Osaka Continental Manager

John Wick fan-made blog + Shimazu Akira RP account run by @r1-jw-lover (icon by @tudojuntoemisturado)

[live-with-love]

Hi everyone, this is r1-jw-lover and I want to talk about a very important issue that happened in the past. I am writing this for the Wickblr community but I want everyone who follows me to see this too.

It has been since three months since I made a terrible incident that I am not proud of and had voluntarily left the John Wick fandom as a result. Up until now, I haven't been completely honest with everyone or myself on the matter and I want to change that today with this post.

CW for mentions of racism and anti-blackness.

For context, somewhere in March 2024 I was invited to join a Wickblr discord server hosted by @/evren-sadwrn and @/tobytheeggo. I was lucky to be one of the first few to be invited and we had a lot of great time talking and chatting about the John Wick series and roleplaying as our favourite characters.

Then, on 4 June 2024, I made an extremely offensive racial insult directed towards @/evren-sadwrn's black oc named Eleanor Sallow. @/tobytheeggo caught me red-handed and I deleted the message ten minutes later. @/tobytheeggo rightfully called me out on it and kicked me out of the discord server.

On the same day, I made a public apology post on my rp account @/shimazu-akira (then I copied the entire text onto my second rp account @/caine-nobody), announced that I will stop participating in JW roleplay, and encouraged people to block and unfollow me as they see fit.

I did try to make a private apology to @/tobytheeggo a month later in July but didn't receive any reply.

Now looking back, I find that the apology I made was quite disingenuous, even arrogant in tone. I was willing to admit fault, but I couldn't set aside my pride when I'd obviously done something wrong and humiliating. I am a person of colour, had reblogged posts about racism on my tumblr blog and talked about racism to my friends on discord, yet I had made a racist insult in that same discord server. I had been a hypocrite.

Calling the incident a "mistake" was minimising the seriousness of what I have done. I thought I was taking accountability but really I was afraid of the repercussions, which was why my first reaction was to delete the offensive message in the first place. This is further evidenced by how I decided to voluntarily leave the John Wick fanbase/Wickblr.

But now I'm ready to face the music. I want to leave behind the old me in the past and start anew. Acknowledgement is not enough, I have to actually own it. I won't be surprised if nobody to whom it may concern would finish reading the whole post to the end (including those who had blocked me), but I will make an attempt regardless and move on with life.

I am sorry for what I had done to you, for disappointing you with my past behaviour and letting you down. Your views of me may not change after reading this, but I will try my very best to show you that I am changing for the better.

[shimazu-akira]

OOC Author's Post: An Apology

Given how small the John Wick rp community is, most of you seeing this post might already be aware of what happened, but either way, I want to make a public apology.

Simply put, I made a big mistake by calling someone's black OC with an extremely offensive and racist insult on the John Wick RP Discord server. The message itself was eventually taken down by me, but it was no excuse for my behaviour.

Because of my mistake, I have hurt many people on the same server as me and I was rightfully kicked out of the server. I acknowledge what I did was wrong and take full responsibility for it.

In light of what happened, I will stop participating in all John Wick roleplay events from today onwards. Please feel free to unfollow and/or block me and my other rp accounts.

I'm sorry for upsetting all of you. It hurts me deeply to think that we would part ways on such bad terms. Nevertheless, I want to thank all of you for the memories we have shared in the past months.

Arigatō gozaimasu. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

R1_JW_lover

[shimazu-akira]

Important Announcement

On the night of 1 June 2015, the Osaka Continental was raided by the @vindegramont's forces. My father, the previous Manager Koji Shimazu, was down in a coma. The doctor said his condition is stable at the moment, but I fear for his life with every second that passes.

All hotel guests have been evacuated prior to this incident, but my staff are low in numbers, so we are in need of manpower. We apologise for the inconvenience and wish all loyal customers to keep yourselves safe and sound.

@jw-adjudicator

[shimazu-akira]

Thank you for your concern, Ms. d'Antonio. If you would be so kind as to help me find out the Marquis' reason for raiding my hotel, I owe you my gratitude.

[shimazu-akira]

Important Announcement

On the night of 1 June 2015, the Osaka Continental was raided by the @vindegramont's forces. My father, the previous Manager Koji Shimazu, was down in a coma. The doctor said his condition is stable at the moment, but I fear for his life with every second that passes.

All hotel guests have been evacuated prior to this incident, but my staff are low in numbers, so we are in need of manpower. We apologise for the inconvenience and wish all loyal customers to keep yourselves safe and sound.

@jw-adjudicator

[johnwickcaretaker]

*howling*

Koji…KOJI!!!!!

HE WILL PAY I WILL BE TJWRE TODSY TO DEFEND YOU I -

But I CAN’T…OR MORE WILL COME…my fault.

WHAT DO I DO? COME OR STAY AWAY?

[shimazu-akira]

Thank you for your offer, Mr. Wick, but I suggest you should take care of yourself first. You do not want to scare either my father or my staff with your werewolf transformation, do you?

[shimazu-akira]

Important Announcement

On the night of 1 June 2015, the Osaka Continental was raided by the @vindegramont's forces. My father, the previous Manager Koji Shimazu, was down in a coma. The doctor said his condition is stable at the moment, but I fear for his life with every second that passes.

All hotel guests have been evacuated prior to this incident, but my staff are low in numbers, so we are in need of manpower. We apologise for the inconvenience and wish all loyal customers to keep yourselves safe and sound.

@jw-adjudicator

[caine-nobody]

I'm sorry for your loss, Miss Manager. May your father have a fast recovery.

If you are willing to accept help, I may be able to provide you with assistance, specifically on the one who possibly slayed your father that night.

- Mr. Nobody

[shimazu-akira]

Who are you?

[caine-nobody]

I don't know you, but I know you.

I'm a Tracker, but I have a hobby, and it's related to the jiangshi that raided your hotel that night.

The Marquis threatened me to resurrect a corpse powerful enough to destroy armies, and it brought suffering and pain to your doorsteps.

- Mr. Nobody

[shimazu-akira]

So what makes you think I should accept your help?

[caine-nobody]

I do not wish for anything except the chance to make up for it. I know what I have done was wrong, and I wish to put a stop to it.

The Marquis addresses the corpse as Caine, but his real name is Guan Yu. Yes, you heard it right, the famous historical Chinese general from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

I have been trying to figure out a way to break the spell on Guan Yu. The Marquis is a vampire and his bite had caused him to fully submit to his commands. The closest possible way to reverse the Marquis' effect on him is by using the blood of a descendant of Guan Yu. And, by some miracle, I found a possible candidate right here in Paris.

- Mr. Nobody

[shimazu-akira]

Who is it? Please continue... Please tell me more.

[caine-nobody]

It's a girl named Mia. She's a violinist who comes out to play on the streets every day. I was looking through various checklists I could get my hands on when I discovered that she could possibly be a descendant of Guan Yu.

We may be able to defeat Caine by forcing him out at daylight and exploiting his other weaknesses as a jiangshi, but we will need her fresh blood in order to set him free from the Marquis.

- Mr. Nobody

[shimazu-akira]

Oh, so that's where you need my expertise, to seduce a woman into giving her blood?

[caine-nobody]

That's half of the reason, the other half being knowing you would be badass in a fight.

I am aware of the consequences of taking such a risky mission especially after what happened to your hotel, but if you think about it, this may be the only chance for you to give that French asshole the payback he deserved.

- Mr. Nobody

[shimazu-akira]

The High Table dealt with this whole situation very badly. I feel guilty for leaving my hotel staff alone when they needed me the most, but I also realise that I can't let what happened to my father happen to anyone else.

I will try to get to Paris as soon as I can. Let's meet at the airport and get this shit over with.

[shimazu-akira]

Important Announcement

On the night of 1 June 2015, the Osaka Continental was raided by the @vindegramont's forces. My father, the previous Manager Koji Shimazu, was down in a coma. The doctor said his condition is stable at the moment, but I fear for his life with every second that passes.

All hotel guests have been evacuated prior to this incident, but my staff are low in numbers, so we are in need of manpower. We apologise for the inconvenience and wish all loyal customers to keep yourselves safe and sound.

@jw-adjudicator

[caine-nobody]

I'm sorry for your loss, Miss Manager. May your father have a fast recovery.

If you are willing to accept help, I may be able to provide you with assistance, specifically on the one who possibly slayed your father that night.

- Mr. Nobody

[shimazu-akira]

Who are you?

[caine-nobody]

I don't know you, but I know you.

I'm a Tracker, but I have a hobby, and it's related to the jiangshi that raided your hotel that night.

The Marquis threatened me to resurrect a corpse powerful enough to destroy armies, and it brought suffering and pain to your doorsteps.

- Mr. Nobody

[shimazu-akira]

So what makes you think I should accept your help?

[caine-nobody]

I do not wish for anything except the chance to make up for it. I know what I have done was wrong, and I wish to put a stop to it.

The Marquis addresses the corpse as Caine, but his real name is Guan Yu. Yes, you heard it right, the famous historical Chinese general from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

I have been trying to figure out a way to break the spell on Guan Yu. The Marquis is a vampire and his bite had caused him to fully submit to his commands. The closest possible way to reverse the Marquis' effect on him is by using the blood of a descendant of Guan Yu. And, by some miracle, I found a possible candidate right here in Paris.

- Mr. Nobody

[shimazu-akira]

Who is it? Please continue... Please tell me more.

[caine-nobody]

It's a girl named Mia. She's a violinist who comes out to play on the streets every day. I was looking through various checklists I could get my hands on when I discovered that she could possibly be a descendant of Guan Yu.

We may be able to defeat Caine by forcing him out at daylight and exploiting his other weaknesses as a jiangshi, but we will need her fresh blood in order to set him free from the Marquis.

- Mr. Nobody

[shimazu-akira]

Oh, so that's where you need my expertise, to seduce a woman into giving her blood?

[shimazu-akira]

Important Announcement

On the night of 1 June 2015, the Osaka Continental was raided by the @vindegramont's forces. My father, the previous Manager Koji Shimazu, was down in a coma. The doctor said his condition is stable at the moment, but I fear for his life with every second that passes.

All hotel guests have been evacuated prior to this incident, but my staff are low in numbers, so we are in need of manpower. We apologise for the inconvenience and wish all loyal customers to keep yourselves safe and sound.

@jw-adjudicator

[caine-nobody]

I'm sorry for your loss, Miss Manager. May your father have a fast recovery.

If you are willing to accept help, I may be able to provide you with assistance, specifically on the one who possibly slayed your father that night.

- Mr. Nobody

[shimazu-akira]

Who are you?

[caine-nobody]

I don't know you, but I know you.

I'm a Tracker, but I have a hobby, and it's related to the jiangshi that raided your hotel that night.

The Marquis threatened me to resurrect a corpse powerful enough to destroy armies, and it brought suffering and pain to your doorsteps.

- Mr. Nobody

[shimazu-akira]

So what makes you think I should accept your help?

[caine-nobody]

I do not wish for anything except the chance to make up for it. I know what I have done was wrong, and I wish to put a stop to it.

The Marquis addresses the corpse as Caine, but his real name is Guan Yu. Yes, you heard it right, the famous historical Chinese general from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

I have been trying to figure out a way to break the spell on Guan Yu. The Marquis is a vampire and his bite had caused him to fully submit to his commands. The closest possible way to reverse the Marquis' effect on him is by using the blood of a descendant of Guan Yu. And, by some miracle, I found a possible candidate right here in Paris.

- Mr. Nobody

[shimazu-akira]

Who is it? Please continue... Please tell me more.

[shimazu-akira]

Important Announcement

On the night of 1 June 2015, the Osaka Continental was raided by the @vindegramont's forces. My father, the previous Manager Koji Shimazu, was down in a coma. The doctor said his condition is stable at the moment, but I fear for his life with every second that passes.

All hotel guests have been evacuated prior to this incident, but my staff are low in numbers, so we are in need of manpower. We apologise for the inconvenience and wish all loyal customers to keep yourselves safe and sound.

@jw-adjudicator

[caine-nobody]

I'm sorry for your loss, Miss Manager. May your father have a fast recovery.

If you are willing to accept help, I may be able to provide you with assistance, specifically on the one who possibly slayed your father that night.

- Mr. Nobody

[shimazu-akira]

Who are you?

[caine-nobody]

I don't know you, but I know you.

I'm a Tracker, but I have a hobby, and it's related to the jiangshi that raided your hotel that night.

The Marquis threatened me to resurrect a corpse powerful enough to destroy armies, and it brought suffering and pain to your doorsteps.

- Mr. Nobody

[shimazu-akira]

So what makes you think I should accept your help?

[shimazu-akira]

Important Announcement

On the night of 1 June 2015, the Osaka Continental was raided by the @vindegramont's forces. My father, the previous Manager Koji Shimazu, was down in a coma. The doctor said his condition is stable at the moment, but I fear for his life with every second that passes.

All hotel guests have been evacuated prior to this incident, but my staff are low in numbers, so we are in need of manpower. We apologise for the inconvenience and wish all loyal customers to keep yourselves safe and sound.

@jw-adjudicator

[caine-nobody]

I'm sorry for your loss, Miss Manager. May your father have a fast recovery.

If you are willing to accept help, I may be able to provide you with assistance, specifically on the one who possibly slayed your father that night.

- Mr. Nobody

[shimazu-akira]

Who are you?

[shimazu-akira]

Important Announcement

On the night of 1 June 2015, the Osaka Continental was raided by the @vindegramont's forces. My father, the previous Manager Koji Shimazu, was down in a coma. The doctor said his condition is stable at the moment, but I fear for his life with every second that passes.

All hotel guests have been evacuated prior to this incident, but my staff are low in numbers, so we are in need of manpower. We apologise for the inconvenience and wish all loyal customers to keep yourselves safe and sound.

@jw-adjudicator

[color-palettes]

the moon's sea of blood - Submitted by @koiikuno

#C6D4E3 #B0BFD6 #6F7786 #400A0A #6C1822 #B60003

[autemimperator]

@caine-nobody

And still, in this moment of civil conflict with the Table and itself; there’s a request from atleast half of the Table itself. A PRIVATE order from the Table onto their Autem Imperator. Vincent stands in the dimness of the palace, a soft melody of a piano playing. It’s the day, curtains shut tight with barely any room for light. The faint outline of Vincent walks at the edge of the room, as 𝐂𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄 stands on one side of the room. A fresh body of a housekeeper lays on the carpet, waiting for maids to come pick it up.

" I need you in Osaka by tonight. You will catch a flight right after this meeting, your bags are packed. Do not worry about any necessities such as your weaponry and suit, as that has already been covered by my servants. You will only follow as what I say, and do what I say; this is an urgent act that half of the Table has decided on. "

Maids flock into the room, dressed in the same outfits. They quickly carry the body of this….. now deceased woman who seems to be around her late years. Caine can hear them quickly act as the Marquis de Gramont looks at Caine.

" You will be given further details once you reach Osaka then accompanied by my Myrmidons. "

[shimazu-akira]

Marquis, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!?!?!

Why the Osaka Continental? Why you?!

[shimazu-akira]

Forgive me for the informality of this post but I just have to rant about this on my blog.

More and more people are turning into yokai and turning on each other. Reported crime rates are increasing day by day. Moral panic is at an all time high. Our gold club members in Osaka are getting anxious... What's happening with the Table? And what it has to do with John Wick?

Why is it taking so long?

@jw-adjudicator @vindegramont

[gianna-da]

The Table is in disarray, Ms. Shimazu. I hate to say it, but it feels like there’s something…. just happening. I intend to investigate it further although I’m not sure as to how far that is going to get me.

[shimazu-akira]

Thanks for your consolation, Ms. d'Antonio. Hearing that directly from a member of the High Table itself gives me some form of relief.

[shimazu-akira]

Forgive me for the informality of this post but I just have to rant about this on my blog.

More and more people are turning into yokai and turning on each other. Reported crime rates are increasing day by day. Moral panic is at an all time high. Our gold club members in Osaka are getting anxious... What's happening with the Table? And what it has to do with John Wick?

Why is it taking so long?

@jw-adjudicator @vindegramont

[shimazu-akira]

The Fox and The Crane

The year was 1181.

A Shinto priest asks a fox he just rescued this question, "Why the long face?"

The fox doesn't answer for a long time.

It had spent its entire life alone in the forest, preying on rabbits at day and sleeping under trees at night. Inevitably, the fox got bored repeating the same old routine, until it decided to summon up its courage to leave the forest and venture out into the unknown, arriving at a village nearby.

Excited by this whole new world it discovered, the fox wanted to play with the humans, but the villagers saw things differently, and in annoyance and frustration they captured the fox and locked it in a cage, planning on killing it.

Before it could happen though, a Shinto priest happened to pass by the village and stop the villagers from killing it. Convincing them to let it go, the Shinto priest led the fox out of the cage, away from the village and back to the forest it came from.

"Why am I born a fox?" The fox speaks for the first time. "Why aren't I born a human? I want to live among them. I want to be part of their world."

The priest is taken aback by the fox's answer. It is barely three years old, yet it has already gained a human-like consciousness. This is no normal fox; this is a kitsune.

"What you've gone through under the hands of humans is barely a taste of what they are capable of. They live by different rules from the animals and spirits. Their lifespans are short, their affairs fickle in the grand scheme of things, yet their suffering permeates lifetimes, their nature ever-changing.

"I can teach you how to live a long, long life, shapeshift into a human and learn the human way of living, but I must first show you the truth of humanity, the truth of the mortal world."

The Shinto priest hence shapeshifts into its true form: a giant red-crowned crane. Tall, majestic, exalted, probably a thousand years old. The fox can only watch the transformation in awe.

At the crane's offering, the crane takes off and soars through the vast skies, carrying the fox on its back. It flies past mountains, volcanoes, rivers and oceans.

When the crane finally lands on the top of a cliff, the fox cannot believe the sight that greeted them.

Kyoto, Japan.

It is a time of war. Conflict has risen between the Taira and Minamoto clans, the ruling powers of the land then. The fox witnesses thousands of men brutally killing each other on he battlefield, women and children with no food to eat, animals and humans dying left and right.

"If you want to live amongst the humans, this is the truth you must accept," the crane explains, "and it will only get worse in the future."

"Even so, this cannot be the end." The fox protested. "Humans help each other all the time. Animals never do that."

"Animals kill each other to survive. Humans kill each other for power."

"And the spirits?" the fox asks.

"Spirits tether between the two worlds, neither animal nor human, and not interfering with either's businesses, except for their own agendas."

"Is that why you could shapeshift into a human?"

The crane has no response to the fox's question. It can only let out a chuckle instead.

"Humans are a funny thing. For every thousand evil men I met, there are a thousand who are kind, generous and compassionate."

The crane then tells the fox, "You have a unique soul and an exceptional mind. Your perception of humans barely shook, either from the evilness you have just witnessed of them or the cruelty you bore from them first-hand. What will you say if I take you under my wing? I will teach you how to live like a human."

The fox is taken aback by the offering for a second, then it finally answers, "Yes, sensei."

[shimazu-akira]

Akira: Father, if I turn into my true form, could you turn into yours as well?

Koji: Of course, my child. 私は明さんの側を永遠に離れない、約束します。

And so, with their respective shape-shifting abilities, the Shimazu father and daughter transformed into their true forms.

Triangular ears pointed out of Akira's head, fangs protruded out of her mouth, red fingernails turned into claws, and seven bright orange tails emerged from her back.

The crown of Koji's head turned red, his entire neck turned black, arms spread out into wings, and the rest of his body became filled with white feathers.

A kitsune and an immortal red-crowned crane. What an unlikely duo.

Translation: I will never leave your side, I promise.

OOC Author's Note:

Many creative liberties have been taken here. Even so, I am not too well versed in Japanese mythology, so criticism and guidance are very much welcome.

A backstory on Akira's past will be published later on.

Character inspiration pics below:

[shimazu-akira]

Dear loyal customers,

Due to unforeseen circumstances, there seems to be some strange happenings in Osaka, and it's not an earthquake.

Please do not worry. Hotel services will continue as usual. The Continental staff wishes all guests to keep yourself safe.

Signed by,

Shimazu Akira

Manager of the Osaka Continental

[johnwickcaretaker]

Seems the whole sky is falling at once. What's going on at Osaka? Are you and Koji alright?

[shimazu-akira]

Thank you for your concern, Mr. Wick. So far there are some random citizens who are turning into yokai, but nothing much to worry about.

- Koji

[shimazu-akira]

My father may think favourably of you due to your shared past @johnwickcaretaker, but as the Manager of the Osaka Continental, I warn you to not take a step into our hotel.

The High Table is after you. Try not to bring your troubles to our doorstep if you will, if you truly care about my father as a friend. I really hope you never come to Osaka.

Sayonara, Mr. Wick.

- Akira