’s not really new for me…” 

She trails off and Chuuya stays silent. She sounded so..sad? But he knew better to believe that. He knew how quickly she could change her personality to fit the situation. 

Scoffing, the boy replied sharply. “Yeah, you piss me off.”

Asagao gives a sad laugh at that. “Yeah, that sounds right. I alway go too far.” 

There’s a small bit of silence between them before she continues. “It’s just..when Samu told me about you I really wanted to meet you.” 

Chuuya frowns at that, finally turning his head to look at her in skepticism, seeing her eyes cast down to the files infront of her in some sort of defeat. Why did she look so pathetic and small right now? He didn’t like it.

Speaking, he frowns. “Why the hell would you want to meet me?”

Her eyes soften at that, a hint of vulnerability in them. “I just thought that if you handle Samu, then maybe..maybe you’d want to be friends with me too.” 

Chuuya couldn’t help but stop what he was doing, hearing her statement before his frown became more prevalent. Why in the hell would he want another mini Dazai running around him? Her logic was screwed up. 

But before he could answer, she continued. “I know I’m not exactly..easy to get along with. Not many people stick around because I always manage to make them hate me some way or another. But..I really didn’t want that to happen with you Chuuya.” 

Her hands then tighten on the files as a bitter chuckle escaped her lips. “But maybe I’m just being selfish, thinking about what I want rather than what you want. Maybe that’s why I’ve been so alone this whole time.”

Processing the words, Chuuya narrowed his eyes. What was she talking about? As far as he’s seen she was anything but alone. “Alone? You have that idiot boyfriend of yours.” 

And as much as the boy hated Dazai with his entire being, he couldn’t deny that Asagao and that bandaged bastard fit well together. Like a match made in hell. 

Although that’s when Asa gives a small chuckle, casually saying. “Ah well you see..Samu’s only my boyfriend in name. That’s all.”

The words hit him like a strike of lightning, his fingers immediately freezing from whatever he was looking at in order to turn and face her. He heard that wrong right? The way those two were all over each other the last time he saw them, there was no way that was fake. 

She was messing with him, she had to be. “In name? You two aren’t really dating?”

But Asagao only shook her head in reply, a smile on her lips that didn’t seem fully genuine.”No, it’s not like that. We’re just using each other to get what we want, that’s all.” 

What kind of fucked up reasoning was that? Using them to get what they want? What kind of screwed up relationship did she actually have with Dazai then? “You can’t be serious..” 

Asa then turned to him, finally lifting her head for the first time during the conversation, a resigned look in her eyes . “I am. We’re not like that. I just have something he needs and he has something I need, that’s all it is to it.” 

This sent Chuuya’s head reeling. None of it made any goddamn sense in the slightest. “So, you haven’t like kissed or anything? It’s just transactional?”

Yet at the word “kissed” Asagao’s eyes widen as her entire face turns red and she shifts her head down to look back at the files, recalling the memory she was trying to forget of Samu and her kissing while they were drunk. “I..well…that doesn’t matter, it still doesn't mean anything. Nothing has changed between us. It’s still transactional.” 

But her response only made Chuuya even more confused. “Wait, you have kissed?” 

Burying her face into the files in embarrassment for her burning cheeks, Asa stuttered. “S-So what? It was just a test, it didn’t mean anything. Not to him anyways. So it’s fine..” 

Chuuya deadpans. “But it meant something to you obviously.”

Asagao then closes her eyes before covering her face with her hands.She really didn’t want to talk about this, especially since she wasn’t sure herself what it meant. “I…it doesn’t matter. He doesn't feel that way about me. I’m happy just the way we are, I couldn’t ask for more. Besides, even if it was..that way, there’s no way he’d like me like that so it’s fine.” 

And that pissed Chuuya off. What the hell was this self deprecating thought process she had all of a sudden? She was always so sure of herself to a fault and now it was completely different. He didn’t like it. 

Taking a step closer to her, the boy glares. “Why the hell not? You may be insufferable but if anyone could handle you it would be that shitty Dazai.”

He believed that with his whole heart. Yes, she was batshit insane but so was Dazai. He knew that kid for a whole ass year, knew him like the back of his hand and if that suicidal bastard was going to date anyone it would be Asagao. 

But it seemed like the girl herself didn’t see that, her fingers moving to her skirt to nervously play with a hem as her eyes softened to a level of raw emotion he had never seen before from her. “I just…”

Her voice trails off but Chuuya doesn't allow her to drop the topic. “What?”

The silence is heavy, coating the entire room before Asa gives a tiny pathetic chuckle under her breath before finally speaking softly. “That emotion, I don’t think I’m made for that kind of thing, that’s all.”

Her words caused Chuuya to immediately widen his eyes as a pit dropped inside his stomach. Not made for what? Care, compassion, love? Did she truly think that? 

And the first thought was for him to believe that she was lying, that she was giving him this whole sad sob story to let his guard down but the look in her eyes, that couldn’t be faked, or at least it was damn hard to do. 

So much so, his voice echoed in the same whisper tone. “You don’t think you can be loved..?”

She doesn’t answer, she doesn’t have to, because the silence was answer enough as she bows her head in resignation before continuing to look through the files like she hadn’t just answered the most heart wrenching question of all. 

Did she truly believe she couldn’t be loved, by anyone, by even Dazai? Chuuya could hardly believe it. What a sad horrible belief she held inside her. He wondered why she thought that was the case?

Sure, she was hard to manage and had a tendency to piss him off more times then not but to say that she would never be loved by anyone ever was taking it a bit too far. “Why?”

The word is simple, but held a thousand questions, a thousand thoughts and a thousand feelings. He needed to know, he felt like he won’t be able to breathe without knowing why she hates herself so much.

Yet inside Asagao’s head, her mind turns with every negative thought she could possess. She remembers how she looked at those dead bodies earlier with no emotion, how she never says the right thing and mixes up her emotions because she was never taught how to process them correctly. 

She remembers the orders she received as an assassin when she was five, how she pulled that trigger a million times without even thinking about closing the corpses eyes like Chuuya had done in that warehouse. How could she possibly be worthy of love when she was missing basic human compassion? 

How could she be held by Osamu and voice her feelings for him when she had trampled on the lives of thousands of people like nothing? Even her own brother, she couldn’t feel a speck of grief for him even though she had heard so many stories from Dazai. 

There was something wrong with her, deeply deeply wrong. How could she be worthy to be loved when no one had ever stuck around long then day unless it was out of obligations or some sort of transactional means? 

Taking a shaky breath, Asagao then closes her eyes before speaking, just barely above a whisper. “How can I when I don't even know if I’m fully human..” 

And the words hit him immediately, Chuuya’ heart stopping inside his chest. Human. She didn’t think she was human..just like him. 

Fuck, what was she doing, voicing his internal thoughts and spitting them back out to him like it was nothing? The idea of being a robot, the feeling of being this monster that wasn’t worthy of the simple concept of love. 

He felt exactly the same way. 

Because Chuuya didn’t feel human, not in the slightest. He didn’t dream, he had little memory to understand and hold close. How dare she say that, she had no fucking idea what it was like to have this void inside his chest, this black hole that could never be filled no matter how desperately he wanted it to be. 

But the more he looked at her, the more he saw the pain and the regret in her eyes. She hid it well, behind those large round glasses of hers. A wall of protection, of witty comments and manipulative ideas. 

But in this moment of silence, he couldn't help but see a reflection of himself. 

And he absolutely hated it. 

There was no way. She was supposed to like Dazai, she was supposed to be evil and cruel, recognizing her flaws and yet not caring about them in any way shape or form. That’s what she displayed usually. 

But the Asagao he was looking at now, it was different. More solemn and pensive, like she was lost in her thoughts and drowning in her hidden feelings. It was supposed to be black and white, and yet now he saw the grey. 

The messy, uncertain grey. 

So much so, the words slipped out before he could process them. “Me either.”

Almost immediately, he shuts his lips again, panic on his face. Why did he say that? Why did he give her a weakness so easily? She was going to use it now, she was going to take it and throw it back in his face to destroy him. 

Yet the more he looked at her shocked expression, a small bit of hope unwillingly crept it. Maybe she did truly understand the complex feelings he was carrying alone.

Perhaps she was more like him than he originally thought. 

It was something he didn’t even humor until now. But could it finally be? Was there someone that was uncertain about their humanity like he was? Could he finally confide in someone with his darkest fears? He didn’t know. 

But the possibility was there, and it was both incredibly scary yet comforting at the same exact time. She was dangerous, he shouldn’t be humoring the thought and yet he can’t help it, having been so alone his entire life.

He opened his mouth to speak again when the Flags cut through the space, their voices breaking the tension in the air as Albatross spoke. “Hey guys, I found something! It’s a file laying out the assassinations of those port mafia members from earlier.” 

The two kids immediately turn to him before walking over to look at the file and sure enough there it was, a fully laid out plan of the murders they had stumbled upon just hours prior. Whoever these people were, they were certainly involved. 

Chuuya finishes reading the file before grumbling. “It’s a start but there’s nothing in here to suggest who it was. We’re back to square one, just fucking great.” 

Although that’s when Asa takes a look at Chuuya's discouraged expression and reaches into her pocket with a giddy smile, aiming to make him feel better. “Aw don’t be sad Chu Chu. The murders were done by the GSS.” 

The air immediately turned silent, all of them turning to Asa as she stands there unbothered, like she hadn’t just solved the case they had been spending all night breaking into this building and trying to figure out. 

Piano Man takes a step closer to her, cautious. “And how do you know that, kid?” 

Asa then pulls something out of her pocket to hand to Chuuya as he stares at the object with disbelief and shock. In his palm was a bullet shell, monogrammed with the initials GSS on them. 

Holy shit.

But the GSS were supposed to be wiped out by Dazai’s crew after he joined the mafia. Did some survive somehow, and now they were taking revenge on the port mafia for the attempted genocide? 

Snapping his head to Asagao, he closed his hand around the bullet shell before taking a step closer to her, his voice laced with a million emotions. “Where..where the hell did you get this?” 

Asa only hums though, glancing to the shell before pointing behind her. “Oh, the warehouse. It was next to one of the bodies.” 

…the warehouse? But that was hours ago. That was before they found the lead to bring them to this building. Ever so slowly, Chuuya’s disbelief starts to turn to anger. 

You’ve got be kidding me, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me. She was hiding this the entire time?! Why, to play around with them?! To watch them run around like headless chickens trying to solve a case that was already figured out?!

Feeling his voice raise, Chuuya shouted. “What?! And you didn’t tell us?! Why?!

Asa didn’t seem to expect his anger, putting her hands up with defense as she took a step back with a nervous chuckle. “Ah, well..I was going to, but then our mission would’ve been over, and I wanted to spend more time with you. We were having fun, weren’t we?” 

Having fun? Having fun?! Chuuya was livid. “Having fun..this isn’t a goddamn game! This could’ve been done hours ago and yet you withheld information just so we could..hang out?! You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. People could’ve died while you were fucking around!”

His words were sharp and lethal like venom, causing Asa to begin to realize her logic wasn’t exactly right and she tries to defend herself. “I..I mean yeah but..no one died. Come on Chu Chu, I thought we were really bonding back there for a second..” 

Bonding? That’s why she drew this out, so she could bond with him? That had to be the absolute worst reasoning he had ever heard of. This wasn’t some summer camp where they made friendship bracelets and bonded over a campfire, this was a real mafia mission and she was treating it like a goddamn joke!

Then Chuuya recalls the moment they shared right before this. Fuck, she knows his fear about not being human. He let his stupid tongue slip and now she was going to betray him. That’s always how it went. 

What was wrong with him? Why did he open up to her? 

It bit him in the ass as always.

She reaches a hand out but he slaps it away fuming. “What the fuck is wrong with you?! We weren't bonding, no way in hell. I only brought you here because I had to, not because I wanted to and you treated this like it was all some goddamn joke. I knew this was a bad idea, I knew having a psychopath on this job like you was a mistake..” 

Asa tries to speak again. “Chu Chu..I..but we’re friends and I just wanted to..” 

But he cuts her off, far too paranoid of her using anything against him and furious to even listen to any other bullshit from her lips. “No, shut the hell up. We are not friends, we never were and we never will be. You may have blackmailed me into agreeing to that stupid request but it will never be real, ever. I would never want to be friends with someone like you.” 

The Flags all look at Chuuya, feeling the tension in the air as Piano Man takes a step forward. He knew the boy was angry but he was going to say something he regretted. “Chuuya..” 

But the kid didn’t want to hear it, shaking his head and pointing an accusatory finger at Dazai’s crazy ass girlfriend. “All you do is manipulate and lie and treat everyone like your own personal playthings and I’m sick of it. Just stay the hell away from me!”

He tries to turn to leave but Asagao doesn’t know when to stop, her feet racing up to him as she reaches her hand out to stop him only for the boy to quickly whirl around and grab her shirt, pulling her closer and hissing. “No wonder why Dazai’s relationship with you is in name only. That’s all anyone would ever want to be with you.” 

Watching her eyes widen at his words, he knew it hurt her but that was the point. She was getting too close to him and he needed her to go away, not knowing any other liabilities about him that she could use.

He was self destructing, it was obvious, but knowing was not enough to stop it. Keep everyone at a distance, never let them know how broken he really was, lashing out with anger and insults. That’s all he knew how to do best. 

Protecting himself by a wall so no one ever came in.

Especially her.

Chuuya then pushes her away as she falls into a sensor and the alarm bells ring all around the room, causing his clouded fury to finally dissipate at his eyes to widen. Shit. 

 He then blinks as Asagao disappears from his sight, probably using her time stop ability as the rest of the Flags curse at the alarms, Albatross grabbing Chuuya’s arm. “Come on man, we gotta go!” 

Feeling pulled in many different directions, Chuuya rushes through the hallways, alarms blaring and disorienting him as his head spun from his previous display.

Everything was just moving so fast, he couldn’t breathe. 

The Flags then shoved the file with the information about the murders into his chest before telling him to run, vaguely seeing hoards of armed guards around as he acted on autopilot and dashed away from them. 

He moved to higher ground, hearing the sound of fighting underneath him as Chuuya makes it onto a platform before he freezes at the sound of a familiar voice, one that made his blood run cold and his anger spike all at once. “Well well well, look who it is. Our fallen King.” 

Snapping his head up, he found himself face to face with the kid that betrayed him an entire year ago, his white spiky hair and fur collared jacket just the same as he remembered. 

Shirase.

Chuuya gritted his teeth, standing up straight to face his past. “What the hell are you doing here?” 

Shirase only chucked though, putting his hands in his pocket. “Oh, you didn’t like the gifts I’ve been sending you? Dozens of mafioso corpses, all because you just wouldn’t die like you were supposed to a year ago.” 

Widening his eyes, the pieces immediately snapped together. The jewel trade, they targeted mafioso in the jewel trade because that was Chuuya’s division. This was all because of him. The Sheep wanted revenge and they were using what was left of the GSS to do it.

The white haired kid’s lips curve into a smirk at that. “Ah, you’re connecting the dots, huh? That’s right Chuuya, the rest of us Sheep still wanted our revenge after you sent the port mafia to destroy our alliance with the GSS. Very few remain, thanks to you.” 

Chuuya glares at the explanation. “I joined the mafia so they wouldn’t kill you. I sacrificed my life so you could live and this is how you repay me? By going after my organization?” 

Shirase only shrugs though. “Quiet Chuuya, stop acting like you care about us anymore. You picked your side, and we picked ours.”

Glancing down to the fight below them, Shirase then chuckles under his breath. “But I can see not much has changed. You're still alone. No one is going to come and save you, just like a year ago. They are all too busy to care about a non-human thing like you.” 

Chuuya’s eyes widen at that, feeling his insecurities fester from Shirase’s words. He knew it wasn’t true, the Flags did care about him, the kid was just trying to get him to doubt that. 

But somewhere in the back of his mind, that same fear crept without permission. Up on this platform it did feel the same, that small sick sense of deja vu he had felt before. Alone. Abandoned. Having no one to rely on but himself. 

And that brought a form of PTSD he hadn’t planned, feeling his heart beat out of his chest. Shirase was right in a sense, not much had changed. He was still pushing people away, shoving them out of his life so they didn’t see the ugly parts of his soul. 

He always did that, even when he was with the Sheep, and now he was here again. 

Just like a year ago, there was no one to fight for him but himself. 

It was crippling, heart wrenching in every way, knowing that in this moment he was truly and utterly alone. 

Just like he deserved to be. 

Shirase then smiles at Chuuya’s unraveling, his hand reaching into his pocket to pull out a blade, a carbon copy like last year as he races towards the boy to finally finish what he started. 

And Chuuya didn’t realize it until the blade was mere inches from his side, the boy’s eyes widening barely having time to react as his brain told him that it was always supposed to be like this. 

He was weak, too weak to ever ask for help. 

The boy then closed his eyes and waited for the familiar sting of the blade to course through him, for that same helpless and vulnerable feeling to appear..

 But it never came. 

Opening his eyes in confusion, Chuuya then felt his nostrils ring with the scent of vanilla, a familiar deja vu filling his senses as he turned back to Shirase and widened his eyes at the sight. 

Asagao, the girl that he had yelled at and had just told to get lost was standing in front of him, the blade that was meant for him plunged deep into her side like she had taken the strike for him. 

Shirase blinked in disbelief at the girl who had mysteriously appeared out of nowhere, reeling back with a shout. “W-Who..how did you…”

But Chuuya knew the answer before she said anything. Her time stop ability, the one that snuck up on him earlier, she had used it to put herself in front of that knife. But why?

Asa only smirks though, her face not showing any signs of pain as she simply takes the handle of the blade and pulls it out of her side, allowing it to clang on the floor. “Nice try, but Chu Chu’s not alone. He has me.”

Shirase takes a step backwards, not understanding what was happening. “Y-You..who are you? You didn’t even wince..”

Chuuya on the other hand is still struggling to understand what is going on, watching as the blood slowly stained her side and his heart dropped in his chest. She just got stabbed for him. Why? He didn’t deserve that. 

She had no reason to after he berated her so harshly just minutes ago. 

So much so, his voice came out a whisper, his eyes never leaving her wounded side. “A-Asa..” 

But she only glanced behind him and smiled, like she’s trying to reassure him she’s okay. 

Then Asa turned back to Shirase before putting her hands out in front of the ginger haired boy, her eyes narrowing with a fire and a threat behind her glasses that made his blood run cold. “The name is Asagao, and though I’m not worthy enough to be Chuuya’s friend yet, I’m going to work hard to earn the meaning of that title. So, back off. He’s protected.” 

And all at once, Chuuya felt his heart stop, tears threatening to break free.

Oh. So this was what he was missing. 

Someone to fight for him. 

---------

(This chapter was a pain in my ass I've been writing it forever. I hope Chuuya's characterization is alright. It's my first time doing a study on him ahhh. Okay next chapter should be soon I'm already halfway down. Also If you're missing Dazai..well you won't be for long.)

[gnashingwailing]

@fireflywritesgt ok i read your tag on ch21 and i took that as a personal challenge (and then while I was writing this you dropped ch22 and THEN 23 and murdered me. but i'm back now. so)

HELLO Ok fuck yeah hold on everybody take my hand. We’re theorizing about this chapter 🙏 spoilers thru ch23 below

Re: the tag: dare I hope the next story will be set in a similar time/place… i MUST ADMIT despite the significant broader cultural stigma of such a thing. I have often contemplated. Harry and Joe helping with providing socialized miniature healthcare 😭 (maybe to wherever Lorraine lives[?] or knows of?) and when I heard mention of a Tiny Town Hospital… one must wonder how this compares to a Giant Hospital, or to the barber surgeon dens that Joe has presumably had some frostbitten toes cut off at.

OTHER THINGS I’M SPECULATING ABOUT: “certainly, bandits were a problem a borrower occasionally had to face” 🤔 damn that's rough. I do love the sense that there are few overarching cultural norms, whether it's around marriage or language or so on. Everybody is kinda doing their own thing (including robbing each other oof).

I am also VEEEERRY curious about the implications of WHATEVER the tinies that are working in Tiny Town are doing. What kind of mechanized thing could be profitable from a lot of little guys pressing buttons? Or is it maybe not something physical they’re producing? Is it instead a research project? Some attempt at “civilizing” the tiny society for giant colonialism reasons? There’s got to be some kind of output here that is valuable to some kind of giant, but I’m still mystified at what it will be. “Joe wanted to ask him about the four armed giants who stood outside of Tiny Town” YEAH MAN ME TOO‼️ <- secretly delighted this is still coming up because I want to know what it means QUITE BADLY

Joe lamenting that there don't seem to be any libraries, or restaurants, or speakeasies, or any mark of ... art or entertainment? In Tiny Town? I REALLY HOPE Joe and Harry get over themselves and kiss soon so they can TALK ABOUT HOW FUCKING WEIRD THIS PLACE IS???? It made me INSAAANE THAT JOE JUST BRUSHED OFF TALKING ABOUT IT AT ALL 😭 JOE TO HAVE THOSE THINGS. PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK AT THEM. ARE ALL THE PEOPLE IN TINY TOWN JUST WORKING ON PUSHING BUTTONS??? JOE PLS

“Expecting handouts from the bloody giants…” sooo fascinating to hear him voice this, since this whole project is a handout in the absolute best case scenario (given that scraps are worthless to giants), although likely closer to a prison, as Professor Hill called it. Still patiently waiting for his smart and cool wife to explain things to me <3

I hope Joe will deign to really talk about what happened to him… GURL go process it with ur beautiful best friend!! Let him hold you and comfort you and tell you you’re literally so smart and correct and everything you’re saying about ditching the buttons part entirely is literally so beautiful and true!!! Go rock his world with your insights king!!!

Also lmfao Joe is definitely not Irish bcuz his Irish Goodbyes need some SERIOUS work. King of just literally running off when he’s not feeling a conversation anymore.

Me 🤝Joe <- autistically just leaving

He does this so often and it makes me cackle every time. Wait hold on those great meme posts make me want to make a JUST WALK OUT! One.

Absolutely loving the tension of it all… the reveal that Joe was doing watchmaking when he was TWELVE, meaning (if I'm keeping track of time correctly) he got snatched right after he was ABANDONED BY HIS ONLY FAMILY IN THE WORLD, was so artfully done. I had to stop in my tracks and think at the “he’d known O’Grady longer in his life than he hadn’t” and do math and be like “oh fuck.” Maybe this was teased prior and I didn’t pick up on it, but it hit HARD. For some reason I hadn’t assumed he was a kid — but why wouldn’t he be? If little kids are already doing things like crawling into discarded beer bottles. Fuck, Warren, heartbreaking stuff. Bravo. Of course Joe would be as dedicated to going and seeing him as he was Harry in the hospital. He cares so deeply about everyone, but especially his friends. It’s too bad O’Grady is no longer in a place to reciprocate the love Joe gives !!! But of course Joe still would not be ready to throw away the boot knife O’Grady made for him… “a decision that would forever change Joe’s life” btw I can hear ur evil hehe from here. :)

Also btw THIS little detail is one of those things that makes rereading your story so delightful: “They invade our end of the city, take our jobs, show up at our bar… did we invite them? No.” O’Grady was practically ranting. “And when we politely tell them to leave, what do they do?” O’Grady pointed to his bandaged head. “Watch out for them once you get here. They’re not good Irishmen like you and me, Joe.” juxtaposed with the actual breaking news we heard from the radio ? "“AN IRISHMAN AND AN ITALIAN ARE IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER A MASS BRAWL OUTSIDE A BAR ENDED IN A CRACKED SKULL AND A STABBING. NEITHER OF ‘EM HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED YET.”" a fucking STABBING = "politely tell them to leave"? What kinds of things has Joe's friend gotten used to excusing?

And of course I love the moments of solidarity within the tragedy of the newly realized (or at least newly stoked) xenophobia between borrowers. Joe being reminded of how his parents spoke, and how his brother shooed him off, in the gestures of a stranger… you really do a great job of evoking the ways we are all connected to each other. His family is gone, but he still sees them everywhere he looks. [pacing my enclosure and being sooo normal about how Joe has purposefully isolated for a decade and yet cannot help but see the beauty and humanity of his fellow man whether tiny or giant bcuz despite thinking he’s wired wrong, he’s actually wired like all of us who have felt that way for our unusual proclivities. He’s wired for connection with his fellow man. And he’s so wired for it u can feel how much it hurts his heart. Haha I’m sooooo .] The older guy was trying to warn him off crossing a white line into the “Irish ward”, too, right? The gesture was a kindness. And speaking of, does that mean the little tunnel somebody dug is to the Irish district? Or was I turned around and it was the Italian one? Either way — who would be trying to get in here, and why? Maybe it’s just a desperate person, but O’Grady talking about how bad it’d be if they saw Joe, and the need for an ID, makes me think it’s not someplace you can sneak into and integrate with. Just makes me curious as to whether it’ll come up again!!

THIS is also something I'm wondering about -- could the 'output' of Tiny Town maybe be researching, like... ethnonationalism? In the wake of WWI? Those drawn lines separating different 'wards'... do we think Tinies came up with this shit on their own? I doubt it, if someone like Dawson who is immediately assigning people nationalities that we know from Calloway's nobody "normal" in borrower society knows/cares about. HMMMmmmmMMMMM. I'm still reaaaaally curious how much Hill knows about this place and what hand, if any, he had in it. ONCE AGAIN, boys get kissing so you can also get TALKING. I think Harry would have much to say about how pointless it is to hate individuals from other nationalities after everything he saw during the war. Or so I assume, given he had no bad reaction to Joe being Italian.

AND WELL THIS IS LESS THEORYCRAFTING AND MORE “ME WANTING TO WRITE MORE FANFIC ABOUT THEM” BUT I WAS SOOO DELIGHTED THE CHAPTER DIDN’T END WITH HIM LEAVING TINY TOWN AND WE INSTEAD GOT DRESS REHEARSAL 2 OF HARRY AND JOE GETTING SO FUCKING DOWN BAD FOR EACH OTHER AT THE WINDOW & IN THE BEDROOM. YIPPEEEEE <- this was written before ch22 lol pictures taken moments before disaster

“Joe fidgeted for a moment as he fought with himself over whether or not to say what he really wanted to say.” … did you say what you really wanted to, there, pal? 🤨

I'm sooooo glad Joe's books are making more and more appearances... much like Harry I'm endlessly delighted by his culture. I wanna know what shaped his romantic fantasies!!

""Yeah, the ending on this one isn't great. They're cowards. Could've at least said they loved each other." Joe said.

He closed the book and snuggled into the crook of Harry's neck." <- Lmao @ these two guys so allergic to talking about their feelings shit-talking the romance book protagonists while they're literally cuddling in bed and not acknowledging it

Did he own these books when he was a kid? I imagine so, but on the other hand? HEY HOLY SHIT I REALIZED AFTER CH23 SOMETHING I SUSPECTED BUT COULDN'T CONFIRM: if homophobia isn't something borrowers have. Is one of these romance novels Joe owns going to be between two men? Harry is going to get his fuckin world rocked. Him and Georgie stole books from the library before, but I doubt they found any gay romance stuff (still impossible for baby-gay-Gnash to find that almost 100 years later in their rural libraries, lol.) Would this be Harry's first exposure to something like that? Wahhh... hurry up and open up to each other again you need to talk culture ASAP...

I'm also very curious if borrowers would have more taboo novels of their own, particularly giant/tiny stuff. And would Joe have come across any of it? I imagine it'd be extremely difficult to sell things like that without a beating, but maybe in bigger night markets -- and Joe said he's been in lots of very big cities... if his third novel is some really salacious g/t writing that would do numbers here on tumblr dot com I'm going to lose my god damn mind.

[ozfi]

Figaro and Arthur's Similarities

Originally posted Oct 25th, 2022

Figaro is Arthur’s mother. This has a lot of implications, but we need to start with the obvious: Figaro helped raise Arthur. This is mentioned a lot and implied even more, but it’s brought up as early as Main Story 1 and Figaro’s character episodes. Hell, the first hint you get of them having a relationship is MS1 8.7 where Arthur uses an honorific for Figaro when she only uses one for Oz previous. You know, her other mom? Her savior?

(MHYK-EN / HB)

At this point what the reader knows of Figaro is that she’s a friendly Southern wizard who is hiding something, and now the Central prince knows her for some reason? Enough to give her an honorific, which she does only for Master Oz? (And later Lords Snow and White, who also helped raise her. She only gives honorifics to Northfam and Master Sage.) I wonder why!

Of course, this answer isn’t to prove they know each other. Of course they know each other. You just need to look at… I mean… anything. Just in the Main Story sequence: MS1 14.1-2. Central Prelude. Anni1 Ch23. Anni2 Ch7. MS2 5.5-6. There’s more, but I bring this up because the story actually seems to go out of its way to minimize Figaro’s role in raising Arthur while subtly bringing up the fact that they’re way more similar than they look.

I want to bring up something similarly subtle before diving down deep into this - Arthur’s design obviously is reminiscent of Oz’s. Three* layers on top, brooch, golden cords, necktie, vest, loafers, etc. But if you’d look a little closer, you’d notice she’s wearing a very fluffy and fancy jacket. But you don’t really realize that it’s a jacket unless you look, because she’s wearing it over her shoulders. Like, you know, Figaro.

(This actually carries over into her Vollgaku/April Fool’s 2020 design in that her school blazer is blatantly over her shoulders instead of on like a proper jacket. Her suspenders are also plaid, which Figaro’s shirt is, which might just be a coincidence but it’s a cute one!

While Figaro doesn’t wear her jacket over her shoulders in Vollgaku [at least in this chibi], she is still the school nurse, and why else would a turbonerd stuco pres wear her jacket like this? Anyway.)

She wears her jacket like her mom! That’s cute! It’s also more than cute when you dive down deeper.

Figaro is a tragic figure, placed into a role too large for her at a young age and then left alone by the very same people, picked up by people who taught her (a twisted view of) what love is, drawn to the moon in her loneliness and fear of being abandoned, or of being left alone again, even while she puts all of her expectations of love on one single person who then breaks her heart when they can’t give her what she wants. Also she’s going to die.

Arthur is a tragic figure, placed into a role too large for her at a young age and then left alone by the very same people, picked up by people who taught her (a twisted view of) what love is, drawn to the moon in her loneliness and fear of being abandoned, or of being left alone again, even while she puts all of her expectations of love on one single person who then breaks her heart when they can’t give her what she wants. Also she’s going to die.

Let’s get into it.

Figaro was born and raised a God in a Northern village long-gone by way of an avalanche of unknown origin. This has obviously affected her in a lot of ways, not least in the way she doesn’t know how to interact with weaker wizards or humans despite loving them very much and wanting to take care of them. She was taken up by the twins after an unspecified amount of time in a seaside village, and the twins tried to teach her out of the distant sense of love recieved by a god from their worshippers and into. um. unhealthy codependence. According to White, this didn’t work (Complicated Parental Love). I think it kind of did, but hey! At an unspecified time, Figaro attempted to follow the Moon’s Road in the sea to .. somewhere, and almost died for it. She also seeks out eternal love despite saying she doesn’t believe in it anymore, and she seeks it out in people, trying to find the one person that will allow her to stay with them forever, but obviously with caveats. The named ones so far have been Oz, Faust, and Mitile, though given how threatened she was by Mitile potentially being born, Tiletta was likely also one. This clearly isn’t just romantic love. Don’t think it is. It’s any type of love, because Figaro is a crushingly lonely person. She just wants love and to be loved. That’s it. And then the other person she puts this expectation onto loves someone else “more”, and she leaves. Except Oz.

Arthur was born and raised a prince in Central Country until her birth mother got fed up with rumors and words of spite and abandoned her in the Northern wilderness where she almost died. This gave Arthur crazy abandonment issues (see Central Rhapsody, or her as an existence) even as she was taken in by the person she considers her savior; the one who loved her when nobody else did. Of course, being raised by Oz was fraught at the beginning (Anni2 Ch7), but Arthur grew into adoring them and the rest of Northfam. But being raised by Northfam has its pitfalls, given Arthur puts every aspect of her relationship with Oz into their hands to decide what they are when Oz doesn’t understand enough about love to even call Figaro his friend, much less understand what a family is and that they’ve adopted this beautiful little girl who loves them more than anything. Arthur also is extremely reckless because she thinks if she gets in danger Master Oz will always be there to protect her, because he always was for 9 years. Not even to mention her bonus abandonment issues developed by Oz not coming back to get her when Central took her back at age 13. Sprinkle in the brief flashback scene we get from Arthur reminiscing about the moon shining on her as she froze to death in the snowy fields of the North, reaching out to moonbeams in the same story (B’s Log [Feb 2021]), and the small moments we get in moon-based logstos where she admits she sometimes can’t help but think the moon is beautiful (01001 Power Up! Night of the Harvest Moon Campaign) her tie to the moon isn’t purely coincidental.

Also they’re both going to die, and neither are telling Oz, who is extremely important to both of them.

Figaro doesn’t want to be pitied by Oz, though she’s just projecting how she felt when Tiletta told her she was dying. Which is interesting, because Figaro of all people knows Oz has never pitied anyone in their life. But it’s because she’s afraid of their status quo changing - Oz has been one of the only constants in her life, and even though she’d leave the North for hundreds of years at a time, she always returned to Oz and his castle in the North whether for him, for the summer, for Arthur, what have you. She doesn’t want to lose her equal and closest friend (大親友) in the world, and is afraid of him thinking differently of her, because he’s the only person she’s ever been able to come back to no matter what.

Arthur, well… she hasn’t said exactly why she isn’t telling Oz yet, but if we analyze her actions in Anni2, it’s partially that she is terrified of Oz stopping loving her (due to his inability to communicate). Because Oz’s “Don’t die before me” was always intercut with “So I can eat you”, Arthur, who tends to believe the best in Oz and thinks she understands him very well, can’t help but assume otherwise? “Master Oz will surely save me if I do something dangerous! But if I’m nothing to you, please say so!” Because she thinks it will help him, even while acknowledging if he does love her, it would be enough to be an Achilles’ Heel - his one weakness that Mithra and the rest of Sanbaka can exploit to get to him. “You don’t have to love me if you don’t, but I want (need) you to so much that if my death would help you, I’d gladly die.” Especially given that Oz still doesn’t answer her in Anni2, it’s an easy jump to her thinking in MS2 (chronologically right after) that her death would be fine if it benefits Oz and that she’s still terrified of being thrown away.

Additional Note: Connected to Arthur not understanding how much Oz loves her, and connected to how Figaro does not understand that people love her….. Well. It’s right there on the tin. Neither of them understand the real extent of people’s feelings for them or the distance they hold from others, neither of them understand how others view them, and thus they’re both amazingly insecure in those relationships (as seen above with Arthur in Anni2, but also Sanrio Collab and Central Ballad, and South Etude for Figaro, or her Affection Story, or really anything she’s in?). This is their main point of contention in all of their relationships and as people who so desperately want to be loved, they end up hanging back and misunderstanding how much other people actually love them, whether it be Oz, Cain, Mitile, Rutile, or anyone else.

Speaking of Oz, he wasn’t always the best parent. This is crucial, actually, and another thing Anni2 tells us directly: Without Figaro, Arthur would not still be alive. Of course, this can go all the way back 2000 years ago, where Figaro taught Oz what love was by helping them learn how to be human, because it’s been stated Oz got attached to Figaro over the twins, and without this Oz wouldn’t understand love at all and so the story could not have occured. Or it can be simply just within the last 14 years: When Oz picked up Arthur, they locked her in a room and fed her only mana stones. Figaro… told him to stop doing that, to the point where she offered to take care of Arthur in Oz’s stead if he wouldn’t treat her right. [And then, of course, was part of the push to have Arthur and Oz bond despite her jealousy over this.] (Anni2 Ch7) Figaro shows Oz how to take care of Arthur at various times, including Anni1 Ch 23 and Anni2 Ch14. Almost every time Arthur got seriously injured, Oz took Arthur to Figaro in the South or summoned Figaro to North (Arthur as a Child, Anni1 Ch 2, etc). Oz even does this in MS1 when Mithra and Owen are threatening both them and Arthur in the infamous balcony scene. The person Oz summons to protect them and the most important person in their life when Oz can barely use magic? Figaro. (MS1 14.1).

So obviously Figaro’s an essential person in Arthur’s life, and they mirror each other pretty well. But how else did Figaro influence Arthur growing up? Where are the rest of the parallels? Why is this all I think about? All excellent questions, and the answer is:

Politics!

Arthur and Figaro both have the same goal: Human-Wizard coexistence. Though their reasons for this differ, it doesn’t actually matter, especially when their methods are the same.

Figaro is a weird Northerner. This much is obvious as early as her introduction, as she’s a Southerner now, haha. But even before she was a Southerner, she was weird (Swamp of Pestilence). She never craved power or violence like the others, to the point of feeling disgusted and falling into a pit of self-loathing whenever she has to resort to it, according to the twins. Unlike every single other Northern wizard in the manor, she has never physically fought Oz, and given Oz listens to most whatever she says, I’m sure that extends to verbally as well. Thus it’s not odd for her to have gone from World Domination right to the Revolutionary Army for world peace, because she does things for other people and has no sense of self, but she doesn’t like violence and only resorts to it when necessary to achieve her goals. As I’ve stated, she doesn’t choose violence, violence chooses her. She prefers to use manipulation and political machinations and pull the strings from behind the curtain to have things happen over direct violence or threatening people. (Do I even need to link a source for this? She’s the healer-tactician. It’s everywhere that she’s the planner.)(If you need one, Kind Wizard?).

Arthur is much the same, but with a lot less violence in her background. She’s far too intense for a typical Central wizard, being more Northern than Central by the games’ own logic, something that is finally being pointed out in MS2 Ch9! Raw offensive magic is her specialty, as she was taught magic by Oz, and she has a competitive streak a mile wide, and delights in danger. But, of course, she’s still Central, and she’s still a prince, so she isn’t a violent person. As has been mentioned since the very first chapter of MS2, Arthur, who would much prefer to be wild and free as a wizard in the North with Northfam, is using her position as Central prince to try to shape the world as she sees fit. She says this straight out to Cain in 1.10, and it’s further lampshaded in Ch6 with her conversation with Vincent and Figaro. She will use whatever means she has at her disposal outside of violence to have her way.

Figaro is doing this… Well, it’s easy to assume it’s just because she hates violence and doesn’t want anyone to get hurt anymore because of this, but I had a breakthrough while typing this comparing this to how she always has something to leave behind, like creating Assistroids to cure loneliness in Pararoid, and perhaps being a school nurse in Vollgaku, in that it’s something she wants and is trying to give to others, and thus that it’s born of her own desire to connect with people she feels like she can’t because of the distance she’s held her entire life. Given that Arthur’s reason is because she was abandoned as a child for being a wizard and doesn’t want any other child to ‘die’ the way she did, by being abandoned by someone she loved, and at least partially so her birth family will look at her again, I take back what I said earlier about their reasons being different, because they actually seem to be exactly the same.

Of course, none of this even touches on how jealous Figaro is of Arthur to have “all” of Oz’s love (See any time someone Figaro gets attached to gets someone else), or how that’s an unknown amount exacerbated by Arthur looking just like Alec, the one who “took away” Faust’s attention from Figaro (even though Faust always prioritized Alec.. not getting into that) and now has also taken Oz’s in the form of this little girl who looks and acts so much like him. But Figaro truly and honestly loves Arthur very much, no matter how jealous she is of her. And I’ll throw in that bit where Figaro talks about how Arthur introduced her to the old Sage and they all chatted together often, along with being someone Arthur feels she can confide things in that she can’t tell Oz (A Reliable Wizard, among other bits).

Even in wanting to be loved by one person above all else, Figaro and Arthur are similar. And that one person, at the end of all things, is Oz. But they’re still important to each other beyond that, and they still greatly value each other, no matter how complicated that relationship is, as parts of their lives, as Arthur adores her other mother, and Figaro adores her chlid.

[neeeooon]

i'm so happy i can yap in your inbox 🌷

ch22: ness, my love, stand tf up 🤗 that man is not good for you. KUNIGIRI CAT PARENTSSS? also sitting next to kaiser?? he's gonna give y/n an airborne std im scared (jk they're gonna make out)

ch23: HE FELL ASLEEP ON HER SHOULDER I JUST WENT INTO CARDIAC ARREST HELLO?????? i need them to kiss. OH MY LORDDD THE END?? "hey, pretty girl." i screamed.

ch24: KAINESS ANGST STOPPPP they're both terrible for each other idk whose side i'm on. if ness starts scheming some shit against y/n ill crash out, do NAWT test me

ch25: bachiy/n friendship i'm in love. ALSO Y/N REALISING HER FEELINGS, TY BACHI

ch26: KURONA MY BABYYY I LOVE HIM SM. also the kainess situation is so sad like 💔 kaiser needs to find another coping mechanism and ness NEEDS TO LEAVE HIM AND GET THERAPY.

ch27: i don't even know what to say this is so heavy and good??? i love the depth of the characters sm. kaiser needs to stfu though — ALSO i feel like we're gonna get some y/n backstory soon..

ch28: ness needs to stand up bro this is sad. Y/N AND KAISER ON TALKING TERMS THE CROWD CHEERED

ch29: kaiser and y/n being civil with one another is like watching a baby fall asleep and you're scared to make any sudden movements otherwise it'll start screaming and crashing out again

ch30: dead. i'm dead. HE'S SO IN LOVE WITB HER WHAT. I FEAR I WIUKD BE ON MY KNEES ALREADY HE CAN'T JUST SING TO HER LIKE THAT???????? imgonan faint THE FINAL LINE CHANGE????

ch31: my pants are already off bro i can't stand the tension. "she asks about me?" "wait for me?" STOPPP MY KNEES ARE WEAK

ch32: this chapter made me feel so many things?? chat i can fix him i swear 🥀🥀 the end had me so frustrated i need to bash his head into a wall for him to finally get his priorities straight. i feel like that's either ness or someone else from his past that texted him

ch33: NONONONO FUCKJKK I'M GOING TO KILL HIS DAD????? NOOOOO MY POOR BOY 💔💔 "because that's his father." shoot me. shoot me dead.

---------

binge-read this since i'm currently sick and forced into bedrest 💔 I'M SO EXCITED FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER AAAAA i love you and your writing mwah

- 🍡

AAAANSMOMG FEEL BETTER SOON 🍡 ANON 💓💞💘💓💞 i’ll try to get ch 34 out tomorrow for you 🫶

[silvertsundere]

Silver Talks AniManga (23/02/25)

Day late cause I was travelling yesterday and when I got done with manga it was too late to watch my 2 sunday shows. Also WanPre movie finally got it's home release so it finally got subbed

Green - New series/New to me Blue - Finale/Completed

Anime

Wonderful Precure! The Movie

I honestly don't have much to say about it. It was a lot of the same stuff that was already in the show. At least it was pretty short so there's that. The idea of putting the girls in a fall guys like game was cool, and all the scenarios surrounding that. What put it at 7 instead of 6 like the show for me, was the Hirogaru and Mahou girls showing up throughout, and at the end of the movie and actually doing something instead of just running around playing with the MOTW

Manga

Ichi the Witch Ch23

I thought this was guy was gonna be a lil freak from the end of last chap, then he was an even bigger freak in this one and then he hits us with this at the end. He's still a freak tho, even if not in the same way I expected. I am a sucker for "guy without powers but who's really strong" so I hope he just keeps using the special armor thing he has, and doesn't actually become a witch, but we'll see how it goes Also haven't talked about it in a few weeks but Ichi has been great, they really are cooking

[nerdvsquarterback]

🔥 CH211 + CH22 HAVE BEEN POSTED 🔥

so we've spent 20 chapters building up the tension between max and ainsley. ch21 and ch22 were specifically written as the payoff and i can proudly say that i got hot as fuck writing both chapters because nghh 🥵 library sex????? the one place ainsley would normally never?

oh yeah. we went there. also, lap sex?? anal sex?? double penetration? yes, yes, and yes. all of that.

there was a point where i wondered in ch22 if i was taking things too far, but then i realized: this is the payoff. it needs to be so wild and chaotic that ainsley can't wake up tomorrow and brush it off.

max gave ainsley multiple opportunities to walk away and ainsley fully chose max.

i mean, yeah, ainsley was technically scent drunk because max's patch failed, but he still had a choice. i realized two things while writing ch22: 1) ainsley is a fucking brat ("fuck me or i'll find another alpha who will") and 2) ainsley is a classic i-overthink-so-fuck-me-until-i-can't type. he's never really enjoyed sex because he was too focused on trying to control it. but max didn't let him think at all. towards the end of ch22, when max is teasing ainsley's bootyhole, ainsley acts like a complete fucking brat so max will wreck him and put him in the i-can-only-feel space that he's learned he likes. writing this was sooo cathartic because i identify 100% with that part of ainsley hahahaha ALSO CAN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT A SWEETIE MAX IS?????? he literally could not stop praising ainsley while he fucking ruined him. rubbing his back, kissing his neck, etc. and this is going to intensify even more in ch23, because max is IN LOVE WITH AINSLEY.

he knows it. he's 100% in love with him. he wants him. and he's gonna have him. i officially put a 40 chapter count on the fic because i'm anticipating that we have 18ish chapters to go before things wrap up! this is subject to change, of course :) as always, thanks to everyone who's reading and commenting, i love it so much 💕 feel free to drop me a line here or on bluesky with any thoughts you have about game changer! hearing from my readers always makes my day 🥹

[dirtyoldmanhole]

ch21 pops off briefly in some cool ways!

first you get this sick ass Temple Of Doom vibe. Castle Gyges, where all the shit goes down.

god i wish i could tell you some fic spoilers, this is the exact screenshot for one cool scene.

anyway, then check out this sick cinematography as the ominous foreshadowing starts up~~~

looming dark ominousness both with the building structures and the sky notably going darker, separating the screen in a diagonal sense for the further unease; bunch of purple and green which are traditionally "villain colors".

corrin off to the side of that second shot to further her isolation from the royal group.

anyway right after that second shot anthony is the obvious traitor as he leads corrin to the back enterence all alone. there's a really deliciously nasty dead dove fic that lives rent free in my mind re: anthony about this part lol

thankfully, corrin has at least one brain cell and knows there's a high chance she's walking into a trap, and she's left a message with everyone in case if she didn't return.

anthony goes yandere.

points for effort of that slasher smile, anthony, though I know somebody who wears it better.... :P

SPEAKING OF....

Gunter arrives in the second wave of 'oh it WAS a trap after all' reinforcements, behind Takumi and Leo aka the Thank God You Have Common Sense Royals(tm)

(+Xander who was the 'pls consider it's a trap' guy)

THAT IS RICH COMING FROM YOU, WANKER

(this whole scene is simultaneously really funny and REALLY PAINFUL when you know. uh. his deal.)

anankos decides he's totally capital-D-done with anthony and straight up turns him into a faceless in front of you for his failure. the transformation sounds nightmarish, ngl.

afterwards corrin gets one of those chats with the whole gang of them saying 'yeah you have a major weakness of trusting people but that's also what got you to herd all of us psychos together so, you win for once?

speaking of -

.... you know what, that's saccharine, but that's actually cute, sheesh. he of all people's seen her from start to finish, so i feel like that actually does mean something as a very subtle nod to all of her work during the middle third of rev, all the way back when nobody believed her and azura.

anyhoo, chapter 22 was up next.

ch22 really could be welded together with 23, as it's basically "azura faces her possessed mother part 1" versus 23 being the "actually finally kills her for good". basically a whole lot of nothing happens here, but i did find it interesting how everyone/corrin/azura really was leaning on the 'she's not your mother anymore' angle as an easier way to accept the fact she's brutally fighting/killing her only surviving family member.

hold onto that thought ~~~~

anyway ch23 is when it actually starts popping off again re: gunter >:) almost there to the fun bits.

[sweetish-original-story]

CH23 (tw comical use of strong language)

"-SO STRIKE A POSE!" Bobbin screamed at the top of her lungs, thankfully quieter by the primitive sound editing. "YES, ALWAYS! STRIKE A POSE JUST LIKE THAT AND YOU WILL SEE! NOTHING CAN CUT YOU DOWN! POWER AND GRACE COMES FROM YOUR HEART, SO BE COLURFUL AND FREE! HAIR...CLOTHES...THEY ARE JUST AN ACCESSORY! YOU ARE THE ART! THE TRUE HAIR PEICE-" she spun around in a circle on her blue ballet shoes, showing off her 2D sparkling cerulean tutu, before gracefully leaping in slow motion from the stage to the very end of the catwalk, spinning once again, spotlight shimmering against her bald and glittery head, before landing backwards with one leg in the air and making a heart with her fingres. "IS LOOOOOOOOOVE!"

And everyone started Vogueing.

"I don't get it." Dulce said flatly, putting down his wine glass. Sammy turned to him so fast her own hair could have sliced him in half. "WHAT." Sammy took a deep breath. "Don't. You. Get???? :)"

"I mean..." he continued, "What was the point of trying to find the scissor thingy-"

"OBSIDIAN FIRST SHEAR." Sammy corrected with all the venom she could muster.

"OBSIDEEN FOWRST SHEEW-" He mocked. "-If all they were going to do with it was give it give it back to them? They could have literally made any outfit, any material, they could have taken all that power and use it to make their lives perfect! Heck, half their freinds are dead, they should have gotten revenge! Tore the whole thing into fibers and made sure no one could ever use it again."

Samuella was exhausted at this point. "Uggghh nooo this is like the whole Ruffy and Megaprep fight from 12 seasons agoooo! They already proved to everyone that even though phonk can be used for evil, it SHOULD be used for good! Yin and yang! The people wont support the music industry if their music is souless and its the same thing here! They are beautiful BECAUSE they are willing to change their brand not in spite of it. Also-"

"Now hold on, what about the enslaved elves in the silk plantations? What do they just walk away like nothing happened? We just pretend that was okay?"

"I told you it was IMPLIED that they were going to go back in the FUTURE..." Sammy retorted "But you were busy making those meaty seed buns and trying to trick me into burning a hole through my gut." She held her stomach as if she would have another choking fit from breathing in her own firey burps again.

"Whats the point in spending thousands on spices if you arent going to eat em? Its good for you, makes you strong." He seemed very proud of being able to give his cousins advice to someone he cared for.

"Whats the point of ordering 12 pairs of HiHi Birdy print oven mitts if your hands are indestructible?" Sammy let a small smirk grow across her face as his smug grin sligshotted right back into eberrassment and false rage.

"THOSE ARE DIFFERENT." He growled hypocritically. "You HiHi Birdiy's name out of your SLIMY FILTHY mouth." He was standing now. "At least I'm not into SLAVERY. Bitch."

Sammy was taken aback by his full confidence in even being able to SAY that, let alone joke about it, especially considering what he went through.

"How very DARE you SIR. YOU are the one who wants to MAIM a literal child 'Mr. CALM and COLLECTED.'"

"A trillion year old EVIL child who eats the suffering of slaves which YOU like. Bitch." He repeated louder, so she can hear it

Now SHE was standing, with her hands on her knees in order to insult his height."You want to sleep with the monkey aliens of Waterplanet 3 from the Dairy cream galaxy so that makes you a child murderer and AND a zoophile." She made sure to look him straight in the eye for that last word.

"They're CUTE!" He whined "They are like little pink pig monkeys with tiny eyes and no hair-"

Sammy was losing control of her volume now. "THEY CAME FROME CHIMPS THATS DISCUSTING YOU KISS CHIMPS!"

So was Dulce. "NO. SILENC" He still couldn't get that word quite right. He can't even get THIS language down, and hed nearly lost most of his last one. "SHUT UP. RACIST BITSCH." Once more for good measure.

"Say bitch one more time." Oh she HEARD it alright. Dulce let out a maniacal smile at the invitation.

"Slut."

The next moment he was surrounded by a tornado of red, slowly being crushed to death with every heavy fabric and pillow in the mansion. He couldnt even scream for help. His bird-son was already fast asleep, and if the weight didnt get him, the heat would bake him like a marshmallow. As a final insult, when the tornado was over Samuella took a big heavy sit at the top of the pile. Her tactics were strong, but he was stronger.

It all went flying, including Samuella. She flipped around twice before her instincts let her land on the commonroom table, after which she grabbed a large scented terrycloth towel out of the air and whipped it against the air to make a loud and intimidating thunderclap as a warning.

"So it's like THAT huh? Chosen like a true OVERSEER." Dulce mocked. This time there was a drop of menace in his words. He picked up a pair of green pillows and stuffed them onto his hands. "I dont really need a weapon, but..." He cracked his neck before turning to her and preparing to use her own wreckless momentum against her. "-I don't wanna break you TOO quick tonight."

The proceeded to ruin the her entire side of the mansion. If fists and fabric weren't flying, then insults were, mixed in with the occasional "COME ON KEEP UP HOE!" or unusual "Oh I KNOW you can hit a little harder than THAT".

And somewhere in the southern quarters, a maid is getting a dreadful, sinking feeling in her gut.

[amywritesthings]

Hi!

I just wanted to step by to tell you I love love LOVE Silver Underground! I had so much uni work to do, but I couldn't stop reading. I don't think I've ever encountered a FanFiction THIS good - even better than most books I've read! Thank you for putting your time and effort into this masterpiece. ❤️

May I request to join the taglist, please? 🥰 (I hope this is the right place to ask...)

Thanks again for all your hard work, I cannot wait for the story to unfold further!!

Much love ❤️

Oh my gosh, this means so much to me 😭😭😭💕 PLEASE DO YOUR UNI WORK BUT ALSO I AM VERY VERY HONORED! (I used to want dream of doing published fiction books so lol it's the highest of compliments I could ever ask for)

of course, i will certainly put you on ch23 & beyond's tag lists! There are a bunch of one shot requests in my inbox, so i promise there is plenty of the SU universe to go around.

Thank you so much (and ps mingi... an absolute doll, from one atiny to another xo)

[color-in-your-hands]

Alas, work got in the way for a bit there and for several days besides but! I am back and I have my Thoughts. The joke Thought is that Blue and Tina Belcher might have a common interest in zombie boys. The serious one ultimately ties into my pet theory that the story plays out in a much more interesting way if Blue's true love is Noah, rather than Gansey, but that's for another day. I'm focusing on Blue being dead-sexual right now.

Being a horny teenager having both conscious and unconscious horny thoughts, I think it perfectly tracks that Blue's desire is sort of tangled up in death, as you said. Unless she knows with absolute certainty a given boy isn't her true love, her kiss is likely to kill anyone her lips come in contact with, so it's best to avoid that altogether. Prior to Chapter 39 when Noah tells Blue why Adam is moving into Monmouth, she's very clearly attracted to Adam, and crucially for the point I'm trying to make here: in TRB, she never sees him without bruises after the night they meet at Nino's, and I'd bet she had some Weird Feelings about those bruises before she understood their origin:

"[...] elegant. It was not the right word for him, but it was close. He was fine boned and a little fragile looking" (chapter 6)

[...] gaunter and older in the distant streetlight" (chapter 8)

"His face was just strange enough that she wanted to keep looking at it." (chapter 8)

[Regarding the obvious bruising on his face] "What it did was make him look more fragile and dirty, somehow, like a teacup unearthed from soil [...]" (chapter 15)

"His bruise was older and more dreadful looking." (chapter 21)

[Responding to Adam telling her he thinks she's pretty] "I think you're pretty, too." (chapter 21)

"Beside her, Adam [...] looked at home here, his hair the same colorless brown as the tips of old grass, and he looked more handsome than Blue remembered." (chapter 23)

She's sort of preoccupied with those bruises, no? The structure of his face under them? In other instances in the text, Blue's also very clearly attracted to Adam and enjoys the attention he gives her throughout TRB. Having once been a teenage girl... she probably spent some time dwelling on that attraction more than is on the page in the inarticulate way of a virgin who's never been kissed. She probably sees Adam as the corpse in her wet dreams initially. He's the first boy she's ever allowed in and the first she's ever entertained, and he's walking around most of the book with his fine-boned face marked by violence, leaning in close enough for her to see the broken blood vessels and yellow-green healing around the edges. On his nose and cheekbone. Noah's smudge is the echo of the injury that killed him: his crushed cheekbone. She notes in TRB Chapter 32 that the "smudge" is simultaneously the skeleton and the boy, overlapping in her mind. Obviously I'm pointing at the bruise and the smudge as a physical resemblance between them in TRB, but Blue notes that they're both quiet, though for different reasons, and she welcomes Noah's affection alongside Adam's. The boy she doesn't know is dead and the living one she's been having dreams about killing, the one whose affection she welcomes freely and the one she's afraid to encourage, one cold ("It was not merely cold, but somehow empty as well, skin without a pulse," Ch32) and one warm ("It was not his fingers twined with hers that affected Blue strongest, it was where his warm wrist pressed against hers," Ch23). Imagine her being doubly horrified when they find out Noah's been dead all along. He's not just the face she can put on the corpses she's dreaming about, he is one already. She doesn't need to be afraid of hurting him. He was already a safe, fairly inert target for her subconscious desires if she was offloading any of them onto him rather than letting them fall on Adam. It says a lot, I think, that Blue is so game to kiss Noah. Between "oh, so this is what I can't have" and "nothing was fair," if she's also battling how her subconscious has conflated lust with death, how do we think it handles being freely allowed to lust after someone who is dead, who she can't hurt, who can actively participate in what she wants rather than just... being there? As a object, rendered as such by her kiss? Can you imagine how freeing it is for her to not have to try to imagine sex without kissing? Because she can kiss Noah, and "there was nothing terrible about kissing Noah Czerny, apart from him being cold." She invites him to hold her hand, despite the cold. She thinks it's "super nice" kissing him, despite the cold. He'd ask her out, if he was alive? It certainly seems like she'd say okay even though he isn't.

maggie's livetweet reread has been going around again, and it got me thinking about Blue being dead-sexual aldkfjgh

it was a joke, obviously, but it got me thinking about how much it could've genuinely fucked Blue up to have love/kissing/intimacy/death all twisted together from such an early age. like, she couldn't even THINK about something like sex without the prerequisite of "your partner is dead before you get that far", can you imagine??

she tries to just put the entire thing from her mind, she resolves to just never kiss anyone, never get close, never have physical intimacy of any kind, in the hopes of avoiding this fated fucking murder of her hypothetical true love.

but that's easier said than done. you're not exactly in control of your thoughts, esp during fucking puberty, and the subconscious finds ways to process shit no matter how hard you try to repress it. dreams are where you face your greatest desires and your darkest fears, and for Blue those are, for all intents and purposes, the same thing.

she's had more sex nightmares than Ronan has, lmao. she's got a libido, no matter how hard she tries to suppress and ignore it, and it bubbles up inside her the way it does all so-inclined teenagers (and many who aren't so inclined, hell, i've had plenty of bizarre sex dreams for someone with no irl desire for sex). there's no controlling the fantasy when she craves it so bad, but there's no denying the reality either, the fear and horror living in the back of her mind, inescapable. so many dreams of touching and being touched and pulling back to find a faceless corpse.

then she meets Gansey, her confirmed true love, the boy who WILL DIE if she ever kisses him. and the problem is that she wants to!!! she wants him, and the corpses in her wet dreams have a face now, and she doesn't want that but also she does and there so many wires crossed and she shouldn't be waking up from these dreams wet and shaking and on the verge, but she is and she can't stop it.

the uncomfortable fact of the matter is that the only times Blue has ever come, she's been thinking of a dead man.

[hollowed-theory-hall]

Do you think the rest of the Wizarding World is as obssessed with blood as Britain, or is it just them that focus so much on blood purity?

My guess would be yes and no. There are definitely other countries that are just as obsessed with blood purity, if not more.

We know most of Grindlewald's followers are from continental Europe, not the UK.

In the 1990s, Durmstrang still didn't admit muggleborn students:

Well, you know his opinion of Dumbledore — the man’s such a Mudblood-lover — and Durmstrang doesn’t admit that sort of riffraff.

(GoF, Ch11)

I mentioned it in this post, but the UK seems to be tame in its opinions on muggles compared to central Europe. The post I linked outlines how the witch hunts were much more widespread in Germany, Switzerland, and France compared to Britain, which I think is part of why anti-Muggle sentiment is stronger there.

(Yes, I'd expect Beauxbatons to be more anti-Muggle than Hogwarts, too, actually. In the books, Beauxbatons is portrayed as the more ordered, militaristic school, not Durmstrang:

“They look a lot happier than the Beauxbatons lot,” said Harry. The Durmstrang students were pulling off their heavy furs and looking up at the starry black ceiling with expressions of interest; [...] When their headmistress appeared, the pupils from Beauxbatons leapt to their feet. A few of the Hogwarts students laughed. The Beauxbatons party appeared quite unembarrassed, however, and did not resume their seats until Madame Maxime had sat down on Dumbledore’s left-hand side.

(GoF, Ch15)

and eef a poltergeist ever entaired into Beauxbatons, ’e would be expelled like zat.” She [Fleur] slapped her hand onto the table impatiently.

(GoF, Ch23)).

And I'd say it isn't limited to Europe. I think blood purity is a worldwide issue (yes, in Africa, Asia, and America — all continents probably have some issue with this, if, to different levels).

We don't know as much about other places in canon, but if we take the FB movies and Pottermore canon about the US, there were laws (Rappaport's Law) in place until 1965 to completely separate wizards from muggles that forbade wizards from marrying muggles. So, I'd say they were pretty concerned with blood purity, even if they didn't call it that. (Also according to JKR MACUSA was founded before the USA... I'm not the biggest fan of her American canon 🤷‍♀️, so take it with a grain of salt).

We also know the borders between magical authorities and Muggle governments aren't the same. The way Ireland's wizards seem to be under the British Ministry of Magic, the fact that Transylvania has its own national Quidditch team separate from the Romanian national teeam, that there's a national joint Quidditch team for Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, etc (I wonder how the wizarding governments map looks like in the modern day and if it's more similar to post-WWII Europe or to 1700s Europe?). So, the wizarding world worldwide is very separate from the Muggle one, even more so in some places than in the UK.

So, no, I don't think blood purity is unique to the UK. I actually think some places are worse than the UK when it comes to blood purity — namely, Germany, Northern Europe, and Eastern Europe are implied to be worse due to Durmstrang's policy. There are probably places around the world that don't care as much, but the concept of blood purity (maybe with different names) is pretty widespread.

[echantedtoon]

A Bloom In Time Ch23 Poppy's Day Out

"Last stop Express Town. Thank you for choosing PenCo Metro for all your space travels. We at PenCo value your time as customers and hope to see your lovely faces again soon. And hope you enjoyed your space traveling experiences with us." The few penguins that were on the metro along with Poppy, Cookie, and the girls excited the space train as it sat still in the giant tower like structure funnel that would take it back upwards to the moon. Passing a few other penguins and maybe an owl or two heading back towards it. "Attention boarding passengers. The Evening Express back to the moon will leaving within fifthteen minutes. Please be sure to have your luggage in hand when you board."

"Does he always have to say the same thing every time we use it?," Mu asked earning a slight frown from Cookie.

"That's his JOB. It's what he's supposed to do. Don't complain about him doing his job correctly."

Whelp. Here they were. Down on the planet finally and had real dirt under her feet.....Or sand. Really, REALLY hot sand. Blue eyes gazed around her at the scorching desert surroundings and the decently sized town of owls walking around. It looked as if she just walked into a western movie and stopped. There must've been at least a hundred and twenty different buildings if she was estimating it good enough from their spot on the hill. It was a decent sized town all right. Not too big. Not too small. But absolutely hot with the afternoon sun beating down on them and such. One gigantic building stood in the dead center of the town and it had a decent sized parking lot too. She was certainly more at ease and comforted at least. Express Town certainly looked more her time than the flashy neon lights of Moon City that's for sure. Smiling she followed along Cookie as the girls ran ahead of them a few feet giggling and playfully shoving at one another kicking up sand. 

"This place looks pretty rustic," Poppy commented smiling. From the hill she could also see a set of train tracks leading into and away from the town and beside that was a train station. Everything just looked as it was in a western like town in her day. Not that she's ever been to one, but she did have relitives who did.

Cookie nodded in front of her watching the girls with a smile. "That there big building is the Dead Bird Studios. Most of the owls who live here work there or in the small shops around town. You see Conductor may be a little.....loud but he loves supportin' local shops here. He gets all his costumes from the famous clothing store nearby, and his coffee from Jukebox Cafe'. They have a delicious bird seed chocolate cappuccino...If you don't mind birdseed that is. My own little resturaunt is right across the street from the studios. I always wanted one, and thanks to the directors' generosity I finally did."

".....I think I actually saw one of this Mr. Grooves's picture shows now that I think about it." Her memory went to two night before while cleaning the attic and kitchen. She still couldn't sleep after a while and stayed up a bit watching something she couldn't remember fully on the television the girls left on.

"Oh really? Well Mr. Grooves certainly has a more flashier taste than Conductor but his are just as nice if you ask me," Cookie replied unbiased before looking over her shoulder at her. "The first place we'll stop by is Hawk's Eye Pawn shop."

".....Pawn shop?"

"It's kinda like a trading post. You trade things there for pons or bye somethin' they have on the store shelves."

Oh. So a trading post. She knew what those were alright, had one on the edge of the town she lived in. Where she got most of her furniture and goods actually. Following Cookie, they all went into the town of owls. And she got a good look at everyday life in a town of owls and birds. As soon they stepped foot in there she could see that everything was made a little taller thank goodness, she didn't feel like crawling through any more doorways and tunnels feeling awkward and big and clumsy. Funnily enough most of the houses they passed seemed to be nothing more than homes, if the stores didn't have open signs or display cases in their windows, she would've thought all of these were just more homes for these owls. And speaking of the owls, most were just walking around minding their own business, walking in or out of buildings, and Poppy even saw a few elderly owls in the comfy seats of rocking chairs on shady porches watching the world go by. The girls giggled and ran past them in a game of tag with Bow reaching her hand out trying to catch Hattie or Mu. And some of the old birds smiled at the energetic children. Poppy would admit they were definately a cute bunch as well. Still following the cat, Poppy lifted her arm up to wipe at her long bangs and forehead. It sure was hot, not surprising since it was a desert, but she hoped they'd get to this 'pawn shop' soon. And hoped it was cooler inside. The girls never got too far from them as they ran around kicking up dust and sand in their game as Poppy switched between watching them and looking around fanning herself. Where did they all get that energy? It was too hot to play in her opinion, and the weight of the gold in her apron was starting to hurt her neck and shoulders a bit. That was soon all solved when Cookie turned in front of an all brown wooden building and started up the steps leading into it. Of course Poppy and the girls following behind and running in. A small bell above the door rang out as the door was opened and Poppy sighed at the wave of cool air hitting them as they waltzed in. But was surprised at the stuff she saw. Calm guitar music played from a small radio in the corner as an owl held his head in his wing looking boredly at them from the desk, to his right was a register. All around the place was cluttered items jammed everywhere. From beds, to pots and pans lining the walls, to random objects she'd never seen before.

With a sigh the owl spoke. "Welcome to Hawk's Eye Pawn Shop, where we have a hawk's eye view for priceless and useful objects. Feel free to ask if you need any help.....or not, " he said in a flat tone. Giving Poppy the feeling of slight annoyance in her as she raised a brow. Luckily Cookie stepped in before anyone else could as the girls ran around looking at things like normal children their age did. Walking right up to the desk as the owl followed along lazily with his eyes as he stared at Cookie before rolling his eyes. "Hello, Ma'am. How may I assist you this fine evening?"

"Glad you asked." Cookie pointed over at Poppy. "My friend here has a lot of gold she'd like to trade in today."

"..Gold?" Immediately the owl's interest peeked as he chuckled and finally smiled at them, "Oh w-well this IS a surprise! Please come, come! You've come to the right place, Miss." He gestured for Poppy to come over and reluctantly she did as the owl rubbed his hands-....uh..Wings together and smiled widely at her. "Just allow me to measure it a-and we can get you your pons, Ma'am."

"Uh...Ok." She reached down to the larger pocket of the two and pulled out the heavy gold cheese wheel, it must've been fifteen pounds at least. She set it with a small thump on the table and the owl hooted in surprise at the large item she placed down. Blinking and gawking in surprise at the large thing. ....Which was followed by the trophy, and the potion bottle out of her large pocket. And then the Mafia statue, pencil, candle, gear, and cheese slice. The owl gawking at all the things laid out before him in pure gold glory. "There ya go. That's the lot of it."

The owl sputtered blinking at them all....Before reaching up to pull out a small magnifying device out of his breast pocket and picked up the golden candle. "T-T-This is!...INCREDIBLE!! I've never seen such fine craftsmanship in my life! AND IN PURE GOLD!! It's unmistakable! Pure. Solid. Twenty four carrot GOLD!!" He could almost FEEL the heat radiating off the candle, it almost looked like it could've been real at one point. He looked back at Poppy unbelieving. "W-Where did you ever aquire such beautiful items?!"

"Oh...I- Uh..." She had to think fast. She wasn't about to tell some stranger some magic alien potion turned these things into gold by some king roach. They'd think she was crazy. So why not tell the truth but a different truth. "My g-great granddaddy on my mama's side was a blacksmith. He worked with metal's all the time." Which was true. Her Great Granddaddy Silver Copper-field on her mother's side was a blacksmith. 

"But we found them in the attic," Bow innocently chimed in tilting her head confused.

Mild panick flashed on Poppy's face. "Uh...W-Well people find all sorts of old things in their attics all t-the time!" 

Which was another truth. But the owl seemed too enchanted by the items he rolled over his his hold to care about her nervous tone at all. "Well he must've been a fine crafter in his day. I've NEVER seen such beauty." He snapped up to her suddenly slamming his hands on the counter and leaning over making her jump in surprise and lean back. "I MUST have them! Won't you part with them! It'll make me the talk of the town for once besides those ratty directors!! I'll be the only bird in the world to have them!!"

Now Poppy could sense pretty well when some one was gonna fight being raised around a bunch of rowdy country folk that often fought over land and territory. And BOY! The way the two little girls and Cookie bristled at the comment the owl made sure did look like they were about to argue, but that was NOT what she came here to do. She wanted to get out and have a relaxing day seeing this new place, so thinking quickly she got between them and the owl smiling more than a greedy pirate. "Deal. But on the condition ya give me what I'm owed for it all, and the promise ya won't say a word about where ya got it from." She didn't need someone asking around in case.

He quickly agreed grabbed the gold one by one. "Oh I promise. I very, very promise. Hmhmhmhmhm!! Not one word out of me. After all I don't want anyone else to have one but me."

Poppy sighed and watched as with great difficulty the owl man just gathered up all the gold in his arms teetering and wobbling about as he went towards the left side of the counter. They all watched as he wobbled his way towards a large scale against the wall that reminded Poppy of the large scale the local banker used to have to measure her pons in whenever she went to put her savings in the bank, only much bigger. A few large clanging noises rang out as he dumped the gold into it and watched as the red arrow of the scale tipped until it measured-

"F-F-Fifty two pounds!," the owl gawked at the scales before giving a thoughtful look. "Let's see. Minus tax on gold fifty two equals up too about....." His eyes widened and he suddenly let out a hoot gripping the feathers on his head. "F-F-Five thousand pons!!"

"Oh....Do you not have that m-many pons?"

"Uh..." The owl nervously looked between her and the statues. "N-No. J-Just a little over half of it. B-B-BUT I-I C-CAN OFFER A TRADE!!" He quickly pointed around the cluttered place, as if nervous to lose the precious gold he so desperately wanted. "I-I can pay half and trade for the other! W-Whatcha say?"

Poppy stopped for a minute. Looking around the cluttered place with a raised brow, and gazing over everything slowly. That wasn't a bad idea actually. Since she could use some knew things once she gets settled on her own again and didn't need anymore help. And getting stuff for free? Now they were talking! Maybe this was the universe paying her back for all her troubles and hard work finally! Smiling she happily agreed to the deal much to the Owl's delight and he quickly scrambled about to grab all the pons he needed for the trade from a giant vault in the back and they began searching. Well, the girls found lots of little knickknacks like small toys and for Bow a large sunhat with a pretty blue bow on it and how could Poppy say no to that? Well, the red head wasn't going for any random fancy stuff like antique clocks or any other fancy thing right now. But considering $2600) was a lot of pons to trade for, she could spare them to choose a bunch of things for themselves. But looking among some used exercize bikes she found a few things she was really looking forward to see again. What else but some good old fashioned farming tools? A rake, gardon hoe, pitchfork, shovel combo! She hit the giant jackpot!! Smiling as she dragged the old things out of the dusty corner and examined them. They looked to be in good condition. Rusty and dusty, but a mighty fine condition if ya asked her. 

"Uh. Ma'am, are you sure you want those?," the owl said leaning back over the counter staring, "T-Those are antique farming tools that were just dumped in the corner. No one would want them.

"I sure do!," She said smiling back at his confused face, "They're just what I needed.

"Well...Y-Yes, t-t-they're in great condition for three hundred year old tools. That's why they're here, they could run in the thousands. Are you sure you want to waste your time with them?"

"Yep!" She Heaved all of them over one of her shoulders with a smile. "I got a plan for these babies. You just keep counting the pons."

"Ok. If that's what you want. It'll be nice to get them out at least," he mumbled to himself ducking back behind the counter.

Continuing looking around a little bit, Poppy managed to find a gold club bag along with her search and stuck her new tools into it, slinging it over herself and able to carry about her new beauties easier. Turns out those tools and the old antique stove Cookie kept looking at. Poppy saw the way she kept longingly staring at it every few minutes of looking around and gladly said she'd take that for her friend here. Cookie insisted she didn't have to but Poppy's mind was already made up anyways, as stated she didn't need that much pons leftover to trade back here again anyways. And she deserved it for all the kindness she had shown Poppy a complete and utter stranger. Well it turns out the knick knacks Hattie stuffed in her hat, (just random things like a few teddy bears, jewelry, a grappling hook, and anything else a girl like her would enjoy) combined with the old stove and it's set, along with those old tools were just enough to cover the other half but she did have to fork over another 100 pons to cover the extra 100 pons the tax came out to be. The bag she was handed wasn't really big, about maybe a small decent sized pumpkin and weighed about as much as a large house cat did. And that went into her large apron pocket for safe keeping while slipping the gold back of farming tools over her. She still had $2,500 to spend. And that was quite a lot of pons especially. Luckily the things weren't as expensive as made out to be. But that did leave another question, what were they supposed to do now? Luckily Cookie had a fantastic idea after seeing the way the uh....tacky dress Poppy was wearing and had the idea for them to stop by the local clothing store much to the children's protest about how boring it was going to be. So they once again found themselves leaving the greedy owl to fond over his new prized possesions and left back out into the hot sun. Resuming their routine of Poppy following behind Cookie as she lead them down the street to wards the far side of the town as the kids ran around again chasing one another. The only difference was Bow was using one hand to keep that giant sun hat on her head now as she went around running after the first two. Poppy still couldn't figure out how Hattie kept all those things in her hat. Alien magic?

"You'll adore this lil shoppe," Cookie happily told her giving a bright grin, "They're real experts at fancy sewing. You see they make most of the costumes for the studio and the directors' movies."

"It sounds like this whole town thrives on that place huh?," Poppy stated giving a look around the old buildings and many owls walking by. 

"Oh, this town has been here for quite a long time with the studios," Cookie corrected, "It's only until recently that business really thrived for lacol birds. In the less hotter winter seasons, people come from all over to get a glimpse at the two kooky canaries running those studios. Means Conductor gets some extra business running his train too, he likes to say more budget for his movies come from it."

"Wow. Really?" So this place was some kind of famous spot because of this Mr. Grooves and Conductor, whoever they might be. From what she's heard of them so far, they seemed really nice supporting local business and bringing in so many customers. And she had no reason to not trust Cookie so far. A smile graced her face when he spotted the girls run a little ways ahead of them and caught an earful of their giggles. That was until one fell over. It was just a small rock hidden in the sand that she didn't see, but that didn't stop Bow from tripping over it and faceplanting the sand, knocking up some sand in her crash. Poppy and Cookie both gave a small gasp of surprise and Poppy instantly ran over to her, metal tools clanking together on her back. Hattie and Mu had stopped hearing the thump in the sand from behind them at Bow's faceplant and watched as the curly haired girl pushed herself up. Bow laid there unmoving for a few seconds but by the time Poppy got over there to kneel next to her, she had pushed herself up crying a bit with her eyes shut and spitting out more sand from her mouth. Sun hat falling off her head as she did. Two hands grabbed her and turned her around to face the worried face of the red head as she looked her over. "What happened? Are you alright, Sweetheart?"

"My eyes burn!," Bow cried reaching her balled fists up to wipe at her face but was stopped by Poppy pulling them away. 

She sighed. "Well don't rub them, you probably just got some dirt in your eyes needin' ta be flushed out." Looking around she spotted an outside water pump fountain like the one her old home hand and without another thought picked up the tiny girl and stood back up. Bow still crying at the stinging and wrapping herself around Poppy's shoulder as she walked. "Oh hush now. All you need is to rinse it out with a lil water and you'll be right as rain!" She carried Bow over to the small pump across the street and pried her off to set the small gal down in front of the Nozzle. "Now I'm going to pump some water out, and I want you to start rinsing out those eyes and mouth of yers. Ok?" Bow sniffed still crying small tears down her face and Poppy grabbed a hold of the pump handle. Pushing n pulling it up and down to summon the water underneath. A garbling sound came from the pipe's inside and with a pop sound, cold water burst out from the pipe and sprayed the small child in the face. Bow jumped in surprise at the sudden cold water on her but sputtered and swiped at her face and the stream of water hitting her. After a few more seconds of it, Poppy stopped and allowed the strong stream to trickle slowly before stopping completely. She watched as Bow turned her cheek the other way and spat out a mouthful of water, coughing and wiping at her face. Now all soaking wet. She rubbed at her eyes for a moment before blinking her eyes open and looking up with red eyes. There we go. Now that she could see, her eyes would be irritated for a lil bit, but it wouldn't be worse than just someone suffering from a bit of hay fever. "There we go. All better."

....Bow sniffed and blinked. Wiping one eye with her hand and looking down at herself, her other hand grabbing her white jacket. "Now I'm all soaked and cold."

"Uh...Yeah." Poppy rubbed her head. "Kinda figured the sun would dry ya out, but I guess I can buy ya a new dress while we're at this here clothin' store.''

"...*sniff* Really?"

"Absolutely." Walking back over, Poppy bent down and repicked Bow up into her arms letting the little girl grab onto her. "We'll get ya a nice pretty dress that'll make you look like a darlin' lil princess!...Well more of a princess than you are already."

Bow smiled again sniffing and Poppy smiled at her...But paused when she heard someone else awing at them from behind and when she turned around there was a pair of old birds on a shady porch right behind them. The old birds were smiling at them from their rocking chairs like what they were seeing was the most precious thing in the world. "It's so nice to see such a responsible and caring young mother these days," one of them spoke smiling widely, "Your daughter looks like a darling little one."

......Poppy blinked. "Mother? Who me?" She pointed at herself with her free hand before shaking her head. "O-Oh! No, no! I'm not her mother! I'm just watching her for someone I know!"

"Oh, that's too bad. You would make a lovely mother for the dear."

Poppy chuckled nervously but Bow seemed to be looking at her with a strange look. "My...Mother?"

Giving a small thanks Poppy quickly excused herself from the watching eyes of the old birds and back over to Cookie who was waiting for them with the other two children. Wiping dust from the pretty sunhat and looking up at the soaked child in her arms. "Well. I can see we'll be needing to take care of that while we're in there too."

Poppy gave another nervous chuckle but grabbed the sun hat, handing it back to Bow who gladly plopped it back onto her head. Well, guess they weren't going to wait on getting this lil gal some dry clothing. Following Cookie the rest of the way there, they all came across possibly the girliest lookin' store Poppy had ever seen. It was all painted pink and white and had flowers in window pots. Well seeing those cute lil things made her smile at least, she always loved flowers. Above a sign was nailed above the door reading Mrs. Talon's Fabric Shoppe. Guess they were going in when Cookie walked right on up without a second thought so naturally Poppy and the children followed suit. A bell above the door rang like before and thank PECK it was another building big enough she didn't have to crawl through to get there. Upon entering it was the same pink and white themed as the outside. Along the walls was shelves upon shelves of fabric, balls of yarn and threads of all colors, sewing machines for sail along with smaller kits, and anything else one would need for making clothes. Such as buttons, sequins, patches, and books of patterns or techniques. Poppy noticed there was also a giant pink curtain in the back and next to that was a rack of already made dresses with a sign that said 'discount bin half off'. In the very front of the store was a white counter, and a lady owl wearing a floral dress with glasses that made her eyes look too big for her face, but unlike the first owl this cashier welcomed them all with a smile and friendly voice. 

"Good Evening, Customers! Welcome to Mrs. Talons! Here we tailor to creatures large and small," she replied in a high pitched tone, "How may I-...I-I..." Her impossibly large eyes went wide seeing the crew of five girls waltz in as Poppy closed the door shut with her foot. "I-....I DON'T BELEIVE IT!!" She suddenly squealed startling the red head woman into almost dropping Bow and blinking at the pig like squeal before the owl lady leaned over the counter looking at Cookie. "I DON'T PECKING BELIEVE IT!! THE COOKING CAT IS IN MY BOSS'S STORE!! M-Ma'am I'm your b-biggest fans! My owlets love your deep fried worm and rice recipe!" Cookie didn't even seem fazed as she chuckled and waved. Making the more owl all the more nervous at having the cat celebity in her store. "H-How may I help you, Ms. Cat?"

"Please. Call me Cookie." Cookie pointed at Poppy still holding Bow in her arms. "We got a youngin' who's in need of some dry clothes and a fashion emergency if I say so myself."

The owl looked up at the two humans adjusting her glasses and frowning at Bow's soaked clothes and the absolutely ghastly amount of tacky lace and fake rubies studded to the collar of Poppy's dark blue dress. Not a good mix, it looked like she was a desperate rich lady trying to play the part of princess. "Oh...I certainly see why. Well, unfortunately with my boss away currently working on a large order for Mr. Grooves, I can't offer anything except for the designs left out from last year's tourism season." She gestured a wing over towards the bargain bin and Cookie slightly frowned at the limited suppy.

"Are you sure you can't make one?"

The owl shook her head. "Sorry, Ma'am. For you I would in a heartbeat, but I'm just the cashier. I ring people out and offer assistance if the customer has questions. The only tailors are my boss and her assistant and they're already away on a giant order call. But if you're interested we do provide everything you need to sew yourself."

"That won't be needed," Poppy cut in slowly lowering Bow to the ground and standing back up and walking to the bargain rack, "I ain't the kind of picky prissy gal a lot of folks I knew was." Walking up right to the rack she skimmed through the options of dresses available and to be honest most were plain day to day dresses without any patterns, but that suited her just fine. She wasn't real picky when it came to clothing as long as it fit ok and it didn't look like the ghastly thing she was wearing so she just grabbed a few random dresses off the bargain pile that was the same size she was wearing. A plain all pink and green one. One that was all white with purple flowers all over it. Another green one with a picture of a kitty cat in the middle of it. And just a purple one with some kind of black vine pattern. Looking back up, she noticed Cookie writing on a piece of paper as the owl excitedly watched, and she gave another small squeal when Cookie handed whatever it was over to her. How strange. Two of the girls were boredly bouncing some yarn balls...Where was- She got her answer when Bow pushed past her and reached up to rummage of her own accord, after a moment pulling out the only thing they seemed to have in a child's size. A bright orange dress with a single daisy on it's front. Her cringe made Poppy chuckle a bit and reach down to pat her head. "Hey. May not be the most pretty, but it's just til we get back an' then you can wear anything ya want. Alright?"

She didn't look happy but relented. "Fine."

"That's my girl!" She gave bow a smile as the little girl blinked and gave Poppy a confused look as she walked to the counter dresses in her arms.

"Your girl?"

Well, the clothes were bought. Which equaled up to about fourty six pons for all of the dresses including Bow's which she changed into behind the curtain. She was dry now but she didn't look like it stomping out and staring at her clothes in disgust. Well with two more bags in hand, one for her new dresses and one for Bow's, they excited the store and the girls were glad to not be coped up in there anymore except for Bow who followed the first two with crossed arms as the adults followed out.

"Come back anytime! Thank you for your purchase!," the cashier called out behind them and Cookie waved back.

"Ya seem to be well known, Huh?," Poppy asked the cat and Cookie shrugged.

"Lots of folks enjoy my work. Who am I to complain?"

"Touche." Poppy sucked in a deep breath and looked out into the world around them with a smile. "Man it's good to see ground that ain't littered with ghosts! But I wish it wasn't so hot!"

"Well this is a desert." Cookie smiled at Hattie chasing Mu around the two using Bow in the middle as a barrier from each other. "But they don't seem to have a problem with playin' anyhwere."

Poppy shrugged. "Doesn't surprise me with what I've seen. But I am surprised they aren't thirsty."

Cookie turned to her. "Why? Are you?"

"Well. A lil bit. When's the next ride back to the moon again?"

"Uh...Well I believe it's just a lil bit past noon, ya'll have to wait for the night train at ten o' clock." 

Poppy snapped her head to her with a surprised face. "Wha- THAT LATE?"

"Well it IS the night train for a reason Sugar. But tell ya what, I'll treat ya'll to some real good food at the Jukebox cafe while ya wait." She started stepping towards somewhere else and Poppy slowly followed after. 

"Oh no. You don't have to. It's alright." 

"And let you eat nothing but a cheese wheel and apples?," Cookie shook her head, "Oh no, no. That wouldn't do at all."

"Ain't there a market or tradin' post with food in these here parts?," Poppy asked back making Cookie chuckle nervously.

"Well....Yes. B-But since everyone in town are actually birds, they don't really sell food catering to humans or many other species except for coffee and what's served in the cafe's since those places get to see more of a diversity especially when tourism comes a callin'. Otherwise it's bird seed, worms, insects, some fruit, and anything else birds eat. Most of what else they get is ordered from the city a couple miles away or mafia town. "

"Oh great. Guess it's cheese and apples for supper tonight then." Her stomach growled and she placed a hand to it shyly making Cookie chuckle.

"Don't worry. I'll send ya'll home with some left overs from mah kitchen set at the-...." Poppy suddenly stopped mid step body completely frozen as if she was paused in the middle of a movie and Poppy almost stepped on her tail stopping just in time. Cookie suddenly grabbed her fuzzy cheeks with a frown. "Oh no!"

"What's wrong?"

"I left my handbag at my set in the studios! My bird passport and wallet's in there, it let's me get free supplies from the cafe with the reward points."

"So...That means?"

"We're going to have to make a pit stop at the studios before anyone eats."

[primevein]

The Prime of His Youth: Book IV: Fire's Master: Ch23: Rainy Day

The twins, in Dollform, walked along the corridors of the city, and it seemed as boring as they expected. "You'd think a lost city..." Skyburst stated.

"...on a lost planet..." Stormclash added.

"...hiding from acid rain..." Skyburst continued.

"Would be, you know?" Stormclash asked.

"Different, right?" Skyburst finished. "I mean..."

"...beyond the hangar..."

"...it's nothing but Minicons."

"Micromasters." Stormclash reminded her.

"Right, Micromasters." Skyburst affirmed.

"They are adorable." Stormclash stated.

"Oh, I know." Skyburst replied. "Nothing compared to our Prime when he was Human."

"Oh - my - Prime, I know!"

"Did... did you just say?.." a Micromaster asked, and the twins looked down at him.

"Ciel has..." Stormclash said to him.

"...pictures." Skyburst added.

"It's a story..." Stormclash continued.

"...he'll have to tell..." Skyburst continued.

"...himself." Stormclash finished.

* * *

"Until this time..." Skyburst said to the collected Micromasters.

"...we didn't even know about the war." Stormclash added.

"Our homeworld..." Skyburst stated.

"...was dark." Stormclash added.

Silence reigned in the room.

"But how could Cybertron go dark?!" one of the Micromasters asked. "Isn't it Primus?"

"We were never there..." Stormclash stated.

"...when it was dark." Skyburst added.

"But..." Stormclash stated.

"...there are pictures..." Skyburst added.

"...and videos." Stormclash finished.

"A small ship crashed." Skyburst stated.

"Autobots within." Stormclash continued.

"Then we heard the horrors." Skyburst stated,

"And everything after." Stormclash finished.

"Caminus was peaceful." Skyburst stated.

"Too peaceful." Stormclash added. They both developed nervous smiles. "Before Japheth."

"We were the..." Skyburst added.

"Rust Renegades!" they both said at the same time.

"The peaceful world..." Stormclash stated.

"...was never for us." Skyburst added.

"We..." Stormclash stated.

"...never wanted to be..."

"Renegades." they said at once.

"So, what changed?" one of the Micromasters asked.

"Japheth!" they both beamed.

"He accepted us." Stormclash stated.

"He encouraged us." Skyburst added.

"He also never tells us the plan..." Stormclash excitedly stated.

"...until it's time to use it!" Skyburst added with equal fervour. "He gave us a home..."

"Where we want to stay!" Stormclash added.

* * *

Jumpstream, longsword drawn, stood against a much larger opponent with spines running down his back. "So, what are those things, anyways?"

"Transtectors." he replied. "Master is a pit; it was our only way to survive. How is your world?"

"Japheth calls it a paradise." Dust Up said to him, warhammer in hand.

"Some religious thing." Jumpstream added. "Alright, lift your sword, and let's do this."

The Headmaster gripped his sword, and then paused, "I seem to have the size advantage."

This caused both Jumpstream and Dust Up to snicker.

"That won't be a problem." Jumpstream said to him.

"Very well." the Headmaster replied.

"What's your name, anyways?"

"Urchin." he strongly stated. He swung his sword at Jumpstream, only to have it parried off to the side. Before he realized it, Jumpstream had rushed in. She leapt, and struck him in the head with her pommel. He staggered for a few moments before recoving, and looked down at her.

"First time fighting something other than beasts?" Dust Up asked.

"It is." he strongly stated.

"Want to back out?" Jumpstream taunted.

"Not on your Prime." Urchin replied.

* * *

The Skyfall descended into the rift valley, slowly flying along as far as it safely could before landing.

* * *

"Pyra Magna?" Japheth asked over the comm. link. Pyra Magna instantly pulled back from her conversation with Ruck to answer the comms.

"My Prime?" she quickly asked.

"Assemble and combine." he languidly stated.

* * *

Pyra Magna ran down the corridor as fast as she could. Rust Dust drove up, and slowed down to hold pace next to her. The twins flew up, barely enough room to fly in the corridors and transformed behind them.

* * *

The moment they stepped into the hangar, with enough room, they transformed and combined. Victoria ran out as fast as she could.

* * *

Victoria ran up to Japheth, seeing him casually standing there as the ramp was lowered. He gave her a weak smile, "I'm sorry." he said to her.

"You're... sorry?.." Victoria asked.

"I guess I underestimated what you thought of me." he continued. He then turned his head to the ship.

Victoria sighed, "You... want us to be an umbrella, don't you?" she asked.

"He did say he was sorry!" Arcee shouted, as she walked down the ramp. It quickly turned into a run. She jumped into his arms. Behind her was Roxana and Arcelia, with Sirenia shyly looking down from the top. He let Arcee go and hugged Roxana and then Arcelia. He then waved Sirenia down, and she rushed down into a hug. Colossus stepped out, followed by Wheeljack. The engineers were obvious enough. Behind them was Ratchet and Knockout. Right behind them was Gella.

"A little late, aren't we?" Japheth asked Gella, and she paused. Miko pushed her forward, and she stumbled for a moment before walking down the ramp. This was followed by Miko and then Bulkhead. A hatch opened on the roof, with Moonracer appearing.

"Nope!" Japheth shouted up at her. She pulled back into the ship and closed the hatch.

Gregory Mortimer, Jim-Bob Roy, Jessica Joseph, Ori Manoulis, and Rudolf Luna appeared at the top of the ramp, showing no sign of coming down. Behind them, Japheth barely saw the lights from Phantom Rider's eyes.

"Clear a path!" Smokescreen shouted from behind them, and they all moved to the side. He pushed Airachnid down the ramp, hands cuffed behind her. She looked about, visciously and nervously. Smokescreen removed her cuffs and shoved her towards Colossus. Colossus removed the collar. She stood up, rubbing her wrists, completely confused. 

Japheth stepped up to her. "The world is filled with beasts that can hunt and kill Cybertronians, and has acid rain. You are free to travel without an escort." She again, just gave him a curious look. "You can return to the ship for Energon."

"You sure this is a good idea?" Miko asked, while Arcee looked nervously about.

"I'm sure." he said.

Airachnid transformed and flew away down the rift valley as fast as she could. Victoria knew the twins could easily catch her. Japheth watched Airachnid as she disappeared into the gloom of the rift valley. He then looked at Miko, "Master is a Deathworld. I expect everyone to treat it that way."

"Meaning?" Miko asked.

"He wants us to stay on our toes." Bulkhead stated. Moonracer quietly walked down the ramp, and turned under the ship. She started to open her drag bag and assemble her sniper rifle.

"No one is to go anywhere, alone." Japheth stated. "Humans are to remain on or under the Skyfall." He then turned to Colossus and Wheeljack, "Proceed."

"Thanks for the permission." Wheeljack sarcastically stated.

"The Humans refer to it as Mother of Pearl." Colossus' great voice uttered. "It seems your..." he said, and turned back up the ramp.

"Mollusks." Ori Manoulis replied.

Colossus turned back to Japheth, "Mollusks, naturally produce a material that is as useful as anything Cybertron can produce. Our simulated," he said, and turned back to the ship.

"Nacre!" Ori Manoulis replied.

Colossus turned back to him, "Nacre, should protect the ship from acid rain."

"We're just going to... hope?" Miko asked him.

"Of course not." Colossus' great voice uttered. "We are going to test it as we begin collecting materials. If it passes the tests, then we will apply it to the Skyfall."

"And... if it doesn't?" Miko asked.

Colossus stared at her for a moment, "Mushroom." he stated, and Miko snickered. "I am not joking."

"What, really?" Miko asked.

"The colossal mushrooms of this world are, obviously, immune to the acids in the rain."

"I mean, obviously." Miko nervously voiced.

"I recommend we collect some, relocate and anchor them over the top of the crevice." Colossus stated.

Japheth looked at Ratchet, "I will help, of course."

Japheth then looked at Knockout, "I'm trying to un-mad-science, and covering the ship in something produced by Terran animals seems like it's crossing a line."

"You don't think it will work?" Miko asked him.

"Probably." Knockout stated, and turned to Japheth, "I would like to talk to the Minicons."

"Micromasters." Victoria quickly uttered.

"Micromasters?" Knockout asked her.

Japheth then looked to Gella, "I would obviously like to investigate local wildlife." she said, and paused as he kept his gaze fixed on her. "In the meantime, I'll talk to the Micromasters."

Japheth then turned to his Femmes, "I'll need volunteers." Roxana eagerly raised her hand. Japheth then gave Sirenia a questioning look. She shyly looked down. "Speak."

Sirenia looked up at him nervously, "It's just... Gella... intimidates me..." She then looked at Gella.

"I can have that affect on people." Gella neutrally stated.

"And?.. me?.." Knockout asked Sirenia.

"You're very?.." Sirenia asked, and paused for a moment, "impressionable."

Knockout look at her for a moment until it dawned on him. He then looked at Japheth, "I guess I'm a little different with Japheth looking over my shoulder than I was with Mega..."

"Dick." Miko quickly cut him off.

"I thought Human males valued the size of their appendage?" Gella neutrally asked her, and Miko sighed.

[tenspontaneite]

S U F F E R I N G

Thank u for your enthusiasm, penny 👏

[youkaigakkou-tl]

Chapter 97 Extended Translation Notes

first off here's the spread without the text at the top. the stuff at the bottom, well..... see if i feel like it

this is mostly just unorganized thoughts nothing like my analysis posts

(future op after writing the whole post: this got kinda long lol)

ok now that im hidden in the readmore i can act insane. RAHHHHH AMAAKI ON THE COLOR PAGE RAHHHH WAHOOOOOO WOOHOOOOO BIG WIN FOR AME NATION ok got that out of my system im normal now

Rain or shine

In case you forgot, ame = rain, haru = sunny. I lose my mind every time this is relevant, like the ending of renren arc.

Whose mom is this

the other 3 are pretty obvious, but the 2nd one isn't immediately recognizable.

(also, 2 checks for "the couple's parents are meeting" for fujiogo and momo and gida)

just for fun, i process-of-eliminationed this

(cover page of chapter 57 my old friend)

everyone greyed out's parents statuses are confirmed, (other than akibe and koizumi, but given the physical features...)

though, i say i did this "just for fun", because i already kinda knew who's mom it was

(from this tweet)

it's mujina's mom. she's beside tamao's mom, the appearance matches, it makes sense.

Haha Sano what the fuck does this mean

the japanese says he "分からん" (wakaran), meaning "i dunno", and the chinese translation outright says "i don't have parents" which SEEMS to be what the jp is implying anyway

sano get back here you're not dunnoing your way out of this one

Also renren realised they don't share a surname. ebisu explain that you're not :>ing your way out of this one either

Shrines, huh

the plate over the torii just says "abe shrine" back in chapter 9, but given my google street view sleuthing and like, story details, even if its not the big fancy one in kyoto it is still an abe no seimei shrine. so on some level, haruaki, you're the god! what a coincidence, the "gods" are exactly as shocked as you are!

Tale of the bamboo cutter

This page was a damn nightmare to translate. (Mame's mistakes, not the actual story in grey. it's a well known classic that's been translated, no need to reinvent the wheel)

I tried to get the "hamuhane" part exactly like the jp, but mame's mistake on the 3 "sun" big child in the first 2 panels is a little different

He interprets "なる人" (naruhito) as "成人" (also naruhito); "hito" means person, the first "naru" means grow (like a plant) or contain (i think), the second one means "adult person".

I suppose I could have also went for "grown" person vs "grown person", but in any case, haruaki's explanation for what a "sun" is on the bottom 2 panels is almost exact, and i thought the "soon" comparison was a good way to get across that's how "sun" is pronounced

(also here's my "hamuhane" tl note)

anyway. nightmare page. looking forward to how the official tl does it when it comes out in (checks watch) like 2 years?

Ame and Ebisu interaction real

dunno if it gets across, but I think he has a height complex...

pretty weird thing to say, huh, Ebisu? to someone you just met? how do you know that anyway?

the only times Ame appeared has been ch8 when the gang went to Haru's house, ch23 when he pretended to be Haru (the rest of the class should be none the wiser) ch39 in the hospital (none of the class was there to see)

and then Ebisu gets introduced in ch 53, after that he hears firsthand that Haru has a twin in ch58, and then Ame is there in renren arc and outright says he's scared of youkai in ch76

Notice how Ebisu wasn't present for any of Ame's appearances prior. he wasn't involved in renren arc, and the person i think is his spy was turned to stone on the ground floor while the reveal on the roof happened.

of course, this could just be a combination of him projecting on Ame, and seeing him visibly scared of youkai a few pages prior. but "hate" is a fairly specific and strong word to use, and i also think he's too smart to not know Ame hates youkai, just a matter of where he got the info from.

The person I think is his spy

after doing some thinking (furigana reads: seeing this post), I think there's someone who's fairly likely to be the spy.

observe, the chart for "people who we've seen the parents of" and "people ranmaru might have seen in ch62"

we've narrowed it down to one man. (ok well there's a few in common here, but satsuki doesnt get screentime ever and ogata twins are too obvious for how much emphasis the ranmaru scene was given)

the kudan, Kurahashi.

but wait, you say, we know he's a youkai. he's got horns. we've seen him use his abilities.

but consider everything else. how often he interacts with Ebisu. how often he sticks his neck out for Ebisu

(i also have a lot of Thoughts abt the part timing incident, specifically his prediction

in his first appearance, he mentioned he couldn't see Haru's future well (because of his exorcism power, which, mind you, still don't know how that works exactly)

wouldn't be a stretch to think that his prediction wouldn't/can't take a god's interference into account. the thug was going to say "the customer is god" either way, but there's also the possibility that the moment kurahashi stepped in, his prediction of "toubyou get punched" couldn't play out exactly so the totally different thing of Ebisu stepping in happened. anyway)

it's not like any individual event incriminates him, rather how frequently it happens. in fact, kurahashi has been involved almost every time Ebisu appears. (put it another way, Ebisu's only major appearances where Kurahashi wasn't involved in some way was this chapter, and the youkai train)

adding on to that, we don't have any info on what his personal life is like, odd considering the amount of screentime he gets. (all of this is relevant to this chapter bc this would have been the perfect opportunity to show his parents, IF HE HAS ANY) the only things we know about his personal life is he's in the basketball club??? and that he was "raised to help people in trouble" whatever "raised" or "help" or "trouble" means

and now, the final nail in the coffin: this alternate cover that came with the 2021 december gfantasy issue

(oh yeah its also my blog header)

none of the official images of it included the flap with ranmaru, and previously i was willing to believe it's just a coincidence for 4 characters related to gods and kurahashi to be on the back cover together, but now that i've seen the whole thing, i feel like ranmaru being there seals the deal that it's intentional

count em, 5 whole characters, basically every major character that is/was a god, and one kurahashi yuuta, who we know nothing about despite his frequent appearances? kinda sus

and now, to return to the first question, isn't he a youkai? horns and youkai powers and all?

and to that i say: he could be another creature. we've just seen an example of this, suzaku, divine fire bird, becoming a tengu, which is also a bird

looking up kudan, it has been theorized that it's based off another mythical creature: the Bai Ze (or Hakutaku), a divine cow-like beast from china, who shares many characteristics with the kudan, only difference being it's associated with good luck instead of misfortune

ok this is kind of a nonsense theory but can you imagine. at the very least, theres a lot of very sus things about kurahashi specifically regarding ebisu. on the off chance he is a bai ze, it would make this image very funny

beniko the zashiki warashi, an auspicious youkai; sano the god of pestilence, but as a person brings haruaki good luck; and then kurahashi, whats his deal man?

thats all i have to say! lemme paste this into google docs for a word count-

oh. oh no. what the fuck how did this happen wasnt this a tl note

anyway hope u enjoyed this tl-note-turned-ebisu-kurahashi-analysis post! there's still way more i could analyse of ebisu and i'll probably do that someday. i could pick apart every word he says and still not know what his deal is