#The Songful Banquet of Cherry Blossoms | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

jokertrap-ran · 4 years

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SinoAlice: Guild Co-op Event - The Songful Banquet of Cherry Blossoms Translation

*Spoiler free: Translations will remain under cut *Welcome to my whims. Hameln is fine.

問題デス。春とイエバ！？ Question, question! What does Spring entail?

モチロン！潮干狩りとキャンプですネ！ It’s got to be clamming and camping, of course!

確かに以前の春は潮干狩りデシタが…… アレは春イベントに水着ヲ出せト言われたプランナーが苦シ紛れに考えたモノ。 I know we did clamming last year for the Spring Event, but that was only because the Planner managed to come up with the idea of swimsuits after much turmoil...

言わば産みノ苦しみノ歴史なのデス。ソレを思い出サセルのは鬼畜の所業デスよ！ In other words, it’s the dark history of how it came to be; one of pain and suffering. Only a demon would make one shudder to remember such a time!

ソンな内情をブチマケラレましても…… Even if that’s how it truly is on the inside...

トニカクやり直しデス。春とイエバ！？ In any case, let’s start from the beginning again. When it’s Spring, it’s-!?

エ、エエ～ット……お花見……とか？ Um, errrr…Flower viewing, perhaps...?

ピンポーン！正解デス！！Bingo! That’s right!!

エッ、本当に！？ソンな正攻法でイイノ！？ Huh? What!? Something as straightforward as that does it!?

ええ。タマにはストレー��も必要デス。 Of course. Simple is best, sometimes.

ワ～イ！お花見オ花見、楽しいナ！嬉しいナ！ Yay~! Flower viewing~! We’re going to be flower viewing! Oh, how fun! How exciting!

余興ノ人員も揃えマシタ。まずはグレーテル、さらにシンデレラ、そしてハーメルンです。 The entertainers have already been gathered. First, we’ll have Gretel, followed by Cinderella and Hameln.

スゴイ！最初から混乱しか予想デキナイ！ That’s amazing! I can foresee the chaos and confusion they’ll bring right from the get-go!

お花見ナンテおかしくなったモン勝ちデスよ。 The one who makes for the most chaotic Flower Viewing wins.

じゃア、この3人ニハ早速余興ヲ──ん？誰か来たヨウですが ……コレは……？ Should we get the 3 entertainers started now then? Hmm? There seems to be someone headed this way? ...This is…?

……ナルホド。まあイイでしょう。飛び込み参加モ大歓迎デス！ゲストを迎えテ楽しくヤリましょう！ I see...Well, that works too. Any last minute participants are welcomed to jump in anytime! Let’s all enjoy ourselves together with the guests!

ソウですネ。トテモ楽しくナリそうデス。エエ。とても……ネ。 Yes, this looks like it’ll be real fun. Absolutely so, indeed...

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一度だけ。友達に連れられて、アイドルのライブに行った事がある。 Once. Just once, did I ever attend an Idol’s concert at the insistence of my friend who dragged me along.

それはまさに、夢の世界だった。 It was a world akin to a dream; something I never thought possible.

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「みんなー！今日は　ハ　ナ　のライブに来てくれてアリガトウ！ハナにピッタリのこの場所で、最っ高の歌を聴いていってね！」 “Everyone~! Thank you all for coming to Hana’s live today! I’ll grace your ears with the best and greatest song out there in this perfect place of mine!”

薄紅の花びらが舞う、酒に似合いの風景に安如として乱入してきた『ライブラリ No.1の　ア　イ　ド　ル　』とやらば、クソが１００回つくようなくッッッッソド下手な歌を勝手に歌いだした。 The scenery was well-suited to a cup of sake, the air aflutter with the pink petals of the cherry blossoms. If only the place hadn’t been jacked by the “Library’s No.1 Idol ” Speaking of, she’s so bad at it that she's about a 100 times shittier than what’s already considered crap; singing shitty songs all on her own accord and wrangling ears everywhere.

「これは……聞くに堪えませんね……」 “This...I don’t think I can stand listening to this anymore…”

「おい、ナルシスト。あの女を消せ」 “Hey, Narcissist. Erase her.”

「私が手を下す必要ないかと」 “I doubt I’ll even have to do anything, really.”

そういって、ナルシストが指を示した失では、極度の音痴に我慢の限界を迎えたナイトメアたちが怒　り　を募うせていた。 That being said, he pointed his finger at something. A group of nightmares were already seething in anger at the hellish ear grating they were forced to suffer through; already reaching to the limits of their patience.

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さくら～↑舞う～↓ 景色～↑↑のぉ～↑ The fluttering~↑ dance~↓ of the~↑↑ Sakura in the background~↑

Ｎｏｏｏｏｏｏｏ↑↑ 歌ウノヤメロォ！ NOOOOOOO↑↑ Stop singing!

ロォ↓マンス～↑ 恋のぉ～神～～↑↑ Ro~↓ mance~↑ The god~ of love~~↑↑

耳ガ腐ルゥゥ！助ケテェェ！！ My ears are about to drop off! Someone, save me!!

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「あたしの歌で踊りだしたくなる気持ちは判るけど、暴れるのはダメだぞぅ✰」 “I understand that my singing makes one feel the urge to dance but rampaging? That’s a big no-no✰ ”

ナイトメアの蹴散うしたハナさんとやらば、その場で軽やかにターンをしてーー Kicking the Nightmare away, she did a light twirl on the spot.

「　ダ　ン　ス　ならこう踊らなきゃ！」 “You’ve got to dance like this if you’re going to do it!”

この世のものとは思えぬ醜い歌に合わせ、心を抉るような　前　衛　的　な踊りを始めました。 She started to dance Avant - garde , coupled with the horrid song that was out of this world; one so appalling that it almost felt like someone was gouging my very heart out.

「眩暈がしてきた……」 “I’m actually starting to get dizzy from seeing this…”

艶やかな褐色の肌を持つシンデレラさんの殺意の失わせるほどの醜悪な歌と踊り。 A horrible, ear-grating song and an equally unbeautiful dance. One that actually made the glossy brown-skinned Cinderella lose all the killing intent that she wielded.

これには、さすがの私も辟易です。 That being said, this also repulses me, of course.

しかし、不思議な事に、綺麗な足を持つグレーテルさんだけは魅　入　ら　れ　たように歌に聞き入っていたのです…… But the strangest thing was that Gretel, the one with beautiful legs, seemed utterly charmed and entranced by the song...

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席なんて、ステージからもの凄く遠いスタンドだったけど。 The seats were so far from the stage itself. Rather than seats, it was actually more like a stand.

そこから観る会場はサイリウムの光に包まれて、まるで花畑みたいだった。 Watching the stage surrounded by psyllium lights from afar, it bore a resemblance to a flower garden of sorts.

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ステージでアイドルが歌う。あたしの席から顔なんて見える訳ないんおに、それでも笑顔だとわかる。 The Idol sung atop the stage. I knew that they were smiling, even though I can’t possibly see them from my seat.

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「ねえ兄様。あの歌…… 懐かしくありませんか？昔、兄様と二人で過ごした夜の森で、冷たい月明りの下で聴いた……」 “Hey, brother? Isn’t this song nostalgic…? It’s the same song we heard at night, back in the forest where we lived together. Under the cold, icy moonlight…”

「森の奥から聞こえてきた、歌……」 “The same song that resonated deep within the forest itself…”

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ヤヤヤヤメヤメヤメヤメロメロンー！ SSSST- STO- STOP STOP STOP-!

オカシクナルルルルルルリルレロ！ I’M STARTING TO GO CRRAAAAZY!

わあ！斬新なコールアリガトー！ Wow! Thanks for new cheer!!

ハハハハナハナハナヒヒヒヒヒヒヒッ！ HAHAHAHANAHANAHA-- HIIE!!

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アイドルの歌と踊りに合わせて、会場が揺れる。アイドルはキラキラしていて、とても可愛くて。それを観るみんなも、とてもキラキラしていた。 The venue broke out in an uproar in response to the Idol’s song and dance. The idol was shining in the limelight and absolutely adorable. And the audience shone too, as they looked on.

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クソ下手音痴女　ハ　ナ　の歌と踊りは戦意を失わせた。怒りを抱く事すら勿体ないろいうか…… Listening and watching the shitty tone-deaf woman Hana singing and dance made me lose all the fight in me. Or, more like...It would be a waste to even feel rage at this...

そういうレベルにまで達しているのは、ある意味芸術と言ってもいいのかもしれない。遠のく意識と視界が、現実を拒否するように段々と霞んでいく。 It might even be called art, considering just how bad she was. My consciousness slowly faded as my vision grew hazier, as if rejecting reality itself.

「スモークいいわね！もっと焚いて！会場をハナ色に染めちゃってー！」

“The smoke’s looking good! Keep it coming! Fill the area with colour―!”

音痴女の声に呼応するように周囲の木々が揺れた。そこから黄　色　い　煙　が大量に吐き出される。 The surrounding trees shook, seemingly responding to the tone-deaf girl’s command. And then, a yellow smoke spewed forth.

「これは……　花　粉　……？」

“Is this… pollen …?”

横にいたナルシストがそう呟いたような、そうでないような……なんだ？頭が……

I feel as if the Narcissist beside me had muttered something like that...or not…? What’s this? My head...

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大量の花粉が！これはイケマセン！ A large amount of pollen! This won’t do!!

桜の花粉ッてコンナに飛ばないのデハ？ I thought the pollen from cherry blossoms wasn't this bad?

ライブラリの桜ですカラ。 Well, it’s the Library’s cherry blossoms.

その一言デ説明が済むの、最高デスネ！ Nice! The explanation’s done and settled in a single breath!

こんな事もアロウかと。ハイ！花粉ブロック！ 99.9％花粉を遮断！機能性も抜群デス！ Well, I did think this might happen. So...here! Pollen Block! It’s 99.9% effective!

呼吸も99.9％遮断！死ヘノ片道装備デス！ But that prevents breathing itself by 99.9%! It’s a one way ticket to death itself!

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ライブが終わったあと、会場から出っていくみんなは、とにかく笑顔だった。あたしも、もちろんその一人。 Everyone left the venue with a smile on their face once the Live ended. I, of course, included.

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その少女は、歌を歌った。皆を笑顔にしたいのだと、そう笑った。それがあまりに純粋で、あまりに無邪気で。だから私は、彼女に新しい歌を教えた。 The girl sang, and sang she did. She laughed about wanting to make everyone smile. All so innocent, all so pure. Thus, I taught her a new song.

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アイドルって凄いなって思った。たった一人で数万人を笑顔にできる、そんなアイドルに、あたしは憧れた。 I thought that Idols were amazing. Just one person, able to bring smiles to countless others. I admired Idols; they were my admiration.

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その少女の声には力があった。我らに活動を促す力が。そうーー我らの時代を、もう一度取り戻す力が。 That girl’s voice held power. The power to urge us to motion; to act. That’s right―— The power to reclaim our reign once more.

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あたしは小さい頃から病気がちで。人退院の度に、周りに迷惑をかけていた。誰かを笑顔にする事より、誰かを悲しい顔にする事の方が多かった。 I was always sickly ever since I was little. I only inconvenience those around me, whenever I get admitted to the hospital. Rather than making people happy, I made people sad, more often than not.

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「スモーク焚きすぎちゃって道が見えないわ。誰か道案内してくれないかしら。これからオーデイションがあるのよね」 “There’s too much smoke; I can’t see the way. Could I perhaps, get someone to lead the way? I’ve got an audition on the way.”

ハナさんは、こちらをじっとみて言いました。つまり、私達に案内を要求しているのでしょう。その気配を察したシンデレラさんは、冷たい声で拒絶しました。 Hana spoke, keeping eye contact with me the entire time. In other words, she’s probably asking us for help. Cinderella coldly refused after having grasped the situation.

「金はある��の？まあ払われても断るけど」 “Is there money in this? Well, not that I’d take it either even if you offered.”

「そんなぁ……ひどいですぅ……！」 “No way...how mean…!”

ハナさんの泣き声に呼応して、一層花粉がと飛散します。これは宜しくありません。 More pollen was scattered upon her cries. This isn’t appreciated at all.

「少しくとも、あなたの姿は美しい。私が　案　内　いたしましょう」 “You’re a beautiful one, at least. Allow me to lead the way.”

「ありがとう！貴方、お名前は？」 “Thanks! What’s your name?”

「ハーメルン、とお呼び下さい」 “Call me Hameln.”

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ハーメルン……メルちゃんね！よろしく！ Hameln…? Mel, then! I’ll be in your care!

メル……？ Mel…?

ところでぇ……メルちゃんは──ハナと手を繋いではくれないの？ By the way...Won’t you join hands with me, Mel?

？こうしてあなたの手を取っていますが── ? But aren’t I already holding onto your ha...nd…?

──テヘッ。 ──Tee-hee.

花粉のせいで見間違えましたね。失礼。醜い。 I’ve blundered due to the pollen in the air. Pardon me, that was unsightly.

ギャアッ！勘違イシタノハソッチナノニー！ Gyaah! You’re the one at fault though!

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こんなあたしでも。アイドルになれば誰かを笑顔にできるのかな。知らない人にも、幸せを感じてもらう事ができるのかな。 I wonder if I can bring a smile to someone else’s face too, if someone like me can become an Idol. I wonder if I can make people that I don’t know feel happy too?

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会場いっぱいに咲くサイリウムの光の花に包まれて、可愛いドレスを着たわたしがステージで歌を歌うーーそんな未来を夢見ながら桜の木に向かっ歌っていたある日、頭の中に素敵な歌が流れてきた。 The venue was blooming with Psyllium Flowers of light. Dressed in a cute dress, I sang; and sang I did―— I continued looking on, holding onto that dream for the future. One day, while I was singing to the Cherry Blossom Tree, a beautiful song sounded in my mind

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入院した病室の窓から桜が見える。その桜の木に向かって、あたしは歌を歌った。桜が散る頃には退院して、オーデイションを受けに行くんだ。 I can see the Cherry Blossoms from the window of my Hospital Room. I sang to the Cherry Blossom Tree and sang I did. When the Cherry Blossoms scatter and I get discharged from here, I’ll go for an Audition.

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少女は夢を抱いていた。しかし、少女は病も抱えていた。やがて少女に声は枯れ果てて、その儚き夢も叶うことなく――

だから、私はその身に命を蕾を宿した。 The girl held onto a dream. However, sickness also had a clutch on her. Eventually, her voice faltered and faded, that fleeting dream of her’s never coming to pass.

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――桜が咲いて、散って。入院してから何回目かの満開を迎える。あたし、少しは歌が上手くなったかな？早くオーデイションを受けたいな。 ――The Cherry Blossoms bloomed and scattered. I’ve seen many a cycle of it coming into full bloom ever since I was admitted. Have I gotten a little better at singing? I want to hurry and go for an Audition.

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これ以上、あのクソ下手音痴女のせいで花粉を巻き散うされちゃ堪らない。仕方なく、私達は手音痴女を案内していた。しかし―― I can’t stand being showered by more Pollen because of the shitty tone-deaf girl. I suppose we don’t have a choice but to show her the way. But――

（あのブラコン、やけに大人しいな） (That Bro-con is being unsettlingly quiet.)

ハーメルンと手を繋いでご機嫌な音痴女の後るに歩くグレーテルが、普段よりも妙に静かで気にかかる。いつもなら「兄様、兄様」と一人でぶつくさ言っているはずなのに。 His unusual silence caught my attention, as he walked along behind Hameln, who had joined hands with the joyous looking tone-deaf girl. Usually, he’d be muttering “Brother, brother” all by his lonesome.

「……あ」 “…Oh.”

そのグルーテルが、小さな声を上げた。 That very Gretel made a small sound.

「兄様に……　花　が咲きました……」 “ Flowers are blooming…on Brother..”

籠の中の『兄様』からは、全く似合わないファンシーな花が咲いていた。 Fancy unfitting flowers were blooming in the cage where “Brother” was held.

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何やら呻き声も聞こえますね。 I seem to hear something akin to moaning.

そんな事どうでもいい！兄様、兄様！ There’s absolutely no way that’s the case! Brother, brother!

でも意外と似合ってんじゃない？その花。 But don’t you think that suits him surprisingly well? That flower, I mean.

似合って……ああ……兄様、可愛いです…… It suits him…? …Ahh…Brother, you’re so cute…

ねぇ、ドラゴンがいるんですけどぉー。 Hey, there’s a dragon here though―

グウ……ズズッ……鼻ガ詰マッテ…… Ugh…sniff, sniffle…My nose’s all stuffed up…

呻き声はコレでしたか。何とも美しくない…… So this was the cause of all the moaning. It’s not the slightest bit beautiful at all…

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――桜が咲いて、散って。あと何回、この景色を見られるだろう。歌おうにも声が出ない。乾燥した唇が裂けて、血が滲んだ。 ――The Cherry Blossoms bloomed and scattered. I wonder how many more times I must witness this scene? No sound comes out even if I sing. My dry, chapped lips crack as blood oozes out.

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少女の顔は美しい。伸びた四肢も美しい。そして少女から漂う匂い。これは――ああ、今まで花粉で気付きませんでしたね…… The girl had beautiful features. Her limbs were all so beautiful as well. Then came the smell that came along with her. This is―― Ahh, I never noticed due to all the Pollen flying about up till now…

「この腐臭は、美しくない」 “This smell of rot is not beautiful in the least.”

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――桜が咲いて、散って。今年も、何とか見届けられた。来年まで頑張ろうね、と気気遣う看護師の声がする。 ――The Cherry Blossoms bloomed and scattered. I somehow managed to see the petals off again this year. I hear the kind, caring nurse telling me to do my best again next year.

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いつの間にか桜の木の下に来ていました。そこには、人の形をした植物が、綺麗な花を咲かせていくつも立っています。 Before I knew it, I was already standing below the Cherry Blossom Tree. There were many human-shaped plants, all with stunning flowers blooming on them.

「兄様。兄様と同じ花ですよ」 “Brother. It’s the same flower as the one blooming on you, Brother.”

花が咲いた兄様と、花の咲かない私。それがなんだか、とても悲しい。 Brother, who had flowers blooming on him, and me, who did not. That was utterly saddening, in a sense.

「それならお　揃　い　になってみる？」 “Then how about you try becoming a pair ?”

どこからか、歌う声が聞こえてきます。二人で過ごした、森の奥でも聞いた声。あの時、兄様は近づくなと言ったけど。 I could hear singing coming from somewhere. A voice that I heard even back in the depths of that forest; back during the time I spent together with Brother. I recall telling whoever that had been to stay away from Brother, back then.

「じゃあ、願いを叶えてあげるね」 “Then, let me grant your wish!”

兄様、私はあなたと一緒がいいのです。 Brother, I want to be the same as you.

「ブラコン！」 “Bro-con!””

誰かが叫んでいるけど、邪魔しないで。私は今、とても　幸　せ　なのだから―― Someone was yelling. Don’t get in the way; For I’m extremely happy right now――

━━━━━━━━━━∘◦ ♯ ❀ ♯ ◦∘━━━━━━━━━━━━━

あいつ、花に寄生されたのか！？ That guy; Is he being parasitized by those flowers!?

花を咲かすグレーテルさんも、また美しい。 Gretel’s beautiful even with flowers blooming on their being.

アンタも、頭に花を咲かせてもらえば？ How about we make one grow on your head too?

それも良いですね。きっと美しいでしょう。 That might not be too bad of an idea. It’ll be a dazzling sight to behold, I’m sure.

嫌味が通じないのか。このナルシスト…… Can’t you tell sarcasm when it’s in front of your face, you narcissist...!?

━━━━━━━━━━∘◦ ♯ ❀ ♯ ◦∘━━━━━━━━━━━━━

――冬なのに、桜が咲いている。ああ、枝に積もった雪がそう見えるんだ。それでもいい。最期に見られて良かった…… ――The Cherry Blossoms bloomed and scattered. Ahh, so that’s how the branches look like with snow piled on them. This is fine. I’m glad that I managed to see it in the end…

━━━━━━━━━━∘◦ ♯ ❀ ♯ ◦∘━━━━━━━━━━━━━

突然現れた予定外の乱入者。歌に合わせて撒き散らされる大量の花粉。しかも思考を惑わすオマケ付き……とくれば、異変の　原　因　は明らかだ。 An intruder had appeared out of the blue; this was not planned. The large amount of Pollen being scattered around along with the song. Along with the added effect of addling your mind… In conclusion, the root cause of this was startlingly apparent.

「どう考えてもアンタだろ？」 “No matter how you think about it, you’re the one behind all this, aren’t you?”

武器を突きつけつろ、ハナは震えた。 Hana trembled as Cinderella pointed her weapon at her.

「ち、違うもん！メルちゃん、助けて！」 “N-No, you’re mistaken! Help me, Mel!”

「残念ながら、あなたからは腐臭がする。大変醜い臭いです。私に助けられる価値は、地を這う虫ほどもありません」 “Unfortunately, there’s a rotting smell coming from you. It’s a horribly ugly scent. And I’m not obligated to help anyone or anything who’s worth is equivalent to a worm, crawling on the ground.”

「……っ」 “…Ngh.”

ハーメルンの言葉に息を呑むと、音痴女は派手に笑い出し―― The tone-deaf girl sucked in a deep breath at Hameln’s words before breaking out into laughter――

「お前ら全員、花人形にしてやる！」 “I’m gonna turn all of you into Flower Dolls!”

義姉と同じくらい、

醜　く　顔を歪めた Her face distorted uglily ; it was almost as bad as Gishin’s own.

━━━━━━━━━━∘◦ ♯ ❀ ♯ ◦∘━━━━━━━━━━━━━

みんな、あたしの歌を聴かなかった！だから花人形にしてやったのよ！！どう？これなら黙って歌を聴くでしょう！？ No one was listening to my song! That’s why I turned them all into Flower Dolls!! How’s that for a change? Now you’ll shut up and listen to my singing, right!?

人形にしなけりゃ聴いてもらえない歌なんて、アンタ才能ないんだよ。それだけの話だろ？ If no one’ll listen to you unless you turn them into a Doll, doesn’t that just mean that you don’t have the talent for it? That’s all there is to it, no?

なのにアイドルを名乗るとは……ああ醜い。 And still, you dare call yourself an Idol…Ahh, how ugly.

違う……あたしは、アイドルなのおぉ！ No…I’m…I AM an Idol!

━━━━━━━━━━∘◦ ♯ ❀ ♯ ◦∘━━━━━━━━━━━━━

――あたしは、アイドルになりたかった。満員の会場で、光の花に囲まれて、楽しそうに歌うアイドル…… だって…… みんあの　笑　顔　が、見たかったから。病気がちのあたしの周りには、悲しい顔しかなかったから―― ――I wanted to be an Idol. An Idol, singing happily in a full-house venue, with flowers of light blooming all around… Because… I wanted to see the smiles on everyone’s faces. Because there was nothing but sad faces around me, due to my sickly nature――

「生まれ変わったら、今度こそ……」 “Next time, if I’m reborn…”

そう呟いて、少女は光の中に消　え　去　っ　た　。 The girl murmured her last as she faded away from the light.

━━━━━━━━━━∘◦ ♯ ❀ ♯ ◦∘━━━━━━━━━━━━━

……結局、この少女も　駄　目　だった。確か、��れで３４人目だ。それにしても、笑顔を見たいと言いながら、自分が見られる事が目的になるとは、まさに本末転倒…… …That girl was a no - good either, in the end. I’m certain this makes it the 34th person now. Even so, to think that her goal would be for people to notice her despite how she’s always crowing about how she wanted to see everyone’s smiles… She’s certainly got her priorities wrong.

しかし、これだからこそ人間は面白い。では、私は次の　苗　床　を探すとしよう。 But this is precisely what makes humans all so interesting. Well then, I suppose I’ll have to find another nursery .

手始めに、少女を殺したあの３人を―― How about those 3 who killed the girl, for starters――

━━━━━━━━━━∘◦ ♯ ❀ ♯ ◦∘━━━━━━━━━━━━━

桜さん。今まであたしの歌を聴いてくれて、ありがとう。アイドルになる夢は叶わなかったけど、あなたはあたしの、たった一人の観客でした。 Dear Cherry Blossom, thank you for listening to my singing. I never fulfilled my dream of becoming an Idol, but you’re my one and only audience I ever had.

━━━━━━━━━━∘◦ ♯ ❀ ♯ ◦∘━━━━━━━━━━━━━

黒幕はアノ桜の木デシタ。 The mastermind was that Cherry Blossom Tree.

木にヨル支配とは、どこかで聞いたヨウナ。 A tree that rules everything? I feel like I’ve heard about this somewhere…

ソンな物語もドコかにアッタような？ I feel like a story like that exists somewhere out there.

トコロデ、あの桜ハどうシマス？ By the way, what are we going to do with that Cherry Blossom?

アア、ソレならすでに対処済みデス。大事ナ兄様に花ヲ咲かせた木ニ腹を立てタグレーテルが根本カラ桜ヲぶち倒しマシテ。 Ohh, that’s already been dealt with. Gretel was mad that the tree had made flowers bloom on his beloved Brother and chopped it up, roots and all.

エッ……黒幕を……？ Eh…He did that to the Mastermind…?

ソノ倒れた桜を眺めナガラ酒を飲ンでいたシンデレラが、「確か桜の木は、スモーク用のチップとして売れたな？」と思いツキ、ハーメルンに命令シテ。 And then Cinderella was looking upon the fallen Cherry Blossom whilst sipping on a cup of Sake pipped up, saying “Come to think of it, Cherry Blossom Wood can be sold as Smoking Chips, right?” And thus, she ordered Hameln to procure it.

エエ……黒幕がスモーク用……？ Ehh…Using the Mastermind as smoking material…?

ハーメルンは「艶やかな肌の主の言う事なら」と、ソレは美しく桜の木をカットして。結果、ライブラリ特製燻製用桜チップとしテ見事に高値で売れマシター！ハイこれ売上報告書。凄いデスヨ。 “If that’s what the master of glossy skin wishes.” Said Hameln, and he beautifully cut up the Cherry Blossom Tree. As a result, the Library’s Special Cherry Blossom Smoked Chips are being sold for an astoundingly high price!! Here’s the Sales Report. Amazing, isn’t it!

エエエ……本当ダ。黒幕メッチャ売レてる。 Ehhh…You’re right. The Mastermind’s selling really well.

この売上デ燻製肉でも食べニ行きマセンカ？ How about we use the Sales earnings to go eat some smoked meat?

行クー！人ノお金で食べるオ肉大好き！ Count me in―! I love eating meat when someone else’s paying!

燻製に使うチップはもちろん桜デ…… The wood chips we’re going to use for the smoking will be Cherry Blossom, of course.

∘◦ -————❈ ❀ 𝔉𝔦𝔫. ❀ ❈————- ◦∘

#Sinoalice #シノアリス #Translations #Hameln #Gretel #Cinderella #The Songful Banquet of Cherry Blossoms #Kitamura Eri #Maeno Tomoaki #Maaya Uchida #前野智昭 #喜多村英梨 #内田真礼 #桜花ノ歌宴

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sl-resources · 3 years

Text

~ ~ ~ CARD REQUEST ~ ~ ~

Woodland Concert

Ren Jinguji

Ice Illusion Festival

Reiji Kotobuki

Otoya Ittoki

Ren Jinguji

Cecil Aijima

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Parade

Cecil Aijima

Camus

Sugary Little Devil Halloween

Natsuki Shinomiya

Cecil Aijima

Haunted Nightmare Museum

Natsuki Shinomiya

Tokiya Ichinose

Cecil Aijima

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Ai Mikaze

Camus

Twinkling Festive Decorations

Masato Hijirikawa

Otoya Ittoki

Syo Kurusu

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Camus

Happy New Year Felicitations and Blessings

Otoya Ittoki

Tokiya Ichinose

Cecil Aijima

Happy New Year Rejoice and Celebrations

Syo Kurusu

Natsuki Shinomiya

Ren Jinguji

Ai Mikaze

Melty Pop Valentine

Otoya Ittoki

Cecil Aijima

Masato Hijirikawa

Tokiya Ichinose

Ren Jinguji

Syo Kurusu

Reiji Kotobuki

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Ai Mikaze

Camus

Cherry Blossom Blizzard

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Camus

Otoya Ittoki

Natsuki Shinomiya

Ai Mikaze

Unlimited Glory

Ai Mikaze

Otoya Ittoki

Masato Hijirikawa

Natsuki Shinomiya

Ren Jinguji

Syo Kurusu

Cecil Aijima

Reiji Kotobuki

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Camus

Birth of the Frontier

Masato Hijirikawa

Natsuki Shinomiya

Ren Jinguji

Syo Kurusu

Reiji Kotobuki

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Ai Mikaze

Heart-Pounding Theme Park

Masato Hijirikawa

Otoya Ittoki

Natsuki Shinomiya

Ren Jinguji

Syo Kurusu

Cecil Aijima

Reiji Kotobuki

Ai Mikaze

Nocturne of the Love Weavers

Otoya Ittoki

Natsuki Shinomiya

Masato Hijirikawa

Tokiya Ichinose

Syo Kurusu

Cecil Aijima

Reiji Kotobuki

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Camus

Heart-Racing Resort Island

Syo Kurusu

Cecil Aijima

Otoya Ittoki

Masato Hijirikawa

Natsuki Shinomiya

Tokiya Ichinose

Ren Jinguji

Reiji Kotobuki

Ai Mikaze

Camus

Birthday Celebration

Otoya Ittoki

Masato Hijirikawa

Natsuki Shinomiya

Syo Kurusu

Cecil Aijima

Reiji Kotobuki

Ai Mikaze

Camus

Touch the Sky

Otoya Ittoki

Masato Hijirikawa

Natsuki Shinomiya

Tokiya Ichinose

Ren Jinguji

Syo Kurusu

Cecil Aijima

Reiji Kotobuki

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Ai Mikaze

Camus

Mythical Treats Halloween

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Ai Mikaze

Otoya Ittoki

Masato Hijirikawa

Natsuki Shinomiya

Tokiya Ichinose

Ren Jinguji

Syo Kurusu

Cecil Aijima

Reiji Kotobuki

Camus

Delightful Tea Break

Tokiya Ichinose

Reiji Kotobuki

Otoya Ittoki

Masato Hijirikawa

Natsuki Shinomiya

Ren Jinguji

Syo Kurusu

Cecil Aijima

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Ai Mikaze

Camus

Shining Silver Christmas Gift

Ren Jinguji

Ai Mikaze

Otoya Ittoki

Masato Hijirikawa

Natsuki Shinomiya

Tokiya Ichinose

Syo Kurusu

Cecil Aijima

Reiji Kotobuki

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Camus

New Year Tiger Festival Light of Spring

Ren Jinguji

Natsuki Shinomiya

Syo Kurusu

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Ai Mikaze

New Year Tiger Festival Cloud of Fortune

Camus

Masato Hijirikawa

Tokiya Ichinose

Cecil Aijima

Reiji Kotobuki

Valentine's Day Banquet

Tokiya Ichinose

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Otoya Ittoki

Masato Hijirikawa

Natsuki Shinomiya

Ren Jinguji

Syo Kurusu

Cecil Aijima

Reiji Kotobuki

Ai Mikaze

Camus

Flowers in the Spring Sun

Natsuki Shinomiya

Cecil Aijima

Otoya Ittoki

Masato Hijirikawa

Tokiya Ichinose

Ren Jinguji

Syo Kurusu

Reiji Kotobuki

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Ai Mikaze

Camus

Romantic Hour

Ren Jinguji

Syo Kurusu

Otoya Ittoki

Masato Hijirikawa

Natsuki Shinomiya

Tokiya Ichinose

Cecil Aijima

Reiji Kotobuki

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Ai Mikaze

Camus

Pure Song of Joy

Otoya Ittoki

Masato Hijirikawa

Natsuki Shinomiya

Tokiya Ichinose

Ren Jinguji

Syo Kurusu

Cecil Aijima

Reiji Kotobuki

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Ai Mikaze

Camus

Daybreak of the Ocean

Masato Hijirikawa

Reiji Kotobuki

Otoya Ittoki

Natsuki Shinomiya

Tokiya Ichinose

Ren Jinguji

Syo Kurusu

Cecil Aijima

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Ai Mikaze

Camus

White Flames Black Storms

Otoya Ittoki

Tokiya Ichinose

Masato Hijirikawa

Natsuki Shinomiya

Ren Jinguji

Syo Kurusu

Cecil Aijima

Reiji Kotobuki

Ranmaru Kurosaki

Ai Mikaze

Camus

If anyone pulls any of these cards and would be willing to record & submit their stories to our blog, let us know and feel free to do so! (: We’ll do our best to keep this list as up to date as possible and hopefully together we can complete the directory again in no time! ♥

We also have handy guides for recording and submitting, but if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask!

#card request #shining live #utapri

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piedpiperslists · 3 years

Text

Seokjin One Shots (V)

* s - contains smut

🤬 by @cinnaminsvga wc~2k / enemies to lovers Summary: Frenemy!Seokjin ft. E2L and the magnificent get-along sweater.

View by @noteguk s wc~2.1k / established relationship, PWP Summary: In which Seokjin likes to show people what is his.

Undercover by @cinnaminsvga s wc~5k / ft JJK, vampire!Jungkook, siren!Seokjin, bodyguard au Summary: The company banquets that your family loves to host are often drearier than you would like them to be. Lucky for you, your bodyguards have the perfect solution: why don’t you play a little game with them?

Cheap Seats by @alpacaparkaseok wc~3.5k / neighbors au Summary: “I pay half your cable bill. You wouldn’t survive without me.”

Cherry Blossom Avenue by @scriptaed wc~23k / old friends to lovers Summary: College would’ve been unbearable if it weren’t for your wallowing sessions with your best friend Jin over a shared “forever alone” woe, so it really was only a matter of time until the two of you sealed a shoddy promise to betroth the other at the age of 27. Perhaps it was only a silly joke to you then, but you should’ve known better nonetheless; because when a wedding invitation arrives five years later down the road with his name signed next to another’s, feelings that were once buried begin to blossom once again.

Clicking Into Place by @baojinnie s wc~5k / enemies to lovers, college au Summary: “So what are we?” “Friends?”

To a Tea by @hazytaezy s wc~3.9k / friends to lovers Summary: Jin is just your doorman. But he’s also your best friend. And you also want to fuck him.

Fast Lane by @yminie s wc~20k / Formula One racer!Seokjin, pit crew!reader, enemies to lovers Summary: “Disgruntledly, you think to yourself how frustrating it is he can be quite so awful of a person and still be so good looking.” Alternatively; Boy Toy racer Kim Seokjin lives to test; the laws of speed, how many women he can bag, how much money he can convince people to give him, and quite how far you can be pushed before you snap.

Not Like This by @evolmaze wc~5k / friends to lovers Summary: You go to a party ready to hang out with your friends, but your best friend has other ideas that involve you, a closet, seven minutes, and a close friend you swore you’d never tell.

There's No Way by @taleasnewastime wc~3k / friends to lovers Summary: Based off the song “There’s no way” by Lauv and Julia Michaels.

#ksj list #seokjin oneshot

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xsugarysweetsx · 4 years

Note

Hi! Can I get a Leopold x reader? Where the reader is a very good pianist, and she is asked by the wizard king himself to play at a really important banquet for royals and nobles. And Leo is like *insert surprised pikachu face* and tries to flirt with her? Hope this makes sense 😂

I hope HCs are fine! Please enjoy!

You’ve been playing piano since you were young and it’s been your passion ever since.

Even your parents could see this was your calling

They did nothing but support you and your work

one day they came with a flier for a contest being held by order of the Wizard King

the winner would be playing at the banquet that was coming up

this was your chance to be recognized and you all knew it, but your hopes were brought down to the fact that you were just a civilian. You have average magic and not too much money to get dressed

Your father started to work extremely hard and scrapped up some money to buy you a beautiful lavender dress

You cried and thanked him and swore to make him proud

The day of the contest you saw so many young girls and boys and was worried about how you would do

You were so nervous but you would do your best over all

You’re parents simply just smiled and said “play”

As the before you finished up your felt your palms sweat and heart pound against your chest as you walk on stage.

You sit at the piano and let out a breath

Closing your eyes you fingers dance across the keys in a graceful and elegant way

I’m starting to think about Your Lie In April now

the crowd was in Awh at the beautiful gentle melody you produced

As a special touch you added in your magic

You made the leaves of near by tress dance along with the music and swirl and burst out with the end of the song

When you opened your eyes you were given a standing ovation. You couldn’t believe it

You were pulled from your thoughts when a hand lands on your shoulder

“Congratulations, you will be playing at the banquet two nights from now” he said with his smile

He seemed a lot nicer than you expected

“That is, if you accept” he said looking to you

You nod your head “y-yes! I’d be honored!”

“That’s wonderful time hear, ladies and gentlemen, she is the winner of contest” he announced to the crowd

Your parents were so proud of you, the knew you would make it

The next day you orcwtuced ans practiced your best prices and a sample the king gave you

It was very sofisticated compared to the lovely melodies you liked to play but you could handle it

The day of the banquet, you were picked up by his assistant Marx. He escorted you to the banquet where things were being set up

“This will be the piano you will play at the banquet. Meanwhile there is a practice room that she will show you” he introduced you to a maid who would help you get ready

You thanked him and got to work

The maid had done your hair and make up beautiful, you’ve never felt so important in your life

The king then came into the room as you warmed up. He and someone else stood by as you finished up and applaud your playing

“That sounds beautiful Y/N, I hope you’re ready for tonight”

“Reader as I’ll ever be”

Little did you know that Julius‘s guest had been watching very carefully amazed at the way you played

Who was this? It was none of the Leopold Vermillion other vermillion household

He was never one for classical music like that but he’s never heard anyone please so softly and so gracefully ever in his life and he was enthralled

He couldn’t wait to hear you play at the banquet

The first two hours you were allowed to do whatever walk around look at the place and even have some food although some people look at you strange they were also informed who you were and that you were going to be playing

Even with the scuffs and lugs that you got you were ready to prove them wrong and to show just how much telling you had to be here

Just before you go on stage to play real pool came up to you and said

“Hey...good luck up there” send giving you a thumbs up as he blushed immensely and walked back to the crowd to watch you

as you sat down you readied yourself. Julius thought you would play your gentle music but you came up with something else

You start out soft and delicate slowly climbing into more intense notes and rhythm. Both new, elegant and exciting

You end it with a few more powerful notes and you magic came In with the cherry blossoms you requested and so was your performance

You look out into the crowd as they applaud with satisfaction on their faces.

Leo had a :0 look on his

As you come down from the stage you got a few compliments on how well you performed and even some requests to perform music at other events

Leo then came up to you

“You played...amazingly” he said with a dust of pink on his cheek

“Thank-“

“It’s not as amazing as you though...” he said, catching you off guard “I...um...you’re really cute!” He blurted out

Well he wa straight forward but you appreciated it, instead of leading you on with pointless flirting

“Thanks...I never got you name by the way I’m Y/N” you extend your hand

“Leopold” he gently took it and shook your hand

You both spent the night getting to know each other and dtalking

He did eventually take up those requests and some of them were in the Palace where you could see him often

On your free days he would come to your house and just watch you play and sometimes even try to play with you

I hope this was okay!❤️

#leopold vermillion #fuegoleon vermillion x reader #black clover leopold #black clover x reader #black clover #anime x reader #anime fanfiction #fanfiction #anime #black clover anime

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gwoongi · 5 years

Text

euphoria

jeon jeongguk / reader genre: royalty au, fluff rating: general words: 3305 warnings: big ball of love, inspired by moon lovers + that one gorgeous scene in tangled a/n: this is a bit of my royal jeongguk au i was writing and never finished, and i wrote this whilst listening to jeongguk’s new solo song snippet and a version of euphoria that i never knew i needed (+ i love, please see my masterlist for the link). also, happy birthday jeongguk, i love you so much °₊·ˈ∗♡( ˃̶᷇ ‧̫ ˂̶᷆ )♡∗ˈ‧₊°

➸ To be betrothed to Jeongguk is not only a great business advantage for your families, but a great honour for yourself. To be betrothed to Jeongguk, and one day bound to him, would be your greatest glory.

On Prince Junghyun’s birthday, it snows.

The first snowfall of the year, after a long haul of barren landscapes and dropping blossoms; Jeongguk feels like he’s been waiting forever for the snow to fall. Standing on the inside looking out, Jeongguk rests his hands on the cool stone of his bay window, stretching his body to peer out onto the courtyard of his keep. A thin layer of white lies peacefully over the once green grass outside by the cherry blossom trees, castle turrets stretching up into a grey sky littered with tiny flakes. He inhales the smell of the snowfall, the fresh smell that tickles his nose as he catches the scent.

Today is the day, he thinks, pushing himself back flat onto his feet and retreating towards his wardrobe, the solo door in the wall that opened out into a spare room converted for his luxury. Today is the day he will officially court you, and it has to be perfect.

Yewon had laid out his clothes for him, on a small square shaped stool that sits next to one of the cabinets in Jeongguk’s closet. He sees the set and smiles- perfect. Everything is perfect, including the day that follows him after he dresses, helped by his close servants who attach his armour and uniform, balancing a crown like thorns and barbed wire on top of his head.

You weren’t to be expected until the late afternoon, when the L/N’s would cross the Border from the Badlands into the North, towards Ravens’ Keep where he and his family lived and looked over the lands. Beyond the Badlands were the other Kingdoms of Korea, including your own; Three Streams, a traditional Kingdom with rivers winding through the towns, a much prettier sight to see than the cobble that ran around his own. Jeongguk hoped that, given that his courtship to you went smoothly enough, he could one day visit and see the people that a marriage would inherit.

Late afternoon rolls around speedily, time passing in blinks and gasps, unreal speeds. Jeongguk almost feels unprepared when the raven brings news of a crossing at the Border, a royal carriage pulling through with an assembly and audience. His hands are clammy as he waits, pacing the royal hall out of anxiousness and anticipation, excitement at seeing you after so long. It had only been a few months, less than two. Enough for Jeongguk to miss you, and the way you smiled shyly at him after the news of your betrothal.

Although nobody had known otherwise, Jeongguk was happy that you were no longer betrothed to his brother. If it hadn’t been for the Princess from Gwangju making an appearance at that same ball, he might have never got the chance to be with you. The thought sickens him. The thought of you with anybody but himself...he thought about it less and less as each day passed.

When you step down from the royal carriage, two hours later, when the moon says the time is past the hour of eight, Jeongguk feels his heart in his throat. The sight of your feet covered in an elegant black heel, followed by a gown that drags across the freshly sweeped floor, makes Jeongguk’s body shake out of nervousness. And it’s not in the Prince to get nervous easily. But, naturally, this occasion is made an exception.

“Lord and Lady L/N.”

His own mother steps from her place above Jeongguk on the steps rising into their keep, out of protocol, and her hands reach for your own mothers. The two women embrace, old friends, and her gaze lands on you, sheepish behind your brother’s broad shoulders. “And, our wonderful Y/N. You look absolutely beautiful.”

“Thank you, your Grace,” you reply, meekly. She smiles tightly and turns away, out of politeness to invite you all inside, and then you look at Jeongguk. The way he looks at you is the way you look at him, and the sight invites you in with one deep breath.

He is beyond words. Jeongguk is beauty, the representation of hidden gorgeousness in the North, like the tales once said. The way he stands with his hands tucked in front of him, his thumbs nervously fighting as he bites his bottom lip has your breath pulled inwards. Regal in appearance, he wears his house colours and sigil sewn onto his breast, dark red and silver colours dappled with ebony covering his torso and legs, his sword slotted into the sheath shining as it catches the shine of your necklace, dipped into cleavage. He is too beautiful for his own good, a catch and a sight to behold. To be betrothed to Jeongguk is not only a great business advantage for your families, but a great honour for yourself. To be betrothed to Jeongguk, and one day bound to him, would be your greatest glory.

“My Lady,” Jeongguk calls, bowing his head and body as you take small steps towards him. Your heels clip, like tiny horse hooves echoing in the silent snowfall, and Jeongguk raises his gaze with a shy smile that you almost miss.

“My Lord,” you reply, following his gesture. When your gaze lifts to find his eyes, you see his hand reaching out for you, slender fingers outstretched like ornaments, like the branches on the sacred Tree of Tales outside Ravens’ Keep’s walls.

When your hand slots into his own, you feel that he is cold; yet a warmth spreads across your body, a connection of electricity that has his hand tightening around yours, a promise of protection and his entire attention for the evening. You remembered from the last time that Prince Jeongguk was not a man of many words, his feelings and thoughts poured into physicalities that you had learned to translate.

The dinner that follows is, as expected to be, a success; the banquet is delivered within appropriate time and you eat quietly, speaking when spoken to, your gaze catching Jeongguk’s across the table when nobody was looking. With Jeongguk, while you are both expected to fulfil the promise of betrothal, there is also an expected level of professionalism and purity that you must keep. But looking into Jeongguk’s eyes when you’re supposed to be looking at something else feels like victorious rebellion, like the feeling of adrenaline after breaking the rules. The deep look of longing in his eyes, the love on his cheeks, a pink hue that you almost don’t see in the candlelight.

Jeongguk is so beautiful.

“There will be fireworks.” After spending far too long getting lost in Jeongguk’s silent smiles and eyebrow quirks, you finally return to the adult conversations at the heads of the table. The Queen Mother, Jeongguk’s mother, presses her chin into her palms as she discusses the traditions of royal birthday’s within this Kingdom, the ceremony that is planned for the hour of nine for Prince Junghyun. “I would ask that you attend the ceremony, as future in laws and as current allies to our Kingdom.”

“There would be no greater honour,” comes the honest reply of your father.

No greater honour indeed; Jeongguk’s smile widens at that, and when you grin back at him with your head ducked away from prying and imploring eyes, his shyness turns him back to staring at his plate.

Following a trail of burning orange lanterns that glow in the moonlight, the ceremony for Prince Junghyun takes place in the royal gardens. It’s rustic and medieval, with high stone walls covered in snow and hanging lights from the trees. A free slot occupies the center of the space cleared for the ceremony, with bowls of ice and white blossom, the drinks required for the transitioning of age. The two royal families cross the length of the smaller courtyard within the main walls of the keep, and by the time they each reach the long staircase down into the gardens, a sudden hand tugging on your own makes you pause and take steps backwards, away from your family and Jeongguk’s.

You turn suddenly, bewildered that somebody might try and stop you from attending the ceremony of Prince Junghyun - yet, the sight of Jeongguk’s own bashful and mischievous face surprises you, and he tugs you further away from the stairs, behind one of the artistically trimmed hedges that is covered in tiny blue berries.

“My Lord?” you question quietly and curiously, and Jeongguk just continues to smile. His one hand that is wrapped around yours stays there, affectionately placed, meanwhile the other reaches for your cheek and pulls one of the loose long curls of hair away from your skin. The act leaves you breathless. Prince Jeongguk is not allowed to touch you until marriage. This is forbidden.

But, he does it anyway. His personal guard who is assigned to him at all times watches from the staircase, and then he slowly moves out of view of the royal family and steps closer to the pair of you.

“Don’t worry,” Jeongguk reassures you. You notice, now that you’re alone, that Jeongguk’s formalities have dropped. He sounds more normal than you have ever heard him. This stolen intimacy makes your heart race, the feeling of butterfly wings against the inside of your stomach.

“What are you doing?” you ask him, cocking your head to the side with piqued interest. “If my family notice that I am missing, or worse, yours-!”

“I will tell them the truth, that I stole you away for myself to get a better view,” Jeongguk replies, and now, the smile is so natural that when it drops, you miss it right away. “Lady L/N, my Y/N, I would like to offer you the best view in the kingdom for tonight’s ceremony. Would you do me the honour of joining me?”

“I would love that,” you reply, beaming in reply.

The hand rested on your cheek tucks the hair behind your ear and his hand lingers there, gently stroking before falling. Perhaps he realised how intimate this really was, private conversations behind shrubbery in the knowledge of Jeongguk’s closest friend and trusted accomplice, his guard, Namjoon.

Either way, Jeongguk leads you by the hand and the heart towards a hidden stone staircase that sticks out of the wall, and with careful steps and a tight grasp of your hand, Jeongguk helps you up. The daunting trip is also closely followed by Namjoon, always one step behind, in case you should fall. You thankfully don’t, and the risk of danger is worth it by the time you reach the top, to where Jeongguk has prepared for you both to sit.

This is a rooftop, near one of the pointed turret roofs of one of the towers to decorate his keep. Namjoon stands near the staircase, respecting a well needed privacy between two betrothed and Jeongguk pats a space next to him on the cool stone. Out of care, he wipes the stone clean with his hand, removing the thin layer of snow that once covered it and like dust, it falls from the sky to the floor below. Apprehensive, you slowly drop to sit next to him, copying his position of legs hanging over the small wall, heels staring down at the drop.

The view is worth it. From where you are sitting, the view of Ravens’ Keep is breathtaking. You can see for miles, gazing at the snow haze hanging over the Kingdom and the buildings whose lights shine through glassless windows, glowing like fireflies in the night. It’s like a painting, colours paid close attention to and the smell of citrus and snowfall, faint aromas of bread from the bakery near the keep. Jeongguk observes your reactions to this freeing feeling of being on top of the world, and his chest tightens when you smile widely, a gasp leaving your mouth with a whisp of air.

“It’s gorgeous,” you comment. Jeongguk doesn’t look away.

“It is.”

Out the corner of your eye, you see his eyes on you. “I mean the view.”

“So do I,” he replies, and then you face him with raised eyebrows, a scandalised expression on your face. “What?” He laughs, “did I lie?”

“Sh,” you quip, and he laughs again.

This he prefers, much more than the forced formalities of being royal. Jeongguk likes it best when you’re you, the candid natural beauty unmissable. It’s the same thing he desired when he first saw you that day with your handmaid, the normal and informal squabbling he thought of as more endearing than insensitive, something he wished he could do with you somebody. It’s the same thing Jeongguk likes most about you, the same thing he wants to see you do more.

He closes these thoughts as he looks away, staring at the glowing lights of the ceremony and the sight of the Kingdom that might one day be his. While his brother is now betrothed to marry the Princess of Gwangju, his fate as King of Ravens’ Keep remains uncertain. He might even move to the Capital when the war is over, and rule the entire country. That would leave Ravens’ Keep to Jeongguk, and by extension, to you, and your future family. That thought makes him wriggle with nervousness.

“I think it’s starting soon,” Jeongguk says suddenly. He sees a flame flicker, like they’re getting ready to release the lanterns. They do this every year for their birthdays; the people of his Kingdom will light silver and orange lanterns and release them to the sky, a rising parade of glowing lights to celebrate the birth and age of the princes, soon to be Kings, of the North. “I remember this from last year.”

“Oh?” You sit up, arching to peek at the courtyard. “I can’t see anything.”

“You will,” promises Jeongguk. When you look at him, he grins and grabs your hand again, “You’ll love it, I promise.”

“I’m excited,” you confess shyly. “Everybody’s told me a lot about the ceremony for your birthdays.”

“Yeah?” Jeongguk replies with a light laugh. “Have any of your memories come back, by the way? I know the last time we met, things were still unclear.”

“They still are,” you admit honestly, “but things are getting easier. I’m finally back to where I think I was before. It’s definitely less confusing.”

Jeongguk laughs genuinely. “That’s good to know. I thought the idea of betrothed marriage disgusted you.”

“No, never,” you insist, shaking your head. “It was...a surprise, yes. But, it’s not so bad.”

The prince smirks playfully, “no?”

“No,” you tease. “I think it’s going to work out fine for me.”

You have no idea, but the sound of that fills Jeongguk’s chest with joy, something so warm and tight and good that he almost wants to cry.

Out of the corner of his eye, he can see the lights engulf the courtyard, lanterns being prepared. He wonders if they’ve noticed neither of you are there, or if they care- maybe they know their son well enough to understand what he’s done, where he’s taken you and what he’s about to do. Just before the first royal lantern is lit and lifted to the endless skies of ebony, clustered by blinking stars, Jeongguk’s fingers trace patterns on your skin and you pause, looking at him.

“My Y/N,” he starts, his voice unusually quiet and nervous. You try to meet his eyes but he ducks away.

“Yes?” you encourage, but he says nothing. You grasp his hand tighter, “Jeongguk?”

“It is expected of me to like you,” Jeongguk begins, and those starting words make you shudder cold, “and I’m sorry if this is...I don’t know...forward of me.” He sighs, gasping courage: “But I like you. So much.”

Your world pauses.

“And it would mean everything and more to me,” he continues with a deep and worried voice, “if you would take my hand. In courtship.”

When you say nothing, Jeongguk fears that perhaps you might not understand. He swallows the lump in his throat: “Um, Namjoon told me it’s also been called dating. We date. Like...a less intimate version of marriage, I think. Um-”

“I know what courting is,” you nod, unintentionally interrupting and his mouth opens to an ‘o’. He says nothing, feeling slightly embarrassed as time passes. His gut wrenches, he wants to cry and run away. But before he can do this, and before he can regret it, Jeongguk feels your body warmth closer to his and his eyes focus, watching as you gently lean forward and kiss his lips.

It is so gentle, and so fleeting, and missed greatly when you pull away. Jeongguk blinks, dazed, and as the lanterns in the courtyard are gently raised one by one in celebration of Junghyun’s birthday, Jeongguk leans himself forward as you join to kiss you again, one hand on his lap and the other cupping the side of your head, fingers in your hair, head in the clouds.

The sky is glittering and glowing with silver and orange, the sound of church bells and cheers in the Kingdom rising in the sky as they set off into the darkness. It is so beautiful, and peaceful as the colours engulf the sky, surrounded by the snow that falls lightly like a kiss, and in between each kiss comes the glimpse of silver from a lantern, the burst of life from fireworks that somebody is setting off deeper in the Kingdom. The colours are royal and gorgeous, reds and blues and whites and a bright gold, lost and missed between kisses as he closes his eyes, and yours, too.

Intimacy is sacred, something reserved for marriage, but after tonight, there is no way Jeongguk can resist the urge and need to be with you. You fill a space in Jeongguk that had otherwise been left empty and exposed, like a lost and found puzzle piece that completes the set. Eventually one hand on your head becomes two, and confidence inside Jeongguk is ripped through when your hands grasp his wrists, bringing him closer, the need and lust and yearning for one another so absolute and passionate that even Namjoon, who is still by the stairs, can feel the love. When Jeongguk finally realises he is being selfish, stealing your sight of the highly regarded birthday celebration, he pulls away and rests his forehead against your own, catching his breath.

He could shy away when he opens his eyes and sees your own looking right back at him, but he does not. Instead he smiles, so brightly that he resembles the life in the sky, and my Gods, he is so breathtaking, so divine and regal and beautiful that it hurts. The truth now is that meeting Jeongguk had been one of the biggest mysteries and accidents of your life, whilst also being the absolute completion of it. The sight of lanterns fills your eyes like a painting and Jeongguk notices that Namjoon is shuffling towards him, a lantern that he had fetched whilst you were otherwise occupied being thrust into his hands.

“Y/N,” Jeongguk calls quickly, and you catch sight of the lantern in his hands and smile widely.

Down below, from the courtyard dazzled with lights in the sky, Lady Jeon turns in awe at the sight, in circles staring at the sky. She pauses on her second rotation, her eyes piercing to gaze at the turret near Jeongguk’s bedroom; the sight of a lone silver lantern rising to the sky makes her heart burst with something new, something tight and relieving and warm. Everybody had noticed Jeongguk’s absence, along with your own, and it wasn’t hard to put together the pieces.

She smiles, knowing better. Oh, to be young and in love.

for context, the au was inspired a lot by moon lovers + so y/n actually gets teleported //back in time?// and is thrown into a royal universe where she is betrothed to jeongguk. i hope this au can be born soon and i hope this context helps !!! (it’s also a lil bit game of thrones inspired oops)

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rubiaryutheroyal · 3 years

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Joeyxs submitted:

I found this song through The Sims 4 as there is a “simlish” version of it in game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkcb_RcfliE

The real Japanese version is the other link I provided. Hopefully you’re able and willing to translate this, because there doesn’t appear to be any lyrics for it, at least not without some deep searching.

The Simlish version is hilarious, sounds like someone who doesn’t know Japanese trying to sing Japanese... in the funny way, I mean.

So, the original song is the opening theme from the dating visual novel game ~Miyako~ Snowfall Banquet. Surprisingly, even the JP wikipedia doesn’t have a game synopsis. But from what the CM shows, it looks like one of those Feudal Japan types of otome games where the MC suddenly shows up in the past and meets all these handsome young men who are probably based on actual historical figures or legends...

Anyway, this song is a serious bop. I don’t know how many times I’ve listened to it now.

As always, the Romaji lyrics and translations are below the cut. Japanese lyrics taken from this lyrics site.

Romaji lyrics:

hakanaki yoru no hazama de yureru awai yukiiro someta hanabira kawasareta inochi no kizuna

mikagami no kagayaki terasu michishirube yureru sakurabana

anata e no omoi sae mo kakushite shimaou

oboro ni setsuna ni yoru ga netsu o harami tayutau fuuga na yume taorarenu youni mamori tsudzuketai

ten no sadame o kuru utage wa kono omoi hitohira miseru kiseki taenaru shirabe michibiku mai kogare motome towa ni sasagu koigokoro

kin o matou tsuki ga anata o aeka ni terashite wa kaketa kokoro no naka ni kizanda hisoyaka na chigiri

todokanu kaeranu inori to nageku yoru netsujou ga nariyamazu kousa suru omoi in to you no ma ni

toki no sadame o yomu kotonoha setsu na negai awaseru kai moyou mune o irodoru shiki no naka de amai yume o utsutsu e kaete miseyou

hakanaki yoru no hazama de yureru awai yukiiro someta hanabira suzuyaka na hitomi ni towararete aragau sube nado ushinawareta

hakanaki yoru no hazama de yureru kinjirareta niwa ni saku enka kawasareta inochi no kizuna

ten no sadame o kuru utage wa kono omoi hitohira miseru kiseki taenaru shirabe michibiku mai urei aegi towa ni kogarete

toki no sadame o yomu kotonoha setsu na negai awaseru kai moyou mune o irodoru shiki no naka de amai yume o utsutsu e kaete miseyou

English translation:

Wavering in the span of the briefest night Petals dyed in pale snow white The bonds of lives that have crossed

The glistening of mirroring waters Shining upon the guidepost Fluttering cherry blossoms

Even the feelings meant for you Hide them away completely

In the haze, in the moment Pregnancy from the heat of the night The fluttering elegant dream I want to keep protecting it like it’s unbreakable

The banquet that turns the fates of Heaven A piece of this feeling, a charming miracle An enchanting melody, a guiding dance Yearn, wish, this eternal devoted love

The moon clad in gold that shines delicately upon you has waned The quiet vow carved into your heart

An unfulfilled, unhatched prayer and a lamentable night The passion rings without end, feelings crossing paths In the space between dark and light

The poem* that recites the fates of time An ardent wish met together like shells Amid the four seasons that color your heart Let's turn this sweet dream into reality

Wavering in the span of the briefest night Petals dyed in pale snow white Caught in sight of cold eyes All means to resist are lost

Wavering in the span of the briefest night The enka** that blooms in the forbidden courtyard The bonds of lives that have crossed

The banquet that turns the fates of Heaven A piece of this feeling, a charming miracle An enchanting melody, a guiding dance Grieving, panting, yearning eternally

The poem that recites the fates of time An ardent wish met together like shells Amid the four seasons that color your heart Let's turn this sweet dream into reality

* I chose “poem” to simplify because the words of a poem like a tanka aren’t cleanly translated into English without proper context. ** The enka is referring to the type of poem, but here it’s presented as a flower that can bloom.

This was a really nice song to translate because it not only reads like a poem, it’s even written with archaic prose to match the game’s setting. Thanks for the suggestion!

#i translate #miyako ~ awayuki no utage #song lyrics #kinzakura no chigiri #submission

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strifescloud · 4 years

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utaawase opening ritual translation

hello it’s me and Christie again, finished all the songs so it’s just filling in the dialogue in between. another preview

Houyou:

Tsuru (spoken): Songs are what people use to express their myriads of thoughts into words. Sometimes the songs that these words express are not human. That is to say, they can also move the hearts of gods.

The nostalgic scent of flowers. The birdsong melts into your ears. The wind scatters the leaves and the dew wets your sleeve. The thought of spring on a snowy moonlit morning.

Every living creature born into this world is able to sing (1). Whether they’re humans, gods, demons, spirits....or even us.

Now, sing. Now, play!

Kamiasobi [songs offered to the gods]:

After inviting Amaterasu and entertaining her, how much sacred music and dance would it take to induce her to remain? (2)

The sparks fly from the fire This ceremonial flame must not be extinguished

Hold your pen ready Expose the true nature

Spell out the song Desires brought to light What is painted is the heart’s resolve

Hold your pen ready Threatening the natural order Spell out the song A line that must not be crossed

The brazier’s flame sways, the gods’ shadows dance Are you prepared? Are you prepared?

A song dedicated to the gods A song to be exchanged Now, let’s begin A contest of songs A banquet of wild dance

Singing the song, the cherry blossoms bloom Dancing to the sound To the left, to the right In blue, in red By the will of the gods

Admiring the flowers, caressing the breeze, Suffering from love

To the left, to the right In blue, in red By the will of the gods Songs offered to the gods An utaawase with you

Notes:

(1) the wording leads me to believe this is an allusion to the foreword of the kokin wakashu - “The song of the warbler among the blossoms, the voice of the frog dwelling in the water - these teach us that every living creature sings.”

(2) this is a quote from a kagura hikyoku titled “hirume” - kagura hikyoku is an “imeperial secret song”, i.e. a sung form of prayer kept secret and passed down in oral tradition as it is solely for the use of the emperor and dedicated to the imperial ancestral deity, Amaterasu Oomikami. This translation is adapted from a paper by Michiko Urita which I found here, and is worth a read if you’re interested in this kind of tradition!

#toumyu #tkrb #utaawase ranbu kyouran #musical touken ranbu

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huntress-of-stories-and-dreams · 4 years

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Shokugeki no Soma: Fifth Plate - OP analysis

Hi guys!

Since this week’s episode will be the last before the delay that has touched half of this Spring Season’s aired shows, let me present you the analysis of Shokugeki no Sōma’s last opening, “Last Chapter” by nano.RIPE. Keep in mind that this analysis will contain spoilers, so...

If this doesn’t stop you, then let the fun begin.

The OP starts with a purple curtain with Tōtsuki’s emblem, showing that the story happens in the theatre called the Tōtsuki Academy. It’ll be important a bit later.

This shot (and some smaller ones concentrating on smaller groups) presents the established after the Regiment de Cuisine Elite Ten Council and new Headmaster. From right to left, it shows them in their seat order:

10th Seat: Megumi Tadokoro playing plates, which represent her famous hospitality

9th Seat: Nene Kinokuni playing a roller used in soba preparation

8th Seat: Etsuya Eizan shaking expensive wine bottles, showing his “Alchemist” side

7th Seat: Takumi Aldini holding his mezzaluna

6th Seat: Alice Nakiri dancing with a fork and a spoon, used in eating her molecular cuisine

5th Seat: Ryō Kurokiba with a pot used in cooking sea food

4th Seat: Akira Hayama playing on a frying pan with cinnamon

3rd Seat: Terunori Kuga playing his wok

2nd Seat: Satoshi Isshiki with chopsticks and a plank to serve his signature Japanese food

1st Seat: Sōma Yukihira holding his knife

Dean: Erina Nakiri conducting them with a ladle

The lyrics in this sequence is worth noting (source: https://www.animesonglyrics.com/food-wars-the-fifth-plate/last-chapter):

How beautiful the melody has to be To be able to reach that girl who's been hurt The girl is obviously Erina, hurt by her father’s ‘teaching’ and people’s attitude towards her becasue of the God Tongue, who, thanks to Sōma’s and their friends’ (but mostly Sōma’s) cooking, starts to enjoy cooking. This is the beautiful melody - sincere cooking.

One last note about the lyrics, because if I analysed it in its entirety, it would take me ages - the song is sung most likely from Sōma’s persperctive.

The next shot shows Tōtsuki Academy hill on spring, sigifying the new year (most of our chefs are second years now) and new beginnings. At the front are the three Headmasters, though from Nakiri household, each of them is different. Senzaemon stands tranquil and firm, looking at the Jewel generations students, Azami looks as if he was trying to convince the world to change their ways - both of them are sure of their work, unlike Erina, who’s hands hugging her body and darkened eyes show her uncertainty.

Next is the title panel, swiftly transitioning from fire to snow to finally sparkles and cherry blossom, showing Sōma’s path from conquering (usually he was the one to bring fire) to protecting - this will be important later. Also, Sōma seen in this frame has just begun to cook his dish.

After the title, let’s skip to the big character exposition panels! First we have the peach themed frame with Nakiri girls: Erina, Alice, Ikumi (who, at the beginning, was working for the God Tongue) and Hisako. The peach may represent feminity, as there are only girls in here, and luck.

Next one’s the Polar Star Dormitory group shot with all of its residents present, with apples in the background. While apples may refer to various dishes cooked by Sōma and Megumi that included these fruits, apple symbolises youth, which is often brought up by Isshiki, Madame Fumio and Jun Shiomi.

Then we have a lemon-themed shot with Sōma’s “rivals” (apart from Isami, he never was battling Sōma on his own - it’s a reference from their first encounter during the Hell Camp). One of lemon’s symbolisms is freshness, which perfectly fits each of their meetings, bringing freshness into their lives.

Finally, with cherries signifying maturity, we get to see the original Elite Ten Council members.

Each group pannel is separated by a dish frame. It’s important that only the white backgrounded frame has dishes prepared by various cooks - the rest were cooked by (from upper left to right) Sōma, Erina, Megumi and Takumi. This shows their strong connection forged in the Tōtsuki Train arc, where they were together, and predicts all of them participating in BLUE.

Until now there was no clear shots focusing on strictly Sōma - now’s the time they are here. We get shots from his early past, reminding us also of the Karaage Wars arc, and from Stagiaire. Each time he’s standing in the bright light, surrounded by cherry petals, symbolising him being ‘spring’, beginning of the new era. The light here is very bright and yellom, as if he was standing on a stage - remember the opening shot with the curtain? Sōma is this story’s main hero, the one that iniciated the whole process of change in Tōtsuki.

The contrast between Eishi and Sōma in this frame is spectacular - gourmet cuisine vs family diner, autumn vs spring, showing how Sōma became Eishi’s successor to the First Seat in the Elite Ten Council. Look at how gorgeous they look with flying maple leaves and cherry petals flying around them!

(keep in mind Tsukasa’s red kerchief/tie, this will be important later)

The sequence right before the chorus is so full of hidden meanings! The first frame of this sequence is Sōma, standing in the light, probably on the top, reminescenting. His signature headband, now on his left wrist, is connected to...

... his late mother, Tamako Yukihira! This is the first time we actually get to see her, besides the covered in light family photo from the very first episode. I love the gentle difference of colour shades between Sōma and Tamako - Sōma is bright as the light around him while dim shades of Tamako imply her being already in the realm of shadows, however she returns for a brief moment to life everytime he starts cooking. The frame is full of love and support Sōma got from her, showing how important she was in his life. His signature headband is most likely a memento of her - it’s the thing that keeps them tied after all these years.

It quickly changes to Erina tasting one of Sōma’s dishes, seemingly taking pleasure from it. This screen (and two others, each getting closer to Erina’s blushed face) indicates Sōma’s desire to make Erina say ‘delicious’ - she’s the one he wants to make happy with his cooking. His mother was first btw :)

Sōma’s knife is brightened by cherry petals - it shows his power coming from his cooking, cumulated in the cutting edge. This is the blade of change.

Finally, Asahi Saiba appears! As you can see, he’s the one surrounded by flames, it’s not Sōma anymore. The leader of Noirs is the one who wants to disturb the balance. There is also some similarities between him and Sōma - their cooking look is similar, probably because both of them were raised (though differently) by Jōichiro. Also, he has a signature red kerchief around his neck, similarly to Eishi, however his kerchief isn’t loose on his neck, it’s tight and Asahi used it to cover his face, also covering his true intentions.

This shot presents the famous BLUE fortress where the contest takes place. The frame shows the entire building, particularly the final building where the Bookmaster is staying, in the fantastic blue light, not calming as it may look like, but giving the one looking at it chills of excitement. The moon also reminds of the Autumn Selection and the Moon Banquet, taking place at approximately the same time as BLUE.

Erina, held by Asahi surrounded by Noirs, is clue to one of this arc’s plot, as her freedom depends on Sōma’s ability to win against Asahi. Yes, it looks like she’s the damsel in distress - it’s direct parallel to Erina being ‘imprisoned’ by her father.

There’s also a group shot of all of the WGO judges that we have met and the ones that we’ll meet during BLUE, of course on a blue background.

This frame is very intriguing. There is a silhouette visible behind the two fighting cooks - it’s Mana Nakiri, Erina’s mother and the Bookmaster, the one behind all of this. There is an astonishing contrast between Asahi and Sōma - Yukihira wields a single, pink (like the cherry petals) blade while Saiba has two, which refers to his special ability, the Cross Knives.

Finally, FINALLY Sōma gets his presenting shot. It’s worth mentioning that Erina was the first one to be presented - this is yet another way of showing their connection. She’s the beginning, he’s the end. Or maybe the other way?

In both this and the following frame we can also see Sōma being on the top/looking at his opponent from the top, foreshadowing his victory against Asahi in BLUE.

This screen presents the two possible destinies of Erina: the upper is with Sōma by her side - most of their bonding moments take place under the starry night, so this shot is really meaningful, the nether - Erina as Asahi’s bride. While they both stand in the same place, the upper destiny seems more realistic, as the nether looks like a mere reflection of what could happen and the duo from the top is the one that moves a bit the water.

Note: Sōma and Erina were supposed to get married at the end of the series, but creators didn’t have enough space. The couple however has been claimed as canon.

This is the final group shot of all Tōtsuki students we came to love, watching sakura blossom at night. It’s simply beautiful, watching their silhouettes near the bright water, cherry blossom and Tōtsuki Academy. This frame is full of love and reminescense...

The penultimate frame is a direct continuation of the ‘destiny’ shot. Sōma and Erina are standing here, together. It’s gorgeous, beautiful, showing how close they have become and that a bright future awaits them, written in the stars. The lighting of this frame, warm and delicate, gives us a sense of intimacy and fondness.

The last shot presents a dim silhouette of Sōma who ended his cooking (it’s the position we often got to see either on the episode’s numer frame or at the end of the episode) and, most importantly, Sōma walking away in the sunlight. It predicts Sōma’s parting from Tōtsuki to travel around the world, just like Jōichiro once did, but with a difference.

There is no storm to swallow chefs who want to reach the top.

Sōma and his cooking dispersed it, saving himself, his friends and Erina from it.

#opening analysis #shokugeki no souma: fifth plate #shokugeki no soma #food wars #Elite Ten Council #Polar Star Dormitory #Regiment de Cuisine #BLUE #is this good?#let me know #sorry for spelling mistakes

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hiromisuzukimicrojournal · 4 years

Text

A Longer Trip Back Home

...

✽

Hey, have a cigarette?

She always asks me if I have a cigarette when she has emptied the last box. Of course I do not have it, she knows. My mother spends all her wages on cigarettes. My mother, a waitress at a café in the center of a suburban residential area at the edge of the world. In the afternoon, the café is filled with ladies. They are housewives coming from elegant houses at the edge of the world, killing time. Mother and the ladies play mah-jongg every Wednesday at the café, in the center of the town, where the smoke of cigarettes wafts stronger than the scent of coffee.

You must go straight home and study, Mother says, as a mother would.

I always stop by a used record store on my way home from high school. Music is the heart of my mind. Today, my favorite tune, “Running Away,” is playing in the store. The Raincoats’ version, not Sly & The Family Stone’s, which is actually called “Runnin’ Away.” I sing to the music.

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

The vinyl collector is smiling wryly.

Delightful tune, but ironical lyrics, he says. I have a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. I wonder how many more years I have to work. I want to sell this store and get away to San Francisco, the heart of the world. Why? You can see the ocean from the top of the hill. That is all.

His 11-year-old son, strangely mature, enters the conversation while listening near the cash register.

How about your boyfriend? No lover? If you are not in love yet, it is too late. But dad is too young for an affair.

The boy’s eyes twinkle with curiosity. There is a big Himalayan cedar in the back of the record store, and sometimes an owl appears on a branch. When I am staying in the store, forgetting time, I hear the owl tu–whit tu–whoo. A small river flows at the root of the cedar, and there is a small old church on the marsh.

When I was a child, a wedding was held by the side of this river. I was a bridesmaid, and the cedar was decorated like a Christmas tree. The guests carried an enormous red sea bream into the kitchen in preparation for the ceremony. My mother and the vinyl collector’s wife poached the eggs to a beautiful golden colour and boiled four dozen white asparagus as a side dish. On a Swedish glass dish in bas‐relief with dandelions, the butter slowly melted beside the radishes.

Yes. It was spring.

Someone knocked on the door of the kitchen. Ladies in aprons looked around. They thought the knock was the prank of a spring storm. But it was the bridegroom. He rushed to the kitchen sink and turned the tap to gulp down some water. An old woman named Eliza shouted to him from her house across the way.

Too late! The bride has gone somewhere! She is a wayward girl!

Too far! It took a million hours on a bus from Shibuya station! he joked, spouting water from his inflated mouth and soaking his bow tie. He was a chipmunk that came to this marsh on a gondola of chicory leaves.

The bride was beautiful. She was clinging to the cedar, and as she reached out to the star ornaments shining on the branches of the tree, a warm wind teased the hem of her champagne dress. Guests grew excited, little by little. The sky was getting dark. I was crouching alone on the bank of the river at dusk. The chipmunk ran away from the banquet and gave me a leftover chicory leaf like a tiny boat. The boat left my hand. The boat drifted on the river, far away.

Where does this river come from?　I questioned the bridegroom.

A mountain? I do not know. Ha! he answered.

Where does this river go to?

The river reflected the sunset. The chicory boat was floating freely on the water.

The sea? Ah, Tokyo Bay, the Pacific? Ha! Ha!

Tokyo Bay? Little did I know a small river in my small town flows into the infinite ocean. I had never seen the sea.

A girl in a swimsuit with a yellow floral pattern is swimming in a murky pool. Someone beckons her, seduces her. She becomes a little fish and approaches him trembling with fear. No. The girl dives in the ocean for the first time. Not the pool. A blowfish hides at the bottom of the sea. White round blowfish like clouds shine in the sunlight breaking through the faint waves. The blowfish has poison. She keeps swimming in pursuit of poison. A blowfish with white belly inflated does not move. Is he dead? As he opens his eyes slowly, he laughs, showing his teeth.

All of us have a place in history. Mine is in the clouds, he says *[1].

Dad! she cries with joy. Her father died a drunk at fifty years of age. Everyone says it was a slow-motion suicide. No. Certainly, he lives his life at the bottom of the sea, or as the shadow of a cloud floating on the surface of the ocean. There is a Japanese proverb: control poison with poison. Her father was fighting the evil in his mind with his own poison. She remembers his rounded back. Late at night, or on a Sunday afternoon, he headed to his desk with a bottle of Johnnie Walker and read the collection of poems. She cannot remember the titles of foreign books. The poems were written in English or French. The girl begins to swim toward the sun. Petals scattering from her swimsuit shine in the water. Like cherry blossoms dancing in a cloudy sky.

The memory of the wedding at the root of the Himalayan cedar raised for me the riddle of a small river in my small town. I decided to explore the headsprings and the destination of this flow. I bought a 1950s map of Tokyo at Jimbōchō. At the ward office, I found historical documents about Shibuya Ward. The map showed that the source of river was a marsh under the church. One more place. I found a pond on the site of an old mansion, the place I always see on my way to school. No one seemed to live there, and unmanaged trees grew thick behind the high wall. The map said Davies House. Once a British trading merchant lived here. Mr. Davies sold his mansion and returned home in the 1980s. During the Edo period, in the 1600s, it was a pleasure garden called Oyama-en. The garden was not a place for children to play. There were no merry-go-rounds, roller coasters or kiosks selling gelato. It was the place where poets gathered, in the gazebo at the pond. Intellectuals enjoyed tea and spent time meditating.

The gate of the abandoned mansion had been closed for about 40 years. One fine Sunday, I found out that the site of the mansion was open to Shibuya residents, but only for the day. The garden was already full of people strolling with flowers in their hands. The petals shine with droplets, because the night before was rainy. The faces of people are shining with curiosity. Not only the vines of feral trees but also the ferns are crawling at my feet. I have difficulty walking. In the deep green woods, a lacquered bridge is painted a particularly bright shade of red. I stand on the bridge. Under it, spring water bubbles in a dry pond.

A chipmunk of about 12 centimeters fills his cheeks with buds and jumps off the zelkova tree. The chipmunk is eating mock strawberries growing around the pond.

This is cute Fraisier de Duchesne. Mock Strawberry is also called poison strawberry, but it is not poisonous. Try it. Ha! the chipmunk says to me proudly and plays in the pond using the red fruit as a beach ball. The bright red strawberry slips through his fingers and is swallowed by invisible swirls on the water. It disappears into the drain of the pond. There is a river, a culvert, beyond the drain. It was buried in concrete beneath the Metropolitan Area when the Olympics were held in Tokyo in 1964.

Fraisier de Duchesne left itself to the water. Sunlight melted into the Kōhone-River. The water was warm. Kōhone Flowers–East Asian yellow water-lilies–surrounding the river were swaying gently in the wind. Leaves were floating on the surface. Fraisier de Duchesne came out of the darkness in the groundwater and bathed in the sunlight on a leaf. A little boy and his father held hands and passed by Fraisier de Duchesne. They were singing a song.

A small river in spring is flowing smoothly *[2]

To violets and milk-vetch flowers on the shore

While flowering gently in beautiful colour

Bloom please, bloom, While whispering

Fraisier de Duchesne, pretty in red, has no poison and knows nothing about poison. It will leave itself to the stream of water and time as ever.

I am standing on Inari-Bridge near the Shibuya Station. All rivers leading to this bridge are culverts. Buildings are towering on both sides of the bridge, a forest of department stores, restaurants, brothels. Shibuya River flows under the bridge. I can see the water with my eyes. The river passes through the downtown. Various people come and go. Various voices are confused with various languages. The clear stream has revived on the Shibuya River before the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. I am moved by the truth that there is a sea called Tokyo Bay, if I will swim about 6.8 kilometers from here. The orange colour of the sun floating on the Shibuya River is the same as it on the nameless small river in my small town. The murmur of a stream whispers.

Shall we run away to the ocean?

I have forever heard it. The music was played repeatedly on a late-night program on the radio. Maybe it is a melody signaling that a passenger ship is leaving port but is not suitable for departure. Colourful flags on the mast are fluttering in the blue sky. On the surface of the sea, reversed flags shimmer like stained glass. Their shadows are waving to the pulse of engines. I recall that this was my favorite song while looking at the port far away. On my way home, on the bus, I am listening to “Runnin’ Away” on my mobile phone. Sly & The Family Stone’s version, not The Raincoats’, which is anyway called “Running Away.”

San Francisco is too far. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Murmuring aloud, I can see from the window that the huge rain cloud chases the bus. The cloud seems to be as high as Montmartre. The front window of the bus is sprayed with heavy rain and becomes completely white. Lightning and the sudden shower cut off my music. The bus has no choice but to stop at the station square. The smell of rain invades. I hear footsteps of seasonal changes. I know that I was pretending not to notice the change of seasons. A mother and child in the seat across the aisle are talking.

We left our umbrella in grandma’s home, but it will clear up soon.

They are looking at brand new shoes they just bought at the department store. Desert boots which are made of suede. I wonder if they are trying to transport themselves by supernatural force to a desert planet 900 light years from the earth. There is no sea on the other side of the moon. I am thinking of the sea.

Yes. Summer will come soon.

✽

image: hiromi suzuki

…

*Quotations:

[1] The Tokyo-Montana Express, 1980 A collection of short stories by Richard Brautigan

[2] Small River in Spring, 1912 A song for schoolchildren Lyrics: Tatsuyuki Takano Music: Teiichi Okano (Translation: hiromi suzuki) Takano had his residence near the Kōhone-River (Yoyogi 3-chōme Shibuya-Ward, Tokyo) when he wrote the lyrics of Small River in Spring. At that time, Kōhone-River was running as a stream that supplied water to the fields, and joined the Shibuya River.

…

✽ ✽ ✽

A Longer Trip Back Home

published in 3:AM Magazine (February 11, 2020)

…

via 3:AM Magazine

✽

I am grateful to have been given this opportunity by Mark de Silva, the Fiction Editor for 3:AM Magazine.

…

#hiromi suzuki #short fiction #short story #water #poetry #poem #prose #art #collage #mixed meda #poetry magazine #poetry journal #literary journal #3:AM Magazine #Mark de Silva

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just-to-comment-in-fanpages · 5 years

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The promised neverland characters, Goldy Pond Resistance, with vocaloid quotes

Oliver:” He is not fighting to be loved, he’s fighting out of love, Even if all the people in the world are tormented by despair, even if the day comes where his body cracks and crumbles away, indeed, he will go, simply for justice” (kagamine Len in that king was born from mud)

Violet: “Running through ring roads, always busy to be on the move, no big deal. Boys and girls being incomparably strong in warring states, as the way this transient world goes around. A thousand of Cherry blossoms are blooming in the night; your voice can not even reach, this banquet that surrounds is iron poison, see, leaping down to us from that big guillotine”.(Miku in Senbonzakura)

Nigel: “Screaming from the mob, echoing sound of a gunshot, How could you call something a life? With your breath dispersed into white puff, you muttered, “Let’s escape.” Back then, we used to dream that beyond this cage, warmth and love would exist; that we were going to fly there beyond this closed window. Just how many times had we immersed ourselves within such dreams?” (Rin in Jailbreak)

Gilian:” Umm, well… if you dance more and more, Kalinka? Malinka? Just play the chord, what should I do about such feelings? Can’t you tell me, just a little? Loud and clear, 524. Freud? Keloid? Just hit the key. Everthing all’s to be laughed at, hurry, dance with all your foolishness”.(Miku and Gumi in Matryoshka)

Sandy: “Find a reason to sing! If I were to sing with You, I could forget time and lose myself in joy. Find a reason to sing! The one and only thing, the gift of talent that I was gived. Connecting, connecting, with your song; connecting, connecting, with your dream, connecting, connecting, with your life, connecting with you.” (Meiko, Kaito, Miku, Rin, Len and Luka in Connecting)

Zack: “You only have to double jump,take your feet and go forth, for to prove your courage one jump is not enough. You only have to double jump take your determination and run. Foor the proof your courage will surely be remembered “ Kagamine Len in You Only Have To Double Jump)

#the promised neverland #Yakusoku no Neverland #vocaloid music

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and-then-yoi-happened · 6 years

Photo

As I promised in my follower celebration post, I wanted to spread some love through a fic rec post! And now I finally came around to make it! ＼( ˵´ ♡｀˵)／

I’m sorry for not going into detail what I loved about them here or leave comments here, because I’m trying to keep the post’s length under control. All of these 17 fics (and 2 comics) deserve a commentary and a detailed recommendation post of their own and I hope I’ll find the time to do that for all of them one day.

Please share this post (and the love), so more people can see the recommendations. Also if you start reading some of these, please consider leaving the writers a Kudos and maybe even a comment. We writers love feeling recognised and cherished! It motivates us to write on ♡ The order in which I name the fics is random.

My Top Three Favourite Fics (all Multi-Chapters):

Listen, I love all three of them so much. I binge read them all when I found them. They all made me feel so many things and I might have cried now and then while reading any of them (for different reasons). Those are fics I would reread - I don’t even know how often. They are just so incredibly well done.

Empty Spaces Between Stars (WIP) by astudyinrose [ E | creator choose not to use archive warnings (mind the notes to the chapters!) | Victuuri | canon universe / AU canon divergence / fake relationship AU | 17/? | 185k ] Summary: Victor gets just as drunk as Yuuri at the Sochi Banquet, and they disappear together after the dance-offs. They wake up the morning after with rings on their fingers, and pictures of them kissing after getting married the night before are all over the tabloids... but neither of them remembers a thing. They decide to stay married for a while for the sake of Victor's sponsorships, and in exchange, Victor coaches Yuuri through nationals...

Dance of the Red Death by Strange and Intoxicating -rsa- [ M | no archive warnings (no MCD, despite the story dealing with AIDS, so read the FAQ and the tags first!) | Victuuri | canon universe / AU canon divergence | 11/11 | 80k ] Summary: Find something to live for.Viktor Nikiforov loved too much. What begins as a cough morphs into something that takes the shape of an unseen monster hiding in his very blood. With the Russian government scrambling to sweep under the rug the worst of a crisis that's been thirty-five years in the making and a society that sees his disease as a death sentence, Viktor is left with figuring out his own way to survive.It starts as a way to escape— a youtube video of music and color and light, but quickly becomes something he never expected when Yuri Katsuki teaches him that surviving is not living. Yuri teaches him that living is taking the jump into unknown and accepting all that comes with it.This is not a story of anger. This is not a story of fear. This is not even a story of pain. This is a 21st Century love overcoming the obstacles of the 20th Century's politics of fear.This is a story of life. Complete + Epilogue + FAQ

Come Out of Hiding (I’m Right Here Beside You) by osaki_nana_707 [ M/E (not rated by the author) | creator choose not to use archive warnings (check the tags & notes!) | Victuuri | Music AU / Actors AU / Broadway AU | 33/33 | 84k ] Summary: After forgetting the words to his song during a vocal competition as a teenager, Yuuri Katsuki decided singing was not for him. Instead he went to NYU to study English. He never expected Viktor Nikiforov, Broadway star extraordinaire looking to direct his first production on the stage, would ever find his up-and-coming lead... in him.

Humour/Comedy (oneshots):

All of them brought me to tears, made me wheeze and lose my voice completely - that’s how much I had to laugh. If you have difficulties with second-hand embarrassment and it ruins the fun for you, then maybe skip “Bottom’s Up”.

Nikiforov’s Law by LavenderProse [ T | no warnings | Victuuri | CSI AU | 8.1k ] Summary: “I’m a garbage monster,” Yuuri tells Phichit, staring at Viktor through the glass walls of the lab. Viktor has not been in the same room with him since what the denizens of the lab are now calling The Belle Isle Incident. “He looks at me and he thinks dumpster decomp and swamp. I hate my life.” “You’re a very pretty garbage monster,” says Phichit, watching a centrifuge work. “A garbage monster he wants to fuck.” Yuuri Katsuki is a dime a dozen CSI with the Detroit Crime Lab who has never had a conversation with Detective Viktor Nikiforov that did not end in disaster. He's beginning to think that the entire universe is conspiring to make him a fool in front of handsome blond detectives. The universe is doing nothing to prove him wrong.

The Unknown Unknown by opalish [ T | no warnings | Victuuri | Superhero AU | 7.4k ] Summary: Yuuri never meant to become a supervillain. These things just happen to him.

Night is Young and the Music’s High by opalish [ T | no warnings | Victuuri | post canon | 3k ] Summary: “Best press conference ever,” the Japanese Nationals silver medalist says when asked. “Ten out of ten, would medal again.” “I would die for Katsuki-kun,” Minami declares, with terrifying sincerity.

The Katsulanont Guide To Life (series of oneshots) by xylophones [ G/T | no warnings | Yuuri & Phichit (friendship) | pre canon | 4.2k / 3k ] Summary: College life shenanigans brought to you by Yuuri and Phichit!

Bottom’s Up by lucycamui and cryingoverspilledvodka [ T | no warnings | Victuuri | Sochi GPF banquet | 3.3k ] Summary: At the Grand Prix banquet, Victor’s been asked to sign an autograph for a very enthusiastic fan. Unfortunately, there’s a distinct lack of paper around. Fortunately, Yuuri has a suggestion. Alternatively titled, “Ever Seen An Ass So Fine You Had To Sign It ‘Mine’? or "Autograph Me (Wherever You’d Like)”

Canon Universe (oneshots):

Here’s some Fluff-therapy coming your way ღゝ◡╹ )ノ♡

Pink Leopard Print Pajamas by thishasbeencary [ G | no warnings | Victor & Yuri P. (friendship) | pre canon / developing friendship / cute tiny Yura and Victor fluff | 3.3k ] Summary: Yakov told Viktor that he had to socialize with more skaters. He didn't mean the ones who were too young to even compete as juniors. But he wasn't going to stop his top skater from inviting ten-year-old Yuri Plisetsky over to spend the night. He just... sort of thought that Yuri would refuse.

The Boy Who Watched by Rosie_Rues [ T | no warnings | Victuuri | pre canon | 12.5k ] Summary: Despite the fact they've been competing in the same competitions for years, Victor Nikiforov doesn't meet Katsuki Yuuri until the Sochi Grand Prix Final. On the other hand, there's a boy who's been watching him for years and Victor's desperate to know his name.In which Victor pines, everybody drinks too much, and Yakov deserves a sainthood for putting up with these idiots. Basically, it's a decade's worth of near misses, misunderstandings, and pure obliviousness.

Something So Wholesome About You by crossroadswrite [ G | no warnings | Victuuri | canon divergence AU / Vicchan lives | 3.5k ] Summary: It was supposed to be his year. He was supposed to-Celestino stops talking and squeezes his shoulder. Yuuri looks up at him, opens his mouth to say something when someone says his name. He freezes, holds his breath for a full second against the painfully familiar voice, not daring to hope. Then, very slowly, he turns towards the source, eyes going wide with disbelieve. “Mari?” (Or: in which Vicchan lives, Yuuri doesn't quite fail and doesn't quite get drunk, but manages to accidentally woo Victor Nikiforov anyway.)

The Way to a Man’s Heart-Shaped Smile by La_Temperanza [ T | no warnings | Victuuri | post canon | 6.1k ] Summary: In fact, it’s probably faster to list the foods that Viktor doesn’t like than all the ones he does. Except, Yuuri realizes one evening after he and Viktor are sharing a platter of gyoza and play-fighting for the last one--which Viktor wins, only because he cheated by tickling Yuuri’s ribs--he doesn’t know the answer to that, leaving a huge gaping hole in his Viktor Nikiforov database.This obviously needs to be rectified. (Or the one where Yuuri seduces Viktor with food without realizing it.)

Alternate Universe settings (oneshots):

A wild mix, but all are highly recommended!

Duetto Appassionato by astudyinrose [ E | creator chose not to use archive warnings | Victuuri | classical music AU / musician AU | 9.9k ] Summary: Yuuri Katsuki, 23, has been the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s ace pianist for the past two years. Victor Nikiforov, violinist extraordinaire and living legend of the orchestral world, is the guest soloist for the DSO’s winter series. He asks Yuuri to play a duet he composed, titled On Love: Eros. Basically, this is shameless smutty musician au one shot (it was supposed to be a PWP, but I couldn’t resist adding in some plot) based on the Yuri!!! On Concert art that just came out. Enjoy!

Puppy Love by minsyah [ T | no warnings | Victuuri | neighbors AU / meet-cute | 15.7k ] Summary: Vicchan has a crush on their neighbor across the balcony, and so does his owner. Yuuri, certified Dog-Dad™, will do anything for his beloved poodle—even if that means constantly embarrassing himself in front of his devastatingly attractive neighbor.

Send Your Cutest Delivery Boy by domokunrainbowkinz [ G | no warnings | Victuuri | college AU / meet-cute | 2.5k ] Summary: Victor orders pizza and puts "send your cutest delivery boy" in the special instructions box, and Domino's does, indeed, send their cutest delivery boy. Based off this.

If This City Will Bloom by RennieOnIceCream (Hitsugi_Zirkus) [ G | creator chose not to use archive warnings | Victuuri | magical realism / Flower Spirit!Yuuri | 9k ] Summary: “Viktor, do you know what cherry blossoms mean?” “What they mean?” Viktor tilts his head, surprised at the sudden question. “They can mean beauty. Or a good education. Cherry blossoms generally bloom around the time the new school year starts.” Yuuri’s eyes are unwavering on Viktor, and the colors shift in the dark irises again. “But they also mean impermanence.” Impermanence -- transient. Not lasting forever.The word sends a ripple of fear through Viktor. (Or, the story where Viktor accidentally brings home a cherry blossom spirit from Japan, and his life and heart are turned upside-down.)

A Midwinter Night’s Dream (part one of a series, I’m still praying it gets continued) by persephoneggsy [ G | no warnings | Victuuri | fairy AU / fantasy AU | 7.1k ] Summary: Victor Nikiforov, Prince of the Fae Realm, meets a young blue fairy and thinks nothing of it. But then the years pass, and he meets him again.

Comics:

Because why not?!

My Reasons (WIP) by adreamorasong-art [ T (maybe E in the future) | no warnings | Victuuri | canon compliant / canon retelling ] This is an amazing comic series by my friend Mari. She draws in realistic style and completely retells season 1 (with added, missing scenes).

Bright Star by butleronice [ G | MCD (but apparently not what one would think) | Victuuri | galactic AU ] There is an accompanying fic. (I haven’t read that one yet.) Summary: Yuuri is a star, sparkling brilliantly in some far reaches of the galaxy. One day, his lonely life is changed, when a dazzling and brilliant comet enters his orbit.

Unfortunately I barely had time to read anything lately and my to-read list is... scaringly long by now. I’m thinking of making a similar post to this one, but with fics that I can’t wait to read! Anyway, you can find even more fics in my ao3 bookmarks, which I use to recommend fics. If you want to, you’re more than welcome to read my stuff as well. (ღ ´◡`)ノ♡

#yuri on ice #yoi fanfics #victuuri #my fanfic recommendations #long post #SHARE ALL THE LOVE #1k followers celebration #thank you all so much! <3

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chiseler · 6 years

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TIN PAN ALIAS

They're no longer the household names they once were. In fact their names were not really their names. But between them Harry and Albert Von Tilzer were two of the more successful and prolific songwriters and publishers on Tin Pan Alley, and many of their songs are familiar today as icons of the so-called Gay Nineties and early 1900s. One of them still gets played every day there's a baseball game.

Harry and his brothers were not born Von Tilzers. Harry was born Aaron Gumbinsky or Gummblinsky to Polish Jewish immigrants in Detroit in 1872. He grew up in Indianapolis, where the brothers were all born. The family shortened the name to Gumm, leading to the often-repeated misinformation that Frances Gumm, better known as Judy Garland, was Harry's niece. In fact, her father Frank Gumm was not one of the Gumbinsky/Gumm/Von Tilzer brothers, but a cracker from Tennessee (and predominantly homosexual, interesting when you consider Garland's complex personal and professional relationships with gay men later, not to mention Liza's).

At fourteen Harry Gumm ran away to join the Cole Brothers Circus. He played piano and wrote songs for a traveling theater troupe and changed his name on the road, taking his mother's maiden name and adding the Von for a touch of class. His brothers, all of whom went into the music business after him, followed suit. Making for more confusion, in 1929 a Helen Von Tilzer would marry one of the Marx Brothers -- Gummo, of course. Because of that preposterous-seeming coincidence she's often written up as Harry's sister, but in fact she was born Helen Theaman in New York. Von Tilzer was her first husband's name, and he seems to have been a real Von Tilzer, also not related to Harry and the fake Von Tilzer clan.

Harry worked in burlesque, with medicine shows and in vaudeville, specializing, naturally, in "Dutch" (German) routines. In 1892 he arrived in New York City by train as a groom for a carload of horses. He had one dollar and sixty-five cents in his pocket. For the next six years he struggled, playing saloon piano and writing songs that Tony Pastor and others bought from him at two bucks each.

According to David A. Jansen's Tin Pan Alley: An Encyclopedia of the Golden Age of American Song, Harry wrote his first hit under some duress. He and lyricist Andrew B. Sterling were sharing a furnished room on East Fifteenth Street in 1898 and were "three weeks behind on their rent. When a final bill was slipped under their door, they used the paper to write a chorus and then a verse of what turned out to be their first successful publication, 'My Old New Hampshire Home.'" It was classic barbershop quartet treacle. William Dunn of the Orphean Music publishing company paid them fifteen dollars for it -- a week's rent on the room -- and proceeded to sell more than a million copies in sheet music.

Then Dunn was bought out by Louis Bernstein and Maurice Shapiro, founders of one of Tin Pan Alley's longest-lived hit factories -- it still exists as Shapiro Bernstein & Co., with a catalogue that includes "Ring of Fire," "Yes! We Have No Bananas," "Walk on the Wild Side" (the original, not Lou Reed's song) and the immortal "Wolverton Mountain." They paid Von Tilzer four thousand dollars, a considerable sum in those days, to join them as a partner in the firm. A few years later he would leave them and start his own publishing company.

In 1900 he was relaxing in a whorehouse (or just at a party, depending on the source), noodling on the piano to some lyrics handed him by the British lyricist Arthur Lamb. When Harry saw the girls around him crying, he figured he'd noodled up a smash hit. It was. "A Bird in a Gilded Cage" sold more than two million copies of sheet music, and was one of the most popular weepers of the age, a song we still associate more than maybe any other with late Victorian mawkishness. This time Harry earned far more than fifteen bucks.

He and Lamb collaborated on two more tearjerkers in 1902, "The Banquet in Misery Hall" and the equally lugubrious "The Mansion of Aching Hearts," which a few singers made into hit recordings. That same year a scrawny Jewish kid from the Lower East Side went busking in the saloons on the Bowery, belting out "Mansion" in a raspy tenor to the pie-eyed sailors and hookers who tossed pennies at him. That kid, Izzy Baline, went up to Tin Pan Alley on Twenty-Eighth Street to meet Von Tilzer, who hired him as a song plugger and "boomer." A boomer was a plant in the audience at the music hall or vaudeville house whose job was to cheer and shout "Encore!" when the publisher's new song was performed. Von Tilzer, who was an expert plugger and boomer himself, showed Izzy the ropes. Izzy, who would invent his own German-sounding professional name, Irving Berlin, went on to eclipse his mentor's fame.

But Von Tilzer was no slouch. "Wait 'Til the Sun Shines, Nellie," "I Want a Girl (Just Like the Girl Who Married Dear Old Dad)," "In the Sweet Bye and Bye" and "I Love My Wife, But Oh You Kid!" were all major hits, and he wrote thousands more. That was not unusual. In the crowded Tin Pan Alley milieu, where publishing companies were stacked four and five stories high door-to-door, the competition was brutal, the pace ferocious and the ruling business model crudely simple: Throw as many songs at the public as you can possibly churn out, and hope one sticks once in a while. The lists of songs published on Tin Pan Alley in its glory years, roughly the 1880s through the 1920s, are stupefyingly long -- tens of thousands of songs, hurled at the public in live performances, as sheet music and piano rolls, on recorded wax cylinders, in early versions of coin-operated jukeboxes, on phonograph discs after the introduction of the affordable Victrola in 1906, and eventually on radio. Almost all of those tens of thousands of songs are forgotten now. In fact the vast majority barely made an impression when they were new. You just kept cranking them out, praying for a hit now and again.

Von Tilzer was out there pitching with the best of them. Like all serious Tin Pan Alley composers he jumped on every band wagon that rolled down Twenty-Eighth Street. He wrote Irish and "Dutch" numbers when they were fads, beer-drinking songs when they came into fashion (including one called "Under the Anheuser Busch"), schmaltzy kiddie songs, and songs capitalizing on every new dance craze, from the bunny hug to the turkey trot to the hesitation waltz. He threw three of them together in one song, "You Can Tango You Can Trot Dear but Be Sure and Hesitate." He wrote novelty songs like "The Ragtime Goblin Man" and topical ones like "Old King Tut," a hit for Sophie Tucker the year after Tut's tomb was discovered in 1922.

He also wrote several hit coon songs. Coon songs spun off from minstrel shows in the 1880s. In the 1890s and 1900s hundreds and hundreds of songs with "coon" in the title were published, usually sung to ragtime tunes. They often replaced the Old Plantation nostalgia of the traditional minstrel song with ruder, more overtly racist stereotypes. They were hugely popular, and Von Tilzer wrote his share, songs like "Alexander" (familiar to audiences then as a hifalutin' name for a blackface minstrel character), "Mammy's Kinky-Headed Coon," "My Lady Hottentot" and "Rufus Rastus Johnson Brown." Performers of old-timey music still record that one, though it may be best known for the 1970 funk version by the great Rufus ("Do the Funky Chicken") Thomas. In 1911, Berlin would upstage Von Tilzer's "Alexander" with his own ragtime-y coon song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band." Any similarity to his mentor's hit was purely intentional.

By the middle of the 1920s Von Tilzer had composed something like two thousand published songs, including a dozen million-sellers and as many as a hundred that sold half a million. His output slowed down in the later 1920s and 1930s, but he still credibly claimed to have written some eight thousand tunes. Like many Tin Pan Alley greats, including Berlin, he did it without ever learning to read or write a note of music.

Time and tastes moved on. Harry quietly lived out his last years in the Hotel Woodward, a Broadway establishment favored by show folk, and died there in 1946.

Meanwhile, Harry had brought Albert and the other brothers to New York. Jules worked for Harry. Will started a song publishing company, and Albert and Jack partnered in another. Albert was also a songwriter. He and vaudevillian Jack Norworth collaborated on the giant "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" in 1908; according to an unconfirmed but persistent legend, Albert never actually saw a ball game until the late 1920s. Some of Albert's other hits include "Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey," "I'll Be With You in Apple Blossom Time," the minstrel song "Down Where the Swanee River Flows" (a hit for Al Jolson in blackface), the Prohibition lament "The Alcoholic Blues" ("No more beer my heart to cheer/ Goodbye whiskey, you used to make me frisky/ So long highball, so long gin/ Oh, tell me when you comin' back agin"), the Hawaiian-themed ragtime hit "Oh, How She Could Yacki Hacki Wicki Wacki Woo," and another novelty hit, the zany bum-diddy-bum jungle number "Oh By Jingo!" with lyrics by Lew Brown. ("We will build for you a hut/ You will be our favorite nut/ We will have a lot of Oh By Gollies/ And we'll put them in the Follies.") Born Louis Brownstein in Odessa, Brown had fled the pogroms with his family and settled in the Bronx. In a long career he collaborated with many Tin Pan Alley and Broadway composers on classics like "Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries," "You're the Cream in My Coffee," "Sunny Side Up" and "That Old Feeling." It was guys like Brown, the Von Tilzers and Berlin whom the rabid anti-Semite Henry Ford had in mind when he ranted, "The people are fed from day to day on the moron suggestiveness that flows in a slimy flood out of 'Tin Pan Alley,' the head factory of filth in New York which is populated by the 'Abies,' the 'Izzies,' and the 'Moes'..." Ignoring him, lots of people recorded the moron suggestiveness of "Oh By Jingo!" -- Danny Kaye, Spike Jones, Stephane Grappelli and Chet Atkins among them.

Following the addition of sound to commercial movies, the studios lured more and more of the music business out to Hollywood in the 1930s. After all, the first hit talkie, The Jazz Singer, was really a singie. Albert went too. He worked in film and tv, mostly contributing to soundtracks of now obscure pictures. He died in L.A. in 1956. By that point much of the Von Tilzer catalogue, especially the older and mushier songs, had faded away, except at ball games. Then in 1958 Lawrence Welk, than whom no one loved old-fashioned schmaltz more, bought the catalogue and engineered a Von Tilzer revival. When the Songwriters Hall of Fame began in 1969, Harry and Albert were among the first voted in.

by John Strausbaugh

#John Strausbaugh #The Chiseler #Harry von Tilzer #Tin Pan Alias #I want a Girl Just Like the Girl Who Married Dear old Dad

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