#I couldn't find a translation of the title that made sense lol

[orthodoxadventure]

Тучная Гора икона Божией Матери

[yridenergyridenergy]

Dir en grey interview translation notes around The Devil In Me

Just some of the more interesting bits from the single's booklet and from PHY vol. 25.

Kyo

He was the one who came up with the title, and the title was determined before they even attached a song to it. The band basically decided to set a date for a new single ahead of time, not too long after 19990120's release, then they had just one song selection meeting (usually, they have three) to pick a song to work with toward becoming "The Devil In Me". After scheduling a release date, they had to pick a title before even knowing what song would be part of that release for production/logistical reasons.

Kyo wrote the lyrics of The Devil In Me based on his sense of dissociation from world events, how his own issues are not aligned with what the world cares about. He finds that people's lives are sometimes pre-determined the moment they are born. It's really a reflection on: "Why am I the way I am?"

The chorus has so many layers because Kyo wanted to illustrate that inner evil, or wickedness.

While re-recording Yokan, Kyo realized that he used to sing in short bouts, taking a breath more regularly, whereas he's evolved to sing as much as he can in a single, long breath now.

The small changes made to the lyrics of Cage just serve to help Kyo feel more immersed in that old poem, but if he'd wanted to change the lyrics to represent his current mindset, clearly he would have composed a completely new, different song.

Kyo commented in PHY vol. 25 that if the producers wanted a band that sells a lot, they would have had to replace him with someone who is taller, has a nice face and that composes songs that appeal to a wider audience. But around their debut, Kyo had to bend to some of the producers' demands because he had to rely on their knowledge of what would make the band successful. He wanted to make a very dark band, but he had to accept to make songs like Yokan.

"It wouldn't be appropriate to sing about corpses and internal organs to a melodious song such as Yokan (lol)."

Kyo feels like Dir en grey is the toughest band for him to be a part of, because the band's shows are especially mentally difficult.

Kaoru

The music of The Devil In Me was Kaoru's idea.

Kaoru agrees that the song kind of ends in a way that the band could have, in the past, followed up on with a second section of the song, but they felt like ending it in a more simple way now, which still represents the band's current state.

Die

The band had a discussion in a dressing room during Tour23 Phalaris Final –The scent of a peaceful death- and that's where they came to an understanding of where they wanted to take the band next. Kyo brought them ideas on what he felt that the next single song should sound like, but in the end, at the selection meeting, the majority of the band chose a completely different song than the other of the 5 that Kyo preferred. He's fine with letting the majority win.

Die started working out in 2018 to make sure to stay in shape for stage performances, and I think that he mentioned that it's important for him to appear young and healthy so that the fans who follow the band also don't feel old.

For Die, he was in part less active on stage during the Dum Spiro Spero era because the songs were dark and complex, so he had to focus more. Because of that, he couldn't enjoy the actual shows as much.

Toshiya

Toshiya mentioned that doing commemorative tours and shows is really just fan service.

Toshiya described Dir en grey as a group of five dictators. Their enemies and friends/allies are all inside that group, and the past 25(+) years have been a continuation of challenges to bring the band forward despite this type of chemical reaction between five egos.

Apparently the band never has casual "weird" conversations where they chat about their interests of the moment, but they quietly observe the others without interacting, like by observing what kind of clothes they wear or are into.

Shinya

Contrary to the band's habit, the vocals did not even exist yet when Shinya had to compose and record his drumming for The Devil In Me. When the vocals were eventually recorded, they kind of matched what Shinya had expected.

However, overall, a couple of members of the band feel like The Devil In Me might be a song that people react to with: "I don't get it", rather that just liking or disliking it.

Shinya dissing The Marrow of a Bone again hahah.

Shinya described The Devil In Me as mysterious, inexplicable.

He started taking some lessons from Buck-Tick's "Anii" (Toll Yagami) to learn a new drumming method. In the past, at the very beginning of his career, Shinya used to wear lead weights at his ankles to hit the pedal heavier and develop muscles, but Yoshiki and other seniors told him how to actually play and he quickly got rid of the weight belts.

[shipcestuous]

Okay, I come back with the third part of the ask! I have MORE amazing news, isn’t it great?

First of all, the best news for me is I have found yet another wonderful incest movie I have been looking for so long!!!! It’s called «Madame Solario». Hear me out, this is REALLY exiting, as it’s a French costume drama based on a book. Actually, there’s even an article called «“Saint Brother and Saint Sister”: The Motif of Fraternal Incest in Gladys Huntington’s Madame Solario» (here’s the link to the article https://dspace.uni.lodz.pl/bitstream/handle/11089/38892/PJAS_vol7_2013_Alicja_Piechucka.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y)

Here’s where you can watch the movie with English subtitles: https://tubitv.com/movies/100007671/madame-solario

Secondly, I went over your «Not available in English» list and tried to look for the subtitles. I actually had luck with some of them!

Der Kuss Meiner Schwester

Here are two links where you can download subtitles for this movie (it’s two different subtitles)

https://www.opensubtitles.org/en/subtitles/9593069/der-kuss-meiner-schwester-en (those are, I think, made by machine translation. I watched with them and they’re enough to understand most of the movie)

https://www.avsubtitles.com/subtitles.php?subid=16862&revid=20230717000859 (not sure about those, whether they’re made by human or machine, maybe a native English speaker would realize better than me)

Already after I found those subs, I stumbled across a comment on your wordpress under the post about this movie. I attach the comment in a picture, just in case if you haven’t seen it, because the user provides some information. (the subtitles they mention are the same as the ones from OpenSubtitles)

Syskonsalt

So, indeed, there are subtitles on OpenSubtitles for this movie: https://www.opensubtitles.com/en/subtitles/syskonsalt-2000-swedish-vhs-tvrip-xvid-movieboys-en  (Those, I assume, are made by a person)

Lunnye polyany (2002), also known as Les clairieres de lune

Once again I watched it before in Russian and I even have a fanvid about them! (promoting myself while I can lolz https://www.tumblr.com/familyromantic/705637767270531072/this-is-the-only-russian-film-about-incest-that?source=share) But now all of you can watch it too. I can say it is not a light watch and it has a dark, depressed atmosphere, but there is some sort of doomed love beauty as well. BUT I warn you that I have only seen the movie in a HORRIBLE quality, sadly.

Link to the subs: https://www.avsubtitles.com/subtitles.php?subid=18021&revid=20230827220208

Taboo: The Soul Is A Stranger On Earth

Three subtitles, but I glanced and they look the same lol (could be wrong)

https(:)//www.opensubtitles.org/en/subtitles/10009196/tabu-the-soul-is-a-stranger-on-earth-en (just delete the parentheses, I added them because Tumblr didn't like this link lol)

Additionally, not related to subtitles, but I want to let you all know I have Bror 2019 in HD if someone needs it (got it from a Swedish site with VPN). ALSO if any of the links I provided don’t work for someone or anything, I have it all downloaded, so contact me and I’ll send it to you. Or if you want to combine a movie and subtitles, I can do that too.

 I think that’s all, that was a long ask for real :)

[x]

Thank you for going through that not-available-in-English list! I'm pleased to be able to remove so many titles from it.

Do you happen to have any download links for Madame Salario? Having it on Tubi is so great but I like to archive the hard to find incest movies if I can just in case they get removed from streaming. It sounds like you do the same.

I did see that comment about Der Kuss Meiner Schwester. I downloaded the subs right away but haven't checked them against the video file I had. I didn't want to start partying until I was sure they fit and made sense and everything. I actually couldn't download the Syskonsalt ones originally but your link worked for me so thanks.

While we're on the topic, this movie, Yellow, is actually in English but has proven impossible find: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588898/?ref_=nm_flmg_t_9_act. Has anyone managed to see, or better yet download, this one?

[fullmetalgirl98]

30 days Hypnosis Mic challenge

DAY 3: favorite song of your favorite division

🎤 「Stella」

(link)

I apologize in advance, but I'm going to blather a lot about this.

This song is really special to me because it reminds me of a particular time in my life, specifically of a winter ... the one of the lockdown.

I remember that the first time I listened to Stella, the first thing which caught me out of guard was the music and the very peculiar vibe. Both had a strange effect on me, conveying a feeling of immensity as well as being perfectly capable of making me imagine that I was scattered in a galaxy, although at that first listen I had no idea what the song was about, and the title had me more imagining something to do with idols (lol, no).

I can't quite explain this, but I remember that I literally freezed when the piano started playing and a sense of powerful nostalgia immediately hit me hard. Because. Wtf was THAT???? I didn't expected such a vibe??? (gradually my mind started to create a connection with my childhood memories of Dragon Ball GT (LOL)).

And then, the narration started.

I understood little to no Japanese at the time, so I couldn't have even remotely grasped any words that might provide me with a start on the content of the song, but as soon as Dice's rap started, I immediately screamed WOOOOHH??! What is this stuff??? SO COOL, OMG???

And then Gentaro.

There, gentlemen, Gentaro's part was something exceptional to hear for the first time. The atmosphere between his first stanza and the second one is COMPLETELY different and the way he closes with the last verse, "ore mo ubai satte kure MESSAIAAAH〜"

KYAAAHHHHH!!! SO SEXY?!?!? SO FU****G HOT.

Then Ramuda's part, with that mechanical tone and that way of breaking sentences and words that is extraordinarily difficult to follow ...

So here's the chorus ... and that single chord on the word "starlight", with that change in tone that gave me a sense of immensity (???), that kidnapped my heart.

The second part of the song, in which a real dialogue between the members begins, intrigued me even more because there I could pick up on something, actually, and I wanted to understand why the hell DICE had such a serious tone in this damn (affectionate) song. It was so strange, for him!!!

In conclusion, at the end of listening, I pounced to look for a translation.

And my world changed.

I came to know that this song was plotted as a Gentaro's story (and that alone, to me, is simply brilliant) about a bandit, a king and a scientist whose respective planets are in ruins, for one reason or another. But they all find themselves gazing at the same falling star and thus begins a journey through the galaxy, which will see member after member recruited on this journey, tearing each of them out of their ruined reality...Until the scientist, the hardest to convince. But the words and support of the other two will be able to bring him, too, out of the dark into the light...and make him too take part in that wonderful journey.

We can understand this as a metaphor for the Fling Posse and the relationship that subsists between them:

The shooting star represents them as a group, their union;

The journey could represent the inner discovery that the three of them are taking together, to get to know each other better and trust each other, to the point of creating a true and indissoluble bond;

The scientist, who doesn't trust others and sees no meaning into joining them, is clearly the Ramuda of the past who, thanks to Gentaro and Dice, gradually learns to want to live and to truly trust his companions;

Also, funny to see how the role of the king was assigned to Dice, considering that he's the son of the governor, in the Hypmic universe.

Well. Wow.

Wonderful.

My heart is yours, Fling Posse.

So, Stella was THE song by Fling Posse that made me reach the concrete certainty that they, from that moment on, would have to be my favorite division, without any doubt. It's a song that had a very special effect on me from the very first listen. I can't quite describe what it feels like, as I hear it. It may also be the fact that I particularly love anything that has to do with the universe and galaxies, so I would say that the vibe described is perfect for me lol.

It's a song that I can't skip when it starts playing and it gets me every time. It's not for nothing that my level of obsession is such that I made a journal spread (link) and a mini MV (link).

Check them out, if you're curious! ^^

[Side note: today's Ramuda's birthday...so happy birthday with this?!]

[solradguy]

All this talk of tails made me remember that Valentine has those weird arrow tentacles/antennae, were those ever explained? they kinda ditched the concept after her with giving the valentines stuff like that

I hadn't skimmed over her story yet, the one in the GG2Overture art book, so I did that first and it didn't appear to mention her antennae at all. It covers her creation and she has a conversation with "Mother" about her purpose (I think, lots of hard kanji in this one...) and then Valentine has a moment where she rejects Aria's... uh, spirit? Consciousness?? I have no idea what to call it. You know what I mean lol. Anyway, I'm getting sidetracked. No antennae were mentioned in the story.

Nothing around it talks about the antennae, but there's a startlingly realistic concept sketch rotation for Valentine's head in this art book that you might find interesting anyway:

Text translation:

In the box, top left: "Dead Elf Master" Dead Elf must have been Valentine's working title before she got her name. A "master" in Overture is the name of the character the player controls manually and uses to direct summonable units.

Small text between the left and center heads: I'm pretty sure this says "draw eyes almond-shaped/slightly turned up at the corners" (じもち つり目)

Under the 3 heads it just has their orientation: Front, Side, "Low Angle"

There's a little "Creator Comments" box for each characters' concept art section of the book. I had a little time this morning so I decided to translate Valentine's, to ease the burden of her being forever trapped in Overture (the antennae are not mentioned):

The working concept for Valentine's tribe [TL: group name for summonable units] were themes of the undead. But that alone was not enough to make it interesting, so I added "erotic" and "gothic lolita" elements to them. I also added a "messy" element, but that was a bit too much. Valentine herself started out wearing a school uniform with a checkered skirt, but it became too much like a normal school uniform, so I settled on the current form. When modeling a female character, the details and facial expressions are lost because of the slender lines. I needed something big to make her silhouette stand out, so I designed Lucifero to accompany her. When I was thinking of something interesting to use... I decided on balloons. I really wanted to have it change its shape into various other things, so I hope I can make it happen in the next work. - [Daisuke] Ishiwatari

This character was the only female character master [TL: player character that controls summonable units], so naturally the focus was on her. During development, however, there was one major design change, and the 3D model had to be completely redesigned. Although, it is also true that she has become much prettier than the previous model, and you never know what will turn out to be a good thing. When you work on something you have made in the past and then rework it in the future, you make new discoveries and improve the quality. In that sense, it was a valuable experience. I am happy to see that the game seems to be very popular among players. - [Junya] Motomura

Junya Motomura was the director for Overture while Daisuke was the composer/designer/writer.

I couldn't find any mention of antennae around any of the other concept sketches for Valentine either, so we can only speculate what they're for. Maybe she has them because she was the first of the Aria flesh golems created by the Universal Will and, since she was the most unstable, the antennae were some funky Backyard magic leaking through?

[naoko-world]

La fangirl de Bruno or how close french and spanish can be

How it started

I received this notification one night (posted with the person's permission) and it honestly took me time understanding why I wasn't finding it in my post's replies.

I quickly figured the person simply thought La fangirl de Bruno was the Spanish version, understood their mistake and deleted it. I received a notification by mail though so...I saw.

My thoughts

I know I happened to saw people thinking french doesn't have anything in common with Italian/Spanish/Portuguese which...Actually isn't true! Just to see what french has in common with Spanish, like La & De, both words these two languages share.

As an example, there I didn't even need to translate to know that person was thanking me for writing a spanish version. Because I happen to know the words Gracias & Hacer, and because other words looks like their french counterpart.

por/pour

una/une

version/versión

en/en

español/espagnol

The mistake is understandable then, and they're not the only one to have made it since my friend @lunaencantada I love a lot and who is Spanish made the same.

Eh! When watching Encanto in Spanish I realized some words I sometimes use in french (in familiar speech) are actually Spanish words. As an example I think of De Nada & Gratis we can say in french to say De rien (you're welcome) and Gratuit (free).

By the way, in my title I used the English word "fangirl" while I could have used the french word, "groupie", which is a word we don't really use anymore. This is why I chose "fangirl". However, if I had chosen it...Spanish-speakers people would still have been confused because it's "groupie" in Spanish too lol.

To go deeper into the subject:

According to Langfocus's video on how similar French and Spanish are both languages share about 75% of lexical similarity. It's less than Spanish and Italian (85%) or French and Italian (89%) but that's still a lot!

So why french sounds so different from the other latin language?

Because of pronunciation, some differences in basic conversation and in the word orders.

We french we tend to talk with Guttural and nasal sounds, or even not pronouncing some letters. Thus while Spanish pronounce all letters besides the h.

The order of some words is different too and Spanish is pro-dropping pronouns which was very confusing when I started learning Spanish.

Some words aren't the same either like the Langfocus guy talked about Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement/Puede hablar más despacio but if I could take any sentence and you could find one word or two that aren't the same.

As a much bigger example, coming back to Encanto, that part in No se habla de Bruno (We don't talk about Bruno) has some words I can recognize and some I can't.

According to @lunaencantada it means

"Terror in his face

rats from behind

when you hear your name, there's no turning back

scream while you tremble when you wake up"

So in french it would literally be:

"Terreur sur son visage

Rats en guise de dos

Quand tu entends ton nom, pas de marche arrière

Cris en tremblant quand tu te réveilles"

Not exactly the same but we can guess because

terror/terreur,

en/en (sur),

Su/son

Faz/face (visage)

Ratas/Rats

por/por (en guise de)

Oír/entends (don't ask how I can easily guess Oír is entendre because I only suspect it's because of ouïe which is for the sense of hearing)

Tu/ton

Nom/nombre

No/non (pas)

Marcha/marche

Tiembles/tremble (tremblant)

While I couldn't recognize:

detrás/derrière (dos)

Al/Quand

Hay (se produire/être)

Atrás/arrière

Grita/cris

mientras/pendant (en)

despertar/se réveiller

Oh and funny thing:

There! This is roughly how close these two languages can be! For more infos you can watch the video by LangFocus which is much more complete and from which I used some graphics!

[robynmarkius]

Endwalker's Final Zone Quest Names

I had most of this finished a little while ago, but I ended up getting sick. Feeling better recently, so I felt I should get this up before 6.1 next week. ^^; This is the final zone in Endwalker, and for most of the trip through, the Quest Names seem pretty strange. On a whim, I started using Google to look bits and pieces up as I went and found it kinda neat. When I went through again on Moko, in Japanese, I found it was still strange, but in a different way. It was also not as simple as just swapping my Client and looking at the Journal for the titles. Not all the quests are listed in the completed log. I don't know if that's intentional or not, but as of right now, there're 4 quests that are not listed in the completed log. I'm not sure how well I'd manage to play through that zone in German or French just for curiosity. D: The two characters I could maybe possibly try it on are still both just freshly landed on the moon, as I've taken that progress slow due to aforementioned sick and trying to keep up with Savage Raiding.

All Spoilers will be below the cut, but I hope this gives enough information to you to know if you want to click and join me down the rabbit hole. lol If you do, I hope it's interesting to you. :3

From the very First Quest in Ultima Thule, I wondered what was going on.

When I talked to my Japanese FC Member, he said:

I do find the japanese quest titles are more cryptic with the removal of key words, like for 「戦争＊＊＊を＊＊た星」on this star/planet, for what purpose did they go to war and against whom, how did it resolve and such. in a sense they've removed the 5Ws/how but all of it is sort of explained in the quest dialogues then again some of the english quest titles are the same as well

In English, we essentially put secret messages in the titles with the special characters, but what I couldn't quite figure out until I asked him for help was that they removed/blacked out the details/key words of a sentence. The details are filled in to you by the quests, just like in English. It explains the weird messages you can get from the title, or at least clarifies it a bit, but it did make for a rougher time translating. XD As such, some are just more direct translations of the words between the censors.

...Well, the last few English ones were frustrating, and nearly made me cry trying to solve them while the story was happening around me, but I made it. D: lol I also didn't italicize the romaji in this case because when I tried that in Discord, it ended up screwing with the special characters used for the titles. X_X;

The first quest you're given in Ultima Thule. 89 EN - "A §trαnge New World" §α - "Section Alpha"

89 JP -「◾ と敗北◾ 侵さ◾ 星」 ( ◾ to haiboku ◾ okasa ◾ ◾ hoshi ) "◾ with loss ◾ star ◾ affected"

The second one that has you interacting with the dragon memories. 89 EN - "On Burdɛned ωings" εω - "Variable Omega"

89 JP -「あらゆる◾ は淀み腐って」 ( arayuru ◾ wa yodomi kusatte ) all◾ are festering in stagnation

The third quest that ends this sector. 89 EN - "A Test of Wιll" ι - "Iota" (Could refer to an iota of will, or an iota of forward progress.)

89 JP -「厳尊と平和」 ( imu takashi to heiwa ) "strict nobility and harmony"

These are pretty simple, we learn through the course of the quests that we're in the memory of the dragon star. After Omega destroyed it and abandoned the star, after Midgardsormr fled to Hydaelyn. All the dragons had given up on fighting, and let themselves rot away into obscurity. Estinien is the one who convinces the only dragon with an iota of willpower left to quit feeling sorry for itself and get emotional; to do something. In the process, granting us a path forward; just as Thancred had done. The Japanese titles are similar; Weth loss, the dragon star was greatly affected. They gave up fighting because of that, to fester and rot into obscurity.

->Quick Sidenote/Fun Fact: I stumbled over an alternative reading while looking that last one up. "gen mikoto to PINFU"; which would roughly translate to "Lord Stern and a concealed winning hand", and while it is the wrong translation/reading, it was an amusing enough moment to giggle at the thought of calling Estinien "Lord Stern/Strict", and I wanted to share it. xD

Our first Quest in the new area.

89 EN - "Roads Pαved | | Sacri⊢ice" α | | ⊢ - "Alpha Proven Absolutely" (Alternatively: "Sacrifice Proves Alpha" )

89 JP -「⚫ の限界⚫ ⚫ 明し⚫ 星」 ( ⚫ no genkai ⚫ ⚫ akashi ⚫ hoshi ] "⚫'s boundary ⚫ ⚫ reveals ⚫ star"

The second quest in this area... I knew by now this was a pattern, but this was when I started to get scared of how bad it'd get...

89 EN - "F//εsh Aban∆on⊣ ∆" //ε ∆⊣ ∆ - "Parallel to Zero, Delta is Delta" was the best I got from this one... My husband gave me the suggestion “parallel to zero; incremental progress”, which I like a bit better. Looking at it now, it could mean "Next to Zero, Progress is Progress". (I just don't feel as confident in this one.)

89 JP -「⚫ ⚫ を捨てて久しく」 ( ⚫ ⚫ o sutete hisashiku ) "⚫ ⚫ long abandoned"

Then we got the third quest in this area and it seemed really easy...

89 EN - "Where Kn∞wledge Leads"

∞ - "Infinity" (Could refer to the 'Infinite Knowledge' the Ea suggest they have, or the 'Infinite Expanse' we've traversed, or even the 'Infinite Void'. There's lots of things it could be referencing, and if I had to guess, I'd say that's the point of this one.)

89 JP -「文明の発展」 ( bunmei no hatten ) "advancement of culture" (Alternatively: "Civilization's Advancement")

This whole section introduced us to the Ea. Theirs was a star that had gone beyond the boundary of knowledge into enlightenment. So far beyond, that they were able to abandon their bodies and become beings of pure aether. They believe they hold infinite knowledge and that no one should know what they do because they likely couldn't handle it. This echoes a lot of how Sharlayan feels/has become, and I feel like Y'shtola might have recognized that. To a degree, Urianger probably did as well, but I think he likely wanted to support her in her decision, so neither of them ended up alone. (He had just been reminded of Moenbryda the entire time they were there, and just got some closure with her parents. That was still relatively fresh when they left.) Y'shtola has always pursued knowledge and answers, so the idea that the Ea found knowledge they don't want to share seemed to offend her on principle. lol

While I still find it a bit odd that she just blurted out what she did about our Azem Crystal, I think it was still in line with her previous self-sacrifices. ("Don't you dare summon us back even though I know you can.")

OKAY. THEN THIS HAPPENED. ; A; lol The first quest of the third area just... I audibly whimpered. In Japanese, I blinked at how many asterisks were there!

90 EN - "Vic⫞ory ¨¨¨×, | ˘ | | ε Lost" ⫞ ¨¨¨×, | ˘ | | ε - "Victory Equivalent to What is Lost" or "Victory Stalled; Incremental Progress Lost"

-> Note: A lot of the symbols in this referenced Classical Poetry and Language rather than Math so far as I could find...? But they still make little sense to me. Like, ¨ is a diacritical mark, and ˘ is a breve... are these used in advanced mathematics? I couldn't find what they meant. My best, educated guesses, based on previous quests, are what I wrote above... I'm far less confident on this one than I was on "Flesh Abandon".

90 JP -「戦争＊＊＊を＊＊た星」 ( sensou ＊＊＊ o ＊＊ta hoshi ) "Star ＊＊＊ of ＊＊ War" (I keep wanting to make this one just 'Star Wars', please help. lol It's the quest when we go to Omicron Base, and they are constantly prepping for war. It fits, but... my brain. xD; Could... probably also make it something more like 'A Warlike Star', but I couldn't sort out how to make it work with the missing context.)

The aforementioned whimpering was louder this time. lol This is the penultimate quest in this area.

90 EN - "⊢⊣ "//" No⊣ 𝜙oun∆•••" ⊢⊣ "//" ⊣ 𝜙∆••• - "Equivalent Parallel Not Found; Repeating•••" -> Note: I'm fairly confident on this one, especially given the context of the quest and what we've learned up to this point. Now, especially with the Japanese Quest, I feel a lot more sure that what I put is more accurate.

90 JP -「見つからない＊＊」 ( mitsukaranai＊＊ ) "Not Found..."

The last quest here indicates the last of the symbols in the quests. (No screenshots.)

90 EN - "Hello, World" 90 JP -「ハロー•ワールド」

Finally, this is, of course, usually the test phrase to make sure your program or code is running; an indication that all is set up and ready to move forward. And since Raha's sacrifice paved the way for us to go up towards the 'nest', it fits. It also indicates that it's the last funky text quest... lol

Encouraged by the fact that it's exactly the same in JP.

We meet the Omega, the race that evolved by replacing themselves bit by bit until they were just immortal robots. They eventually only knew war, and conquest. We come to find they haven't heard from their leader in a while, no orders for their next direction... so they've just been forever preparing for their next conquest/assimilation. The leader was starting to question themself, wondering what they could do... what they were doing. Raha saw a bit of himself in the apathetic being; they really pushed the 'Crystal Exarch' feeling with this one. I had the sinking feeling the entire time that it would be Raha's turn next and really hated that I was right when it came time. But... I think he needed to say what he did, for himself just as much as anyone else. The phrase "Equivalent Parallel Not Found" that I had gotten really struck me because neither of them wanted to admit things to themselves, let alone out loud. It also refers to the fact that each area was solved by someone who resonated with the strongest memory of each.

(Also, yes, I cried. ; 3; )

Finally, the status of "Endwalker", in Japanese, as a bonus to this long post. I did post this as its own thing before, but I had sent it along with all the text dump of Quest Names when I asked for the translation help from my FC Member. ^ o^;

エンドウォーカー 終わりの旅を孤独歩む状態。 その足取りわ重い。

[ ENDOUOOKAA owari no tabi o kodoku ayumu joutai. sono ashidori wa omoi. ]

Endwalker Solitary walk to journey's end. With heavy footsteps.

yup, no changes here その足取りわ重い is pretty much the japanese equivalent of the english phrase 'the burden weighing heavy (on ones shoulder).'

I hope someone finds this at least a little interesting. As always, I may not be 100% on translations, but it does help me with my kanji reading to do these things. Additionally, all the symbols threw me for a loop and is just my own interpretation. I am admittedly extremely bad at math and could never understand advanced Math. ; 3; So trying to interpret some of these and finding explanations of equations felt confusing.

If someone else has an insight into some of these, please reblog and add on! I'd love to learn more/hear other ideas. :D

Thanks for reading, all! :3

[fr1d4y-wr1t1ng]

Ouchie-Ouchie~!

See what I did with the title there?? I took Doki-Doki and made it Ouchie- ok I’ll shut up now. Now I'm not gonna lie, I haven't had that much visual novel experience outside of Doki-Doki Literature Club ;v;. So I did have to do some research on this one, but I love this concept!! It's so cute and I definitely think Tord is the visual novel type.

Request: YESSIR YESSIR

Genre: Platonic Imagine!!

CW: None I can think of other than Foul Language. Lol.

Characters in Post: Tord, Tom, Matt, & Edd.

Description: While you never really were the type to cry at video games, it seems as if this stupid visual novel finally got you to feel something.

(Bonus) Word Count: 1.1k

You stepped foot into an odd-looking thrift store. You normally loved going thrifting but this store was… different. It seemed very run-down and it seemed like you five were the only ones there. You silently walked past the register as Matt dragged Edd toward the mirrors and Tom started looking at some of the clothing items. You made your way into a section of the shop you wouldn't expect of most second-hand shops. A CD aisle.

As you examined the aisle, you heard something- or someone come up behind you. “N/n!” Tord shouted at you, as you slightly jumped toward the noise. You huffed as the Norwegian chuckled, your silent glare expressing every level of disappointment. Your friend lightly slapped your back as he said, “relax, n/n. I'm sure that you'll find something here you'll enjoy.” you smiled at Tord, reporting back with a, “yeah, if that something is fucking haunted.” you both laughed as you started to explore the aisle more and more, you eyes gazing upon the dozens of CD’s of movies, videos, and hell even some games could be found.

But nothing caught your eye more than a bright blue box with Japanese on it, obviously placed in between other dull looking movies. You picked the case out of its place and read the title. “愛に満ちた熱の夢” You tried to see what the translation could be, using your phone. It seemingly and roughly translated to “Love-Filled Fever Dreams” an interesting title for a dating sim, but you couldn't help but ponder what this game was about. As you attempted to make sense of the description, you read that it was a visual novel game made in the ’90s. It was made specifically in Japan and only ever released in Japan. There were eight different love interests and “eighteen” different endings. You chuckled as you walked back over to Tord, this game would be his cup of tea.

As you saw your friend staring at two different CDs, you tapped his shoulder and cheerfully said, “look what I found~!” He took the CD out of your hand and looked at the box, you could tell that he was confused why you chose this game out of the (admittedly small) selection of others. Tord looked back at you, holding back a scoff as he muttered, “just because the box is bright doesn't mean it's a good selection, y/n.” you lightly chuckled as you replied, “yeah? But look at it! It's a dating sim with eight different girls and with eighteen different endings. Aren't you a bit curious?” your friend looked down on you, a small smile forming as he rolled his eyes. “Whatever, it's not my money I'm spending.” you laughed as you started to walk up to the register, maybe this shop wasn't so bad after all.

-

As you five returned home from your “shopping adventure” you started to dig through the multitude of bags for your game. As Tom grabbed his bags and ran to his room, Edd looked at you with a curious look. “Whatcha lookin’ for y/n?” he asked, taking a sip from his can of Cola. You looked back at Edd and smirked, “got a game, and I'm gonna play it. Out here. Wanna join me?” Edd looked at you, knowing that your selection would probably fuck someone up, shook his head and mumbled, “no thanks.” you both waved to each other as you finally found your game.

As Tord walked by, you grabbed him by the shoulder. “You're playing with me.” his face went dropped as he shouted, “but- I-” you put a finger to his lips as you looked at the casing again. “No buts, besides. You do owe me.” his face contorted into a look of angry defeat. You were right but he didn't want you to say it. As he sighed and sat on the couch, you went to your room to grab your laptop, jumping onto the couch and setting the game up. Once it booted, you looked at Tord and smiled. This was going to be fun.

-

Update: it was not fun, at all. Turns out this wasn't a normal dating sim, but a psychological horror game. As tears started to escape your eyes, the antagonist's dialogue started to go on and on about loving you and how she “did it all for you”. You hated her so much, as you turned over to your friend you could see that he'd been… sobbing? “Tord?” you silently asked, putting your hand on his as he mumbled, “they didn't deserve it y/n” you softly started to rub his hand as you replied, “I know. She's a bitch.” a small chuckle came out of the emotionally distraught Norwegian as he mumbled, “if I was there, I would've killed her.” you both laughed until you finished the antagonist finished her dialogue. The screen fading to black as a small “the end” screen popped up.

You looked angrily toward the screen, “WAIT THAT'S IT!?” you shouted, clenching your teeth while you looked at the screen. Tord on the other hand started sobbing even harder, you never really would've expected the both of you to get this upset but here you were. You both started to yell about the game until the living room light flickered on. “Ah- my eyes-” you muttered as you looked back toward the switch. It was Edd and Tom, staring at the both of you. Tom was the first one to speak, “you realize it is four in the fucking morning, right?” he crossed his arms at the both of you, as Edd’s lips twitched in intrigued annoyance. “And uhh… why are you crying?” Tord looked back at the two men, tears streaming down his face as he whined, “they didn't deserve it Edd”

Both of the rudely awakened men looked back at you two, Tom walked toward you both and shut the laptop. “Enough of that. Now go to bed.” he quickly huffed before walking back to his room. Edd slightly chuckled at the short male, smiling as he said, “He is right though, you two really should go to bed.” You and Tord both looked at each other, before shaking your heads at Edd. Your larger friend sighed, “please?” he mumbled, smiling at the both of you as a silent plea to just get to sleep. You sighed as you got up, carrying Tord to his room and going to your own. Fine, I guess sleep would be for the best.

As you laid in your bed, staring at the ceiling, you started to think about that game… still. You chuckled as you turned, guess that game really was a fever dream, huh?

[kunikinnie]

Hi Hana!! Congrats on 300 followers!! When I saw your event, I admit I was buzzing with excitement I couldn't help it, I love the idea of it ><

Anyways, for your event, I would love to request Dazai please with his short story Thinking of Zenzo, it's one of my favorite short stories of his <3 You'll be able to find the translation at @/bsd-bibliophile 's website, the short story is bundled with other short stories in Self Portraits

Thank you so much for sending this! I'm glad you like the prompt of this event HAHA I wasn't too sure of how I'd go about this since Dazai-sensei and BSD Dazai strike me as very different in character, but this what I tried to do HAHA I really felt like I just copy-pasted it but o well

Wet Snow based on Thinking of Zenzou (善蔵を思う)

300 Followers Event Masterlist (still open for requests!) Summary: Dazai explains to Atsushi why he hasn't shown up at the Agency recently Genre: mild existential angst, character study? Word Count: 3.3k Warnings: some profanity, perhaps mental health issues, unedited, probably ooc A/N: I’m willing to guess that canon BSD Dazai didn’t really have a normal childhood, that he was a stray dog from the get go. But here I decided to give him a normal head start in life because I just wanted to be able to stick to the OG story/prompt of this fic ehe. Contains very minor references to Dazai-sensei’s novelist daughter who I made to be BSD Dazai’s mother here, since canon BSD does like flipping relationships here and there. Given the content of her writing, it makes sense anyway so yeah. Also contains minor references to a character from No Longer Human and some stuff from Notes from the Underground by Dostoyevsky (although it's already in the title lol)

Sorry for not telling you sooner, Atsushi-kun, but I’ve been out these past couple of days because of a reunion. No, it’s not about to happen; it’s already done. Just going to wait it out a bit longer until I feel like going back to work. You know how it is.

You can explain that much to Kunikida-kun for me, right? Aww, thanks a bunch! I’m lucky to have such a kind and understanding kouhai.

You might be wondering why I’ve decided to contact you instead of Kunikida-kun directly. Well, you could say that I’m hiding from him. I promise it’s because I’m reflecting on what I’ve done to him like any other good man would. Don’t doubt me on that, will you? I’m just preparing my soul and ears before receiving my due punishment. Who doesn’t repent when one sins? But as I am a sinner I’m bound to stumble and make the same mistakes again.

If he hasn’t figured it out already and complained to all of you about it, then let me explain what I did - it was an honest mistake, I swear.

I was lounging in Kunikida-kun’s place when someone knocked on the door. No one knew I was there - not even the owner himself - which made me a bit wary about confronting anyone at the doorstep, especially if it were a deliveryman who needed his signature. But I looked through the peephole anyway and if it was someone I can deal with by myself then I’ll gladly open it. It was an older woman in trousers and a loosely-knitted cardigan - probably someone hoping to sell something. Alright, I decided, I’ll open the door for her.

“Excuse me sir,” the elderly woman said, her voice just as grating as the wheels of her metal cart. “Would you be interested in any of these?”

There were potted plants of various types in her wagon. They were the plain and boring type of ornamental plants that only plain and boring people would bother to maintain, so naturally I had no interest in buying any of them. But being the gentleman that I was, I played along this grisly old woman’s charade.

“Why does a lovely woman like you sell these woeful little things?”

“It’s for our retirement home. A little cash goes a long way for old folks like me, don’t you think?”

Retirement home? Alright, I’ll believe it - that’s what I told myself. But no matter how much I think about it the conclusion I arrived at was the same: it’s a scam.

Aside from her faked aging voice, her clothes were too new and modern compared to what a local grandma would wear. She also looked too energetic and full of life to be among the old folks who stay in retirement homes - if you ask me, Kunikida-kun has a better chance of fitting in with the jaded pensioners than she did.

Not to mention the very fact there wasn’t a home for the aged nearby at all. The closest one I could think of was at least two or three train stations away. Catching exhausted homeowners at this time of the day must have been part of their strategy as well.

“Won’t you spare a little money for charity, good sir? They’ll bloom soon - wonderfully bright little flowers. Some color to liven up your apartment.”

I could have said, “oh no madam, this isn’t my apartment, thank you for the offer,” but the way she pushed her voice and body toward me had somehow convinced me to indulge her further.

“How much would a little money be, dear madam?”

I don’t remember exactly how much it was, but it was more expensive than three consecutive meals at the best seafood buffet near the port. This is definitely a scam; how could those shabby bushes be worth that much?

I was about to refuse her when I received a text message. It was from Kunikida-kun.

Once I drop these files in my apartment, I’m coming over to yours to kick your ass for skipping work again today.

Oh no, he’s coming.

For some reason, I decided to hand over some cash. It was probably much more than what she had mentioned since she had muttered something, but I was in a hurry to save myself and chose a random pot. “Keep the change.”

She might have bowed low with a bright smile or victorious smirk - whichever it was I wasn’t able to notice. After I hurriedly shut the door and dragged the thing somewhere near the window, I planned my escape and prepared my belongings.

Only then did I realize the wallet I took money from wasn’t mine.

I know what you’re thinking: “Dazai-san you intentionally paid with Kunikida-san’s money because your wallet was empty!”

That is somewhat true. But no I did not intentionally choose his wallet over mine. I was just so used to having his wallet in my coat that I didn’t even think about it! Naturally, mine had barely anything in it, so my brain must have subconsciously chosen the one with enough cash in it. It’s as simple as that. It’s an honest mistake, I tell you!

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to clear that up with him yet. I planned to tell him the day after (since his anger would have significantly subsided by then) but something unexpected happened that very night of my blunder.

I bumped into one of my old childhood friends - although I suppose calling him a friend is a bit of a stretch.

I’m not sure how he recognized me. I’d left my hometown during middle school, and I hadn’t been particularly close with anyone at all. Perhaps it was because I bore so much resemblance to my aging mother’s face that those who lived there would have instantly made the connection.

“We’ve been wondering what had happened to you, you know?”

Despite his jovial greetings, I could tell he was criticizing my appearance. You must have thought the same things he was when you first saved me from that river, didn’t you? Well, I’m used to it. It’s not exactly what “normal” people look like, right? Bandages and a shaggy coat - normal people of my age wore clean business suits like this friend of mine did.

“Say, why don’t you join us this Friday night?”

“Friday? So soon?”

“I know it’s quite the short notice, but there’s a reunion scheduled for our middle school batch tomorrow. I’m sure the others would love to see you even if you weren’t able to graduate with us.”

A part of me knew it was just a formality on his part; he wasn’t actually hoping I’d agree. He happened to see a familiar face and wanted to confirm his identity in order to satisfy his curiosity and be able to share with his girlfriend “guess who I saw today!”

But the other part was intrigued - excited, even. As far as the world was concerned I was an ordinary child in an ordinary school in an ordinary town before I suddenly vanished - before I met that devil dressed in a white coat. No one in that part of the country knew what I had become and had preserved the image of the mischievous imp that had been the greatest source of my mother’s headaches.

Could I really become the man I had once envisioned myself to be, even if just for one night?

Without thinking, I had accepted his offer and asked for the details of the event. It wouldn’t be held in my hometown but in a relatively larger city nearby. You don’t need to know exactly where I grew up, but just know that I’m from the North.

And as a child of the North, I’m more familiar with the harsher winters than those of Yokohama. My thickest coat wasn’t nearly good enough for its chill, nor were any of my formal suits in any proper shape or form.

I’m sure that you’re thinking, “you don’t have to worry about it too much, Dazai-san. Your handsome face makes even the dirtiest rags shine!” Why, thank you Atsushi-kun! I am quite flattered. But I studied in an all-boys’ school, you see, so I needed to make the extra effort to look nice.

Why all the effort? Now that I think about it, it wasn’t necessary at all. No - it was flat out a stupid idea. I had spent money to rent the finest coat and even bought a new suit (simple but of good quality and still fashionable). It cost more than I could afford, so all my meals for the next few months will all appear on the Uzumaki’s tab.

But to appear as someone successful doesn’t necessarily require exceptional clothing. I could just wear what I usually wear to work, have it ironed out a bit and simply claim that I had just come from an important mission. Forgive the frazzled appearance, but despite my busy schedule I did my best to attend. Inflated half-truths are my specialty and a small gathering such as this with people I’m sure I’ll never meet again wouldn’t be much trouble for me at all.

I must confess that I simply wanted to wear something like that. When I was in the mafia I did not care at all how I looked, but now that I had no money the vanities that plague all men ailed me. I worried about what these ordinary folk would think of me and I had hoped to at least prove that I had indeed become a king rather than a stray dog lurking in the streets.

If only I could describe that feeling when I had finished dressing myself up. It was only a simple black turtleneck under a dark brown suit and maroon overcoat, but I had felt like I resembled an actor like you thought I was. Maybe it was the hair - I pulled it back a bit - anyway, I think I’ve been rambling on for too long.

Now that I’ve gone this far, I see I’ve made another stupid decision: telling you so much about myself. Forgive me, Atsushi-kun. I don’t know why I’ve been going on either. But I suppose now that the story has been laid out you wish to know its conclusion. Alright, then. I’ll finish what I’ve started.

Needless to say but since I couldn’t calm down from the excitement turned anxiety, I didn’t even bother showing up at work. Why has it turned into anxiety? That, dear kouhai, is what you call the effect of being slapped hard in the face by reality.

I could go on about my delusions about impressing my batchmates, but it’s just not as easy as it is. You see, there’s at least one of them who could see right through me. No matter how convincing my lies were he never fell for them and understood that they were nothing more than the grand illusions of a master conversationalist. My preparation could have been for nothing. Heck. It could have even made things worse. For sure they’ll be telling friends and their friends’ friends about the youngest son of my mother’s suddenly revealing himself after a decade. But if that one person manages to ruin everything, then they’ll only ridicule me for the fool that I am. Never mind if they find me intimidating or pitiful or something else. I just don’t want to be laughed at.

I don’t find shame in being a detective for the Agency at all, just to be clear. In fact I’m very proud of my profession and the people I work alongside with. It’s just that I’m afraid that they’ll find out the name Dazai Osamu. Yes, that’s right. It’s not my birth name. It’s a name I chose for myself when I was picked up by that devil, and so it shall forever be tied to him no matter how hard I try. If you’re wondering why I don’t use my “real” name now… let’s just say that that name is forever tied to my mother and the family she tried so hard to raise by herself. I can’t bring myself to burden her any further.

Anyway I had planned to present myself as something else. Something more normal. And so came the awaited day. I had taken a train to that city in the morning and arrived late in the afternoon. By then the streets were already buried in the snow. Its coldness held a warmth I hadn’t expected at all; it was inviting and familiar like the father welcoming home his prodigal son. Yes. I suppose that was why I had been so adamant yet anxious about this gathering. I thought I could make her proud.

The site they chose wasn’t too shabby nor too extravagant either. It was appropriate at best, but I’d be lying if it didn’t have a certain charm. Very old school Japanese sort of building - it felt like I was a writer attending his very first socials.

For all the intelligence gifted to me, I haven’t the slightest clue what it meant to be a normal human being in times like this. Years in the agency and things like this aren’t new at all, yet as I was about to present myself as “myself,” I felt like I had opened a window in me somewhere I wasn’t aware of and strangers could peek in and see through it clearly. It was strange; I hadn’t felt like that in who knows how long. But that’s alright, it’s manageable. As long as he doesn’t show up.

But he did.

I was busy exchanging pleasantries with a few of those who I at least held the slightest memory of when he appeared. Whatever illusions I fed them they gobbled up like mutts and I thought myself to be in the safe zone. But as soon as I saw his face I felt weak, the fear I thought I had lost long ago had resurfaced, and I just wanted to run away and hide. Ah, my grand efforts have come undone so easily!

“Didn’t expect to see you here, Shuu-kun.”

He had this monotone way of talking that was painful to hear. It wasn’t that his emotions were unreadable or that he was being sly and dishonest. Rather, it was that he was so honest about what he felt that there was nothing to read in between the lines. It is honesty that I love yet despise at the same time. For one thing, it builds trust. On the other hand, it cuts wounds deeper than any other psychological weapon possible. But I suppose that is the nature of the truth.

I had felt threatened at his cordial greeting that my mind had been scrambling to find a good reason for being untruthful. Without second thought, I downed my first glass of expensive sake.

“Same here,” I said in as friendly a tone as possible.

The others were talking amongst themselves, occasionally asking me or him questions about nothing in particular. But no matter where the conversation went I could feel his eyes on me.

I didn’t dare look up to meet them since I was afraid of what I’d see. Anger? Disgust? Pity?

Agh. I just wanted to get out of there.

But the taste of such fine liquor had glued me to my seat. The warmth I saw in the cold snow that tickled my skin was now flowing in liquid form beneath it. Before I knew it, I had drunk beyond my capacity. You know what I’m like when I’ve gone too far with the alcohol, right? That’s not a farce, I can tell you that much. But for the first time the liquid had loosened my tongue to an extent farther than what I had intended, farther than what I had thought I could go.

“You haven’t talked much since I came,” said he, the bane of my existence. “What about your own business? How’s it going? I’m sure someone as bright as you has made it quite far ahead.” Everything he said had annoyed me. Each and every word, each and every syllable in that oily voice had triggered something in me.

“Shut up.”

I didn’t know why I had said that. I didn’t know why I had thought of saying it - maybe I didn’t - but as quickly as his smile fell, so did the energy in our immediate surroundings.

“I think you should have some water-”

“I said shut up, asshole.”

There was a multitude of other words and embarrassing things I threw at his direction then to no one in particular that night. The shamelessness I had been cursed with then had brought me more shame now than ever before, and I’m afraid I’ve sobered enough to know not to reveal anything further. I still hope you don’t look down on me like those idiots did, okay, Atsushi-kun? I’m sorry if I’ve betrayed your expectations, but this is who I really am. I can at least be honest about that. Then again, I’ve willingly bared myself like this to you so you’re the one with the right to judge me. I don’t ask for your understanding, only forgiveness.

After my sharp tongue slashing the hearts of innocent men at an innocent gathering, I stumbled out of the venue alone and fell face first into the snow below me. It was cold. The snow wasn’t warm at all.

But I wasn’t totally wrong either. Snow, when warm, turns wet. And wet snow had clung to every inch of my shivering body like the guilt and shame that I’ve been carrying since the day I was born.

I’m not sure how I made it back to the hotel, but maybe some good Samaritan was passing by (or for some reason, one of my former classmates) and took pity on the fallen, misshapen form. I might have sneered at their faces and played at their patience with taking me to my room, but all the same I was dragged back into reality. My hangover has never been worse and my throat was dry. The moment the fog in my mind had cleared, however, the sins of the past night had come back to bite me. Who knew a single affair could bear this much damage?

But I only have myself to blame. I wasn’t acting rationally. I wasn’t acting normally. I had manipulated and lashed out at the man who was the first to really see me for who I was and accepted me regardless.

I’m still here in the hotel room, ruminating on my sins. See? I told you I really was repenting. Did you believe me? If you didn’t, I don’t blame you. But if you did, you’re a scary one, you know that?

I’m sorry for burdening you with all this. As your mentor, you should be the one doing the rambling and I the listening. This is really just proof that there’s something wrong with me, no? I can promise you that I’m trying my best, though. I’ve made that same promise to someone important too and I haven’t failed it yet (at least I think I haven’t). Thank you if you’re still there, listening.

I just received a text from Kunikida-kun. I’m 100% sure it’s about the bush. Did you tell him already, or did he figure it out himself?

…ah. Well, I wasn’t expecting that.

Do you know what he said? He said he’s thankful for such a steal. Steal? Where? I didn’t steal anything. Turns out the shrubby little bush were hydrangeas, due to bloom this spring. How did he know that? Ah, how could I expect any less from our resident nerd! Hmm. If he’s that grateful, I suppose I can get away with a few more days to myself.

So that woman wasn't a fraud after all. Interesting. But I believe someone once said that people who make a living selling things tend to lie even if they don't need to. That must be the case, and a burden has lifted off my shoulders.

Now I can rest easier, armed with a small flame in my heart to endure this harsh winter. Fate sure is merciful, isn’t she?