eboshi-of-irontown

[eboshi-of-irontown]

[eboshi-of-irontown]

An absolute queen.

[eboshi-of-irontown]

Lady Eboshi from Princess Mononoke is the gold standard for female "villains" and I will, in fact, be dying on this hill.

[eboshi-of-irontown]

Steve Alpert on Yuko Tanaka in Sharing a House with the Never-Ending Man

[eboshi-of-irontown]

Multifandom Challenge  ||  26/100 Characters  ||  Chiyoh ↳   “All sorrows can be borne if you put them in a story.”

[eboshi-of-irontown]

Forgiveness. Which is maybe where love and justice finally meet. Peace, at last.

- Tony Kushner, Angels in America

[eboshi-of-irontown]

Blue Eye Samurai (2023)

[eboshi-of-irontown]

From The Desk of Eboshi Kanamori: Recommendation

To the Home Office: 

Attached you find the complete audit of Swynlake and its application of the magick-friendly status it's been rewarded for over 1000 years. Included are extensive interviews and testimonials with board members, job owners, and civilians, as well as my personal observations from my six months there. The appendices also include photographs from various town traditions and additional events. You’ll notice many photographs of organized protests in response to actions taken by myself on behalf of the audit while acting mayor.

Compiling all of these materials was, in itself, an interesting exercise. I have written many reports in my life. I have also analyzed many reports given to me. But none were quite like my experience of compiling this particular audit. Sifting through this material, I came up several times with an empty feeling in my chest– a feeling that I had missed something.

The truth struck me only recently as something very simple and straightforward: Swynlake cannot be captured through paper and image alone. Thus, I must provide additional context here, as best as I can.

Swynlake is a town of contradictions– constantly teetering between traditional and progressive values. It longs to grow, but fears expansion; it wants to change, but debates with itself on what kind of change is acceptable. It is steeped in tradition while constantly undergoing rigorous transformation through its persistent petitions. No one is from Swynlake and yet everyone calls it home, and those who are from Swynlake cling to Swynlake as idea more than place. On the surface, the tension is expressed best through magick-mundus conflict. Dig deeper, and instead you’ll find that tension complicated more by race, sex, class, religion, and culture. 

It is, in other words, quite like most towns in England, only the streets talk back. 

In my time there, the magic I saw was remarkable– children transforming into animals; decorations changing color with the kindest touch; snowflakes balanced on the tip of a finger. But the real magic was rather in the mundane connections between families, friends, and built communities. I discovered that the tension which brought the Home Office to Swynlake’s door is precisely the fuel that creates Swynlake’s remarkable power. 

In other words, the tension is transformative. The central argument in Swynlake is not whether more magic is good or if less is bad. The citizens of Swynlake are simply working together to create their own definition of home, and what it means to them. It is more valuable to let them ask this question, over and over, than it is to decide the answer on their behalf. 

In conclusion: I do not believe Swynlake, as a great experiment, is quite done yet.

My official recommendation is they need more time– to argue, to protest, to belittle each other and to lift each other up. Additional resources should be provided to the town regarding certain unavoidable magical experiments. Besides this, leave Swynlake to its experiment. I believe there will be much more to learn as the years bear on. 

With respect,

Eboshi Kanamori 

[eboshi-of-irontown]

Now that was sad.

But Eboshi's eyebrows barely twitched. She was not about to have a conversation with an ill person-- and it was very clear to her right in that moment that Gaston was unwell. He needed help, and not the kind Eboshi could provide.

"Gaston, I'm going to ask that you leave my office now, please. There's nothing more I have to say to you."

@biceps--to-spare

The Betrayal # [Gab]

[eboshi-of-irontown]

"Demons killed your father, Gaston. Whether or not Hades Acheron was involved with those demons coming to Swynlake is another question entirely," said Eboshi.

She put another binder into the box. This wasn't going to go anywhere-- of course not. Gaston had a personal vendetta. She felt sorry for him, could see his pain. It was sharp and twisted. But she couldn't do anything to change that.

"Now, I am sorry that my leaving is a disappointment to you. But I am done here," she said--slightly more gentle. "I wish you luck moving forward."

@biceps--to-spare

The Betrayal # [Gab]

[eboshi-of-irontown]

"Mr. D'Avenant. Compose yourself," said Eboshi sternly as she placed a few binders into a box.

She flicked her hair behind her shoulder and then looked up at him, the look on her face akin to a mother scolding her petulant son. "Things might not be the same. The Home Office will respond to my audit and when they do, they will act according to evidence gathered and town testimony, including your own. You will respect the outcome, whatever it is."

@eboshi-of-irontown

The Betrayal # [Gab]

[eboshi-of-irontown]

Eboshi knew that wouldn't happen.

She let out a short sigh. When she'd first met Gaston, she'd found him vigilant, a rare brave voice speaking out against the radicalists that had Swynlake in a choke hold.

But now that she'd lived here, she realized-- he was paranoid.

"It is not my responsibility what happens to the Acherons," she mentioned. "I will make recommendations to the Home Office and if the Home Office sees fit, it will reinstate Hades. If not, then you will have an election along with the Board for a new Mayor. Things will resume as they always have."

@biceps--to-spare

The Betrayal # [Gab]

[eboshi-of-irontown]

Eboshi raised her eyebrows. There was a pause and then...

"...Yes, there is work to do. At my job," she said pointedly. "This was always a temporary situation, Mr. D'Avenant. I am employed first and foremost with the Home Office."

@biceps--to-spare

The Betrayal # [Gab]

[eboshi-of-irontown]

Things were wrapping up.

Eboshi had finished gathering evidence. She had all the testimonials she needed. All there was to do was to write a recommendation to the Home Office, which she would finish within the next week-- perhaps week and a half, as she worked out a few other small tasks here as mayor.

She was relieved to be leaving. There was also a part of her that felt-- something close to regret.

Eboshi thought she might miss Swynlake after all. If only a little.

She glanced up when Gaston came into her office as she began the process of tidying and packing. His question was an idiotic one. What did it look like she was doing?

"I'm packing," she answered swiftly. "It's been six months, and so my audit is due the next week."

The Betrayal # [Gab]

[eboshi-of-irontown]

Unclouded by Hate % [Forged + Snowhelle]

In which Eboshi removed the curse from Ashitaka and Nago...[takes place: January 11]

@eboshi-of-irontown, @labellerose-acheron, @lady-snow-flower, @trip-downtheriverstyx

[tw -- minor gore]

% % %

[link here]

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[eboshi-of-irontown]

Oh yes, Freddie would have a blast. Eboshi would need to be careful, to make sure her sickly sister wouldn't overextend herself. They'd take it easy-- as easy as they could. Though Eboshi was sure it would be a battle to convince Freddie of that.

But all that was much too personal to share with virtual strangers, of course.

"Yes, Swynlake is quite beautiful in the snow," Eboshi agreed. "After the holidays it shouldn't be too crowded. That's the hope."

Then, she cleared her throat.

"Anyway, I should let you get back to singing, no? I interrupted something beautiful, my apologies. And I have work to do myself."

@rowsandrows-of-roses @waitingona-mirabel

The Carol That You Sing Right Within Your Heart | Mirabela

[eboshi-of-irontown]

"Ah-- unfortunately not. I have quite a lot of work to do here."

Then, Eboshi hesitated. She had avoided getting close to just about anyone here in Swynlake. She liked to remain distant because she was supposed to be an objective eye, gathering information for the audit so a decision could be made. And so she did not talk about herself. She did not talk about her family.

But...

The music had been lovely. And it was just the Madrigal girls.'

"My sister might come here though," she mentioned. "After Christmas. We'll have our own celebration and she'll see the town."

@rowsandrows-of-roses @waitingona-mirabel

The Carol That You Sing Right Within Your Heart | Mirabela