The almost-kiss from episode 5, but with Xander Rodzinski’s full score instead of it cutting into Crimson and Clover at the end
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The almost-kiss from episode 5, but with Xander Rodzinski’s full score instead of it cutting into Crimson and Clover at the end
Bleach Icons 🎉🎊
HIYORI SARUGAKI APPRECIATION POST
Let’s take a moment to talk about one of the most underappreciated geniuses in all of Bleach.
First of all, she was Vice Captain to two certifiable geniuses. Kirio Hikifune and Kisuke Urahara. One joined the Royal Guard, while the other kind of saved the world. I don’t really know the protocol fully, but I feel like if either Hikifune or Urahara had felt she was subpar, they could have got a new VC. The point is girl knows her stuff.
She was the Head Researcher of the SRDI.
She created the Hiyori Super Walker. I guess she learned an inventing thing or two.
Kisuke has entrusted her with sciency things multiple times, the most recent being when he said that Hiyori not only helped to gather the rift energy, but she also did some major purification work on it.
She was co-leader of the Visored (I mean, Shinji can claim leadership all he wants, but Hiyori clearly was also in charge)
She’s super girly (even if she will actually kill you). I mean her zanpaktou has HEARTS ON IT. Also see the hair clips and her cute bath bowl.
She’s been hollowfied and CUT COMPLETELY IN HALF and is still here. She’s pretty tough to get rid of.
Never one to rest on her laurels, somewhere after getting cut in half she learned to shoot A 3 BEAM CERO.
Even while being hollowfied she has the presence of mind to try and protect Shinji from herself (ugh this is so beautiful)
Her eyeliner game is always on point
She’s obviously a strong fighter given that she was primarily in charge of Ichigo’s training.
She sticks to her guns. She doesn’t want to go back to Soul Society, so she doesn’t.
She’s smart enough to know when to help though. She may not like it, but she does it.
Look at her wee droopy shoulders though. :(
She makes the most epic sad faces
Just look at that and tell me it doesn’t hurt you.
I don’t know what the future has in store for Hiyori, but I’m sure she’ll continue being super smart, super sassy, and super cute.
Finally got brave enough to attempt chibis. Don't question anything, this is my safe space now.
what if... ponytail shinji??
Sometimes drawing is a pleasure ✌️
Oh my god the SHADE, the absolute GRUDGE this man holds I AM DECEASED.
You know that amazing Bleach opening from TYBW Cour 2, STARS? (Go watch it here if not, it's SO PRETTY).
The animators legit buried an entire grudge side story of Shinji Hirako's and Mayuri Kurotsuchi's in a scene no more than 2 seconds long and I'm dying because it's so damn funny and there are LAYERS and I didn't expect it to go THAT deep for something you literally have to freeze-frame or you'll miss it.
I have an... interesting theory about Shinji's fucked up bangs.
The first time we see Shinji with fucked up bangs is when he and the others battle Aizen. (All thanks to Tousen nearly cutting his head off when Shinji aims to attack Aizen.)
In that same arc, Hiyori is very badly injured and it's Shinji we see give the most pained reaction. Him that cries her name a thousand times. Him that holds her body close. Seeing Hiyori that badly hurt does something to him.
When the war ends and we next see Shinji, he is showing off this do...
As oppose to growing his hair out to the lucious beauty it was prior to hollowfication.
Even twelve (12) years later, he cuts his bangs again to look like this.
Is it possible that the reason Shinji keeps his bangs oddly cut is to remind himself of Hiyori's injuries and subsequently remind himself why he rejoined Soul Society?
"Repaying a dept" to Unohana and the Soul Society as well as reclaiming his spot as the 5th division captain.
Road to forgiveness
Something that has been on my mind is if Shinji and Hinamori are capable of forgiving Aizen.
Personally, I believe Shinji has never called Hiyori his 'first love' because it's a phrase without meaning to him. It's a gag. He's literally called every female he's met his 'first love' to get a reaction out of them and the people associated with them. But Hiyori? he's never said it to her because his love for her isn't a joke.
Kubo doesn't like to explain every single detail of his characters' lives or go into detail about the relationships within the series. Instead he shows how characters feel about each other through their actions.
People often forget that Hiyori and Shinji are mutually provocative. They call each other names to get a rise out of the other and they're not afraid to rough house. This type of relationship can only exist between two people who're extremely close. Especially since they would take the kind of physical rough housing and name calling as hostile by a stranger.
Let's also not forget that Shinji often lets Hiyori get the upper hand, or at the very least an equal footing with him, when they physically rough house. Captain rank soul reapers are not to be taken lightly and they're no pushovers when it comes to physical strength. Shinji was able to hold Hiyori like a doll while fending off Mashiro's kicks with one hand. He's not weak. So the argument of Shinji not being able to stop Hiyori at any time during their rough housing sessions is invalid.
Shinji likes to provoke others like a cat toying with their prey. So when he says 'she was my first love' he's saying it to get a rise out of them for his amusement. Hell he's even said it about Lisa at one point. But Hiyori is special to him and he doesn't want to joke about romance with her because he doesn't want her to think he's just teasing her when the love he has for her is genuinely real.
Out of all the Vizards, Shinji is the most protective of Hiyori and he was emotionally unstable when she was cut in half by Gin. Cradling her in his arms as Aizen taunts him to fight. Telling her to stop speaking when she's apologizing to him for the first time.
Shinji has never asked Hiyori to apologize for her rough housing and he didn't need an apology for her actions. Because he never took her actions as hostile or serious.
The loudest love confession from Shinji to Hiyori is the lack of 'first love' declaration. Because Hiyori is his true love.
Hooo boy. Oh no. We're going down the rabbit hole of Shinji Hirako's hairstyle choices and what they mean, people. Buckle in.
So, this has been bugging me for a while, but oh my gawd, we need to get the story straight on Shinji's freaking hairstyles. Because I care far, far too much about this and need to get it off my chest.
So what's the deal with Shinji's hair? Let's start with his TBTP arc hair, which is CRAZY. Oh my god.
Fantasy Guide to Royal Households and How they Work
When I say Households, I mean the entourage that follows around the royal family. The household went everywhere with them to care for their needs from the people who would empty their chamber pots to their noble companions. Most royal households are basically the same as noble ones, only on grander scale. Every royal had a household and an entourage as well as every noble at court.
Palace Personnel ~ The Commons
The commons were an intregal part of every household. They made up perhaps 80% of the work force. Royal courts were often on the road and never spent more than a few months at every palace. The court was constantly moving. Some positions were not permanent, meaning certain servants did not travel with the court because they were employed at the palace only. They would be paid by the Monarch's paymaster.
Scullion: The scullion was a relatively easy position to fill so they were often changed as the court went from palace to palace. They would be responsible for scrubbing and cleaning the servants quarters and the kitchens. They would scrub floors with lye, scour pots with sand, sweep put the fireplace and clean up after the other servants. They were the first to rise in a castle and tasked to light all the fires in the kitchens. Scullions would just be employed to the palace and serve a multitude of chambers
Laundress: The laundress was responsible for the cleaning of anything made of fabric in the household. Since they are handling unmentionables, they knew what happened behind closed bedchamber doors. They knew when the King visited the Queen or hadn't, they knew when marriages were consummated or not and they knew when the Queen and royal women were not pregnant. They often sold secrets to pad their pockets. Laundresses might be permanent staff but sometimes not.
Minstrels: The minstrel was a commoner hired to play an instrument or sing for the entertainment of the royal. A royal might staff a few at a time but they would always have one on hand. The minstrel would likely come with their masters as they travelled. The minstrel might serve the main royal household but a royal might retain their own.
Cook: The cook was one of the most important servants in the household. They would have the task of overseeing the running of the kitchens and keeping supplies in order. They would likely be on call at all times. Henry VIII's cook was often woken in the night because his royal master wanted a midnight snack. The cook was a valued member of the household and would have been highly sought after if they were a very skilled cook. They would have travelled with the joint. Cooks were apart of the greater royal household but often royals retained private cooks for their own use.
Maidservant: The maidservant cleans the castle. She would sweep the floors, scrub them, empty the chamberpots, get rid of the ashes from the fire and ready the fire for later. She would make up the bed or strip it for the laundresses. She would wash anything that needed washing including furniture and ornaments. She was likely not a travelling servant and would be strictly employed at a single palace.
Jester: The jester was the hired entertainer. Working under the master of revels, the jester had the daunting task of making the monarch and their family laugh. They would tell jokes, tell stories, cause havoc in the court for laughs and lighten the mood. The most successful jester of all time was Will Somers, jester to Henry VIII. Will broke bad news to the infamously bad tempered monarch and got away with things that would have sent others to the block. Will survived most of Henry's reign, his head intact. Jesters would be apart of the main household though each royal might have one of their own.
Positions within the Royal Household ~ Noble
Nobility were always welcomed at court. They eat at court, slept at court and were cared for by the monarch. Some nobles had to sing for their supper and most were hired as royal servants. They weren't exactly scrubbing floors and would be paid handsomely with land that would generate wealth for them
The Steward/Seneschal: This person was the head of the royal's staff. They would have the task of running the lands and servants their master or mistress. The steward served as a backup and assistant in all the tasks even representing their master or mistress when they were unavailable. Would be a high ranking noble. Each royal household would have them.
Treasurer of the Household: The treasurer was the accountant and pay master. They would be in charge of ensuring debts were settled, wages were paid and the household was running within the budget. This was a coveted position because it gave the treasurer insight into the financial situations of the royals. Such info was wroth its weight in gold. Each royal would have one.
Usher: The Gentleman Usher would be in charge of escorting guests into the royal chambers and into the royal presence. They would act as a go between their royal master/mistress and the guest often going back and forth with messages. It was just as coveted as the position of chamberlain but with less responsibilities.
Master of Horse: The Master of Horse was in charge of seeing to the horses of their master. They would oversee the grooms or the stableboy/hands who were employed at the stables to actually care for the horses. The master of horse would ensure that the stables were in order and the horses were up to parr in order to bear royalty across the kingdom. Each royal would have one but there would a main one who acted as overseer.
Master of the Wardrobe/Mistress of the Robes: These are the nobility who are employed to look after the clothes of the royal they serve. This would mainly involve a managerial position, overseeing the inventory of the royal wardrobe (a warehouse like building that housed the clothing) and placing orders for new clothes. It was a tidy job that rarely involved getting the hands dirty. Each royal would have one.
Chamberlain/Valet: The chamberlain is employed to look after the Lord's bedchamber. This was the most sought out position as they effectively were the gateway into the royal presence. Their main task was making sure their boss was comfortable and happy. Could be a well born commoner or a noble. Each royal would have one.
The Page: All royal households had pages. They would be a young noble boy about seven years old sent to their royal master. He would be in charge of tidying up after the lord, carrying messages to other servants and occupants of the castle and serving him at meals. Unlike others on the list, the page would not be paid. His experience was his payment as he would learn the running of a court and how to be courtier. Each royal would have one.
Squires: Squires were like pages though they only served the men. They would accompany their royal master to battle, look after his armour and mail, ensure that his lord's horse was saddled, caring for their master's weapons. The squire would always be a young nobleman on the cusp of becoming a knight.
Governess: The governess is a noblewoman woman employed to oversee the Monarch's children's household. She would be the first teacher a royal child would have and would oversee the nursemaids who would have care of the physical person of the child. She would be appointed when the child was four or five. Notable governesses include Katherine Swynford (wife of John of Gaunt and mother to the Beaufort line), Margaret Pole (wife of Tudor Loyal Sir Richard Pole, sister of the last York heir Edward of Warwick, daughter of George Duke of Clarence and niece to King Edward VI and Richard III), Kat Ashley, Margaret Bryan, Madame de Maintenon and Baroness Lehzen. Most unmarried Princesses retained their governesses while Princes generally outgrew their governesses after they were breeched.
Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber: They were the male companions of a King or Prince, sort of like ladies in waiting but manly. They would accompany the King or Prince everywhere they would go and shared duties with Groom of the Stool (royal toilet paper dispenser) and the Chief Gentleman of the Chamber (overseeing the staff and maintaining the chamber). They would help their master get ready, serve him at the table and organize hunting and games to keep him entertained. Gentlemen and companions where often chosen for their connections as well as their master's own opinion. Henry VIII's gentlemen included: Sir William Compton (ward of Henry VII and heir to rich lands), Sir Henry Norris (the grandson of William Norris who fought with Henry's father at Stroke and a relation to the Yorkists Lovells), Sir Anthony Denny (son of Sir Edmund Denny Baron of the Exchequer) Sir Michael Stanhope (brother in law to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset), Charles Brandon (ward of Henry VII and son of Tudor Loyalists)
Ladies in Waiting and Maids in Waiting or Maids of Honour: These are the female attendants to the Queen or Princess. Ladies in Waiting were married while the Maids were unmarried. They would have to attend their mistress wherever she went, help her get ready, keep her chambers in order, write letters for the Queen and maintaining her honour. They were chosen for their connections. Using Katherine of Aragon as an example, her Ladies in Waiting included: Maria de Salinas (daughter of Juan Sancriz de Salinas secretary to Isabella, Princess of Portugal and a Spanish courtier in the service to Katherine's parents, wife of Baron Willoughby de Ersby), Elizabeth Howard (the daughter of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, sister to Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk and wife to Thomas Boleyn, ambassador to France), Anne Hastings (daughter of William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings, wife to George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury and Lord Steward.), Agnes Tilney (wife to Thomas Howard, Earl of and 2nd Duke of Norfolk.), Elizabeth Scrope (wife of John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, a loyal Tudor lord), Margaret Scrope (wife of Sir Edmund de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk cousin to the King), Anne Stafford (sister of the Duke of Buckingham, married Sir George Hastings, Earl of Huntington and daughter of Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham (cousin to the King) and Lady Katherine Woodville (sister of King Henry VIII's grandmother and his great aunt by her marriage), Elizabeth Stafford (sister to Anne Stafford wife Robert Radcliffe, Lord Fitzwalter and Earl of Sussex around). Their connections are what got them their places and you can see why they were chosen.
Accommodation
Accommodation can be a difficult thing to sort both as a writer and a steward. You might have a palace of 200+ bedchambers in which you must house a staff of 500-/+, a varying amount of nobles, the royal family (of a varying amount) and their own households. When assigning rooms it is best to think of a Russian nesting doll. Start from the inside and work your way to the outside.
The best rooms go to the monarch, their consort and their children/siblings/parent(s). These chambers would include the bedroom, a drawing room/ common area, a privy, a closet (a small chamber that can be used for prayer or work). They would be furnished with the best cloth, the best candles and whatever furniture brought by the resident since most royal courts travelled from palace to palace. They will also have chambers for their personal servants such as ladies in waiting and grooms.
The second best set of rooms would go to the highest ranking nobles/people in the court. These rooms would be less fancy and a little smaller. These would be given to from titled nobility descending from those of Ducal rank (Dukes/Duchesses) or even members of the council such as Thomas Cromwell in Tudor times.
The next set would be considerably smaller, perhaps minus a closet or a drawing room. Given to lower nobility.
The next level of chambers would be smaller perhaps only the bedroom and a common area given to minor nobles.
The last set of rooms would be small and only hold enough room for a bedroom. Servants would have to sleep on the ground on pallets beside their masters.
Any other guests at court would have to stay at off-site locations around the palace in the city. Some nobles at houses around major palaces just in case they arrived late or were kicked out of court.
It's a reading challenge month in the Tanthamore discord, so here's some ambient-ish Willow music for reading/writing!
Original music by James Newton Howard and Xander Rodzinski. Scores featured:
One Day - JNH Wanting to Say - XR The Wyrm - XR How Far We'd Go - XR Not How This Ends - XR Admissions - XR
Another piece of music/an edit that I've been sitting on for a bit, but the climax of the piece was perfect for the waterfall scene.
Music: Gravity by Trailer Rebel
This song came up on shuffle recently and since then I've had the bug in my head to make a video to this! Mainly focusing on love (the most powerful thing in the universe!)