Drabble Meme

[cmbranford]

I put in a request on youkai_girl's round of this meme, so here is mine.

The first five comments will get their own drabble (~100-300 words). If you request something, please put this in your own journal (unless you already have).

I don't have time to write crossover fics (and they wouldn't make sense in a drabble, anyway), so none of those.  I wil not write non-canon pairings, so any pairings you want me to write must be justifiable in canon (Ichigo/Rukia can squeak by, but Ichigo/Byakuya ain't happenin', sorry).  This is to make it easier for me to write short fics for fandoms that I do not normally write for.  Also, don't expect too much.  I can barely do anything with less than 300 words to work with, so you're not going to get anything particularly erotic.

Please be specific about what you want.  Give me the series/universe you want, the characters you want to be in it and some kind of prompt about what you would like to see happen (it can be very specific, like "I want to see these two characters fight over pocky" or vague like the prompt, "stone").  If you do not give me these three pieces of information I will ignore your request until you do.  If 5 other fics have been successfully requested (whether they posted before you or not) before you add the necessary information, you will be out of luck, sorry.  

The fics may take me a few days to finish/post. I am very busy with work this week, so I will do them as I have time.  I apologize in advance for any delays.  This meme will remain active until the 5 requests are made (however long that takes: weeks, months, years...).

I will write for the following fandoms and any others not listed here that are present on my FF.net profile bio or in my interests list here at LiveJournal (on the user info page).  Keep in mind that fandoms I have already written for are ones I am more comfortable with and will probably result in better fics. 

Bleach
Gravitation
X/Tokyo Babylon
Any Makoto Tateno Series/Universe (Aoi Hitsuji no Yume and Steal Moon are in the same universe, for example).

**I have currently received 4 requests and have fulfilled 4 of them.**

Comments

[compli-cait.livejournal.com]

That icon is f'n adorable. ^_^ I only found out about the new chapter because I happened to have joined youka_nitta a few months back and saw the announcement about the release. The only active scanlation groups I follow avidly are CT and Liquid Passion. The former for their Tateno releases (right now I am waiting for more Prince Sapphire scans, even though I own the actual book...) and the latter exclusively for Miyamoto Kano releases.

It's clear that Kai is willing to accept any kind of relationship he can get from Ratri, though it is true that he is ambiguous about what he actually wants from Ratri specifically. At first he is using Ratri, but once he realizes that Ratri did not kill his lover, he goes into "guilt" mode and falls back on his prior admiration of Ratri (which he had mentioned in passing that even before Maria he used to see Ratri on TV, etc. and had admired him). It might be that Kai simply sees Ratri's strength as something he wants for himself and is willing to do anything to acquire it. Though, that does not explain his absolute loyalty to Ratri and willingness to do anything he can to be useful to him. It certainly does not explain volume 2 chapter 1 where the reader is almost moved to tears listening to Kai talk about how he is not only not Ratri's lover, but also pretty much nothing to him (neither friend nor enemy). By Steal Moon, though, it seems that have developed a balance in their relationship, so much so that they can even joke about Maria. I don't think that Kai sees Ratri as a "soldier" at all. I believe he means that Coyote has a sense of "duty" and "follows orders" regardless of his own feelings and Ratri is more of a leader, one who makes decisions, not follows them. Ratri is also has an inner passion (that Kai knows very well), that even other characters like Yan can see. He's cold on the surface, but underneath he works for the betterment of all the people who depend on him (consider his words to the senate at the end of volume 2 chapter 2, "At lease I don't let my people die for no reason. That already makes me better than you," or something like that).

Ratri really bares himself open when he kisses Kai like that. It's baffling to know that Kai completely doesn't get Ratri's feelings behind it, either. They really are a "stupid couple."

I vote for the latter as well. We've seen quite a few positions for these two guys, but no shower sex yet. Hopefully sensei will treat us to some in volume 3. I do find it interesting, though, that we haven't seen them in the "missionary" position at all since their first time. Kai's generally either being taken from behind, or being forced into Ratri's lap (both hot positions, mind you). Their first time felt more like something romantic and afterwards it's felt more like something Ratri does as an act of control with far less emotion in it (until after volume 2 chapter 2, anyway).

I'm also avidly hoping that we will see Kai do some initiating. I wonder if it frustrates Ratri as much as it frustrates me that Kai is so very much a passive lover. Sure, he enjoys the sex and doesn't refuse it, but how is poor Ratri supposed to know that Kai really wants him if Kai never acts on it? Or does Ratri perfer things this way and isn't capable of handling a lover who demands anything of him? Is Kai just acting on some instinctive understanding of what Ratri needs to feel safe, emotionally?

Kai seems dumbfounded enough when Ratri comes to his room that night, and he seems completely taken aback to find Ratri sleeping in his hospital room. It's one of the most sublty touching moments in the series thus far, especially with Ratri's tender caresses. Usually he only touches Kai to prelude to sex; it is only in his weakest moments that he shows even an ounce of a tender side (like in volume 1 chapter 3 when Kai tells him he doesn't care how many people he has to kill to stay by Ratri's side, Ratri is totally swooned over at that moment ^_^).

Don't worry about the topic. I'll edit an amendment so folks reading it know how many requests have gone through. If people are too scared of all the replies to make requests it's their loss. =P I'd much rather talk about Ratri and Kai, anyway. ^_^

[koyuki]

I joined that comm too, except I don't want my f!list spammed since I have so many friends, so I avoid having too many comms. Also, CT's head coordinator has awful organization skillz, but you didn't hear it from me. *cough*iquit*cough* Basically, for V1Ch2, I cleaned it in two days, and then it took him like three weeks to get back to me with the qc. o.x Then I didn't get the translation file until about two months later, in which he asked me to finish it in a week. T_T I was taking finals then, so I got pulled off that chapter. And then he never let me do any of Tateno's other projects even though I said I was a huge fan. *snark* ...no, I'm not... bitter or anything. *cough* Actually, megori and I are trying to see if we can nag him into finishing the last two chapter of v2, if only for the fact that it being incomplete really bugs us. Don't get your hopes too high, but...it's better than waiting another year for June's release

*clears throat* Anyway, I think Ratri's charisma as a leader is definitely one of the things that attracts Kai to Ratri (whether romantically or not). Also, I find it slightly impossible to believe Kai isn't at least somewhat romantically attracted to Ratri. I mean, even if he admires Ratri as a leader and feels guilt about intially doubting him, I don't think he'd let Ratri coerce him into sex. (Especially since he asked, "Was I good... when I did it?" after Ratri saw the prostitute in v2. XD I smell jealousy~) And while Kai is a bit of a doormat for Ratri, he isn't exactly a pushover; even when Narada was molesting him, he was trying to fight back, but apparently couldn't move? Also, crying Kai is sad. ;_; It absolutely breaks my heart every time he cries.

It's possible that Kai does seem the Ratri's intentions but can't bring himself to believe it? I mean, considering the state of his self-esteem in v2, it's very likely that Kai is afraid to believe that Ratri actually values and appreciates him? *smacks them both* oi, figure it out.

Mmm... I like shower sex. Also, I'm pretty sure they had sex in missionary position v2ch3 in Kai's flashback? It's page 10 of this scan. It's also the page where Kai makes the incredibly adorable uke!expression. *squee* But I do agree, I think they should do it more in that position. It's cute. Though I have to confess, I like Kai sitting in Ratri's lap. I think it's my... favorite position in yaoi. I don't see it quite as much in other works so it's kind of at treat for me? *dies a little on the inside* Okay, enough embarrassing confessions from me.

Yes! More aggressive Kai! ♥ Actually, I'm kind of surprised Kai is a passive lover, considering he used to sleep with Maria. (Maybe Maria was also aggressive, which made him passive? XD) I actually read this very interesting entry by a girl who lived in Japan for a while and was talking about her dating experience (...she said it better, but the entry is locked now, so I can't show you...). She talked about how in Japan, it was socially expected that one partner was active and one was passive, even for two gay males, and to them, it was a learned second nature of sorts. In my opinion, Kai is very traditionally Japanese. Actually, I somehow managed to equate Kai to being Ratri's wife in my mind. Other than being really kick-ass, he is fairly passive, calm, and in a strange sense, almost demure. Yeah. I dunno about this one. So maybe Kai is acting on the expectations of what he grew up with and accepting that "receiving" role?

Also to mention, I think it's incredibly sweet (in a way) that Ratri pulled up the covers for Kai before he left so Kai wouldn't be cold (but of course Kai wakes up...) I think this gesture does indicate that he feels really bad for "throwing Kai to the wolves" as you put it, even though he ends up acting on it anyway.

Ah~ okay. Talking is fun. Also, our replies are getting so long I'm having trouble keeping up. I hope we don't go over the character limit. o.x

[compli-cait.livejournal.com]

Well, I don't know what is needed to scanlate a manga, but if CT isn't willing to finish off the volume (which I doubt since they are pretty adamant about dropping licensed titles) how hard would it be to start from scratch and do it yourselves. I suppose you'd need a translator, etc... And then there's the issue of distribution, which is troubling because the title is indeed licensed and a scanlation can be used in lieu of purchasing the available title when it is released (which is why scanlation circles dutifully cease projects upon license announcements). I know you and I will buy the English manga when they come out, I just don't trust the teeming masses of selfish, self-centered and cheap fangirls who feel entitled to free yaoi (especially of this calibre).

Anyway, It's clear that Kai's feelings run far deeper than admiration. The question is in whether he is truly aware of that fact. He only ever talks about his relationship with Ratri as one of wanting to "stand beside him." He clearly acts out of a desire to be with Ratri more intimately and is hurt by the fact that Ratri seeks pleasure with anyone else, even as he deprecates himself. It could be interpreted as Kai's way of being possessive. He wants Ratri to lean on him and to want him, and no one else.

Yes, they do have sex with Kai on the bottom in that chapter flashback, but you'll notice that Ratri is still clothed and technically that doesn't count as "missionary." Let me explain. Ratri usually has sex with Kai in the nude, and this one occurance of this position since v1 ch1 is the exception, which is really odd. Being totally nude for a seme during sex is actually pretty rare among yaoi sex scenes, though Tateno seems rather fond of them. Ratri is a pretty insecure/closed off guy, though he has sex with Kai totally nude from their first encounter. Why wouldn't he have removed all of his clothes before penetrating Kai on this particular occasion? It makes it feel less personal, and that's why I argue against considering the position "missionary."

I think Tateno portrays their sex in the lap position as a show that Kai and Ratri are closer to equals than most yaoi couples. It also affords us a fantastic view. ^_^

I'm not sure Tateno thought with that much detail about Kai's choice of passiveness in sex. It's probably more likely that he wants more from Ratri, but he falls into a passive role because of his sense of not being able to live up to Ratri's level (and his general low self-esteem). Whenever Ratri accepts him in any way (professionally or in the bedroom) you can really see Kai light up, which is sort of his way of knowing he is being acknowledged.

Yes, it is clear Ratri struggled greatly with the decision to hand Kai over for the sake of Saruto and Akatsuki. I have to wonder what was really going through his mind when he decided on "one last night" of passion with him, though thinking about it is heartbreaking...

I totally went over the character limit last time. Had to cut a few words out...

[koyuki]

Um, actually, it probably wouldn't be that hard. We do need a translator, but megori has a friend who knows, according to her, "like 16 languages." He apparently does know both Japanese and Chinese though. If that doesn't work out, we could ask for a translator through the comm. Of course, we'd need the scans... I know I've seen them, but of course, we would need to go through the formality of asking the scanner for them because it's just impolite not to. =\ However, Megori also said she's willing to buy the books and scan them and I know I am willing too... if only to have them.

Distribution is definitely something that needs to be guarded heavily. I'm thinking against redistribution rules (like, Megori has a server and has more bandwidth than she ever needs, so she could probably host it and we could forbid people to reupload other places, etc.) and we would take off the scans two weeks prior to the release of the volume and kindly ask people to delete scans. I know not everyone does, but oh well. *sigh* Another option is opening another comm and asking people to pledge to join?

And yes, I'm very annoyed with fangirls like that. I can understand wanting to sample a work before buying it, and it's sometimes hard since most yaoi is plastic-wrapped, but I think one volume is more than enough of a sample. =\ I try to buy all the stuff I really like and have kept on my computer (because uh, I tend to delete yaoi after I read it, so if I keep it, I do like it XD...) but sometimes the company is really bad at distribution. *cough*bebeautiful*cough* So despite the annoying fangirls, I really do want to see this, and I think waiting a year would kill me. @_@

Well, Kai is fairly smart and intuitive... except really about himself, so I guess this is questionable. If Kai is jealous and possessive of Ratri (at least subconsciously) then I'm kind of curious why he was able to tease Nozomi in Steal Moon about Ratri being interested in him. I think Kai might also be more obviously jealous because the prostitutes are kind of mean to him, if quietly so. Somehow, I get the feeling that they're jealous of Kai as well, which brings me to the conclusion that Ratri is Very Popular.

B-but sometimes clothes can be sexy. Especially if they're button-down shirts that aren't taken off completely. *swoon* However, it might also have been more professional of an occurrence too? Ratri was debriefing Kai on something... actually, if you consider it intellectually, Ratri doing that has more benefits than just making Kai blush. It's probably safer to relate information to each other if only for the fact that other people would be less likely to eavesdrop. I mean, I guess they would if they were desperate for information, but it'd still be probably horrifying to have to listen to them have sex. *laughs* (Not for us though~ It's a treat. :D)

Kai always looks so cute when he sees that Ratri is acknowledging him. It always makes my heart go *doki doki doki* I'd really like to see Ratri tell Kai he loves him some day, but I think that might be asking too much. However, just imagine the look on Kai's face. *squee*

Yeah... I think one of the reasons why Kai didn't fight what's his face over it is because he acknowledges it. It's heartbreaking to see Kai feel so responsible for Gaku's death. *sigh* Undoubtedly, Kai would never and doesn't blame Ratri for his decision... which is also heartbreaking.

[compli-cait.livejournal.com]

Well, the only downside to buying the books yourself is that you'll have to break the bindings to get good scans. Buying the books, though, is pretty inexpensive, especially of you go for the tankoban over the magazine issues. And AHnY is widely available right now, since it is currently serializing.

In terms of distribution, I would recommend a private server with password protection and a strict registration system with severe penalties (like pulling the scans completely) if anyone is found to be redistributing them anywhere. If through an LJ community then registration should not be automatic, and perhaps only those who are already members of makoto_tateno should be allowed to join. It should also be unlisted on LJ so it can't be found in a search. In addition, it should be a rule of members not to talk about the community outside of < lj user="makoto_tateno"> and that particular community. Also, members should be required to pledge to buy either the Japanese tankonban or the English manga (when released), and possibly even go so far as to require proof of intent. The harder/more work it is to get the scans, the easier it will be to control the people who download them.

I'm in the process of buying the tankoban for all the scans I own that I do not already have the English versions of. I just finished collecting all of Haru wo Daiteita (up to the last volume released, 13), and I bought both Yellow and AHnY. I also have Ike Reibun's Aoiro Keiyaku since it is isn't licensed and I like it so much. I'm still waiting to see if Kizuna and Finder Series are going to get relicensed, and if there are no announcements by the end of the year I will probably be picking those up (at least from the last English volumes I have). Tateno's other series, Like Muse... and Martini... I'm waiting to see if they get licensed. I like some series, but I don't want to buy the Japanese version only to repurchase the English version six months later. Only a select few of the ones I love the most will have that distinction (Yellow, AHnY).

Luckily AHnY was licensed by DMP, so even if we end up with a less than stellar translation, we will certainly have the books by next year. BeBeautiful can't be blamed in entirety, though. Their troubles with Libre are really the root of their lack of releases these past couple years.

Anyway, I think Kai is able to tease Nozomi in Steal Moon because by that time his relationship with Ratri would have stabilized, possibly to the point where they not only trust in each other professionally, but also romantically. I know in AHnY they are both very insecure, but it seems that by Steal Moon they are very much comfortable in each others' presense.

I think a partially clothed uke is ten times more sexy than a partially clothed seme. It always annoys me when the seme does nothing more than unzip his pants for sex. Making the uke vulnerable and not exposing himself at all is a cowardly act (and so unsexy). I have to wonder why Ratri is wearing clothes in that AHnY volume 2 scene. Was he between meetings and having a quickie? Or was he teasing Kai for some unrevealed reason? Perhaps I will try translating some of the kana on that page...

I think volume 3 chapter 2 is the closest we are ever going to get to seeing Ratri tell Kai he loves him. Touching Kai's hand while he gently kisses him on his hospital bed I think is the sweetest gesture he has ever made towards Kai. ^_^

I think Kai accepts his fate because he feels guilty for killing someone, but I also think that ultimately, he sticks to the choice he made when he killed Garu: to do whatever he had to to stay by Ratri's side, including taking life. Kai knew that Ratri would be disappointed in him if he simply had laid down and died for his "sin." He fights back because he knows that that is what would make Ratri the most proud of him. And I bet you anything that is one of the things that Ratri says to him on that hospital bed (along with, hopefully, "It'll never happen again").