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Iku Nagae
, also sporadically featured here
Theme:
Crimson in the Black Sea ~ Legendary Fish
Traits:
- Maternal/Cool big sister figure
- Classy and beautiful (often portrayed as one of the "old ladies")
- Lazy, little drive of her own
Relationships/Shipping:
- Tenshi (they have some sort of relationship; usually portrayed as her chaperone)
Write-up:
The Messenger of the Dragon Palace arrives! Iku-san is a mysterious entity, or perhaps "obscure" would be a better term.
Her known job is to observe the weather in the clouds that she calls her home, as she has the ability to read the atmosphere. Many think that she is responsible for Tenshi as well, portraying her as an educator, a chaperone, a mentor... Perhaps this goes a way to explain Tenshi's bratty behaviour, as Iku appears to be content spending her life just flying elegantly through the ever-changing sky.
A dancer with an almost infinite stage and no need for an audience, Iku is a mysterious entity who doesn't appear to want to intrude on the lives of the earthbound people except when the duty given to her by her very existence calls for it.
Similar characters:
- Reimu and/or Komachi (lazy, watching the world go by, only do work when it has to be done)
- Hina (both known primarily for dance type moves)
I'm sorry for taking so long. I've been kind of all over the place lately. I will also only be online for two hours a day next week, and possibly thereafter, so I won't be writing these during that time, either...
Funny but not helpful
Her ability to read the atmosphere means that she can instantly adapt to the mood of a place and adapt to it. Much more than our discussion on Reisen, it means that Iku changes how she acts to suit the situation. She doesn't like it interfere or insist on her own opinions according to her profile. She mostly drifts through life dancing, watching the world go by, and keeping an eye on the dragon god.
The clothes that she wears as a messenger of the dragon palace are also special. If you steal them to wear, three things will happen (in order of importance):
1. You will have caused a naked Iku Nagae
2. You will gain a 200% boost to your fashion stat
3. You can use the clothes to fly. Since the games take place in Gensokyo, this third characteristic is basically useless.
Iku Nagae is likely the first living youkai oarfish that the cast of SWR ever saw. Its mentioned on her profile that they rarely show themselves to humans unless they're delivering a message but occasionally a dead oarfish's body is found.
Finally, I don't think that Tenshi and Iku knew each other very well before SWR. They might have met in passing a few times and Iku would be familiar with the VIPs of heaven but they address each other too informally in the game to be close. Tenshi recognizes Iku by her job but doesn't remember her name. I think the whole teacher/mentor thing could have come about after SWR, if Iku decided Tenshi needed an eye kept on her. She would have time to spare and watching things is practically half of her job. I doubt that Iku could seriously keep Tenshi from causing mischief but luckily the novelty of having a oarfish teacher might amuse Tenshi enough to alleviate her boredom.
edited 23rd May '10 4:24:07 PM by Bocaj
Forever liveblogging the Avengers
Her ability to read the atmosphere means that she can instantly adapt to the mood of a place and adapt to it. Much more than our discussion on Reisen, it means that Iku changes how she acts to suit the situation.Oh hey, I didn't even make that connection. Hah.
Also, if what you say is true, then they really don't canonically have much of a history together... but I think I'd prefer to say that they still did, just because it makes for some more interesting story potential.
I am now a shiny stone~
Her most common fan portrayl has her having a hand in looking after little Tenshi. Unfortunately, she has ended up making that Celestial into quite a spoiled teenager.
The three finest things in life are to splat your enemies, drive them from their turf, and hear their lamentations as their rank falls!
nagisad
^
I get the personal feeling there that it was somewhat inevitable; given that Tenshi had little to do following her parents ascension in the first place. Especially if we stick to the idea of Iku not taking a mentor role until after SWR. There would have been little influence one would have had on the other.
Kitkat Kitkat / He's our man / If any one screws up / He sure can -Imca
Iku's basically a nonentity in the series, except as a Satellite Character to Tenshi. What her role is there varies a bit, but usually I've seen it that she's responsible for watching Tenshi and making sure she doesn't cause trouble (and thus if either of them gets any screentime she's failed to do her job).
All the jokes about her dancing feel to me like someone's desperate and mostly failed attempt to rescue her from obscurity, even if they did stick.
I suppose just looking cool in most of your attacks isn't good enough.
I think Iku's really cool. The outfit puts me in mind of a flamenco dancer, as well as (OF COURSE!) an oarfish. Oarfish is a pretty cool guy.
In addition to her impeccable fashion sense, she also seems like a pretty competent and level-headed individual. Heaven * knows Gensokyo needs more of those.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't her relationship with Tenshi purely a fanon thing? I mean, in the games she just pretty much shows up and goes I AM FROM THE DRAGON PALACE, BEWARE, DOOOOOM IS UPON YE! and stuff, right? I don't believe it's ever actually stated in the game that she knows Tenshi personally.
In any case, Iku definitely Needs More Love.
Brickman, the dancing isn't really a joke... well, besides the obvious Saturday Night Fever stuff. But it's no coincidence that her outfit brings to mind a dancer, she has moves that seem dance-like, and her profile stresses her elegance and flexibility. The dancing is part of her character, though obviously reducing her to that without keeping in mind the implications for the rest of her personality is pretty shallow.
I'm just joining in so I hope I'mdoingitrite...
Are we putting in votes of which character to do next or just discussing?
We are mostly discussing. Deciding whom to discuss next is usually done when a discussion is reaching its end.
Despite being partially responsible for her being here, I don't really have much to say. Fanworks just have her a connected to Tenshi, but how changes depending on the work. Sometimes she's her caretaker, other times a friend, and still others they remember that they don't get along in canon, and have Iku punishing Tenko. In the rare event that she's not with that celestial it's either for a joke about Saturday Night Fever, a joke about her being unable to read the atmosphere, or because her scarf is cool.
Funny but not helpful
Or apparently a joke about how "Iku" can be translated into an orgasmic exclamation.
On the other hand, the fact that Iku is just one of the oarfish youkai dragonfish messengers means that there might be a veritable fleet of Iku-esque beings out there dancing, watching, conveying, and periodically dry cleaning. Truly good news for the Iku fans.
Forever liveblogging the Avengers
Not really a lot of good Iku art. What I could find:
I missed this avatar.
What's so ugly about the 2P outfit?
WHO IS THIS LOSER
It's all red. Just so plain looking.
I missed this avatar.
Well my favorite color is red SO
WHO IS THIS LOSER
I like that second to last one. Also the third to last I considered saving, but didn't.
Funny but not helpful
The caption Hylarn gave the last picture made me think. Mystia and Aya don't like people eating grilled chicken despite neither of them actually being chickens, right?
Do you suppose Iku would get angry at Mystia for serving grilled lamprey?
Forever liveblogging the Avengers
I am now a shiny stone~
Wriggle would get upset if they started serving Water Bugs and Locusts, though.
The three finest things in life are to splat your enemies, drive them from their turf, and hear their lamentations as their rank falls!
Funny but not helpful
She is the Queen of Bugs. She has to watch out for her subjects. And start talking in the royal we more often.
Forever liveblogging the Avengers
I missed this avatar.
Now I'm imagining Wriggle wearing a ridiculous crown and cape.
WHO IS THIS LOSER
Funnily enough, Princess Wriggle is something of a meme.
I missed this avatar.
THE CROWN IS NOT RIDICULOUS ENOUGH KING WRIGGLE IS DISPLEASED
WHO IS THIS LOSER
Funny but not helpful
So are we doing 193 or what? I'm not really capable of writing at enough length to do a writeup.