a bit different from what i'd usually send but can i request sfw hcs for venti, scaramouche, thoma, and kazuha (i wasnt sure how many characters can be included per hc, feel free to remove kazuha if i added too much!) about reader suffering from period cramps and stuff?
mother nature and my professors are making me suffer so i need some comfort 🤧 tysm!
-☁️
how your boyfriend comforts and looks after you while you're on your period!
# * . & | characters: scaramouche, kazuha, venti, thoma.
# * . & | content: sfw, venti x reader, scaramouche x reader, thoma x reader, kazuha x reader, fluff, gn reader (who has a period), established relationship, comfort, cramps, nausea, mention of blood, ig a little bit of angst? emotional reader. basically just a lot of fluff and comfort!
# * . & | type: headcanons.
# * . & | word count: 4,856.
i'm sorry to hear that you're having a tough time, ☁️ anon! between your period and professors, that sounds like a lot :( here's a bunch of fluff and comfort for you! ♡ as someone who has terrible cramps to the point where i'm on the pill to skip it, i loved writing this ask! comfort while on your period is 。゚( ゚இ‸இ゚)゚。 i hope this helped you feel a little better, i tried to get this out as fast as i could ♡꒰ᵕ༚ᵕ⑅꒱
♡.
# * . & | VENTI
venti is so sweet. he'd definitely tell that something was wrong before you even come to him. (y’know, the whispers of the wind and all).
so he turns up at your door, unannounced, with a bag of local sweets and pastries under his arm and a gentle smile.
cutie.
his main thing is that he'll try to cheer you up. having your period can leave you feeling pretty miserable, sometimes with a shitty or depressed mood, so it's his goal to make you feel better. this can involve anything from trying to make you laugh (successful), telling you stories from across teyvat, singing (he has such a pretty voice) or just in general having fun with you.
if you're feeling up for it, he'll take you out to do something. but if you're just feeling too crap then he'll entertain you as well as he can inside, and make sure that you're all comfortable.
as someone who's been around for thousands of years (and possibly had multiple forms), venti is pretty versed in this kind of stuff.
even more so as he's spent so long getting to know every part of you. without fail, every time you're feeling crappy while on your period he'll just pop up with your favourite food cravings—no matter how unhealthy, or how indulgent. he's become a master at knowing what you want without needing to ask!
your archon boyfriend ♡
this doesn't mean he's immune to how you're feeling though.
it upsets him to see you in pain, no matter how much he'll try to make you comfortable. even with all your favourite foods and some pain-relieving concoctions from the church of favonius, period cramps still seep through. they can have you rocking in a ball or dry sobbing and he never wants to see you in that state.
it makes him feel a bit helpless. he's an archon for god's sake, but there's not a whole lot he can do other than shower you with love and kisses.
he's had a sad origin. you're the best thing that's happened to him ever since ascending to godhood. he needs you to feel alright.
he'd definitely freak out if you started crying because of mood swings (me asf 🙋).
"oh no, no. what's got my love so sad?"
a sap.
he's too sweet, it would probably make you cry more.
gently cups your face with both of his hands and looks into your eyes with his own watery gaze (he hates seeing you cry). he'll wipe away the tears and kiss all over your face murmuring soft and silly things until you crack a laugh or a smile.
that makes him smile brightly too.
(help, this has me in such a venti boyfriend mood).
often plays his lyre to soothe you to sleep while you curl up on him. you'd probably be in that classic period pain position where your knees are brought up to your chest and you're hunched over them, trying to alleviate the cramps. he'll sing all your favourite songs.
kisses on the back of your neck, your shoulders, spine, and stomach (if you're up for it).
he's also a surprisingly good listener, so if you want to complain about shit to him then he'll hear you out dutifully while nodding intently along. as someone who loves to cry about everything on my period, i'd find this super soothing ♡
ATTENTIVE BOYFRIEND
"yahoo, Y/N!" venti's sing-song call rings throughout your home as he enters on his own accord, finding the living area empty. he has a collection of items in his arms, including your favourite flowers. "your archon has arrived!"
such a dummy.
from the bedroom, you make a disagreeable noise. "ugh, venti, don't come in here," you groan with your face pressed into the pillow. "i look gross." you're wearing old baggy clothes, because you woke up having bled through your pyjamas, and haven't really moved save for changing. your hair is a mess, you're feeling sluggish, and your curtains are still closed. it feels worse being in a dark room, but you can't be bothered to get up to draw the windows open.
"ah, you know i don't care about that." he appears in the doorway with a smile, braids swaying. "you're lovely anyway." you roll your eyes affectionately and curl up further until it's physically impossible to protect your stomach anymore. curse your uterus for this disaster.
he comes close enough to stand in front of you when you murmur, "who knew the anemo archon would be such a sap?" it makes venti beam when you offer him a gentle smile and sit up to see what he's brought along. there are cecilia flowers, salts for a bath, medicine to assist with pain relief, your favourite sweets...
"you're feeding my candy addiction," you accuse him. "this is all your fault."
playfully, he cocks his head and smiles at you. "how are you feeling?" his observant eyes roam over you quickly, assessing the situation with ease. it feels good to have him so close. "your cramps are bad? you're hunching." he always. knows.
"don't make fun of me," you groan, pressing your face into the safety of his chest. "i had a shitty morning." just thinking about it makes you want to cry. how embarrassing and discouraging it feels to be woken up by your period... you'd had plans today to go out, too. your hands cling to venti as he kisses the top of your head.
"never, never," venti promises, voice light-hearted like always. "hmm, let's see if we can make things better." you whine in complaint when he pulls away from you, warmth gone, but it's only for a moment.
deftly, venti pulls your curtains open, just knowing what you need without having to ask, a smile on his face. the sunlight makes you blink, but it feels better than the dingy, sluggish dark. archons... your cramps are killing you. you let yourself flop back onto the bed, curling into a ball. hopefully the painkillers he brought will kick in after a while. the need to cry stings your eyes.
he sits down on your bed, right next to your curled form. "want to go do something today? i hear good hunter is stocked full of your favourite. oh, and there's meant to be a particularly fascinating bard playing at angel's share tonight. not me. they're an outlander, i heard." his legs swing a little, as he rubs the nape of your neck. venti leaves kisses down your shoulder.
your lip quivers as you tilt your head up to look him in the eye. "can we stay in, ven?" you ask. there's a pit of guilt pooling in your stomach. "i'm sorry, i just—"
he's quick to kiss over your face, smile never leaving. "of course! why are you sorry?" his thumb rubs tenderly over your cheekbone, his eyes soft. "i have the best new songs to play for you! someone in liyue has come up with something wonderful. ah, and i went by good hunter earlier anyway. here." he pulls out a paper bag of your favourite pastries. you still don't know how you got so lucky.
you decide the reason why fate decided to give you such a blessing of a lover doesn't matter when settles behind you and wraps his arms around your middle. you don't need to question—just savour it.
♡.
# * . & | SCARAMOUCHE
gremlin man would be a bit of an ass about it first (as expected) because that's just how he is. not that he'd necessarily make fun of your period as per say, but he'd definitely be like, "what are you complaining so much for? don't expect me to slack off with you."
he just has issues showing affection.
leaves for work like a dick.
>:(
but then he shows up an hour later with a basket full of chocolate, ice cream, flowers, that blanket of his you love, and a few candles.
he grumbles that your whining would have annoyed him for the next week if he didn't help you (it's a lie, he didn't like the idea of you being in pain while he was doing harbinger business away from you).
he'd never admit that part though, but you know it.
he'll settle you down somewhere comfortable, like the couch or bed, and make sure you're as well looked after as you can be. this is one of those times when he gets protective because, yeah, you're in pain and he doesn't like that. at all.
dealing with your period is a difficult opponent for him. had it been a person threatening you or causing you pain, scaramouche would have taken care of it pretty quickly. but considering there is, well, no one to get his revenge on for causing your suffering, he's at a bit of a loss.
the chocolate he brought is from an expensive snezhnaya confectionary, and he went to the best infirmary to find something to alleviate the pain a little. even the candles look like they'd cost a hand and leg to buy. basically, everything is top quality and specially sourced. all stuff he'd thought would help you.
(he had asked childe and signora what to do—signora laughed him out of the room, but childe took pity).
that's definitely the reason for the last item in the basket.
"hmm? what's this?" you ask, retrieving what turns out to be a stuffed plush toy of a purple cat, with big ears and a button nose. it wears a little frown. your heart squeezes and you hide a chuckle. scaramouche got this...?
"ah. tartaglia let me know that such toys are commonplace for when someone's on their period. of course, i had to get the best if it'll help relieve your sickness. he mentioned that cats were best, though i forget which colour—"
at which you can't help but let out an amused, "where did he hear that?" you squish the toy's cheeks up and laugh at the implications of your clueless, harbinger boyfriend buying a cute plushie because he heard it would automatically make you feel better. (it does).
scaramouche looks mortified and furious all at once.
"i'm going to kill that orange-haired bastard—"
"oh, stop, scara. it's cute." when you giggle at him, his cheeks turn pink. grumbles that childe feeding him false, embarrassing information is not cute but if it makes you happy then fine.
affection with scara is always a bit interesting. especially in circumstances such as this.
he calls you a brat, and then runs a bath. he grumbles about how clingy you are, and then holds you against his chest. he complains about you being a crybaby, and then tenderly massages your abdomen to relieve cramps.
he doesn't mean anything that he says—his actions prove that. not to mention the way his scoffs are laced with affection.
he'll lie around with you all day, letting you bury your face into his stomach/chest, listening to you grumble—he can't help but smile at your complaints about the world and mother nature, when your face is hidden in him and you can't see. his fingers will run through your hair and massage your scalp. scaramouche will offer a good few complaints about the world too, to join in with you.
god forbid anyone comes to your door requesting that you take part in a mission, or trying to tell him that he isn't just allowed to abandon his harbinger duties for however long you need him.
he'll threaten them with an early retirement or an early grave if they come back to bother you, and then slam the door in their faces.
mean but loving scara ♡
he really does try his best, even if he's bad with his words. being tender is tough for the sixth fatui harbinger.
if his usually harmless words actually get to you (because period mood swings and vulnerability suck), and god forbid you start to cry, he'd panic.
cue freak-out time.
scara is a shitty apologiser. he rarely apologises for everything unless he super badly fucks up, but this feels like a super bad fuck-up. the last thing he wants is to genuinely upset you. especially when you've been in clear pain the whole day. so what the hell is he supposed to do now?
your hunched form on the bed, face buried in your arms and knees drawn up to your chest, looks pitiful with the way you tremble with sobs. your shoulders are shaking. panic fills him up inside. fuck. all he'd said was to not be so needy when he handed you a hot water bottle he'd fixed himself. it wasn't something that he meant. those kind of jabs between you two were just second nature, usually you shot them back with a teasing tone and a poked out tongue—something like, "then don't keep entertaining my needs, stupid"—but now you were in tears? it made him panic a little.
"uh, Y/N, you..." he tests his words. "these emotions aren't necessary." it wasn't spoken in a mean tone, careful and gentle at the edges. he really was just trying to help. obviously, it was the wrong thing to say. you start crying harder. he mutters under his breath, "what the fuck?" and pinches the bridge of his nose. shit. shit. a sigh leaves his mouth and he approaches your side of the bed, where you're obviously feeling terrible. honestly, at this point you just want him to leave you alone to suffer. even though he's been taking care of you all day. that one little comment had triggered a nasty mood swing. ugh. it felt like shit. he tried again, "i—"
"you can be so fucking mean, scara," you mutter. why did he have to say things like that? it was what you'd signed up for, but today? when you'd had the worst cramps you'd had in ages and felt tired all over? "why can't you just be nice like every other boyfriend is?" that's a pretty nasty jab—it makes him stiffen. right for the insecurity that he's going to lose you. you want to shake some sense into yourself, but quite frankly you're too upset to care.
the bed dips as he sits down beside you. he seems to consider his options for a moment, before he's shifting right up to your hunched form and putting his arms around you, letting you thud your head against his chest. hmph, you think irritably, but don't pull away. your eyes sting. you want to go to sleep.
"you know i didn't mean that, dumbass." this is hard for him. he's not used to being so outwardly physically affectionate with him initiating.
you punch him in the chest, fist thudding weakly and dully with a lack of force. "don't call me dumbass."
scaramouche can't help but frown. while he mentally calculates what to do—how is he supposed to reassure you? does he be nice? what can he say? how to be nice?—his hands smooth over your shoulders, face pressed into your hair. a sniffle leaves you. it's clear you're still in pain too, knees moving upwards so they're trapped between both of your bodies. it's an attempt to curl up.
"tch," he mutters. he cups your face in his hands. the soft action contradicts his words. it's rare to see such a vulnerable side of scaramouche, but you see it now. those affectionate eyes, a little sad from upsetting you, and the soft, kissable slope of his slightly downturned lips. "such a crybaby..." he murmurs softly, tenderly, stroking his thumb over your cheek. there's no venom in it—the word has become more of a pet name at this point than an insult. he lays a gentle kiss on your mouth, leaning his forehead against yours. if only there was some other way to help you. how to fix this...? "i—... i'm sorry for upsetting you. it... wasn't my intention..." you can see how much it pains him to apologise—a man with such high pride that you often have to knock him down a few pegs.
you're still grumpy with him. you huff and grumble, pull your teary, disgruntled face out of his caring hands. but you're too sore, tired, and emotionally worn out to put up a fight. plus, despite your emotions, you know your anger and hurt is misplaced and irrational. this is just how scaramouche is. you love him for it. you love him. so you mumble a grouchy, "you're such a dick," and bury your face into his chest. hug him tight and let his shirt catch the rest of your frustrated tears. there's a pout on your lips.
he hums, knowing it well, though this is one of those times where he genuinely feels bad for it. his hand strokes through your hair, and his other comes to rest on the small of your back. it centres him to feel the soft rise and fall of your breaths with your body pressed over your own. "brat." he leaves a kiss on your forehead as you slip into sleep—and scaramouche prepares for when you wake up. "whatever. i already said i'd take care of you, didn't i?"
♡.
# * . & | THOMA
thank god for a pyro vision boyfriend.
will take a few days off of housekeeping duty to stay home with you when your period is at its worst stages.
he's always warm so expect a lot of snuggles!
thoma is very, very comforting and affectionate when you're ill, and this time is no different. forehead kisses, hair stroking, cuddles with you snug and safe against his chest. he'll just let you cling to him all day if that's what you want. has no complaints because it means he gets to be close to you and helps you feel a little better.
if you're like me, who gets emotional and insecure when you're on your period, he'd be the type to constantly reassure you that everything's okay and that he's not going anywhere. indulges in your clinginess.
he's perfect.
he'll dote on your every hand and foot (cough cough, malewife). because of his duties in the kamisato household, he's just really good at this kind of stuff. if you need anything, man will literally leap off of the bed/couch and run to get whatever you want. literally the perfect boyfriend wtf.
overachiever.
he'd be the type to have you curled against his chest and between his legs while he reads a book and fits your face in the crook of his neck. rubs your spine and shoulders and just leaves kisses in your hair.
lets you nap on him!
he heats up his hands with his pyro vision and uses them to warm your stomach and lower back. free heat pack cramp reliever boyfriend. will literally remain in that position forever just to help the pain go away. (idk about you but period me would BAWL if my boyfriend ever did this for me, so if you do that then thoma will be quick to comfort you).
will make you mondstadt dishes from whatever he can remember. he likes making dishes from his hometown (he gets homesick) and would make you healthy but super indulgent meals. particularly likes making you soup.
probably bakes you chocolate-chip cookies too.
will clean up if you bleed through anything. that's always super embarrassing, so you bet he'd be on it so fast. "don't worry about it, babe. i'll take care of it!"
never lets you feel humiliated.
he'll hold your hand and do any lovey dovey stuff that you want.
occasionally does idiotic shit by accident, like smacking himself in the head with a broom when he's cleaning up. it always makes you giggle from where you'd been lying—previously miserable—on the couch. he always shoots you a crooked grin and a wink after.
keeps checking to see how you are. like, when you're eating he'll continue to look over at you with a smile to make sure you're content and enjoying the food he made for you. will watch you while he cleans because he's in love and wants to make sure you're happy. just enamoured with you.
and the moment you look less than okay, he's right there asking what you need.
he's just perfect.
"thoma, you don't have to do all of this..." you murmur, but really don't want to leave as you snuggle against his warm chest, feeling his hands stroke caringly down your back. he's already done your chores around the house—cleaning, done the dishes, made sure your sheets were fresh. you hadn't even asked him to do anything. it's good enough that he's just here. but he insisted.
"ah, nonsense," thoma replies, gently massaging the skin around the small of your spine, helping to relieve back pain. "it made you feel better, right?" it's true that a clean home always makes you feel more accomplished, more comfortable, especially when you're in pain and all you want to do is rest. that, and he'd cooked for you. had you relax on the couch while he made lunch and then baked, took care of you. you're used to spending your periods alone. having someone so loving be with you through them... it meant so much.
you can't help but tuck your face into the crook of his neck, feeling safe. he lets you nuzzle there. "weren't you meant to be at work?"
"hmm? oh, i took some days off. i don't like leaving you alone like this." he grins when you slap his side lightly, silently warning him that he still needs to go to his job. "if you're worried for me, don't be. ayaka said it was perfectly fine. she actually mentioned that it was a nice gesture—that you were lucky or something." thoma mentions it like it's a throwaway comment, voice breathy with amusement. he's so selfless it's stupid.
"well i am!" you exclaim, lifting up your face to stare him in the eye. "you're taking care of me even though this is something that happens every month. and you're here anyway! just because you know i like you being with me." you cling to the front of his shirt, pouting a little. more pain and nausea shoots through you at the action—you can't help but wince. thoma immediately cups your face when he notices you're hurting.
he looks a bit quizzical. "i don't know why i wouldn't."
with a groan you flop down again. he instinctively runs his hand through your hair and smooths his fingers over the back of your head. "ugh. you're too good. don't ever leave me." he's so, so warm—you could fall asleep like this any second. it's so easy to forget about the agony of your cramps when he's here distracting you. especially with his natural heat.
thoma chuckles, his legs still cradling you. now, his hand slides down to your lower stomach again in order to help ease any incoming cramps. he's too thoughtful. "i don't plan on leaving you, don't worry. ever, actually. you're stuck with this."
"the audacity of you to say that like it's a bad thing," you grumble, looping your arms around the back of his neck to get closer to him. your period might be the bane of your existence, but lazy days like this with thoma all to yourself make it somewhat bearable.
♡.
# * . & | KAZUHA
ginger tea.
also fennel, raspberry, green, chamomile—he makes anything herbal to relieve cramps and help you relax.
will let you cuddle up against him and will hold you while he recites romantic poetry like a sap and leaves kisses in your hair.
is the type of boyfriend to literally apologise for your period and cramps as if it's his fault.
wtf kazu?
is always making sure you're hydrated. strokes your hair a lot and convinces you to eat and drink even if you're feeling too sick to, because he knows it will help you feel better.
honestly, you having bad cramps and feeling so shitty freaks him out a little. he doesn't like to see you hurting, especially when it's out of his control. expect him to have a calm demeanour like always, but be stressing on the inside. he's also extra clingy when you're like this. (the consequences of watching his best friend die). just wants you to be okay.
writes you haikus and other fragments of poetry to cheer you up.
rubs circles into the small of your back while cuddling with you. will give you a massage if you're sore.
he'll kiss the tears off your face if you start crying (it will upset him too) and just keeps you company very well.
usually he likes being out and about—exploring, indulging in his freedom, admiring the world while in the sun and wind—but in these moments there's nowhere he'd rather be than with you. he won't dare leave you like this.
he probably asks beidou for advice the first time you have your period while dating him.
beidou quite literally has to end up pushing him out of the door because he won't stop asking her questions. everything she answers with, he needs to elaborate on. like: okay, three to seven days—will there be cramps all that time? mood swings—would they prefer to see me, will that upset them? chocolate—what kind? no caffeine—does that include in chocolate? what teas are most effective? where to find hot water bottles? best meals?
she locks him out.
he really just wants to make it as comfortable for you. especially since this will be a monthly thing and he needs to know how to help from now on. you two are in this together.
literally makes you a nest in your bed, with blankets, pillows, a pot of tea, and a hot water bottle. nestles you up so you're all comfortable and safe. gives you whatever you want.
disappears for a little while and you're like wtf.
but then...
"kazu?" you groan when kazuha returns to your room, after having been absent for enough time to it to be noticeable. you’re hunched in a fetal position, hands clasped over your abdomen. it hurts. your hormones are wreaking havoc on your emotions—now, when you glance over at him at the end of your bed, with a soft smile and his sleeve rolled up, you get a bit teary. you'd half been worried he'd left you. "where did you go?"
one of his hands strokes over your hair, the other gently laying over your knee. "i readied a hot bath. if you're feeling up for it i can take you there. or we can stay here, if you'd prefer. either is perfectly fine."
you take a moment to shove your face in the pillow and groan out something between a pained sound from your cramps, and a sob at what you'd done to deserve a boyfriend this sweet. then you push yourself up into a sitting position, wincing. he's quick to kiss the tears away from your face and hold out a hand to help you up.
"thank you, kazuha," you murmur as he leads you to the bathroom. he's so careful with you. "you're so kind."
he offers you one of his gentle smiles. "don't say that like it isn't what you deserve. i'd do all this for you and more, my love. i'm sure that one day i'll be able to harness even the stars for you. the sun, the moon, they're all yours. hmm, maybe i can turn that into a haiku..."
you whisper to yourself, "archons. you'll kill me like this, kazu."
it feels like you've ascended to celestia when you actually see the bath. it's rolling with hot steam, scattered with rose petals and slightly cloudy with the presence of the lavender bath salts you can smell in the air (for relaxation and cramp relief). various candles have been lit around the room, glowing in the otherwise dim light. it's lovely. something this thoughtful and romantic isn't very unusual for kazuha, but it still takes your miserable brain by surprise. all you can do is stare in awe. here you are, feeling gross and sore, and kazuha did... all this... just to make you feel better? a lump forms at the back of your throat.
he looks at you hopefully, "are you happy?"
all you can do is swallow and nod as he leads you over to the edge, words stolen from your mouth. it's all you need. "kazuha, i—"
"you don't need to thank me," he replies, hugging you close to him. his lips press to your forehead as you squeeze your glossy eyes closed. "i'm sorry you have to be in pain. i hope this can... ease your suffering a little. i'll be right here."
♡.
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i hope everyone enjoyed! now i’m craving an s/o to help me with my period (i just finished mine) ૮₍ ˃ ⤙ ˂ ₎ა
i was just wondering if you know any summary videos or something of dream smp? i wanna get into it but its just... so many videos... much overwhelming. you seem the best person it ask lol
oh my god. my influence truly is infecting everyone kgjksjgklsd
ok ok so here’s some resources that can help:
this carrd has playlists organized by season and “era” with clips and vods for more important events
these google slide presentations by @tea-with-veth summarize season 1 and season 2, with clips and vods to accompany the information as well
i also have my own summary presentation of season 1, which you can find here if you just wanna read about stuff and not have to watch anything ^^ i worked very hard on it
i would also highly recommend using the dream smp wiki!! it’s very very helpful, they’ve got pages on the “timeline” that literally just summarize anything anyone did on the server during certain eras. plus each character’s page has “history” sections and stuff - very good place to get information.
these two videos do an ok job of summarizing things up to a certain point, but they’re pretty bare bones and don’t explain a lot of basic things so i would recommend using the other resources first.
personally, i watched all of tommyinnit’s dream smp videos on youtube and then just kind of figured it out from there which was uh. maybe not the best route to take. but if you just wanna catch up without having to watch stuff i would read my summary presentation and then use the carrd from there ^^
honestly just being in the fandom and using the wiki i’ve learned about a lot of things i missed, it’s kind of one of those things where you can learn a lot of the plot just sort of through osmosis agdskgjkls
feel free to dm me if you have any questions or need any more help!! i love talking about the lore so i will gladly explain anything :]
(all of this goes for anyone btw!! although if ur not a mutual and you have questions, shoot me an ask instead ^^)
ethereal prince ♡
walk’ em like dog!!!
Jinshi is not fucking around. In one episode alone, he scares someone so badly she poisons herself:
And the next woman he interrogates pisses herself in fear:
amane: windows XP shutdown noise
flood my inbox with your teen drama au headcanons so that i actually have something to draw as stress relief for the next few weeks
fight fight fight!
it sets in to me every once in a while that amane is. really just a kid.
Sometimes while thinking about TBHK thoughts will run through my head that I realize aren't universal among the fandom. I have actually touched upon this topic before, but I still wanted to make a quick post for the uninformed about an official parallel drawn between Tsukasa and a moment in a beloved piece of Japanese literature.
Night on the Galactic Railroad is a classic Japanese novel often taught in Japanese classrooms, similar to how English classics will often be taught in the Anglosphere. It's well known in Japan for this reason, and for the sake of this post I'll assume you either haven't heard of it or that you don't know much about it. Regardless, this post is centering on only a small portion of the novel, so you won't come away from it with a total understanding of what it's all about. I encourage you to check it out yourself!
As you might be able to tell by the name, the story involves a boy riding a train through a fantastical version of outerspace. During his trip through the cosmos, he meets others riding the train. One of these people tells him the story of Antares, the brightest star in the constellation Scorpio. Already there is one connection to the story of Hanako-kun, that being Amane's infamous monologue about the star during the Picture Perfect arc.
The story goes as follows: a scorpion was being chased by a weasel. In a last ditch effort to escape the weasel, it threw itself into a well. But the scorpion had no means of escape, and realized it was going to die there. The scorpion bemoans this fate, because as a predator it has only ever taken life away. It regrets not taking the chance to help the weasel, even if it would only help the weasel live a single day longer. And now the scorpion is going to die having helped no one.
So it prays to God, and asks that its body be used to bring happiness to everyone. And as if God had heard its plea, the scorpion's body burst into a brilliant red flame. This same light is said to be the star Antares, the heart of the Scorpio constellation.
...so! Already somewhat superficially you can compare this story to Tsukasa and the Red House. Little guy jumps into hole/well,
little guy makes a wish to a God to bring happiness to others,
little guy bursts into flames...
Personally I find these alone to be staggering similarities, but it leaves you asking: What is the significance of this?
Well, I tend to interpret it as a reflection of Tsukasa's selflessness. I think Tsukasa's intentions as a child were very pure. But later on it seems like this selflessness distorts into something else, something more twisted. Regardless, Tsukasa's motivations involve destroying himself for other people's happiness. His own destruction will bring happiness to Sakura (she needs all the yorishiro to be destroyed to have her wish granted) and also Amane, who has a wish of his own he wants granted.
Anyway, besides Amane comparing himself to Antares in Picture Perfect, we also have this official Night on the Galactic Railroad AU art with Tsukasa bearing the tail of the scorpion:
Note the red flame on the tip of his stinger. (And most importantly note his cuteness. 🦂🔥❤️)
Touching briefly upon Amane's Antares story in Picture Perfect, there aren't many obvious comparisons to draw between it and Night on the Galactic Railroad. However, one thing I'll touch upon is how Antares is a binary star, or a "twin star." It being a binary star isn't talked about in Night on the Galactic Railroad, but Amane mentions it. He also mentions how you can't normally see its twin. This is because its twin is a main sequence star, much less bright than the red supergiant Antares. It was only ever discovered that Antares had a twin when the moon covered the red supergiant and an astromer spotted the main sequence star beside it. Perhaps Amane and Tsukasa are supposed to represent the red flame of Antares in different ways, but it does make me wonder if Amane is meant to represent the little main sequence star too, since Tsukasa is very clearly the red flame in this story. But considering Amane's analysis of Antares is so much more scientific than the fantastical version seen in Night on the Galactic Railroad, I think it's safer to regard these as fundamentally separate stories. Still fun to consider however.
But if we did want to talk about the scientific implications of Tsukasa being Antares, I'd bring up how red supergiants often become black holes, almost the antithesis of what the scorpion wanted to become. The scorpion wanted to bring light and happiness to everyone, but a black hole only devours and destroys, just the thing the scorpion didn't want to be anymore. I don't think Tsukasa started in the same place as the scorpion, who regretted its life of selfishness... but it makes me wonder if he's meant to be the anti-scorpion: a selfless being becoming a black hole of destruction. That's a very sad way of looking at things, but it's hard not to think of it when we see what's happened to him in the series as a whole:
In the context of Night on the Galactic Railroad, the scorpion is regarded as a selfless hero. Although another character expresses distastes for dangerous creatures like the scorpion, the character who tells the Antares story argues that the scorpion is a fundamentally good creature. It's another one of those little things in Hanako-kun that reminds me that Tsukasa, for all his faults, has good inside him too. But it does leave me wondering how far this comparison will go, and what that means for Tsukasa's fate. Will he continue to sacrifice himself till the end? And will that sacrifice be for the good of everyone, or only a few?
My favorite part about all this is there's no answer! It's just a fun comparison AidaIro made that helps recontextualize Tsukasa's character. Is this a meaningful comparison, or just a surface-level one? Will his story end the same way as the scorpion, or will he subvert expectations? Who knows! I mostly just think back on it and remember that Tsukasa started as an extremely selfless character that still displays these traits in the manga today, even as a nefarious ghost. Maybe he is isn't misunderstood like the scorpion, but he's certainly just as tragic. Thanks for reading!
juNG HOSEOK
such a tease
I GOT TICKETS IM LITERALLY SCREAMING ASKSKFKSKAMGNSKAKGKSKDKBKSKZKBKRKALVKFKSKSKALA
AND THEYRE IN THE FRONT ROW OMG 😭😭😭😭