Trans Megathread for the Week of December 30th, 2024 to January 5, 2025 - The Summer Hikaru Died
Trans Megathread for the Week of December 30th, 2024 to January 5, 2025 - The Summer Hikaru Died
Here's to a new year! Here's my first mega try (also first time posting in a while due to reasons) but heya! Admittedly struggled a fair bit with self doubt and anxiety on this one as put it off for a while/other things caught up with me but I figure I'll be glad I did it once I've done it. It's kinda being done last minute though, so admittedly there's that...
I'd been intending to make the mega about something else originally when I signed up, but that would require more time on my part (and I just binge read this recently, so it all works out). Anyways, my subject of the week is The Summer Hikaru Died; it's a queer (BL) horror manga which is currently also scheduled for anime release next year (2025).
Content warnings naturally follow and further details will be spoilered.
CONTENT WARNINGS
Grief, body horror and (very debatably IMO) mild gore, supernatural horror (ghosts/"impurities", otherworldly entities), death I suppose though that one's a given
Premise
The titular Hikaru went for a walk in the woods, died, and something came back wearing his body, something that doesn't quite know how to be human or mortal; "Hikaru" returned, to ensure that his best friend, Yoshiki, would not be lonely. Romantic tension (and tension of a less pleasant kind) ensues.
The plot/things I like about it thus far (light spoilers)
Yoshiki and "Hikaru" have an absolutely great dynamic- their relationship may not be fully healthy, but their intentions seem to both be in the right place, as are their deep feelings (Yoshiki's for Hikaru and increasingly for "Hikaru," and Hikaru and "Hikaru's" own true feelings) and honesty in this regard, despite the latter "Hikaru" being effectively an imposter of sorts. (it's complicated, but these are increasingly distinguished separately and I really like that process as well)
"Hikaru" is, while not quite a blank slate, extremely new to the concept of even just "being" in the sense that mortal creatures and individual organisms(?) do. They've had to learn (and Yoshiki has had to confront them about) the value and significance of life and death; they've increasingly established boundaries, and they approach the world with a liveliness and curiousity that is really cute (the original Hikaru was also lively FWIW, but "Hikaru" is experiencing everything anew even if they retain the memories).
Yoshiki, on the other hand, is both grappling with his grief and loss of Hikaru, while finding comfort (and discomfort alike) in his imposter, and in guiding them through a new world or state of being. He's finding his resolve and moral/ethical backbone interacting with "Hikaru" (very blue-and-orange morality dynamics, though they're learning), he's experiencing what could be described as a rocky but determined romance and queer experimentation at the same time "Hikaru" is being introduced to notions of attraction and desire (beyond instinctual desire to consume).
Their pairing in so many ways should not work (or rather would be usually destined for a tragic end). From the start, there have been several points where by all means it should have met such an end. But their determination and willingness to meet the other where they're at and gradually be understanding with the other is both fascinating and something I'd feel optimistic for (and interested in seeing play out further).
Anyways, I should cut myself short at this (and make sure to have something properly written beforehand for next time). But anyways, thus far it's a strong recommend (if you feel alright with the content warnings) from me.
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Hello my lovelies! It's been a MINUTE since my last post, and I have been SO DAMN BUSY. All good things, though. So I guess it's STORY TIME, short story long;
I got sober in September. For real this time. I used to smoke crack and shoot dope. I haven't done that in over two years but I just COULD NOT SHAKE alcohol. I'm a genetic alcoholic, big time. What that means is my brain makes its own opiates when I drink. So when I drink, I don't want to get fucked up. I just want a sip. It took me a long time to figure that out. 10 years actually, it's been 10 years since my first interaction with addiction treatment and I finally got it. Feels pretty good.
Anyhow, since my judgement wasn't clouded for the first time in my life, I was able to honestly evaluate my relationship with my family and HOLY SHIT ARE THEY SICK. Both parents and two sisters check ALL THE BOXES for Narcissistic Personality Disorder. They're FUCKED UP PIECES OF SHIT. Thats what us in AA like to call a miracle. I was able to see something that I was blind to my entire life. No one could have showed it to me but God. Anyhow, I called the pigs on them and reported them as domestic abusers and got my skinny bitch ass outta there so eat shit fuckers.
I'm back in the city, the most radical neighborhood in Amerikkka (if you know you know) amongst my people! THE QUEERS AND COMMIES
I took a Shahada so I'm officially a Muslim now. It's so cool. The dudes who run the smoke shops in my neighborhood are Houthi, so I've been hanging with them and they're COOL AS FUCK. Real recognizes real.
Oh yeah, last thing; I found out my Grandfather was involved in Real IRA activities during the troubles. I don't know EXACTLY what he did, but I'm pretty sure he was INSTRUMENTAL in getting arms back to the old country during the Troubles. He got out of the life around the time I was born, and my name was changed after the Good Friday agreement to keep the feds off my back. My birth name is as Irish Republican as it gets- I cant tell you what it is for opsec reasons but I can tell you what it means, and if you want to do the research to figure it out that's on you;
I AM THE FIRST MARTYR FROM THE BOG.
How about that? I'm REAL IRA. Nothing provisional about me, boyo. I'm the real thing. The realist. They know my name in Dublin and Belfast, all along the falls road and on the road to Al Quds. I'm a Martyr just like my ancestors. I was BORN to bring death to Amerikkka, MASHALLAH.
I love every single one of you SO FUCKIN MUCH!!! This is a really special place, and I'm so glad y'all were here when I needed you.
Love and Solidarity,
Alice D.
Yo welcome back and congrats on the many positive life changes
love to see our regulars return to the megaAll good things in all good time, Ash! I hope you're doing well. DM if ya wanna chat, I'm gonna try to check in regularly. Considering the way things are going, it's high time we start building up our networks. If anyone needs to move to a more enlightened part of the country, I can help with that. I have a network here. I can open squats. I've done it before. Shits about to get real and we better be ready. Much love.