Jonathan Stalling’s Yingelishi is a book of poetry that is read in two ways: in Chinese and in English. He offers a line of English poetry, then rewrites it phonetically in the Chinese language, so that the new line in Chinese has its own unique and coherent meaning, which is then translated back into English. The end result is a poem existing in multiple languages and in no languages at all, with multiple meanings that can be read many ways.
[Image ID: A line that reads, “早上好” which is Simplified Chinese for “good morning.” Then a line of English text that reads, “good morning,” followed by a line of pinyin or possibly a different method of transliterated Chinese that reads, “gũ dé mào níng.” Then a line of Chinese characters which reads, “孤德貌宁,” phonically the same as the above pinyin, followed by a line of English text which is the translation of the above Chinese, reading, “Even alone, the moral one / appears peaceful.” End image ID.]
It was a lovely afternoon, and you were enjoying a lovely chat with the crown prince of the Devildom. Diavolo was glad to have a break from work, as well as an excuse not to return to it.
That is, until Barbatos appeared. The butler asked his charge to please return to the urgent matters on his desk. Break time was over.
Diavolo frowned. He did not want to work anymore. He had been diligently fulfilling his duties for a week now with no complaints. He peered at the desk, with its mountain of paperwork. He peered at Barbatos, whose smile thinly masked a threatening disposition. He peered at you, a sad and helpless expression on his face.
"We're going to have to leave our conversation here. I am so sorry," Diavolo lamented. He approached you with outstretched arms.
Thinking of a hug, you met him with equally outstretched arms. "It's okay, you can message me la-"
Anything you were about to say disappeared from your mind as Diavolo picked you up. There was resolution in his eyes. There was no going back now. In haste, he threw you at Barbatos.
The butler's cool facade broke as he scrambled to catch you in a graceful hold, cautious to minimize any damage to your body. Though, you felt his bony fingers dig into your sides as Barbatos gripped you tightly. He was furious.
Diavolo was already out the door and down the hall, looking for somewhere he could hide for at least another five minutes before returning to work. Though it was regrettable he could not spend any more time with you, this was a necessary action to distract Barbatos.
He would never forget your noble sacrifice.
i might elaborate later but fanfic replies literally develop writer’s metacognition and make them better writers
Yeah yeah yeah it's generic and amateurish and frankly trite, but is it earnest? Is it sincere? Is there a heart underneath it all
Can't be sincerely dark without being called edgy, can't be sincerely emotional without being called melodramatic, can't be sincerely silly without being called stupid. They're gonna hate every emotion you put in your art no matter what so make it anyway and be as sincere as you can be