TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

The New Touhou Character Alternate Interpretation Compendium!

Go To

asterism from the place I'm at Since: Apr, 2011 Relationship Status: Hoping Senpai notices me
#15776: Feb 4th 2012 at 5:41:20 AM

Yuyuko: 5
Youmu and Eirin: 4

The others only have one or two votes each.

Bewitching Eyes
Fawriel Since: Jan, 2001
#15777: Feb 4th 2012 at 6:46:19 AM

A cheerful fanon thing is Flandre being friend with Cirno.
Yes!

The idea that Flandre is someone who actually buys Cirno's tall tales and greatly respects her for being so smart and strong is basically one of the sweetest things in the universe. As possibly demonstrated in this video.

Perhaps, perhaps. There's a difference in the way they fight, though.

Remilia, supposedly the elegant, refined sister, uses fast, brutal, simple, monochrome patterns. Flandre, supposedly the mad, destructive sister, uses much more intricate and colourful patterns.

Hmm!

Remilia is elegant and refined as a person (or does her best to be), but when it comes to demonstrating her power, she'll demonstrate her power. Flandre is just naturally filled with raw, destructive energy, but when it comes to playing danmaku, she plays danmaku. Her patterns are less brutal because she can afford to play around with the design of her cards.

I probably won't be able to swing a writeup, so I'll just say that I sort of enjoy the idea that Remilia adopted Flan as her sister. I imagine Remilia Walking the Earth and hearing about, say, a terrible beast stalking the night in Flanders. Investigating, she discovers a maddened, wretched creature who doesn't even know what she is, heedlessly scorching herself in the sun and starving because she blows up anything that she feels threatened by, including anyone she could eat.

Remilia had thought to test her strength against whatever was causing such terror, but that's no way to respond to this situation. She changes the wretch's name to Flandre Scarlet and makes it her fate to be loved and protected for all time. Flan slowly heals over the decades, both mentally and physically, but it looks like her wings aren't going to properly recover. Fortunately, by the time they realize this, Remilia's gotten a pet magician for the household.

Just gonna say I like this.

So how do you think Flandre dealt with living in the basement for nearly five centuries? What does she do to pass the time? How does she keep herself entertained? Did she retreat into herself, and if so what did she find?
Uuuuugh all these questions I wanna answer in a more evocative form than a simple explanatioooon!

The basement is probably big enough to ride around in though and the odd Machiavellian scheme is always fun. She could probably be a political bargaining tool too if Remilia feels up to it.
There's still always the theory that the basement is home to an entire small nation of devils and youkai.

'OK, I'll be the minotaur! You can be the hero, and stalk me through the tunnels. THEN! WE SHALL ENGAGE IN MORTAL COMBAT! ONLY ONE SHALL SURVIVE! And then cake. Do you want cake? OOH, THEN WE CAN GO SEE PATCHY! She likes cake. Cake and books.'
'L-lady Scarlet, I just came down to clean the carpets.'
'...Do you have time for cake first?'
That is cute.

Vampires are really, really physically mighty. Strong (Though not as much as an oni) Fast (At least on par with most Tengu), and possessing an unmatched durability. The price for all this awesome comes in the mind. They're eternally children, of course. I suspect the Scarlets are actually very well adjusted, considering. Give most 10ish year olds a power boost like that, and you'll be relieved of a few of your favorite buildings/organs/relatives/friends.
It's a common and interesting thing, really. King Dedede is similar to that: He's basically a child like just about anyone else in the Kirby universe who isn't an Eldritch Abomination. The only thing different about Dedede is that he's a big and strong penguin with a big hammer. So of course he goes and proclaims himself king. And steals all the food or whatever it is he does.

I don't think Remi would be pleased with me comparing her to King Dedede.

I suspect their relatively good adjustment comes from their nobility. Having received a rather good education (They may even have learned how to read, if they're lucky.) and having to live up to high standards of etiquette may have allowed them to maintain composure/restraint once turned or as they aged (If born vampires).
That actually makes a certain amount of sense, yes.

Darkness of Dreams
I just realized, if Sakuya was a Japanese lady whom Remilia picked up while still in Europe, that would explain how she became fascinated enough with the country to move there. Also how she and Flandre learned the language.

The small girl looked up at her new company, a tall woman in a green outfit.

"It's good to see you too, Miss Flan! Oh! I see you've borrowed a book from Miss Patches, huh?"

The childish blonde wrapped her book in one of her blankets and hid it under her pillow, putting one finger up to her lips.

While I can't exactly say the same for the rest of her lines, this bit reminds me of Uni Mate's Flandre. A very unusual one, he took a different approach to the socially awkward Flandre and made her very quiet. She's still dangerous for a mortal to play with, but that only comes up once.

"And that's why I think Meiling is so cool!~"

It had become early morning already, and Flandre was happily chattering away to the assorted piles of cloth and cotton strewn about her room.

Awww.

I like the idea of a bibliophile Flan who loses herself in literary worlds, a Flan who would never feel bored or sequestered down in her basement because she's romping around in Middle-Earth or whatnot, a Flan who after spending years and years living in fantasy might have difficulty interacting with the real world. But I can't think of what books she'd immerse herself in prior to the 20th century. Dickins? Twain? Did Flan pretend to be floating down the Mississippi for a decade or two? What did she do before the 1800s?
Hmm. I didn't really buy bibliophile Flandre before, but that does sound plausible. No idea how to answer that open question, though.

That said, thanks for the picdumps. For some reason, I didn't find much that really spoke to me in the first few, but the later ones had some really lovely gems in them.

And it's quite surprising how well U.N. Owen goes with Christmas, doesn't it?

How long has it been? Four hundred and ninety five years? No, less. Five? Ten? I only keep track of one length of time so I don't remember. But on that day I wandered up to the upper levels of the mansion and caught my sister at tea. She was surprised to see me and she made her typical statement. "You were so quiet, I forgot you were there" she said and laughed at herself. I remember that I had gotten very upset and promised her that I would make some noise occasionally so she didn't forget me. She didn't look happy about that for some reason. She's hard to understand.
...

Bocaj? Can I, like, commission you to write my write-up for me? ._.

The voice of your Flandre is a little inconsistent at times, but that first paragraph just really amazed me for some reason.

How long has it been? A few days? A week? A human broke into the mansion and attacked poor Patchy and Sakuya and Meiling and Cotton Sky.
Cotton Sky?

She has so many friends but anytime they were numbered three, it was her four of a kind selves. She gets along with them.
Oh. I missed that.

Shinki, Kanako, Eirin...

...Please. Oh, and hello everyone!

Hello.

Fawriel Since: Jan, 2001
#15778: Feb 4th 2012 at 6:59:42 AM

Oh dear me, I just realized we went this whole discussion on Flandre without mentioning Double Scarlet.

I think there might be a law against that, so be thankful for my vigilance!

asterism from the place I'm at Since: Apr, 2011 Relationship Status: Hoping Senpai notices me
#15779: Feb 4th 2012 at 8:09:08 AM

Pretty sure Double Scarlet got a mention in the Remilia discussion.

Bewitching Eyes
asterism from the place I'm at Since: Apr, 2011 Relationship Status: Hoping Senpai notices me
Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#15782: Feb 4th 2012 at 10:19:31 AM

Cotton Sky?

Figured I'd make up a random fairy maid. I mean, we don't know them but Flandre might. And she would be so worried to hear that a random shrine maiden beat up her good fairy friend that brought her cake and played minotaur with her the one time.

@Voting: If we discussed Orin already I'll change my vote to Eirin. This time I only vote for rins.

@Double Scarlet: It never occurred to me until now but magical hand waving paper repairing powers make perfect sense for Patchy to have.

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
Pulse The Fool from Yadayadaville Since: May, 2011 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
The Fool
#15783: Feb 4th 2012 at 10:25:43 AM

It's manipulation of Wood (cellulose)!

I sure said that!
Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#15784: Feb 4th 2012 at 10:47:12 AM

Doujin recs
Aozora Market's Scarlet and Scarlet. Takes the "Remilia neglects Flan" route but its a good story where things come to a head with Remilia admitting that she was wrong in how she treated Flan, explaining her reason and making right. Via mortal kombat.
Millet Soup's Occasional Sisterly Gifts. Millet Soup is good at the pointless inoffensive sort of cuteness. Flandre wants to celebrate Christmas. How crazy.
Ochinchin Riichi's In Gensokyo, Danmaku Dodges YOU! First of all, does Japan know Yakov Smirnoff? That's kind of weird. But also, short gag comic, mostly 4koma but half of it does have Flandre taking over the SDM after Remilia gets sulky and withdrawn. Also, communists.
Gensoukoumuten's Gensokyo Post-Office of course.
Shino's Young Mistress' Epic Homestay Battle. In the previous thing by Shino, Flandre had met Mokou and had become enamored with her not-dyingness and brutal murder of Kaguya. So in this, she goes to spend some time with her newfound big brother surrogate while Remilia stresses about letting her out of the house.

Oh and some Faw guy already mentioned Unimate's comic. I heartily recommend it. For multiple reasons. Also, there's a doujin that I couldn't remember that used the locked Flan interpretation. Flan just sitting in the basement staring at the door and its several huge locks musing aloud to her stuffed bear about going on, blowing up a lock and then deciding not to leave.

[up] Ah hah. Good point.

edited 4th Feb '12 10:48:29 AM by Bocaj

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
Fawriel Since: Jan, 2001
#15785: Feb 4th 2012 at 1:10:42 PM

Yes, Bocaj, you are indeed the doujin rex.

Welp, write-up isn't happening anymore today. I'll throw in a vote for Yuyuko to seal the deal.

Durazno Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#15786: Feb 4th 2012 at 1:14:30 PM

Bocaj: Doujin Dealer. He's got somethin' you might be interested in... strangah.

Fawriel Since: Jan, 2001
#15787: Feb 4th 2012 at 1:56:42 PM

Doujin' it up in the neighborhood.

Durazno Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#15788: Feb 4th 2012 at 2:10:40 PM

Get doujins off the streets! Won't somebody think of the children!?

EDIT: I'm derailing, aren't I? Um, I vote Yuyuko, Shikieiki, Mima.

edited 4th Feb '12 2:11:17 PM by Durazno

asellus111 Dragon meido Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Dragon meido
#15789: Feb 4th 2012 at 4:31:10 PM

Last remix before Yuyuko

edited 4th Feb '12 4:31:56 PM by asellus111

asterism from the place I'm at Since: Apr, 2011 Relationship Status: Hoping Senpai notices me
#15790: Feb 4th 2012 at 4:32:32 PM

Ampersands...

I think Yuyuko wins this one. Edging out Eirin there.

Bewitching Eyes
Clarste One Winged Egret Since: Jun, 2009 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
One Winged Egret
#15791: Feb 4th 2012 at 4:50:08 PM

Eirin's holding back out of respect.

yarrunmace Ghosts' Poet from Seine Since: Jun, 2009
Ghosts' Poet
#15792: Feb 4th 2012 at 5:26:38 PM

Eirin, Youmu and Nazrin.

Just to even things out a bit.

you'll then have a grave in the clouds where you won't lie too cramped
asellus111 Dragon meido Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Dragon meido
#15793: Feb 4th 2012 at 5:43:11 PM

Will Eirin make a surprise return? Anyway here is the rule number 9 with Flandre as the star.

From Magical Witch Punie-chan. Does it fit Flandre? Hell yeah.

edited 4th Feb '12 5:59:16 PM by asellus111

Tacitus Since: Jan, 2001
#15794: Feb 4th 2012 at 6:56:33 PM








Ghostly Girl in the Netherworld Tower
Yuyuko Saigyouji

Appearance:

Themes:
Bloom Nobly, the Ink-Black Cherry Blossom ~ Border of Life*

, Border of Life*, Ghost Lead*

Stages: A Maiden's Remains in the Other World
Loathing this unclean world. Seeking rebirth in the Pure Land. Please offer cherry blossoms to my deceased body if someone is willing to mourn my death.
bgm: Ultimate Truth*

Enjoyment, Even in Death ~ Night Cherry Blossoms in the Netherworld
What are these divine spirits that are scattered and swept away by the cherry blossoms? They only activate moments before death.
bgm:Night Sakura of Dead Spirits*

Spellcard Motif: Death and Loss | Souls and Phantoms | Butterflies | Cherry Blossoms
Notable spellcards:
PCB, IaMP, IN, SWR StB, 'soku, TD
Losing Hometown "Lost Soul's Village ~ Wandering Soul," Losing Hometown "Lost Soul's Village ~ Fatal Sin," Losing Hometown "Lost Soul's Village ~ Suicide," Deadly Dance "Law of Mortality ~ Dead Butterfly," Subtle Melody "Repository of Hirokawa ~ Divine Soul," Cherry Blossom Sign "The Perfect Ink-black Cherry Blossom ~ Bloom," Cherry Blossom Sign "Saigyou Cherry Blossom Blizzard," "Resurrection Butterfly," Death Sign "Ghastly Dream," Ghost Sign "Ageless Dream," Cherry Blossom "Feast of Lingering Attachment," "Saigyouji Flawless Nirvana," Banquet "All Things Reunite in Death"

Write-up:

The girl who bears witness to death, at the time of the Saigyou Ayakashi's full bloom, shall be bound by mortality. So that her soul may rest in peace within Hakugyokurou, I will seal the cherry blossoms, and make it the barrier. My wish... is that she will never again reincarnate, and never again suffer pain...

Yuyuko Saigyouji is the ghost princess of the Netherworld, a spirit with both the power to invoke death in others and a reluctance to use that power. For a thousand years Yuyuko has existed as the ruler of Hakugyokurou, a shrine located in the Netherworld famed for its beautiful cherry orchards. The spirits of the departed gather from all over the Netherworld to watch these trees blossom each spring... with the exception of one enormous specimen, the Saigyou Ayakashi, which would never bloom.

While perusing her mansion's libraries one day, Yuyuko stumbled upon the passage quoted above, referring to a certain someone whose body sealed the Saigyou Ayakashi and prevented it from blooming. So Yuyuko decided to resurrect that certain someone, doing a good deed and allowing the tree to blossom at the same time. To this end she sent her half-ghost gardener, Youmu Konpaku, out to collect the essence of spring from Gensokyo. This brought her into conflict with the protagonists, who were annoyed about the resulting abnormally-long winter and put a stop to Yuyuko's plans.

This was certainly for the best - the Saigyou Ayakashi was actually a youkai tree. After a famous poet committed his body to rest beneath its branches, so many people began burying themselves under it that the beautiful tree gained otherworldly powers, luring people to their eternal rest beneath its boughs and feeding upon their souls. The cursed cherry tree was eventually sealed by ancient heroes, but that seal included a human's soul as a key component - specifically, Yuyuko's.

Though she has since forgotten her mortal life, Yuyuko earthly existence was short and unhappy. Born with the ability to manipulate spirits, as she grew so did her power, until she could invite others to death. This terrified her so much that she committed suicide. Because her spirit helps seal the cursed cherry tree, Yuyuko cannot move on to Heaven, nor can she revive the Saigyou Ayakashi without destroying her ghostly self. She is bound to the tree even as she binds it, rooting her to an eternal existence between death and what comes next.

Since her accidental attempt to destroy herself (again) and unleash an evil tree upon the world, Yuyuko has found new excitement in her afterlife. She's repeatedly ventured out of Hakugyokurou, alongside Youmu during the Endless Night Incident or just to wander around and get into good-natured fights. She was Yukari's secret weapon in the tangled events surrounding Gensokyo's second trip to the moon, during which she infiltrated the Lunarian capital and decided that some ancient booze was the most valuable thing to steal. She even unexpectedly appeared at the start of Ten Desires, providing some helpful hints for the heroine as well as a friendly warm-up match.

Yuyuko's heavy presence in canon has given the fandom plenty of material to work with. The fact that she treated Imperishable Night like some sort of buffet has led to the joke that she's a "hungry ghost," specifically targeting the melodious and delicious Mystia. Fans interested in drama or tragedy can focus on Yuyuko's unfortunate backstory, those looking for comedy can emphasize her scatter-brained moments, and she can even become a story's secret mastermind thanks to canon suggestions that she's not nearly as dumb as she sometimes acts.

As the "face" of the Netherworld and other ghostly matters, Yuyuko's unlikely to be going anywhere soon, and for the most part the fandom wouldn't have it any other way.

Relations

  • Youmu Konpaku (sword-swinging gardener, fencing instructor, cook, maid, teasing target, shipping target)
  • Youki Konpaku (previous sword-swinging gardener)
  • Yukari Yakumo (old friend)
  • The Prismrivers (regular performers at Hakugyokurou)
  • Mystia Lorelei (om nom nom?)

Alternate Character Interpretations:

Write-Ups
Invitation to the Afterlife
by Clarste

A Whimsical Genius
by Antimatter 625

Giant Pink-Flowered People Eater
by Asterism

The Heart of Fantasy Amidst the Cherry Blossoms
by Insouciant Caliginosity

The Girl Who Lives Under the Tree
by Otherarrow

Minifics
Bloom Nobly
by Pulse

edited 11th Feb '12 11:34:47 PM by Tacitus

Clarste One Winged Egret Since: Jun, 2009 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
One Winged Egret
#15795: Feb 4th 2012 at 7:03:49 PM

As an aside, I think your write-ups are lacking a "neutral voice". I'm not sure if anyone in this thread actually considers these things an authority of any sort, but there's quite a bit more "interpretation" written into it than I remember from Fawriel's. It feels closer to your own personal write-up than an introduction others.

Tacitus Since: Jan, 2001
#15796: Feb 4th 2012 at 7:18:01 PM

Really? Huh. For the most part I thought I paraphrased her official profile. Maybe it was too much paraphrasing and not enough plagiarism.

Clarste One Winged Egret Since: Jun, 2009 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
One Winged Egret
#15797: Feb 4th 2012 at 7:26:56 PM

Well, you say things like:

So Yuyuko decided to resurrect that certain someone, doing a good deed and allowing the tree to blossom at the same time.

Her profile never mentions her having such a thought, referring primarily to curiosity as a motive. It also never mentions that she's reluctant to use her power (as a ghost). Sure as a human she was terrified of it to the point of committing suicide, but she's quite clearly not that person anymore.

Essentially you're resolving ambiguities that are best left as ambiguous. While I have nothing against your interpretation in a general sense, having it lead off the discussion makes me a bit uncomfortable.

edited 4th Feb '12 7:27:22 PM by Clarste

Otherarrow Since: Jul, 2010
#15798: Feb 4th 2012 at 7:30:02 PM

Ah yes, good ol Yuyuko. A cheerful, friendly ghost princess who happens to have a horrifyingly powerful ability. She didn't like it while she was living, but she doesn't seem worried now that she is dead. I do see Yuyuko as a very carefree, go with the flow, ditzy sort of character. At the same time, she is very smart and cunning, and fits nicely into the role of Youmu's trickster mentor. Even though Youmu is supposed to be the one teaching her how to fence.

EDIT:Checked her PMiSS entry. Akyuu says the Yama assigned her to manage souls in the Netherworld, so I guess she is at least a ruler. Derp on my end. I still think she delegates some political things to other people though.

Just how did Yuyuko meet Yukari anyway? I'm going to guess Yukari invited herself to one of the Saigyouji family parties*

, and Yuyuko noticed she wasn't a normal person.

edited 4th Feb '12 7:40:41 PM by Otherarrow

Don't PM me. We don't like being PMed.
asellus111 Dragon meido Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Dragon meido
#15799: Feb 4th 2012 at 7:40:57 PM

Well I guess I can start with this video of Yuyuko and Youmu:

I really love this Yuyuko.

Horselesshorseman It's time... to STOP! from Everywhere and Nowhere Since: Mar, 2011
It's time... to STOP!
#15800: Feb 4th 2012 at 8:15:51 PM

Of Note

Yuyuko power is manipulation of death. She kills things and stuff. Her power do have limits, such as immortals and those that are already dead. She can control dead sprits as well. Actually, she was already able to control dead spirits even before she could kill.

She has a lot of say in the process of reincarnation. She can have you sent straight to Hell or even remove you from the cycle with Youmu's help.

She killed herself to prevent her from using her power to hurt others. This sacrifice caused the great Yama to appoint her to manage the spirits of the dead in the Netherworld, even those that she killed herself. Everyone obeys the ghost girl eventually.

Her corpse is keeping the Saigyou Ayakashi sealed. This prevents her from reincarnating.

20 to 30 years ago, she created an emigration project by allowing the ghosts to haunt abandoned places because of a large number of ghosts in the Netherworld. However, these places became known for ghost sightings and the Yama decreed ghosts are not to be seen. Thus the size of the Netherworld was increased.

Music

Bloom Nobly, Cherry Blossoms of Sumizome ~ Border of Life : Yeah, I like this. It feels like a final boss theme, even if PCB had a phantasm boss. Not sure I feel the Yuyuko, but boy is it powerful.

Border of Life: It feels a lot more ghosty to me, but I don't feel that power that I do from the other one.

SWR mix: That sax. It gives me the will to fight... or dance. It gives me will either way!

Ghost Lead: A very nice theme for the start of TD, but that's all. Still, I respect ZUN for choosing to give Yuyuko two themes than to remix an older one just because he was reusing a character. Border of Life wouldn't fit stage one.

Overview

Yuyuko gives new meaning to the phrase "rest in peace." She has no worries, no cares. She doesn't even mind if she has to invoke her power every now and again anymore, though never without reason. Rather than walk, she floats around. She is unable to remember when she died, but her life has passed; she now enjoys her death. Unable to be straightforward, nothing she says ever seems to make sense; she seems to be on the same wavelength with characters such as Yukari in terms of thought process. Unlike Yukari, she is much more spontaneous and willing to get involved without a plan. Perhaps she's just that cunning and always has a plan. Perhaps she's just too cheerful to consider the outcomes of her actions. Perhaps, she manages to be both. In either case, if she tells you something it's best to take her advice.

edited 4th Feb '12 8:26:13 PM by Horselesshorseman

I have no horse, and I must ride. I accomplish unlockments.

Total posts: 24,265
Top