tara weeb shit sideblog

Karashi tells himself that he has everything figured out, as in EVERYTHING, and he’s smart so a lot of the time he’s right, but whenever he’s proven wrong it shakes him to the core. However, he also has enough backbone to ENCOURAGE challenges in his life, rather than run away from his own weaknesses. That’s why he pursued rakugo, and that’s why he’s a great rival.

Like Rokuro, Karashi is honest. If he thinks you’re stupid he’ll say it, and if he thinks you did a good job he’ll also say it, just not in a way that makes him seem vulnerable, because deep down there is a weird insecurity about that. He cares about Akane and Hikaru and likes to see them become stronger (even if he’s not competing with them like for Hikaru’s Hanami Revenge) but he will never say that to their faces because again, he refuses to be vulnerable. 

And yet. Despite everything, to the shock of everyone, Karashi. Is. A good friend……? He gives Akane sincere rakugo advice when she’s ignorant about stuff (while also calling her a fool but like, again, he does explain and it even becomes a gag that Akane pretends there’s a little Karashi explaining things to her when she’s confused abt Shiguma’s Art), he actively checks in on Hikaru and gives HER advice when she’s brooding about Zuin Prize results, he even checks in on Taison while he’s standing around waiting for Akane to recover. When it matters, Karashi pulls through for his people in unexpected ways. He’s just very annoyingly selective about who he considers “his people.” He also lies about who he considers “his people” all the time.

In contrast, Rokuro’s kindness is his “baseline” as much as Karashi’s arrogance is his “baseline.” Just because Rokuro helps you out doesn’t mean he personally is looking out for you. Rokuro has done nice things for Akane, but he doesn’t do them FOR Akane. He has no reason to be dishonest when he helps Akane as a Zenza and says “well it’s not you specifically, I just can’t stand the way you’re being treated,” and “if you want a rival, fight with Kaisei first, he’s the only one in your generation I keep my eye on (oop and then she did hahahahah im excited to see him react)”. This isn’t a bad thing, but a testament to his character!! Later on, when he gives Akane advice on her Shinigami, it’s not because he personally wants to help, but that Maikeru went out of his way to ask him to help Akane out. While Rokuro doesn’t have anything AGAINST Akane, he also has nothing stopping him from putting her aside if it means he can “take back” Shiguma’s Art. 

Karashi’s goals are ultimately self centered, to “make his mark in the rakugo world,” but he’s doing so by being willing to humble his own massive ego to become a master of Sanmeitei Form, which removes ego almost entirely. Rokuro’s ultimate goal is for the sake of his entire school’s legacy, to “take back” Shiguma’s Art, but in order to accomplish this, he has to be self-centered enough to push his goal forwards. 

They basically mirror each other, so if they were to interact, I think they would end up reminding the other of what they don’t have. This could lead to either intimacy or animosity or both. I’m personally leaning towards an enemies-to-lovers type trajectory.

We already know Rokuro likes how Akane is brash and challenges the status quo. Karashi takes this aspect of Akane and cranks it up even further with his rakugo false-classics. In fact, like Akane, Karashi has “gone too far” with his art, but unlike Akane, he didn’t need someone else to intervene on his behalf. He has a degree of humility and unapologetic boldness as a Futatsume that I think Rokuro would definitely find attractive. Karashi’s tsundere antics are like the fun seasoning that keeps Rokuro mildly amused. There’s not much Karashi could do to actually throw Rokuro off his game.

As such, I think their initial dynamic would resemble Kaisei x Rokuro, but with some key distinctions. At first, Karashi cannot stand how Rokuro seems to have a calm response to almost anything, and always easily brushes past all of Karashi’s clever quips. However, slowly, Karashi would get to know the “bastardly” side of Rokuro, and find that very, very interesting. He probably thinks it’s hot when Rokuro casually takes people off their pedestal in a clean and classy, even if the pedestal is Karashi’s.

Authors where any of their stuff will be a hit but I’m limiting myself:

**Time will heal: the_moonlight_tiger

Part of the reunions series, impossible to pick just one of these but this one in particular is very dear to me, also has a ton of works outside the series I’d recommend!!

**Tell me how am I supposed to let go: venelona

Listen to me, you have to read this without reading the tags. Seriously venelona has a bunch of amazing (and much longer!) works so this is a short and sweet (hehe) example but AHHH blew my mind

**Fireproof: hyoushin

Every work by this writer is amazing characterization/dialogue and I am restraining myself from just listing a bunch

**when I say I adore you (then you can stay): yaoicean

Soft!! Yearning!! Has several v v v cute fics!!

**The Enchanted World of Trust: ParFucku

I keep saying this but you gotta check out all their stuff. I’m cheating because this is a series of 2 but it is my fave for “consent is the kink” reasons like YES.

**All love starts as a scheme: lecterova

Another author who simply does not miss, love this Dazai characterization!

**Seize grip: purplefox

Has a bunch of fun “they’re so weird about each other” fics

**I’m jealous of your neck: magdalenes (ariadnes)

I am restraining myself to this one fic but as a whole this author has had a huge impact on how I view these characters and Atsushi in particular!!

**playlist :lostdandelion

I love playlists so I picked this one out of all their (great) works

**A Cold Wind Sneaked in Through the Crevices: evil_moo_bunny

Also recently reminded of this one due to venelona’s artwork but it IS a favorite (and they have a series of cool fics for last dzts month too)

**The Human Being Within: neoqueenserenity

This is technically an sskk and skk fic but I think about the dzts smut and Dazai characterization in it so much!!

**Tell me why my gods look like you: a_seasonal_obsession

FEM DZTS SMUT and it’s SO GOOD

**The kingdom of touching: nebulia

Goals for combining sex and softness

**thus with a kiss: kekinkawaii

CUTE WEIRDOS with KNIVES

**Break the Loop: acidobsessed

I need more people to read this series please please please the IMPLICATIONSSSS

**I didn’t fall in love (I rose in it): blue_wonderer

The most incredible first date alternate meeting

**aquarius: pearypie

I hope this author blesses us with more dzts pwps

**Basorexia: Ruri_ru

For when you want an extremely cute drunk Atsushi

**It all adds up (my heart is bursting over here!): I_dream_of_the_sea

MY heart is bursting tbh!!!

**with the exception of you, I dislike everyone in the room: zuz_anna

A recent one I enjoyed a lot!! Need to read their other works but haven’t yet