#kagey art thoughts

[kuteragenesis]

“Not Your Regular Angel” by Jeff Claassen, 2005

Kagey Art Thoughts 48:

If you’re on my blog and click on the appropriate tag, you’ll see that I’ve written about Claassen before--he’s modern, makes weird art, etc.

This piece of art is weird in a few ways, the first of which is the title itself. “Not Your Regular Angel” implies that an “angel” that is not literally an angel is depicted or implied. My initial thought was that the “angel” was some unseen entity doing something to remove the energy or soul of the character, thus acting in a way you would not assume an angel might. However, upon looking at some of Claassen’s other works, I’m inclined to think the character herself is the angel. In that event, perhaps she is atypical for an angel because of how unhappy she and her environment look. But I have a different idea.

Have you ever watched Donnie Darko? Or, if not, have you seen/read the Midnight Crew segment of Homestuck? In both of them (the latter inspired by the former), certain characters can see a kind of ethereal “trail” that represents where someone is fated to go in the future. The blue wispiness coming out of the angel reminds me of those trails, but there’s something different in this case! The angel’s trail splits into two different trails, which, to me, implies that she might do one thing or might do another. Who knows?

Well, according to many sects of Abrahamic religions, their monotheistic god knows, because angels do not have free will (though this differs depending on which religion or sect we’re talking about). So, in my made-up lore for this piece of art, the angel has the option between two different actions because she has free will, which would indeed make her an irregular angel.

Anyway, I’m not entirely certain why I like this art, but I did come to a realization somewhat recently, which is that I tend to like sad things. Not in real life, mind you, but in fiction books and artwork. And of course there’s more nuance to it than that, but the point is just that this artwork clearly evokes a feeling of sadness. The angel is frowning and out-of-place seeming, the colors are all dull, and the background is a strange upward-dripping depression zone. Why do I like this? I don’t know, but I do!

[beribani]

here is the first 6 fan art challenge I made for SLBP actually lol. Back in this time, Kageie still hasn’t made it to my top bias (it was Kojuro that time) and I was still scraping for more Kageie content because I didn’t know much about him :’)

But I found some screenshots where he was in a ‘berserk’ mode when fighting Saizo, so I thought he has something to do with Saizo :’) Now that I’ve known him better, this drawing feels wrong... lol

[camuslittlesister]

I’m having an identity crisis. I’m sitting out the ranking for two events in a row 🥲

Tbh I’m going for the frame so I might sneak in the rank low as a result, but if I’m not trying for the ranking prize then I’m going to bed at a normal time, or trying because I pushed 2am last night thanks to pretty swords (yes, I am playing Touken Ranbu, although given my IRL Okita obession the sword voiced by nii-sama was not my starter and, at time of writing, it still isn’t one of mine). But Manjunari and the butterflies with Kenshin looking on is glorious and I kinda need that in my life even if I sweated blood and tears for the smutty Kageie and the sleepy shinobi 🤔 #firstworldproblems if ever there was one.

But yeah, random thoughts as I suffer through the wait for 2 of my top 5 SLBP men to drop. I’m currently skipping through the tanuki for the puppy, to be called Rei-chan.

I mean, am I wrong?

Basically this post will not be a complete review because I’m likely just nyooming through half of the event and re-reading Kenshin’s story on a loop for the first 5 or so days until Shingen and Hideyoshi are out.

SLBP story events be like:

LI I like: Watching paint dry? Great story!

LI I dislike: Your vassals are rebelling and there’s a lot of drama, boooo-riiiiing.

Look at that ambitious little face tho 🥺makes me so proud

It’s the 3rd day of the event (nii-sama’s sword came home in TR in the meantime) and I’ve so far skimmed through all the bits with the Hojo kid, since I disliked him ever since the time he was in Kai (or Shinano, it was a Yukimura story, of that I am sure...) a few events back (and they had Saizo to salvage the situation). So aside from almost dying laughing at the beginning with the Demon Daddy Show, and enjoying seeing the crazy-ninja-who-hates-Saizo’s face, I haven’t read anything until the ending (that CG is my next copy for my self-taught drawing course).

I have, however, read Manjunari (cue: 😱) and I have so many mixed feelings about it. It was nothing new, in fact it’s like an AU of his MS, but I both don’t like him and really want to like him.

Saturday morning, breakfast time, Utapri on Auto because I cba: Can’t Shingen hurry up and come out already

Sunday morning, oh my gosh, brace yourselves for the word vomit. *Very Ren Jinguji voice* Are you ready? 😏

Utapri ruined my life. I can never ever read those words without hearing Junichi Suwabe in my head.

I have so many questions. First of all, am I allowed multiple husbandos in one castle because Kansuke buhahhahah 😂 I want to put a ring on it because he is just too cute and funny.

Secondly, WTH? We know babe is so extra but this is a level of extra that is unreal. I mean, I have done it too, both my house bathroom and playing Mystic Messenger in a public one but the cleaning standards in the 21st century are kind of improved?! This sounds worse than a festival portaloo, and those have also improved over the years since my misspent youth having to be chaperoned at festivals because a music-obsessed minor (Side note: it surprises me too that my favourite Utapri boy is not Ranmaru given we are one and the same 🥲 I’m writing this as Spotify just started playing Memory by Sugarcult). And what makes it worse to me is that he hid away to read the Art of War. AGAIN.

Surely he knows it by heart by now? He is reading that book all.the.bloody.time.

At least he’s self-aware...

Oh, who am I kidding, with that face he can get away with murder as far as I’m concerned. Which he kinda did since I forgave the start of his route (it wasn’t literal murder in that case tho, but it was bad 👀)

*more story* Multiple levels of adorable 🥺

I for one was not surprised at his modern day job in the epilogue because that guy is painted as a workhaolic in every story. The guy couldn’t even stop the time he went on a holiday, although that wasn’t entirely his fault. Part of it was. Can we get a holiday story where he actually just lounges about reading a book or something? Pretty please.

But, of course, this story isn’t it. I do dig the tragic hero vibes tho. He’s so pretty in the rain and somehow so pretty as he is coughing up blood and nearly dying?! How did I only notice this on my 3rd replay of the story?

Also so dang satifsfying when the tiger goes full kitty omg the finaleeee. *Narrator: she died with a smile on her face and her morning coffee all over the bed*

Spoiler alert: I did not actually die, and I am back.

Fjshnfodosnsjkfnfnsna HIDEYOSHIIIIII. You naughty teasing little snakey fox. Although my favourite Hideyoshi bits were, in fact, from Toshiie’s story.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the playful banter and let me kiss you as a punishment for being adorable kind of scenarios (even tho they’ll never apply to me because I couldn’t be any more different from the average Voltage MC if I tried), but THIS was glorious.

And also I have so many thoughts about how MC seems to think he is better than he really is as a person, but also I can see the idealism and whole quest for equality are not necessarily mutually exclusive. You can be shrewd and ambitious for a goal higher than yourself. What can I say, I love him 🥺

Toshiie’s story was a bit meh but also the plot twist was nice. And now, after panicking that I couldn’t find my frame I was sure I had accepted, it’s time to press send and dive into the next event. No rest for the wicked and the SLBP event junkies, as they say...

[astarfilledsea]

tagged by the loveliest @august-landry 💛bc apparently i do ~el arte~ 

rules: it’s time to love yourselves! choose your 5 favourite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you’ve brought into the world. tag as many writers/artists/etc as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works!

so in no order with lots of rambling:

the kageyama edit: - a couple things; its a companion to my hinata edit and idk, i was in high hq binge mode and i had just posted that rw history edit and i told myself i wasn’t gonna go do hq edits cause i have hardly the edit talents but i was really diggin how the hinata one came out, i had to do kagey. i like this one bc, honestly when i was done, i was like damn........i snapped. the base bg color is the color of his eyes. the name typo moon graphic looked really nice. and to end with the hinata boke! edit (i randomly thought of it as i was finishing up and was like omg yessssss i need to) was the perfect finishing touch. it’s simple, it only has 10 likes but i dig it a lot. i love the look of it.

the acd insta edit: - god. just thinking about making this one, hurts. i think i spent like a week and 1/2 just trying to figure out how to do this kind of edit (i use my phone for edits lol i dont have ps) and the amount of times i wanted to throw my phone bc i messed up. also i posted this last yr (ssshhh) one of my fav edits ever. i literally messaged alie and jess about a million times with thoughts bc i wanted it to be j u s t right. even tho the top photo doesnt have that filter look of the others, this took days and for my first time doing this kind of edit instead of moodboards is p damn good feeling of accomplishment. 

the rw movie poster edit: idk no one had done like movie posters yet so i was like hmmmmmm perhaps i try???? (that’s p much my mentality with all edits lololol) idk i was having fun with the idea and i like the vibes of it how it came out and the title font and the bottom billing credits came out cool as heck. 

the recuerda edit: - i was chillen out, listening to my tunes and this song comes on and im like aww this is so sweet and then my brain went WAIT A MINUTE REPLAY THAT and then i IMMEDIATELY thought fp and then i knew i needed to make an edit for it. it’s simple, it’s soft. i think it turned out nice. also posted in nov but listen k edits happen every eclipse blue moon

when k goes into film script galaxy mode: love when i can imagine how something will look and how it will play out complete with editing and the bg score. idk also another old post but sometimes my brain comes up with some hurtful good stuff and i have to jot it down bc damn, that was hurtful good. 

honorable mention real quick: the rw movie soundtrack spotify playlist: ok listen this took me a good time to curate i thought V HARD about each song and vibe but it turned out really well and lot of y’all seem to like it so :))))))

tagging any one who does edits and is bored and wants to talk edits :)))

[slbp-secret-cupid]

The Good Student

Dear @kazesuke, I heard you like fluff! Here’s a theme park sized bag of cotton candy! Starring Yoshichi! Thank you for being an awesome part of the fandom!

For Yoshichi, a trip to the capital proves to be a valuable learning experience in the art of love. Especially when he finds an unlikely tutor. But will the prize he eyes land him in hot water instead?  

“Why are you always so loud when we go to the capital?”

“Because we don’t get to come here very often!” Yoshichi’s eyes sparkled like precious gems as he peered around at anything and everything that caught his attention. “There’s so many pretty girls here too!”

“We aren’t going to be here that long…” Kagetsugu pointed out stoically.

“But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try, does it? I always stay cooped up in the castle and I’ll never meet a girl there! I don’t want to be a bachelor forever!” The whine in his voice aged him significantly as they walked down the street.

“You do have a point there. But even if you find one willing to talk to you, there’s no way you could charm your way into her skirts.” Kageie teased him before a sour voice chided them all from behind.

“Need I remind all of you we are here on official business as representing the Uesugi clan?” A reflexive flinch across the board.

“Now, now Kanetsugu. Yoshichi does have a point. He isn’t going to be our bright-eyed little brother forever! He could do with some practice.” Lord Kenshin cut in with his approval much to Kanetsugu’s chagrin.

“Need I remind YOU why we are here?” He glared at his liege lord with no less harshness than he would a common samurai among their ranks.

“Yes, yes. Official summons and all that. But all work and no play makes Kenshin a dull boy, would you not agree?” He gave his right hand a winning grin. All it got him was a deeper scowl.

“If left to your own devices it would be all play and no work makes Kanetsugu prematurely grey.” With one hand firmly affixed to Kenshin’s collar he started marching down the road again.

“Sounds like Kanetsugu needs to have a little fun while we’re here.” Even though Kageie whispered to Kagetsugu directly, his snide remark wasn’t missed.

“I HEARD THAT!”

Once they were finished attending lord Kenshin for the day, the trio decided to go to one of Kyoto’s famous restaurants. It was clear from Yoshichi’s slouch and disinterested stare he wasn’t enjoying himself.

“Are you still thinking about getting a girl?” Kagetsugu poked Yoshichi in the forehead until he was sitting straight.

“Yeah…” Yoshichi immediately slumped down again. “How am I ever supposed to practice if there’s no girls around to practice on? Now’s the perfect time!”

“So go do it?” Kageie lounged lazily on his side eating dango.

“Easier said than done!” He dramatically lamented as he got to his feet. Suddenly, one foot was out from under him and he was falling to the floor.

“First, catch them off guard.” Kageie’s delivery was completely deadpan as he held Yoshichi mid fall.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to go around tripping people to get their attention…” Yoshichi was stiff and awkward as a board in Kageie’s arms. Meanwhile, Kagetsugu snickered in the background.

“Once you have their attention, you go in for the kiss…” Kageie gave Yoshichi an alluring look.

“No way, Kakki!” Yoshichi flailed trying to get free as he guarded his mouth with both hands.  Kageie held him fast in order to deliver his last piece of advice.

“If they don’t respond the way you want, drop them.” Thunk! Yoshichi was immediately sprawled out on the floor. Kagetsugu could barely contain his laughter as Kageie returned to his lounging.

“Is that really how it’s done?” His beseeching voice and pleading eyes made Kagetsugu stop laughing.

“Absolutely.” His face was a picture of seriousness.

“Then I guess I should go give it a try…” Yoshichi was visibly uncomfortable as he left, fidgeting at his sleeves.

“You don’t actually think he’s dumb enough to try that, do you?” Kageie shrugged the one arm he wasn’t learning on.

“If he is, whatever happens is his own fault.” Kagetsugu missed in agreement.

Outside, Yoshichi chewed on his lip and wiped his sweaty palms on his hakama. He looked around trying to figure whose attention he could “catch” and when.

“If you are so nervous as to the consequences, perhaps you should reconsider what you are thinking of doing.” A stern voice made Yoshichi jump so high he hit his head on the low hanging eaves.

“Owe… owe… owe…” He deflated as he gingerly rubbed his head. “Was it really so obvious how pathetic I am?” He turned to the source of the voice, coming face to face with an older samurai. One eye brow was quirked slightly above emerald eyes.

“What makes you say such a thing?” His expression took on an unreadable state.

“My friends gave me advice about how to get a nice girl, but I couldn’t even bring myself to follow it!” His gaze sank to the ground making his shoulders slump even more. A low chuckle made him feel even worse.

“Is that what this is about?” He pushed Yoshichi upright again. “I have a bit of experience in that regard. Perhaps I can expound on their advice?” The tension seemed to leave the young samurai as a smile forged across his face.

“Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Not at all! We can talk about this over dinner.” The older samurai placed a gentle hand on Yoshichi’s shoulder to pull him out of his deep bow.

“What sort of advice did your friends give you?"  The older samurai, who introduced himself as Kagetsuna, gave Yoshichi a kind smile to urge him on.

"That I should catch them off guard by tripping them. Then go in for a kiss. If they don’t respond how I like I should drop them.” Kagetsuna choked and coughed on the smoke from his kiseru.

“Please tell me you didn’t think that was sound relationship advice.” All formality in Kagetsuna seemed to evaporate as his bangs fell in his face from coughing.

“Well no. But I didn’t have anything else to go on. So… I thought I’d give it a try.” The look on Kagetsuna’s face made Yoshichi whither into his cushion.

“My first piece of advice is to reconsider who you call your friends…” He pinched the bridge of his nose as he said so. After a deep sigh, he continued. “Do you have an idea of the type of person you’d like to be with?”

Yoshichi gave it careful thought before answering. “Someone my age with a kind heart. Where I’m from we’re very close to the people. They’re very important to my lord. So, they’d need to be willing to ensure our people are cared for. And someone strong… Oh! And good with kids! I have a niece you see. Oh! But it would be nice if they spoil me sometimes so I could spoil them back!” He gushed like a mountain spring until a soft chuckle made him stop. With pink cheeks he went on bashfully. “Sorry.”

“It’s good to know exactly what you like. The best place to meet someone like that is among the people. If you’re looking for a young lady from Kyoto, I suggest you avoid the parts of town where visitors frequent.” After saying as much, Kagetsuna went on to point out parts of town to avoid.

“What should I do if I find someone I like though?” The young samurai was fraught with anxiety again. Kagetsuna was convinced he would fray the hem of his sleeves before long.

“Take them by surprise… with a compliment.” He emphasized the last word with a pointed look. “Avoid superficial compliments. If you enjoy her kindness, compliment her on something nice she did.”

“Right!” He nodded earnestly. “Once I have their attention, what do I do?”

“Ask for their name?” Kagetsuna seemed amused.

“Right!” He nodded earnestly again.

“Then offer to treat them to tea. Let them set the time and location. If it is later, offer to pick them up or meet them somewhere so you can go together. If they accept, express your happiness without appearing too eager.”

“Right! Then what?” He was practically leaning across the table in his enthrallment.

“When that happens, come back to the inn across the street and ask for me. I’ll be glad to assist you from there.” Kagetsuna gently pushed him into a sitting position again.

“Right…” He placed his hands in his lap and looked away bashfully. Kagetsuna chuckled again. Yoshichi looked at him worried.

“You remind me of someone. Nothing bad, I promise.” The soothing lilt to Kagetsuna’s voice put Yoshichi at ease immediately.

“I should get back to my room before my brother gets to worried… He has his hands full as it is right now.” He bowed deeply once again. “Thank you very much for your help!”

“I’m actually heading out myself. I’ll accompany you as far as I can.” Kagetsuna got to his feet and followed.

Almost as soon as his feet hit the road, Yoshichi jumped. A booming, angry voice making him shrink. “So here you are. Off on a dalliance with some poor, unfortunate young lady you will simply leave behind without a care.”

“What? No! That’s not what happened!”

“Doors are for passing through, not loitering in.  Someone needs out.” He gave Yoshichi a stiff yank by the collar so Kagetsuna could come out. “Please forgive my brother and his ineptitude.”

“Think nothing of it. I rather enjoyed his company.” Kagetsuna’s amused smile and vague statement was bound to cause a misunderstanding. Thankfully, he went on. “He had some fairly interesting notions for how to woo a love interest. I simply set him straight.” He wrest Kanetsugu’s hand from Yoshichi. “Fine young man you have here.”

Yoshichi stared blankly at Kagetsuna’s back, shoulders quaking with barely contained laughter, as he walked away. Somehow, that made the misunderstanding worse.

“Brother…”

“Who was that man?”

“Kagetsuna. Listen, brother, he was just giving me advice!” Though Yoshichi pleaded, his brother was having none of it.

“Call it what you will, just spare me the details of your love life.”

“Loooovveee???!! It’s not like that at all!”

“Enough! I have to get back to the inn before lord Kenshin wanders off again…” Resigned to not resolving the misunderstanding just then, Yoshichi followed with head down and feet shuffling through the dirt.

The next day, Yoshichi booked it as soon as they were done with their duties. He made a bee line for a part of town Kagetsuna suggested.  His mentor did not disappoint. Even a cursory glance told him this was where the locals lived and worked. He followed the chatter to a small restaurant. His vacillating outside was abruptly ended by a jovial clap on the shoulder.

“New to town?” A genial older fellow looked at him kindly.

“Yes. How is this restaurant?”

“One of the best in town!” Without further explanation, he shoved Yoshichi through the door.

“Whoa!” He staggered a few steps before spinning around and falling on to a seat.

“Oh! Hello!” A bright, though slightly confused smile greeted him when he looked around. “Welcome to our restaurant! Please let me know when you’re ready to order!” Yoshichi absently nodded and she walked away.

“She’s single, ya know.” The same genial young man gave Yoshichi a playful punch from across the table.

“I don’t even know her name!” A bright blush painted his face as he spun around to sit at the table properly. The older fellow laughed.

“Then you should fix that!”

“Maybe… I should decide what to order first…”

“Absolute Victory bowl.”

“Excuse me?”

“That’s what you should order. It’s said to bring good luck on the battlefield to those who eat it. What greater battlefield is there than love?”

“Well I wouldn’t go quite that far… It does sound good though.” He jumped when a cheerful voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

“Are you ready to order?”

“Oh! Yes!” He glanced nervously at the old man. “An absolute victory bowl, please.”

“Coming right up!” She turned to the old man.

“Just dango and sake for me.”

“All right! We’ll have that out shortly!”

It was later in the evening and the only people left in the restaurant were Yoshichi, the old man, a young woman, and a few rowdy drunks. Yoshichi ate his food quietly as he mustered up the courage to ask the waitress her name. A harsh admonishment brought his attention to the drunks.

“You should unhand me, pay your bill, and leave.” The ice in it seemed at odds with the brightness that previously colored it.

“Come on sweet stuff. You know you want a real man to show you a good time.” In one fluid movement, she turned the tables on him by taking the arm that held her and twisting it behind his back.

“Please don’t make this difficult.” She held her ground until the other two at the table got up.

“I don’t think there’s any need to be hasty.” Yoshichi had an uncharacteristic sharpness of tone and look as he got to his feet. “It’s rude to come into a place like this and behave like that. There’s plenty of places to do that around here without causing trouble.” Out of instinct, his hand went to his sword. The men all looked at him with menacing scowls but he stood his ground, somehow.

“Fine…” The other men head towards the door, tossing money unceremoniously on the table as they went. The waitress released the final thug and saw him out. Once they were gone, Yoshichi collapsed into his seat with a sigh.

“That was very brave. Thank you for backing me up.”

“Oh no! I think you were calmer about it than I was!” Yoshichi held up his shaking hands with a self-deprecating smile on his face.

“Still, at least let me cover your meal as thanks.”

“Oh no! I couldn’t!” Still she insisted. In the end, Yoshichi ended up leaving the money under his bowl and leaving before she found it. Positively beside himself, he headed back to the inn.

“Someone looks quite pleased with himself.” He spun around at the sound of Kagetsuna’s voice.

“I met a very nice girl today!” The smile on his face was quite contagious.

“Congratulations. Have you made it to the last step we discussed?”

“Not yet. I’m going to invite her on a date tomorrow!” Kagetsuna’s smile broadened in light of Yoshichi’s enthusiasm.

“I should like to hear all the details later. If you would excuse me, I have a date of sorts awaiting me.” With that they parted ways.

“I still do not approve of that man, but I won’t stand in your way…”

“Wah ah ah! Brother! Don’t scare me like that!”

The Uesugi clan found themselves with time off on the third day of their trip. Yoshichi used it to go straight to the restaurant just before lunch. He hoped by going a bit early, he would miss the crowd and have some time to talk with the waitress more. As he approached the restaurant, the young lady from the night before was walking towards him. Her face lit up with a smile when she saw him.

“Excuse me! I never got to tell you last night, but you were very brave.”

“Oh no. Really it was nothing! If it came to a fight, things probably wouldn’t have gone so well.” He blushed a little at her open compliment.

“Even so…”

“Oh! Are you reading something?” Her eyes went wide and she shifted the book behind her.

“No! Well yes! But it’s really … you wouldn’t be interested in it! Well it’s rude to keep you like this! BYE!” Off she went almost running. Yoshichi watched her running away bewildered. The sound of someone struggling brought his attention to the waitress. She had a large load in her arms.

“That’s quite the stack of boxes you have there!” He gave the waitress a wave as he approached. “Can I help you?”

“Oh no! I couldn’t impose on you anymore!” Her face lit up in recognition when she spotted him around the stack of lunch boxes.

“It’s really not a problem!”

“Oh… well if you really don’t mind…” Having gained her consent, he took half the lunch boxes. “You really are such a big help! I was afraid I wasn’t going to get these boxes to the workers in time!”

“Workers?”

“Yes! One of the families in the neighborhood lost their home when the roof collapsed. No one was home, thank goodness.”

“That’s a relief!” Yoshichi let out an audible sigh. “So, are these for workers rebuilding the house?”

“They are! The family has always supplied us with the best ingredients at fair prices. The relationship between our families goes back a long way.” She smiled brightly as she explained.

“It’s nice to see everyone coming together to help!”

They delivered the lunches, retrieving the boxes from the day before in the process. As they headed back to the restaurant, Yoshichi explained he had been coming back for lunch. As they took a short cut through a less traveled back street, he slowed down.

“Do you get the feeling we’re being followed?” She looked around thoughtful for a moment.

“I haven’t really noticed before now. But it does feel a bit off, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah… let’s hurry.” He instinctively took her hand and started on again at a faster clip.

“Yoshichi… it’s the men from yesterday.” He glanced over his shoulder then started looking for an escape route. He dashed down a side street and threw her down a dark gap between two houses.  She hid behind him as he watched the drunk thugs run by. When he turned around their faces were far closer than he expected. The distance was intimate compared to what he was used to, but hardly salacious. She, mostly unbothered by the situation, watched his cheeks turn a shade of red still visible in the dim light.

“Too close!” He repeated this with each slow step back. “I’m so sorry!” With that, he took off running out of sight. She tried to stop him, but he was long gone. It wasn’t until he was almost back to the inn he realized he had abandoned her in a dangerous situation. He dashed back the way he came. He came back to the side street in time to watch Kagetsuna dispatch the thugs with nothing but the butt of his sword and a fist. He marveled at the ease and grace with which he moved. Yoshichi could see why the waitress watched Kagetsuna move with every ounce of attention. 

“If you will wait until the magistrate comes, I’ll escort you back to the restaurant.” He had the same warm smile he always did with Yoshichi.

“Oh no. I couldn’t trouble you anymore than I already have.” Yoshichi walked away dejectedly, having seen more than enough.

He wandered the streets idly, kicking rocks as he went until he came across Kagetsuna again.

“I take it things did not go so well?” He had a knowing look that made Yoshichi crumble.

“As long as there are cool, strong guys like you in the world how are shy, weak guys like me supposed to compete?” A long, forlorn sigh emphasized how low he felt. Kagetsuna gripped him by the shoulders and pushed him upright.

“There is a season for all things, including failure. During this time you must accept your failures and learn from. That’s how you prepare yourself for the season in which you succeed.” Yoshichi’s brows furrowed for a moment as he took in those words.

“I can’t just wait around for the right season to come to me. I have to be ready for that season when it comes. Like when we stockpile for the winter…” His eyes got larger as the lesson sank in. “What can I learn from this?”

“That is the question, isn’t it?” Kagetsuna released his shoulders and smiled warmly.

“I think… I need to get stronger so I can actually protect the person I’m meant to be with. I can do that. An be try to be less shy.”

“What exactly happened?” The more Yoshichi explained the more Kagetsuna’s brow furrowed. Just as he finished a familiar voice called from behind Kagetsuna.

“Lord Kojuro! Oh I mean Kagetsuna! Damn…” Kagetsuna smiled bitterly and put a finger to his lips. He turned to face the waitress.

“It’s all right, my precious girl. It takes time to break old habits, does it not?”

“Yes, I suppose so.” She smiled warmly at Kagetsuna. “Oh hello Yoshichi! Was I interrupting?”

“Oh! OH! OH NO! NO! I was just leaving.” A terror stricken look on his face Yoshichi started to leave. Kojuro grabbed his wrist firmly. A stern look on his face. Yoshichi swallowed hard and looked up at him cautiously.

“Thank you for helping her out. She seems to have a knack for getting into trouble.” A smile on his face as he spoke, he released Yoshichi’s wrist.

“It was nothing really.”

“Are you sure I’m not interrupting?” She looked between the two with a confused look.

“Not at all. I believe I promised you a trip to the festival.”

“You did.” He offered his arm and she took it. Yoshichi gave them a forced smile and wave before turning to a tea house. He hadn’t gotten lunch, after all. While absently eating he mulled over what he could learn from his experience. Ultimately, he decided he ran away because he liked that waitress.

“I ran away because I liked her and I’m too shy…” Wheels started clicking in his brain and he almost dropped his chopsticks. “Then that means… Did that other girl run away because she liked me?” His forehead hitting the table drowned out the groan he made during his descent.

“Yes.” His head shifted to the side. “I ran away because I like you.” His head shot up so fast it made him momentarily dizzy.

“There’s a festival! Do you want to go?” She started laughing as he struggled to get to his feet to greet the voice’s owner.

“You skipped a step!” She hid her face behind the cover of a book. One she let him see this time. A beginner lover’s guide.

“I did? OOH! I did!” He stood up straight, smoothed out his clothes and gave her a formal bow. “Hello, My name is Yoshichi! What’s your name?”

“My name is…”

[thatlongspringnight]

Not so Secret Tryst (Kanetsugu/MC smut)

My submission for @slbp-sidepiece-summer (and nearly late too!) 

and a continuation of this office fic

tagging: @han-pan @tinydadkanetsugu @pseudofaux AND @fraeuleinfulltime (whose Kanetsugu art had me feeling all sorts of things today)

as always smut under the cut!

The storage room was cramped. Old binders of information, hopefully long since scanned into the online database, piled high against the walls. Reams of paper and boxes of supplies littered the ground, nearly tripping you as you stumbled in, the door closing behind you with a resolute clang.

You didn’t like this room. Only ever relegated to this place when you discovered something Kenshin had forgotten.

So well…More often than you’d care to admit actually, you found yourself in here.

But now-

Context was everything as they say.

The lock shifted, ensuring your security as you looked up, catching the hungry gaze of the man in front of you.

“Kanetsugu.” You called to him, hands on the fine material of his suit jacket. “Come here and just kiss me already.”

“Last time we did this, you nearly gave me a heart attack about locking the door.” He huffed, words parceled against your lips. You suppressed a laugh, silenced neatly by his mouth on yours. Your mouth lingered on his, hands trailing over his chest in a well memorized game, buttons would pop easily under your nimble fingers, if you wanted them too, allowing you to graze your nails against the build of his chest.

But you didn’t want to, at least not yet. Instead you hummed against his mouth, using your fingers for more…pressing matters, like undoing his belt, the satisfying snap making you grin.

“Not so fast.” He nipped your bottom lip, snatching the belt from your hand. “It’s a little naughty of you to drag me in here, you know? I have a very important phone call I am missing.” His large hand grasped at your wrists, holding your arms together.

“And you have a meeting in thirty minutes.” You teased, fighting the blush on your cheeks as he tightened the belt around your wrist. “I’m such a bad influence.”

“A siren, even. Drawing me away with the sound of your voice.” Arms above your head, you steadied yourself by lowering them, letting the press against the wall behind you.

“Don’t you get enough of me at home?”

“Maybe I just wanted to see if Kageie can handle meeting with one of the fabric suppliers on his own.”

“That is his job, dear.” You deadpanned. “Even if you do it for him.” Kanetsugu groaned, his face pressed into the crook of your neck.

“Please don’t remind me.”

You giggled, nuzzling his cheek in affection.

“I wouldn’t be having to if you got to it, I mean, Kenshin will be back from his lunch break soon, I’m sure and I’m pretty sure he knows about our little interlude on the desk a few months ago. He’ll definitely put two and two together and-“

He kissed you again, the faint taste of your generic cherry chapstick lingering between the two of you.

“Believe me, he already knows.”  Kanetsugu’s chocolate brown eyes glittered in the faint artificial light of the room. His smile was genuine, soft even, an odd match to the situation. But that was him, your heart tugged fiercely at the thought, a softhearted man always. Your gentle lover, if there ever was one.

Even if he liked you tied up, and well, even if you liked him to tie you up.

You pressed a soft kiss to the outside of his mouth, another sloppily to his cheek. The pace of the moment seemed to intensify, Time was always slower when you were alone with him, more meaningful. Like he had brought color to a dim world. Of course, your sweet thoughts were juxtaposed by him removing your underwear, pushing your skirt to rest bunched at your hips.

Nevermind the fact that the cost of your dry-cleaning had nearly doubled since you had started dating him. Mostly because of all the wrinkles he was putting in your clothes.

“Love.” His voice was low, sweet and seductive. “You’re so beautiful, especially like this.” His hand brushed your face, fingertips trailing goosebumps down your skin as he brought them down your neck.

“Mmmhmm.” You would have replied, but it was cut off by his other hand, brushing against your soaked core.

“And always so eager.” Amused and perhaps a little proud of himself, he chuckled softly. “At this rate I might make it back in time to save the company.” Your thighs clamped around his hand, a pout firmly planted on your lips.

“We both already clocked out for the day, Mr. Naoe.” You glowered at him, which only made him laugh, his fingers wiggling against your thighs.

“I know, I know.” He dipped down, kissing your frown in apology. “I wasn’t being serious, well, I wasn’t being completely serious at least.” You only raised your eyebrow at him. If it was one thing he was good at, it was working off the clock.

“You’re killing me, Kanetsugu.” You whined, letting your legs fall back open. His strong hands met your thighs, tugging you closer.

“A little death?” There it was again, the subtle huskiness that lingered in his voice, quieting your banter. You stared up at him, bottom lip trapped between your teeth. “I think I can manage to give you one of those.”

His jacket was cast to the far corner of the room, pants unbuttoned and slung low on his hips, revealing that delicious V, his bulge was visible, even more so as his hands slipped to the line of his briefs, shifting them down in a fluid motion.

A sound left your mouth somewhere between a groan and a whimper as you looked him up and down, suddenly wishing your hands were free to touch.

“Take off your shirt.” You mumbled, letting one of your legs press against his, trying to nudge him forward. “Let me see more of you.”

His cheeks flushed, a pretty pink that you adored, but he knew your game.

“We don’t have that long in here. Off the clock or otherwise.” He stepped forward, hips pressed against your core. He slid in easily, the fullness that had become a familiar pleasure taking over. His murmured ‘I love you’ was almost lost in the moment.

You nearly toppled over as he moved, the awkward angle catching you off guard. The only thing that kept you upright was him, hands firm on your waist.

He didn’t stop though, merely pulling your legs up so that they were wrapped around his middle, pressing you firmly against the wall.

All thoughts you had, mostly about why you kept having sex at the office, were silenced by his movements.

Kanetsugu was forceful. Both in work and in life. Though his sweet smile and thoughtful actions often overshadowed that in your relationship.

With sex though, with sex it was ever present. Whether he had you pressed against wall in a cramped storage room or with your face buried into the soft sheets of his bed, he was nearly unmerciful.

You wondered if it was the sexual equivalent of how he had to treat Kenshin.

Which was not a sexy thought, inherently, but in the moment, with him buried in you to the hilt, it made sense.

Your arms, pressed against the wall almost to the point of discomfort prickled behind you, and you found yourself digging your fingers into the leather of the belt as he pounded into you.

“B-Babe.” Your trembling voice seemed louder than it should be. “Please-“He pressed his forehead to yours, something you noticed he seemed to do at moments like this.

“I’ll give you what you want.”

“You always do.” Your thighs were trembling, the angle he put you in both amazing and exhausting.  His mouth was on the skin of your collar, teeth tugging the fabric of your blouse down so he could press light kisses to the sensitive skin there.

He was careful not to give hickies, at least not that far up, and especially not where people in the office could see. Not after last time.

You’d have to wait for another opportunity if marks were what you wanted.

Your body twitched, a gasp leaving your lips at a particularly hard thrust.  Your eyes fluttered closed, letting you drown in the sensation of his body pressed against yours, filling you to the brim.

His mumbled endearments turned to soft sounds that he muffled into your skin, his body rocking against yours more frantically now.

Higher and higher, till his lips found yours, silencing your cries.

You felt limp, languid. A jellyfish even, by the time he finally pulled out. You were spent and a little messy, grateful for the fact he managed to clean you up, smoothing your hair and straightening your clothes even now. You held out your bound hands, relief coming as he undid his bed, rubbing the reddened skin in apology.

You wrapped your arms around his neck, kissing him quickly, before making quick work of his own clothes, till he looked like he hadn’t just been giving you the time of your life in the storage closet.

He pulled his phone out of his jacket, a quiet curse leaving his mouth.

“What is it?” You hummed, leaning to look. Two text messages.

Kageie: “Could you two keep it down? We’re in a meeting.”

Kageie: “I’ll take that loud bang as a no.” 

“Shit.”

[daeva-agas]

Who you think has the best chances of winning the NPC election in Love Ballad?

Assuming this is not a rigged election intended to officially announce Kageie’s route, well... TBH I haven’t thought much about it?

Seriously, Kageie is still listed as someone in the running, despite Voltage all but outright declaring that he is the next suitor lined up for release. He has a full profile in the art book, and HE IS ACTUALLY ALREADY PART OF THE 4TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION ILLUSTRATION, WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE IS NOT PART OF THE “CORE CAST” ALREADY??? 

LOOK AT THIS:

So yeah, I’m still extremely dubious that this is not some sort of an elaborate trick.

But on the off chance that it isn’t, Kiyohiro, Fuuma, and Keiji are the contenders I guess. Tsugutsugu too. 

[megchandoodles]

My next addition to the SLBP flower boys series is the sleepy, lazy Kageie! Wow, who knew that lazy, sleepy boys who can’t be bothered could be so attractive *coughSaizoGenyacough* I tried picking flowers based on how I see Kageie but I’ve only read 2 ES stories and one was in Japanese. He seems...relatively uninterested in romance? I headcanon Kageie as demisexual, so I picked a couple of flowers I thought might represent that. I see him as someone who is devoted to you once he becomes attracted to you, calls you a dog and pets you like one, he is fiercely protective of you and will even turn on poor Yoshichi if he thinks he’s hurt you. I’m waiting for the day Voltage announces his main route. I wanted to include two other flowers but sometimes you gotta cut stuff out:

Language of flowers

Iris - Your friendship means something to me

Heather (white) - Protection

Heliotrope - Devotion

Arbutus - Only thee do I love

I would have liked honeysuckle for devoted affection and lilac for first emotions of love.

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🌻 Etsy

[slbp-fanzine]

Zine Pagination

Hi guys!

I thought I should share my thoughts on what I plan would be in the zine.

So obviously 24 pages are taken by the main 12 lords (2 pages each, 1 page art & 1 page fic). Now if you remember, I promised 32 pages for digital and 40 pages for the print.

3 or 6 pages of that will be for Shige, Nobuyuki & Kageie (I’m open if you want the ninjas to have some pages too!). The 6 NPCs that won over so many people voltage decided to create stories for (and even main stories for!). 1 page is of course the contents/acknowledgement page. And of course we need a cover art!

Then the 8 extra pages for the print will be room for more art and stories. So we do need quite a number of contributors! ;))

If you have any suggestions on what/who you want in those extra pages, do comment on this page. And also, maybe tag that artist/writer that you want to contribute?

[ieyasu-tacogawa]

SLBP 3rd Anni Yoshichi story

He is so ADORABLE. Such a sweetie. Sugar candy wrapped in honey.

Edit: linked some stories that I forgot to, oops.

SLBP 3rd Anniversary Stories

Ieyasu fuk bitches get money

Ieyasu and Tadatsugu

Toramatsu and Tadakatsu

Kiyohiro and MC

Toramatsu and MC

Tadakatsu and MC

Yasumasa and MC

Tsunamoto and MC

Keiji and MC

Kiyomasa and MC

Masanori and MC

Kanbei and MC

Yoshitsugu and MC

Nobuyuki and MC

Kansuke and MC

Kotaro and MC

Kanetsugu and MC

Kageie and MC

Yoshichi and MC (you are here)

Kagetsugu and MC

The music selection was kind of interesting in this story. For every other story, the romantic and cute parts have this song playing. For Yoshichi’s cute parts, they use the upbeat woodwinds remix of this theme instead. I guess it fits the playful atmosphere a lot better.

Summary:

Yoshichi and MC are at the castle gates, assigned to plow snow out of the way. Of course, instead of working Yoshichi is making snow rabbits. Yoshichi cries “so cute!”

But when MC looks at his masterpiece, it is atrocious LOL. It looks nothing like a snow rabbit - very lumpy, uneven and weird.

MC tells Yoshichi that they should be working and that Kanetsugu will get angry if they don’t finish. However, Yoshichi whines that they’ve been working all morning, then taunts her with “I bet you just can’t make a cuter snow rabbit than me.” MC is all CHALLENGE ACCEPTED BRO and they start making snow rabbits.

After a while, they look at their works of art. Yoshichi thinks MC’s snow rabbit is adorable. MC explains how she makes them so cute. First, she instructs Yoshichi to find red berries for eyes. Then, she adds more snow to the body to make it well formed and plump. Yoshichi is SO happy. The thanks her and tells her it’s so adorable and he LOVES it. MC is happy, but she’s also feeling worried about Kanetsugu checking on them. She tells Yoshichi they should get back to work. Yoshichi looks down and shouts

“MC! Your hand!”

Yoshichi moves, and is about to grab it but stops. MC is confused. Yoshichi stutters

“I, ah, um… MC’s hand looked really red and cold. I instinctually wanted to hold it.”

Yoshichi blushes violently. MC says “Are my hands cold?” and holds them out to him. Just as Yoshichi shyly reaches out to them…

Kanetsugu comes in and asks what is Yoshichi yelling about. Yoshichi freaks out. He grabs MC’s hand and hides her behind his back. Kanetsugu walks up to them. He sees the snow rabbits and sees that the two of them haven’t been working LOL.

Kanetsugu: “What should you two be doing?”

Yoshichi: “Er, what, um, what?”

Kanetsugu: *sighing heavily* “‘What should you two be doing?’ The answer should be plowing the snow.”

Kanetsugu tells these weirdos that they should finish by the evening and leaves. Yoshichi sighs in relief when he’s gone and says “Phew! I was so nervous! I thought he would be a lot angrier.” MC comments on how Yoshichi is still holding her hand.

“Huh? Oh, OH! S-s-sorry!”

MC laughs since Yoshichi didn’t even realize what he did. Yoshichi then says

“MC’s hand is cold… until it gets warm…” (he will hold it)

Yoshichi and MC feel their faces and bodies getting warm. Yoshichi smiles and asks if it’s snowing the next day.

They end up NOT finishing plowing the snow and get punished by Kanetsugu lol, but MC thinks of it as a wonderful memory with Yoshichi.

~~~

Snow rabbits! See the red berries?

Photo Source: Goin’ Japanesque

Here’s what Yoshichi’s snow rabbits looked like

[yoolee]

SLBP Fic/Drabble List

Arranged by region and then character. NSFW and headcanons are separate sections below.

(Last update 7/3/18)

KAI                                                                      

Saizo

Kabedon

Little One

I thought I lost you

Read warnings - Angst Stay & Epilogue

Rainy Morning with Saizo

Multi-Character (mostly Saizo/Yukimura/MC)

Before

Peace & Quiet (modern au)

Sabotage in Good Service (modern au)

Kart (modern au)

Best Man (modern au)

Scraps

Kiss the Girl

Observational Skills

Assumptions (Tsuki and Hana MC)

Yukimura

Three Raining Mornings with Yukimura - 1

Three Raining Mornings with Yukimura - 2

Three Raining Mornings with Yukimura - 3

Shingen

We Proudly Present…Your Dinner

Modern Waffle Cottage Excerpt modern AU

Other

Yuki Deliberation

Kiyohiro Why are you naked in my bed?

Kiyohiro/Umeko Side Ponytail Relationship Success Support Squad

Kansuke: Rainy Morning with Kansuke

Sasuke

Read Warnings - Angst Family

Belong (modern au)

(SPOILERS) Quiet

OWARI

Inuchiyo (Maeda Toshiie)

Rainy Morning with Inuchiyo

Cute

I think we should burn it down.

Tipsy

Because I love you, d@(!it!

Ishida Mitsunari

Rainy Morning with Mitsunari

Get out of the way before I murder you

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Honesty

Rainy Morning with Ieyasu

Come over here and make me!

I do not get drunk – I get awesome.

Fault Lines (Reincarnation/Modern AU)

Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Myth

Multiple:

Six Wins and a Draw (Choose your own adventure!)

Girl Talk (Umeko, Oichi, Matsuko, MC)

The spirit of things (Hideyoshi & Mitsunari - AU)

OSHU

Shigezane

Rainy Morning with Shigezane

Look, I can’t be held responsible for this

The Trio (Masamune, Shigezane, Kojuro)

This was a bad idea. + ART & Bonus Epilogue

Well that’s unexpected (modern au)

ECHIGO

Kenshin

Treasure (angsty?)

Kanetsugu

Two Rainy Mornings with Kanetsugu

NSFW

Fics

NSFW/18+ Fit (Modern AU Yukimura/MC)

NSFW/18+ Lick your wounds Inuchiyo/MC

NSFW/18+ Burn down (Shigezane/MC)

NSFW/18+ Compliments (Shigezane/MC)

NSFW/18+ A kiss between men (and one woman) (Yukimura/Saizo/MC)

NSFW/18+ A kiss of a different kind (Yukimura/Saizo/MC)

NSFW/18+ Distraction (Saizo/MC)

NSFW/18+ Heights (Saizo/MC)

Other:

NSFW/18+ Inuchiyo Headcanons

NSFW/18+  Nonsense & Shenanigans (Inuchiyo)

NSFW/18+ Threesomes Headcanon (All + Noboyuki/Shizegane)

HEADCANONS/OTHER

50 SLBP Prompts

Side Character Prompts

Headcanons (multiple)

Haunted Houses

(SPOILERS) 30 Second Route Summaries

Western Style Dance (All +Noboyuki/Shigezane/Yuki/Toramatsu)

Lords as New Dads (All)

RandomHC tag (where I dump everything <500 words)

Samurai Lee Ballad: PARTY (crack!self-insert)

Pirate AU (mostly Kai centric)

Yahiko fast-forward

Modern AU Headcanons

Ai’s Ballet Recital (Echigo cast)

Ballet Company AU

If Saizo had a blog

Modern AU Nonsense

Kai Reincarnation AU (Kai/Echigo cast x MC)

The Waffle Cottage Chronicles - Modern AU headcanon

Modern AU - Echigo - Waffle Cottage Aesthetics

Modern AU - Oshu - Waffle Cottage Aesthetics

Modern AU - Kai - Waffle Cottage

Modern AU - Owari - Waffle Cottage Aesthetics

Modern AU parallels (Masamune, Kojuro, Shigezane, Yukimura)

Modern AU parallels (Saizo, Nobunaga, Oichi, Kenshin)

Modern AU parallels (Toshiie, Hideyoshi, Yuki, Mitsuhide)

Modern AU Smolsuke

Ask Responses/Flashfics:

Trick or Treat (Hideyoshi)

Halloween (Saizo/Yukimura)

Halloween (Kojuro)

Halloween (Kenshin)

Halloween (Mitsunari)

Hanbei + Storms

Hotaru + Pedicure + Art!

Ieyasu + Please 

Ieyasu + Distill

Ieyasu + Fragile 

Kageie + Safe

Kanetsugu + Summer [modern AU]

Kenshin + Candle

Kenshin + Heart

Kenshin + Effervescent

Kojuro + Slip

Kotaro + Blanket

Ieyasu + Pink

Masamune + Rouge

Masamune + Touching

Mitsunari + Bookworm [modern AU]

Mitsunari + Duck [modern ghost AU]

Mitsunari + Fire

Nobuyuki + Tears

Oichi + Perfection [modern AU]

Saizo + Goose  [modern superhero AU]

Saizo + Jealousy

Shigezane + Warmth 

Toramatsu + You’re Not Fooling Anyone

Toramatsu + You’re Not Fooling Anyone Alternative 

Yasumasa + Omamori

Yukimura + Surprise

Professional Wrestling

Little Mermaid Saiyukkin  

Yukimura + Saizo + Bro

Sasuke + Sleep

Sasuke + Sleep Alternative

Kenshin + Smile

Saizo + Lipstick

Shigezane + Hot Summer Night

Shigezane + Hot Summer Night Alternative 

IkeSen Mitsuhide + Consequences

Starship Promise Atlas + Mistake

My Last First Kiss Hiroki + Yearning

Scandal in the Spotlight SLBP Kota

NSFW/18+ Yuki + Nipple Pasties [modern AU]

NSFW/18+ Mitsuhide + Yams

Random character combinations

Samurai Love Ballet: Party (all)

(Spoilers) The Sun Rises (???)

No time (Kenshin, Shingen, Oichi)

Roomies (Kenshin, Kojuro)

MC in Wonderclan Part One | Part Two

SLBP Next Gen…stuff

Thoughts

OC profiles

A meeting (Date daughter x Sanada son)

The ones who came after (Date x 2, Sanada x 2, Oda, Akechi, Ishida, Toyotomi)

If Lee Wrote Otome (my game plots)

Supervillain MC

Supernatural MC

CEO MC

Royal MC

Dragon MC

Spaghetti Hot Mess-tern in Space (Sheriff MC) 

Errant Lady Knight MC

RAMBLING

Thoughts on Ieyasu/Mitsunari

Thoughts on Kenshin

Thoughts on Ieyasu/Nobunaga

Saizo/Sasuke thoughts (building off of this!) <– WAY less relevant now that big Sasuke is out oh well

Thoughts on Saizo/Yukimura/MC

Thoughts on Yukimura Act 2

OTHER FANDOMS

Hold or Fold (Starship Promise) - Atlas

Tip (Starship Promise) - Atlas

Six Love Stories (Scandal in the Spotlight) - Nagito

NSFW All tied up (Scandal in the Spotlight)

Revance Song Drabble - ? (Scandal in the Spotlight)

NSFW - Bidders + Lingerie headcanon (Kissed by the Baddest Bidder)

[kuteragenesis]

“Plate with Smiling Serpent, Millipede, or Tadpole Creature” by unknown artist, ~600 - 800

Kagey Art Thoughts 47:

Jasmine and I saw this lovely plate at LACMA about a year and a half ago. It was apparently found at the Sitio Conte, an archaeological site in Panama. As far as I can tell, nobody really knows about the people who made this plate. Probably one of the countless peoples lost to history. It’s sad to think about.

This plate, however, is not sad to look at. It is wonderful.

The creature depicted is some kind of long animal, like a snake or a worm, but it seems to be covered in either legs or hairs. If it’s legs, then it makes sense to surmise this is a centipede or millipede or velvet worm, but there’s no way to be sure. The face, of course, doesn’t look like any long animal’s face. If anything it looks vaguely human, albeit exceptionally cartoonish and thus amazing. It’s possible that the face is intended to evoke fear, as it does look kind of crazy and the teeth are not exactly inviting, but I just love it. It’s how I imagine I might have tried to draw a many-legged arthropod before I knew what their heads looked like, as a kid or something.

I like to imagine that this was crafted by a mother, and she asked her child to draw the design for her, and thereafter every time she would use it she would giggle at the little monster smiling up at her before she put her food in it.

[showbizchicago]

Ghostlight Records Releases BE MORE CHILL-OBCR 2-LP Vinyl

George Salazar in "Be More Chill" Photo Credit: Maria Baranova GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS has announced that Be More Chill: Original Broadway Cast Recording two-LP vinyl set is now available exclusively at Barnes & Noble . The album was released for digital download and streaming, in addition to a two-disc CD, earlier this year. This new album continues the remarkable journey for Be More Chill, as the original recording from Ghostlight – which has now been streamed over 300 million times to date – helped propel the show from Two River Theater to a viral Broadway hit. Be More Chill was nominated for a 2019 Tony Award for “Best Original Score.” The gatefold two-LP package features complete lyrics, color production photography, and special liner notes by Grammy and Tony Award-winning songwriters Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman. The album is produced by Kurt Deutsch, Joe Iconis, and Charlie Rosen, and co-produced by Ian Kagey and Emily Marshall. To download or stream the album, or order the CD, please visit  ghostlightrecords.lnk.to/bemorechillbroadway To order the vinyl LP set, please click HERE Be More Chill – which closed at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street, NYC) on August 11 – was nominated for “Best Musical” by the Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, Off-Broadway Alliance, and Lucille Lortel Awards. The show, featuring music and lyrics by Joe Iconis and a book by Joe Tracz, based on the cult sensation novel by Ned Vizzini, was directed by Stephen Brackett and choreographed by Chase Brock. “It’s no secret that many of Be More Chill’s supporters first discovered the show thanks to its Two River original cast album. The thought of delivering a brand-new Broadway cast album to those same fans, who continued to support and love the musical and expand its reach to brand-new audiences is a thrill,” said lead producer Jerry Goehring. According to Joe Iconis, “the score of Be More Chill has mutated, deepened, gotten tons more heartfelt and a lot more explosive since our first production at Two River. I am so thrilled that our new Broadway cast recording captures all of that growth and more. Fans of the show can expect the definitive version of the score, complete with tons of never-before-recorded musical goodies and expanded versions of songs they know and love. First time listeners can expect the most contemporary-sounding traditional musical comedy cast recording imaginable.” Be More Chill arrived on Broadway with the entire cast of its summer 2018 off-Broadway run intact, all of whom are all featured on the album: Will Roland as Jeremy; George Salazar as Michael; Stephanie Hsu as Christine; Gerard Canonico as Rich; Katlyn Carlson as Chloe; Tiffany Mann as Jenna; Lauren Marcus as Brooke; Britton Smith as Jake; Jason SweetTooth Williams as Mr. Heere - Mr. Reyes - Scary Stockboy; and Jason Tam as The Squip. What if popularity came in a pill? Would you take it, no questions asked? In Be More Chill, achieving that elusive “perfect life” is now possible thanks to some mysterious new technology-but it comes at a cost that's not as easy to swallow. What could possibly go wrong? Blending the contemporary with retro sci-fi, this thrillingly exciting, comically subversive, and deeply felt new musical takes on the competing voices in all of our heads. And ultimately proves, there's never been a better time in history to be yourself-especially if you're a loser...geek...or whatever. When the musical opened on Broadway, The Wall Street Journal called it “one of the strongest new musicals of the past decade. Not since Hamilton has a musical opened on Broadway that is so closely in tune with contemporary pop-music style.” Rolling Stone hailed it as “a wow of a musical shaking things up on Broadway. Talk about universal! This joyful, roof-raising phenom is uplifted by the irresistible score of the mega-skilled Joe Iconis.” New York Magazine writes, “It soars… witty, high octane tunes, bang-up performances and shrewd comedy. It has a welcome edge to it that’s refreshing!” AM New York calls Be More Chill “an exciting musical with an addictively catchy score and superb cast. It deserves a place in Broadway history.” NBC says Be More Chill is “the toast of Broadway. A new musical that speaks to a new generation.” Be More Chill’s creative team features scenic design by Tony Award winner Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Bobby Frederick Tilley II; lighting design by Tony Award winner Tyler Micoleau; sound design by Ryan Rumery; projection design by Alex Basco Koch; hair and makeup design by Dave Bova; music direction by Emily Marshall; music supervision and orchestrations by Charlie Rosen; fight direction by J. David Brimmer; production supervision by SenovvA Inc.; and casting by Telsey + Company / Adam Caldwell, CSA & Rebecca Scholl, CSA. The work of Joe Iconis is also represented on Ghostlight Records with Be More Chill (Original Cast Recording), Two-Player Game (George Salazar and Joe Iconis), The Joe Iconis Rock & Roll Jamboree, and Things To Ruin (Original Cast Recording). GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS has become the leading independent force in Original Broadway Cast Recordings – building a library of over 200 records over the past 19 years, featuring some of the most successful Broadway musicals and solo albums by Broadway’s brightest stars. Founded by Grammy Award winner Kurt Deutsch, Ghostlight has won Grammy Awards for The Band’s Visit, The Book of Mormon, In the Heights and Beautiful – The Carole King Musical. Ghostlight has also released solo albums from Patti LuPone, Kelli O’Hara, Sutton Foster, Billy Porter, and more. The label continues to support the new generation of musical theater composers and has developed extensive relationships with Jason Robert Brown, Michael John LaChiusa, and David Yazbek, as well as Lin-Manuel Miranda, Pasek & Paul, Tom Kitt, Joe Iconis, and Shaina Taub. Ghostlight Records is part of the Arts Music division at Warner Music Group. ghostlightrecords.com “BE MORE CHILL – ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST RECORDING” TRACK LIST Jeremy’s Theme (Instrumental)  More Than Survive  I Love Play Rehearsal  More Than Survive (Reprise)  The Squip Song  Two-Player Game  The Squip Enters  Be More Chill Pt. 1  Do You Wanna Ride?   Be More Chill Pt. 2  Sync Up  A Guy That I’d Kinda Be Into  The Squip Stalks (Instrumental)  Upgrade  Loser Geek Whatever  Halloween   Do You Wanna Hang?  Michael in the Bathroom  A Guy That I’d Kinda Be Into (Reprise)  The Smartphone Hour (Rich Set a Fire)  The Pants Song  The Pitiful Children  The Play  Voices in My Head Read the full article

[esselley]

Survive the Wasteland: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

It seemed like Kageyama wasn't yet ready to kill Shouyou. Instead, he slid a hand from Shouyou's shoulder, against the back of his neck, fingers flexing and curling in his hair. His mouth softened, slackened as he turned his head, and his lips slotted more comfortably against Shouyou's, so Shouyou could feel how warm they were, the fact that they were trembling, very, very slightly.

Shouyou dropped his gun. Any other time, Kageyama would have yelled at him for being careless, but he didn't even seem to notice. The other man didn't seem to notice, either, what this new type of touching was doing to Shouyou. He'd gotten comfortable with rough pats on the back, or a hand swiping at his hair, and even the very rare, awkward hugs Kageyama allowed when Shouyou whined enough about how accurate his shooting had been that day and how he deserved a reward.

His hands now were somehow rough, but careful, fingers twisting lightly in Shouyou’s hair, holding him closer than Kageyama ever had before. He gripped the back of Shouyou's neck and breathed, slowly, tightening his grip, and a ripple of something hot zipped up Shouyou's spine. Something pleasant. He accidentally let a noise slip from him, soft and airy and encouraging, against Kageyama's mouth.

Kageyama pulled away from him instantly. Shouyou blinked at him, slow and dazed. He'd never seen Kageyama so red, not even after hugs, when his cheeks would flare up pink as he grumbled and stalked away. Now he was flushed, lips parted, staring at Shouyou like Shouyou had been the one to do something unexplainable and confusing.

“Why did you do that?” Shouyou asked Kageyama.

Kageyama shook his head. “Sorry,” he said, his voice low, and hoarse, and Shouyou swayed unsteadily, blinking up at him.

Shouyou's lips were still warm, and he touched them with his fingers, murmured against them, “Tell me why.”

Kageyama let out a small, dry laugh. “You keep almost getting yourself killed on my account,” he said. “And I just… I wanted…”

Shouyou was, out of the two of them, the one who was so new to touch. But somehow, it was always Kageyama who had the harder time of initiating it.

“I do, too,” Shouyou said, letting his hand fall away from his mouth. He stared up at Kageyama.

“You what?”

“I want you to touch me, more,” Shouyou told him. “I want to touch you, but I don't know—”

He fell silent, because Kageyama was raising slow, tentative hands, reaching out for him. Shouyou held his breath, wondering what would come next.

At the first brush of Kageyama’s fingers, gentle against his cheeks, he exhaled. He wanted to ask what he should do, but then, like before, Kageyama was covering Shouyou’s mouth with his own, but it wasn’t the same stilted press of lips. And Shouyou found he didn’t need to ask any questions, at all.

The pads of Kageyama’s fingers were calloused, but so soft right then, cupping Shouyou’s face in his hands as he coaxed Shouyou’s mouth open carefully, lips chapped, a little bit of extra friction where they rubbed together. Shouyou closed his eyes so he could focus on that sensation better, but that made him feel like his spinning head was causing him to lose his balance. He put his hands out, fisting them in the front of Kageyama’s shirt, and Kageyama pulled him in, held him closer, big hands warm and secure.

He sucked gently on Shouyou’s bottom lip, tongue swiping lightly over it, and Shouyou shuddered in his arms, eyes cracked open just barely because he wanted to see—but something was making it hard to focus, hard to look, hard to breathe. He gave a shallow gasp, unintentional, trying to force air back into his body, and Kageyama pulled back.

“Nnh—” Shouyou mumbled. His lips were wet, he could feel, and he tried to swallow, but his tongue had seemed to cease functioning. “M-more—Ka… Kagey—”

He broke off in a sigh as Kageyama instantly ducked in again, and Shouyou’s mouth fell open, and Kageyama slipped his tongue inside. Shouyou whined, trying to match him, sliding his tongue desperately against Kageyama’s, hoping the mess he was making was okay.

He knew that if they had been in the Vault—if the Overseer and his aides had ever found out Shouyou’s lips had touched someone else’s, he would have been shamed, and punished. Maybe confined. But this was so much more than a light, glancing touch. There was spit collecting at the corners of Shouyou’s mouth, he could see his own saliva clinging to Kageyama’s lips in glistening strands every time he readjusted slightly. The choked whining he couldn’t stop himself from making every time Kageyama’s tongue tangled with his own sounded embarrassing even to his own ears. What if Kageyama thought he was filthy, after this?

“This…” Shouyou murmured, his words garbled and strange, “is this… wrong?”

Kageyama paused, breaths heaving. “N—no. It’s not. But I—” He swallowed, looking pained, his eyes dragging down over Shouyou’s face. “I can stop. If you want to stop, I can...”

But he didn’t want to, that was obvious. And so, Shouyou thought, maybe… wrong or not…

“Don’t,” he said.

Kageyama nodded. He leaned in again, but this time, instead of putting his mouth to Shouyou’s, he pressed it to his jaw, continuing to work his lips down further. He shifted, and one of his legs bent slightly, between Shouyou’s own.

Shouyou cried out, softly, and Kageyama stilled.

“Please…” Shouyou reassured him, “keep…”

“I want to know,” Kageyama said, voice rasping, “if you need me to stop.”

“I’ll tell you… I promise, just please—”

“Shouyou—” Kageyama started to say, and Shouyou’s hips jumped forward at the sound of his name, making him rock against Kageyama’s thigh again, and he sobbed. “Shit, okay, okay—”

He pressed his lips under Shouyou’s ear, high up on his neck, sucking at the skin softly, and Shouyou rocked into him again, moaning. He wanted Kageyama to know how much he was enjoying it, but more importantly, how much he needed it. He’d never wanted anything like this, even when he’d been forbidden from thinking about it. He didn’t think it was just because it felt good.

He thought it must be Kageyama.

“Kageyama…” he whimpered. His hips rolled again, when Kageyama grazed his teeth down the line of Shouyou’s neck, licking a rough, hot line back up it. It was scary, and overwhelming, the pressure inside him—it was good, but maybe too good, and he didn’t know how he would handle it if it kept going. His stomach and between his legs felt heavy and hot, and he ground himself against Kageyama’s leg, trying to relieve some of the pressure, but that only made it worse. “Kageyama, help—”

Kageyama came back to his mouth, teeth tugging his lower lip before working him open again, fast and eager, and one of his hands drifted low, resting at the small of Shouyou’s back and pushing, as he pressed his thigh hard between Shouyou’s legs.

Shouyou’s knees nearly gave way as a feeling totally new to him, strange and terrifying and incredible, swept over him from head to toe. He gasped, caught by surprise, clinging to Kageyama to stop himself from falling. The other man caught him immediately, holding him against his chest.

“Oh, oh, oh—”

“Shouyou…” Kageyama said. His voice sounded odd and far away.

“I—” Shouyou sank lower, knees still trembling, and Kageyama helped him, until they were both sitting at the base of the tree, with Shouyou huddled up in his lap. “What did I…”

Kageyama tipped his face up with a hand under his chin. “Did you just come?”

“What?!” Shouyou gasped. “No, I—I just—” He shifted, and felt the uncomfortable wetness at the front of his pants, and stared at Kageyama, eyes wide and watery. “I couldn’t—stop it—”

“Hey, hey—” Kageyama said.

“Was that—am I—” Shouyou gulped in air. He didn’t know why he was so scared—or he did, but he knew there was no reason for it. No one could abandon him to the Wasteland to die for this crime. He had already made it his home. He let out a long sigh as Kageyama ran a hand through his hair. “I’m okay. It’s okay.”

“Yeah.” Kageyama nodded, and then his lips twitched. “It’s so okay.”

Shouyou pushed his face closer to Kageyama’s, and the other man leaned back slightly, eyebrow raised. “Did you? C-come?”

Kageyama’s expression twisted into his usual crooked grin. “Just from kissing you? Sorry, no.”

“What?” Shouyou asked, shocked. He knew he was being made fun of, but he had too many questions. “How? It felt s-so good, I couldn’t even—I just—”

“You ‘just’,” Kageyama said, grin softening as he pressed his mouth to Shouyou’s cheek, then his ear. “We can work on that, don’t worry.”

Shouyou pulled back to stare at him in awe. “Can we? You’ll show me?”

Red in the face, Kageyama nodded. “D-dumbass. Fine.”

Shouyou cheered. “Also—you totally needed my help after all with the deathclaw.”

Kageyama spent the next few minutes trying to force him to eat leaves.

No cliffhanger! Be proud of me. Also! There’s really great art of this kiss now.

<< previous | next >>

[saeneras]

How would the lords react to their MC being a Johnny's/Kpop fangirl?

Sorry I took so long. I don’t listen to Johnny’s so I lack experience with them. This was hard to write cause I honestly don’t know how they’d react lol.

Nobu: “How pathetic. Long ago you needed to have an army and power to get people to follow you.” He thought, looking at his girlfriend’s eyes glued to the music program. “Now you just need to dance, wear a stupid costume then rip off the stupid costume for ppl like my foolish to follow you.” “Oh!” He heard her gasp, covering her mouth to hold back her squeals. A blonde came to the front of the screen now, winking while pulling up part of his shirt. His grey eyes darkened “You.” He hissed “How dare you make my girl gasp for someone else but me!”

Mitsuhide:  “Ah” he grins noting how much his girl’s habits have rubbed off on him. Lately the music she listened to replayed in his head. Seeing her head peeking from behind the the laptop screen, Mitsu knew what she was up to. Sneaking up behind her, he saw the usual flashing lights, extravagant stages and five men dressed similarly. He chuckled at her cursing beneath her breath because of the laggy stream. Resting his chin on her head. “Hi babe.” She mutters getting a kiss in return. He noticed her eyes followed one particular guy out of the five. “You seem to like that particular singer.” He nuzzled her head. “Because he looks just like you. A lot of my favourite stuff in the world somehow are always associated with you.” The compliment gave way to the colour rising in his cheeks and a happy feeling in his chest.

Yukimura: Yukimura: “YUKIMURA.” she yells for him almost desperately. “Where is he?” “______” he calls from downstairs, worry evident in his voice. “Are you ok?!” Rushing to your bedroom, he finds her. Taking a deep breath “Do you have Twitter?” She asks him. “Y..eah.” taking out his smartphone, he points to the app “I follow Milord Shi….” Grabbing his shoulders, she pleads. “I need your help.” “Of course.” . “I need you to go on twitter and hashtag #LayXoXo.” “What’s a lay?”  “The Chips. We need to get it to the top of WW Trends! We’re facing stiff competition from international bands…I mean brands.” Yukimura didn’t understand the situation but he wanted to make his lover happy. “I Sanada Genjirou Yukimura will make 10 twitters so that your favorite snack can get to the top!” he declared earning a peck on the cheek from his happy gf.

Saizo: “The little lady is at it again.” he smirked as crotch thrusts rained across the screen like the weather he hated. He followed their movements wondering how long they could keep it up on stage. “Heh I could probably go longer and at a faster rate.” he thought wondering why she was blushing at that. Then it hit him. “Hey, they’re doing what we did last night.” he called out to her cheerfully. (short and to the point).

Masamune: She seemed so charmed by those men. Men who were nothing like him. He couldn’t flirt, he wasn’t good with women nor could he make people like her laugh as easily as they could. How could those men make a fool of themselves in front of everyone and still be so loved? It was still so hard for him to be himself infront of her that he was too afraid of making himself look like an idiot. Fear spiked through his body. “What if she leaves me for a guy like that?” he whispered out loud, not aware that she heard. “Masa?” she peered at curiously, leaning over to cup his cheek. “I won’t leave you for anyone like them. I can’t do anything because they are behind a screen. You..” she stroked his cheek. “You are my reality and no one can replace that.”

Kojuro: “___________ I won’t.I’m not into this music.” “Just take a listen! You won’t die or anything.” Kojuro liked books, he liked art, he liked tradition, he didn’t like pop. He was more of an enka guy. “Not now.” he kissed her pout. When she left the room. He glanced at her music player. Curiosity got the better of him, slipping on her headphones, he scrolled to the bright cover art of nine girls dressed as fairytale princesses. “This is catchy.” he whispered, moving his head to the song cautiously peeking into the hall so she wouldn’t catch him.

Hideyoshi: “Look at that!” Hideyoshi pointed at the group raising their shirts, revealing their washboard abs. “ I can do that too!” turning to her, he raised his own garment to reveal his own sculpted abs. With a cheeky wink, he turned back to the TV. “Oooh I think I can do that dance.” immediately he got up. “Hideyoshi...nooo.” she tried to persuade him but too late. Her lover already began to flail wildly out of time like a monkey swinging from tree to tree.

Inuchiyo: “Why do you like that guy group? When this girl group is so much better! I mean look at this girl, she is so cute!” “So are you saying I’m not cute?” she pouted. “Fine then.” she thought. “Look at him.” she pointed to a photo on her phone.”Isn’t he sexy? Keiji told me that even he would kiss him!” “Are you saying that I’m not sexy to a point I am not worth Keiji’s kiss..” “Wait what?” they both frowned. Looking at her phone, she squinted at the news on her phone. “It seems as though your bias and my bias are dating.” she read. “Awwww man.” both sighed. “Wait why are we sighing? We’re with each other!” Inuchiyo muttered.

Ieyasu: “Ha, look at him, he missed his moves.” Sometimes watching MVs with a petulant child could be a pain in the ass. “Pfft he’s lipsynching I’m sure.” he grinned. Ieyasu scrutinized every move, every word for a mistake, to taunt you and make you mad. Taking a deep breath she ignored him. “Man how do you watch this obviously scripted thing, do you honestly believe that guy loves you when he says he does?” he asked mockingly. “No” she answered. “Because the only love I accept is from the sulky child beside me.” That kept him quiet for the rest of the day.

Mitsunari: “I’ve been looking into your music tastes and I find it interesting that a lot of these people you like train for years and years. This one group..” he set his laptop out and she could see graphs and pie charts. “Trained for seven years, that means 2,555 days, 61,320 hours, 3,679,200 minutes and 220,752,000 seconds, excluding leap years, eating, sleeping and off time. It’s almost like samurai training!” Her mind was still processing the numbers he just called out. “This is why I love good old..young Mitsu.”

Kenshin:  Sometimes, he listened to their songs, not because she liked it because he wanted to appreciate the art of singing and their voices. He appreciated the aesthetic of their style and hair colour, sometimes he’d try those styles on himself, though it suited his former retainers more. It made her think that him and his friends would be the perfect group.  Kenshin would be the oldest, Kageie the visual, Kanetsugu would be the leader/mother hen and Yoshichi the dork.

Shingen: He didn’t listen to that type of thing since he preferred older and classical stuff but he always made sure to get her merch or limited edition albums for her birthday or some other occasion. It was a pain to keep up with releases of bands he didn’t particularly care about but because he genuinely adored her happy smiles, it didn’t matter. Anything for his girl. To him it didn’t matter if she had a cute little crush on a celebrity. At the end of day and sometimes into the early morning, it would be his name spilling from her lips, not theirs.

[timeturnedjournals]

a return i suppose

now. you may be wondering. “kagey what’s up with you back on tumblr” well. i guess i wanted a place to rant about journalling art and how i shouldn’t spend all of my money on jetpens or hobonichi accessories but still be validated for my garbage thoughts or art. so anyways! the return of an idiot to tumblr after like........................... 6 years i think.