#bsd rambles

[anachronism01]

guys (talking to the wall) do you understand that kunikida is a tragic character with layers of trauma and struggles that he will never resolve without the help of someone that loves him

[xinvisiblestringsx]

I'm going to defend Asagiri's fake out deaths

Asagiri fakes deaths too much yes but they make sense to the story. Fyodor was "killed" by Dazai and Chuuya and let me remind you that Fyodor is the main villain but Dazai is not the protagonist. Typically in fiction villains are defeated by protagonists so Dazai killing him doesn't make sense imo. (Atsushi barely did anything big and the cliffhanger at the end of s5 is proof of that)

Also about the fake deaths I don't think any "deaths" we've seen so far was enough of a big deal considering the importance of these characters to the story. If they were to fr die it would've been much more emotional and it would drag out through episodes.

Best example of Asagiri killing a character we have is Oda's death which was impactful to other characters and the overall storyline.

Also Fukuchi's death makes sense too but how Chuuya or Dazai "died" in previous chapters is underwhelming (i know they weren't when the chapters first came out but now through a clear lens they feel underwhelming)

And Fyodor dying without us learning about his ability/backstory/motivations + the battle just being chess with Dazai (there was no organization battle/we haven't seen all of Fyodor's cards/other characters were more involved with Fukuchi and hunting dogs business rather than Fyodor) were also hints that we're not done with Fyodor.

DoA fight was also all over the place like the arc was more focused on Fukuchi and his motivations (which is way different than Fyodor's) and Fukuchi got a proper ending unlike Fyodor.

So stop provoking this man I already am starting to think he's going to make Chuuya and Dazai die together (ehm we're destined to die together theory) And Akutagawa is obviously going to die at some point. Let him do his thing please 😭😭

[bsdrambles]

Akutagawa is always freezing. Like, shivering in the spring and only feeling warm in the summer. Atsushi is always warm. Even in the winter, he's always warm.

Akutagawa and Atsushi cuddle to balance each other out

[reixtsu]

Comparing Dazai’s flat ass to other bsd men.

I love Dazai so much. I love his personality, his handsome face, his character depth, how much he changed as the series progressed, everything- but his ass. Let’s take a look at it, shall we?

So flat! 🙂 Dazai, you are so good looking everywhere! Some men have nice asses! (Not ass shaming here.) look at the other bsd men.

Chuuya has volume, Kunikida has volume despite sitting on a chair all day, even Mori wanted some attention on his ass!

[lonelylesbian2]

Something that’s gonna forever annoy me is when people say Atsushi’s hair is white. it’s not. It’s a light grey. PLEASE . PLEASE GET IT RIGHT. you can still do the symbolism with hair with grey okay 😭😭

[rocky-the-rockstar]

Why does the BSD fandom get so fucking pissed when they see a Kunikida x Dazai shipper. I feel like there are bigger issues in this fandom you could be dealing with other than Dazai having a new workplace bf.

[himi-wiz]

Hehe

Chuuya for bingo! <3

(And Dazai, if you want to.)

YOU. YOU HAD TO HUH.

Definitely don't know you anon. And therefore I can lie about it but here we go:

Dazai —

Interesting lad in the most atrocious manner possible. Admittedly I still needed to read the novels but I think Dazai is an odd character which I've never quite gotten completely even from the start of my initial bsd phase at 2014-2015. Now I'm as old as him (which is bizarre to think about) and I get what's going on, I still don't think I'll ever quite grasp what's in his head. He has this apathy and intelligence I will never take hold of as someone who understands that I am extremely an ordinary individual and chooses to remain so — being oblivious and normal — for fear that I would turn out to be as isolated as he is.

I think it's terrifying.

To be too smart and think too much of yourself, to realise you're never going to be normal for you will always reason a way out of your greatest passions and your worst nightmares. And therefore you never truly fear anything nor could you truly love something wholeheartedly either. How could you when you can't trust in anything?

I am fond of the irl author, Mr. Dazai Osamu's dedication to his work of No Longer Human which I did read through ages ago and encounter some memorable quotes. But it's only rather recently I was able to fully comprehend the sheer terror it brings as the protagonist Yozo elaborates on the despair of understanding one's role in life is inevitably meaningless, akin to an insect realising its doom to fall prey to fate in a web full of lies.

Whenever I was asked what I wanted my first impulse was to answer "Nothing." The thought went through my mind that it didn't make any difference, that nothing was going to make me happy.

— No Longer Human, Dazai Ozamu

And I only have pity for such a being that is unable to unlearn that despair or at the very least, be able to stop, condense and move forward with these thoughts and live with them.

Our BSD Dazai however is given a chance to do so unlike Yozo thanks to Odasaku and it brings a fond affection to see him trying his best. I hope he does find his way and learns to enjoy the difficult journey stumbling around in life. But at the same time, it'll be foolish of me to presume just because he's moving towards the light, Dazai's darkness and general sense of dissatisfaction with people and life would change.

Dazai is not kind, he is not gentle, he's inconsiderate, deplorable, utterly wretched nuisance of a man who can and will use you if he decides it's worthwhile for him to do so, otherwise he has little interest in you even if he can sees through all your struggles and how he could help you, he wouldn't, certainly not intuitively desire so.

And I much prefer that viewpoint for it's more remarkable that Dazai is choosing when he does good. And how he's actively trying to be the side that reaches out to someone else and be there for them. To let himself be tied to people he feels isolated from and be vulnerable enough to take bets and place his trust on the Armed Detective Agency (and Chuuya and Akutagawa) so he could save lives he honestly doesn't care much for. How fascinating.

And so when fans do brush that darkness aside, I can be mildly peeved. But hey, it's still valid and okay to have some fun with just comfort and softness of just wishing happiness for a character you like. It can hard to decipher these layers if you don't know where to look too. Or perhaps am I reading too deep into this? Who knows. Asagiri sure has a way of writing nuances like these and it's so delightful to unpack them.

I still don't understand Dazai on a fundamental level.

That is more of my fault as I am someone who both emotionally and socially impaired so much that I use myself as a medium to "empathise" with people. I merely mimick emotions — like I don't feel sad if someone lost a loved one, I 'force' myself to feel bad if I am that person, I play out the scenario of losing something precious to me and I take that sadness to apply it to the person.

That's how I can predict people well enough, aside from those who are far too passionate in an ideal or passion I can't understand like Kunikida, those who learn to hate everything, and those who comprehend the reasons why they hate and shift to a complete apathy, able to pinpoint all the ways they're wrong — ways they don't fit, they aren't human enough, but are ultimately far too timid and cowardly to work on why they are outsiders and maintain a distance for it's far safer this way.

Dazai is still that person who's terrified of attachment and rejection, still struggling to believe in people more than he trusts his mind and vision of the world around him. And he appears to be doing his best, so perhaps I would fall in love with his character a little more when I finish rereading No Longer Human, the dark era stuff and other bsd side stories.

For now let's see how he'll end up.

Chuuya—

I refuse to elaborate on him.

Suffer anon.

[draconisvesperi]

No Longer Human (the ability) - Manga vs. Anime Depiction

so i'm actually not an anime watcher at ALL. I've watched some of BSD Anime because c'mon, it's BSD, and coming off the high of bingeing the manga and light novels (well- most of them) content was content, even delivered in a medium I have rarely - if ever - consumed before.

This is why I am largely more attached the LN and Manga to the anime - it's just a medium I've always preferred, and I think it's better.

One thing that annoys me a lot in the anime is the portrayal of No Longer Human. To my understanding - and correct me if I'm wrong, having much less anime knowledge - Dazai's ability is always portrayed as blue/white light and ribbons of text? or Kanji characters.

In the Manga, this is never shown, and Dazai's ability is essentially invisible. He stops Atsushi's first attack merely by raising a hand and laying a finger against his brow.

First of, I get why this is done - for the medium that anime is, it makes sense to make a dramatic visual for an ability. It looks cool, and is obviously relates his ability being used.

But, in universe, I vastly prefer the idea of No Longer Human being a silent, invisible ability. It's the void, remember? It swallows all other abilities - even among ability users, this is different. This is something more. There is no ability that escapes it - that we've seen so far, anyway. It makes so much more sense to be a silent killer than a bright or extravagant manifestation of power.

No Longer Human creeps in silently, unseen and unknown, and swallows abilities it faces and takes them away - like Rashōmon swallowing space itself. It's not manifested in a fantastic way because it is nothing, it is the absence of an ability, it is empty in a way.

Not to mention Dazai's ability seems to be always active, and takes no effort from him to channel, so it being a silent, unmanifested ability also ties in to this - it's there, always there, just under the surface, a lurking abyss waiting to suck any power away. It just fits to have it quiet and unobtrusive.

not to mention it is ten times more epic, the nonchalance with with he dispels abilities with nary a sound

[moneflower]

Manual to the Ultimate Angst

Spot the difference is getting harder to find these days. It seems like the universal response for these types of characters (mostly former overpowered leads) is to follow a formulaic pattern.

May I introduce the how-to guide to traumatize your audience?

Exhibit A: Interesting Tastes. A person falls for their best friend or rival which causes them to be inseparable. Oh, what were to ever happen if one was to leave. Lots of angst, ghosting them. Present in the past, may return for a cameo.

Exhibit B: Friendship is Magic. Forget traditional media romance, a bond lasting through several lifetimes is stronger than a little kiss. They are both mad for each other and would fight Hades to get the other back.

Exhibit C: Better than That Guy. Have someone you hate and despise in your life? What better way to get revenge than to be the person they failed to be or rise an army that's two times better.

Exhibit D: Guide Impressional Youths. Who needs to deal with trauma when you can continue the cycle, I mean fix it. Similar kids are grouped together and the person projects their life story onto them hoping it doesn't lead to the same outcome.

Exhibit E: Bother the Blondes. In short, the filler or replacement who has to listen to "that guy" ramble about the "one that got away." They are the third wheel and may never come close to the person they replaced. They just want to survive until the end, but may never get to.

Exhibit F: Play 4D Chess. While everyone is playing checkers, these are the ones thinking big, playing on an international scale as they come up with ways to win before their opponents reach them. They are the ones overly too excited, like knowing a secret you don't.

Exhibit G: Demon Arch Enemy. The person who will always be better than or compared to in terms of intelligence. Both are on opposing sides and yet have better than nothing to do than start chaos. Evil's neutral, peace was never an option.

Exhibit H: Caught in a Prediment (preferably boxes). When a character is too overpowered but you don't want to kill them off for that "what if" scenario. They are in exile thinking about how their lives reached up to this moment. Lots of spare time, presumably taking a nap which they lack. Everything around them literally falls apart.

Exhibit I: Sacrifice the Blondes. Have that moment you forgot to press save to your work? Well, forget hopes, dreams, and futures if they had one. Their departure will leave the audience as devasted or even worst than the guy who got away. Present throughout the story, but not the future.

Exhibit J: Meet the Ex. Returns for a cameo, leaves and everyone starts crying. Shows them they are better at a distance. May switch to opposing sides raising up the angst.

Exhibit K: The Villian Arc (Upcoming/In Progress) - sponsored from the Beast AU and Shibuya. The hero becomes the villain, an anti-hero if they're lucky. May die in the end and pupil honors them. They often won't reach said dream and it carries on to the next generation. Something the audience finds sadistic pleasure in.

[tricoloured-cat]

ok I JUST read the actual chapter and why is D2O flammable...

[imsosocold]

Aku being revealed to be wearing a knight suit in the anime’s final moments when he meets up with Atsushi proper again… Bram telling Aya she will be a great knight…

[xinvisiblestringsx]

I wish they made Mori asexual like he was in real life. I just saw a post about Elise being a void creature instead and I can't stop thinking about how much cooler it would have been. I get that characters are not a rep of authors and they're just named after them but I feel like making someone a (even if it's just implied) pedo is much more disrespectful than how any other character is portrayed especially if irl Mori being an sa victim is true.

Plus Mori is such an interesting character and extremely important to the story and I feel like he would be a much more intriguing villain if it weren't for his ability's portrayal and his backstory with Yosano taking the attention away from his other actions.

For example he is already abusive to Yosano mentally and is using her like those things are enough they didn't have to make him weird about her/ be attracted to her to show that he sucks. Her trauma is already valid.

[bsdrambles]

Dazai and Chuuya use(d) the caesar cipher to talk on missions where important information couldn't be sacrificed. They would also pass notes during meetings and when they got caught no one knew what was said. They also wrote on each other with random notes in the caesar cipher

During an ADA and PM meeting-

Dazai - "Hmzzdf nx xt xmtwy!!"

Chuuya - "Mfm? Xmzy zu, Rfhpjwjq."

Dazai - "Dtz qtaj rj ymtzlm."

Chuuya - "Bmfy?"

Dazai - "N qtaj dtz!"

Chuuya - "..Qtaj dtz."

(shift five letters! or read the tags)

[calmlb]

something about Dazai being comfortable enough around Chuuya to be vulnerable and let him see his genuine reactions (especially his genuine shock) as he processes out loud is SO SO IMPORTANT TO ME

plus Chuuya not being shocked to see the genius at work tells us this isn’t the first time he’s seen Dazai actively figuring things out in real time…

the way Chuuya knows Dazai's nervous habits— noticing that Dazai is worried, and subtly checking on him. the way Dazai drops his facade in favor of putting all of his focus into the mental game at hand is such an obvious sign of trust & closeness for someone like Dazai, whose facade is his main form of defense

how they interact with each other in the downtimes when there’s nobody watching…

all i can think is, look how far they’ve come since they were 16 when Dazai couldn’t trust anyone with his plans. how even now, Dazai is always putting up his “all according to plan” front, even with the agency. how Chuuya is the one person we’ve seen him truly drop the mask around, and Chuuya doesn’t bat an eye. even their banter is ongoing, but subdued.

soukoku and their subtle displays of intimacy will be the death of me 💔

[rocky-the-rockstar]

Still haven't read the most recent BSD chapter why does NO ONE have a link

[whathorselegs]

There's just something about the rubble only being visible in Fyodor's shadow in this panel.

Something about how he destroys everything he touches, about how misery and ruin is all he's capable of creating, about how everything that's happening, has happened, all comes back to him.

Shadows usually obscure things from view, but darkness is all Fyodor is, that's where he's revealed.