#dungeonmeshi

The horror movie vibes from your last Jade thought… shivers. Like, I know a lot of your work is unsettling, but this one really takes the cake in how much it bothered me (in a good way!). It’s totally in character for Floyd to forget and for Jade to play along, but my gosh, poor reader is gonna have trust issues for the rest of their life, haha.

I have to ask, though, what does Floyd do when he comes back and finds the apartment empty? Is he curious and ask Jade? Or does he shrug it off and assume that the reader knows that the Leeches are well taken care of and can pay for the lease?

I know you’ve talked about Floyd coming for reader’s rescue or at the very least going again Jade in the Sk! Jade series, but would he do the same for this recent thought?

I always love reading your yandere stuff and coming to the conclusion that as usual, Floyd is actually the most sane in thr group.

Aaaa I'm so happy to hear that it was unsettling to read! I think Jade works really well in eerie plots. I have so many concepts for him: snowed in at a cabin in the mountains with an attractive stranger (Jade), falling down a steep slope in the forest and breaking your arm or leg, so you have to rely on Jade to help you (but his intentions are not so nice), mafia bosses Jade (and Floyd) subtly harassing the poor maid at the maid café they like to visit in the daytime (imagine trying to draw a cute cat on his omurice and your hands are shaking because he's so scary. T_T), etc etc!! Many ideas for Mr. Jade. <3

Knowing Floyd, he probably wouldn't think anything's immediately wrong. Since the semester has ended and his study abroad has wrapped up, it makes sense that you might have moved out or left for the extended break. Floyd probably asks Jade if everything worked out with him and you, and Jade smiles serenely and tells him that the two of you got along swimmingly. Floyd's happy to hear that. It wouldn't be very fun if his brother couldn't enjoy his time at the apartment if he didn't get along with you. He probably shrugs it off and leaves it at that. No use dwelling on something that's no longer important. Floyd is too carefree sometimes. ;;;

I think it depends on how close you are with Floyd in this concept. On one hand, this is his brother, who he's known since birth, and you're just...you. He's only known you for a year, maybe two, or maybe even less. If Jade's happy with you, then Floyd doesn't want to ruin that. Besides, kidnappings don't really faze him. The family business is not exactly the sweetest or most legal thing in the world, so he's probably been exposed to lots of bad things and has just become desensitized. Knowing Jade, he's probably taking really good care of you, both with his own funds and their family's money (which is quite the large fortune). Floyd knows Jade will take good care of the things that are his, so it's not like you're living starved and naked (though knowing Jade, that could be a punishment. orz).

I also think Floyd's views of love and affection are more rooted in his upbringing. He doesn't love like humans do. He loves like an eel merman would because that's how he was raised. He knows more about the way of life in the ocean than he does humanity, so sometimes love is a little more aggressive under the sea. But that's just his normal! All merfolk are a little predatory; they're natural-born hunters, after all. And sometimes love is scarce in the sea. Some merfolk won't ever find love or reproduce, so it's important that they find someone they can cherish forever. Floyd won't take that away from Jade, but if he likes you as well he'll definitely want to share.

Jade Leech - New Year's Attire (Voice Lines)

Following is my translation of Jade's voice lines for his New Year's Attire card.

Spoilers after the cut.

Summon

🐬: I offer my warmest wishes for the New Year. I look forward to yet another year of your unpredictability… Heh heh.

Home Lines

🐬: It's time for work, I see.

🐬: As I hail from the northern seas, the winter climate here on Sage's Island is of no matter to me. Even wearing a scarf right now would be much too warm.

🐬: Sam-san's friends on the other side… I wonder just what type of people they are. I'd certainly love to meet them.

🐬: Rook-san has an impeccable field of vision. He comes rushing over as soon as one is in need of assistance, and it's as though he has eyes in the back of his head.

🐬: I'm very much unaccustomed to wearing Eastern-style attire, and I feel a little nervous having this on.

🐬: Ah, perfect timing, I was just practicing with the KOMA. If its alright, would you like to have a match with me?

🐬: Sam-san provided these boots for me. Not only do they pair well with this outfit, but they are also slip-resistant, and have come in great use thus far.

🐬: Trey-san was quite surprised to find we had the same style of glasses as his on display. This store certainly does have everything.

🐬: I heard Ortho-kun's gear is equipped with a heating function, and I'm concerned he might overheat.

🐬: If you haven't any plans for the holidays, might I suggest you and Grim-kun pursue a part-time job together? I have no doubt you'd find it entertaining.

🐬: There isn't a single dull moment when working at the Mystery Shop. It's been an incredibly enjoyable pursuit.

🐬: Hm? You're unable to locate the item you desire? That doesn't surprise me with how packed the store is. Please leave it to me, I'll bring it out for you.

Groovy

🐬: Ah, it seems we have our next challenger. I am but a mere amateur, so please do go easy on me.

(This was originally an ask received through Twitter)

"Back in GloMas (on JP), I think I remember there being a lot of madness surrounding Idia being close to Yuu. I think it’s because he referred to them as ‘Yuu’ rather than ‘Yuu-shi’, but I still don’t quite get it??"

Yes! Honorifics as a whole have already discussed more in-depth here, but Idia does drop his honorific for the prefect once in Glorious Masquerade.

Quick overview for those who may not know: when you don’t use an honorific with someone (-chan / -kun / -sama / etc), this is called yobisute (呼び捨て), written with the kanji for “to call” and “to throw away,” and the word might just not exist in English. It means “to refer to someone without an honorific."

Twst uses honorifics (and yobisute) to track the evolving relationships between the characters.

Deuce, for example, has a line about how he used to yobisute his teachers (i.e. he refused to add “-sensei” to their names) in middle school. To compensate for his past rudeness, Deuce now refers to every single upperclassman by “lastname-senpai.”

There is even a cute scene during New Year’s where Deuce greets Jamil by calling him Viper-senpai, but after Jamil feeds him an egg salad sandwich he changes—just once—to Jamil-senpai.

Epel is another character whose use of honorifics is significant: Epel is under order from Vil to always use honorifics with everyone. During Book 5 we see him using “-kun” with Deuce, up until Deuce refuses to let Epel fight the bullies trying to steal their blastcycle.

Deuce says that he is the one who took Epel out of the school and so he will be taking responsibility for his actions, and we get Epel’s first “Deuce” yobisute.

Cater might be the character who weaponizes honorifics the most.

He seems to be using honorifics as an over-familiarity-buffer-zone, as he is actively trying to avoid becoming too close to those around him (re: “Cay-Cay doesn’t really do long-term friends or found family").

There is one exception to Cater’s rule of honorifics: Trey.

During Book 1 Cater refers to him as “Trey-kun” for the majority of the story, until Riddle’s overblot makes things serious enough for him to drop it and call him “Trey” (even during these scenes, however, he keeps his honorifics for others).

The novel even comments on this directly, saying, "Usually, Cater does not ever yobisute anyone. When he calls to Trey, he always adds ‘kun’ to his name. This is probably one of his skills as a good-natured person. When Cater uses Trey’s name like this, it is only when he is really serious. Only when it is important."

This is all to say that, depending upon the character, yobisute can be a huge deal. It isn’t a black-and-white rule, of course—it varies by each character and their personality.

Kalim, for example, refers to everyone with yobisute, possibly because his status back home meant that he was simply never taught to defer to anyone, and/or because he legitimately considers himself to be close, personal friends with everyone he meets.

Idia is one of those characters like Cater and Deuce for whom yobisute is a big deal. There is exactly one person he refers to without any form of honorific, and that person is Ortho. Much like how he uses his tablet to avoid talking to people face-to-face, he is possibly, intentionally keeping up an over-familiarity-wall like Cater. 

The English-language adaptation has translated his honorific of “-shi” as “Mr.,” but it’s actually gender-neutral, which may be why the English-language game’s continuity is so inconsistent, and why the moment of Idia referring to the prefect without an honorific did not make it to EN: while the honorific disappears and reappears in English, he actually uses it to refer to the prefect in Book 6, and it is otherwise in 100% of all of Idia’s dialogue in the original game.

With one exception: Glorious Masquerade.

This is why JP lost its collective mind when it happened (the fan-art is delightful, like this short comic of the characters pointing at Idia and chanting "yobisute"), because it is something Idia had never done before and has never done again, and it was with the prefect.

Yobisute is usually very significant in the game, like during Book 6 where Azul, who uses the “-san” honorific with literally everyone except Jade and Floyd, uses yobisute with Riddle when he is in danger, and when Riddle uses it with Leona just before his overblot in Book 2.

Which means it will be interesting to see if Idia is going to continue with this yobisute-ing of the prefect outside of Glorious Masquerade! (which would be great for confirmation that it wasn't just a proof-reading error ww)

Yana using real life terms in the history only reaffirm my love for this game. Counter illumination camouflage occurs where bioluminescent light from photophores on an organism's ventral surface is matched to the light radiating from the environment. The Firefly Squid that Floyd used to nickname Idia have this type of camouflage

Certified dungeon meshi moment

TWST Christmas Icons 2024 Edition

Free to use!!

Azul 🐙

Jade and Floyd 🍄🌊

a little caught up

SR Vil Schoenheit - Playful Dress Voice Lines

Due to event restrictions, Groovy related lines are locked until the event has been cleared. I will update once these are unlocked. Login line has been captured.

Summon Line: Do try not to completely lose your heads... Is what I'd like to say, but it's difficult to not feel excited at an amusement park.

Groooovy!!: --LOCKED--

Home: A show? How fascinating.

Home Idle 1: Anyone can easily become a star? What a thing to say, Fellow. You know nothing of the efforts that people will single-mindedly put forth for that chance.

Home Idle 2: I see they have a haunted attraction here as well. Let's head there, I may be able to find some good inspiration for movie makeup or props.

Home Idle 3: Just as I thought, Leona sticks out like a sore thumb at an amusement park. He seems more suited to be the uninterested parent who was dragged to chaperone.

Home Idle - Login: I've been to an amusement park many times for work, or photoshoots, but it's been many years since I've been to one for leisure. Come now, let's get a move on.

Home Idle - Groovy: --LOCKED--

Home Tap 1: I have a traditional jacket paired with more modern boots. The tulle accentuates my silhouette. What do you think?

Home Tap 2: I used waterproof makeup today. So, we should go and line up for a water ride!

Home Tap 3: They have an attraction where you fly through the air in a bug-shaped cart? I feel as though if Jamil were here, he would be screaming even before the ride started.

Home Tap 4: The cricket mascot is dressed like quite the gentleman. That badge on his chest is nicely stylish, as well.

Home Tap 5: You want to ride the roller coaster? Alright then, I don't mind. My hairstyle today is set so as to not be tousled by the slightest bit of wind.

Home Tap - Groovy: --LOCKED--

Requested by @farfalla049.

Azul Ashengrotto - Platinum Jacket (Voice Lines)

Following is my translation of the voice lines for Azul's Platinum Jacket card.

Spoilers after the cut.

Summon

🐙: What a phenomenal art collection - priceless works as far as the eye can see… This is the perfect opportunity to refine one's eye for beauty, wouldn't you say?

🐙: Appreciating the arts is the best way to strengthen one's imagination. Let us study well, and have a wonderful time today.

Home Lines

🐙: A hundred year anniversary, eh. That's simply amazing.

🐙: Floyd is as freewheeling as ever in museums. Though an eel he may be, he's nothing at all like the pair that served the Sea Witch.

🐙: I came across Vil admiring a piece of artwork very intently. When I inquired with him, he said he was simply studying the beautiful pose. I wouldn't expect anything less from a professional such as him.

🐙: It feels great to learn a piece you've had your eye on has increased in value. It's confirmation that your intuition was correct.

🐙: If there's a piece you're interested in, please don't hesitate to ask me about it. I've been studying the fine arts as part of my education, and am sure I could offer you at least a simple explanation.

🐙: Jamil-san appears to have a sharp eye for fine art, and I'll be glad to continue our acquaintanceship.

🐙: The King of the Underworld was said to be skilled in the art of negotiation. I'd love to read more about it - more so in detailed accounts, rather than just anecdotes.

🐙: Amongst those in the managerial profession, many have hobbies related to the fine arts. Being well-versed in art, music, and literature comes in great use when talking business.

🐙: I presume Ortho-san can identify counterfeits quite easily using his sensors… Perhaps if the opportunity arises, I'll inquire with him about it.

🐙: I wonder just how many merfolk the Sea Witch assisted throughout her life. She was such a mighty mage it could've been hundreds… perhaps even thousands.

🐙: This corsage was designed based on the shell the Sea Witch would wear on her necklace. It's lovely, isn't it?

🐙: Oh, my. That glimmer in your eyes… If you've taken a liking to that piece, I'd be happy to procure a reproduction for you - and I'll throw in a special discount for you, of course.

Groovy

🐙: Love is a wonderful thing. One's troubles never end when one has fallen in love, and it's a marvelous boon for those of us in the consultation business.

DUO

🐙: I could certainly use some assistance here, Jamil-san.

🐍: Well you certainly don't look it, Azul.

You can read my summary of this card's vignette over here on my twitter.