#zen respects women

[thechaosbrewery]

Ship: UzuRen [Uzui Tengen x Rengoku Kyojuro]

Part 1: Friends to Lovers

This is my ultimate OTP, I live and die for this ship, I love both characters to death. They both live rent free in my head and I will never regret to be on this shipwreck.

If you are more into [you x character] please make sure to check my other blog -> @guerrerajaguar .

In my honest opinion there is no one else better for my little sunshine than the flamboyant god of festivals and let me tell you why:

We all know how they first meet at the Hashira summit when Kyojuro is summoned by Oyakata.

I firmly believe that Tengen fell in love at first sight with Kyojuro, right there in Oyakata’s Zen Garden. At first I think he was star-struck by Kyojuro’s looks and aura, but we lost him when the flame boy confronted Sanemi with not an ounce of fear.

Tengen definitely tried to act to look cool around him, unconsciously flirting with Kyojuro, showing off his muscles and flashy breathing technique, and Kyojuro was genuinely fascinated by this, fueling Tengen’s ego even more.

“Amazing!” “As expected from the Sound Pillar!” “I have never seeing a breathing technique as beautiful as yours!”, Tengen’s chest will fill with pride every time Kyojuro praised him.

Tengen LOVES to be praised, specially by his handsome colleague. He would constantly find himself going over the edge when Kyojuro was around.

The rest of the Pillars hated when this happened, Tengen would be even more insufferable around them, cocky and presumptuous, but Kyojuro never found this annoying at all.

Kyojuro always felt admiration and respect for Tengen as he considered him his valuable superior and never realized that his “comments” about Tengen were easily interpreted as flirting.

All the Pillars knew that Tengen was down bad for Kyojuro even before Tengen realized this himself.

Tengen did not realized his feelings only after he and Kyojuro became closer acquaintances, and I like to believe that it happened when they had their first mission together.

After that, Tengen started to be really TOUCHY with Kyojuro. At first, these were subtle, accidental touches, but as Kyojuro did not seem to care, the nature of these touches intensified as to Tengen trying to pin Kyojuro against the wall, grabbing Kyojuro’s hands, breathing into the back of his neck, hugging him from behind, you name it; complete and entire invasion of the flame pillar personal space.

Tengen ADORES Kyojuro’s hair, so somehow his hands always found a way into Kyojuro’s flaming strands. Softer than what it looked like.

It was after his first mission together than Kyojuro found out about Tengen having 3 wives. He did not approved at all, as for him, a man should be completely devoted to only one persona for the rest of their life, just like his parents were.

Kyojuro tried to fool himself with the argument that Tengen already had 3 wives, so it was very unlikely that his friend had feelings for him.

It gets harder for Tengen to conceal what he really feels, he wants to get more intimate with Kyojuro and I think he is completely fine with the fact that he has fallen for a man.

Tengen confesses first because he really can’t stand to be in the “bromance zone” anymore.

Kyojuro is a bit shocked but not completely surprised at all, he is not as dense as a lot of people thinks. And also, Kyojuro is unbothered by the fact that Tengen is a man.

Kyojuro has a hard time to accept Tengen’s feeling, because in his mind, he will be committing adultery and that is something he will never approve of.

But against of all odds and his own morale, I think Kyojuro would officially start his romance with Tengen and OH BOY, ARE THEY PHYSICAL.

If Tengen was touchy before, after his confession, he is all hands over HIS MAN.

Tengen its jealous AS HELL.

He was a bit jealous when they were friends but now it’s a lot worse.

He hates when women they rescue try to get too intimate with Kyojuro, this never turns into a fight thanks to Kyojuro’s character and personality but Kyojuro is very firm to not let this to get in the way of their duty.

I also think that Tengen gets more openly jealous from some of the other Pillars and I will elaborate from whom on another post :P.

On the other hand, Kyojuro’s jealousy is shown more as bitterness for Tengen’s wives. He believes that the ladies are able to give Tengen what he will never be capable of [kids]. But he is not resentful at the girls at all, all the opposite, Kyojuro contradicts himself all the time by telling Tengen that he should be more respectful of his ladies.

As opposed to Tengen, Kyojuro never voices these insecurities to Tengen because he does not feel he has the right to do so :(

Kids are really important to Kyojuro, one of his main goals in life is to be extend the Rengoku legacy, Tengen takes a lot of importance to this as he wants to make Kyojuro happy and motivates Tengen to make important decisions. I will explain this in another post.

Tengen teaches Kyojuro the arts of love, Tengen is gentle and chivalrous, caring and compassionate, I will explain in more detail the love language of each.

Kyojuro is extremely romantic when they are alone, I think that as Kyojuro is super passionate, Tengen gets the best out of him in this aspect as Kyojuro have never loved someone before.

Tengen is Kyojuro’s first love <3.

Tengen makes Kyojuro flush in public but Kyojuro takes Tengen’s breath away in private.

Tengen IS CRAZY about this, he loves when Kyojuro gets intimate and touchy with him. Tengen wants Kyojuro to need and want him as much as he does.

I believe Kyojuro’s is the first to say: I love you.

Tengen is very vocal about needing Kyojuro, Tengen is a demanding lover, he wants all the attention and pampering that Kyojuro has to offer and at the worst time possible lol.

In the middle of a fight? Maybe. In front of other Pillars? Absolutely. In front of Shinjuro? DON’T even dare not to kiss him back.

It takes Kyojuro a bit more time to feel like he is entitled of receiving love and attention from Tengen, because he feels like a home-wrecker mistress lol. So he rarely demands any attention from Tengen.

Tengen confuses this as Kyojuro not loving him enough, or not being sure about them two being together.

Kyojuro’s guilt drives him a bit away from Tengen, again, not feeling like he is entitled to anything and it takes him a bit of time to settle this down.

Tengen certainly panics whenever Kyojuro acts distant or seems to want space in between them, this mainly due to Tengen’s insecurities and feeling like he is not good enough.

They eventually work this stuff out, and have a very healthy, sexy and loving relationship. I will elaborate this in another post.

I will also elaborate my thoughts about the Rengoku family reaction to Kyojuro’s and Tengen’s relationship.

That is it for now, I hope to write the other parts soon. I am a multishipper, so expect to see other pairing with the unbelievably perfect Flame Hashira and other KnY characters.

If you love this ship as much as I do, please don’t hesitate to hit my DM’s and send your requests as well <3. Wishing you all the best, read you all later!

[crypt1dcorv1dae]

as far as who trains under who in the hashira au im not 100% decided but i think

tanjiro trains mostly with giyuu (given they use the same breathing style) and rengoku (just cus rengikue chose him, but also becauseof sun breathng's similarities to fire later on),

inosuke i think trains with obanai (his flexibility makes him more compatible with his techniques) and sanemi (he respects a guy with that many scars)

and i think zenitsu trains with mitsuri (i just think their styles match up well and also he needs ti learn to respect women) and uzui (given his enhanced hearing hes a perfect candidate to learn some things from sound style even if he doesnt actually learn that style itself, tho uzui is always telling him he should just switch, zen refuses)

other characters already canonically become like, apprentices to other hashira, and i dint think any of these three become official apprentices to anyone, more just that they train with specific individuals most often, like the hashira training arc but more specified

[chocochipbiscuit]

Fic (and nonfic!) Recs for Pride!

In honor of Pride, have some of my favorite F/F and F/NB reads!

Short stories (available online)

Radcliffe Hall by Miyuki Jane Pinckard - 40k word novella, with a Japanese student attending an American women's college in 1908. It's a Gothic novel with the characters encountering the supernatural, which is no less malevolent than systemic racism and homophobia.

The First Stop Is Always the Last by John Wiswell - Short and sweet time loop flirtation!

Scallop by J.L. Akagi - A woman begins growing eyes all over her body, and struggles to hide them. All the warnings for body horror, eye injury, and referenced sexual assault.

The World Ends in Salty Fingers and Sugared Lips by Jen Reese - Time loop story about the end of the world and the ways we try to deal with the crushing uncertainty of the inevitable.

Romance

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston - Subway time travel romance! August moves to New York and meets Jane, a butch punk from the 70s who’s trapped on the subway. It’s warm and sweet and funny, with all the feels and queer found family goodness.

Fatal Fidelity by Rien Gray - Dark romance/erotic suspense featuring a bi femme fatale and a nonbinary assassin! The series begins with Love Kills Twice, in which Justine hires an assassin to get rid of her abusive husband…unaware that Campbell was also hired to kill her. Absolutely delicious.

Feminine Pursuits series by Olivia Waite - While I’m listing it as a series, each novel is entirely stand-alone! These are a set of historical F/F novels featuring women in arts and science (and beekeeping!) making their way and falling in love with one another!

Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure by Courtney Milan - Historical romance as two older women (73 and 69 years old, respectively!) plot the downfall of an absolutely Terrible Nephew who deserves everything that happens to him. An absolutely delicious comedic romp.

The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz - An AI repair technician and an autonomous robot who runs a small tea shop, set in a retro-futuristic America. It’s warm and gentle and yearning in very good ways.

Horror/Suspense

Manhunt by Gretchen Felker-Martin - Gender apocalypse featuring trans women! A virus has turned anyone with over a certain level of testosterone into cannibal rape monsters, so we’re following our trans protagonists as they try to survive feral men, murderous TERFs, and a sociopathic bunker brat. This deserves a LOT of content warnings but it’s also been blurbed as a ‘bleeding love letter to trans women’ and it really is.

Blackwater Sister by Zen Cho - A Malaysian-American lesbian moves to Malaysia with her family, where she is haunted by her grandmother’s ghost. Her grandmother is out for supernatural revenge, involving our protagonist with gangsters and a terrifying goddess.

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters - Historical crime novel in which a thief poses as a lady’s maid for a con, and ends up developing feelings for the mark. Except the lady’s not as innocent as she seems, and it’s difficult to add more without spoiling the novel but it’s good!

Science fiction

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine - Ambassador Mahit Dzmare travels to the capital of the interstellar Teixcalaanli Empire, discovers that her predecessor has died, and must find not only who murdered him, but why—while trying not to get murdered herself, and trying to maintain her small station’s independence from Teixcalaan’s ever-expanding empire. And there is a sequel but that has its own plot and requires you to read this one anyway!

Passing Strange by Ellen Klages - Set in San Francisco, built on artifice and delight as we follow a group of queer women both present and in the 1940s. Central story is a romance, two women trying to navigate both joy and the brutality of the worlds they inhabit.

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone - An epistolary love story across time and space, in far futures and alternative pasts as two rival agents—post-singularity Red and bio-consciousness Blue—foil and thwart one another.

Fantasy

The Burning Kingdoms by Tasha Suri - Indian-inspired fantasy trilogy (third book coming in 2024!) that follows a captive princess and a maidservant with forbidden magic who navigate the the tension between their different loyalties and the politics of empire. Just! So good!

The Kingston Cycle by C.L. Polk - A fantasy trilogy (that’s actually complete!) set in a world where witches are persecuted and placed in asylums…while secretly, the witches of elite families use that power in service of the crown. The first book (Witchmark) starts with a murder mystery and a doctor with PTSD who follows that mystery to government secrets that force him to confront his estranged family. It’s also M/M, but the sequels (Stormsong and Soulstar) center around F/F and F/NB main pairings, respectively. 

The Locked Tomb by Tamsyn Muir - The first book starts with swordjock butches and lesbian necromancers in space going through (essentially) a haunted mansion together, and it just keeps going after that! It’s delightful, deranged, and full of fantastic characters I want to gnaw on!

When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo - A beautiful frame story with a very fairytale feel, where the cleric Chih is telling the story of a tiger and her lover, a female scholar, to a trio of hungry tigers who threaten to eat them if Chih tells the story incorrectly!

A Master of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark - Mystery and magic and suspense in a steampunk Cairo, set forty years after magic returned to the world! The first female agent for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities is assigned to discover who murdered members of a secret cult. In addition to solving the case, she’s also assigned a rookie partner to train, and navigating the surprise return of her girlfriend, who has her own secrets! This is a really fun romp, full of joy and wonder. (And Fatma’s fabulous suits!)

Nonfiction

In the Dream House by Carmen Machado - A memoir about surviving domestic abuse, with each chapter using a different trope or genre convention to not only explore the way the relationship affected her sense of self, but also about trying (or failing) to find that representation in cultural history. It’s a rough read in places, but absolutely worth it if you’re in a space to handle that sort of content. (And in case it’s not obvious: her ex was another woman. Abuse isn’t limited by gender.)

[skymoral]

Liu Kang x B!F Reader

FIRST DATE (Pt. 2)

Link: Pt 1 | Pt 2

Summary: Y/N with was able to snag an opportunity of dating Liu Kang, thanks to your friend Johnny bringing him around. You just hope that you aren’t to rusty

Tags: fluff/romance, friendship, happy/sad, first time, fun, black air-force energy, black girl magic, and comedy(supposedly)

A/N: This is going to be a sweet little first date with ya’ll boy Liu Kang

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

Today was the date, you were going on your date with the god of fire. You’re not gonna lie, you were very nervous.

You jumped out of the shower, you made sure the shower cap was still on your head. You didn’t want the locs to get wet, you were thankful for Jamika.

Your phone buzzed on the dresser, you quickly grabbed it. Open your messages on your iPhone

“Speak of the devil.” You said out loud to yourself.

You put the phone back down and started looking for something cute to wear.

You asked Johnny to get information on what his favorite color is. Johnny came back unhelpful for once, because of course Liu Kang didn’t really have a favorite color.

You and Johnny believed it was probably red, possibly. You believe he was a spiritual kind of man, which wasn’t far from you.

Y/N was a women that liked beads, crystals, and more things to help her Zen.

After what felt like eons you finally found an outfit, you oiled your body. Did your makeup, keeping it simple and natural.

You were proud with how you looked, and was ready to give this man everything. For some reason you felt as though he was different, you usually like to take it slow. But something about Liu Kang made you feel like, even if you jumped into a relationship with him. It’ll be fine, hopefully…

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

You were headed to the Chinese restaurant in San Diego. You hoped Johnny had helped him with knowing where to go, because he’s clearly not from around here.

You pulled up into the parking lot, as you got out you fixed up your outfit up. You made your way into the restaurant and was looking around, to see if you saw Liu Kang.

“Hi, how many today?” A young Chinese waitress approached you.

“Ooh! I had a reservation for two under Y/N and Liu Kang.”

“Of Course! He’s actually straight back there in the both.”

“Thank you!” You smiled walking to where she directed you. Y/N didn’t expect him to already be here, she hope he wasn’t waiting here long.

“Sorry If I made y-“ You froze as he turned to you, standing up. Pulling you into a hug, you could have passed out right then and there.

You would’ve been on the news, and your girls would have clowned your ass for something so stupid, but damn did he feel nice and he LOOKED amazing!

He wasn’t in his usual attire like at the shop, he broke the hug, noticed you staring at his appearance.

“I apologize if I look strange, Johnny suggested I dress properly for the occasion… To fit in better.”

“Oooh! Nooo no no no! It’s totally fine like… Fuck you clean up nicely, I’m sorry… I promise I’m not always this ugh…”

Liu Kang chuckled and blushed slightly at the compliment. “It’s alright, thank you. You look exceptionally well tonight, even more so.”

Liu Kang brought your palm up to his hand kissing it. You blushed and giggle at the compliment and gesture, “T-Thank you.”

Both of you eventually sitting down, “I didn’t know what your favorite color was… I did see you as someone who is like spiritual and nature like… So that was look I was going for… Sense I’m like that to ya know.”

You hated how shaky your voice sounded, it was pretty obvious you were nervous.

“So you meditate and focus on your chakra?” Liu Kang asked intrigued.

“Yes! Exactly like that. I actually have like some herbal earthly stuff at my place. You know my girlfriends from the shop, they do NOT LIKE THAT SHIT! Whatsoever. But meh, to each its own. It’s nothing wrong with having people around you that likes different things… As long as they just respect what you do.”

“I couldn’t agree more, you are very wise woman and I feel as though that’s why your friends care so much about you and stay with you.”

This man just could not stop making you blush, you dipped your head pulling a loc behind your ear.

Y/N started talking his ear off again, until a waitress approached them. “Hello my name is Mei Sung, and I will be your waitress today. Would you like me to start you off with some drinks?”

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

One thing Y/N did not know was her three friends were outside of the restaurant. Watching them from afar in Johnny’s car.

“Man once Y/N start talking. It’ll take a miracle to get her to shut up, don’t get me wrong I love my girl but damn.” Tonya said looking through the binoculars.

Jamika snatched it out of her hand from the passenger seat. Looking through it, “Leave Stanka butt alone. It doesn’t seem to be bothering Mr. Kang over there.”

Johnny pushed on behind Jamika from the driver seat, snatching them this time looking out while leaning over her.

“Hmph! That’s just how that powerful son of a bitch is. Or maybe he just don’t feel like talking.”

“Johnny if you don’t get yo BIG ASS OFF ME!” Jamika shoved him back, the binoculars falling back into Tonya’s lap.

She quickly pulled down the windows, to watch. As soon as she did Liu Kang looked directly at her. Making her quickly hide back in her seat.

“Shit that scared me!”

“What happened Jamika and Johnny said.”

“The nigga stared right at me!”

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

Liu Kang was looking out the window, but then back at you. When you called his name, “Is something the matter?”

“Hmm, oh nothing is wrong. I just thought I saw someone.”

“I’m sorry I’m probably talking to much for you.” You told him sinking slightly in your seat.

He grabbed your hand and gripped it tightly, “I could never get tired of hearing you talk. It is like music to my ears, I enjoy listening to you talk and hearing more about you.”

You smiled and then something came to your mind, “You know, I already know like what you are… and what you do, because of Johnny… Like could you tell me something that maybe… all realms don’t know about you, like on a personal level… It’s alright if it’s to personal.”

“No, I don’t mind telling and I kind of figure Johnny told you or more so knew he was going to tell you.”

“Yeah! Johnny told me you can see the future or something like that… WAIT! Did you already know who I am and that we were going to have this date!?”

“Know you yes, but knew the outcome of todays events no. I do not have that kind of power, I let everyone chose there own fate and lead there own path. I only knew Cage told you, because of how Kenshin calls it. He is a chatterbox and has a loose tongue.”

You chuckled at that, Liu Kang smiled at you. “So because of what you are and this god of fire duty shit… You don’t have time for things like these… The little things in the world you created.”

“No, as I must stay alert and make sure earthrealm is safe and protected. In case of another threat arises.” Liu Kang explained.

You nodded understanding, doesn’t that mean having a relationship with you is pointless. “So why even go on this date with me… You already know I like you and… Maybe have a relationship with you… Why the effort, when you have your duties.” You looked at him with sad eyes.

He still kept that same smile on his face, “I felt like this time is different from before… So I want to take the chance given to me, besides… Who could resist someone as charming as you Y/N.”

Y/N began snorkeling a bit, covering her face“Nice one Kang!” Johnny shouted on instinct, the girls pulling him back down. Liu and Y/N looked towards the window where the sound came from.

“I could’ve sworn I heard Johnny.” You looked around curious. Ms. Sung came back with you and Liu Kang’a order.

As you both were enjoying your meal, two men who clearly look like they had an attitude problem came in demanding a seat.

“Hey lady, hurry up and seat us.” One of the men said.

“You will have to give me a few moments sir.” she was coming to you and Liu Kang on your refills.

The man smacked the glass out of her hands, knocking her down. Making her fall. You noticed this and approached the scene.

“You fucking serve us first when we tell you to Bitch!”

“Hey!” You shouted to the two men.

“Go mind your business little girl!” The man said not paying you no attention.

“I don’t know who the hell you talking to but I ain’t no damn little girl. And she is my business, because those were me and my dates drink you knocked down.”

One of the men approached you, you didn’t flinch one bit and stood your ground.

“What you gonna do? You gonna fucking cry about it darky?”

He ain’t never just called you ‘Darky’. Without thinking, you gave him a strong ass right hook. Knocking him down on his but, nose and mouth bleeding.

Everyone looked at you in shock, your friends and Liu Kang watched impressed.

“I got a name Motherfucker! And it is Y/N L/N you better remember Bitch I’m from the side. Where Niggas like you better watch who you talking to! Now apologize to this young waitress!”

“THAT’S MY BEST FRIEND!” Jamika and Tonya shouted from the window.

You turned around noticing your friends, the other man standing saw your guard down. He quickly grabbed a dagger from his pocket, and charged at you.

“MISS LOOK OUT!” Ms. Sung warned you.

You turned to late, but before he could hurt you. Liu Kang stopped him in his tracks. You opened your eyes slightly.

Liu Kang had a tight grip on the man’s hand. The knife scrapping the inside of his hand causing it to bleed.

Liu Kang then bent his arm slowly causing him to scream and kneel. “I believe it to be unwise if you continue this dishonorable behavior. You owe this Miss and my date an apology.”

He let go of them man, looking down at them, Liu Kangs arms glowed orange and blue. Forming fires, “If not then there will be dire consequences, that I wish to not have it lead.”

The men looked in fear, before apologizing to you and the waitress. Before running off, Liu Kang doing a hand gesture relaxing himself.

“Thank you.” You and the Waitress both said blushing. Both of you knew that was pretty hot.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·

“I had a wonderful evening today with you Y/N. The food here was exquisite, much to my liking.” Liu Kang told you as you both were standing outside.

Johnny took the girls home, after you and Liu Kang gave all of them a lecture the trip didn’t want to hear.

“I knew it’ll be to your taste… So does this mean you would like to continue… Seeing each other?” You were playing with your fingers.

“I would love that Y/N” Liu Kang smiled, giving you a kiss on the cheek. You blushed, but you thought you should shot your shot.

You pulled him into a gentle kiss, pulling on his collar slightly down to you. It felt like heaven, and he even reciprocated the kiss with such passion.

He broke the kiss, you had a goofy face walking to your car. You saw him create a portal, before giving you one last glance and disappearing through it.

You got in your car, you sat there. Before you ended up screaming from happiness.

“BEST FUCKING FIRST DATE EVER!”

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

This is what You and Liu Kang was wearing

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·..·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed these two parts! 😊 it was gonna be a lot longer, mainly because of the things you and Liu Kang was discussing.

More so his personal character no one else know and his likes and dislikes. When I do other Liu Kang stories you’ll be able to see what my Headcannon are for him.

Now I did say if you like these story with its characters and what not. Then it can be a series, if someone ask or it’s popular lol 🤷🏽‍♀️ anything is possible for the future.

[pinepickled]

Zen normally: haha I love women. Love respecting women. They're great. You know who's not great? Jumin Han.

Jumin: there's a gold digger who broke into my apartm-

Zen: show me that fucking slut right now

[duefault]

𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢 𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗘𝗧.

𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗘 : zen'in maki ( 禪院真希 ).

𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗘 𝗠𝗘𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 :

zen'in maki ( 禪院真希 ) —

in zen'in ( 禪院 ) , 'zen' ( 禪 ) is a translation of chinese chán, which ultimately comes from sanskrit dhyāna meaning meditation. ( 院 ) in means 'institution'

in maki ( 真希 ), 'ma' ( 真 ) means "real" or "genuine," and ki ( 希 ) means "hope".

zen'in can roughly be translated to 'zen hall/temple' - interesting to note that the school of zen buddhism likens its teachings as a finger pointing to the moon. in that, its teachings can lead to enlightenment - but there is caution not to get stuck focusing on the finger. essentially, not getting stuck in dogma or the teachings themselves but the fruit of the teachings. for an incredibly dogmatic and conservative clan, there is definitely some irony when you look at it through that lens.

𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗔𝗦 : maki first and foremost. people generally only call her by zen'in once before learning not to do so again.

𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗬 : asian ( japanese ).

𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗬𝗢𝗡𝗘 :

- maki's family initially pushed her take up naginata when she was younger. however, after witnessing the kendo class going on at the same time she relented and insisted on doing kendo instead. eventually her parents permitted her. this was considered a little out of the ordinary as kendo and naginata are traditionally ( wrongfully, of course ) understood as 'men' and 'women' sports respectively. she trained alongside another girl in the class named umeko, who became an early ( but soon drifted apart from ) friend of hers. - maki is a pretty inept cook; not for lack of trying or inability but she simply prefers the tastes of 'junk food' - her palette is sometimes a subject of jokes among her classmates. but she is content with easy snacks and fried food. - maki has a pretty poor concept of money; moreso than the average teenager even. being raised in the zen'in family generally meant there was no shortage of money for comforts and luxuries. she tries to be cognizant of this financially privledged upbringing ( and certainly never flaunts it ) but the logistics of saving money and the worth of certain objects doesn't necessarily click with her.

𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗦 𝗗𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗜𝗥 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 :

- fishing. its simple, its quiet and low-stress. when she was younger she'd find her way down to creeks and other wooded areas to get away from her family and the general hustle and bustle of downtown. she'd occasionally bump into groups of fishermen who'd let her hold the fish they'd catch. - running. its her most enjoyed form of physical fitness. she prefers to wake up early in the morning, before anyone else is up, and get in a long run through the empty streets of town. she's more focused on stamina and distance over speed. her long-term goal is to compete in an ultramarathon (100 mi long race) - watching baseball. maki is a big fan of baseball ( and, as evidenced by the goodwill event certainly capable of playing it well as well ) while her favorite team are the saitama lions, she is a fan of kenta maeda and has followed his career onto the detroit lions when he transitioned to the MLB

𝗦𝗜𝗫 𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗦 / 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗦 :

- yuuta: while the two had a rocky start she has come to have immense respect for him and his growth as both a person and a jujutsushi - inumaki and panda: classmates who have become great friends, understanding of her circumstances and always willing to support each other - nobara: someone who's not afraid of speaking her mind and sees through others, something maki finds both refreshing and comforting. she enjoys spending her free time with her, which says a lot as maki values her alone-time when she can get it. - mai: despite it all, maki does love her sister. that is why she executes her last wish with no regrets. the blade she carries now is a reminder of that love, which manifested in the ultimate sacrifice someone can make for another. - megumi & yuji: while their antics can be a little much sometimes, maki has a fair deal of respect for the first-years after seeing what their capable of. - jotaro: while she doesn't quite understand his cool nature at first, she comes to learn that he has a heart of gold and the willpower to always go above and beyond to protect those he cares about

𝗧𝗪𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗦 :

- after shibuya, maki does regret having spent most of her time with mai fighting. although it was inevitable they'd clash she wishes they could have spent more time together after coming to terms with their predicament. its not a regret that causes her to place any blame on herself, rather a regret that they were dealt this hand. a regret that mai couldn't at least have had the life she wanted to. - spending more time with others when she had the chance; chiefly nobara. though hours of training paid off, she didn't realize just how little time she'd have to spend with everyone until after shibuya. if she knew their time as "just highschool students" was so fleeting she would've spent more weekends at the mall or arcade with everyone.

𝗧𝗪𝗢 𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗕𝗜𝗔𝗦 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗛𝗔𝗦 :

- losing herself or her drive, mostly compromising her ideals. this is something she worries about moreso prior to confronting the zen'in clan; but it is something she is always cognizant of. she has a worry in the back of her mind that she'll be tempted to take the easy route, to conform back to what the zen'in wish of her. it seems like an irrational phobia for someone so driven and outspoken about her goals but nevertheless its one of those fears that sits just below the surface. - i honestly cannot think of another at the moment but this is something i want to come to back to so im going to put a pin in it !

tagged by : @waraningyo (thank you!!) tagging : @goodgrieved / @omezuki ( your choice ! ), @vessuna @mellodiies @dontm0ve @reqciems ( mai, or your choice ! ) @pontevoix ( haibara or gojo ! ) and anyone else pls steal

[traditional-with-a-twist]

lxviii. Beauty and Her Beast

<<Previous || first arc || second arc || third arc || fourth arc || AO3

It did Shirayuki's heart good to know that she tread at last on paths that Obi had lately walked.

Though the land and people were strange to her, she trusted that he was near, and the thought comforted her.

Here all the women covered their hair, so even Kiki and Torou went veiled.

She found herself for the first time anonymous among a sea of anonymity; as much as the thought of finding Obi grounded her, this unfamiliar likeness rendered everything unreal, dreamlike. 

She walked somewhere between waking and dreaming: eager, unsure, alert yet as if regarding it all from the other side of the mirror, or through a curtain of water.

...

Traveling with Torou as their guide, they covered ground at a logic-defying pace, even with considerations taken for Shirayuki.

Kiki never objected to their route, more off-trail than on, nor did she murmur when they crossed the border without showing papers of any kind that Shirayuki detected.

When she ventured a doubt about this proceeding to Kiki, wondering uneasily whether it might not be right to follow the proper procedures in a foreign land, to say nothing of whether – after entering in this fashion – they might find it more difficult to exit the way they came in, but the lady knight answered only, “It is better not to give your name where it may be noticed, Shirayuki.”

For her part, Shirayuki could not help but notice that Kiki never gave her name either.

In this respect, they were again fortunate in having Torou as their traveling companion because – like Obi – she had many names.

...

It surprised Shirayuki how much Obi’s old friend recalled him to her.

In any multitude of ways, the two differed from each other as night and day, yet she again and again spied in her some like mannerism: a quickness in Torou’s step, a sly tilt of her head, and above all how she was as impossible to pin down as shade flitting across an open field.

She longed to ask Torou of their past, now that she had a more binding interest and greater claim to him than that wet night when she, Zen, Kiki, and Mitsuhide had tracked the pair to that manor.

Then Shirayuki would never have thought of pressing, when Obi was only just beginning to find himself at home among them, but now that they had promised themselves to each other, she felt an especial tenderness in seeking out all she could of him – even memories.

...

Torou, however, melted away before inquiries on this front, as surely as Obi himself might have. 

“Hm, Obi?” she would say. “Oh, he was wild back then…” and then somehow she would be speaking of summer fashions and had Shirayuki seen the hair scarves they wore on the coasts?

Shirayuki cherished the feelings of others too much to pry when she met resistance.

This disappointment did little to dampen her spirits, however. She might make little headway on Obi’s past, but she could finally press forward to their future together, and her heart sang to find it so near.

...

Kiki did not share this optimism. She had warned Shirayuki all along that they intended to undertake a task with a promise of success more mythical than probable.

Since commencing, they had only encountered more complications.

Yes, Torou had provided vital information, and, yes, her considerable talents had leveled the playing field by granting them firsthand access to that world of the underground.

Nevertheless, to offset these gains, they contended with two unforeseen difficulties: first, the question of Shirayuki’s health, which brooked no compromise.

Second, Obi’s trail had led them to an unknown land, where Kiki lacked all experience.

She suspected even Torou knew little of this place and its customs, however deftly she had arranged for their little party to enter and disguise themselves.

One might intuit much after a life of infiltration and concealment, engaging with the borderlands, but it did not substitute for intimate firsthand knowledge of a locale and its customs.

...

Of these, Kiki knew only enough to be wary. She felt keenly her own inexperience as they threaded their way through a crowd, so like and unlike the market where Torou had found them.

Here the bareheaded would have attracted notice: most everyone covered their hair if not their faces: caps, wraps, and veils, as much to shield skin from the pitiless sun as for the sake of fashion or convention.

The loose, draping attire might conceal any number of weapons in the folds – a factor that convenienced Kiki as much as it vexed her, since she carried her own blade strapped beneath her robe.

This, too, she felt, might have been more difficult had they taken a more conventional border crossing. As it was, she kept close by Shirayuki’s side, knowing herself hampered in reaction speed, besides the challenge of spotting the threat in time.

Continuously, she scanned the crowd, keeping meanwhile half an ear open to the stream of calling, chattering, shouting that emanated from the crowd. 

It was impossible to pick out distinctive words or even voices, but Kiki was not listening to understand.

...

She listened for the difference itself: changes in the patterns; disturbances, rupture, even silence. These would be her cues — her warning to prime herself for action, because something was amiss.

Likewise, she watched the currents of movement, alert to any sudden changes in speed, angle, direction.

Thus she noticed long before Shirayuki that something had caught Torou’s attention.

...

Their erstwhile new companion had been meandering through the crowd, moving as leisurely as it is possible to move when elbow to elbow with a press of humanity.

Suddenly she redirected her steps, advancing in a straight line now, purposeful.

Kiki touched Shirayuki’s elbow, urging her after, and the two of them pushed to keep up.

...

Torou had halted before a broad scaffolding erected near the middle of the marketplace.

Papers of every shape and color fluttered, nailed to its wooden legs: a noticeboard, Kiki imagined.

She followed the line of Torou’s gaze to a heavy parchment, pinned dead center and crowding out many of its smaller neighbors.

Kiki’s eyes narrowed as she tried to puzzle out the script. 

...

Shirayukki turned to Torou, who stood stock still, staring at the notice.

“What is it?” Shirayuki asked. A thought struck her; she brightened, her whole attitude lifting as she flushed with hope. “Is it —”

“An order of execution,” Torou interrupted. 

The name Shirayuki had been about to speak died on her lips. All her color bleached away as quickly as it had come.

“On charges of trespassing…and arson,” Torou read, forming the words slowly but surely.

Kiki had given up trying to read and simply looked at her, waiting.

“The culprits: two foreign men.”

Kiki’s brow furrowed.

“One scarred and unnamed,” Torou went on. “The other…a servant of Clarines.”

“Two men?” Kiki repeated, disbelieving.

...

Shirayuki had recovered her voice. She came forward and clung to Torou’s arm, eyes beseeching. 

“When? When?” she whispered.

Torou would not look at her. From the paper she read, “Noon. Tomorrow.”

[ryansjane]

Which Off role do you think I should watch I have only ever seen his BL work plus his work in Midnight Motel which I loved but I do want to expand my viewing experience of him is there a must watch role of his that you think I should check out? I don't really mind on the genre

so I have made many posts on this, here's me ranking every off role, and here's me recommending my fave offgun straight roles, but I'll make a summary for you :)

GIRL NEXT ROOM: RICHY RICH

light & fun but with great commentary on growing out of generational poverty. krathing & duchess are absolutely one of off's best ships ever with their chemistry & banter, and krathing in general utilizes perfectly off's ability of making the greatest facial expressions ever & being a cutie <3

FABULOUS 30

sadly that show was deleted off of youtube bc gmmtv sucks but it's on dramacool :( the first show to contain both off & mond, but with all due respect off absolutely carried the show. not only is zen an absolute BICON, but his ship with yui was so beautiful & touched on insecurity and intimacy in a very beautiful way imo. definitely one of off's best roles!

I'M TEE ME TOO

I mean, a show with offguntay?? how could it not be adorable! no shade but off definitely carried the show too, maetee is a cross-dressing icon with mommy issues who really shined & stole my heart. that role also puts off's screaming skills to the test LMAO

WOLF

off jumpol going abroad & flirting with all the women?? yup, it happened! this is basically khai from tol if he stayed an asshole lol. this is the first straight role from off I ever watched & I love por so much bc his facial expressions, especially with glasses, are literally the cutest ever! moreover, even though the show wasn't executed the best, the concept is very daring & interesting for the time and it didn't deserve to flop like it did at all. I honestly would recommend it :)

10 YEARS TICKET

so I'm gonna be honest, the more time passes since 10yt the more I realize it wasn't that incredible of a show, even though it's definitely a good show still. and off in it was amazing even though he was pretty withdrawn, but both of his storylines, one involving the mafia & the other involving his grandma with dementia which is a topic that touched me particularly, were amazing, and off did such a good job.

46 DAYS

I legit think 46 days is the funnest romcom ever produced in thailand. it's such a fun, over the top show, with still very great moments. I loved the female friendship in it, I loved that the "perfect" male lead is shown to be more than that, and I absolutely loved the side ship with off & mild (again). pat is probably the most tame & mentally stable off character lol, but he's still very fun & a cutie to watch, especially with mild who's character noina is not too dissimilar from duchess in girl next room. the offmild pairing is just always a pleasure to watch & this whole show is just very fun & lovely :)

xxx

[catcherinwhitebread]

ttpd is her testimony and she’s entering the following evidence to support her point - “All’s fair in love and poetry” - it’s okay to act in your own interest when expressing intense emotions

her tarnished coat of arms : her damaged reputation and achievements less respected

coat of arms were for identification used in battle and later used as a status symbol to show their achievements, wealth, profession, etc

her muses, acquired like bruises : her inspiration derived from pain

bruises are injuries that don’t break the skin, but rupture the blood vessels beneath it

muses could also be read as her romantic partners that bring backlash/hard times with them

her talismans and charms : her protection via identity, demeanor, and secret messages

talismans and charms have always been used for protection and identification for the gods

charms then evolved through jewelry to symbolism import aspects of a woman’s life and contain secret messages (usually love)

the tick, tick, tick of love bombs : her dealing with multiple waves of manipulative affection

the “tick,tick,tick” can be read together as an onomatopoeia denoting the countdown until the bombs explode, which represents the anxiety felt when entering a new relationship or new wave of fans because of bad past experiences with old partners and the public

it can also be read individually, with “tick” meaning a mark that indicates something has been done, representing the multiple times she has dealt with being love bombed

her veins of pitch black ink : her lifeline of expressing herself candidly and her tendency of transforming

veins are the blood vessels that carry blood and oxygen throughout the body - we would literally die without them. “vein” also refers to a person’s quality or tendency to something

the word “pitch” is a powerful word used to amplify the impact that the word “black” has within its line

black has a versatile symbol through the world - from grief to self cultivation. in england it’s associated with mourning and power. in latin it’s associated with the devil.

in 1927 - the little black dress helped women break away from conservative dress codes since it was affordable and simple enough to wear during the day

in china, black ink symbolizes the ability to express oneself eloquently

black ink aka sumi-e is an art form in which only black is used (in different gradients) to promote the zen practice of expressing life in its barest form

[the-mononoke-facade]

So halfway through these stories and I'm noticing an interesting trend of how the mononoke are conceptualized in these stories compared to how they're conceptualized in the arcs of the show

In these stories, the mononoke is being treated like an evil spirit being inflicted on the people housing it, and it's just their negative emotions that create a vulnerability to allow it in. Compared to the show where a lot of the times, the mononoke are treated as one and the same as the person whose circumstances created it, or at least it's treated like there's not enough of a reasonable difference between the spirit and the person to point to them as separate entities. In the show the mononoke embodies the harms done to others and themselves and gives voice to those harms that are happening regardless. In the book the mononoke are treated as hostile outsiders doing the inflicting of the harm on people who might have otherwise not had to suffer so much if they hadn't gotten tangled up in spiritual fuckery

Like with Tokuemon from the first story, right? He was tormented relentlessly and deliberately by his father in a bid to gain riches and honors for himself that were supposedly stolen from his ancestors. Intuitively, I would point to Tokuemon and say "yes, he IS the mononoke, he IS the kama itachi, he IS the izuna," but the way it's presented, it's saying that his rage and fear at the treatment he had to endure over his life up to now makes him the perfect candidate to HOUSE the mononoke, and there's a clear delineation between where he ends and the kama itachi begins. The kama itachi was a regular ayakashi that was twisted and corrupted by the greed of humans and became a mononoke, but it doesn't have an identity with any one person or group of people (maybe grafted to Chuuemon, but even then there's a sense of Chuuemon still being himself and wielding the kama itachi as a tool separate from himself versus it being Chuuemon)

Compare that to, say, Nue, the arc with the least clear-cut association to a human/group of humans in the show and the closest to this sort of treatment of mononoke. Even with the nue, there's the sense that the "rotting piece of wood" took on at least some of the motivations of various woman who may have once lived at that estate--the need to remain oneself in a context that strips your value down to nothing if you can't present yourself as a valuable commodity (I presume the todaiji ended up being one of those 100-year object yokai, so it's kind of like the zashiki warashi in that by the time these spirits come into being as spirits that don't belong in this world, they're coming into an environment of intense resentment and say "ah, it's free real estate, nice"). But even in this case, the mononoke has a link back to human resentments, not spiritual resentments that end up rebounding back on humans

The medicine vendor assumes Ochou's been possessed by a mononoke and is using its power but she actually IS the mononoke. Her pain and her anger drive the mononoke and serve as a perpetual-motion machine of mental self-harm

By contrast, Ishiuemon and Zen piss off an otherwise dormant Kame-hime in Ishiuemon's bid to increase his own power, and Kame-hime herself is the mononoke that comes in to say "get my goddamn name out of your irreverent mouth," and she possesses Zen as a vessel to present herself in this world, but she doesn't become Zen, and Zen doesn't become Kame-hime. Kame-hime as the mononoke comes down to her offense over the power games the humans were playing in her name, not the harm or resentment that was coming up from the humans suffering because of those power games

The two bakeneko are cats who died with Tamaki and Setsuko respectively and took on the injustices done to them and come to embody each woman. Whether the souls of Tamaki and Setsuko combined with the cats or whether it was just the cats acting on their impressions of the women's memories, they're still linked back to and embody the emotions of the women who created them

Compared to the Tamamo no Mae that split apart its own soul in a bid for resurrection, the fragments of its own soul acting as puppet strings to play a fucked up game of "let's put these dollies in Situations(tm)" in order to create the conditions that would allow it to gain power and eventually come back together as one entity. The will of the Tamamo no Mae was inflicted on these two families to create the problem, these would not have been their problems otherwise (not their lives were going to be amazing without the Tamamo no Mae interfering, but the respective situations were less likely to become the powder keg they did). The conflict came from without, not within

Genkei projects his own self-loathing out to the sea his sister was sacrificed to and spends half a century running away from the reality that he did in fact create that dark and deadly "sea of ayakashi" but not the way he's talked himself into believing. The problem starts with him, and his complicated grief and guilt and fear that he never gave himself the chance to process. He is the mononoke haunting that sea, his suppressed feelings are the evil things infecting it. The conflict comes from within

Anyway, it's just an interesting difference in approach I've noticed up to this point, will also be interesting to see if that approach continues through the latter three stories

[ratsoh-writes]

Anybody have an ideal type?

Zen: he likes them chubby lol. Someone soft that he can squish when he cuddles. Zen doesn’t have any real specific personality he goes for, but he does secretly love when his partners are a bit protective. It makes him feel safe

Shield: he loves positivity! Cheerful people who don’t drag others down. He doesn’t care if they’re more introverted or extroverted. He just wants a little sunshine in his life. And he too likes them a bit soft and plump lol. Preferably shorter than him. He’s the big spoon when he cuddles and shorter people are more comfortable in that position to him

Hilda: she wants someone strong who can beat her up! They’ll beat each other up together in the wrestling ring lol. Really though, Hilda needs someone athletic, who can keep up with her. She tends to lean more towards feminine monsters and human women. Especially ones who dress girly. She likes the aesthetic

Saga: she loves a classy gentleman/lady. Someone who can sweep her off her feet with their smooth words and respectful treatment of retail workers lol. Saga is practical, so looks have never been something that catches her eye. It’s all about the voice behind them. She likes drawls ;)

[sparxaf]

TSIME: The Casa Girls

While I was preparing to write Casa Amor from the boys' point of view for The Sun in My Eyes, I realized I'd have to create the girls, because we only really know Shannon. Even Blake is a bit of a mystery as we learn almost nothing about her, other than she's seems thin-skinned. So I spent some time sorting out the main personality trait of each original islander, and then made each CA girl a combo of 2 of them.

Marisol + Priya

Amber is a huge snob and decided as soon as she met Emily that she was stupid and low class, and needed to be put in her place. Amber is a bitch. It was really fun to write two women who were both WAY too good for Jakub, get so caught up in competing with each other that they forgot that what they were fighting over wasn't actually a prize.

Just Hope

Originally Siobhan was Hope + Lottie. A self-important troublemaker, but she just didn't flow that way when I started writing her. I didn't want to write yet another brittle black woman (Fusebox has that on lock). It was more fun to make her have all of Hope's best traits (playful, direct, ambitious) yet none of her worst. Siobhan is who Hope could be if she weren't so insecure. A self-actualized Zen badass. Basically she's S3 Yasmin before S3 came out.

Hope + Marisol

What's there to say about Shannon? I love this manipulative, savvy bitch. And she deserved better than Rahim's triflin' ass dithering between multiple girls.

Lili + Lottie

Yuna was an accidental villain. It was supposed to be Siobhan telling everyone about what Emily did, but once I started writing, it just felt right for this spoiled, chronic talker to thoughtlessly spill Emily's business to anyone who'd listen. And for her to lie to Bobby in order to manipulate him into choosing her. Love Yuna or hate her, you gotta respect the audacity.

Lili + Priya

You know, I really wanted to redeem Blake. I always thought she took a lot of heat for simply being a little thin-skinned, and I wanted to give context for her behavior when she came to the villa. But I underestimated just how much she was hated and no amount of context was gonna make anyone empathize with her 😆 Oh well. I tried.

Chelsea + Lottie

Oh, Emily. Girl. I love her tragic, bad decision making ass. And her wise, resigned kitchen conversation with Bobby is my favorite thing I wrote for Casa. I head canon, but never explicitly wrote into the story, that she DMed Lili the moment she left the show to apologize. Because that's just how she is. Emily is a fuck up, but she's an honest one.

Just an aside, but I gave her my mom's most endearing skill, the ability to cross one eye and keep the other straight. Something that never fails to make me laugh 🤣

Stay tuned, my post about Bobby's OC family is coming... eventually.

Thanks @longbobmckenzie for pointing out that my original post is missing for some reason.

[whatevergreen]

White-Robed Guanyin, late 1200s–early 1300s. Jueji Yongzhong. China, Yuan dynasty. Cleveland MA.

"Guanyin, the bodhisattva of infinite compassion (Avalokiteshvara, in Sanskrit), reveals himself in many forms. According to Buddhist belief, one such manifestation is the white-robed Guanyin sitting on a rock on the island of Putuo (Potalaka, in Sanskrit), located along the coast not far from Ningbo, in Zhejiang Province, China.

Here, the figure was swiftly drawn in only a few ink lines. The inscription above is by Zhongfeng Mingben, perhaps the most widely respected and influential Chan (Zen in Japanese) master in the Yuan dynasty. The artist’s signature is a single line below on the left: Huanzhu Yongzhong."

An article relating to Guanyin and gender:

"Glasgow Life has defended the Burrell Collection’s approach to labelling after criticism that the museum had “politicised” exhibits by linking them to the contemporary discourse on transgender rights.

The museum, which reopened in March after a £68.25m refurbishment, made the news this week after the feminist campaign group For Women Scotland accused it of appropriating Buddhist art to “prop up an ideology”. ...

... "Glasgow Life, the charitable trust that oversees the city's museums, said academic studies have recognised the deity’s status as an “icon for some transgender people”.

A spokesperson for the trust said: “Analysis of changes to the depiction of Guanyin as a male deity in the 12th century to female during the Yuan dynasty (14th century) has been the subject of academic study for some years. Many of these studies referenced Guanyin’s status as an icon for some transgender people years before the Burrell Collection reopened to the public.

“Given this fascinating history we consulted trans and non-binary people from charity organisations and community groups as part of the Burrell Collection refurbishment who regard this transitioning as similar to some of their experiences. One of the aims of the refurbishment of the Burrell Collection was to work with community groups to reflect often previously under-represented histories as part of the re-display, including LGBT histories, because Glasgow Life museums are places for everyone.”

In the comments section:

"For all those that are saying this is ethnocentric, when I entered the Chinese Buddhist Temple, (where I took my vows of refuge) for the first time after transitioning, The Venerable, a native Chinese nun, asked me to sit down with her. She had a long talk with me about Guan Yin and how we are the same. She then gave me a copy of the 25th Chapter of the Lotus Sutra, which is all about Guan Yin and her powers. She told me I was accepted and that I should pray even more to this amazing Transgender Bodhisattva. Also she is not the only devine being in Chinese culture to be gender expensive. I really hope that this war over gender will find an end and we can all sit together peacefully, we are not so different from each other as it may seem. We all suffer and we all deserve compassion."

[blissfulalchemist]

WIP Wednesday

Listen I know but I know more people will probably read this tomorrow so sue me. Anyway! Tagged a while ago by @adelaidedrubman to share work and I am in turn tagging you back along with @belorage @florbelles @unholymilf @strafethesesinners @heroofpenamstan @statichvm @jackiesarch @shellibisshe @confidentandgood @themarcspector @indorilnerevarine and anyone else that has something to share! Use me as an excuse!

I only offer more ffxiv but this time is Girls Worst Road Trip 2! Spoilers for endwalker. But yeah have fun I gave you a bit.

“Might we not ask Fordola to join you?” Alphinaud suggests, “She’s a good fighter and knows how to patch up wounds since you’ll be without our healing magics.” Alphinaud sighs, crossing his arms, “Would that we could have one more go with you to assist in your defense, but we’ve exhausted the small pool we have.”

“Not entirely, there’s still one more out there.” The Scions jump, turning to look at Stasia who wasn’t there a second ago.

“Gods are you sure Emet-Selch wasn’t your father,” Thancred grumbles, “you two share a lot of traits.”

She rolls her eyes waving off the comment, “As I was saying there is one more person out there that has the same abilities as Fordola.”

Alphinaud furrows his brow, “If you’re referring to Zen-.”

“No. He’s dead. We’ve established this. But did you think he would only let Fordola and himself be the only people with such a gift?”

Siberite shakes her head, “Nope. No. Stasia, no.”

“Truly you can’t be serious. The woman hates us,” Thancred adds, “Siberite especially.”

“Carly’s calmed down since you’ve last seen her, hasn’t she Alisaie and Alphinaud?”

“Are you saying Carly is also a Resonant?”

“Can we just put that notion aside and remember that she would rather see me dead!” Siberite protests, “We won’t be able to trust her in there. Why can’t you come with us Stasia? I doubt it would have any effect on you given your heritage.”

“One, that’s an unknown thing as I was never brought around primals to know. Two, with the twins gone it means there’s more work to be done and overseen in Garlemald.”

“Work that you wouldn’t trust to anyone else,” Zero says with a tilt of her head, “It’s why he appreciated and respected you so much.”

Her eyes narrow at the comment, “You’re going to need Carly. She’s competent in many different weapons and forms with a specialty in the arts of a Dark Knight.”

“Would she even agree to it?”

“You leave that to me, along with your safety. So do we have a plan?”

“As much as none of us want to trust her,” Y’shtola says, “we have little choice in the matter. Besides, Fordola and Zero will be with you if she decides to try anything.”

----------------------------------------------

It’s tight as they all sit six feet apart, fire between them giving life to the small bit of good rations they’ve brought along. Noisy as Carly stabs away at the plate making Siberite shift in ways Fordola and Zero had only ever seen on the battlefield. Back and forth the sounds go, Fordola looking between them with narrowed eyes. “Oh for love of-. Will you two stop it already!” The two women look up, the metal scraping along Carly’s teeth as she sets it down, “How are we to get anything done if you two can’t even sit here without it turning into a fight?”

“I certainly don’t see any weapons drawn,” Carly says, rolling her eyes, “and no words had been uttered.”

“Oh shut up! You know exactly what I mean and what you’re doing.” Carly lets out a low growl, “Why are you two even like this? Beyond the obvious events in Ala Mhigo.”

“She rightly believes me to be the cause of Zenos’ death,” Siberite answers, “You know how he was Fordola, he wanted it to be a fight to the death.”

“You could have brought him back to be buried with respect,” Carly hisses, shoulders raising, “but you couldn’t even be bothered to do that!”

“Carly, you had plans to bring him back from the dead, again.”

“And? Did you not do the same with your friends out there at the edge of the universe?”

“I-. Hey now, that was different. They-.”

“Sacrificed themselves to save you and the star blah blah. Sacrifice in that situation means dying. There was no guarantee that your plan would work. That they would live again.”

“You're right I didn’t know if it would work and I have told you before that if I could have I would have brought him back.”

“You hated him! You saw him as nothing more than a single minded monster, when that was far from the case. You all did!”

“I thought you weren’t supposed to hate friends?” They all turn to look at Zero, still picking at the roll on her plate, “You two were friends, I thought.”

“It’s….a little more complicated. I don’t think he knew just how to be friends with people. He certainly had a different way of viewing the world but my hatred started to wane ever so slightly.”

Carly crosses her arms, “Sure that makes things all better between us.”

Zero looks up at her with a small tilt of her head, “Why did he never call you friend?” 

Her eyes narrow and look to the ground, “Who are you to be asking such things anyway?” She waves the question off, “Not that it matters. Honestly I can’t wait to finish here and never see the likes of any of you again.” 

“We all share the same sentiment, Carly,” Fordola says, “So you two have to get along for the time being.”

She purses her lips, “I never got a chance to ask you when you ended my bonding time with Boy Toy,” Siberite readies to speak giving a small shake of her head thinking better of it, “Did he have any final words to say?”

[dustedmagazine]

Clara de Asís / Ryoko Akama — sisbiosis (Erstwhile)

sisbiosis by Clara de Asís/Ryoko Akama

One of the Erstwhile label’s specialties is commissioning encounters between singular sound-makers. Some, such as their splendid releases by the already-acquainted John Tilbury and Keith Rowe or Burkhard Stangl and Christof Kurzmann, proved so assuredly compatible that one had to wonder why no one had done so earlier. The outcomes of others, such as Rowe and Graham Lambkin or Jérôme Noetinger and Will Guthrie, were harder to predict, but the non-obviousness of each pairing paid off.   

This recording by Clara de Asís, a Spanish-born, French-based composer and multi-instrumentalist, and Ryoko Akama, a Japanese-born, English-based sound and installation artist, falls into the latter category. Each woman’s discography is a feat of ongoing diversification. And acquaintance with their live performances might only highlights their differences. The one time I saw de Asís, she sat at a table, tweaking electronics and striking percussion with barely perceptible motions. But motion is the most vivid memory I have of my sole Akama concert; while it’s hard to say what made her and her fellow performers’ patient circuits of folding tables covered with thrift shop detritus so hypnotic, I couldn’t take my eyes off of them, and I felt moved by the spectacle. What might they do together?

It turns out that only parts of the album involve joint action. Three of six tracks were made from sounds recorded by the duo, and then assembled and mixed by Akama. De Asís assembled one more from that collective sound trove, and made two more entirely on her own after their joint sessions, but it all hangs together. The two women share a respect for the integrity of small sounds, which they present in uncluttered assortments. One electronic wave might flow into another; two different varieties of metal percussion are struck at different rates; some crackling static sits in proximity to gentle, woody clatter within a vast field of silence. Things happen unemphatically, and if you’re looking for excitement, sisbiosis will deny you. But if you’re up for a close listen to the emergence and decay of sounds, presented with the transitory quality of drizzle falling upon a Zen garden, your patience will be rewarded by sound arrangements that feel complete in themselves.  Another quality that Akama and de Asís share is a willingness to let sounds be themselves; they do not bully them into being music, but present them in a light that will allow you to appreciate their inherent musicality.   

Bill Meyer

[xelasrecords]

Hey Xela! 🌸🩷 *Plonks myself next to you*. So I know I have to catch up on your posts (and fic!!) about our fav, Harry, BUT--

I've been thinking (dangerous), and as someone I consider to be very resourceful when it comes to Korean, may I ask -- Is there anything Harry does that would be considered rude in Korea that doesn't translate over to English? I'm thinking like how he address people, maybe? I mean, I know our man has ZERO manners but I'm just curious as to how far he takes it 😅

One thing I noticed in the early days is he never really cared to ask if we had eaten. If he does, he doesn't mind if we say we didn't eat at all. It always makes me think of the Mysme gang -- the ~HORROR~ that would coarse through Zen at the mere mention of not eating!!

Also ily ily ily hope you're doing well ily

Off the top of my head, Harry addresses the Big Guy as "hey, you" instead of his name/title. He calls his personal shopper "noona" (used to call women older than you if you're a guy) but I think their relationship is unique since the shopper is also yelling at him informally all the time LOL. Missgurl is stressed. And maybe he gives her more respect than Big Guy. Who knows what goes on in his head. One of the polite ways to address people who work for you is like how Jumin addresses Jaehee as Assistant Kang.

As you said, Harry doesn't ask whether we have eaten and doesn't care if we haven't, doesn't say good morning and good night (when he does it's curt or forced by Piu-Piu), hangs up calls without a closing salutation, and his speech style with us is very casual from the get-go. You don't do these with people you just know.

His public persona naturally has top-notch manners when he's not running away. Most strangers get none of the bullshit he gives us.

I'm trying to find more differences but honestly he's just rude in all languages😭