TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

The New New Touhou Character Alternate Interpretation Compendium

Go To

Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#1651: Sep 8th 2014 at 6:24:23 PM

It was also the most memorable part of the trip for Remilia who otherwise found the place boring.

Hence indoor pool party later.

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
Clarste One Winged Egret Since: Jun, 2009 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
One Winged Egret
#1652: Sep 8th 2014 at 7:15:24 PM

For the record, I've often seen the "Messenger of the Dragon Palace" thing being referred to as a pun, but I don't think that's the right way to describe it. It's more like, back in ye olden days when people actually believed in this sort of thing, they sometimes caught these huge-ass fish and they literally thought they were messengers from the Dragon Palace. That's just what an oarfish is. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole idea of a Dragon Palace came from these weird and therefore special fish. There is no other way to refer to oarfish in Japanese.

edited 8th Sep '14 7:15:42 PM by Clarste

Tacitus Since: Jan, 2001
#1653: Sep 9th 2014 at 10:16:33 PM

I wonder if this means the Japanese managed to get a better look at an oarfish than Europeans or whatever. It's hard to imagine examining one up close and concluding that it's some sort of fearsome predator, plus it's so frilly that it's obviously important.

Iku picdump! Started strong but the quality seemed to fall off much faster than other characters. Still a lot of good stuff, though.

On the left.
A pretty good watercolor
A fairly decent sketch
Cruising the skies of Gensokyo
Rock the dragon?
Wispy
Style shift
That shoe could kill someone, y'know
Her heavenly abode
An underwater field of flowers?
Splattery style
I am now imagining Aya singing encouragement in a Caribbean accent
Iku does earz
Non-hostile moment
Shared_scarf
Dragging her into the depths
Fish of the sky
From the "Iku is a slob at home" alternate interpretation
Magic fish
Undead electro-fish
Iku fish
Adapted costume
Iku, Iku, and Iku
Red Mage
Not a Red Mage
Valkyrie
French Maid
Office Lady
Delinquents
I don't get the pairing but like the outfit
I cannot look at a fishing line without wincing
I can hear the maracas
Red like roses
Charging up
Snap, crackles, pops
Thunderfire sword
Giga Drill Breaker
Piercing scarf\\ Thunder shockwave
Dragon girls
Uh, just ignore the one in the bottom-left
Something to consider for later conversations and speculations
More realistic
Deep blue
BtB BAs
If the Dragon Palace is on the moon, then she must swim through the sea of stars
Just damn pretty
Power and grace
This guy's Iku stuff is pretty popular
Upsie-daisy
Sometimes your happy place is very close to someone else's derriere
Just imagine the electrostatic power
Keen animal senses
There's a static_cling tag?
Naz got the mutant
Man, I don't know
A terrible situation for anyone
The third R
Hell

Diamite Rainy Echoes Since: Jul, 2013
Rainy Echoes
#1654: Sep 10th 2014 at 9:51:21 PM

Blasting some tunes across the atmospheric airwaves.


The Hagoromo of the Sky
Funky Crimson Sea
Azure Skies
Turbulent Atmosphere
Battle in the Stratosphere
A Crimson of Grace and Power
Ominous Skies
Sky March
Crimson Fever!
Calm at the Black Sea


Giga Drill Breaker

Now that's how you cut tension! Or rather, pierce.

edited 10th Sep '14 9:51:57 PM by Diamite

Tacitus Since: Jan, 2001
#1655: Sep 11th 2014 at 8:31:12 PM

Ooooh, "Ominous Skies" is just my kind of remix.

Well, music dump aside there's been a lot of stately, frilly silence. Any last words before we move on to the dullahan?

Otherarrow Since: Jul, 2010
#1656: Sep 12th 2014 at 5:10:56 AM

I got nothing. Which is a shame, because Iku is stylish and cool and I like her.

Don't PM me. We don't like being PMed.
Tacitus Since: Jan, 2001
#1657: Sep 12th 2014 at 8:46:14 PM

I realized that I forgot to roll some virtual dice for the last profile or two. So, Daiyousei will be next, followed by it looks like Captain Minamitsu Murasa, and the Makai Magician Duo, Yuki and Mai! Minor character, majorish character, and oldschool characters, good spread.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves.





Strange Rokurokubi
Sekibanki

Appearance:

Stage: Severed Head Under the Willows ~ Flying Head
BGM: "Humans and Youkai Coming and Going at the Canal"
Theme: "Dullahan Under the Willows"

Spellcard Motif: Pardon me while I lose my head
Spellcards: (DDC, ISC)
Flight Sign "Flying Head," Neck Sign "Rokurokubi Flight," Flying Head "Multiplicative Head," Flying Head "Dullahan Night," Flying Neck "Extreme Long Neck," Glinting Eyes "Hell's Ray," Flying Neck "Twin Rokuro Head"

Write-up:
A youkai with some interesting neck problems. Sekibanki normally lives by herself in the Human Village, whose residents either don't notice her highly-conspicuous, high-collared red cloak, or are too polite to mention it. She's not normally one to make trouble, and sat out the religious battles that briefly came in vogue, only to be compelled by the Miracle Mallet to somewhat inconvenience the Incident resolvers as they put down the youkai uprising. Nevertheless, she recently tried her hand at amanojaku hunting, so maybe she's starting to come out of her shell and join the fun.

Sekibanki's fandom presence is mainly build around the fact that her head can turn into a yukkuri, but others look past her physical attributes to focus on her annoying personality. ZUN's comments describe her as a chuunibyou, so Sekibanki might in fact be a hipster. Probably not the third category, but maybe even youkai can have delusions of superpowers.

Relations:

  • None.
  • sad

See also the previous compendium.

edited 12th Sep '14 8:46:48 PM by Tacitus

Grounder Main Character Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: All is for my lord
Main Character
#1658: Sep 12th 2014 at 8:49:58 PM

All there is to say about her (aside from the fact she's basically a hipster) is pure conjecture due to a lack of characterization time.

That said, I imagine she thinks yukkuris were just created to steal her thunder.

edited 12th Sep '14 8:54:49 PM by Grounder

TrueShadow1 Since: Dec, 2012
#1659: Sep 12th 2014 at 10:24:58 PM

She's a rokurokubi, which is a youkai that can stretch its neck, but she's also capable of detaching her head completely, which is what nukekubi actually does. Add to the fact that she also identifies as a dullahan, all points to her not being 'pure' rokurokubi, but a conflation of those three creatures as a result of humans being dumb.

Currently it's not known whether all rokurokubi are like her, or she's a unique among all rokurokubi. (Hence her title, "Strange Rokurokubi").

Also interesting is that she lives in the Human Village disguising herself as a human. She was there all along, we just never saw her. My personal headcanon, which I will hold until at least Akyuu Book #3 got out, is that she was adopted by human parents and she didn't know she was a youkai at first. Until she did, which she then was all like "look gaiz i have supahpowah!!". But no one believes her even when she took off her head in front of them. Actually, considering she's a chuunibyou, maybe she's not even a dullahan, and just calls herself such because it sounds cooler.

Also, her theme rocks. One of my favorite Touhou songs.

TPPR10 Craving for fish from up north Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
Craving for fish
#1660: Sep 12th 2014 at 10:34:41 PM

In my headcan- *shot*

... Ahem. So in my opinion, I imagine Sekibanki being rather cynical. As in, she just doesn't give a damn about much of anything. She wouldn't care if people knew that she was an youkai. She can joke around, but her jokes usually are rather snarky.

The thing with her being able to detach her head in her mind would be an everyday occurrence. As in, she would do it without much of thinking about it.

edited 12th Sep '14 10:34:55 PM by TPPR10

Only sometimes posts
Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#1661: Sep 12th 2014 at 10:58:36 PM

So, I imagine she must do youkai things if she's still around.

So probably not an entirely innocent life in the village.

edited 12th Sep '14 10:58:54 PM by Bocaj

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
Otherarrow Since: Jul, 2010
#1662: Sep 13th 2014 at 11:00:52 AM

Sekibanki is a Rokurokubi, meaning she can stretch her neck. However, she can also detach her head, making her a Nukekubi. Also, her theme identifies her as a Dullahan. Uhh...

Anyway, Sekibanki is a youkai who lives in the human village, and is basically an arrogant hipster who looks down on both humans and other youkai and scoffs at the fads and goings on with either group. She doesn't need any of that plebian garbage. (despite this, she still joined in the hunt for Seija. Weird)

Despite her arrogance, she ran off pretty quickly after she got the Miracle Mallet energy whacked out of her.

She has a very stylish outfit. I like the cape.

Don't PM me. We don't like being PMed.
Prime32 Since: Jan, 2001
#1663: Sep 13th 2014 at 7:37:28 PM

Actually, considering she's a chuunibyou, maybe she's not even a dullahan, and just calls herself such because it sounds cooler.
I like this idea. tongue

Antimatter625 Baring hearts for years from my secret place Since: Jan, 2012
Baring hearts for years
#1664: Sep 13th 2014 at 8:45:07 PM

I don't like her much, I don't know why.

I do imagine she's a bit of a prankster. Rolling her head off, covering her body in blood, and leaving it where someone's sure to find it.

Heck, if she's got youkai resilience that gives her a ton of options, like disemboweling her body and leaving it on the bed of someone she's learned is cheating on their spouse, with a handwritten note along the lines of "Consider yourself warned."

Actually, nevermind the whole cheating thing, that's probably a pretty good prank regardless. I suspect plenty of people would freak the hell out at such a scene, whether or not they were guilty of anything. Then when they start freaking out and the body starts heaving and spasming and makes them bolt out of the room.

And then the scene cuts to reveal why the mutilated body started moving: Sekibanki just couldn't keep from laughing any longer, and her head is literally rolling on the floor laughing.

Even better, if the 'target' were guilty of anything, they wouldn't even report it ("Hey, Akyuu! I think someone's threatening my life because I stole some grain from Reimu!" "You are a monster. Why would you do that?!"). Naturally, the body would be gone next time they returned note , leading them to wonder if it had ever really happened.note 

And of course identifying her would be a bit of a pain without her head there. So maybe after a while rumors would start to circulate of some ghost of a murdered girl haunting people... While nobody suspects lil' ol' Sekibanki, walking along all 2cool4u.

Ok, I think I like her a bit better, now.

edited 13th Sep '14 8:47:44 PM by Antimatter625

I write some fanfiction. Satori's Tale is done... but I'm not.
Tacitus Since: Jan, 2001
#1665: Sep 13th 2014 at 9:01:51 PM

EDIT: [up] A bit gruesome, leaving your own dismembered body in someone's bed as a prank, but I imagine that's probably the sense of humor someone who can detach their head would develop.

My personal headcanon, which I will hold until at least Akyuu Book #3 got out, is that she was adopted by human parents and she didn't know she was a youkai at first. Until she did, which she then was all like "look gaiz i have supahpowah!!". But no one believes her even when she took off her head in front of them.

Well this could go in some interesting directions. We know that humans can turn into youkai as a result of meddling with magic, so it's possible Sekibanki wasn't even born a dullahan, but grew into one later, and she might not be aware she's a "breed" of youkai, thus arriving at a weird variant of the type 3 chuunibyou. Or we could make her even weirder, have her be aware of her youkai status for some time, but nevertheless she could be convinced she has some unique superpower in addition to her ability to do things with her head.

Actually, considering she's a chuunibyou, maybe she's not even a dullahan, and just calls herself such because it sounds cooler.

Huh. Maybe she's the equivalent of Occidental Otaku, just all hyped about Celtic mythology and culture. Talks about how superior claymores are to katanas, which explains why the Japanese never invaded medieval Ireland.

The thing with her being able to detach her head in her mind would be an everyday occurrence. As in, she would do it without much of thinking about it.

Maybe that's why she rocks the popped collar? It gives her an extra second to notice when she's instinctively detaching her noggin and pull it back into place without arousing suspicion.

Or maybe she's cynical because she's slipped up a few times right in front of other villagers, but they never noticed. Hence her dismissive opinion of everything and everyone - she knows they really are that stupid.

(despite this, she still joined in the hunt for Seija. Weird)

Maybe a grudge against the person who compeled her to get in a losing fight overcame her natural reluctance to follow the other sheeple?

edited 13th Sep '14 9:07:14 PM by Tacitus

Diamite Rainy Echoes Since: Jul, 2013
Rainy Echoes
#1666: Sep 14th 2014 at 4:29:03 PM

Sekibanki acts like a hipster, but when you get down to it, she's not really above going with the flow like everyone else, the Seija hunt being an example. Or maybe she joined the hunt because it was the cool thing to do?

....

W-whatever, all I'm saying is Sekibanki can work with others, which...is quite the contrast to Seija, who's above any form of companionship... I think it qualifies as a contrast, at least.tongue

Tacitus Since: Jan, 2001
#1667: Sep 15th 2014 at 9:01:55 PM

Hmm, maybe add her to the Human Village Justice League? No, wait, Human Village X-Women, defending people who hate and fear them have yet to notice her head isn't always attached to her body. No, wait... what's a good B-list superhero team analogue for this? The Playable Protagonists are the big leagues, and all the empowered individuals who guard the homesteads during Incidents are what, Great Lakes Avengers or something?

Anyway, Sekibanki would probably style herself as some cool, aloof Sixth Ranger rather than the team's Justice Friends-era Aquaman. But her description makes her sound emotionally immature, so she could always grow out of it.

Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#1668: Sep 15th 2014 at 9:08:27 PM

The Champions maybe? Or the Defenders?

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
Durazno Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
GAP Formerly G.G. from Who Knows? Since: May, 2011 Relationship Status: In love with love
Formerly G.G.
#1670: Sep 17th 2014 at 11:42:46 AM

How the Teen titans r Young Justice?

I know she isn't a dullahan but what happen to long neck and arms?

"Fan, a Mega Man character."
TPPR10 Craving for fish from up north Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
Craving for fish
#1671: Sep 17th 2014 at 1:09:05 PM

I imagine that the reason why Sekibanki would be on the Seija hunt is because It's Personal. I mean, she just wants to be left alone, and then one day she just comes around and before she knows it, her head is full of paper talismans, knives and burn marks. Play with her normally, she would scoff you off. But that is where she draws the line.

That, or she wants to stop Seija to stop the witch hunt so that she doesn't need to get a headache *pichun* ... due of these people running around trying to catch Seija.

Only sometimes posts
Tacitus Since: Jan, 2001
#1672: Sep 17th 2014 at 10:22:59 PM

That's a good point, a manhunt for an amanojaku could easily lead into the Human Village, and then to talk about "youkai in our midst." Could that be why some of the other characters got involved? Does that grassroots youkai network extend into the village? Has Sekibanki joined it?

Sekibanki's really a good worldbuilding opportunity to tell us more about the non-human population of the Human Village, and how youkai (or those with youkai blood) are treated if they live there. The fact that she lives undercover suggests she'd prefer them not know, but is it a matter of life or death, or convenience? Or is she in no real danger at all, but is so wrapped up in her awesomeness that she insists on having a secret identity as the highly dangerous youkai vigilante?

Antimatter625 Baring hearts for years from my secret place Since: Jan, 2012
Baring hearts for years
#1673: Sep 18th 2014 at 7:33:30 AM

The fact that she lives undercover suggests she'd prefer them not know, but is it a matter of life or death, or convenience?

Likely convenience. PMISS mentions specialty stores that specifically cater to youkai, so they aren't exactly kill on sight in the village. But they're generally not appreciated, so keeping it secret would make sense.

Also possible she thinks she's batman or something and needs the mysterious undercover lifestyle to be awesome.

I write some fanfiction. Satori's Tale is done... but I'm not.
Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#1674: Sep 18th 2014 at 7:36:27 AM

"Humans are a superstitious, cowardly lot"
"So you must become a symbol of fear?"
"No, that's square one for me. I was just pointing it out."

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
Otherarrow Since: Jul, 2010
#1675: Sep 18th 2014 at 7:53:43 AM

Personally I see Sekibanki as the kinda moody dork who even if she did come out claiming to be a youkai, the villagers would just roll her eyes and be all "sure you are".

Don't PM me. We don't like being PMed.

Total posts: 4,447
Top