#masesan writes

[masesan]

A quick note for those reading my fic or other Japanese works:

In Japanese, the choice of first- and second-person pronouns often reflects a character's personality, emotional state, or social role.

For instance:

A character who uses “watashi (私)” might be emotionally restrained or formal.

Switching to “ore (俺)” can signal a more assertive or emotionally vulnerable moment.

Similarly, using “omae (お前)” implies familiarity (or slight condescension), while “kisama (貴様)” often suggests hostility.

In English, these all flatten into just “I” and “you,” and that’s okay—but it means some nuance gets lost.

Think of pronoun choice as a mirror of how the character sees themselves—and the person they’re talking to.

I hope this helps you feel some of the tension, distance, or closeness behind their words.

For example:

Mozenrath mostly uses “watashi,” keeping himself guarded. But in a moment of stress or anger, for instance, you might hear “ore” slip out—and that says a lot. (Just to note, this is based on how I portray the characters in my own writing.)

If you're curious how these pronoun shifts appear in context, you can read the fic here:「糸口」 (Itoguchi)

[masesan]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

What I wanted to explore in this story is the idea that

Love alone doesn’t guarantee things will work out. If the pieces don’t align, that love can’t always be received.

In this story, no one is malicious. Everyone cares for each other, and it is precisely because they love one another that pain is born.

I also wanted to portray his mother as an ordinary person. She is loving, she struggles, and sometimes she makes mistakes. I never wanted her to be a saint. She was never trying to force him to endure things; their kindness simply failed to meet each other in the way they needed.

Another thing I wanted to think about was what Mozenrath might have been like before he was taken in by his master.

I imagine his family wasn't so poor that they struggled to put food on the table, but they weren't wealthy either. Even as a child, Mozenrath was perceptive enough to understand that.

Perhaps he was also born highly sensitive and deeply attuned to the emotions of those around him.

Because of that, he gradually came to feel guilty even for natural feelings like wanting things, feeling lonely, or wishing to be held and loved a little more.

Trying not to burden anyone, he did his best to live up to others' expectations. To adults, he seemed like the perfect child: bright, obedient, and easy to raise.

But beneath that was a child haunted by the fear of being abandoned and starving to be loved.

In short, he was a kind child who had to grow up far too soon.

Of course, the adult Mozenrath is very different from the child he once was. But the foundations of who he would become were already there.

And being taken in by his master only reinforced those beliefs and twisted them further.

As for what happened after that… well, I think everyone already knows the rest.

[masesan]

About Me

Hello, I’m masesan.

I love writing and drawing about the characters I care about.

I enjoy psychological analysis and studied psychology, but my posts don’t always reflect academic accuracy.

Since I’m not a native English speaker, I sometimes use AI to help translate my writing. My posts might sound a bit mechanical at times, but the ideas and feelings are all my own.

Lately, I’ve been writing headcanons about Mozenrath, which you can find under:

#masesan headcanons

I also post additional notes and explanations about my writing under:

#masesan writes

You can find my other platforms here.