[ID: a digital redraw of the scene where chuuya shoots dazai in the shoulder. on the top of the drawing is chuuya holding a guy to dazai's head in the red and grey hallways of the prison. on the bottom of the drawing is dazai's pained face. the gunshot is shown stylistically as hectic lines behind his bloody shoulder. over the image is half a quote from goncharov that reads 'if we really were in love you wouldn't have missed.' the signature says dandelion-roots. end ID]
This quote from Goncharov (1973) in relation to soukoku has been haunting me from before I even got to that scene in the anime (the full thing is: Katya- Of course we're in love, that's why I tried to shoot you/ Goncharov- If we really were in love you wouldn't have missed). Violence as a tool for communicating emotions, especially love and hatred, especially love and hatred makes me go feral- how could I not think of the iconic quote that says that katya's miss was a sign of a lack of love/a fake love when chuuya didn't miss? Just... losing it over here.
Partially Inspired by This Post but hear me out, Ancient of Space Danny. With his clone kids. All of his clone kids. Who have made their own friends with some local planets and heroes and otherwise.
Planets, you ask? Why yes. See most of them? Very much also space-themed in the core department. Some are Stars, some Suns, some Moons, a few Black Holes and others of the Void. Some have even decided to play hero or villain or otherwise.
Now, Danny isn’t the ghost king, but? He does still have a lot of connections, which means that when a portal opens, ghostlings are usually sent off to, well, for lack of better term, his yard to play. And the Realms’ time is rather untethered to any specific world.
So what happens when it’s time to bring them home for dinner?
some observations from going down a rabbit hole of japanese language xigbar yesterday
(apologies for the youtube watermarks. i got this clip from this video.)
[Video ID: a fifteen-second clip from a cutscene from kingdom hearts 3D: dream drop distance, with japanese audio and english-language visuals. it's the scene where xigbar tells sora that he's not going to wake up. end ID.]
keep in mind that this clip is just the japanese audio being played over the visuals from the english language release. the subtitles aren't a direct or literal translation of the words being spoken; they correspond to the localized dialogue that the english voice actors wouldve been given
hōchū ōtsuka (xigbar's japanese va) and james patrick stewart (his english va) give, to my ears, pretty similar vocal performances. this is the case for pretty much all of the characters ive seen so far in my xigbar-centric explorations (roxas's vas sound nearly IDENTICAL). the notable exception being xemnas, whose japanese va straight up sounds like he's trying to talk without moving his mouth
in the english dub cutscenes, the character animations often feel...floaty? disconnected? like, because they're not synced up to what the characters are saying and how, their gestures frequently seem random and unmotivated. in retrospect it's obvious that this issue wouldnt be present in the original language because that's the dialogue they would've been animated around in the first place!
now that im actually watching the character animation with the dialogue it was actually done for, i appreciate it a lot more. its so expressive. smiles.
at the end of xigbar's speech here you may notice him saying the phrase "tte hanashi." this is his japanese catchphrase! it means something along the lines of "so they say", "or so I've heard", et cetera. i love "as if" im a big fan of "as if" but i also love the idea of xigbar consistently undermining the information he gives and emphasizing how often he eavesdrops and spies on people.
he says "tte hanashi" very very often. multiple times in most of his scenes that ive seen so far. way more often than the english dub says "as if"
he doesn't say it normal like im pretty sure that's not how you say it in normal speech. like sometimes he does say it normal, but he always draws it out at least a little and often really draws it out, emphasizing it with some kind of gesture, like he does in the clip
seriously if there's a moment in the games where xigbar says something while doing a cunty little gesture he is probably saying "tte hanashi" in the japanese version
do not bend over you don’t need to sit down he’s got it. (serval taught him to tie a knot with the two bunny ears when he was a kid and that’s still how he ties one.)
GETS FLUSTERED !!
every so often he is holding ur hand or laying beside you and you notice him look away or clear his throat. he just becomes so aware of ur skin against his or ur thumb brushing over his knuckles and his cheeks go pink.
BUYS YOU TRINKETS !!
maybe not always trinkets. but if he sees something in the window of a shop that he believes you’ll like it is already bought and on route back to you before he can think twice.
alternatively, will buy you things he remembers you talking about liking or wanting.
BIG CUDDLER !!
will completely melt into you when he gets home and out of his heavy suit of armour. head nuzzled against your stomach, arm wrapped around your torso to keep you from going anywhere, he’d purr if he could. the second your hands find his hair he’s putty in your hands.
CALLS YOU CUTE NAMES !!
he’s a huge “sweetheart” and “honey” guy sorry i don’t make the rules. “love” when he’s feeling sappy. (more so than usual.)
GENTLE GIANT !!
he is always so gentle with you?? like his voice is notably calmer and softer when talking to you, the kisses he leaves on your temple or back of your palm are always placed with such tenderness, the hand he places on the small of your back when he has to reach past you to get something, his rough & calloused fingers lightly tracing heart shapes on your shoulder blades when you lay on him :(
cutting myself off bc this is too long LMAO but oh my god he is just so <//3 i love him