#ALL HAIL ASAGIRI

[spicyapple1234]

So the new chapter is out, and I feel that I am much obliged to type out a rant over how beautiful it is despite being short. My heart was filled with admiration, love and passion with this chapter.

The fact that instead of atsushi being his reason to live (which is equally unhealthy as making dazai his purpose) Akutagawa is realising how his reason to live, it's all in him. He doesn't need someone's approval or validation to live anymore, he doesn't need someone's existence to force him into living--he is finally realising that it is him, who is truly worth at the end.

And Atsushi? I have so much to say!

From being the person who wasn't able to let out a single word without fear occupying his lungs, Atsushi was this time able to express his hate and his pain in the scream. "Why us?" This line is so poignant, it can refer to how Atsushi is thinly why people like him and Akutagawa get hurt, how they get abused and there's never a real reason as to why--at the very least there was never a good reason to justify how they have suffered. The question simultaneously faces the situation of Atsushi and his headmaster. Why them? The headmaster loved Atsushi but had to treat him poorly, atsushi wanted his validation but all he ever got were nightmares, why them? Also, Asagiri never fails to show how complex human emotions are. Atsushi hated his headmaster, truly and there's no denying that. But he also loved him as a father, as a child who wanted to feel the warmth of the person he pursued since childhood for once. But now he is finally able to let go of all the pain, no he will never forget it, and neither will the damage will reverse but Atsushi can take a breath and accept it. It won't make living easier, but it surely will make it lighter.

I still can't perfectly articulate the emotions I feel, and apologies if I made grammar mistakes or the likes, I was quite passionate in my rant.

I want to say more but currently I don't have words, perhaps I will post another rant once I end up being able to form words. For now I'll enjoy the fascination I have.

We got gay Akutagawa and a new character so yayyy

[mania-sama]

Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Crime and Punishment: Short Bungou Stray Dogs Analysis

Finally finished Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. i might do a post talking about my actual thoughts on the book, but not right now because I'm INSTEAD gonna talk about BSD Fyodor because, if I'm gonna be honest, a large part of the reason I read this book was to see if I could get an insight on what his ability could be (obviously I also read it because I know it's an extremely influential book to the psychological thriller literature genre, and it's made me want to read more of his books because I am absolutely entranced by his writing style).

SPOILERS: This book did NOT give me a single damn clue to Fyodor's ability.

However, I do have a better understanding of why Asagiri chose to write Fyodor in that specific way, with the added effect of making Fyodor much more understandable. I have a better appreciation, I think, for Asagiri's character writing. Let me explain:

The large, overarching theme of C&P is the idea that some people are naturally born with the right to kill. That is, people are naturally born into two categories: "Ordinary" and "Extraordinary". The majority of the population falls into the former - they live their lives in submission to the law and to those above them. In essence, they do not have the "right to kill"; they are otherwise overcome with guilt, regret, or simply caught for their wrongdoings.

The latter category has very few people in it, and for a simple reason - they are the ones who are, essentially, above the law, and therefore, the lawmakers. They are the ones who lead the revolutions, sit on the throne, and most importantly, kill when they need to kill and do not hesitate to "step" over their crimes as nothing more than the necessity to power. They are not caught. In fact, they are hailed as the greatest leaders. Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and his most constantly referred example, Napoleon. These are the born with the "right to kill".

The main character, Raskolnikov (of whom I will be calling the affection Rodya because I am NOT spelling his name over and over again), believes himself to be a "Napolean". Rodya is the one who came up with this theory in the book, after all. However, he finds out, near the end, after several blunders and mental breaks, that he is not one of the people who can "step" over their crimes. He hesitated before killing his target. His guilt for his two murders sent him into a feverish state for days on end. He walked to the police station to confess his crimes a million times before finding some reason, right before he was meant to do it, to chicken out and continue living life under this ever-evolving notion that he was sorely mistaken about himself. Rodya is not the "Napolean" he thought he was born to be.

How does this relate to the Bungou Stray Dogs character? I believe that Fyodor is, essentially, the embodiment of the "right to kill". He is everything that Rodya thought he was, which is an excellent analysis on the part of Asagiri. One of the first things Fyodor does is kill Ace, then a relatively innocent child, Karma. He does this without blinking, without a hint of remorse, and proceeds with his day. He knows that this is his right, that he is the one above others, that he can kill and he cannot be caught for it. He claims to have mastered and tamed his own ability. Why? Because he is the "Extraordinary."

Another theme that I find quite intriguing is religion. In truth, it really isn't that prevalent (though there are a great many Biblical quotations and references throughout) until the last part, Part 6, of Crime and Punishment. Rodya has a near-constant epiphany with religious belief, even at one point stating, point-blank and in irritation, that God isn't real and He certainly isn't helping anyone in the mortal plane. He oscillates between claiming that the "Devil" forced him to kill, to saying that believers are frantic and stupid, then to kissing the dirty ground in repentance for his crimes. He state of mind ends in that repentance state, a supposed believer and eager to start his life anew.

To make Fyodor a devoted believer in God, with a set viewpoint and acting as an executor of God's will, is, once again, an excellent choice. Rodya's irritation and inner turmoil were one of the many reasons why he failed miserably in maintaining the secret of his crimes. Fyodor is none of those things: he is calm, cool, collected, and set in his ways. Interestingly, in Crime and Punishment, the vilest character also seems to have no particular issues with religion himself. And he, for the most part, gets away with his heinous crimes completely. This battle of belief, and relating it to God, provides a healthy insight to why Fyodor has obtained the "right to kill", versus Rodya, who was born "Ordinary."

The last point I want to seriously touch on is less about Crime and Punishment and more about the author himself. However, I did learn about this through reading the translator's notes (the translation I read is by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, Second Edition (2021), Vintage Classics). Dostoevsky was hugely indebted to Nikolai Gogol as a successor to Gogol's ingenious literary developments in "fantastical realism" and satire. Dostoevsky made several references to Gogol's works in C&P, and none in a critical manner. In the animanga, the roles are completely reversed; Nikolai is the one chasing after Fyodor, admiring his intellect and "ingenious" with the eventual goal of setting himself free. This idea of flipping authors' relationships on their heads is part of what makes Bungou Stray Dogs so entertaining to consume, and it takes a great deal of research and effort to be able to adjust these relationships so that they clearly reflect the real-life ones.

As for one afterthought, the name "Rats in the House of the Dead" appears to be a clever play on the Dostoevsky book Notes from the Dead House. I haven't read this book yet, but I want to (along with Notes from Underground). I'm curious to see if there is any further correlation, but I would assume not, considering the contents of the book.

NO. I did NOT find literally anything that could help me decipher Fyodor's ability. Rodya literally confesses his crime like a week and a half after he commits it. No character in this novel, nor theme, reflects whatever the h e double hockey sticks Fyodor has going on in BSD. I have theories, but they have literally nothing to do with Crime and Punishment outside of the base fact that his ability has something to do with killing (which we already knew). Woe is me. I'll get over it, I guess.

[ragingstillness]

Finally caught up on the bungo stray dogs manga today. Here are my thoughts in no particular order.

Massive spoiler warning through ch 114.5!

Gotta say, I don’t think any of us guessed “functional immortality” for Fyodor’s ability. It does explain why he’s completely crazed and has such little respect for human life. The face peeling is gross but a little funny in how wacky and wild it is. Genuine questions: does Fyodor then gain that person’s body shape? Has he ever been killed by a woman before? Or a child? Does he get to steal Bram’s height now? What happens if he turns into an old person and dies of old age? What happens if he kills himself? When was he born and when did this ability manifest? Does he gain the new person’s ability as well as his own? Also, I have to give Asagiri credit for taking the most literal interpretation of Crime and Punishment ever. The Crime is murder of Fyodor and the Punishment is he becomes you. He takes your space in society. Delightfully literal.

Gogol’s sadness over Dostoyevsky felt really real my poor clown. However, with the reveal of Dostoyevsky’s ability, they are now the perfect couple. Gogol can kill Fyodor, achieving his goal of killing him, then Fyodor can become him, achieving Gogol’s goal of losing himself and Fyodor’s goal of having one less person constantly trying to kill him. Poetic cinema.

Gonna be laughing forever at Mori gluing the fake vampire teeth into Chuuya’s mouth and Chuuya’s inability to get them out. This is especially funny because this genuinely happened to me with my mom one Halloween and while we did get them out I was picking glue out of my teeth for a week.

I hope Bram isn’t gone forever because his relationship with Aya is beyond cute.

Is Aya’s dad that grumpy police detective? It looked like that in her vision.

I’m still not super satisfied with Fukuchi having good intentions. He’s been far too sadistic and blatantly evil for me to change my mind on him now. Little Fukuchi I can defend but I’m not changing my opinion on adult Fukuchi.

Fukuzawa stays the smartest man, taking the sword to the heart then pulling it away with him. Very “can I keep this” when someone gets stabbed meme of him. Also using it still as a blade? Inspired. All hail silver fox dad.

Ranpo is clearly still injured but doesn’t seem as injured as Asagiri teased us with. Aku still appears to be a vampire, we’ll see how that turns out.

Damn, Fukuchi will not die. This man has been bleeding from the neck and heart for several minutes at least and still is talking.

Considering the last ability singularity nearly destroyed all of Yokohama and the world, not looking forward to the results of a three-part singularity.

Fukuchi’s blade allowing him control over a small period of time I could accept but the gift of prophecy? Specific prophecy too? Kind of came out of left field, I don’t like that without knowing more about the sword’s creator.

Let’s be real, One Order should just be destroyed, it’s hella dangerous in anyone’s hands.

I don’t think we got told in advance that Bram’s sword combined person with ability. Maybe I just don’t remember but I don’t think so.

Fyodor’s goals continue to be murky as hell.

Convenient, that Fyodor’s ability also comes with a bit of teleportation, as he got from mid-Europe to Japan right quick.

I still need to know more about the war and I despair of ever receiving that info.

Love that all this is going down between Fyodor, Fukuchi, and Fukuzawa (too many fs) and Atsushi is just there like oh right I have a main character oops. I really hope vampirism wipes Akutagawa’s memories so he just jumps into this situation completely discombobulated, it’d be so funny.

When will sassy grandpa (Mori) return from war?

Hey Natsume what’s up, think maybe this is a good time to intervene?

Where the hell is Kouyou?

[porta-decumana]

I'm still going through all of the new followers by the way! There are a lot of you but I'm genuinely so honored you all wanted to reach out to me. That's very kind of you!

Brief OC intros until I get a proper post going! (under the cut for your convenience)

Akari "Kaida" Asagiri - a Raen from the Ruby Sea, my "main WoL" so to speak. Hails from an underwater city with deep religious ties to the ocean. Daughter of a cold-hearted general and prodigy soldier. Considered a strategist in the Scions and an all-rounder. Getting a bit of a rework but is usually DRK/DNC/SGE.

Cassius Flavus - Garlean from the capital city, an OC that supports Kaida/the Scions. Part of a polycule with Kaida and Gaius Baelsar. Former courtesan, number #1 Emet-Selch/Solus zos Galvus hater, and kind of a disaster of a man (but really funny). Usually DRG/RPR/GNB.

Lillian Willows - A Gridanian botanist that discovered she had the Echo one day, considered a "late bloomed WoL" that joins in post-Shadowbringers. Kind of a spiteful little firebrand, ran away from home to find her missing husband. Probably 1 bad day from her villain arc. Has a crush on Thancred but too stubborn to admit it. Usually a WHM/RDM/BTN. (May be dabbling in PCT in the future!)

Eirian Yascaret - Nonbinary viera from the Golmore Jungle. Eirian and Kaida join the Scions at around the same time. Eirian is a trained fighter with a no-nonsense attitude. They're matter-of-fact, stubborn, and typically don't dilly-dally. Gets embarrassed if they're called cute (to the point where Eirian hides their tail). They're usually a PLD/SAM.

Given changes to m*dding and things of that nature, there may be some updates for each character but as of right now, these are their current appearances!

[noobslayerarchetype11]

OKAY BUT! Seems we are all anticipating Fyodor VS Ayatsuji . . .

What if Kafka Asagiri thought of making a FRANZ KAFKA VS YUKITO AYATSUJI instead because of Mr. Ayatsuji's tweet. LIKE COME ON BRO OH MY- IT LOW KEY MAKES SENSE HELP, either just Franz Kafka, Kafka Asagiri or BOTH KAFKAS combined gets to 1v1 Ayatsuji. OKAY but imagine how op Kafka would be though.

Hail yeah. My new big three (I'm delusional but the posibilities are there. *not the hsr one ofc*)

This is so ironic lol using hsr Kafka as a character icon, just to remember that hsr Kafka is a demon hunter.

Asagiri if you made both:

Fyodor VS Ayatsuji

Kafka VS Ayatsuji

Real.

I'll give you my first born child-

[gettinshiggywithit]

HES ALIVE HES ALIVE DAZAIS ALIVE!!!!!

CHUUYA IS OKAY!!!!!

SOUKOKU REALLY DID END SHIT WITH THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP!!!!!!!!

But okay im sorry fyodor being dead just doesnt feel right…

Like i was never a fyodor simp…but now he’s gone….like gone gone….

AND NIKOLAI

MY BABY NOOOO

Overall

ALL HAIL OUR LORD AND SAVIOR AYA AND ALSO GOD BLESS FUKUZAWA

And yall im scared…do u think bsd will be over now…what will happen…IM SO SCARED AGAIN WTF ASAGIRI!

[yumapii]

[Event Story] FRIENDSx7DAYS [7/18]

Parts 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18

Mamoru: Good afternoon fellow students of Shinonome Academy! I’m Hodo Mamoru, President of the Press Club here to support your bright and vigorous school lives. Because of Representative Board Chairman Saruwatari’s sudden “Handsome Men, 3 Point Contest”, the tension right now is explosive!

Rintarou: Rascals, are you handsome men? I am Shinonome Academy Student Council President, Kuma Rintarou… “Kumarin” for short ☆

Rintarou: The first round, Gentleman Showdown, will be hosted in my dream. Let’s assess how sharply these guys can escort a woman, okie?  

Kiichi: Then I will now announce the first challengers! Please come to the stage if your name is called.

// A nerve wrecking moment.

In a flash the regular lights go out and colourful spotlights start dancing about the audience. //

Kiichi: Social standing, lineage, familial connections, all those things mean nothing on the stage! With true skill, he’s made it this far by himself on his own efforts, Black Dorm’s mood-maker, Nito Senri-kun!

Senri: Us already?!

Kiichi: There is no mystery that can’t be solved. The extolled Special Course entrant. With unparalleled problem solving abilities, he completely saw through the intentions of the exam setter, deducing his way to full marks with overwhelming originality, the former detective, Shishimaru Takaomi-kun!

Takaomi: How tiresome…

Kiichi: No fault can’t be fixed with a solid kick! This man has crossed all of America with his trusty old companion. The Bounty Hunter who’s hard at work earning money for his family, Dylan Ales-kun!

Dylan: I just have to do this.

Kiichi: Living in the deep forests of Switzerland, a boy wrapped in a mysterious fog that you might mistake for a missing person. A wandering spirit whose destination is unknown. The lone wolf who doesn’t stick with people, Judah Baal Aversa-kun!

Judah: …..

Mamoru: The first group to be selected is the buzz of the town, with the two exchange students, they are the Multinational Team! When you speak of foreigners, they’ve got an image of handling ladies well but is that really the truth?!

Yosuke: And the opposing team will be announced by me. Okay, Hanabusa~ Ushiwaka~ Mikekado~ Asagiri~

// To match his flat beyond imagination delivery, the lights also shone without fanfare but in the next moment-- //

Mamoru: Wh-wha-wha-what-what?! The school, no Japan, no it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the world, at the name of the most atrocious feminist, Hanabusa Yanagi, the venue is about to erupt!

Yanagi: Haha, well when it comes to girls, I more or less have knowledge I suppose.

Minato: I’m good at giving hugs~

Mikage: Hmm~ I’m better at making them cry, I guess.

Shion: sigh

Mamoru: Battling the forces of an unreasonable society by the sheer power of his face alone, the unfairness of being handsome! The model Ushiwaka Minato and-

Mamoru: An aura of languidness, he’s been given the title of investor since he was conceived! Playing with stocks as if it a toy, perhaps he’s addicted to them?! Asagiri Mikage!

Mamoru: And the final nail in the coffin! Possessing the daintiness of a girl, and an exceptional singing voice, his whimsical nature turns from hostile to kind, and you can’t your eyes off him, Mikekado Shion!

Female Students: Kyaaaa!

Mamoru: It’s like these men were born to compete in the Gentleman Showdown. There is no need for further affirmation, the Multinational Team is in a pinch!

Dylan: They’re super popular.

Yanagi: Please go easy on us.

Female Student: Good luck, Yanagi-kun!

Female Student: Minato!

Senri: Th-they’re strong!

Rintarou: Nyahaha! Both teams ready? Then let’s go!

// Rintarou put on the Heart Yume Mic and the surrounding began to change…

An elegant space where a grand fountain flows. It was the scene of a high class hotel lobby. //

Rintarou: YKP ( Yay / Tonight’s / Party night ) ☆ 

Rintarou: This is the setting! A good investor friend of yours is holding a party to celebrate his 60th birthday! You are to perfectly escort your fabulous partner, who hails from London, and demonstrate your Gentleman powers for all to see!

Shion: Partner?

Minato: Are we supposed to escort Shion-chan?

Takaomi: That would be unfair.

Rintarou: Fu fu fu… The anticipated Princess is here! Come on!

Jin: Escort me.

Takaomi & Dylan & Senri: ?!?!?!?!?!?!

Mikage: lmao

// The moment Mikage let out a laugh, a large illuminated board appears over the participant’s heads, and on that display numbers were moving furiously. //

Mamoru: Oh?! The team led by Hanabusa-kun, Team Pheromone, received negative points right at the opening! Their current points are at -200. What is the meaning of this?!

Male Student: Anyone who scoffs at Jin-sama’s crossdressing appearance is unfit to be called human…

Female Student: There’s no way someone can laugh at Jin-sama! ! !

Mamoru: Ju...just like that, the votes from the Regular Students are rolling in left and right.

Senri & Takaomi: ( … A little longer and that would have been us. )

Mikage: Oh dearie me, I’m sorry, but it’s even more impossible not to laugh at that sudden appearance, no?

Shion: The worst.

Yanagi: But the match is just beginning.

Jin: Escort. Me.

Yanagi: Let’s go. We can’t keep our lovely Sweetie waiting.

Minato: Yup~

Jin: …..

Yanagi: Sorry to keep you waiting, My Sweet Sugar Queen. For you are too ethereal that I mistook you for a Charles Mallerin* Fairy and was late to approach. Do forgive me. Now then, I offer my hand. To be beside you, whose beauty and brilliance knows no equal, that must surely be every man’s pride.

Female Students: Yanagi-kun~ ~ ~! My Prince~ ~ ~!

Mamoru: As expected of Hanabusai-kun! After escaping countless bloodshed, he has polished this skill with his very life, his escort technique is the real deal! The points are rolling in! From -200, Team Pheromone have suddenly shot up to 18,000 points!

Dylan: For real?!

Judah: As it stands we will lose.

Yanagi: Shall we go? Oh watch your step.

Senri: This is bad! We can’t win against them~

Takaomi: tch We gotta look for some kind of opening to attack from…

// However… //

--

* charles mallerin is a type of rose, so yanagi called jin a flower fairy

[gayness-is-free]

All hail Asagiri

asagiri is the biggest fanfic writer EVER.

he once said that he started writing BSD because he wanted to see classic authors as hot men with superpowers

he writes a lot of fanfic dynamics, like "enemies to lovers", "height difference", "grumpy one and sunshine one", "Smarter separetely, dumb together", etc...

he is a twilight fan

he ALWAYS complains about writing on twitter

he literally created a whole scheme just to write a official fanfic about his own story

he has a questionable moral and writes questionable things

he is probably mentally ill

only a ficwriter could write such a thing as soukoku.

[porta-decumana]

Codex Entry: Daishiro & Chiyo Asagiri; The Cold Leaders of the Asagiri Clan

Chiyo Asagiri, Matriarch of the Asagiri Clan and Former High Priestess of Nijimizu-dera 

Daishiro Asagiri, Patriarch of the Asagiri Clan and Former Head of the Village Guard.

CW: References to abuse, emotional manipulation, and prejudice.

Daishiro and Chiyo Asagiri are Kaida’s maternal grandparents.

Both hail from clans who migrated from the Othard mountains to the Ruby Sea after their village was destroyed long before either of their births.  They were both born and raised in Ao-no-Sato, the Blue Village, thus are fully enraptured by the lifestyle of the hidden village.  They are devout worshippers of the kami, specifically the water kami that protect their village.  Daishiro used to manage the local guard in his younger years and Chiyo was once the High Priestess of the town’s temple.  They have lived what most in the village would say are “perfect lives” and are paragons that people ought to look up to and respect.  They did not wed out of love but did so out of social expectation.  Their marriage was arranged by their parents and they both followed through with it, knowing that this was the “best road” for the both of them.

Between the two of them, they bore three daughters -- Norita, Chinami, and Ume.  Norita showed promise as a medium to the kami and Chiyo forced her to obtain an education in spiritual matters, both as a pacifier of spirits and as a speaker for them.  This practice was derived from surface techniques, blending a mixture of onmyōdō and geomancy.  Norita became proficient and would have succeeded her mother had she not fallen in love with a man named Sadao, who was an outsider to their village.  Ultimately, Norita did not become the next High Priestess, falling pregnant early into her marriage which left whispers of indecency running amok the Blue Village.  She was passed over for Chiyo’s second brightest student, a woman named Akemi Hoshimiya, who would later go on to teach Kaida and Aika.  Norita gave birth to a young baby boy named Kousuke not long after.

Chiyo was upset at her daughter’s failings, doubling down upon her beliefs that the world outside was full of hubris and sin.  She was extra displeased that her daughter’s chosen suitor was a man of half-Xaela blood, which she found to be abhorrent as the Xaela were considered “uncivilized” by her standards.  This disdain only seemed to worsen with time.

Kaida was born several years after her older brother and though Chiyo was said to be the picture of joy at having two granddaughters, she scarcely showed any affection to either of the Asagiri twins.  In fact, Kaida’s first memories are of avoiding her grandmother at all costs, lest she be subjected to her constant berating or ritualistic “cleansings”, which usually involved Chiyo screaming at her and throwing purifying sands upon her to try to rid her of her “wickedness”.

Chiyo was one of the elders in the village who voted for Kaida’s exile, a cruel betrayal that stayed with Kaida in the years that followed.  If Daishiro had an opinion on what Kaida did, he never voiced it.  Since the start of their marriage, he has always taken a passive role in his wife’s ravings, preferring to leave her to her whims and focus on his past times, such as playing board games.