Muu audio drama (t2) - English TL
[ links: Spotify / YT Music ]
Behold, the longest voice drama I’ve ever posted. This thing is almost 2.3k words long. I am in pain /lh
As always, feel free to head to my ask box or my Twitter (now actually with open DMs lmao) for any questions, potential mistranslations, etc.!
Also,, Trigger warning (aside from. well. the usual Milgram things): Towards the end, they discuss another character’s threat of suicide. It’s nothing super graphic, but there sure are... opinions on it, so please proceed with caution if that’s a touchy topic for you!
⬇️ translation under the cut ⬇️
(door opens)
M: Ah, it’s been a while, Warden-san. – Things have gotten tough, haven’t they… Everyone seems to be struggling and the whole atmosphere feels tense because everyone’s struggling, it’s really troublesome.
E: Is that so?
M: But as for me, I think Milgram has become a lot more comfortable! I know now that I can get whatever I want if I ask for it, so I don’t need to be so on edge anymore.
E: …
M: You did say that you and Milgram are our allies, and maybe you were right all along!
E: …
M: Aww, it’s boring if it’s just me talking! We’re talking to each other for the first time in a while, so you tell me about something interesting too, Warden-san~
E: You’re in pretty high spirits.
M: Am I?
E: I feel like you’ve brightened up.
M: Maybe…
E: But following the judgment after your first trial, the situation in Milgram has changed. And in the aftermath, Kotoko has attacked people too… From how I remember you, I would have expected you to feel uneasier than this.
M: Huh? But that has nothing to do with me.
E: What?
M: The ones who are suffering are the ones who have done bad things, right? You know, like, what goes around comes around.
E: …
M: Besides, Kotoko hurt and was mean to the people who didn’t get forgiven by you, right?
E: …Yeah.
M: Wouldn’t it be weird for me to have any thoughts on that, then? After all, I didn’t do anything wrong. You forgave me!
E: …
M: Eh? Is something wrong? Those who didn’t get forgiven by you must be bad people, if you ask me! I believe in you, Warden-san, so I’d hope you feel happy!
E: …Thanks for that.
M: See, you said you forgave me and that’s part of your job, so it’s probably right! Come on, come on, have some confidence!
E: … Speaking of which, you seem to be pretty close to Haruka.
M: …? Yeah! He’s the one I get along with best in Milgram!
E: Do you have some kind of goal with that?
M: Huh?
E: Haruka’s loyalty towards you is one thing, but with this kind of relationship, I think it’s only natural to wonder if you’re using him for something.
M: Ehh… Warden-san, do you not have any friends?
E: Huh?
M: Are there any?
E: None that I could think of.
M: Wow, poor thing,.. I’ll teach you! Friends aren’t like that, you know. Rather than using each other for something, we just get along because we’re comfortable around each other. That’s all.
E: Well, I’m sorry about that.
M: Haruka-kun is really nice! He accepts anything I say, he listens to anything I tell him. For me, that’s really comfortable.
E: And that’s… “friendship”?
M: What do you mean? Of course we’re friends! Haruka-kun is happy with it, so it only has benefits for both of us!
E: I, as someone who has no friends, can’t judge, of course, but isn’t that just exploitation?
M: Exploitation…? Um, I don’t really understand, but… I do help him pick out clothes [in return], and I recently gave him a hairpin I didn’t need anymore as a hand-me-down!
E: …
M: We also have in common that we’re both people who were forgiven by you, Warden-san, so I don’t think it’s a relationship that anyone could have a problem with!
E: … I already said this to Haruka, but Milgram consists of three trials, and I have only forgiven you this once. I think it’s too early to feel completely safe.
M: Eh~ You already decided to forgive me. I think it’d be uncool to be like, “Oh, actually, nevermind” now.
E: This is just how it is.
M: It’s fine already, isn’t it? You saw me, didn’t you? And from that, you decided that I haven’t done anything wrong, didn’t you?
E: Yeah, that’s right. For the first trial, that is.
M: It’s the same no matter how many times we do this. I’m me, after all. That won’t change.
E: If I keep looking from now on, will I come across something that puts you in a less positive light?
M: Eh?
E: Milgram reveals the truth through videos and music. After deciding whether to forgive you or not in the first trial, I’ll continue to dig deeper, searching for the truth inside your hearts once again.
M: …
E: For example: Things that you hid. Things that you forgot about. Things that weren’t visible through the rest of your strong feelings. Those are things that I’ll be shedding light on.
M: Hmm…
E: Or at least it might be.
M: …I don’t get it, but whatever. I haven’t done anything wrong, after all.
E: Is that so? It’s true that I’ve forgiven you once… but I remember feeling uneasy about it the whole time. Was it really right to forgive you? Aren’t you still hiding something? Things like that.
M: …Why… would you think stuff like that? That’s mean, Warden-san… You saw me, didn’t you? All the awful things that were done to me, that I couldn’t have escaped from without killing someone! I can’t believe you’re saying this to me, after I’ve gone through all of that… Warden-san, you’re mean.
E: Maybe I am. Your pain and suffering has certainly reached me. Or should I call it bullying? One-sided violence and mistreatment… I’m sure it was difficult to handle. It’s not unreasonable to come to the conclusion that murder is the only way for a weak person to get out of that. That’s exactly why I forgave you.
M: Yeah… If I hadn’t done that, I could have died some day.
E: But – are you actually that weak, Muu?
M: Huh?
E: That’s the source of my unease. Are you really that weak? Were you really getting picked on for being a weakling?
M: What do you mean?
E: How did it come to that in the first place? What was the cause? That’s what I don’t know. You could say it was conveniently omitted.
M: …
E: Even you yourself refuse to go there. Is it a topic that you don’t want to touch upon?
M: … Warden-san, I think you’re really doing something bad. Isn’t it a bad thing to act like there has to be something wrong with someone for them to get bullied?
E: Oh?
M: No matter the circumstances, it’s always the bullies who are in the wrong! Isn’t that obvious? Warden-san, you’re so smart, but you don’t even know things like that? Maybe you should take some lessons on morals or something.
E: …
M: Besides, even if I’ve done something wrong, there’s nothing that could justify bullying someone. Warden-san, I thought you were a nicer person.
E: So sorry that I’m not living up to your expectations.
M: If you’re reflecting on it, I’m willing to forgive you, though…
E: Could I ask the generous Muu to spoil me by letting me ask one more question, then?
M: What is it? If it’s a boring question, I don’t wanna.
E: Let’s say you’ve done nothing wrong—
M: Not “let’s say”! I have done nothing wrong!
E: Got it, got it. So, even though you’ve done nothing wrong – you got bullied. Why do you think that is?
M: I don’t know that! I mean, my family is rich, and my appearance stands out [in a good way], too… they probably did it out of envy or prejudice or something, right?
E: Right, right. And here I was with the theory that you were originally in the opposite position…
M: (slams her hands down)
E: …!
M: What are you saying…?
E: Just that it could also be speculated that you bullied someone and the tables turned on you.
M: Do you know what an awful thing you’re saying right now?
E: What are you getting this angry for? You’ve done nothing wrong, right?
M: Warden-san… I hate you.
E: This is just speculation. Don’t get so mad.
M: …
E: So what? Can you not give me an answer?
M: I haven’t bullied anyone. I’d never do such a mean thing! I’ve never hit anyone or poured water over anyone’s head. I wouldn’t do something like that! I’m not lying! I’m not telling you lies! I really haven’t done anything!
E: I see. I’ll take note of that.
M: … Um… um, by the way, Warden-san! I don’t know about this, but…
E: What?
M: You forgave me because I just gave my bullies their payback, right?
E: …Well… I guess so.
M: What was it called again… Revenge… Revenge? That means revenge can be [an acceptable motivator], right? And if you don’t forgive me this time, that’d mean that it’s not. If we leave aside the thing you said earlier about me maybe having bullied someone before – not that I actually did that, of course!
E: Sure.
M: So if I paid back what my bullies did to me, that would be revenge, right? And if you feel like I had no other choice than that, then don’t you have to forgive me?
E: … Uh… I’m not really sure what you’re trying to say…
M: You see, if you think that me bullying someone back after being bullied is the natural course of events, then wouldn’t it be bad to bully me back again in return?
E: …
M: But if you were like, “I won’t forgive you, Muu! Revenge is bad!,” then wouldn’t that imply that it’s also bad for me to bully someone back after they bullied me? Since we’ve all done something bad anyway, doesn’t that mean that I’ve not done anything wrong in the end?
E: …I think I’m kinda… starting to get your point… maybe…
M: … Warden-san, are you maybe not that intelligent, after all…?
E: Well, sorry about that.
M: Well, I guess it’s to be expected. You talk to a rabbit, after all. (giggles) Either way, you’ve understood that I haven’t done anything wrong, so it’s okay!
E: I sure have understood that talking to you isn’t getting me anywhere. But I guess since you made this explanation, I’ll take it into consideration.
M: Ah, but if you don’t forgive me, Haruka-kun will die, so I think it’d be best to not do that.
E: …!
(bell rings, machinery whirrs)
E: So you’ve heard about that nonsense too?
M: Yeah. Haruka-kun told me. So I could rest easy, according to him. That made me happy… It made me really feel our friendship!
E: You know about it and you’re not trying to stop him? Haruka, that is?
M: Why would I? Haruka-kun says he wants to do it, so there’s nothing I can do, right?
E: But you’re calling him your friend.
M: Isn’t it exactly because he’s my friend? Isn’t friendship about letting your friends do the things they want? … Are you about to tell me “that’s not what friendship is”? Then what is friendship? You’re together because it’s beneficial for everyone involved, aren’t you?
E: I don’t think Haruka is benefitting from that at all.
M: No way… It’s not like you could know what’s good for him.
E: …You sure are tough to beat.
M: I really don’t understand what you’re trying to say, Warden-san. It’s Haruka-kun’s personal freedom to decide what he wants to do, and I’m not doing anything wrong. It’s not like I’ve asked him to do it!
E: I see. That’s how it is, huh. You don’t say anything; just because you’re present, your surroundings’ wishes change to benefit you— Oh, so that’s it. Like a born queen. No, it’s like you’re influencing your surroundings not with words, but with pheromones… Just like a queen bee.
M: Pheromones…? I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but I don’t like that lewd-sounding stuff…
E: That’s not the nuance I was talking about.
M: Either way, there’s people who deserve to be unforgiven more than I do, so I think you should focus your efforts on them instead. Like, Kotoko-san has done something bad, for example. Ah, but what she did was approved by you, wasn’t it?
E: …You’re making my blood boil.
M: Anyway… I think you would do good to forgive me. Then Haruka-kun will be safe too. Ah, actually, couldn’t you just forgive everyone? Then Kotoko-san won’t run amok, and you won’t have to think about all the difficult stuff.
E: That is… a very attractive proposal.
M: Right? (giggles)
E: Abandoning all the thinking… How nice it would be if I could just do that.
M: … If you ask me, I don’t really get why you don’t do it…
E: Because this is the role I’m playing.
M: But the role was given to you, wasn’t it? You didn’t end up doing this because you wanted to, right? It’s not a dream you’ve had for a long time or anything, right, Warden-san? So there’s no need to let it tie you down. Couldn’t you just quit?
E: What are you…
M: Warden-san, we call you “Warden” because that’s what you are, right? I was assigned to be a prisoner, but that doesn’t mean my heart will become just that of a “prisoner” too. After all, I’m still me.
E: …!
M: Warden-san, are you okay? Are you feeling sick again?
E: (heavy breathing)
M: That’s because you keep thinking too much about difficult things. Just stop. Being the Warden, that is.
E: … Just— shut up, already! Prisoner no.4, Muu! Sing your sins!
432 notes
·
View notes
So this is my idea of what the afterlife would look like for Everlark (this is a very rough draft) -
Katniss, as an old lady, smiling as she talks with a young man in a brown leather jacket & a short whisp of a woman in a colourful dress.
A woman with curly hair decorated with flowers (every kind except white roses) & a brown eyed boy are deep in conversation.
Prim & Rue (who also have flowers decorating their hair - for Rue it's the ones she was "burried" with & for Prim it's the ones Peeta planted by Katniss's house) are playing with Buttercup & Lady as their mother's (one of which looks much younger then she did in Katniss's lifetime) watch on fondly.
Old man Peeta suddenly strolls into the clearing with an, old, Delly laughing & talking as they carry baskets of freshly baked goods. Madge gives a wave & a smile then goes back to trying to teach Delly's brother how to play the recorder.
The woman talking with Katniss & the man in the leather jacket stop when Peeta approaches, let's out a squeaky laugh at his apology before going to join the conversation between the curly haired woman & the brown eyed boy.
Peeta puts down his basket to hug Katniss & the man in the leather jacket smiles & kisses her forehead before heading to where his wife is.
Peeta asks her where the others are, to which she says Haymitch & his GF went to visit Mayslee, Hazelle had left to catch up with her family & Greasy Sae went to spend time with Ripper.
Peeta was disappointed as he'd just finished making a strawberry tart that would have been a perfect dessert for Madge's father & Katniss lovingly reminds him that Madge can take it with her whenever she leaves.
Then Mags & Finnick show up, by climbing out of a lake, with a young Annie (they're both dressed in their wedding clothes). Peeta & Katniss congratulates her on reuniting with Finnick again & on all she's accomplished in her life after they left, explaining that Finnick & Mags weren't the only ones checking up on her from this place.
That wether it was from Peeta's kitchen window, Katniss's lake, the puddles Haymitch's geese loved to splash around in, the throats of the Mockingjays or Finnick's & Mags's dreams. Everyone had seen, heard or felt the best & worst parts of her life without them & had just been waiting for her to finally be able to join them.
Mags (now free of the effects of her stroke) gose to join in the conversation between the short, whisp of a woman, the lady with the curly flowery hair & the brown eyed boy, who'd began feeding bread crumbs to a flock of Mockingjays.
Finnick smiles lovingly at Annie as she burst into tears when, later in the evening, Joahnna trudges into the clearing, plops down in front of the fire & deposits a bag of shells she'd "happened to stumble upon" in her lap which Annie & Peeta deside to set aside to paint/turn into jewellery later.
Much to everyones delight, Mr Everdeen opens one of the baskets & pulls out the ingredients to make smores. Then when eveyones nice & full him, Lucy & Maude strike up a song. Peeta eventually gets Katniss to join in, which makes her dad smile, her mum cry, Prim (with Buttercup on her lap & Lady at her feet) & Rue cheer, Joahnna wolf whistle & everyone else laugh & clap along.
When the fire finally dies out & the only light left comes from the moon & fire flys most of the people start saying their farewells & heading to their own "places" until its only Katniss, Peeta, her family, a young Haymitch & his family left.
At that point they all walk to what would be the Victors village in the real world (but there is no gate, the houses aren't run down & the path to get there is covered in flowers & beatiful wildlife).
Once outside his home, Haymitch says a hasty goodbye to Katniss & Peeta before him & his younger brother are battling to see who can make it through the door first (much to their mother's exasperation).
Katniss & Peeta then go to drop the Everdeens at their house that has a plant shop downstairs & leave just as Prim is begging Mrs Everdeen to allow Rue to sleep over the next day to which she replys 'if her mother allows it' (Katniss of course dose not leave without giving her dad & sister a big hug while her mother settles for a kiss on the cheek).
Katniss & Peeta then make their way to where Katniss's childhood home once recided (though much cleaner & warmer than it had ever been when she'd actually lived there & now with a rather nice kitchen).
As Buttercup curls up at the foot of their bed (she & Prim take it in turns who he stays the night with) & the two lovebirds get ready for bed Katniss turns to her husband.
'I want a night with the girl's tomorrow,' she says. 'I thought you might,' says Peeta with a smile. 'I'll be younger....for a bit,' Katniss decides. 'So will I, probably,' says Peeta. 'Oh?' Asks Katniss, curious. 'I was thinking of visiting my family for a few hours,' he admits. 'That's great, just don't let your mother-'. 'I won't, I promise'. Katniss still dosn't look sure. 'Tell you what if she says anything even remotely passive aggressive, I'll leave straight away & just hang out with Haymitch & Finnick for the day?'. 'Good, it's just'. 'I know'. 'I don't ever want you feeling bad about yourself again, not here'. 'Don't worry, this place is good, we'll always be safe here'. 'Like in our cave?' She asks fondly. 'Even better,' he insists as he wraps his arms around her small but plump frame. 'How long do you think it'll take for the others to come, do you think?'. 'Not for a long time, hopefully,' he responds & she sighs. 'You're right, I guess I just miss hugging my babies,' she admits. 'I know, my little swamp potato,' he teases making Katniss sit up with a blush. 'Oh, I should never have taught you about plants!' She seeths making her husband laugh, dissolving her anger as quickly as it had come but also waking Buttercup with a hiss. 'Ok, ok, we'll quieten down, you silly old thing,' she muttered. 'Hey, be nice to your sister's cat,' Peeta teased again. 'His both of ours now,' she reminded him primly before sticking her tounge out. 'Ok, you got me there, but we really should go to sleep now, we both have big plans tomorrow afterall,' Peeta says, through a yawn. Katniss nods sleepily as he turns off the bedside lamp & the two cuddle up beneath the covers.
'I guess waiting for them here isn't really the worst thing in the world,' Katniss admits. '& why is that sweetheart?' Ask Peeta, curious. 'Back....before there was no guarantees, everything....so rushed & fragile, so likley to go wrong'. She says, starting to sweat. 'Ah huh' agrees Peeta patiently. 'But here it's' she stops. 'Different?' he asks gently. Katniss nods aggressively into his chest, wrinkly hands suddenly gripping one of his dad's old shirts he'd decided to wear tonight. 'We've got forever now right?', she whispers, like a kid who's scared their wish won't come true. ''That's real ok, please believe that," Peeta assures her as he strokes her back, leaning down to kiss her as soon as she lifts her face from his chest.
When Buttercup next wakes, it's to his parents holding hands & smiling as they dream of good things to come.
14 notes
·
View notes