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Post by Christmas Chief on Jul 21, 2011 18:08:05 GMT -5
Yeah, it was doing that for me, too. The only helpful result to come back was the English translation to a film title. I do know what "umi" means, so I assume the name of the film and Tiago's tagline are one in the same. And it's a good thing you picked up that Japanese-English dictionary when you did! Perhaps it was a sign? Or was it for a class? Not for a class; just something I happen to have. It seems a lot of my possessions fall under that category. I, too, was very struck both by the new set of orphans, and by the rather suspicious way R features in this story. (Perhaps she is not the real R? L in TUA wonders if someone is impersonating her.) I'd quite forgotten that. Yes, impersonation would explain the odd behavior well. Edit: So, according to my dictionary "umi" is a sea or ocean, "wa" can mean either "harmony" or "round shape," the word "shizuka" means "quiet," and "nai" means "there isn't." Even though it's shaky, I think it's safe to say "umi wa shizukanai" translates to "the sea is never quiet."
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Post by Dante on Jul 22, 2011 2:31:20 GMT -5
Sharp work, Sherry Ann. You might want to keep that dictionary on-hand for the duration of TNN.
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Jul 22, 2011 23:53:55 GMT -5
A suspicious-looking photo of the suspicious-looking restaurant at the House of Red Leaves with some suspicious-looking costumers. Behind the photograph, in red, was a letter I couldn't decide if it was a K or an R.
- - - - - Journal Excerpt: Dear Diary,
Ever since R has had us here, she's made us work to pay for our stay. The work itself isn't the worst. The worst is knowing just a few weeks ago me, R, and D were back in Japan. Before the earthquake, and the tsunami, we had a home. We had parents. Now I have no idea what R wants with us. I hope no one finds this.K.- - - - -
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Post by Dante on Jul 23, 2011 4:16:59 GMT -5
Now things get really confusing. Is the R. in this and the previous fic the Duchess or another R.? Is the middle R. in this letter the same as the other R.s in this letter or either of the R.s I previously mentioned? Is the writer of this letter actually a K. or another R.?
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Post by Christmas Chief on Jul 23, 2011 8:37:37 GMT -5
Well, if K (or R) is one of the Higurashi orphans--and it sounds to me s/he is--then the second R along with D are R's (or K's) siblings, which means the first R would be the same R addressed in the previous letter.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 23, 2011 11:20:41 GMT -5
Oh, boy, now my head is really spinning! It's fine, though, as this merely heightens the mystery of things. I don't have much to add to what Dante and Sherry Ann have already said. I agree that K is one of the Higurashi orphans, which does seem to be the most likely conclusion judging by his/her journal entry. As for there being two R's, I think there must be; two R's, with two very different intentions.(?)
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Jul 23, 2011 16:29:51 GMT -5
V.F.D. in Japan. - - - - - From V.F.D., A Comprehensive History as Edited by E.S. "[...] There was already a similar organization in Japan, before the Meiji Restoration. It was formed by ronin samurai, samurai who had no masters, to protect the common people. When the restoration happened, foreigners could enter Japan. It was then that the ronin samurai organization came into contact with the V.F.D. volunteers among the foreigners, and thus V.F.D gained a foothold in Japan. The most prominent present-day members of the Japanese V.F.D. - the ones who survived, of course - descend from said samurai, and their heirlooms are their family swords, all bearing names given by their first owners. Many clans today, including the Higurashi, Tomoe, Tachibana, Yazawa, Tanaka, Yamamoto, Fujimoto, and Tsuchiya, descend from the first samurai who first joined V.F.D.[...]" "[...] The schism, however, separated the international factions of V.F.D. into two factions. The fire fighters, and the fire starters. In Japan, several families, including the Higurashi, Tomoe, Yamamoto and Tsuchiya families remained faithful to the V.F.D. motto and guidelines, while attempting to survive the onslaught of the clans that chose the fire-starting side; Yazawa, Tachibana, Tanaka, and Fujimoto. The fire-starting clans were also involved with the Yakuza, the japanese mob, and controlled the underworld of such large cities as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and even the island of Okinawa.[...]" - - - - -
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Post by Christmas Chief on Jul 23, 2011 18:31:54 GMT -5
Interesting bits of V.F.D. history there, accompanied by a telling flag. Samurais, though? Oh, Baudelaires...
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Post by Dante on Jul 24, 2011 2:47:44 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm not sure the Baudelaires would perform all that well in a more action-influenced environment. But then again, Sunny has engaged in swordfighting before... Also, I expect at least one heirloom sword to make an appearance, based on this.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 24, 2011 11:19:50 GMT -5
Also, I expect at least one heirloom sword to make an appearance, based on this. Hmm...I wonder if it's the same sword I'm thinking of? I like how you've combined the design of Japan's flag with what has always been my favorite of the eye insignias. I am also very impressed with your account of how the Japanese V.F.D. came into existence; pirates have been mentioned in ASoUE before, so the introduction of samurai fits perfectly into the canon. It's going to be interesting, as well, to see how the V.F.D. of Japan operates.
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Jul 29, 2011 12:13:08 GMT -5
Yazawa Castle, in Japan. - - - - - From V.F.D. in Japan: A different V.F.D. edited by D "[...]The Yazawa clan descends from the most powerful ronin samurai of the original members of the organization that merged with the V.F.D. volunteers from above, and, as expected, turned out to be the most ruthless and powerful clan after the schism, when the other fire starting clans chose them as their leader. Their family sword is the Muramasa.[...]" - - - - - Higurashi Castle - - - - - The original home of the Higurashi orphans. A marvelous example of the Japanese architecture, it has sadly been destroyed by an earthquake and a tsunami. Townspeople have claimed that a "sea monster" or "sea shadow" was seen in the ocean previous to the disaster. - - - - - Tomoe Castle - - - - - The castle of the Tomoe clan, in Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan. The castle was destroyed by an earthquake followed by an avalanche. Like with the Higurashi castle, locals have claimed that a mysterious man and a young girl were seen near the castle shortly before the disaster, as well as the same "sea shadow" seen in the south, before the destruction of the Higurashi castle. - - - - -
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Post by Christmas Chief on Jul 30, 2011 9:55:45 GMT -5
Some conspiracies here, apparently. I can't say I disagree with them.
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Post by Emma “Emmz” Squalor on Jul 30, 2011 12:58:01 GMT -5
"Sea monsters", eh? Very interesting, and a detail that mirrors that of a Hayao Miyazaki film. I'm also eager to learn about the intentions of the mysterious man and his female companion.
And beautiful photography as always, Tiago. I especially like the look of Yazawa Castle.
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Post by Hermes on Jul 30, 2011 13:44:34 GMT -5
Very interesting! I have an idea what the sea-monster is, but how it all fits together...
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Post by Tiago James Squalor on Jul 30, 2011 15:14:28 GMT -5
Everyone, TNN will start soon. Although I have to be honest, I'm moving away a week from now, to start Design school. I'll probably be without steady access to internet, so if I start TNN before I move, I won't post too many chapters at least until I'm settled and everything is normal. But don't worry, TNN won't go anywhere. I'll try to update through a friend's computer. Thank you for the support! ^^
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