Introductory Notes – or, a Revisionary Foreword

Way back when I first started these, I was content to just have a quick note before the first one and be done with it, since I abhor wasting chapter space for notes. But as these have progressed and my headcanon has fleshed out a bit, we're going to consider this a bit of a revisionary foreword.

So the basics: This is a collection of ficlets inspired by the twelve prompt tables over at LiveJournal's 10 Prompts community. There should be 120 of them in total, because apparently I'm an overambitious nut job, but at the time I was just looking for some low-stress prompt writing to navigate the insanity that was Senior Year at university. Each chapter is meant to stand alone, but some are connected because the ideas got so out of control. The main focus is Zoisite x Ami, because Shippers Gonna Ship, but the others appear throughout. 'Canon' pairings apply, with Senshi x Shitennou pairings being considered canon.

Navigating the Names: Modern Shitennou, SilMil Senshi

Like a lot of ficcers, I took the route of renaming the boys. I just didn't see them keeping gemstone names in a modern setting, and it helped develop backstories for them. (Like Nate's mother is Navajo, his father is a businessman from out West, and his family is HUGE, which Makoto loves. And Kassim's parents immigrated to the UK in their twenties from Saudi Arabia. Which is how his family got tied up with the Murphys.) I tried to keep the first letter of the names the same, and I also tried to tie the names to their cultural ruling/kingdoms.

Kunzite: Kassim Kadar (Middle East: Arab)

Jadeite: Tanaka Joji (Far East: Japanese)

Nephrite: Nayati 'Nate' Jones (North American: Native American)

Zoisite: Zane Murphy (European: Irish)

Likewise, when it came to writing the Silver Millennium, I renamed the girls. I used the names of goddesses and tried to pull from the mythology associated to their counterpart's kingdoms (because I guess I thought it'd be poetic/romantic?) and their element. I also went and renamed the Outers, even though I wasn't sure if I'd be using them, to cover all my bases – which is how Michiru also ended up with an Irish name, because Neptune and Mercury are often depicted as cousins. And Pluto…I just searched for goddesses associated with Time, and flipped my shit when I found out that particular goddess applied. Because I'm a dork. xD

Ami: Brigid (Celtic goddess of wisdom/healing (among other things), associated with Athena)

Rei: Fuchi (Japanese goddess of fire)

Makoto: Cocijo (South Mexican god of thunder)

Minako: Hathor (Egyptian goddess of sky, love, beauty, and music)

Michiru: Sinann (Irish goddess of the River Shannon)

Haruka: Kishar (Akkadian 'mother earth' goddess; counterpart to a sky god)

Hotaru: Hel (Norse goddess of death/guardian of hell)

Setsuna: Kali (Hindu goddess of, among other things, time)

Navigating the Language: Zane is a Kilt-wearing Irish Bastard

As stated above, Zane is Irish. I have this headcanon that the Japanese language is inert in the boys: they learned it/were fluent during their time in the Dark Kingdom, but since – with the exception of Joji, who is Japanese – the language lies dormant until they wake up and remember. Or, in some cases I have them already living in Japan (usually Zane's dad is a professor, and a few times I've had him teaching at a university there). Either way, because of his Irish heritage, there is Irish I try to throw in – usually as terms of endearment. (I blame O.R. Melling and the massive fangirl crush I had on Dara in middle school.) I don't go into much detail with the language, as I'm still learning and Am Not Ready for full-on writing, but a few words will pop up. Below are the most common and their translations. A few times I throw in extras (like "Ami's Holiday", where I have Zane telling his mam "ceapim go bhfuilim i ngrá" – "I think I'm in love"), but those are rare and will have translations in the fics.

girseach – young girl, similar to calling someone 'lass'

mo chara – my friend/dear one

a stór – treasure, 'sweetheart'

mo chroí – 'my heart'

gráim thú – I love you

go síoraí – forever

Aaaand I think that's about it? Man, I can't believe I finally caved and did this, but I'm hoping it makes some of the fics a bit easier. Sorry I'm a dork.

Until the Shout,

Ver