[RFC] Being You is Deculture

[itsune9tl]

Sound like more like Quebec from the terrain described. Quebec would complain that none of Macross is in French So they called it Toronto, while nuking Quebec...

[Norgarth]

Sound like more like Quebec from the terrain described. Quebec would complain that none of Macross is in French So they called it Toronto, while nuking Quebec...

Northern Ontario gets pretty rough, so Rob's suggestion of North Bay could work just as well.

In the old RPG timeline, Quebec declared independence and continued to be such until the Invid invaded and smashed them..

[robkelk]

There's also a mountain/ridge line the Zent ship uses as cover for it's approach and there's nothing like that near Toronto.

Assuming that the ridge line is part of the Ottawa River Valley, then that's another point in favour of the city being North Bay.

[Black Aeronaut]

North Bay it is, then!  And if anything else I can change it later - this is really just Rough Draft anyhow.

As for why...

Oooooooohhh!

What if the Canadians are showing solidarity and support by sending them an SV-52 squadron?  (The basic idea being?  They'll do a helluva lot more good up there than planetside.)  And the UN is kinda throwing up their hands and going, "Whatever.  You need all the help you can get.  But you gotta go and pick them up.  No way we're letting them into our airspace."

And this would make it so that whole little exchange about wagering on if Max could take them has much more context.

Now I really need to watch Macross Zero.

[classicdrogn]

Zero has the virtue of being short, as well as fun. If they'd only had six or eight episodes for Delta it probably would have been much better. Plus the SV-51 (and presumably SV-52 since it was a powerplant and avionics upgrade rather than a new airframe like the transition from VF-0 to VF-1) has this really cool trick it can do with a telescoping neck to peek up over terrain

[Black Aeronaut]

Insert obligatory TF2 Joke...

*SV-52 stretches its neck out.*
Pilot: "Nope!"

[robkelk]

North Bay it is, then!  And if anything else I can change it later - this is really just Rough Draft anyhow.

As for why...

Oooooooohhh!

What if the Canadians are showing solidarity and support by sending them an SV-52 squadron?  (The basic idea being?  They'll do a helluva lot more good up there than planetside.)  And the UN is kinda throwing up their hands and going, "Whatever.  You need all the help you can get.  But you gotta go and pick them up.  No way we're letting them into our airspace."

And this would make it so that whole little exchange about wagering on if Max could take them has much more context.

Now I really need to watch Macross Zero.

Hmmmmm... maybe, maybe not. But CFB Petawawa army training base is literally just down the road from North Bay.

[ECSNorway]

Most versions I've seen have it as Ottawa, actually.

[robkelk]

Wrong kind of forest for it to be Ottawa, though. (Even North Bay is pushing it; they're barely on the edge of the boreal forest.)

[classicdrogn]

Is anyone really that surprised if a 70s anime did halfhearted research and mostly went with stereotypes for backgrounds that would only be used in one episode? I mean, really? It's Canada, you throw in a visible maple leaf flag or two, some trees, some mountains, some inoffensive modern architecture, maybe a moose, some snow, the CN Tower, and/or dual language French/English signage if you're really feeling frisky, and have the locals be hockey fans who say "Eh?" a lot. Not accurate to real life, but onscreen signalling for "you're in the Great White North now."

[robkelk]

Hey, just because they didn't do the research doesn't mean we can't fix things while remaining true to what we actually saw.

[Black Aeronaut]

Fair warning, folks.  Even though this isn't a story post, there are some frickin' serious feels here.  No, seriously.  Have tissues at hand because you're about to cry some seriously manly tears.


So, I was listening to one of the Cafe Music BGM Channels (in particular, the one with the J-Pop piano instrumentals) and one of them just grabbed my attention and would not let go.

The hell of it is that it's kinda hard to find due to Sony being such copyright trolls.  (Seriously, if they really want commercial success, I dunno, maybe try marketing to the US and Canada?  Because it's not like people aren't gonna like the music just because it's in Japanese!)

Anyhow, I was able to find it on one youtube account that -isn't- kotoing to Sony's every whim...  And then I had trouble getting the lyrics.  They were easy enough to find, but every website used that pesky bit of java script that keeps you from selecting it.  I had to dig into the page's source code to get at it.

And then, of course, came translation, which had it's own pitfalls.  So, I've got a line-by-line version of the translated lyrics that should be easy to follow along, and then there is the 'rough translation' that I think better conveys the intended meaning.

(PS: Bob, are you working on getting code for tables in here?  Cause it would have been useful for this...)

Anyhow, the thing is that hearing the music and learning the lyrics, my version of Minmei just started jumping up and down in my head, squealing, "YES YES!  THIS IS IT!  THIS IS THE FEELING I WANT TO SHARE!"

And that feeling?  Well...  Think of her as two people; The younger version who is stricken by the choice that Garrick has presented her...  And the older, mature Minmei who was left behind has been apart from her beloved for some time now.

Garrick himself will think of this as one of Minmei's first real love songs.  Most of what came before this was simply girlish infatuation and insecurities.  Here?  She is pouring her heart out with all the love and pain, and hope and loss that it carries.

The song is called Tegami (Haikei Jūgo no Kimi e) (Letter: Greetings to a 15 Year Old) by Angela Aki.



Dear You, this letter
You are reading
What are you and where
I wonder

Dear Me, who is reading this letter
I wonder where you are and what you're doing

To me in the 15th
I can not tell anyone
The kind of trouble is
There is

For me, who is fifteen years old
There are troubles that I cannot tell anyone

To yourself in the future
If a letter addressed to you
Surely obediently
I will be able to confess

If it's a letter a letter to myself in the future
Then surely I can confide honestly to myself

I'm about to lose
I'm about to cry
I am going to disappear
Whose words you trust
Would you mind walking?

I'm about to lose!
I'm about to cry!
I'm about to disappear!
Whose words should I trust and believe in?

There is only one
This breast is
It has broken apart many times
In difficult times
I am alive now
I am alive now

This one and only heart
has been broken so many times
In spite of the hardships
I still live on
I still live on

Dear You Thank you
To you in 15
Things to tell you
There is

Dear Me, Thank you.
To the fifteen year old me
There are things I need to tell

What is myself?
Where to head
If you keep asking
To be visible

What am I?
Where do I go?
If you keep asking these things
You will find your true self

Rough youth
Although the sea is tough
To the shore of tomorrow
Advance the dream boat

Youth is hard
And its seas are rough
But you must move your ship of dreams
Forward to the shores of tomorrow

Do not lose now
Do not cry
When it is about to disappear
My own voice
Should I believe you?

Do not lose now!
Do not cry now!
Even if you think you'll disappear!
You can have faith and trust in your own voice!

Adult servant also
Hurt
I have a sleepless night, but
Bitter and sweet
I am alive now

The Adult me does hurt
And has sleepless nights
But despite this bittersweet life
I am alive still.

Of life
Because everything has meaning
Without fear
Raise your dream

Everything in life has meaning
Be brave and build your dream

Keep on believing
Keep on believing
Keep on believing
Keep on believing

I think I will lose
I'm about to cry
I am going to disappear
Whose words
Do you believe to walk?

I'm about to lose!
I'm about to cry!
I'm about to disappear!
Whose words should I trust and believe in?

Do not lose
Do not cry
When it is about to disappear
My own voice
Should I believe you?

Do not lose now!
Do not cry now!
Even if you think you'll disappear!
You can have faith and trust in your own voice!

In any generation
sorrow
Although I can not go through avoiding it
Show me your smile
Let's live now
Let's live now

In every generation there is sorrow
We cannot go through life avoiding it
So show your smile
We both live now
We both live now

Dear You, this letter
You are reading
Happy things
I hope.

Dear Me, who is reading this letter
I am wishing for your happiness

[Bob Schroeck]

Wow.

[classicdrogn]

Duuude.

(slams down [APPROVED] stamp)

[Black Aeronaut]

Ohhhh man.  I think I just figured out who's gonna be the expert cook in the household...

WARNING: SWALLOW BEFORE YOU READ THIS!  Also: Mildly NSFW.

It was the the same thing all over again.  We all watched gleefully as Millia and her two charges had their minds blown by the fine offerings of the Nyan-Nyan.

“And you Micronians eat like this all the time!?” cried out Millia.

“Eh, yes and no,” said Roy.  “Judging by what we found in the cargo holds, field rations are field rations, no matter where you go.  But as long as we’re home, we try to enjoy it when we can.”

“Well, I hope you’re ready for the big finish~,” said Minmei with an evil gleam in her eyes.  “I’d like you ladies to know I made this one myself, because I know just how much a girl loves her sweets~.”

The dishes were brought and my eyebrows shot to the top of my head.

“Tiramisu?” I said, looking at Minmei in surprise.  “When did you learn to make tiramisu?”

Minmei made a show of buffing her nails blithely.  “Oh, you know.  Chinese restaurant in trendy Yokohama.  It was only natural, especially since mother and father were leaning on me so heavily to take over the place so they can retire.”

“What is this... Tiramisu?” asked Millia.

Claudia cracked a grin and said, “Practically an orgasm for your tongue just waiting to happen.”

Misa gasped, scandalized by her friend.  “CLAUDIA!”

“...Do I even dare ask?” said Millia apprehensively.

“It’s nothing bad,” said Minmei reassuringly.  “In fact, you might say it’s one of the best things in the universe!  Just try it - I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”

Millia looked a bit doubtful, but given her very recent experience with the previous fare, she must have figured that she didn’t have much to lose at this point.

She took a small bit from the corner of the confection with her fork and then brought it to her mouth.

She suddenly froze and her wide eyes glassed over.

It was the same look that Misa had on her face when she tried the coffee I got from Joe’s Donuts back in Canterlot - like as if all of creation was suddenly laid out before her for just an instant.

Almost painfully slowly, Millia swallowed and then visibly shuddered.

She slowly stood, as though she was afraid her legs wouldn’t support her, quietly asked where the privy was, and then disappeared into the back, wearing a stunned look the entire way.

Not one person at the table DIDN’T have a confused look on their face until Minmei suddenly spoke up:

“Okay, I know Mom’s recipe is good, but I’ve never seen anyone actually get off on it before!”

You could almost hear the clicking sound as the relays in everyone’s head closed all at once.  Slowly, all our eyes turned to Claudia, who suddenly had a deer-in-the-headlights look on her face.

“I WAS ONLY KIDDING!  I NEVER THOUGHT IT WAS POSSIBLE!”

God, I'm so fucking evil.  I'm probably gonna go to hell for that one.

Also, anyone accusing Garrick of being a Mary Sue isn't honestly reading this shit, because Minmei just made a proud Meltrandi warrior fucking cream her panties with her cooking.  If that's not a Crowning Moment of Awesome (if one that's a bit off the walls), then I don't know what is.

(Also, if 'Orgasmicly Delicious' isn't a trope, then I claim naming rights.)

[classicdrogn]

People write "LOL" a lot on teh internet, but it's very rare for something to do more than make my lips quirk, or at most produce a snort or a scoff.

At this, I honestly laughed for a good few seconds.

[itsune9tl]

The real reason Man kind has not been wiped from existence: Not Love But Delicious Foods.

And no I don't mean the Manga. (Read it anyway)

[robkelk]

I think I can add one line to this to push it all the way over the top. Leave everything else as-is.

“What is this... Tiramisu?” asked Millia.

Claudia cracked a grin and said, “Practically an orgasm for your tongue just waiting to happen.”

Misa gasped, scandalized by her friend.  “CLAUDIA!”

“...Do I even dare ask?” said Millia apprehensively.

“It’s nothing bad,” said Minmei reassuringly.  “In fact, you might say it’s one of the best things in the universe!  Just try it - I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.”

"So, an orgasm is one of the best things in the universe?"

[Black Aeronaut]

The trouble is that it leaves a dangling thread of conversation, and that would shift the joke entirely to getting Millia flustered about the things Micronians do with each other.

Otherwise, glad you guys love it.

I've been making good progress on this thing, but I'd still give it at least a couple more weeks until I can get it out the door.

[itsune9tl]

To be honest, Millia should get flustered some about the things Micronians Do with each other, She will probably treat Male and Female as separate species.

If you want to really confuse her, sit her through a Sex education Video, then introduce her to Porn, and Romance Novels.

[Black Aeronaut]

*Sighs*

It would probably help to know the context of the overall situation.

Gloval has Garrick parlay with Azonia and he tells her that it's impossible for them to leave the system because their fold drive is GONE. Azonia believes him, but would like to verify. She sends over a time of Miclonized Meltrans led by someone she trusts to give her a straight answer. Ergo, Millia is there.

The reason for the meal is that Garrick promised they'd receive 'Full Hospitality'.

So, there's not a lot room to screw around much here.

[itsune9tl]

One thing that bothered me about Macross, Why didn't any body try to "De-Micronize" a Micronaian?

Nobody saw the Possibilities? Author Fiat that it wouldn't work? or just a lack of Willing Volunteers?

[classicdrogn]

One thing that bothered me about Macross, Why didn't any body try to "De-Micronize" a Micronaian?

Nobody saw the Possibilities? Author Fiat that it wouldn't work? or just a lack of Willing Volunteers?

It happens in DYRL: Max shows up with Milia for the battle against Boldolza's base-ship macloned and flying a blue Quaedluun-Rau. It's also fairly common in Macross Frontier fanfic so Mikhail can get with Klan without being squicky due to her "miclones as a preteen" genetic disorder. As far as I know, though, you're correct that it never shows up in the main continuity - but it's important to rmember that the official word from Studio Nue is that all Macross material is canonically in-continuity fiction produced to tell the story of the "real" events. We even see them making a movie about Zero's Mayan Island incident during the F TV series, and I think DYRL during 7 starring Fire Bomber members

[Black Aeronaut]

Huh. I never thought of it that way. They certainly gave themselves room to mess around, haven't they?

Well now. That just makes the setting all the easier for me to work with.

[classicdrogn]

Huh. I never thought of it that way. They certainly gave themselves room to mess around, haven't they?

It nicely explains how Roy's facial structure is so different in Zero - they just hired a different actor than than the guy who played him in SDFMTV and DYRL