A compilation that has been sitting on my hard drive, subject to many revisions, for nearly a year. In what was already an extremely well-developed cast, the characters of Oniisama e's Fukiko Ichinomiya and Rei Asaka captivated most of all, their disturbed dynamic lending the series the majority of its darker tones and surprising revelations. Even by the story's end their relationship is left undefined, toeing the line between adoration, obsession, co-dependency, and genuine understanding. Likewise are the two girls themselves never quite resolved; instead we are left to watch the consequences of perfectionism, idealization, paranoia, detachment, and loneliness. The irresistible pull of madness, and the ensuing game of one-upmanship.

We take one girl, hideously spoiled, overly imaginative, terribly anxious. We take another, shakily devoted, mutably meek, privately morose. The result is as follows.

Let Us Descend Together!
A Fukiko Ichinomiya & Rei Asaka Fan Soundtrack

( Track Listing, Supplementary Writing, Album Download )

( Household miscellany, spring flowers, text. )

The Gods Are Thirsty was five-hundred-four pages of brilliant narrative, cut with ten or so pages of convoluted purple prose. I most certainly enjoyed the read, and the sense of completion which has followed, incremental pages over the weeks. Several more books on the list, now, but they will have wait, as I do believe I'll be entertaining a visitor for the next ten days. ♥

And distraction attended to, finals are calling. Joy upon...

Before I graduated from high school, I was part of a school trip to Spain. Though I took many photographs, my camera unfortunately ceased to work immediately upon my return home. It was only a few months ago that I attempted to extract the Spain photos from my now defunct camera; I resized and retouched them, but left them in a folder, somewhere, due to simple forgetfulness. Several friends have requested I post them, and I am finally doing so, now.

I've forgotten where some of these were taken -- though I remember which locations were visited, I would not wish to risk labeling a site incorrectly. There are also few indoor shots as, flash photography being prohibited, my camera struggling with the dim interior lighting.

( Madrid, Granada, Córdoba, Benalmádena... )

The Oniisama e fanart contest for which I completed the "Family Matters" illustration is now in the voting stage. If anyone would not mind casting a vote, I would very much appreciate it! The poll may be found here (midway down the page).

Family Matters

Pencil, PS7. Submission for a fan's Oniisama e art contest being held on deviantART.

As many of you have been part of the anime scene since the earliest AOL days and have seen all incarnations of the Beast, I was thinking you could perhaps help me. I am looking for seiyuu songs. Character inserts, independent albums, what have you -- even if it's an .mp2, it's something.

Seiyuu I would especially like songs from are: Ai Orikasa, Mami Koyama, Sumi Shimamoto, Keiko Toda, Kotono Mitsuishi, Romi Paku, Sayuri, Chieko Honda, and Megumi Hayashibara.

Thank you, in advance.

Fukiko and Rei, 12 and 11. Pencil and Photoshop 7.

Oh, Vundo virus, you make my life rather hellish.

Does anyone know how to be rid of the S2 "Wizard" that now appears to be the only way to customize one's Livejournal? It seems I'm forced to pick a pre-made theme if I wish to change anything, now.

I've been essentially breathing Oniisama e in the flurry of subtitling and marathons with Catie, and with it have followed snippets of sentences, begging to be written down. I was torn between ignoring them and jotting down something to placate myself, and opted for the latter. It's undeniably rough, yet that may have been what I wished from it. In any case, I do hold a certain fondness for writing dysfunction.

( Rei, 1084 words. )

A few songs I've been enjoying of late.

Kate Bush - Get Out of My House - Old, and quite good. I've been nursing quite an affection for Kate Bush of late, especially for her most eclectic album, "The Dreaming." This finale track really epitomizes the experimental, evocative feel of the album. The song was apparently inspired by "The Shining."

She Wants Revenge - Tear You Apart - Bad 80's revival. Shameless and fun; good driving music.

Anathallo - Yuki! Yuki! Yuki! - If I had the space, I would host Anathallo's entire "Floating World" album, but I settled on this song and the song that follows it. This is essentially a long instrumental prelude to "Hanasakajiji" below, but it stands alone as an incredibly haunting, beautifully orchestrated track. Unsettling and gorgeous.

Anathallo - Hanasakajiji Three: The Man Who Made Dead Trees Bloom - I've fallen for this band.

After Dinner - Ironclad Mermaid - Quirky Japanese indie music. Another new favorite artist of mine.

Right-click, "Save Target As," and do enjoy.

Touga Kiryuu and Saionji Kyouchi. Pencil and Photoshop 7.