Yurakutei Yakumo

[rakugami-blog]

meteorgreen:

⛅ ➜ Somehow, it wasn’t so bad talking to this person, Midori found it was almost as if they were kindred souls in a way– despute the other’s older age. Or perhaps they were actually younger than they seemed? It was hard to tell really, when the smile they offered him along with the sweet treat shifted the other’s features with a more youthful glow than Midori anticipated.

“Thank you,” he smiled back taking the sweet from him, and promptly unwrapping said confection and popping it straight into his mouth. The artificial strawberry flavoring spread slowly as he listened, a simple pleasant feeling as he sat there. There was no dread in the younger one’s chest, no usual heaviness that accompanied most social interactions. It was simply a good atmosphere, and there was nothing in particular that prevent him from answering. Midori didn’t know what it was about this chance meeting, but he felt he could answer, truthfully, honestly, without any worries.

“At first… I didn’t like it. It was… a chore for me, something I had to do because I was forced into it. And… I always made excuses to try and get out of it– from practices to performances, anything really. You see,” The teen paused a bit, taking time to formulate his words, “it’s not like I had any actual talent for performing, being an idol. I just had the face for it”

Continuing Midori added, “But, my unit members –my friends, my comrades,– they looked past that. They stood by me… watched me, encouraged me, pushed me… So, I think… I think now, I can like it. Because they’re here… I can perform.”

“Comrades, huh? You make it sound like you were all fighting a war together. I didn’t know the enertainment industry had become so vicious, or perhaps that’s just more of that youthful passion.” Kiku said, but he was only teasing. Even if his words sounded a bit strict, his eyes closed, and with his small smirk he looked more kitsune than man for a moment there. 

“I agree with you though, my closest friend, or should I say my comrade was a born performer unlike me. I always practiced while he went out flirting with women and drinking, but no matter how perfect I practiced a piece, I was far more absorbed in his Rakugo than my own.”

Ah, this was a bit dangerous though. He did not want to discourage the young one in front of him simply by relating his own troubles of the past. If you read his story from beginning to end, it might seem depressing, as if all of his efforts were worthless. Only hardcore Yakumo fans could become enthralled with a tragic life like his.

“Oh but, it’s not like I envied him or anything in fact. It was having him around that motivated me. The two of us wanted to perform together, just like you and your friends did. What you are lacking in yourself, you can always find in others.” Was he a good old man now that he was giving advice?

[rakugami-blog]

deviloftherhine:

“ I see….“

I don’t make any further comments as I write the name up. About to ask for the apartment location I look up only to get interrupted by him. Hesitating on the answer I blank out for a moment.

“ Ah, well I’m a foundling but…. “

In the end I choose to back out.

“ …. I’m a foundling “, I simply repeat and follow return back to the business, ” apartment location? “

Yakumo’s expresion became conflicted for a moment. Not that it showd that much, he merely looked to the side briskly. His acknowledgement was simple, “I see.”

Foundling reminded him a bit of Sukeroku. No, that was a lie. It reminded him of himself, he was the one who had been abandoned on master’s doorstep after all. 

“I’m in district Alpha. Though to be honest, I’ve forgotten the way back there. I’m old you know, the trap’s not as good as it once was.”

Yakumo put a knuckle to his head, and rapped it in a comedic gesture. He smiled and looked back to the child once more. 

“Can you do your duty as a civic defender and walk me home?”

[rakugami-blog]

virassxn:

﴾ ➼ ﴿ ❝Hm… It does not sound too unusual to me. I think most people enjoy showing others what they are best at,❞ the elf hummed, lips quirking at the other’s response. Ever since he was a child, he was always happy to display his skills in archery, and to a slightly lesser extent, his affinity for crafting and designing. He was proud of what he had trained for, and he knew that he was talented in these abilities. Of course, he did not go around boasting about it.  

But the skills of others was always a fascination to Cyrran, as well. He enjoyed knowing what others loved and were passionate about, what they were capable of. It was something he could encourage them about, if only ever subtly, and that brought him some pleasure. Constantly the Inquisitor was seeking to learn about others and their nuances.

❝Ah, a shame indeed! Though, the word brothel gives away quite a bit already,❞ Cyrran chuckled. The lull in dialogue did not go unnoticed, and at the suggestion of telling a story of his own, the elf raised his brows. A story of his own world? There were many– which to choose from?

Giving a little ‘hm,’ the Herald was quiet for a few moments before asking, ❝What sort of story do you enjoy the most?❞

“What do I enjoy? Hmm, what indeed...”

That was an interesting question. Kiku had spent so much time performing, he did not know what it was he liked to listen to. Of course he had listened to a great deal of Rakugo in his life too, but that had always been the old masters. By the time he had become an old master himself, he found little time for appreciating it like he used to, like Sukeroku would have.

Sukeroku, that was right. If there was a type of story he wanted to listen to the most in the world right now it would be one of Sukeroku’s. That kind of thing, was impossible though. Kiku knew better than to communicate that kind of request to the other.

When he realized he had been silent for a long time, looking pensively off into the distance Kiku turned his focus back to the other. “The kind of story I enjoy the most is a humorous one, one that when you’re done telling it has both parties laughing like they were old friends. Do you know any tales like that?”

[rakugami-blog]

deviloftherhine:

I sigh. How conflicting it is to see how my special treatment in the Empire has ingrained into me. As much I hate being treated as a child it’s that very mentality that ignores my age the fact that had me sent to the war in the first place. Then again would this have gone any differently if it was my original body standing here in the first place?

Ahhh, the headache. I shake the thought off.

“ Then as a comedian you should at understand the importance of timing? “ I respond handing over the ticket

“ Rakugo as well I take it? Kudos to your friend then. Now, can I have your name? “

“Rakugo artists change their names as they ascend through the ranks you know, so I’ve had a lot of names. So many I’ve forgotten even what my original name was. Yakumo Yurakutei the 8th should suffice though on any legal forms.”

Yakumo cotinued to chat up the other as if they were two old friends enjoying a light hearted conversation, rather than him being accosted by an officer of the law. He was partially an actor after all. 

Even though he was done putting up any resistance, he found something curious about the individual. He readjusted his glasses for a moment to look closer. “Excuse me, was one of your parents a foreigner. You seem familiar enough with japanese custom but...” He looked down at their hair for a moment. 

[rakugami-blog]

riptideroyalty:

Lapis face was serious.

Yes, she was joking with this human, but it was her discretion as to how far to take said joke. Apparently, according to the human television she had watched with Peridot, the further one took the joke, the more hilarious it became. Probably.

“Meepmorps can have different names, but they’re still meepmorps.” She was in this one for the long haul, it would seem.

Lapis went quiet as he spoke, the only indication that she was no art piece herself was the fact that she blinked. She doubted that that was that human’s actual name, but, with the way he said it so easily… She wasn’t sure, either way.

Finally, she just nodded.

“I’m going to call you Bob. I’m Lapis Lazuli.” She was also an alien, but, she felt like that went without saying. If he didn’t get it, then, it was his fault.

“Huh? Do you have a problem with the name Jugemu Jugemu Go-Kō-no-Surikire Kaijari-suigyo no Suigyō-matsu Unrai-matsu Fūrai-matsu Kū-Neru Tokoro ni Sumu Tokoro Yaburakōji no Burakōji Paipo Paipo Paipo no Shūringan Shūringan no Gūrindai Gūrindai no Ponpokopii no Ponpokonā no Chōkyūmei no Chōsuke.”

Kiku rushed through the pronunciation, but pronounced each individual syllable perfectly. It was something the result of only long years of practice could bring. He wondered if it was worth it, just to tease this teenager who was wearing blue makeup. 

“Since we’re not friends. You should leave the nicknames at home. I’d prefer you call me by my name Jugemu Jugemu Go-Kō-no-Surikire Kaijari-suigyo no Suigyō-matsu Unrai-matsu Fūrai-matsu Kū-Neru Tokoro ni Sumu Tokoro Yaburakōji no Burakōji Paipo Paipo Paipo no Shūringan Shūringan no Gūrindai Gūrindai no Ponpokopii no Ponpokonā no Chōkyūmei no Chōsuke.” 

“Meepmorps though, that’s quite a catchy name.” He put a hand in front of his mouth to hide a smile. “I’m what you would call a meepmortist then, how about you? Are any of those yours?”

[rakugami-blog]

virassxn:

﴾ ➼ ﴿ Cyrran went quiet as the man almost immediately switched into character once more, eyes widening a bit as he did so. To so naturally fall into a mode of storytelling… The elf was impressed, needless to say, and the man was quite good at what he did. Wryly, he wondered if he could give someone like Varric a run for his money, but Varric was always one for pen and paper rather than fully acting out one of his tales. 

Still, he tucked away the challenge for an unknown day.

As the tale unfolded, the Herald leaned in a bit with renewed interest, a somewhat bemused smile forming at the predictability of the hospital manager in the story. Using a god’s trick when he wasn’t supposed to? Mortals really were troublesome, no matter the world. It was a pity. 

But he kept that thought to himself until the story reached its climax, slowly grinning by the end at the dramatics of the man. 

With a quiet laugh, he shrugged his shoulders and mused, ❝I think you did wonderfully, lacking a candle even as you did. So you prefer to tell scary stories such as this? Or is it more… just what you are best at?❞ Sure the fellow had his own preference beyond what he was simply good at, right?  

“I like the stories that I perform the best. Isn’t that natural for a performer? I want to show others my Rakugo at it’s best.” Yakumo answered the man’s question with another question of his own. It was a little bit rude, but in Yakumo’s mind he was old enough by this point he was allowed a free pass on rudeness. Only apprentices had to worry constantly about trying to please others. Speaking of apprentices, his mind wandered again to his fool apprentice Yotaro for a moment. 

Yotaro would have loved a conversation like this. He was much more enthusiastic about Rakugo, basically a fan boy He could have explained the ins and outs of what made the art so important. Even though he was the head of the Rakugo association, he had a much more difficult time. Rakugo was just something inside of him, something he wanted to share with others. That being said. 

“I’d go on to perform a bawdy one, but I think two is enough to perform for free,” He said while smiling cheekily. “It’s a shame, you won’t get to find out what a Yoshiwara brothel is like just yet.” He hummed for a moment, before realizing there was a significant empty space in the conversation.

“Ah...” He breathed, “I’m not really one for small talk. Oh, I know, why don’t you tell me a story from your world then we’ll call it even. It doesn’t have to be a rakugo performance, of course.”

[rakugami-blog]

bubonem:

The small author had entered the cafe alone, a rare occurrence as the establishment in question was one she frequented regularly with a certain mangaka. Even the barista, one of many familiar with Takatsuki Sen and Kishibe Rohan, questioned where the taller author was, much to Takatsuki’s obvious chagrin.

With her coffee and pastry, Eto set to waste some time. 

She did not glance up at the intruder, nor the sounds his actions or mouth made. She continued to look at her phone, the screen of which reflecting in her round glasses. Such blatant rudeness would have been an obvious decline to the man’s request… Yet, Eto noted with a twitch of her eyebrow that he ignored her.

What an asshole, a condescending one at that.

Eto took a sip of her coffee.

“Can you not read the menu?”

She took a bite of the dessert she had purchased, going back to her phone.

“You expect me to read without my glasses? Are you going to offer to lend me yours?”

He continued voicing words in his uptight and cranky way. When he picked the menu up though, he immediately dropped it in shock. His eyes focused again, and he could still read the worst with that far away. Kikuhiko looked at his own hand, and watched as he moved the joints of his fingers fluidly and without any rickets. 

“I see. I must look like an ass right now.” It was clear whatever he was processing, he was not finished processing it yet. His eyes met the young person who was doing her best to ignore him. He thought even his admission probably did little to change how he appeared in her eyes. 

“You know responding to rudeness with rudeness is rather pointless don’t you think?” He asked for a moment, only to receive the same response which was no response at all.  He leaned over the table even further to investigate what was keeping her attention so much, and saw she was staring at something. “What is this rectangle?” Kiku asked snatching it out of her hands for inspection. He read the characters as they appeared onscreen. “Were you listening to a book on tape? Like an 8 track tape?” Kiku marveled for a second, then put it down again. 

“How pointless. I can tell you a story better than any rectangle can.”

[rakugami-blog]

virassxn:

﴾ ➼ ﴿ ❝My, how thoughtful of you,❞ Cyrran mused in a wry tone, raising a humored brow at the other man. He never gave much thought to people having stories they were good at telling, but he supposed it made sense. Someone like Cassandra was certainly unsuited to retell a comedy.

Leaning forward a bit with interest, the elf tilted his head and considered the man’s words. Rakugo it was called. The word sounds reminiscent of Iruka’s language, and upon hearing the other’s name, he hazarded that they may be of the same region.

Whatever that meant in a place like the Hive, anyway.

❝I didn’t realize storytelling could be refined as an art form,❞ he admitted, resting back against the bench. With a little smile, he remembered to add, ❝And since you have given your name, it is polite to return the favor, I suspect. Mine is Cyrran Lavellan– a pleasure.❞

Noting that impish smile, the Inquisitor found himself grinning expectantly. ❝If you don’t mind, I would love to hear one.❞

“What did that fool apprentice of mine say? Anything will go on if people love it enough, it’s like that with Rakugo. I suppose that’s how it started anyway,” It was obvious Kiku was not one for talking philosophy. He hurried the subject along. Two performances in one day would have exhausted him if his body were old. Ever since coming to this city though, he could do things like waste rakugo on a casual conversation with a stranger. 

“Over time though, things fall in and out of fashion, yet the world of the gods never changes.” Kiku closed his eyes and opened it again.

“Who are you, you filthy wretch?”

Then, in a much older voice, he leaned forward and said. “Oh, me? I’m a shinigami.”

“Oh, hell! That means I’m gonna die soon! Are you the one behind this huh?”

“Enough. I just wanna talk to you, come this way.”

He could see it, clear as day. The shinigami. 

“So the shinigami, led the hospital manager to one of his beds.”

“See, you don’t have to even take his pulse. Let me share this with you. When a patient has been bedridden, a shinigami will be with them, either by their head or their feet. If they’re by the feet the patient still has life left in them. If they’re by the head.... their life is all but over.”

“I see.”

“If you speak the magic words, the shinigami will leave them. You’ll become a fine doctor indeed.”

“So what are the magic words?”

“Listen. You must never repeat this to anyone. Arjaka Mokuren kyriyuse. Tekuretsono. Pon.”

“The doctor immediately went against his word, and repeated the magic words to each of his patients. They went home to tell others of their miracle recovery and he attracted the attention of lords. He charged them each exorbitant rates for their lives, and kept them alive almost indefinitely until one day he heard the words Arjaka Mokuren Kyriyuse. Tekuretsono pon - in his own ear. The shinigami returned.”

"Each of those candles represents a human life. And that one there, about to go out? That’s your life.”

“What?”

“Blinded by money, you wasted your life away. Sorry to tell you, but you’ll die soon.”

“A chance, give me a second chance!”

“Ohohoho, fine then. While it’s burning, transfer the flame to another candle.If you fail you’ll die, understand?”

“I get it. The-the flame. The candle flame... be very careful. Oh no! I can’t do it! My hands... my hands aren’t working right.”

“Hehehehe, You’re trembling. If you tremble it’ll go out. If you tremble, you’re dead.”

“Stop that! Shut up!”

“See? It’s going out. It’s going out. Better hurry. It’s going out. It’s going out. Going out. See? It went out.”  

 Dazai whose hands had been shaking as he mimicked trying to hold a candle, suddenly froze. His hands crossed one another and his head tilted back the life drained from his expression. He collapsed forward, and his eyes fell shut. 

A moment later he cracked one eye open. “It’s a better performance when I have a candle with me.”

[rakugami-blog]

deviloftherhine:

I blink at the sudden change on his voice. That frustrating, uppity tone that old men thinking they have experienced everything would grate my ears far more if it wasn’t for the confusion of the mismatch. He says he’s born during Showa Period but it tells me nothing except that he probably resides in the same universe I originally came from….. 

At first I don’t know what to make of it. Not until his charade changes again.

I narrow my eyes and feel my fingers closing into tight fists. He’s playing with me? Making a show to confuse me because I appear to be a child? The gall!! 

“ …..sir, if you don’t get serious I will have to take you to the station “, I spat. Enough of this already.

“ If it’s a war that makes a man then I’ll have you know I’ve fought on war myself. What does it have to do with you paying a fine? It is YOU who’s having the attitude sir, not me! “

Kiku let a small puff of breath loose. He didn’t seem to mind at all, the ticket nor the threat of arrest. Never mess with those who had nothing to lose. They were the most powerful of all. Of course, that was just Kiku’s own overdramatic assessment of this small argument he was having with a child. 

“I’m a comedian, you can’t arrest me for not being serious. That’s an offense against the arts.” Kiku resumed smiling down at the other, foxlike. 

“Fine, fine, just give me the ticket then. My dear friend entertainer soldiers during the war, I’d hate to stomp on his legacy.” He had already killed Sukeroku, after all. Kikuhiko was primarily an enertainer though, so he knew the enertainment he could get out of this situation was coming to a close. 

[rakugami-blog]

virassxn:

﴾ ➼ ﴿ Admittedly, Cyrran was not quite sure what sort of story to expect. He was used to war stories, tales of battles and heroics, perseverance in trying times. The more humorous tales came out in calm moments –moments of drink and soft chatter around a fire or a table of Wicked Grace. Even so, they were still personal experiences, and the tales of far-off individuals were those of his own gods. Perhaps he really was in need of a new type of story.

So he listened patiently, eyes following the changes in the man’s expression and fighting a smile at the different voices. As the story became more and more ludicrous, it grew more difficult to stifle soft laughter, covering the growing grin behind his hand. 

It was a new story, that was for certain.

By the time the stranger reached the punch line, the chortles had already been building in his chest. Hearing it allowed the elf to finally release his mirth, hunching over somewhat as he snickered quietly into his fist. It took a minute or two for him to really collect himself, and he couldn’t help but vaguely wonder at how easy it was to get him to laugh. Had he not been doing so lately?

❝That is quite the tale– you are very good at this,❞ he chuckled, exhaling and casting a half grin in the other’s direction. ❝Do you tell stories for a living? Make people laugh regularly?❞

Storyteller, Kiku was sure that was a part of it. Though, the stories he told were never his own. He dedicated his life to memorizing the tales, so he could let Rakugo fill him up, and he could let others see him perform Rakugo. He wanted to embody the characters, be the old man, the priest, the fisherman, the young boy, even the Shinigami. 

“My voice is actually more suited to bawdy stories, those are my specialty, but I decided it was better to get to know you first and buy you dinner before telling one of those.” Kiku straightened up more and smirked at the man in front of him. 

"Rakugo is something practiced by the individual and passed down for generations. Even my name, was held and refined by those before me. I’m Yakumo Yurakutei the eighth.” He stopped for a moment to think, his eyes closing as he did. His mouth became a small v shape like the smile a mischievious child might have.

“There’s actually one more story this rickety and creaky voice of mine is suited to telling. It’s horror stories.”

[rakugami-blog]

virassxn:

﴾ ➼ ﴿ Troubled was one word for it, but ultimately, Cyrran often lacked control over his facial features when there was no one around to analyze them. Of course, he’d been proven wrong in just that moment, as someone so very blatantly called him out on the downturn of his lips. Blinking slow, the elf couldn’t help but raise his brow as he turned his attention over to the stranger.

❝I am not certain if I should be grateful for your offer or not,❞ he returned wryly. To so bluntly call oneself bitter and lonely… Well, at least he was honest. With a little shrug of his shoulders, the Inquisitor released a sigh as he stepped over to sit beside the man. ❝But company could never hurt, I suppose. Thank you.❞ He wasn’t in the mood to discuss what was on his mind anyhow; someone he didn’t know needn’t hear his thoughts.

❝A story?❞ A little smile curled upon his mouth. ❝Alright. Let’s hear it, then.❞

What was the last story he had told? The memories were faint in his head now. It seemed this young body of his was out of sync with his brain. He leaned forward for a moment from where he was sitting and looked at the other. The jacket that he wore around himself, he slid it off his back.

“Names are an important thing, in my profession I’ve gone through so many that I’ve forgotten what my original name even was. There was a couple though, who couldn’t think of a name for their baby. The father walked along to the temple and asked the priest to think of an auspicious name to guarantee his child a long life.”

Kiku’s face changed suddenly it was as if he were an entirely different person. “How about Jugemu? It means ‘limitless life’.”

“Not bad. Got any other suggestions.” His face changed again, oh, he was having a conversation with himself. He was both the priest and the father. 

“Sure, okay, ‘Go-Ko-no-Surikire’? That one’s from a story about a heavenly maiden brushing a rock with her garment once every three thousand years. It takes five Ko to rub the rock in two. Five ko adds up to about twenty billion years.”

“Hmm, that’s okay, but I feel like there has to be something better.”

“The father was so indecisive that the poor priest decided to just give the father the whole list of suggested names at once. The father took them home and named his child  Jugemu Jugemu Go-Kō-no-Surikire Kaijari-suigyo no Suigyō-matsu Unrai-matsu Fūrai-matsu Kū-Neru Tokoro ni Sumu Tokoro Yaburakōji no Burakōji Paipo Paipo Paipo no Shūringan Shūringan no Gūrindai Gūrindai no Ponpokopii no Ponpokonā no Chōkyūmei no Chōsuke. Well, eventually Jugemu grew up and made a friend. Between friends, especially little boys they get into fights. One day he whacked his pal Kin-chan a good one on the head. Kin chan, developing a lump, runs off to tattle to Jugemu’s parents.”

His face became much more childish. 

“ "Waa! Waa! Jugemu Jugemu Go-Kō-no-Surikire Kaijari-suigyo no Suigyō-matsu Unrai-matsu Fūrai-matsu Kū-Neru Tokoro ni Sumu Tokoro Yaburakōji no Burakōji Paipo Paipo Paipo no Shūringan Shūringan no Gūrindai Gūrindai no Ponpokopii no Ponpokonā no Chōkyūmei no Chōsuke hit me and gave me a lump on my head" 

“  What? Our Jugemu Jugemu Go-Kō-no-Surikire Kaijari-suigyo no Suigyō-matsu Unrai-matsu Fūrai-matsu Kū-Neru Tokoro ni Sumu Tokoro Yaburakōji no Burakōji Paipo Paipo Paipo no Shūringan Shūringan no Gūrindai Gūrindai no Ponpokopii no Ponpokonā no Chōkyūmei no Chōsuke hit you and gave you a lump on your head? I'm so sorry! Honey, did you hear that? It seems that Jugemu Jugemu Go-Kō-no-Surikire Kaijari-suigyo no Suigyō-matsu Unrai-matsu Fūrai-matsu Kū-Neru Tokoro ni Sumu Tokoro Yaburakōji no Burakōji Paipo Paipo Paipo no Shūringan Shūringan no Gūrindai Gūrindai no Ponpokopii no Ponpokonā no Chōkyūmei no Chōsuke hit Kin-chan here, and gave him a lump on his head!”

“ Really? Our Jugemu Jugemu Go-Kō-no-Surikire Kaijari-suigyo no Suigyō-matsu Unrai-matsu Fūrai-matsu Kū-Neru Tokoro ni Sumu Tokoro Yaburakōji no Burakōji Paipo Paipo Paipo no Shūringan Shūringan no Gūrindai Gūrindai no Ponpokopii no Ponpokonā no Chōkyūmei no Chōsuke did that? We'd better call Jugemu Jugemu Go-Kō-no-Surikire Kaijari-suigyo no Suigyō-matsu Unrai-matsu Fūrai-matsu Kū-Neru Tokoro ni Sumu Tokoro Yaburakōji no Burakōji Paipo Paipo Paipo no Shūringan Shūringan no Gūrindai Gūrindai no Ponpokopii no Ponpokonā no Chōkyūmei no Chōsuke in here and sort this out. Can I see your lump, Kin-chan?"

“It took so long to explain, the lump’s already gone!”

Kiku bowed his story finished. 

[rakugami-blog]

riptideroyalty:

@rakugami

Wandering around the city was soon thought to be a pain – it would be nicer if she could actually fly, but, walking around offered some benefits to the gem. If she was in the air, she might have missed the signs that read “ART GALLERY” and “SHOWING TODAY”. Art, huh…? She looked at the signs before the ‘gallery’, thinking about the things she had created with Peridot in their barn. 

Lapis walked in, noting the atmosphere of the building. Humans wandered, gawking at all the art, mumbling their opinions on it. One of which, a man, stood close to the gem as she observed. He found the art here quite something, and Lapis looked at him, her blue curls shifting as she cocked her head to the side.

“Meepmorps,” she said softly, as if she was correcting him.

“These,” she gestured to the nearest set of paintings. “Are called meepmorps. Not art.”

Duh.

Rakugo had left him just before he died. That was Kiku’s dominant thought. It was the loudest voice he heard, so strong he could hear it echoing and resonating within him. He wanted to drown it out. He wanted to move on and forget. 

Somehow he found himself in an art gallery. Kiku technically devoted his life to the arts, but he had only experienced Rakugo, music and dance. Not once had he thought to pay attention to visual art. As he stared at the paintings, some part of himself was hoping he could get lost in them. The painting in front of him, one of rushing water, he stared into it a long time. 

Kiku felt nothing at all. That confirmed it, Rakugo was more his style. Before he could leave though, he found himself interrupted by a young lady in blue makeup. What a strange getup, did she work in the museum? Was she an eccentric geisha?

“They’re not, they’re called paintings. That one right there is called Shinju, lover’s suicide, it says so-” Perhaps it was because he was old and his senses were dull, but it took a moment for him to realize he was being kidded. 

He turned his head to the side. “It’s rude not to introduce yourself you know. Where I come from our names are the blessings we wish to receive in life. That’s why my name is  Jugemu Jugemu Go-Kō-no-Surikire Kaijari-suigyo no Suigyō-matsu Unrai-matsu Fūrai-matsu Kū-Neru Tokoro ni Sumu Tokoro Yaburakōji no Burakōji Paipo Paipo Paipo no Shūringan Shūringan no Gūrindai Gūrindai no Ponpokopii no Ponpokonā no Chōkyūmei no Chōsuke.”

[rakugami-blog]

deviloftherhine:

“ Does the condition of your foot somehow prevent you from seeing? Or are your eyes located in your foot? “ 

 Disregarding his plea I finish the writing the ticket and reach my hand for the man to receive.  

“ Rakugo? “ it’s a strange hear the word like this but although I grow curious this isn’t the time for change of topic. I extend my hand further. 

“ Are you making light of my position sir? “

As he leans forward I instinctively draw back. Seeing him up closer his words really do poorly reflect on his appearance. Up until now I assumed he simply chose the words since he was still older than my physical appearance. Hearing what he says I cannot help myself from repeating the part that bothers me:

“ …too? “ 

“Of course, didn’t anybody teach you to respect and recognize your elders you hatchling? I was born in the Showa period, I lived through the war. All of you youngsters have so much attitude and self importance but what has your generation done?”

The voice he summoned from nowhere sounded exactly like that of an old man. His fury looked genuine too. For the most part, Kiku really was that old. At least he remembered being so. He had no idea why his face looked like this at all. 

Suddenly though, in the middle of his tirade he stopped. He went fro the depths of anger to one small smirk, foxlike. 

When he spoke again his normal voice returned. “You see, the art of Rakugo. Storytelling through the voice and the body with one person taking many roles.”

[rakugami-blog]

meteorgreen:

⛅ ➜ The last few ‘conversations’ the teen had before finding himself back in Hive weren’t without their arguments. The days during and after his last live were hectic, having a simple conversation with a kind person wasn’t so bad. To meet someone like that in Hive City wasn’t something he was expecting really, he tended to think these random social interactions weren’t really worth the time. 

“…!” It was infrequently would Midori ever receive a pat on the head, for being taller than most of his first-year peers, but it was never really a bad thing. Rather, it was a pleasant surprise for him, and a pleasant conversation to go along with it wasn’t so bad either. 

“That’s… I’m just a normal person,” he started, “but because I was told my looks were suited for it, I signed up without really thinking. Nowadays, I don’t think… it’s too bad though.” Midori offered the other a gentle smile, before curious eyes wondered over to the cane in the other’s hand. “…I’m sorry to hear that.”

The young teen would blink in surprise again as candy was offered to him. Now, it’s not like he didn’t hate sweets or anything, but to be offered them was among the many things he wasn’t expecting with this conversation. It was as if the adult before him was an elderly grandfather offering their grandchild a snack. 

Midori laughed at that thought, and answered, “Well, I don’t suppose why not?”

Kiku smiled, pleased with the way the situation had turned out. Yes this one reminded him of his Shin-san indeed. He was much less trouble than Konatsu. How old he must have become, that the only thing he had to do right now was think of children and grandchidlren.

Unlike his mind though his face did not match that age. Kiku gave a youthful and innocent smile. With both of his eyes closed, and with the slender features of his face, he looked a bit fox like. After he handed off the candy, he opened his eyes and looked into the distance in remembrance for a moment. 

“When I was about your age, I was told that I should star in a play because I was the most beautiful and feminine looking man there, so I can understand you. At the time it was really annoying, I had no idea why I was being forced into it.” Kiku sighed wistfully, in a tone that revealed his age. 

“Afterwards I didn’t regret it though. Do you like performing and like people? I don’t think whether you’re normal or not matters too much, if both of those are true you’ll find it within yourself.”

[towaie-blog1]

怨み節

[rakugami-blog]

towaie:

“Yes, this must be hell if we are here together.” She must remind him that this is a shared burden. Chaining him down, preventing him from thriving anywhere as long as he could form a thought or utter a sentence – feelings of regret can keep anyone down, becoming the heaviest of weights. 

Or, he could truly had forgotten her. It could be that easy and yet, Miyokichi couldn’t tolerate the notion and quickly denied it. 

There were many other options, plenty she already discarded before. She knew him far too well, he is not the type to use someone for personal gain. Rakugou in itself was her greatest obstacle and she may as well have been a tool for his work but now she can actually have the upper hand.

“Presumptuous? I don’t mind it myself, otherwise you will not a thing and we will stay here forever.“ An eternity at the side of Kikuhiko is one she wished for. One that can and will arrive, even if it is meant to be through the torments of hell itself. 

“You could’ve had many lovers over those fifty years, it does not bother me in the slightest… so long as a glimpse of my name or face passed through your mind then it meant my job was being done.”

“There was nobody, not a single person since you. I was all alone, I had nothing but Rakugo but I was satisfied with that.”

Kiku looked at her. For a moment he looked to be approaching honesty. To him Miykochi, her smile was the sun on a hot summer day... and his eyes were like ice. The closer they got to one another, the more likely it was she would melt him, and he would put out her fire. 

Kiku was not the kind of person who could open up though, even when he wanted to. The best he could manage was a crack here and there. His expression, it only looked choked up right now. 

“Then again, it’s really hard to meet somebody these days when you’re a single parent, chained to a daughter that two idiots left behind.”

He did not want her to come any closer. He knew what Miyokichi was like. A glass filled with water, leaking, leaking, no matter how much was poured in. It glowed brilliantly when the light shone through it, but there were cracks. Cracks put there by Sukeroku and himself. She could never fill up no matter how much was poured inside, so she became beast like, ravenous.

He had no wish to get eaten, so like a cornered mouse he took the first bite. Said something that he knew would alarm her. Kiku took a look at the women pressed against him though, and finally noticed something. Her clothes were wet. 

“Still a troublesome woman I see. Stop clinging to me already and stand on your own so you can follow me. We need to get you somewhere warm. You’ll catch your death of cold.” As Kiku said that he waited for her to do just that, then took her by the wrist. 

It was nothing like holding hands but, he still held on to some part of her as he started to walk forward looking somewhere the two of them could go. 

[rakugami-blog]

@virassxn​

Kikuhiko took a drag of his cigarette. He probably should not have spent the small amount of money he obtained from an odd job on this, but to be fair to him he was from a few generations back. He had a look about him, old fashioned, classical. Though he doubted the strange looking stranger would be able to pick up on any of those qualities. Something told Kikuhiko once he noticed those pointy ears that the two of them were not obrn in the same generation. 

He exhaled smoke then looked to the stranger again. “I’m sorry to interrupt your thoughts, but you look a bit troubled.” Usually Kiku would not have so much as acknowledged a stranger but he felt bad for staring earlier. “Do you want to come sit on this bench with me? Don’t get me wrong, I’m a bitter and lonely person so I have no interest in hearing your troubles or anything, I have far too many of my own but...”

Kiku paused and took a deep breath holding his cigarette aside. “I could tell you a story to keep your mind off of things.”

[rakugami-blog]

@deviloftherhine

Kikuhiko pulled his hat over his head, the brim just low enough to cover his eyes. He wanted to hold his annoyance in at the moment, he was speaking to a child after all. “Are you really going to give an old man with a cane a ticket for jay walking, officer?”

When he saw he wasn’t going to get anywhere, and realized also that he had no money to pay for this ticket. Kiku decided to stop playing along. “Are you sure I can’t convince you otherwise, kid? I’ll perform Jugemu for you for free. The eighth generation Yurakutei Yakumo doesn’t perform for just anybody you know.”

Kiku leaned forward, but the person in front of him still wasn’t budging. He blinked. Taken aback by something. Kiku leaned back again. “What strange eyes, for a moment there I thought you had the eyes of an old man too.”