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I want some chaos, SO hear me out----
I want Akutagawa and Lucy to kiss for some reason (accidentally or intentionally) so that Atsushi will have the "My girl crush and guy crush are kissing each other and it's both terrible and hot at the same time"
Atsushi: I don't know why you look up to Dazai-san of all people?
Akutagawa: why shouldn't I? He is a genius
Atsushi: well, he doesn't eat his vegetables
Akutagawa: what....
Atsushi: he naps during work hours, doesn't do his paperwork and spends most of his time making elaborate plans to annoy Kunikida-san
Akutagawa: you don't know him, he is the Port Mafia's demon prodigy, his ruthlessness and capabilities have no limits,the greatest, youngest, Port Mafia executive that's ever-----
Dazai: Atsushi-kun~
Atsushi: what is it now?
Dazai: I got stuck in the oil barrel again! And I mixed some random pills I found in the drawer. My head hurts, I think I need your help in doing my paperwork today~
Atsushi: why don't you do it in the afternoon?
Dazai: I am hosting a tea party for Ranpo-san, Kenji-kun and Kyouka-chan!
Akutagawa: .....
Atsushi, rolling his eyes: Yeah. Ruthless and capable my ass!
Atsushi really said "I can fix him" AND HE DID
sskk makes me ugly cry (both romantic and platonic)
Every time I hear "Do we need more?" I spontaneously combust
Dazai getting out of Chuuya's apartment in the morning: 😶
Atsushi getting out of Akutagawa's apartment in the morning: 😶
Dazai: let's keep this a secret between us and not tell anyone about this in the ADA
Atsushi: deal.
Akutagawa using intimidation tactics on Atsushi because he doesn't know how to flirt: Jinko look at my eyes when I talk or else....
Atsushi: but, you are holding my wrist and pushed me into a corner, what do you want? I thought you agreed not to kill me
Akutagawa: if you don't want your sister to go missing, then let me take you to a restaurant
Atsushi: first of all, Kyouka would never get kidnapped by you and why a restaurant, are you trying to sell me drugs or something?
Akutagawa: why are you not understanding me?
Atsushi: what are you talking about? What is wrong with you?
Akutagawa: stay here, I have to ask Dazai-san for more pointers. If you run away, I will put handcuffs on you
Atsushi: ......
Atsushi: wait...I am the DETECTIVE HERE NOT YOU.
Meanwhile, Dazai watching this with binoculars: Dammit, Atsushi is even more air-headed than Chuuya. How can they not get such simple things? I should have given Akutagawa the dog collar already. It worked on Chuuya, surely it will work on Atsushi-
Chuuya, kicks his back: can you stop ruining kids eh, shitty mackerel?
"Night has fallen, and morning will come too,"
Kenji said while gazing at the paddy field.
"Spring will arrive, and Autumn too. Everything is split in halves. The grass grows, trees wither, animals are born, and they die……when you live with the land, you slowly come to understand that nature is made up of halves. When something bad happens……when a storm or erosion happens, we feel like bad things will only continue. But in truth, the good and the bad, they are all part of nature……part of living. That’s how everyone in the village thinks."
"I do not understand,”
Akutagawa said, looking at the same scenery.
"So fortune and misfortune are equal halves? Do you want to say the same thing to my comrades who died in the slums?"
"That is why you’re the half that’s left, Akutagawa-san"
Kenji looked at Akutagawa.
"You survived. And with a very powerful Ability, too. Everybody passed on their good halves to you"
~Kafka Asagiri, Bungo Stray Dogs, BEAST.
Me: Have care how to speak about them, Akutagawa, Chuuya and Dazai are my children
Someone: They killed 80 people in two days
Me: they're adopted
Look at his face. Look at his sorrow
The absolute most solemn look I've seen on Akutagawa, where he realizes Atsushi wasn't just some beast he could kill. Atsushi wasn't just an obstacle or a test, because Atsushi is human
Akutagawa sees that in him
I have no idea how Asagiri is gonna handle the end of the six months deal, knowing him it's going to be what literally no one could've expected, but the premise really interests me now. It always did beforehand, but still, now we know more about how Akutagawa feels about Atsushi. And Akutagawa doesn't know it yet, but Atsushi witnessed his past and trauma. They're bonded, connected and understand each other on yet another level now
And genuinely, I don't think Akutagawa can kill Atsushi
FRIENDLY REMINDER THAT IT ISN'T HATE
Akutagawa 👏 doesn't 👏 hate 👏 him
He was just told to hate him, taught to hate him
Akutagawa was so ready to despise Atsushi, to kill him, and then...
And then he really saw Atsushi for who he was
He learned about Atsushi and grew to know him and trust him, seeing Atsushi as his other half
He saw Atsushi from his own perspective, no one else's
I think he loves Atsushi.
They should kiss
I have a hunch that Asagiri and Harukawa replay Akutagawa's death a lot in flashbacks as of late in the manga to justify for Bones' very very horrible adaptation of his death
I absolutely love the sskk (fic) dynamic where Akutagawa loves Atsushi yet he doesn't tell him due to fear
He holds in his feelings because of fear of rejection, fear of Atsushi hating him for loving him and losing Atsushi. Fear of losing the only person bathed in light in his life. Fear of losing his equal because of three words
I just think it's a beautifully tragic take on their romantic relationship, where Akutagawa loves Atsushi but he can't say it because what if Atsushi doesn't requite his feelings? Considering fanfiction though, Atsushi 100% loves him back, but yk
Akutagawa has experienced more loss in his life than anyone should, and the inner monologue of him being so scared to lose Atsushi or disgust Atsushi with his real feelings would make a great oneshot/fic
Seeing Akutagawa deal with alienating feelings like love for Atsushi is always so interesting to me
Atsushi saw Akutagawa's past. He learned about Akutagawa's trauma. He knows how Akutagawa was treated, how he was taught, what he was put through.
He understands Akutagawa now
He fully sees Akutagawa for his humanity now
Atsushi has seen Akutagawa's darkest, most vulnerable side now
And that's just so...
I can't even put it into words oh my God, their relationship is so complex and heartfelt I'm screaming
I have a feeling that Akutagawa doesn't mind Atsushi seeing his past, seeing him at weakest, lowest point
I think their trust runs deeper than that
Also Akutagawa isn't alone anymore. Nor is Atsushi, because they have each other. Akutagawa has someone who knows and tells him he isn't weak, Atsushi has someone who can be by his side and save him. I feel like without each other they aren't complete
"and then..."
AND THEN WHAT AKUTAGAWA
YOU REALIZED YOU DIDN'T HATE HIM? YOU REALIZED HE MEANT THE WORLD TO YOU? YOU REALIZED HE VALUED YOU? YOU REALIZED YOU CARED ABOUT HIM? YOU REALIZED THAT HE WAS YOUR EQUAL?
oh my god chapter 122 is killing me it's amazing
If the actual end of the sentence is "and then I realized I love him" I WILL LOSE MY SHIT.
Atsushi made him blush
I WILL NEVER GET OVER BSD X TAYLOR SWIFT THINGS 🙏 they're always so good 😭
reputation by Taylor Swift
Shin Soukoku from Bungo Stray Dogs - My take on how the album reputation by Taylor Swift represents SSKK with each song with a bonus perspective.
1) ...Ready For It?
Perspective: Akutagawa
Lyric/Quote: "I see nothing better, I keep him forever, Like a vendetta" & "I know I'm gonna be with you, so I'll take my time"
2) End Game
Perspective: Akutagawa
Lyric/Quote: "I got a bad boy persona, it's what they like, you love it, I love it too 'cause you my type, You hold me down and I protect you with my life" & "You've been calling my bluff on all my usual tricks"
3) I Did Something Bad
Perspective: Atsushi
Lyric/Quote: "This is how the world works, You gotta leave before you get left"
4) Don't Blame Me
Perspective: Atsushi
Lyric/Quote: "For you, I would cross the line" - "My name is whatever you decide, and I'm just gonna call you mine" - "And baby, for you, I would fall from grace"
5) Delicate
Perspective: Akutagawa
Lyric/Quote: "My reputation's never been worse, so you must like me for me" & "Sometimes when I look into your eyes, I pretend you're mine, all the damn time"
Bonus from Atsushi's perspective: "Handsome, you're a mansion with a view"
6) Look What You Made Me Do
Perspective: Akutagawa
Lyric/Quote: "I don't trust nobody and nobody trust me" & "The role you made me play of the fool"
Bonus: "The old Taylor can come to the phone right now, Why? Oh, 'cause she's dead"
7) So It Goes...
Perspective: Atsushi
Lyric/Quote: "You know I'm not a bad girl but I do bad things with you" & "But when you get me alone, it's so simple"
8) Gorgeous
Perspective: Atsushi
Lyric/Quote: "There's nothing I hate more than what I can't have" & "'Cause you're so gorgeous, it actually hurts"
Bonus: "You should take it as a compliment that I got drunk and made fun of the way you talk"
9) Getaway Car
Bonus: Dazai/Chuuya
10) King Of My Heart
Perspective: Atsushi
Lyric/Quote: "You are the one I have been waiting for" & "My broken bones are mending"
11) Dancing With Our Hands Tied
Perspective: Akutagawa
Lyric/Quote: "I, I loved you in spite of, Deep fears that the world would divide us" & "And say, say that we got it, I'm a mess, but I'm the mess that you wanted"
12) Dress
Perspective: Atsushi/Akutagawa
Lyric/Quote: "Even in my worst times, you could see the best in me" & "Everyone thinks that they know us but they know nothing..."
13) This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things
Bonus: Dazai to Ango
14) Call It What You Want
Perspective: Atsushi
Lyric/Quote: "My castle crumbled overnight" & He built a fire just to keep me warm"
Bonus: "My baby's fit like a daydream"
15) New Year's Day
Perspective: Atsushi
Lyric/Quote: "But I stay when you're lost, and I'm scared, and you're turning away" & "Please don't ever become a stranger whose laugh I could recognize anywhere"
Bonus: "You and me, forevermore"
I saw in a recent post of yours that you think sskk was supposed to happen or will happen (I don't remember exactly). I was really curious about this, could you elaborate? Seeing sskk happen would be a dream!!!
I don't remember everything fully (as I found this information out like two years ago) but Asagiri once said in an interview with Harukawa (the interview was with fans, I believe?) that in the original drafts of Bsd, and not just "character design" drafts but drafts of the plot and character personalities, Atsushi was supposed to be female
Some people try to debunk this with "but Atsushi's beta design wasn't female" but who said Harukawa had *drawn* female Atsushi in the drafts? Who said Atsushi didn't have multiple beta designs and they released the one closest to the final one? I really think just because we have Atsushi's beta design doesn't mean we've seen every single aspect of Asagiri and Harukawa creating Atsushi. Plus, once again, what if female Atsushi never existed in the drafts long enough to be illustrated? Character designs aren't just "one quick draft, one final character," like look at Spy x Family's manga, in the manga bonuses the author shares his drafts of his characters and I remember for his character Fiona he had like 10+ designs before deciding on her final look
Anyways, back to the subject of sskk, in the interview Asagiri said that Atsushi was supposed to be a female and that Akutagawa was going to fall in love with Atsushi (I'm pretty sure. And even if he didn't say that, if Atsushi and Akutagawa were a girl and a boy *everyone* would be interpreting it as romantic). Atsushi and Akutagawa are supposed to represent the yin and yang, a "perfect balance", so I think if Atsushi was a girl it would be a better balance bc they'd be opposite genders
Akutagawa falling in love with Atsushi, whether male Atsushi or female Atsushi, is and was entirely plausible. Enemies to lovers isn't just a trope in fanfictions, it's in all types of media. I think it was in the original drafts that Akutagawa was supposed to fall in love with Atsushi and that would start conflict within himself (being in love with an Agency member, being in love with his rival, etc) and he'd have character growth surrounding his emotional development. I do believe Asagiri said or at least implied that sskk (with female Atsushi) was going to be canon, and just said that Akutagawa would definitely fall first
Bungou Stray Dogs isn't a romance manga or anime, just check the genres, but there is *some* romance in it (such as Margaret and Nathaniel, Higuchi having a crush on Akutagawa [Akuhigu should burn tbh], and Francis has a wife, Zelda, but irl Fitzgerald's wife was named Zelda so idk if it really counts). Basically, romance isn't the main focus of Bsd, but it can definitely have romance in it, including something involving Atsushi and Akutagawa
Now, if you pretended Bsd was a romance manga, and then looked at sskk, there would definitely be some romantic undertones poking out. Even if it's not "romantic", there are still plenty of romantic manga or other media that use similar tropes to what sskk has done. Take self-sacrifice for example, that's been used a lot to take two character's romantic relationship to a new level (with the utter devotion to one another and all that). Sskk has all the means to become canon, it's just Asagiri who decides if it does or not
I personally really hope sskk ends up canon, it would not only make sense but also be good for Atsushi and Akutagawa because Atsushi (somewhat, bc he's slightly moved on from the orphanage headmaster but not necessarily the orphanage itself) has the mentality "I don't deserve to be loved", and Akutagawa has the mentality "I don't deserve to love". So if they started dating they would just be a very good couple and it would be definitely non-toxic. Name the last time Akutagawa *voluntarily of his own will* hurt Atsushi? They have an insane amount of character development, chalking their relationship up to what they were like when they first met is just kinda ridiculous
So, in regards to your anon ask, Asagiri did say sskk was originally supposed to be canon (and for all we know he still ships it, which I could see), and I genuinely think sskk has the possibility to be canon one day
And talking about the female Atsushi aspect of the original Bsd drafts, it makes sense because look at Atsushi now. He's not necessarily feminine but he acts much more in touch with his emotions and acts a lot less "macho" than many other male main characters. I'm not saying guys can't act like Atsushi, but I'm just saying Atsushi is written very not-stereotypically and if you changed him to female he would act the same. Plus Atsushi's tiger, Byakko, is female, maybe Asagiri never changed Byakko's gender but he changed Atsushi's
Hope this clears things up! (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)