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oath2order posted:It's awful, but it has its moments. https://polsy.org.uk/play/yt/?vurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DINE5I82zdW0 That. That is some bad everything except for the restructured context of the video.
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Dec 31, 2016 01:50
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The Kinzo screaming "BEEEEAAATTTOOOOORRRRRICCEEE" wasn't bad. Could have done with a bit more heart rending angst in the reading though.
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Dec 31, 2016 01:53
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bman in 2288 posted:That. That is some bad everything except for the restructured context of the video. Studio DEEN is... to put it nicely, loving awful at animation, at least when they do renditions of dojin games. It squeaked by in Higurashi since demented, off-model characters only help the overarching feeling of confused paranoia the canon is meant to evoke, but in Umineko where things are (allegedly) a little more grounded, it just makes the whole thing seem really... off, in ways that not even Ryukishi's mittenhands manage to do. KataraniSword fucked around with this message at 02:04 on Dec 31, 2016 |
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Dec 31, 2016 02:01
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One of the more famous bits of Deen's off model is they forgot to put a mouth on one of the Cheisters - and not when she was in the background, but when she was front and center in a close up.
Robindaybird fucked around with this message at 03:14 on Dec 31, 2016 |
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Dec 31, 2016 02:30
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I don't want to derail the DEEN hate train, but Tonkatsu DJ is pretty loving hilarious. Other than that, yeah they make some ugly rear end cartoons and are pretty bad at adapting poo poo as far as I've seen.
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Dec 31, 2016 02:59
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Robindaybird posted:One of the more famous bits of Deen's off model is they forgot to put a mouth on one of the Cheisters - and not when she was in the background, but when she was front and center in a close up.  I feel like this isn't actually a spoiler any more. I think the subtitles are off-center because it's assumedly cropped from a shot, but. KataraniSword fucked around with this message at 04:39 on Dec 31, 2016 |
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Dec 31, 2016 04:28
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Tender Child Loins posted:AUUGH WHY DID I LOOK bman in 2288 posted:What are you guys taking about, it can't be that bad-- What the gently caress am I looking at. Anime has broken me, so I don't know what's supposed to be so bad about this.
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Dec 31, 2016 06:52
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NachtSieger posted:Anime has broken me, so I don't know what's supposed to be so bad about this. Higurashi Kira is mostly just what happens when someone takes a psychological thriller based on paranoia-fueled massacres and groundhog day loops, says "Okay, the main plot is resolved, let's make a slice of life harem anime like we teased this being at the very beginning". It's not some soul-scarring thing, it's just aggressively  , but it's so anathema to what the entire When They Cry series actually involves.Basically, it's like if Umineko had a sequel that was nothing but the plodding exposition and character fluff that the first two chapters had before the murders started.
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Dec 31, 2016 07:50
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Eh, Higurashi Kira isn't great, but it's still not the worst thing to come out of Studio DEEN in regards to that property. No, I'm pretty sure that title belongs to Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kaku: Outbreak.
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Dec 31, 2016 07:55
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So... Battler accepted that witches exist but refused to believe Beatrice was qualified to be one. I suppose that's one way out of that scenario.
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Dec 31, 2016 12:14
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 Rudolf's group had gone out with two guns and a master key. But those had been lost. It was already clear that those had been stolen by the culprit. Because the shutters were closed on the windows, they couldn't be opened even if the culprit had a master key. The front and back doors that led to the outside were all sealed by chains, and they were further blocked with sofas and tables. Even if the culprit decided to break in through violent means, it wouldn't be easy for them.   "If there wasn't a typhoon in the first place, the boat would have arrived before noon. That's not much of a silver lining." "...Eva-san, how do you feel? Please, try to take it easy." "Thank you. I still feel like I have a fever, but this is no time to complain about that. For the children's sake as well, this is no time to be bedridden."After crying so much in front of Hideyoshi's corpse, Eva had felt a strong self-awareness of her position as a mother, and her expression conveyed a strong will. In actual fact, her fever still hadn't gone down. And she was aware of that. If she didn't keep a strong hold on herself, she felt as though the fever would make her mind hazy again. By this point, the first floor formed a final line of defense set up by Krauss, Natsuhi, and Eva. The children and the guest, Nanjo, had been strongly warned not to go downstairs without taking great care. If the culprit used a ladder or something, it probably wouldn't be impossible for them to attack from the second floor. But it wouldn't be easy for them to break those sturdy shutters from such an insecure position. The second floor was relatively safe compared to the first. Battler and George had also wanted to remain on the first floor so that they could fight if the worst happened, but Eva had put a stop to that. In her mind, George was now the only member of her family. It seemed that she didn't even want to expose him to the danger of coming downstairs to the first floor. Krauss and Natsuhi could understand that feeling.  In the second floor cousins' room, Battler, George, and Jessica sat dazed...and didn't even listen to the TV that had been left on. For a while, Nanjo had been with them and had tried to lend them words of encouragement, but when he realized that he might actually be having the opposite effect, he hid himself in his own room on the same second floor. George kept looking dazedly at the photographs inserted in his notebook. It was from the time he'd taken a vacation to Okinawa with Shannon. Shannon's happy smile was contained in those photos.  So to George, they weren't simply photos, but a door to bring back warm memories... In this room, even though the sound of the typhoon and the TV should have entered George's hearing, it was the scenery of Okinawa he had seen with her and her laughing voice that reached his eyes and his ears... George had strived to be reborn after meeting Shannon. He had sworn to separate himself from the timid person he had once been, easily caught up in the atmosphere, unable to refuse a request, and easily used by those around him. He had resolved himself to become a strong man who could make her life more joyous. Therefore... If he hadn't met Shannon, the man called Ushiromiya George would probably have lived a very different life. And the George of that different life surely wouldn't have been as excellent a man as he is now.  It's completely meaningless, isn't it? ...He felt a deep, deep sadness, as though he himself had become empty. That feeling must have been tormenting him this whole time. However, until Battler mentioned it, he hadn't been aware of the feeling himself. He'd finally managed to remember... that it should have been all right for him to cry much, much more. So he cried. Just like Battler had, he cried himself dry. ...By now, his eyes were bright red and swollen, and he couldn't cry any more. So George did his best to change his way of thinking. He was not meaningless now, and he should be grateful to Shannon for giving him such a character.  If he were to chase after Shannon and kill himself, she would surely be deeply dejected. It worked the other way around, too. If he had died, and Shannon had chased after him, throwing away her own life, he wouldn't have been able to forgive himself. So he chose to surpass his sadness and anger... and decided to thank her instead.  BGM: Far As a result, she had shaped him into the kind of person he had wanted to be. He wanted to thank her for that. He tried to quell his sadness in this way, but each time he did, he remembered Shannon's smile... ...He understood it logically. He knew that grieving any more than this would only make her grieve in heaven, but that didn't bring a stop to his sadness...  Battler muttered. It was as though he was speaking on behalf of all humans. His question probably hadn't been directed at anyone, but Jessica answered.  "...It's always sad when you have to say goodbye. But when the person's old or there's some time, when you know beforehand that it's coming, sooner or later, that sadness gets spread out over a long period of time. When misfortune comes suddenly, it's sad... because you don't even get that time..." "...I see. So, if they get sick or something and end up bedridden in a hospital, you might be able to ready yourself for it bit by bit, but when it happens suddenly someday, you don't get that luxury." "...The sadness that's usually spread out over several years... closes in on you all at once. That's pretty tough. Sometimes, it makes you feel a sadness so deep, it can leave scars for life..." "...Scars for life, huh?"  "...Some people whisper... that this is why he started sacrificing the rest of his life to occult research, in order to revive the dead." "If that's true, Grandfather succeeded in that miracle in his last moments. The culprit is the revived Beatrice, and Grandfather was reunited with her at the moment he was killed. Pretty ironic that he revived her, and then got killed by her." "...Even so, Grandfather probably managed to meet her. He gambled half of his life and, even though it was only for a short time, he was reunited with the woman he wished to see once again." "...Then he got totally roasted though. Feels like that result doesn't quite add up to the cost of researching for half his life." "That's not true. Even if it was only for an instant, Grandfather must have been happy to be reunited with the woman he loved." "...And that would be true...even if his crime of going against divine providence was punished by God, and his body was burnt and sent down to hell, even if that reunion only lasted a very short time, right...?" "George nii-san..." "...I wouldn't care I met with the wrath of God and had my body burned. Even if it was just for a short amount of time, if I could revive Shannon again... I would sacrifice the rest of my life to the same research as Grandfather. I want to talk with Shannon again, even if it's only for five minutes... Even one minute would be fine... In exchange... I wouldn't mind... sacrificing the rest of my life...!" "...Aniki..."When Battler and Jessica realized that their pointless discussion was causing George pain, they could do nothing more than shut their mouths... ...George directed his thoughts to Kinzo's life.  ...And, on the last day of his life, he revived the person he loved most, and probably succeeded in his reunion in his final moments. George didn't know how much time they'd had together. He didn't know if they'd been given an hour... or just five minutes. However, that moment must have been enough to reward him for all those months of research. Even though he spent dozens of years to achieve it, that small amount of time was probably more than worth it to him. Until today, I never believed in the occult or magic or anything. Somewhere in my heart, I even made fun of Grandfather's research, thinking of it as nothing more than a pastime. However... I won't make fun of it anymore. No, to the contrary, I'll believe strongly that it's real. If the power of belief can create miracles, I'll probably throw away all of my studies up until today, spending the rest of my life from today onwards studying magic. ...Give me the power of magic... And give me a miracle that'll let me see Shannon again...  "...But things like that don't exist in reality. No one researches it. That's because... they know the dead can't be revived with magic. Sorry for saying something so weird. It's my fault that the atmosphere here has gotten so strange. Sorry for making you tiptoe around me, even though this is tough for us all."...Even if I did it to divert myself from my sadness, maybe I did say something strange. If I keep talking about stuff that's so weird, I'm sure it won't do anything good for their sadness... But... that doesn't mean I can bear this silence.  Battler-kun and Jessica-chan lightly shook their heads. Without pressing them any further, I took my mug and left the room. The shutters were all closed in the hallway, so the corridor was very dim.  BGM: Moon It seems my mother's orthodox method of making coffee isn't universally appreciated. One time, I made some for Shannon, but she told me that while it was delicious, it was a little strong... ...Shannon... That's no good... Even though I left the room to change my mood, that image of Shannon's face filling my head hasn't faded in the slightest... I keep seeing those fun days with her, more and more vividly, and it's saddening that I never even got a chance to see her dead face. According to our parents, she was apparently killed with something like a gun or a spear. I'm sure they were just trying to console me, but they had said her dead face had been very beautiful and peaceful. I wonder if she had the engagement ring I gave her last night... on her finger. If she accepted my engagement, she should have had it on the ring finger of her left hand... Last night, we were both on the edge of losing it and not calm at all. Shannon accepted my engagement pretty courageously, but she might have regretted that as a rash action once she cooled her head. She might have taken the ring off. I wonder if she has the ring on now. I want to be sure of at least that much. I want to know how she felt... at the very end...  ...I wonder what will happen to her body. After the autopsy, it will probably be immediately cremated. Then, I'll never be able to see her face, even her dead face, for all eternity...  "...Haha... has the shock of losing Shannon... made me go a little crazy...?"I don't want... her body to be burned. If she's burned and turned to ash, never again will it be possible for her to revive. They say cremation is frowned upon in Western tradition. Because on the day of resurrection, there would be no body to revive. Because of that, it seems that great criminals in Western history were often cremated after execution as a punishment, and their ashes were sometimes scattered in rivers and such... In other words, to Western people, death is nothing more than a sleep until the resurrection. It is essential that the corpse is left after death.  Now I understand. I understand why Grandfather idolized the Western occult. That was his only reason from the very beginning. Just to revive the person dear to him, Grandfather spent the rest of his remaining life researching the Western occult. The situation surrounding us now is abnormal. Grandfather did revive his beloved Beatrice. And, that Beatrice has carried out a terrible serial murder, with linked closed rooms that force us to conclude that magic was used. The Golden Witch, Beatrice. The incarnation of the miracle of the Western occult. And also, the culprit who killed Shannon... She's an entity I should hate, and yet, for some reason, I want to cling to her. I wonder... if Shannon could be revived with the magic of miracles, which Grandfather bet his life on...  ...Then, if I also met with her, instead of gold, would she give me Shannon's life? As collateral, I don't care what sort of devil's contract she imposed. I wouldn't mind sacrificing all of my remaining life... George probably couldn't believe or realize that his voiceless wish... was heard by the witch herself, who stood right behind him.  ...Battler had told her that she didn't know the value of a human's life, and wanting to understand that in her own way, she had stealthily visited, listening in on their discussion.  "...That is your wish, you say...? If I could grant that, would I be accepted as a witch...?"Beato looked at the palms of both of her hands. She had handed over most of her once-surging magical power when the new witch succeeded the name of the Endless Witch. Of course, her current power still made her worthy of being called a witch, but it could not begin to compare to her previous strength.  Inside her head, she thought about several magical steps she could take to revive the dead. Even magic that should have been easy in the past would be difficult with her current power. She thought of something, then clicked her tongue, then did so again, over and over. In the end, she finally thought of a single spell. But that was a spell that she couldn't use by herself. It was a spell that witches with weak power used, one that relied on the aid of others. In the past, Beato had looked down upon that type of magic. Therefore, she frantically tried to search for any conceivable alternative, but in the end, she couldn't think of one and slumped over in self-derision. Then, careful not to surprise him, she softly called out. Softly, to George's heart...  BGM: Haruka "...I can hear you. Who are you...? Are you really the witch, Beatrice...? Or are you an illusion created by my sorrow...? If it's the former, please hear my wish. And if it's the latter, just leave me alone..."Their conversation in a mental world was a lot like having one in a dream. When you dream, haven't you ever had the experience... of casually accepting something that would've been absurd in the real world? The conversation in this world was like that. So even though a witch appeared and started talking to George, he was not surprised...  "Indeed. I am... the Golden Witch, Beatrice. Normally, you and I would not be able to talk together in this manner. However, you are strongly conscious of me and wish to have a discussion, so both of our channels are able to match like this." "...I don't care if the person who killed Shannon was you... or someone else using your name. As long as you exist as a real witch..." "...I'll pay whatever cost you ask for. If you desire my life, take it right now. Please, I want you to bring Shannon back to life... If that's impossible, I'd be satisfied if you'd just let me talk to her for a short while... Please..."  "...Really...? Really, you'll revive Shannon...?" "Indeed. However, my current magical power is not sufficient to use the magic of resurrection. Therefore, I must rely on your help." "...If there's anything I can do, I'll do it. Even if that means taking my heart out right here and now, I will not hesitate..." "...I told you, I don't need anything like that. I will chant the magic. Then, a gap will open in the door to the Land of the Dead." "...But as I am now, I do not have the power to bring Shannon's soul up through that gap. However, you have strong feelings for Shannon, and those feelings will surely become magic that can bring her soul out without fail. What do you say? Will you help me...?" "...I will. If Shannon's life will be restored, there's nothing I'm afraid to lose...!"George's fists shook in silence.  He had been absent-mindedly standing near the window in the hall that whole time, his mug still in his hand...  "Wh... What the... I-It isn't... a dream..." "...Be quiet. I am very fragile now. If any more Humans appear, I will not be able to preserve this form. I shall grant your wish, so stay silent for now. Understand?"George covered his mouth with both hands, nodding enthusiastically several times. In that instant, he almost dropped the mug he was holding. George frantically juggled it around and caught it. He was afraid that if it fell to the floor and made a loud sound, the witch's form might disappear like a bubble popping. He softly set the mug on the floor... and stared at the witch in front of him again. ...Her form didn't disappear. It wasn't a dream... "Come, let us go to the parlor where Shannon sleeps. With the power of your feelings, we will bring back her soul." "Y-You say go, but how...? My mother and the rest are downstairs. There's no way they'd let us go outside. And... didn't you just say that you wouldn't be able to preserve your form if another Human appeared?" "...Come to think of it, that is true. So, Krauss and the rest are downstairs. In that case, we definitely cannot go down. Well then, we just need to go to the mansion without going down to the first floor, right? It's simple."Beato laughed, as though she had thought of a pleasant prank. And with her golden pipe, she lightly tapped a window with its shutter closed. When she did, three gold butterflies appeared from the pipe and opened the lock on the window as though melting it. Then, the window opened without a sound. The shutter beyond it was exactly the same. The clasp unset itself, also without making a sound, and it quietly opened. The window opened, exposing the wind and rain outside the mansion. Perhaps because of the direction or something related to the construction of the building, the wind did not blow inside. Because of that, for a while, George felt as though this entrance that opened to the outside was a dream or an illusion, and he couldn't accept it as real.  Beato gently floated upwards. It was a natural action, like that of a diver enjoying an underwater stroll. It made it easy to believe that if you acted like she did, you too might be able to float in the sky just as though you were swimming through the water... No, George did believe that. So without thinking, just as she had done, he also... gently, as though swimming in the water, lifted his feet...   "Hoh. Not bad. So, you learned how to dance in the sky faster than I could explain it."George was shocked to find himself floating in midair like he was swimming. Of course, Beato was also shocked that George, who shouldn't have been able to use magic, had figured out how to do that just by instinct. "...To be able to... fly in the air, to swim in the air..." "...You mustn't be bound by reason. Accept it as a natural thing. You mustn't fall back to your Human doctrines, such as those of Newton and Einstein." "Especially when flying high in the sky. Inexperienced witches sometimes plummet to the earth." "...I-I accept things for what they appear to be... I-I accept things for what they appear to be..."George repeated those words over and over. He must not deny magic, no matter what. Denying that would be like throwing away what might be his first and last chance to revive Shannon. However, compared to Beato, who was elegantly drifting like smoke, George's movements clearly resembled someone underwater. Therefore, if he didn't act like he was kicking his feet in water every once in a while, he'd be caught by the force of gravity bit by bit.  "I must say you're doing better than when I first danced through the sky. Here we go. Come with me."When Beato beckoned to George, she gently flew into the stormy sky. It was just like a scene from a fairy tale. The scene unfolding before George's eyes felt entirely like an extension of his dream.  "What's this? Are the wind and rain tormenting you...? I could teach you magic to block against that, but it may be too early for you, and it may be a misuse of time right now." "...Yes. The magic I need... isn't that."George wore a strong-willed gaze, refusing to let the wind and rain get to him.  "The mansion is coming into sight. Hold out just a little longer. If you fall now, you'll hit the bushes in the rose garden."The undulating rose garden was spread beneath the witch and George's gazes. This illusion-like scene no longer surprised George. Only the gradually approaching mansion was reflected in his eyes. "Shannon, wait for me... I will definitely... revive you...!" BGM: Stupefaction  "...Now, all that's left is the seventh and eighth twilights. Just two more, and my obligation to that old hag Predecessor is finished. I'll kill Krauss and Natsuhi. Let them die together like the good couple they are."  "...In the lobby on the first floor of the guesthouse, two targets and Ushiromiya Eva identified. Measuring Anti-Magic Power Levels. Data Link to 410." "410, Data Received. Anti-magic power levels are extremely low. If Eva just goes outside, they're tuna and abalone on a chopping board. Nihihihihi...!" "What do you think, Great Lady Beatrice? When you give the order, we shall snipe right away...! Please, your orders...!" "...You guys reeeally are convenient furniture. Not at all like that old, second-hand furniture that's only useful for gouging corpses. Right?"  "Chiester Sisters, please show me your skill once more. Prepare to fire! *giggle*giggle*giggle*giggle*giggle*! And carry out the corpses again, got it? 'Cause I'll play with them a lot." "No complaints from you, right, Ronove?" "...Correct. As you command." "Nn..."  "...Was that someone's presence just now? Did anyone feel it?" "M-My apologies, I haven't noticed anything, so please forgive me...!!" "We were in the middle of observing the guesthouse, so our peripheral surveillance was set to off. Nihi. What about you, Lucifer-chaaan? Did you feel any presence?" "...Nn-"For just an instant, Lucifer glanced at Ronove, asking whether she should answer honestly or not. Ronove gave a small nod in response.   "..." "..." "...I see. If a great demon like you says that, then it must've been my imagination."The witch persistently stared in the direction the presence had disappeared to. That was where the rose garden lay. And beyond that, she could see the mansion's dark silhouette creating by lightning.  
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Dec 31, 2016 16:57
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George sneaks out of the guesthouse through the window to go find Shannon's corpse, right? Now, I see one of two things happening here: he can find her corpse and attempt to perform two twilights with it in his grief. Or the others come to find him, and the killer gets them. Either way, George's mental state is really lending itself to him dying really soon. Really feel for the guy, I can sort of empathize with his emotional state right now.
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Dec 31, 2016 17:33
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George can flyyyyyyyy~ Woohoo, Beatrice's old crew is rebelling against Evatrice. Good, because up til now, they have been too OP.
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Dec 31, 2016 17:48
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George left the window open when he climbed down. Maybe it won't matter and Krauss and Natsuhi will die anyway, but could easily see two of the 3 people upstairs dying instead. Also, they have a way to get down and do some murders without anyone downstairs seeing them too.
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Dec 31, 2016 17:55
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If it's possible to safely exit the guesthouse through the second floor window, then Nanjo, Eva, and Hideyoshi are definitely at the top of the potential culprit list. (That, or all the kids are covering up for each other.) If more than one person is involved, the killer could leave through the window and their accomplice could lock it behind them/open it for them, allowing for a "closed room" situation. However, this latest update kind of screws with that theory, in that no one has appeared wet so far. If there's heavy wind and rain from the typhoon, the culprit would have to cover up their damp clothes. It's not like anyone has changed outfits or anything like that. And would it really be possible to hold an umbrella and a gun while climbing down the side of a building? Also, this Beato seems really different from the one who flipped out at Shannon about love and lust in the last episode.
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Dec 31, 2016 18:23
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It's probably because she's now making an attempt to understand others and help them, in addition to trying to prove herself to Battler as a true witch. Or, alternatively, she still feels the same way about love and lust and thinks that the depth of George's OH DESIRE for Shannon will suffice to bring her back. But I do feel that she is attempting to change, so probably not. Also the blue Chiester sister's verbal tic is grating. Like I thought it would get less grating over time, but nope. 
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Dec 31, 2016 20:49
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Like Clockwork posted:Also the blue Chiester sister's verbal tic is grating. Like I thought it would get less grating over time, but nope. Do not bully bunnies they are doing their best
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Dec 31, 2016 23:41
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Tender Child Loins posted:If it's possible to safely exit the guesthouse through the second floor window, then Nanjo, Eva, and Hideyoshi are definitely at the top of the potential culprit list. (That, or all the kids are covering up for each other.) If more than one person is involved, the killer could leave through the window and their accomplice could lock it behind them/open it for them, allowing for a "closed room" situation. However, this latest update kind of screws with that theory, in that no one has appeared wet so far. If there's heavy wind and rain from the typhoon, the culprit would have to cover up their damp clothes. It's not like anyone has changed outfits or anything like that. And would it really be possible to hold an umbrella and a gun while climbing down the side of a building? Frankly this episode has been low on "figure out the culprit" because it could be almost anyone. The first closed room was pretty weak, and the later deaths haven't been closed rooms at all. Eva is definitely a strong candidate because of finding the money, Eva Beatrice as a metaphor, and the "headache". A lot of people had alibis for the first set of murders, but a collaborator ruins those. For that matter, what if one of the first set of deaths was pretending to be dead and then when their closed room was opened they were killed? Then it could have been pretty much anyone, once again. Really, this time around it seems like it's all about character development for Beato. Seeing someone else doing pretty much the same things she's been doing gives her some perspective on it. The real world story is much more sidelined than it's been previously. As for the Chesters, I assume Eva (real Eva, not the "witch") is about to shoot Krauss and Natsuhi. Unless George leaving screws it up somehow.
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Jan 1, 2017 01:06
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KataraniSword posted:Basically, it's like if Umineko had a sequel that was nothing but the plodding exposition and character fluff that the first two chapters had before the murders started. Like, what if Kyrie was the one playing meta-world games with Beato?
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Jan 1, 2017 02:02
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I've been going through my pictures folder and forgot I had this. It's a little late, but...
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Jan 1, 2017 06:30
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SardonicTyrant posted:What about a Carnival Phantasm-esque parody of Umineko? I would watch the poo poo out of that. Just a loop of a chessboard spinning, spinning, spinning, until it floats off into outer space. Nice new av, little_firebird!
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Jan 1, 2017 08:28
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 October 5th, 1986, 5:44 PM  The strings of tension binding Krauss, Natsuhi, and Eva had already loosened, and they were completely worn out, with their minds beginning to waver. Every once in a while, they would stand up and walk around pointlessly, as though fighting their drowsiness.  "I told you, I'm fine... The three of us are now the only adults... There's no time to rest... No matter what the cost, we must guard this place until the end... Haah, haah..."She spoke bravely, but she couldn't hide her rough breathing. It seemed that the fever, which had been calmed with medicine for a short time, had returned. It was very obvious that Eva's health was not good.  "Take it easy. At least close your eyes. If something happens that you need to be awake for, we will definitiely wake you." "I'm telling you I'm fine...! Leave me alone...!!" "..."It seemed she was already unwilling to budge. Krauss and Natsuhi realized that even if they talked to her any more when she was like this, it wouldn't reach her ears. So without saying anything more, they decided to let her be. To Eva right now, even having an argument like that would be burdensome. It would probably be better for her body if she just sat there with her mouth closed. In truth, Eva was just a step away from being beaten down by drowsiness. Perhaps she shot back at them with a temper because she was trying to rouse herself and throw off her sleepiness.  She'd had several snacks to distract herself from her drowsiness, so she didn't feel hungry, but now her lack of sleep made it feel like it was 6:00 in the morning, not the afternoon. Even supposing that the boat came at precisely 9:00 in the morning tomorrow, they still had more than 12 full hours to go. ...It was an overwhelmingly long stretch of time. Long. Painful... Hot... Even the sound of the clock torments my body now. In times like this, when that person puts his hand on my forehead, the fever fades at once. But that person no longer exists... As Eva's mind grew foggy, she was once again gripped by a deep sadness... She had already cried herself dry. Even so, the sadness of losing her beloved husband had not been exhausted...  BGM: Melody (Instrumental) "...What do you mean?"The new witch and Eva were fundamentally the same being. If Eva talked to her, she would always respond...  "...I thought that if I could gain the position of the Ushiromiya Family Head, that alone would be enough. But then, as soon as I saw that mountain of gold, my greed grew. I was struck by a desire to have that mountain all to myself..." "That's nothing to be ashamed of.After all, it's your natural right as the Ushiromiya Family Head. How could you give up even a bit of it to anyone else?" "...I was gripped by that temptation, which is why you were born. While you are a young girl version of me, at the same time, you are also my self-centered evil heart. Because of my foolish greed sprouted by that mountain of gold, the shell of the egg that is my heart cracked, and you were born into this world... I am responsible for your birth...!" "In that case, when I killed Rosa and Maria, and then Rudolf, Kyrie and Hideyoshi, you were responsible for that too." "Why did you kill my husband too...?! Why...?!! Aaaaaaaagggghhhhh!!" "...I didn't want to kill Hideyoshi. He was just so annoying and persistent. And that's our... no, your fault. It's your fault for choosing a husband like that." "A child like you cannot understand what made that man so wonderful!! Oooooooooooooooohhhh, dear, aaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!" "...What the heck? Our dreams were made real with magic, right? We solved the riddle of the epitaph. Then we found the gold and got the Head's Ring. All of our dreams came fully true, right? What more could you want...?" "Those weren't all of my dreams...!! What about living a wonderful life with that person and giving George an excellent life...?! I still have many dreams that haven't come true...as a wife, as a mother...!! And yet, and yet...!" "...Those are just extra dreams you added after becoming an adult. They aren't my dreams." "That's because you're a child...!! Do you only care about what's best for yourself?! That's right, everything is my fault...!! Back then, why did I resist doing what Rosa told me to? Why couldn't I announce to all of the siblings that I'd found the gold...? It's all because I'm so hideous!! My evil heart, which sprouted from my desire to have all that gold for myself, caused you to hatch!!" "...Looks like you really hate me. Even though we're both Ushiromiya Eva." "No, that isn't true anymore. And it was you who said it. I am Ushiromiya Eva. And you are the Golden Witch, Beatrice...!! So just disappear! Witches are imaginary, illusions that only exist in fairy tales...!! Things like you should just disappear! Never appear in front of me again!!" "...Yeah, you're right. I understand. I'll disappear from in front of you. And I am no longer Ushiromiya Eva. From now on, I'm the Golden Witch, Beatrice. So now I can play however I want." "I don't even care about you. If only you'd just give up and die forever!" ...Only Eva was left behind in the darkness. And she questioned herself...  She could no longer answer that question herself... "...! *cough*cough*cough*!! *cough*cough*cough*!!"It seemed that, half-asleep, she had gotten some saliva caught in her windpipe just as she was dozing off. Eva suddenly started coughing.   "Y-Yes..." "I-I'm fine, okay...? *cough*cough*cough*! *co-ugh*cough*!! I just... choked a bit...! *cough*cough*cough*!"Eva pushed away Natsuhi's hand as she tried to rub her back... and unsteadily rose to her feet. "...I'm going to go wash my face. Sorry, I fell asleep. When I get back, I'll make some more coffee. Extra strong, so that I won't get drowsy until tomorrow morning." "Yes, please do. Your coffee's more to my tastes than what Gohda makes." "I'm glad to hear it, even if it's flattery... *cough*cough*! I'll be back soon."Eva exited the lobby, heading for the bathroom. Krauss and Natsuhi watched over her frail back...  BGM: Fortitude  "...Isn't this how an older brother is supposed to be...?" "...Yes. I believe you're right." "It isn't just Eva. There's Rudolf and Rosa too. Instead of acting like an older brother to them, all I ever did was speak arrogantly and bully them. In my own way, I was frantic in my desire to be like Father. But I could never match up, and I always vented my feelings on them... But that is no excuse. I probably gave Eva scars so deep that they still have not healed. I regret it, but even if I apologized after all this time, it would do nothing to heal those wounds..." "...If you can hold onto that feeling, instead of only letting it last for this moment, I'm sure your siblings will come to see it sooner or later." "...Though, by now, Eva is the only sibling I have left." "...If only... you and your siblings hadn't been born into the Ushiromiya family, you might have had a more normal, a more fun sibling relationship..." "...You mustn't say that... Eva will probably continue to hate me for her whole life. And she has a right to. I... intend to resign myself to that fact and accept it." "...Dear..." "...Eva, I'm sorry. Of course, you don't have to forgive me..." BGM: Dance of the Moon Rabbits    Together, the sisters released the magical bowstring they had readied. A beautiful tail trailed behind the gold arrow, and it drew a lovely curve as it flew. It was just like a gold snake.  It skillfully avoided a grove of trees and flew towards the front door of the guesthouse. Then it flew into the keyhole of the door and snuck into the guesthouse without any problem at all.  Right before it was the door to the lobby. When it flew into the key hole, Krauss and Natsuhi were already... For an instant, Krauss thought he saw a gold-colored sparkle in the keyhole on the door. However, at the same time as he strained his eyes to see what it was, that sparkle bent like a whip and attacked, wrapping itself around Krauss's neck.  Just looking at it, the gold snake seemed very supple. However, it was as though a wire had tightened around Krauss's neck. And while that snake choked Krauss, it extended even more, and also tightened around Natsuhi's neck. Without even a chance to scream, their eyes bulged as they went into convulsions and then collapsed.  "410, Data Received. Initiating Corpse Towing. We got both of 'em nyeh, nihi!"The gold snake began to drag Krauss and Natsuhi's bodies back. They slipped through the door to the corridor, dragging the bodies, gradually increasing in speed, and rapidly pulled them outside the guesthouse. So, the lobby was silent, as though nothing had happened. As though Krauss and Natsuhi had not been there since the beginning. Only the sound of the wind and the rain remained, as if they were playing dumb and pretending to be the only ones there...  Eva returned from the bathroom. But no one was in the lobby. Even though they had supposedly been in that sofa until the moment she had choked and gone to the bathroom, they were gone, as if they'd been an illusion from the very beginning. "...How careless of them... Where did those two go off to together?"Eva put her hand on the sofa as though acting out a scene from a detective novel. She felt a warmth that meant that they'd been sitting there until a short while ago. Maybe they went to do the rounds or something. For the time being, Eva sat down and waited for their return...  BGM: Dead Angle However, Beato was the same. Now that she had handed her name over, most of her previous power had been lost. Of course, she still had more than enough power to be called a witch, but compared to the past, it was a very faint thing.  "...Good. Don't talk to her, don't touch her with your hand. Call to her with the voice of your heart, and seek her with the hand of your heart. Only your strong feelings can make my magic reach Shannon's lost soul." "...!"George kept praying earnestly and silently. He kept frantically yelling inside his heart, trying to call back the soul of the person he loved. He strongly envisioned his soul leaving his body... and searching for her as she wandered through the Land of the Dead. Beato turned that strong force into magical power that supplemented her own magic. This was magic that, in the past, she could have performed easily, without anyone's help. But now, if she didn't rely on someone's assistance, she wouldn't be able to finish the chant, much less succeed.  Beato was wearing an even more strained expression than George. It had slipped her mind, but originally, the magic to revive a life was the ultimate hidden art. The abnormal thing was her previous magical power, which could be used over and over with a snap of her fingers. So, the heavy burden on her body and mind was, fundamentally speaking, extremely natural...  "...However, this man's power... Even though he doesn't know magic, it's nothing to be laughed at. I see, so he truly is Kinzo's grandchild..."The strong energy pouring from George was large enough to act as magical power. At first, Beato thought it must be the blood of Kinzo, the sorceror. However, that probably wasn't it. She had a feeling that Battler had already told her what it was. It had been born from the power of George's sadness at the death of the person he loved, and from the way he had tried his hardest throughout his life, from the warm time spent together with Shannon, to the size of the dream they swore to protect in the future. Is it really possible for humans to take life so seriously, even though they only have a single one? It was only natural. To her, a life didn't mean anything more than the difference between the top and bottom of an Othello piece. If the black represented death, then she thought all you had to do was flip it over again and make it white. However, it was just like that broken vase. To humans in a world without magic, where they cannot return things to their original form, it is very, very natural for them to bet their life and soul.  "...So, is an Endless Witch, who can do as she pleases even with life and death... inferior to a limited Human who can't even surpass the mountain of death...?"This time, the witch acknowledged it. He was able to hold a magical power that could never reside in witches who didn't understand the value of a life.  ...Even though I called myself the Endless Witch, did I forget what the Endless Magic means for a thousand years...? She looked at George's expression again. His surging earnestness was like a lightning bolt. Right now, even if George's body had been burned or smashed by a waterfall, he would probably continue to pray for his beloved without minding it, without noticing it. For the first time, she showed respect for that power. So in that instant, all magical resistance was lost, and the enormous power of George's feelings turned into magical energy in its complete form...  BGM: Daydream's End Even as young as I was, it still forced me to take a deep breath when I witnessed its beauty. But that just made me want to touch it. But the vase easily fell and smashed into pieces. Like a bubble that had popped, it felt as though the time it possessed a form had been just an illusion. Lives are just that fragile, just that easily... lost. I realized that my foolish curiosity had led to something that couldn't be undone. No matter how much I regretted it, no matter how much I apologized. The smashed vase wouldn't return back to its original form... A lost life will not return to normal no matter what happens. I was frightened that, even though my actions had been thoughtless and careless, they had stolen away a life that could never be revived again. Then, I pitied that lost life and cried. I was frightened of myself, the one responsible for its loss, and cried even more. I'm sure Grandfather will also cry at the loss of his precious vase. I'm sure that all the people who love Grandfather and see him like that will cry. With the loss of a single life, the whole world can be filled with so much sadness. I cried even more at how terrible that was. Beatrice appeared... and spoke.   "Come, Milady. Close your eyes and chant with me..." BGM: Soul of Soul Those words of power knocked forcefully on the door to the Land of the Dead. The magic of her old self had performed that same forceful knock. However, doing it that way was horribly violent... and earned the displeasure of the peacefully sleeping dead... But this time was different. It was very forceful... and yet gentle and loving.  ...The sadness of that voice calling from the outside touched the hearts of the dead, and, trying to respond as quickly as possible, they searched for Shannon's lost soul... And then... they found it. They found the casket in which Shannon was peacefully sleeping. It truly was Shannon's soul, sleeping in the land of the dead. ...Inside the casket that was covered with rose flowers frozen with frost, she was sleeping in peace...  ...While at a glance, it looked like a funeral march, it had the complete opposite meaning. It was solemn, but filled with joy. The long-forgotten dead were made to remember that they were loved after their deaths, and they were all given a warm sense of peace... Then, as though guided by a warm light from the heavens, Shannon's body floated up out of the casket... The dead watched her go. They squinted at that warm light, offering their respect to this unknown member of the living... who had not lost his love for a person even after their death... Shannon's body was enveloped in the light from the heavens and began to disappear... In the jet-black darkness of the land of the dead, the faint flickering of gold butterflies could be seen. It reminded them of the gentle stars in the night sky, which they had long forgotten...  George remembered being told that he must not say anything, and he hurriedly covered his mouth. However, it felt like his heart was trying to jump into his throat. Because he had seen Shannon's eyelids shake slightly. Then, those eyelids slowly opened. Shannon's eyes were there, but they were still wrapped in the fog of the land of the dead. However, the human world's warmth... No, her lover's warmth, which had called back her soul, slowly dissolved that fog, and her eyes gradually regained their sparkle. Then, her eyes moved... and recognized George.  As her lips shook weakly, Shannon definitely said that. The words were very faint. So much so that they normally wouldn't have reached his ears. However, George clearly heard them. He heard the person he cared for, his fiancé, the one he loved most and who should have been dead, call his name once again...  "Shannon, Shannon... do you... know who I am...?" "...George-sa...n, is this... a dream...?" "No. This isn't a dream. C'mon, see here... Even if I pinch you, you won't wake up."As George said that, he softly pinched Shannon's cheek. It was how George had always responded in the past, when Shannon had been surprised by something and had asked if she was dreaming. When Shannon felt the warm touch of George's finger on her cheek... And when George realized that the warmth of the living had already returned to his beloved person's cheek... They both cried.  In short, they had no need of the words of this world... George simply hugged Shannon, who was sitting up, without talking. Shannon's strength was still feeble... and putting her arms around George's back took all she had, so George hugged her tightly to make up for that. To stop each other from going once more to a place the other's hand couldn't reach, they hugged each other so tightly, and yet so gently... As Shannon's fingers curled around George's back, on her ring finger, the engagement ring George had given her definitely shone. That strong glint certainly wasn't just the sparkle of diamond. There definitely was a magical power that only the two lovers could possibly feel. It was because that strong light existed... that they had been able to find her casket in the land of the dead. Beato understood. That ring... no. The feelings of the pair, embodied in that ring, were a miracle made real. In that moment, George definitely used magic. Beato had done nothing more than help him along. That magic had a power that could only reside in those who knew of the importance of life, who knew what it meant to try with all one's might. It was the power of a miracle, one that the Endless Witch couldn't possibly know of... A miracle that only the power of the finite could give rise to. By now, she had no choice but to accept it. She had to accept that true magic, true magical power... Exists in the place furthest away from she who called herself a Great Witch.  "...She brought you back to life... Thank you, Beatrice...!" "No. I did nothing. What revived Shannon...was your magical power. It was your magic. The Ushiromiya blood, which makes miracles come true, surely saw you through." "...George-san... revived me...?" "...Indeed. It was an incredible display of magical power, one that I could not hope to compete with... So, I am still nothing more than an apprentice. Now I finally know my place."Beato staggered backwards. Her physical strength was clearly exhausted. She had humbly said that George's power alone had revived Shannon, but Beato had also used all of her magical and physical strength. And she reflected upon how difficult it was to revive a single life, something she'd been able to play around with however she wanted to in the past. The couple kept on embracing each other tightly. By doing that, those feelings that couldn't be communicated with a billion words... were shared...   "...Thank you very much, Beatrice-sama. I'll never forget the debt I owe you for bringing me to George again." "...Stop that, stop that. Being thanked by a pair of lovers is far too embarrassing for one who has been feared as a monster of a person. Don't worry... about me. Celebrate your reunion together... to the fullest..."Beato, who was leaning with her back against the wall, slid down the wall and sat. How many centuries had it been since she last grew this tired from using magic? I probably haven't been this tired since the time I first succeeded in magic. Didn't Teacher praise me that time? Oh, but didn't I kill that same Teacher who praised me? ...Don't be so naive, Beatrice. Isn't that what killing means...?   "...My head... feels parched and suffocated, and I can't even remember..." "...More importantly, didn't I kill you? You shouldn't be appearing..." "You are still allowing me to live even now. That is why I can appear like this. However, I did not come just to pat your head." "...Did you come to sneer at how pathetic I am? Anyway, if I have my head patted by a retired witch after all that's happened, the other witches will laugh at me..." "That's right. According to your bragging, you were not only a full adult, but a retired one, and yet only now have you learned how to use magic. That certainly does sound too embarrassing to tell anyone." "...Yeah, tell me about it. Keep it a secret, okay, Teacheer...?"Beato gazed at the couple hugging each other with a sense of pleasant despondency.  
Quinn2win fucked around with this message at 15:57 on Jan 1, 2017 |
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Jan 1, 2017 09:06
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Happy New Year! Let's celebrate the end of 2016 by paving the way for the murderous spiral into the final act of Episode 3.
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Jan 1, 2017 09:07
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The stakes were way more entertaining than the Chiesters. Truly the worst witch with the worst furniture.
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Jan 1, 2017 09:17
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Let's celebrate this new year with this wonderful screenshot of a very wholesome Beatrice. Merry Desire, and a Sacrificing New Year, everyone!
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Jan 1, 2017 09:29
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Sindai posted:The stakes were way more entertaining than the Chiesters. Truly the worst witch with the worst furniture. Rodyle posted:Do not bully bunnies they are doing their best
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Jan 1, 2017 10:46
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EagerSleeper posted:
Happy New Year, except to Beato who didn't exist because she is a witch and they don't exist.
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Jan 1, 2017 14:51
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quote:fiancรฉe I'm. Hm. Happy New Year.
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Jan 1, 2017 15:13
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Happy New Year! May we have some actual locked doors next time!
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Jan 1, 2017 15:18
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Happy New Year, folks!bman in 2288 posted:Happy New Year, except to Beato who didn't exist because she is a witch and they don't exist. Yeah. It's almost tragic that this entity that we will argue into non-existence learned a valuable lesson, almost.
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Jan 1, 2017 15:47
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Hmm. Seems to me that Beatrice, if she existed, which she doesn't because witches aren't real, would be ignoring an elephant in the room: that vase broke very shortly after Virgilia fixed it.
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Jan 1, 2017 17:26
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Happy new year! All I want for 2017 is MORE MOE ZOMBIES
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Jan 1, 2017 17:27
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Happy New Year all, i hope you find some rest and relaxation today, as well as fortune and prosperity in the 364 days to come! (Or at least not quite so much death and sorrow.) The celebration of Beato's heart growing three sizes and whether it's allowable notwithstanding (and I would submit it is- if we can support fictional characters developing, this is no different), I don't want to forget or see buried the most surprising thing about this update for me: ProfessorProf posted:
 Krauss had an emotion that isn't sarcastic or smug. And actually pertains to sorrow for a life misspent, and not only that, it acknowledges that it's because of Kinzo's abuse and impossible expectations and admits that it's being passed down against its will; I've never seen any of the siblings do that before. Eva and Rosa have felt bad about what they might be doing to their kids but never to that degree, never explicitly naming Kinzo's awful environment as the source of the sorrow. And Krauss said it first, of all people?  God bless us every one.
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Jan 1, 2017 19:28
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Guess we can put Krauss on the list of people who turned out lovely due to Kinzo, that tallies up to 18 people so far I'd say.
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Jan 1, 2017 19:41
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resurgam40 posted:Happy New Year all, i hope you find some rest and relaxation today, as well as fortune and prosperity in the 364 days to come! (Or at least not quite so much death and sorrow.) Rosa did it first. Remember when she was being tortured. She blamed her upbringing and the fact that she has never really been able to grow up on why she is the way she is.
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Jan 1, 2017 20:00
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Honestly I never expect Krauss to have any kind of self-reflection, he seemed like the one who is most immune to reality. There's definitely a kind of theme of power corrupts going on - especially for those who had little power or agency of their own.
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Jan 1, 2017 20:00
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MonsterEnvy posted:Rosa did it first. Remember when she was being tortured. She blamed her upbringing and the fact that she has never really been able to grow up on why she is the way she is. Did she? It seemed to me that she blamed her siblings for becoming so screwed up, but did she take it as far as Kinzo? That's why Krauss' lament jumps out so much to me, that he specifically mentions his father's expectations and inability to meet them as the root cause of his own abuse of the siblings. And he's the one of the siblings that always seemed to take his duties and the Ushiromiya headship somewhat seriously (even if there was a real sardonic element at play when he directly spoke to Kinzo). So this is... surprising.
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Jan 1, 2017 20:59
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resurgam40 posted:Did she? It seemed to me that she blamed her siblings for becoming so screwed up, but did she take it as far as Kinzo? That's why Krauss' lament jumps out so much to me, that he specifically mentions his father's expectations and inability to meet them as the root cause of his own abuse of the siblings. And he's the one of the siblings that always seemed to take his duties and the Ushiromiya headship somewhat seriously (even if there was a real sardonic element at play when he directly spoke to Kinzo). So this is... surprising. Yea, I'm pretty sure Rosa barely mentioned Kinzo, probably because being so much younger than the rest she probably didn't have near the level of "Bonding" the others had with the man who holes himself up in his room for the latter part of his life and would've shown even greater disinterest in yet another girl after Eva. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if most of the time she had with the old bastard is after she was grown up and out of the house.
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Jan 1, 2017 22:02
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resurgam40 posted:
It's almost as if you shouldn't judge people based on surface level knowledge 
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Jan 2, 2017 00:28
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Krauss is probably the least interesting of the four main siblings, but I always enjoy this scene. Ultimately all four of them got scarred by Kinzo's horrible parenting (which involved being a huge sexist who kept a woman locked up in a secret mansion, among other things) and Krauss is no different. He may never had to worry about being bullied by his siblings, but he probably got a lot of poo poo from Kinzo as the first born and therefore immediate successor to the family. And those feelings got thrown down on all the others. I always appreciate Ryukishi never wants to demonize or paint people in a single stroke. All four of the siblings have their own dimensions and faults, but I don't think any of them are inherently bad people. The same can be said for anyone in Umineko. lotus circle fucked around with this message at 01:17 on Jan 2, 2017 |
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Jan 2, 2017 01:15
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