Teenagers like to complain...
Doesn't
Dear Sir,
I am Mr. Joe Michael , an official with one of the international bank in Netherlands. My colleagues and I have an urgent and very confidential business proposal for you. On the 6th of June 1998 an American gold miner in south Africa ran an account with us and his present balance is valued at US$38,500,000.00 (Thirty Eight Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) in my Bank. We sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally, we discovered from his employers that he died from an automobile accident. On further investigation, we found out from his account file that he never made a will and all attempt to trace his next of kin was fruitless, as he had none. We therefore made further investigations and discovered that he
did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents in the Bank files.
This sum of $38.5 Million is still lying in the bank and the principal sum and interest is being rolled over at the end of every year. As it is now, no one will ever come forward to claim this money. According to the Netherlands law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Government if unclaimed. Consequently, my proposal is that I would like you to stand in as the next of kin. This is simple; all we need is some of your details so that the Attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits which would put you in place as next of kin. An accredited Attorney will draftand notarise all necessary documents and letters of probatfor the transfer.
The money would be shared in the ration that we both shall agree upon. There is no risk at all as the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the Attorney and my position as a manager guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately via email.
Please observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for us. I shall still require your assistance to invest my own share in your country just incase you can help; otherwisewe'll take our share.
Awaiting your urgent response.
Best regards,
Mr. Joe Micheal
N.B.
PLEASE ALL CORRESPONDENCE SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS:
jmich1225netscape.net
sound like a legal document. *rolls eyes*
----+
I just realized something important about teenagers.
They like to complain. In fact, I think complaining may just be the single most loved past time of the teenage population. That's what's with all the rebellion and the unnecessary screwing up of one's life. If you look weird, act weird, diss main stream culture and treat people with little to now respect, you WILL be looked down upon. When that happens, you can complain about how the cashier was rude to you and how some old lady crossed the street when you approached her or how your parents spazzed over your new piercing.
Wow. Is that EVER pathetic.
It also explains the recent fads involving the Wiccan Religion and a sudden desire to be bisexual. If you're part of "Witch" culture, AND part of the homosexual culture, you're definitely going to come across a lot of critism in your youth. At this point, complaints are even more valid because the people who treat you differently are "biased" and "prejudiced".
Which is even more pathetic.
I know real Wiccans. I know people who really are gay/bisexual. I know more people who claim to be both but have no concept of what either title actually entails.
Get over yourselves people.
... I am so ashamed of my peers...
Anyways, I'm in a rather good mood today. I got up at six, made eggs, watched some REALLY old Pokemon, practiced Rope Dart AND worked on my FFT Novelization. Which is going to get done... uh... eventually (yey!). Though I don't know HOW eventually that's going to be, since I just set myself a 30-page per week quota in regards to Illuminati (I decided that by this time next year I wish to be recieving book royalties).
I officially hate my bank, but don't have to deal with that anymore since I just opened an account at a much nicer bank. And all is good in the world. Whee.
Okay, I've got a bunch of writing stuff to post.
+FFT 3, firstnine pages
+Ryuuguu Character Outlines (Darkflower and Mirai)
+Star Wars Posse Style Script
+More Illuminati (I can't remember for the life of me where I left off
FFT CHAPTER THREE
I've been getting a lot of random e-mails about this lately. I'm working on it, people, I'm working on it. If you read the first two parts and are interested in following the story, I will be posting chunks here on my lj until the entire thing is finished. I have to replay the third chapter. Ugh. But I'll try to be done... uh... before Christmas? ^ ^;;
CHAPTER THREE: The Valiant
I.
Fire.
He stumbled through the flames, boots slipping in the mud where heat had melted the snow, clutching the cold body to his chest with a grim determination. There were no thoughts now- the world had gone fuzzy and he felt like he was underwater- none of his movements were quite as sharp or defined as he meant them to be. He collapsed, finally, fire folding over his tired body greedily, swallowing him and licking across his skin, heat so searing it was almost like ice.
And he felt like laughing.
He closed his eyes, only for a moment it seemed, and watched the white-hot spectre burn an image in his mind. An angel- a pheonix- rising from the ashes of a burnt felsh and charred bones. He attempted to speak, but it was gone too quickly. When he opened his eyes, there was no fire and no pain, only the quiet darkness of night.
He took a deep breath and tried to work his arms, legs, anything. There were no stars through the smoke and the air was thick with sulfur but he could see and he could breath.
"I should be dead..." he whispered through damaged lips, "I should be..."
*
The boy caught Vormov's eyes without actually doing anything. He was leaning against a slummy wall in a backstreet alley of Riovanes with his sword slung across his knees and his eyes staring disspassionately at the gray sky. He had a slight build, but a strong jaw with dark Murondic features and an intensity that the aged shrine night found intruiging. His body was a mass of angry, red scars and his eyes held a darkness that spoke of horrors past and sadness supressed. The boy was a warrior.
Vormov approached him silently and crossed his arms as that serious, amber stare came to rest upon him. "We could use someone like you." he said simply.
The boy regarded him for a moment and Vormov almost felt intimidated by this heavy scrutiny. Almost. Finally, the boy stood, a graceful and fluid movement that seemed in itself dangerous, and nodded. When he spoke, his voice was a harsh, unnatural rasp.
"My name is Delita Hyral."
II.
'
"Twenty thousand dead at last count. From either side."
"From either side?" Goltana raised a long eyebrow at the bowing youth, causing Olan to look up sharply, blinking wide, brown eyes.
"I apologize, sir, for not being more specific, but the scouts have ceased checking the bodies for allegience. The losses climb every day, sir."
"That's ridiculous." Goltana scoffed, his chair creaking as he leaned back slighty, folding his hands across his generous stomach, "There's no way to tell which side is winning..."
"With all due respect, sir," Olan bowed his head slightly, "But it is my personal opinion that neither side currently holds the advantage."
Orlandu cursed silently as Goltana's pouting lips slowly arched downwards in a frown. Olan was glancing up at him now, over the rim of his spectacles, tirumph shining discreetly in his dark eyes. The boy never had learned how to keep his opinions to himself. Though his polite and even tempered interjections never seemed especially out of place, they had the habit of completely undermining Goltana's intelligence though the old fool never seemed to notice.
This time, Goltana considered the boy's words, slowly curling one tail of his mustache around his forefinger. Orlandu found himself biting his lip unconsiously. "You are dismissed, Mr. Durai." Goltana said finally and a faint wave of relief washed over Orlandu. Olan rose and nodded slightly at his adopted father before leaving.
"Food storages have been burned along the border and Rationing is down to a minimum." Minister Blansh read blandly once the boy's footsteps could no longer be heard down the hallway. He sounded almost complacent. Orlandu snorted quietly- of course. After all, what concern was rationing to the head of a Noble family? Bansh had been a commander during the Fifty Year War- a position that had earned him fame, respect and wealth enough to last any man three lifetimes. Nothing short of losing the war would affect him significantly. He continued, "Also, massive amounts of refugees have been moving within Larg's territory. It's estimated as many as ten thousand have made their way to Lesalia in only the past week-"
"Excellent." Goltana mused, cutting Blansh off sharply, "That means less food for the Hokuten."
" 'Excellent'?" Orlandu repeated in an incredelous mutter. It wasn't meant to be a public comment, but the large room echoed so that the small gathering turned their heads slowly to look at the aged soldier. It took Orlandu a moment to realize that they had heard him, "What?" he wondered.
"I take it you have a... grievience, Cidolfas." Goltana twisted his mouth and spoke in a voice dripping unspoken threats.
Orlandu sighed, "Don't you see? The same thing could happen here. This war will cost us more than we gain in the long run. It's ridiculous to push the soldiers until they starve- don't you think now is the time to start peace talks?"
"Peace talks!?" Goltana sputtered, "Are you out of your mind, Orlandu? We can't stop the war. We'll just raise taxes thirty percent and make sure that no one trades grain over the border."
"That's not the way." Orlandu interrupted, surprised at the relative calm in his tone, "Raising taxees will only hurt the common people in the long run. Farmers suffered the most in the last war and the economy plummeted. I don't believe that you're really so dull that you can't see how our entire social system is built upon the grain trade. Our society is carried on the backs of common labourers. We exist because of them!" Goltana was suitably stunned. Orlandu wasn't sure what his silence meant, so he continued, "If we keep going on like this, anyways, it will becomes too much for our troops to handle. Physically AND mentally."
Goltana steepled his fingers and leaned forwards, aquiring the mildly amused expression he often did when his temper was wearing thin, "Sounds like you've become soft, Cidolfas."
"Certainly not what you'd expect to hear from the great 'Thunder God Cid'." Marquis Messodram Elmdor chuckled softly and sent Orlandu a sly grin, "All these years of peace-time must have dulled your warrior spirit."
"And what about you, Elmdor?" Orlandu retorted smoothly, "If I do remember correctly, you found yourself in quite the embarassing perdicement last winter, did you not? A troop of children rescued you, in fact. Quite the mismatched group- a commoner, the grandson of a disgraced knight and led by none other than the bastard son of Balbanes Beoulve..."
Elmdor's white cheeks reddened and Orlandu cherished his small victory even as he watched the Marquis's hand inch towards his hilt, "At least I have not forgotten why they call me 'The Silver Ogre'."
"Enough of this!" Goltana snapped, straightening in his chair and clearing his throat in an authoratative manner, "We've gotten off topic."
"But we've been avoiding the real topic for months!" Orlandu nearly shouted, slamming his fist on the table for emphasis. "Maybe you're right. Maybe peace-time has affected me. Maybe I'm not the warrior I was before, but that doesn't give you Warlord-turned Bureaucrats any excuse to keep your heads wedged firmly inyo your rearside! Open your eyes and actually think for a change! Our soldiers are dying, our people are dying and the populance is losing faith! This war isn't worth it!"
"That's enough, Orlandu!" Goltana roared as his temper finally broke. He swung one massive hand in a wide arc and stared at his Generals with a hardened gaze that stopped even the infamous TG Cid cold in his tracks, "Any further words from you on this matter- from ANY of you- could cost you your head. In times of war the last thing I need is to doubt the loyalty of my men. We wouldn't want another Minister Gelwan on our hands, now would we?"
That comment brought a dreaful hush over the meeting, the abrupt execution of Gelwan still fresh in the minds of Goltana's court. Even Orlandu bit his tounge and swallowed his objections, remembering for once the reason someone like Goltana held the rank he did.
Goltana noted his word's effect and nodded slowly, relaxing into his high backed chair with a sigh, "Well, if that's all over and done with, there are other matters yet to discuss..."
*
"I think I found something." Ramza braced his elbows on the head of the cushioned reading chair and craned his neck in order to read over Mustadio's shoulder. The mechanic had a large history book spread open across his knees and was readily scanning the pages with a speed Ramza could hardly hope to match.
After their ordeal in Lionel the party had made their way up to Gariland, renting a small apartment a few blocks away from the library. Ramza, Agrias and Mustadio had spent nearly a month pouring through volume after volume in search of the hidden meaning behind Draclau's cryptic words.
'We're too deep in this to back out now.' Agrias had said as she said everything- with a heavy sigh and a grave expression. Now she was sitting in one corner of the room, curled up with her own heavy text and quietly nodding off to sleep after a valiant struggle to continue reading.
"Says here something about 'secret documents'..." Mustadio placed his finger beneath the words and dragged it along the page as he dictated, "And about the true connection between the Zodiac Stones and the Lucavi. It's all mudled, though. An older dialect, so it might also being saying something about either heresy, or an old recipie for Lesalian waffles."
Ramza might have laughed at Mustadio's faint attempt at humour, but he was too busy squinting at the page and wondering if it was just the dim lighting that caused him not to understand the words scrawled across the paper, "How... can you read that, Mustadio?" he asked after a few moments, "It doesn't even look like Ikoku."
"That's because it isn't." Mustadio rolled his blue eyes and turned his head slightly to grin at Ramza, "It's old Murondic. You mean you can't read it?"
Old Murondic. It always made him think of Delita and Teta with their dark complections and exotic sounding names. What did anyone really know about Murond? "Of course I can't read it. I didn't think anyone could."
Mustadio barked out a short laugh until he realized that Ramza was being serious, "You're kidding, right? Everyone down in Goug reads it."
Ramza blinked, "They do?"
"Well, we'd have to." Mustadio said matter of factly, "Since anything we find in the mines worth reading is written in it."
Ramza rolled his shoulders into a yawn, and rubbed his eyes, "So much for the lost civilization of Murond." he muttered.
Mustadio tipped his head and furrowed his brow, "Oh, Murond's hardly a lost civilization. I mean, sure the bulk of it's gone- lost in some sort of apocolyptic flood- but there's still plenty of Murondic people wandering around Ivalice. And their church is still reasonably powerful."
Ramza's subconciousness suddenly yanked him back awake, "The Muronic church?" he repeated slowly, feeling as if he were supposed to know something about it, "I didn't know... but..." he shook his head and gave up, letting his eyelids droop again, "This isn't getting us anywheres, Mustadio. Maybe we're not looking for the answers in the right place."
"Actually," Mustadio replied, serious for a rare moment, "I think the problem may be that we don't exactly know what we're looking for."
Ramza yawned again. It really was too late at night to be thinking about all of this, "That too..." he murmered, staring instead at the glowing embers of the smothered fire. The room was already getting colder but Ramza had no desire to start up the fire again. He'd hated fire since the day at Fort Zeakdan. It just made him think of, "Delita." Ramza said sudenly, earning a strange look from a still very awake Mustadio, "Delita said something about... a flow. Everyone is caught up in the same flow- this war." Ramza knew he was rambling. He was searching for a meaning in his words, but they just kept slipping through his fingers and he was far too exhausted to go chasing after them, "I didn't think much of it then, but now that I think about it I'm starting to understand. Delita never liked to say things right out. There's always been... layers in his words."
"Mmm hmmm." Mustadio was reading again and Ramza doubted he was even listening anymore. He talked anyways.
"I think that Delita meant.... maybe this war was planned."
Mustadio slammed his book close with a loud thud and across the room Agrias's head snapped up, suddenly very awake, "Ramza, what did you mean by that?" she demanded, voice thick with sleep.
Ramza raised his head so that he was meeting Agrias's intense gaze, his grogginess quickly dissapating. "Well, it seems that there's someone- or something- else behind these chains of seemingly random events. The King's sickness; Ovelia's ascention; the revelation of the possibility of Orinas's incesteous parentage. Delita said that everyone was caught up in the same flow- perhaps he meant that everyone is being carefully manipulated."
Agrias nodded and seemed to absorb these words, turning her gaze inwards and mulling over those rather disconcerting sentiments. It was as if Ramza's words had lit a flame in her and for the first time in nearly a week, the knight look completely awake. "That must be it." she agreed, setting her book aside and moving her hands as she spoke, conveying excitment though her tone remained even, "It would explain much- including Draclau's behavior. It must be the church!"
Mustadio crinkled his brow, "I don't see how you two could come to such a quick conclusion." he said skeptically, "It seems like too easy an answer to me."
Agrias shook her head, a firm disagreement. "No, Mustadio. This answer is neither a quick one nor an easy one. I'll admit that I have been considering it since we left Lionel."
"Then why didn't you tell us?" Mustadio retorted.
"At the time I thought myself too presumptuous. After all, I've had a very Religious upbringing, and in the church of Glabados, thoughts such as these are both mental and spiritual heresy." she took a deep breath before continuing and Ramza thought that for, just a moment, he saw a glimpse of the girl beneath the military commander. This girl was conflicted and lost somewhere between what the church told her was right and what she knew in her heart. He shivered because Agrias was supposed to be the strong one. Ramza wondered if Mustadio saw her stumble as well, and wondered if he felt the same chill at seeing her mask crack.
"Agrias, we just killed a Cardinal of the church. I think we're past the point where intellectual heresy is a problem." Mustaio commented dryly.
Agrias regained her demaneour and set her icy eyes on the mechanic, choosing to ignore his snide comment, "Draclau was supposedly neutral, was he not? And yet, he had an agent from either side aiding him- Gafgharion, in the employment of Larg, and Ramza's Delita, who is admittedly in Goltana's employ." she paused, as if waiting for Ramza to object, but the Beoulve only nodded sadly- he really didn't know which side Delita truly claimed alligience to. It could be true. Agrias continued, "Whats more, is that both parties are Murondic."
"Gafgharion was Murondic?" Ramza wondered aloud and Agrais nodded with a annoyed snort.
"Very proud of it, as well. Though smart enough not to go throwing the fact around any more than was necessary. He was quite aware of how most people feel about Murond."
"What does them being Murondic have to do with anything?" Mustadio asked, the skepticism in his voice erroding slightly, replaced by a tenative curiosity.
"Indeed," Ramza echoed Mustadio's inquiry, "I don't understand. Gafgharion was a mercenary, not a member of the church. And Delita was raised in Igros."
Agrais shrugged, "I didn't really mean anything by it. I'm just grasping here, Ramza. Searching for reasons and connections. As Mustadio said earlier, the church is still heavily under the influence of Murond."
"Okay, okay, I get it." Mustadio began, uncharacteristically irate, "You're trying to say that Cardinal Draclau wasn't really trying to bring peace with the Zodiac stones when... when..." he bit his lip and struggled to continued, "He came under... that spell. You're tying to say that the Cardinal was just playing a part in some huge scheme formulated by the church to gain control of the land by toying with people's superstitious upbringings?" his voice quivered. He sounded almost... insulted. Or concerned. Or both.
Ramza tapped Mustadio playfully in the back of the head, "Why is it so important to you? I didn't think you believe in God."
"I believe in God to... an extent." Mustadio's voice was gaurded and wary, "It was the church I never had much faith in."
"Then why are you defending the Cardinal?" Ramza sighed, "Mustadio, you aren't making much sense."
The mechanic sighed and reached into his belt side-pocket, pulling out the Zodiac Stone Tauras, which was never far from him as of late. He ran his thumb over it's dark gold surface as it caught the dying firelight. He closed his eyes as if the familiar weight in his palm was a comfort, "I have my reasons. You have to understand that I grew up hearing stories about how this guy was some grand peacemaker in the war. He used to do humanitarian work. You know, bringing supplies for starving soldiers and standing up for the farmers. He was a hero to the people of Lionel. No- not a hero. He was a saint. It's hard to believe that someone like him would..." he closed his other hand over the stone as if protecting it and Agrais shot Ramza a concerned look over Mustadio's head.
"The power of the stone corrupts." Agrias's cool, logial voice broke through his reviere and his bright eyes snapped open, "Perhaps he was under the uninfluence of the Zodiac Stone when he decided to participate in the conspiracy."
Ramza very much doubted that Agrias really believed that, but the thought seemed to placate Mustaio somewhat.
"It's hard to understand how something so... revered and holy as a Zodiac stone could make such an evil twisted being." Mustadio murmered, his attention once again drawn towards the Tauras stone. Agrias looked at Ramza again.
"Mustadio." Ramza said, noting that the sound of his voice almost made the mechanic jump. 'We're tired' Ramza thought, 'We're all so tried.' "May I see the stone." he asked softly.
Something flared in Mustadio's eyes. Something dark and dangerous that sent a chill down Ramza's spine, "No!" the mechanic yelped, "The stone is mine! My father gave it to me! You CAN'T see it!"
"Mustadio." Agrias's voice dipped into a low growl and the boy seemed to come back to his senses. He took a few deep breaths and slipped the stone back into his belt pocket.
"I mean." he amended, "That for safety purposes I should keep it close." his teeth were chattering, but he attempted to smile anyways, "We've theorized enough tonight! I think it's about time we attempted to sleep for real!"
Ramza opened his mouth to say something more- something about the stone- but he caught the look Agrias was shooting him. Not now, Ramza. We'll deal with it eventually, but not right now. Ramza might have objected. But he didn't.
I like writing the crotchety old men. I miss Gafgharion, however. T.T
Ryuuguu Character Outlines
Oops! I'm on assignment for these! I'll finish them fast, but you know how my free time is. Rebecca, I suppose you're the only one seeing this- pass them on to Leslie and Lici as I post them. I really shouldn't be printing stuff off like crazy anymore...
Requiem Darkflower
Introduced in Book I
Dies in Book X, by the will of Dreamscar, though her life is taken with her own hand
Key Relationships: Mirai Dawnflower (son), Akaihi Firestar (daughter), Seane Nightwater (former mate), Rhapsody Hopestar (adopted grandaughter), Cyadya Starjourney (friend), Setsuna Starcrusher Fire'Ravenall (adversary), Unmei (antogonist)
Other Relationships: Elise Jordan Limelight, Alara Yurei, Nineveh Battousai, Dhorisha Maginarr, Omoidasu Tristezza, Altair Skyefyre (brother- never meet), Soshi Zepherius-Carthapathia (grandaughter- never meet)
History: The night Darkflower was born the lilies all bloomed black at midnight. She was born to Akemi Whitemoon and Kracken Wildfire of a prominent Northern Tribe, the first shadow dragon ever born to that tribe. She was seen as a bad omen of sorts, a possible harbringer of doom, and as soon as she was old enough to take care of herself she was cast out swiftly and without remorse. The night before she was to be exiled, Darkflower was visited by the rouge witchoctor Unmei who passed onto her an ancient relic in the shape of a black cross. On that night she was told a prophecy, the specifications of which she took to the grave, but nevertheless spent her entire life entwined in.
She was sixty four years old and still a hatchling when sent out into the human world. At first, she gave up and strove for death but one night she was attacked by a dragon from one of the darker tribes. Purely by accident, she found herself channeling the power of the cross and killing the much older draon where they stood. Terrified and fascinated by the power of the relic, she decided to take Unmei's words seriously and began researching the prophecy and it's history in cultures beside that of the ryus. As an outcast, she learned to be a solitary creature and a fierce warrior, ruled by her pride. She developed a temper in her many dealings with Unmei and developed a reputation among the humans who witnessed her in action. They called her the Black Death and many a generation of Dragon Hunter lived to see her wings and horns mounted on their wall. When Darkflower was still young she learned to be wary of the human. A group of beast hunters brought her down in the name of 'God' and dragged her into a cathedral in order to be purifyed (read: ritually sacrificed) by the ordained minister. She escaped during the night, but was sure to stray far from human settlements before transforming back into a dragon. The next run in with a dragon hunter she had was not until she was fully grown. A man named Derek Maginarr fell in love with her human form only to discover that she was a dragon. Outraged, he called a family fuede upon her that carried through down five generations until his descendant Dhorisha put a stop to it.
Darkflower dragged herself into Ryuuguu quite by accident, bloodied and battered and with child. Rhire and Alara nursed her back to health and she became complacent for a short period in time. She delivered four children: Wyrven Swiftfoot, Goura Greencloud, Akaihi Firestar and Mirai Dawnflower. She sent the four of them to different corners of Ryuuguu, giving the care of Goura and Akaihi over totally to their father (?? this may change- "Momo" may not even be their real father. I'm confused. Whatever I decide on won't really effect the plot, so, um, yeah). Slowly, in the name of Unmei's prophecy, she manipulated her children against each other until the day they faced each other in battle. Surprisingly, kind-hearted and gentle Mirai triumphed over ferocious, callous Wyrven and Darkflower found that she did not regret this. However, she was no easier on her fragile son than before, especially considering the rash of bad desicions that marked the rest of his life.
To complicate matters further, Unmei showed up in Ryuuguuu without notice. This threw Darkflower's entire world off kilter. Aside from Unmei, Darkflower also came in contact with Setsuna Fire'Ravenall, a dragon born into a human body from one of now extinct northern tribes. Setsuna and Darkflower developed a rivalry built on deep set resentment between tribes, a conflict of personalities and personal intrests, and a certain matter of one Mirai Dawnflower. One of the first bad decisions Mirai made was to embark on a journey with Setsuna in order to give her a dragon body. This left him trapped as a human. When Mirai departed on yet another journey (this time with beast hunter Dhorisha Maginarr in order to rergain his ryu form) Darkflower finally confronted Unmei about her past. What she discovered left her jilted an scarred, prompting her to seal herself into a human body and to leave Ryuuguu on a soul-searching mission.
When Darkflower returned from her reprive of self-discover, she discovered that her son was dead. Appalled, she forced her daughter Akaihi to use her demi-witchdoctor powers to restore Mirai's fate. Darkflower realized at this that almost everything she had done in the past century had been for the sake of her son. She found herself suddenly to be a changed induvidual, the same pride and resilience but without the irrational anger and hatred.
Setsuna begged Darkflower to fight her again, desperate, for some strange reason, to die. Darkflower refused the request, causing in some part Setsuna's crazed suicide. Darkflower retreated into a quiet meitation becoming of her age, kept company by her old friend, Cyadya Starjourney and her adopted grandaughter Rhapsody's lover, the exceedingly aged Omoidasu Tristezza.
When Rhapsody lost herself and began to believe that she was Setsuna, she challenged Darkflower to the fight that was rightfully her mother's. Darkflower accepted the challenge if only to knock some sense into the young girl, and at first it worked, but at some point it became apparent that Rhapsody would win. Unwilling to die so pointlessly, she decided to make her death worth something and ended up taking it with her own hand, lecturing Rhapsody as she died.
It must be noted that Requiem Darkflower died at midnight, in the autumn of her four-hundred and ninety-seventh year. It was raining, and there were no lilies for miles and miles and miles...
BOOK I: Darkflower is only perhaps in three or four scenes in this book:
- Berates Mirai for crying after killing Wyrven
- Is annoyed by Tiifa
- Talks to Alara at some point about the dragon hunter
- Is visited by Unmei at the end
Yet she is a great 'omnipotent' prescence whenever seen through the eyes of Mirai.
BOOK II: In the second Ryuuguu novel Darkflower gets off to a rocky start with Setsuna and attempts to suddenly take a greater role in Mirai's life. She finds herself annoyed by Tiifa (and Scarlett)... alot. She tries to warn some residents of Ryuuguu of Unmei. And she befriends Cyadya.
BOOK III: Is not happy with Setsuna. Has a very long, angry conversation with Mirai and beats up Setsuna. They fight and stuff. Darkflower is taunted by Unmei and meets Elise. She is not impressed.
BOOK IV: Darkflower doesn't like Christmas.
BOOK V: This is where Darkflower finally confronts Unmei. She doesn't like what she hears and decides to go on a quest. Goes after Mirai and talks with Elise and her son before leaving. At the end, we see a bit of her getting used to being human.
BOOK VI: Um... not... really... in... book VI...
BOOK VII: Comes back entirely different (but still uber-prideful) is a bit disturbed about what's happening to Rhapsody. Her and Akaihi revive Mirai and... stuff. Darkflower has some much needed conversating with people. Yup. Her and Mirai resolve all their qualms and Darkflower tells Unmei off.
BOOK VIII: Setsuna challenges Darkflower to a battle, but Darkflower refuses to kill her. Battle of wits and morals, ect. Finds the unconcious Cyadya after Cyadya kills Unmei and takes her to Megami to be treated. Taunts some at Unmei's dead body despite the immaturity of it. Realizes that Akaihi is now witchdoctor and attempts to make some amends with her daughter, quite letting it slip that she is the young fujin's mother.
BOOK IX: Tries to convince Mirai not to leave. Tries to talk some sense into Rhapsody. Tries to make yet more amends to a bitter Akaihi. Fails miserably at all of these. Chills with Omoidasu and the dying Cyadya. Has peace with Dhorisha at her deathbed.
BOOK X: Becomes the opponent of Dreamscar, heir of the Starcrusher. Is generally involved in the plot again (*gasp*). Fights Rhapsody/Dreamscar in a bloody long thing of a battle. Lots of random stuff happens in this battle, Darkflower dies, ect. ect. ect.
BOOKS XI through XIV: Is dead, but mentioned by Soshi, Rhapsody and many others. Is supposedly one of the spirit-voices Altair hears, though this is unlikely.
Mirai Dawnflower
Introduced in Book I
Dies in Book V, only to be revived again in book VII. Leaves Ryuuguu in Book IX and is killed by Soshi at some other ineterminable date
Key Relationships: Requiem Darkflower (mother), Akaihi Firestar {sister/lover}, Rhapsody Hopestar {adopted daughter}, Soshi Zepherius-Carthapathia (daughter), Dhorisha Maginarr, Setsuna Starcrusher Fire'Ravenall, Elise Jordan Limelight, Achisuto Saisho, Tiifa Wingspirit
Other Relationships: Alara Yurei, Scarlett, Senshi Saisho, Seane Nightwater (father), Wyrven Swiftfoot (Brother), Goura Greencloud (brother), Mekkosuke Omnisun (half-brother), Julidan Baranohr (Setsuna connection), Danae Kiiroflower (Setsuna connection), Altair Skyefyre (uncle-never meet)
History: Mirai's life was full of excitment and danger, yet lacked any sort of meaningful accomplishment. He was born to the warrior Requiem Darkflower and was the weakest of her children, yet also the one who survived. He was very close to her growing up and admired her greatly despite her constant, verbal beratings of him. He killed his own brother, Wyrven, as a rite of passage and was torn apart by the expirience. It was the first and last time he would ever kill. He became a sort of pacifist, obsessed with promoting peace and rest in his life and in the life of others. His need for this security almost bordered on an extreme, centered selfishness.
He saw death again in the eyes of Serenity Silvemmon, a young hatchling who often seeked it. Unable to deal with what he saw, he ran. flying out to the cliffs and the oceans followed by Achisuto Saisho. Achisuto saved Mirai's life, but the two dansei were still far from Ryuuguu and Mirai was ill. They were taken in by a strange human woman with glasses, an asian look and european demaneour, one who never gave her name. Mirai's sleep was plauged by terrible visions and nightmares and when he awoke, the woman was gone. Mirai decided that it would be easier to live as a human and requested Achisuto's company. Achisuto didn't disagree and the two lived in the human world for quite a few months until Achisuto's sister came to collect him along with Akaihi. The four got into some trouble with a dragon hunter that left Achisuto wounded and Mirai human alone.
The next mistake Mirai made was to accept a deal with the duplitious Setsuna. She used the young dragon as a pawn in order to "get back" a dragon body that she never actually had. She leads him across the land to meet with a "sorceress" she called 'El-dea'. This is Elise Jordan Limelight, the same woman who took care of Mirai and Achisuto after the ordeal with Serenity.
Mirai ended up trapped in a human body. Ect. Ect. He eventually adopted one of Setsuna's halfling children, Rhapsody Hopestar, though more out of guilt than a desire to be a parent.
(I'm going to start writing these in present tense. Past tense in this format annoys me)
He raises Rhapsody to the best of his ability. During these years, Mirai lives so completely as a human that he begins to lose his dragon perception of time passage. In otherwords, he begins to feel restless. Thankfully, along comes Beast Hunter Dhorisha Maginarr with a stupid idea to satiate his desire to do something stupid.
Apparently Dhorisha knows of another scientist who can perform the "fate-reversal" procedure (yes, I checked 'The Start of Something Else' and that was indeed the original plot I had come up with. Oops. I like it better, anyways. I just... forgot somewhere in between Cartographer-san and the Brothel) and, in an attempt to learn more about Dragon culture and her family's sworn enemy, Darkflower, Dhorisha offers to get Mirai his dragon-self back.
This all deteroiates into a long, drawn out journey that is not pleasent for anyone involved and ends in Mirai's rather distressing death.
... which is not the end. Darkflower, upset at her son's apparent post-mortem status demands that Akaihi use her half-developed witchdoctor powers to fix fate's mistake because Mirai was not actually meant to die. He just did. And yes, witchdoctors can do that. Sort of. Maybe.
Unfortunately, bringing him back does not do much except piss off Rhapsody, impregnat Akaihi, depress Darkflower and screw Mirai (who eventually gets kicked out of Ryuuguu by Rhapsody- I mean Dreamscar) up even further.
Mirai spends his last few years living as- you guessed it: a human.
He is found by his biological daughter, Soshi Zephyrius-Carthapathia while he is in a state of ineberiation in a Romanian bar at the foot of the Carpathian moutains. She is intrigues, he is drunk and his life ends as he spent it- in a spetacular display of impossible patheticness.
BOOK I: Mirai kills Wyrven, gets disowned by Darkflower and gets taken in by Tiifa and Scarlett. He sees Serenity almost die, has a spaz and... runs off like a wad. He's saved by Achisuto and... sort-of Elise. He dreams and then wants to be a human. So he is. And in the end, he's a human all by himself.
BOOK II: Is stupid and goes off with Setsuna. And doesn't do much else that isn't becoming human, or else is a direct effect of becoming human.
BOOK III: Mirai adopts Rhapsody, flirts with Akaihi and has Setsuna qualms.
BOOK IV: Mirai likes Christmas.
BOOK V: Leaves Ryuuguu with Dhorisha (whom he becomes very close to) and gives just about everyone and their third uncle twice removed (poor Tom) qualms. And then he dies.
BOOK VI: Is dead.
BOOK VII: Is undead and... doesn't deal.
BOOK VIII: Tries to help Setsuna (hell, I don't know what's going on with Setsuna. o.O I don't even think Rebecca knowns). Has an affair of the romantic variety with Akaihi and really, really makes his adopted daughter unhappy with him.
BOOK IX: Rhapsody: "I hate you. Leave."
Mirai: "Ow." *leaves*
BOOKS X through XIV: Is mentioned. His genology is important, but he's killed off screen. Ah ha. No, I'm kidding, really. I love Mirai.
Setsuna: "I liked Mirai."
Elise: "Me too." *pause* "I think everyone liked Mirai."
Mirai: "Except me." *sniff*
Dhorisha: "You don't count."
Some stuff here might be changed. Don't kill me if it is. I still haven't quite decided what to do about Mirai and Akaihi's "father"/father. I'm confused. AH!
Star Wars Posse Style Script
This is mostly for Caily and Justin (pass it on to Alex and Leslie for me!) But for anyone else who is... randomly reading this for no apparent reason, it's for a film we're doing. It's... supposed to be funny. o.O
Cast
Darth Arcee --------------Caily Huntley
Aqueous ----------------- Jennifer Ferguson
Jyoutaru ------------------ Justin Watts
Darth Sparky ------------- Jenn "Sparky" Young
Cerberus ------------------Leslie Appleton
Lici Fett--------------------Alycya Moore
Yoda ----------------------Alex Jones
Jyu-stin Lawnmower------- Megan Huntley
Random Narrator ----------Alex Jones
I. the truth behind the mask
Scroll Text Reads
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away (or maybe just across the harbour in Halifax), war was beginning. The former Sith Lord Darth Lupine had mysteriously disappeared and the new dark lord was proving herself more than up to the task of causing serious trouble for the Jedi Council. The only hope seemed to lie in two, unknown twins on a small backwater planet. These twins are said to possess great profeciency in the use of the force- even more so when together! Two prominent sitters on the Jedi council, Jedi Master Cerberus and Jedi Master Yoda, set out on a desperate mission to secure these two youngsters for the side of good, before the Sith could possibly find them!
... or something like that. It's not really as melodramatic as it seems. Really.
*The scene open with Jedi Master Cerberus roaming a town, as if searching for something. She is carrying Yoda with her*
Leslie: "Hey, old man? You sure we're in the right place?"
Yoda: "Indeed I am."
Leslie: "You know what? I hate kids."
Yoda: "There is no hate."
Leslie: *slowly getting more and more worked up* "No, I really, really hate kids. Like you don't even know. Hate is real- it's a nasty little feeling that starts in the pit of your stomach, then stabs outwards until you're overcome by a mad desire to STAB STAB STAB KILL THINGS DEAD!" *heave, huff, puff*
Yoda: "Hmm. Anger Managment you need."
Leslie: "I DO NOT NEED ANGER MANAGMENT!"
Yoda: "If say so, you do."
Leslie: "I'm wandering around on some primitive planet, looking for some stupid kids while reciting my lines to a stuffed toy- I think I have the right to be a little angry. The only thing that could possibly make this mission any worse was if..."
Voice: "Mwahahahahaha!"
Leslie: "Ooooooh noooooo...."
Yoda: "The Sith it is." *Leslie puts Yoda down and turns to face the Sith Lord*
Jenn: "Mwahahaha! I am the all powerful, evil Sith Lord who's identity shall remain inconspicuous!"
Leslie: "Uhhh, mistake me if I'm wrong, but aren't you Darth Sparky? The Jedi Master once known as Jen-Lyn Nightstalker?"
Jenn: *pulls hood off* "Dammnit! How did you know that!?"
Leslie: "Well, I was your Padawan, you know. Besides, the bright red shoes gave it away." *pans down to Sparky's shoes and back up again. One unhappy Sith*
Yoda: "Jen-Lyn's Padawan, you were. Explains much this does..."
Leslie: *flipping out* "Did I ask for your opinion OLD MAN!?" *calms down, turns back to Sparky, pulling out lightsaber* "Okay, Darth. Let's do this!"
Jenn: "Ah HA! But I have a new apprentince, my former Padawan Cerberus. One far superior to you. May I present DARTH ARCEE!!!"
*Arcee is shown flouncing in a field of flowers, happily singing her song.*
Jenn: *face falls* "On... second thought, I'll do this myself..."
II. on the subject of Darth Sparky's somewhatr pathetic Padawan
Jenn: *moping, sighs* "Now I need to find a new Padawan. Someone strong, someone smart, someone obiedient. But most importantly-" *pause, aquires a malicious look* "Someone EVIL..."
Caily: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" *runs on screen*
Jenn: "Oh no! You stay away from me!" *cringes and backs away*
Caily: *attatches herself to the bottom of Sparky's robe* "Master, please take me back! PLEASE! I'll do anything! Look, I even bought red shoes!" *pan down to red shoes*
Jenn: "I don't care! Get off me before you give me light-side cooties!"
Caily: *gets up* "I can be evil. I can, I really, really can! Watch Master, please! I'll... I'll... kill something! Watch, I'll kill this poor, harmless, defenseless inscent!" *pan to, um, some sort of inscent stunt double. Arcee SQUISHES it, then stares*
Jenn: "Most impressive, young Padawan." *rolls eyes*
Caily: *agahst* "Oh... no... what-what-what have I done!?" *pause, then...* "I'M A MURDERER! HOW CAN I LIVE WITH MYSELF!?"
Jenn: *smacks forhead* "Maybe I'd have better luck if I just out an ad out in the newspaper..."
III. of apprentinces and applications
Random Narrator: "Yoda and Cerberus, meanwhile, have completed their mission unhindred by the Sith thanks to Darth Arcee's absent-minded ways and Darth Sparky's asthma. They have located the twins, Aqueous and Jyoutaru. Now came the hard part..."
Leslie: "Yo, Old Man. Now that we've found the kids through a series of strange, off-screen conincidences involving cheesy lines and wacky hijinks, what do we do next?"
Yoda: "Train them for war we do, so ready for war they will be."
Leslie: *expression of disguist* "Oh, you're kidding me, right? I can't train a KID."
Jen: "I'M not a kid!
Justin: "War? I can't fight!"
Jen: "But I can. In fact, I've studied the art of lightsaber battling. Did you know that the first Jedi to ever use a lightsaber was a fifth generation Twilik woman? Back in the days before Droids were even prorammed with AI! She realized that if one channeled the force through an electronic device and created a power net..."
Leslie: "Yes, yes, yes. We know how a lightsaber works, kid. We're Jedi." *grumbles and mutters to the Yoda toy* "See, I told you this was a bad idea old man."
Jen: "In any case, my brother and I don't need to be trained." *smug look*
Justin: "We... don't?"
Jen: "Of course we don't, Jyoutaru! We're genisuses. We can teach ourselves the force!" *smug look*
Megan: :WAAAAAAAIIIIIIIT!" *runs onto screen and fall flat in the middle of this small gathering. Gets up and jumps up and down* "Train me! You can train ME! I don't know the force or anything and I really want to be someone's Padawan! Please, I'll do whatever you want!"
Leslie: *raises eyebrow* "Who... the hell are you?"
Megan: *heroic pose* "I am JYUSTIN LAWNMOWER!"
Leslie: "... Lawnmower?"
Jen: "Wasn't she a guy in the comics?"
Justin: "Don't you know that the movie is always different that the book."
Leslie: "Well, whatever the case I'm not taking him... er... her... er the kid."
Jen: "I'LL TRAIN HER!"
Yoda: "No, young Padawan Aqueous. Full Jedi you must be before apprentice you can take."
Jen: "What?"
Yoda: "On the bright side, Darth Sparky Lord of the Sith is taking applications!"
Megan: "Yaaaaaaaay! I'm going to be a Sith Lord!" *skips off happily*
*long silence*
Leslie: "Master Yoda, why did you turn that kid to the Dark Side?"
Yoda: "Even Jedi Master Cerberus has much to learn, hmm? Could not use the force, that girl. It is useful for us to send the Sith Idiots."
IV. love letters and beatings
*Arcee is reading a love letter signed simply "A Jedi admirer". She sighs and hugs the note to her heart*
Jenn: *grabs the note* "Hey, what the hell is this!?"
Caily: "Uh, um, erm, uh, NOTHING. It's NOTHING! ... please don't read it..."
Jenn: "I'll read whatever I want." *reads letter, grumbling* "WHAT!? You're fratrernizing with a JEDI!? Someone from the LIGHT SIDE!? Haven't I taught you ANYTHING!?" *smacks Arcee with the note*
Caily: *puts a hand to her cheek and stares for a few moments before freaking out* "M-m-m-MASTER YOU HIT ME! Am I supposed to tell you because you HIT me!?"
Jenn: "Yeah, that's pretty much how it works."
Caily: *blink blink* "Oh. Okay."
*long silence, broken by...*
Megan: "HEEEEEEEEEEY! DARTH SPARKY!!!!!!"
Jenn: "Hn? Who are you?"
Megan: *more heroic posing* "I'm JYUSTIN LAWNMOWER! And I want to be a SITH LORD!"
Jenn: *'dear god' look*
Caily: "Psst, hey Master. Wasn't she a guy in the comic strip?"
Jenn: *shrugs* "Whatever. The movie's always different than the book anyways."
Megan: "So, can you train me? Please, please please? Pretty please? With cookies on top?"
Random Narrator: "For the first time in her illustrious career, Darth Sparky was speechless. So she did what she should have done a long, long time ago. She quit."
Jenn: "I quit.":
Random Narrator: "And then she ran like the little girl she is."
V. in which Lici Fett is actually given something to do
Lici: *sighs* "I am soooooo bored... it's been a while since I've had a job. And all I got for my last hit was that useless Madorian Armor..." *pan to Boba Fett Lego* "My life sucks." *picks up handhel mirror and looks at herself, goes back to slouching* "And on top of it all, I have ugly hair." *sound of a door slamming open. Lici Fett jumps up* "What the...!?"
*pan over to Darth Sparky standing in the door way, huffing and puffing. She takes a whiff from her puffer, then tries to look threatening*
Jenn: "I... have... a.... job.... for..... you...." *wheezing, hacking, ying, ect.*
*possibly turn screen black and white during Lici Fett's monolouge. Pan around room, over Darth Sparky when talking about the Sith, ect.. This is a voiceover*
Lici: " 'I have a job for you'.The word's I'd been aching for like a man in the desert yearns for water, but I had my reservations about this customer. Darth Sparky, Lord of the Sith. I wasn't suere whether to bow, cower of grab my blaster. Two of the most important things a bounty hunter ever learns is that you don't get mixe up with Jei- and you don't even THINK about messing with the Sith. Around someone like that, a stray glance means a slow and painful death. But I decided to play all my cards. Darth seemed desperate. Maybe it was the asthmatic quiver in her voice. Maybe it was the way her eyes shifted nervously between glares. Or maybe it was just the fact that she was wearing bright red shoes.Whatever it was, I calmly took a seat and said:" *exit voiceover*
Lici: *calmly folding her hands* "A job, you say."
Jenn: "Yes. A job. Didn't you hear me the first time?" *coughhackwheeze, recover and glare*
Lici: "Hmmm..." *aquires innocent look* "What can you give me?"
Jenn: *deer caught in headlight look* "W-what?" *becomes calm again* "Oh yes, I almost forgot that you bounty hunters expect some sort of reprication for your deeds. In which case, I could offer you almost anything. Power, respect, weapons, planets. Hell, I could probably even hook you up with one of those hot new Ewok toys they're selling on Courascant these days..."
Lici: "Uh, cash is fine."
Jenn: *the deer sees the light again* "C--cash?" *twiddles thumbs* "Y-you mean like money?"
Lici: "Standard credits. You know- or at the vey least, Spice Run slips. Something I can SPEND."
Jenn: "Er, well you see... the problem with that is..." *coughs* "We'rekindasortaonabudget."
Lici: *grin* "A what?"
Jenn: *pulls out an... umbrella?* "This is my lightsaber."
Lici: "That's not a lightsaber, that's an umbrella."
Jenn: "Yes, well, you see my point."
*off screen voices cut in*
Caily: "MAAAAAAAAAAAAASTER!"
Megan: "DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARK LOOOOOOOOOOOOORD!?"
Jenn: "Ahhhh!" *pulls hood on* "If you can't do anything about them, at least hide me!"
Lici: "Uh, well give me what you can out of your pocket and I'll see what I can do."
Jenn: *looks up from underneath the hood of her cloak* "You mean you'll kill them for me? Really? You're my hero?" digs out wallet an gives Lici Fett money before hiding behind her in a vain attempt to hide*
*Arcee and Lawnmower comes on screen and look around*
Megan: "Hey, you, bounty hunter? You seen a Sith Lord around anywheres?"
Lici: *counts money, then considers* "Actually, yes. Yes I have." *calmly walks aside and yanks Darth Sparky (who yelps) to her feet* "It's been real, Darth. See ya." *leaves*
Jenn: *glowers* "I knew there was a reason I hated bounty hunters..."
VI. Cerberus goes to anger managment counciling
*Cerberus has finally taken Yoda's advice and gone to see a councilor about her anger problems. Her Psycologist is actually just Lici Fett wearing a paper mustache*
Lici: *in a phony, indiscriminable accent* "So, Jedi Cerberus, tell me when this problem of yours started."
Cerberus: *grumbles* "I suppose it would have been back when I was a Padawan."
Lici: "Hmm, really?"
Cerberus: "My... teacher." *twitches and bites something*
Lici: "Ahhh, we seemed to have touched upon something. Tell me more about this Master of yours."
Cerberus: "She was a very prestigeous Jedi. A sitter on the council and the best tactician of our age. She wasn't much of a fighter, but was very smart and designed a lightsaber that hightened battle efficiency for weak Jedi."
Lici: "Hmm, sounds like a very impressive person. Any Padawan should have been proud to have her as a Master."
Cerberus: *laughs* "But that's the thing! The irony- she sucked!"
Lici: *furrows brow and tries to keep mustache on* "What is it that you mean by that, Cerberus?"
Cerberus: "I just mean that she sucked. Despite all her credentials she just... sucked."
Lici: *still trying to keep her mustache on* "Hmm, could you explain?"
Cerberus: "Well, yes, but we'd have to go intop convinient flashback mode."
*enter convinient flashback mode where a young and impressionable Cerberus is following on the heels of Jen-Lyn Nightstalker*
Cerberus: "Master! Master! Can you teach me something?"
Jenn: *twitches* "What do you want from me?"
Cerberus: "Well, aren't Jedi supposed to be all wise and stuff! Be wise and teach me stuff. All the other Padawan's teachers do it!"
Jenn: "Okay, fine fine." *sighs and thinks* "Okay, success comes in cans, not can'ts."
Cerberus: "Wow!" *thinks* "Wait, what does that even mean."
Jenn: *shrugs* "Hell if I know... uhh. I guess it's trying to say that if you were shopping in the metaphorical Sobeys of life, you would have to look for success in the canned food isle. So it comes packaged like... Zoodles and Campbells soup. Not milk cartons, or brea bags."
Cerberus: *trying to grasp the meaning of all this* "Does that mean it's instant success? I want insta-success!"
Jenn: *shakes head gravely* "No. If it were insta-success it would come in those little styrofoam cups like Ramen Noodles. In cans it's five minutes in the microwave success, fifteen minutes stove top."
Cerberus: *face falls* "You suck."
*exit convinient flashback mode*
Lici: *quickly* "Oh my. That's terrible. Poor you. Ect. Now pay up."
Cerberus: "What?" *aquires a dangerous glare*
Lici: "300 credits a session. Pay up, biyatch, or face Yoda's wrath."
Cerberus: *grumbles, pays Lici Fett and leaves, slamming the door*
*Lici Fett grins, takes off her mustaches and counts her money*
VII. unnecessary cliches
*Darth Sparky, Arcee and Lawnmower are wandering around.*
Jenn: "I can't believe I let the slimeball Lici Fett cheat me out of my money..."
Megan: :"I'm gonna be a Sith Lord. I'm gonna be a Sith Lord!"
Caily: *reading another love note* "He said he'd meet me here..."
*and then they randomly bump into Jyoutaru, Aqueous and Yoda*
Jen: "Ahhh! Sith!"
Caily: "Ahhhh! Jedi!"
Jenn: "Ahhhh! That was random!"
Justin: "Arcee?"
Caily: *looks at letter, looks at Jyotaru and gasps* "Oh, my secret, handsome Jedi admirer!"
Jen: *looks at Jyotaru and narrows her eyes* "He's not handsome."
Caily: "But to me he is, because he's been sending me love letters! It's all tragic and beautiful! A Sith and a Jedi!"
Jenn: *dryly* "The pathos. The melodrama. I'm taking this as my cue to leave..." *leaves*
Caily: "Now we can be together forever! And stuff!"
Justin: "Uh, yeah. And stuff."
Yoda: "Uh uh. Together you cannot be."
*Jyotaru and Arcee both look at Yoda*
Caily: "What!? Why not!?"
Yoda: "Because brother and sister you are."
*Arcee and Jyoutaru look at each other*
Caily: "Ew."
Yoda: "Twins you be."
Justin: "Really ew!"
Megan: "Huh? Wait, what happened? Isn't the plot moving a little fast?"
Yoda: "Yes. Getting long, the script was. Squished, the rest of the story will be."
Jen: "And wasn't I Jyotaru's twin sister?"
Yoda: "Yes. But you really weren't."
Jen: "Then what possible relevence do I have to the plot do I have anymore?"
Yoda: "None."
Jen: *long face* "Wow... that... really sucks...." *blink* "The only thing left to do is... becomes Darth Sparky's new Padawan! Mwahahahaha!" *runs off*
Caily: "I guess that I'm good now."
Justin: "Guess so."
Megan: "What about me?"
Caily: "I really don't think anyone cares."
VIII. filler stuff that otherwise would have been important
Random Narrator: "Meanwhile, Darth Sparky had gone slightly insane due to the extreme mental strain placed upon her personage and had decided to plea her case to the Jedi council."
Jenn: "Okay, before you all pull out your lightsabers and begin slicing and dicing me, yes, I am a Sith Lord- but I come to you in peace. Okay... well, not exactly peace, but peaceably enough that chopping me into eighty-three pieces would probably be a breach of your ridiculous codes of honor. Then why am I here, you wonder? To make a simple request- lay off a little.
"Hey, don't laugh, I'm serious. How many of you are there, huh? Hundreds? Thousands? How many of US are there?
"TWO. That sounds reeeeal fair, doesn't it? Y'know, I'd like to have a discussion with whoever thought up this stupid 'there can only be two' rule in the first place. I mean, honestly, how the hell are we supposed to bring the downfall of civilization with only TWO people. It sounds nice, in theory. Makes us sound all mysterious and... hell, I don't know. It sounds pretty stupid to me.
"So you know what would make my job a bit easier? If you Jedi didn't kill of every half decent Padawan before I can even get a lightsaber in their hands. It makes sense, you helping me out. You remember that old metaphor, right? You can't have light without big dark to stick in it. You Jedi are all hoky and religious, so you understand the simple principal of BLANCE. So you need me, and I need you and in the end we're all happy and fighting an endless war until the end of time.
"Okay, on second thought, that doesn't sound too appealing. I have a better idea- why don't you just let me win? No? Yeah, I didn't think that would work... well, at least the Sith don't give lethal weapons to small children.
"... and I really don't like the way your hands are all edging towards said lethal weapons so I'll, just, um, be leaving..."
IX. Aqueous attempts to be part of the plot again
*this entire scene is done with carboard caricatures*
Jen: "Let me be your Padawan!"
Jenn: "No! Mwahahahaha!"
Jen: "Ahhhhhh!" *dies*
X. the final battle
*Arcee, Cerberus, Yoda, Jyotaru and Lawnmower all show up at Darth Sparky's base*
Jenn: "Mwahahahahahahahahaha...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH--" *coughhackwheeediepuffer* "... ha... ha..." *pause* "And as an afterthought, ha."
Justin: "No! She's mad with the power!"
Leslie: "Just out of curiostiy, can you do anything other than stand unobtrusively on the sidelines and say random things?
Justin: "Um, no. Not really."
Megan: "He's pretty goo at being a random plot device."
Caily: "And he's MY BROTHER!"
Leslie: "What? Wait a second, you're that Sith, Darth Arcee!"
Caily: "I once was evil, but now I fight for the side of good!"
Jenn: "Um, hello? I exist?"
Leslie: "I will not believe that you have truly changed until I challenge you to a lightsaber battle!"
Justin: "What will that prove?"
Leslie: "Absolutely nothing. I just want to be involved in at least one lightsaber battle before this movie is out."
Caily: "In that case."
*Cerberus and Arcee fight (lego pieces) for absolutely no reason. Whee*
Leslie: "And now, Darth Sparky, it is payback time for all the evil you've done! I will defeat you and avenge all the innocence of my fragile childhood that you shattered with your dark influence!"
Jenn: *unimpressed* "You do realize how bad that line was."
Leslie: "... dude, it's Star Wars."
Jenn: "Good point. In which case... My crappy dialouge can kick your crappy dialouge's ass!"
Leslie: "What? You're ON Darth. I'm a Jedi Master. I am the undisputed LORD of bad dialouge."
Jenn: "Are you kidding me? I'm evil!"
Leslie: "Oh, you can walk the walk, but can you talk the talk?"
*all cringe*
Jenn: ":Ouch. Cliches. You have fought admirably, my old Padawan Cerberus, but now it is time. TIME TO DIE! Mwahahahah!"
*all cringe more*
Justin: "We will never die as long as we fight in the name of LOVE... er, I mean JUSTICE!"
Jenn: "You are sadly mistaken, pathetic Padawan, for the forces of darkness are far stronger than you could ever comprehend!"
Leslie: "Comprehend THIS!" *pulls out lightsaber*
Jenn: "Ha ha, how rash you are, Cerberus. Perhaps you too will turn to the dark side."
Leslie: "I will never allow myself to be your student again!"
Jenn: "Brave words, little Jedi Master, but not brave enough!"
Justin: "All's fair in love and war!"
Jenn: "Oh, you want to fight with metaphors, is that it? When life gives you lemons make lemonade!"
Leslie: "Life's a Lemon and I want my money back!"
Jenn: "Money is the root of all evil!"
Leslie: "Fear is the fear of fear itself!"
Justin: "If a tree falls in a forest and no one's around to hear it, does it really make a sound?"
Jen: *randomly here* "Actually, based on the vibrations the cracking of the trunk, plus uprooting, plus the various creatures fleeing, it is impossible for the tree NOT to make a sound."
Justin: "Uh,. it was a rethorical question."
Jenn: "And I killed you. I killed you dead."
Jen: "That you did." *falls down*
Leslie: "I'm getting sick of this. Let's just settle this the real way." *waves around her lightsaber*
Caily: "No! Stop! Everyone! This is wrong! Fighting is bad!" *all stare at Arcee, who looks about on the verge of tears She begins singing... her song*
Jenn: *looks of horror* "No... not... the song... I... can't think up any worse dialouge. Arcee has reached a depth an un-intellectualism so pathetically low that I cannot even comprehend it! AhhhhhhhHHHHHHHHHHHH!" *brain breaks*
Leslie: "What just happened?"
Justin: "I think her brain broke."
Jenn: "Heh... heh... Jedi are silly..."
Leslie: "Well that was somewhat anti-climatic."
Justin: "Wasn't it though."
Leslie: *sighs and puts her lightsaber away* "Well, I suppose we should take you back to Courascant and get you initiated into the fold as a full Jedi. You're a hero."
Caily: "Yay! I'm a hero!"
Justin: "Can I be a hero by association?"
Leslie: *shrugs* "Sure, why not. At least then I won't have to train you."
Justin: *Guu voice* "Yaaaay."
Megan: "What about me?"
Leslie: "You know what? I really don't care. Go become the next Sith Lord or something. I just want this movie to be over so I can go back to doing something useful."
*the Jedi leave, but Lawnmower reamins with the broken Darth Sparky and dead Aqueous. An evil look overcomes her and she laughs maniaclly*
Random Narrator: "Darth Sparky was defeated an peace returned to the galaxt. Arcee, once a prisoner of the Dark Side became one of the most famous light Jedi's in history. But you don't really care about that, do you. You only care about what happened to the chick in the bikini. Perverts..."
*switch to Lici, standing against the horizon*
Lici: "Hmm... I cheated that Sith Lord out of all her money, and then that Jedi Master out of even MORE money. What do I do now." *ponders* "I know! I want to be the very best! Like no one ever was!" *Pokemon theme starts* "I want to be a POKEMON MASTER!"
the end.
we hope.
Illuminati
Is anyone following this? No big deal if you aren't. I can't remember what I posted last. I'll just post the rest right now. A few problems here and there- especially in Gareth's introduction (I meant him to say that he's apathetic, not that he has no apathy. Oops, oops and oops again!)
VII Lies
Nevidita's shop smelt like dying roses and lamp oil. It was dark and warm, but had a mysterious breeze passing through it that was not present outside. It was all hung with quiet beads and shimmering, Indian gold. Candle lit. In the center of it all sat Nivedita at her cloth-robed table, eyes closed and raven hair falling around her shoulders like a waterfall of midnight. Her small hands were folded calmly, palms resting lightly across her oracle deck. She opened her eyes as Zachairah and Lacey entered, her brown lips curving into an almost-smile.
"The Lady Nivedita Kisna." Zachairah announced, crossing the shop in four long strides and taking a seat at her table, "This is Lacey Watson." he introduced quickly, gesturing to where Lacey still stood dazed in the doorway. Nivedita nodded, only the slightest movement of her proud nose, arched cheekbones, pointed chin and narrow forehead. She set her black gaze on the girl and Lacey felt as if she were seeing something she shouldn't see and knowing something she shouldn't know. "She's an Illuminati." Zachairah added.
"Yes. We've met."
Lacey was caught off balance but decide to play along, although she didn't know the game, "I came here on a recommendation from a friend to be read. That was about a week ago. I had some questions... about Illuminati-"
"That I answered." Nivedita continued easily, "And I named her the Dark Lady in my deck." the trick was knowing which truth to mix in with the lies.
"Change." Zachairah murmered thoughtfully, "And unconcious power." her eyed Lacey from the corner of his vision and smiled that not-quite-there smile, "Suiting."
"What brings you to me, Zachairah." Nivedita asked, with a sharp edge in her voice that might have been impatience. He face remained as cold and impassive as ever.
"Gareth."
Silence. It wa
Dear Sir,
I am Mr. Joe Michael , an official with one of the international bank in Netherlands. My colleagues and I have an urgent and very confidential business proposal for you. On the 6th of June 1998 an American gold miner in south Africa ran an account with us and his present balance is valued at US$38,500,000.00 (Thirty Eight Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars Only) in my Bank. We sent a routine notification to his forwarding address but got no reply. After a month, we sent a reminder and finally, we discovered from his employers that he died from an automobile accident. On further investigation, we found out from his account file that he never made a will and all attempt to trace his next of kin was fruitless, as he had none. We therefore made further investigations and discovered that he
did not declare any next of kin or relations in all his official documents in the Bank files.
This sum of $38.5 Million is still lying in the bank and the principal sum and interest is being rolled over at the end of every year. As it is now, no one will ever come forward to claim this money. According to the Netherlands law, at the expiration of 5 (five) years, the money will revert to the ownership of the Government if unclaimed. Consequently, my proposal is that I would like you to stand in as the next of kin. This is simple; all we need is some of your details so that the Attorney will prepare the necessary documents and affidavits which would put you in place as next of kin. An accredited Attorney will draftand notarise all necessary documents and letters of probatfor the transfer.
The money would be shared in the ration that we both shall agree upon. There is no risk at all as the paperwork for this transaction will be done by the Attorney and my position as a manager guarantees the successful execution of this transaction. If you are interested, please reply immediately via email.
Please observe utmost confidentiality and be rest assured that this transaction would be most profitable for us. I shall still require your assistance to invest my own share in your country just incase you can help; otherwisewe'll take our share.
Awaiting your urgent response.
Best regards,
Mr. Joe Micheal
N.B.
PLEASE ALL CORRESPONDENCE SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS:
jmich1225netscape.net
sound like a legal document. *rolls eyes*
----+
I just realized something important about teenagers.
They like to complain. In fact, I think complaining may just be the single most loved past time of the teenage population. That's what's with all the rebellion and the unnecessary screwing up of one's life. If you look weird, act weird, diss main stream culture and treat people with little to now respect, you WILL be looked down upon. When that happens, you can complain about how the cashier was rude to you and how some old lady crossed the street when you approached her or how your parents spazzed over your new piercing.
Wow. Is that EVER pathetic.
It also explains the recent fads involving the Wiccan Religion and a sudden desire to be bisexual. If you're part of "Witch" culture, AND part of the homosexual culture, you're definitely going to come across a lot of critism in your youth. At this point, complaints are even more valid because the people who treat you differently are "biased" and "prejudiced".
Which is even more pathetic.
I know real Wiccans. I know people who really are gay/bisexual. I know more people who claim to be both but have no concept of what either title actually entails.
Get over yourselves people.
... I am so ashamed of my peers...
Anyways, I'm in a rather good mood today. I got up at six, made eggs, watched some REALLY old Pokemon, practiced Rope Dart AND worked on my FFT Novelization. Which is going to get done... uh... eventually (yey!). Though I don't know HOW eventually that's going to be, since I just set myself a 30-page per week quota in regards to Illuminati (I decided that by this time next year I wish to be recieving book royalties).
I officially hate my bank, but don't have to deal with that anymore since I just opened an account at a much nicer bank. And all is good in the world. Whee.
Okay, I've got a bunch of writing stuff to post.
+FFT 3, firstnine pages
+Ryuuguu Character Outlines (Darkflower and Mirai)
+Star Wars Posse Style Script
+More Illuminati (I can't remember for the life of me where I left off
FFT CHAPTER THREE
I've been getting a lot of random e-mails about this lately. I'm working on it, people, I'm working on it. If you read the first two parts and are interested in following the story, I will be posting chunks here on my lj until the entire thing is finished. I have to replay the third chapter. Ugh. But I'll try to be done... uh... before Christmas? ^ ^;;
CHAPTER THREE: The Valiant
I.
Fire.
He stumbled through the flames, boots slipping in the mud where heat had melted the snow, clutching the cold body to his chest with a grim determination. There were no thoughts now- the world had gone fuzzy and he felt like he was underwater- none of his movements were quite as sharp or defined as he meant them to be. He collapsed, finally, fire folding over his tired body greedily, swallowing him and licking across his skin, heat so searing it was almost like ice.
And he felt like laughing.
He closed his eyes, only for a moment it seemed, and watched the white-hot spectre burn an image in his mind. An angel- a pheonix- rising from the ashes of a burnt felsh and charred bones. He attempted to speak, but it was gone too quickly. When he opened his eyes, there was no fire and no pain, only the quiet darkness of night.
He took a deep breath and tried to work his arms, legs, anything. There were no stars through the smoke and the air was thick with sulfur but he could see and he could breath.
"I should be dead..." he whispered through damaged lips, "I should be..."
*
The boy caught Vormov's eyes without actually doing anything. He was leaning against a slummy wall in a backstreet alley of Riovanes with his sword slung across his knees and his eyes staring disspassionately at the gray sky. He had a slight build, but a strong jaw with dark Murondic features and an intensity that the aged shrine night found intruiging. His body was a mass of angry, red scars and his eyes held a darkness that spoke of horrors past and sadness supressed. The boy was a warrior.
Vormov approached him silently and crossed his arms as that serious, amber stare came to rest upon him. "We could use someone like you." he said simply.
The boy regarded him for a moment and Vormov almost felt intimidated by this heavy scrutiny. Almost. Finally, the boy stood, a graceful and fluid movement that seemed in itself dangerous, and nodded. When he spoke, his voice was a harsh, unnatural rasp.
"My name is Delita Hyral."
II.
'
"Twenty thousand dead at last count. From either side."
"From either side?" Goltana raised a long eyebrow at the bowing youth, causing Olan to look up sharply, blinking wide, brown eyes.
"I apologize, sir, for not being more specific, but the scouts have ceased checking the bodies for allegience. The losses climb every day, sir."
"That's ridiculous." Goltana scoffed, his chair creaking as he leaned back slighty, folding his hands across his generous stomach, "There's no way to tell which side is winning..."
"With all due respect, sir," Olan bowed his head slightly, "But it is my personal opinion that neither side currently holds the advantage."
Orlandu cursed silently as Goltana's pouting lips slowly arched downwards in a frown. Olan was glancing up at him now, over the rim of his spectacles, tirumph shining discreetly in his dark eyes. The boy never had learned how to keep his opinions to himself. Though his polite and even tempered interjections never seemed especially out of place, they had the habit of completely undermining Goltana's intelligence though the old fool never seemed to notice.
This time, Goltana considered the boy's words, slowly curling one tail of his mustache around his forefinger. Orlandu found himself biting his lip unconsiously. "You are dismissed, Mr. Durai." Goltana said finally and a faint wave of relief washed over Orlandu. Olan rose and nodded slightly at his adopted father before leaving.
"Food storages have been burned along the border and Rationing is down to a minimum." Minister Blansh read blandly once the boy's footsteps could no longer be heard down the hallway. He sounded almost complacent. Orlandu snorted quietly- of course. After all, what concern was rationing to the head of a Noble family? Bansh had been a commander during the Fifty Year War- a position that had earned him fame, respect and wealth enough to last any man three lifetimes. Nothing short of losing the war would affect him significantly. He continued, "Also, massive amounts of refugees have been moving within Larg's territory. It's estimated as many as ten thousand have made their way to Lesalia in only the past week-"
"Excellent." Goltana mused, cutting Blansh off sharply, "That means less food for the Hokuten."
" 'Excellent'?" Orlandu repeated in an incredelous mutter. It wasn't meant to be a public comment, but the large room echoed so that the small gathering turned their heads slowly to look at the aged soldier. It took Orlandu a moment to realize that they had heard him, "What?" he wondered.
"I take it you have a... grievience, Cidolfas." Goltana twisted his mouth and spoke in a voice dripping unspoken threats.
Orlandu sighed, "Don't you see? The same thing could happen here. This war will cost us more than we gain in the long run. It's ridiculous to push the soldiers until they starve- don't you think now is the time to start peace talks?"
"Peace talks!?" Goltana sputtered, "Are you out of your mind, Orlandu? We can't stop the war. We'll just raise taxes thirty percent and make sure that no one trades grain over the border."
"That's not the way." Orlandu interrupted, surprised at the relative calm in his tone, "Raising taxees will only hurt the common people in the long run. Farmers suffered the most in the last war and the economy plummeted. I don't believe that you're really so dull that you can't see how our entire social system is built upon the grain trade. Our society is carried on the backs of common labourers. We exist because of them!" Goltana was suitably stunned. Orlandu wasn't sure what his silence meant, so he continued, "If we keep going on like this, anyways, it will becomes too much for our troops to handle. Physically AND mentally."
Goltana steepled his fingers and leaned forwards, aquiring the mildly amused expression he often did when his temper was wearing thin, "Sounds like you've become soft, Cidolfas."
"Certainly not what you'd expect to hear from the great 'Thunder God Cid'." Marquis Messodram Elmdor chuckled softly and sent Orlandu a sly grin, "All these years of peace-time must have dulled your warrior spirit."
"And what about you, Elmdor?" Orlandu retorted smoothly, "If I do remember correctly, you found yourself in quite the embarassing perdicement last winter, did you not? A troop of children rescued you, in fact. Quite the mismatched group- a commoner, the grandson of a disgraced knight and led by none other than the bastard son of Balbanes Beoulve..."
Elmdor's white cheeks reddened and Orlandu cherished his small victory even as he watched the Marquis's hand inch towards his hilt, "At least I have not forgotten why they call me 'The Silver Ogre'."
"Enough of this!" Goltana snapped, straightening in his chair and clearing his throat in an authoratative manner, "We've gotten off topic."
"But we've been avoiding the real topic for months!" Orlandu nearly shouted, slamming his fist on the table for emphasis. "Maybe you're right. Maybe peace-time has affected me. Maybe I'm not the warrior I was before, but that doesn't give you Warlord-turned Bureaucrats any excuse to keep your heads wedged firmly inyo your rearside! Open your eyes and actually think for a change! Our soldiers are dying, our people are dying and the populance is losing faith! This war isn't worth it!"
"That's enough, Orlandu!" Goltana roared as his temper finally broke. He swung one massive hand in a wide arc and stared at his Generals with a hardened gaze that stopped even the infamous TG Cid cold in his tracks, "Any further words from you on this matter- from ANY of you- could cost you your head. In times of war the last thing I need is to doubt the loyalty of my men. We wouldn't want another Minister Gelwan on our hands, now would we?"
That comment brought a dreaful hush over the meeting, the abrupt execution of Gelwan still fresh in the minds of Goltana's court. Even Orlandu bit his tounge and swallowed his objections, remembering for once the reason someone like Goltana held the rank he did.
Goltana noted his word's effect and nodded slowly, relaxing into his high backed chair with a sigh, "Well, if that's all over and done with, there are other matters yet to discuss..."
*
"I think I found something." Ramza braced his elbows on the head of the cushioned reading chair and craned his neck in order to read over Mustadio's shoulder. The mechanic had a large history book spread open across his knees and was readily scanning the pages with a speed Ramza could hardly hope to match.
After their ordeal in Lionel the party had made their way up to Gariland, renting a small apartment a few blocks away from the library. Ramza, Agrias and Mustadio had spent nearly a month pouring through volume after volume in search of the hidden meaning behind Draclau's cryptic words.
'We're too deep in this to back out now.' Agrias had said as she said everything- with a heavy sigh and a grave expression. Now she was sitting in one corner of the room, curled up with her own heavy text and quietly nodding off to sleep after a valiant struggle to continue reading.
"Says here something about 'secret documents'..." Mustadio placed his finger beneath the words and dragged it along the page as he dictated, "And about the true connection between the Zodiac Stones and the Lucavi. It's all mudled, though. An older dialect, so it might also being saying something about either heresy, or an old recipie for Lesalian waffles."
Ramza might have laughed at Mustadio's faint attempt at humour, but he was too busy squinting at the page and wondering if it was just the dim lighting that caused him not to understand the words scrawled across the paper, "How... can you read that, Mustadio?" he asked after a few moments, "It doesn't even look like Ikoku."
"That's because it isn't." Mustadio rolled his blue eyes and turned his head slightly to grin at Ramza, "It's old Murondic. You mean you can't read it?"
Old Murondic. It always made him think of Delita and Teta with their dark complections and exotic sounding names. What did anyone really know about Murond? "Of course I can't read it. I didn't think anyone could."
Mustadio barked out a short laugh until he realized that Ramza was being serious, "You're kidding, right? Everyone down in Goug reads it."
Ramza blinked, "They do?"
"Well, we'd have to." Mustadio said matter of factly, "Since anything we find in the mines worth reading is written in it."
Ramza rolled his shoulders into a yawn, and rubbed his eyes, "So much for the lost civilization of Murond." he muttered.
Mustadio tipped his head and furrowed his brow, "Oh, Murond's hardly a lost civilization. I mean, sure the bulk of it's gone- lost in some sort of apocolyptic flood- but there's still plenty of Murondic people wandering around Ivalice. And their church is still reasonably powerful."
Ramza's subconciousness suddenly yanked him back awake, "The Muronic church?" he repeated slowly, feeling as if he were supposed to know something about it, "I didn't know... but..." he shook his head and gave up, letting his eyelids droop again, "This isn't getting us anywheres, Mustadio. Maybe we're not looking for the answers in the right place."
"Actually," Mustadio replied, serious for a rare moment, "I think the problem may be that we don't exactly know what we're looking for."
Ramza yawned again. It really was too late at night to be thinking about all of this, "That too..." he murmered, staring instead at the glowing embers of the smothered fire. The room was already getting colder but Ramza had no desire to start up the fire again. He'd hated fire since the day at Fort Zeakdan. It just made him think of, "Delita." Ramza said sudenly, earning a strange look from a still very awake Mustadio, "Delita said something about... a flow. Everyone is caught up in the same flow- this war." Ramza knew he was rambling. He was searching for a meaning in his words, but they just kept slipping through his fingers and he was far too exhausted to go chasing after them, "I didn't think much of it then, but now that I think about it I'm starting to understand. Delita never liked to say things right out. There's always been... layers in his words."
"Mmm hmmm." Mustadio was reading again and Ramza doubted he was even listening anymore. He talked anyways.
"I think that Delita meant.... maybe this war was planned."
Mustadio slammed his book close with a loud thud and across the room Agrias's head snapped up, suddenly very awake, "Ramza, what did you mean by that?" she demanded, voice thick with sleep.
Ramza raised his head so that he was meeting Agrias's intense gaze, his grogginess quickly dissapating. "Well, it seems that there's someone- or something- else behind these chains of seemingly random events. The King's sickness; Ovelia's ascention; the revelation of the possibility of Orinas's incesteous parentage. Delita said that everyone was caught up in the same flow- perhaps he meant that everyone is being carefully manipulated."
Agrias nodded and seemed to absorb these words, turning her gaze inwards and mulling over those rather disconcerting sentiments. It was as if Ramza's words had lit a flame in her and for the first time in nearly a week, the knight look completely awake. "That must be it." she agreed, setting her book aside and moving her hands as she spoke, conveying excitment though her tone remained even, "It would explain much- including Draclau's behavior. It must be the church!"
Mustadio crinkled his brow, "I don't see how you two could come to such a quick conclusion." he said skeptically, "It seems like too easy an answer to me."
Agrias shook her head, a firm disagreement. "No, Mustadio. This answer is neither a quick one nor an easy one. I'll admit that I have been considering it since we left Lionel."
"Then why didn't you tell us?" Mustadio retorted.
"At the time I thought myself too presumptuous. After all, I've had a very Religious upbringing, and in the church of Glabados, thoughts such as these are both mental and spiritual heresy." she took a deep breath before continuing and Ramza thought that for, just a moment, he saw a glimpse of the girl beneath the military commander. This girl was conflicted and lost somewhere between what the church told her was right and what she knew in her heart. He shivered because Agrias was supposed to be the strong one. Ramza wondered if Mustadio saw her stumble as well, and wondered if he felt the same chill at seeing her mask crack.
"Agrias, we just killed a Cardinal of the church. I think we're past the point where intellectual heresy is a problem." Mustaio commented dryly.
Agrias regained her demaneour and set her icy eyes on the mechanic, choosing to ignore his snide comment, "Draclau was supposedly neutral, was he not? And yet, he had an agent from either side aiding him- Gafgharion, in the employment of Larg, and Ramza's Delita, who is admittedly in Goltana's employ." she paused, as if waiting for Ramza to object, but the Beoulve only nodded sadly- he really didn't know which side Delita truly claimed alligience to. It could be true. Agrias continued, "Whats more, is that both parties are Murondic."
"Gafgharion was Murondic?" Ramza wondered aloud and Agrais nodded with a annoyed snort.
"Very proud of it, as well. Though smart enough not to go throwing the fact around any more than was necessary. He was quite aware of how most people feel about Murond."
"What does them being Murondic have to do with anything?" Mustadio asked, the skepticism in his voice erroding slightly, replaced by a tenative curiosity.
"Indeed," Ramza echoed Mustadio's inquiry, "I don't understand. Gafgharion was a mercenary, not a member of the church. And Delita was raised in Igros."
Agrais shrugged, "I didn't really mean anything by it. I'm just grasping here, Ramza. Searching for reasons and connections. As Mustadio said earlier, the church is still heavily under the influence of Murond."
"Okay, okay, I get it." Mustadio began, uncharacteristically irate, "You're trying to say that Cardinal Draclau wasn't really trying to bring peace with the Zodiac stones when... when..." he bit his lip and struggled to continued, "He came under... that spell. You're tying to say that the Cardinal was just playing a part in some huge scheme formulated by the church to gain control of the land by toying with people's superstitious upbringings?" his voice quivered. He sounded almost... insulted. Or concerned. Or both.
Ramza tapped Mustadio playfully in the back of the head, "Why is it so important to you? I didn't think you believe in God."
"I believe in God to... an extent." Mustadio's voice was gaurded and wary, "It was the church I never had much faith in."
"Then why are you defending the Cardinal?" Ramza sighed, "Mustadio, you aren't making much sense."
The mechanic sighed and reached into his belt side-pocket, pulling out the Zodiac Stone Tauras, which was never far from him as of late. He ran his thumb over it's dark gold surface as it caught the dying firelight. He closed his eyes as if the familiar weight in his palm was a comfort, "I have my reasons. You have to understand that I grew up hearing stories about how this guy was some grand peacemaker in the war. He used to do humanitarian work. You know, bringing supplies for starving soldiers and standing up for the farmers. He was a hero to the people of Lionel. No- not a hero. He was a saint. It's hard to believe that someone like him would..." he closed his other hand over the stone as if protecting it and Agrais shot Ramza a concerned look over Mustadio's head.
"The power of the stone corrupts." Agrias's cool, logial voice broke through his reviere and his bright eyes snapped open, "Perhaps he was under the uninfluence of the Zodiac Stone when he decided to participate in the conspiracy."
Ramza very much doubted that Agrias really believed that, but the thought seemed to placate Mustaio somewhat.
"It's hard to understand how something so... revered and holy as a Zodiac stone could make such an evil twisted being." Mustadio murmered, his attention once again drawn towards the Tauras stone. Agrias looked at Ramza again.
"Mustadio." Ramza said, noting that the sound of his voice almost made the mechanic jump. 'We're tired' Ramza thought, 'We're all so tried.' "May I see the stone." he asked softly.
Something flared in Mustadio's eyes. Something dark and dangerous that sent a chill down Ramza's spine, "No!" the mechanic yelped, "The stone is mine! My father gave it to me! You CAN'T see it!"
"Mustadio." Agrias's voice dipped into a low growl and the boy seemed to come back to his senses. He took a few deep breaths and slipped the stone back into his belt pocket.
"I mean." he amended, "That for safety purposes I should keep it close." his teeth were chattering, but he attempted to smile anyways, "We've theorized enough tonight! I think it's about time we attempted to sleep for real!"
Ramza opened his mouth to say something more- something about the stone- but he caught the look Agrias was shooting him. Not now, Ramza. We'll deal with it eventually, but not right now. Ramza might have objected. But he didn't.
I like writing the crotchety old men. I miss Gafgharion, however. T.T
Ryuuguu Character Outlines
Oops! I'm on assignment for these! I'll finish them fast, but you know how my free time is. Rebecca, I suppose you're the only one seeing this- pass them on to Leslie and Lici as I post them. I really shouldn't be printing stuff off like crazy anymore...
Requiem Darkflower
Introduced in Book I
Dies in Book X, by the will of Dreamscar, though her life is taken with her own hand
Key Relationships: Mirai Dawnflower (son), Akaihi Firestar (daughter), Seane Nightwater (former mate), Rhapsody Hopestar (adopted grandaughter), Cyadya Starjourney (friend), Setsuna Starcrusher Fire'Ravenall (adversary), Unmei (antogonist)
Other Relationships: Elise Jordan Limelight, Alara Yurei, Nineveh Battousai, Dhorisha Maginarr, Omoidasu Tristezza, Altair Skyefyre (brother- never meet), Soshi Zepherius-Carthapathia (grandaughter- never meet)
History: The night Darkflower was born the lilies all bloomed black at midnight. She was born to Akemi Whitemoon and Kracken Wildfire of a prominent Northern Tribe, the first shadow dragon ever born to that tribe. She was seen as a bad omen of sorts, a possible harbringer of doom, and as soon as she was old enough to take care of herself she was cast out swiftly and without remorse. The night before she was to be exiled, Darkflower was visited by the rouge witchoctor Unmei who passed onto her an ancient relic in the shape of a black cross. On that night she was told a prophecy, the specifications of which she took to the grave, but nevertheless spent her entire life entwined in.
She was sixty four years old and still a hatchling when sent out into the human world. At first, she gave up and strove for death but one night she was attacked by a dragon from one of the darker tribes. Purely by accident, she found herself channeling the power of the cross and killing the much older draon where they stood. Terrified and fascinated by the power of the relic, she decided to take Unmei's words seriously and began researching the prophecy and it's history in cultures beside that of the ryus. As an outcast, she learned to be a solitary creature and a fierce warrior, ruled by her pride. She developed a temper in her many dealings with Unmei and developed a reputation among the humans who witnessed her in action. They called her the Black Death and many a generation of Dragon Hunter lived to see her wings and horns mounted on their wall. When Darkflower was still young she learned to be wary of the human. A group of beast hunters brought her down in the name of 'God' and dragged her into a cathedral in order to be purifyed (read: ritually sacrificed) by the ordained minister. She escaped during the night, but was sure to stray far from human settlements before transforming back into a dragon. The next run in with a dragon hunter she had was not until she was fully grown. A man named Derek Maginarr fell in love with her human form only to discover that she was a dragon. Outraged, he called a family fuede upon her that carried through down five generations until his descendant Dhorisha put a stop to it.
Darkflower dragged herself into Ryuuguu quite by accident, bloodied and battered and with child. Rhire and Alara nursed her back to health and she became complacent for a short period in time. She delivered four children: Wyrven Swiftfoot, Goura Greencloud, Akaihi Firestar and Mirai Dawnflower. She sent the four of them to different corners of Ryuuguu, giving the care of Goura and Akaihi over totally to their father (?? this may change- "Momo" may not even be their real father. I'm confused. Whatever I decide on won't really effect the plot, so, um, yeah). Slowly, in the name of Unmei's prophecy, she manipulated her children against each other until the day they faced each other in battle. Surprisingly, kind-hearted and gentle Mirai triumphed over ferocious, callous Wyrven and Darkflower found that she did not regret this. However, she was no easier on her fragile son than before, especially considering the rash of bad desicions that marked the rest of his life.
To complicate matters further, Unmei showed up in Ryuuguuu without notice. This threw Darkflower's entire world off kilter. Aside from Unmei, Darkflower also came in contact with Setsuna Fire'Ravenall, a dragon born into a human body from one of now extinct northern tribes. Setsuna and Darkflower developed a rivalry built on deep set resentment between tribes, a conflict of personalities and personal intrests, and a certain matter of one Mirai Dawnflower. One of the first bad decisions Mirai made was to embark on a journey with Setsuna in order to give her a dragon body. This left him trapped as a human. When Mirai departed on yet another journey (this time with beast hunter Dhorisha Maginarr in order to rergain his ryu form) Darkflower finally confronted Unmei about her past. What she discovered left her jilted an scarred, prompting her to seal herself into a human body and to leave Ryuuguu on a soul-searching mission.
When Darkflower returned from her reprive of self-discover, she discovered that her son was dead. Appalled, she forced her daughter Akaihi to use her demi-witchdoctor powers to restore Mirai's fate. Darkflower realized at this that almost everything she had done in the past century had been for the sake of her son. She found herself suddenly to be a changed induvidual, the same pride and resilience but without the irrational anger and hatred.
Setsuna begged Darkflower to fight her again, desperate, for some strange reason, to die. Darkflower refused the request, causing in some part Setsuna's crazed suicide. Darkflower retreated into a quiet meitation becoming of her age, kept company by her old friend, Cyadya Starjourney and her adopted grandaughter Rhapsody's lover, the exceedingly aged Omoidasu Tristezza.
When Rhapsody lost herself and began to believe that she was Setsuna, she challenged Darkflower to the fight that was rightfully her mother's. Darkflower accepted the challenge if only to knock some sense into the young girl, and at first it worked, but at some point it became apparent that Rhapsody would win. Unwilling to die so pointlessly, she decided to make her death worth something and ended up taking it with her own hand, lecturing Rhapsody as she died.
It must be noted that Requiem Darkflower died at midnight, in the autumn of her four-hundred and ninety-seventh year. It was raining, and there were no lilies for miles and miles and miles...
BOOK I: Darkflower is only perhaps in three or four scenes in this book:
- Berates Mirai for crying after killing Wyrven
- Is annoyed by Tiifa
- Talks to Alara at some point about the dragon hunter
- Is visited by Unmei at the end
Yet she is a great 'omnipotent' prescence whenever seen through the eyes of Mirai.
BOOK II: In the second Ryuuguu novel Darkflower gets off to a rocky start with Setsuna and attempts to suddenly take a greater role in Mirai's life. She finds herself annoyed by Tiifa (and Scarlett)... alot. She tries to warn some residents of Ryuuguu of Unmei. And she befriends Cyadya.
BOOK III: Is not happy with Setsuna. Has a very long, angry conversation with Mirai and beats up Setsuna. They fight and stuff. Darkflower is taunted by Unmei and meets Elise. She is not impressed.
BOOK IV: Darkflower doesn't like Christmas.
BOOK V: This is where Darkflower finally confronts Unmei. She doesn't like what she hears and decides to go on a quest. Goes after Mirai and talks with Elise and her son before leaving. At the end, we see a bit of her getting used to being human.
BOOK VI: Um... not... really... in... book VI...
BOOK VII: Comes back entirely different (but still uber-prideful) is a bit disturbed about what's happening to Rhapsody. Her and Akaihi revive Mirai and... stuff. Darkflower has some much needed conversating with people. Yup. Her and Mirai resolve all their qualms and Darkflower tells Unmei off.
BOOK VIII: Setsuna challenges Darkflower to a battle, but Darkflower refuses to kill her. Battle of wits and morals, ect. Finds the unconcious Cyadya after Cyadya kills Unmei and takes her to Megami to be treated. Taunts some at Unmei's dead body despite the immaturity of it. Realizes that Akaihi is now witchdoctor and attempts to make some amends with her daughter, quite letting it slip that she is the young fujin's mother.
BOOK IX: Tries to convince Mirai not to leave. Tries to talk some sense into Rhapsody. Tries to make yet more amends to a bitter Akaihi. Fails miserably at all of these. Chills with Omoidasu and the dying Cyadya. Has peace with Dhorisha at her deathbed.
BOOK X: Becomes the opponent of Dreamscar, heir of the Starcrusher. Is generally involved in the plot again (*gasp*). Fights Rhapsody/Dreamscar in a bloody long thing of a battle. Lots of random stuff happens in this battle, Darkflower dies, ect. ect. ect.
BOOKS XI through XIV: Is dead, but mentioned by Soshi, Rhapsody and many others. Is supposedly one of the spirit-voices Altair hears, though this is unlikely.
Mirai Dawnflower
Introduced in Book I
Dies in Book V, only to be revived again in book VII. Leaves Ryuuguu in Book IX and is killed by Soshi at some other ineterminable date
Key Relationships: Requiem Darkflower (mother), Akaihi Firestar {sister/lover}, Rhapsody Hopestar {adopted daughter}, Soshi Zepherius-Carthapathia (daughter), Dhorisha Maginarr, Setsuna Starcrusher Fire'Ravenall, Elise Jordan Limelight, Achisuto Saisho, Tiifa Wingspirit
Other Relationships: Alara Yurei, Scarlett, Senshi Saisho, Seane Nightwater (father), Wyrven Swiftfoot (Brother), Goura Greencloud (brother), Mekkosuke Omnisun (half-brother), Julidan Baranohr (Setsuna connection), Danae Kiiroflower (Setsuna connection), Altair Skyefyre (uncle-never meet)
History: Mirai's life was full of excitment and danger, yet lacked any sort of meaningful accomplishment. He was born to the warrior Requiem Darkflower and was the weakest of her children, yet also the one who survived. He was very close to her growing up and admired her greatly despite her constant, verbal beratings of him. He killed his own brother, Wyrven, as a rite of passage and was torn apart by the expirience. It was the first and last time he would ever kill. He became a sort of pacifist, obsessed with promoting peace and rest in his life and in the life of others. His need for this security almost bordered on an extreme, centered selfishness.
He saw death again in the eyes of Serenity Silvemmon, a young hatchling who often seeked it. Unable to deal with what he saw, he ran. flying out to the cliffs and the oceans followed by Achisuto Saisho. Achisuto saved Mirai's life, but the two dansei were still far from Ryuuguu and Mirai was ill. They were taken in by a strange human woman with glasses, an asian look and european demaneour, one who never gave her name. Mirai's sleep was plauged by terrible visions and nightmares and when he awoke, the woman was gone. Mirai decided that it would be easier to live as a human and requested Achisuto's company. Achisuto didn't disagree and the two lived in the human world for quite a few months until Achisuto's sister came to collect him along with Akaihi. The four got into some trouble with a dragon hunter that left Achisuto wounded and Mirai human alone.
The next mistake Mirai made was to accept a deal with the duplitious Setsuna. She used the young dragon as a pawn in order to "get back" a dragon body that she never actually had. She leads him across the land to meet with a "sorceress" she called 'El-dea'. This is Elise Jordan Limelight, the same woman who took care of Mirai and Achisuto after the ordeal with Serenity.
Mirai ended up trapped in a human body. Ect. Ect. He eventually adopted one of Setsuna's halfling children, Rhapsody Hopestar, though more out of guilt than a desire to be a parent.
(I'm going to start writing these in present tense. Past tense in this format annoys me)
He raises Rhapsody to the best of his ability. During these years, Mirai lives so completely as a human that he begins to lose his dragon perception of time passage. In otherwords, he begins to feel restless. Thankfully, along comes Beast Hunter Dhorisha Maginarr with a stupid idea to satiate his desire to do something stupid.
Apparently Dhorisha knows of another scientist who can perform the "fate-reversal" procedure (yes, I checked 'The Start of Something Else' and that was indeed the original plot I had come up with. Oops. I like it better, anyways. I just... forgot somewhere in between Cartographer-san and the Brothel) and, in an attempt to learn more about Dragon culture and her family's sworn enemy, Darkflower, Dhorisha offers to get Mirai his dragon-self back.
This all deteroiates into a long, drawn out journey that is not pleasent for anyone involved and ends in Mirai's rather distressing death.
... which is not the end. Darkflower, upset at her son's apparent post-mortem status demands that Akaihi use her half-developed witchdoctor powers to fix fate's mistake because Mirai was not actually meant to die. He just did. And yes, witchdoctors can do that. Sort of. Maybe.
Unfortunately, bringing him back does not do much except piss off Rhapsody, impregnat Akaihi, depress Darkflower and screw Mirai (who eventually gets kicked out of Ryuuguu by Rhapsody- I mean Dreamscar) up even further.
Mirai spends his last few years living as- you guessed it: a human.
He is found by his biological daughter, Soshi Zephyrius-Carthapathia while he is in a state of ineberiation in a Romanian bar at the foot of the Carpathian moutains. She is intrigues, he is drunk and his life ends as he spent it- in a spetacular display of impossible patheticness.
BOOK I: Mirai kills Wyrven, gets disowned by Darkflower and gets taken in by Tiifa and Scarlett. He sees Serenity almost die, has a spaz and... runs off like a wad. He's saved by Achisuto and... sort-of Elise. He dreams and then wants to be a human. So he is. And in the end, he's a human all by himself.
BOOK II: Is stupid and goes off with Setsuna. And doesn't do much else that isn't becoming human, or else is a direct effect of becoming human.
BOOK III: Mirai adopts Rhapsody, flirts with Akaihi and has Setsuna qualms.
BOOK IV: Mirai likes Christmas.
BOOK V: Leaves Ryuuguu with Dhorisha (whom he becomes very close to) and gives just about everyone and their third uncle twice removed (poor Tom) qualms. And then he dies.
BOOK VI: Is dead.
BOOK VII: Is undead and... doesn't deal.
BOOK VIII: Tries to help Setsuna (hell, I don't know what's going on with Setsuna. o.O I don't even think Rebecca knowns). Has an affair of the romantic variety with Akaihi and really, really makes his adopted daughter unhappy with him.
BOOK IX: Rhapsody: "I hate you. Leave."
Mirai: "Ow." *leaves*
BOOKS X through XIV: Is mentioned. His genology is important, but he's killed off screen. Ah ha. No, I'm kidding, really. I love Mirai.
Setsuna: "I liked Mirai."
Elise: "Me too." *pause* "I think everyone liked Mirai."
Mirai: "Except me." *sniff*
Dhorisha: "You don't count."
Some stuff here might be changed. Don't kill me if it is. I still haven't quite decided what to do about Mirai and Akaihi's "father"/father. I'm confused. AH!
Star Wars Posse Style Script
This is mostly for Caily and Justin (pass it on to Alex and Leslie for me!) But for anyone else who is... randomly reading this for no apparent reason, it's for a film we're doing. It's... supposed to be funny. o.O
Cast
Darth Arcee --------------Caily Huntley
Aqueous ----------------- Jennifer Ferguson
Jyoutaru ------------------ Justin Watts
Darth Sparky ------------- Jenn "Sparky" Young
Cerberus ------------------Leslie Appleton
Lici Fett--------------------Alycya Moore
Yoda ----------------------Alex Jones
Jyu-stin Lawnmower------- Megan Huntley
Random Narrator ----------Alex Jones
I. the truth behind the mask
Scroll Text Reads
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away (or maybe just across the harbour in Halifax), war was beginning. The former Sith Lord Darth Lupine had mysteriously disappeared and the new dark lord was proving herself more than up to the task of causing serious trouble for the Jedi Council. The only hope seemed to lie in two, unknown twins on a small backwater planet. These twins are said to possess great profeciency in the use of the force- even more so when together! Two prominent sitters on the Jedi council, Jedi Master Cerberus and Jedi Master Yoda, set out on a desperate mission to secure these two youngsters for the side of good, before the Sith could possibly find them!
... or something like that. It's not really as melodramatic as it seems. Really.
*The scene open with Jedi Master Cerberus roaming a town, as if searching for something. She is carrying Yoda with her*
Leslie: "Hey, old man? You sure we're in the right place?"
Yoda: "Indeed I am."
Leslie: "You know what? I hate kids."
Yoda: "There is no hate."
Leslie: *slowly getting more and more worked up* "No, I really, really hate kids. Like you don't even know. Hate is real- it's a nasty little feeling that starts in the pit of your stomach, then stabs outwards until you're overcome by a mad desire to STAB STAB STAB KILL THINGS DEAD!" *heave, huff, puff*
Yoda: "Hmm. Anger Managment you need."
Leslie: "I DO NOT NEED ANGER MANAGMENT!"
Yoda: "If say so, you do."
Leslie: "I'm wandering around on some primitive planet, looking for some stupid kids while reciting my lines to a stuffed toy- I think I have the right to be a little angry. The only thing that could possibly make this mission any worse was if..."
Voice: "Mwahahahahaha!"
Leslie: "Ooooooh noooooo...."
Yoda: "The Sith it is." *Leslie puts Yoda down and turns to face the Sith Lord*
Jenn: "Mwahahaha! I am the all powerful, evil Sith Lord who's identity shall remain inconspicuous!"
Leslie: "Uhhh, mistake me if I'm wrong, but aren't you Darth Sparky? The Jedi Master once known as Jen-Lyn Nightstalker?"
Jenn: *pulls hood off* "Dammnit! How did you know that!?"
Leslie: "Well, I was your Padawan, you know. Besides, the bright red shoes gave it away." *pans down to Sparky's shoes and back up again. One unhappy Sith*
Yoda: "Jen-Lyn's Padawan, you were. Explains much this does..."
Leslie: *flipping out* "Did I ask for your opinion OLD MAN!?" *calms down, turns back to Sparky, pulling out lightsaber* "Okay, Darth. Let's do this!"
Jenn: "Ah HA! But I have a new apprentince, my former Padawan Cerberus. One far superior to you. May I present DARTH ARCEE!!!"
*Arcee is shown flouncing in a field of flowers, happily singing her song.*
Jenn: *face falls* "On... second thought, I'll do this myself..."
II. on the subject of Darth Sparky's somewhatr pathetic Padawan
Jenn: *moping, sighs* "Now I need to find a new Padawan. Someone strong, someone smart, someone obiedient. But most importantly-" *pause, aquires a malicious look* "Someone EVIL..."
Caily: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" *runs on screen*
Jenn: "Oh no! You stay away from me!" *cringes and backs away*
Caily: *attatches herself to the bottom of Sparky's robe* "Master, please take me back! PLEASE! I'll do anything! Look, I even bought red shoes!" *pan down to red shoes*
Jenn: "I don't care! Get off me before you give me light-side cooties!"
Caily: *gets up* "I can be evil. I can, I really, really can! Watch Master, please! I'll... I'll... kill something! Watch, I'll kill this poor, harmless, defenseless inscent!" *pan to, um, some sort of inscent stunt double. Arcee SQUISHES it, then stares*
Jenn: "Most impressive, young Padawan." *rolls eyes*
Caily: *agahst* "Oh... no... what-what-what have I done!?" *pause, then...* "I'M A MURDERER! HOW CAN I LIVE WITH MYSELF!?"
Jenn: *smacks forhead* "Maybe I'd have better luck if I just out an ad out in the newspaper..."
III. of apprentinces and applications
Random Narrator: "Yoda and Cerberus, meanwhile, have completed their mission unhindred by the Sith thanks to Darth Arcee's absent-minded ways and Darth Sparky's asthma. They have located the twins, Aqueous and Jyoutaru. Now came the hard part..."
Leslie: "Yo, Old Man. Now that we've found the kids through a series of strange, off-screen conincidences involving cheesy lines and wacky hijinks, what do we do next?"
Yoda: "Train them for war we do, so ready for war they will be."
Leslie: *expression of disguist* "Oh, you're kidding me, right? I can't train a KID."
Jen: "I'M not a kid!
Justin: "War? I can't fight!"
Jen: "But I can. In fact, I've studied the art of lightsaber battling. Did you know that the first Jedi to ever use a lightsaber was a fifth generation Twilik woman? Back in the days before Droids were even prorammed with AI! She realized that if one channeled the force through an electronic device and created a power net..."
Leslie: "Yes, yes, yes. We know how a lightsaber works, kid. We're Jedi." *grumbles and mutters to the Yoda toy* "See, I told you this was a bad idea old man."
Jen: "In any case, my brother and I don't need to be trained." *smug look*
Justin: "We... don't?"
Jen: "Of course we don't, Jyoutaru! We're genisuses. We can teach ourselves the force!" *smug look*
Megan: :WAAAAAAAIIIIIIIT!" *runs onto screen and fall flat in the middle of this small gathering. Gets up and jumps up and down* "Train me! You can train ME! I don't know the force or anything and I really want to be someone's Padawan! Please, I'll do whatever you want!"
Leslie: *raises eyebrow* "Who... the hell are you?"
Megan: *heroic pose* "I am JYUSTIN LAWNMOWER!"
Leslie: "... Lawnmower?"
Jen: "Wasn't she a guy in the comics?"
Justin: "Don't you know that the movie is always different that the book."
Leslie: "Well, whatever the case I'm not taking him... er... her... er the kid."
Jen: "I'LL TRAIN HER!"
Yoda: "No, young Padawan Aqueous. Full Jedi you must be before apprentice you can take."
Jen: "What?"
Yoda: "On the bright side, Darth Sparky Lord of the Sith is taking applications!"
Megan: "Yaaaaaaaay! I'm going to be a Sith Lord!" *skips off happily*
*long silence*
Leslie: "Master Yoda, why did you turn that kid to the Dark Side?"
Yoda: "Even Jedi Master Cerberus has much to learn, hmm? Could not use the force, that girl. It is useful for us to send the Sith Idiots."
IV. love letters and beatings
*Arcee is reading a love letter signed simply "A Jedi admirer". She sighs and hugs the note to her heart*
Jenn: *grabs the note* "Hey, what the hell is this!?"
Caily: "Uh, um, erm, uh, NOTHING. It's NOTHING! ... please don't read it..."
Jenn: "I'll read whatever I want." *reads letter, grumbling* "WHAT!? You're fratrernizing with a JEDI!? Someone from the LIGHT SIDE!? Haven't I taught you ANYTHING!?" *smacks Arcee with the note*
Caily: *puts a hand to her cheek and stares for a few moments before freaking out* "M-m-m-MASTER YOU HIT ME! Am I supposed to tell you because you HIT me!?"
Jenn: "Yeah, that's pretty much how it works."
Caily: *blink blink* "Oh. Okay."
*long silence, broken by...*
Megan: "HEEEEEEEEEEY! DARTH SPARKY!!!!!!"
Jenn: "Hn? Who are you?"
Megan: *more heroic posing* "I'm JYUSTIN LAWNMOWER! And I want to be a SITH LORD!"
Jenn: *'dear god' look*
Caily: "Psst, hey Master. Wasn't she a guy in the comic strip?"
Jenn: *shrugs* "Whatever. The movie's always different than the book anyways."
Megan: "So, can you train me? Please, please please? Pretty please? With cookies on top?"
Random Narrator: "For the first time in her illustrious career, Darth Sparky was speechless. So she did what she should have done a long, long time ago. She quit."
Jenn: "I quit.":
Random Narrator: "And then she ran like the little girl she is."
V. in which Lici Fett is actually given something to do
Lici: *sighs* "I am soooooo bored... it's been a while since I've had a job. And all I got for my last hit was that useless Madorian Armor..." *pan to Boba Fett Lego* "My life sucks." *picks up handhel mirror and looks at herself, goes back to slouching* "And on top of it all, I have ugly hair." *sound of a door slamming open. Lici Fett jumps up* "What the...!?"
*pan over to Darth Sparky standing in the door way, huffing and puffing. She takes a whiff from her puffer, then tries to look threatening*
Jenn: "I... have... a.... job.... for..... you...." *wheezing, hacking, ying, ect.*
*possibly turn screen black and white during Lici Fett's monolouge. Pan around room, over Darth Sparky when talking about the Sith, ect.. This is a voiceover*
Lici: " 'I have a job for you'.The word's I'd been aching for like a man in the desert yearns for water, but I had my reservations about this customer. Darth Sparky, Lord of the Sith. I wasn't suere whether to bow, cower of grab my blaster. Two of the most important things a bounty hunter ever learns is that you don't get mixe up with Jei- and you don't even THINK about messing with the Sith. Around someone like that, a stray glance means a slow and painful death. But I decided to play all my cards. Darth seemed desperate. Maybe it was the asthmatic quiver in her voice. Maybe it was the way her eyes shifted nervously between glares. Or maybe it was just the fact that she was wearing bright red shoes.Whatever it was, I calmly took a seat and said:" *exit voiceover*
Lici: *calmly folding her hands* "A job, you say."
Jenn: "Yes. A job. Didn't you hear me the first time?" *coughhackwheeze, recover and glare*
Lici: "Hmmm..." *aquires innocent look* "What can you give me?"
Jenn: *deer caught in headlight look* "W-what?" *becomes calm again* "Oh yes, I almost forgot that you bounty hunters expect some sort of reprication for your deeds. In which case, I could offer you almost anything. Power, respect, weapons, planets. Hell, I could probably even hook you up with one of those hot new Ewok toys they're selling on Courascant these days..."
Lici: "Uh, cash is fine."
Jenn: *the deer sees the light again* "C--cash?" *twiddles thumbs* "Y-you mean like money?"
Lici: "Standard credits. You know- or at the vey least, Spice Run slips. Something I can SPEND."
Jenn: "Er, well you see... the problem with that is..." *coughs* "We'rekindasortaonabudget."
Lici: *grin* "A what?"
Jenn: *pulls out an... umbrella?* "This is my lightsaber."
Lici: "That's not a lightsaber, that's an umbrella."
Jenn: "Yes, well, you see my point."
*off screen voices cut in*
Caily: "MAAAAAAAAAAAAASTER!"
Megan: "DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARK LOOOOOOOOOOOOORD!?"
Jenn: "Ahhhh!" *pulls hood on* "If you can't do anything about them, at least hide me!"
Lici: "Uh, well give me what you can out of your pocket and I'll see what I can do."
Jenn: *looks up from underneath the hood of her cloak* "You mean you'll kill them for me? Really? You're my hero?" digs out wallet an gives Lici Fett money before hiding behind her in a vain attempt to hide*
*Arcee and Lawnmower comes on screen and look around*
Megan: "Hey, you, bounty hunter? You seen a Sith Lord around anywheres?"
Lici: *counts money, then considers* "Actually, yes. Yes I have." *calmly walks aside and yanks Darth Sparky (who yelps) to her feet* "It's been real, Darth. See ya." *leaves*
Jenn: *glowers* "I knew there was a reason I hated bounty hunters..."
VI. Cerberus goes to anger managment counciling
*Cerberus has finally taken Yoda's advice and gone to see a councilor about her anger problems. Her Psycologist is actually just Lici Fett wearing a paper mustache*
Lici: *in a phony, indiscriminable accent* "So, Jedi Cerberus, tell me when this problem of yours started."
Cerberus: *grumbles* "I suppose it would have been back when I was a Padawan."
Lici: "Hmm, really?"
Cerberus: "My... teacher." *twitches and bites something*
Lici: "Ahhh, we seemed to have touched upon something. Tell me more about this Master of yours."
Cerberus: "She was a very prestigeous Jedi. A sitter on the council and the best tactician of our age. She wasn't much of a fighter, but was very smart and designed a lightsaber that hightened battle efficiency for weak Jedi."
Lici: "Hmm, sounds like a very impressive person. Any Padawan should have been proud to have her as a Master."
Cerberus: *laughs* "But that's the thing! The irony- she sucked!"
Lici: *furrows brow and tries to keep mustache on* "What is it that you mean by that, Cerberus?"
Cerberus: "I just mean that she sucked. Despite all her credentials she just... sucked."
Lici: *still trying to keep her mustache on* "Hmm, could you explain?"
Cerberus: "Well, yes, but we'd have to go intop convinient flashback mode."
*enter convinient flashback mode where a young and impressionable Cerberus is following on the heels of Jen-Lyn Nightstalker*
Cerberus: "Master! Master! Can you teach me something?"
Jenn: *twitches* "What do you want from me?"
Cerberus: "Well, aren't Jedi supposed to be all wise and stuff! Be wise and teach me stuff. All the other Padawan's teachers do it!"
Jenn: "Okay, fine fine." *sighs and thinks* "Okay, success comes in cans, not can'ts."
Cerberus: "Wow!" *thinks* "Wait, what does that even mean."
Jenn: *shrugs* "Hell if I know... uhh. I guess it's trying to say that if you were shopping in the metaphorical Sobeys of life, you would have to look for success in the canned food isle. So it comes packaged like... Zoodles and Campbells soup. Not milk cartons, or brea bags."
Cerberus: *trying to grasp the meaning of all this* "Does that mean it's instant success? I want insta-success!"
Jenn: *shakes head gravely* "No. If it were insta-success it would come in those little styrofoam cups like Ramen Noodles. In cans it's five minutes in the microwave success, fifteen minutes stove top."
Cerberus: *face falls* "You suck."
*exit convinient flashback mode*
Lici: *quickly* "Oh my. That's terrible. Poor you. Ect. Now pay up."
Cerberus: "What?" *aquires a dangerous glare*
Lici: "300 credits a session. Pay up, biyatch, or face Yoda's wrath."
Cerberus: *grumbles, pays Lici Fett and leaves, slamming the door*
*Lici Fett grins, takes off her mustaches and counts her money*
VII. unnecessary cliches
*Darth Sparky, Arcee and Lawnmower are wandering around.*
Jenn: "I can't believe I let the slimeball Lici Fett cheat me out of my money..."
Megan: :"I'm gonna be a Sith Lord. I'm gonna be a Sith Lord!"
Caily: *reading another love note* "He said he'd meet me here..."
*and then they randomly bump into Jyoutaru, Aqueous and Yoda*
Jen: "Ahhh! Sith!"
Caily: "Ahhhh! Jedi!"
Jenn: "Ahhhh! That was random!"
Justin: "Arcee?"
Caily: *looks at letter, looks at Jyotaru and gasps* "Oh, my secret, handsome Jedi admirer!"
Jen: *looks at Jyotaru and narrows her eyes* "He's not handsome."
Caily: "But to me he is, because he's been sending me love letters! It's all tragic and beautiful! A Sith and a Jedi!"
Jenn: *dryly* "The pathos. The melodrama. I'm taking this as my cue to leave..." *leaves*
Caily: "Now we can be together forever! And stuff!"
Justin: "Uh, yeah. And stuff."
Yoda: "Uh uh. Together you cannot be."
*Jyotaru and Arcee both look at Yoda*
Caily: "What!? Why not!?"
Yoda: "Because brother and sister you are."
*Arcee and Jyoutaru look at each other*
Caily: "Ew."
Yoda: "Twins you be."
Justin: "Really ew!"
Megan: "Huh? Wait, what happened? Isn't the plot moving a little fast?"
Yoda: "Yes. Getting long, the script was. Squished, the rest of the story will be."
Jen: "And wasn't I Jyotaru's twin sister?"
Yoda: "Yes. But you really weren't."
Jen: "Then what possible relevence do I have to the plot do I have anymore?"
Yoda: "None."
Jen: *long face* "Wow... that... really sucks...." *blink* "The only thing left to do is... becomes Darth Sparky's new Padawan! Mwahahahaha!" *runs off*
Caily: "I guess that I'm good now."
Justin: "Guess so."
Megan: "What about me?"
Caily: "I really don't think anyone cares."
VIII. filler stuff that otherwise would have been important
Random Narrator: "Meanwhile, Darth Sparky had gone slightly insane due to the extreme mental strain placed upon her personage and had decided to plea her case to the Jedi council."
Jenn: "Okay, before you all pull out your lightsabers and begin slicing and dicing me, yes, I am a Sith Lord- but I come to you in peace. Okay... well, not exactly peace, but peaceably enough that chopping me into eighty-three pieces would probably be a breach of your ridiculous codes of honor. Then why am I here, you wonder? To make a simple request- lay off a little.
"Hey, don't laugh, I'm serious. How many of you are there, huh? Hundreds? Thousands? How many of US are there?
"TWO. That sounds reeeeal fair, doesn't it? Y'know, I'd like to have a discussion with whoever thought up this stupid 'there can only be two' rule in the first place. I mean, honestly, how the hell are we supposed to bring the downfall of civilization with only TWO people. It sounds nice, in theory. Makes us sound all mysterious and... hell, I don't know. It sounds pretty stupid to me.
"So you know what would make my job a bit easier? If you Jedi didn't kill of every half decent Padawan before I can even get a lightsaber in their hands. It makes sense, you helping me out. You remember that old metaphor, right? You can't have light without big dark to stick in it. You Jedi are all hoky and religious, so you understand the simple principal of BLANCE. So you need me, and I need you and in the end we're all happy and fighting an endless war until the end of time.
"Okay, on second thought, that doesn't sound too appealing. I have a better idea- why don't you just let me win? No? Yeah, I didn't think that would work... well, at least the Sith don't give lethal weapons to small children.
"... and I really don't like the way your hands are all edging towards said lethal weapons so I'll, just, um, be leaving..."
IX. Aqueous attempts to be part of the plot again
*this entire scene is done with carboard caricatures*
Jen: "Let me be your Padawan!"
Jenn: "No! Mwahahahaha!"
Jen: "Ahhhhhh!" *dies*
X. the final battle
*Arcee, Cerberus, Yoda, Jyotaru and Lawnmower all show up at Darth Sparky's base*
Jenn: "Mwahahahahahahahahaha...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH--" *coughhackwheeediepuffer* "... ha... ha..." *pause* "And as an afterthought, ha."
Justin: "No! She's mad with the power!"
Leslie: "Just out of curiostiy, can you do anything other than stand unobtrusively on the sidelines and say random things?
Justin: "Um, no. Not really."
Megan: "He's pretty goo at being a random plot device."
Caily: "And he's MY BROTHER!"
Leslie: "What? Wait a second, you're that Sith, Darth Arcee!"
Caily: "I once was evil, but now I fight for the side of good!"
Jenn: "Um, hello? I exist?"
Leslie: "I will not believe that you have truly changed until I challenge you to a lightsaber battle!"
Justin: "What will that prove?"
Leslie: "Absolutely nothing. I just want to be involved in at least one lightsaber battle before this movie is out."
Caily: "In that case."
*Cerberus and Arcee fight (lego pieces) for absolutely no reason. Whee*
Leslie: "And now, Darth Sparky, it is payback time for all the evil you've done! I will defeat you and avenge all the innocence of my fragile childhood that you shattered with your dark influence!"
Jenn: *unimpressed* "You do realize how bad that line was."
Leslie: "... dude, it's Star Wars."
Jenn: "Good point. In which case... My crappy dialouge can kick your crappy dialouge's ass!"
Leslie: "What? You're ON Darth. I'm a Jedi Master. I am the undisputed LORD of bad dialouge."
Jenn: "Are you kidding me? I'm evil!"
Leslie: "Oh, you can walk the walk, but can you talk the talk?"
*all cringe*
Jenn: ":Ouch. Cliches. You have fought admirably, my old Padawan Cerberus, but now it is time. TIME TO DIE! Mwahahahah!"
*all cringe more*
Justin: "We will never die as long as we fight in the name of LOVE... er, I mean JUSTICE!"
Jenn: "You are sadly mistaken, pathetic Padawan, for the forces of darkness are far stronger than you could ever comprehend!"
Leslie: "Comprehend THIS!" *pulls out lightsaber*
Jenn: "Ha ha, how rash you are, Cerberus. Perhaps you too will turn to the dark side."
Leslie: "I will never allow myself to be your student again!"
Jenn: "Brave words, little Jedi Master, but not brave enough!"
Justin: "All's fair in love and war!"
Jenn: "Oh, you want to fight with metaphors, is that it? When life gives you lemons make lemonade!"
Leslie: "Life's a Lemon and I want my money back!"
Jenn: "Money is the root of all evil!"
Leslie: "Fear is the fear of fear itself!"
Justin: "If a tree falls in a forest and no one's around to hear it, does it really make a sound?"
Jen: *randomly here* "Actually, based on the vibrations the cracking of the trunk, plus uprooting, plus the various creatures fleeing, it is impossible for the tree NOT to make a sound."
Justin: "Uh,. it was a rethorical question."
Jenn: "And I killed you. I killed you dead."
Jen: "That you did." *falls down*
Leslie: "I'm getting sick of this. Let's just settle this the real way." *waves around her lightsaber*
Caily: "No! Stop! Everyone! This is wrong! Fighting is bad!" *all stare at Arcee, who looks about on the verge of tears She begins singing... her song*
Jenn: *looks of horror* "No... not... the song... I... can't think up any worse dialouge. Arcee has reached a depth an un-intellectualism so pathetically low that I cannot even comprehend it! AhhhhhhhHHHHHHHHHHHH!" *brain breaks*
Leslie: "What just happened?"
Justin: "I think her brain broke."
Jenn: "Heh... heh... Jedi are silly..."
Leslie: "Well that was somewhat anti-climatic."
Justin: "Wasn't it though."
Leslie: *sighs and puts her lightsaber away* "Well, I suppose we should take you back to Courascant and get you initiated into the fold as a full Jedi. You're a hero."
Caily: "Yay! I'm a hero!"
Justin: "Can I be a hero by association?"
Leslie: *shrugs* "Sure, why not. At least then I won't have to train you."
Justin: *Guu voice* "Yaaaay."
Megan: "What about me?"
Leslie: "You know what? I really don't care. Go become the next Sith Lord or something. I just want this movie to be over so I can go back to doing something useful."
*the Jedi leave, but Lawnmower reamins with the broken Darth Sparky and dead Aqueous. An evil look overcomes her and she laughs maniaclly*
Random Narrator: "Darth Sparky was defeated an peace returned to the galaxt. Arcee, once a prisoner of the Dark Side became one of the most famous light Jedi's in history. But you don't really care about that, do you. You only care about what happened to the chick in the bikini. Perverts..."
*switch to Lici, standing against the horizon*
Lici: "Hmm... I cheated that Sith Lord out of all her money, and then that Jedi Master out of even MORE money. What do I do now." *ponders* "I know! I want to be the very best! Like no one ever was!" *Pokemon theme starts* "I want to be a POKEMON MASTER!"
the end.
we hope.
Illuminati
Is anyone following this? No big deal if you aren't. I can't remember what I posted last. I'll just post the rest right now. A few problems here and there- especially in Gareth's introduction (I meant him to say that he's apathetic, not that he has no apathy. Oops, oops and oops again!)
VII Lies
Nevidita's shop smelt like dying roses and lamp oil. It was dark and warm, but had a mysterious breeze passing through it that was not present outside. It was all hung with quiet beads and shimmering, Indian gold. Candle lit. In the center of it all sat Nivedita at her cloth-robed table, eyes closed and raven hair falling around her shoulders like a waterfall of midnight. Her small hands were folded calmly, palms resting lightly across her oracle deck. She opened her eyes as Zachairah and Lacey entered, her brown lips curving into an almost-smile.
"The Lady Nivedita Kisna." Zachairah announced, crossing the shop in four long strides and taking a seat at her table, "This is Lacey Watson." he introduced quickly, gesturing to where Lacey still stood dazed in the doorway. Nivedita nodded, only the slightest movement of her proud nose, arched cheekbones, pointed chin and narrow forehead. She set her black gaze on the girl and Lacey felt as if she were seeing something she shouldn't see and knowing something she shouldn't know. "She's an Illuminati." Zachairah added.
"Yes. We've met."
Lacey was caught off balance but decide to play along, although she didn't know the game, "I came here on a recommendation from a friend to be read. That was about a week ago. I had some questions... about Illuminati-"
"That I answered." Nivedita continued easily, "And I named her the Dark Lady in my deck." the trick was knowing which truth to mix in with the lies.
"Change." Zachairah murmered thoughtfully, "And unconcious power." her eyed Lacey from the corner of his vision and smiled that not-quite-there smile, "Suiting."
"What brings you to me, Zachairah." Nivedita asked, with a sharp edge in her voice that might have been impatience. He face remained as cold and impassive as ever.
"Gareth."
Silence. It wa