#Here in the audio drama (for as much as it does well) we pretty much get 2 scenes tops with this guy before he's villain monologuing.

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

Gaslighter? I hardly know her!

[First] Prev <–-> Next

[onigiriico]

Mikoto audio drama (t2) - English TL

[ links: Spotify | YouTube ]

Mikoto-ing again 🫡 I know I say this like every other post, but I 100% recommend listening to the audio alongside the translation! On one hand the VAs just did an amazing job on this, and on the other hand I also feel like it'll. probably make the switches more obvious than I can convey in text lol

Little disclaimer about the way I translated the DID terminology here: I know the correct term in English is "alter", but in the JP audio they're consistently referred to as "personalities" (人格 / jinkaku) while the closest Japanese equivalent to "alter" seems to be 自我 / jiga, from what I could find. I generally try to stick as closely to the JP terminology with my translations as possible, so I mostly went with "personality". I really don't want to offend anyone here so I hope that's a somewhat okay choice ahshbsdj

Okay. Okay that got lengthy. As usual, if you find any mistranslations, have questions, etc etc feel free to send me an ask or hit me up on Twitter where I drop by, like, once a month 😅 And now without further ado:

⬇️ translation under the cut ⬇️

(Es enters)

E: Mikoto…

M: Ah… Hi, Warden-kun.

E: You… are Mikoto, right?

M: Uh… What are you talking about? It really feels like it’s been a while, doesn’it? How have you been? – Huh? What’s that…? Chains? Oh, no. Take them off!

E: I refuse. You’re too dangerous. Physical restrictions are necessary.

M: Umm… (laughs) What are you saying, restricting someone who can’t even hurt a fly?

E: You really aren’t aware, huh…

M: Well, I mean… I do get it. I… go out of control while I’m asleep, right?

E: …

M: The others told me about it. How I got into a fistfight with Koto-chan and whatnot.

E: Seems like it, yeah.

M: I wonder if it’s like… some kind of sleepwalking…? After all, I’ve been losing sleep more and more often recently… Man… It’s really troublesome, isn’t it?

E: Mikoto…

M: The others are all scared of me. I can tell by looking at the way they act. Because I read the room.

E: …

M: It’s pretty tough, isn’t it? (laughs) Ever since I came here, so much has been happening that I don’t understand…

E: … You really… do laugh when you’re suffering, huh?

M: Huh?

E: You don’t get angry. You don’t scream. You laugh, like it’s a minor inconvenience.

M: Ah… I guess so. I might have that kind of trait.

E: …

M: Usually, if you just laugh and pretend, things work out in the end, right? I’m pretty good at that. Making things work out to the best of my abilities.

E: Is that so…

M: (laughs) …But… it’s not coming to an end. All of this. With things I’ve never even heard before, the whole ti—

E: …

M: —the whole time… I have to make all these irritating experiences…!

E: You came out, huh.

M: Hey. Looks like you haven’t gotten a beating yet, Warden brat.

E: …!

M: Hah? What, are you scared?

E: Like you didn’t get beaten by Kotoko…!

M: Hah. That was just because she caught me off guard. We went at it again while you were asleep, and it’s not like I lost there.

E: Multiple personalities… Am I right with the assumption that the you I’m talking to right now is another personality of Mikoto’s?

M: Well, I guess that’s about right.

E: I see. What do you want me to call you?

M: Huh? You’re accepting this pretty readily, aren’t you. Wouldn’t the whole multiple personalities thing normally raise some eyebrows?

E: Yeah. I also didn’t think it was real, at first.

M: Figures. If it wasn’t me, I wouldn’t believe it either. I’d just think it’s a lie someone came up with to get away with murder.

E: But Milgram acknowledges that [it is real] in your case. I simply accept that as the truth, and develop my thoughts from there. So? What do you want me to call you? Your name.

M: No clue about that. Just call me whatever.

E: … For convenience, I’ll be calling you John.

M: Sounds like a dog’s name.

E: It’s derived from John Doe, the name given to unidentified bodies. Do you like it?

M: Can’t say I’m very fond of the way you’re flaunting your knowledge.

E: … Anyway. You’re acting pretty calm today, aren’t you? I thought of you more like a monster of some sort. I wasn’t expecting to have such a proper conversation with you.

M: Don’t get cocky! If not for these chains, I would’ve beaten your face in by now, brat.

E: Ohh, scary, scary.

M: Hmph.

E: John, you are not a prisoner of Milgram. The fact that Milgram’s usual restraints are ineffective against you is more proof for that than anything. Milgram has judged that Mikoto is the prisoner, and you, as his alter, are an exception.

M: Huhh, I see. So that’s why you believe that there’s multiple personalities.

E: That’s why I thought I would try and talk to you as a key witness today. I’m rather glad that you’re being cooperative.

M: But, you know… This isn’t a good thing, probably.

E: What do you mean?

M: I (boku) might be trying to disappear.

E: …

M: Evidently, the time I (ore) have been fronting has been getting longer, so this “me” has been able to stabilize. Isn’t that the reason we can talk properly?

E: …

M: If I had stayed a monster… maybe that would be better.

E: …

M: What?

E: You’ve turned out to be much more rational than I expected… I’m surprised.

M: I’m a university graduate, after all.

E: (sighs)

M: As for alters… Why do you think they’re born?

E: In precise terms, it’s called dissociative identity disorder – generally speaking, [it refers to] when a person experiences severe pain or stress, and a new personality is created to try and isolate [the original personality] from the resulting trauma.

M: Yeah. I… probably come out to ease the stress Boku experiences. The fact that I come out for longer just means that Boku is constantly under extreme stress.

E: Stress… Namely the environment of Milgram, right?

M: Right. Especially the fact that you judged against forgiving Boku is causing a lot of stress. That’s why he’s entrusting me with his heart.

E: I see.

M: Not like I can blame him. From his point of view, he’s being blamed for a crime he can’t even remember.

E: If that’s the truth, then… you’re the one who committed the murder?

M: Yeah, it’s me. I killed them off.

E: …

M: So Boku really didn’t do it.

E: Can I ask… why you killed them?

M: They annoyed me.

E: Who did you kill?

M: Just someone who was walking around nearby.

E: … How many did you kill?

M: Can’t remember. I was first born back then, you know. It’s kinda fuzzy.

E: How can you talk about that so calmly?

M: (sighs) According to the law, how would this go for Boku?

E: With a psychiatric evaluation, there’s a chance of a reduced sentence, but depending on the number of victims… the death penalty might be inevitable.

M: …! I– I’m the one who did it! Boku was just sleeping!

E: Is this really something that works that conveniently?

M: Just put yourself in Boku’s shoes for a moment! He was bottling up all his stress! He kept dealing with it all by himself the whole time, until it exploded! It’s not like he just decided that he wanted to hurt somebody!

E: …

M: He’s not the type of person who could do stuff like that! He always looks out for others, always reads the room, always tries to get along with people around him! He can’t do stuff like that… He was on the verge of exploding! That’s why I was born. It’s obvious, isn’t it? Boku didn’t do anything!

E: Even if that’s true… Even if it wasn’t what Mikoto wanted – someone’s life was still lost.

M: …!

E: Even if it was you, John, who was in [your body at the time] – there’s no way for you to prove that. At the very least not in a way that would be accepted in court. It could still be judged that you’re pretending—

M: You…!! What do you think?

E: I…?

M: I’m the one who did it! Boku didn’t do it! You know that because of Milgram! I don’t care about the law, I want to know what you think!

E: …

M: Please… forgive Boku. I’m the one who did it.

E: … I can’t… judge that right away. It’s not something that I can easily decide to forgive. In fact, Mikoto’s mental footage was so violent… it’s unforgivable. That’s how I judged.

M: That could also just be a fake or owed to the multiple personalities, right?! Boku really isn’t at fault! I’m the one who killed them!

E: …

M: Are you really satisfied [with the unforgiven judgment]? He turned into a murderer overnight!

E: What you did could still be considered a sin, though!

M: …! … I think… I might be the person Boku wishes he was. The person who stubbornly stands his ground, who doesn’t cry himself to sleep from stress, who gives people their payback. If I, the “ore” personality, hadn’t been born, I’m sure Boku would have reached his limit and fallen apart.

E: John… you…

M: It’s true that I was the one who wanted to destroy everything… and the weakness of Boku, who couldn’t stand up for himself all alone, might have been the origin of that. But… that’s all there is to it. Is that a sin?

E: I’ll be considering that after this.

M: After talking to you, I get that you couldn’t forgive what I did. And I’m fine with that.

E: …Yeah. That’s right.

M: The one Milgram is supposed to judge is Boku – Mikoto, right. He’s not me – so, not John.

E: Precisely.

M: Please, forgive Boku. If you don’t… I’m sure he won’t be able to deal with this any longer.

E: “A sin committed by another personality isn’t a sin”... you’re telling me that’s how I should judge?

M: Yeah. If you forgive Boku… I’ll disappear.

E: …

M: That’s right. I’ll have to disappear eventually, anyway… Disappear, and take all of it with me. I… was born to protect Boku, after all.

E: You were… born for it…

M: Yeah. If it’s for Boku, I’ll… do anything.

(machinery whirrs, bell rings)

E: John…

M: W…what? A dog’s name?

E: Mikoto…?

M: Warden-kun, you own a dog? What breed? No, wait, let me try guessing first– A toy poodle? Actually, maybe you surprisingly prefer the ugly-cute kind… like a French bulldog!

E: … No…

M: A pug, then?

E: It’s not the name of a dog!

M: Ehh… Then what…?

E: … It’s the name of your… friend.

M: (laughs) I don’t know anyone like that~

E: … I bet you don’t.

M: Huh…?

E: Prisoner no.9, Mikoto. Sing your sins.

[dialovers-translations]

DIABOLIK LOVERS CHAOS LINEAGE Yoyaku Tokuten Drama CD ”Awakened to Chaos”

Original title: 混沌への目覚め

Source: Diabolik Lovers CHAOS LINEAGE Yoyaku Tokuten Drama CD

Audio: Here

Seiyuu: Toriumi Kousuke, Katsuyuki Konishi, Midorikawa Hikaru, Kaji Yuki, Hirakawa Daisuke, Kondou Takashi, Takahiro Sakurai, Kimura Ryouhei, Tatsuhisa Suzuki, Kishio Daisuke, Morikawa Toshiyuki, Morikubo Shoutari & Tomoaki Maeno

Translator’s note: Phew. This CD was quite the challenge since it’s a whole 40 minutes long. I have translated long drama CDs plenty of times in the past but it honestly had been a while since I came across one which is longer than half an hour. I guess this CD is meant to be kind of an introduction to the game since it’s pretty much just every boy realizing that something feels ‘off’ about their current family as well as harboring strong feelings for Eve which they cannot quite explain since they’ve all lost their memories and are therefore under the assumption that she’s an absolute stranger to them. 

Ayato: God…Ruki really had to force us to sit through some long-ass strategy meeting as soon as the Supreme Overlord passed away. They talked ‘bout way too much useless crap! All that really matters is that tomorrow we should go and steal Eve - the vital piece in becoming the next Overlord - from the Church, right? 

Yet he kept on ramblin’ on ‘bout other random bullshit. …No way in hell I’m lettin’ those other bastards have Eve. I’ll burst into that Church first and make her mine, no matter what. I won’t let Ruki have her either. I could care less that he’s the ‘oldest’ of the family. I don’t see why I should give her up to him. I’ll become the Supreme Overlord and rise to the top! ーー Exactly. That’s the only reason why I’m interested in Eve in the first place. …Or at least, it should be. So why does something feel off? Is that really…the only reason why I want Eve so badly? Or do I have an even better reasoning for yearning after her…? Hm…

*Rustle* 

Ayato: Argh! Enough thinkin’...! I’m gonna see her tomorrow anyway. That might help me figure this out. 

Ayato keeps on walking. 

Ayato: …Ah? Where am I? I was just mindlessly wanderin’ ‘round and ended up quite far away. …Aah!? Isn’t this place close to the Scarlet family’s manor!? Fuck… Did I really come that far? …Wait, is that? 

*Rustle* 

Ayato: That’s Shuu from the Scarlet Family sittin’ by that tree, isn’t it? Why is he sleepin’ over there? …Heh, whatever. Imma kick his ass to get rid of this annoyin’ feelin’. 

Ayato approaches Shuu. 

Ayato: ーー Oi, Shuu! Why are you nappin’ over here!? 

*Rustle rustle* 

Shuu: Nn…Nnh…

Ayato: Wake up! …Get up and face me. 

Shuu: Oh…Ayato, it’s you. What brings you here? 

Ayato: I’m feelin’ restless right now. Which means it’s the perfect time for a fight!

Shuu: God…I can’t even sleep in peace here? 

Ayato: Oi, get a grip of yourself! What’s the fun in fightin’ someone who’s still half asleep? 

Shuu: Shut up…I’m not going to fight you. Go away. 

Ayato: Oh come on, be my opponent! Stand up already!

Shuu: Pwaah…

Ayato: Che…You don’t know how to have fun. Guess there’s no point in tryin’ to battle a damn sissy. Whatever! I’m goin’ home!

Ayato stomps away.

Shuu: Haah…He finally left, huh? Guess I’ll go for another nap. 

*Rustle* 

Shuu: Oh…Tomorrow we’re heading for the Church to steal Eve, aren’t we? What a pain. Oh well. I guess it won’t matter if I’m not there. I’m sure Reiji will fix it somehow. He was really in his element during our strategy meeting earlier. Reiji wants to make Eve his and rise the throne as the Supreme Overlord. I’m not interested in doing so, hence why I don’t mind helping him out where I can but…What’s even the point in defeating the other families, claiming Eve and earning the title of Supreme Overlord? Doesn’t he know that when you earn something highly valuable, the responsibility might become too much as you’ll crumble? Even if you try to overcome that, you’ll only find the pressure weighing down on you, leading to nothing but pain and suffering. Does Reiji realize that? 

I’m not strong enough to crawl my way back out once I’ve fallen down that pit of misery. I honestly don’t understand Reiji for trying to put himself through all that pain and suffering. 

Well…I guess I can think about it all I want, I won’t find the answer. I’m sure things will become clear once he brings Eve to our manor tomorrow. 

Eve…shall be mine. ーー Wait, what? What did I say just now…? Ugh…Enough of this. Nothing good ever comes from me wanting something. Exactly…It has always been like that. 

Huh…? Why…? Why would I…think that way…?

Yuma approaches him. 

Yuma: Oi, Shuu! Get the fuck up already!

Shuu: Hah? …Oh, Yuma, it’s you. 

Yuma: ‘Oh, it’s you’, my ass! I already found it strange how ya left right after the meeting and just as I thought, ya were snoozin’ over here. Try and think ‘bout those ‘round you! I’m always the one they ask to come fetch yer damn ass. Stop makin’ it hard on me. 

Shuu: Guess I’ll go back or else Reiji will scold me for the rest of the day.

Yuma: You do that. 

Yuma walks away. 

Shuu: Where are you going? You’re not going back with me? 

Yuma: Nope. Reiji said he wants some of my fresh veggies for cookin’, so imma drop by my garden real quick. There’s a few I still have to harvest first. 

Shuu: I see. I don’t need any, okay? 

Yuma: Aah!? You won’t eat my veggies!? Stop seein’ everythin’ as a chore and just give them a try! They’re so good, even the guys from the other families were surprised when I fed them to them! …Of course, it’s entirely up to me whether I share with them or not.

Shuu: Haah…Yuma. As soon as we make our move tomorrow, a fight over Eve will break loose and we will become actual opponents So you probably shouldn’t mention anything about giving food to the enemy, even if it was meant as a joke. 

Yuma: Ugh. …Haahー I know. Don’t get all serious. 

Shuu: I sure hope you do. …Oh well, whatever. The final decision is still up to you. Just don’t cause me trouble as well. 

Yuma: S-Sure…

Shuu: I’m heading back inside. 

Shuu leaves. 

*TIMESKIP*

*Snap* 

Yuma: These tomatoes are first-class…both in terms of color and size…

*Snap*

Yuma: …The other families are now our enemy in every sense of the word, huh? I mean, I didn’t need to have him tell me that. …Still, I wonder why…When I think ‘bout that, for some reason those three come to mind…Azusa, Kou and Ruki. It’s not like I’ve forgotten that they’re our enemy and I really just want to share my vegetables with my brothers but…Why do I somehow feel the need to have those three try them as well? Am I feelin’ pity for the enemy ‘cause food is scarce in this area…? Is that why I want to feed them…or maybe…? 

*Rustle* 

Yuma: Ah, it’s no use! I can’t figure it out! …But what’s the point in even rackin’ my brains over this? …Actually, now that you mention it…Whenever I was feelin’ stressed out like this…I believe there was always someone there with me, smiling and tellin’ me everythin’ will be alright…? Some silly girl who could be surprisingly stubborn yet way too good for this world…confrontin’ me directly with no fear despite bein’ a weakling. …Fuck! Enough of this. I’m only makin’ myself feel even more confused… 

He gets up. 

Yuma: I better head back to the manor already. ーー Wait! You bastard! What are you doin’ over there!? 

Kou: Oh shoot, he saw me!

Yuma: You’re Kou from the Violet Family, aren’t ya!? …Why does this guy have to show up right now? 

Kou: Hm? Did you say something? 

Yuma: No, nothin’! Anyway, how did you get in!? And that’s one of my carrots in your hand, isn’t it!? Give it back! 

Kou: Eeh~? Come on, you can share a little with us, can’t you? See you! I’ll gladly take this~

Kou makes a run for it. 

Yuma: Wait, you bastard! …Fuck. He’s quick to flee. He better believe I won’t forget ‘bout this! 

*SCENE SHIFT*

Kou: …Haah~ That gave me a scare. I didn’t think Yuma would be there on the field. I was in the mood for a quick snack after having to sit through Carla-kun’s never-ending strategy meeting, so I don’t understand why he had to get so upset over it. However, we don’t grow our own vegetables at the manor and it isn’t fair how only the Scarlet Family gets to enjoy fresh produce, right? I mean, we do have food over at our place as well and I’m not exactly a picky eater either, but the stuff we have at home just doesn’t fill me up. 

Kou starts walking back home. 

*TIMESKIP*

Kou: …There we go! I better store the food I stole away. I’m hungry but I’ll just have to bear with it for now. I’m sure Azusa-kun would like to eat together after all. 

*Thud* 

Kou: Now that I’m getting a better look at them, these carrots really look delicious! I guess it’s not exactly fair how I got to have such high-quality vegetables for free? Maybe I should give them something in return? 

But they’re our enemy. …When you get something, you have to give something back in exchange. The world is all about give-and-take after all. 

Regardless of one’s personal relationship,  everything comes at a price. That has never bothered me and it never will…I guess? 

…I wonder why? For some reason…I felt like I just doubted my own thoughts…Someone’s kind words…Their warmth…As if there was someone who told me that…sometimes people don’t expect anything in return…And this person opened my eyes to what ‘love’ is…learning me how to hold someone dear…Fufu…No, must be my imagination. We’ll get to meet Eve tomorrow, so that’s probably why my emotions are a bit all over the place, right? I wonder what she’s like? I’m so excited~ 

Somebody enters the kitchen. 

Kou: …Hm? Oh? What are you doing here in the kitchen, Subaru-kun? 

Subaru: Che…So this is where you’ve been. 

Kou: That’s how you greet me? How cold. Maybe you should try being a little nicer to your Onii-chan~? So, what brings you here? Were you looking for me? 

Subaru: Not me. Azusa was looking for you. …He needs to tell you somethin’, I believe. 

Kou: He does? I’ll go to him then. See you, Subaru-kun~

Subaru: Waitー! Azusa went outside in search of you!

Kou: I see! Gotcha! Thanks for telling me!

Subaru: Haah…I can’t believe Kou…He’s seriously goin’ out to look for Azusa? He doesn’t know where exactly he is, does he? …Those two never change. The way they always cling to each other makes me gag. I prefer bein’ alone, that’s the best. That’s why I can’t relate to them. How do they keep up with that buddy-buddy crap? 

I don’t…get it? No? I shouldn’t…but…Why does it feel like there was someone who tried to understand my point of view and take it into account…? Somebody who would be there by my side, smilin’...Always comin’ back no matter how many times I would push them away…Hah! …There’s no way. I can’t believe someone as naive actually exists… I will always be alone. I don’t give a damn ‘bout Eve either. We’re gonna take her tomorrow and that’ll be the end of it. Then Carla will take the necessary steps to become the Supreme Overlord. 

…Che. For some reason, it doesn’t sit right with me. I don’t give a damn ‘bout bein’ the Supreme Overlord. But…I’m not sure why but…I just don’t like the idea of Carla claimin’ Eve - who is the key to earning that title - as his… I wonder why I feel this way? …Eve is just some random chick I’ve never even met…So why would I care ‘bout her? 

He moves to the living room.

*Thud* 

Carla: …Subaru. Where have you been? 

Subaru: Oh, Carla. You’re still in the living room? The strategy meeting ended a while ago, didn’t it? 

Carla: And what have you been doing, wandering around the manor? 

Subaru: Shut up! That’s none of your business, is it!? 

Carla: Hmph. For now, perhaps. However, I believe the tension between the different Families will increase as a result of the fight over Eve. So you better believe that I shall not allow you to act of your own accord. 

Subaru: Tsk…I know! Fuck off…

Subaru leaves the room.

Carla: Including Subaru, all of my younger brothers obey me to a certain degree, but I cannot sense any devotion from them. Is this what I can expect from a younger brother? I wonder why they just seem lacking in that regard…? No, I suppose it is a mistake on my part for trying to expect anything from them in the first place. As long as they do what I want from them and do not get in my way, I suppose I can oversee their other shortcomings. 

I should think of the bigger picture and present myself as generous and large-hearted. There is nobody out there who is more fit to become the Supreme Overlord than I am. I shall make Eve my bride without fail and rise the throne. …Marry her? No. I suppose that will not be necessary. While obtaining Eve is one of the conditions to becoming the Supreme Overlord, I do not believe it is necessary to marry her. 

Yet…Why? Why would I say that I will make her my bride? Did I speak without thinking? I wonder if there is part of me who wants to marry her? That does not make any sense. I do not need a younger brother who will vow his loyalty to me, nor a wife willing to spend her life alongside me. Everything I do are but the necessary steps in order to rise the throne as the Supreme Overlord. 

However, is that actually true? Why should it be like that? Hm…It is unusual for me to experience internal conflict. I suppose I should step outside and get some fresh air. 

Carla leaves the room. 

Carla: …Hm? That is…? What is a member from another family doing, sneaking around our manor? Looking at them from behind…I believe that is Shin from the Orange Family. What has brought him here? 

Carla approaches Shin. 

Carla: You fiend! What are you doing over here?

Shin: ーー !? 

*Rustle* 

Shin: …Ugh. 

Carla: What’s wrong? Are you not going to answer my question? What are you doing nearby our manor? 

Shin: I’m out on a walk…

Carla: A walk? Silly jokes do not work on me. Now tell me the truth. 

Shin: Should have figured as much. I guess I shouldn’t underestimate the eldest son. …They’re always on top of their game. 

Carla: Hmph. You’re as much of a goof as ever. I shall let it slide this once. Now leave at once. 

Shin: Really? You’re letting me go surprisingly easily. 

Carla: Tomorrow is a very important day. I would like to avoid wasting unnecessary energy now. However, do not misunderstand my words. We will not show any mercy the moment you attempt to do us wrong. 

Carla walks away.

Shin: And with that, off he goes…I thought he’d attack me, but I lucked out that he just went back to his manor. Carla…Whenever I run into him, I can sense that he’s no ordinary guy. Like I have to stay sharp or I’ll get completely overwhelmed. For some reason, I can’t help but want to surrender to him. That honestly pisses me off. Must be nice to be so confident in one’s capabilities. But you better not think things will go as you want…

While the big guys are fighting it out, I’ll wait for the right time and swoop in to make Eve mine… Carla, I’ll surpass you as well. …And my own Nii-san as well. Once I claim Eve for myself, I’ll mess her up right in front of you all. I’ll show you just how powerful I am. 

Hah…Or at least, that was the plan but for some reason…The mental image of this girl whom I’ve never even met in tears makes me uncomfortable! Shouldn’t I get a huge kick out of making her scream out in pain!? Yet I find myself…wanting to see her smile instead. Why!? How!? Why do I think that way!? Somewhere deep down, I don’t even care about becoming the Supreme Overlord or not…Instead, all I want is for her to be by my side…

What scares me more than anything else in this world…is losing her. 

*Rustle* 

Shin: Ugh…What am I even saying!? I haven’t even met her before!? Are my emotions out of control because we’re going to steal her from the Church tomorrow? …I should stop racking my brain over useless crap. No matter what happens, I’ll be the one snatching her away and showing everyone what I’m made of. That’s all I need to do right now. That’s why I’ll play the role of your obedient dog until then, Nii-san. 

Shin walks away. 

*TIMESKIP*

*Thud* 

Shin: I’m home, Nii-san. So you were in the living room. 

Ruki: Yes. You’ve come back from your investigation, Shin? 

Shin: Yeah. I went to check up on the Violet Family, but it didn’t seem like they were up to anything in particular. 

Ruki: I see. …However, I doubt our enemy is as stupid as to do anything that will make them stand out at a time like this. We will keep our guard up high just in case they are plotting something behind the scenes. 

Shin: Good idea, Nii-san. I’ll go and rest up in my room then. 

Ruki: Yes. Good work. 

Shin leaves the living room. 

Ruki: Not only does he heed my orders, but he never forgets to report back to me. It cannot be denied that Shin is very competent. I should have nothing to complain about with a younger brother like that. Still, I wonder why…? It feels as if something is missing. At the same time, I get this same kind of strange feeling from Ayato and Kanato, who both refuse to properly listen to me. I’ve lost count of the amount of times they’ve gotten into arguments with Shin as well. Are those three actually my siblings…? 

However, for now that shouldn’t be an issue. I should focus solely on how I can become the Supreme Overlord and let other trivial inconveniences slide. I am the only one who is suitable to inherit the legacy of the former Ruler and rise to the throne next. My devotion and respect is perfect proof of that. I won’t hesitate to make Eve mine and become the Supreme Overlord. However…What if she refuses me? Will I be able to insist on the fact that I am worthy of said position nevertheless? Will I be able to tell her that I am the suitable King, and therefore she should choose me…? 

*Rustle* 

Ruki: No, I am stressing myself out for no reason, aren’t I? …Eve…I am sure that she - as someone who has endured a never-ending onslaught of pain and suffering - will surely choose me. …!! …What was that just now…? Why did I speak those words just now…? Why would I assume such ridiculous things about a girl I have never even met…?  

Somebody enters the room.

*Thud* 

Ruki: Hm? Who’s there? 

Kanato: Ah, Ruki. This is where you’ve been. …I’ve run out of sweets for the day. Please do something about that right now. 

Ruki: You again, Kanato? How many times do I have to tell you that you will simply have to make do with your daily amount? 

Kanato: And how many times do I have to tell you that this ‘daily amount’ is simply not enough to satisfy me? Are you perhaps doing this on purpose because you want to see me in distress? You are, aren’t you!? 

Ruki: You can cry and complain all you want, but you’ve gotten your amount for the day. You should learn to hold back a little. You are being too much of a glutton. 

Kanato: …I am absolutely starving for something sweet and you’re just going to completely disregard that? You’re basically saying that you don’t care about me at all, do you!? 

Ruki: Nobody is saying that. However, I do believe that you should try and limit your snacking. 

Kanato: Kuh…Whatever! There’s no point talking to you!

Kanato storms out of the room. 

*SCENE SHIFT*

Kanato: Good grief…It’s outrageous how I’m not allowed to indulge in sweets to my heart’s content! I’ve had enough of my life at that manor, I simply cannot stand it anymore. Now that I think about it…I wonder how exactly I survived with an older brother like that for so many years? Ruki has always been the one supplying my sweets, so you would think that I would have grown accustomed to it by now, yet…Hm…How odd…I feel as if there was a time where I was able to actually get my sugar fix…

…Haahー This craving for something sweet is driving me absolutely crazy. I wish that stubborn Ruki would also get a taste of this pain! …Ah. Right! I suppose it wouldn’t be a bad idea if I were to claim Eve as mine, seeing as that’s the only thing Ruki is actually desperate for. 

Besides, everything seems to be after all. I am sure it will give me access to truly sweet and delicious blood~ There are plenty of reasons as to why I would want to get my hands on her. …Fufu. It’s strange. For some reason I’ve got this warm feeling inside. Just thinking about Eve fills me with a sense of joy. ーー I shall make her mine. Mm~ Wonderful! It was just spontaneous thought at first but right now I want to have her no matter what. But I wonder why I’m getting so excited over some random girl whom I’ve never even met before…? 

Somebody approaches him. 

Laito: What are you smirking about, Kanato? 

Kanato: Ah, if it isn’t Laito. I do not want to hear that from the guy who always has that creepy grin on his face. 

Laito: Oh come on, no need to be so rude to me. I don’t see why we can’t have a friendly chat just because our families aren’t on good terms? There’s still a couple of hours before we start fighting over Eve after all. 

Hey, tell me. What were you thinking about? 

Kanato: Nothing special. Just that I’m kind of tired of my life here. 

Laito: Heeh~ How come? 

Kanato: Shut up. I don’t see why I would need to tell you. 

Laito: Ah! Then why don’t I tell you what has brought me here today instead? Carla sure knows how to work his younger brothers to the bone, you see. When I’m at the manor, he’ll assign me all sort of taーー 

Kanato: Did I not tell you to shut up!? Don’t talk to me, please. 

Kanato walks away. 

Laito: Ahーah~ Off he goes. Hm…I didn’t know Kanato hated his life here that much. I kind of enjoy it myself though. There’s five of us brothers but we all get along so well, it’s lovely~ Well, I have to say that I don’t know how everyone truly feels about it deep down. 

Anyway, I’m very much looking forward to welcoming Eve to our manor tomorrow~ I wonder how her face will twist in pain when I mess with her? Maybe she’ll beg me to stop as tears stream down her cheeks? Nfu~ Just thinking about it makes me all excited. Although I’m sure Carla will want to keep her all to himself, but I should be able to get a little taste as well, right? 

But…Deep down, I also can’t help but think of how nice it would be if she could be mine instead. …I could care less about becoming the Supreme Overlord. All I want is for someone to show me affection because they truly care for me, not because I’m someone’s substitute. I don’t want to lose that sort of person…Fufu, just kidding. What am I even expecting from a girl I’ve never met? Oh geez. I’m not acting like myself, am I? 

…Huh? Walking over there, is that…? …Fufu~ Azusa-kuuun~!

Azusa: …!? 

Laito approaches him.

Laito: Why do you seem so surprised? Did you think I was the enemy or something? 

Azusa: …Y-Yeah…I thought I would get ambushed…which spooked me…

Laito: I guess I can’t blame you for feeling that way, considering the current situation. Anyway, what has brought you here? 

Azusa: Ah…Um…I left to look for Kou…

Laito: Heeh…I see. So that’s why you’re this far from our home? You’re almost at Scarlet territory, you see? 

Azusa: I see…I couldn’t find Kou inside the manor…So I figured he might have gone outside…

Laito: Even so, don’t you think you wandered a little too far away? Besides, I actually spotted Kou in the kitchen right before I left the house myself. I’m sure the two of you missed each other. 

Azusa: I see…In that case…I’ll return to the manor. …What about you, Laito? 

Laito: I’m going to wander around this area a bit longer. Carla’s just going to get on my case if I go home now. 

Azusa: Mm…Gotcha. 

Azusa walks away. 

Azusa: Kou…I want to talk to him before he goes to the Church…We decided that tomorrow morning, he will go there together with Laito to steal Eve away…Meaning Kou will have to put himself at risk…There is not much I can say but…I want to at least give him a few words of advice…Also…Once we’ve welcomed Eve to our family…I want to try and be kind to her…so she doesn’t feel anxious…

Carla wants to become the Supreme Overlord…That’s why…Carla will probably make her his but…Still…I want to spend time with her as well…However, am I allowed to ask for something so selfish…? 

Azusa comes to a halt. 

Reiji: Oh dear? Well, if it isn’t someone from the Violet Family…

Azusa: …!? …Ah…Reiji-san…Right…This is Scarlet territory…

Reiji: You did not realize that you had gotten close to our manor? It was rather careless of you to enter the enemy’s territory unarmed. Perfect timing. I suppose this is a great opportunity to get rid of you. 

Azusa: …!! I have to run…!

Azusa runs away. 

Reiji: Fufu…So he made a run for it? I suppose being quick to flee is his only redeeming quality…What a disgrace. Well, I suppose I will not recklessly chase after him either, so I shall let this happening slide for once. …That being said, where could Kino have run off to? I cannot believe that both Shuu and him would vanish right after the meeting ended. Kino in particular is always acting off his own accord. He is quite the handful. 

That being said, while Shuu and Yuma have been following my orders so far, I do not actually know what goes on inside their heads either. I wonder if perhaps…They feel as if I am not cut out to be the eldest son of this family? If they wish to look down on me and assume that I am not even capable of keeping one family together, let alone become a proper Ruler, then so it shall be. …I already have a plan. Tomorrow morning, I shall make Eve - who is the key to becoming the Supreme Overlord - mine. I shall train her well to the point where not just her body, but her whole soul shall succumb to me as well. I am sure that by winning her for myself, they will reconsider. They should instantly acknowledge me as worthy! ーー No, I will make them acknowledge me. Eve is a tool to achieve my goal. 

ーー Exactly, she is nothing but that. 

…Or at least, she should be. I wonder why? On one hand, I realize that she is nothing but a tool…but at the same time, I feel things for her which would point to the exact opposite. On one hand, I want her to heed my every command and learn to behave in a way proper to that of a young, elegant lady. Yet at the same time, I know that she is not the kind of girl who would let others dictate how she should behave. She has a strong mind of her own. I cannot help but feel that way. How strange of me. I wonder why I am harboring these kinds of feelings for someone I have never even met? I should not ignore these emotions which I cannot even put into words. Everything should become clear when I make her mine tomorrow morning. 

Oh…? If it isn’t Kino over there…? 

Reiji approaches him. 

Reiji: Kino! So that is where you’ve been! What are you doing, laying on the rooftop? 

Kino: Ah! Reiji-nii-san…You found me. 

Reiji: You’re playing around on that weird device again? Kino! It’s almost dinner time. You should come down already. 

Kino: …This is called a ‘smartphone’ and I’m playing a game…

Reiji: Did you say something? 

Kino: Nothing! I know. I’ll be right there. 

Reiji: Then please hurry.

Reiji walks away. 

Kino: It’s so annoying to have a family member like Reiji. It doesn’t matter what I do, he will always have something to complain about. Also, he doesn’t understand what’s so fun about these kinds of games at all. ーー But, tomorrow is the day at last. I’ll be able to get my hands on Eve, who has been slumbering inside the Church. I’m sure that everyone is after her. Reiji went through the trouble to set up a whole strategy meeting, but that’s nothing but a waste of time. She shall be mine after all. I will show everyone - not just Reiji - that I am the strongest. 

I mean, it only makes sense for the Prince to wake up his sleeping Princess, right? I will capture both your body and soul, to the point where you cannot live without me. …Eve, please wait for me until then, okay? …Well then, time to get my head back in the game. ーー To win Eve’s heart. 

ーー THE END ーー

[ultranos]

Hello,

You mention some podcast you love once in a while and I gotta tell you they are usually very good recs and have made me discover some great ones. Do you have a rec list somewhere, or a few podcasts you'd like to give a shoutout to ?

Thanks a lot !

Sure! I don't have a rec list, but I'll make one now here of what's in my general rotation (or was, if it's a limited series):

Ongoing

Behind the Bastards (https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-behind-the-bastards-29236323/) A podcast about the worst people in all of history, hosted by Robert Evans (former war correspondent and Cracked.com writer). My current binge-listen, it's highly engaging on some of the most difficult to process subject matter there is, that being human atrocities and the people who commit them. It's a deep dive into the history and background of these people that in every case that reminds us that all too often "history's greatest monsters"...are just people. (As a note, Evans acknowledges fucked-up things as fucked up, but he doesn't pretend they didn't occur)

This Podcast Will Kill You (https://thispodcastwillkillyou.com/) A podcast about diseases and epidemiology, as well as other medical mysteries. Each episode will go over the biology of a disease or condition, the history of it, and the current state of where we stand with it in the world. Also, each episode comes with an original cocktail and mocktail recipe.

Criminal (https://thisiscriminal.com/) The only true crime podcast I listen to, hosted by Phoebe Judge, the woman with the most soothing podcast voice ever. It's a podcast about crime, but unlike a lot of true crime podcasts, it's just as likely to be a story about the victim or the people caught in the middle as it is the actual perpetrator.

5-4 (https://www.fivefourpod.com/) "A podcast about how much the Supreme Court sucks." Three lawyers dissect and analyze SCOTUS cases, and not just present ones, that illustrate just how reactionary and adversarial the Court has been throughout almost all it's history.

Noble Blood (https://www.grimandmild.com/nobleblood) Host Dana Schwartz takes you on a trip each episode into the lives, bad decisions, and usually very bloody ends of many of history's royals and nobility.

You're Wrong About (https://yourewrongabout.com/) Events, people, and phenomenon from the semi-recent past that have been miscast in the public understanding. From McDonalds Hot Coffee to Princess Diana to Sinead O'Connor. Also you'll probably learn more about the Satanic Panic than you ever thought about before.

If Books Could Kill (https://www.ifbookspod.com/) Does the idea of "two hosts ripping into really terrible nonfiction bestsellers that have causes some really harmful ideas to spread" sound entertaining? Because that's pretty much what this is. You're not going to look at airport books the same way again.

Queer as Fact (https://www.queerasfact.com/) Four Australian historians explore queer historical topics and figures from all over the world and from different time periods. The research is often damn good, especially considering how thin on the ground sources can be, and they take pains to not limit themselves to the usual Eurocentric view of history.

99% Invisible (https://99percentinvisible.org/) Probably the longest-running podcast in my rotation, host Roman Mars and crew say it's a podcast about design. It's probably more accurate to say it's about the design and impact of the things we don't usually see or think about, the little things we take for granted that have been designed and developed and have had a profound impact on people's lives, in both the hyperlocal and global sense.

Limited Series

Ars Paradoxica (https://arsparadoxica.com/) Sci-fi audio serial drama. Time-travel, the Cold War, secret agencies, and human choices.

The Big Dig (https://www.wgbh.org/podcasts/the-big-dig) 9-ep series produced by GBH hosted by Ian Coss about how Boston's Big Dig happened. It's also about American infrastructure and politics, and how the local sometimes is the national.

[shwarmii]

how can you like drunk angst over first kiss?? 🥺

anon is regarding this post here, specifically my tags

characters discussed belong to @dakotawritesif / @disenchantedif

omg, so easily lol

bc its not just drunk angst, it is drunk angst about knowing their ex is gonna DIE, UNNATURALLY, AND SOON and pining/having never made up with them

but also im an asmr/audio-roleplay connoisseur*, so like, uh, also the following here. yeah. this primes me up to LOVE drunk ex scenario regret/pining shit lol (you'll have to excuse all these audios being men btw, i have a soft spot for deep voices and there isnt many deep-voiced women VAs in the audio-roleplay community (unfortunately foR MEEEE UGHH), much less many that have a video involving this niche Drunk Ex trope anyway lmao rip (same with the audios all being either "for Anybody" or "for Females". i don't currently have any "for Males" in this niche, even tho im the type of enby that listens to all three types of "for [you]" audios. alas. boo hiss))

none of these are "Luci-Inserts" btw, moreso "Evidence of why OF COURSE I AM MORE HYPED FOR DRUNK HALLWAY OVER FIRST KISS", like a vision board kinda sorta lmao

When Your Ex Drunk Calls You (I Miss You) (Slurred Speech) (Funny) (ASMR) (M4A).. (Fun fact: this VA is Scottish. also M4A = Male For Anyone, not just M4M (male for male) or M4F (male for female))

(this one is by the same Scottish VA) When You Drink With Your Ex (Kissing) (Exes to Lovers) (Drunk) (Regret) (Wholesome) (M4A) (ASMR)

(more of this Scottish VA bc he makes me laugh) When Your Crush Drunkenly Confesses To You (Singing Idiot) (Taking Care Of Him) (Silly) (ASMR) (M4A) (bonus there is a morning-after part two to this one yay)

Your Drunk Best Friend Wants You Gor Valentines [M4A] [Tsundere] [Confession] [Sober Listener] (and this one has a part two about the morning-after too)

ASMR Voice: I Should Have Told You [M4A] [Drunk Voicemail] [Ex-boyfriend] [Missing you] [Regret]

Audio Roleplay for Women | "Orbit" | Drunken Confession

Audio RP: Your Ex-boyfriend Asks For Another Chance [M4A] (not drunk but i love this one) (also it has a part two as well yayyy)

this one ((M4A but he does say you have a "pretty face") bc i do like Luci being upset someone is going to hurt the MC) and this one ((M4F) because i like the frustration lmao rip) also fit the vibe but neither are drunk or exes lmao rip

like, you would think as someone who is chronically ill to the point that my meds say "absolutely no alcohol (and one used to say no weed, idk if im still on that one, id have to go check)" that i would not give a shit about drunk scenarios buT I DO LOVE IT IN FICTION SO MUCH. my irl friends also like getting drunk on/off, or high, and my forced sobriety due to meds (and also family history, let's be honest. i do come from a long line of addicts, apparently, best i dont get involved, and i never have been) means i get to play Designated Driver pretty often. so i do recognize some realities/fantasties in the scenario. but also, god, i love the trope because it allows for such forced vulnerabilities, i fucking love whump fics, and a drunk ex fic is really just a whump fic with no bruises

and, ngl, i do think it is more likely we will get a First Kiss pov somewhere down the line if it loses than i think we will get a Hallway pov if it loses

plus, they were like what, 10?? 11??? idk how old they were when Luci/MC got together. but i know these fuckers are fresh out of high school and Luci is getting drunk, which means biTCHES ARE UNDERAGE DRINKING (which is an interesting characterization for Luci that i think reveals a lot about the Rivera parents as well as Luci's connections to wealth/alcohol), so there is that drama of "hide, hide, hide!!" if nothing else

and, again, then there's not only the angst of "ah, my ex-partner and/or -best friend" and the wanting to make up platonically/romantically but there is also the angst of "i knOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET MURDERED SOON AND IM NOT READY TO GO TO YOUR FUNERAL BUT I DONT KNOW HOW TO STOP THIS" kind of "lost time", "call for rain-check until you can't" angle too. plus, i could see Luci being protective or frustrated or terrified, there are so many fun angles no matter the platonic/romantic additional feelings involved. and, because of how this pov works, there isnt going to be a kiss or anything happening. so it's just going to be slow-burn (to friends or lovers, idk your mc) and pining (platonic pining is a thing), i love that for me specifically lmao

but i do, like, get it. i get what you mean. if i thought this ask was mean-spirited, i wouldve deleted it and not answered; but i read this as "lol yeah that is fucked of me huh lmao you right". bc, YEAH, first kiss is romantic, drunk in your shared hallways is NOT lmao rip but i dont care if its romantic or not, i care that its making my guts get all twisted up. and the angst of (1) drunk ex that needs to taken care of (or needs to run away from you, either or) (2) thinks youre going to be murdered/in an accident and die soon and (3) may/may not still be in love with you and (4) knows they dont have enough time to reconcile with you and make-up for lost time... ngl, that is going to impact me more than a first kiss. im ready for the tragedy. fucking love this kinda shit

also i have my own hcs about my mc, Giselle "Gigi" Kraven, and Luci Rivera's first kiss. so. that probably also plays a role in all this bUT HEY!! IM STILL TRYING FOR THE 50/50 LMAO RIP WE ARE HELPING EACH OTHER, MY COMRADE 🤝 YOU GET (DOOMED) FLUFF AND I GET (ALSO DOOMED) DRUNK ANGST, THAT'S A WIN-WIN LOL

*i would like to add: i have no idea if any of these VAs have drama or something. i dont pay attention to the fandoms, except vaguely for Redacted Audios because of the theories and world-building happening there (which the video here doesnt have much to do with), but otherwise i am so fucking ignorant bc i do not look these people up, i just watch their videos. i have been burned too many times by the Steven Universe fandom and other such communities and whatnot to get involved in fandoms i am only casually into, so i just only stick my nose into fandoms/creators i am die-hard into and dont delve into the rest, thanks for understanding if i may be out of the loop ✌️

[checkoutmybookshelf]

Artemis Fowl and That One Time Opal Koboi Went Full Disney Villain

Ah yes, the book that explores the aftermath of trying to mind-wipe Artemis Fowl and the consequences of assuming that just because your archnemesis is in a coma, they're not plotting their revenge. It's no secret that we stan Opal Koboi in this house, but uhhh...not gonna lie, she makes that REALLY DIFFICULT in the early chapters of this book. Let's talk Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception.

*As per usual with sequels and books that aren't the first in the series, spoilers abound below the break.*

Opal Koboi being hated by her entire engineering class in college--Foaly included--is most easily and canonically chalked up to systemic fairy sexism. I'm not here to dispute that charge, because there was absolutely airy sexism involved, but I submit to you, dear reader, that the fact that Opal had matered cleansing comas by age 14 and could literally study in her sleep might have also had something to do with it. Although if it had, Foaly might not have been so lackadaisical about letting Opal rot in the J. Argon clinic.

Let's just take a minute to appreciate that cloning herself and plotting a breakout from a stupid secure mental health facility with ADDED LEP SECURITY is the BACKUP plan. Because hot damn honey, replacing yourself with a clone requires a level of planning that is like, fourth-level chess master with a flair for the dramatic--and we'll get back to that flair for the dramatic in a second, because it is fully on display for every single one of Opal's three main plots in this book.

Her first main plan is to get revenge on Holly and Root for disrupting her plan to become Empress of Haven by framing Holly for Root's murder by tricking Holly into taking a practically impossible shot to disarm an explosive device that was strapped to the Commander's chest and broadcasting video but not audio of the whole event to the LEP. Like, Opal. My girl. That is simultaneously brutal and dramatic of you.

And the thing about the entire scene is that it's really, really damn well written. I got this book on release day, and bawled all the way through this and I think the next couple of chapters. The extra cruel thing that Opal did here was choose a murder weapon that there was precisely ZERO hope of coming back from. Holly may have managed a four-minute healing for Butler in the last book, but as (I'm pretty sure) Foaly says, "magic doesn't work on melted slop." The bomb Opal strapped to Root's chest doesn't just kill him, it collapses the chute tunnel behind Holly as she makes a desperate bid to escape in time to rescue Artemis from another bomb. There was no way to bring Root back from this, and because Opal is a high-drama nemesis, Root is of course suffering the whole way down. The bomb is strapped to his chest using octo-bonds, and Opal spends the entire scene remotely tightening them, slowly crushing Root's chest while Holly stands six feet away to stop the proximity sensor from blowing them both to kingdom come. Root's death is brutal, painful, and Holly spends the entire rest of the book mourning him. It is HEARTBREAKING for a middle grade death scene, and really hella extra for a middle grade villain.

Opal's plan for revenge on Artemis is a bit less moustache-twirling, but not by much. She has clocked that Artemis is really into art theft since his mind wipe, so she gets to The Fairy Thief before he does and plants a bio-bomb tracker in the painting tube that will activate once the tube is opened. So her plan was for Artemis to die in a moment of ironic triumph while Holly looked on. Because oh yeah, Holly bails on the explosion in the Haven chute just barely in time on the hope and prayer of saving Artemis. Unfortunately, Holly gets to the hotel just in time to see the bomb go off. Artemis is fine because Butler is just that damn good, but Holly is having arguably the worst day if her life.

As she collapses to the roof of the hotel trying to process the fact that three of the most important people in her life have just been murdered in front of her--and the niggling worry that the sweet spot might not have been real and she might have just flat-out killed Root herself--who shows up to gloat? Opal goddamn Koboi. In tow Opal has a second bio-bomb for Holly that she barely escapes by containing it with her helmet. As a bonus side effect, Ark Sool and everyone in the lower elements thinks Holly is dead now, because all her vitals flattened simultaneously as the bomb fried her helmet. So now Foaly is also having a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day.

And in a brief sidebar: Opal might be a dramatical cats villain, but we love her. We DO NOT love Ark Sool, because his ass made Foaly go over the footage of Root's death with a fine tooth comb to try to prove Holly's guilt, and even Foaly almost breaks because he literally has to slow-mo through the footage of Root being blown to hell multiple times. Like, Foaly just has PTSD now. That's just a thing that Ark Sool casually did to the centaur who is almost single-hoofedly standing between humans and the People. NICE GOING, ASSHOLE. We hate Ark Sool.

Now, Opal's track record for successful plans in this book seems to have begun and ended with cloning herself and having the Brill twins break her out of the Argon Clinic, because her revenge plan is 1 for 3, and her backup revenge plan just gets WILD. On discovering that Holly and Artemis suvived, Opal captures them and drops them in a defunct theme park that was human wonders of the world themed and is currently overrun by trolls. And the really wild thing is that Opal had to have either done this before or else has the best freaking team in the world, because the exits are newly blocked and there are little screens with gloats on them scattered throughout the whole park. Holly and Artemis do escape, but it would have definitely easier if the LEP hadn't mind-wiped Artemis, because he was definitely not working with a full deck and kept trying to just *wait out the delusion* instead of actively running from trolls with a taste for human flesh. None of that is ideal, but thanks once again to Butler and Mulch, Artemis and Holly live to foil Opal's big main plan.

The TLDR on this plan is to throw humans and fairies into a massive war by exposing the fairies when they try to sneakily scupper a human attempt to mine the mantle for power. This involves a lot of warheads and phsyics and attempts to direct a metric ton of molten metal eating through the earth's crust. For being the objectively highest stakes plot, the book doesn't spend a whole lot of time on this, and I can't blame them. Opal going full vengeful dramatic villain is WAY more interesting. Unfortunately, Holly and Artemis do manage to thwart Opal, who has the meltdown of all meltdowns right before she spends a week as a human child on a farm--for complicated reason that I cannot be bothered to explain here, because Opal Koboi is objectively too fantastic and dramatic to deserve that...except for how she kind does deserve that for what she did to Commander Root.

Ark Sool probably also deserves it, because he doesn't let Holly attend Root's funeral, and proceeds to bury her in internal affairs investigations. We really, REALLY hate Ark Sool.

So overall, this book really marks a turning point/new beginning for Artemis and Pals, and this book is where Opal Koboi arguably shines brightest because our girl is UNHINGED and we love to watch it happen. Even if we do start watching it through tears.

[lycanlovingvampyre]

TMA Liveshow Relisten

Activity on my first listen: cutting the jasmine and Buddleja in my garden.

ALEX: "The audio in today’s episode was recorded at our first Magnus liveshow as part of the London Podcast Festival Presents audio drama event in 2019." First (?) Magnus liveshow? Just curious, were there more than one shows? I only ever saw content from this on.

ALEX: "The events take place prior to the first episode of The Magnus Archives, and can be considered canon." Canon you say, eh? So does this mean, occasionally, The Magnus Archives actually IS a workplace comedy???

JON: "Right. Well, I’m sure I can figure it out, I was – (shaky inhale) – thinking of, uh – digitising some of the more commonly accessed statements and then – some – general… (trails off) …archiving." Everybody always asks "What is archiving?", but nobody asks "How is archiving...?" xD (plus it’s a show called “Archives” and nobody actually knows what that means in a workplace environment XD Comedy at its finest xD)

I love how with the laughs and how the actors actually... pause for laughter this actually feels like a 90s sitcom!

ROSIE: "Miss Robinson was getting… on, a little bit- and it must have been very hard for her. Did, um. Did you ever meet her at all?" JON: "Erm – not really; a few times – I don’t think she liked me much." [[SCATTERED LAUGHTER]] ROSIE: (audible grimace) "…No." So is it true, what the Stranger was leading on. Gertrude would have been so disappointed to see Jon become the new Archivist and how that's going.

JON: "I mean, there were a lot of rumors, floating around Research, obviously. According to them, she  (sensationalizing) ‘died at this very desk.’" Always the curious one, always asking one too many questions.

[IMMEDIATELY, HE REACHES FOR A GLASS OF WATER, DRINKS IT, THEN PUTS THE GLASS DOWN WITH A HEAVY, CONTENTED SIGH.] [[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER]] Apparently drinking water was funny? xDD

MARTIN: "Hey, sorry; you haven’t seen a dog, have you?" I love that we get to see that scene! It has been already established in the launch trailer (the one with the vigilo audio opperior whisper) where Jon says "I swear, if he’s brought another dog in here, I’m going to peel him." after calling out for Martin.

JON: "I’m s– Sorry, what?" MARTIN: "Um – Uh, a dog, a-a Spaniel, I think." JON: "In – In general, or?…" And that was the last time, Jon said anything not laced with contempt to Martin for about a year!

It's so funny how extremely anxious Martin is here. Because when we meet him for the first time in MAG 22 he doesn't sound THAT intimidated by Jon at all. Still, I guess it's pretty stressful already fucking up on the first day of your new position.

JON: "So I’m your boss." [PAUSE.] MARTIN: "I mean, I guess." [SMALL HEH.] [[SLIGHT LAUGHTER]] JON: "Which means that technically – (small, smug *heh*) – I have the power to – dismiss you, if this dog situation is not resolved immediately." [SLIGHT LAUGHTER]] MARTIN: "I mean, yeah, probably." [HE GIVES A SMALL LAUGH.] [[LAUGHTER]] Martin is just too deep in the gay headspace to realize that this has a subtext.

JON: "Well that’s – (exhale) not ideal." I mean, I kinda get it... He took a job he knows he's not qualified for. He asked the person to move down to the Archives with him who actually is qualified for this Job and is constantly overshadowed by her. He takes the job over from someone who mysteriously disappeared or died with the possibility that she had been the victim of a crime. The Archives are in an absolute state of chaos and he realizes he probably bit off more than he can chew. He gets that creepy feeling of being watched. And then, someone who at least seems less qualified than him (he later learns that Martin also might be more qualified and then again later learns that Martin is indeed super not-qualified at all...) has been assigned as his assistant without him knowing anything about it and that very person let a dog into the Archives! I'd probably be on the verge of a breakdown (without being an asshole though, most likely I’d beg the others to help me.)

So the statement of MAG 2 takes longer than the ambiance track xD

TIM: (coming into view) "Right, yeah. Oh! The Gillespie statement! That’s a proper weird one, right?" Ah, the old Tim energy!

TIM: "Oh, uh, yes, uh – mm. Hypothetically –" [[LAUGHTER]] TIM (CONT’D): "What would you say, if I said that there was a…" [HE TRAILS OFF. THE ARCHIVIST SIGHS.] TIM (CONT’D): "Dog." [[UPROAR OF LAUGHTER]] TIM (CONT’D): "Situation. In the Archives." Seriously, I'm pretty pleased with the amount of jokes there are in TMA, there are sooo many good ones. But I surely wouldn't mind something like these three scenes every once in a while as bonus! So I hope this stuff keeps coming occasionally in Protocol. These three scenes here are such a gem!

JON: "I would ask if it was getting worse?" TIM: (relaxing) "Okay, alright, cool, so, right –" Tim be like "Okay considering Jon's grumpy worksona, this is going pretty well so far!!"

JON: "Tim." TIM: "Hypothetically –" JON: "Tim!" TIM: "I – Yeah, yeah, there’s a dog situation in the Archives. There’s a – there’s a mess –" Tim gave up, he knows that Jon knows, no way to salvage this xD

JON: "Come on, let’s – (inhale) Let’s deal with this before it escalates." I love how they all went to hunt that dog down together xD Right after the pack dynamic domain episode!

TIM: "Oh, recording equipment, um – (blows air through teeth) Oh! Yeah, the – I think there are some old tape recorders in the storage." [BRIEF PAUSE.] JON: "That could work." You know, that is not sooooo out-of-this-world-ish... Just 2 weeks ago I came into the office fully bracing myself that I had to use the tape recorder that day because there was a big maintenance the week before (that was actually the reason I even showed up at all. Usually I’d stay in home office). System shutdown for several hours. Turns out, no one wants to use the bloody tape recorders anymore, so god knows what they did during maintenance.

Magnus outro song starts. Everybody sitting on nails like "Say the line, Alex!" Alex: "The Magnus Archives is a podcast distributed by Rusty Quill and licensed under..."

@a-mag-a-day

[the-precious-sugar-chan]

Diabolik Lovers ZERO Floor 7. Mini drama

Vampire’s late night snack.

Voice Actor: Tomoaki Maeno Character: Kino Audio: [ Here ] Duration: 12:09

Note: I haven’t seen any translation of this tokuten (though if there’s any, I’m sorry! I couldn’t find it OTL) So I decided to make my own– It’s a cute scenario about teaching Kino how to cook ♥ Enjoy!

✩. ·͙ *̩̩͙ ˚̩̥̩̥ *̩̩̥͙ 　✩　*̩̩̥͙ ˚̩̥̩̥ *̩̩͙ ‧͙ . . ·͙ *̩̩͙ ˚̩̥̩̥ *̩̩̥͙ 　✩　*̩̩̥͙ ˚̩̥̩̥ *̩̩͙ ‧͙ . ✩

[00:01] 

You’re reading when Kino furiously opens the door and comes in.

Kino: Seriously, I can’t believe it! 

The door closes.

Kino: What does he mean, “You can’t, Kino”!? What does he think I am!?

You ask what happened.

Kino: It doesn’t matter what happened! I just offered myself to cook too this time. And what do you think Yuuri told me!? He said that I can’t cook! But I know how to cook! I just don’t do it often.

You ask if they argued.

Kino: We didn’t argue… Well, it’s normal, I never enter the kitchen because Yuuri usually does everything. But he doesn't have to refuse like that! [He scratches the back of his head] Ahh, it pisses me off…! I have to prove him wrong, somehow.

[01:05]

Kino: Right… You’re quite skilled in cooking, aren’t you?

You already know what he’s thinking.

Kino: Yes, that’s right. Teach me how to cook.

You hesitate.

Kino: … Are you going to say that I can’t, as well?

You try to tell him that it’s already late.

Kino: It doesn’t matter how late at night it is, does it?. Besides, I’m a vampire, if anything this is the time when I eat. 

You are about to say something else.

Kino: A~ahhh… You're hurting me. Now you have to do something to ease this pain. [He steps closer] So? Where do you want me to sink my fangs in? Maybe you want it to hurt a lot, so I won’t hold back at all to suck your blood.

You try to dialogue.

Kino: I won’t wait. So, where do you want me to suck your blood from…? Ah, maybe your ear is a good spot. It’s a sensitive spot, it will be very painful for sure…

You beg him not to.

Kino: Then… You will teach me, right? I don’t care what dish it is.

You finally agree to teach him.

Kino: Yes, yes… You should’ve said that from the start. [He moves away] Then let’s go to the kitchen. By the way, make sure it’s something I can make and that looks fancy too. 

[02:50]

–later ; in the kitchen–

Kino: … You took out all these random ingredients... Some weird veggies and… cheese? So, what are we making with this?

You won’t tell him just yet.

Kino: You’ll tell me when we’re done? Well, that’s fine. Just this once I will follow your orders. So, what do we do first?

You give him something.

Kino: What is… this…? … Eh!? A lotus root? This is how it looks? 

You cut a slice.

Kino: Ah, you’re right. It looks more like a lotus root after you cut it. I just have to chop it into slices, right?

You correct him.

Kino: Eeeeh…? These orders are getting annoying. Yeah, yeah. I will cut thin slices.

You give him another instruction.

Kino: 100 grams!? How am I supposed to know how much 100 grams of lotus root is!? Can you stop making your orders so hard?

He reluctantly grabs a knife.

Kino: I’ll just do what I can. [He starts chopping it, then shows you] Like this?

You tell him it’s good.

Kino: I guess. Naturally, I know how to use a knife. So? What’s next?

You turn the stove on.

Kino: Ah, you’re boiling this? ... The oil is making a good sound. Can I throw in the lotus root now?

You tell him how.

Kino: Again with your weird requests… I get it. I have to place them flat and cook them from both sides, right? 

Kino cooks for a while.

[5:07]

Kino: Yes, they look good! They are cooked and they smell pretty nice. What do we do next?

You give him something else.

Kino: … Are these leftovers? Is it okay to put these? Alright, then I’ll put the small pieces of bacon… also the tomato ones… and some green pepper slices… Mm! It looks very colorful! As expected of me. Since we’re doing this well, let's add konpeito too. I like them! [He takes some out of the jar] See? They are shiny and pretty, and I like their star shape. Let’s add these in!

You stop him.

Kino: Eeeeeh? Stingy. Fine. So? What now?

You bring something else.

Kino: Oh? That’s melting cheese… Ehhh? If we put that in, all the colors will disappear… Ah, right, we have to cut it into small pieces first. Let’s add the cheese, then… It’s melting, it’s melting! Ah~ It already looks delicious!

You tell him to put the lid on.

Kino: Yeees. I’ll cover this then. [He covers the food with the lid] So now we just have to wait, right? We already had dinner and I’m getting hungry again. Well, I’m a vampire so it doesn’t matter whether I eat or not. But I can’t wait until it gets done…

[7:04]

–later–

He takes the lid off.

Kino: Woah~! It looks very tasty! The smell is already telling, it’s going to be delicious. … Is it done?

You nod and give him a plate.

Kino: Yay! It’s finally done! An easy-to-make lotus root Pizza! 

You realize he found out on his own.

Kino: I can tell that it’s a pizza, though it’s the first time I see lotus root slices used at the bottom like this. Hey, let’s taste it before showing it to Yuuri! Now that it’s done it’s hard for me to wait any longer…

You agree.

Kino: Fu~, then, thank you for the meal! 

Kino takes a bite.

Kino: Huff, huff. Mm!! What’s this!? No way… This is too good! 

You ask him if he likes it.

Kino: Yeah! A lot! It’s crunchy thanks to the lotus root, and even though they are thin slices it gives such an intense smell. It’s like veggie chips? I like how the melted cheese balances everything too. It’s best to eat it while it’s still hot! It’s so cool, it looks like a cheese fondue with small veggie pieces all over it! Also, the lotus root is full of bacon flavor! The oil from the meat makes all the flavors spread in your mouth…! [He takes another bite] Mmm!! So tasty~~!!

You’re glad he likes it.

Kino: Mhm. As expected, you chose the best recipe. It’s both tasty and easy to make, just what I wanted!

[8:58]

You bring something else to the table.

Kino: Eh? Is that… jello? … Ah! It has konpeito inside! Uwah~ So beautiful… It’s like the stars are shining…

You ask if he likes it.

Kino: Of course I do! I was wondering earlier what you were making, so this is it… You actually listened to my request. You are very nice, after all. Just like a good wife.

You blush.

Kino: Why are you turning so red now? I wouldn't mind making you my wife right this instant. Hahaha! What's so shocking about it? I can’t get enough of watching your reactions… Anyway! We can talk about that another time. Yuuri will be surprised when he sees this table, I'm sure.

[10:02]

You ask if he’s not angry anymore.

Kino: Hm? Well, I wanted to do this because what Yuuri said annoyed me at first… but there’s another reason why I wanted to cook. I thought I should be a little more independent now… I stopped caring about who’s the master and who’s the servant, you know? I don’t want Yuuri to cook for me forever, so I need to learn.

You giggle.

Kino: Why are you smiling so much? Disgusting. Are you making fun of me? 

You shake your head.

Kino: I wonder about that. This is the punishment you get for bothering me. [He grabs some food on his fork] Here. Say “aaah”.

You hesitate.

Kino: You can’t say you don’t want to eat. Open your mouth.

You obey.

Kino: Fufu~ You did it. Here you go, aaaah~ [He feeds you] Isn’t it delicious? That’s because I made it, so make sure to enjoy a~ll of it.

You tell him it’s delicious.

Kino: Right? Now I want to eat too, feed me. Aaaah~ [He eats] Mmm~~ Tasty! If we continue we’ll eat it all… well, whatever. There are some ingredients left so I can make another one. I want to eat my first homemade meal with you… okay?

✩. ·͙ *̩̩͙ ˚̩̥̩̥ *̩̩̥͙ 　✩　*̩̩̥͙ ˚̩̥̩̥ *̩̩͙ ‧͙ . . ·͙ *̩̩͙ ˚̩̥̩̥ *̩̩̥͙ 　✩　*̩̩̥͙ ˚̩̥̩̥ *̩̩͙ ‧͙ . ✩

[putschki1969]

Hikaru’s 1st Stage Play 「GOOD LUCK YOUR MEMORIES：Re」  First Reaction

OH MY GOD! This was surprisingly good (and heart-wrenching)! I really love the premise of this story. After watching it once I am still a little confused about a few details but I’m pretty sure I understood 90% of it. The production is simple but very effective and they did a great job recording the whole thing. I was worried it would be mostly bad audio, a ton of shaky cam and wide shots where you could barely make out anything. Super glad to have been proven wrong. And let me tell you, Hikaru’s acting is top-notch, I am so impressed. I mean, I had utmost faith in my queen of drama but I couldn’t quite envision how it would turn out. Her role isn’t too challenging I suppose but she does have a few big scenes which she absolutely nails! Her final scene with Takuma and Yui is utterly heartbreaking, Hikaru literally made me cry.

On a random side note, I cannot believe we are getting some full-on yuri action here🤩🤗. I think it was Hikaru’s manager who said that this isn’t really yuri despite what it may look like but you know what they say, if it walks like a duck...😂 For anyone who is getting their panties in a twist due to the implied inc*est, don’t worry, they aren’t really sisters.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

GAIA Crew’s stage play 「GOOD LUCK YOUR MEMORIES：Re」starring Hikaru as one of the key characters is currently being broadcast on Confetti Streaming Theater!

[Viewing method] You need to register a Confetti account for free before you can purchase a streaming ticket. A Japanese address is required in the registration form but I think you can just use something random. I was able to buy a ticket with my overseas credit card. I went for the “A Team” version because I wanted to save some money. I doubt Hikaru’s performance will be much different in the other version and it’s not like I have any favourite actors in A or B team XD After having purchased a ticket, please access the “viewing URL” (A Team | B Team | A&B Team) on the ticket page during the streaming period and log in with your Confetti member ID and password. You can enjoy the stream during the limited period. Not sure how much you will be supporting Hikaru herself by buying a ticket but I’d like to emphasise the importance of showing the creators that there is a demand for streams like this. If you have the means, be sure to get a ticket!! This way, we can hopefully ensure that there will be a broadcast for Hikaru’s 2nd stage play as well.

Streaming period   2022/6/4 19:00 ～ 6/11 23:59

Streaming platform                 Confetti Streaming Theater

Streaming ticket prices                 A Team 3,000円 B Team 3,000円 A&B Team 6,000円

Ticket sales period 2022/5/28 18:00 ～ 6/11 19:59

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Detailed Summary (beware of spoilers): “I will surely return to collect my reward - your memories!” Takuma - a run-of-the-mill private investigator, Seiji - a nerdy officer of an anti crime unit and Kosuke - a wannabe gangster. Three men that have been close friends since their school days. Despite their conflicting professions, they promised they would never interfere with each other’s work and have thus remained close. This changes when a mysterious woman named Shizuku (=Hikaru) suddenly appears on the scene. Wanting to escape her current life, Shizuku has chosen to run away but she is being chased by her older sister Itsuki. The men step in to help her and decide to take her under their wing. For the first time in her life, she experiences friendship and kindness, especially during her interactions with Takuma’s assistant Yui. After a while, the three friends find out about Shizuku’s special abilities. Everyone who enters a contract with her may go back in time to change a moment they regret. Initially, the men do not believe her story but when both Kosuke and Seiji find themselves in a predicament, they are willing to make a pact with Shizuku. Her powers turn out to be in fact genuine and both men manage to change a past event in their favour. However, in the wake of doing so, they are unknowingly breaking the rule of never interfering with each other’s work. Soon they become top dog in their respective professions. Eventually, Takuma learns that the price of using Shizuku’s ability is a gradual memory loss. Not only that, their existence also starts disappearing from loved ones’ memories. Basically, the course of history is changed. The only one who remains mysteriously unaffected by all of this is Takuma. As memories are lost, personality slowly changes and humanity is stripped away, the two men become corrupted. This results in a lethal showdown between the yakuza and the anti-crime-force that threatens to destroy the entire city. As Takuma watches the drama unfold he wants to protect his friends, discover the secrets behind Shizuku’s abilities and reveal the true motives of the mysterious Itsuki. Alas, he is powerless in the face of organised crime and ultimately cannot stop his former friends from killing each other and taking several people with them. Shizuku is heartbroken to witness how her actions have indirectly caused so much pain and death.She feels like she has no other choice but to kill her sister Itsuki in order to put a stop to this endless suffering. However, before Shizuku can finish the deed, Itsuki manages to fatally wound her younger sister. With her final breath, Shizuku makes a pact with Takuma. Lives are restored, the trajectories of Seiji’s and Kosuke’s careers are completely changed leading to a happy and fruitful life for both of them. The price that needs to be paid - the erasure of Takuma’s existence from people’s minds. Takuma being an anomaly, is able to keep his memories but he is now living together with Shizuku in another dimension where they have been forgotten by everyone they have come to love. Only small traces of memory remain...

[ruinikaidoexplodedbadly]

MAX max hiiii max did i mention how much i love spoilers . what happens to shiho rui and sakura‼️

OK ill put it under cut so dont look if you dont want movie spoilers

so shiho doesnt get arrested or anything even though she says her part of the story completely honestly this is because she makes it clear that she was literally forced into doing everything so she avoids prison (yayyyy) and she just gets rlly happy and lives a goodlife like we see her hanging out with the rest of teh good guys and talking with shirakawa and shes also just very cute we see her human form for the first time she looks crazy young and very adorable it actually made me more sad. her interview part is also the saddest and yamamoto completely dismisses everything she went through in his part and just blatantly lies about how shes to blame for everything and how “she and her boyfriend had an argument” and how “we dont interfere with the personal lives of the mystery kiss members” or something like that meanwhile we see shiho literally almost crying in her part its like AGHHH. also some point after the anime she forms an idol duo with sakura at a new agency but its for a pretty short time oh heres human shiho btw

for sakura she sort of acts really innocent and cute the whole time during her interview and in general she has a good monologue about people following their dreams that i liked it sounded so cutesy and regular but also in the context of what she did it was rlly unsettling. she basically comes off as totally innocent and the others dont say anything about her as well too up until the end part so shes free to just do whatever for a bit. she also tries to kill more people because of course she does she commits attempted murder in the audio dramas too but idk if you know that and i really liked it because theres a shot of her reaching into her backpack to get her knife and it looks really childish and cutesy and it was so fucked up and then she talked about stuff like security cameras and no one seeing her and the victim and just ominous shit like that really innocently and happy and it was scaryyyy anyway i think youcan guess what happened to her

as for rui her part also made me really sad because she is brutally honest about literally everything and shes not afraid to say what actually happened and its in her interview thats revealed that yamamoto didnt actually believe her and though rui killed yuki and called yano instead of letting rui call the police because hed rather only lose one member than lose a member and lose his favorite one too. yano and yamamoto also urged rui to leave when they were cutting up the body and shit but rui stayed because she couldnt handle the guilt that came up with it. the way she talks about yuki is also very interesting where instead of blaming her and getting mad at her she just talks about how mad she was in general she literally cant blame her specifically its so. and i thought it was interesting that both shiho and rui said that mystery kiss was over but yamamotos the one that said theyre doing just fine it was fucked up

[ya-jirushi]

Tsurune Audio Drama: A Shot of Color 3 Kirisaki Ranking

Kirisaki gets to have fun sometimes we love to see it. Apologies with the lateness I have a pretty big school project in the works sooo yeah. But I also just really wanted to have this out especially this week because Kabashima and Yushima's seiyuu also voice Kacchan's former teammates! So I thought it was nice timing, accidentally. Also did you guys know these two didn't have first names until like. Now. I didn't, it was wild trying to remember their names. Notes: -the word used is actually 'vote' but they were discussing the results already so it felt weird to not mention that -the term here is 'looking down on something' it didn't really fit in context literally but the general idea is that Kabashima is speaking about the results and Shuu's background as if he's removed from being involved in the poll and he's 'above all that', basically -okay I tried to look up what a tsundera was and I didn't really get anything that made sense unfortunately, the term def exists tho so I'll come back and edit this when I know what it means!! (atm my guess is he is tsun yet someone admirable so like. teratera. sparkly) EDIT: This edit came faster than I thought it would but update on the tsundera thing! It's the mix of tsuntsun (I'm sure yall know what tsun means but if you don't its someone that's kinda prickly/mean/unapproachable on the outside) and deradera which means shiny or slippery! In this context my guess is that they mean he's sly (slippery) basing it on how Nikaido is.

Kabashima: *sighs* Yushima: Oh, welcome back, Kabashima. Kabashima: …That was quick. You’re done with the bath already? Yushima: Yeah, quick showers are great. Kabashima: Yushima, what’s that on your desk, is it a handout? Did we have homework or something? Yushima: Nope. These are the results* of the Kirisaki High School Kyudo Club boys’ popularity poll. Kabashima: Hah? A popularity poll? Yushima: The girls got really into it when they were talking so they made this. Wanna see? Kabashima: Who’d want to see that drivel? Yushima: You managed to get into the ranking though, but alright if you don’t wanna see then fine. I guess it’s better that way, since it looks like only the girls are allowed to see it. Kabashima: W-Wait a sec! Why’re you looking at it then?! Yushima: Me? I’m an exception. Kabashima: That's hardly an explanation! Yushima: It’s ‘cause the girls have relied on me a lot. You didn’t know that the girls’ are fed up with the boys’ equipment being smelly or with how sloppy the weeding on the range is, right? Kabashima: I… I didn’t. Yushima: They asked me to tell Mutou-sensei to make it so we can't leave our gi there on the weekends.They also come to me for love advice. Like if so and so is going out with anyone or something. Kabashima: Love a– talking about something so promiscuous in the club?! That’s a corruption of our club’s morals! Yushima: You’re too much of a prude. What era are you in right now, exactly? Kabashima: Ugh… A-Anyway, show me that popularity poll! Yushima: Oh, so you do wanna see? Kabashima: I’m just going to check! Once the president and the others retire, us second years are next in line, okay! Yushima: Wow~ that’s some enthusiasm. Kabashima: “Intelligence ranking”, president’s in first place. Then Sase-san’s second, and Fujiwara’s next… These are pretty decent results. Fujiwara aside, the two third years are thinking of their university exams, so… Yushima: That’s despite the fact that they could get in anywhere on a recommendation too, but it’s on brand for them. Kabashima: “Princely-ness ranking”... Fujiwara’s on top. Well, this has some sense to it too. He’s from a good family, and he’s got class too. Yushima: Hahaha. Fair assessment from you, huh?* Kabashima: What should I say then? He really is on top of the ranking, isn’t he?? …What’s next? “Similarity ranking”? Huh, it says Senichi and Manji are first but does anyone else even match he criteria? What’s with this rigged poll?? Yushima: Calm down, don’t take it too seriously. It’s just the girls’ playing around. Kabashima: “Tsundere ranking”... There’s even a ranking for this type of thing? …Huh? Who’s ‘Nikaido from middle school’? Yushima: About that, they say there was an ‘ikemen tsundera*’ in Kirisaki’s middle school. It’s amazing that he’s still pretty popular even today. Kabashima: …This is all so pointless. Seriously it’s– Yushima! You’re on top in one of these! What’s the meaning of this?! Yushima: Oh that. That’s just due to how much of a monk I look, since my buzz cut gets brought up often. Kabashima: No, the comments here say “It’s because he’s always so calm.”, “It’s like he’s enlightened.” and stuff. You’re oddly highly favored aren’t you? Yushima: ”Oddly”, huh… No, but, it’s ultimately ‘cause of the monk thing, isn’t it? Kabashima: That’s true… But, of all things…a monk, huh? Yushima: Well, someone’s having fun with that. Kabashima: …Sorry. I think they’re complimenting you though. Yushima: That’s a total lie. You look like you’re totally enjoying this. You’re for sure imagining me posing like the Buddha right now. Kabashima: Pfft… *clears throat* Yushima: Well, as for your ranking, Kabashima– Kabashima: W-Wait! I’ll see it for myself! …Here, Kabashima Umetaro. Landslide first place! In… What?! “Being annoyingly cute”?? Yushima: Good for you, Kabashima. Kabashima: Huh? Huuh? “Annoyingly cute”? I’m neither annoying nor cute!! Yushima: No, no… You’re definitely both those things. There’s no coming back if you were ranked as most annoying, but once they attached ‘cute’ to it you got an unexpected chance at redemption. Kabashima: There’s no way I’m accepting this! What about me is like that, huh?! If I had to get a ranking anywhere I’d rather it was something like ‘reliable’ or ‘trustworthy’! Yushima: Heh~ Kabashima: What? You got something to say to that?? Yushima: Ah, geez… This is why I didn’t want to show you.

[bobbyinthegarden]

2023 Reading Challenge. Audiobook: The X Files: Cold Cases by Joe Harris, Chris Carter and Dirk Maggs

You guys all know I love The X Files, you just have to scroll on my blog for less than a minute and you’ll see something there. I’m also an occasional enjoy-er of radio dramas, so I thought this would be the perfect pick for me for the audiobook category of my reading challenge.

This is not an audiobook in the traditional sense, but a dramatization, which features many of the actors from the classic series, including Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny, returning as Mulder and Scully. One pretty fun aspect of this production is that it acts as something of a revival to the original series, but follows a different canon to the actual TV revival, despite having been released AFTER season 10. This is because this audio drama is actually an adaptation of The X Files Season 10 comic book (don’t be confused by the fact that they have the same name, they are different).

If you haven’t watched The X Files, be aware that I am going to be talking about some of the events of the series in this review, so if you don’t want spoilers, proceed with caution.

The X Files: Cold Cases picks up after the events of the series (I’m not entirely sure where The X Files: I Want to Believe fits into the canon of this comic book, but to be honest, I try not to think about that film very much, so…), Mulder and Scully are living in Virginia under aliases, and are roped back into the X Files, after an unknown person hacks into the FBI databases, looking for information about the X Files in particular.

The story, or rather stories, are pretty fun, we get a mix of myth arc and monster of the week segments (I personally would have preferred more monster of the week segments, but that’s a gripe that I have with the series just in general), some deceased characters, like CSM and Alex Krycek return in ways that are actually quite clever, and much better than the way CSM returned in the TV revival, and we get to see the return of the classic Flukeman. The stories aren’t great, they wouldn’t rank as high as some of the best episodes of the original series, but they’re good, for the most part.

One thing though that was kind of frustrating for me is how they didn’t use the audio format to their advantage. The X Files has the potential to use audio drama in a really interesting way, and I’ll use two well known examples of other audio drama productions to illustrate this: the popular podcast Welcome to Night Vale and the absolutely iconic, classic 1938 radio drama of The War of the Worlds, narrated by the late, great Orson Welles. Both of these use audio and narration in incredibly fascinating and clever ways, with Welcome to Night Vale being presented as a local radio show in the fictional town of Night Vale, a desert town somewhere in the southwestern United States. The host, Cecil, remarks on local goings-on, including bizarre paranormal and supernatural events, which he treats as mundane. The War of the Worlds does something similar, beginning as a simulation of a normal radio program, featuring a weather report and music, before breaking news interruptions regarding an alien invasion interrupt the broadcast. I think that The X Files could have done something similar, almost like the season 7 episode X-Cops, which used the format of a normal episode of the reality show Cops to tell a story about a werewolf (which, incidentally, is one of my favourite episodes). In my opinion, The X Files shines the most when it’s being experimental, and here they play it extremely safe, not to mention that some of the dialogue just feels very unnatural, as the characters are having to over explain their actions to make up for the lack of visuals, which is a shame.

Overall, it’s worth a listen, if you’re a fan of the show and want more X Files content, but it’s not as good as X Files can be.

[dialovers-translations]

DIABOLIK LOVERS ZERO Animate Tokuten Drama CD “A Vampire’s Late Night Snack Terror” [Kino ver.]

Original title: 夜更かしヴァンパイアの食テロ飯 [キノ編]

Source: Diabolik Lovers ZERO Vol. 7 Animate Tokuten CD

Audio: Here

Seiyuu: Tomoaki Maeno

Translator’s note: I went into this fully expecting a repeat of Kou with Kino setting the kitchen on fire but he’s actually a decent cook??? It was also really cute how he wants to be more independent and stop relying on Yuuri to do everything for him. I swear this guy keeps on winning me over again and again ever since I played his Lost Eden route.

Kino burst into the room.

*Thud*

“...God! What does he mean ‘You can’t do it, Kino’...!? Who does he think I am, huh!?”

You ask him what’s wrong.

“It’s very simple! I was looking for a change of pace and casually offered to make a meal...but what do you think Yuuri said in response to that? ...That it’s impossible for me! I can cook though! It’s just that I usually choose not to!”

You tell them it’s not good to fight.

“We’re not fighting or anything...Well, I guess it’s true that I don’t exactly cook very often. Yuuri does it for me after all. But he didn’t have to just flat out doubt my capabilities like that! Aah...It pisses me off! Can’t I get back at him somehow? ...Right! You’re a pretty good cook, aren’t you?”

You suspect that he might want you to teach him.

“Yes, exactly! ...Teach me! How to cook!”

You seem hesitant.

“...Are you going to tell me that I can’t as well?”

You tell him that it’s too late to cook now.

“Who cares that it’s the middle of the night? Besides, I’m a Vampire, so I’m active during this time of day. ...Ah-aah...That really stings. You’ll have to do something now to make up for this emotional pain.”

Kino approaches you.

*Rustle*

“So...Where do you want me to bite you? It would seem to me that you’re dying to have me give you a taste of pain, so I’ll gladly take you up on that offer?”

You protest.

“I won’t wait. So, where do you want my fangs? Ahー Perhaps I should go for your ear? It’s a very sensite spot, so I’m sure it’ll hurt a lot?”

You continue to fight back.

“Then...You’ll teach me, right? I don’t care about the dish itself.”

You agree.

“There we go. You should have just nodded in agreement from the beginning.”

*Rustle*

“Well then, let’s go to the kitchen then. Just a heads up, pick something fancy but possible for me to make, okay?”

*TIMESKIP*

*Rustle rustle*

*Thud*

“You’ve started...lining up some strange things. These odd vegetables and...cheese? What are we going to make with these?”

You refuse to tell him for now.

“That’s something to look forward to? Okay, sure. I guess I’ll follow your instructions this once. ーー So, where should I start?”

*Rustle*

“What...is this?”

You tell him.

“Eh? This is lotus root!? I had no idea it had this sort of shape...”

*Rustle*

“Oh, you’re right! Now that you mention it, the cross-section looks like lotus root! I should slice it, right?”

You tell him he has to cut it thinly.

“Eeeh? You have so many requests. Yeah, I know. I’ll cut thin slices.”

You tell him the amount you need.

“One hundred gram!? So what does 100 gram of lotus root look like exactly!? Could you stop giving me all the difficult tasks!?”

*Cling*

“Hmph...God. I’ll just wing it...”

*Chop chop chop*

“About this much?”

You praise his knifework. 

“Guess so. I mean, obviously I know how to use a knife. So, what’s next?”

You turn on the stove.

“Ah...We’re going to bake these? ...You can hear the sound of the oil sizzling. Can I add the lotus root now?”

You give him instructions again.

“There you go asking complicated things again...Fine. I should line them up leaving as little gaps as possible...and bake them until the surface is crispy, right?”

*Pshhh*

*Rustle*

“Mmh! Looking good! It’s got a nice brown color and gives off a rich fragrance. What should I do next?”

*Rustle*

“Are these leftovers from dinner? Can I put them on?”

You nod.

“Then I’ll place these bite-sized pieces of bacon all around...and sprinkle the finely chopped pieces of tomato on top as well, okay? The rings of green pepper as well. ...Mmh! A nice array of colors! As to be expected of me! Why don’t we add in some konpeito as well while we’re at it? I really like these ones!”

*Cling cling*

“See? Aren’t they pretty? I’m very fond of the star shape as well. Let’s try mixing it in here!”

You stop him.

*Rustle*

“Eeh~? Party pooper! ...Fine then. ...So, what comes next?”

You had him a bag of grated cheese.

“Oh? This is...grated cheese, no? Eeh? But if we put this on top, it’ll ruin the nice color palate we had going on, no? ...Ah, right! The key is to put an even, thin layer! ...I’ll put it on top then, okay?”

Kino adds the cheese.

“Sprinkle it all over...”

*Rustle*

“There! It’s starting to melt, look! Uwah~! It looks really delicious already!”

You tell him that it’s not quite ready yet.

“Fine. I’ll put on the lid, okay?”

*Cling*

“Now we just wait, right? I’ve gotten kind of hungry even though I had dinner earlier. Well, I guess I don’t technically need to eat since I’m a Vampire but I can’t wait for the finished product!”

*TIMESKIP*

*Cling*

“Uwah! It looks scrumptious! Although you can tell by the scent alone that it’s going to be delicious. Is it done now?”

You nod and plate it.

*Cling*

“Hooray! It’s done! ...Quick and easy, lotus root pizza!”

You seem surprised that he could tell what it’s based on.

“It’s pretty obvious that it’s meant to be a pizza. This is the first time I’ve seen someone use lotus root for the crust though. Say...Why don’t we give it a little taste before we go show it to Yuuri? It’s really tempting me.”

You give him permission.

“Hehe~ Well then...Time to dig in~!”

Kino takes a bite.

“Mmh...Nn...Mmh~! What’s this!? Holy shit! It’s super delicious!”

You ask him if he really likes it that much.

“Yeah! It’s out of this world! The lotus root crust is really crispy! Even though it’s thin, because it’s been crisped up in the pan, it has a really rich flavor. Kind of like vegetable chips...? 

I really like the melted cheese on top as well! You should eat it while it’s still piping hot. Similar to a cheese fondue, I love how the cheese wraps around the vegetables and brings out the sweetness! 

Also, the smoky aroma from the bacon has seeped into the lotus root. The fat from the meat melts inside your mouth...”

*Crunch*

“Mmh...Delicious!”

You say that you’re glad he likes it.

“Mm~ Way to go! You hit the nail on the head by choosing this recipe! It’s easy to make and delicious. Just like what I asked for!”

*Rustle rustle*

*Thud*

“Huh? Is that...jelly?”

*Rustle*

“Uwah! There’s konpeito inside! So pretty...It looks like stars floating in the sky.”

You ask if he likes it. 

“Of course I like it! I was wondering what you were up to earlier, but you were making this, huh? You really are a great asset with how you’ll take all of my requests into account. What more could a man ask for (1)?”

You get flustered.

“What are you blushing for? I honestly wouldn’t mind marrying you right here, right now?”

You panic even more. 

“Hahaha! What are those weird movements for? Honestly, I never grow tired watching you. ...Oh well, let’s leave that topic for another day.”

*Cling*

“I’m positive Yuuri will be shocked when he sees this table!”

You agree.

“Mmh. ...Well, I know this all started after I got into an argument with Yuuri but I actually had one more reason to want to cook. I realized that I should start becoming more independent little by little...I decided to stop thinking in terms of ‘a master and his servants’, remember? I don’t want to use Yuuri as a personal butler forever, you see. That’s why I gotta at least be able to cook by myself.”

You chuckle.

“What are you grinning for? It’s creepy. Are you mocking me, perhaps?”

You shake your head.

“I wonder. ...This is your punishment for making me upset.”

*Cling*

“Here, say ‘aahn’.”

You refuse.

“I’m not taking no as an answer. Now open your mouth?”

*Rustle*

“Fufu, very obedient now, aren’t we? ...Here you go, ‘aahn’.”

*Crunch*

“Good, right? I made it myself, so be sure to savor it thoroughly, okay?”

You nod.

“Right? Come on, feed me some as well.”

*Cling*

“Aahn~”

*Crunch*

“Mm...Mmh...Yeah, delicious! If we eat too much, there will be none left but...Oh well! We’ve still got plenty of ingredients left, so we can always make a new batch! I want to share the very first dish I made together with you anyway. ...Right~?”

ーー THE END ーー 

Translation notes

(1) Kino calls her a ‘ryousai kenbo’ which literally means ‘good wife, wise mother’ and which is kind of seen as the ideal for woman in Japan and a lot of East-Asian countries. 

[asoulofatlantis]

We can literally have it all in an NG+ Game. If that isn’t a reason to replay it, then I don’t know what is XD

The fact the game keeps reminding you constantly though the first few hours that Olivert is supposedly that is extremely depressing the first time you play it and its extremely annoying whenever you replay it.

One of Trails biggest Issues for western-players is that it often assumes automatically that you had access to Audio-Dramas, Mangas and other special stuff they did for the series. So they assume that you know the gist of how Toval has met with Estelle and Joshua at some point, although it happened in a Manga, they also mention class 7 having holidays in Ymir which was an Audio drama. Alster also is part of a story from a different Medium (I think also an Audio-Drama) which gets just briefly mentioned in CS3 but when you get to CS4, they assume you do know who Kai and Tilia are and how our people actually come to know them. Which is a huge ass problem point when you play CS4, because its not super easy to get access to those extras, especially not in a language you can understand. And as the issue of not knowing these characters or what exactly they have to do with ours did not resolve itself by playing this game, this is yet another point for reasons not to replay this game.

While it looks like that in fact all opposing fractions are taking into a “hostage” - kind of situation, if you look closer, were they were and who they were surrounded with actually kept them protected. We know that Machias father was put in a tough spot, but with all the Military watching him, he was definitely saver then most other citizens of Erebonia. And that was most likely because Osborne knew that when all this was over, this man would be needed. Noticing stuff like that is one of the reason to replay this game.

Its absolutely dumb that she calls him “Instructor Makarov” they are in love for ages now! But as this could easily be a translation mistake, I guess we don’t have to be so harsh o say that is a reason not to replay the game, it also is just a small detail that can be overlooked I guess. So... lets just ignore this.

Fun fact about Falcom is: Apparently certain characters breast sizes grow with every game XD I am not really joking here, look at how big Rixias breasts are in Kuro compared to their size in the Crossbell-Arc. Shirley - tho she was allowed some growing still at this point - pointed out in a certain very infamous scene in Azure, that she likes woman/girls with big breasts because she is flat as a board. She does not have a great breast size compared to certain other characters in the game, but with that school Uniform (which she is rocking by the way, because those colors just complement her immensely) even Shirleys smaller chest size looks bigger, thanks to those weird positioned straps. And on that note, looking at the Eyecandy that Shirley provides in this outfit is one of the reasons to replay this game. (And yes, I am very much aware that I said the same about Cedric back in CS3. I guess their hair colors just go well with the overall colors of the school Uniform...)

Guess that means when “princey boy” is not around she can’t have much fun, huh? XD Seriously tho, it is pretty much foreshadowing of Shirleys role in this game. Because to keep Cedric on a least, Shirley herself has to put herself in timeout so to not edge him on and to actually be able to focus more on him then on what she would usually focus on. Also, if you see this scene, you would assume that she is going crazy as per usual, not having to deal with her borderline insaneness was quite a surprise back when I played this game for the first time. Anyway, reasons to replay this game is to look at how Shirleys and Cedrics relationship is always presented between the lines. Think about it. When they were at the Gral they didn’t even so much as looked at each other, all we got was the little “Not my type” out of context comment with an absolutely bad timing and thats been it. This plays roughly two weeks later and we have already established a nickname. Now with Shirley we have to consider two things. She is an Orlando, Randy mad it clear that all people he finds cute/endearing get a nickname of some sort. (Something that Juna kind of adapted it seems...) So this nickname-giving is a family-trait it seems, but seems to only go for people they find cute. HOWEVER, this is Shirley we are talking about. In her nicknames you seem to be able to always find some way of mockery. So Randolph end ob being Dolphy, which is pretty much sounding like a cute, harmless Dolphin,  obviously a mockery for the man who was actually called the red reaper once. (And not even so far off, given that Randys reaper times are over and he is a big old softie now...) Now with Cedric, it would have been easy enough to turn his name into Ceddi or something (which would have annoyed him enough for sure) but Shirley chose princey boy instead. I mentioned that before in some asks I got, but the mockery behind this is easy to grasp. with “princey” she mocks his title. As you will see in their interactions later in the game, Shirley doesn’t give a damn about titles. And what is a prince anyway? Nothing compared to an Emperor. And the “boy” is pretty much mocking him by telling him she sees him as a boy, not a man. Trampling on his damn Erebonian Crown Prince pride as a woman that is actually stronger then him, to top it off. Obviously, the fact that she calls him by his nickname even when he is not around, shows that this is as much endearing as it is mockery, but the point still stands. (And going all out, analyzing the hell out of this ship is one of the most important reasons to replay this game, I tell you XD)

I honestly felt like most of the ships for our Old class 7 boys came kinda out of nowhere... but I guess given that this was supposed to be their last game and was supposed to give them their happy ending, there was no time like the present. However, it is still a bit annoying to notice, now that you have (since it is a replay) to notice such things. So not exactly a good reason to replay the game.

One of the weakest points of the Crossbell-Saga is that you miss out on A LOT of important stuff, if you don’t do certain side- oder hidden missions. For example, I never met Xin before CS4 so I never knew who he was and why he was so taken with Elie. Its kind of frustrating. Then again, the whole Crossbell-thing was kind of frustrating for most of the Western-Fandom until recently. Since that issue can be taken care of by now... I guess we do not say it is a point not to replay the game. Rather, AFTER you cleared the Crossbell-Saga, with all the Sidemissions, it might make even more sense to replay this game. Xin aside, there are a lot of things in CS3 and CS4 that feel different after you finish the Crossbell-Saga. And I guess even more so, if you do all the side- and hidden missions.

Cao is one of the most frustrating but also most intriguing characters that the Trails-Saga has produced. He switches sides whenever he feels like it and often in a way and with a timing you can not foresee even if you know that he is like that. And if you think he is a problem here, wait till you see him in Riveri and if you think you have figured him out by then, watch him break Ashens heart in Kuro2 despite the fact that he does care about her - or does he? You never know with him. And it is fun to see him again, doing what he is usually doing, after actually seeing what he pulls in future games. So certainly a reason to replay this game.

Compared to Erebonia, Crossbell provides all their harem-girls with an alternative partner. We easily have Wazy for Noel, Ilya obviously for Rixia and our “freckled boy” here could easily go as Tios second choice. Some people might want to argue that, as he is in Riveri quite happy to see her reunion with Lloyd but its not like Wazy was jealous about the way Noel saved Lloyd and we still have the game put them together constantly, including in the epilogue of this very game. In any case, having Jonah be all like “I am not worried about Tio being missing!” is really adorable to watch, so a nice reason to replay the game for once.

Obviously this whole mess was painful enough as it was, but I always found it regretful, especially after Olivert and Toval specifically mentioning the woman they loved before their untimely “death” that we didn’t get to see Sheras and Eiens reactions. I mean Shera was right in Heimdall, seeing it live, so there would have been an easy enough possibility. And it would have been kind of nice, like, before the Credits role, to actually see how Eien was informed about Tovals death. I mean, the woman is tough as Iron, but seeing her act all “Oh well, can’t be changed” infront of whoever was the messenger and then actually start to cry why smoking a cigerret and opening a bottle of wine would have been nice to seed. But I guess that is the shipper inside of me who wants more then she bargained for XD In any case, this game finally giving us Shera and her feelings and reactions about Oliverts death is always a good reason to replay this game. (Tho this game really is pulling out all the painful stuff when it comes to shippings XD)

The fact that when I think of the beginning of the game I never remember dealing with them before anything else, because I am so focused on being frustrated about having to deal with New class sevens overgrown ego without even having Rean as a compensation ^^’ And when I reach this point I am always like: “Oh. Right. I have to deal with them first.” But it is really nice to see and play those guys again. Definitely a good reason to replay CS4.

The fact that you have to wonder if they too will be offered a promotion to S-Rank eventually and will also not accepted it, like many Bracers seem to do these days. I mean, at the point of Kuro 2 they should have long reached the S-Rank-Level, given their abilities and experience and all that. But I guess we deal with that question in another game. Still, an interesting reminder of their current Rank is never a bad reason to replay this game. We have Renne in Kuro 2 after all, so its not impossible to see those guys again eventually.

[mechanicalinertia]

STMPD Recommends Bubblegum Crisis Fanfiction: Innpchan's Dance of Armor

While browsing my copy of the licensed Bubblegum Crisis RPG, I realized that this guy's name is a reference to 'the pig' or rather, P-Chan from Ranma 1/2. (Ranma was the hot shit in anime fanfic writing for most of 90's, but you knew that already.) Not that this fact detracts from the quality of Innpchan's Bubblegum Crisis fanfiction.

No, it most certainly does not.

In sum: this is a fanfiction about Linna Yamazaki, her past, her present as a Saber (sort of like what I covered in Night Life but infinitely less cynical), and her somewhat downer future. It is a character study, a Boomer-fightin' adventure, and everything else you could possibly want from a novella-length (???) fanfiction.

So! Linna Yamazaki. The great non-personality of Bubblegum Crisis. Nene gets Scoop Chase all to herself, but in Double Vision, the closest thing Linna gets to her own episode, she's playing second fiddle to the guest star Reika, doing the protagonistic 'do not pursue revenge leave that to us' spiel. One almost gets most of her personality from the Survival Shot dinner in OVA 4, and her boyfriend troubles in OVA 5: she goes through boyfriends fast, she's looking for 'the one', and she wants to make scads of money while doing it - or is that more an adaptation of who she is from BGCrash? Hard to say.

Well, there is a character down there, I'm sure of it. I keep trying to write little script-bits in my free time, one where the Sabers and Sylvie talk and talk, but I can never quite get her right. Vain, bitchy, but still a good person... how to do something like that without a heart-of-gold cliche? I still haven't listened to the audio dramas, and I wonder if they have something to offer there.

Anyway. Here's a fic about Linna. Back on topic.

Innpchan starts by telling us about Linna's past - how she lost her parents during the Quake, how she started to model during a disaster-porn fashion photoshoot, how she worked her way up through performing, modelling, dancing (I think they kinda drew on a blurb from Grand Mal here, but I don't care) - before losing an audition for Sailor Moon the musical (you were born to be Sailor Mars, her mentor says, because Linna and Rei Hino share a voice actor). It's charming, it's kind of cutesy, it is essentially creating reasons for why the way Linna is from whole cloth, but that's what fanfiction is about, and it's done remarkably well.

But that's not all, as the author alternates us between that and Linna's daily life. She picks up Priss and her costumes from her show (they stink up the back seat), she goes home to her nice apartment, she fights Boomers that now have weird stealth abilities with the other Sabers - and lo and behold, an old childhood friend from before the Quake walks back into her life. She's smitten, of course - after boyfriends who, in her opinion, can't keep up, can't hold things together, it's time for a sea change...

And then a Boomer starts targeting the boy, and she gets him out of the way, only breaking her leg and arm in the process.

Well, why is Seito Sakai in Megatokyo? What secret does he have to address? How can Linna keep him safe if she can't even get in a hardsuit? These are the questions that occupy the latter part of the fic. Linna aside - she has some truly badass moments in this one - the answers to those questions are also pretty cool.

Does it end on a downer? Sure. But is it a downer that's not too much of a downer, and also one that feels earned? Fuck yes. The point I'm trying to make is that we see Linna at her best here. Not vain or horny, but genuinely, authentically in love, something none of the other Sabers can ever quite pull off. Someone - normal.

Maybe that's Linna's magic: she's not quite normal, but she's closer to normal than a revengeaholic second-string rockstar, a turbo-eccentric millionaire with a taste for exotic lingerie, and an exciteable hacker could ever be.

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

Also, we get lines from Priss like this:

"This guy. I looked over at you when you were talking in the car. Your eyes were full of a country house and two-point-five rugrats."

"Oh, GREAT! We're up against Genom's latest and greatest, and the tech-wench wants to glue her mom's camcorder to my hardsuit!"

Not bitchy or rageful, but kind of deadpan snarky. I like Priss like that.

Also-also, fun fact: One of the major characters in Gibson's trilogy of cyberpunk-adjacent work he wrote in the 1990's is a Japanese ethnographer by the name of Laney Yamazaki. Yeah. Laney.

It really makes you wonder if Gibson, despite his self-professed hate for the genre he created, actually watched BGC. Now there's a strange thought, eh?

[moemoemammon]

Following that "least favorite" request could we get their reactions to being to told that they're their favorite, but to not tell the other brothers so their feelings don't get hurt? Maybe because they relate to them the most or just get along really well. Thanks!

You're My Favorite! But Don't Tell the Others-

(Feat. GN!MC and the Demon Bros)

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

Lucifer

There are no words to explain the overwhelming satisfaction ion Lucifer’s face after you tell him that. Of course, it’s only natural that he would be your favorite, all things considered.

The Avatar of Pride won’t ever forget this moment. He carefully considers your words and agrees not to tell anyone, as much as he’d love to bring it up, because he knows more than anyone what kind of chaos would ensue should the others (especially Mammon) find out.

But they can tell something’s up when the eldest has been heard humming all day. He moves about the house with even more grace than usual, and hasn’t scowled even once.

But the REAL shocker was when Mammon tried hiding a bill right as Lucifer walked in... and the eldest let him off with a warning. A WARNING! The brothers thought the Devildom must’ve frozen over, but you and he knew different.

“MC, I would like you to accompany me to Le Pluvier this afternoon, once you've finished your studies. I've already made reservations, so be sure to get ready on time. I've made sure to consider the things you might like to eat, so I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself. Don't be late." "...I'm grinning? I don't know what you're talking about."

Mammon

The gigantic grin on Mammon’s face is so bright, it could rival the sun. You’ve seriously made his day. No, his year. Actually, he’s pretty sure he could ride this high for the next millennia! There’s nothing in this world that could dampen his spirits right now! 

He feels like he just won big at the casino! Of course he’s your favorite! He WAS your first demon, and now he’s gone and claimed his rightful spot as your number one! Good luck trying to keep him from saying anything. Mammon’s gonna throw it around in everyone’s faces for as long as he can milk it.

And you thought he was clingy before, just wait till you see how he treats you after hearing that. Despite always calling you his ‘servant’ or his ‘human’, you’d  think your roles were reversed. Mammon spoils you every chance he gets, buying you clothes and trinkets, filling the spaces in your room with the things he knows you like, monopolizing you completely until nearly everything you own is a gift from him.

Your words also help soothe that jealousy of his a little. Only a little, though. It’s easier to watch you talk to other demons when he knows he’ll always be your first man.

“Didja really have to stay after class that long? I know you were talkin' to that demon that lent you a book, but you outta ask ME for stuff! Tch... you're lucky I'm in a good mood today! But I guess I don't have to worry about some low level demon like that, seein' as I'm your favorite!"

Levi

Wait wait wait....Come again? Did you seriously just say what he think you said..? That had to be a mistake! Some kind of...uh..verbal typo! Because there’s absolutely, positively, NO WAY in all of the nine layers that he could be your favorite demon. And yet you still insist that you’re telling the truth, and Levi feels like he’s died and gone to heaven. 

Red faced and stammering up a storm, Levi looks like he might die. Is it really okay for a shut-in otaku to feel this giddy? Seriously, he hasn’t felt like this since he got his hands on a signed copy of a Ruri Hana audio drama! No no, this definitely beats that!

You’ve managed to inflate his nearly nonexistent ego, and now he feels like there’s nothing he can’t do! Maybe he could even go to Majolish right now?? THAT’S how good he’s feeling!

Almost as bad as Mammon in keeping it a secret. He doesn’t tell anyone right away, but they’re suspicious when they notice how much time he’s spending out of his room. And then when he and Mammon get in another petty argument, he drops the bomb that he’s your favorite demon in the entire Devildom, and you can guess how things go from there.

“Uuuoooo...!!!!! I've decided..! Since I've got a serious stat buff, I'm going to open a booth at the next convention coming up..! I'll sell my Ruri-chan fan art and spread her influence all over the Devildom! I'd never have the guts to do it normally, but I feel like I could do anything right now! Y-you'll go too, won't you MC?"

Satan

You nearly made this man spit tea all over his book, and now he’s coughing and spluttering and trying to figure out what could’ve prompted what he’s taking as a confession. You.. do realize what you’re saying, don’t you? And you know the kind of effect your words have on him?

Satan isn’t the type that wears his heart on his sleeve, so you have to look for his subtle expressions to tell how he’s feeling. But there’s nothing subtle about the redness of his ears and how he’s begging you not to look at him right now. For the sake of his sanity, give him a minute to recoup.

When he does recover, he agrees to keep it a secret for obvious reasons. And it’s hard to tell that he’s in a good mood, other than the fact that he hasn’t tried to pull any pranks on Lucifer lately. But Asmo sees all, and literally hounds him into spilling the tea.

He tells him a lie of course, but now the other brothers are noticing just how happy he is. Satan's smiling way too much today, isn't he? And he didn't even get mad when Beel got whipped cream on his jacket! Well, not THAT mad, anyway.

"Haaah... everyone's been harassing me all day, claiming I'm smiling a lot. I'm sure I look the same as I always do, but I'll admit that I've been happy ever since you told me that this morning. Wait.. you did think I've been grinning too, do you? I have??"

Asmo

Asmo always jokes about being your favorite and announces it as if the two of you are married, but when you actually confirm that his longing for you isn’t one sided, he ends up smearing lip balm across his cheek in shock. Did you... really say that just now? He knew it all along, but hearing it like that is just...!

Ooooh, he’s so happy he can hardly contain himself! Asmo throws his arms around you, peppering your face in kisses until you feel sticky from lip balm, wipes your face clean, then marks it up all over again. Good luck getting rid of him, because he might never let go.

Immediately posts it to Devilgram. Did you really think he’d let such a momentous occasion go unannounced? You must not have been paying attention to the kind of person he is! Asmo would put you on a pedestal in front of the world like a precious jewel if he were able, but this’ll have to do. He won’t hide his love at all!

Of course, the others don’t take too kindly to it, not that he cares. He never leaves your side, pampers you like crazy, and has even attempted to get you to move into his room. Lucifer put an immediate stop to that, though. Boo...

“I just can't get enough of you, MC! Just being near you gets me so excited that I can hardly stand it! You'll take responsibility for what you're doing to me, won't you? And in exchange, I'll take my time showing you just how much I love you. After all, you're my favorite, too!"

Beel

Beel never has a problem with choking while he eats, and it comes as naturally as breathing. Unfortunately neither of that applies right now, since you just made him choke on a meatball sub.

He usually takes your words with quiet acceptance, but this might be the most emotion you've ever witness from the stoic demon. His eyes are wider than that time that laid on an entire gingerbread mansion, sparkling up with such deep emotion you wouldn't be surprised if he cried. Instead he softens up and immediately embraces you.

...And doesn't let go. Sandwich long forgotten, he's been carrying you around all day, and ignoring any questions or protests from his brothers. Also insists on feeding you throughout the day. The food tastes better when he can enjoy it with you, so why not just bring you everywhere?

When he isn't carrying you, he's following you around subconsciously, either close up against you like a protective wall, or just far enough that you're within his line of sight. As far as not telling anyone, he... tells Belphie immediately. It was an accident though, since there's not much he keeps from his twin.

"MC, I won a meal ticket for Godevil Chocolatier. Let's get something for dessert today. Ah, you can get as much as you want, too. I really want to see what things you choose. They might become my favorites."

Belphie

There's nothing in this world that can wake Belphegor from his sleep, unless he allows it. No loud noises, no amount of shaking or smacking, and not even dragging him around the house. But the moment you whisper that he's your favorite demon, the Avatar of Sloth is wide awake.

Hey, you're not just saying weird things to get a reaction, are you? Because if so, this is a new level of cruel. Yet you confirm that you mean it and swear him into secrecy, and Belphie tries his best not to show how happy he is. A smile keeps creeping up on his face that he struggles to force down. It's annoying...

As funny as it’d be to tell everyone the news, he's good at keeping secrets. Instead, you've noticed that he's been sleeping a little less that before. When he does take one of his hundreds of naps, he finds some way to be closer to you. He's even been seen sleepwalking to your exact location somehow-

It's hard for him to believe that you're not teasing, though. How could HE be your favorite demon here? Belphie doesn't do anything special to win you over, yet after everything he put you through, you like him enough to deep him your favorite?

"You're weird, MC. I mean... me? I won't deny that I'm really happy though, but I guess I'm in disbelief. You should spoil me even more until I believe you. Lend me your lap for a few hours, okay?" "...I wonder what Lucifer would think if I told him, heheh."